Q-4 Team Member CHAT!

Hello everyone! I’ve just spent the last half hour reading through this thread, catching up on what everyone has been up to. I’ve been out of the loop for weeks; I think I last posted sometime in mid Sept, but I’m just going to jump back in.

Life has been a bit stressful the last couple of months. I started a college program and a new pt job in Sept, with the idea that I needed some direction and to get out of the house more. (When DD and family moved away at the beginning of the year and I stopped looking after my grandkids life felt a bit empty and like I had way too much free time.) Well I got a bit more than I bargained for! At the end of Sept my coworker fell and fractured her spine and I was asked to cover her shifts. So I’ve been working pretty much full time and trying to keep up with schoolwork. And on top of that my mom had to start treatment for myeloma after being in remission for 10 years, so I’ve been going to her oncology appointments with her whenever I can. October felt like I was running here, there and everywhere!

But I think (I hope) things are calming down finally. Coworker returned to work last week, so I’m back to my two days a week thank goodness. I really do like my job and I’m so grateful it was offered to me. I’ve somehow managed to keep up with school and I’m doing quite well which I feel so proud about. I’m 53 and haven’t been in school for over 30 years!

My mom is doing well and showing a great response to treatment, but she’s 78 and the chemo really wipes her out.

I finally got some scrapping done last weekend, just some very simple pages but it felt great to get back at it. I didn’t get any scrapping done at all in Oct but did do some scrap room organizing (stress cleaning!!) And I was able to finally finish my crochet blanket while sitting with my mom. So at least I got one goal crossed off my end of the year list and a few points for Oct.

Sorry to be writing a novel here!! Off to catch up on the sharing thread…

Reading to keep up with goings on! Happy Birthday scrappyrabbit! Waving hi to everyone!

I've hit the journaling wall--as in I don't want to journal anymore. Mostly because I am not doing any of it on a computer and printing it out. When I have a longer story to tell that is my preferred method. PLus I am overtired and don't write well when I am tired. Plugging along up to 26 pages since Friday. Last three double pagers need journaling still.

Learned some new tricks, which is the way the collective beehive mind works!!! Creative Memories has this silicon mat that you can use the dot adhesive on the backs of die cuts etc. The adhesive sticks to the paper but not the mat and stays on the roll. Such a TIME SAVER!!!! All my titles cut with my Quickutz have been adhered this way.

Gotta go, we are going to the Air and Space Museum across the street from the hotel. It's free on Tuesdays!

lol - box ordered

I went through an old scrapbook today - not the kind we make now, but the kind that’s newspaper and magazine clippings glued into a newsprint book. I put it together in 1999-2001 while I was living in Japan. I’ve decided to journal about it and take a good photo of the book itself which is actually from the 80s - I thought the cover design was so cool… that font! And then I’m going to recycle it.

Vintage scrapbook by jo.blackford, on Flickr

Howdy, Team! I've been largely lurking here. My workweek got sort of mixed up and I didn't work at home on Monday, but I'm home today, tomorrow, AND (hopefully) this coming Monday -- aaaahhhh!

Cheers to angel97701 and everyone making good crafty (and otherwise) progress! Hugs to beachy and everyone with too full a plate.

I did unearth my challenge list and start to work on my October tally.

I finalized and consolidated most of my Christmas card lists and realized that I have PLENTY of holiday cards for this year. BEFORE taking the OCC So Very Merry class, but that's ok -- more ideas for next year and I did use the class kit during CARDtober. I think I've found a way to integrate holiday items into my general stash, too.

I'm now looking to pivot to my own UFOs and Cards for Cubs in March. Somehow, some 25% off Doodlebug papers landed in my cart at ACOT during their 12 Days of Christmas sale. We'll see how that goes -- the ones I liked (Hello Cupcake) had only papers (no embellishments) available unless you got the card kit, which seemed overpriced even on sale, so I skipped it and just got a couple 12x12 packs. Hopefully some good SLOCs and PBTs will come out of it. I have some other brighter papers I bought with CfC in mind as well, so lots of pushing my color envelope to come!

I'll try and remember to take a picture. I just got a shipping notice for it.


I'm so far behind on this thread (and on commenting on the sharing thread) that I'm not sure I'll ever catch up.

joblackford - I never did get around to calculating October...

I actually really like their papers and embellishments, but they are just too pricey for me and I don't like the thin papers.

linda you inspired me to check out their Christmas box. Please share what the contents are when you receive it!

I am in a shopping mood also, but mostly for clothes. I got some warmer pajamas for the baby as it's starting to get chilly here over night. I also got some gifts but my gift list is long this year and I need to get on top of that.

Home and very sleepy!!! Clothing and such is unpacked BUT not the crafty stuff!

Return trip started with a bit of drama . . . my battery in my hybrid car was DEAD, DEAD, DEAD!!!! It is probably 8 years old. Could not unlock the car!!!! After a call to DH found the manual key inside one fob (but not the other--glad I had both along), and tried to unlock. I now have a bruise on my right index finger!!! With help from 3 male employees we got the car started. It most likely needs a new car battery, but the hybrid batteries are fine. We always plug it in at home, so it was never an issue here. Drove it on Tuesday night, no problem--but this morning when it was time to leave? Nope!!!

breetheflea Do well on your job interview, hope that it is a good fit!

Also, grammadee, Rules Lawyer Question of the Day: I consider myself to have met all the CARDtober challenges, but I realized that I made the cards for all four of my challenges prior to CARDtober. Does that still count as having met them? Or am I actually four challenges short?

Job interview... well it's over. It was a little unnerving answering questions while two people were writing the entire time I was talking, but they said they were contacting my references and doing a background check so I guess that's a sign I passed.

I'd be a substitute lunch lady so not anything fancy, but not working summers, evenings, or weekends and not taking work home with me is +++. After a year, I can apply to be a permanent lunch lady.

Glad that the interview is over! Time to scrapbook.