Any Sock KAL 2

[jberry16]

I just finished the final with a 72.3% from what I can tell, granted she still has 3 things to grade, my current score (without knowing those 3 grades) is 80.45%. So I'm, as Mom would say, "bareassly" sitting with a B. I'll take that...hope the other 3 scores are good enough to boost me up into the B, and not below a C-I really wanna pass! I'll need to get at least a 70 on each of those that aren't graded to keep a C & pass.

[jess_hawk]

Emily, I'm not sure how that camera thing works- she agreed to fund your camera, except she's not actually funding it... I think I would point that out at the beginning and tell her that although you appreciate her concern for your health, if you are paying for the camera then you're not making that deal with her.

As for the other stuff (water vs. pop, etc)- I'm at that point in my life where 'cutting loose' from the parents on some issues is just getting easier. I'm 34. So, believe, me, I understand this is much easier said than done. But, at some point, you learn to look at mom and dad's advice; see the good points and the bad points; and make your own decision. That decision involves resigning yourself to dealing with their (possible) disagreement with your choice, and learning to say, "I understand your position, but this is my choice." and then letting their disagreement slide off of you. It also involves recognizing that sometimes you'll make the wrong choice, and being willing to change your mind sometimes. The point is, you'll learn to distance yourself a bit so that you can make your own decisions, be they wrong or right, without feeling responsible for your parents' feelings on the subject.

Regarding the first point: I told her exactly that. It's one thing if I owe you money, but I am not going to give you my camera (which, by the way, she wouldn't even want to use) if I don't owe you anything.
I do make my own decisions whenever possible, but since I still have to deal with the 'rents on a daily basis, it is easier 90% of the time to just give them what they want, because they seem to operate on the theory that when I explain that I understand their point but I disagree and will be making any given point on my own, they take it as a personal insult. Typically the process of getting through this involves a long, detailed, written letter, because if I try to say it dad will start yelling and I'll never get past, "I understand what you are trying to say, but." I love my dad, but he has a short fuse and doesn't listen well to anyone who disagrees with him.
Sometimes I want to shake them and scream, "YOU raised me this way. I'm independent, smart, capable of making my own reasonable decisions and then strong enough to stand up for them! These are GOOD things! Stop getting mad at me when I have my own opinions!" but I know that logic doesn't apply when they're mad at me.

Jess, congratulations on the camera...I think! Those are some pretty tough stipulations! May I suggest keeping some nuts in the car (the kind you eat, not the weird human kind) so when you get hungry,you can have a few? Then the water won't bother your stomach and you'll get a nutritious snack that won't leave you hungry or on a sugar high. I REALLY want you to keep the camera and at least it will keep you off the soda! Are your parents funding your education or other parts of your life? If so, they can speak into how you spend your money. If not, well, then they can only make suggestions!

Nuts are a good idea. We rarely have them around because mom hates them and I have a cousin who is deathly allergic. Honestly, my ideal snack mix is as follows:
raisins (plain or yoguhrt-covered), dried cherries, cashews and/or toasted almonds, low fat/sodium wheat thins, and chex mix (plain or in just about any flavor). a few walnuts and grapes are good too. My mom's idea of trail mix, on the other hand, involves a quart of popcorn-butter-flavored oil. Which is tasty. But really, really terrible for you. Guess whose trail mix gets made for long trips? and then, well, it isn't good for us so the rules on when it gets eaten are screwed up beyond belief.
Nutrition and eating in my family is so incredibly wierd. (And for the record, I usually do lose weight when I am cooking for myself. not necessarily enough to please my mom, but enough to please my dad.)

Am I glad you added that last part, I was afraid I would have to go an sit in the back of Jess' car waiting for her to go on road trips.

Chris, you are welcome to road trip with me anytime... but I hope nobody expects me to eat you. Cannibalism is against my religion.

At the fabric store, we finally took the Vogueknitting winter 08 off the shelf, which means I got to take one home free! I'm in love with the Classic Elite sweater on the back... There's also some cable work and a lovely seed stitch/lace jacket I like. All on my TO DO list. I'm doing some fun little stuff first, though: finishing socks and knitting some mushrooms!
In other words, the quilt is done tonight! Photos in the next couple of days (I owe you all a LOT of photos. They should all be up soon.)