| |
AntJackie
BucketHead
PeaNut 209,453
June 2005
Posts: 761
Layouts: 0
Loc: Illinois
 |  Posted: 8/13/2007 10:10:16 PM
I was just at a crop on Friday night. I had brought a friend with me and was sitting across from a woman and her teenage daughter. I never met this person before and since our group is very close and friendly, I figured she would fit right in with us. Anytime someone had something to say this woman would just jump in and take over the conversation. After awhile I just started talking with my friend Kim, but she would even butt into that conversation. | |
|
jumpgate
PeaAddict
PeaNut 80,851
April 2003
Posts: 1,225
Layouts: 209
Loc: Colorado
 | Posted: 8/13/2007 10:24:09 PM
Without being one of those all b!tchy about my DH, who is generally a pretty great guy, women...
Not a problem with a crop but still nightmarish for ME.
A while back I was at an evening crop and he called me about halfway through it, say 9 PM -- after my son's bedtime but that usually slides when Mommy isn't home anyway, and said "When are you coming home?"
I said I dunno, the crop is until midnight.
All pissed off, he says "We are out of diapers AND wipes, how does that happen?"
Ummmmmm when I left there were like 5 pullups (for our mostly potty trained son that's enough for 3 days!) and plenty of wipes, I'm sure.
"Well we're out of diapers and the wipes box is empty and there aren't any extras under the sink..." and blah blah blah."
Finally, all pissed off for the guilt trip and whatnot. I packed up and went home.
Where I found an unopened package of pullups in the upstairs bathroom and wipes refills under TWO different cabinets, after going to Walgreens to buy more of both on my way home.
I Was SO MAD. I don't think DH has called me during a crop since, though.
NOTE: After brief consideration I realized that DH must have put DS into a pullup immediately after I left rather than waiting until bedtime LOL Lazy boy. |
|
|
bethany1023
StuckOnPeas
PeaNut 315,499
May 2007
Posts: 2,413
Layouts: 3
Loc: Midwest
 | Posted: 8/13/2007 10:30:03 PM
Now see, that's when I would have placed all the pullups and wipes in front of DH and announced I was going back to the crop! |
|
|
Romes Gal
BucketHead
PeaNut 245,519
January 2006
Posts: 538
Layouts: 0
Loc: Modesto, CA
| Posted: 8/14/2007 11:46:10 AM
btt |
|
|
WhimPea
BucketHead
PeaNut 37,822
May 2002
Posts: 979
Layouts: 26
Loc: Madison, WI
 | Posted: 8/14/2007 3:26:34 PM
OMG! I just spent the last hour reading this ENTIRE thread and LMAO! I have been to a lot of crops over the last couple of years and several of them have been truly memorable.
One of the first crops that we went to was a 12-hour crop in Milwaukee. It was held at a convention center near the airport that was more used to business people in suits than crazed scrappers. We had a great time and our group even booked hotel rooms at this place so that we wouldn't have to drive home so late a night. Everything was great except for two things: the food and the banging. The crop was held right when eyelets were first popular and the ONLY way to set them was with a hammer. Picture 250 women in on big room, all with hammers and eyelets. I am getting a headache just thinking about it. The worst was the food. The meals were included which I thought was a big plus, until they served it. Lunch was tuna pitas with sprouts and plain potato chips. That was the ONLY choice. Tuna is one of those things that you either like or hate...there is no middle ground. It would have been fine if I LIKED tuna or sprouts, but I detest them, so I pretty much skipped it and waited for dinner. But the joke was on me because the dinner was actually 3 pot stickers per person. No side dish, no drink, no sauce. They served us APPETIZERS for dinners and we couldn't go back for more. By the time the evening was over we ended up ordering pizza because we were SOOOOO hungry.
Another time, my mom and I paid to go away for a weekend retreat to a little town near the border between Wisconsin and Illinois. It was advertised as an all inclusive place and that you could "scrap in your jammies". But when we got there we found out that the place where we cropped and the place that we slept were in two different buildings. Who wants to go outside in their PJs to get to the crop space? All of the other women who were there for the weekend knew each other and they had a great time but we felt really left out. The "Bed and breakfast" (and i use that term loosely) where we were sleeping was poorly laid out so that the only way we could get to ANY of the bathrooms in the house was to go through one of the other bedrooms where people were sleeping. Would have been fine if we KNEW those people, but we didn't. Very strange, and we have never been back. We got lots done and made the best of it, but I have made a point of telling the whole story to the LSS owners who have had their flyers sitting on the counter.
Man, this turned into a novel! I have several other stories but I will save those for another time.....
Sara |
|
|
hnybee411
PeaAddict
PeaNut 35,587
April 2002
Posts: 1,148
Layouts: 36
Loc: Missouri
| Posted: 8/15/2007 2:05:01 AM
btt just in case anyone else wants to share!! |
-Kathy
Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup.
| |
|
|
mdblond
PeaNut
PeaNut 159,150
July 2004
Posts: 97
Layouts: 2
Loc: Wichita, Kansas
 | Posted: 8/16/2007 1:41:08 AM
Okay, I'll chime in after taking an hour and a half reading all these wonderfully entertaining stories!!! 
The very first crop I went to was on a friday night and was for the evening only and ending at midnight. I had been invited by a friend and told that it was her CMC's crop and that it was $3 with soda and snacks. There would even be supplies to buy too. Thought it would be great and dh did too since I'm a home body and he's always trying to get me to go out with friends.
So I arrive after a busy day at work and was the last to get there. It was in the CMC's husbands business' basement. Ummmm...... No... It wasn't a finished basement either!!! LOL The lighting was bare bulbs hanging from cords and there were spiders and cobwebs everywhere. Plus the smell of musty basement was prevelent. My friend was actually laughing with a couple of the other ladies she knew there about her St@rbucks cup that was still there from last months crop. EEeewwwwww!!! I felt the need to shower when I got home and hoped I hadn't packed any eight legged friends home with me!!! Also I wasn't really in the "know" about CM stuff and the style and am really kind of an artsy or whatever scrapper. The hostess stood over me several times just staring at my contraband. I thought she was admiring my stuff until my friend told me different. Needless to say I have not been back!!!
I've got more but will save for later. Keep the stories coming gals, these rock!!! |
|
|
kdteacher
BucketHead
PeaNut 318,337
May 2007
Posts: 654
Layouts: 4
Loc: Southern California
| Posted: 8/16/2007 2:05:09 PM
btt |
|
|
gennyb
PeaNut
PeaNut 136,889
March 2004
Posts: 169
Layouts: 0
 | Posted: 8/16/2007 3:25:20 PM
The first time I ever went to a weekend crop with a few friends, I was so excited. When we got there it was in the woods in a huge cabin(not that big of a deal). But it did look remarkably like a scene from Friday the Thirteenth. When we were led up a winding stair case to a wood plank that led us to our "room". We started to worry. There were three of us, and our sleeping area, which was seperated by the others with a curtain, was exactly the width of of 3 single blow up mattresses. The opening to our "room" was the about 6ft tall and gradually slanted down to about 2 ft. It was smaller than my closet. We all just looked at each other and laughed. Oh, and I forgot to mention that I was 6 weeks pregnant and feeling pretty bad, which made the fact that the food was bad even harder. We drove 30 min into town to go to Sonic for almost every meal. But that's OK, bc after we saw the 1st mouse run across the fireplace mantel, we didn't really want to eat the food there anyway. We still laugh about it!! | |
|
writermom1
Thrift Whisperer
PeaNut 114,407
November 2003
Posts: 22,327
Layouts: 66
Loc: At the intersection of Hooterville and Stars Hollow
| Posted: 8/16/2007 8:44:18 PM
I know moms with kids can feel isolated, but if a crop, event or class is not for kids, then the mom can find one that is. It really bugs me when hostesses make exceptions for one person and don't even think that the rest of us might not want kids there.
I suspect it's less hostesses making exceptions because they don't think ..."
and more "they make exceptions because they don't have the backbone to stand up and tell a customer "um, no I'm sorry but you cannot bring your child here, sorry."
Of course, I also sat at a crop with a small child in attendance who (to be fair) was no bother at all. The father was in the military (called up unexpectedly) and no one wanted to be a nudge about saying this mom who had prepaid a chunk of money couldn't come. She was really good about it though and at the slightest hint of a peep she wisked the baby away from the crop space.
Oops! I shared a nice story ... 
These are great.
So far the real ire seems to be with crop organizers that over advertise and under-plan for food and space. |
|
|
China Doll
PeaFixture
PeaNut 243,267
January 2006
Posts: 3,037
Layouts: 44
Loc: Orange County
| Posted: 8/17/2007 1:22:12 AM
There was a kid at the crop I recently went to. Mom paid for her spot. She was cute though, she came rolling in with her own tote to scrap with. |
|
|
Romes Gal
BucketHead
PeaNut 245,519
January 2006
Posts: 538
Layouts: 0
Loc: Modesto, CA
| Posted: 8/17/2007 1:00:13 PM
need more
btt |
|
|
myboysnme
one of those "entitled" peas
PeaNut 69,081
February 2003
Posts: 6,737
Layouts: 1
| Posted: 8/17/2007 5:50:04 PM
Well these kids at crops is a whole different thread that we've been down many times before. I'm sure if I bring my kid they will be really cute too and have all the latest scrapping stuff to work on their pages. And I will think they are well behaved and that they have every right to be there. But you may have gotten a babysitter for your kids and finally get a day out and see my kid and think, "For crying out loud, can't I get a break?" And then when my kid starts looking at your stuff and talking to me in a sing songy voice that I think is cute but sounds a whole lot like whining, and maybe my kid trips over someone's bag and spills their soda can. Of course I am oblivious because I am busy scrapping away and my kid is busy picking out all the blue M&M's from all the candy dishes on everyone's table.
Better yet, you finally get a night out from your kids, AND you work at a day care. I wheel in a stroller and parks right next to you. The baby sits on my lap and waves toys around with little beads in them. Everyone coos and oohs at the baby. The baby drops the toys about every 32 seconds.
I nurse the baby but the baby doesn't want to nurse; on the breast, off the breast, on/off/on/off. I put baby in the stroller. Baby fusses. All the noise upsets baby; too much light and distraction. I walk around with the baby. Someone else takes the baby. I push baby in the stroller. Back to nursing. Baby falls asleep. Now everyone has to be quiet.
I starts scrapping. Someone bangs an eyelet. Baby startles and starts crying; start routine over.
Two scenarios, too many crops to name... it wasn't me though; I just took the blame so no one feels I'm talking about them |
My choice is to not take it personally - people have opinions. Particularly people here.-Peabay 12/29/11
I know this is assuming, but I'm really starting to think you are one of those "entitled" peas - Dalayney 4/2/12
profile pic courtesy of GreenEyedLady Designs at Scrap ARt Studio.
| |
|
|
Sharna_G
PeaFixture
PeaNut 314,157
May 2007
Posts: 3,968
Layouts: 8
Loc: Delaware
| Posted: 8/17/2007 6:00:34 PM
You know what? I'm starting to realize people JUST DON'T CARE about others' comfort! This thread has really opened my eyes to how oblivious people are about thier kids... The more I read, the worse it gets. 
Public Service Announcement: If the crop rules say "no kids", it doesn't mean "but, you can bring yours if they're really cute/quiet/shy/asleep/new..." |
~~Sharna
"You think they're onto us?"
"Shhh... Let me call my attorney"
| |
|
|
3bmom
QUEEN OF PURGE!!!
PeaNut 231,411
November 2005
Posts: 6,631
Layouts: 159
Loc: Jersey Shore !!!
| Posted: 8/17/2007 6:27:39 PM
I have a story....At my first Memories expo at the front of the room there were displays of new products out...at this time it was cuttlebug scissors etc....
well, they say if you would like to come look at the new products that will be available at the expo tomorrow don't forget to take a peek....well, two seconds later GROWN women were rushing the "stage area" and stealing everything in site. it was awfull.. were like hey people there stealing..and they just stood there in shock.. they took everything.. some were taking 3 and 4 of things.. it was sooo sad...
It was just so bad. They told the room that the stuff was Not for free or for sale and that was awfull that they took the items.. NOONE returned the things.. after that none of the crops there had merch to "see"
dawn |
| [error_in_url=http://thechattystamper.blogspot.com]MyBlog[/url | |
|
|
myboysnme
one of those "entitled" peas
PeaNut 69,081
February 2003
Posts: 6,737
Layouts: 1
| Posted: 8/17/2007 8:39:01 PM
AMEN SHARNA!! But you know, it's really weird how it's seen as very rude to say something to someone who brings an unwelcome kid, but not rude to let them stay and impact others. I just don't get it.....
I saw on another thread where someone wanted to buy scrap supplies instead of paying a bill. So would it be OK if someone said, "I can't afford a babysitter and still afford to scrap so I brought them because my husband is working/deployed/having an affair/not his weekend for visitation/abusive/don't have one/etc. Everyone always has a reason for making bad choices, but I hate being made to be part of it by having to go along with it. Bravo for a hostess who would actually say, "I'm sorry if you misunderstood but the crops/classes/etc don't include little kids. We'll gladly refund your money, or whatever." |
My choice is to not take it personally - people have opinions. Particularly people here.-Peabay 12/29/11
I know this is assuming, but I'm really starting to think you are one of those "entitled" peas - Dalayney 4/2/12
profile pic courtesy of GreenEyedLady Designs at Scrap ARt Studio.
| |
|
|
~nazzylinpea~
NO NAME PEA
PeaNut 271,574
August 2006
Posts: 31,316
Layouts: 243
| Posted: 8/17/2007 10:46:01 PM
good stories.... any disasters in canada?
there has got to be some,
i havent gone to any just go to a friends house when its our night and the husband has to take care of baby till the baby wont go to sleep and mom has to do it. .....so i dont know of any horror stories....
|
|
|
katiekaty
BucketHead
PeaNut 104,747
September 2003
Posts: 813
Layouts: 0
| Posted: 8/18/2007 12:37:09 AM
I recently went to a crop where a mother and aunt and 12 year old daughter went also. I got assigned to the fourth seat. There were other available seats. I asked to switch. Was told no can do! I had to sit and listen to the two ladies fawn all over the girl and say how wonderful she was and listen to every single story behind every bad photo and had the kid drag me into it all. I did not go to this crop to be a member of the audience. Much less have to explain every single thing I was doing-yes-they were CM scrappers. The kid was not nearly as bad as the adults in making comments about "you shouldn't use that in your pages" etc. Give me a break-we were at a very well chain scrapbook store-if you aren't approving of dimensional products and all the new stuff and only use CM stuff-WHY are you there????
I did eventually just move to another table even though it wasn't necessarily approved and it made for a better remaining 2 hours. If I go to this store again, I will make it clear, I do not wish to sit at a table with preteen and their moms or any other kids and their moms. I think if the store is going to allow kids 12 and over, please place them all in a special section and let non-accompanied ladies know so they can stay away!
I also do not have sympathy for the BF moms. Do not bring the babies-get a sitter or crop at home. I breastfed ll four of mine and welcomed time out. I don't go to crops to listen to babies or have them at tables. My best friend and I went to one last year and the lady next to her had a baby with. We asked to be moved and was told no. And this was supposed to be a no kids crop but the exception was made for this lady-best friends with the owner-you know how that goes! It didn't matter that the flier advertised it as a "kids free, no cooking, fun-filled day"! When the mom went to burp the baby, it puked all in my best friends XXL CIS Tote and ruined several hundred dollars worth of supplies!!!!!!!! The mom thought it was just the hugest joke and was laughing! The store owner made her little apology and offered up a roll of paper towel. My best friend was furious and told the store owner everything would be replaced ASAP by her or she would sue! The store owner said no way. When my best friend whipped out the flier and should her the NO KIDS/BABIES part, she changed her mind quick. Of course we were asked to leave after all was replaced! I never did receive a refund for the crop! Too bad-the store went out of business not long after that!
Sometime I think "why do I even want to leave my scraproom"??? It is wel stocked and comes with TV, minfridge, snacks of my choice, no babies, etc! But there is that ever-illusive idea of the perfect crop out there!!!!!!!! |
|
|
staycee11
PeaNut
PeaNut 197,891
March 2005
Posts: 131
Layouts: 0
| Posted: 8/18/2007 1:44:44 PM
Okay, I am going to add my wonderful weekend crop story to the mix. I've been a scrapper now for 6 years and recently moved to a new area. I became friends with one of the ladies I worked with and got her hooked on scrapbooking. We had already went to one weekend crop when we heard about another one coming up in the area and thought why not! No problem...but then we got the brilliant idea of asking another person who was into scrapbooking but hadn't had any crop/weekend experiences. We thought it would be nice to invite her along. She said sure and we were all set.
It was fun at first and we are all happy to be there. Then the passing of her albums started...no kidding every album she had done she brought with. Now, don't get me wrong...I don't mind seeing everyone's albums but I was really trying to scrap that weekend. I don't get much time otherwise to get stuff done. After looking through all the albums then we finally started scrapping. That was when all the photos came out and the "awww, look at this" and "isn't she cute" on all the photos. Ahhh...I really was getting frustrated and I tried to be nice but I also tried to do stuff while she was doing the show-and-tell. Then afterwards, it was down to plain ol' yapping...all night long. By the time I went to bed Friday night I was dreading the rest of the weekend because I didn't think I could handle much more before I said something. I really didn't want to hurt her feelings but seriously, I was in the mood to scrap and get some pages done. The next day wasn't much better and there were occasions where she answered her phone and talked to her family...having full conversations...but was talking so loud everyone in the place could hear her. It was kind of embarrasing but the worse was when she started yelling (in a nice way) and some of the ladies at the other tables. Butting into conversations were the norm...it was crazy.
As for the crop itself wasn't too bad and the hotel was clean (smirk). However, the food schedule was really weird. I mean it was getting close to 1pm when we spoke up and asked about lunch because we were starving...and the hostess acted all put out because of it. The dinner schedule wasn't much better but the food was an odd choice...she made us grilled cheese sandwiches. Anyway, Sunday comes and lunch was left overs from the previous meals...uh, hello...if I wanted leftovers I would be scrapping at home. This was a weekend crop that included food, snacks, drinks but man, they skimped out on stuff. So we ended up hitting a deli near the event to get lunch.
Ok, now it's time to head home. I was the one who was driving back with our chatty friend. I was beyond frustrated at this point because I felt like the weekend was a big mistake....money wise, scrapbooking wise and just plain ol' crappy weekend. So we are packed up and heading back home...leaving a major city. I promptly got lost near where we stayed and had to manuver the one way streets to get where I needed to go and that is when my horn decided to start shorting out. No kidding, I was driving downtown of a major city, lost and my horn would just go off at random times. I really wanted to start crying at this point. Strangers walking across the street are looking at me when it honks and I have to hold up my hands saying "it wasn't me". My friend thought it was funny but she quickly realized that I was beyond pissed at this time and she stayed quiet until we got out of the city.
So, that is my novel on my crappy crop weekend. |
Stacey
MemoryWorks Independent Consultant #1346
http://yourlifestories.memory-works.com
| |
|
|
writermom1
Thrift Whisperer
PeaNut 114,407
November 2003
Posts: 22,327
Layouts: 66
Loc: At the intersection of Hooterville and Stars Hollow
| Posted: 8/18/2007 1:47:49 PM
When the mom went to burp the baby, it puked all in my best friends XXL CIS Tote and ruined several hundred dollars worth of supplies!!!!!!!! The mom thought it was just the hugest joke and was laughing! The store owner made her little apology and offered up a roll of paper towel. My best friend was furious and told the store owner everything would be replaced ASAP by her or she would sue! The store owner said no way. When my best friend whipped out the flier and should her the NO KIDS/BABIES part, she changed her mind quick. Of course we were asked to leave after all was replaced! I never did receive a refund for the crop! Too bad-the store went out of business not long after that!
Wow! That's like the archtypical "rude people/bad parents/crop nightmare" all rolled into one neat condensed version. It's almost urban-legendary in scope, with that neat plot twist at the end.
If I suffered through that I'd stay home too!
That baby puke smell is forever and I'm sure it's NOT acid-free.  |
|
|
McScrapper1
Just Peachy
PeaNut 82,818
April 2003
Posts: 9,136
Layouts: 83
Loc: Alabama
| Posted: 8/18/2007 11:40:27 PM
I just spent an hour reading these and I'm cracking up at so many!
One that tops my list was a little "private" crop that this one girl coordinated at our LSS. It was basically all the ladies from a Yahoo group. The invitation clearly stated no kids and it was during the school year so not a biggie for most. This woman brings her baby. We all kind of grumbled but she assured us her dh was coming by to pick up the baby. The baby was really good and never made a peep but the woman that coordinated the crop really let this poor woman have it. It was pretty ugly and 2 or 3 other ladies really ganged up on her too. The coordinator lady was also trying to gather the troops but I was way across the room and stayed WAY out of that. The DH did show up to pick up the baby but had their other 3 boys with him. It was not pretty to say the least.
I found myself outside the crop room when the mom came out in near tears. I told her that she knew the crop was no kids and bringing the child did cause problems BUT that coord. woman was way out of line. This woman was brand new to our area and this was her first experience with this group and this store. I felt really badly for her in a way.
To make matters much worse the coord. lady kept the fire burning on the yahoo group.
Another crop i went to was a CM crop hosted by 3 or 4 other CMCs. The CMC that I knew was cool about contraband and knew I'd be there with some. At the time I was using about 50/50 CM product. I was doing my thing when this other CMC walked around the room and picked up one of my layouts. She proceeded to hold it up to the entire room and tell how unsafe and "wrong" my pages were. "now she may looking at her albums in 20 years and all these things will be destroyed."
I'm no shrinking violet and told her where she could stick her CM. Why was that necessary? The CMC that I knew was just apologizing all over herself but I started using eyelets on just about EVERY page after that. I would just hammer away and every time she'd try to give me dirty looks. I'd just smile and wave....
meredith |
A good friend will bail you out of jail. Your best friend will be sitting beside you saying, "Damn that was fun!"
| |
|
|
ScrapbookBabe
PeaFixture
PeaNut 111,527
October 2003
Posts: 3,454
Layouts: 0
Loc: West Coast
| Posted: 8/19/2007 12:14:33 AM
Oh and then there was the time the owner thought to try to fix me up with one of her husband's co-workers. This is the condensed version of the story because I for the life of me can't find my original thread.
Let's just say upon receiving the first of his maybe 5 phone calls to my cell phone and store because according to her he was so excited to meet me (everyone else was thinking psycho). And him showing up like he just rolled out of bed (and I swear he was drunk) to bring me a rose from a gas station with some crazy a**
poem that had everyone in the crop room busting out in laughter. Yea I was lucky enough to be involved in that crop nightmare. And I can honestly say it was witnessed by two other peas.
You win! |
|
|
isitnaptime
I can't find my granola bar.
PeaNut 237,712
December 2005
Posts: 9,189
Layouts: 59
| Posted: 8/19/2007 12:43:15 AM
Oh and then there was the time the owner thought to try to fix me up with one of her husband's co-workers.
I remember that story, too! Poor you!
I don't have any horror stories to compare, thank goodness. Only the vivid memory of trying to drive home from the last big crop that my friends and I went to. It was 3am, pitch black, in the middle of the desert, snowing, there were only 2 other cars on the road, I had a brand new vehicle that I wasn't used to, and my 2 friends were completely giddy and giggling and talking the entire time. Entirely too nerve-wracking! |
|
|
cutterpea
PeaAddict
PeaNut 201,181
April 2005
Posts: 1,684
Layouts: 1
Loc: San Diego, CA
| Posted: 8/19/2007 1:59:33 AM
When the mom went to burp the baby, it puked all in my best friends XXL CIS Tote and ruined several hundred dollars worth of supplies!!!!!!!! The mom thought it was just the hugest joke and was laughing! The store owner made her little apology and offered up a roll of paper towel. My best friend was furious and told the store owner everything would be replaced ASAP by her or she would sue! The store owner said no way. When my best friend whipped out the flier and should her the NO KIDS/BABIES part, she changed her mind quick. Of course we were asked to leave after all was replaced! I never did receive a refund for the crop! Too bad-the store went out of business not long after that!
Okay I am casting my vote for this one. OMGosh!!! I hope she replaced the XXL as well. Gross!! I accidentally spilled a frappacino type drink in my scrapcase and everything smelled like coffee forever. I couldn't even imagine!! |
Erin
Life is too short. Do what you love
   
| |
|
|
Germ
PeaNut
PeaNut 53,052
October 2002
Posts: 102
Layouts: 0
Loc: Portland, Oregon
| Posted: 8/19/2007 4:44:02 AM
Haven't posted n a really long time!
My BFF and I attended a crop at a LSS several years ago - we got in at the last minute due to cancellations. The woman working the evening portion of the crop had invited a friend of hers to drop by so she could get some help with a coaches gift album. The crop was full, and in addition, the woman doing the coach album wasn't a scrapper and needed help 120% of the time. She also squeezed in with those of us who paid for the crop (and brought snacks to share - you know how that goes!) She also brought 5 (!) teenagish girls with her who wanted to make pages and proceeded to fill up all available floor space. It was so tight you couldn't even walk around! As a paying cropper I demand footspace!
To make matters even worse, the croppers who canceled, and were also friends of the employee, showed up and squeezed in and brought a young daughter with. They made a point of reminding us that we wouldn't even be there if they hadn't canceled. Like, were we supposed to leave now that they were there?
The cake taker for me was that every time I got up and stumbled across all the bodies to shop - which I do a lot- someone would get up and sit at my spot. Often it was the young daughter, and she would play with my tools. I would have to stand there and wait for whoever was sitting there to stumble away so I could get back to work. Made me insane, but we were so out numbered I was too wimped out to make a scene - which I regret to this day - I love scenes!
Unbelievable!
We went back a couple of weeks later for an all day and the owner was there when I got there. I told her about the nightmare crop and she was extremely apologetic and gave this crop for free. She must have talked to her employees about it that very day because the same employee was there that evening and wow was she nasty! We overheard her on the phone talking about us, and another employee dropped by close to closing - I think to look at us. My BFF left before I did and they were nasty to her face as she was checking out.
We don't crop there anymore - not because of that, just because times change. We always get a great kick out of that experience though. | |
|
ShanB
Labby "Mom"
PeaNut 33,785
March 2002
Posts: 22,180
Layouts: 95
Loc: Indianapolis, IN
| Posted: 8/19/2007 8:18:29 AM
In defense of CM: We are NOT all alike!
I have to 2nd this. I just met 2 CM scrappers (one is a consultant) who had been friends of my mom's before she passed away. They invited me to scrapbook with them & it was really fun because I'm a gadget-geek & I have a ton of different kinds of adhesive. They fell in love with my Xyron Cheetah & are now Cheetah-users. We got together a 2nd time and they were anxious for me to unpack my stuff so they could oogle my stuff.
The only nightmare story I have that's even slightly different than all of your experiences is related to this one scrapper at a series of crops I had gone to. I had some tool (I don't remember what it was now) but every time I walked in she ran over to me asking if I brought it and asking to borrow it. And I hadn't even sat down or unpacked. Well for crying out loud! It cost less than $10 & if you want to use it so much buy your own! Seriously, I don't mind sharing but don't harass me the minute I walk in the door asking to borrow something that you know you love but are too cheap to buy for yourself especially when it costs so little. |
Sara B
"I think we are drawn to dogs because they are the unhibited creatures we might be if we weren't certain we knew better" George Bird Evans
"Handle every stressful situation like a dog (aka Lab ): If you can't eat it or play with it, pee on it & walk away!" (author unknown)
 | |
|
|
camanddanismom
Manic Mom of 2
PeaNut 274,243
August 2006
Posts: 9,859
Layouts: 424
Loc: Northeast
| Posted: 8/19/2007 9:25:34 AM
I'm surprised no one posted about me and my bad behavior...I went to a retreat a couple of years ago. It was my birthday and as a treat at dinner, the wine steward at the restaurant gave me champagne that went right to my head! Being the avid scrapper I am, I went back to my space with my friends and I swear, my mouth never stopped. I have never scrapped tipsy before but I am sure that although nothing foul came out of my mouth because I am not that kind of person, I had LOTS to say! One thing I learned though...I am still just as creative in this condition, even if I did make some funny journaling errors!!!
I typically crop at friends houses (good friends) and my only complaint is that sometimes our non-scrapping friends stop by and it turns more social than scrapping...
I also crop at my lss which is awesome. They have the best nights there. For $10 you get pizza and a soda and a $5 in merchandise. Crops are from 6-12, but we have been known to stay as late as 2am. The only trap I fall into there is that I sometimes shop more than I scrap.
Thanks for all the stories. Some were really funny! It makes me appreciate what I have! |
|
|
scrapbookingisfun
PeaNut
PeaNut 246,809
February 2006
Posts: 125
Layouts: 1
| Posted: 8/19/2007 10:32:20 AM
Thanks for the laugs- great thread
Well my crop story is at my own house. I invited these girls over to crop and they kept stealing my supplies. They would ask if I had anything to go with there photos and I would show them some paper and supplies that they could use and the price if they wanted to buy it from me.(I always put out cardstock for everyone to buy by the sheet if they need it)
Well this happend like four times in a row, at the end of the night when everyone tallied up there charges they always listed alot less than they used in cardstock etc.. I let it go until one night one girl ask me for an idea and I showed her some supplies and she loved them and used them and we discussed the price. Well at the end of the evening the items were not on her tally sheet and not on the table for me to put back. I asked her for them and she couldn't find them. She pulled out her cell phone and they were in her purse. I had to ask her to remove them from her purse.
So embarrasing on my part- did they think I would not notice...uh
Also I have gone to a crop with assigned seats but sometimes I go by my self to get things done. Anyway I was cropping and the girls arrived to fill up the table (LSS) the owner of the store asked me to move to another table so these girls could sit together. I was already working and had been there for an hour. I was so embarrased to be asked to move, like I was in the way or something.
I have been to REP house for a crop party and her husband was a doctor and the house was nice on the outside but inside. The bathroom we were to use was used for the cats litter box and other smelly things. It was so gross, my husband had droped me off as it was out of town and was coming back to pick me up. I was stuckthere with the dirty stinky smelly, it was the longest couple hours of my life. Not just the bathroom stuff all over the kitchen counters old food etc... one word for it...gross
But I do like crops I like to be with other scrapbookers from the simple pages to the complex I like to see people making pages and having fun. Sometimes being at a crop by myself I get alot done with no home distractions. one with the stories... | |
|
ScrapbookBabe
PeaFixture
PeaNut 111,527
October 2003
Posts: 3,454
Layouts: 0
Loc: West Coast
| Posted: 8/19/2007 11:35:53 AM
Well this really isn't a nightmare but the only story I remember from a crop. I started cropping at a CMC's house in 1995. I packed up my supplies and a new set of pictures I just got back from the developer. I hadn't looked at the pictures yet but was excited to work on them. They were pictures from a cruise that my DH and I had just returned from WITHOUT the kids.
So I get to the crop and start sorting my pictures on the table. Some of my girlfriends were looking atthe pictures as I went through them. I didn't remember taking a nude shot of my DH, but low and behold, there it was, full frontal!! I quickly grabbed the photo and tried to hide it. The CMC must have been looking in my direction and she comes over and wants to see the picture I am hiding.
I explained to her that it was not appropriate and tried to move on. Well the entire night she is going on and on about wanting to "see" my picture.
I finally told her that it was my DH naked...she says, "Oh, let me see it..we can pass it around".. WTH?
Then, I was working on a page that featured a beautiful picture of the cruise's food. SHe come up to me and tells me I should sillioute (cut around) my DH's privates and put it on the page...like a where's waldo...
It was weird I tell ya... I think she was trying to be funny but I'm still not sure. |
|
|
myboysnme
one of those "entitled" peas
PeaNut 69,081
February 2003
Posts: 6,737
Layouts: 1
| Posted: 8/19/2007 12:51:26 PM
...I found myself outside the crop room when the mom came out in near tears. I told her that she knew the crop was no kids and bringing the child did cause problems BUT that coord. woman was way out of line. This woman was brand new to our area and this was her first experience with this group and this store...
If I was brand new to an area and this was my first experience with a group, AND the instructions for the crop said NO KIDS, there is no way I would show up with my baby. It's totally different if you know everyone there really well, and you tell them that hubby will be there in no more than 30 minutes; a coordinated child exchange so to speak. But to show up to an event with people you don't know when you already have been told is asking for what you get. I say BRAVO to your crop coordinator. Maybe she had no tact, I don't know, but as I have posted above, people don't get it when you put it nicely. What was she crying about? She should have been apologizing to the crop coordinator for stressing her out, not the other way around. She should have taken her child and waited in the car or gone on home until hubby could show up, or called hubby to come on sooner and met him in the parking lot.
No kids does not mean no kids except for you because you're new. People should save some of these posts for future crops.
Far more often the person who says something to the baby bringer is made to feel like some kind of heartless creature. If she was near tears, it should be because she felt bad for her poor choice.
...As a paying cropper I demand footspace! ...
This is hilarious, Germ!! |
My choice is to not take it personally - people have opinions. Particularly people here.-Peabay 12/29/11
I know this is assuming, but I'm really starting to think you are one of those "entitled" peas - Dalayney 4/2/12
profile pic courtesy of GreenEyedLady Designs at Scrap ARt Studio.
| |
|
|
daisysmom
Coffee-Fueled Pea
PeaNut 9,568
January 2001
Posts: 5,820
Layouts: 177
Loc: Washington State
 | Posted: 8/19/2007 10:52:17 PM
BTT |
|
|
sueg
PeaFixture
PeaNut 13,202
March 2001
Posts: 3,955
Layouts: 32
Loc: an Aussie in Germany
| Posted: 8/20/2007 3:46:58 AM
My 'worst ever' crop story is more a wierd one than a nightmare.
I usually cropped at one particular store, with a group I knew fairly well, but this one month I couldn't go on that night and I needed to finish an album by a deadline, so I went to another store. I had shopped there a bit, but never been to a class or crop there.
Apart from feeling like a 3rd person on a honeymoon - everyone else there knew each other - things seemed to be going alone fine.
UNTIL:
One of the girls there - I'd say she was mid to late 20's - had been working on her own album for most of the evening. Then, she said to her mum "I'd better put this away and work on Christopher's album. I don't want him to get jealous" OK - still not thinking anything is odd.
UNTIL:
She pulls out photos of her TEDDY BEAR - at various vacation localities - and begins scrapping them. Now, I usually don't think much about what people scrap, but a grown women, scrapping pics of her teddy - IN CASE HE GOT JEALOUS!  Well - whatever floats your boat, I guess. 
|
|
|
writermom1
Thrift Whisperer
PeaNut 114,407
November 2003
Posts: 22,327
Layouts: 66
Loc: At the intersection of Hooterville and Stars Hollow
| Posted: 8/20/2007 7:50:26 AM
Far more often the person who says something to the baby bringer is made to feel like some kind of heartless creature.
So true!
You are immediately the "baby hater" even if nothing could be further from the truth.
I was blessed in my "crop away" days with the most supportive DH ever (as were those of friends). We once drove merrily off to a six hour crop waving bye-bye to DH who stood there with six children under the age of five, including a six month old baby (not ours) and only two of the children were ours - the others were my fellow friend/croppers and DH was sitting for them until their own daddies could come and retrieve them.
I say where there's a will there's a way and crops should be like bars - just Someplace That Kids Don't Belong - Period.
I feel that way even about tweens and pre-teens at crops unless it is expressly said that it is a "family crop."
I'm not a potty mouth and somewhat of a prude myself but, that said, I hate being at crops where grown women are continually "shushed" because "there are little ears around."
Cropping-away is a social activity and I say if grown women want to talk, within the boundaries of good taste (sometimes pushed I'll admit) about "Grown up" things -- having a darling lil' ten year old at the table should not be an issue. |
|
|
SouthernArt
StuckOnPeas
PeaNut 64,377
January 2003
Posts: 2,043
Layouts: 87
Loc: Northeast Mississippi
| Posted: 8/20/2007 8:28:13 AM
Well, I've held back as long as I could...I've wanted to share my story since the beginning, but I haven't for fear that the person it's about might see this post...not sure if she's a pea or not. I'm going to have to share anyway though!
I host crops in my area. Most of the women who come are regulars and a lot of them work at the same place as me. Well, one night, a lady who's husband works with us (and she does too now) came to crop with us...she had been before and still comes occasionally.
So anyway, this lady has just finished a layout and comes to show it to me. I was looking at the layout itself and not the photos at first.....then I focus on the photos. OMG...there's a picture of her husband - who I work with - sprawled out on the bed in his underwear (and no, they weren't boxer shorts)!!!  Another lady from work was there as well - this man's former supervisor - and she had the privilege of seeing the photo too.
Needless to say that the following Monday was very awkward...
Loving that this thread is still going, by the way! |
|
|
Romes Gal
BucketHead
PeaNut 245,519
January 2006
Posts: 538
Layouts: 0
Loc: Modesto, CA
| Posted: 8/20/2007 12:16:48 PM
BTT cuz it is a good'un   |
|
|
~nazzylinpea~
NO NAME PEA
PeaNut 271,574
August 2006
Posts: 31,316
Layouts: 243
| Posted: 8/20/2007 6:57:25 PM
UNTIL:
She pulls out photos of her TEDDY BEAR - at various vacation localities - and begins scrapping them. Now, I usually don't think much about what people scrap, but a grown women, scrapping pics of her teddy - IN CASE HE GOT JEALOUS! Well - whatever floats your boat, I guess.
omy gosh you made me jsut remember what i read on cruise critic on their boards on saturday while i was bored at work... it took me 10 minutes to find this one the thread:
1st post:
We were aboard the "last cruise" of the original "Love Boat" (Pacific Princess) from NY to Rome 2 years ago. There was a couple aboard who each carried a Teddy Bear with them, everywhere, all day long. Whenever they sat down to eat or drink, the bears sat on the table and "shared" with them. Whenever they won at Trivia (which seemed like every day) the bears collected the prizes. I think the bears even had different outfits, including tux and formal for the formal nights. Everyone on board was familiar with the "bear people".
2nd one from someone else
\
dont know if its the same couple but the one i met lives in or near portland oregon ----the man was the silent type but the woman carried a bear that wore a matching shirt to the couple --had a llife jacket during drill and wore a tuzx at dinner and she had it sitting on the table and kept trying to feed it off her plate-she did tell us that there was another bear in the cabin they was being punished for misbehaving ----her daughter and son in law was also on the ship but sat at a different table-----we figured that if the kids didnt want to sit with them neither did we and a 20 to the maitre d took care of that
could they be related??????
|
|
|
jumpgate
PeaAddict
PeaNut 80,851
April 2003
Posts: 1,225
Layouts: 209
Loc: Colorado
| Posted: 8/20/2007 7:42:47 PM
While the bear people are freak-tacular, I think Heather's made me laugh the hardest in many days of this thread.
My DH extracted a promise from me NOT to scrap photos of him with our son at the beach (DH in his swim trunks) (which is probably a good thing, the glare from his white-white-white belly probably ruined the composition of the shot anyway LOL) I can't imagine scrapping pics of him in his underwear at a crop.
|
|
|
elleceebee
Your ad here...
PeaNut 159,693
July 2004
Posts: 10,007
Layouts: 26
Loc: Physically:Arizona..mentally: on a beach in San Diego
| Posted: 8/20/2007 8:07:18 PM
but a grown women, scrapping pics of her teddy - IN CASE HE GOT JEALOUS
I'll have you know that I'm a grown woman and I scrap pictures of not only my teddy bear, whom I've had for 29 years, but also of several Pillsbury Doughboy dolls. It's just something fun my friend and I do. We send the DB dolls back and forth (she lives in VA) when one of us is taking a trip and then we take pictures of the DBs and make little picture albums about it.
HOWEVER...I've never said I needed to work on the album because he might get jealous. And the bear people on the cruise are weird.
But there's nothing wrong with taking pictures of your favorite stuffed animal then making a mini album of it. Even if you are an adult. I've actually had people ask me if they could take a picture of the DBs after I'm done with a particular shot.
*eta* Another 'odd' scrap-able. There is a guy at the company where I work who is in his 40s and he has a couple of Gumby toys in his office. One day, Gumby disappeared. He left a note saying he was going off to find his own adventure because he didn't think the guy's dream vacation sounded very exciting (studying grizzlies in Alaska). Well, a couple of weeks later he returned in a box with a bear can attached the it. Inside the box was a FULL BLOWN scrapbook of his European travels. Apparently, one of his co-workers took Gumby to Europe and photographed the trip. They even made little outfits for him. He had his own lederhosen! hahahaha. |
"Take Rico, for example. He's clearly a world-class psychopath so we just kind of took that ball and ran with it." Skipper on how everyone's talents can be useful-- Penguins of Madagascar
| |
|
|
Darragh
PeaAddict
PeaNut 50,858
October 2002
Posts: 1,244
Layouts: 2
Loc: Dayton OH
| Posted: 8/21/2007 12:30:59 PM
I've got two stories.
The first crop I ever went to was in the local LSS at it's first, VERY SMALL, location. The crop was in the backroom, which was probably 10 feet by 10 feet. There were 10 of us in that room and whenever anybody had to get up from the table we all had to reshuffle our stuff and move out of the room so that the person who needed to go could get out the door. This crop was being supervised (I guess, I've never seen anybody doing that since then) by a woman who had brought two little girls. This woman and her two kids had to sit at a card table outside of the room.
She ordered two pizzas for the the 13 of us (10 paid scrappers, herself and her kids). All of us knew that there wouldn't be be enough pieces for all attendees to get seconds. So each of us only got one piece and then we sat there and watched her kids keep begging her for another piece and telling all of us that they were "HONGRRREEE". and they kept asking us if we were going to eat anymore, if not could they have the leftovers. Now get this, we'd all paid for a kid free evening and a meal. Her kids were there as a tagalong. They also kept pulling stickers and papers out of the store inventory and she kept telling them to mark it down on a paper and she would put money in the register at the end of the night. I was watching them. And of course they didn't.
My, my, my, is there any wonder that I didn't go to another crop for the next five years? The next story will be posted later. |
|
|
cutterpea
PeaAddict
PeaNut 201,181
April 2005
Posts: 1,684
Layouts: 1
Loc: San Diego, CA
| Posted: 8/21/2007 6:08:42 PM
One day, Gumby disappeared. He left a note saying he was going off to find his own adventure because he didn't think the guy's dream vacation sounded very exciting (studying grizzlies in Alaska). Well, a couple of weeks later he returned in a box with a bear can attached the it. Inside the box was a FULL BLOWN scrapbook of his European travels. Apparently, one of his co-workers took Gumby to Europe and photographed the trip. They even made little outfits for him. He had his own lederhosen! hahahaha.
OMGOSH!! I am sitting in my chair LOL!!! That is soooooo funny!! |
Erin
Life is too short. Do what you love
| |
|
|
nomorelittlemonkeys
BucketHead
PeaNut 332,325
August 2007
Posts: 837
Layouts: 12
Loc: Central California
 | Posted: 8/21/2007 6:15:49 PM
The Gumby story cracked me up!!! I can just picture the guy all upset because of the missing Gumby, and then his surprise when Gumby returned with all his souvenirs!!! I probably wouldn't ever take a teddy bear on a cruise, but it sounds kind of cute! Maybe the couple never had kids, or missed their little ones. Different strokes for different folks! | |
|
scrapmixalot
BucketHead
PeaNut 211,596
June 2005
Posts: 522
Layouts: 2
Loc: North Carolina
| Posted: 8/21/2007 8:08:17 PM
I went to a sb weekend retreat a few years ago. The last day a woman threw a hissy fit and began to bawl when the director said they would require a deposit onthe next retreat, which would require her to pay it in December. She tried to argue and say, things like MY kids may want anunexpected Xmas gift then, what the H*ll am I to do??
I laughed and rolled my eyes. What a freak |
|
|
HarpTonya
BucketHead
PeaNut 325,570
July 2007
Posts: 522
Layouts: 0
Loc: Twin Cities MN
| Posted: 8/21/2007 9:10:44 PM
I SOOOO want to go buy a Gumby doll now - how fun!
About 20 years ago I had a friend who travelled all over the world, as did many of his friends. They had this tacky stuffed rabbit that they named "Stevie the Scapegoat Bunny" - and they did the same thing as the Gumby people.
Stevie had his own photo album:
Stevie at the Vatican
Stevie at the Eiffel Tower
Stevie at the Great Wall of China
Stevie had been to more places than I've ever been!
Wonder where Stevie is now...................
|
|
|
SouthernArt
StuckOnPeas
PeaNut 64,377
January 2003
Posts: 2,043
Layouts: 87
Loc: Northeast Mississippi
| Posted: 8/22/2007 1:24:59 PM
btt |
|
|
ladygarter1574
Ancient Ancestor of Pea
PeaNut 283,557
November 2006
Posts: 5,225
Layouts: 0
Loc: Mpls
| Posted: 8/23/2007 4:12:48 PM
I'm cranky today. I need a good laugh, please.
Christina
Minneapolis | |
|
peaNuttyMom
PeaNut
PeaNut 257,457
April 2006
Posts: 246
Layouts: 0
Loc: Florida
| Posted: 8/23/2007 7:56:45 PM
I love these stories! Now I **have** to attend a crop (never have) so I can have my OWN crop nightmare story! I feel so left out..........
|
aka Angela
Of all the things you wear, your facial expression is the most important! | |
|
|
ArizonaOkie
StuckOnPeas
PeaNut 11,864
March 2001
Posts: 2,779
Layouts: 0
Loc: Arizona
| Posted: 8/23/2007 8:38:22 PM
This isn't a Crop Nightmare story, but it's about my friend that accuses of being in a cult, because I scrapbook (she's really kidding).
Anyway, my friend (that accuses me of being obsessed with SBing) is an avid Bridge player. She playes with several different Bridge clubs and at one of their Bridge groups, another player at another table fell over, collapsed and died right there. Bette's table just kept right on playing and didn't even miss a bid. She said there was nothing they could do anyway and didn't want to mess up a good hand. One of the women at Bette's table did go over and get the dead lady's scarf and gave it to the paramedics. |
Martha
Grandma of six sweet kids
Chelsea 20, Dakota 17, Joshua 16, Tanner 13, Kate 8,
and Abby 6. | |
|
|
bwgayoso
AncestralPea
PeaNut 212,029
June 2005
Posts: 4,093
Layouts: 84
Loc: Miami, Florida
| Posted: 8/23/2007 8:43:18 PM
She playes with several different Bridge clubs and at one of their Bridge groups, another player at another table fell over, collapsed and died right there. Bette's table just kept right on playing and didn't even miss a bid. She said there was nothing they could do anyway and didn't want to mess up a good hand. One of the women at Bette's table did go over and get the dead lady's scarf and gave it to the paramedics.
|
Barb
Mommy to Amanda, Sophia and Olivia | |
|
|
myboysnme
one of those "entitled" peas
PeaNut 69,081
February 2003
Posts: 6,737
Layouts: 1
| Posted: 8/23/2007 8:50:03 PM
I guess no one heard of CPR..... |
My choice is to not take it personally - people have opinions. Particularly people here.-Peabay 12/29/11
I know this is assuming, but I'm really starting to think you are one of those "entitled" peas - Dalayney 4/2/12
profile pic courtesy of GreenEyedLady Designs at Scrap ARt Studio.
| |
|
|
suzymudpea
PeaNut
PeaNut 197,198
March 2005
Posts: 254
Layouts: 0
Loc: bottom dweller - one of the mole people
| Posted: 8/23/2007 8:54:25 PM
My mom does the bear thing, she has pictures of her bear for each holiday, vacation and even some every day pictures with the bear with it's other stuffed buddies.
I think it is cute and so do my kids....they even help set the bear up for his photo shoot every time she comes to visit.
He has his own photo album of his adventures...very mischievous little bear that he is. LOL!
Keep the stories coming, this is one of the best post ever. Thanks |
|
|
