For a few months, I have been in communication with someone abroad who wants to buy an afghan from my Etsy site, and wants it custom-made to her liking, to be ready by a certain date. I said, sure, I can do that.
She said, "I don't want you to go to any trouble."
Uhm, that's why you're paying me!
Early on, I told her that certain patterns would take more time and be more expensive, because they are more complex and therefore take longer to make. I reminded her of this a few times along the way when I emailed her to see if she had made up her mind.
She said she could not look at the yarn on a website with pictures, and I, stupidly but in a customer-friendly way, offered to knit and send her swatches of the yarns I had on hand plus the ones she was miraculously able to choose from said website.
Even allowing for long postal times, it took her a month from when we first talked for her to choose colours and a pattern.
When she finally decided, wanted to snail-mail me her pattern idea (tack on another month where I have to wait to receive the pattern before starting), and told me in an email her ideas, catastrophe struck.
She wanted the most expensive pattern that would take the longest amount of time. I wrote her back and said (professionally and politely) that there was no conceivable way I could complete the project on time for when she needed it. Originally, I worked out how long each pattern would take me, and she was aware that a certain pattern would not be feasible if she wanted it by a certain date - which she did.
Her answer was "Don't worry about it. I will reimburse you for the yarn you've bought to send me the swatches".
Trying not to sound like I was begging, I emailed her and asked if she would like to continue but with a different pattern that I could complete well before the due date?
I hate to sound like I am begging, but let's be realistic. These knitting projects are not produced out of thin air, and it appears that she thinks they do.
My husband and friends agree that she is nuts, has no concept of how long these things take, and needs a reality check. The reason I am so disheartened by this is that my business is fledgling, and my customers are few and far between, so I need all the business I can get. If I lose this one, yuck!
On the positive side, if she backs out, I will get money for the yarn and shipping cpsts, and I can make scarves out of the yarn I bought to make her swatches. I am also updating my Etsy site's main page to prevent shit like this from happening again.
My husband quipped that this client threw a shoe at me, in reference to George W Bush's visit to Iraq last year, in which angry journalists lobbed shoes at the ex-president. Do to so says much more about the client than it does about me.
You can see my Etsy products at http://warmochfuzzy.etsy.com/
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
My Sister's Pregnancy, Part II
So today I learned that my sister will probably not want to let Mom have the babies at her house for babysitting when we come visit. My husband and I are unable to get into my sister's house because she refuses to put a railing on the front steps; both my husband and I walk with sticks, and have difficulty with stairs.
My sister has refused to put up a railing since they moved into that house 5 years ago. She claims that it would ruin the front facade/decor.
I know that this idea is paranoid, but it feels like my sister deliberately does not want me to see her babies. Also, she is fundamental Christian and I am Jewish. Does she think I am going to eat the babies for lunch?
My sister has refused to put up a railing since they moved into that house 5 years ago. She claims that it would ruin the front facade/decor.
I know that this idea is paranoid, but it feels like my sister deliberately does not want me to see her babies. Also, she is fundamental Christian and I am Jewish. Does she think I am going to eat the babies for lunch?
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
My Sister's Pregnancy
My sister is expecting twins in April or May, and lives in Canada. Nath and I have repeatedly asked for photos so we can share in the pregnancy excitement from the other side of the pond; it's the ONLY way we can experience it.
But we have only received two photos early on, and my mom says my sister doesn't want to take more photos because she's "touchy about the way she looks". Another reason earlier on was that she was in a lot of pain because the babies were putting pressure on her organs. Nath and I wonder, "how does that preclude taking photos?" We're in pain all the time and we take photos of memorable events! What's the problem???
Erm...she's fat and pregnant...what's wrong with that??? It's normal! Was she expecting to stay svelte and not break out in acne because her hormones are going nuts? I get the feeling she's too posh to push. They spent the first ten years of marriage creating the perfect house...that's all going to go down the toilet, and I would be lying if I said I wasn't looking forward to their disillusionment.
Sigh. This post is a bit of a rant on my part because of ongoing related problems, and I am on my period so very hormonally volatile when it comes to discussing anything related to pregnancy. Nath and I are thus far unable to have intercourse, but we want to have kids, start trying next year. So anything related to fertility and pregnancy gets me riled up because I feel inadequate. My vaginismus and his fibro make intercourse thus far impossible, so hearing about anyone else's pregnancy drives me to tears.
But we have only received two photos early on, and my mom says my sister doesn't want to take more photos because she's "touchy about the way she looks". Another reason earlier on was that she was in a lot of pain because the babies were putting pressure on her organs. Nath and I wonder, "how does that preclude taking photos?" We're in pain all the time and we take photos of memorable events! What's the problem???
Erm...she's fat and pregnant...what's wrong with that??? It's normal! Was she expecting to stay svelte and not break out in acne because her hormones are going nuts? I get the feeling she's too posh to push. They spent the first ten years of marriage creating the perfect house...that's all going to go down the toilet, and I would be lying if I said I wasn't looking forward to their disillusionment.
Sigh. This post is a bit of a rant on my part because of ongoing related problems, and I am on my period so very hormonally volatile when it comes to discussing anything related to pregnancy. Nath and I are thus far unable to have intercourse, but we want to have kids, start trying next year. So anything related to fertility and pregnancy gets me riled up because I feel inadequate. My vaginismus and his fibro make intercourse thus far impossible, so hearing about anyone else's pregnancy drives me to tears.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Interdigitate: Word of the Day 16/01/2010
VERB
Meaning: to become interlocked like the fingers of folded hands
Example Sentence
"The edges [of bridge expansion joints] often are shaped like combs, the teeth of one interdigitating with teeth of the other." (The Washington Post, January 14, 1998)
Meaning: to become interlocked like the fingers of folded hands
Example Sentence
"The edges [of bridge expansion joints] often are shaped like combs, the teeth of one interdigitating with teeth of the other." (The Washington Post, January 14, 1998)
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Alternatives to the alternative
http://newly-nerfed.net/2009/12/21/alternatives-to-the-alternative/
My husband wrote a thread on the popular "But You Don't Look Sick?" message boards What's the Harm in CAM? about the potential harm done to patients by some forms of complimentary and alternative medicine (CAM). When he was requesting evidence that the treatments people were espousing worked, he was attacked by certain members who felt that he was maligning their chosen form of health care. Evidence was never presented. It was felt by some that there was no need to present evidence, as the patients' feeling better from these treatments was evidence enough.
It is not empirical evidence, and when called upon to produce empirical evidence, CAM-supporters usually come up empty-handed.
My husband wrote a thread on the popular "But You Don't Look Sick?" message boards What's the Harm in CAM? about the potential harm done to patients by some forms of complimentary and alternative medicine (CAM). When he was requesting evidence that the treatments people were espousing worked, he was attacked by certain members who felt that he was maligning their chosen form of health care. Evidence was never presented. It was felt by some that there was no need to present evidence, as the patients' feeling better from these treatments was evidence enough.
It is not empirical evidence, and when called upon to produce empirical evidence, CAM-supporters usually come up empty-handed.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
The Prosecution of George W Bush for Murder.
http://www.indiegogo.com/bush
Famed "Manson Family" prosecutor Vincent Bugliosi's 2007 book and forthcoming documentary on why George W Bush should be prosecuted for murder. Pass this link on so they can raise money to finish the documentary!
Famed "Manson Family" prosecutor Vincent Bugliosi's 2007 book and forthcoming documentary on why George W Bush should be prosecuted for murder. Pass this link on so they can raise money to finish the documentary!
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Solution!
I did a lot of research about why we were having problems in the sex department, and I think we have a solution. It turns out that I have vaginismus, and I went to http://www.vaginismus.com for answers. I bought their kit, and have been slowly working through it. Hope is in sight!
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