Life's story

But we are friends, if not family. And family and friends share most things, especially stories. Sure 'nuff there's plenty about sewing and quilting. But I'm always interested in the gossip. And if I'm not, well, I jest don't read it. 'Nuff said. Now where was that gosh darn needle? Oww...

Yes, not only do you have to tell your entire life story, including intimate details such as are found on the talk shows, making up good stuff if you are boring, but you also have to send a FQ to everyone before we let you post. :-)

IMHO>>>I think you are missing THE point of quilting, it is a metaphor for life....It is a way of linking people who would otherwise not associate....it has historically been like this and I think those who embrace the spirit of sharing that quilting embodies also reach out naturally to others. In this world of alienation from our fellowman/woman, I personally am drawn to the people as much as the quilting.

Take this wonderful example. I was doing as my Boss Lady, aka Butterfly, said and devoting my 20 daily minutes to the nightmare quilt, and while up checking on one of the DDs I came to see what y'all might be talking about.

BTW in case Ma'am Butterfly is listening I've managed to do 7 whirlimacallits in 2 days. Now back to scheduled regular whinin' :P

I'm going to crawl out of the woodwork to comment on this one. YES its long, but that is my normal MO. Either read or delete, its your choice, but remember, you asked.

First off, a LOT of us have been reading this group for YEARS. You develop friendships, some of which may last a lifetime. You get so close to some people that you start to think of them as family. Most of us would start to go through withdrawals (and do if we are away from the computer for more than a week) without each other. Most of us worry when people don't post as often as they used to (I'm guilty of not posting as frequently, but I'm pregnant, due any day, and heaven forbid I should bore you with the details of my baby's upcoming birth, although I know a ton of people here that would love to read an update). We are friends and yes, like Momma Sharon said, family. We are joined by a common interest, quilting, but after a while, you find yourself discussing more of your life with people. It's how this ng has been since I started reading/posting over 5 years ago.

Second, instead of sitting around trying to change something that has been done this way for nearly 10 years, either ask for help on filtering OT posts (more than a few will offer help, no matter what your reader is), skip the OT posts, or realize that this is more like a real life quilting bee than anyone could ever imagine. At real life quilting bee's and guilds, people keep up with each other. They offer support, happy dances, share grief, and offer prayers (or warm thoughts depending on religious preference). Here you will get cyber hugs, cyber tissues, prayers of support, cyber shoulders to cry on when you feel that no one else understands, and people will grieve with you in personal loss, jump for joy at the birth of a new baby, and you really don't want to hear what happens with this group when they find out you are getting married (its a long, personal story, brings tears to my eyes no matter how many times I tell the story, and to people not on the NG that aren't familiar with what a HUG is, totally baffling that people that have never met one another will come together for the most treasured of all gifts.)

Third, if you have a question and don't want to search for the answer on google, ask. I don't know of any quilter on this group that would rather send you on a hunt than answer it for you. We all started off somewhere, and we all remember where we started. I'm not the best quilter in the world, but I will offer what I can.

Fourth, if you are going to post a snarky question like you did, you have the scent of a troll. Trolls are the ONE living thing on this planet I rarely feed. I hope they starve themselves and shrivel up into little raisins so I can cook them with a magnifying glass. BUT you hit a nerve with me. A BIG nerve. Maybe its hormones, maybe its me getting impatient with labor (according to my doctor last night, I've been in the early stages of labor for about 2 days and it feels like I'm not ever going to give birth), but either way, you opened your mouth, and I know I'm not the only one that is going to come running to the defense of the group, for the groups sake. There are other quilting forums out there (they have already been suggested), or you can go to MSN or Yahoo and start your own. Be forewarned though, quilters love to chat, and you will probably find yourself amassed in an ocean of OT posts wherever you go.

Karlee in Kansas

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Amen. I cannot begin to tell you how little I care about reading about other people's trials and tribuations. OT usually takes care of that problem. But often the quilting answers are buried by responses that have no relevance whatsover. Like everything else, gotta take the bad with the good.

However, if you upset the board 'divas,' prepare to be scorched. :> They are very tolerant of most everything except criticism.

joan

joan o'reilly New 311 Album--EVOLVER--July 22nd

| | Amen. I cannot begin to tell you how little I care about reading about other | people's trials and tribuations. OT usually takes care of that problem. But | often the quilting answers are buried by responses that have no relevance | whatsover. Like everything else, gotta take the bad with the good.

Herin lies my point. You learn to skip posts. You learn to ignore what you don't want to read. Joan has been here for longer than me, and I have not heard her voice her opinion on OT posts until now. Either way, IMHO, we are all allowed our opinion. Joans opinion is that she doesn't like the OT posts. My opinion is that I love them. Neither opinion is wrong, neither is right. We agree to disagree.

| | However, if you upset the board 'divas,' prepare to be scorched. :>

They are | very tolerant of most everything except criticism.

I by no means,do I consider myself a diva....I'm just overly cranky today.

BTW, on a side note for Joan, I'm taking "Grassroots" to the hospital with me for some labor music

Karlee in Kansas who is wondering if/how she can get her favorite 311 cd autographed.......

| | joan | | | joan o'reilly | New 311 Album--EVOLVER--July 22nd |

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You are certainly entitled to your opinion. You may want to try other online quilt groups if you find this one to chatty for you, but my own experience has been that the others are even less on topic than this one. Most newsgroup reading programs allow you to filter out the OT posts. Maybe that would help? Diana

TY for the labor vibes....I'm just looking at "speedy vibes" more than "comfort vibes". According to the doc that I saw last night, I've been in labor, early early labor, for about 2 days now. I'm uncomfortable. I can't sleep. I have little interest in food. I'm cranky as all get out. I'll let you know all the fun details after she is born and home, I promise.

Karlee in Kansas, who is feeling a little bit like an elephant who carries a baby for 22 months. and who wishes the contractions would either stop or do something productive.

I'm sure that can be arranged.

joan o'reilly

8904 florence dr bellevue ne 68147 joan o'reilly New 311 Album--EVOLVER--July 22nd

My wonderful, wunnerful, cyber daughter! You put it into words much better than I could. Sending you love and hugs for an easy (relatively) pain free birth. Thinking of you. Take care my sweetie!

Well if'n both of you would turn up at Houston in '04 we may just work out the tiara thingy!

That just made my whole day!!! Thanks Joan!!!

Still grinning Karlee in Kansas

I'm going to *try* to be there...BUT. BUT is a big word in this house right now...and its still a semi secret (no, my mother isn't happy about it, but there is a lot of stuff that she will just have to live with being unhappy about). I have to leave here in a few minutes to take the kidlet to school, but when I come back, I'll get some more juice (bout the only thing that I really want these days) and post a very lengthy update on what I've been doing in the past few weeks, and about The Big Secret.

Hugs Karlee in Kansas

| > > | | > > | Amen. I cannot begin to tell you how little I care about reading | about | > > other | > > | people's trials and tribuations. OT usually takes care of that | problem. | > > But | > > | often the quilting answers are buried by responses that have no | > relevance | > > | whatsover. Like everything else, gotta take the bad with the good. | > >

| > > Herin lies my point. You learn to skip posts. You learn to ignore what | > > you don't want to read. Joan has been here for longer than me, and I | have | > > not heard her voice her opinion on OT posts until now. Either way, | IMHO, | > > we are all allowed our opinion. Joans opinion is that she doesn't like | > the | > > OT posts. My opinion is that I love them. Neither opinion is wrong, | > > neither is right. We agree to disagree. | > >

| > > | | > > | However, if you upset the board 'divas,' prepare to be scorched. :>

| > > They are | > > | very tolerant of most everything except criticism. | > >

| > > I by no means,do I consider myself a diva....I'm just overly cranky | today. | > >

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| > > BTW, on a side note for Joan, I'm taking "Grassroots" to the hospital | with | > > me for some labor music | > >

| > > Karlee in Kansas who is wondering if/how she can get her favorite 311 cd | > > autographed....... | > >

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| > > | | > > | joan | > > | | > > | | > > | joan o'reilly | > > | New 311 Album--EVOLVER--July 22nd | > > |

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Looks like I am going to have a very busy day googling to find everyones posts with life storys. I want the dirt! Now, really... the people who get upset over OT posts have to realize that this is a public forum. No one can make anyone do anything... its like herding cats to the bath... Diana

God bless you my child. You obviously have needs that will take a higher power to help solve since you are turning down any help that could possibly be given here. It's sad that you feel you must shun these wonderful people. Besides, WE don't ALL tell our life story on here because the word WE includes yourself and I don't recall you posting your life story here. If you don't want to read every post then just hit the delete key or hit CTRL T to mark the thread read and be done with it. Something you might want to remember though is that by getting to know people and their life story and by sharing your, people are more willing to share their knowledge of the things that you want to know such as quilting. No one if forcing you to be in this NG but yourself. YOU make the choice to be here.

Mika

Beautifully said, Karlee...absolutely wonderful. I wouldnt change a word. Now that youre out in the open Karlee, let me say this... Im sure I speak for many when I send you safe and comfortable labor vibes. Please let us know, when youre ready, about your new arrival so we may properly celebrate her entrance into this world. Hugs, Diana