I may or may not make it to 7... We'll see.
Grandchildren: Honestly, I did not think I would like being a grandmother. I'm not quite 50, I have nine grandchildren ranging from newborn up to age 13. When my oldest grandchild was born I was positive I was going to hate being a grandmother at such a young age. I don't look like a grandmother (or so I am reliably informed by my oldest grandchildren), I certainly don't act like a grandmother (of so I am reliably informed by my oldest grandchildren) but I must admit I am loving this grandmother gig where I can spoil them rotten (fill them with cookies) and send them home (to terrorize their parents).
Hunting down free stuff online: Usually I find craft patterns but sometimes I find Amazon gift certificates, sample products, cloth, college level classes (check out the range of free classes available from MIT), books and a whole lot of other things.
Making drapes: I know, this one is strange but I have a couple of odd sized windows which require custom made drapes. I discovered early on that I could make drapes myself more frugally than I could have someone else custom make them... so I learned how and now I enjoy making them. The current set I am working on making are the most amazing almost earth tones. Look at those lovely colors: 
My walls match the dark golden stripe in the material. What looks like black isn't... it's a dark chocolate brown.
The kittens: I really didn't want any more pets... and then I discovered "Silver" and "Stripe" abandoned under a shed. Silver is a coffee fiend as demonstrated by her head buried in my coffee cup: 
Her name is Silver because of those silver hairs you see poking through...
Stripe on the other hand likes hanging out on my keyboard making it difficult to type and sneaking tootsie rolls. 
We aren't talking about the website on the computer behind that cat. :P If you figure out where it is it's likely YOU are or were a member there too and I'm sure neither one of us wants to be "outed."
Harassing my friend Grey: Grey is a unique individual... He refers to himself as a "Grey Alien" because he's Sicilian and Grey is his nickname. I'm a warped wench... and we have turned into "Coffee Buddies"... we swap local specialty coffees back and forth between where he lives and where I live. He sends me Hawaiian Hazelnut and I send him Michigan Cherry. At the moment I'm tormenting him... I told him I was making him an apron with a picture of himself cross stitched onto it. I didn't tell him the apron is HOT PINK... or that the "him" is... well... look...
I put that same little alien on a set of napkin rings I made for him too. *Snickers* I may cut him off at the waist and put him on mug rugs (coasters) too. I really didn't think I would get so much enjoyment from harassing a man who was a stiff pompus prick when I met him.
Having a house full of teens: I love kids but I was positive when the oldest became teens I would not enjoy having the place crawling with teens visiting. Oh how the times have changed... Now I complain when there aren't at least 4 or 5 of my children's friends in the house.
Kinky sex: 'Nuff said.
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I loved "Harrassing your friend Gray." Especially the last sentence. It kind of gives you hope for humankind, in a strange way.
The drapes are amazing. The colors, perfect.
Still trying to figure out the free classes at MIT. That's fantastic but site is tough to navigate...not sure how it works. Will peruse when I have more time.
Zanelle, I surprised myself. I'm not sure what I am going to do with myself when the kids all finally move out. Then again, the youngest is only 9 so it will be a few years before I am "done" having a house full of of teens to poke, prod, encourage and correct as needed.
Beth... I love the MIT site though it can be confusing. Just remember, first look for the general category of what you are looking for - for instance if you are interested in learning more about Oceanography you look under the "Science" heading on the left then click on the link that says "Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences" before scrolling down the list of courses offered. They have a couple thousand free classes on everything from Anthropology to Nuclear Engineering to Business Management to Gender Studies to Physical Education.
Oddly I found the material for the drapes before I decided to paint the walls. LOL Once I had the drape material it was simply a matter of choosing what colors I wanted to pull out for accessories and which color I wanted to pull out to be the wall color. My floors are medium toned hardwood floors so the floors are no biggie other than making sure the colors all work together. I'm also building new floor pillows for the kids out of material that matches the red and which has golden dragonflies on it. (My kids are as likely to sit/lay on the floor as they are to sit on the couch or a chair so floor pillows are something I have a closet full of.)
The most amazing thing about Silver is that from the front she looks like a typical black cat. All that silver is only obvious when you look at her from behind.
Matt, according to the MIT website: "OCW Scholar courses are designed for independent learners who have few additional resources available to them. The courses are substantially more complete than typical OCW courses and include new custom-created content as well as materials repurposed from MIT classrooms. The materials are also arranged in logical sequences and include multimedia such as video and simulations."
Whilst they don't give college credit for the courses, they ARE extremely comprehensive courses in a wide variety of subjects and I have found most to be worth the time to take them.
Good list.
Best Open Call in a long time. Gotta send congratulations to Beth.
What a great list! You are a firecracker. :)
Oryoki, I hadn't thought of being a pitch for an HBO series... though I can see it if it is billed as a comedy.
Frank, I sometimes think the responses to OCs are more fun (and spontaneous) when OS participants come up with them rather than the PTB around here. Some of the recent ones the editors have come up with have been dead boring.
Hope... I'm just me. (said with a wicked smile)
Lezlie
I will also admit I am helping one of the "bigs" make their mother a new coat for Christmas and a couple of them make slippers for people.
;-)