Call me Crazy

• pjangel Said:

This is your safe place to vent so no apology needed. I have heard similar reports from other women. I know my youngest daughter's mother-in-law was always calling on her husband to help with this and that. My daughter finally told her husband, "Look. It was okay for you to be there when you didn't have your own family, but that has changed. Your primary focus is on your family, i.e., our daughter and me. You need to tell your mother that you are available on a limited basis and if you have to say no she needs to realize there is a reason and you are not her on-call person." He did and the calls cut back greatly. I think you have every right to expect to have a major celebration for your own anniversary and I think I would make plans for such.

To betsgratiot.Sorry to hear about your cousin. Our thoughts & prayers are with you. Hope things go well for a wonderful recovery.


To Pam.I know exactly what you are talking about. Do not take a back seat to them any more. I know they are family,but you have to draw the line somewhere. Pam,put yourself and your plans first for once. You not only deserve it,you need it. Family can so easily take you for granted and expect you to drop everything just to attend their needs. Take the time for yourself & your hubby to celebrate those 30 years.Go somewhere quiet to be alone together,and if you can't do that ,then , just the 2 of you stay at home ,pull the blinds,lock the doors and if the inlaws ,etc. wanna come over ,just let them knock,knock ,knock, at the door.They will eventually go away or get the message. I don't mean to sound rude,but I have been married almost 24 years and I very well know how it can be. Take time for YOU !

• lori1963 Said:

Good morning Maxine! I see that you're on this morning too! It's ANOTHER cool rainy day today, in fact, it's pouring right straight down. We've had so much damp cool weather, my back yard is full of mushrooms!!!!! The squirrels are having a feast on them if you can imagine. I was sitting in my craft room yesterday (we have a bi-level house and the basement is 1/2 below ground and I have a nice big window that is actually at ground level, kind of strange sounding, but really nice when I'm down there). Anyway, I looked up and sitting on the picnic table was this squirrel that was holding and munching away on a huge mushroom! It was so cute!

Nothing new to report on my cousin, still waiting for the surgery on Monday.

Have a great weekend everyone! Talk with you soon

I am not in the mood to work. I am too psyched about leaving tomorrow for the conference in AZ.

I do have some concerns about the prosecutors dealing with the victims in our absence. I only hope when we return they will have a better appreciation for what we advocates do.

Bought my Dramamine and hope it does its job. I suffer from motion sickness and altitude sickness so flying is a bit of an unpleasant experience for me.

I hope there are no emergencies with the kids and grands when I am gone. I have been prayerful about their safekeeping so I do not expect anything.

I feel like a kid on Christmas Eve filled with anticipation and excitement. I probably will not get a chance to check any postings next week when I am gone. If I get access to a computer I will check in though. Hope everyone has a good week.

Maxine...Hope all goes well with your trip & conference. I admire what you do. After losing someone I love dearly to domestic violence ,I began to get involved and speak out against DV for the "NC coalition For Domestic Violence." I always used to think that a woman had to be bruised & battered to be considered a victim of DV. I later realized, the verbal abuse is sometimes just as bad or worse than the physical abuse.My sister told me that many times.Anyway,have a safe & sucessful trip.

well ladies thanks for your feedback about in-laws... actually they are afraid of me... they kept making sure I was available to go out they were trying to work around me... I made every excuse why I couldn't go..but they kept saying just lets us know what day is good for you... the pains in the tush they are... we had to go pick up dh dads car to get it inspected & then take it back to them--I follwed my dh to their house but never got out of my car waited for dh to come out...in-laws not happy--2 bad for them...Maybe I am tooo harsh - since I have no parents & mother-i-law wasn't a great person - she has no sympathy or compassion -- I was 22 no parents & you think she would have been more understanding when I had surgeries or a problem- she was not a person you could talk too...she missed out on her grandkids lives becuz of this... oh well water under the ********... again thanks...

hope everyone is doing ok... always thinking of you ladies... I look forward to checking this forum...

Maxine - have a great time in Scottsdale, it's a beautiful community. The weather will be hot, but at least it will be a dry heat! Enjoy yourself.

Lori, I'm sorry for your loss to someone of dv. I've led a very blessed life not to have anything like that in my life. My sister & brothers have great mates and my sil's are either widowed (2 of them) and the other has been divorced forever. She had a serious drinking addiction, but has been clean and sober for about 3 years now and we love spending time with her again.

Pam! You rule lady!!! Maybe you could set aside one afternoon a week to take care of their needs. Let them know that maybe Wednesday afternoon is their time if they need you, that's the day to plan for stuff. It's hard when all these years she's been distant and now she needs you so much, it's hard to be patient and kind isn't it? Well, things will work out, but as for the anniversary, off for a weekend with your dh ALONE!

It's still raining here ... 66 degrees for a high. Some summer - coolest on record. Yipeee! I'll bet when we get back to school next week, the temps will climb and it will be summer - just a few weeks late!

Have a good evening ladies. I'll check back later -

• pjangel Said:

Good for you! It sounds as though they are wrapped up in a very small package - themselves. Sad. My middle daughter had inlaws who tried to run her life, her husband's life, their baby's life, etc. Every time my daughter would stand up to them her husband would not back her up, i.e., she would lay out specific clothes for Ava to wear for the day (her mil was keeping her as a baby). Well, her mil would decide that was not what she should wear and dress her in something else. When my daughter would confront her about this is MY child and I expect you to do as I want for MY child her husband would not back her. When his father raised his voice at my daughter her husband said nothing. Needless to say they are now divorced. Unfortunately in-laws can be royal pains.

Hi Everyone!!
Just letting you know that my cards went out on Friday. I went to Michael's to find some items on fall. I am really excited to get started on next month's cards. On Monday I go back to work so I need to prepare for that. Enjoy the rest of the weekend. Take care.

Hi all - hope you all are having a good weekend. I'm hoping to get my cards ready tonight after hubby leaves for work. He's out of town m-f but he needs to be there so early on Monday that he leaves Sunday night.

I haven't even begun to think about the fall cards! I'd better get busy, huh?!

Have a blessed day all -

The last 2 nights dh & I went to the Erie County Fair...found a ga there that only sells stamping products via her website-- I made a little purchase LOL... if you want her site let me know I will pm it to you

Good things Pam? Maybe you should send me her addy! I'm just getting into stamping, don't have many at all. Just picking things up here and there.

Ladies, where is your favorite place to get your stamps from?

I'm preparing myself for my hubby to be laid off in the next couple of months - have to stockpile my goodies! The layoff is normal, but some years the layoff is longer, like this past year was. He was off from Nov 1 through mid-May. I complain, but we really are blessed. (Ya know - I seem to be the only one here with so much to say LOL! Just call me Chatty Betsy!)

Anyway, what's your favorite place to get your stamps?

Hi ladies ;D I have been super busy. I helped my sister with her garage sale and was away from my computer all weekend (She made $350, which is way better than my $13... I only had a few things to see though). I got my cards sent out last Friday. I hope you all get them soon.

Pam, I'm so sorry you are having to fight for important dates. (((hug))) I hope you can carve out some special time for your special day!

Betsy, how is your friend?

Hello ladies,
I've received 4 cards. They were great!
I've finished the group of mine so they are going out tomorrow by my hubby. I can't seem to get the the post office during the day so he's gonna ship them from his job...:-)
So next month is Autumn cards?? Any type like "hello" or "birthday" or "Halloween?" I got some ideas for Halloween cards...:-)
I haven't been on here too often because the kids in school have got me busy. My son has got asthma so going back to daycare didn't help that any..he's sick as a dog right now and I'm the "lucky" one that has to stay home. But ladies..your cards are on the way.
How have you all been?

working on a few cards right now...sorry they will be late...its been just crazy lately

Hi ladies . Recieved very pretty "thank You " cards from Valerie & Grace. Thank you ladies very much! I have my Fall cards ready. I just have to put them in envelopes,address and mail out. I love doing the Fall cards. They were fun & easy .I made them all differently. Halloween cards will be a blast as well. Hope everyone is doing good!

working on my Thank You cards -- I also received a great batch of cards from some super great ladies on here

Cards are mailed. Hope you ladies like them. So we are doing a "fall" theme for September?? No birthday or "hello" cards...just a fall theme on the front??

I made really fun "happy fall" cards. I'm so excited about them!!! Mine are already done I love fall.

Halloween cards are on the schedule for October. I think we are doing Thanksgiving for November and of course Christmas cards for December.

Val you are too fast for me--- I am working on those Thank You cards yet....been too busy ....today if suppose to be a me day when I get home from work....I have a few bday cards to get done as well...I was late on my August bday cards...oh well better late then never I was always told...

Recieved a beautiful "thank you" card from SanuraScraps .Thanks so much. I love it!

• pjangel Said:

I'm with you on the better late than never. I'm behind on family birthday cards. I need to catch up this weekend!

I still haven't made the in-laws a anniversary card. hahaha....will do 2nite since I need it for tomorrow....dreaded dinner...

I cleaned up my craft room last night instead of making cards..I was sick of jumping over containers to find what I was looking for ...more organized now... still can't find somethings oh well.. have to buy more LOL....

Recieved a beautiful "thank you" card from SanuraScraps .Thanks so much. I love it!

I'm glad you liked it. Getting started on the next set. Aren't we doing Fall cards for September...

I'm back! How nice to come home and find a card from Val, Grace nd Charmagne. Now I will be at work for a week and then leave for a week in Myrtle Beach. Wheeeee!

I molested Mesquite trees while in AZ. The bark on the trees was peeling so I took a few samples and I am going to experiment with using it for my autumn cards. Not sure what I see in my head will come out in reality, but will make an attempt.

I have SO many photos to scrap now.

Hope everyone is doing well and staying healthy.

mailed cards outs yesterday - I have 2 more to go - working on them--but got a brain freeze from working on cards all day long....did seem like I got a lot done...but so far behind...today I have to make that anniversary card...I started one & hated it so scrapped it...I need to start on my christmas cards...way too many to make but I will do what I ccan...actually I am going to try & use parts of cards I received from people last year...ex: Jane sent me a card so I will cut out some part of that card to make her christmas card with - trying to recycle..I jsut wonder how many people will notice that it is part of the card they sent me last year...I will try & post the out come

• pjangel Said:

The "advantage" of not having a husband is that I don't have all of his family and friends (and co-workers) to do cards for at Christmas. Also, not having a big family (just me) means I don't have so mny cards to make either. Disadvantage is that there aren't many cards that I receive to display.

You have us - we are you family... I try to avoid most family functions...I don't have any family..parents died by the time I was 22 --- cousins I have but we dont't ever see each other unless some1 dies...too bad we don't live closer we could do lunch or shop together

Happy Tuesday! I hope everyone is good. I had a crazy busy weekend. I'm really glad it's over. I'm hoping to start to design my Christmas cards this week. We'll see if that happens or not. I may do something basic with my Cricut, but I'm not sure. It's hard for me to keep a card simple.

I am planning on mailing my cards out in the next week. If you are not participating in this months swap please let me know.

• pjangel Said:

That's nice of you. My cousins all live a distance from me. When I was growing up I only saw them once a year usually so we were never close. We used to have a family reunion every year for my father's side of the family. About three years ago at the funeral of one of my uncles I said to the cousins that we need to schedule one because it had been some time since we had a reunion. My one cousin said that she would ask our aunt who has all the addresses and names for the info so we could plan it. My aunt informed her that there was no need for that and would not give up the info. Nothing more was done about it. Like you, unless someone dies we don't see each other.

• ValandTim Said:

Unfortunately most of my cards are simple. For some reason I find it scary to try and get too frisky for fear I will make it look crappy! I would love to get a Cricut or some type of die cutter. I have a co-worker whom I infected with the scrapping bug and she bought a Cricut. I have just never asked to use hers.

I probably will not get my September cards out until I get back from vacation. I don't see me being able to get them done by this Friday.

Maxine - mail them when you get a chance - I was late with mine / I am in the next exchange - I started my cards for next exchange so I guess I am still in lol

When are the cards for September due? I know we are doing a Fall theme right?? Can we incorporate Halloween in that?? Or are we just "fall" this time and Halloween for October?? I'm in again of course. It was fun the last time. I got to try some new techniques....

Craftimax I cannot say I know what it feels like not to have a big family because I'm one of 4 siblings. But I can say that since joining the message boards, I've found so many people who are kind and have the same interests that I do. I now call them "family." I went to a SWARM here in Atlanta two weeks ago and let me tell you, after meeting 20 crafty ladies for an entire weekend, we are scheduling another one in February already!! They are the nicest bunch of ladies I've ever met...all colors too (I had to throw that in there)
I guess what I'm trying to say is that I agree with pjangel...you have "family" here and as crafters, our GOAL is to lift someone's spirit just by creating something beautiful. Keep yo head up girl...we got you!!!

• SanuraScraps Said:

Thanks.

Yes, the card for September is just for fall/autumn. In October we will do Halloween and for those who do not celebrate Halloween they can do any kind of card they would like to send so long as everyone sends a card.

I think our goal should be to try and get them sent no later than the 25th, but I also know that there are things that come up - vacation, family commitments, etc., but that should be the goal.

Hello, everyone!! As always I'm checking in. I wanted to say thank you for the cards received from Charmagne and Pam. I hope to add more creativity to the next cards. I am about to finish my second week of work and it has been good so far. I am also coaching tennis and our first game is next Thursday. It is a challenge to keep work, practice and me time organized but I will make sure to breathe often. Have a great weekend!!! I will let you know when my cards go out. Is everyone participating?

Ladies - enjoy the nice long week-end

Hi ladies,hope you all have a great Labor Day weekend. Thanks so much for the card Pam. It is so cute,very original. I love it!

Enjoying myself in Ohio & found a place to buy some neat things for card making...dh just rolled his eyes Hahahaha

Hi, again!! I need say a thank you to Valerie for her card. Have a good one!!

week-end too short

week-end too short

JCI How was everyone's weekend? I went camping and it was great.

I've been working on some scrapbook pages. I'm doing in 20 layouts in 30 days challenge. I have 3 done so far. I'm hoping to get a couple more done today.

I got caught up on family birthday cards and I need to make the next card for a Sept. birthday.

I'll talk to you all later. Have a great day!

I got someones card back from the postman - needs more postage I will get it out again soon with the fall card - hope you don't mind

Whose was it :lost:

I believe it was Lori B

Jen it was your card that was sent back to me for more postage 6 cents can you believe that...remailed it today..sorry

Where is everyone???

it's just you & me....

Hey ladies,
How is everyone?? Sorry I haven't been here but I only get the weekends now to chat. I'm working on those Fall cards for you ladies. I've decided to begin making Christmas gifts. I found some neat things on line that I wanted to try and make. Do you all make Christmas gifts?