Well, when I founded my chapter in January 2005 as a Pink Hatted Queen, I began my countdown to REDuation in April 2008. Because of the way my chapter's meetings fall (with the next one being more than three weeks after I turn 50), we've opted to have my REDuation Ceremony tonight (a few days early) at our annual slumber party.

I'm glad I didn't wait around three years to start a chapter, like some people I've talked to. I would have missed out on so much fun and meeting and getting to know so many wonderful ladies both in person and virtually.

But I'm also glad to be shedding my washed-out colors for the BOLD red and purple! I can't tell you how excited I am! (But I'm sure you can tell!) I have no idea what the ladies have planned for me, but I assure you I will post photos here as soon as I can! And I found the cutest little red padded bra (with gold threading) at Goodwill the other day for $1. I already know the hat it's going on-one that a local preacher's wife gave me when she was getting ready to move away. Wait till she sees it now! (I already warned her that the hat would not remain a tasteful red felt hat for long.)

Thank you to all who've sent well wishes! I know several of my Pink Hatted queenie friends will be following in my footsteps this year, too! Don't worry-it will get here faster than you think!

And a special note to Kay Star: You knocked my socks off, lady! What a sweet thing to do! I was like a kid at Christmas coming home from the Post Office yesterday and ripping into my package. I'm wearing my star necklaces at work today-just to get people to ask me what's up.

So, at 12 midnight EDT tonight (March 28), be thinking about me! I'll go into the slumber party for a luau this Friday evening as a Pink Hatter and come out Saturday as a full-fledged Red Hatter. This is going to be a very special night! I wonder what my new profile picture will look like! Bet y'all won't recognize me in a Red Hat!

Rita, Queen Foxy Loxy

Navigating the QMB2 can be quite a challenge. There's no central location for you to find groups or instructions. Most of us have just found our way by trial and error. But I'd like to share some information that I think will help new ladies on the QMB2!

JOIN A GROUP: The real action on the QMB2 takes place primarily in groups, imho, so if you're just reading profiles and blogs, you're missing out on a lot. There's probably a group here for every taste. If there isn't, it's extremely simple to start one! To find out what groups are available, you need to join one called QMB2 Charter Members at http://www.qmb2.com/chartermembers/forum/viewforum.one?id=150731. Barefoot Contessa takes a lot of time scouting out new groups and posts an updated list every Monday, generally. If you find a group that sounds interesting, just cut and paste the URL (the http address) provided in the Contessa's list into a new browser page and join the group (or apply to join, if it's a private group). If you don't like it, you can always leave the group whenever you like.   Here are three groups that I think EVERYONE should be a member of:  

********************************************************  Hatquarters
Red Hat Society QMB2 Message Board
http://www.qmb2.com/hatquarters
Group Owner:  RHSQMB2 Message Board
******************************************************** QMB2 Charter Members - Original QMB2 group
Be among the first to join this Charter group.
http://www.qmb2.com/chartermembers
Group Owner: Barefoot Contessa
********************************************************  Queen's Council Worldwide
Join the World Wide Queen's Council. 
http://www.qmb2.com/queenscouncil
Group Owner: Barefoot Contessa
********************************************************

ADD FRIENDS: Whenever you come across a blog, comment, or posting that you find interesting, click on "Add Friend." You'll either automatically be added as their friend, or they will receive a message saying that you are seeking their friendship. Many of us just make it automatic, because I certainly can't imagine telling someone I won't be their friend. (You can change that setting in the Profile settings, I think.) As you list of friends grows, you'll be able to find them easily to see what they've been blogging about by just clicking on their photos.  

POST A BLOG: You don't have to win any writing awards for your blog. People just like to know what you've been doing lately or what's on your mind on a given day. While I don't post every day, I try to post something every week or two. You can tell us what your group did at its last get-together. Or what they'll do at the next one. Share stories about your family, your hobbies, or whatever you like. Just blog!  

POST YOUR PICTURES: Forget about figuring out picture trails or any of the machinations you used to have to go through on the QMB1 to post a picture. On the QMB2, you just click on Photo Gallery (either your own, or one for a group you are a member of) and over on the right-hand side is an "Upload Picture" link. Click on Browse to choose one or more pictures from your hard drive or some other source (making them low resolution might be helpful for those using dial-up) and click upload. Then you can give it a caption and click on upload or change caption (I forget the exact wording). If you're posting in a group, be sure to say which thread they should seek out to learn more about the story behind the picture.  

LEAVE COMMENTS AND SEND MESSAGES: If you want to comment on someone's blog, leave a comment. Remember that these default to public, so if you'd rather keep your comment private, click on "Send Message" below the person's profile picture on the left. Messages go into the person's Inbox to be read privately.  

RATE THE BLOGS: If you find a blog interesting, why not let the writer know by clicking on the stars below it and giving it a rating from 1 to 5 stars. Not many people are using that feature yet, but I try to leave stars, even if I don't leave a comment.  

Most of all, HAVE FUN!   

Rita, Queen Foxy Loxy

Tomorrow, the Foxy Ya-Ya Sisters will head to Lexington to see "The Bucket List" movie with Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson. But before we see the movie (and what these two men put on their lists), we'll gather for lunch and share our own lists. I asked the ladies to prepare a list of at least 5 things they want to do before they "kick the bucket." I then plan to collect all of the lists and, over the coming years, will encourage them to accomplish the things on their list (and will facilitate in any way I can).

What did I put on MY list? Well, I have 9 items.  They are, in order of importance (as of now):

Advance further on my spiritual journey

Return to Ireland with my hubby

Go to Germany, Luxembourg, Belgium, and France (waiting for the US dollar to bounce back)

Go to Asheville with the Foxy Ya-Ya Sisters for a week-long get-away (planned for September)

Eat morel mushrooms (fried in butter, the way my mom made them!)

Eat a ripe persimmon from the tree we planted last year

Take a ride in a hot-air balloon

Attend a regional convention hosted by the Red Hat Society

Attend an International Convention of the Red Hat Society 

So, how about YOU? What's on YOUR bucket list?

Rita, Queen Foxy Loxy

While watching the Today Show this morning, I saw an interview with Jeffrey Yeager, the "Ultimate Cheapskate." That reminded me of how many of my ladies are on fixed incomes or tight budgets. I'm always looking for creative ways to have fun on a shoestring.

So, I thought I would start a new group on the QMB2 called "Frugal Red Hatting." I didn't see anything else like it when I was searching. (I know sometimes we wind up with multiple groups on the same topics, and I didn't want to do that. If I missed one, let me know and I'll move to that one.)

If this sounds like your kind of Red Hatting (if not every gathering, at least for some), then please join me at http://www.qmb2.com/frugalredhatting to learn more! Look for the PINK PIGGY BANK to locate the group!

Ta Ta For Now!

Rita, Queen Foxy Loxy

Last night, I spent quite a while on the QMB posting photos and ideas and instructions about some of the hat-decorating and crafts the ladies in the Foxy Ya-Ya Sisters have done in 2007. I would like to encourage those who like to craft to join the Crafts for Hats group on the qmb2. See the photos in the Photo Gallery there, which indicate which thread/message the item is described in. (The hat with all the tulle actually is described in great detail in the Touring Hat thread, as well as mentioned in the Oodles of Ideas thread.)

Added 1/11/08: You may have to be a member of the group to see them, but the direct link to the photo gallery for the Crafts for Hats group is http://www.qmb2.com/craftsforhats/gallery/view_gallery.one?gal_id=1.

I love how easy it is to upload photos to the Photo Galleries in the groups, but most people don't seem to be using that feature. If you do and the photo relates to a particular thread, be sure to update the caption so that it tells viewers which thread to go to. (Right now, there aren't many in most of the forums, but that will change with time.)

Now I'm off to explore some more. I need to also check in on the QMB1, which I have neglected for a few days!

Rita, Queen Foxy Loxy