Happy 4th, and stuff.

[merimask]

I'm no good to anyone because of the crappy mood I'm in, so I'll just say "Happy Fourth of July" & leave it at that.

Oh.  And I know everyone's probably sick of hearing this (but it's my only "bright" spot so there it is)...I'm just SO freaking pleased with my weight loss.  I dropped 5 pounds just this past week.  I feel like I'm eating all the time, so it must be that fancy Chinese diet tea that's doing the trick.  Probably, cycling 12 miles a day doesn't hurt either.  Today, I found a shirt that I LOVE that's been mocking me...a month ago I couldn't get it over my hips.  Today it is HUGE like a very big comfy tunic and halfway to my knees.  

Yay.

Tell me; if one has to scrape up all the coins in the house & put them in a bag & dump them in the CoinStar machine at the grocery store in order to buy groceries...does that mean the person in question loses at life?  'Cause it sorta feels that way.  :-/

Comments

[kls-eloise.livejournal.com]

"Tell me; if one has to scrape up all the coins in the house & put them in a bag & dump them in the CoinStar machine at the grocery store in order to buy groceries...does that mean the person in question loses at life?"

No. No it does not. Hon, you know what a bad patch Bob and I hit a few years ago. Collection agencies calling, an engineer who had been out of work for FIVE YEARS and was working in the stock room at Target, the Graves disease diagnosis... It was bad. It was crying in corners bad. We got through it. It SUCKED, but we slogged through. This is a bad patch. This will pass. You're churning out ideas, you're acting on them, you're brainstorming with creative, helpful people who are on your side. You're doing the right things.

I won't say "cheer up" because it does truly suck right now. But do keep working what you're doing, and vent to your friends so you don't blow. It'll resolve if you keep working at it.

And I am NOT sick of hearing about your weight loss. I'm a little jealous to be honest, because I am not getting anywhere with that, and I'm so tired of being fat... So keep yapping about it - I'm living vicariously through you.

Happy 4th. Chin up. Call if you ever need to. Did I give you my work contact? I can call you back and make the Mouse pay for it!

[merimask.livejournal.com]

*sigh* Thanks hon, you're a sweetie & I wish we lived closer (I know...I've said that a hundred times).

I'm just blue 'cause it shouldn't BE like this. My work's never looked better. I can hardly afford the supplies to make the stuff right now (which is bad with Pennsic just around the corner).

Just mailed out a packet of info and prices to Key West today. *crossing fingers*

[kls-eloise.livejournal.com]

No it shouldn't be like this, and you're right that your stuff has never looked better. I look at stuff of yours that I've always thought was amazing, and now I think "mid-level. Not the *good* stuff. You've really taken off recently, and your stuff is truly unique.

Keep mailing off packets. Work on the website. It'll give, you just have to wait it out.

By the way - I'm too cheap to use the Coin Star. When it gets like that I go to the self-checkout and stand there plunking in my pennies. Shame? Nope.

Hang in, and don't stop posting just because you're down about stuff. If you disappear, I'll worry. Then I'll be forced to reply with stupid jokes to whatever your last post was until you start writing again just to shut me up.

I'm going to be interested to see how Pennsic goes. There's lots of people around here not going, but for assorted family and scheduling reasons, not money. The ones who can't afford to go this year are the ones who *always* can't afford to go, if you know what I mean.

[pzb.livejournal.com]

Hey, we all hit rough times. You do what you need to do to make ends meet between the good times. It does NOT mean you lose at life at all. In fact, you win more than most people. You've been able to do what most of us will only ever dream of doing - and that's do what you love and make a living doing it. So you've hit a speed bump. But it sounds like you've got a pretty good plan in motion to keep your head above water and get your feet back under you.

So take a deep breath. Enjoy that you're losing weight. Things will turn. With your amazing talent, you're sure to get SOMETHING out of all the work you're doing now.

*hugs* Hang in there.

[merimask.livejournal.com]

*hug* You're so sweet. I just hate having to scrape...it kills my happy & when I'm down I can't work.

I have three really good qualified leads though with a fourth packet going out tomorrow, so I guess we'll see what comes of it.

The weight thing is pretty cool. Every time I feel like crying, I go into my closet & start dragging out old "skinny" clothes to try on.

[indigos-angel.livejournal.com]

I'm not sick of hearing about your weight honey!!

Good for you!!!

I'm pretty proud of you myself.

As for the coins... let's not talk about that, cause I've had to do some coin scraping myself XDDDDD

[merimask.livejournal.com]

The weight thing rocks. I don't know HOW much is normal for water-weight fluctuation but today I weigh even LESS...down another three pounds.

I'm wearing my "cute" jeans right now...haven't been able to squeeze into them in over two years. Go team me.

[airspaniel.livejournal.com]

Weight loss is awesome! Congrats on that. ^_^ Fitting into clothes that once mocked you is one of life's greatest joys.

And I think that getting grocery money from scraping coins together means you win, because there have been times (recently, even) when I couldn't do even that, and I had to live off things I snatched from the restaurant. So, don't let things be all doom and gloom for too long. And fixate on your weight loss if it keeps you happy! It's better than giving in. *hugs*

[merimask.livejournal.com]

Yep, the weight loss thing is pretty cool. Plus I couldn't have timed it better because the less I eat, the less I have to spend on groceries.

Agh...I HATE being gloomy in my LJ 'cause normally I
m all happy/hugs/bunnies/bubbles. Prolly I should take a little break. :-/

that's what change is for!

[(Anonymous)]

Hey, when we had your husband and two others in college (didn't plan it that way, but once your hub got IN we had a helluva time getting him OUT) we would toss bills at the ceiling and pay whichever stuck. It was a time when I really came to appreciate change! Esp quarters! I adore quarters! Dimes and nickels, too. Pennies I tossed in a sack and gave to the church for the CHO (community helping others)campaign. Pennies alone amounted to 93 bucks one year and I had to drag them into the Narthex in a double pillow case (a bank had donated rolling and counting services). Damn near killed myself slinging that baby into and out of the car!

I'm not gonna tell you things will get better. (Somebody told that to somebody else suffering in New Orleans and then Hurricane Katrina hit!) And I'm not gonna preach either. I have way too much respect for you. You know what to do and how to do it.

What I can do is three things: First, you are coming to my hometown, on us, and you are gonna have a blast! On us. When can you and Char come? I know Greg cannot spare a lot of time, but neither can Geoff or David, so Marya and Sandra may come in earlier and you guys should, too! Second, I want you to remember what the guy at the SF Art Gallery said about Gumps. I think he wanted to know if you would be willing to give up some of the work, but not the creativity, and produce some of your designs in limited editions? Signed and numbered. Personally, as you know, I am a sucker for that sort of thing. Third and last, if you can come early pls. consider bringing the stuff you've made that hasn't sold and I swear, we will set up right down near the Wharf on a freakin card table and just start counting the money. If you haven't the nerve for that ... well, you know me.

Re: that's what change is for!

[merimask.livejournal.com]

Eh...I know. Things have been much worse than this in the past. I'm just very worried with taxes coming up & everything. It REALLY depresses me that things looked so great for my career at the beginning of the year, and right now (which is normally my best time of year) everything is totally tanking for me.

lol...we'll get arrested if we try to sell stuff on the street. Pretty sure you need a license for that (you sure do in NY state anyway).

[zannachan.livejournal.com]

Happy 4th of July, and congratulations on the continued weight loss. I'm not tired of hearing it, though I may ask you where you get this wonder tea from. :)

You do not at all lose at life. There were a couple of years ago when I couldn't afford to eat because after bills and medical expenses I only had $20 left a month for discretionary expenditures--things like food, gas, and toilet paper. I didn't even have change. My parents gave me care packages of hamburger and vegetables because they were worried that I was eating nothing but ramen and mac and cheese--that's humbling, accepting food from your parents as an adult because you can't afford to buy it.

You are doing something you love--and while you are in a tight spot right now, I know, you are also proactively doing something about it. I'll keep my fingers crossed that things will look up for you soon.

[merimask.livejournal.com]

Thanks hon. The tea is that crazy Wu-Yi tea that you see online. I totally succumbed to the advertising (& cute Chinese guy selling it didn't hurt either!), but in truth it seems to be nothing more than good quality oolong tea, which you can get at any good grocery store or health food shop. At any rate, the stuff really seems to work. I have a big mug of it every morning & it's wonderful...evened out my wacky sleep cycle & gives me energy without jitters.

Thank you BTW for the Northwood Gallery lead...I talked at length with Mia (she's really nice) and I'll be sending her pics and prices tomorrow. It's a consignment only gallery...but that's ok if the sales happen, y'know?

[zannachan.livejournal.com]

I haven't seen Wu-Yi tea on line, but I am pretty sure I have some good to medium high grade oolong tea at home (I decided that the really good oolong I saw at the Highland games was just too expensive--$15 an ounce, ouch). How much do you drink for it to work?

Fingers crossed on the Northwood gallery--both that you get in and that things sell.

Also that things look up for you soon.

x (crossed fingers)

[shvetufae.livejournal.com]

*love*

[merimask.livejournal.com]

*cling*

[golden-meliades.livejournal.com]

Meri: http://theartistprojecttoronto.com/home.php

US artists welcome. Have no idea what you'd think.

Don't know who this one accepts, it doesn't say: http://oneofakindshow.com/indexT.php

[merimask.livejournal.com]

Thank you, hon. I just fired off an e-mail (tried to call but I guess the office clears out early on Friday)...it's definitely something worth looking into. MUCH love for the TO art scene. I'd live there in a minute if I could.