tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64571412356730494642024-03-05T13:00:18.906-06:00Life's an ExpeditionCreative spurts from the brain of dj runnels, Bohemian scarf designer, bag weaver, yarn maker, seller of antiquarian books, writer, artist, wacky chick, Etsy seller and creator of ...whatever, just because I felt like it. This replaces my website at www.djrunnels.comlifesanexpeditionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08335048011002914005noreply@blogger.comBlogger59125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6457141235673049464.post-75606262937326783192023-10-27T15:48:00.000-05:002023-10-27T15:48:47.515-05:00DEAD EDNA by D.J. Runnels is earning good reviews on Amazon.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg_UIjzGdbjZ5p5Dy7u4bthmAv3h_6KXt5YSpOYzTX4xVvafStJqhsZCOjr4C1THo8PKo3EZGkdGiEMYVpgaWBCG-dOCl3Ap1k3U3d1TYgneU4EIAahWy3I4g1v3uUIoTXGsdkJhAYos0SINJTdEKBKihuZPq7fErR-hboYDRKN8xu5ablY0ky0WIOAoM/s635/DEADEDNA_5starpromo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="635" data-original-width="635" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg_UIjzGdbjZ5p5Dy7u4bthmAv3h_6KXt5YSpOYzTX4xVvafStJqhsZCOjr4C1THo8PKo3EZGkdGiEMYVpgaWBCG-dOCl3Ap1k3U3d1TYgneU4EIAahWy3I4g1v3uUIoTXGsdkJhAYos0SINJTdEKBKihuZPq7fErR-hboYDRKN8xu5ablY0ky0WIOAoM/w394-h394/DEADEDNA_5starpromo.jpg" width="394" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Six months into launch, <a href="http://linktr.ee/lifesanexpedition" target="_blank">DEAD EDNA</a> now has a 5-star rating on Goodreads and 4.9 stars on Amazon. My novel is available as an e-book, paperback and hardcover. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">And you can follow my exciting journey by searching on @d.j.runnels on Instagram, Facebook and Threads or by searching on @d_j_runnels on X (formerly Twitter). </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">My social media followers have multiplied over ten-fold in just a few months and I appreciate each and every one of you. Your support has been very much appreciated.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Here are a few excerpts and reviews you may enjoy:</span></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgohwgOJgrd6pzaWDiUYdI3DBSjv7eVaGz2k-DSQxUEIxr_S9e6o0aS9UKOMnII7Z_wXvBEvjQX0TQwYZU3HwLZ1xxCYn8BsFKRpqXyK3js-3ZJdaf99djQLJwLygsISLO8YAWbz7cppqPzZT76qEo3sCwsnAlQPqr8hJO2ZiGTGVtkzVXePtlE_CGqA70/s800/DEADEDNA_excerpt3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="590" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgohwgOJgrd6pzaWDiUYdI3DBSjv7eVaGz2k-DSQxUEIxr_S9e6o0aS9UKOMnII7Z_wXvBEvjQX0TQwYZU3HwLZ1xxCYn8BsFKRpqXyK3js-3ZJdaf99djQLJwLygsISLO8YAWbz7cppqPzZT76qEo3sCwsnAlQPqr8hJO2ZiGTGVtkzVXePtlE_CGqA70/w590-h590/DEADEDNA_excerpt3.jpg" width="590" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPFqjouCyBzFloPpRXpFfjaWU3zZ_i6axtFGUDxXja4MkE1NVn6P77ry6z79fqsMKwRceq21pTneUxLm-mlujmLV3qFx9N0AvkvnNTDuCwSnpTnnF4mZTopvbOtcaSPLQSM4rZ_-WQS4-M5hLmUFoAtTlX8rOX7FhXAVKP9TxHrtrvkwv6vsyB8KonFzE/s800/DEADEDNA_excerpt4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="607" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPFqjouCyBzFloPpRXpFfjaWU3zZ_i6axtFGUDxXja4MkE1NVn6P77ry6z79fqsMKwRceq21pTneUxLm-mlujmLV3qFx9N0AvkvnNTDuCwSnpTnnF4mZTopvbOtcaSPLQSM4rZ_-WQS4-M5hLmUFoAtTlX8rOX7FhXAVKP9TxHrtrvkwv6vsyB8KonFzE/w607-h607/DEADEDNA_excerpt4.jpg" width="607" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAJ_nwIaK4TevggOYimcMHHln63GbFeeiMYu8RKMzWB7KIr2jDZug3CDLJPztYhYZJvAdxqtCIfq8J4woQmGOekibRdEQTO4UJCR3gQyEPxacxA_eXTenOrr5dE77Nzy_fthGVDRaAOVqOYGtFADIy8RO8pi8FeA_FH9rOjx729dJ0qoAVY2mWtb2HGJE/s2560/DEADEDNAkindlecoverGRAY1600x2560.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAJ_nwIaK4TevggOYimcMHHln63GbFeeiMYu8RKMzWB7KIr2jDZug3CDLJPztYhYZJvAdxqtCIfq8J4woQmGOekibRdEQTO4UJCR3gQyEPxacxA_eXTenOrr5dE77Nzy_fthGVDRaAOVqOYGtFADIy8RO8pi8FeA_FH9rOjx729dJ0qoAVY2mWtb2HGJE/w400-h640/DEADEDNAkindlecoverGRAY1600x2560.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSEJvRaffZWEt30qlVzQhg5c3ALDUhsWp2_H9NAdcp9AXeEcYHBrxc7-D8Mz8nden6EnqU1_Lq0M3j2z2u_uieg7S9VGw7Luet6l7Z-2LlXKXg4-kkUechW_dhlXhyphenhyphenD2iIBFlrsdMa17lE2ymwnk98JB7E3zGQMk2Tudxdxk9UIbIx6Vjm6-Ognqd2c_U/s640/DEADEDNA_review_louise.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" height="574" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSEJvRaffZWEt30qlVzQhg5c3ALDUhsWp2_H9NAdcp9AXeEcYHBrxc7-D8Mz8nden6EnqU1_Lq0M3j2z2u_uieg7S9VGw7Luet6l7Z-2LlXKXg4-kkUechW_dhlXhyphenhyphenD2iIBFlrsdMa17lE2ymwnk98JB7E3zGQMk2Tudxdxk9UIbIx6Vjm6-Ognqd2c_U/w574-h574/DEADEDNA_review_louise.jpg" width="574" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmDTXWpVVJZMn_wti-KZGknY6ZjMmCl0Ea0hjIqDzYun4zn8QX9NgMJ0X8uiXCy3-Cha6THr0ZATr8QXxmlnFaN8p5YmAY8Y4lxQFE-6Igrj-LpzJnZMlVgjPAFZxCOboF2nWtBK_tM-b3NzYTGyNFKTf7e9sAu7gHxOjzhfa0h3oBhKbCINlw11p_rHM/s533/DEADEDNA_romance.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="533" height="566" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmDTXWpVVJZMn_wti-KZGknY6ZjMmCl0Ea0hjIqDzYun4zn8QX9NgMJ0X8uiXCy3-Cha6THr0ZATr8QXxmlnFaN8p5YmAY8Y4lxQFE-6Igrj-LpzJnZMlVgjPAFZxCOboF2nWtBK_tM-b3NzYTGyNFKTf7e9sAu7gHxOjzhfa0h3oBhKbCINlw11p_rHM/w566-h566/DEADEDNA_romance.jpg" width="566" /></a></div><br /><p>I'll be back! Happy reading.</p><p><a href="http://linktr.ee/lifesanexpedition" target="_blank">d.j. runnels</a></p>lifesanexpeditionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08335048011002914005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6457141235673049464.post-48479259343076960322023-04-20T10:43:00.001-05:002023-04-20T10:43:12.596-05:00DEAD EDNA by D. J. Runnels has launched on Amazon<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Hm_bctvYtBR70-2MBAwbt8TuAIRh7hxJedurptSpaxIIwUzcdriQ0kgVuBQb900wi4wbJLbt8WVEM9fWBVT_azzS8AF6Vjc0GbQd0djI01jOv7O7fOrHAqHkgo2w6wylNAEWQAuqbllMUy5IFrD6GkesHjQZ6lrfXC429vN83-yJoLDzIq4m48dj/s2560/DEADEDNAkindlecover1600x2560.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Hm_bctvYtBR70-2MBAwbt8TuAIRh7hxJedurptSpaxIIwUzcdriQ0kgVuBQb900wi4wbJLbt8WVEM9fWBVT_azzS8AF6Vjc0GbQd0djI01jOv7O7fOrHAqHkgo2w6wylNAEWQAuqbllMUy5IFrD6GkesHjQZ6lrfXC429vN83-yJoLDzIq4m48dj/s320/DEADEDNAkindlecover1600x2560.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Here's the gist of my new novel:</span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700 !important;">Conniving antiques aficionado</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> Maggie Pall coerces her adoring husband into buying her dream house in a trendy Chicago neighborhood. But no one shares her enthusiasm for the creepy mansion. Pragmatic husband Dwight argues that it's not a sound real estate acquisition and her surly son would rather live in a tent. Amidst the chaos of their hostile relationships, a trashy resident ghost named Edna interferes by manipulating Maggie into having lustful thoughts for a handsome podiatrist. After a Thanksgiving dinner goes absurdly wrong, someone ends up dead. Now conflict, lust, an incompetent police force and a snarky lawyer pivot the family drama into a murder mystery. Anyone who has ever dreaded going home for Thanksgiving will find this darkly humorous social satire relatable. Throw in a charming ex-spouse, numerous disastrous affairs, an obsession with baseball and Michigan Avenue advertising, and you're left with a farcical view of upper-middle-class life in pre-social-media 1996.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">It's only been out there for 14 days, but I do have sales and downloads. The paperback is still in the works. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dead-Edna-D-J-Runnels-ebook/dp/B0C1TKNMR1/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2V2FULVHHBN7R&keywords=dead+edna&qid=1682004632&s=books&sprefix=dead+edna%2Cstripbooks%2C80&sr=1-1">More details here</a>.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">d.j. runnels</span></p><p><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">I renamed my Instagram account as @d.j.runnels </span></p><p><br /></p>lifesanexpeditionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08335048011002914005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6457141235673049464.post-75255291311899249372018-06-15T10:43:00.002-05:002023-04-20T10:47:06.762-05:00Fibromyalgia, Part 2: Potassium likes me. A lot.<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I'm just winging it here, sister, but potassium seems to be helping with my Fibromyalgia-related symptoms. Most notably, my digestive issues and sleep and muscle aches. I stumbled across something about potassium being necessary for stored fat metabolism, then looked for a list of foods high in potassium and realized...ACK! I haven't been eating any of those. It seems I was consuming fewer than 1,000 mg of potassium each day.<br /><br /><br />Next I learned that potassium and sodium levels are supposed to be balanced with magnesium and calcium and other electrolytes. And I began to wonder if low potassium was causing electrolyte imbalance--sweating, dizziness, nausea--during my bike rides. Or maybe I was merely inducing illness in myself because of the cacophonous color scheme of my cycling jerseys?</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Admit it. I look like Spiderwoman.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">By now you have forgotten to give a flying fig about me, my bike rides and my nausea. Instead, you are wondering, <span style="color: lime;">well, 1,000 mg of potassium a day, is that, like, low? Is it very low? Give us some context here. Stop talking about yourself, girl, and tell me, How many milligrams of potassium does one need each day? </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I'm so glad you asked. I just wish someone on this planet had the answer. If you do an internet search, you will find answers ranging from 3,800 mg per day to 4,500 to 4,700 to 5,100. I guess the amount of potassium you need depends on your age, gender, physical condition and which country you live in and/or are brainwashed by.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">But all of those numbers are higher than the <1,000 mg a day I was taking. This may not be an issue for you. Potassium rich foods include bananas, potatoes and fries. If you eat those regularly, your potassium level is probably fine. If you don't eat those, and you want to raise your potassium levels, I have a few caveats for you.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">In the United States it is illegal to sell supplements that contain more than 100 mg of potassium due to the fact that some people with kidney and/or heart conditions tend to take too much--probably because of some stupid advice they read on a blog post like this one--and it makes them very ill or dead. Maybe both. So right now, while you are still alive and/or conscious, would be a good moment for me to reiterate: rather than take any capsules, just try to eat more eggs, chicken, spinach and melon. And get your electrolyte levels checked by your doctor. Because potassium citrate supplements (which I take) could land you in the Emergency Room. Just because I'm doing them doesn't mean you should. If I jumped off a cliff, would you do it, too? Depends on how long our bungee cords are, am I right? Just kidding. We don't have the energy for bungee jumping.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">No, seriously. Your medical conditions may not be the same as mine. You'll want to do your own research and talk to your own doctors before changing your routine because both magnesium and potassium can really do a number on IBS-D as well as other conditions that tend to show up in people with Fibromyalgia. If you do end up taking potassium supplements, there are many types. Check the Mayo Clinic web site. They list a staggering number of them. Also, why does this blog program keep changing my freaking font and spacing? But I digress.</span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">I could have been in </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">Tour de </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">France if I'd had </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />I bring up potassium for another reason. <span style="color: cyan;">Potassium deficiency can cause weakness, fatigue, muscle cramps and constipation. </span> Those symptoms are pretty common in those with Fibromyalgia. What if--just humor me, here--what if some people who have been diagnosed with Fibro actually have potassium deficiency instead? What if eating bananas, baked potatoes and spinach omelets--which all contain potassium--makes all or some of the Fibro symptoms disappear? What if donuts and cheesecake contain potassium? What if eating large amounts of decadent pastries cures us of potassium deficiency and then Random House contacts me and demands that I sign a half million dollar contract for the rights to publish one of my novels and then everyone dashes into my Etsy shop and buys five tastefully handmade scarves in shades of green and/or teal blue and Santa Claus brings me a BMW for Christmas and world hunger gets solved tomorrow and Democrats and Republicans all start to work together for a brighter and better America? We just don't know. But I will keep eating spinach salads and hope for the best.<br /><br />dj runnels <br /><br /> Visit my <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/LifesAnExpedition">Etsy</a> shop, pretty pleeeeeeeease.<br /><br /></span><br />
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lifesanexpeditionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08335048011002914005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6457141235673049464.post-28738192101326634992018-06-13T12:48:00.004-05:002023-04-20T11:00:05.347-05:00If your Etsy shop has low views and low sales<br />
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Beaded detail on</div>
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</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I just received my 1,111th feedback review on Etsy and I am honored that so many people felt compelled to say something nice about what I shipped them. They didn't have to. I appreciate that they did. I posted this in the Etsy forums along with the following insights.<br /><br />Sometimes people come into the Etsy forums and ask, "How can I get customers to leave a review?" My answer to this is, "By providing a good product, shipped on time, with a friendly note of thanks." That's it. I know many of you are tempted to ask customers to leave you a review, but that's awkward, not necessary and could even backfire on you. Just do a good job, ship fast and be friendly. My customers know that I am a cheerful sort. (Okay, maybe more wacky than cheerful, but whatever...) And your customers will pick up the vibe you convey, too</span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /> <br /> </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I know many of you are discouraged by sagging views and decreasing sales. And you come to the forums seeking advice. Most of the advice you get will be to improve your SEO and photos or to add more merchandise. The sellers who generously take the time to study your shop and offer this advice are often giving you very good advice. Please listen to them. Don't tell them why you can't do it. They are often telling you what you need to know, even if you don't agree. But please also remember that with 53 million listings on Etsy, you may need to make more ruthless changes than simply modifying the SEO. I will never say the following to your face when you come to the forums begging for help, but getting good sales goes beyond tags and photos. (Deep breath.) </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>Many jewelry makers are creating a style of jewelry that is allllllll over the site; consider branching out into making lanyards and eyeglass holders and pieces less ubiquitous so that you can be found in more categories. Make jewelry for women, men, children. Branch out. If you want to make hand-stamped metalwork bracelets, make yours different from what is already out there. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /><br />If you are addicted to crocheting scarves, try to make yours a little different from the many solid-color acrylic ones so you can compete with the HALF MILLION scarves that are listed in the fall/winter. I know it's comforting to make what you like, the way you like it, in the cheapest yarn you can find, using a solid color. But you do not stand out when you do this.</span> </span><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Be nice. Don't copy my work!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br /></span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">If you're going to make calligraphy farmhouse signs, try to come up with fresh quotes that other sellers are not using. Choose quotes that have a searchable word in them and aim for specific rather than vague. Target demographic groups: nurses, Capricorns, step-families, soccer moms, fishing enthusiasts. Make sure your sign is legible because many of them are not. (You think that they are. But they're not. I see them all day long and I can't read half of them.) Consider using a different font so that you will stand out.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">If you make greeting cards and your sales are screeching to a halt, it might be because some demographics are buying fewer greeting cards than they used to, in part because they believe in sustainability and it feels wrong to them to buy cards when they can simply send an email instead and, in so doing, save a tree. Stop! I see that you want to argue with me. You are wasting your breath. I didn't single handedly change our culture. It is a trend and you must find a way to adapt and face reality. Try making greeting cards that are targeted to a much narrower niche. "Happy Birthday to my favorite teacher." People search on the word teacher. And rock climber. And football. And doctor. And Nevada. Incorporate searchable key words into your work and watch the rock climbers and doctors and people of Nevada flock to you. You may be thinking, "Those take forever to sell." But nobody wants a generic birthday card. Or if they do, you have too much competition already and you will not be found in search. Alternatively, consider making some other sort of paper products.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">What was popular in 2010 may not be in demand any more. It isn't a condemnation of your skills. It's a matter of supply and demand.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Fail.</span></div>
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</span><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">It was a sad but realistic day when I realized that few people want my clever hand-felted coasters. There's nothing wrong with the ones I make. There are just too many coasters on Etsy and the supply exceeds the demand. Coasters appeal to an older audience, eager to protect their valuable wood furniture, whereas Etsy shoppers are skewed towards the under 50. Please don't write to me and say, "Oh, yeah? Well, I'm over 50 and I shop on Etsy!" That may be, but the majority of Etsy shoppers apparently are less concerned about leaving latte rings on their Ikea coffee tables. I have other stories like this. Numerous stories. I tried something; it underperformed; I moved on. I don't just blindly continue making something that isn't selling well. I try to figure out why something isn't selling. But if I can't figure it out, that doesn't mean I stubbornly keep on making it.</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">This happens to all of us. Here is a cowl neckwarmer that can also be worn as a hood or dread wrap. What's wrong with that? I don't know. It sells, but slowly. Do I go into the Etsy forums and wail, "What am I doing wrongggggg? Why isn't this selling? Is it my tags?" No. I tried adding accents to them, such as felted leaves. I made them in a variety of colors for men and women. I used a male model for some of the listings. I changed photos. Finally, I faced reality and I quit making them. Do you like it? Go look in my shop. You can get one at a reduced price. You're welcome.</span><br /><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">dj runnels</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: "times" , "quot"; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Visit my <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/LifesAnExpedition" target="_blank">Etsy</a></span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div>
lifesanexpeditionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08335048011002914005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6457141235673049464.post-55483820312001777382017-10-01T13:07:00.000-05:002018-06-13T15:18:20.517-05:00Wait, what? Multistrand yarn? What is that?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRzzpmKY4mhDx5MjPwy-aZhideAXwr4VPOFTgRE_sgrxyIc1VYkjKkaEQgphxotCv2CKzoeJHBEGaRNlB5uE54Y6zPVRyelZCnTwP5eHpdfZX4bA595uFX8jRkYnHXSZoKeSB-4tlaONo/s1600/frenchmorocco3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="494" data-original-width="651" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRzzpmKY4mhDx5MjPwy-aZhideAXwr4VPOFTgRE_sgrxyIc1VYkjKkaEQgphxotCv2CKzoeJHBEGaRNlB5uE54Y6zPVRyelZCnTwP5eHpdfZX4bA595uFX8jRkYnHXSZoKeSB-4tlaONo/s400/frenchmorocco3.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
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<span style="color: white;">French Morocco by Life's an Expedition. </span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">Exclusively on Etsy in the lifesanexpedition store.</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">Life's an Expedition multistrand yarn is composed of multiple strands that have not been plied. If your jaw is on the floor right now, pick it back up while I wait...Okay? Ready? It's not hard to use. I knit with it in a dimly lit room while watching TV using double-pointed needles and trust me, I am not the greatest knitter who ever lived. Granted, if you just learned to knit last week, you won't be able to use it without practice, but if you are an advanced beginner, you should be able to get the hang of it pretty quickly. I've been winding it and selling it online since 2003 and only know of two people who simply threw up their hands and gave up.</span></h4>
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<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiagUa7tCXzFH1cb1vgFKYJ3z662-jXamtnQWcTjz0AanZ6-RtV_MHWRU7uf6senyZmxndeuYwcDXks2z1THvDepzJmYH_tzuX8J4yvXezM2wVbAd7BNeQ-EGks1dDAa91Q-MXyHDQdPZ8/s1600/taos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white;"></span><br /></a></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi05MVCYRGxEVIL85Xo3DD0-ODPkDAdOMoL0JPqGzX-LEiqHIwbYsuubCTsHqLkRrnqCbCE370sfrN7vLXIitQN3AUzeSlOVAFGBTmACOvO83GQYsufx37FKPeQVEALIupVr8xZSWzKzE8/s1600/mens_browngreenmulti820.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1161" data-original-width="880" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi05MVCYRGxEVIL85Xo3DD0-ODPkDAdOMoL0JPqGzX-LEiqHIwbYsuubCTsHqLkRrnqCbCE370sfrN7vLXIitQN3AUzeSlOVAFGBTmACOvO83GQYsufx37FKPeQVEALIupVr8xZSWzKzE8/s400/mens_browngreenmulti820.jpg" width="302" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">Proof that it can be done. Ta da!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><big><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times" , serif;"><span style="color: white;"><b>Beginners:</b> I recommend getting comfortable with a single strand first. If you feel you know what you're doing with one strand, you can eventually handle two. Then three. Then more. Begin with large needles and work your way down to medium needles. I don't think I have ever used my brand of multistrand yarn on size 4 needles or smaller, but that's not a big concern, since I seldom make any multistrand yarn in a gauge smaller than DK. <br /><br /><b> Your biggest challenge</b> will be to knit each stitch in its entirety, without dropping a couple of strands. But if you get most of the strands into the stitch and drop the rest--I know, I know, the very thought creeps you out and I feel uncomfortable writing this--but even if it happens, your project will NOT unravel and with all those colors going on, your mistakes will be less noticeable. </span></span></big></span><br />
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><big><span style="color: white; font-family: "times new roman" , "times" , serif;"><br /></span></big></span>
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><big><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times" , serif;"><span style="color: white;">In some ways, it's actually<b> easier</b> than single strand knitting, in which every stitch counts and every mistake shows and every dropped stitch means chaos and frogging. And I'm the sort of person who hates to rip out rows and redo it. (Admit it. You hate it, too.)</span></span></big></span><br />
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><big><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times" , serif;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><br /><b>Visit Life's an Expedition on Etsy.</b></span></span></span></big></span><br />
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><big><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times" , serif;"><span style="color: white;"><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"></span><a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/LifesAnExpedition?" target="_blank">https://www.etsy.com/shop/LifesAnExpedition?</a><br />A second problem</b> you may encounter when you're using multiple strands is that one </span></span></big></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOxwajbBG2P1kLQiPCPaSEfdFgtrUJURsEGIzHX9p-7uq82x3zz13ndKKTLX8NExJ9zJLnCQaF7hqA7HREuqOdeek4n_ihBI_PRMQDHsQ2NK_LVaUhJBV71vPxLYFPvfETToEe0rM6zJk/s1600/medievalviolets3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="463" data-original-width="462" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOxwajbBG2P1kLQiPCPaSEfdFgtrUJURsEGIzHX9p-7uq82x3zz13ndKKTLX8NExJ9zJLnCQaF7hqA7HREuqOdeek4n_ihBI_PRMQDHsQ2NK_LVaUhJBV71vPxLYFPvfETToEe0rM6zJk/s400/medievalviolets3.jpg" width="398" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">One of my customers made this with Medieval Violets.</span></td></tr>
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</span></big></span><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><big><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times" , serif;">
<span style="color: white;">strand will sometimes be stretched out or seem "longer" than the others as you work your project. Chenille yarn is notorious for this. If you reach the end of a row--that is, you're on a seam--and your piece has a right side and a wrong side, go ahead and tie up the slack on the pesky strand that is too long. Then when you sew up the seams, you can incorporate the slack into the seam. </span></span></big></span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><big><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times" , serif;"><b>What if you don't have a seam?</b> What if you're making something like a blanket, without a right side or wrong side? You can loop the "longer" strand around the needle a second time as often as needed to make it catch up with the strands. I have created yarns in which I never had to do this at all throughout the entire project. But sooner or later, most multi-strand knitters face the problem of uneven strands. </span></big></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><big><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times" , serif;"><span style="color: white;"> </span><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBkHFyqYjNVQ-vmExkjHqEMPPkvbxOOM4RzIg8OxnTovLDLUR2bqagMSL3sETIFjTJtM-bPL4_ycfdsu1nHeEXVsza3dhJg2Y4xMfm6PxxjnbbOJj20_h5gMFR9mHcIsg3R0NUl11XRVE/s1600/zenithstar2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="422" data-original-width="430" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBkHFyqYjNVQ-vmExkjHqEMPPkvbxOOM4RzIg8OxnTovLDLUR2bqagMSL3sETIFjTJtM-bPL4_ycfdsu1nHeEXVsza3dhJg2Y4xMfm6PxxjnbbOJj20_h5gMFR9mHcIsg3R0NUl11XRVE/s400/zenithstar2.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">Zenith Star. Only in my Etsy shop: LifesAnExpedition</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiagUa7tCXzFH1cb1vgFKYJ3z662-jXamtnQWcTjz0AanZ6-RtV_MHWRU7uf6senyZmxndeuYwcDXks2z1THvDepzJmYH_tzuX8J4yvXezM2wVbAd7BNeQ-EGks1dDAa91Q-MXyHDQdPZ8/s1600/taos.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></a></span></big></span><br />
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><big><span style="color: white; font-family: "times new roman" , "times" , serif;">Or sometimes I see it happen when some of the strands are much thinner and/or a different fiber than the others. It has not put me off of multi-strand knitting, but someone who is using multiple strands for the first time might freak. Just remember, most knitters DO get the hang of it and if you are clever about fudging the yarn a bit here and there, you will relax. </span></big></span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br /></span> <span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><big><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times" , serif;">Knitters and crocheters who are really into elaborate stitches sometimes resist the notion of multiple strands, because they have so much going on just following the pattern. I can understand that. Multistrand knitting is easier when you are doing a straight garter or stockinette with minimal increases, decreases or shaping. But I've done seed stitch and ribbing with multiple strands and loved the results. And I've had customers go on an entrelac binge with Life's an Expedition yarn. And I wove countless scarves with it, despite the special challenges that a weaving loom presents. I'm not good at crocheting with it, but frankly, I'm not good at traditional crochet.</span></big></span></span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br /></span> <span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><big><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times" , serif;">Lastly, someone who is super-picky about their craft might never enjoy it. Also, anyone who is devoted to knitting socks or anything on very small needles might not have the patience for multi strands. Good luck to you. I re-post this same article every year or two so that people can find it more easily. If I haven't convinced you yet that you will likely get the hang of multistrand yarn and actually like it, I will point out that I have a number of customers who have purchased over $1,000 worth of it from me over the years.</span></big></span></span><br />
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<h4>
<span style="color: white;">dj runnels</span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="color: white;">Follow me on Instagram: lifesanexpedition</span></h4>
lifesanexpeditionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08335048011002914005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6457141235673049464.post-48985709592035669302017-03-11T13:27:00.001-06:002023-04-20T11:02:11.873-05:00Fibromyalgia, Part 1: I'm fighting it, dammit.<span style="font-size: large;">I hold back from mentioning that I have Fibromyalgia because a lot of people jump in with, "Oh, yeah, I am tired, too." And this comment will generally come from someone who does not have debilitating chronic fatigue--one of the hallmarks of Fibromyalgia--and the only reason they're tired is because they stayed up binge-watching Game of Thrones until 3am. These people probably don't mean to be insensitive by glossing over my massive fatigue issues, but they still irritate me. I struggle not to stab them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So I don't mention Fibro very often. Also, I don't want to be viewed as someone with medical issues. I prefer to be treated as a feisty person who fights back when there's an illness.</span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipneAa7J3asyYxvRrmQo3rChLnAb3467smocfpV_gBonAWVoI20u5y7wEp1cYypLkO1_qhtxLCOm-VRY4uoQ-p2_krVESmGSGidxRt7-VBdJhOgD3rlF_TqD9XWYw6LZDUCKhOxmJ6JeY/s1600/halloween.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipneAa7J3asyYxvRrmQo3rChLnAb3467smocfpV_gBonAWVoI20u5y7wEp1cYypLkO1_qhtxLCOm-VRY4uoQ-p2_krVESmGSGidxRt7-VBdJhOgD3rlF_TqD9XWYw6LZDUCKhOxmJ6JeY/s400/halloween.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fibro is like the Walking Dead. But with lying down instead of walking.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Some people sit and listen quietly in the doctor's office and take whatever prescription is handed to them, no questions asked. I'm not that way. I do exhaustive internet searches, go to the doctor with a list of blood tests I think I might need and try every supplement or food group that I suspect might make me healthier. One year, I drank carrot juice virtually every day. For a <i>year</i>. I do not go down without a fight or... at least, I fight when I have the energy. Energy is a key concept here. It's hard to fight when you don't have any energy. Coffee can only do so much. Sometimes coffee doesn't do anything. And sometimes, coffee actually makes it worse.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: magenta;">This is it in a nutshell: two of the biggest components of Fibromyalgia are fatigue and pain. </span> That's on a good day. On a bad day, it's bone-crushing fatigue and flu-like body aches. </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNJrvgNl2mlWY-PZ2DSoCSHH0bzxAKCHsDwPIFr9S3d5umhotYI4huxeA0X1V4LtH1OFlF6L6RTvjjW6XKUdV56ARy-wA95mkh7AEfyytlDzVa0ZaHfXTQK5yTy7uzh-qLGrLCzh34LkE/s1600/sunset.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="337" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNJrvgNl2mlWY-PZ2DSoCSHH0bzxAKCHsDwPIFr9S3d5umhotYI4huxeA0X1V4LtH1OFlF6L6RTvjjW6XKUdV56ARy-wA95mkh7AEfyytlDzVa0ZaHfXTQK5yTy7uzh-qLGrLCzh34LkE/s400/sunset.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> There will be a sunrise tomorrow! But you will sleep thru it.</td></tr>
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</span><span style="font-size: large;">
But there are many other symptoms of Fibromyalgia, plus over-lapping or "comorbid" conditions that go along with it. These include: </span><span style="font-size: medium;">Multiple Sclerosis, Celiac Disease, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Discoid Lupus, Hypothyroidism, </span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Sjogren's Syndrome, Periodic Limb Movement
Disorder, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Interstitial Cystitis, Adrenal
Fatigue,</span> </span>Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Myofascial Pain Syndrome, Gulf War Syndrome, Restless Leg Syndrome, ADD, ADHD, PCOS, </span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> "Fibro Fog" and problems with cognition, </span>(I'm getting tired of capitalizing letters, so...)</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> weird allergies that come out of nowhere,</span> </span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;">migraines, </span></span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;">gluten sensitivity, rheumatoid arthritis, </span>hypoglycemia, type 2 diabetes,</span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> insulin resistance, </span></span></span>multiple chemical sensitivities, osteoarthritis, insomnia, sleep apnea, depression, anxiety, paresthesias, psoriasis, swelling, inflammation, urinary problems, a lot of digestive issues, </span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;">temporomandibular joint dysfunction,</span> extreme sensitivity to touch or temperature or light or noise or barometric pressure... Read more about co-morbid conditions </span><span style="font-size: medium;">on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fibromyalgia" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a>. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I won't get specific, but I either had or still have roughly 28<b><span style="color: yellow;"> </span></b>of those conditions. Oh, I'm sorry, you don't seem to be reacting. <span style="color: yellow;"> <span style="font-size: x-large;">28</span></span>! [Painful emoji.] So with that many issues going on, my research and trial treatments are an ongoing juggling act. Because lying in bad 24/7 doesn't fix this thing. Sometimes it's necessary, but sometimes I get up anyway and try one of my many little secret half-cures. And I have found ways to feel better, at least regarding the Fibro symptoms. So I want to share those in a series of short blog posts, because I'm too tired to write long blog posts. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWYCq9NlUVnBP5odp_kdhPpRRmy5Zg6bq47eiAztysgQ88Xk6ZQGNQHzQDvaCY9DcbK2kmC0Gl-CSTtiyCnTCq2TWbUpslMwxxQNcLQp4eC8-8vtahbjHh4GiA6kxBNMTgCTlAIgLS-Mk/s1600/IMG_0266.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWYCq9NlUVnBP5odp_kdhPpRRmy5Zg6bq47eiAztysgQ88Xk6ZQGNQHzQDvaCY9DcbK2kmC0Gl-CSTtiyCnTCq2TWbUpslMwxxQNcLQp4eC8-8vtahbjHh4GiA6kxBNMTgCTlAIgLS-Mk/s400/IMG_0266.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Corn sensitivities are NOT fun, just in case you wondered.</td></tr>
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Corn sensitivities are one of my key issues. If I eat corn, corn muffins, popcorn, corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup or any of the seemingly billions of food products made from corn, I feel worse. It might be because of GMO corn problems or because corn is high glycemic. I don't know what the reason is. But corn is an issue. So I lug around a list of corn products to avoid when I shop for food or eat out. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Such a hassle.<br />
<br />No, no, wait. That sounds negative. So let's find another way to word this: <span style="color: magenta;">Good news!</span> I found out corn triggers my Fibro symptoms! That means all I have to do is avoid corn products and I will feel better at least some of the time, even if I change nothing else! You see what I did there? That's called being positive and proactive instead of giving up. It's not easy to stay positive, but I have no intentions of writing a horrible, whiny, downer of an article that makes both me and you feel hopeless about Fibro. I do not feel hopeless every day, all day long. And it is my wish for the world that no one with Fibro will feel hopeless 100% of the time. I can't make you put a positive spin on this. I'm just saying that there are ways to fight back. I'm doing it. Maybe you can, too. I don't know how bad your symptoms are, of course, and I don't know how many co-morbid conditions you have, but maybe I have some insights that will help you. </span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5y5wYP1jD_a9QQLoN798C7pMfS37Ebq8X-OBot-uEkTmciDdFRPbN87A951iSAh94YCljMGk6JQ36isTzjdnmDqxix5bbfWfLdLNxg9_B-_ocf_QZuQBeFtvG-IjJSGzqZAAiwAETy5c/s1600/halloween2011c.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="493" data-original-width="525" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5y5wYP1jD_a9QQLoN798C7pMfS37Ebq8X-OBot-uEkTmciDdFRPbN87A951iSAh94YCljMGk6JQ36isTzjdnmDqxix5bbfWfLdLNxg9_B-_ocf_QZuQBeFtvG-IjJSGzqZAAiwAETy5c/s320/halloween2011c.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Did I mention Fibro migraines? Oy!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;">Now let's talk about </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: orange;">magnesium</span>. Apparently, many people with Fibromyalgia have magnesium deficiencies and don't know it, so taking a larger dose may help you. It helps me enormously. It decreases my pain and my insomnia especially. I can't say enough good things about magnesium citrate. (Other forms I tried were less effective.) </span><span style="font-size: large;">But please keep in mind that your conditions may not match my conditions and you'll want to do your own research and talk to your own doctors before changing your routine. Magnesium can mess up your guts if you also have have IBS-D. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Also you might <i>not</i> have corn sensitivities, so just because I am depriving myself of the sweet buttery goodness of big, brimmin' bowlfuls of grits doesn't mean you have to. Please, don't just blindly follow what some humorous, witty, beautiful and talented stranger like me does. (Stop! You're too kind.) Be proactive and find out what works for your set of conditions. Fight back when you have an ounce of energy and maybe you can make this experience a little less miserable. For now, if you want to slink back under the bed covers, I will understand. Talk to ya later.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">dj runnels </span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">Despite having chronic illness issues, I somehow magically manage to run a large and successful shop called <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/LifesAnExpedition?" target="_blank">Life's an Expedition</a> on Etsy. Go figure. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<br />lifesanexpeditionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08335048011002914005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6457141235673049464.post-30011824681485042272014-11-12T15:52:00.000-06:002017-10-01T13:57:13.907-05:00Figuring out fiber content in fabric and yarnsWhenever I try to diagnose the fibers in "mystery fabrics" or yarns with missing labels, I find the information online to be <i>very</i> hard to follow, so I came up with this flow chart to make it slightly simpler. It's only accurate for fabrics and yarns that are primarily <i>one</i> fiber. An awful lot of yarns are blends and those are harder to test.<br />
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Hope you can read this. If it's too small, you might try holding the Control key and clicking the plus sign next to your backspace key. The plus sign enlarges; the minus sign decreases. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiV94J6yvHD12NXnf_tn2JD0qNZSd4hGf2ddiEUGfHmdYFfCaPgye6wAuHxyHVXIXNzOplJI0pzFWGk2il0uTUVwqSuNb2oV6jzKjNNSXx07SKa_DqVc9AasmEnQUiRimlseiKdu0QcWQ/s1600/casablanca5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiV94J6yvHD12NXnf_tn2JD0qNZSd4hGf2ddiEUGfHmdYFfCaPgye6wAuHxyHVXIXNzOplJI0pzFWGk2il0uTUVwqSuNb2oV6jzKjNNSXx07SKa_DqVc9AasmEnQUiRimlseiKdu0QcWQ/s200/casablanca5.jpg" width="198" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Casablanca </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHpq5CHrD_KL0juSrj9gV2X0D8uIa9pbcRwKirGA22uzNt-1K32pcZfiYN9L3F50pyp1dbYoAANvj1OFkvdjFRmqlgZX9q1TxKx1dfp-X51kftAAqDFzchXiHrNIuOd3SrNgYM1AeW-10/s1600/castlegold2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHpq5CHrD_KL0juSrj9gV2X0D8uIa9pbcRwKirGA22uzNt-1K32pcZfiYN9L3F50pyp1dbYoAANvj1OFkvdjFRmqlgZX9q1TxKx1dfp-X51kftAAqDFzchXiHrNIuOd3SrNgYM1AeW-10/s200/castlegold2.jpg" width="151" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Castle Gold</td></tr>
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The two yarns shown here, by the way, are by Life's an Expedition yarns and are listed on Etsy. But the chart above won't help you discern fiber content of Life's an Expedition yarns, because they are mostly blends. Many of them have four or more different fibers in them. Then again, most of my yarns already have fiber content listed on the label unless it's one of our big destash listings.<br />
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Have fun.<br />
dj runnels<br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/Visit%20Life's%20an%20Expedition%20on%20Etsy.%20https://www.etsy.com/shop/LifesAnExpedition?" target="_blank">Visit Life's an Expedition on Etsy.</a></span></b></span>lifesanexpeditionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08335048011002914005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6457141235673049464.post-16646244344491128402014-10-24T12:05:00.000-05:002017-10-05T13:51:46.801-05:00Cheap background for your Etsy, Ebay, Artfire, Zibbet photos<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHI30daQHBdila3yqwnhj1HAPjWpoWD7E3z84r5-FKGvFv2GhgcgGt4juGUc7xpFALVb8jaTDc6-SGbbklWhV0pm-UMiIJkB5ak2M7wXihEJnSa-l5eFPxqVE50TPV12O93GrVwOc17gI/s1600/photographydisplay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHI30daQHBdila3yqwnhj1HAPjWpoWD7E3z84r5-FKGvFv2GhgcgGt4juGUc7xpFALVb8jaTDc6-SGbbklWhV0pm-UMiIJkB5ak2M7wXihEJnSa-l5eFPxqVE50TPV12O93GrVwOc17gI/s1600/photographydisplay.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHI30daQHBdila3yqwnhj1HAPjWpoWD7E3z84r5-FKGvFv2GhgcgGt4juGUc7xpFALVb8jaTDc6-SGbbklWhV0pm-UMiIJkB5ak2M7wXihEJnSa-l5eFPxqVE50TPV12O93GrVwOc17gI/s1600/photographydisplay.jpg" width="300" /></a>If you sell online but aren't quite ready to invest in an elaborate photography backdrop and light box for your product shots, here's a solution that costs about $10. You know those white fold-up displays that kids use for science fair projects? They sell them at Target and similar stores near the school and office supplies. Here's what the package looks like.<br />
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Be careful opening it, because although it is sturdy, the edges chip easily. It's not a huge deal, since you will crop that part out of your photos.<br />
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Once out of the cellophane, the board opens up into a three-panel piece of foam board, about 1/4" thick that you can set up near a window in your home or apartment. Choose the best window you can, because the light you get will make an enormous difference in your photos. Natural light gives your product the most natural, accurate color and often alleviates the need for a flash, which can make your product look creepy strange if you don't use it right. You'll have to experiment regarding the time of day and strength of light available, but soon you'll find the ideal window. Often a slightly overcast day with a cloudy white sky works best. Sometimes bright sunlight works if it's indirect, not streaming in directly onto the display board. If you live in an urban apartment very close to another building or on an immense estate surrounded by trees (I hate you, by the way), you may not be able to find good natural light. You might try taking the display board outdoors to use in light, overcast conditions. <br />
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So here is my closed, folded up display board on my dining table. Doesn't look very bright in that room, does it? But it will work fine. I am laying the board horizontally and I will use the large middle panel for arranging the merchandise I want to
photograph. I will use one of the short panels to hide whatever garbage may
be on my dining table.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8BcHIT5riuklgwN2iL3FZGpLuwxth3wnORqrl5WxlckHAWfqiwsYR0nPQtQcT4LIDq5VtDagePS_0HH64qKW8P8XN9hmmaYvQr0Uu_NQRfMcChVEMJXsbzevdgLlT8jkS49ZJZH5vdNU/s1600/photographydisplay2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8BcHIT5riuklgwN2iL3FZGpLuwxth3wnORqrl5WxlckHAWfqiwsYR0nPQtQcT4LIDq5VtDagePS_0HH64qKW8P8XN9hmmaYvQr0Uu_NQRfMcChVEMJXsbzevdgLlT8jkS49ZJZH5vdNU/s1600/photographydisplay2.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK2TSsa-IeHO8NsL5gKL_XiaTxbJVThtVRu5YNOazlYVYfN7fkUfuMTPU3BScfm3foCBomR1DHl_KfkBN0qEIaMmElni-etu5WEOnL2vETbspfuqb_LsjqJQy7sfPvCyOxEfnkLyOIUCs/s1600/photographydisplay4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a></div>
Today I arranged to have an exceptional amount of junk on my table, just for you. The curtain rod in my dining room fell and I haven't put it back up. I can't open the other curtain until I do, because if I attempt it, the other rod could fall. Meanwhile, my husband has a stack of bills he has to pay. And there's a library book he is reading. Plus I have a stack of photos in frames that I am going to do something creative with.<br />
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So now I open up one of the flaps of the board to hide the aforementioned junk.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFUVcwD1CdkdRHUpKhGPmrsXRwtNYn69JIeAON_o971hfJ5TTRcbsBHDdXwslDNItEkr0rzABMQpcNCR-ON0epo6mX7pmYW-9mYLxsMby667zw48unIY1Qu_6zv2SmCOzR0zkx_FqH0ak/s1600/photographydisplay3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFUVcwD1CdkdRHUpKhGPmrsXRwtNYn69JIeAON_o971hfJ5TTRcbsBHDdXwslDNItEkr0rzABMQpcNCR-ON0epo6mX7pmYW-9mYLxsMby667zw48unIY1Qu_6zv2SmCOzR0zkx_FqH0ak/s1600/photographydisplay3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I will place my product on the widest section of the board. If I don't
need the other short panel--which is now closest to me--I may simply tilt it up
and let it reflect light onto the merchandise. If the whole reflective thing is too confusing
or doesn't work for you, don't worry about it. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK2TSsa-IeHO8NsL5gKL_XiaTxbJVThtVRu5YNOazlYVYfN7fkUfuMTPU3BScfm3foCBomR1DHl_KfkBN0qEIaMmElni-etu5WEOnL2vETbspfuqb_LsjqJQy7sfPvCyOxEfnkLyOIUCs/s1600/photographydisplay4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK2TSsa-IeHO8NsL5gKL_XiaTxbJVThtVRu5YNOazlYVYfN7fkUfuMTPU3BScfm3foCBomR1DHl_KfkBN0qEIaMmElni-etu5WEOnL2vETbspfuqb_LsjqJQy7sfPvCyOxEfnkLyOIUCs/s1600/photographydisplay4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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This is my product, a cowl neck scarf, photographed against the main part of the same board, on the same day, using only the light from a window to my right. I cropped out all the debris and hoopla on the dining table and all we see is my hand knit cowl surrounded by lots of white.<br />
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If you sell on Etsy, you know having a white background is uber important. Etsy.com is loaded with white, so having crisp photos with white backgrounds enhances the Etsy look. Some people don't like the Etsy look, but I think those who embrace it tend to have better sales. There are exceptions. But I digress. Also, if you sell on other online sites, it is still a giant plus to use a stark white background, because it puts focus on your product and makes for a sophisticated photograph. I truly believe that a photo can make or break a sale. I have seen what is probably perfectly viable merchandise online that I nevertheless didn't purchase merely because the photo was so dark or blurry that I wasn't confident it was what I wanted.<br />
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When I am finished taking the photos I need--and I will take a <i>lot</i>, because another mistake that sellers sometimes make is showing only one photo when they could have shown 5 or 10. Wait, where was I? Oh, yes, when I'm through taking photos, I will fold up the board and put it to the side of a shelf in my dining room, where it is unobtrusive and less likely to get kicked or scratched.<br />
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Now I need to figure out how to get that pesky curtain rod back up.<br />
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/Visit%20Life's%20an%20Expedition%20on%20Etsy.%20https://www.etsy.com/shop/LifesAnExpedition?" target="_blank">Visit Life's an Expedition on Etsy.</a><br />
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dj runnels<br />
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<br />lifesanexpeditionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08335048011002914005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6457141235673049464.post-33052440298344042652014-06-29T11:30:00.000-05:002015-12-18T12:35:50.523-06:00Losing Hope: a short story by dj runnels<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><b>Most middle-of-the-night phone
calls </b>in my house are wrong numbers. That is my
first thought one night, shortly after New Year's, when the phone rings.
And without looking at the clock, I know it can't be past midnight,
because I'm not groggy enough to have been asleep that long. Still,
I'm in no mood to deal with someone who can't dial a phone correctly.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">I let my husband answer
it. It’s not a wrong number. And something is clearly wrong.
He listens to the caller for many minutes, responding in brief non-sentences.
Uh-huh...Oh, no...Oh, my God...</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">He sits with his head in his
hand. I cannot see his face, but I watch his back, hunched forward
with despair. Now as I lie on my back, my eyes scan the darkened room,
trying to guess whom the caller could be. My intense curiosity to know
what has happened is choked with dread. Someone very close to us must
be injured or seriously ill for us to get a call at this hour. My mother?
His mother? Perhaps his sister lost the baby.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">I should tug at his
arm and whisper, “Who is it?” But he will not be distracted whenever
he is on the phone. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">I hear him ask, “Well,
was anyone else in the car?”</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><b>A car accident. </b> That doesn’t narrow the field of possible victims. We all
have cars. I sit up, mentally stumbling down a list of people who
might consider it urgent that we know about a car accident.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">“What about Darren?”</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">Finally, a name!
But it’s not a family member. The only Darren I can think of is my
friend Tania’s husband. I press my hand to my mouth. Not Tania.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">“God be with you,”
my not-usually-this-religious husband tells the caller. “And thanks
for letting us know.” He hangs up quietly. Sighs. Then
turns to face me, although I can’t see him in the dim light. I am
on the verge of hyperventilating. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">“Tania was in a car
accident on Barrington Road. She’s in the hospital.”</span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">I swallow.
“Then she’s not dead?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">“I guess she’s in serious
condition. Something to do with a kidney.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">He waits, not wanting
to continue.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">“And?” Curiosity
conquers my dread.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">He tells me all he
has learned about the accident from another neighbor, who was kind enough to phone us. Tania
had just picked up her daughter Hope from preschool when an oncoming snowplow
lost control and rammed into her station wagon. Later we would read
in the papers that the plow had peeled the car open like a can opener.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><b>“Hope was killed,” he says.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><b> </b><br />
</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">Seldom do I notice
the brutality of this word: killed. It starts with a crisp K
sound. It has only one blunt, choppy syllable. It conjures images of
knives and explosions and violent encounters of the sort seen mostly on bad
TV dramas. And it doesn't belong in the same sentence as Hope.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><b>Hope. Age
five. </b> Glossy black hair in a little-girl bob. Tanned skin
glistening with water droplets from having just jumped over the lawn sprinkler.
(“Pinkler,” she used to call it.) Five or six neighborhood kids shivering,
grabbing towels. “Does anyone want a drink?” Tania emerging
from her screen door with a pitcher of lemonade and small plastic cups in
purple, yellow and turquoise. I regale Tania with some witty nonsense
about my job. But we keep our eyes on the kids. Hope is
squealing and running ahead of the others. An out-going child.
Warm and sunny.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><b>Summers with Hope
stretch out endlessly.</b> Chalk pictures on the driveway—fish, houses
and ABC’s. Kids comparing their bright red or orange tongues after
slurping down Popsicles. Tubes of sunscreen falling through the webbing
of lawn chairs. The Big Contest: who would be first to ride a
bike without training wheels. Huge bandages covering miniscule boo-boos.
My son helping Hope shovel sand into a plastic bowl in the sandbox, where
they are building a parking garage.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">The last time I saw
Hope was December 27, in the Disney aisle at a video store. Did
you have a good Christmas, I asked her? Her little Dalmatians hat
bobs with every turn of her head. She wants to get home and watch her <span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">movie</span>, not chat with the neighbor lady. But I’m not through showing what
a good friend I am. I ask what Santa brought her. She says she
doesn’t know. I quip, “Can’t remember? Must have been good stuff!” Those were my last
words to her. A bit of sarcasm, then a casual dismissal. See
ya later. And now the child is dead.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><b>My husband and I
cannot fall back asleep.</b> I will not sleep for the next three nights
but will give in and take a sleeping pill on the fourth night. Like
somnambulistic sentries, we march sluggishly past the night-lights in our
hallway to check on our own two children, a boy and a girl, each asleep
in warm, flannel oblivion. How will we tell them the girl they played
with for four years—through sprinklers, across the grass, in the sandbox,
running, laughing---is dead? How to explain death to a child, when
we don’t understand it ourselves?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">We stand in our five-year-old
daughter’s room and look out her window at Darren and Tania’s house across
the street. There is the dark bedroom window of their five-year-old
daughter, Hope. She should be in there, asleep in her bed, covered
with a Dalmatians bedspread. I can envision her little form lying
there in the dark, perhaps with her mouth half open. But she’s not
in that room. She’s dead. We try and try to hammer this fact
into our heads, but it’s like pushing thumbtacks into cast iron.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">The rest of the night
passes slowly, very surreal, with tears inadequate for their job. I debate
about driving to the hospital to see Tania, but the neighbor who called didn’t specify
which hospital. I don’t want to call her in the middle of the night
to ask, although I can’t imagine that she is asleep, either. Also
I worry that I will drive badly through the cold night in my sleep-deprived
state. Towards dawn, we huddle over coffee mugs and discuss whether
to take the kids to school or not. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">When the children get
up for breakfast, we tell them the news carefully, in stages. They
look at us quietly, eyes turned up to us, the tall and supposedly protective
adults. But we certainly didn’t protect them from Hope’s death, did
we? We answer what few questions they have. Is Hope really, truly
dead? Not just pretending? Yes. (Although we are secretly
hoping it’s all one big mistake.) Was Hope wearing a seat belt?
Yes. But in some accidents, wearing a seat belt doesn’t help.
Why is Hope’s mother in the hospital? We repeat what little we know.
Try to explain what a kidney is. The kids turn quiet. Do you
feel able to go to school? we ask. They nod. They are more
successful at eating breakfast than we were.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><b>The phone rings
and I jump,</b> reminded of the phone call we received during the night.
It’s the school calling to see if I can serve as a substitute teacher today.
I feel a flash of outrage. How dare they ask such a thing when Hope
has just been—? But of course, they have no way of knowing about the
accident.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">“I’m sorry,” I tell
the secretary, “there’s been a—” Not a death in the family.
A death in the extended family? That’s not accurate
either. A death in the circle of friends? That sounds
like a movie title. “There’s been a death.” </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">Wrong thing to say. She
overreacts, thinking it’s one of my children or my husband. </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">“No, no,” I assure her.
“Just a friend’s child.” But that sounds as if Hope is somehow unimportant.
“Look, I can’t even think straight. Please take me off the list for
a couple of weeks. I’ll let you know when I can work again.”
She offers condolences I don’t deserve.</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><b>My
children finish their Cheerios</b> and head upstairs to dress for
school. My husband is in the shower. I remain in the kitchen
staring at the cold snow swirling across our deck. Wishing
I could be in another place and time altogether. Suddenly a sparrow
plows right into the patio glass door and flops to the deck. I clutch
the neck of my purple sweater, watching, hoping the bird is only stunned.
But it lies there motionless, save for the wind ruffling its feathers.
I dash to the bathroom. Over the sound of the shower, I tell my husband
about the bird.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">“I don’t want the kids
to see it!” I wring my hands and pace the steamy room.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">After he is dressed,
my husband goes out on the deck, scoops the bird up with a section of the
Chicago Tribune, then carries it to the field behind our house, where nature
will reclaim it. Evidence removed, the children will never know about
the sparrow. If only we could shield them from Hope’s death so easily. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">I take the kids to
school and inform each of their teachers of the tragedy. They are
acquaintances of mine. I have subbed for each of them. And they,
too, offer sympathy I don’t deserve. I ask them to notify me if my
children exhibit any emotional trauma. Yet my children calmly remove
their coats and placidly proceed to their seats. I am the one tearing
soggy tissues into shreds.</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">En route to the hospital,
a pick-up truck nearly rams into me when I don’t change lanes fast enough
to suit the driver. I shiver, despite my minivan’s powerful heating
system. That’s all that’s standing between me and the Valley of Death:
one guy with road rage. One snowplow. One lightning bolt.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">At the hospital, I
work my way through a rat maze of chemical corridors and cold, metal desks
to find a receptionist who knows where Tania’s room is. But she questions
my identity. Only family members are allowed in intensive care.
The floodgates open. No, I am not a family member, I sob, but I must
see her! This is not an orchestrated sympathy ploy. I am simply
desperate. The receptionist rises, points around a corner and directs
me to Tania’s room. Take this elevator to the third floor, follow
the corridor and something-something-something. I don’t hear all of
it because I can’t believe she’s letting me go there after all.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><b>I go up the elevator
and stumble irritably down the hallway</b> like a toddler who skipped her
nap. This way. No, that way. My face scrunches up in confusion.
I find Hope’s father, floundering about in what looks like yesterday’s
suit. His power tie is loose, having lost all of its power.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">“There was a car accident
and Hope is dead!” Darren blurts, tears streaming. Today, he is not
the controlled lawyer. Today, he is a grief-stricken father.
“They won’t let me see her!”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">
Darren takes me to Tania’s room, where she has recently been placed after being in intensive care. Then he disappears, to continue
his aimless sojourn of the hallway. Tania is lying flat, with pillows
propping one arm and both legs. The IV tubes, I expected. The
monitors going blip-blip, I expected. But she has large purple bruises
under each eye that match my sweater. And in addition to the
kidney, one of her vertebrae is damaged. Had it broken completely,
she would be dead. If it doesn’t heal correctly, she could be paralyzed.
So she must wear a neck brace, which looks like a torture device designed
to squeeze and push her head right off her neck. And on top of all
this, her daughter is dead. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><b>I look for a part
of her not covered with cuts, bruises or tubes. </b> I decide on her
head. I become a human hairbrush, letting my fingers twist their way
through her soft black curls, my fingernails barely skimming her scalp.
Little did she know, when she used the curling iron yesterday morning, that
she would be lying here the next day--the curl still there, the daughter
gone. It is strange to touch someone outside of my family this intimately.
But it is one of the best ways to comfort my children when they awaken
from a nightmare or become ill. It either soothes Tania a little
or she pretends it does. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">“I’m glad you’re alive,”
is one of the few things I say to her. But I can’t leave without murmuring
the standard if-there’s-anything-I-can-do. </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"> And she gives me a job.
Her laundry is piling up at home, she says.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">“I’m the queen of laundry,”
I say with a smile. Laundry is my least-hated household chore.
And I’m relieved she </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">didn’t give me the grim task
of notifying family members of Hope’s death.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><b>But I didn’t realize
until I had her baskets of laundry in my house</b>,
and began loading my
washer, that Hope’s clothes would be in there. I see tiny Winnie
the Pooh shirts that I remember her wearing. I pile them around the
agitator, feeling agitated myself. I see knee smudges on a pair of
floral leggings and squirt them with stain remover. Hope will never
wear them again, but I treat them with care, knowing they were hers.
I use sweet-smelling fabric softener. I fold everything as neatly
as you might see it in a department store.
I weep over tiny underwear, over socks no longer than a watchband.
I think of all the clothes Hope must have in her dresser and closet at home.
I remember the red dress I gave her for her last birthday. I chose
red because it looked so good with her shiny black hair.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">Then a thought hits
me: What if Hope was wearing that birthday dress when she was killed?
The concept overwhelms me. Well, what if she was? Would it make
me somehow responsible for her death? Illogical. Would her
parents remember the dead child in the red dress, forever equating me with
her death? Not likely, since Tania was knocked unconscious.
Darren never saw the body, either, as he drove straight from work to the
hospital and the officials there would not allow him to see her. So
why should I care if Hope wore that particular dress the day of the accident?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">But I can’t shake this
thought and I’m obsessed with knowing what the girl was wearing. I
wonder how I can find out. I can’t expect the hospital to tell me.
They were reluctant to let me visit Tania. I’ll just have to ask
Tania herself. She would remember what she dressed her daughter
in for preschool that morning. But what am I thinking? How
can I torture the bereaved mother with such a trivial question?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">My thoughts are tormented,
erratic these first few weeks. I travel the path of the bereaved:
Why are we here, why do we die, how can such a young child die, what is
the purpose, what is the point---the same tired questions that have plagued
humankind since life began. Most of all, I find it hard to believe
that it happened at all. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">And I become obsessed
with other details. What was the last thing Hope said in the
car? Did the driver of the snowplow feel guilty? What was I doing
at the exact moment of the accident and why didn’t I somehow know about
it, by feeling a “disturbance in the Force,” so to speak? Did the
paramedics cry when they saw Hope? Or are they numb to this sort of
thing by now? My brain will not shut up. And there are nightmares
about accidents, blood, decapitation.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><b>Exasperated, I distract
myself with trivial errands. </b> To Kmart to look for light bulbs.
To the hardware store for water softener salt. Dragging my feet down
the aisles. Months later, I would remember very little of what I did
during this time other than visit Tania in the hospital and shovel snow.
It seems to snow daily and I dig out my driveway, as well as Darren and
Tania’s driveway. Dreadful weather. But I see logic in
it. When someone dies, the weather should be dreadful.
I had read a book in junior high called The Red Pony. Such a sad book. Wasn’t there bad weather in that story when the pony died? John
Steinbeck knew death = bad weather. So why do so many people die
on bright, sunny days? They are wrong. They are supposed to die on snowy, gray days. But of course, that isn't how it works.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><b>The weather is especially
poignant for Hope’s memorial service.</b> A Chicagoland snowstorm.
My husband is stranded thirty miles away, on business, and cannot attend.
So I take the kids. I almost faint before making it to my seat.
You can’t afford the luxury of fainting, I chastise myself. You have
to drive the kids back home through a snowstorm. And there is the
on-going guilt for not being stronger, since Hope’s parents feel so much
worse than I do.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">The foul weather doesn’t
prevent a large turnout for the service. Hundreds of mourners step
through slushy, blowing snow in their nice black dress shoes. Tania
arrives in a neck brace and a wheelchair. She is healing and will not
end up paralyzed. Not in the physical sense, anyway. She does
not cry, not even when they play (predictably) a song with the word “hope”
repeated throughout. I suspect that if she did cry, she would shatter
into a thousand pieces. I want to sit near her, comfort her, push
her wheelchair when needed, but there are too many people present and they
all want to be near her. I feel left out. And then I feel guilty
for thinking about myself.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">My
eight-year-old son hopes that during the service, Hope will miraculously
sit up in her coffin. Look, everyone! I’m all right!
It was all a mistake. Throngs of teary-eyed mourners will rush forward
and embrace her. Hope! Thank God, you’re all right. You
had us all worried, you silly girl! Those stupid doctors thought
you were dead.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">I want this to happen,
too. But there is no coffin. Hope has been cremated. I
haltingly explain cremation to my son. But he blinks his long eyelashes
and looks at me blankly. He cannot accept reality without seeing Hope’s
body. And we will never see her body. The girl has just plain
disappeared from the face of the earth, despite the image we carry of
her and the fact that we just talked to her at the video store. It’s
a paradox that spins us around like a dog chasing its tail. I wonder
if my son will ever accept Hope’s death. Or if he will ever grieve.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">At the library, I try
to find books about bereavement. I am not successful. Despite
my schoolteacher’s familiarity with libraries, I cannot get my brain to
lead me to the right shelf. I have the patience of a gnat. A
librarian’s radar senses my frustration. I tell her that my neighbor’s
child has died. A seemingly permanent quaver in my voice prevents me
from saying more. But I see something in her eyes. She absorbs
my pain, is saturated with it. It is more than sympathy.
It is a Knowing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">Over the following
weeks, the bereavement books lead me to books on religion—first my own,
then everyone else’s. Then philosophy books. And now I am seeing
that Knowing look in others, the way I saw it in the librarian. We
are all connected, claims one of the philosophy books. I never did
understand what it meant to “be one with the universe,” but suddenly I am
one with all people, as if each of us were a computer, simultaneously linked
to the Internet, able to access and trade ideas.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><b>I explain this theory
to my husband. </b> He gives me a funny look and wants to know what’s
for dinner.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">At Tania’s house, I
notice several changes. Every horizontal surface in the house contains
a floral arrangement, each one competing to be the most colorful, the most
spectacular. Photos of Hope are all over, on every mantel, every table,
every shelf. In beautiful frames of all sizes. And next to
all the flowers and photos are boxes of tissues. Long rectangular
boxes and short squarish boxes. Pop-up and regular. Puffs, Kleenex,
Scotts.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><b>I take a seat on
the sofa. </b>Smell the flowers. See the pictures. Talk
about Hope. Pull up tissues. And every time I’m in this house,
I look for Hope. I feel her presence. I look around, wondering
when she will trounce down the stairs in mismatched socks or call out for
more milk from the kitchen.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">I visit Tania again
and again, each time hoping I will somehow find Hope or find some sort of
answer to the question of Death. Each time, I realize we are cut apart.
I am a woman with children. She is a woman without children.
We will never be close friends again. Each time, I leave feeling depressed.
Yet a few hours later, when I am at home making meat loaf, listening to
my children argue over whose turn it is on the computer, I feel better.
And lighter, as though I have shed a heavy coat. Everything goes wrong in my house about this time. Just as the
heavy snows start melting, my sump pump stops working and my basement may
flood. The oven igniter quits igniting and I cannot make dinner.
We lose one of the library books about bereavement and may have to pay for
it, adding insult to injury.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">But my children are
alive, I remind myself.</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">We find the library
book under the front seat of my car. We pay to have the stove and
sump pump fixed. I go back to teaching. And despite all our wishes
to roll over and play dead, we do not.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">Summer comes.
At Hope’s preschool, they plant a tree in her memory. At the foot
of the tree is a hand-painted stone with Hope’s name on it. “She was
a tree of life to all who embraced her.” A quote from the Bible.
Romans something. I struggle to understand the meaning of the quote.
A tree of life? I like trees, but why compare an active, healthy,
radiant child to a stationary tree?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">My husband and I sit
on our deck, gazing out at the field behind our back yard. The field
where he laid the sparrow to rest. Summer thistle has given way to
Queen Anne’s lace, then autumn goldenrod. </span><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">“You’re not
the woman I married,” he says.</span></b>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">“Really?” I quip.
“Then just who did you marry? And where was I during the ceremony?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">But he will not be
distracted.</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20040409134632/http://djrunnels.com/marriage.html">
</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">“Do you feel better?”
he wants to know.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">“Do you?” I counter.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">“It was different for
me. I’m not home with the kids all summer. I didn’t know her
the way you did.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">I’m wondering why,
if he has accepted Hope’s death as he claims, he still can’t say her name.
Or the D word.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">“Yes, I feel better,”
I admit. “Whoever I am.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">On the anniversary
of Hope’s death, it troubles me that there is no gravesite I can visit.
And I am reminded of an old story. An Asian and an American visit
the side-by-side graves of their loved ones. The Asian places food
on the tombstone of his ancestor. The American, placing flowers on his
own ancestor’s tombstone, looks over at the food and scoffs, “When is your
loved one going to come and eat that food?” The Asian calmly replies,
“When yours comes to smell those flowers.”</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">The kids and I brave
the snow and cold to visit Hope’s memorial tree at the preschool.
No one is there at this hour of the afternoon. We tie a red ribbon around
the tree. A remnant from one of my daughter’s Christmas presents.
It seems inappropriate, since Hope did not receive any presents.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">“How does that look?”
I give the red ribbon an extra knot at the back, to make sure the Chicago
wind doesn’t decimate it within the week. I slip my gloves back on
and look at my children—five and eight no longer, but now six and nine.
While Hope is forever five.</span><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">“Mom,” says
my daughter in her high voice, “sometimes I feel sad about Hope.”</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">I hold her pink-gloved
hand in mine. Her gray eyes look up at me.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">“I’m sorry,” I tell
her. Neither of my children has cried openly over Hope, but I understand
now that they quietly grieve. As I look back to the ribbon, I feel
tears coming. And I wonder: do I cry because Hope is gone? Or
because she is not to be found at this tree? And if she is not to
be found at this tree, where is she? Some would say she is everywhere.
But if that’s true, why do we need to visit this tree? When is my
loved one going to come and see this ribbon?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">“It’s cold out here.
Let’s get in the car.”</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">I make sure the kids
are buckled before I drive off. Saying a silent prayer to God or Buddha
or Allah that no </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">snowplows collide with us on the way home. Feeling simultaneously
glad and guilty that I have two children whom I love more than my life.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">I do not tell Tania
that we tied the ribbon around the tree. She will find it on her own.
And her lips will form a soft smile, knowing
someone remembered her child. But she will always carry a
sadness with her.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><b>I
dream that I find Hope wandering around the field behind my house. </b>
Her eyes unfocused. Lifting her short bare legs through the
weeds. It is summer. She is barefoot, in her red birthday dress.
But the weeds are dead and dry, as in winter. I run towards her.
Here she is! She was here, all this time! Didn’t anyone think to search
the field? Hope! Hope! Let me take you home. But
she can’t hear me. I want to run to Tania’s house to tell her the exciting
news. But I’m afraid if I leave, Hope will disappear again. So
I call and call to Tania. Tania, I found her! I found Hope!
She can’t hear me, either. Instead, I follow Hope, watching her.
She is day dreaming. Looking at the weeds, yet not looking at them.
The sun glinting off her short black hair. Tiny tanned toes stepping
gingerly through the crunchy stalks. </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">In this field, last year’s
dead sparrow has long ago begun its journey to rejoin the earth.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"> </span>lifesanexpeditionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08335048011002914005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6457141235673049464.post-64300286148456258432014-05-18T15:27:00.000-05:002017-10-05T13:52:23.415-05:00If you're having trouble knitting with multistrand yarn<h4>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">I virtually never have problems knitting with multistrand yarn. Crocheting, yes. Weaving, a little. </span></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">But knitting with it is easy for me... unless one or two strands are chenille. <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivlgqQi2xb7M3mPtv0t-NtZ1NrKg96DUgdjumG8tcfdprD54iCClEhnm2d4lnnt0klVQl0_bBXPeF0FvUESNvluN9VBpPpE2BTwTV7p__2CihJl-NLwsGVbqSkIhAA0yWqz8oRS0yCOn0/s1600/azalea4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivlgqQi2xb7M3mPtv0t-NtZ1NrKg96DUgdjumG8tcfdprD54iCClEhnm2d4lnnt0klVQl0_bBXPeF0FvUESNvluN9VBpPpE2BTwTV7p__2CihJl-NLwsGVbqSkIhAA0yWqz8oRS0yCOn0/s1600/azalea4.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Azalea is for sale in my Etsy shop. See links to the far right.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Chenille has a tendency to stretch and sometimes you have to wrap the chenille strand around the needle twice. Or tie up some slack every ten rows. </span></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">But let's back up a moment. <span style="color: magenta;">If you are a rank beginner,</span> I recommend getting comfortable with a single strand of yarn first. Then two strands on fairly large needles. Then two strands on slightly smaller needles. Then three strands. I have had a couple of customers write to me
and say, "I can't get the hang of this!" But only a couple of people have said this since I opened Life's an Expedition in 2003. Virtually everyone DOES get the hang of it. It does take
practice. The fewer the strands and the larger the needles and the simpler the pattern, the easier it will be. But I have one customer who is a huge fan of entrelac using many strands of my yarn. <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb7AbZlE6I-OdBCoMtL0dfUxn6msPjfqw3MpruNsiTENyO6DK1m3puLqua8gVLy5KvpIVtoSKZjxuND8j4ivxB46YCQol5pynfJE-Ipva2wpgK771Qwl5do-NbJwzsJxkwNSqBaPCU3eg/s1600/monaco4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb7AbZlE6I-OdBCoMtL0dfUxn6msPjfqw3MpruNsiTENyO6DK1m3puLqua8gVLy5KvpIVtoSKZjxuND8j4ivxB46YCQol5pynfJE-Ipva2wpgK771Qwl5do-NbJwzsJxkwNSqBaPCU3eg/s1600/monaco4.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Monaco is also in my Etsy shop.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
<br />
<span style="color: magenta;">Your
biggest challenge with multistrand yarn will be to knit each stitch in its entirety</span>, without
dropping part of it. But if you get two of the strands and drop the
rest, the piece will NOT unravel and with all those colors going on,
your mistakes will be less noticeable. In some ways, it's easier than
single strand knitting, in which every stitch counts and every mistake shows. Since
I hate to frog, I really like this feature of multistrand knitting. People who are more anal will have more trouble taking a casual attitude<b> to their work. Especially if their work requires attention to tiny details, as in a pair of intricate socks.</b></span></span></h4>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/Visit%20Life's%20an%20Expedition%20on%20Etsy.%20https://www.etsy.com/shop/LifesAnExpedition?" target="_blank">Visit Life's an Expedition on Etsy.</a></div>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><br />
A
second problem</b> you may encounter when you're using multiple strands is that one strand will sometimes be stretched out or seem
"longer" than the others as you work your project. (I mentioned this a moment ago. It tends to happen with chenille.) If you reach the end of a row--that is, on a
seam--and your piece has a right side and a wrong side, go ahead
and tie up the slack on the pesky strand that is too long. Then when
you sew up the seams, you can incorporate the slack into the seam. </span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY1nAJwyjPC_C-UIUSgh8GNPOVAQg3xIgjrgvv9QuZ3r7q08XubfzpT8B5ulNamM8HkVyu-Xf286UjiIna5Nvy6nCnRmrFaptqu4Bq4SYyiAf2FKl87C1XJ_i8OuGE2qeaRhv1yO4Xsys/s1600/cabana4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY1nAJwyjPC_C-UIUSgh8GNPOVAQg3xIgjrgvv9QuZ3r7q08XubfzpT8B5ulNamM8HkVyu-Xf286UjiIna5Nvy6nCnRmrFaptqu4Bq4SYyiAf2FKl87C1XJ_i8OuGE2qeaRhv1yO4Xsys/s1600/cabana4.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is Cabana.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">OR
if you are making a blanket or something on which there is no seam
and/or both sides will be seen, you can loop the "longer" strand around
the needle a second time as often as needed to make it catch up with
the strands. </span></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">I have created yarns in which I never had to do this at
all, but sooner or later, most multi-strand knitters face the problem
of uneven strands. </span></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Multi-strand knitting is
easiest when you are doing a straight garter or stockinette with minimal
increases, decreases or shaping. </span></span>
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">dj runnels</span></span>
</h4>
<div>
<b>Life's an Expedition multistrand yarn is sold exclusively at the <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/LifesAnExpedition?" target="_blank">Life's an Expedition</a> shop on Etsy.</b></div>
lifesanexpeditionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08335048011002914005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6457141235673049464.post-65537377388532289302014-02-13T16:01:00.000-06:002017-10-05T13:53:54.443-05:00Bunions: 4 1/2 months after surgeryRemember when you were little and your mom made you eat broccoli? And you hated it and didn't want to talk about it? That's how I feel writing this update about my bunion surgery.<br />
<br />
Please see the previous two posts for information about the surgery, severity of bunions, a link to a web site that gives you many perspectives about different surgeries and recoveries, etc. Then regale yourself with this lovely (albeit distorted) shot of my new feet. I just took my shoes and socks off, so my feet have "sock wrinkles" all over them. That's partly because they always look wrinkled when I take my shoes off. But they are especially wrinkled and strange-looking now because my feel are still swollen from surgery. It takes six months for the swelling to subside and a full year for the foot innards to heal. The doctor says the scars are coming along fine, but despite bending my toes on a regular basis, the left big toe is too stiff. I have an appointment scheduled for some contortionist thing he plans to do to them, which requires that I take Valium before he injects something into each foot to make it numb because whatever he does would normally hurt like hell. Naturally, I'm looking forward to it. [sarcasm]<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPkRZqG0T3cBHwgk2likH3ntRpAU4Za4XJoZlngeYHqm3eLKWcklWh7aT9fA2EJrX9yJ2Yqr5c0QVTzXPSOqTrdXZufvU1HhKSU22ZD9PLYNovbt8LTCweJ6ZJxImbt8-O-VQU1EaYvOo/s1600/bunions_4.5months.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPkRZqG0T3cBHwgk2likH3ntRpAU4Za4XJoZlngeYHqm3eLKWcklWh7aT9fA2EJrX9yJ2Yqr5c0QVTzXPSOqTrdXZufvU1HhKSU22ZD9PLYNovbt8LTCweJ6ZJxImbt8-O-VQU1EaYvOo/s1600/bunions_4.5months.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">4 1/2 months post-op</td></tr>
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Crimony, I must be a masochist to post this photo. But honestly, if I had known I had bunions, I would have gotten help before they got so bad. So if writing about my experiences will prevent even ONE person from going through what I've gone through, it's worth showing this. Okay, so the main point here is that my feet are nice and straight. If that's important to you, you'll probably be thrilled with your surgery results. As for me, I am satisfied that each foot resembles a foot. I just want to be able to walk more than five miles at a time and ride my bike for a couple of hours. Bike riding season starts in about 4 to 6 weeks, depending on weather. <br />
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To limber up in anticipation of cycling, I took my first mall walks recently. The first one was quite brief. The second one may have been 3/4 of a mile and I was achy and exhausted afterwards. Feel free to call me a wimp, if you like, since I cannot hear you. I have better luck with my stationary bike, which I can ride for half an hour at a time.<br />
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UPDATE JULY 8, 2014: I had a cortisone shot back in February that <i>hurt like bloody hell</i>, even though I was on painkiller and the doctor used a topical anesthetic
before he injected my foot; afterwards, I could walk well, without pain
and it was glorious. But the pain returned in six weeks. And the shot
hurt so much, I will never agree to it again. Today, over nine months since surgery, the foot swelling continues. Walking makes my feet ache and I have trouble walking more than 45 minutes. When I'm barefoot, my walking looks weird and stilted, as if I am somehow limping, yet I am favoring neither foot. The bottoms of my feet sometimes feel sunburned. My little toes, which were so very tightly squished in the bandages last autumn, actually hurt just as much as my big toes, which took the brunt of the surgery. Bike rides are no problem, however, and that is enormously important to me. Sorry, to those of you contemplating surgery, that I cannot give a more encouraging report. I am not happy about it, either. But when I think about all the other medical problems that exist in the world, I think I am lucky.<br />
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/LifesAnExpedition?" target="_blank">Life's an Expedition</a> on Etsy. <br />
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<br />lifesanexpeditionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08335048011002914005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6457141235673049464.post-76122544162963542172013-11-01T15:59:00.000-05:002017-10-05T14:00:54.773-05:00Bunion post-op update. The agony of de feet.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVZWgSiKK5mNLtI6ZP3PAEJGg2NN1phiyNGhfNdjVLch56Cp2G58n2xVxEHGlpSLVE4bpND1ly8b-HI-hPAfU_5YedQBiOgs3MAretd4O0fRnlmFPUvnfzYMG4l1CCtFPhFjE_MVauG3w/s400/dj_feetOctober2013.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Isn't this cute yet somehow sad?</td></tr>
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It has been over four weeks since I had bunion surgery on both feet. I walk like Frankenstein, which seems appropriate since yesterday was Halloween. My feet are still bandaged and probably will be for another three weeks. I tried to get a photo of my unwrapped feet while I was at the doctor's office, but I blacked out--not from the sight of my feet, but from the excruciating pain. If you want to see gory photos of stitches and swelling, the internet can provide you with plenty.<br />
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I'll give you a few highlights of post-surgical progress, but remember, <span style="color: #ffe599;">how <i>you </i>fare after your own bunion surgery depends on how severe they are and what type of procedure you have done. </span>(See post just prior to this one.) My bunions were severe and I needed an osteotomy on each foot, plus some fancy bone drilling on one foot. I'd lost a lot of cartilage on one toe. Curse you, Mrs. Lipman! (My ballet teacher.)<br />
<span style="color: yellow;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: yellow;">After one week,</span> I went to the doctor, who removed the bandages. He happened to mention, "This is going to hurt," a split-second before grabbing a foot and re-wrapping it. On a scale of 1-to-10, the pain was a startling 8. Not as agonizing as childbirth (a 10), but it made me cry and I started shaking. Fortunately, I was tanked up on painkiller. But all the progress I'd made in the first week seemed to disappear, because I hobbled out of there as if I had just had surgery all over again. Two days later, after applying ice packs for many hours, I felt better. And when I say<i> ice packs</i>, I really mean bags of frozen peas. They drape around the foot better than crushed ice.<br />
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<span style="color: lime;">Two weeks post-op</span>, I went back for a bandage change, tanked up on a larger dose of painkiller. This part of the proceedings went better than last time, but then my doctor did something I did not expect. He bent the big toe on each foot forward and backward as far as he could, to gauge range of motion. <b><span style="color: magenta;">On a scale of 1 to 10, this was a freaking ten.</span></b> It was brief--just a few seconds--but very intense. He says that when he does the toe-bending, sometimes his patients yell at him, order him to stop or even kick him. I was better behaved than that, but it took enormous will power. <br />
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Some patients refuse to let him bend their toes during this phase of recovery and even refuse to bend their toes themselves at home between doctor visits. Unfortunately, these patients then end up with severely stiff toes that do not make contact with the ground. The toes stick up and won't flex when the patient tries to walk. It's a major problem and ...I guess it cannot be undone...? I'm not sure if it's permanent or not, but dammit, I am <span style="color: red;">NOT</span> going to find out. I know the importance of having it done, so I let the doc bend my toes. <span style="color: lime;"><b> I cannot sugarcoat it. It hurts.</b></span> Or at least, it hurt like hell to have <i>my </i>doctor do it at two, three and four weeks post-op <i>for the type of surgery that I had done</i>. I've heard other people say the whole bunion thing was no big deal. I don't know why it varies so much from one person to another.<br />
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<span style="color: magenta;">Three weeks post-op</span>, the doctor recommended that I bend my toes myself 2 or 3 times a day. He says I don't have to bend them as far as he does, but I need to start bending them a little more each time and make progress each day. When I bend my own toes, <span style="color: #b6d7a8;">the pain is mild--perhaps a 2 on a scale of 1 to 10, plus I feel better knowing<i> I</i> have control over the pain</span>. Even as I increase the range each day, I still only feel a level 2 pain. And bending my own toes frequently in the course of the day does have the added benefit of helping me walk (or hobble) increasingly better, without crutches. It is only when my doctor bends them, really forcing the range of motion, that the pain is intense. At one visit, I started blacking out. At another visit, I nearly threw up. But as intense as it was, it only lasts a few seconds.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5OwPjlC1yChuPK46FEiOPg5lhmeK9vR6ZWr-6_aLPaLyJMwKluEoTYxNp9nuP_qtnUSYst5Vxx6uRpfCKdLGAWJByQXzGuZn2FZZoVwUbTimD1sn_ZlVPoa5JrvxX1vR-DpSdYAEIaMg/s1600/bunions2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5OwPjlC1yChuPK46FEiOPg5lhmeK9vR6ZWr-6_aLPaLyJMwKluEoTYxNp9nuP_qtnUSYst5Vxx6uRpfCKdLGAWJByQXzGuZn2FZZoVwUbTimD1sn_ZlVPoa5JrvxX1vR-DpSdYAEIaMg/s200/bunions2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bunions, before surgery.</td></tr>
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So, if I had it to do over again, would I still have this surgery? I can't answer that yet, since I am only four weeks through recovery. But I don't think I had much choice. I suspect I will never be able to run or dance again. But walking and cycling are vitally important to me and I was beginning to have trouble with both. I'm hopeful for a good outcome. Meanwhile, I sleep a lot and feel achy from lack of exercise.<br />
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Hope this info helps, but without giving you nightmares. <br />
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dj runnels<br />
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/LifesAnExpedition?" target="_blank">Life's an Expedition</a> on Etsy. Yes, I survived and I continue to make awesome things for you.lifesanexpeditionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08335048011002914005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6457141235673049464.post-86260985340719622732013-10-03T12:31:00.000-05:002018-04-28T15:38:30.788-05:00Bunions?! WTH! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUZkalSnn50Y4ulRD7ruakIknJAgUoR7yqbXD7fInkccRaQPUHreBudc-7ipJL1J3tqwXLSsYNLzRy7lnDUmdb119miI95exMZafvrfhrqWYQSY-8Wwp-OAQIhRvremP_gHOZzB7wvWkc/s1600/bunions2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUZkalSnn50Y4ulRD7ruakIknJAgUoR7yqbXD7fInkccRaQPUHreBudc-7ipJL1J3tqwXLSsYNLzRy7lnDUmdb119miI95exMZafvrfhrqWYQSY-8Wwp-OAQIhRvremP_gHOZzB7wvWkc/s320/bunions2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: cyan;">Bunions. </span> Meh. Such a silly word. Sort of a cross between <span style="color: cyan;">Bunnies</span> and <span style="color: cyan;">Onions</span>. And who has those things anyway? I was pretty sure it only happened to 80-somethings, along with their lumbago and other antiquated grandmotherly illnesses.<br />
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Then reality slapped me the face. And it slapped hard. Yes, there is a medical condition called bunions <b><span style="color: orange;">and you can get them in your TEENS and 20's</span></b>. And although I tend to keep my medical travails private, because that's just how I am, I will tell you about this one because I hate the thought of others not knowing what these bumps are and not seeking medical attention early enough to avoid pain.<br />
<span style="color: lime;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: lime;">I had gone to a podiatrist for a sports-related injury</span>, tendonitis on the side of my right foot. In the course of x-raying my foot and taping it, he mentioned that I had a rather serious bunion. It was a bump that stuck out the left side, just under my big toe on the right foot. I had had a slight bump there for years and didn't think it was important. I had gone from wearing a B width shoe to a C width shoe and thought maybe that slight bump had something to do with it. But I never dreamed I would ever need surgery for it. In fact, I didn't have pain from it at first and later learned the reason for this is because I had somehow learned to walk in such a way that I spared my feet the discomfort. But in doing so, I was causing ankle pain and other weirdness.<br />
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<span style="color: magenta;">I have since learned a few things about bunions.</span> For example, wearing high heels or being inclined to exercise heavily despite a mild deformity can turn said deformity into a major one. I continued to bike ride vigorously and aggressively after being diagnosed with the bunions--there was one on the left foot, too--and I will confess, they both became more serious within a year. I could see them getting larger and they were beginning to hurt more. <br />
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The photo above shows how the bunions looked a few days before finally having surgery. Notice how my toes all sort of slant to the side. The big toe on each foot is so dislocated that all the other toes are pushed away. The left foot has a severe bunion, plus a lot of cartilage has worn away in the big toe joint. But the right foot, which looks relatively harmless to me, also has a fairly severe bunion.<br />
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<b><span style="color: cyan;">So I had bunion surgery this week.</span></b> There are dozens of different types of surgery, and many types of casts/bandages, etc. and every recovery is different. But once you have a diagnosis, I recommend skimming the <a href="http://index.healthboards.com/footdisorders/index/B/" target="_blank">Foot and Ankle section </a>of this health board forum. Scroll half-way down the page and you will find a couple hundred topics specifically about bunions. Sift through many topics, because sometimes you will find the same issue under a slightly different phrase. <span style="color: lime;"> Just please find out from your doctor how severe your bunions are, what procedure s/he recommends (and get a 2nd opinion from another doctor) and be sure to compare apples to apples.</span> In other words, if you are having a minor procedure, don't pore over the notes of someone having bone replacement, cuz you'll just freak out. And if your bunions are severe, don't expect to go back to work in two days just because someone else did. Also, if you post a message in a forum and get some feedback, that's great, but remember, they don't know you and haven't seen your x-rays. Still, it's okay to ask your physician something like, "Hey, I was wondering why I have a bandage instead of a cast." Or "is there a less invasive procedure that will work for me?" They're your feet and you have the right to ask lots of questions. </div>
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Good luck and avoid high heels. And remember, men can get bunions, too. But it's less common. </div>
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<br />lifesanexpeditionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08335048011002914005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6457141235673049464.post-6268223888274569552013-07-30T17:45:00.001-05:002017-10-01T15:31:41.952-05:00Saving money on clothing. Now's the time to buy your summer wardrobe. Now.When I tell you that you can save tons of money by buying clothes in the off-season, I can practically hear you saying, "Duh! We all know this!" But I also know from my experience as an online retailer that people don't actually DO it. I sold a pair of sandals and a pair of peep-toe pumps on eBay this summer while an awesome pair of wintry shoes just sat there despite an amazingly low opening bid. Later on, I'll easily sell those wintry shoes at a much higher opening bid, just because it will be winter and people will be more in the mood to buy them.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCWZmRrYtN2VzOf6gNJaqt0dlILZCg3RlNOkPF5UN14OWvMIPInrazQ4EXkztrlWq-FW_iJNLTp8-RE4kOJvd0PCX5D8G9Xe2-B3o-gQxp6WH5ojvM9Ic-tba-i6OWPpIwkPtvo87tDv4/s1600/redsandals.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCWZmRrYtN2VzOf6gNJaqt0dlILZCg3RlNOkPF5UN14OWvMIPInrazQ4EXkztrlWq-FW_iJNLTp8-RE4kOJvd0PCX5D8G9Xe2-B3o-gQxp6WH5ojvM9Ic-tba-i6OWPpIwkPtvo87tDv4/s320/redsandals.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I have seen people go out in throngs the day after Christmas to buy every shred of holiday wrapping paper and ribbons on the shelves. By the time they depart the Christmas aisle in any given store, it looks like a ghost town. Why wouldn't people take the same devoted attitude towards cleaning out the clothing clearance racks at department stores? There is much to gain by shopping at the end of the season and saving money is just one of the advantages. So please hear me out. (Clearing of throat.)<br />
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<span style="color: cyan;">You can easily save 75% or more on seasonal clothing by buying it at clearance sales at the end of the season.</span> This might not be true globally, but at least in the United States in the midwest, where summer and winter climates are sharply defined, department stores have a lot of summer merchandise to get rid of in July and August. You can find men's, women's and children's apparel--shorts, short sleeve shirts, summer pajamas, sandals, sundresses, bathing suits, swimsuit cover-ups, capris, pants in light cotton fabrics, white jeans and more--on discount racks for <i>up to 75% off easily</i>. With searching, you can find 90% discounts. (Stick with me, here, as my advice is about to become less obvious.)<br />
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<span style="color: magenta;">It's not just about the money. </span> I know, in July and August, you may be tired of summer clothing, but this is the best time to buy summer clothes because you already know exactly what is in your wardrobe. You may have realized that you tend to buy too many dresses when what you really crave are more capris. Or you may have figured out that those fancy rayon blouses you bought for work are too uncomfortable when the temps are in the 90's and you prefer more practical cotton knit tanks instead. And if you live in a northern climate and think you might be headed to Florida or Arizona or Cali for a winter getaway or to see family during the holidays, you will have a head start on having the right clothes to pack.<br />
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Also, buying new clothing at this time makes you <span style="color: orange;">review the rest of your wardrobe</span>, which means you can clear out debris and start a few boxes of stuff to sell in a garage sale. Garage sales have flourished during the recession and if you have a yard or know a home owner willing to let you use their yard to sell off some of your "carp," you will make more money than you would have pre-2008. If you don't have much time to organize a sale, see if you can find four or more people willing to go in on a sale together on a Saturday only, with each of you working a two-hour shift. Or donate to charity and take a tax write-off. Use whatever money you earned to buy new clothes at end-of-seasons sales. Once you get used to shopping during the end-of-season sales, you may not go back to shopping early in the season when the prices are high.<br />
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There are some items that do not always get included in end-of-season
sales, especially year-round staples, such as underwear and socks. But often you can find good prices on staples during <span style="color: orange;">back to school sales</span>. These sales focus on kids' clothes, but high school and college "kids" wear adult sizes, so any adult can find good prices on athletic shoes, jeans, t-shirts, trendy clothing in general, and basics such as underwear and socks. These items won't be as sharply discounted as the stuff on the summer clearance racks, but it's still worth taking a look. I always find the best prices on athletic shoes in August.<br />
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<span style="color: lime;">January and February </span>are the best time in the U.S. to stock up on snow boots, fashion boots, scarves, knit hats, sweaters, anything wool, anything with autumn leaves or Christmas designs, coats, heavy jackets, gloves, boot socks, leg warmers, long underwear, layered sports jackets, children's snow pants, overalls and mittens. Again, it's all discounted. And you know what you've been wearing for the past few weeks or months, which outfits you favored, what you needed but didn't have and what colors you still need. Depending on where you live, there may be plenty of winter left and you can start wearing new purchases right away.<br />
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<span style="color: yellow;">Children's clothing</span> in the off-season can be problematic, since kids grow at unpredictable rates. You have to guess what size they will be nine months or so in the future. Look for stretchy sport pants instead of more precise-fitting jeans. Find dresses that can be hemmed up if necessary. Girls' leggings can make a too-short dress wearable as a tunic if your daughter grew taller than expected. Sandals and shoes may not be wise to buy for children far in advance... unless, say, you have three daughters, in which case you can pick up something for the oldest girl and assume that size will fit at least one of the girls at some point in time. You can usually get snow boots at the end of winter if they are multi-sized and therefore leave a little room for error. You can also try to find clothing in colors that will suit either a boy or girl, so if you guess wrong on a green sweatshirt you had in mind for Michael, maybe Sophia can wear it instead.<br />
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If you're yawning because you know all this (don't make me come over there and slap you!) consider this, which you might not have thought of: You can find <span style="color: orange;">clearance clothing online,</span> and the season for finding what you want can be much longer depending on site traffic and who the sellers are. Online shopping sites will have varying discount periods. High traffic will swarm all over the cute summer tops on clearance at Coldwater Creek. But on a less popular site, it may take longer for the deals to disappear. Those winter wool socks you had to fight three bidders for on eBay last December are just sitting there, without bids, from March until September. The person selling them might be open to "best offers" from you, wherein you negotiate the price. I have gotten winter coats very cheaply in spring. <br />
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Also, if you live in Florida but need something wintry for a trip to Canada, online sites will offer far more options for you than your local stores will. Sometimes I am surprised at the number of Etsy sellers who don't bother to list their summer merchandise in winter; Canadians headed for Florida need that stuff.<br />
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Speaking of<span style="color: red;"> Etsy</span>, you may find off-season apparel marked down. But your <i>selection</i> is often the best in the pre-season. That's partly because artisans cannot easily replenish stock the way a retailer can. An example: it takes me hours to knit a winter scarf. I have to make scarves all summer to have enough inventory for fall/winter. Then the scarves start selling around September. By November, they are selling like crazy and I have far fewer winter scarf listings in my shop because I just plain can't keep up with demand. Anyone who shopped my scarves back in September benefited from a bigger and better selection. By December, they are well picked over and the customers are pretty frantic, e.g.: "Can you make another one by this afternoon?! And send it express tonight?" Um, sorry, no.<br />
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Revised October 30 to add: Pay attention to business news about retail chains that are struggling so you can go forage their wares. They may cut prices very aggressively. J.C. Penney is in very dire straits and I picked up a designer dress from their website for half price this year. Abercrombie & Fitch's sales are down at present and I just saw $58 skirts on their site marked down to $10. Aeropostale also had weak earnings lately; I see $5 t-shirts on their web site today. American Eagle is having some issues and on the day I write this, every sweater on their site is on sale with free shipping.<br />
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dj runnels<br />
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/LifesAnExpedition?" target="_blank">Life's an Expedition</a> on Etsy.<br />
<br />lifesanexpeditionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08335048011002914005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6457141235673049464.post-15679516215685578552013-03-16T10:04:00.000-05:002017-10-05T14:11:42.917-05:00Beware of eBay listings that state clothing is New With Tags.Some eBayers will list clothing or shoes that are new but the tags have been removed. But I recently bought a pair of leather boots that were supposedly New, albeit without the box, and here's what I received:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLo27v-AIQ95KLrTn1tLlG2IPHMsmw4sHNuTTezwSG_ba-0pKThj58Fbrhv8F1dYqYd007E70FsjPOhgDIAhu5OFSfPHdlCCkO7jBqVh8EWMqTkuVZJTG_KVQa8b-Dqz6cOb7zLLZSPss/s1600/blondoboots.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLo27v-AIQ95KLrTn1tLlG2IPHMsmw4sHNuTTezwSG_ba-0pKThj58Fbrhv8F1dYqYd007E70FsjPOhgDIAhu5OFSfPHdlCCkO7jBqVh8EWMqTkuVZJTG_KVQa8b-Dqz6cOb7zLLZSPss/s400/blondoboots.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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How did she think I would not notice this?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTYOxw8ncZoPjS_oCkWFuFnW0RS8EQD1BaXumkPyzwIezYkIJIF1l31KlADIcFQGC9yh130Fz6KJPkkIrfdUghPo3EoMY-HZfmkh06YGX_LcXNM0HiREFtOSbJSQYd4CS6Rqmw2fBy9aY/s1600/blondoboots3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTYOxw8ncZoPjS_oCkWFuFnW0RS8EQD1BaXumkPyzwIezYkIJIF1l31KlADIcFQGC9yh130Fz6KJPkkIrfdUghPo3EoMY-HZfmkh06YGX_LcXNM0HiREFtOSbJSQYd4CS6Rqmw2fBy9aY/s400/blondoboots3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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One boot had a footbed liner that appeared to have been worn.<br />
The other boot didn't have a liner at all.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Es0a1Gr99_yN4L-Li_ThZsbEzGU8WFyjq0-ovJbHhLAL6kFl9CDUxTpRc-hRT9nmRqZ_d7DEMawR8xrSUz7XVwy4E3KCV_3yeF7bfJYYoSQIqA2dIEEG9KD_8HK8pwbzY-GDVVxe-1Q/s1600/blondoboots4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Es0a1Gr99_yN4L-Li_ThZsbEzGU8WFyjq0-ovJbHhLAL6kFl9CDUxTpRc-hRT9nmRqZ_d7DEMawR8xrSUz7XVwy4E3KCV_3yeF7bfJYYoSQIqA2dIEEG9KD_8HK8pwbzY-GDVVxe-1Q/s400/blondoboots4.jpg" width="347" /></a></div>
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The Lesson:<br />
If you ever place a bid on eBay for "new" clothing without a tag or box, you might want to inquire about it first. Get the seller to guarantee you that it is, indeed, a new and unworn garment, as the eBay rules state. They are not allowed to list something as new if it has been worn.<br />
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Or to play it safe, only bid on clothing that is New With Tags. Even then, you can get burned, because some people find a way to wear something with tags in place. Or they remove the tags, wear the clothing, then replace the tags with one of those retail guns that attach tags. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHEGF52Lfocm9EfVuFkspf6eZOjpAjc_3rGwNlsZT2jh2_j1FaMyPyXFaWyZ7R2BOU0wKNfJuAtlrbbEpLZKTTa50J6QXdlJl2AzGep0j8V9tor_Fbi1KWV7VrwSJYAq7yzT0js11aKMs/s1600/blondoboots6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHEGF52Lfocm9EfVuFkspf6eZOjpAjc_3rGwNlsZT2jh2_j1FaMyPyXFaWyZ7R2BOU0wKNfJuAtlrbbEpLZKTTa50J6QXdlJl2AzGep0j8V9tor_Fbi1KWV7VrwSJYAq7yzT0js11aKMs/s400/blondoboots6.jpg" width="396" /></a></div>
I have filed a complaint through eBay and hope to get this resolved soon. If the seller pays for return shipping, I will ship them back. If not, I will donate them to charity. But I just can't bring myself to wear used boots.<br />
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UPDATE August 6, 2013. eBay was very cooperative. Their buyer protection plan is wonderful and I ended up getting my money back, even though the seller completely ignored my emails.<br />
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UPDATE October 5, 2017: I have had many other disputes with sellers who list merchandise as New Without Tags and, in fact, the product is not new at all. I am avoiding any seller whose feedback score is under 99.9% positive and I am avoiding all merchandise other than NEW WITH TAGS or NEW IN BOX.<br />
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dj runnels<br />
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/LifesAnExpedition?" target="_blank">Life's an Expedition</a> on Etsy does not sell used shoes or new shoes or any kind of shoes at all.lifesanexpeditionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08335048011002914005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6457141235673049464.post-64294372960656213502013-03-09T11:58:00.001-06:002017-10-05T14:12:01.460-05:00Saving money on smart phones.I am better at saving money than perhaps 95% of Americans and I've decided to start sharing my money-saving tips with others.<br />
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Today's topic is smart phones. You've probably seen articles about comparing costs of cell phone plans. But another way to save money is by not buying the latest smartphone within five seconds of it hitting the market.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8b6f8L6F60A15Hk5f_uqz4KkJWfYs4hVJMyLTc2r9dRn5wJCSDeOFw1jaiY8Zob_53iwROkslmiFNuvifS_No1N4lMEiyjKwbsCncmlFYQFTmHMDKXVhbgl6m9HYReaKca7SKE0BjHtM/s1600/cellphones2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8b6f8L6F60A15Hk5f_uqz4KkJWfYs4hVJMyLTc2r9dRn5wJCSDeOFw1jaiY8Zob_53iwROkslmiFNuvifS_No1N4lMEiyjKwbsCncmlFYQFTmHMDKXVhbgl6m9HYReaKca7SKE0BjHtM/s400/cellphones2.jpg" width="277" /></a></div>
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If you want to update your cell phone, talk to your neighbors and friends until you find somebody who has a fairly current one they aren't using. This shouldn't be too difficult. According to this <a href="http://live.wsj.com/video/why-are-people-hoarding-9-billion-in-old-iphones/DDCF29C2-4DD1-4F59-B9CE-7C2E034BAED5.html#!F3F158A7-2490-4A88-9789-DD4E84890CBE" target="_blank">Wall Street Journal video</a>, there are roughly 34 billion extra cell phones out there, nine billion of which are iPhones.<br />
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The federal government is taking a stand on that whole <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/04/unlock-cell-phone-white-house_n_2806847.html" target="_blank">unlocking of cell phones</a> thingie. Until they get that settled, you can also search online for unlocked cell phones at bargain prices.<br />
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Consider, too, that your old cell phones are probably worth money if they still work. Newer ones are worth more than older ones, obviously, and will run more apps.<br />
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Personally, I think it is wise to continue using a phone until it no longer works. My cell phone is the kind that flips closed. It's not connected to the internet and it doesn't run apps. No one has made fun of me for it...yet. But when they do, I will point out that I have never had a broken screen as a result of dropping it.<br />
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And I don't pay all those internet connectivity fees for my phone. Honestly, I am on the internet all day because I run an online business and would scream if I had the internet in my pocket every time I leave the house. I don't want to be on the internet any more than I already am.<br />
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Not many people feel this way. But then again, not many people pay $0 for car payments each month.<br />
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UPDATE SEPT. 19, 2013: Sadly, this aged, antique flip phone began malfunctioning. I would press send on text messages that somehow didn't go through. That sort of thing. It held up for something like ten years, but it was finally time for a new phone. After reading reviews of smartphones and "dumb phones," I realized that the phones that do not require data plans are not very reliable. One of them was notorious for hanging up on incoming calls whenever the user retrieved the phone from a pocket. So after considerable debate, I decided on an iPhone. But instead of rushing to buy the top model, I waited until one week before the newest iPhone was about to launch and picked up an older iPhone for a lower cost. I realize many of you reading this think I am either being cheap or antiquated, but so very many of you are in debt, I hope you will at least listen and have an open mind. Some of you have spent hundreds of dollars on a cutting-edge smartphone that will be eclipsed in a couple of years, whereas I have an iPhone that has many amazing features that are new and exciting to me. And I probably still pay less per month than you do.<br />
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UPDATE OCTOBER 1, 2017: What the hell was I thinking when I wrote this post? I cannot live without my iPhone. It helps me run my business. (Deep furrowed thought.) But if I had never owned a smartphone, I would not feel this way. We want what we are used to. Once we are used to it, we think we cannot live without it. But there was a time when people didn't have cell phones, text messages, air conditioning, cars, indoor plumbing and nobody screamed, "I can't live like this!" They just dealt with it.<br />
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dj runnels<br />
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/LifesAnExpedition?" target="_blank">Life's an Expedition</a> on Etsy.lifesanexpeditionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08335048011002914005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6457141235673049464.post-64219838949731502242013-02-18T10:04:00.001-06:002017-10-01T15:23:59.330-05:00Why I don't wear earrings any more. I've been thinking about writing this post for a long time, but kept putting it off for fear of alienating some extremely talented jewelry designers I know online. Well, my designer friends, I still think the world of your talents. But I almost ended up permanently disfigured by a pair of pierced earrings.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ3tGc5dTa4SrxqiA_p2CsBkMkKoUiUk7VfFIcfg0Oa91e0kyf8dctwrLI-aSCOhgLrCok4oEqHDR0CwH_sFtaSZ_akzzpIvpzSR-SZb2qg4ypwuA2tudY4Pn_D8D5ATBbBIH9TpP3Ahs/s1600/earrings771c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ3tGc5dTa4SrxqiA_p2CsBkMkKoUiUk7VfFIcfg0Oa91e0kyf8dctwrLI-aSCOhgLrCok4oEqHDR0CwH_sFtaSZ_akzzpIvpzSR-SZb2qg4ypwuA2tudY4Pn_D8D5ATBbBIH9TpP3Ahs/s320/earrings771c.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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About seven years ago, I was having a garage sale. I was handling germ-laden cash. And a peculiar customer brought his pet bird into my garage and I let the bird perch on my finger. Not sure whether I picked up some germ from the cash or the bird. But as the day wore on, I was getting tired and I took my earrings off and massaged my earlobes. And bad things happened. <br />
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Later that night, my ear lobes were sore. The next morning, they were red and slightly swollen. By nightfall, they were beginning to throb and ache. The next morning, they were very red and hot to the touch. And part of my face was now swollen. I made an emergency trip to my doctor, who informed me that I had <span style="color: lime;">cellulitis</span>, which is typically caused by a staph or strep infection. I had trouble listening to him after he used the phrase, "flesh-eating bacteria." But I remember that I needed a daily antibiotic as well as a shot injected with a needle the size of a freaking harpoon every 48 hours. And with our fingers crossed, just maybe I would not have to be hospitalized. (Did he say <span style="color: yellow;"><i>hospitalized?!</i></span>) These proceedings went on for a week and towards the end, my doctor said it was "touch and go" for awhile. If it had spread further into my face, he said, I could have been permanently disfigured. If it had reached my brain, I could have had meningitis. And meningitis can be fatal.<br />
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Okay, enough drama. The antibiotics worked and I was fine within ten days. I became more diligent with cleaning my earrings and my pierced ear lobes, but to be perfectly honest, <span style="color: lime;">I'm something of a germaphobe, so I was already good about ear lobe and earring hygiene</span>. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3YPQU647mIdqJousqsHCixX2xNo7cvunaAh3Yk2fk3CDFoi87zuRxUunip-J2ejhwg-MclPjGCbaMJ8_9jbdNmZDK8ihg2dSbxOg_PjHZtuQcCmObvoVhEoui569dOsh5GPlQ_EbsGMk/s1600/earrings777.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3YPQU647mIdqJousqsHCixX2xNo7cvunaAh3Yk2fk3CDFoi87zuRxUunip-J2ejhwg-MclPjGCbaMJ8_9jbdNmZDK8ihg2dSbxOg_PjHZtuQcCmObvoVhEoui569dOsh5GPlQ_EbsGMk/s320/earrings777.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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Fast forward a year. Despite my diligence, I got another bout of cellulitis in one ear lobe. It was the weekend and my doctor's office was closed, so I went to an immediate care walk-in clinic, told the doctor on staff that I had had this before and what I thought it was, he agreed, gave me a shot and I started the antibiotics on the spot. I only needed one shot and yet I got well faster than I did last time.<br />
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But now I'm wondering, who else goes through this? My doctor knew immediately what it was. He had seen it before. It is not uncommon. Apparently anyone with a body piercing or tattoo is at risk. Why aren't people talking about it more?<br />
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Hence this blog post. I hope I can stop at least one person from going through what I went through. Google the word <span style="color: lime;">cellulitis</span>. Look at the nasty pictures. And then please do what you can to keep any broken skin very clean. If it can happen to me, it can happen to anyone. I am in good health and don't have any known risk factors for this condition. And after what I have been through, I will never wear earrings again or get any kind of piercing or tattoo. It's just not worth it.<br />
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Update: this post gets a large number of hits, so I am guessing that a lot of people are going through symptoms of cellulitis at the site of a piercing and wondering what it is. People, I beg you, go see a doctor. Don't let my comment about the harpoon-sized needle make you hesitate. You can deal with the needle far better than you can deal with permanent face disfigurement or death from meningitis. The sooner you go, the sooner you will get well. Don't end up in the hospital just because you hope it will go away on its own.<br />
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dj runnels<br />
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/LifesAnExpedition?" target="_blank">Life's an Expedition</a>lifesanexpeditionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08335048011002914005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6457141235673049464.post-66145849434740229082012-10-15T09:51:00.001-05:002017-10-05T14:12:57.878-05:00Multiple strands of yarn in menswear.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOA_2fDxkSRd1kdyRMmikViuMwRlFYZsTBF73q9mZBATSGV10QFVblMSD-mvMHSUJspFhUdogRXaGUPgJniIOuBNoROWC7Fld3Zk7drcAOPh_oTJHfLtRWgKeiA8leDJSTClwy7iUPySQ/s1600/mensscarf929.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOA_2fDxkSRd1kdyRMmikViuMwRlFYZsTBF73q9mZBATSGV10QFVblMSD-mvMHSUJspFhUdogRXaGUPgJniIOuBNoROWC7Fld3Zk7drcAOPh_oTJHfLtRWgKeiA8leDJSTClwy7iUPySQ/s640/mensscarf929.jpg" width="322" /> </a></div>
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Feast your eyes on the colors and textures in this. It's a men's scarf in which I mixed some <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/103925931/yarn-800-yds-tribal-earth-tones-cotton?ga_search_query=tribal%2Byarn" target="_blank">Tribal Earth Tones</a> yarn with the
soon-to-be-listed Warm as Toast series and some other similar yarns.
And it's far easier to knit than it looks.<br />
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Simply hold all the strands together and knit on large needles--US size 13 works well for many people--in a garter stitch or stockinette or whatever fairly simple stitch that you love and feel confident using. The more complex the stitch or the pattern, the more challenging it may be, but I have customers using my yarn for entrelac and cables.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRFy7g17B3AECBNj6INfgaZ61D6wsJM8GHS7n7WO-Y9PeAMOwzaO3VwNdscrZz6w8qvpAeL9mk804SJFXOWsyaAq_3neSfliMeG43tUznZdlKXh_qblLeJOLGpoV8NOvzjhK7o5thlYuc/s1600/mensscarf929c.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRFy7g17B3AECBNj6INfgaZ61D6wsJM8GHS7n7WO-Y9PeAMOwzaO3VwNdscrZz6w8qvpAeL9mk804SJFXOWsyaAq_3neSfliMeG43tUznZdlKXh_qblLeJOLGpoV8NOvzjhK7o5thlYuc/s640/mensscarf929c.jpg" width="358" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRFy7g17B3AECBNj6INfgaZ61D6wsJM8GHS7n7WO-Y9PeAMOwzaO3VwNdscrZz6w8qvpAeL9mk804SJFXOWsyaAq_3neSfliMeG43tUznZdlKXh_qblLeJOLGpoV8NOvzjhK7o5thlYuc/s1600/mensscarf929c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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I listed <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/112106618/mens-knit-scarf-multicolor-long-brown" target="_blank">this scarf on Etsy</a>, if you'd like to see more details.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp8TxvfuMcZ_ADkH8i3dbk7J4ATPU6Mc3zhwRLQ-OX8yLKc4-8xaW3CjxiaSlVZDLZLI9kOqLJK0ucbU2HaP5vWa8SvhgV_S1FzZwArjMDqmD8HIrAa4JUSL7Fnbu9CgsMCdv99QeJYCs/s1600/mensscarf929b.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp8TxvfuMcZ_ADkH8i3dbk7J4ATPU6Mc3zhwRLQ-OX8yLKc4-8xaW3CjxiaSlVZDLZLI9kOqLJK0ucbU2HaP5vWa8SvhgV_S1FzZwArjMDqmD8HIrAa4JUSL7Fnbu9CgsMCdv99QeJYCs/s640/mensscarf929b.jpg" width="484" /></a></div>
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If you've never used multistrand yarns before, you will want to practice using two strands on large needles before advancing to more strands or to smaller needles, but virtually all my yarn customers get the hang of it. If you stab the needle through part of the stitch, your mistake will likely go unnoticed because of all the colors and strands involved. And your work can't unravel because the strands you DID stab will hold it all together. <br />
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Crochet takes a bit of practice, too. I recommend sticking with the larger hooks. <br />
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I have more advice about multistrand knitting in this blog. <br />
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dj runnels<br />
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/LifesAnExpedition?" target="_blank">Life's an Expedition</a> <br />
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<br />lifesanexpeditionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08335048011002914005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6457141235673049464.post-29397794255923532412012-08-30T13:23:00.000-05:002017-10-05T14:13:46.812-05:00Everyone asks, "How do I launder this yarn?"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnX-y14y3OZzKcMnyAGXjh_M7RHFjzmn1AlRLL4EmY1qhzVLy5BYN_y6qyenrLsH6Wl9BwtQS_mdbRBdr2zF_yRc-fF_qtv3dxvaz999nfceq5Lurj9V-V0BaU4NaZf5j0R8RWVxd0g-A/s1600/zenithseries.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnX-y14y3OZzKcMnyAGXjh_M7RHFjzmn1AlRLL4EmY1qhzVLy5BYN_y6qyenrLsH6Wl9BwtQS_mdbRBdr2zF_yRc-fF_qtv3dxvaz999nfceq5Lurj9V-V0BaU4NaZf5j0R8RWVxd0g-A/s320/zenithseries.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Washing something made with Life's an Expedition yarn is like washing any other knit garment.<br />
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<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><big><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times" , serif;">I launder all knit garments, including those I made, either by hand
OR in a mesh bag in the washer on delicate cycle for just
a few minutes. The mesh bag is very important. Zippers and long
fingernails and rings can snag your garment like crazy. Use cold water
and shampoo instead of detergent. It's best to wash garments separately, as
I have found some will ooze color, especially cotton chenille and
hand-dyed wool. But if I've washed something before and know for sure
it is colorfast, I may throw it into a mesh bag with other things.</span></big></span><br />
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><big><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times" , serif;">Shampoo is
better than detergent for washing wool and it doesn't have to be a
premium brand. I like Suave professionals with humectant in a white and
blue bottle. My mom uses baby shampoo. We both agree to avoid Woolite, although it's fine for lingerie. </span></big></span><br />
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><big><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times" , serif;"><big><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times" , serif;">I used to dry my work flat on top of the
washer or on a bath towel in the bottom of a bathtub. Now I have mesh
sweater drying racks that stack up; found 'em on eBay. </span></big></span></big></span><br />
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><big><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times" , serif;"> </span></big></span><br />
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><big><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times" , serif;">Baby your
hand-knits and they will last longer. If you live in a cool dry
climate, the humidity will help humidify your house. </span></big></span><br />
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><big><br /></big></span>
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><big>dj runnels</big></span><br />
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><big><span style="color: lime;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/LifesAnExpedition?" target="_blank">Life's an Expedition</a>.</span></big></span>lifesanexpeditionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08335048011002914005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6457141235673049464.post-79772878148222517592012-08-30T13:11:00.001-05:002017-10-01T15:20:44.918-05:00Can a beginner knit with multiple strands of yarn?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2VobZ2sLxq7bTjb6aqsdEvkzqZz6Qu1_LrzOKs6wgwhBIiLTt1RY3eHPco7-CDmMCwv7Dy2lAwTb0etPnLPUGOTlmVJPI9twf_9vt2BR9wDLU2x6uGMwK28YAzrWZrij0rqflDtyhYW8/s1600/sagebrushsweater.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2VobZ2sLxq7bTjb6aqsdEvkzqZz6Qu1_LrzOKs6wgwhBIiLTt1RY3eHPco7-CDmMCwv7Dy2lAwTb0etPnLPUGOTlmVJPI9twf_9vt2BR9wDLU2x6uGMwK28YAzrWZrij0rqflDtyhYW8/s400/sagebrushsweater.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Someone asked if a beginner can use multistrand yarn. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiagUa7tCXzFH1cb1vgFKYJ3z662-jXamtnQWcTjz0AanZ6-RtV_MHWRU7uf6senyZmxndeuYwcDXks2z1THvDepzJmYH_tzuX8J4yvXezM2wVbAd7BNeQ-EGks1dDAa91Q-MXyHDQdPZ8/s1600/taos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></span></div>
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><big><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times" , serif;">I recommend getting comfortable with a single strand first. If you
feel you know what you're doing with one strand, you can eventually handle more.
Start with two or three until you get the hang of it. I have had customers write to me
and say, "I can't get the hang of this!" But I reassure them that they
can and virtually everyone DOES. It does take
practice. <br />
<br />
Your
biggest challenge will be to knit each stitch in its entirety, without
dropping part of it. But if you get two of the strands and drop the
rest, the piece will NOT unravel and with all those colors going on,
your mistakes will be less noticeable. In some ways, it's easier than
single strand knitting, in which every stitch counts and every mistake shows. And
I'm the sort of person who hates to rip out rows and redo it.<br />
<b><br />
A
second problem</b> you may encounter when you're using multiple strands is that one strand will sometimes be stretched out or seem
"longer" than the others as you work your project. If you reach the end of a row--that is, on a
seam--and your piece has a right side and a wrong side, go ahead
and tie up the slack on the pesky strand that is too long. Then when
you sew up the seams, you can incorporate the slack into the seam. </span></big></span><br />
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><big><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times" , serif;">OR
if you are making a blanket or something on which there is no seam
and/or both sides will be seen, you can loop the "longer" strand around
the needle a second time as often as needed to make it catch up with
the strands. I have created yarns in which I never had to do this at
all, but sooner or later, most multi-strand knitters face the problem
of uneven strands. It happens most when one strand is chenille, because
chenille can stretch easily. </span></big></span><br />
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><big><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times" , serif;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiagUa7tCXzFH1cb1vgFKYJ3z662-jXamtnQWcTjz0AanZ6-RtV_MHWRU7uf6senyZmxndeuYwcDXks2z1THvDepzJmYH_tzuX8J4yvXezM2wVbAd7BNeQ-EGks1dDAa91Q-MXyHDQdPZ8/s1600/taos.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiagUa7tCXzFH1cb1vgFKYJ3z662-jXamtnQWcTjz0AanZ6-RtV_MHWRU7uf6senyZmxndeuYwcDXks2z1THvDepzJmYH_tzuX8J4yvXezM2wVbAd7BNeQ-EGks1dDAa91Q-MXyHDQdPZ8/s320/taos.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></big></span><br />
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><big><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times" , serif;">Or sometimes I see it happen when some of the
strands are much thinner and/or a different fiber than the others. It
has not put me off of multi-strand knitting, but someone who is using
multi-strands for the first time might freak. Just remember, most
knitters DO get the hang of it and if you are clever about fudging the
yarn a bit here and there, you will relax. </span></big></span><br />
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><big><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times" , serif;">Knitters and crocheters who are really into elaborate stitches sometimes resist the notion of multiple strands, because they have so much going on just following the pattern. I can understand that. Multi-strand knitting is easier when you are doing a straight garter or stockinette with minimal increases, decreases or shaping. But I've done seed stitch and ribbing with multiple strands and loved the results. And I've had customers go on an entrelac binge with Life's an Expedition yarn. </span></big></span><br />
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><big><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times" , serif;">Lastly, someone who is super-picky
about their craft might never enjoy it. Also, anyone who is devoted to knitting socks or anything on very small needles might not have the patience for multi strands.</span></big></span><br />
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;">I'm getting ready to shut down my web site, so I am transferring some info to the blog that everyone will be asking about later.</span><br />
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;">dj runnels</span><br />
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/LifesAnExpedition?" target="_blank">Life's an Expedition</a>Life's an Expedition on Etsy.</span>lifesanexpeditionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08335048011002914005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6457141235673049464.post-73737768843495208372012-08-20T10:06:00.001-05:002017-10-01T15:17:11.960-05:00An example of using multiple yarns in one project.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK8uFoejVOUiRJXidzw1_t3mWh_3lehyVaCMKPkuFJ3BBUfniV3O4KMw3HtxC9gyY-wX7WEjQu_bZhdtMqUf4adTCTfx6-IHSdbHj9CeGMG2BPUxZqCbF0EeWWWbrhdhy9_UnI67Nd89U/s1600/brighton561e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK8uFoejVOUiRJXidzw1_t3mWh_3lehyVaCMKPkuFJ3BBUfniV3O4KMw3HtxC9gyY-wX7WEjQu_bZhdtMqUf4adTCTfx6-IHSdbHj9CeGMG2BPUxZqCbF0EeWWWbrhdhy9_UnI67Nd89U/s640/brighton561e.jpg" width="452" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Hope I don't sound like a broken record, but I am sometimes asked how it is possible to use more than one strand, or more than one yarn, in a single project. And I did promise that I would show examples on my blog once in a while.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3aOGH2usyoqKgHCGOcY2wGelKgkdRV8z0MYU0kFIj0fPU9Ja9lk-RXv7eDSnKtbvLh1Woi9HvJArIcO9cXPYT0Dy7fZj_0CnIPA4op_LwwlzTE6OPy2V0z2TCfQhd7gLOaLrF9v0Mrls/s1600/brighton561c.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3aOGH2usyoqKgHCGOcY2wGelKgkdRV8z0MYU0kFIj0fPU9Ja9lk-RXv7eDSnKtbvLh1Woi9HvJArIcO9cXPYT0Dy7fZj_0CnIPA4op_LwwlzTE6OPy2V0z2TCfQhd7gLOaLrF9v0Mrls/s400/brighton561c.jpg" width="400" /></a> Here is a freeform crochet scarf called Brighton that I listed on Etsy. It contains four yarns by Life's an Expedition: Nightscape, Castle Gold, Millefiori and Tantallon Castle.<br />
<br />
The most challenging part in working with so many yarns is dealing with color breaks. Many people refuse to knot the yarn and are adamant about weaving it in, but I find that the ends come loose after awhile. I tend to knot the yarn (gasp!) using a square knot. Very important. It must be a <i>real </i>square knot. There are knots that look like square knots, but they are not. If you have any doubts about whether or not you are tying it correctly, ask a Boy Scout for help. (No, I AM serious. It's kind of hard to tell with me, I realize, but I am being serious at the moment.) Often I will pick up a needle and thread and secure the knot to the back of the garment to make sure it doesn't work its way to the front. I do this especially when I mix yarns while making a handbag because a handbag needs to be super durable.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3aOGH2usyoqKgHCGOcY2wGelKgkdRV8z0MYU0kFIj0fPU9Ja9lk-RXv7eDSnKtbvLh1Woi9HvJArIcO9cXPYT0Dy7fZj_0CnIPA4op_LwwlzTE6OPy2V0z2TCfQhd7gLOaLrF9v0Mrls/s1600/brighton561c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnYrGCQj7v5exIU2KUc7iLcmZkDCNY0K-52PJg5whowtgM6vY8poA2P3PsIp-c78rHdwdm9vXFLb3PLuHhS_nx-GTuq03m63LqQsgCO-v_ux3Z71gJUfJVDqHrohK3VWBiu0YjNnV5Ymo/s1600/brighton561d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnYrGCQj7v5exIU2KUc7iLcmZkDCNY0K-52PJg5whowtgM6vY8poA2P3PsIp-c78rHdwdm9vXFLb3PLuHhS_nx-GTuq03m63LqQsgCO-v_ux3Z71gJUfJVDqHrohK3VWBiu0YjNnV5Ymo/s400/brighton561d.jpg" width="377" /></a></div>
<br />
dj runnels<br />
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/LifesAnExpedition?" target="_blank">Life's an Expedition</a> on Etsy.lifesanexpeditionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08335048011002914005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6457141235673049464.post-72308886135404857112012-07-12T10:52:00.000-05:002017-10-01T15:15:31.866-05:00Don't be two sure your able to right good.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdEXzwLvBZ0geQrLU4tGFZCekvjPJ1GSydqdxpcfbqf1ilSUSny5P1iOIR4-EcZGL4Xcp7QJUQwEFc_95k1wBZrqKyuKuYyKOuYLi63_MHiogMmiXTPkXRrsenPc1MhKEGQtKXtQcBlvM/s1600/pencils.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdEXzwLvBZ0geQrLU4tGFZCekvjPJ1GSydqdxpcfbqf1ilSUSny5P1iOIR4-EcZGL4Xcp7QJUQwEFc_95k1wBZrqKyuKuYyKOuYLi63_MHiogMmiXTPkXRrsenPc1MhKEGQtKXtQcBlvM/s400/pencils.jpg" width="215" /></a></div>
Bloggers, sellers on Etsy/Zibbet/Artfire, users of the internet in general: Can we please take a moment to proofread now and then?<br />
<br />
I know, I know. You're in a hurry. Aren't we all? But consider the impact you have on your audience or potential customer. When I run across a news article with errors in it, I usually stop reading. <b style="color: cyan;">When I see something I want to buy, I walk away from it if the description contains typos, misspellings and grammatical errors.</b><br />
<br />
Yes, I admit, I make mistakes, too. And I have no excuse. I have a college degree, years of experience as a copywriter (someone who writes ads for an ad agency) and even proofreading experience, for cryin' out loud. I used to gasp at the horribly written letters that my children's elementary teachers sent home. Yet even I find mistakes in my own work. So if it can happen to me, imagine how often it must happen to people who never wrote for a salary.<br />
<br />
But you know what? It's not that hard to refresh your knowledge. Some of the most common errors I see:<br />
<br />
Misuse of <i>their</i> and <i>there</i> and <i>they're</i><br />
Misuse of <i>its</i> and <i>it's </i><br />
Misuse of <i>your</i> and <i>you're</i><br />
Misuse of <i>good</i> and <i>well</i><br />
Misuse of <i>fewer</i> and <i>less </i><br />
Combining two sentences with a comma, known as a comma splice<br />
<br />
You get the idea. You can Google "common grammatical errors" or "frequently misspelled words" and find plenty of examples. <a href="http://public.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/errors.html">Or here is a pretty impressive grammar site</a>. And here is a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Common-Errors-in-English-Usage/185261658262575">Facebook page </a>you can follow if you'd like your advice in small daily doses.<br />
<br />
Some so-called errors don't bother me. Ending sentences with prepositions doesn't bother me if it's in a casual blog post or online sales listing. Sentence fragments? I love 'em. I used them in advertising all the time. But I wouldn't sprinkle a doctoral thesis with casual writing styles. Just sayin'.<br />
<br />
Okay, now get out their and start righting good!<br />
<br />
dj runnels<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/LifesAnExpedition?" target="_blank">Life's an Expedition</a> on Etsy.</span><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i><br /></i>
<br />
<br />lifesanexpeditionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08335048011002914005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6457141235673049464.post-80817638258163005512012-05-26T12:26:00.000-05:002017-10-05T14:15:34.865-05:00A few observations about birdhouses from someone whose yard is filled with them<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6ZKfNE1d09pSdj3MS-rKScaUBeI7d0jxUQoRkc28hSdmHghjQazlG2FgPZw6HkvUWwwWgTDzzPjW9n5z4ls5L9Q3tnadTqrhui50Msp8wB1jmwnRyMkFSIERUPqgtU8_b6wj7QRg0dj4/s1600/birdhouse_blog6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6ZKfNE1d09pSdj3MS-rKScaUBeI7d0jxUQoRkc28hSdmHghjQazlG2FgPZw6HkvUWwwWgTDzzPjW9n5z4ls5L9Q3tnadTqrhui50Msp8wB1jmwnRyMkFSIERUPqgtU8_b6wj7QRg0dj4/s400/birdhouse_blog6.jpg" width="286" /></a></div>
I now share with you photos of birdhouses that have been in my yard for up to nine years, along with some snippets of bird wisdom we have learned along the way.<br />
<br />
This one (left) is one of my favorites, a thatched roof birdhouse patterned after English farmhouses of a bygone era. (Keep in mind, please, that this one is old and has been outdoors for years. The ones we sell online look much better than this.) What I love about this one is the stucco walls adorned with Tudor styling, paned "windows" and tiny logs stacked near the doorway.<br />
<br />
Our love of birdhouses came to fruition when we formed Life's an
Expedition in 2003. My husband had always wanted to build them, so
birdhouses became one
of the mainstays of our craft show circuit. He designed them, cut the
wood and assembled them with galvanized screws, clean-out panels and
drainage gaps to let the rain out. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmfIzgWxXxy1mYq6gFygZg089kiRfc1GBN6Ggu3QtApv1wvDh1jNXIwy8-3RXfGFF13-V-GnnNOqn4tiP8Vsb2fhO-0L5TuinNygjG8qFlgloMM7Z3yqVT_L_x8MdI7R1ttvAqGAYm8q8/s1600/birdhouse_blog2.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmfIzgWxXxy1mYq6gFygZg089kiRfc1GBN6Ggu3QtApv1wvDh1jNXIwy8-3RXfGFF13-V-GnnNOqn4tiP8Vsb2fhO-0L5TuinNygjG8qFlgloMM7Z3yqVT_L_x8MdI7R1ttvAqGAYm8q8/s200/birdhouse_blog2.jpg" width="200" /></a> He read up on National
Audubon Society guidelines and learned that only certain types of birds
will nest in a birdhouse, while others prefer hollows of trees or marshy
grasslands. A sparrow or chickadee will favor a specific
size of entry hole that other birds will not. A perch outside the hole
is not safe for the birds because it allows easier access for
predators. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmfIzgWxXxy1mYq6gFygZg089kiRfc1GBN6Ggu3QtApv1wvDh1jNXIwy8-3RXfGFF13-V-GnnNOqn4tiP8Vsb2fhO-0L5TuinNygjG8qFlgloMM7Z3yqVT_L_x8MdI7R1ttvAqGAYm8q8/s1600/birdhouse_blog2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL7nHUfv7Yq25iv7lhTx4cGet4og6iicogLaD4ie4AqmWxzJbuJ9uSz5aJDraEdIRcGjZpQ4E8JXZCwNygKVzcZhIIcK75MoiJYu5x4BVi9WI5qWrqPHYU70nKtjZhMHkFpo4iiPCKVZ8/s1600/birdhouse_blog1.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL7nHUfv7Yq25iv7lhTx4cGet4og6iicogLaD4ie4AqmWxzJbuJ9uSz5aJDraEdIRcGjZpQ4E8JXZCwNygKVzcZhIIcK75MoiJYu5x4BVi9WI5qWrqPHYU70nKtjZhMHkFpo4iiPCKVZ8/s400/birdhouse_blog1.jpg" width="290" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><b>And you should never, ever </b></span>make or buy a birdhouse with a metal roof or sides--e.g.: some are made from old license plates. No matter how clever it looks to you, please don't put one outdoors. A bird may choose to build a nest in there on a chilly spring day. But when the summer sun heats up the metal, the baby birds could be cooked to death.<br />
<br />
However, you can put all sorts of "accoutrements," as we call them,
on the front of the house and the birds will generally be safe. I
favored the very rustic, natural looking houses, but customers always
gravitated to the ones with decorations, such as this one (left)
with the cat <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiQUIDKW4Lkq4MM0yZZVvqWJvEdJJxOnQ4wo_vLMYOMPMC0F3GO0qyQT_XJQSxWgMHr6GI8BE0js3PMRTPtRd-jpUvNZWk5nueL_mfNNwjdh_dWtJjhm86Hh8n0Y5cPlyLJyNMCMxkMko/s1600/birdhouse_blog4.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiQUIDKW4Lkq4MM0yZZVvqWJvEdJJxOnQ4wo_vLMYOMPMC0F3GO0qyQT_XJQSxWgMHr6GI8BE0js3PMRTPtRd-jpUvNZWk5nueL_mfNNwjdh_dWtJjhm86Hh8n0Y5cPlyLJyNMCMxkMko/s200/birdhouse_blog4.jpg" width="195" /></a>fishing next to an over-turned rowboat. The cat didn't
deter the birds in the least.
Birds are also not deterred or fooled by artificial berries and will
not try to eat them. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiQUIDKW4Lkq4MM0yZZVvqWJvEdJJxOnQ4wo_vLMYOMPMC0F3GO0qyQT_XJQSxWgMHr6GI8BE0js3PMRTPtRd-jpUvNZWk5nueL_mfNNwjdh_dWtJjhm86Hh8n0Y5cPlyLJyNMCMxkMko/s1600/birdhouse_blog4.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>They certainly don't care if the front of the
house shows Christmas decorations year-round. So my husband and I got
into the habit of looking for little figures and decorations to use as
ornamentation. I found this giant bug (right) a little creepy, but it does draw
attention. I came up with a painting technique that looked weathered and intriguingly colorful for this series.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">One day, we saw an old barn being torn down</span> near our home in the Chicago suburbs. Upon inquiry, we were thrilled to learn that we could have some of the wood with its
charming peeling paint. The barn had been built shortly after the Civil War, so the birdhouses we made from it are very rustic. We felt exhilarated knowing that we were preserving
a little part of Illinois history. The rustic barn wood series include my absolute favorites, although customers favored the modern ones with "accoutrements." So we made more modern ones for our online shop and pulled the barn woods from inventory to put in our yard. I love their irregular weathered roofs and random twigs and they do complement our old cottage-style house. <br />
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Thanks for caring enough to read this far. Sometime I should photograph the gardens surrounding the birdhouses. We have more garden than lawn...literally.<br />
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We have just a few birdhouses in stock at <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/LifesAnExpedition?" target="_blank">Life's an Expedition</a> on Etsy.<br />
<br />
dj runnels<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL7nHUfv7Yq25iv7lhTx4cGet4og6iicogLaD4ie4AqmWxzJbuJ9uSz5aJDraEdIRcGjZpQ4E8JXZCwNygKVzcZhIIcK75MoiJYu5x4BVi9WI5qWrqPHYU70nKtjZhMHkFpo4iiPCKVZ8/s1600/birdhouse_blog1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL7nHUfv7Yq25iv7lhTx4cGet4og6iicogLaD4ie4AqmWxzJbuJ9uSz5aJDraEdIRcGjZpQ4E8JXZCwNygKVzcZhIIcK75MoiJYu5x4BVi9WI5qWrqPHYU70nKtjZhMHkFpo4iiPCKVZ8/s1600/birdhouse_blog1.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a>lifesanexpeditionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08335048011002914005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6457141235673049464.post-44371319686488912362012-05-12T15:40:00.000-05:002017-10-01T15:10:23.790-05:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZnf_Ba7nZhftHotpp_MQx_SoNO1_4CjA60gXCh5Y8CjN_F3nZLKu85RB8sVP110XS0ZEMGMfVZyiICzCKAT-eCNDVfO1vNEKPSVOgAi7uoJPYjdqp4vO3-D7Gekl-oB1VebaDNAE4xhg/s1600/silkbamboo786b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZnf_Ba7nZhftHotpp_MQx_SoNO1_4CjA60gXCh5Y8CjN_F3nZLKu85RB8sVP110XS0ZEMGMfVZyiICzCKAT-eCNDVfO1vNEKPSVOgAi7uoJPYjdqp4vO3-D7Gekl-oB1VebaDNAE4xhg/s320/silkbamboo786b.jpg" width="241" /></a>Here's what I've been working on today and as I tore up the silk fabric to make this, I suddenly remembered a concerned customer asking me, well...isn't this scarf going to shed? Or
leave lint? Or (I can't believe she said this)<i> fall apart?</i><br />
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Ah, no. How do I know this? Because <b style="color: yellow;"> I wear black. </b> Nearly every day, I have on black/dark jeans or black capris--depending on the weather--so that's what I wear when I work on my scarves. If they were going to create a lint storm, I'd have the evidence on my lap. <br />
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Fortunately, my customer was open-minded enough to just go ahead and wear the scarf she bought from me. She was pleased that (1) it did indeed hold up and (2) it generates
many compliments.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBM1Ce1bdFgdGtZ3tJcvw0zt47Oo8eYFTyF8eWUlIZbcVy9ev-TnFTK-Qh0A456H6FHrifKYWz2idotM1teYYbQ9veB7QbVJjikty2CQ3CTubeXuWywQRjAb4qSvgjqCIaCz5vQlekTx0/s1600/silkbamboo786d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBM1Ce1bdFgdGtZ3tJcvw0zt47Oo8eYFTyF8eWUlIZbcVy9ev-TnFTK-Qh0A456H6FHrifKYWz2idotM1teYYbQ9veB7QbVJjikty2CQ3CTubeXuWywQRjAb4qSvgjqCIaCz5vQlekTx0/s320/silkbamboo786d.jpg" width="157" /></a><br />
The reason I thought of this while working on this particular scarf is because I used a type of silk I have not used before and I cut it in a way I have not cut silk fabric before. It did leave lint on my cutting board. I had to shake the fabric out in my front yard before I could continue. Then I made the scarf and it was fine. Another thready crisis averted. <br />
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I guess the next time I get a concerned customer, I will direct her to this blog post. But what about the people who drool over my scarves, eye the threadiness cautiously, then don't buy without asking me for reassurance? I suppose that sort of thing happens a lot to any seller.<br />
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< Silk Bamboo is the name of this scarf. There's no bamboo in it. That's just the name.<br />
<br />
dj runnels<br />
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/LifesAnExpedition?" target="_blank">Life's an Expedition</a> on Etsy.lifesanexpeditionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08335048011002914005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6457141235673049464.post-17287572772522245712012-04-07T10:42:00.004-05:002017-10-01T15:07:29.276-05:00Life, death, friendships and other ships.There's a sickening jab that pierces your heart when you learn that an old friend has died. The pain is no less when the friend is someone you haven't seen in a long time. And the pain is no easier to process when you learn of their death a year after it happened.<br />
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John Krevey was a handyman for a landlord in Rhode Island. The landlord was an important figure in my life, yet years later, I find that I remember far more moments with John. And certainly the memories are more pleasant ones. <br />
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John had a gift for taking a complex, painful scenario and slapping a healthy layer of common sense on it, like slathering a sandwich with the right amount of crunchy peanut butter. And I always thought that no matter how difficult the problem, peanut butter can fix it, at least a little. <br />
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Case in point: My boyfriend's wannabe girlfriend gave my name and phone number to another guy in an effort to break up my relationship. I knew nothing of this until the potential blind date called me. I was stunned. Didn't know what to say to the guy. What kind of girl would do something so manipulative? What was I supposed to say to this guy she had used as her pawn? I fumbled through the phone call. Afterwards, I angrily told my boyfriend what this wannabe girlfriend had done. I think he shrugged or mumbled something. This led me to believe that the BF had actually encouraged the wannabe GF to set me up on a blind date to distract or get rid of me. I indignantly told the BF this was deceitful behavior and cruel to both me and the blind date.<br />
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Then I told John Krevey about it. John laughed. <br />
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"Now, see, here's what you should have told [the BF]," John said in his slow, casual voice, almost a drawl. "You should have said, 'Wow! I went out on a date with that guy and he was terrific! Really good-looking, funny, a great guy. I had the time of my life. Please tell [wannabe girlfriend] thank you. She really did me a favor.'"<br />
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It's not that John was devious by nature. But when he experienced devious people, he knew how to play their game, work around them or at least mess with them. For all his boyish looks and countrified charm, he was not phased by con artists. And he knew months before I did that I should break up with this worthless boyfriend and find someone honest, straight-forward and deserving of my affection. (I finally did and I'm married to him.)<br />
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This and other John Krevey encounters and snippets of wisdom have stayed with me over the years. So a few days ago, when I was zipping through some Google+ posts and saw somebody with a last name similar to Krevey, I spontaneously Googled John's name. I had done this several times in the past without finding him. This time, the auto-finish feature not only finished his name, it prompted <span style="font-style: italic;">obituary<span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span>. Not a good sign.<br />
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Whereas once I tried and tried and could not find the guy, now the internet is swarming with hits for John R. Krevey. He became an electrician and started his own business, R2 Electric. He resurrected a rusty lightship, refurbished it and brought it to a Manhattan harbor, a process that took years to accomplish. Once there, he began a campaign to bring life back to a neighborhood that apparently used to look like something out of a Marlon Brando movie, <i>On the Waterfront</i>. John earned the respect and love of many mariners and New Yorkers. He deftly dealt with bureaucratic red tape and...well, con artists of a sort who didn't want him to have that boat there, let alone turn it into a floating restaurant. He nurtured the ambitions of one Reid Stowe, who achieved fame for his <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reid_Stowe">"1000 Days at Sea" voyage. </a> He won local awards that he accepted in his "aw shucks" kind of voice. He married and had two children. And one week, when he took his grown son on a vacation to Santo Domingo, he died of a heart attack, leaving behind a devastated family, countless friends and a saddened community.<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Fast forward a year.</span> And I find out, all in the same minute, where John Krevey has been and what wonderful things he has been doing. And that he not only passed away, but has been gone for over a year. Okay, it's over and done, but the heart of a friend does not use logic in these matters to argue away the shock and grief. He is still my friend of long ago, as if no time had elapsed. <br />
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In my heart, this is the John Krevey for whom I bought a birthday cake. The man who kept a bicycle in his apartment. The man I painted rooms with and had many a philosophical discussion with. <br />
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"Look at this." John Krevey pointed to a hole made in a window shade from a decorative pull cord. "Now a cord like that is always going to leave a hole." He deftly retrieved a white plastic device resembling a wide money clip, about 1 1/2 x 3 inches, from his jeans pocket. "See, this is all you need." He quickly slipped the plastic clip onto the end of the window shade and centered it. Then he opened and closed the shade by grabbing the plastic clip. Next he slipped the plastic device to the right and it came off the shade. It left no marks on the shade, he pointed out. "You can take it with you and put it on any window shade." To my artsy decorator's eye, the gadget was plain and unremarkable. But its portable nature appealed to my nomadic soul. And John, who had a knack for seeing through complexity and b.s. of all kinds, had impressed upon me the pragmatism of it. <br />
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After almost a year of being in John's acquaintance, I left Rhode Island. I tried to stay in touch with most of my friends, but I lost contact with John. <br />
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"Whatever happened to John Krevey?" I asked my ex-boyfriend within three months of moving away. "He didn't answer the letter I sent him." <br />
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"He went home," the ex-boyfriend told me. <br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Just that. He went home. </span>Where? His home state? What town? Did he have an address? Where is he working? No information. My heart sank. Yet again, my so-called boyfriend had let me down. He had let John Krevey slip from both of our lives and now we had no way to find him. He had skittered away taking his plastic window shade pull, his bicycle and his no-nonsense philosophy with him. I suspected I would never see him again. This proved to be correct.<br />
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Maybe one day, one of John Krevey's friends will read this and smile. Yeah, that was him. That slow, unassuming speech of his that she describes...yes, I remember that. She writes about pulling that window shade pull out of his jeans pocket. I wonder if his jeans were rolled up at the bottom? <br />
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I am smiling as you think this. I envision those rolled up jeans as he ambles towards me with his bow-legged walk. I see him mentally churning a little soliloquy. He shoves one hand in a front jeans pocket and shifts his weight to one side. A boyish grin, something like that of Harrison Ford.<br />
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I found this <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cmj53hF3gg&lr=1&uid=sprgMUnYBvq0-fCs3q2T9g" target="_blank">video</a> of him accepting an award. I watch in silence, marveling at how he looks the same. Then I whisper, "You were right, John. Those were good window shade pulls. John Lennon was more talented than Paul McCartney. Not so sure about the Elvis stuff. There are some paint colors you should not use in a room because they just don't make sense. My boyfriend in Rhode Island was an absolute jerk. Rusty ships are worth saving. Red tape is worth fighting."<br />
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Update July 9, 2014: I am thinking about John a lot today and feeling down. But I realize that I was lucky to have known him. He was unique. And I don't think I've met terribly many unique people over the years. Better to have known him and lost him than never to have known him. <br />
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dj runnelslifesanexpeditionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08335048011002914005noreply@blogger.com