On Sun, 31 Jul 2005 02:18:23 GMT, S'mee [AKA Jani] wrote:

> I've got to wait 9 more years before I can join... :-)

Not according to what she posted earlier. The only suggested limit is
"shades". Under 50 (the kids) - wear lavender and pink... 50+ wear
purple and red.

On Sat, 30 Jul 2005 23:33:13 -0500, jmcquown wrote:

> Oh dear. You didn't know about the Red Hat's? Um. They are everywhere. I
> think the idea has even been featured on some USA sitcoms. Okey doke
> Have fun!

I didn't know about it until someone mentioned them (here) a few
months ago... and I bet it was Carol who did the mentioning.

sf > said:

> On Sun, 31 Jul 2005 02:18:23 GMT, S'mee [AKA Jani] wrote:
>
> > I've got to wait 9 more years before I can join... :-)
>
> Not according to what she posted earlier. The only suggested limit is
> "shades". Under 50 (the kids) - wear lavender and pink... 50+ wear
> purple and red.

So, when are you joining, sf? I think I already know what your colors will
be.

Carol

sf > said:

> On Sat, 30 Jul 2005 23:33:13 -0500, jmcquown wrote:
>
> > Oh dear. You didn't know about the Red Hat's? Um. They are everywhere. I
> > think the idea has even been featured on some USA sitcoms. Okey doke
> > Have fun!
>
> I didn't know about it until someone mentioned them (here) a few
> months ago... and I bet it was Carol who did the mentioning.

Nope, not me. I found out about them quite by chance last night. I guess
Jill and I just don't watch the same TV shows. But it was funny today. I
was excitedly telling my ex and my daughter all about it. They sat there,
smiling politely. When I finished, they told me they were both very much
aware of the Red Hats.

I dunno. I think it's kinda special that the ladies and I found each other
right on my 50th birthday. It's like it was meant to be, ya know? I only
know our next door neighbors. It'll be nice to be able to go out and
socialize with local women. As much of a recluse as I am, I do miss human
contact sometimes.

Carol

sf wrote:

> On Sun, 31 Jul 2005 02:18:23 GMT, S'mee [AKA Jani] wrote:
>
> > I've got to wait 9 more years before I can join... :-)
>
> Not according to what she posted earlier. The only suggested limit is
>
> "shades". Under 50 (the kids) - wear lavender and pink... 50+ wear
> purple and red.

Im tempted to consult the http://www.redhat.com web site. I seem to
think you all are not even thinking about Tibetan Buddhism much less
writing about its 'red hat'?

"True" red is one of my faves, in hats or any of the multitudinous
others, but all too often "Red" degenerates into 'scarlet' or
'vermilion' or 'crimson'.

And my other fave is "Blue"

"The soul that startles in eyes of blue, to watch thy wantonness weeping
through"

---
Joseph Littleshoes

On Sun, 31 Jul 2005 01:37:58 -0500, Damsel wrote:

> sf > said:
>
> > On Sun, 31 Jul 2005 02:18:23 GMT, S'mee [AKA Jani] wrote:
> >
> > > I've got to wait 9 more years before I can join... :-)
> >
> > Not according to what she posted earlier. The only suggested limit is
> > "shades". Under 50 (the kids) - wear lavender and pink... 50+ wear
> > purple and red.
>
> So, when are you joining, sf? I think I already know what your colors will
> be.
>
I'm THINKING about it... the problem is "committing". I won't even
join an AAUW book group because I have lots of time to read during the
summer, but no "real" time to read (for pleasure) anytime else.

sf > said:

> On Sun, 31 Jul 2005 01:37:58 -0500, Damsel wrote:
>
> > sf > said:
> >
> > > On Sun, 31 Jul 2005 02:18:23 GMT, S'mee [AKA Jani] wrote:
> > >
> > > > I've got to wait 9 more years before I can join... :-)
> > >
> > > Not according to what she posted earlier. The only suggested limit is
> > > "shades". Under 50 (the kids) - wear lavender and pink... 50+ wear
> > > purple and red.
> >
> > So, when are you joining, sf? I think I already know what your colors will
> > be.
> >
> I'm THINKING about it... the problem is "committing". I won't even
> join an AAUW book group because I have lots of time to read during the
> summer, but no "real" time to read (for pleasure) anytime else.

From what I understand, you'd just be getting together once a month at a
restaurant. That's how the ladies in the Florida retirement community
where my ex lives during the winter do it. My, that was an outlandish
sentence! {shudder}

Carol

On Sun, 31 Jul 2005 01:47:12 -0500, Damsel wrote:

> I think it's kinda special that the ladies and I found each other
> right on my 50th birthday. It's like it was meant to be, ya know? I only
> know our next door neighbors. It'll be nice to be able to go out and
> socialize with local women. As much of a recluse as I am, I do miss human
> contact sometimes.

So get out there and DO it, woman and I want details of your
adventures.

<BG>
sf
enjoying being a recluse for the summer

Damsel wrote on 30 Jul 2005 in rec.food.cooking

> Carol, who will wear purple tomorrow
>

You could use red clothes dye on another hat (say a felt one)...Then
you'd could be set for life...summer and winter...I have the idea/image
of a red cowboy hat with a large droopy sunflower in it, in my mind and
it won't get out.

--
It's not a question of where he grips it!
It's a simple question of weight ratios!

A five ounce bird could not carry a one pound coconut.

Are you suggesting coconuts migrate?

Monsur Fromage du Pollet > said:

> Damsel wrote on 30 Jul 2005 in rec.food.cooking
>
> > Carol, who will wear purple tomorrow
>
> You could use red clothes dye on another hat (say a felt one)...Then
> you'd could be set for life...summer and winter...I have the idea/image
> of a red cowboy hat with a large droopy sunflower in it, in my mind and
> it won't get out.

I have the greatest hat ... somewhere. It's a gorgeous red knitted cap
with black fake fur around the edges. Now all I need is a purple winter
coat, and I'll be set for the cold part of the year.

Carol

"Damsel" > wrote in message
...
> Thanks. I am, too. It was a lot of fun! Here are the pics. More
> birthday pics will be available later tonight or tomorrow.
> http://tinypic.com/view/?pic=9pxs0n
> http://tinypic.com/view/?pic=9pxs2w
> http://tinypic.com/view/?pic=9pxte0
>
> Carol

Ta daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa it suits you))

O

Damsel wrote on 31 Jul 2005 in rec.food.cooking

>
>

Dye a sneaker red...Tie the shoe laces as a chin strap..? That would be
a strange hat.

--
It's not a question of where he grips it!
It's a simple question of weight ratios!

A five ounce bird could not carry a one pound coconut.

Are you suggesting coconuts migrate?

Damsel wrote:

> You can join now, but until your 50th birthday, you've got to wear pink and
> lavender instead of red and purple. Na-na-na-boo-boo! <EG>


This, I think, says it all. The whole idea of the original poem was
that after a certain point, women want to stop following society's
stupid rules that say they always have to dress tastefully and according
to someone else's idea of what appropriate. They want to speak out and
be outrageous and not care what other people think. So what happens?
They end up with a society of women with rigid rules, a uniform and an
initiation ceremony. This isn't non-conformity; it's the girl scouts.

A group of red hatters came to the wine and cheese shop where I work.
They were all spectacularly well dressed with perfectly coifed hair,
lovely tailored suits and red hats so tasteful they might have been
individually made by specialists at hundreds of dollars each. It was a
special wine tasting. They all bought the same things. There must have
been 30 of them. I couldn't tell them apart.


--Lia

Monsur Fromage du Pollet > said:

> Dye a sneaker red...Tie the shoe laces as a chin strap..? That would be
> a strange hat.

You, sir, are dangerous. *smile*

Carol

Julia Altshuler > said:

> Damsel wrote:
>
> > You can join now, but until your 50th birthday, you've got to wear pink and
> > lavender instead of red and purple. Na-na-na-boo-boo! <EG>
>
> This, I think, says it all. The whole idea of the original poem was
> that after a certain point, women want to stop following society's
> stupid rules that say they always have to dress tastefully and according
> to someone else's idea of what appropriate. They want to speak out and
> be outrageous and not care what other people think. So what happens?
> They end up with a society of women with rigid rules, a uniform and an
> initiation ceremony. This isn't non-conformity; it's the girl scouts.

But isn't it nice to have friends to spend time with, especially since the
group is geared toward older women, many of whom have been widowed? Right
now, I don't know anyone in our new town except my next door neighbors. I
look forward to making new friends and acting silly. Laughter is good for
the soul.

> A group of red hatters came to the wine and cheese shop where I work.
> They were all spectacularly well dressed with perfectly coifed hair,
> lovely tailored suits and red hats so tasteful they might have been
> individually made by specialists at hundreds of dollars each. It was a
> special wine tasting. They all bought the same things. There must have
> been 30 of them. I couldn't tell them apart.

I've spent a lot of time Googling this "disorganization," and I really
think that the herd you ran across are the exception, rather than the rule.
Tacky seems to be more the norm. <g>

Carol, future Red Hatter

Damsel wrote on 31 Jul 2005 in rec.food.cooking

>
>

Ok...Ok then how about a red Drink Pitcher?

--
It's not a question of where he grips it!
It's a simple question of weight ratios!

A five ounce bird could not carry a one pound coconut.

Are you suggesting coconuts migrate?

"Damsel" > wrote in message
...
> sf > said:
>
>> On Sun, 31 Jul 2005 01:37:58 -0500, Damsel wrote:
>>
>> > sf > said:
>> >
>> > > On Sun, 31 Jul 2005 02:18:23 GMT, S'mee [AKA Jani] wrote:
>> > >
>> > > > I've got to wait 9 more years before I can join... :-)
>> > >
>> > > Not according to what she posted earlier. The only suggested limit
>> > is
>> > > "shades". Under 50 (the kids) - wear lavender and pink... 50+ wear
>> > > purple and red.
>> >
>> > So, when are you joining, sf? I think I already know what your colors
>> > will
>> > be.
>> >
>> I'm THINKING about it... the problem is "committing". I won't even
>> join an AAUW book group because I have lots of time to read during the
>> summer, but no "real" time to read (for pleasure) anytime else.
>
> From what I understand, you'd just be getting together once a month at a
> restaurant. That's how the ladies in the Florida retirement community
> where my ex lives during the winter do it. My, that was an outlandish
> sentence! {shudder}
>
> Carol

Or perhaps take in a play or visit a landmark, or an event (music, etc) at
an assisted-living home. Maybe it depends on the regional group's
preference of things to do?
Dee Dee

Damsel wrote:

> But isn't it nice to have friends to spend time with, especially since the
> group is geared toward older women, many of whom have been widowed? Right
> now, I don't know anyone in our new town except my next door neighbors. I
> look forward to making new friends and acting silly. Laughter is good for
> the soul.

The girl scouts are nice too. So are any number of organizations that
promote friendship and sociability. I was objecting to the conformity
and exclusionary aspects of the Red Hats. If you've got a Red Hat
society that truly welcomes everyone, even the ones who don't feel like
wearing hats, then it doesn't seem so bad.


> I've spent a lot of time Googling this "disorganization," and I really
> think that the herd you ran across are the exception, rather than the rule.
> Tacky seems to be more the norm. <g>


Still, you've got another example of Madison Avenue taking over and
making money on a grassroots organization. The true spirit of red hat
shouldn't be an official anything, and yet you've got official red hat
calendars, an official red hat cookbook, red hat travel and tours, all
conveniently located for you on the official red hat web page. Were you
thinking of being creative? Nevermind that, there's red hat merchandise
and red hat fabric so you can make your red hat quilt just by following
the rules.


I first heard of the red hat phenomenon on my quilting lists when people
discovered how much red hat merchandise was out there. I have nothing
against the people in the society. I rather liked the herd of ladies
who came in, and I applaud you for going out and seeking out the most
likely place to make friends in your new town. I'm just stating that
the conformity aspects rub me wrong.


--Lia

Monsur Fromage du Pollet wrote on 31 Jul 2005 in rec.food.cooking

> Damsel wrote on 31 Jul 2005 in rec.food.cooking
>
> >
> >
>
> Ok...Ok then how about a red Drink Pitcher?
>

I got the perfect Hat...A red Planter/pot with a lightweight fake red
flower in it...TA DA! Use purple shoe strings to keep it....It can't
get any better...

--
It's not a question of where he grips it!
It's a simple question of weight ratios!

A five ounce bird could not carry a one pound coconut.

Are you suggesting coconuts migrate?

On Sun, 31 Jul 2005 07:29:44 -0500, Damsel >
wrote:

>Julia Altshuler > said:
>
>> Damsel wrote:
>>
>> > You can join now, but until your 50th birthday, you've got to wear pink and
>> > lavender instead of red and purple. Na-na-na-boo-boo! <EG>
>>
>> This, I think, says it all. The whole idea of the original poem was
>> that after a certain point, women want to stop following society's
>> stupid rules that say they always have to dress tastefully and according
>> to someone else's idea of what appropriate. They want to speak out and
>> be outrageous and not care what other people think. So what happens?
>> They end up with a society of women with rigid rules, a uniform and an
>> initiation ceremony. This isn't non-conformity; it's the girl scouts.
>
>But isn't it nice to have friends to spend time with, especially since the
>group is geared toward older women, many of whom have been widowed? Right
>now, I don't know anyone in our new town except my next door neighbors. I
>look forward to making new friends and acting silly. Laughter is good for
>the soul.
>
>> A group of red hatters came to the wine and cheese shop where I work.
>> They were all spectacularly well dressed with perfectly coifed hair,
>> lovely tailored suits and red hats so tasteful they might have been
>> individually made by specialists at hundreds of dollars each. It was a
>> special wine tasting. They all bought the same things. There must have
>> been 30 of them. I couldn't tell them apart.
>
>I've spent a lot of time Googling this "disorganization," and I really
>think that the herd you ran across are the exception, rather than the rule.
>Tacky seems to be more the norm. <g>
>
>Carol, future Red Hatter

I imagine that they sort themselves out into "chapters" according to
personalities. Some are going to be more raucous than others and
there will probably be some differences in what each group considers
fun. Some will think going to a biker show will be fun, others will
want to do the wine-tasting. Nothing wrong with that, although
probably they'd be better off switching activities once in a while :>

Carol, IIRC you mentioned there are several chapters in your area,
I'm sure you'll find one (or all!) that you'll enjoy hanging out with.
You go girl!!

Sue(tm)
Lead me not into temptation... I can find it myself!

On Sun, 31 Jul 2005 09:38:32 -0400, Julia Altshuler
> wrote:

>The girl scouts are nice too. So are any number of organizations that
>promote friendship and sociability. I was objecting to the conformity
>and exclusionary aspects of the Red Hats. If you've got a Red Hat
>society that truly welcomes everyone, even the ones who don't feel like
>wearing hats, then it doesn't seem so bad.

Then... it's not a Red Hat Society! If one doesn't feel like wearing
hats, then join the Whatever Society that includes all ages, men,
children, hatted/hatless, etc. Then what? The point here is that a
bunch of women of a certain vintage want to hang out together, wear
red hats, be silly, and not worry about conforming to *other peoples'*
idea of how they should behave.

>Still, you've got another example of Madison Avenue taking over and
>making money on a grassroots organization. The true spirit of red hat
>shouldn't be an official anything, and yet you've got official red hat
>calendars, an official red hat cookbook, red hat travel and tours, all
>conveniently located for you on the official red hat web page.

A lot of people who like something want to flaunt it or be reminded of
it throughout the day. You'd be surprized. Look at all the cat
stuff. I'd bet the Red Hat Society started selling that stuff because
people asked for it!

Were you
>thinking of being creative? Nevermind that, there's red hat merchandise
>and red hat fabric so you can make your red hat quilt just by following
>the rules.

It's not a knitting group or art class where there is any pressure to
be creative. That's the point. They just want to hang out together
and let loose. Hey, if they want to sell a Red Hat Paint-by-Numbers
kit, that would be as deliciously silly as a Red Hat Quilting Kit.

>I first heard of the red hat phenomenon on my quilting lists when people
>discovered how much red hat merchandise was out there. I have nothing
>against the people in the society. I rather liked the herd of ladies
>who came in, and I applaud you for going out and seeking out the most
>likely place to make friends in your new town. I'm just stating that
>the conformity aspects rub me wrong.
>
>
>--Lia

It's hard to have any "group" without some degree of identity. In
this case, they've chosen something humorous and attention-getting.
One has to overcome a degree of reticence and not worry about what
others think to flaunt it. Let's face it, someone who won't wear the
red hat isn't ready to be silly. :>

Now, I hear that Barb is starting a group called "The Pickle Hat
Society."

Sue(tm)
Lead me not into temptation... I can find it myself!

On Sun, 31 Jul 2005 07:27:29 -0400, Julia Altshuler wrote:

> They end up with a society of women with rigid rules, a uniform and an
> initiation ceremony.

I haven't read up on it yet... there's an initiation ceremony?
Wouldn't it be more like a birthday party?

> A group of red hatters came to the wine and cheese shop where I work.

1504 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley?

On Sun, 31 Jul 2005 09:38:32 -0400, Julia Altshuler wrote:

> I'm just stating that the conformity aspects rub me wrong.

Jeeze, Lia - why not some add ice to that bucket of cold water?

On Sun, 31 Jul 2005 14:46:28 GMT, Curly Sue wrote:

> I hear that Barb is starting a group called "The Pickle Hat Society."

But you can only join if you look good in pickle green and never get
hat head.

"sf" > wrote in message
...
> On Sun, 31 Jul 2005 14:46:28 GMT, Curly Sue wrote:
>
> > I hear that Barb is starting a group called "The Pickle Hat Society."
>
> But you can only join if you look good in pickle green and never get
> hat head.
>

ROFL!

kili

"Curly Sue" > wrote in message
...
> On Sun, 31 Jul 2005 09:38:32 -0400, Julia Altshuler
> > wrote:
>
>>The girl scouts are nice too. So are any number of organizations that
>>promote friendship and sociability. I was objecting to the conformity
>>and exclusionary aspects of the Red Hats. If you've got a Red Hat
>>society that truly welcomes everyone, even the ones who don't feel like
>>wearing hats, then it doesn't seem so bad.
>
> Then... it's not a Red Hat Society! If one doesn't feel like wearing
> hats, then join the Whatever Society that includes all ages, men,
> children, hatted/hatless, etc. Then what? The point here is that a
> bunch of women of a certain vintage want to hang out together, wear
> red hats, be silly, and not worry about conforming to *other peoples'*
> idea of how they should behave.
>
>>Still, you've got another example of Madison Avenue taking over and
>>making money on a grassroots organization. The true spirit of red hat
>>shouldn't be an official anything, and yet you've got official red hat
>>calendars, an official red hat cookbook, red hat travel and tours, all
>>conveniently located for you on the official red hat web page.
>
> A lot of people who like something want to flaunt it or be reminded of
> it throughout the day. You'd be surprized. Look at all the cat
> stuff. I'd bet the Red Hat Society started selling that stuff because
> people asked for it!
>
> Were you
>>thinking of being creative? Nevermind that, there's red hat merchandise
>>and red hat fabric so you can make your red hat quilt just by following
>>the rules.
>
> It's not a knitting group or art class where there is any pressure to
> be creative. That's the point. They just want to hang out together
> and let loose. Hey, if they want to sell a Red Hat Paint-by-Numbers
> kit, that would be as deliciously silly as a Red Hat Quilting Kit.
>
>>I first heard of the red hat phenomenon on my quilting lists when people
>>discovered how much red hat merchandise was out there. I have nothing
>>against the people in the society. I rather liked the herd of ladies
>>who came in, and I applaud you for going out and seeking out the most
>>likely place to make friends in your new town. I'm just stating that
>>the conformity aspects rub me wrong.
>>
>>
>>--Lia
>
> It's hard to have any "group" without some degree of identity. In
> this case, they've chosen something humorous and attention-getting.
> One has to overcome a degree of reticence and not worry about what
> others think to flaunt it. Let's face it, someone who won't wear the
> red hat isn't ready to be silly. :>
>
> Now, I hear that Barb is starting a group called "The Pickle Hat
> Society."
>
> Sue(tm)

There is a Pickle, WV -- perhaps they should be notified!
Dee Dee

Julia Altshuler > wrote:

> This, I think, says it all. The whole idea of the original poem was
> that after a certain point, women want to stop following society's
> stupid rules that say they always have to dress tastefully and according
> to someone else's idea of what appropriate. They want to speak out and
> be outrageous and not care what other people think. So what happens?
> They end up with a society of women with rigid rules, a uniform and an
> initiation ceremony. This isn't non-conformity; it's the girl scouts.

Thank you!

That's why I wear what I want *now*. If I wanna wear see-through shirts
or pajamas outside, I wear 'em. There's no guarantee I'll live to see
50, so I'm having my red-hat days *now*.

serene

Monsur Fromage du Pollet wrote:
>> Damsel wrote on 30 Jul 2005 in rec.food.cooking
>>
>>> Carol, who will wear purple tomorrow
>>>
>>
>> You could use red clothes dye on another hat (say a felt one)...

Spray paint works well too.

Debbie

Julia Altshuler > said:

> Still, you've got another example of Madison Avenue taking over and
> making money on a grassroots organization. The true spirit of red hat
> shouldn't be an official anything, and yet you've got official red hat
> calendars, an official red hat cookbook, red hat travel and tours, all
> conveniently located for you on the official red hat web page. Were you
> thinking of being creative? Nevermind that, there's red hat merchandise
> and red hat fabric so you can make your red hat quilt just by following
> the rules.

I don't plan on being a paid Purple Perks member. And I won't be ordering
anything from their online catalog (well, I do like the Minnesota cloisonne
pin). I have so many purple clothes already that all I'll need is some
tacky accessories and a couple hats. The red and purple boa was a
wonderful find - I think it was something like $2.99. I'm gonna have fun
with this, but no one's getting richer because of my involvement. Gotta
love nonconformity within nonconformity, huh? <G>

> I first heard of the red hat phenomenon on my quilting lists when people
> discovered how much red hat merchandise was out there. I have nothing
> against the people in the society. I rather liked the herd of ladies
> who came in, and I applaud you for going out and seeking out the most
> likely place to make friends in your new town. I'm just stating that
> the conformity aspects rub me wrong.

Sounds good to me.

Carol

(Curly Sue) said:

> Carol, IIRC you mentioned there are several chapters in your area,
> I'm sure you'll find one (or all!) that you'll enjoy hanging out with.
> You go girl!!

We have seven chapters here, but only one is accepting new members. I'm
anxiously awaiting either a phone call or an e-mail. I'll keep ya posted!

Carol

Damsel wrote:
>> sf > said:
>>
>>> On Sun, 31 Jul 2005 01:37:58 -0500, Damsel wrote:
>>>
>>>> sf > said:
>>>>
>>>> > On Sun, 31 Jul 2005 02:18:23 GMT, S'mee [AKA Jani] wrote:
>>>> >
>>>> > > I've got to wait 9 more years before I can join... :-)
>>>> >
>>>> > Not according to what she posted earlier. The only suggested
>>>> limit is > "shades". Under 50 (the kids) - wear lavender and
>>>> pink... 50+ wear > purple and red.
>>>>
>>>> So, when are you joining, sf? I think I already know what your
>>>> colors will be.
>>>>
>>> I'm THINKING about it... the problem is "committing". I won't even
>>> join an AAUW book group because I have lots of time to read during
>>> the summer, but no "real" time to read (for pleasure) anytime else.
>>
>> From what I understand, you'd just be getting together once a month
>> at a restaurant. That's how the ladies in the Florida retirement
>> community where my ex lives during the winter do it. My, that was
>> an outlandish sentence! {shudder}
>>
Every group is different. Some meet once a month and vary the activities,
bkfst, lunch, dinner, coffee, theater, picnic, shopping, casino..etc.
Others meet weekly. Others meet dependent on what is occuring. Many groups
visit other groups for planned conferences or outings. I am going on a bus
trip to Frankenmuth end of November for a Red Hat luncheon. :-) In our
group we pass out the activities that we are aware of and we can choose to
go or not. Sometimes we will get only a couple of people going.. other
times we will have a couple of dozen. Try to find a group that meets your
likes/dislikes. If there are none in your area, start your own chapter and
shape it to meet your needs. It tells you at www.redhatsociety.com how to
locate a chapter and how to start your own.

Debbie

Julia Altshuler wrote:
>> Damsel wrote:
>>
>>> You can join now, but until your 50th birthday, you've got to wear
>>> pink and lavender instead of red and purple. Na-na-na-boo-boo!
>>> <EG>
>>
>>
>> This, I think, says it all. The whole idea of the original poem was
>> that after a certain point, women want to stop following society's
>> stupid rules that say they always have to dress tastefully and
>> according to someone else's idea of what appropriate. They want to
>> speak out and be outrageous and not care what other people think.
>> So what happens? They end up with a society of women with rigid
>> rules, a uniform and an initiation ceremony.

Actually there aren't a lot of rules. Some groups may structure themselves
this way, but the purpose is to have no rules other than the red hat and
purple dress. The reduation ceremony isn't a rule.. some clubs do this ..
others don't. Ones that do, don't have a special format to follow.. it is
individual and can change with each one.

This isn't
>> non-conformity; it's the girl scouts.
>>
>> A group of red hatters came to the wine and cheese shop where I work.
>> They were all spectacularly well dressed with perfectly coifed hair,
>> lovely tailored suits and red hats so tasteful they might have been
>> individually made by specialists at hundreds of dollars each. It
>> was a special wine tasting. They all bought the same things. There
>> must have been 30 of them. I couldn't tell them apart.
>>
>>
That was one group. Dress code is usually the more outlandish the better.
Not by rule, but by desire. I was at a conference in April with 40 other
chapters there. I can assure you that these ladies were not identical. :-)

Debbie

Julia Altshuler wrote:
>> Damsel wrote:
>>
>>> But isn't it nice to have friends to spend time with, especially
>>> since the group is geared toward older women, many of whom have
>>> been widowed? Right now, I don't know anyone in our new town
>>> except my next door neighbors. I look forward to making new
>>> friends and acting silly. Laughter is good for the soul.
>>
>> The girl scouts are nice too. So are any number of organizations
>> that promote friendship and sociability. I was objecting to the
>> conformity and exclusionary aspects of the Red Hats. If you've got
>> a Red Hat society that truly welcomes everyone, even the ones who
>> don't feel like wearing hats, then it doesn't seem so bad.
>>
>>

Our group actually has one lady in it that rarely wears a red hat and
wouldn't be dressed in an oddball type outfit for her life. She is still a
member.

>>> I've spent a lot of time Googling this "disorganization," and I
>>> really think that the herd you ran across are the exception, rather
>>> than the rule. Tacky seems to be more the norm. <g>
>>
>>
>> Still, you've got another example of Madison Avenue taking over and
>> making money on a grassroots organization. The true spirit of red
>> hat shouldn't be an official anything, and yet you've got official
>> red hat calendars, an official red hat cookbook, red hat travel and
>> tours, all conveniently located for you on the official red hat web
>> page. Were you thinking of being creative? Nevermind that, there's
>> red hat merchandise and red hat fabric so you can make your red hat
>> quilt just by following the rules.
>>
>>

Well the Exalted Queen Mother has a business set up and has official
whatever. She is taking advantage of the American Dream and making money.
There are some people who will buy these things for sure. There are others
who do use creativity and make there own stuff. Taking advantage of Red Hat
material to me isn't loss of creativity. I have a red hat quilt made by a
friend of mine. It is reversal.. she designed it herself. She didn't
however design and weave and dye the material. She is a sister red hatter.

Debbie

sf wrote:
>> On Sun, 31 Jul 2005 07:27:29 -0400, Julia Altshuler wrote:
>>
>>> They end up with a society of women with rigid rules, a uniform
>>> and an initiation ceremony.
>>
>> I haven't read up on it yet... there's an initiation ceremony?
>> Wouldn't it be more like a birthday party?
>>
>>> A group of red hatters came to the wine and cheese shop where I

If there is an initiation ceremony then it would be chapter specific. It
certainly isn't anything that must be done. My chapter doesn't have one.

If she is referring the birthday switch from pink and lavender to red and
purple.. then the term is reduation. That too is chapter specific. They
may or may not have one. If they do.. the contents of it will change from
chapter to chapter and even event to event.

Debbie

Crash wrote:
>
> Ladies and gentlemen I give you DAmsel Marie..
>

Happy birthday!
Oh yeah, it's about a year ago I was there.

I still wear the "I Think, Therefore I Spam" tshirt sometimes and my
girlfriend hates it (do you have to wear that nerdish tshirt)

Don't they have jobs? Maybe retired i guess.....

One time on Usenet, said:
> On Sun, 31 Jul 2005 02:18:23 GMT, S'mee [AKA Jani] wrote:
>
> > I've got to wait 9 more years before I can join... :-)
>
> Not according to what she posted earlier. The only suggested limit is
> "shades". Under 50 (the kids) - wear lavender and pink... 50+ wear
> purple and red.

Yeah, I finally got a chance to continue reading the thread and saw
this info, thanks! (Also, thanks to Carol and Debbie.) I'll have to
check into our local chapter when I get some time. But lavender and
pink, good Lord! I wonder if they'll have room for someone who's more
into black leather, spikes, and heavy metal..?

--
Jani in WA (S'mee)
~ mom, VidGamer, novice cook, dieter ~

Damsel wrote:

> Following up on my own post. Tacky, I know. I had only vague
> recollections about the poem below, and I Googled the few words I recalled
> and came up lucky.
>
> Last night, I was wandering around in Google and discovered that there is a
> Red Hat Society that has sprung up as a result of this poem. You dress up
> for meetings wearing purple, with an inappropriate red hat. I sent a memo
> of interest to one of the local chapters last night. I was stunned to find
> at least a half dozen chapters in our town!
>
> Well, Crash and I went to the thrift store this morning, looking for a red
> hat for this afternoon. Found a flannel one, with a quilted lining for
> winter. We bought it. How much more inappropriate can you get for July
> 30th (it's 86 degrees right now - I'll only wear the hat for some quick
> pictures)? And my darling Crash noticed something I didn't pick up on at
> all. A purple and red boa!!!! It came home with us.
>
> My timing was excellent for this. You can belong to the society before you
> turn 50, but until your 50th birthday, you are encouraged to wear pink and
> lavender instead of red and purple.
>
> Anyway, if anyone's interested in checking this out, it seems to be a huge
> deal everywhere, and it looks like fun! A club devoted to the celebration
> of eccentricity. Gotta love it.
> http://www.redhatsociety.com/
>
> Carol, wearing her purple t-shirt
>
>
> Damsel > said:
>
>
>>Warning by Jenny Joseph
>>
>>When I am an old woman I shall wear purple
>>With a red hat which doesn't go, and doesn't suit me.
>>And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves
>>And satin sandals, and say we've no money for butter.
>>I shall sit down on the pavement when I'm tired
>>And gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells
>>And run my stick along the public railings
>>And make up for the sobriety of my youth.
>>I shall go out in my slippers in the rain
>>And pick the flowers in other people's gardens
>>And learn to spit.
>>
>>You can wear terrible shirts and grow more fat
>>And eat three pounds of sausages at a go
>>Or only bread and pickle for a week
>>And hoard pens and pencils and beermats and things in boxes.
>>
>>But now we must have clothes that keep us dry
>>And pay our rent and not swear in the street
>>And set a good example for the children.
>>We must have friends to dinner and read the papers.
>>
>>But maybe I ought to practice a little now?
>>So people who know me are not too shocked and surprised
>>When suddenly I am old, and start to wear purple.
>
>
Ya mean I should stop wearing black and start looking for
purple and red?

--
Jean B.

"Jean B." > said:

> Ya mean I should stop wearing black and start looking for
> purple and red?

You betcha!
Carol

Damsel wrote:

> "Jean B." > said:
>>Ya mean I should stop wearing black and start looking for
>>purple and red?
>
>
> You betcha!
> Carol

Next time I am looking at clothes, I'll try to keep that in
mind. Maybe I'll go to the craft store, where I discovered
some nice (read: light-weight t-shirts).

--
Jean B.