I think this person used the method of adding seam allowances by setting that button hole measuring thing and then you set it the distance you want and follow one side of the caliper type thing and then mark the outside. It is then all equidistant. I've seen Nancy Zieman do this on wax paper to make patterns for fusing.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/hettich/2837400653/in/photostream/
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Woke up with Sore Wrists from Cutting out Fabric!
I cut out mainly the 17 " Annie dolls to start with. I could use more tan colored muslin. I may dye some of the white I bought. Most of the muslin is natural or unbleached. We have a large immigrant Asian population here in the Twin Cities of Minnesota and also many children who are part African American with white or sometimes Asian. Sometimes if a child has a white mother, they want a white doll, in my experience. It's up to the child what he or she wants! I will be making some boy dolls as well. Although I do want to sell them on etsy and/or ebay, I would also like to donate a couple to local children for Christmas. I don't know why it is often so hard to find Asian or African American dolls in the stores but it is! So the dolls I would donate would be Asian or AA.
I tried the Lumiere and Neopaque paints. They worked well. However I will need to put the paint into a tin first, as they are squeeze bottles. I let my sample dry and washed it several times and it is staying on perfectly. I experimented making a face with just a water color paint and brush. I will be doing just a simple brush stroke for the mouth. I was excited about this! I do enjoy hand embroidery but it is very slow! Add the time to hand sew on the head and limbs and make the wig, and it makes it very time consuming for each doll. And the doll is still naked and needs to be dressed!
Monday, November 21, 2011
Back to the Doll Making!
I decided to at least start cutting out the doll pattern pieces. I did have the onion skin patterns I made about 15 years ago by hand enlarging using 1 inch grid paper. It isn't terribly accurate. I looked at the patterns in the original Women's Day magazine and wasn't sure they were accurate. I tried to use my copier to enlarge them. I thought, Genius! hah! Well I kept getting parts of pattern pieces. It was difficult to know where to place the magazine pieces. Then I wasn't sure if I was supposed to add a seam allowance or not The directions in the magazine didn't mention it. I took the book out and look at the instructions for the Amy doll, a similar but smaller doll. It said to add seam allowance. So I hand drew them around the paper patterns. So about 3 hours later I know have a pattern in muslin that is complete.
I didn't remember having much of the muslin left from the last time I made dolls. I bought new muslins in various flesh tones with coupons at Joann Fabrics. I got home and washed it all. Then I found the rest of my muslin and started dresses for more of a country doll pattern. What was I thinking? I have a whole laundry tub full of flesh toned muslins. I got one in a knit to experiment with. I know the Waldorf dolls are made with knits and the faces "sculpted".
I'm feeling overwhelmed. I have two "princess" dresses to make for my granddaughter who turns 6 in January. One for Christmas and one for her birthday. I would also like to finish a silk blouse and one in another fabric I cut out for my older daughter. I ask myself sometimes, why don't I keep going and finish something? I think it's the fear that the buttonholes won't be quite right or the fit won't be right and she won't want to wear it. I really seldom dress up myself any more. She is an attorney and needs to wear suits and good blouses almost every day. I will definitely finish the dresses for my granddaughter.
I haven't figured out the best way to make the faces. Should I embroider them? applique the eyes? or try my hand at using fabric paints? I worry about ruining the face but I wouldn't attach it until after the face was on.
It is only about a month to Christmas. My idea of being able to make 10 dolls and maybe some outfits for them, is unreasonable. I need to keep up with family time and my ebay store. I think I spend about 30 hours a week on ebay, doing searches, checking watched items, bidding, checking out various places I but items, answering customer questions, then printing out packing slips and the postage labels. Then there is walking the dog, babysitting grandkids and all the everyday things of life. Maybe a goal of 2 dolls is reasonable?
I didn't remember having much of the muslin left from the last time I made dolls. I bought new muslins in various flesh tones with coupons at Joann Fabrics. I got home and washed it all. Then I found the rest of my muslin and started dresses for more of a country doll pattern. What was I thinking? I have a whole laundry tub full of flesh toned muslins. I got one in a knit to experiment with. I know the Waldorf dolls are made with knits and the faces "sculpted".
I'm feeling overwhelmed. I have two "princess" dresses to make for my granddaughter who turns 6 in January. One for Christmas and one for her birthday. I would also like to finish a silk blouse and one in another fabric I cut out for my older daughter. I ask myself sometimes, why don't I keep going and finish something? I think it's the fear that the buttonholes won't be quite right or the fit won't be right and she won't want to wear it. I really seldom dress up myself any more. She is an attorney and needs to wear suits and good blouses almost every day. I will definitely finish the dresses for my granddaughter.
I haven't figured out the best way to make the faces. Should I embroider them? applique the eyes? or try my hand at using fabric paints? I worry about ruining the face but I wouldn't attach it until after the face was on.
It is only about a month to Christmas. My idea of being able to make 10 dolls and maybe some outfits for them, is unreasonable. I need to keep up with family time and my ebay store. I think I spend about 30 hours a week on ebay, doing searches, checking watched items, bidding, checking out various places I but items, answering customer questions, then printing out packing slips and the postage labels. Then there is walking the dog, babysitting grandkids and all the everyday things of life. Maybe a goal of 2 dolls is reasonable?
Friday, November 18, 2011
TV Programming
I know I watch too much TV. I have Direct TV and have National Geographic, History, Biography, Bravo, and many other channels. My excuse is that I don't leave the house much and also that I spend hours at a time listing stuff on ebay. I actually like to have programs on that I can mostly listen to and aren't too exciting to distract me from my work!
These are my laments however:
There seems to be so little creativity in programming! There is "Once Upon a Time" which I have seen twice and liked. Then there is "Grimm" that I have not seen. Similar ideas. There is "the Mentalist" with Jaime who had his family murdered and works with a very attractive female detective, whom of course he secretly loves. Then there is "Castle" with another very handsome male lead who is single ( I'm not sure why but surely it was tragic.) and also works with a very beautiful female detective and of course it is unrequited love. Both women try to keep their male civilians inline with the rules and constantly are in trouble because of their actions.
Have you noticed how many shows have references to vampires? I'm talking crime shows and hospital drama shows. When crime shows they find dead bodies over and over they show them covered with live worms feasting.
I used to love Survivor. I still put it on sometimes as a background when I'm on the computer. I am tired of seeing the young ladies live in bikinis. Do they have them try out in bikinis? I am glad they don't have the disgusting food challenges any more. Was it every discussed? I used to have to run out of the room before I joined the cast mate who was vomiting vile things. Now it is a lot of puzzles and racing to get the keys or whatever to the puzzle pieces. Of course you have to have the 'good' people vs the bad people. Russell was bad. And Pavarti. There was a great Christian young man the last go round with long blonde hair. He trusted a woman player and she done him wrong. Over and over they sent him to redemption island and over and over he won challenges to get back in. Then one time he lost. I wanted him to win! He was so honest, so sincere. As the lady firefighter left, she said he had inspired her to find a church and join it. This time I cringe when "Coach" wants to lead them in prayer. Since when does Jesus care if you win money? Or win a challenge? I haven't watched carefully to know what he's up to but he seems like a manipulator. I wish he'd leave God out of it. I want to know if they prep the contestants about what plans are edible and which poisonous and the same for local animals. How do the contestants prepare themselves to compete?
I love the Good Wife on CBS. Lots of drama but I admit I am lost. I have no idea what is going on! none! So many sub plots.
I love Project Runway. I used to love it even more. Many of us were jaded when Mondo was cheated out of a win by a clearly less talented female. I've forgotten her name. I don't want to see celebrity judges like Jessica Simpson. I want to see clothing DESIGNERS judge them. I'd like a change up from Nina Garcia. Sometimes they really are cruel, like bringing contestants around the world and then annoucing who is out from the last challenge and having them literally turn around and go home without being able to see the country. I have seen absolutely beautiful , breath taking original designs on that show such as dresses made out of fresh flowers, Uli's flowing designs, and Jeffrey's use of metal zippers in a dress and matching bag. Of course they criticize the Israeli guy who is a master at draping for using draping in most of his designs, and Uli for using flowing colorful designs. "What else can you show us?" It has inspired me to try to be more free and daring in my own sewing.
I understand Project Runway having a show on Accessories. It makes sense. But why do so many shows have to copy others with a few changes?
I don't think there is another program like "So You Think You Can Dance". America's Best Dance Crew is very different and so is Dancing with the Stars. I'm inspired by all the very creative choreographers on SYTYCD and the dancers who do a Taitian dance "like a duck in heat" ( Len said to Lauren) as if they were born doing the dance.
None of these contestants on Dancing with the Stars, according to me, has the same talent as Nicole Schwerzinger ( sp?) has, of the Pussy Foot Dolls who won a few years ago. Watching her was like watching the Pros. Why do they have Chaz, Wendy Williams, Kate without her 8 on the show? Oh yeah, for ratings. I watched them and thought I could do better myself.
I realize I could and should read more, but I can't multi task and read.
These are my laments however:
There seems to be so little creativity in programming! There is "Once Upon a Time" which I have seen twice and liked. Then there is "Grimm" that I have not seen. Similar ideas. There is "the Mentalist" with Jaime who had his family murdered and works with a very attractive female detective, whom of course he secretly loves. Then there is "Castle" with another very handsome male lead who is single ( I'm not sure why but surely it was tragic.) and also works with a very beautiful female detective and of course it is unrequited love. Both women try to keep their male civilians inline with the rules and constantly are in trouble because of their actions.
Have you noticed how many shows have references to vampires? I'm talking crime shows and hospital drama shows. When crime shows they find dead bodies over and over they show them covered with live worms feasting.
I used to love Survivor. I still put it on sometimes as a background when I'm on the computer. I am tired of seeing the young ladies live in bikinis. Do they have them try out in bikinis? I am glad they don't have the disgusting food challenges any more. Was it every discussed? I used to have to run out of the room before I joined the cast mate who was vomiting vile things. Now it is a lot of puzzles and racing to get the keys or whatever to the puzzle pieces. Of course you have to have the 'good' people vs the bad people. Russell was bad. And Pavarti. There was a great Christian young man the last go round with long blonde hair. He trusted a woman player and she done him wrong. Over and over they sent him to redemption island and over and over he won challenges to get back in. Then one time he lost. I wanted him to win! He was so honest, so sincere. As the lady firefighter left, she said he had inspired her to find a church and join it. This time I cringe when "Coach" wants to lead them in prayer. Since when does Jesus care if you win money? Or win a challenge? I haven't watched carefully to know what he's up to but he seems like a manipulator. I wish he'd leave God out of it. I want to know if they prep the contestants about what plans are edible and which poisonous and the same for local animals. How do the contestants prepare themselves to compete?
I love the Good Wife on CBS. Lots of drama but I admit I am lost. I have no idea what is going on! none! So many sub plots.
I love Project Runway. I used to love it even more. Many of us were jaded when Mondo was cheated out of a win by a clearly less talented female. I've forgotten her name. I don't want to see celebrity judges like Jessica Simpson. I want to see clothing DESIGNERS judge them. I'd like a change up from Nina Garcia. Sometimes they really are cruel, like bringing contestants around the world and then annoucing who is out from the last challenge and having them literally turn around and go home without being able to see the country. I have seen absolutely beautiful , breath taking original designs on that show such as dresses made out of fresh flowers, Uli's flowing designs, and Jeffrey's use of metal zippers in a dress and matching bag. Of course they criticize the Israeli guy who is a master at draping for using draping in most of his designs, and Uli for using flowing colorful designs. "What else can you show us?" It has inspired me to try to be more free and daring in my own sewing.
I understand Project Runway having a show on Accessories. It makes sense. But why do so many shows have to copy others with a few changes?
I don't think there is another program like "So You Think You Can Dance". America's Best Dance Crew is very different and so is Dancing with the Stars. I'm inspired by all the very creative choreographers on SYTYCD and the dancers who do a Taitian dance "like a duck in heat" ( Len said to Lauren) as if they were born doing the dance.
None of these contestants on Dancing with the Stars, according to me, has the same talent as Nicole Schwerzinger ( sp?) has, of the Pussy Foot Dolls who won a few years ago. Watching her was like watching the Pros. Why do they have Chaz, Wendy Williams, Kate without her 8 on the show? Oh yeah, for ratings. I watched them and thought I could do better myself.
I realize I could and should read more, but I can't multi task and read.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Give to the Max Day & Humane Society
It seems every organization today is desperate for money. When your money is very limited, where do you give your money? Tonight I was at Feed My Starving Children with my family and my sisters friends, neighbors and church friends. She wanted to celebrate her 50th birthday this way. They send millions of meals to children around the world, including Haiti, East African countries and today, El Salvador. So about 65 of us packed meals and hopefully many will donate online or with checks later.
The Humane Society is also dear to my heart. I was a foster volunteer with the Ramsey County Humane Society for 7 years. My "specialty" was sick cats. Once I went in for a meeting of cat volunteers and came out with a beautiful rust colored husky mix and her 8 five day old pups. What an adventure that was! I adopted the mother and one pup.
I adopted my hunter cat Lilly from that Humane Society about 5 years ago. She had been there for awhile. Evidently she had a litter, then when they were adopted she was spayed and then she got an upper respiratory infection. She was very very happy to get out of there. She would jump up on my shoulders all the time. She still tries to do that when I am sitting down. She is not that social with others but maybe out of gratitude, showed her love to me from the first day I took her home. She hunts for me. She lines up mice and other critters near the door for me. She tries to keep the other cat and my dog in line. I call her "the enforcer". If I trip on something and make a noise, she blames the dog and attacks him!
A year ago I decided that since it was 4 years since my huskies had died, it was time to get another dog. I went there on a Friday night to check out what dogs they had. There was a truck like the old milk trucks parked in front with a sign that said Oklahoma Humane Society. Inside, I saw information on several cats, dogs, rabbits and other animals that they had transferred from another Humane Society . There were very few cats and dogs in the cages.
How wonderful! I remember it being over full and the staff having to put down healthy kittens. I think the change is that they now can spay or neuter kittens and puppies when they are young, before they are adopted. Before, people promised to do it and often did not. I think this policy is the reason that there are far fewer animals needing new homes.
There were two rooms with dogs. Most of them were quiet! I decided to come back in the morning and take some out for walks to check out their personalities. I bought some treats and then took three dogs out for walks. One stood up on his hind legs, balancing a long time, when he saw the treats. He didn't bark he just looked intently at me. He's the one I adopted. He's eager to please and seldom barks. It was a week before I heard him bark when a neighbor used a leaf blower. He wasn't completely trained and he chewed on lots of things. The vet estimated his age at around 1 year old.
He's good with other cats and dogs and with kids. He's very agile and very fast. Unfortunately my cat Lilly didn't like having a dog in the house again and attacks him sometimes. He stays far away from her.
The other cat I got from a hobby farm foster family. They kept all animals outdoors. The mother cat wasn't feeding the kittens and they were dying. Only the 2 I took survived. Unfortunately my handsome male cat died of disease 4 years ago.
There was a wonderful story on the 10 PM news last night. A young couple looked at dogs at the pound. They saw a Saint Bernard that was 75% underweight. Afraid he'd be put down, they paid for him and took him home some hours later. As they entered their home with him, he went tearing ahead and through a screen door and chased a burglar hiding out there! He chased him to a fence and tried to pull him down by pulling on his pant leg. The guy did get away. What amazing instincts! I think the police department could use him!!
I will be donating a little money before 10 am tomorrow because it will be doubled by a matching fund. I think my pets help keep me sane. They are pretty good company even if they do chew on things or spit up on the carpet.
The Humane Society is also dear to my heart. I was a foster volunteer with the Ramsey County Humane Society for 7 years. My "specialty" was sick cats. Once I went in for a meeting of cat volunteers and came out with a beautiful rust colored husky mix and her 8 five day old pups. What an adventure that was! I adopted the mother and one pup.
I adopted my hunter cat Lilly from that Humane Society about 5 years ago. She had been there for awhile. Evidently she had a litter, then when they were adopted she was spayed and then she got an upper respiratory infection. She was very very happy to get out of there. She would jump up on my shoulders all the time. She still tries to do that when I am sitting down. She is not that social with others but maybe out of gratitude, showed her love to me from the first day I took her home. She hunts for me. She lines up mice and other critters near the door for me. She tries to keep the other cat and my dog in line. I call her "the enforcer". If I trip on something and make a noise, she blames the dog and attacks him!
A year ago I decided that since it was 4 years since my huskies had died, it was time to get another dog. I went there on a Friday night to check out what dogs they had. There was a truck like the old milk trucks parked in front with a sign that said Oklahoma Humane Society. Inside, I saw information on several cats, dogs, rabbits and other animals that they had transferred from another Humane Society . There were very few cats and dogs in the cages.
How wonderful! I remember it being over full and the staff having to put down healthy kittens. I think the change is that they now can spay or neuter kittens and puppies when they are young, before they are adopted. Before, people promised to do it and often did not. I think this policy is the reason that there are far fewer animals needing new homes.
There were two rooms with dogs. Most of them were quiet! I decided to come back in the morning and take some out for walks to check out their personalities. I bought some treats and then took three dogs out for walks. One stood up on his hind legs, balancing a long time, when he saw the treats. He didn't bark he just looked intently at me. He's the one I adopted. He's eager to please and seldom barks. It was a week before I heard him bark when a neighbor used a leaf blower. He wasn't completely trained and he chewed on lots of things. The vet estimated his age at around 1 year old.
He's good with other cats and dogs and with kids. He's very agile and very fast. Unfortunately my cat Lilly didn't like having a dog in the house again and attacks him sometimes. He stays far away from her.
The other cat I got from a hobby farm foster family. They kept all animals outdoors. The mother cat wasn't feeding the kittens and they were dying. Only the 2 I took survived. Unfortunately my handsome male cat died of disease 4 years ago.
There was a wonderful story on the 10 PM news last night. A young couple looked at dogs at the pound. They saw a Saint Bernard that was 75% underweight. Afraid he'd be put down, they paid for him and took him home some hours later. As they entered their home with him, he went tearing ahead and through a screen door and chased a burglar hiding out there! He chased him to a fence and tried to pull him down by pulling on his pant leg. The guy did get away. What amazing instincts! I think the police department could use him!!
I will be donating a little money before 10 am tomorrow because it will be doubled by a matching fund. I think my pets help keep me sane. They are pretty good company even if they do chew on things or spit up on the carpet.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Changes in How We Search for and Keep Recipes!
My sister Clare has started a blog on cooking called "Nana Clare's Kitchen". http://www.nanaclareskitchen.com/ She has been married for many years. They actually cook a healthy rounded dinner each night. I'd hate to admit what I often do for dinner! I thought about the many online places to find recipes. I love Martha Stewart's web site, Great Food and many others. I like getting emails full of skillet meals, quick meals, easy Mexican meals, etc.
However that doesn't meet all my needs for recipes or 'how to' advice. So I thought about what do I actually look for in a recipe or want to learn? I have two ice cream makers I have never used!! Now years ago I used one like big one with rock salt but it makes a large amount of ice cream and I seldom entertain. It's kind of a big production to make. So I bought the little one. I must be intimidated to learn how to use it. I think it would be fun to make a small amount of ice cream or sherbet sometimes with it.
I have a spring form pan for cheesecake I got at a garage sale. It's never been used. Part of the problem is I don't want an entire cheesecake sitting in front of just me. I consider large desserts something I would make to bring for a potluck only. It's the same thing with the fancy food processor attachment I bought with my professional size Kitchen Maid mixer. I bought it after my own children were grown. All those years I used a hand mixer or a wooden spoon. Anyhow Clare, can anyone walk me through how to use that food processor? I am sure it does a lot. I spent $150 on it about 8 years ago. When is it worthwhile to use as opposed to using the chopping board?
My oldest daughter grows some veggies in her back yard. I am amazed that they have grown huge, and beautiful pumpkins. Why am I amazed? I gardened for years and always heard that our growing season was too short in Minnesota to grow a regular size pumpkin. They also grew zucchini. I am jealous. I don't have a garden area in my yard and the last few times I tried to grow it years ago I got squash borer and it ruined each plant. They also showed off very large abundant cucumber plants that even grew up the neighbors tree. They wanted a simple pickle recipe for them. Our sister Katie has one I hear but I haven't gotten it yet. I found some but they weren't the super simple type.
So Clare, how about some how to videos on making ice cream, cheesecake, and using food processors? I'm a person who gets more confidance to try something SEEING something done.
Oh I almost forgot. I have to know how my brother in law Ken makes the soft caramels. I can't leave those alone when they bring them for Christmas!
Oh yes, I bought , ummm, maybe 6 to 8 slow cooker books? I liked the idea of shopping for the recipe, throwing it all in the pot and 8 hours later having a wonderful dinner. I try to weed out the "weird" recipes. I don't want exotic expensive ingredients. I don't want to use mixes, I want to make it from scratch. I start going through the cookbooks. Ok, not quite so easy. They want you to brown off the meat. I can handle that. Then what? Oh, change the temp up, now down. Now what? Add the veggies the last two hours. And that isn't all! Now the problem I have with this is, isn't this supposed to be for the person who is leaving for work for the whole day? If I was home, couldn't I just throw things in the oven or on the stove top?
The blueberry recipe for chicken or pork chops is great! It does not taste weird.
However that doesn't meet all my needs for recipes or 'how to' advice. So I thought about what do I actually look for in a recipe or want to learn? I have two ice cream makers I have never used!! Now years ago I used one like big one with rock salt but it makes a large amount of ice cream and I seldom entertain. It's kind of a big production to make. So I bought the little one. I must be intimidated to learn how to use it. I think it would be fun to make a small amount of ice cream or sherbet sometimes with it.
I have a spring form pan for cheesecake I got at a garage sale. It's never been used. Part of the problem is I don't want an entire cheesecake sitting in front of just me. I consider large desserts something I would make to bring for a potluck only. It's the same thing with the fancy food processor attachment I bought with my professional size Kitchen Maid mixer. I bought it after my own children were grown. All those years I used a hand mixer or a wooden spoon. Anyhow Clare, can anyone walk me through how to use that food processor? I am sure it does a lot. I spent $150 on it about 8 years ago. When is it worthwhile to use as opposed to using the chopping board?
My oldest daughter grows some veggies in her back yard. I am amazed that they have grown huge, and beautiful pumpkins. Why am I amazed? I gardened for years and always heard that our growing season was too short in Minnesota to grow a regular size pumpkin. They also grew zucchini. I am jealous. I don't have a garden area in my yard and the last few times I tried to grow it years ago I got squash borer and it ruined each plant. They also showed off very large abundant cucumber plants that even grew up the neighbors tree. They wanted a simple pickle recipe for them. Our sister Katie has one I hear but I haven't gotten it yet. I found some but they weren't the super simple type.
So Clare, how about some how to videos on making ice cream, cheesecake, and using food processors? I'm a person who gets more confidance to try something SEEING something done.
Oh I almost forgot. I have to know how my brother in law Ken makes the soft caramels. I can't leave those alone when they bring them for Christmas!
Oh yes, I bought , ummm, maybe 6 to 8 slow cooker books? I liked the idea of shopping for the recipe, throwing it all in the pot and 8 hours later having a wonderful dinner. I try to weed out the "weird" recipes. I don't want exotic expensive ingredients. I don't want to use mixes, I want to make it from scratch. I start going through the cookbooks. Ok, not quite so easy. They want you to brown off the meat. I can handle that. Then what? Oh, change the temp up, now down. Now what? Add the veggies the last two hours. And that isn't all! Now the problem I have with this is, isn't this supposed to be for the person who is leaving for work for the whole day? If I was home, couldn't I just throw things in the oven or on the stove top?
The blueberry recipe for chicken or pork chops is great! It does not taste weird.
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Our "gotcha" Business Mentality
I realize I am a crabby person sometimes. I don't think deception by businesses gets other people riled up. I hate it! I have gotten " second and final" notices from organizations wanting me to buy a membership of some kind. You do a google search for Joan Russell doll pattern, for example, and the first 10 or more results obviously have no idea what you want, but are trying to steer you to buy something. You want to find out who just called you on your cell phone. You'd like to do a reverse phone look up, without joining some business or paying. Lots of free reverse lookups show in the results.... but none of them are free. They try to get you to pay, even once. I once went through my bank records and realized to my horror one of those companies was taking money out of my checking account monthly! I had not recognized what it was because of course they don't want you to! I think it was Intellius. They always show that they found that long lost friend and have all the info. They do not! I had to contact the bank to get it stopped.
Unfortunately, I filed bankruptcy over a year ago after my house foreclosed and I had an accident needing surgery,, and no health insurance. I never got anything final from the court saying it was discharged. However I got something with bankruptcy court , public records, in the return address and wondered, what the H now? It was a car sales dealership wanting to help me improve my credit by selling me a car. I got several "official notices" from car dealers. I'm supposed to then trust them to buy a car from them? The sad thing is these businesses pray on people who are mentally disabled in some way by dementia, stroke or other.
Once the bankruptcy was final I got approximately two offers a week from Capitol One. They had all kinds of variations on my name. They sure want to tempt you into taking out a 23% credit card! After several months of getting very frequent and duplicate notices, I decided to call them and request that they take me off their list. That is your right, after all. I spoke to a woman and gave her all the variations of the names on their solicitations. She said some mailings might be in the works already but within 2 or 3 weeks, all mail would stop. Not so! Two months later I was still getting at least 2 mailings a week from them. I wasn't going to waste my breath this time. So I took one of those postage paid return envelopes and put all the mail from them in it and mailed it back. I made sure to include all the envelopes etc for maximum weight. It took at least 2 more months for them to stop sending me mail. They finally managed to do it when it cost them money!
I went to an optical place to get an eye exam and new glasses. It was a family run business. I paid my copay and for 2 additional exams. Later I got billed another $23 that the insurace company had not paid. I had to call 4 or 5 times over a 3 week period to talk to a billing person. There was never an apology and I never got a corrected billing showing everything had been paid in full. I'm sure many elderly people would have just paid it.
On a far larger scale, there is the whole foreclosure mess that put our entire country into a tail spin. I had a very large former sorority house a block from campus. I wanted to fix it up more to sell it. It had orange countertops for example and some old wallpaper. I paid $300 to $400 for a professional appraisal the refinance company required. It said it was worth $525,000. I questioned him on this. He said he could see what things were in process there, like a new bathroom. So the refinance went through. I hired two handymen and worked daily myself painting, repairing, replacing doors and floors, landscaping and making trips to Menards for over a year. I was unable to sell it for even the value of the mortgage amount. I put $73,000 into it and got nothing out of it. I drive by and see the areas I landscaped full of weeds, untended. Someone bought it and turned it into just rental for students. My younger daughter dreams about this house all the time. We loved it.
The problem I have with this is that they falsified an appraisal I paid for! The refinance company had their own appraisers that they wanted you to go to. They got their money!
I am happy for bills being passed to protect consumers!
Unfortunately, I filed bankruptcy over a year ago after my house foreclosed and I had an accident needing surgery,, and no health insurance. I never got anything final from the court saying it was discharged. However I got something with bankruptcy court , public records, in the return address and wondered, what the H now? It was a car sales dealership wanting to help me improve my credit by selling me a car. I got several "official notices" from car dealers. I'm supposed to then trust them to buy a car from them? The sad thing is these businesses pray on people who are mentally disabled in some way by dementia, stroke or other.
Once the bankruptcy was final I got approximately two offers a week from Capitol One. They had all kinds of variations on my name. They sure want to tempt you into taking out a 23% credit card! After several months of getting very frequent and duplicate notices, I decided to call them and request that they take me off their list. That is your right, after all. I spoke to a woman and gave her all the variations of the names on their solicitations. She said some mailings might be in the works already but within 2 or 3 weeks, all mail would stop. Not so! Two months later I was still getting at least 2 mailings a week from them. I wasn't going to waste my breath this time. So I took one of those postage paid return envelopes and put all the mail from them in it and mailed it back. I made sure to include all the envelopes etc for maximum weight. It took at least 2 more months for them to stop sending me mail. They finally managed to do it when it cost them money!
I went to an optical place to get an eye exam and new glasses. It was a family run business. I paid my copay and for 2 additional exams. Later I got billed another $23 that the insurace company had not paid. I had to call 4 or 5 times over a 3 week period to talk to a billing person. There was never an apology and I never got a corrected billing showing everything had been paid in full. I'm sure many elderly people would have just paid it.
On a far larger scale, there is the whole foreclosure mess that put our entire country into a tail spin. I had a very large former sorority house a block from campus. I wanted to fix it up more to sell it. It had orange countertops for example and some old wallpaper. I paid $300 to $400 for a professional appraisal the refinance company required. It said it was worth $525,000. I questioned him on this. He said he could see what things were in process there, like a new bathroom. So the refinance went through. I hired two handymen and worked daily myself painting, repairing, replacing doors and floors, landscaping and making trips to Menards for over a year. I was unable to sell it for even the value of the mortgage amount. I put $73,000 into it and got nothing out of it. I drive by and see the areas I landscaped full of weeds, untended. Someone bought it and turned it into just rental for students. My younger daughter dreams about this house all the time. We loved it.
The problem I have with this is that they falsified an appraisal I paid for! The refinance company had their own appraisers that they wanted you to go to. They got their money!
I am happy for bills being passed to protect consumers!
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Psychology Today on Near Death Experiences
If you google it you'll find it easily. They did a study to find out if there was a difference between Catholics, atheists and Muslims in reporting near death experiences. It reported there was no difference in frequency. Then it said that , sorry I don't remember if it was carbon dioxide in the blood was higher in the blood during surgery of the people who resported a NDE. It said that with monitoring and keeping these levels normally it should prevent these spiritual experiences. Isn't that laughable? They reported absolutely nothing about the actual stories from these groups. Most people felt that it was a very positive experience changing their outlook on life.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Near Death Experiences vs What the Bible Says about Judgement
I just did a quick search. Evidently Steve Jobs was a Buddhist. Also it seems some people were certain he was going to hell.
I think about heaven and hell all the time. Christians will say that no one goes to the Father except through Jesus and His father. When I read the Bible, my overall understanding is not that one's beliefs determine your destiny in the afterlife. I've listened to many people's near death experiences on you tube. I'm fascinated by them. I read a book by Don Piper about his experiences. There are a few people who say they realized they were going to hell after they had died and that they called out to God for mercy and were brought back to life. I remember one saying he had no doubt why he was going to hell. It was very clear to him. God in his mercy did give him a second chance.
I have listened to perhaps 15 near death experiences. I am still curious about the experiences of Buddhists, atheists, Jews and Muslims. Most Christians report nearly identical experiences. They report being transported into a tunnel and bright light and then seeing loved ones coming to greet them. They describe having their life judged. Some describe the splendors of heaven. I just saw one Jew's story and he was crying about being so sorry he had "spilled his seed" and that he had seen unborn children blaming him that they could not be born. Can it be that Muslims keep their experience to themselves? There was one story about the Muslim becoming Christian. There were several stories about people who went to hell and their descriptions were similar. It is a place of eternity of torturous suffering and no love.
I simply do not believe that when we die we will be judged on our beliefs. I believe we will be judged on how we live our lives. The bible refers to the "book of life" where your deeds are written down for later judgement. There is so much real evil in the world! Do we really think that Buddhist monks or the Dalai Lama are going to hell? And that a person who kidnaps, rapes and kills children will go to heaven because their belief system is Christian? Yes, God will forgive us our sins if we are very sincere. I don't think that means giving lip service to it and carrying on with our sin. I think the sincerity means collapsing at the feet of Jesus and begging his forgiveness.
I will continue to do some research on this subject and post about it. One thing is sure, we ourselves will know once we die!
I think about heaven and hell all the time. Christians will say that no one goes to the Father except through Jesus and His father. When I read the Bible, my overall understanding is not that one's beliefs determine your destiny in the afterlife. I've listened to many people's near death experiences on you tube. I'm fascinated by them. I read a book by Don Piper about his experiences. There are a few people who say they realized they were going to hell after they had died and that they called out to God for mercy and were brought back to life. I remember one saying he had no doubt why he was going to hell. It was very clear to him. God in his mercy did give him a second chance.
I have listened to perhaps 15 near death experiences. I am still curious about the experiences of Buddhists, atheists, Jews and Muslims. Most Christians report nearly identical experiences. They report being transported into a tunnel and bright light and then seeing loved ones coming to greet them. They describe having their life judged. Some describe the splendors of heaven. I just saw one Jew's story and he was crying about being so sorry he had "spilled his seed" and that he had seen unborn children blaming him that they could not be born. Can it be that Muslims keep their experience to themselves? There was one story about the Muslim becoming Christian. There were several stories about people who went to hell and their descriptions were similar. It is a place of eternity of torturous suffering and no love.
I simply do not believe that when we die we will be judged on our beliefs. I believe we will be judged on how we live our lives. The bible refers to the "book of life" where your deeds are written down for later judgement. There is so much real evil in the world! Do we really think that Buddhist monks or the Dalai Lama are going to hell? And that a person who kidnaps, rapes and kills children will go to heaven because their belief system is Christian? Yes, God will forgive us our sins if we are very sincere. I don't think that means giving lip service to it and carrying on with our sin. I think the sincerity means collapsing at the feet of Jesus and begging his forgiveness.
I will continue to do some research on this subject and post about it. One thing is sure, we ourselves will know once we die!
Glimpses into the After Life
Steve Jobs, near death, said "Oh wow, Oh wow, Oh wow" What did he see? Was it family who had passed on coming to greet him? Angels? I don't know what his religious beliefs were. I've heard stories of people near death saying the name of a loved one who had died , as if they were present. I've heard stories of them suddenly seeming to be free of pain and smiling as they died.
Have you had dreams, when your conscious mind is looking on and saying, that doesn't exist here on earth?! Those colors don't exist, that texture doesn't exist!? You cannot explain in words what you saw when you woke up.
Sometimes I think God gives us some encouragement by showing us glimpses of the wonderful, magical, and spiritual here on earth. It could be absolute splendor in nature, or in the form of a person. There are a very few people who radiate love and peace. I saw a clip of Mattie Stepanek on one of Oprah's last shows. He was an 11 year old child when he first was on Oprah. He was wheelchair bound and very ill with muscular dystrophy. He died two years later at age 13. He published a book of his poetry that he called "Heartsongs".
What I remembered about the clip, was that Oprah was talking about retiring from her show , and he said that he felt she had more work to do. He seemed so certain! He seemed so mature and wise beyond his years.
You can read more about him here:
http://www.oprah.com/oprahshow/Oprah-Reveals-Her-All-Time-Favorite-Guest/3
Another person, a child, that seems to be a glipse into the angels is Jackie Evancho. Her appearance, her demeanor and oh my God her voice all seem other worldly. For some reason hearing her sing often moves me to tears.
I saw her album at Target yesterday when I was buying last minute Halloween candy and bought it. It has the original you tube audition, then the appearances from America's Got Talent on DVD and then about 4 songs on a CD.
Have you ever met a person who seemed to look right into you? I remember coming forward for prayer at a church I visited. This woman, hugged me to her closely as she prayed. It was like she knew my heart and what I was going through. I have visited that church several times but didn't join it because of the distance.
Have you had dreams, when your conscious mind is looking on and saying, that doesn't exist here on earth?! Those colors don't exist, that texture doesn't exist!? You cannot explain in words what you saw when you woke up.
Sometimes I think God gives us some encouragement by showing us glimpses of the wonderful, magical, and spiritual here on earth. It could be absolute splendor in nature, or in the form of a person. There are a very few people who radiate love and peace. I saw a clip of Mattie Stepanek on one of Oprah's last shows. He was an 11 year old child when he first was on Oprah. He was wheelchair bound and very ill with muscular dystrophy. He died two years later at age 13. He published a book of his poetry that he called "Heartsongs".
What I remembered about the clip, was that Oprah was talking about retiring from her show , and he said that he felt she had more work to do. He seemed so certain! He seemed so mature and wise beyond his years.
You can read more about him here:
http://www.oprah.com/oprahshow/Oprah-Reveals-Her-All-Time-Favorite-Guest/3
Another person, a child, that seems to be a glipse into the angels is Jackie Evancho. Her appearance, her demeanor and oh my God her voice all seem other worldly. For some reason hearing her sing often moves me to tears.
I saw her album at Target yesterday when I was buying last minute Halloween candy and bought it. It has the original you tube audition, then the appearances from America's Got Talent on DVD and then about 4 songs on a CD.
Have you ever met a person who seemed to look right into you? I remember coming forward for prayer at a church I visited. This woman, hugged me to her closely as she prayed. It was like she knew my heart and what I was going through. I have visited that church several times but didn't join it because of the distance.
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