what are you doing right now?

[busymom]

Sept 22, 2023 12:56:02 GMT -5 swamp said:

DS is being heavily recruited for my alma mater with a price tag of $80,000.    He seems interested.  I'm going to have him apply and see what happens. 

I told him it's SUNY Plattsburgh for him if the private colleges don't open their wallets.  

   It's been a few years since DD graduated from college, but the private colleges were WAY more generous with financial aid than the state colleges, or even the University.  So, encourage him to apply, and as long as he's got good grades, and has been involved in activities, you may have the private colleges competing for HIM.  

[taz157]

Sept 22, 2023 11:52:53 GMT -5 giramomma said:

OMG. You guys, I kid you not.

We just got this email from the kids school 

"We are going to have  monthly raffles to encourage good behavior from our middle schoolers. We need you to donate money and/or giftcards to cover the cost."

😱😱😱

I read your post to DD1 and she wanted to know who approved that email to be sent…

[bean29]

Sept 22, 2023 14:40:35 GMT -5 The Walk of the Penguin Mich said:

Sept 22, 2023 13:55:13 GMT -5 saveinla said:

The construction going on in Seattle is crazy. I was there around a month and half ago and was amazed at how much road and other construction was going on. 

Yeah, it's nuts there too.  Every time we go down, we wind up having to figure out how to get to someplace another way.  We have tickets to the ballet in Seattle tomorrow, and I wonder if we'll be able to get there without being rerouted.  

I feel your pain.  They are constructing on the street to get into my subdivision.  It seems as this is an annual thing.  It is a city planning issue.  It looks like they just put curbs in the industrial subdivision across the street from the entrance to our subdivision.  They don't seem to have the vision to say well this area will need cable, a wider street, sidewalks, and curbs all at once.  So instead, every spring and summer they start a new item, keep the street closed all summer, then open it up again for the winter.  It is a Highway, and a busy street.  They really should do some planning and tackle more issues at once instead of the way they have handled it for the last 4-5 years.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

Sept 22, 2023 11:52:53 GMT -5 giramomma said:

OMG. You guys, I kid you not.

We just got this email from the kids school 

"We are going to have  monthly raffles to encourage good behavior from our middle schoolers. We need you to donate money and/or giftcards to cover the cost."

I thought encouragement for good behavior was I allowed her to live another a day. 

Just WOW.  I think we found the poster child for the "entitled youth" movement.

[countrygirl2]

We have all 3 now with flu and covid shots done.

My roast is good and tasty, I sprinkled it with some steak seasoning and it is good. DD wanted to eat in town, she doesn't want any roast.

We wanted a sati babi and an elephant ear but none of the carnival was open and it was going on 3.  Maybe we can get some tomorrow.

DD had a cheeseburger casserole, I just had a 1/2 salad. It is soooo good, strawberry vinegarette over raisins, cheese, onion, lettuce, spinach, cuke, tomato, cranberries, and sunflower seeds. I love their salads.
Will still have some roast this evening.

I'm getting ready to peel potatoes and carrots, the oven is on and heated.

Bought me an apron, been wanting one for years to protect my clothing and just never did. Finally got a nice one at Walmart yesterday.

Tomorrow morning, to the house and finish.

[minnesotapaintlady]

omg.  That shopping trip was as horrible as expected. Besides the fact that the kid was whining the whole time about trying things on and nothing being in his size, it was a financial blood bath and we haven't even gotten shoes yet. I'm really pissed because I get home and see a 35% off coupon sitting in my mail so I plugged everything we bought in online and it's $50 cheaper going that route.  I'm not sure I want to bother with re-ordering everything online and returning it to the store.

[giramomma]

Sept 22, 2023 14:46:28 GMT -5 taz157 said:

Sept 22, 2023 11:52:53 GMT -5 giramomma said:

OMG. You guys, I kid you not.

We just got this email from the kids school 

"We are going to have  monthly raffles to encourage good behavior from our middle schoolers. We need you to donate money and/or giftcards to cover the cost."

😱😱😱

I read your post to DD1 and she wanted to know who approved that email to be sent…

It came from the vice principal.

[bean29]

Sept 22, 2023 16:00:16 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

omg.  That shopping trip was as horrible as expected. Besides the fact that the kid was whining the whole time about trying things on and nothing being in his size, it was a financial blood bath and we haven't even gotten shoes yet. I'm really pissed because I get home and see a 35% off coupon sitting in my mail so I plugged everything we bought in online and it's $50 cheaper going that route.  I'm not sure I want to bother with re-ordering everything online and returning it to the store.

you can try calling and seeing if they will adjust your purchase over the phone.  I have had some success with that.  

I went to Talbots on my lunch hour to return something.  I bought two sweaters and a Sweatshirt for my Mom.  I am not done, I want a pair of jeans, but I have to check the colors I have in my fall wardrobe first.  They have 25% off everything and free shipping today.  The lady also told me that Ann Taylor and Talbots have the same ownership and Ann Taylor is coming back to the mall soon.  Yea!  I shop there sometimes, and it is expensive to return stuff if I order online and decide to return it.  They got pushed out of their spot in the mall b/c Urban Outfitters wanted their space.  It left no Ann Taylor in the entire urban area.  I would either have to go to Madison or Chicago to get to a store.

Where did you find his Suit?, and why does he need a suit if you don't mind sharing those details.  DH usually goes to Macy's now.  In the past he has purchased from JC Penney's.  My Brother and Son often go to Men's Warehouse.

[NastyWoman]

Sept 22, 2023 15:09:10 GMT -5 NomoreDramaQ1015 said:

Sept 22, 2023 11:52:53 GMT -5 giramomma said:

OMG. You guys, I kid you not.

We just got this email from the kids school 

"We are going to have  monthly raffles to encourage good behavior from our middle schoolers. We need you to donate money and/or giftcards to cover the cost."

I thought encouragement for good behavior was I allowed her to live another a day. 

Just WOW.  I think we found the poster child for the "entitled youth" movement.

Basically this claims that we need to go from this:
Adult: I need you to behave
Child: what is in it for me
Adult: if you don't I will stick you behind the wallpaper and rub it really well so there won't be any bubbles visible

to this:
Adult: I need you to behave
Child: what is in it for me
Adult: 

When did good behavior something that needs to be bought? Really. I would answer that email by pointing out that I find it morally wrong as well as detrimental to kids if we make good behavior a competition rather than an expectation and I am vehemently against this and I will not be participating in this scheme

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

I spent the afternoon on the phone with a company that procures visas.  We need visas for both Cambodia and Vietnam next year.  We are under time constraints, and I need to figure out time constraints before I start making further reservations.  

TD decided he wanted to go to Angkor Wat, in Cambodia.  We are only in Cambodia for less than 2 days and from where we port, it turns out that it’s easier to get there from Bangkok (where we board) rather than the port.  Today, I find out that Cambodia does not provide multiple entry visas.  This means I need to submit 2 sets of paperwork (including pics), with different ‘in country’ dates.  We need to get 2 visas each for one country we are visiting about 1 week apart.  Oh, and the additional visa for the additional day is only going to cost $170 each.

As I jump though these hoops, I have to wonder how hard it is to jump though the US visa hoops.  

[minnesotapaintlady]

Sept 22, 2023 16:51:34 GMT -5 bean29 said:

Sept 22, 2023 16:00:16 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

omg.  That shopping trip was as horrible as expected. Besides the fact that the kid was whining the whole time about trying things on and nothing being in his size, it was a financial blood bath and we haven't even gotten shoes yet. I'm really pissed because I get home and see a 35% off coupon sitting in my mail so I plugged everything we bought in online and it's $50 cheaper going that route.  I'm not sure I want to bother with re-ordering everything online and returning it to the store.

you can try calling and seeing if they will adjust your purchase over the phone.  I have had some success with that.  

I went to Talbots on my lunch hour to return something.  I bought two sweaters and a Sweatshirt for my Mom.  I am not done, I want a pair of jeans, but I have to check the colors I have in my fall wardrobe first.  They have 25% off everything and free shipping today.  The lady also told me that Ann Taylor and Talbots have the same ownership and Ann Taylor is coming back to the mall soon.  Yea!  I shop there sometimes, and it is expensive to return stuff if I order online and decide to return it.  They got pushed out of their spot in the mall b/c Urban Outfitters wanted their space.  It left no Ann Taylor in the entire urban area.  I would either have to go to Madison or Chicago to get to a store.

Where did you find his Suit?, and why does he need a suit if you don't mind sharing those details.  DH usually goes to Macy's now.  In the past he has purchased from JC Penney's.  My Brother and Son often go to Men's Warehouse.

I tried, it was a no go.  They told me to take the items back to the store and return them then repurchase.  Yeah, no. It's 60 miles of driving round trip.

It's from JCPenneys and he needs a suit for congressional debate and speech team. He needs a new one every freaking year.  Last year we skipped the jacket for speech, but this is his first year in debate and the coach said he should have one.  $275 for the suit with 3 shirts.  Yuck.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

Sept 22, 2023 16:52:36 GMT -5 NastyWoman said:

Sept 22, 2023 15:09:10 GMT -5 NomoreDramaQ1015 said:

I thought encouragement for good behavior was I allowed her to live another a day. 

Just WOW.  I think we found the poster child for the "entitled youth" movement.

Basically this claims that we need to go from this:
Adult: I need you to behave
Child: what is in it for me
Adult: if you don't I will stick you behind the wallpaper and rub it really well so there won't be any bubbles visible

to this:
Adult: I need you to behave
Child: what is in it for me
Adult: 

When did good behavior something that needs to be bought? Really. I would answer that email by pointing out that I find it morally wrong as well as detrimental to kids if we make good behavior a competition rather than an expectation and I am vehemently against this and I will not be participating in this scheme

[br

Whats in it for you? I'll be generous and give you a 10 second head start.

[Opti]

Sept 22, 2023 16:42:55 GMT -5 giramomma said:

Sept 22, 2023 14:46:28 GMT -5 taz157 said:

😱😱😱

I read your post to DD1 and she wanted to know who approved that email to be sent…

It came from the vice principal.

[countrygirl2]

Dinner wasn't good. I baked the roast forever, still tough. It took an hour to cook some potatoes and carrots, carrots were not done. I told hubs at times this stove doesn't work right. He said I cooked pizza in it and it was just fine, sigh. Well bake a cake or cook some meat and see. He says put a thermometer in it and see what the temp is. I'm not paying $2000 for a stove and we are talking about moving. He says I don't have problems with it. It worked ok for awhile, now its acting up again. He says so don't use the oven, sigh. I said should I call a repair person, no, I will fix it, but there is nothing wrong with it.

Ok it's one of those days I'm not happy. Now he was saying sell the post office, now he is telling me it won't pass inspection. But he is not about to fix anything there?  I said why don't we wait till Monday and see before we make that statement.

I don't know maybe he doesn't feel good or is just being contrary, I don't know. I am going to put the meat in the instant pot and see if I can tender it up. I was looking forward to a good tasting roast, well this isn't one. It sure looked like it would be when raw, I haven't had one in ages. Guess we should have bought it at Odon.

[cooper88]

I'm 100% back in the office (not my choice). My home office has basically become a dumping ground, and a good place to start my fall flowers. I got off at noon for state fair leave, which is granted every year in the fall. I decided to just put on a movie and tackle this room. OMG it's so much better! I even dusted the tops of the bookcases, which I can't even see.

[jerseygirl]

MPL can your son get away with a navy blazer and kaki pants? Our 2 sons went to private school and that was the standard ‘dress up’ . Much cheaper than a suit

[saveinla]

mpl - if you have to buy them every year, you should go to one of those cheap suit places - you can outfit him for 3 years for that cost. It will not look that good, but who cares.

We have one in our mall and its where we used to get the suits for band - 70$ per year for these growing boys is still a lot but much better than 275$ a year.

[susana1954]

Sept 22, 2023 14:46:28 GMT -5 taz157 said:

Sept 22, 2023 11:52:53 GMT -5 giramomma said:

OMG. You guys, I kid you not.

We just got this email from the kids school 

"We are going to have  monthly raffles to encourage good behavior from our middle schoolers. We need you to donate money and/or giftcards to cover the cost."

😱😱😱

I read your post to DD1 and she wanted to know who approved that email to be sent…

Lol. I don't know why you guys are surprised.  Aren't you used to donating prizes and cakes and similar stuff to things like Fall Festivals/Halloween Carnivals where you then pay for your kids to "win" them?

However, I do think, as a teacher, if they had monthly raffles where the parents of middle schoolers could win money and/or giftcards, it might improve kids' behavior even more.  Of course, you'd have to donate those prizes, too.

[susana1954]

Sept 22, 2023 15:57:53 GMT -5 countrygirl2 said:

We have all 3 now with flu and covid shots done.

My roast is good and tasty, I sprinkled it with some steak seasoning and it is good. DD wanted to eat in town, she doesn't want any roast.

We wanted a sati babi and an elephant ear but none of the carnival was open and it was going on 3.  Maybe we can get some tomorrow.

DD had a cheeseburger casserole, I just had a 1/2 salad. It is soooo good, strawberry vinegarette over raisins, cheese, onion, lettuce, spinach, cuke, tomato, cranberries, and sunflower seeds. I love their salads.
Will still have some roast this evening.

I'm getting ready to peel potatoes and carrots, the oven is on and heated.

Bought me an apron, been wanting one for years to protect my clothing and just never did. Finally got a nice one at Walmart yesterday.

Tomorrow morning, to the house and finish.

Is this the same roast that you said below was tough because your oven doesn't work right?

[CCL]

Sept 22, 2023 18:21:39 GMT -5 countrygirl2 said:

Dinner wasn't good. I baked the roast forever, still tough. It took an hour to cook some potatoes and carrots, carrots were not done. I told hubs at times this stove doesn't work right. He said I cooked pizza in it and it was just fine, sigh. Well bake a cake or cook some meat and see. He says put a thermometer in it and see what the temp is. I'm not paying $2000 for a stove and we are talking about moving. He says I don't have problems with it. It worked ok for awhile, now its acting up again. He says so don't use the oven, sigh. I said should I call a repair person, no, I will fix it, but there is nothing wrong with it.

Ok it's one of those days I'm not happy. Now he was saying sell the post office, now he is telling me it won't pass inspection. But he is not about to fix anything there?  I said why don't we wait till Monday and see before we make that statement.

I don't know maybe he doesn't feel good or is just being contrary, I don't know. I am going to put the meat in the instant pot and see if I can tender it up. I was looking forward to a good tasting roast, well this isn't one. It sure looked like it would be when raw, I haven't had one in ages. Guess we should have bought it at Odon.

My GE oven was acting up like that. Just wouldn't stay at the correct temp, but sometimes seemed to work properly. I first replaced the temperature sensor which didn't fix it. Then I replaced the oven control board and that resolved the problem. It's been fine for 6 years now.

[raeoflyte]

I'm feeling good today, but I get tired really easily. I took a percocet at 9pm last night and a couple advil this morning but my pain levels are fine without anything. I can get up and down ok and sometimes there's pressure or a little pinch but not real pain. I really hope my energy starts to come back soon.

I canceled Comcast and we needed to return the modem so we ran out to do that today and I thought I'd put on jeans. I hadn't noticed until then but I am still quite swollen so elastic waist bands are my foreseeable future.

[jerseygirl]

Went to oncologist today and he was thrilled that immunotherapy made such a difference for me. Surgeon was conservative and removed all of colon that had tumor originally. However the tumor had shrunk to almost microscopic.
I’ll get immunotherapy for at least 4 months to combat any residual tumor cells. There’s a new blood test that detects any cancer cells in the blood. I’ll be tested for that monthly for first year then yearly.
So seems I’m on track for living to at least 96 like my mom, nanny and aunts
Very grateful for new meds, good doctors and supportive family

[cooper88]

jerseygirl That's great news!

[raeoflyte]

Sept 22, 2023 19:03:20 GMT -5 cooper88 said:

jerseygirl That's great news!

Yeah that!

[raeoflyte]

I can't wait until I can soak in a tub.

[TheOtherMe]

Sept 22, 2023 13:40:47 GMT -5 NomoreDramaQ1015 said:

Sept 22, 2023 12:12:38 GMT -5 swamp said:

don't just look at the pricetag.  

You may be surprised at what some colleges offer.   

I know I got pretty decent aid from them but I got curious to see their current sticker price and holy inflation Batman. 

I got a really good education there though and it afforded me the ability to go to Borneo which was a bucket list trip of mine so no complaints.

I have always felt my degree from Simpson gave me a good education and I grew up a lot.

[minnesotapaintlady]

Sept 22, 2023 18:35:30 GMT -5 jerseygirl said:

MPL can your son get away with a navy blazer and kaki pants? Our 2 sons went to private school and that was the standard ‘dress up’ . Much cheaper than a suit

The 5th and 6th graders can get away with that, but at the Jr/Sr high school level pretty much all the guys wear suits.  This is the speech team from when ODS was in.  Depending on category, some of the kids from speech can dress down some, but debate never does.  I agree it was way too much though, and I'm not real happy about it.  I didn't spend that much on his other ones, but it was so hard to find him something that fit that I didn't really have a choice.  He's so skinny and tall.  Don't quote this pic because I'm going to nuke it in a little bit.

 

[NastyWoman]

Sept 22, 2023 17:48:58 GMT -5 NomoreDramaQ1015 said:

Sept 22, 2023 16:52:36 GMT -5 NastyWoman said:

Basically this claims that we need to go from this:
Adult: I need you to behave
Child: what is in it for me
Adult: if you don't I will stick you behind the wallpaper and rub it really well so there won't be any bubbles visible

to this:
Adult: I need you to behave
Child: what is in it for me
Adult: 

When did good behavior something that needs to be bought? Really. I would answer that email by pointing out that I find it morally wrong as well as detrimental to kids if we make good behavior a competition rather than an expectation and I am vehemently against this and I will not be participating in this scheme

[br

Whats in it for you? I'll be generous and give you a 10 second head start.

LOL. I like your approach.

Note that I did not even mention that in a school setting this is the perfect recipe for claims of "teacher's pet" and I am 100% certain that those claims will not always be wrong. 

[NastyWoman]

Sept 22, 2023 17:28:15 GMT -5 The Walk of the Penguin Mich said:

I spent the afternoon on the phone with a company that procures visas.  We need visas for both Cambodia and Vietnam next year.  We are under time constraints, and I need to figure out time constraints before I start making further reservations.  

TD decided he wanted to go to Angkor Wat, in Cambodia.  We are only in Cambodia for less than 2 days and from where we port, it turns out that it’s easier to get there from Bangkok (where we board) rather than the port.  Today, I find out that Cambodia does not provide multiple entry visas.  This means I need to submit 2 sets of paperwork (including pics), with different ‘in country’ dates.  We need to get 2 visas each for one country we are visiting about 1 week apart.  Oh, and the additional visa for the additional day is only going to cost $170 each.

As I jump though these hoops, I have to wonder how hard it is to jump though the US visa hoops.  

You really don't want to know, trust me

[cooper88]

Sept 22, 2023 19:23:08 GMT -5 raeoflyte said:

I can't wait until I can soak in a tub.

I've been overdoing it in the yard the past couple of weekends. Soaking in a hot tub, adult beverage on the rim, and podcast playing has been heavenly!

After I had surgery several years ago, I couldn't wait until I was allowed to soak in the tub again. That was also heavenly!