Chatting with Gundi

[Shana34]

WHOOPPPEEE.. it is currently snowing !!!!

I sent it your way! It's been snowing here...looks pretty for our first (minus the freak one in September or October) snow! I'll try to take some pictures tomorrow before we go out to my brothers. I'm kinda nervous about it because of all that happened, and my dad wants to say something to them. I don't know if it will help or just make things worse, but he wants to explain to them that he's seen me when I get the panic attacks and he wouldn't let me drive that way if I tried and that I'm a mess.

[carolyn d]

I sent it your way! It's been snowing here...looks pretty for our first (minus the freak one in September or October) snow! I'll try to take some pictures tomorrow before we go out to my brothers. I'm kinda nervous about it because of all that happened, and my dad wants to say something to them. I don't know if it will help or just make things worse, but he wants to explain to them that he's seen me when I get the panic attacks and he wouldn't let me drive that way if I tried and that I'm a mess.Thank you very much... but since the ground here is still pretty warm, I doubt it will last. Unless it snows a foot, then I'm pretty sure it will melt by morning !

Good luck on your drive tomorrow.. and I hope all goes well with whatever your dad has to say !

[debilou]

Shana, hope you are feeling better today!

and, Christine "Hook EM HORNS"!!!!

[carolyn d]

well, we have an inch or so of snow, the grass still shows through... doubt it will last the day.... oh well....

been very quiet here over the weekend... everyone out Santa-izing?

[suvgal]

We had 4" of snow and it looks like a winter wonderland. The sun is out so I'm sure this won't last very long

[bendipez]

oh my heck!!! I am so jealous! I just saw some of the pics from the SA get together. Looks like the place they went to for dinner tonight was awesome! and sounds like they are having so much fun! Even better they had chocolate chip cheesecake. I LOVE cheesecake! To show you how much a good cheesecake is right there with peppermint ice cream in my book. :eek: :eek:
True !!! but have you seen pictures of where we had breakfast saturday morning ??? and we didn't even lose anyone !!!!

[suvgal]

Could someone post the link for where these photos are located....sounds like you're having fun

[ReneT]

Hello hello hello Gundi Girls!!!! How is everyone? I am at the airport in Dallas, getting ready to board the last leg of the flight in a bit. I will try to catch up on the thread tonight when I get home.

We had a super fun time in SA. I'm guessing you already heard we lost Crys on the Riverwalk once! But we found her. Yay! Getting to meet so many DSP people was fun, and Karen was an excellent tour guide and took us to some really cool places. I can't wait to get home and see if I have any decent photos. I hope so. I tried things in Auto and off-auto in the hopes of getting cool shots, especially at the botanical gardens. I played around with apetures when taking photos of flowers.

Gary and I had a great date last night for our anniversary. We just ate entirely too much decadent food in the Hemisfair Tower restaurant. I'm still full today.

I missed you guys!

[idtwinmom]

Wow! Everybody must have been busy yesterday because I already got caught up!

I want to see those SA pics too! Could someone share a link?

Carolyn - fun! Snow! And what a cute picture! Is that the same boy you have been taking pics of for a while? If so, oh my how he's grown! :lol:

We went to see Santa yesterday and then I had a ton of grocery shopping to do. The Santa was at the Mac store and you just had to bring your own camera. I need to pull the pics later and see how they turned out. I did them on Manual! Yikes. Hope they are OK. Meant to get some on Auto just in case, but the kids jumped up too fast. I did take my readings before anyone got on his lap and they continued to read OK thru the shoot (love when the lighting doesn't change). And I had even made sure my WB was set for the Flourescent lights before we walked in the door. I just love that I don't have to fuss with that much anyway!

Well, off to Sunday Chat!

[Christine]

Yay glad u had a super time! Barb the pics I saw were from z's email.

Crys what's up with getting lost?! Lol

[carolyn d]

Wow! Everybody must have been busy yesterday because I already got caught up! yes, it was a very quiet day...

I want to see those SA pics too! Could someone share a link?

Carolyn - fun! Snow! And what a cute picture! Is that the same boy you have been taking pics of for a while? If so, oh my how he's grown! :lol:The little guy I post soooo many pictures of is Jack.. This little guy is my neighbor/friend's grandson, Landon. And regardless, yes, he is a big boy.. He just turned three and he is close to 4' tall ! His mom is 5'10 and his dad is 6'5 so he doesn't stand a chance of being short ! LOL ! He was born 5 weeks early and weighed just under10 lbs. He now has a baby brother, Luke, who weighed in at 10lb and change ...3 months old and blowing out of 6-9 month clothes...

We went to see Santa yesterday and then I had a ton of grocery shopping to do. The Santa was at the Mac store and you just had to bring your own camera. I need to pull the pics later and see how they turned out. I did them on Manual! Yikes. Hope they are OK. Meant to get some on Auto just in case, but the kids jumped up too fast. I did take my readings before anyone got on his lap and they continued to read OK thru the shoot (love when the lighting doesn't change). And I had even made sure my WB was set for the Flourescent lights before we walked in the door. I just love that I don't have to fuss with that much anyway!And I'm sure they came out fine ! You did everything you could to make sure, so other than the kidlets jumping around... you are all good.

Well, off to Sunday Chat!

Just got back from Mom's and ..........gasp.............doing some Christmas shopping.. What a deal I got ! I'm still gobsmacked.. a 10 piece set of Calaphon pans,3 Calaphon cookie sheets, 1 11" Calaphon Open Everything Pan and a 5.5 quart covered Calaphon sauce/stock pan .............. for $188.00............. thank goodness I read the fine print on the sale sign otherwise I would not have known about the free goodies ( everything other than the pan set)...set was on sale, PLUS I had a 25% coupon ... man oh man.....

[carolyn d]

Hello hello hello Gundi Girls!!!! How is everyone? I am at the airport in Dallas, getting ready to board the last leg of the flight in a bit. I will try to catch up on the thread tonight when I get home.

We had a super fun time in SA. I'm guessing you already heard we lost Crys on the Riverwalk once! But we found her. Yay! Getting to meet so many DSP people was fun, and Karen was an excellent tour guide and took us to some really cool places. I can't wait to get home and see if I have any decent photos. I hope so. I tried things in Auto and off-auto in the hopes of getting cool shots, especially at the botanical gardens. I played around with apetures when taking photos of flowers.

Gary and I had a great date last night for our anniversary. We just ate entirely too much decadent food in the Hemisfair Tower restaurant. I'm still full today.

I missed you guys!

As we missed you ... and how the HECK did you lose an entire person ???? I hadn't heard about that one.. but then again, I've been in, out and about all weekend.

An evening to total decadence is good for the soul ! ( Gundi did NOT hear me say that ! LOL ) Glad to hear you had such a good time. Can hardly WAIT to see your pics... warts and all !

[idtwinmom]

Just got back from Mom's and ..........gasp.............doing some Christmas shopping.. What a deal I got ! I'm still gobsmacked.. a 10 piece set of Calaphon pans,3 Calaphon cookie sheets, 1 11" Calaphon Open Everything Pan and a 5.5 quart covered Calaphon sauce/stock pan .............. for $188.00............. thank goodness I read the fine print on the sale sign otherwise I would not have known about the free goodies ( everything other than the pan set)...set was on sale, PLUS I had a 25% coupon ... man oh man.....

Oh my heck! Gobsmacked is a good word! That deal is totally awesome and since you got to use our Caphalon, I'm sure you know just how appreciative I am about that deal! Love the stuff! I would love a set of those cookie sheets, I seem to go through the cheap ones rather quickly!

Sounds like you had an awesome time yourself (even while detesting shopping!)

[carolyn d]

Oh my heck! Gobsmacked is a good word! That deal is totally awesome and since you got to use our Caphalon, I'm sure you know just how appreciative I am about that deal! Love the stuff! I would love a set of those cookie sheets, I seem to go through the cheap ones rather quickly!

Sounds like you had an awesome time yourself (even while detesting shopping!)

yeah, I was pretty psyched even though I can't spell the brand ! I always mispronounce it too ! In some things.. it's worth paying the money ! I have a set of knives I paid $800 for over 25 years ago.... and just that should say something !

[Shana34]

Hey ladies! Just got back from my brother's for his and my sister's birthday celebrations. It went well. My niece seemed okay, and I told her I owe her a movie so when she sees something she likes to give me a call. So that's taken care of I hope. Not much weirdness, and if there was, I'm sure it was me over-analyzing. I tend to do that way too much. It was a good time. My youngest nephew always makes me glad I came...he ran out the door to jump into my arms when I got there...how could you be in a bad mood with that? LOL

So jury duty tomorrow. I called Friday to see what it would be like and to explain my situation to them. They said if I had called before they could have postponed it, but I explained I wanted to see if I was going to feel up to it and they told me what the process would be. I guess there is a selection process, and she said that if I do get selected, I am more than welcome to take my anti-anxiety meds at any time during the day. It's grand jury for policies and procedures I guess, so the first day will be in the court like a normal jury, but after that we'll be in a different part of the building just voting on different things. So that's eased my fears a bit.

How was everyone elses weekend?

Carolyn - that sounds like a GREAT deal. I don't know much about cookware, but all that for under $200 sounds good to me!
Rene - SO glad you had fun! Can't wait to hear more and see pics!

[idtwinmom]

Sometimes you really do get what you pay for. I'm sure those knives are similar to DHs dream knives (but for me, any "sharp" knife is dangerous).

Shana - Caphalon is a really nice set of non-stick cookware, but not like teflon as their isn't a "surface" that can come off. It looks a little like high-tech cast iron and it cooks like a dream! DH had most of the pieces before we ever got married and I wouldn't spend my money on anything else. As for that price, I'm amazed she even got the "set" for that as I've spent nearly that much on one pan.

[carolyn d]

Hey ladies! Just got back from my brother's for his and my sister's birthday celebrations. It went well. My niece seemed okay, and I told her I owe her a movie so when she sees something she likes to give me a call. So that's taken care of I hope. Not much weirdness, and if there was, I'm sure it was me over-analyzing. I tend to do that way too much. It was a good time. My youngest nephew always makes me glad I came...he ran out the door to jump into my arms when I got there...how could you be in a bad mood with that? LOLI'm so glad everthing went well....

So jury duty tomorrow. I called Friday to see what it would be like and to explain my situation to them. They said if I had called before they could have postponed it, but I explained I wanted to see if I was going to feel up to it and they told me what the process would be. I guess there is a selection process, and she said that if I do get selected, I am more than welcome to take my anti-anxiety meds at any time during the day. It's grand jury for policies and procedures I guess, so the first day will be in the court like a normal jury, but after that we'll be in a different part of the building just voting on different things. So that's eased my fears a bit.

How was everyone elses weekend?

Carolyn - that sounds like a GREAT deal. I don't know much about cookware, but all that for under $200 sounds good to me!
Rene - SO glad you had fun! Can't wait to hear more and see pics!Let's just say that the original price for that set ran in the high $400 range.. ( $499 to be precise) and it was marked down 50% and then the 25% for "friends and family" and THEN they added the other stuff as an incentive... so it was well worth it.. The store may either be discontinuing carrying such a high end item OR a new model was coming out.... I'm not asking, I'm just swooping in and running out !

[ReneT]

I just read all the posts that I had missed, so I'm all caught up. I assumed earlier that someone had told you that we lost Crys, but since you don't know the story, I will tell you. We (me, Gary, Crys, Sands, Brenda, Joni, Elizabeth & daughter, and Karen) were on the Riverwalk taking photos Friday night, then were up on the street going to take the trolley to the restaurant. We waited for the trolley, then got on. We were the only ones on the trolley, and the driver was about to take off when someone suddenly said "Where's Crys?"!!!!! So we get off the trolley because she's nowhere around! She had my phone #, but my phone was in my camera case, which was attached to my back, so I didn't hear it ring 3 times! Anyway I called her and she was about 1/2 a block from us, so we went back to get her, and then caught another trolley to go eat. So it was the funny story for the trip and something we're sure she won't live down any time soon! Apparently she was still taking photos when we all walked towards the trolley stop and she didn't see us leave. She also had issues with kleenexes and run-away lip balm etc whilst being lost. :lol:

Sands, glad you guys had a fun trip. That poor groom though!

Shana, sorry I didn't ever email you like I promised. Believe it or not I was not on the lappie the whole trip until today at the airport. We had all sorts of problems with our room. They came to fix the internet twice so Gary could work while we girls were out and about. One night we couldn't get into our room - the key wouldn't work so they reprogrammed it. Still no luck so they sent a boy who appeared to be about 12 to let us in our room, he couldn't get us in, so they sent engineering. I wanted to ask him if his mommy knew he was out so late. :rofl: Finally got in the room. Then our alarm clock inexplicably lost an hour. Strange goings on in the Tibbet's room.

Barbara - glad you are starting to be weaned off the boot. I know that will be a relief when things are back to normal.

Heather, good luck with the bottle thing with Ethan. Sounds like you're making great progress.

Lisa, I saw those doggie Snuggies at Walmart. How cute is that? May have to get them some.

Christine, Crys and I thought of you at Starbucks one day when we saw peppermint brownies!

Debi, stop with the Hookin of the Horns! :lol::lol: But WOW that was a great win last night for them huh?

OK if I left anyone out, so sorry!!! It's good to be back!

[ReneT]

Oh, one more thing, I just looked through all my photos (over 400 of them) and there are few good ones from the botanical gardens. Good DOF shots where the flower is in focus and the BG blurred pretty well. Well, maybe not good, but an improvement over what I've done in the past.

[idtwinmom]

Rene - bet those photos are great! I never got to really do the river walk, just kind of one little area! It's been a long time ago, but I vaguely remember a mosaic mural on the wall and a bridge overhead. Does that sound familiar at all? If I ever get to go back I really want to take time and do that walk!

[carolyn d]

Oh, one more thing, I just looked through all my photos (over 400 of them) and there are few good ones from the botanical gardens. Good DOF shots where the flower is in focus and the BG blurred pretty well. Well, maybe not good, but an improvement over what I've done in the past.WELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL where are they ? Let's see.... I'm thinking they are better than you are leading us to believe.

[debilou]

Let's see Rene... let's see...

[ReneT]

Rene - bet those photos are great! I never got to really do the river walk, just kind of one little area! It's been a long time ago, but I vaguely remember a mosaic mural on the wall and a bridge overhead. Does that sound familiar at all? If I ever get to go back I really want to take time and do that walk!

I took one photo of a mosaic mural, but there wasn't a bridge overhead. It could be at a different place that I didn't see though. There's so much to see that there is no way to get it all in one walk. I've been there many times, and this time I saw things that I'd never seen or noticed before, probably because I was looking at it from a different perspective this time since I had my camera.

[ReneT]

OK hang on and I will upload a couple of them.

[debilou]

Rene is right Lisa - the San Antonio River Walk Is HUGE!! You couldn't walk it all in one day - and there are several murals.

I don't know when you were there last... But, It's been built up for many years! A huge tourist attraction. Since hemisphere - around 1968 or so.

[Shana34]

OMGosh it sounds like you had some room trouble, Rene. I'm glad they got you back in! LOL Was it just your room that was having all the issues?

Carolyn - wow! That IS a deal then. I don't blame you for snagging and running! LOL

Lisa thanks for the explanation. LOL Can you tell I don't do a lot of cooking? I think I've said it before, but they're afraid I'll burn the house down around here. I'm just that unlucky. ROFL. You'll love to know I'm working on something special though...here's a little hint:

http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/gallery/data/7322/element_beadedpin.png

[debilou]

And, Rene, HOOK EM HORNS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[debilou]

http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:XSBzzRDCDdUy-M:http://www.utexas.edu/friends/graphics/wallpapers/HookEm1024x768.jpg (http://www.utexas.edu/friends/graphics/wallpapers/HookEm1024x768.jpg)

[debilou]

http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo10/1001math_01/Horns.jpg

[ReneT]

http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:XSBzzRDCDdUy-M:http://www.utexas.edu/friends/graphics/wallpapers/HookEm1024x768.jpg (http://www.utexas.edu/friends/graphics/wallpapers/HookEm1024x768.jpg)

Now I've lost my appetite. :rofl:

[debilou]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e2/Hookemhorns.jpg (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e2/Hookemhorns.jpg)

[debilou]

They are getting bigger!!!

[debilou]

The Eyes of Texas are upon you,
All the livelong day.
The Eyes of Texas are upon you,
You cannot get away.
Texas Fight, Texas Fight,
For it's Texas that we love best.
Hail, Hail, The gang's all here,
And it's good-bye to all the rest!

[debilou]

Do you want a You tube of the band doing the fight song?

or the last minute of the game?

[idtwinmom]

Here are Santa pics from yesterday. They would have been better except I was hand holding the camera. Darn for the lack of a tripod!

http://i451.photobucket.com/albums/qq231/idtwinmom/SS.jpg
http://i451.photobucket.com/albums/qq231/idtwinmom/PS.jpg
http://i451.photobucket.com/albums/qq231/idtwinmom/RS.jpg

[ReneT]

Fight Raiders fight,
Fight Raiders fight,
Fight for the school we love so dearly
We'll hit 'em high
We'll hit 'em low
Push that ball across the goal,
TECH, FIGHT, FIGHT!
We'll praise her name
Boost her to fame
Fight for the Scarlet and the Black
We will hit 'em, we will wreck 'em
Hit 'em, wreck 'em Texas Tech
And the victory bells will ring out.

[Shana34]

I feel like I'm in the middle of a Texas sized brawl here! LOL

[idtwinmom]

OMGosh it sounds like you had some room trouble, Rene. I'm glad they got you back in! LOL Was it just your room that was having all the issues?

Carolyn - wow! That IS a deal then. I don't blame you for snagging and running! LOL

Lisa thanks for the explanation. LOL Can you tell I don't do a lot of cooking? I think I've said it before, but they're afraid I'll burn the house down around here. I'm just that unlucky. ROFL. You'll love to know I'm working on something special though...here's a little hint:

http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/gallery/data/7322/element_beadedpin.png

Shana - that is stunning! Did you draw that yourself? I get so amazed when I see such talent.

[ReneT]

Ha ha mine is bigger!

OK, back to my flower photos. :lol:

[debilou]

Woah! That won't fit on my screen.

ok, TEXAS sized Rene!

go back to flowers.. nice flowers Rene...

I'll stick up for Texas.. with Gundi ok..

[idtwinmom]

OK, lets quit screwing with the size of the screen! Even my 24" monitor doesn't like that one! :lol:

[debilou]

It's funny Rene, the back of that guys shirt says, - SO SIMPLE THIS GUY CAN DO IT!:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

[debilou]

Sorry, Lisa, Football is BIG BUSINESS in TEXAS....

oh, yeah in that other state.. what is is oh, yeah, Utah.

[carolyn d]

OK hang on and I will upload a couple of them.( tapping foot) still waiting..

[debilou]

What are you doing with them RENE??

[Shana34]

Shana - that is stunning! Did you draw that yourself? I get so amazed when I see such talent.

Thank you! I actually did the pin by myself, used a character in Times New Roman for the chain, then have a set of royalty free photoshop shapes that I used for the snowflakes. I added the metallic style and then the orbs I did myself as well. :)

[ReneT]

These are not cropped or anything. I was practicing DOF on these 3. You can really see the blur in the full size photos, but I'm not sure how to upload the bigger versions. :help:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2531/4164066357_e3c362d1c8_m.jpghttp://farm3.static.flickr.com/2668/4164823136_1420a44172_m.jpghttp://farm3.static.flickr.com/2743/4164066803_3b5c471de5_m.jpg

[ReneT]

Shana, that's awesome! Great job. I am envious of anyone who can design. I wouldn't know how to start, nor do I have the creativity for it.

[carolyn d]

wow,, you guys are brutal with the college football !

[Shana34]

These are not cropped or anything. I was practicing DOF on these 3. You can really see the blur in the full size photos, but I'm not sure how to upload the bigger versions. :help:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2531/4164066357_e3c362d1c8_m.jpghttp://farm3.static.flickr.com/2668/4164823136_1420a44172_m.jpghttp://farm3.static.flickr.com/2743/4164066803_3b5c471de5_m.jpg

They're gorgeous! Wow I wish we had a botanical garden near here.

[idtwinmom]

You did a great job Rene! Those are fabulous!

[debilou]

Come visit us Shana... we have several near here!!!

Great shots RENE!!

[Shana34]

Shana, that's awesome! Great job. I am envious of anyone who can design. I wouldn't know how to start, nor do I have the creativity for it.

Thanks! I'd be willing to bet you can make some pretty cool stuff as well. Once you get the hang of the program you can do a lot!

[carolyn d]

These are not cropped or anything. I was practicing DOF on these 3. You can really see the blur in the full size photos, but I'm not sure how to upload the bigger versions. :help:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2531/4164066357_e3c362d1c8_m.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2668/4164823136_1420a44172_m.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2743/4164066803_3b5c471de5_m.jpg

wow rene, you did GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOODDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD !

Hey is anyone's screen size all messed up? Or is it on my end??? Did you guys break something with them horns??

[ReneT]

OK I uploaded one to my gallery, so you can see it bigger.

http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=344085&ppuser=127754

[debilou]

These are not cropped or anything. I was practicing DOF on these 3. You can really see the blur in the full size photos, but I'm not sure how to upload the bigger versions. :help:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2531/4164066357_e3c362d1c8_m.jpghttp://farm3.static.flickr.com/2668/4164823136_1420a44172_m.jpghttp://farm3.static.flickr.com/2743/4164066803_3b5c471de5_m.jpg

Upload to the gallery or to the forum?

[Shana34]

Come visit us Shana... we have several near here!!!

Great shots RENE!!

I'm hoping to get down there if my disability is approved. I will probably need a vacation once that's done! LOL

[debilou]

It wasn't the horns that broke it...

The flower taker maybe.. but my screen is 27 inch so I'm ok..

Rene, GREAT job on the photos... I love them.

Shana. YOU MUST find a way to come visit us... we will show you a good time.

[ReneT]

Here are the other 2 bigger:

http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=344086&ppuser=127754

http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=344087&ppuser=127754

[carolyn d]

It wasn't the horns that broke it...

The flower taker maybe.. but my screen is 27 inch so I'm ok..

Rene, GREAT job on the photos... I love them.

Shana. YOU MUST find a way to come visit us... we will show you a good time.All of a suddne my screen went to minisule.... better now... but wow talk about thinkiing my glasses had gone haywire
1

[ReneT]

Shana, we have talked about doing the TX Get-together once a year, so maybe you can do that!!!! Despite our difference in football teams :D we know how to have fun! :rofl:

[Shana34]

Rene those shots are even more gorgeous up close. You got some good DOF in them it looks like!

Debi I'm gonna try my hardest! I can't do it too soon, but hopefully in about 6 months to a year or so I'll be able. :)

[suvgal]

Great shots Rene. Glad you had a great trip

[ReneT]

I'll go in and delete the huge TX Tech photo so your screens will be OK.

[idtwinmom]

Carolyn - I think that really big picture Rene posted probably sent your poor laptop into hysterics! Not your glasses at all. Should be better now that it's on an "old" page.

Rene - those photo's are awesome! You really nailed the DOF!

[carolyn d]

Here are Santa pics from yesterday. They would have been better except I was hand holding the camera. Darn for the lack of a tripod!

http://i451.photobucket.com/albums/qq231/idtwinmom/SS.jpg

http://i451.photobucket.com/albums/qq231/idtwinmom/PS.jpg

http://i451.photobucket.com/albums/qq231/idtwinmom/RS.jpg

Dang.. in my monitor frenzy, I missed these... great job Lisa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Those kids are too cute !

[idtwinmom]

I'll go in and delete the huge TX Tech photo so your screens will be OK.

If you delete it everybody will wonder what we were talking about! :lol: Then they will think we were seeing things!

[carolyn d]

Great shots Rene. Glad you had a great trip Did you get the pm I sent you in reply to yours??? I'm wondeing if I hit CANCEL instead of send....

[idtwinmom]

I'm kind of sad I didn't get as close to DS#2 as the other two, but he went first and man, he jumped off so fast I hardly got to take that shot. I also wish they were a bit crisper, but for hand held and SOOC I think I did OK!

[carolyn d]

Carolyn - I think that really big picture Rene posted probably sent your poor laptop into hysterics! Not your glasses at all. Should be better now that it's on an "old" page.

Rene - those photo's are awesome! You really nailed the DOF! Oh nice.. the lappie gets hysterics and I'm sitting here PIMP in terror !

[ReneT]

Thanks guys.

Lisa, those Santa photos are precious!!! I miss those days.

[carolyn d]

I'm kind of sad I didn't get as close to DS#2 as the other two, but he went first and man, he jumped off so fast I hardly got to take that shot. I also wish they were a bit crisper, but for hand held and SOOC I think I did OK! You did good regardless.. as for crisper, just use the smart sharpen filter and you should be all set. Settings would be about 85 on the first slider, no more than 2 on the second and a very low number on the third slider... these are very light adjustments and can be applied a second time if needed.
After you apply the filter, without touching anything, go to EDIT>FADE SMART SHARPEN and a text box appears.. change the mode from NORMAL to LUMINOSITY... and click ok... this applies the filter to the luminosity "channel" and helps prevent "halos" which can appear during sharpening.

[SilverHealer]

Beautiful photos, Rene!!

Shana, I seriously love that pin. I'm feeling kind of stuck designing wise and feel kind of inadequate :rofl: Do you have any tips for me like for things like that gorgeous pin?

[debilou]

Beautiful photos RENE! Nice job!

[Shana34]

Beautiful photos, Rene!!

Shana, I seriously love that pin. I'm feeling kind of stuck designing wise and feel kind of inadequate :rofl: Do you have any tips for me like for things like that gorgeous pin?

Funny, but I was just there! LOL My advice is to take Lauren's classes! I learned a lot in them. I'm planning on taking the higher level ones when I get the moolah! Also, I look at a lot of tutorials and do them, tweaking them here and there to get the effects I want. :)

[Shana34]

Did everyone go to bed? I feel so alone. LOL

[suvgal]

Carolyn-I did get your pm. Thanks for the offer. I'll let you know...we don't go to Tucson till the end of March. The weather should be really great then.

Today I took my new camera out to try and take photos. DH had a good laugh as I actually found the focus ring. We went to the Abbey to see the Creche.What a beautiful site. I actually got a couple of good pics once I found the focus ring.

Ok girls....this is all new to me. Hopefully after the holidays there will be more time. Why does IRL have to get in the way???

[Christine]

Woah! That won't fit on my screen.

ok, TEXAS sized Rene!

go back to flowers.. nice flowers Rene...

I'll stick up for Texas.. with Gundi ok..

Gundi is hoping both Bama AND Texas LOOOOOOOOSE! I am not at all happy with what the BCS did to TCU. NOT AT ALL!!!!

I am totally convinced that last year they gave Utah, Alabama, so the BCS could say "see you don't belong w/ the big boys" and look what happened, we creamed them! Oh but just listen to the announcers, "Alabama's heart just wasn't in this game" Not in the game, my butt! They got rolled plain and simple. Well this year no way they would give TCU one of the big boys, so they match up TCU and BSU. Pffft!

Yum on the peppermint brownies! Glad you guys know me so well and were thinking about me :D Gotta go back and see what else I missed. You guys got all talkative while I was making dinner. :D

Oh that reminds me, I am sooooooooooooooooo bummed! So I went over to my friends house to do their family shot etc. She wanted it in front of the tree and we did some really cute poses etc I thought, but they turned out dark. :annoyed::annoyed::annoyed::annoyed: Nothing I couldn't fix in PS but it made them more grainy. I know the window behind the tree was messing w/ my meter and my flash didn't fire every time. Not sure if it was a battery issue or the stupid window. I was using a spot meter to try to avoid the window issue, but.....sigh.
At any rate, she says they look awesome, but I am not convinced. To even get them a decent exposure I had to up the exposure 1-2 stops on every pic. :cry::cry::cry: I should have been checking my histogram, but I was so nervous and wanted to do a good job for them. Not like I was being paid or anything, but she is one of my best friends and I wanted to do a great job for her. :(

[Christine]

oh and yes I know Bama and TX are playing each other, but one can hope. LOL

[Christine]

I am a Utah man, sir and I live across the green.
Our gang it is the jolliest that you have ever seen.
Our coeds are the fairest and each one's a shining star.
Our yell, you hear it ringing through the mountains near and far.

Chorus:
Who am I, sir, a Utah man am I:
A Utah man, sir, and will be till I die: Ki! Ki!
We're up to snuff: we never bluff.
We're game for any fuss.
No other gang of college men dare meet us in the muss.
So fill your lungs and sing it out shout it to the sky.
We'll fight for dear old crimson for.....

A Utah Man am I!

(There is actually more, but this is the only part we every sing. :lol: )

[Christine]

Rene and Lisa, awesome shots both of you!

Me too Shana, I show up and everyone runs and hides. It must be cuz I am so scary!

[Shana34]

I don't think you're scary! :D I'm sorry to hear about the shots. Maybe you could try again for her? Just to ease your mind?

[ReneT]

Gundi is hoping both Bama AND Texas LOOOOOOOOSE! I am not at all happy with what the BCS did to TCU. NOT AT ALL!!!!

I am totally convinced that last year they gave Utah, Alabama, so the BCS could say "see you don't belong w/ the big boys" and look what happened, we creamed them! Oh but just listen to the announcers, "Alabama's heart just wasn't in this game" Not in the game, my butt! They got rolled plain and simple. Well this year no way they would give TCU one of the big boys, so they match up TCU and BSU. Pffft!

Yum on the peppermint brownies! Glad you guys know me so well and were thinking about me :D Gotta go back and see what else I missed. You guys got all talkative while I was making dinner. :D

Oh that reminds me, I am sooooooooooooooooo bummed! So I went over to my friends house to do their family shot etc. She wanted it in front of the tree and we did some really cute poses etc I thought, but they turned out dark. :annoyed::annoyed::annoyed::annoyed: Nothing I couldn't fix in PS but it made them more grainy. I know the window behind the tree was messing w/ my meter and my flash didn't fire every time. Not sure if it was a battery issue or the stupid window. I was using a spot meter to try to avoid the window issue, but.....sigh.
At any rate, she says they look awesome, but I am not convinced. To even get them a decent exposure I had to up the exposure 1-2 stops on every pic. :cry::cry::cry: I should have been checking my histogram, but I was so nervous and wanted to do a good job for them. Not like I was being paid or anything, but she is one of my best friends and I wanted to do a great job for her. :(

Well I'm just going to go with Bama, if I have to pick one. I know as a TX girl, I should root for Texas, but just can't do it.

[ReneT]

I'm still here! I was just working on a layout that's due today. I'm just about done with it and then going to sit in the hot tub. My shoulder/arm is really bothering me today. I think from carrying the camera bag around all weekend. I've now got a touch of the tendonitis/bursitis/whatever it is in my left arm/shoulder too, but not near as bad as the right arm. I have a follow-up appt with the doc tomorrow afternoon to see what he says. The chiropractor is doing some sort of cold laser treatment on it which seems to help, but only for a few hours. I am going to ask about a stronger/better anti-inflamatory from the doc tomorrow. I wanna be 20 again! :lol:

[carolyn d]

Gundi is hoping both Bama AND Texas LOOOOOOOOSE! I am not at all happy with what the BCS did to TCU. NOT AT ALL!!!!Ms. Gundi.. is that YOU being all vindictive??? OH MY.. Unfortunately, I don't follow college football as much as you guys do so I am wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyy out of the loop on specifics here !

I am totally convinced that last year they gave Utah, Alabama, so the BCS could say "see you don't belong w/ the big boys" and look what happened, we creamed them! Oh but just listen to the announcers, "Alabama's heart just wasn't in this game" Not in the game, my butt! They got rolled plain and simple. Well this year no way they would give TCU one of the big boys, so they match up TCU and BSU. Pffft!

Yum on the peppermint brownies! Glad you guys know me so well and were thinking about me :D Gotta go back and see what else I missed. You guys got all talkative while I was making dinner. :DGabby after a very quiet weekend.

Oh that reminds me, I am sooooooooooooooooo bummed! So I went over to my friends house to do their family shot etc. She wanted it in front of the tree and we did some really cute poses etc I thought, but they turned out dark. :annoyed::annoyed::annoyed::annoyed: Nothing I couldn't fix in PS but it made them more grainy. I know the window behind the tree was messing w/ my meter and my flash didn't fire every time.which it will not as the batteries need to come back to full power... only studio lighting which typically runs off some kind of battery will instantaneously refire. Not sure if it was a battery issue or the stupid window. I was using a spot meter to try to avoid the window issue, but.....sigh.no, you did the right thing.. you no doubt metered for their faces which are light, thereby causing the rest of the image (which was darker tones ) to be somewhat underexposed.. and yes that window would have a great deal to do with your meter readings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

At any rate, she says they look awesome, but I am not convinced. To even get them a decent exposure I had to up the exposure 1-2 stops on every pic. :cry::cry::cry: I should have been checking my histogram, but I was so nervous and wanted to do a good job for them. Not like I was being paid or anything, but she is one of my best friends and I wanted to do a great job for her. :(And I am sure she thinks you HAVE done a great job for her ! As she is your friend, she will understand if you tell her you would like to give it a second try. Just explain you feel you can do something just a tad different to get a series you will BOTH be happier with. And don't forget,,, she will not be looking at them and saying, "Oh my goodness, there is so much NOISE in that image"... only YOU would do that. She is looking at them and thinking how cute everyone is... there is an enormous difference in perception in front of vs behind the camera.

[carolyn d]

I'm still here! I was just working on a layout that's due today. I'm just about done with it and then going to sit in the hot tub. My shoulder/arm is really bothering me today. I think from carrying the camera bag around all weekend. I've now got a touch of the tendonitis/bursitis/whatever it is in my left arm/shoulder too, but not near as bad as the right arm. I have a follow-up appt with the doc tomorrow afternoon to see what he says. The chiropractor is doing some sort of cold laser treatment on it which seems to help, but only for a few hours. I am going to ask about a stronger/better anti-inflamatory from the doc tomorrow. I wanna be 20 again! :lol:OOOOOOOhhh poor you ! sounds like you have camerabagitis of the shoulder.. Cousin to tennis elbow, camerabagitis can be just as painful and can sometimes spring up in the thumb from holding the camera tigtly........... a good long soak is good for all.

And my goodness, why would you want to be 20 again???? UGH!!!!!!!!!!! Personally, I'm thinking 25 but knowing THEN what I know NOW!!!!!

[Shana34]

OOOOOOOhhh poor you ! sounds like you have camerabagitis of the shoulder.. Cousin to tennis elbow, camerabagitis can be just as painful and can sometimes spring up in the thumb from holding the camera tigtly........... a good long soak is good for all.

And my goodness, why would you want to be 20 again???? UGH!!!!!!!!!!! Personally, I'm thinking 25 but knowing THEN what I know NOW!!!!!

You know...I'm coming to terms with 30 and liking it here! LOL Can I just stay like this for a while?

[Shana34]

I'm still here! I was just working on a layout that's due today. I'm just about done with it and then going to sit in the hot tub. My shoulder/arm is really bothering me today. I think from carrying the camera bag around all weekend. I've now got a touch of the tendonitis/bursitis/whatever it is in my left arm/shoulder too, but not near as bad as the right arm. I have a follow-up appt with the doc tomorrow afternoon to see what he says. The chiropractor is doing some sort of cold laser treatment on it which seems to help, but only for a few hours. I am going to ask about a stronger/better anti-inflamatory from the doc tomorrow. I wanna be 20 again! :lol:

G-dizzle should give you a massage! But seriously, I'm sorry you're in pain. I know how bad the shoulder can be, so I feel for you.

[ReneT]

OOOOOOOhhh poor you ! sounds like you have camerabagitis of the shoulder.. Cousin to tennis elbow, camerabagitis can be just as painful and can sometimes spring up in the thumb from holding the camera tigtly........... a good long soak is good for all.

And my goodness, why would you want to be 20 again???? UGH!!!!!!!!!!! Personally, I'm thinking 25 but knowing THEN what I know NOW!!!!!

OK, I really don't want to be 20, but I would like my body to feel like it's 20 (and look like it's 20 :lol:). These constant aches and pains are no fun and I know it's only just begun. My back hurt all weekend because I wasn't in my Sleep Number bed! Why is it that when you finally get secure with yourself and get happy with your life, your body then falls apart? :confused:

[carolyn d]

You know...I'm coming to terms with 30 and liking it here! LOL Can I just stay like this for a while?it's a matter of perpective.. I seem to have chosen 27 and have been there for decades ! I don't FEEL old, I certainly don't THINK old but sometimes my body betrays me, but not too often....but then again a lot of my friends are the same age as me and we all still look the same to each other ! And another group of my friends are in their late 20's early 30's so I keep "cool" with them ! hahaha.. I'm a chronological enigma. :rofl::rofl::rofl:

[ReneT]

You know...I'm coming to terms with 30 and liking it here! LOL Can I just stay like this for a while?

:yes::yes:

[carolyn d]

OK, I really don't want to be 20, but I would like my body to feel like it's 20 (and look like it's 20 :lol:). These constant aches and pains are no fun and I know it's only just begun. My back hurt all weekend because I wasn't in my Sleep Number bed! Why is it that when you finally get secure with yourself and get happy with your life, your body then falls apart? :confused:Seems like it's a choice of mental/emotional comfort or physical comfort... ahhhhhhhhhhh I tell ya, YOUTH is WASTED on the young.

[Christine]

ugggggg my internet is being WAY spotty, so if you are talking to me and I suddenly get lost, it is nothing personal. LOL

So here is a photo that I tweaked some:
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii294/gundimom/DSC_6786_tweaked.jpg

and one straight out of the camera
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii294/gundimom/DSC_6761_sooc.jpg

[ReneT]

Seems like it's a choice of mental/emotional comfort or physical comfort... ahhhhhhhhhhh I tell ya, YOUTH is WASTED on the young.

Well I guess I would for sure choose mental/emotional comfort. But I honestly want both! :lol:

[Christine]

Here's a layout I did using my brand new QC (should be in the store anytime now)
http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/forum/../gallery/data/6096/thumbs/73_T_SoakUpTheSerenity_01.jpg (http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/forum/../gallery/showphoto.php?photo=344115)
Serenity (http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/forum/../gallery/showphoto.php?photo=344115)

[ReneT]

Here's a layout I did using my brand new QC (should be in the store anytime now)
http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/forum/../gallery/data/6096/thumbs/73_T_SoakUpTheSerenity_01.jpg (http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/forum/../gallery/showphoto.php?photo=344115)
Serenity (http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/forum/../gallery/showphoto.php?photo=344115)

You've been a busy girl! I saw the new Christmas photo frames and masks in the store today, and now a couple new QC's! Into my cart!

[bendipez]

So Chris what are you watching on december 21st....lolol

[>>aruaL<<]

Christine, I love that the QC's come with the layered PSD now! Oh sure, I know how to put them together myself and all that jazz, but dang I am going to love not having to do it!

I love the photo of them holding the family photo...!

[>>aruaL<<]

Shana... ohhh your pin is beautiful! I remember you telling me you were working on one, it's really pretty. You have such talent!

So do you all remember the senior photos that I paid a small fortune for that came out awful and all that? Well..... he redid the photos. They are much better. I think, especially for the amount of cash I put out, they could have been better (the quality and the poses, backdrops, etc...but whatever).... but, reality is that I really do love them! And best part is that SHE *LOVES* them! In January we are still doing photos with the other photographer (with my son too... sibling pics and stufff) but I'm really happy that at least her yearbook, grad announcement photos and her wall portrait came out really pretty.

So that is today's update! hehe :-)

[sands_healy]

Just got back from Mom's and ..........gasp.............doing some Christmas shopping.. What a deal I got ! I'm still gobsmacked.. a 10 piece set of Calaphon pans,3 Calaphon cookie sheets, 1 11" Calaphon Open Everything Pan and a 5.5 quart covered Calaphon sauce/stock pan .............. for $188.00............. thank goodness I read the fine print on the sale sign otherwise I would not have known about the free goodies ( everything other than the pan set)...set was on sale, PLUS I had a 25% coupon ... man oh man.....

That sounds like a brilliant deal!

Thank you! I actually did the pin by myself, used a character in Times New Roman for the chain, then have a set of royalty free photoshop shapes that I used for the snowflakes. I added the metallic style and then the orbs I did myself as well. :)

Wow, very creative! I don't have a clue where to begin to do things like that.

These are not cropped or anything. I was practicing DOF on these 3. You can really see the blur in the full size photos, but I'm not sure how to upload the bigger versions. :help:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2531/4164066357_e3c362d1c8_m.jpghttp://farm3.static.flickr.com/2668/4164823136_1420a44172_m.jpghttp://farm3.static.flickr.com/2743/4164066803_3b5c471de5_m.jpg

Gorgeous shots Rene!

Oh that reminds me, I am sooooooooooooooooo bummed! So I went over to my friends house to do their family shot etc. She wanted it in front of the tree and we did some really cute poses etc I thought, but they turned out dark. :annoyed::annoyed::annoyed::annoyed: Nothing I couldn't fix in PS but it made them more grainy. I know the window behind the tree was messing w/ my meter and my flash didn't fire every time. Not sure if it was a battery issue or the stupid window. I was using a spot meter to try to avoid the window issue, but.....sigh.
At any rate, she says they look awesome, but I am not convinced. To even get them a decent exposure I had to up the exposure 1-2 stops on every pic. :cry::cry::cry: I should have been checking my histogram, but I was so nervous and wanted to do a good job for them. Not like I was being paid or anything, but she is one of my best friends and I wanted to do a great job for her. :(

Sorry it didn't go well for you, but I'm sure she will be happy with them.

ugggggg my internet is being WAY spotty, so if you are talking to me and I suddenly get lost, it is nothing personal. LOL

So here is a photo that I tweaked some:
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii294/gundimom/DSC_6786_tweaked.jpg

and one straight out of the camera
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii294/gundimom/DSC_6761_sooc.jpg

Love the idea of them holding the photo! Brilliant!

[Christine]

Sorry, Lisa, Football is BIG BUSINESS in TEXAS....

oh, yeah in that other state.. what is is oh, yeah, Utah.
:lol: You betcha baby!!

So Chris what are you watching on december 21st....lolol

is that when I am cheering for OSU? Just kidding, I have to cheer for my conference and AGAINST the dreaded BCS schools, but dumb TDS will probably still lose, they can't win in a meaningful bowl game for nothing! You KNOW on the 23rd I will be all out cheering for the Utes in the Poinsettia Bowl. Speaking of which did you guys know my Utes have the LONGEST ACTIVE WINNING STREAK IN THE BOWLS. Oh yeah baby!!!:yahoo::yahoo::yahoo::yahoo:

[Christine]

Laura glad you got the photo issue resolved!

[Christine]

BTW I keep meaning to ask........ are you all opening the doors for the countdown to Christmas? Lots of fun, plus you get a goodie every day! How cool is that!

Oh and psssssttttt anybody see what the weekly freebie is for buying something in the store this week? This link might give you a hint:
http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=339474&ppuser=62565 ;)

[Christine]

alright if you guys aren't going to talk to me, I guess I will go exercise :) cya!

[>>aruaL<<]

Thanks Christine, I'm so thrilled its resolved too! I still think the school needs to find a better, more competent, photographer for them but whatever.... she's outta there in a few months and the high school my son will go to is right here in town (our first high school.. it's brand new) and they are much better about not putting up with the incompetent people! I'm so happy I won't have to deal with her school for much longer.

I have been getting my daily goodie.... it's so fun! Now I'm off to peek at the store freebie!

[>>aruaL<<]

Ohhhhh I peeked at your hint!! Love the photos Christine!

What font did you use on the photo frame?

[>>aruaL<<]

Ohh I'm so nervous.... DD just left for her drive to school. We haven't had ANY rain (nothing to call RAIN I mean.... just sprinkles) since she's been driving this year, and today (this week) we have real RAIN! Loads of it!! I feel today like I did the very first time she left in her car upon getting her license. I'm soooo nervous!! More nervous about the drive home tonight after soccer (she's gonna be soaked and cold too... poor kiddo!).

[Christine]

CK Bella for everything except the "achieve" which is part of my kit

[ReneT]

Shana... ohhh your pin is beautiful! I remember you telling me you were working on one, it's really pretty. You have such talent!

So do you all remember the senior photos that I paid a small fortune for that came out awful and all that? Well..... he redid the photos. They are much better. I think, especially for the amount of cash I put out, they could have been better (the quality and the poses, backdrops, etc...but whatever).... but, reality is that I really do love them! And best part is that SHE *LOVES* them! In January we are still doing photos with the other photographer (with my son too... sibling pics and stufff) but I'm really happy that at least her yearbook, grad announcement photos and her wall portrait came out really pretty.

So that is today's update! hehe :-)

I'm so glad she loves her photos. Those are ones she will look back on for the rest of her life, so it's important to love them.

BTW I keep meaning to ask........ are you all opening the doors for the countdown to Christmas? Lots of fun, plus you get a goodie every day! How cool is that!

Oh and psssssttttt anybody see what the weekly freebie is for buying something in the store this week? This link might give you a hint:
http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=339474&ppuser=62565 ;)

I have been (well I got caught up on the doors last night). I'm on my way to the store right now to get the stuff in my cart. Yay for FREEBIES!

Ohh I'm so nervous.... DD just left for her drive to school. We haven't had ANY rain (nothing to call RAIN I mean.... just sprinkles) since she's been driving this year, and today (this week) we have real RAIN! Loads of it!! I feel today like I did the very first time she left in her car upon getting her license. I'm soooo nervous!! More nervous about the drive home tonight after soccer (she's gonna be soaked and cold too... poor kiddo!).

I hope she'll do fine with the rain. This was Emily's first year to drive in snow/ice, and she did OK. She was scared though and so were we!

[>>aruaL<<]

CK Bella for everything except the "achieve" which is part of my kit

Thank you Christine!

I love your QC by the way (the freebie this week)... actually several of them are in my cart! Now to just get off my butt and finish my shopping... lol.

[bendipez]

:lol: You betcha baby!!



is that when I am cheering for OSU? Just kidding, I have to cheer for my conference and AGAINST the dreaded BCS schools, but dumb TDS will probably still lose, they can't win in a meaningful bowl game for nothing! You KNOW on the 23rd I will be all out cheering for the Utes in the Poinsettia Bowl. Speaking of which did you guys know my Utes have the LONGEST ACTIVE WINNING STREAK IN THE BOWLS. Oh yeah baby!!!:yahoo::yahoo::yahoo::yahoo:
Okay but on the21st I'll e cheering for Cal ......
http://www.poinsettiabowl.com/

[Christine]

ok you cheer for them on the 21st but you have to cheer for the Utes on the 23rd, when the game is going to actually be played! :rofl: :D

[ReneT]

ok you cheer for them on the 21st but you have to cheer for the Utes on the 23rd, when the game is going to actually be played! :rofl: :D

Are you going to the game? We are stuck with the Alamo Bowl in San Antonio, which we've already gone to before, so we're not going this year. I don't know why we can't go to a different one. TX A&M was 6-6, and they get to go to the Independence Bowl. We were 8-4. Not fair. :(

[Christine]

I want to go but not sure how I can swing it, DH has to work either that day or the day before or something. I keep telling him to work it out. LOL but we also have our family retreat that w/e before and he is not allowed to miss that either. LOL

[Rosie G]

http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:XSBzzRDCDdUy-M:http://www.utexas.edu/friends/graphics/wallpapers/HookEm1024x768.jpg (http://www.utexas.edu/friends/graphics/wallpapers/HookEm1024x768.jpg)

http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s90/rosieg_01/61534_121574061_small.gif

Do you want a You tube of the band doing the fight song?

or the last minute of the game?

What was up with Colt in that last few seconds?

Sorry, Lisa, Football is BIG BUSINESS in TEXAS....

oh, yeah in that other state.. what is is oh, yeah, Utah.

Don't forget about Alabama; it is in the heart of SEC county.

Oh goody. A football fight. I want to jump right in. I just printed out the bowl schedule; there are 34 bowl games starting Dec 19 and continuing til my Tide plays Texas on Jan 7.

Roll Tide

[debilou]

Oh, BUT, who is playing for the NATIONAL TITLE!!! on January the 9th.

ONE TEAM would be the LONGHORNS!!!!

[>>aruaL<<]

Ummmmmm...... sure. Okay. I understand ALL OF THAT.... NOT! LOL :-)

[Rosie G]

Oh, BUT, who is playing for the NATIONAL TITLE!!! on January the 9th.

ONE TEAM would be the LONGHORNS!!!!


And the other is none other than ALABAMA. ROLL TIDE

[debilou]

But, not Texas Tech or that team from Utah????

[Shana34]

Ummmmmm...... sure. Okay. I understand ALL OF THAT.... NOT! LOL :-)

LOL I'm right there with ya, Laura!

[>>aruaL<<]

Glad I'm not alone Shana!! Goodgolly it's like listening to a room of people who speak a language other than your own. Whoa...... LOL!

[poohbear77]

Morning Ladies,

Sorry I was MIA last week. It was a very crazy week starting off with having one of the foster dogs in our rescue group getting hit by a car and killed :( Then the rest of the week I was either working on rescue stuff or getting ready for us to do Santa Pix at Petco on Saturday. DH played Santa and looked amazing! He's been growing his hair and beard out since about September so it looked pretty authentic. We did have to use stage makeup for his hair and beard and that was the hard part. After spending nearly 3 hours on it Saturday morning, I am now supporting his original idea of wanting to dye/bleach his hair white! Saturday was fun, just made for a very long day. Dan was happy he didn't get bit, peed on or scratched! I was surprised at how many cats there were there! It didn't help my argument much for getting Pixel in our photos for this week. Dan said most of the cats were either unhappy or must have been drugged! We do it all over again this coming Saturday too! I'll be glad when the whole thing is over with to be honest with you. I was the one running the computer/printer and that is more stressful I think than actually being Santa. Yeah, why is it that Santa gets all the credit? What about Mrs. Claus, huh? No respect I tell ya, no respect :) Now I have to get back to editing all the photos to email out to customers.

Here's a pic of Santa Dan:http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k218/poohbear_1977_2006/PC056377-web.jpg

[Rosie G]

Glad I'm not alone Shana!! Goodgolly it's like listening to a room of people who speak a language other than your own. Whoa...... LOL!

Sorry. I was raised in Alabama and we take football very seriously there. You are either an Auburn or Alabama fan from birth. Fortunately I chose Alabama. They are playing Texas for the national football title on January 7.

[Rosie G]

But, not Texas Tech or that team from Utah????

They both had winning seasons and were invited to bowl games. Good for them.

[>>aruaL<<]

Oh Rosie, don't apologize. It's actually quite fascinating! It's kinda funny too.... that you ladies know so much about the sport and all that. I just kinda blink real fast and think "whoa... they know that?" ... hehe :-)




Sorry. I was raised in Alabama and we take football very seriously there. You are either an Auburn or Alabama fan from birth. Fortunately I chose Alabama. They are playing Texas for the national football title on January 7.

[debilou]

Actually, I can't stand football or most any sport.

I just think it's funny.

[Shana34]

Glad I'm not alone Shana!! Goodgolly it's like listening to a room of people who speak a language other than your own. Whoa...... LOL!

LOL I've been in that situation...fun! I was looking around like "wha????"

[Shana34]

Actually, I can't stand football or most any sport.

I just think it's funny.

It's great how you all go at each other in good fun! Fun to watch. :D

[Christine]

But, not Texas Tech or that team from Utah????

oh Texas got sooooooooooooooooooo LUCKY!!! and the stupid BCS is RIGGED!!! Notice they did not make the only undefeated team the national champions LAST YEAR. Let's see would that be Bama? nope they lost TWICE, was that Texas, NOPE they lost more than once can't remember how many times. Would it even be the Gators? NOPE, they were losers too! Just the Utes stood alone undefeated!

GO UTES!!!

[>>aruaL<<]

I have to tell you ladies something (confession time).... one day, my kids were nitpickin at eachother and they were both getting so mad at eachother. I got so sick of hearing it and I yelled out "why can't you just pick at eachother in good fun and laugh, the gundi girls do that!" ... my kids stopped and looked at me like I had been drinking (and I don't drink!) LOL!!!

[bendipez]

ok you cheer for them on the 21st but you have to cheer for the Utes on the 23rd, when the game is going to actually be played! :rofl: :D
OOOPS !!! my bad...lololol.....
Still heerng for Cal on the 23rd....
maybe some day theyy will actully let us in a "real" bowl game...
not some lame made-up consolation bowl ....

[Christine]

OOOPS !!! my bad...lololol.....
Still heerng for Cal on the 23rd....
maybe some day theyy will actully let us in a "real" bowl game...
not some lame made-up consolation bowl ....

Nope sorry we had a deal. Lol

[Christine]

I have to tell you ladies something (confession time).... one day, my kids were nitpickin at eachother and they were both getting so mad at eachother. I got so sick of hearing it and I yelled out "why can't you just pick at eachother in good fun and laugh, the gundi girls do that!" ... my kids stopped and looked at me like I had been drinking (and I don't drink!) LOL!!!

Lolololol yay for the gundi girls!!!!!!

[idtwinmom]

You did good regardless.. as for crisper, just use the smart sharpen filter and you should be all set. Settings would be about 85 on the first slider, no more than 2 on the second and a very low number on the third slider... these are very light adjustments and can be applied a second time if needed.
After you apply the filter, without touching anything, go to EDIT>FADE SMART SHARPEN and a text box appears.. change the mode from NORMAL to LUMINOSITY... and click ok... this applies the filter to the luminosity "channel" and helps prevent "halos" which can appear during sharpening.

Cool Beans! I'll give that a try!

[idtwinmom]

Wow, that was a lot of reading and only since yesterday at dinner time!

I was raised to care less about sports. My Dad always joked that he had girls so he wouldn't have to watch. Then when I got married he had a brief period where he watched Collage Football, but it wore off rather quickly. At any rate, not a word of the sports stuff sticks with me for even a few minutes.

Not much else here, just doing laundry. Hope you are all having a good day!

[stitchmich]

I have to tell you ladies something (confession time).... one day, my kids were nitpickin at eachother and they were both getting so mad at eachother. I got so sick of hearing it and I yelled out "why can't you just pick at eachother in good fun and laugh, the gundi girls do that!" ... my kids stopped and looked at me like I had been drinking (and I don't drink!) LOL!!!

:lol::lol: I'm glad the Gundi Girls can set a good example for your kids!

I hope everybody is doing well and had a good weekend. I've been working my hiney off. So busy! My DH has been stressing me out on top of that. He was busy today "shopping" online, and he kept coming in my office telling me things he was finding and comparing prices and asking for my opinion. I finally had to tell him to get out and leave me alone! :p

Well, I'd like to read back and catch up, but I doubt it will happen. Somebody give me the highlight reel please :D

[ReneT]

Oh, BUT, who is playing for the NATIONAL TITLE!!! on January the 9th.

ONE TEAM would be the LONGHORNS!!!!

There you go, making me nauseous again! I thought you were my friend! :rofl: (I'm going with RED text today instead of my usual PINK to support the Red Raiders, Tide and Utes!)

And the other is none other than ALABAMA. ROLL TIDE

I'm siding with you on this one Rosie, which could possibly get me kicked out of Texas, but we DO NOT LIKE UT!

Morning Ladies,

Sorry I was MIA last week. It was a very crazy week starting off with having one of the foster dogs in our rescue group getting hit by a car and killed :( Then the rest of the week I was either working on rescue stuff or getting ready for us to do Santa Pix at Petco on Saturday. DH played Santa and looked amazing! He's been growing his hair and beard out since about September so it looked pretty authentic. We did have to use stage makeup for his hair and beard and that was the hard part. After spending nearly 3 hours on it Saturday morning, I am now supporting his original idea of wanting to dye/bleach his hair white! Saturday was fun, just made for a very long day. Dan was happy he didn't get bit, peed on or scratched! I was surprised at how many cats there were there! It didn't help my argument much for getting Pixel in our photos for this week. Dan said most of the cats were either unhappy or must have been drugged! We do it all over again this coming Saturday too! I'll be glad when the whole thing is over with to be honest with you. I was the one running the computer/printer and that is more stressful I think than actually being Santa. Yeah, why is it that Santa gets all the credit? What about Mrs. Claus, huh? No respect I tell ya, no respect :) Now I have to get back to editing all the photos to email out to customers.

Here's a pic of Santa Dan:http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k218/poohbear_1977_2006/PC056377-web.jpg

Aw cute pic of your DH Santa! It made me remember that our Petsmart here does doggie photos with Santa. I had forgotten all about that! May have to check it out this year.

They both had winning seasons and were invited to bowl games. Good for them.

WOOT!

oh Texas got sooooooooooooooooooo LUCKY!!! and the stupid BCS is RIGGED!!! Notice they did not make the only undefeated team the national champions LAST YEAR. Let's see would that be Bama? nope they lost TWICE, was that Texas, NOPE they lost more than once can't remember how many times. Would it even be the Gators? NOPE, they were losers too! Just the Utes stood alone undefeated!

GO UTES!!!

Let's also take a moment to remember which team was the only team to beat UT last year - who was it? OH YEAH IT WAS THE RED RAIDERS!!!!! Another WOOT!

:lol::lol: I'm glad the Gundi Girls can set a good example for your kids!

I hope everybody is doing well and had a good weekend. I've been working my hiney off. So busy! My DH has been stressing me out on top of that. He was busy today "shopping" online, and he kept coming in my office telling me things he was finding and comparing prices and asking for my opinion. I finally had to tell him to get out and leave me alone! :p

Well, I'd like to read back and catch up, but I doubt it will happen. Somebody give me the highlight reel please :D

Here's a recap for you Stichie. The Red Raiders, Utes and Tide ROCK. That dirty orange team is ugly, rude, and the only thing they have going for them is Matthew McConaughey. :rofl::rofl:

[debilou]

hey, and guess where Matthew's Mama lives

Oh, In my Neighorhood... haha

want to come visit now....

And, yes, talk like that can get you kicked out of TEXAS RENE!!!!

You may have the border patrol at your home tonight.... be careful!!!!!!!!!

Didn't they teach you football etiquette in High School..

[ReneT]

hey, and guess where Matthew's Mama lives

Oh, In my Neighorhood... haha

want to come visit now....

And, yes, talk like that can get you kicked out of TEXAS RENE!!!!

You may have the border patrol at your home tonight.... be careful!!!!!!!!!

Didn't they teach you football etiquette in High School..

I want to come visit when he's in town! :rofl:

I went to Odessa Permian High School - you know, that fabulous football team that won all the state championships, had a book written about them, had a movie about them? The only thing they taught us was how to win! :rofl::lol::rofl::lol::rofl:

[ReneT]

Here's my first layout from the SA GTG (finally a fall foliage photo!)

http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/gallery/data/500/thumbs/EARTHS-COLOR-PALETTE.jpg (http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=344165&ppuser=127754)
Earth's Color Palette

[debilou]

I want to come visit when he's in town! :rofl:

I went to Odessa Permian High School - you know, that fabulous football team that won all the state championships, had a book written about them, had a movie about them? The only thing they taught us was how to win! :rofl::lol::rofl::lol::rofl:

oh, that dinky little high school.

Odessa what?

[addicted]

WOW you gals have been very chatty!!

I skimmed through it all and all your photos are amazing!!

Rene, glad you found Crys and had tons of fun!!

DS #1 stayed home from school today with what I was thinking was pink eye and a bad cough, but now I think it's just a cold in his eyes. BUT his cough is FREAKING me out. It's tight and Ethan always gets his colds so I hope he will be ok with it or won't get it all!! I think if he gets croup again, I'm just taking taking off for my sister house so I can be close to the good hospital!!

Hope you all are having fun getting ready for the holidays!!

[debilou]

Rene, Is this the kind of football players you had in that little cattle town you call Odessa?


http://comps.fotosearch.com/bigcomps/CLT/CLT002/f7860.jpg

[carolyn d]

ugggggg my internet is being WAY spotty, so if you are talking to me and I suddenly get lost, it is nothing personal. LOL

So here is a photo that I tweaked some:
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii294/gundimom/DSC_6786_tweaked.jpg

and one straight out of the camera
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii294/gundimom/DSC_6761_sooc.jpg

Actually, I think you did a good job... although from such a small image it's hard to tell the noise, i think what you have here is within acceptable limits. And the idea of the parents holding the photo is fabulous !!! Just that idea ALONE makes for a unique presentation ! The colors are great, skin tones good, sharp focus... more positve than negative IMHO. If you allow me to be my usual picky self, Dad's chin is hidden by little man's head....but that is wonderfully offset by the parents holding the picture... Great, creative shoot !

[debilou]

I don't see the noise in the photo

But if you get the photoshop user magazine... they have a way cool way of getting noise out of a photo by using surface blur...

I never would have thought to use that...

I can't post it here.. but, if you want some more instructions. pm me.

[ReneT]

oh, that dinky little high school.

Odessa what?

Odessa Permian!!!!!

http://coachburke.homestead.com/MOJO-Odessa-Permian.jpghttp://www.lewistownwrestling.com/Lewistown%20Panther%20Wrestling/paw_print_compgif.gif

[debilou]

What's a Permian?

[ReneT]

Rene, Is this the kind of football players you had in that little cattle town you call Odessa?


http://comps.fotosearch.com/bigcomps/CLT/CLT002/f7860.jpg

No, this is the kind - with state title trophies in their hands:

http://images.berecruited.com/photos/athletes/large/97789854.jpg

[idtwinmom]

Debi that sounds like a really cool technique. Do they have it posted online somewhere?

[debilou]

no, It's in the photoshop user magazine... do you get it

[Christine]

Here's my first layout from the SA GTG (finally a fall foliage photo!)

http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/gallery/data/500/thumbs/EARTHS-COLOR-PALETTE.jpg (http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=344165&ppuser=127754)
Earth's Color Palette

Hey!!! Is that half of my qC?!! I must go see! :D

[Christine]

Actually, I think you did a good job... although from such a small image it's hard to tell the noise, i think what you have here is within acceptable limits. And the idea of the parents holding the photo is fabulous !!! Just that idea ALONE makes for a unique presentation ! The colors are great, skin tones good, sharp focus... more positve than negative IMHO. If you allow me to be my usual picky self, Dad's chin is hidden by little man's head....but that is wonderfully offset by the parents holding the picture... Great, creative shoot !

oh yay! I did notice about Dad's chin, I was trying to scooch Justin over but the problem was keeping them grouped and he kept wiggling. LOL I was going to have Dad sitting up on his knees but he wasn't flexible enough to be on his knees AND with his bum on his feet kwim? so he was way up high. We did up their Christmas card and my friend was all excited so I feel a bit better about the deal!

[ReneT]

Hey!!! Is that half of my qC?!! I must go see! :D

Yes it is 1/2 your QC!

[Christine]

LOL wahoo! looks great that way too!

[ReneT]

LOL wahoo! looks great that way too!

Thanks and it's the overlay from your Nature's Ephemera.

[Christine]

oh it is? I must go look again! :D

[Christine]

ahhhhh I looked! Wow good job both of us. LOL

[ReneT]

ahhhhh i looked! Wow good job both of us. Lol

lol

[ReneT]

Chris, is Meloxicam supposed to make you dizzy? The doc put me on it today with a shot of steroids for my arm. Now I'm dizzy. Maybe I have inner ear stuff, but doesn't feel like it. Weird.

[Christine]

it is listed as a side effect, it is the same class as ibuprofen, so typically we are more concerned about GI stuff, and it is not really one that we usually say dizziness etc.

[ReneT]

it is listed as a side effect, it is the same class as ibuprofen, so typically we are more concerned about GI stuff, and it is not really one that we usually say dizziness etc.

Probably inner ear stuff from the plane ride.

[ReneT]

Hey guys, look who is hanging out on the pink tree!!!! It's Johnny Pez!!! Brenda (bendipez) gave us all a Pez at the SA GTG and this is the one she gave me! :D

http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=2275&d=1260241344

[Christine]

isn't Bendi great! She got me a Utah football one :)

[ReneT]

isn't Bendi great! She got me a Utah football one :)

Yes, just awesome!

[Shana34]

Oh that is TOO cool! Where does she find all these?

Man, it is COLD here tonight. I'm sitting here shivering out of my socks! LOL

[ReneT]

Oh that is TOO cool! Where does she find all these?

Man, it is COLD here tonight. I'm sitting here shivering out of my socks! LOL

I'm not sure where she finds them. She has a big collection herself.

I'm sitting here in my office with a space heater blowing on my feet.

[Shana34]

I'm not sure where she finds them. She has a big collection herself.

I'm sitting here in my office with a space heater blowing on my feet.

I have the space heater going too. I guess winter's really here. :doh:

[bendipez]

I'm not sure where she finds them. She has a big collection herself.

I'm sitting here in my office with a space heater blowing on my feet.
My Arkansas Razorback pez came today!!!!
and my loose Wizard of Oz was waiting when I got home...
and it's cold here ......and it snowed!!!!

[bendipez]

Oh and it's 28 degrees right now ...brrrrrrr.....

[suvgal]

Love that tree Rene. How about a full pic of it? Would love to see it

[debilou]

Hey guys, look who is hanging out on the pink tree!!!! It's Johnny Pez!!! Brenda (bendipez) gave us all a Pez at the SA GTG and this is the one she gave me! :D

http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=2275&d=1260241344

Hey, that's the Barbie TREE! And, you put Johnny on the BARBIE TREE???

Oh, will Barbie like that??? Ken won't be too happy!

[stitchmich]

Rene, that is an awesome shot of the pink tree!!! I can't see why Gary is opposed to it. :lol: Very cool pez, Bendi. You know Rene so well ;)

[ReneT]

Hey, that's the Barbie TREE! And, you put Johnny on the BARBIE TREE???

Oh, will Barbie like that??? Ken won't be too happy!

Barbie knows to keep her hands off Johnny Pez! :lol: Johnny loves the pink tree - he loves anything I love!

[ReneT]

Here is a pic of the pink tree. It's not a very good photo. I just took it in a hurry just now, but at least you can see the color of it. :D I just really don't understand what Drew and Gary's aversion to it is! :lol: I think it's about the most awesome thing I've ever seen!
http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=2278&d=12602852712278

[ReneT]

Check it out - 10,000 posts!!!! Woot!

[>>aruaL<<]

My husband loves me a ton... uhh... I think he does at least LOL... but I have a feeling if I put up a pink tree I would find it "missing" when I woke up one morning. Men.... sigh.

[ReneT]

My husband loves me a ton... uhh... I think he does at least LOL... but I have a feeling if I put up a pink tree I would find it "missing" when I woke up one morning. Men.... sigh.

Well I get away with it by putting it in the office which is my area of the house. If I tried to put it in the living room or his TV room, that would be a whole other issue! :lol: Our main tree is more traditional.

[debilou]

Check it out - 10,000 posts!!!! Woot!

Congrats, Chatty Cathy, I mean Rene!!!

[>>aruaL<<]

LOL Rene.... you mighta found it missing just like it would in my house then too!

I think it's pretty! Who cares what the BOYS say....

[GrandmaCrys]

Check it out - 10,000 posts!!!! Woot!


:yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: YAY, RENE!!! :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo:

10,000+ is so awesome.

Well, Gundi Girls, I see the chatter has not stopped in my absence! :( No time to catch up with you today, but just wanted to let you know that I am present and accounted for and once again on flat, snowy ground.

Later, ladies...:D

[ReneT]

:yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: YAY, RENE!!! :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo:

10,000+ is so awesome.

Well, Gundi Girls, I see the chatter has not stopped in my absence! :( No time to catch up with you today, but just wanted to let you know that I am present and accounted for and once again on flat, snowy ground.

Later, ladies...:D

Yeah but 47,000 is AMAZING! :D

[ReneT]

See Gundi Girls - I told you we found Crys!!! :rofl:

[Christine]

You might have to send out a rescue party for this Chris. We are getting DUMPED on! Woke up to about 6 inches of new snow and been snowing like crazy ever since.. Had to take dh to work cuz the truck is getting a make over to get rid of the shot gun dents. Took me about an hour and a half to drop him and ds off. Probably a total round trip of 3 to 5 miles! Yes it is ugly out there! I would like to do nothing more today than stay home and drink cocoa but have to volunteer at the school, pick up 2 sets of kids, go to work for an hour, haul kids for swimming, AND go to a get together for the Primary leaders for church. Hmmmmm do we much staying warm and inside time w/ all of that? Oh yeah then I have to go pick up my honey bunny from work too!

We did go see Blind Side last night. Has anybody else seen it? What did you think? I really, really liked it! Sandra Bullock did an outstanding job in it, I thought!

[>>aruaL<<]

Poor Chris! You have a full schedule and it doesn't help that the weather is yukky! I bet it's gorgeous though!

We have ice here. Roads are closed, DD's high school was turned into a shelter overnight for the stranded motorists and she had to park outside of the student parking lot and walk into school.. she was not happy! LOL!! She has a soccer game tonight, we are going to FREEEZE!! Not even sure I'll be able to get there.... hmmm... now that I think about it, wonder if the guest team can make it. Whoa... a domino thing going on. Hmm.

Wish you could enjoy the beautiful snow on the INSIDE of the home Chris!

My DD experienced her very first snow in Utah, when we were moving across country in Feb of 1995. We got snowed in there. She lovedddd it.

[Shana34]

Hey all. Sounds like the snow is making it's way toward me. We're supposed to get the start of it tonight into tomorrow...tomorrow's supposed to be ice. My mom's supposed to be going to Mass. tomorrow so I'm a bit worried about that. My niece also has a concert that I'm hoping will be postponed. She really wants us there. You know she does when she tells you when it is. :( It's officially winter. Hope everyone is safe during all the mess. Drive slowly and carefully. :)

[MyPinkFlipFlops]

Here is a pic of the pink tree. It's not a very good photo. I just took it in a hurry just now, but at least you can see the color of it. :D I just really don't understand what Drew and Gary's aversion to it is! :lol: I think it's about the most awesome thing I've ever seen!
http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=2278&d=12602852712278

Uh just popping in! had to make a comment! Rene!!! That tree is freakin' awesome!!!!
Love love love it!!! * tries to sneak away with Rene's tree *

[Christine]

Hi flips congrats again. On being added to DET wahooooooooo

[ReneT]

You might have to send out a rescue party for this Chris. We are getting DUMPED on! Woke up to about 6 inches of new snow and been snowing like crazy ever since.. Had to take dh to work cuz the truck is getting a make over to get rid of the shot gun dents. Took me about an hour and a half to drop him and ds off. Probably a total round trip of 3 to 5 miles! Yes it is ugly out there! I would like to do nothing more today than stay home and drink cocoa but have to volunteer at the school, pick up 2 sets of kids, go to work for an hour, haul kids for swimming, AND go to a get together for the Primary leaders for church. Hmmmmm do we much staying warm and inside time w/ all of that? Oh yeah then I have to go pick up my honey bunny from work too!

We did go see Blind Side last night. Has anybody else seen it? What did you think? I really, really liked it! Sandra Bullock did an outstanding job in it, I thought!

Wow, poor you! I like snow as long as I don't have to drive in it. It was icy outside this morning, but melted pretty quickly. Now it's 53 degrees and the wind and dirt are blowing 43 miles per hour. Gary had to go to a conference today in Dallas, so I'm a widow for the next couple of nights. His plane was delayed for an hour due to wind. But now he's there safe.

I haven't seen Blind Side, but I want to. Did it make you cry?

Uh just popping in! had to make a comment! Rene!!! That tree is freakin' awesome!!!!
Love love love it!!! * tries to sneak away with Rene's tree *

Thanks Flips! My son says it's my "white trash tree" and Gary says it "looks like Barbie threw up" in my office. :rofl::rofl::rofl:

Congrats!!!!

[idtwinmom]

no, It's in the photoshop user magazine... do you get it

:( No, I was buying it occasionally, but can't afford to any more.

[Rosie G]

Just stopped by to :wave:. Wanted to see if there were any good fights today.

Rene: Thanks for pulling for the Tide. I definitely plan on watching the Alamo Bowl and pulling for your Red Raiders. OK, Chris, I'll support the Utes in their bowl too.

Cold here in the south: 41°F and rainy. DON'T LAUGH, all you snow-bunnies.

[GrandmaCrys]

It's miserable here; sleet, cold, supposed to turn to snow overnight. Thursday's high - 15°F YUK and YUKYUK!

[idtwinmom]

You might have to send out a rescue party for this Chris. We are getting DUMPED on! Woke up to about 6 inches of new snow and been snowing like crazy ever since.. Had to take dh to work cuz the truck is getting a make over to get rid of the shot gun dents. Took me about an hour and a half to drop him and ds off. Probably a total round trip of 3 to 5 miles! Yes it is ugly out there! I would like to do nothing more today than stay home and drink cocoa but have to volunteer at the school, pick up 2 sets of kids, go to work for an hour, haul kids for swimming, AND go to a get together for the Primary leaders for church. Hmmmmm do we much staying warm and inside time w/ all of that? Oh yeah then I have to go pick up my honey bunny from work too!
I thought only my DH used that! He calls me that all the time! :lol:

We did go see Blind Side last night. Has anybody else seen it? What did you think? I really, really liked it! Sandra Bullock did an outstanding job in it, I thought!

I haven't seen it, but sure wish I could! They say this is her best performance ever, and the subject is one that I can get into (even though there is a bunch of stuff about football!)

I tried catching up earlier and got completely kicked off the site. I couldn't go anywhere, just kept getting server errors. Don't know if it was DSP or my connection to the lower 48 (you guys in those states that are all side by side :) ).

[idtwinmom]

Rene - I totally love that tree! I keep seeing the little lavender one at Walmart and I want it sooooooo bad! I know DD would absolutely love it, the boys are not so old as to be "partial" or at least I don't think they would, but I'm not too sure what DH would do. And of course, it would mean investing in pink and purple ornaments which I really can't afford right now. :( But I love yours, and that tree skirt is super pretty too!

[idtwinmom]

Oops! forgot to add that I love you new flair to Rene! Hmmmm..... maybe time to adjust mine too!

[Christine]

Wow, poor you! I like snow as long as I don't have to drive in it. It was icy outside this morning, but melted pretty quickly. Now it's 53 degrees and the wind and dirt are blowing 43 miles per hour. Gary had to go to a conference today in Dallas, so I'm a widow for the next couple of nights. His plane was delayed for an hour due to wind. But now he's there safe.

I haven't seen Blind Side, but I want to. Did it make you cry?


[/COLOR]

Seriously? You do realize who you are talking to, right?! :) Of course it made me cry. Although I have to say it was different than like say "Bucket List" Which had me SOBBING!!! This just was one of those movies that has teary moments, then funny moments then more tears etc. Actually quite a lot like real life. And when it was all said and done you just felt happy! :yes:

Just stopped by to :wave:. Wanted to see if there were any good fights today.

Rene: Thanks for pulling for the Tide. I definitely plan on watching the Alamo Bowl and pulling for your Red Raiders. OK, Chris, I'll support the Utes in their bowl too.

Cold here in the south: 41°F and rainy. DON'T LAUGH, all you snow-bunnies.

Sounds like a heat wave to me Rosie. We will have to cheer for Alabama around here, and hope they win BIG, cuz we definitely do NOT think the best 2 teams are playing. Should have been TCU and Alabama in our opinion. Texas totally got lucky, barely squeaking by OK and NE

[stitchmich]

Hey all you snow bunnies! I do love snow, but I am not it the mood for it right now, so please don't send it to NC! And ya'll be careful out there!

My DD had her first fender bender this morning. She "rolled" into the back of a truck. No damage to him, dented bumper on our car. Thankfully no injuries and no accident report so no effect on the insurance. She was quite freaked out about it and I am okay with that. I hope she stays freaked out enough to be more careful.

Congrats to Rene on 10,000 posts and congrats to PinkFlips on getting a DET spot!! :tup:

I'd love to see Blind Side. I've heard so many people raving about it. I want to see Everybody's Fine too. I don't suppose either one will happen for me anytime soon though :P

[ReneT]

It's miserable here; sleet, cold, supposed to turn to snow overnight. Thursday's high - 15°F YUK and YUKYUK!

Brrrr!!!!! That's worse than SA!!!!

Rene - I totally love that tree! I keep seeing the little lavender one at Walmart and I want it sooooooo bad! I know DD would absolutely love it, the boys are not so old as to be "partial" or at least I don't think they would, but I'm not too sure what DH would do. And of course, it would mean investing in pink and purple ornaments which I really can't afford right now. :( But I love yours, and that tree skirt is super pretty too!

It seems like every year they have a new color that is popular and it's easy to get ornaments in that color, then the next year it's on to a new color and you can't find ornaments in the old color any more. I had to go to several places last year to get enough hot pink ornaments for the tree. It has a few purple, but mostly pinks - satiny pink, hot pink, glittery pink, a pink pig, a pink blowfish, a pink glittery DIVA word, pink snowflakes.

Oops! forgot to add that I love you new flair to Rene! Hmmmm..... maybe time to adjust mine too!

Thanks!

Seriously? You do realize who you are talking to, right?! :) Of course it made me cry. Although I have to say it was different than like say "Bucket List" Which had me SOBBING!!! This just was one of those movies that has teary moments, then funny moments then more tears etc. Actually quite a lot like real life. And when it was all said and done you just felt happy! :yes:

I've heard too that it's her best performance ever.

Sounds like a heat wave to me Rosie. We will have to cheer for Alabama around here, and hope they win BIG, cuz we definitely do NOT think the best 2 teams are playing. Should have been TCU and Alabama in our opinion. Texas totally got lucky, barely squeaking by OK and NE

That's right sister! Boo orange, yay all the RED TEAMS!

Hey all you snow bunnies! I do love snow, but I am not it the mood for it right now, so please don't send it to NC! And ya'll be careful out there!

My DD had her first fender bender this morning. She "rolled" into the back of a truck. No damage to him, dented bumper on our car. Thankfully no injuries and no accident report so no effect on the insurance. She was quite freaked out about it and I am okay with that. I hope she stays freaked out enough to be more careful.

Congrats to Rene on 10,000 posts and congrats to PinkFlips on getting a DET spot!! :tup:

I'd love to see Blind Side. I've heard so many people raving about it. I want to see Everybody's Fine too. I don't suppose either one will happen for me anytime soon though :P

Oh no! I'm glad she's OK though and no insurance issues.

[suvgal]

Here is a pic of the pink tree. It's not a very good photo. I just took it in a hurry just now, but at least you can see the color of it. :D I just really don't understand what Drew and Gary's aversion to it is! :lol: I think it's about the most awesome thing I've ever seen!
http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=2278&d=12602852712278

Just Awesome!!!!!!

[>>aruaL<<]

DD had her soccer game.... we lost by 1. DD scored a goal..it was beautifulll!!!

It was absolutely FREEEEEEZING out there and very windy! Im glad to be home ... where there is a heater keeping me WARM!!! That was just miserable!!

We had a player on the other team, get very injured, if you can spare a good thought for her..... She fell backwards on the field, hitting her head on the ground. She got up a few mins later, walked off the field and then 25 minutes later while sitting on the bench next to her teammate she just passed out, and they couldn't bring her back to consciousness. The paramedics took her away. I went through this with my daughter back in January when she was injured on the field, ending up in ICU. It's very scary getting that call and not being able to do anything to help. So many good thoughts for her!

[carolyn d]

All the yukky weather you guys are having/had is due here after midnight.... grrrrrrrrrrrr... and should be sleet/ice by the morning commute. OH GREAT !

I don't know if any of you watch the Biggest Loser...but man, the winner tonight lost a total of 239 lbs.. which is 2 of me plus some ! I have to give a tremendous amount of credit for the courage these people show in literally "baring" all their sins in such a public forum. Of couse part of our ritual is eating pizza whle watching, so that just doesn't seem right.. but one of the gals is pregnant and we indulge her cravings.

[carolyn d]

DD had her soccer game.... we lost by 1. DD scored a goal..it was beautifulll!!!

It was absolutely FREEEEEEZING out there and very windy! Im glad to be home ... where there is a heater keeping me WARM!!! That was just miserable!!

We had a player on the other team, get very injured, if you can spare a good thought for her..... She fell backwards on the field, hitting her head on the ground. She got up a few mins later, walked off the field and then 25 minutes later while sitting on the bench next to her teammate she just passed out, and they couldn't bring her back to consciousness. The paramedics took her away. I went through this with my daughter back in January when she was injured on the field, ending up in ICU. It's very scary getting that call and not being able to do anything to help. So many good thoughts for her!Good wishes coming her way... that is so scary!! I'm kinda surprised the medical team did not do anything sooner if indeed her head bounced off the ground. Since the incident with that actress who died from a similar head injury, most are not taking any chances with seemingly "innocent" head bumps.

[carolyn d]

Here is a pic of the pink tree. It's not a very good photo. I just took it in a hurry just now, but at least you can see the color of it. :D I just really don't understand what Drew and Gary's aversion to it is! :lol: I think it's about the most awesome thing I've ever seen!
http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=2278&d=12602852712278I have never before seen a pink tree... and this shouldn't be unexpected as i hate to shop....but wow...it hink the male in my house would have issues with that as well....

[ReneT]

I have never before seen a pink tree... and this shouldn't be unexpected as i hate to shop....but wow...it hink the male in my house would have issues with that as well....

It makes me happy while I'm scrapping and chatting. :)

[ReneT]

DD had her soccer game.... we lost by 1. DD scored a goal..it was beautifulll!!!

It was absolutely FREEEEEEZING out there and very windy! Im glad to be home ... where there is a heater keeping me WARM!!! That was just miserable!!

We had a player on the other team, get very injured, if you can spare a good thought for her..... She fell backwards on the field, hitting her head on the ground. She got up a few mins later, walked off the field and then 25 minutes later while sitting on the bench next to her teammate she just passed out, and they couldn't bring her back to consciousness. The paramedics took her away. I went through this with my daughter back in January when she was injured on the field, ending up in ICU. It's very scary getting that call and not being able to do anything to help. So many good thoughts for her!

Sending prayers her way. :pray:

[>>aruaL<<]

I know that after my daughters serious head injury that our school will no longer be taking those types of injuries lightly. You just can't be too safe... better safe than sorry.

[stitchmich]

DD had her soccer game.... we lost by 1. DD scored a goal..it was beautifulll!!!

It was absolutely FREEEEEEZING out there and very windy! Im glad to be home ... where there is a heater keeping me WARM!!! That was just miserable!!

We had a player on the other team, get very injured, if you can spare a good thought for her..... She fell backwards on the field, hitting her head on the ground. She got up a few mins later, walked off the field and then 25 minutes later while sitting on the bench next to her teammate she just passed out, and they couldn't bring her back to consciousness. The paramedics took her away. I went through this with my daughter back in January when she was injured on the field, ending up in ICU. It's very scary getting that call and not being able to do anything to help. So many good thoughts for her!

Good thoughts and prayers to her. THat is very scary indeed. I'm glad you are warm now. Congrats to your DD on her goal.

[carolyn d]

It makes me happy while I'm scrapping and chatting. :)Every girl deserves a "girl tree"... mine looks sufficiently like gold painted macaroni from school years christmas gifts to make fort knox tremble...LOL! Mine is like a "growing up" tree...pictures of the kids growing up... tons of bows from when I didn't have enough money to buy ornaments after getting the kids their Santa gifts... so it's pretty much historical. Not exactly "pretty" in any sense of the word, but it's our classic.

[idtwinmom]

Laura - how scary! Prayers headed her way!

Carolyn - that would describe our tree except we don't have enough "growing up" ornaments yet. We fill in with the 60s era antiques from DH an my past! I love the idea of a perfectly matching tree, but will most likely never get there as I am just too in love with all the ornaments showing the kids as they grow! Have it on the calendar to make the new ones for this year too!

[Christine]

Mine is definitely a potpourri tree. We get new ornaments ever year for each person in the family. So it is a hodge podge. And they each have their own ornament boxes so when they move out they can take their ornaments w/ them. DH and I get ones too, so we will still have our versions when they take theirs and leave.

[carolyn d]

Laura - how scary! Prayers headed her way!

Carolyn - that would describe our tree except we don't have enough "growing up" ornaments yet. We fill in with the 60s era antiques from DH an my past! I love the idea of a perfectly matching tree, but will most likely never get there as I am just too in love with all the ornaments showing the kids as they grow! Have it on the calendar to make the new ones for this year too!The hodgepodge grows quickly too! One year, McDonald's was giving out "ornaments" with their kids meals. The ornanaments were characters from The Little Mermaid. We got Flounder. Dear Flounder is front and center every year. When the kids were high school age, I did a "thematic" tree- matching ornaments, beautiful ribbons, white lights etc... When I came home from work, the entire landscape of the tree had reverted- they were aghast.. "That's not OUR tree! What on EARTH was Mom thinking? We'll fix it". I now no longer try to fight the forces of nature. And when I mentioned historical, there are ornaments on there belonging to MY grandmother which she brought here from England. There are some from my mother as well.. Ornaments some of my patients have made/given me over the years. It truly is a stroll down memory lane.

[>>aruaL<<]

Good morning!!

Well, it's very early here (about 4am) and it's reallly cold. My son woke up at some point and apparently felt TOO warm, so he turned the heat to the house OFF! Ohhhh that kid... now the house is at 52 degrees! Brrrrrr!!!!

So here I am, trying to warm up.... and I think an email waiting for me from a family member may have done just that.... by boiling my blood pressure! So tell me what your thoughts on this email are, because maybe it's just ME having issues with this for other underlying issues and maybe I'm not being reasonable here. So.....

The email comes from a sister in law, addressed to me and my other siblings (oh and to our parents too!! my dad is going to flip out!). It's regarding Christmas.... gifts for their (she's married to my brother) children. We give gifts to their children every year, just as they do for mine too. Normally we all just call eachother or email (individually) and get updated clothing sizes, wants/needs, etc.... basically a wish/idea list from the parents.... and we just all go from there. WELL, this year she (apparently my brother too) has decided to send one email addressed to all of us that lists our name and next to it is listed the gift we WILL purchase for their kids!!! Since when do we TELL people what they WILL buy for our kids???!!!! What on earth happend to the family tradition of calling eachother and asking "what are the kids asking for this year? what are their clothing sizes?" etc etc........ The note on the email says "this is what I have decided you will get for our children as this will make life easier for me, and they will get the things they want and need". I AM SOOO MAD!! I AM ABSOLUTELY INSULTED!!! I have ALWAYS... for the past 9 years (thats how old they are) got them ONLY things they wanted... I have never given them a box of socks or something they didn't want or need. I have always gotten them gifts from their list, mostly because it was easier for me because I don't know the kids very well because... well, that's another story. Sooooo I get the list from mom/dad and I go shopping off that list. I let my children look at the list and they pick what we will get the kids, and then I always add in a gift card as well. Always.... I've never done it differently! So why this year I am being TOLD what I will buy??

Is it just me... am I being petty?? I'm really furious and I'm really planning on buying them something TOTALLY different! My mom will be mad for "stirring the pot", but seriously to see a list with all of our names with the exact specific gift for each of their kids that we are suppose to purchase is really infuriating to me!!!

[debilou]

Good morning!!

Well, it's very early here (about 4am) and it's reallly cold. My son woke up at some point and apparently felt TOO warm, so he turned the heat to the house OFF! Ohhhh that kid... now the house is at 52 degrees! Brrrrrr!!!!

So here I am, trying to warm up.... and I think an email waiting for me from a family member may have done just that.... by boiling my blood pressure! So tell me what your thoughts on this email are, because maybe it's just ME having issues with this for other underlying issues and maybe I'm not being reasonable here. So.....

The email comes from a sister in law, addressed to me and my other siblings (oh and to our parents too!! my dad is going to flip out!). It's regarding Christmas.... gifts for their (she's married to my brother) children. We give gifts to their children every year, just as they do for mine too. Normally we all just call eachother or email (individually) and get updated clothing sizes, wants/needs, etc.... basically a wish/idea list from the parents.... and we just all go from there. WELL, this year she (apparently my brother too) has decided to send one email addressed to all of us that lists our name and next to it is listed the gift we WILL purchase for their kids!!! Since when do we TELL people what they WILL buy for our kids???!!!! What on earth happend to the family tradition of calling eachother and asking "what are the kids asking for this year? what are their clothing sizes?" etc etc........ The note on the email says "this is what I have decided you will get for our children as this will make life easier for me, and they will get the things they want and need". I AM SOOO MAD!! I AM ABSOLUTELY INSULTED!!! I have ALWAYS... for the past 9 years (thats how old they are) got them ONLY things they wanted... I have never given them a box of socks or something they didn't want or need. I have always gotten them gifts from their list, mostly because it was easier for me because I don't know the kids very well because... well, that's another story. Sooooo I get the list from mom/dad and I go shopping off that list. I let my children look at the list and they pick what we will get the kids, and then I always add in a gift card as well. Always.... I've never done it differently! So why this year I am being TOLD what I will buy??

Is it just me... am I being petty?? I'm really furious and I'm really planning on buying them something TOTALLY different! My mom will be mad for "stirring the pot", but seriously to see a list with all of our names with the exact specific gift for each of their kids that we are suppose to purchase is really infuriating to me!!!

Laura, I don't BLAME you for being mad!

YOUR SIL has totally LOST the meaning of Christmas!

and, that's about giving. NOT about GETTING!

I don't pretend to know what you should do for family harmony... but, that's just horrible...

Christmas giving has got so out of hand. I just so remember GETTING the most priceless gifts from my grandmother - that she hand made... those were the best.

not the games or toys... but, the ones she made because she didn't have the money (I didn't know that then) but she would like a dress for me, and matching dresses for my barbie doll. How cool is that! So, barbie and I would match. Or as I got older she would take me shopping and ask which dresses I liked - she would go home, cut the pattern out of newspaper - she never used patterns... go to the fabric store - buy stuff off the bargain table, - and, the dresses she made me, were soooo way better then the dresses I pointed out to her in the store. She was just a magician with a sewing machine. those gifts were priceless. Because SHE made them. And, when I opened them, and, was so excited, SHE WAS SO EXCITED to see my eyes... That was the cool part! So, we both had a great Christmas! And, I would run in the other room to change into the dress!!!

That's a Great Christmas Gift!!!!!

Not one that you are told to buy!

[>>aruaL<<]

I'm soooooooo mad debi! My parents are going to be EXTREMELY ANGRY when they read their email telling them what they will be buying their grandchildren!!

I will buy the kids gifts, because thats what I want to do.... but I will be buying them something totally and completely different than what my "assigned gift" is suppose to be! Totally outta spite, but who cares! LOL!

[suvgal]

Your SIL has lost the meaning of Christmas...for giving. As I read your post to DH it brought back memories of what we have gone thru over the years with his DB and SIL and my DB and SIL. It got to the point that we stopped giving as they ignored our kids. My SIL would wait till her kids(4) received our gifts and then would mail our kids(2) a gift. I finally sent checks to them and she would mail the exact same amount to mine after Christmas. They live in the same town as us.We have very little contact with either brother ....it's sad but not much we can do about it and have learned to live with it.

[debilou]

i'm soooooooo mad debi! My parents are going to be extremely angry when they read their email telling them what they will be buying their grandchildren!!

I will buy the kids gifts, because thats what i want to do.... But i will be buying them something totally and completely different than what my "assigned gift" is suppose to be! Totally outta spite, but who cares! Lol!

yay you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[debilou]

Oh, but Laura, wrap them pretty, ok!!

[stitchmich]

Laura! That is unbelievable!! I can't believe she would do that. If it were me there would be NO WAY I would buy what was on the list for me. We do a similar thing with emails sharing ideas and sizes, but never dictating the gift.

Debi, I love the story about the dresses. THat is so special. And I completely agree that it's about the giving not the gift. I read an article in a magazine about a couple that re-gifted to themselves for Christmas. Rather than spending lots of money, they found things around the house that had special meaning or had been loved and forgotten and put them together in a gift. I showed the article to my mom and told her that she could find so many things in her attic that I would love to have as a gift.

I STILL haven't gotten my book for my parents printed yet. I finally got all the pages finished. I uploaded to Winkflash only to find that their 8x8 book is not 8x8 at all, but rather a rectangle. So I uploaded to Shutterfly. THey had a sale going but it's gone now. And then I read some bad reviews about them. I read good things about My Pic Tales and I am thinking about printing it there. Anybody have a recommendation on where to get photobooks printed?

[Christine]

I can only say UNBELIEVABLE!!!!

[Rosie G]

:wave: Just stopped by to say hello. I have been missing for a day or so. I am trying to get my tree done. Also been out couponing trying to find some stuff for the foster child outreach program here. Off to clean house (dirty words).

[Christine]

I must finish up my decorating today too! The boxes being out are driving me crazy!

[>>aruaL<<]

I wanted to send a nastygram to her but I know its not a smart idea probably lol

[>>aruaL<<]

Same here Christine... the boxes all over are making me nutty.. I MUST get that done today! I did work on the tree some last night

[>>aruaL<<]

Laura! That is unbelievable!! I can't believe she would do that. If it were me there would be NO WAY I would buy what was on the list for me. We do a similar thing with emails sharing ideas and sizes, but never dictating the gift.

Debi, I love the story about the dresses. THat is so special. And I completely agree that it's about the giving not the gift. I read an article in a magazine about a couple that re-gifted to themselves for Christmas. Rather than spending lots of money, they found things around the house that had special meaning or had been loved and forgotten and put them together in a gift. I showed the article to my mom and told her that she could find so many things in her attic that I would love to have as a gift.

I STILL haven't gotten my book for my parents printed yet. I finally got all the pages finished. I uploaded to Winkflash only to find that their 8x8 book is not 8x8 at all, but rather a rectangle. So I uploaded to Shutterfly. THey had a sale going but it's gone now. And then I read some bad reviews about them. I read good things about My Pic Tales and I am thinking about printing it there. Anybody have a recommendation on where to get photobooks printed?


what about mpix... I heard they do great work!

[suvgal]

:applause::applause::applause::applause::applause:

CONGRATULATIONS RENE ....... LOD !!!!!!!!!![/size]

[stitchmich]

I wanted to send a nastygram to her but I know its not a smart idea probably lol

Yeah, I think the best message you could send her would be to not reply to the email and give her kids something that's not on the list. Or maybe that's just me being mean. :lol:

I'll check out mpix. Thanks :D

[sands_healy]

Hi Gundi Girls, I'm still busy editing wedding shots, some with wonderful Carolyn's help, thanks so much Carolyn. Sorry I have not been around. Here are a few. I'm not putting any of the bride yet until she's seen them.

http://i488.photobucket.com/albums/rr249/sandshealy/IMG_8053.jpg

http://i488.photobucket.com/albums/rr249/sandshealy/IMG_8059.jpg

http://i488.photobucket.com/albums/rr249/sandshealy/IMG_8074copy.jpg

http://i488.photobucket.com/albums/rr249/sandshealy/IMG_8077copy.jpg

http://i488.photobucket.com/albums/rr249/sandshealy/IMG_8229copy.jpg

[sands_healy]

Laura, had to go back and read your post. Wow... what a bloody cheek. I don't blame you for being peeved.

[sands_healy]

Congrats Rene!!! Awesome job on LOTD!!!

[>>aruaL<<]

sands your photos are GORGEOUS!!!!!!

Rene, Congrats on LOTD!!

[Shana34]

Wow Laura, that is rude. Totally rude. My SIL does the list too and if we can't do what's on the list, we do what we can. Does she even realize that just MAYBE someone can't afford/find what she's dictated them to buy? Ridiculous. It's not just you...I would be very upset too. I say do it as far as getting something that's not on the list. It seems she's totally lost the whole meaning of gift giving and receiving. Makes me wonder what type of message she's sending to the kids.

Sands, those photos are AMAZING. Simply stunning. Would you like to consider coming to the states to do my sister's wedding? LOL But seriously, if you were around here I would totally tell my sister she had to have you!

Rene, CONGRATS ON LOTD! WOOOHOOO Girl!

[ReneT]

Good morning!!

Well, it's very early here (about 4am) and it's reallly cold. My son woke up at some point and apparently felt TOO warm, so he turned the heat to the house OFF! Ohhhh that kid... now the house is at 52 degrees! Brrrrrr!!!!

So here I am, trying to warm up.... and I think an email waiting for me from a family member may have done just that.... by boiling my blood pressure! So tell me what your thoughts on this email are, because maybe it's just ME having issues with this for other underlying issues and maybe I'm not being reasonable here. So.....

The email comes from a sister in law, addressed to me and my other siblings (oh and to our parents too!! my dad is going to flip out!). It's regarding Christmas.... gifts for their (she's married to my brother) children. We give gifts to their children every year, just as they do for mine too. Normally we all just call eachother or email (individually) and get updated clothing sizes, wants/needs, etc.... basically a wish/idea list from the parents.... and we just all go from there. WELL, this year she (apparently my brother too) has decided to send one email addressed to all of us that lists our name and next to it is listed the gift we WILL purchase for their kids!!! Since when do we TELL people what they WILL buy for our kids???!!!! What on earth happend to the family tradition of calling eachother and asking "what are the kids asking for this year? what are their clothing sizes?" etc etc........ The note on the email says "this is what I have decided you will get for our children as this will make life easier for me, and they will get the things they want and need". I AM SOOO MAD!! I AM ABSOLUTELY INSULTED!!! I have ALWAYS... for the past 9 years (thats how old they are) got them ONLY things they wanted... I have never given them a box of socks or something they didn't want or need. I have always gotten them gifts from their list, mostly because it was easier for me because I don't know the kids very well because... well, that's another story. Sooooo I get the list from mom/dad and I go shopping off that list. I let my children look at the list and they pick what we will get the kids, and then I always add in a gift card as well. Always.... I've never done it differently! So why this year I am being TOLD what I will buy??

Is it just me... am I being petty?? I'm really furious and I'm really planning on buying them something TOTALLY different! My mom will be mad for "stirring the pot", but seriously to see a list with all of our names with the exact specific gift for each of their kids that we are suppose to purchase is really infuriating to me!!!

I'm soooooooo mad debi! My parents are going to be EXTREMELY ANGRY when they read their email telling them what they will be buying their grandchildren!!

I will buy the kids gifts, because thats what I want to do.... but I will be buying them something totally and completely different than what my "assigned gift" is suppose to be! Totally outta spite, but who cares! LOL!

Wow Laura! Wow! That's all I know to say! That is unreal! I have never heard such a thing! It's just rude and presumptuous! I feel bad for your parents too, because in a nutshell what's she's saying is "we may not like what you buy or have bought in the past, so we're going to tell you exactly what to buy this year".

Reading all this brought back memories of my own family Christmas stuff. We had these traditions every Christmas that my own mom had started and we all (or so I thought at the time) loved those traditions. One year when I was a young adult, my oldest sister wrote us all a letter saying she would no longer be participating in those traditions with my parents and us. She would be staying home with her own family (2 kids and DH) on Christmas and not coming to visit my parents even though she lived in the same town. She wouldn't be buying presents or sending cards any more, which was fine, but it hurt that she chose to no longer be a part of the traditions I had known since I was a child. It really hurt my parents too. So after that, my other sister and birth mother followed her lead, and suddenly no one was around at my parent's house for Christmas any more. In all the years that followed, if I could not make the trip to my parent's house for Christmas, they spent it alone, so I tried to always be there. I sometimes wonder how they all turned out to be so selfish. That was not how we were raised. OK, well enough about that, it's making me sad. :(

I STILL haven't gotten my book for my parents printed yet. I finally got all the pages finished. I uploaded to Winkflash only to find that their 8x8 book is not 8x8 at all, but rather a rectangle. So I uploaded to Shutterfly. THey had a sale going but it's gone now. And then I read some bad reviews about them. I read good things about My Pic Tales and I am thinking about printing it there. Anybody have a recommendation on where to get photobooks printed?

I have now done 3 books for the kids from Shutterfly. I used their backgrounds instead of uploading scrap pages, and I've already gotten 2 of them in the mail. They were great. No problems with them. The only other place I've used is Walmart.

:applause::applause::applause::applause::applause:

CONGRATULATIONS RENE ....... LOD !!!!!!!!!![/size]

Congrats Rene!!! Awesome job on LOTD!!!

sands your photos are GORGEOUS!!!!!!

Rene, Congrats on LOTD!!

Sands, those photos are AMAZING. Simply stunning. Would you like to consider coming to the states to do my sister's wedding? LOL But seriously, if you were around here I would totally tell my sister she had to have you!

Rene, CONGRATS ON LOTD! WOOOHOOO Girl!

Thanks guys!!!!!!

[ReneT]

Sands, your photos are awesome!!! I am once again in TOTAL AWE of your talent!!!

[ReneT]

I finished my Christmas shopping yesterday and am planning on wrapping some gifts today. Tonight was are going to see the Transiberian Orchestra. I'm so excited about that!

[Shana34]

I finished my Christmas shopping yesterday and am planning on wrapping some gifts today. Tonight was are going to see the Transiberian Orchestra. I'm so excited about that!

I'm gonna sneak in with you just to hear Carol of the Bells! LOL

[ReneT]

I'm gonna sneak in with you just to hear Carol of the Bells! LOL

Yay! We'll have fun! Can you sneak in my camera and tripod too, so I can take some photos?;)

[Shana34]

Yay! We'll have fun! Can you sneak in my camera and tripod too, so I can take some photos?;)

I actually have a trick for that. (many concerts that they prohibited cameras but the artist told us we could anyway) I have a small digital that I slip into my bra. Not that I've ever done that though...um...yeah *cough* I really am a good girl, I swear!

[Christine]

Gorgeous photos Sands!

Wahoooo to Rene!

[ReneT]

Gorgeous photos Sands!

Wahoooo to Rene!

Thanks Chris!!! (See I always use lots of !!!! in my chatting, not just when I win the lottery! :rofl:)

[ReneT]

Camera question - what would be a good external flash for my camera? Canon Rebel XSI

[idtwinmom]

The hodgepodge grows quickly too! One year, McDonald's was giving out "ornaments" with their kids meals. The ornanaments were characters from The Little Mermaid. We got Flounder. Dear Flounder is front and center every year. When the kids were high school age, I did a "thematic" tree- matching ornaments, beautiful ribbons, white lights etc... When I came home from work, the entire landscape of the tree had reverted- they were aghast.. "That's not OUR tree! What on EARTH was Mom thinking? We'll fix it". I now no longer try to fight the forces of nature. And when I mentioned historical, there are ornaments on there belonging to MY grandmother which she brought here from England. There are some from my mother as well.. Ornaments some of my patients have made/given me over the years. It truly is a stroll down memory lane.

Oh, how funny that they revolted! I think that would have been me as I love the "stroll", but most of my ornaments have gotten broken over the years so most of the tree is now stuff DHs mother gave us. They just don't seem to have the same connection for him as mine did for me. So I'm loving the "new" ornaments of and from the kids each year. I have a whole day of "making ornaments" planned for next week. Oh, and we will probably never have a "flounder" as my kids won't eat McDonalds! :lol:

[idtwinmom]

Laura - I would be mad too! Can you get an idea of what the kids want from the list she sent? I'm afraid we are really bad about sending gifts for DHs family (there are just too many of them). But we also never, and I mean never, have asked for them to send anything either. There is one Aunt that has adult children that loves to buy for ours and all she asks for is ideas because she loves to "shop" for them, not just gift cards and things. Well, I send very general things like the boys love anything to build and DD is totally into fairies and dress up, things like that! Only when they ask for specifics do we tell them what we think they really want/need. Oh, and I totally told them, no clothes! I want the kids to get the fun stuff under the tree! Any way, I would not have appreciated being told "what to buy!"

Rene - congrats! Spotlight and LOTD! You are on a roll!

Sands - those shots are just too beautiful! And you were so worried! I love the rings on the flower, what a cool idea!

[carolyn d]

Hi Gundi Girls, I'm still busy editing wedding shots, some with wonderful Carolyn's help, thanks so much Carolyn. Sorry I have not been around. Here are a few. I'm not putting any of the bride yet until she's seen them.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh... you are more than welcome. Sent the last few back already. Just a couple taps of the keys... there was very little to correct as your work is great. Just glad i was able to help lessen the stress of such a huge undertaking in some small way.

[carolyn d]

Oh, how funny that they revolted! I think that would have been me as I love the "stroll", but most of my ornaments have gotten broken over the years so most of the tree is now stuff DHs mother gave us. They just don't seem to have the same connection for him as mine did for me. So I'm loving the "new" ornaments of and from the kids each year. I have a whole day of "making ornaments" planned for next week. Oh, and we will probably never have a "flounder" as my kids won't eat McDonalds! :lol:Even if they did, they would not get a "Flounder"... that ornament must be at least 10 yrs old ! McDonalds was considered a great treat for good behaviour, good grades,, good something.... I spent my money on "real" food as opposed to fast food.

[suvgal]

Sands-those pictures are gorgeous. You do a spectacular job with whatever you are shooting.

[ReneT]

Rene - congrats! Spotlight and LOTD! You are on a roll!


Thanks Lisa!

[sands_healy]

:hug: :hug: You are all so good for my ego :D.... thanks everyone....

[stitchmich]

Beautiful shots, Sands!!! Is the bottom one where the wedding took place or the reception? or both? It's beautiful.

Rene, Congrats on LOTD! How was the concert? (was that last night?)

Shana, I've been meaning to tell you... I love your avatar. You are such a clever girl!

[sands_healy]

Beautiful shots, Sands!!! Is the bottom one where the wedding took place or the reception? or both? It's beautiful.


The wedding and the reception were at the same place. The "Altar" was at the poolside. It was an arch of Palm leaves on the poolside. I nearly fell in the pool a couple of times, moving around to take various shots. Here it is :

http://i488.photobucket.com/albums/rr249/sandshealy/IMG_8143_1copy.jpg

[ReneT]

beautiful shots, sands!!! Is the bottom one where the wedding took place or the reception? Or both? It's beautiful.

Rene, congrats on lotd! How was the concert? (was that last night?)

shana, i've been meaning to tell you... I love your avatar. You are such a clever girl!

Thanks Michelle! The concert was AMAZING! Awesome music, cool laser light show, pyrotechnics, great singers. I took some photos with the iPhone. They aren't great but at least I got a few. Here's 2:

http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=2286&d=1260544811
http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=2287&d=1260544820

2286
2287

[ReneT]

The wedding and the reception were at the same place. The "Altar" was at the poolside. It was an arch of Palm leaves on the poolside. I nearly fell in the pool a couple of times, moving around to take various shots. Here it is :

http://i488.photobucket.com/albums/rr249/sandshealy/IMG_8143_1copy.jpg

Wow, I bet that was a gorgeous wedding! If you had fallen in the pool, that would have given them something to tell their grandkids about their wedding day! :lol: