The Next Best Book Club discussion

You may have seen me posting here and throwing my two cents in there, and basically just jumping in with both feet like a kid who's found the perfect puddle.

However, this has been going on for about a month or so, and I have yet to introduce myself to anyone.

Allow me to do so now:

Name: Darla (I was not named after the little rascals)

Age: 30 - I'm a Pisces :)

Favorite Color: Indigo

~I currently reside in Northern Michigan (yes, we've already had a little snow).

~I'm in the middle of a divorce. (This is actually a good thing, so please no condolences, I merely state this because it's part of who I am right now. We've been separated for over a year and a half, so it's not very fresh either.)

~I'm currently dating who I believe to be the love of my life. (He's 20 years older than me. Am I starting to sound like a strange Soap Opera yet?)

~I have a black cat named Disa (which means 'active sprite')

~Hobbies include but are not limited to:
reading (of course), music, movies, museums, crocheting, cross stitch, beading and jewelry making

~I have no children but I want them desperately. (two to be exact)

~I consider myself to be eclectic spiritually. If I had to label myself, I would call myself Wiccan, but that's more of a generality. (Please don't confuse this with devil worshipper -- it's the furthest thing from it.)

Anyhow, I guess I've rattled on for long enough. Hi everyone, and thank you for accepting me with open arms, even though I got it backwards and am just saying hello now.... :)~

Nice to have you as part of the group Darla!

Thanks guys! It's been nice to be here! :)

From one Pisces to another...welcome!!

Ha Ha! Thanks Jackie... I see I didn't lose you with my lengthy babbling....lol ;)

Welcome Darla, I'm sure you will love it here as you probably have discovered it gets very addicting. :~)

Hi Darla. I'm almost at the end of a divorce (I hope). Next week is court yet again. I keep having to go to court because the soon2Bx doesn't want to pay child support. I hope you don't have that situation.

Oh no I love lengthy babbling... it makes for interesting conversation! LOL

Welcome Darly and I hope you keep jumping in and enjoy yourself!!!

lol Fiona.... I'm a horse... I'm sure the fact that we are both barnyard animals means that we'll get along well... hee hee

and no, Petra... thank God... I didn't breed with him... I want kids badly, however, the thought of being tied to him for the rest of my life makes me want to choke myself over the back of a chair....

Hopefully your court date will go smoother this time... good luck :)

Thanks everyone for the warm welcome!!!!

Hi Darla... another Pisces!! Welcome Welcome!

Hi, Darla! I am also from Michigan, metro Detroit. How far north are you?

Jessica - I'm up in Traverse City, so not too close but not too far from Detroit

Thanks Lori... are you saying you're a Pisces too????

and holy crap, Heather... I very rarely meet anyone else who cross stitches, usually when I tell someone that I cross stitch a blank look flutters across their face as though I'm speaking Martian. :)

Darla, yup. A fish girl through and through!

... I knew I liked you for a reason.... :)~

Nice! Welcome! :) I also love to cross stitch... though I don't get much of that done anymore since my babies have been born. I have so little free time right now, and the reading hobby has been winning! :)

Welcome Darla!!
I also love to cross-stitch, but I have not had any time lately because of grad school. My friends and husband make fun of me for it :)

Hi Darla :)

I'm gracee (lower case "g". I just think it's cuter than upper case).

I'm a Cancer - Water sign - Hubby of 27 years is a Taurus - earth sign. Some times we're strong like brick. Sometimes all we make is mud ;)

I used to X-stitch. Now, I think I'm mainly just cross. hee hee.

Bless you for adopting a black cat. They are usually last on the adoption totem pole. Don't photograph well, and people get superstitious about them. Stupid reasons, I know - but take a gander in any animal shelter - black cats aplenty :( We've had two - and they've been great animals. Currently we have two dogs, one cat, and one fishy.

Welcome!

welcome!

Welcome Darla. I love crocheting and crossstitching also. Just for people's sakes, I am a Scorpio (watch out for my sting) and am born in the year of the Dragon. Boy, a double whammy. You all better watch out for me.

Hi Darla-

Welcome from a goat to add to the barnyard animals.

LOL

I knew I liked you Fiona- we are both Earth signs. :) I notice most of my good friends tend to be Earth signs- even though I'm not much into Astrology.

Hello and welcome!!

All cross-stichers and crocheters unite! I do both, mainly in the winter also. My hands get too sweaty in the summer to do any crafts. I like cross-stiching more because it's relaxing. There's nothing like stabbing a piece a fabric to get out your frustrations.

I also learned I'm a Rooster. cock-a-doodle-doo?!

LOL..Heather! I must have over a dozen scarves since it's the only thing I know how to make. hahaha! I started out by learning from a Crocheting for Dummies book and then my mom taught me techniques. I can get the gist of a pattern, but I still have trouble and haven't been able to practice much since I started school again. My mom is happy though because out of three girls and all my cousins I'm the only one that crochets or at least has attempted too.

My grandma has been wanting to teach me to crochet for as long as I can remember. I tried a few times but just could not get the hang out it. Guess it's not my thing.

Lmao right now.... Look what I've started... I have never seen so many cross stitchers in one place in my whole life!!!! Seriously, aside from the girl who got me hooked, I don't know one person who cross stitches.

The sign thing is cracking me up too...

Fish people seem to have a strange camaraderie over sharing a zodiac sign, but the barnyard animals on here.... whew!! We could start a stampede! :)

Thank you all again for the welcome...

I'll have to post some of my work when I get a chance. Right now I am crocheting a blanket. It's the one pictured on the cover of this book:

50 Sensational Crochet Afghans and Throws

:)

That looks beautiful!

oh Darla that is beautiful...my mom use to crochet and tried to teach me two different times and I could never get it :~(....but I do cross stitch and love it. :~)

Darla - I live in TC too! My husband and I actually just moved here at the end of August, so we're still newbies. :O)

Jeane and Lisa -- Isn't that an awesome pattern? The blocks are about a foot square (which is huge) and they look even better up close. I can't wait till it's finished (though I've been working on it sparsely since finding this site....lol)

Hi Bird! That's crazy, what a small world! Have you located all the book stores yet??? :P I grew up here, so if you ever need any help finding the cool stuff, I should be able to help!!!

Welcome to the group Darla!

Welcome Darla,

I'm the same way when it comes to jumping in with both feet! Thanks for the introduction, glad to have you here. I don't crochet but I must mention that I, too, have found the love of my life who happens to be 20 years older than me. We have been together for 10 years (since I was 27). I couldn't have found a more perfect match. Best to you in your new relationship!

PS- Just to chime in on the signs...I am a Virgo with Capricorn rising (two Earth signs), and year of the Boar.

lol... thanks Connie...At least I'm not the only non-celebrity in a May-December relationship... :)

Darla - So far I've only found Horizon (downtown) and Borders. What others should I be checking out?? I really like the library up here though, and I have been spending quite a bit of my time there just browsing!

There is a little used book shop down town on Union Street called the Bookie Joint. They'll take your old books and give you a credit. Then when you buy stuff there, they'll apply a percentage of your credit to your purchase and you get your books for even cheaper. :)
This would be my favorite place to get books.

There is also a small used bookstore downtown on Front Street inside what is known as "The Arcade" It's a building that houses many small shops. It's very seldom that I go into this one, I'm not sure why. It's probably because I usually find what I want/need at The Bookie Joint and I prefer the atmosphere there better.

There used to be a discount book store at the Horizon Outlet Center just past Meijers. I haven't been up there in quite some time, but it seems to me that the last time I went up there it had been replaced by a dance studio. I've been meaning to find out if it went out of business or just moved.

Also, there is yet another store downtown on Front Street that specializes in New Age type things. They have an excellent selection of spiritual books covering everything from analyzing dreams to yoga to every form of religion under the sun. (Plus they have a lot of other cool things to buy and their store always smells like good incense and oils...) It's called Higher Self, but like I said, it specializes in New Age stuff, so it depends on if that's what you want or not.

And of course, as you stated above, our library is really very nice. (Although I keep forgetting to go in and pay my late fee from when my car broke down and I think they may be a little upset with me...lol)

Darla, it does look really great! I whish I could make it or have it!

Okay, tasks for darla: get away from the site and go finishing it!!! Then come back and don't go away anymore.

Darla, that blanket is really gorgeous!

Thanks guys... It's super time consuming just to do one square, so it's probably going to take me awhile, but it's for me, so it's ok. (although apparently I'm suppose to make one for my mother, my brother and my dad and step mom....) I work on it a little and then I take a break for a little... It gets frustrating sometimes because the progress is so slow, but I won't be giving up... I've got my eye on the prize :) I'll make sure to post a picture of it when it's all done :)

Hello and welcome Darla. Indigo, huh. Nice. I lived in Grand Rapids for awhile and really liked it. But have to admit, love warm weather climates (snow already?) much better.

Hey Bird... I forgot... We have a B. Dalton at the Grand Traverse Mall, too. There is also an audio book store I think up on South Airport Rd. called, drum roll please: Talking Book World. (I know, not very creative, is it?) I've never been in there because it's the opposite side of town for me and whenever I pass it I'm already on a mission and don't have time to stop.

We have a rainbow bookstore, which is like a Christian book store, but I don't know where it is, because I'm not Christian. There may be more that I don't know about, but if I remember one, I'll let you know :)

Wow Darla, thanks for all the great tips! I can't wait to check out the used bookstores you mentioned. I actually remember passing Talking Book World a few weeks ago and chuckling to myself about the name...I mean c'mon guys! Creativity, anyone?

Darla, while you are posting a picture you can for sure post the whole thing to me BY MAIL!!!!! Having that with me would feel cozzy!!!!

Heather... I'm doing the exact same scheme as is pictured... I loved it so much, I didn't want to change a thing... I have come up with some other ideas though... Such as using 5 different shades of purple, or choosing 2 different colors and using varying shades of both. The pattern is actually named "Stained Glass Afghan". :)

It's not a very hard pattern, just time consuming and a little awkward at times.

And Jeane... You're gonna have to stand in line... I already have 3 family members who want one... :)

Bird, let me know if I can be of further assistance to you :)

But darla,are they also dear book addicts? :-))))

... My brother is :)~

Great! I mean for being a book lover so maybe I can come behind him in line? :-))))) Are shall I just be quiet and patient and put myself behind the rest of your family? :-))))

Welcome Darla!!!

I loved the intro:) Very nice to meet you. Hope you tell us more.

KB

roflmao Jeane... you crack me up :)~

Thanks Kristin, nice to meet you!