Metro New Orleans DISers - check in!!! - 09/2009

[Where'sPiglet?]

Happy Monday peeps...its COLLLD again. I absolutely hate parading in the cold. I keep going back and forth as to whether I will go to any additional parades due to it.

Bethany thank you for the articles.

I have no comment on the education system in the NOLA area other than that Aly started daycare at 3 months old and has been in Private Schools ever since, which has been 11 years and she has turned out great! Now my wallet is another story.

This cold is driving me crazy too. I'm still waffling about tonight and tomorrow. The only reason I really want to go is because of all the Saints players in the parades!

You're welcome. They were too good not to share!

She has turned out great!

Sometimes I might sound like I'm anti-private or home school. I'm not, in either case. I just think it's important they are a choice and not a necessity.

And in all cases, home school, private school, or public school, it's the quality that is the most important.

Cara I meant to quote your pre-K story. That is disgusting. I too have seen that in action, at all levels of school. And the kids are not unaware, even at that age.

One elementary school I worked at in Denver had a basketball team that played other schools. They came back from the other school - in the same district - talking about their building. It had carpet and AIR CONDITIONING and they thought that it was so cool that a school could have those things.

The even crazier thing is that the students from the school with the carpet would go on to a middle school that I've heard was designed similar to a medium security prison.

Hey y'all!

I'm rising from my ruined house to say hello...just kidding. Well, my house did get trashed (don't worry, no one here ) and I spent the entire day yesterday cleaning it. But that's all I'm going to say about that. I will say that next year's hoedown won't be nearly as large- I guarantee it!

We can try the lottery again next year, and we will be trying three other schools' lotteries as well (those schools don't offer pre-K). I would hope that between 4 schools she'll get into one!

I've never been really gung-ho about formal education before kindergarten because I think kids are being pushed too hard to be little adults nowadays- they aren't allowed to be kids! Childhood goes by so quickly- why not let them act like children and play? But, like I said, everyone acts like its a terrible thing to not start school in the toddler years.

Girl, I am worn out! I am going to sleep tomorrow, that's for sure! We are still fighting these colds, but the kids are much better- just runny noses. I, on the other hand, thought that I had kicked this cold but it seems to be coming back today.

To the guests that trashed your house. What the heck?!? And it was clean when we left...

She'll get in somewhere.

Kids are being pushed too hard. I don't see it as much here than in NYC, but in NYC it was just ridiculous. They wanted the kids writing paragraphs by the end of kindergarten. Why? "Because if we push them, they CAN!" Fair enough...except that only a handful of them actually CAN do that independently, another handful CAN with a significant amount of help from an adult, and the rest are still at emergent writing levels - which I personally see as FINE at age 5 or 6. The school I came from has kindergartners going to school from 8a-6p on some days with no recess and no PE class. Wasn't stuff like this the cause of child labor laws in the 1920s??

Maybe I should go back to school to get an administrator's license and open my own charter school. Then I can keep my soapbox in my office.

I hope you feel better soon!

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

Getting ready to go see a homeschool drama club meeting....just checkin' it out for the girls. YES, we gotta bring the dogs with us. They cannot be left. I love them dearly, they are spoiled rotten but this is getting old. The dogs have not been left yet b/c they bark like crazy when we leave and wait for them to calm. It may be time for muzzles and treats with hops and chamomile.

Whatever you do, don't feed them king cake. They'll turn into fighting ninjas.

 

[portocall]

Hey y'all!

I'm rising from my ruined house to say hello...just kidding. Well, my house did get trashed (don't worry, no one here ) and I spent the entire day yesterday cleaning it. But that's all I'm going to say about that. I will say that next year's hoedown won't be nearly as large- I guarantee it!



We can try the lottery again next year, and we will be trying three other schools' lotteries as well (those schools don't offer pre-K). I would hope that between 4 schools she'll get into one!

Oh no Lorie, your house got trashed. I am so sorry.

I am sure she will will get into one. I am sorry that schooling is such a source of stress for you. I know that is probably why you wanted her to get into a Pre-K in the first place, to have a spot at a good school.

Afternoon, gals!

Terry- if I had worked full time all the way through, private school is where my kids would have wound up after elementary in the school DD12 was in.

Lorie- feel better!

Getting ready to go see a homeschool drama club meeting....just checkin' it out for the girls. YES, we gotta bring the dogs with us. They cannot be left. I love them dearly, they are spoiled rotten but this is getting old. The dogs have not been left yet b/c they bark like crazy when we leave and wait for them to calm. It may be time for muzzles and treats with hops and chamomile.

It's gorgeous today! Thinking of Sheryl and Kathy b/c I am hearing the lines are long........

Lori

Those dog stories are cracking me up something fierce. I am sure they aren't so funny to you though. I hope you are able to get into your home soon so that you can get out and about without them before it gets too hot to leave them in the car.

Whatever you do, don't feed them king cake. They'll turn into fighting ninjas.

I don't want to know how you know that

This cold is driving me crazy too. I'm still waffling about tonight and tomorrow. The only reason I really want to go is because of all the Saints players in the parades!

You're welcome. They were too good not to share!

She has turned out great!

Sometimes I might sound like I'm anti-private or home school. I'm not, in either case. I just think it's important they are a choice and not a necessity.

And in all cases, home school, private school, or public school, it's the quality that is the most important.

Cara I meant to quote your pre-K story. That is disgusting. I too have seen that in action, at all levels of school. And the kids are not unaware, even at that age.

One elementary school I worked at in Denver had a basketball team that played other schools. They came back from the other school - in the same district - talking about their building. It had carpet and AIR CONDITIONING and they thought that it was so cool that a school could have those things.

The even crazier thing is that the students from the school with the carpet would go on to a middle school that I've heard was designed similar to a medium security prison.



To the guests that trashed your house. What the heck?!? And it was clean when we left...

She'll get in somewhere.

Kids are being pushed too hard. I don't see it as much here than in NYC, but in NYC it was just ridiculous. They wanted the kids writing paragraphs by the end of kindergarten. Why? "Because if we push them, they CAN!" Fair enough...except that only a handful of them actually CAN do that independently, another handful CAN with a significant amount of help from an adult, and the rest are still at emergent writing levels - which I personally see as FINE at age 5 or 6. The school I came from has kindergartners going to school from 8a-6p on some days with no recess and no PE class. Wasn't stuff like this the cause of child labor laws in the 1920s??

Maybe I should go back to school to get an administrator's license and open my own charter school. Then I can keep my soapbox in my office.

I hope you feel better soon!

This cold is crazy! It is mid February isn't it.

I am not anti-private school per se, I just came from an area with totally different thinking on them. Where I came from, if you were in the private high school, you must not have been able to cut it, or were pure trouble in the public schools. Our public schools were way better than the private schools available. Now, and this in is no way a slam to anyone who chooses private school in NOLA, because believe me when I say I totally get why one would choose one, but I can't help but feel that if the public schools here had half the parental support most of the private schools gets, there would be a huge turn around in the education in NOLA. The way that the system is currently set up, we leave those high risk kids living in poverty to their own devices in schools barely standing and I won't say that the teachers don't care about them, but they have to wear so many hats that it isn't possible for them to do everything in the time they have with them. Bethany, when you get that charter school going... call me I need a place to put my soapbox as well.

 

[Ms Marigny]

As far as the house mess goes, the worst was that someone spilled something sticky on the floor and didn't wipe it up and it got tracked all over the house. I had to steam clean the floors to get it all up. And someone (presumably male, hopefully a young boy...I hope a grown man wouldn't do this) peed all over the bathroom- all over the toilet, wall, trashcan, bathtoys, etc. So much for driveway peers...this was worse!

Bethany- Yes, call me too when you get your charter school going, soapbox and all!

Cara- ITA about the school situation. The problem is, who wants their kids to be the guinea pigs going to the questionable public school? There needs to be some sort of movement towards sending more kids with parental involvement to the RSD schools... but who wants to do that when you don't know what your kids are going to learn there. It's kind of the whole chicken or the egg scenario...would the schools have to improve first or do more involved kids need to be there for the schools to improve.

 

[MrsSpratt]

Hi, Ladies!

I hope y'all don't mind me posting, as I live in Houston - my husband and I got married in Audubon Park, just across from Tulane - does that help/count?

Anywho, I have a question and I figure y'all would be the ones to help.

I just got the baby in the king cake, so I have to bring tomorrow's. I can't run to Haydel's and pick one up - does anyone have an EASY recipe they would be willing to share?

Thanks in advance -

Jaime

 

[portocall]

As far as the house mess goes, the worst was that someone spilled something sticky on the floor and didn't wipe it up and it got tracked all over the house. I had to steam clean the floors to get it all up. And someone (presumably male, hopefully a young boy...I hope a grown man wouldn't do this) peed all over the bathroom- all over the toilet, wall, trashcan, bathtoys, etc. So much for driveway peers...this was worse!

Bethany- Yes, call me too when you get your charter school going, soapbox and all!

Cara- ITA about the school situation. The problem is, who wants their kids to be the guinea pigs going to the questionable public school? There needs to be some sort of movement towards sending more kids with parental involvement to the RSD schools... but who wants to do that when you don't know what your kids are going to learn there. It's kind of the whole chicken or the egg scenario...would the schools have to improve first or do more involved kids need to be there for the schools to improve.

I meant to put who would want to be the guinea pigs? I know I don't want my kids to be the guinea pigs either. Hopefully someone gets a movement going so that all the kids can get a quality education, not just those who have parents who have the time and smarts to homeschool, or the money for private education, or the know how to get into one of the too few and far between public ones.

Hi, Ladies!

I hope y'all don't mind me posting, as I live in Houston - my husband and I got married in Audubon Park, just across from Tulane - does that help/count?

Anywho, I have a question and I figure y'all would be the ones to help.

I just got the baby in the king cake, so I have to bring tomorrow's. I can't run to Haydel's and pick one up - does anyone have an EASY recipe they would be willing to share?

Thanks in advance -

Jaime

I know Lori has a good recipe. Hopefully she will be around in time to get it to you. If not, I cheat. I use pillsbury cresent rolls, wipe a little melted butter/margerine on the top, sprinkle cinnimon then fold into a king cake shape. For filling... if I do one, it is cream cheese softened with a little splash of milk and 1/4 powdered sugar. Once it is baked. I coat with powdered sugar and milk glaze and top with colored sugar and sprinkles. It is beyond easy and pretty tasty. But like I said, Lori has a real king cake recipe

 

[MrsSpratt]

I meant to put who would want to be the guinea pigs? I know I don't want my kids to be the guinea pigs either. Hopefully someone gets a movement going so that all the kids can get a quality education, not just those who have parents who have the time and smarts to homeschool, or the money for private education, or the know how to get into one of the too few and far between public ones.



I know Lori has a good recipe. Hopefully she will be around in time to get it to you. If not, I cheat. I use pillsbury cresent rolls, wipe a little melted butter/margerine on the top, sprinkle cinnimon then fold into a king cake shape. For filling... if I do one, it is cream cheese softened with a little splash of milk and 1/4 powdered sugar. Once it is baked. I coat with powdered sugar and milk glaze and top with colored sugar and sprinkles. It is beyond easy and pretty tasty. But like I said, Lori has a real king cake recipe

Portocall - I as looking for something along the lines of what you do - thanks! (And I LOVE your handle - wish I was there right now!

 

[lori1043]

Oh no Lorie, your house got trashed. I am so sorry.

I am sure she will will get into one. I am sorry that schooling is such a source of stress for you. I know that is probably why you wanted her to get into a Pre-K in the first place, to have a spot at a good school.



Those dog stories are cracking me up something fierce. I am sure they aren't so funny to you though. I hope you are able to get into your home soon so that you can get out and about without them before it gets too hot to leave them in the car.


I don't want to know how you know that


This cold is crazy! It is mid February isn't it.

I am not anti-private school per se, I just came from an area with totally different thinking on them. Where I came from, if you were in the private high school, you must not have been able to cut it, or were pure trouble in the public schools. Our public schools were way better than the private schools available. Now, and this in is no way a slam to anyone who chooses private school in NOLA, because believe me when I say I totally get why one would choose one, but I can't help but feel that if the public schools here had half the parental support most of the private schools gets, there would be a huge turn around in the education in NOLA. The way that the system is currently set up, we leave those high risk kids living in poverty to their own devices in schools barely standing and I won't say that the teachers don't care about them, but they have to wear so many hats that it isn't possible for them to do everything in the time they have with them. Bethany, when you get that charter school going... call me I need a place to put my soapbox as well.

Amen!!! The way I grew up, the people I grew up around- you went to private school on the southshore. The "bad" kids went to public. I am sorry to those of you who grew up going to public, but in my little enclosed catholic world my parents brought me up in, that's the way it was. I will admit that after my parents got divorced, my youngest brother and sister had to go to public school and they grew up WAY different than me and the brother right below me did.
Now having been on the northshore the past 10 years, I learned from , like, everyone who isn't a homeschooler, that public schools were pretty darn awesome. It really changed the way I look at public schools.

I agree, I think the schools would be MUCH better with parental involvement. I think tnat is why they are deemed so highly on the northshore. They need more of that, but that is just not reality.

Cara- you don't have to have smarts to homeschool, you just have to have that "calling" I guess, for lack of better word for it, and you have to know how to follow a curriculum or use a disc on a laptop. You just hafta wanna do it in your heart, cuz if you are just doing it 'just cuz', you're gonna burn out fast! (like my use of language?)
There are some days that I think I made the wrong decision.

I will admit that I am NOT ready for those high school years and we REALLY gotta get serious for Ash in 7th grade in fall. We're gonna have to plan out the courses and move on it. Thsi is the time I am going to be really needing guidance from other homeschoolers who have been there and done it. But I KNOW I can do it. You know what the cool part is? It's that my kids REALLY did it. I just gave them the tools and showed them how to use it. Ash is a very independent learner. If she stays that path, she'll do fine in college. I flopped college (at first)b/c I went to schools that didn't teach me that. Everything was "Do this and/or that will happen" and that just didn't motivate me to do much.

Anyway, I DID give the dogs the bones with hops and chamomile today and DID muzzle and kennel them while we went to the drama thing, which we couldn't FIND, so we visited the church we think we'll wind up at. They did fine so we'll do that tomorrow too.LOL They are pititful.

Lori

 

[lucas]

Happy Mardi Gras, NOLA!

 

[portocall]

HAPPY MARDI GRAS ALL!!!! Hope you are all having a wonderful day. We went to Grela/BES and had a good time. Now I am cleaning up so I don't have to do it tomorrow.

Amen!!! The way I grew up, the people I grew up around- you went to private school on the southshore. The "bad" kids went to public. I am sorry to those of you who grew up going to public, but in my little enclosed catholic world my parents brought me up in, that's the way it was. I will admit that after my parents got divorced, my youngest brother and sister had to go to public school and they grew up WAY different than me and the brother right below me did.
Now having been on the northshore the past 10 years, I learned from , like, everyone who isn't a homeschooler, that public schools were pretty darn awesome. It really changed the way I look at public schools.

I agree, I think the schools would be MUCH better with parental involvement. I think tnat is why they are deemed so highly on the northshore. They need more of that, but that is just not reality.

Cara- you don't have to have smarts to homeschool, you just have to have that "calling" I guess, for lack of better word for it, and you have to know how to follow a curriculum or use a disc on a laptop. You just hafta wanna do it in your heart, cuz if you are just doing it 'just cuz', you're gonna burn out fast! (like my use of language?)
There are some days that I think I made the wrong decision.

I will admit that I am NOT ready for those high school years and we REALLY gotta get serious for Ash in 7th grade in fall. We're gonna have to plan out the courses and move on it. Thsi is the time I am going to be really needing guidance from other homeschoolers who have been there and done it. But I KNOW I can do it. You know what the cool part is? It's that my kids REALLY did it. I just gave them the tools and showed them how to use it. Ash is a very independent learner. If she stays that path, she'll do fine in college. I flopped college (at first)b/c I went to schools that didn't teach me that. Everything was "Do this and/or that will happen" and that just didn't motivate me to do much.

Anyway, I DID give the dogs the bones with hops and chamomile today and DID muzzle and kennel them while we went to the drama thing, which we couldn't FIND, so we visited the church we think we'll wind up at. They did fine so we'll do that tomorrow too.LOL They are pititful.

Lori

Lori, you do a great job with your girls. I agree that you have to have a calling, which I do NOT have. Well, I have the teaching calling, just not teaching my OWN kids kind of calling. It might just be that I have some difficult personalities for children though. Don't get me wrong, I do teach my children to some extent as every parent does, but all day everyday... without getting a "break" from them, no thank you. So I admire you for that. It does take some smarts... take the credit, not everyone is capable of reading the standards that must be met and come up with a curriculum to get them there. I do "home schooling" during the summers to stem regression but I try to keep that in the form of some internet research, presentations, and field trips. Lots and lots of field trips

Glad you managed to get out without the dogs. Poor furbabies, they are so confused...

 

[lori1043]

I am so sorry , I completely missed the recipe thing!

I use 3 cans of generic brand cinnamon rolls b/c the generic kind untwist and Pillsbury doesn't.
Unroll them and braid 3 or 4 'strands" of them together.Once you ahve a braid lay it in a pan and make more. Keep doing this and meet them up and form the oval or however you want to. Sometimes, if it is a big king cake, i make 2 layers of braids.
Cook accding to can directions. You CAN brush with a little melted butter if you want too.

Keep icing, thaw out.

if you want cream cheese in it mix a cup of cream cheese and 1/2 c to a cup of powdered sugar and mix well.

After king cake is cooked, let cool a little and then use a baggie to put cream cheese in. Push icing all to the corner and snip end a little to use it as you do a decorator bag. Now you kind lift some of the braids a little and pipe icing into it all around the cake. After you get as much of the cream cheese icing in it, then take icing packets from cinnamon roll cans and drizzle over king cake.

Next, get about 1/2 cup white sugar and divide into 3 bowls(if you want 3 colors) and dye each bowl of sugar the colors you want. Gel coloring is most brilliant but you can use liquid too. Just use it sparingly.
Mix WELL, gell seems lumpy at first but it will spread and look right in a few minutes after.

Sprinkle colored sugar on cake- stick a baby or a bean in that cake and serve!

Lori

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

People all over the DIS are talking about having pancakes today for Shrove Tuesday. I have heard NO MENTION of this down here. Anybody know the story on this one? We eat king cake and they eat pancakes?

 

[MrsSpratt]

I am so sorry , I completely missed the recipe thing!

I use 3 cans of generic brand cinnamon rolls b/c the generic kind untwist and Pillsbury doesn't.
Unroll them and braid 3 or 4 'strands" of them together.Once you ahve a braid lay it in a pan and make more. Keep doing this and meet them up and form the oval or however you want to. Sometimes, if it is a big king cake, i make 2 layers of braids.
Cook accding to can directions. You CAN brush with a little melted butter if you want too.

Keep icing, thaw out.

if you want cream cheese in it mix a cup of cream cheese and 1/2 c to a cup of powdered sugar and mix well.

After king cake is cooked, let cool a little and then use a baggie to put cream cheese in. Push icing all to the corner and snip end a little to use it as you do a decorator bag. Now you kind lift some of the braids a little and pipe icing into it all around the cake. After you get as much of the cream cheese icing in it, then take icing packets from cinnamon roll cans and drizzle over king cake.

Next, get about 1/2 cup white sugar and divide into 3 bowls(if you want 3 colors) and dye each bowl of sugar the colors you want. Gel coloring is most brilliant but you can use liquid too. Just use it sparingly.
Mix WELL, gell seems lumpy at first but it will spread and look right in a few minutes after.

Sprinkle colored sugar on cake- stick a baby or a bean in that cake and serve!

Lori

Thanks! I did store bought (not Haydel's...) and it went over great - now I have this for next year! Thanks!

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

Okay....NOW what am I supposed to do with this stuff?

 

[FloraFauna]

Just a quick check in to tell everyone hi. I hope everyone had a great Mardi Gras!! I have to go back quite a few pages to catch up.

We had a great unbelievable Mardi Gras season, but got some sad news yesterday--my husband grandfather died early Monday morning. He was 93 and he has been in bad health the past few years, but it still is sad. In some ways, I hate to say this but it is a relief. He was in a lot of pain and hasn't recognized members of his family for a few years. He had dementia. Please keep Darryl's grandmother in your prayers. She and his grandfather were married for 71 years.

 

[Terry36]

I enjoyed a nice, quiet day at home watching the parades and working on two projects for work.

Okay....NOW what am I supposed to do with this stuff?

Wow what a pile of you know what!!

Just a quick check in to tell everyone hi. I hope everyone had a great Mardi Gras!! I have to go back quite a few pages to catch up.

We had a great unbelievable Mardi Gras season, but got some sad news yesterday--my husband grandfather died early Monday morning. He was 93 and he has been in bad health the past few years, but it still is sad. In some ways, I hate to say this but it is a relief. He was in a lot of pain and hasn't recognized members of his family for a few years. He had dementia. Please keep Darryl's grandmother in your prayers. She and his grandfather were married for 71 years.

to you and your family. I will definately keep you guys in my prayers.

 

[lori1043]

We just had a great dinner at WCC with Bob, Sheryl and Alexis! That lil girl is hilarious. I love her spunk! She and the girls got along great and it took a long time to tear them all apart. I think Haley was really happy to be silly with someone. It's been a while.

Sheryl graciously brought us a King Cake(yummo!) from home and we gave the piece with the baby to the server, "Giddyup something or other". We'll have the rest for breakfast too!

Alexis needed ketchup and so they made us all scream for ketchup and about 5-6 kids brought about 20 bottles of it to our table. Sheryl has the pics....

I brought my phone back from the dead but in the process lost everything on it. I THOUGHT it was all on my SIM card....not.
Gonna beg for my bunch-o-money back from AT&T tomorrow.

Bethany- pack it up and give it to good will or someone you know who rides and has storage. Keep your favorites. Oh, and thanks for the reminder text tonight. It hit me as I was walking in right when my phone beeped that was you. My brain is a foggy place sometimes.

Lori

 

[TigerKat]

Good morning! We got in late last night, had a fantastic trip!!!!! Not sure if I'll have time to catch up here today or not, have tons of errands to run and loads of laundry...bbl....

I'm not sure what happened with my cell phone on this trip. I kept texting Lori & Sheryl but got no answers. I realized yesterday that the only calls/texts I received were from Kyle. Johnny got no calls either and we had full signals?????

 

[TigerKat]

J

We had a great unbelievable Mardi Gras season, but got some sad news yesterday--my husband grandfather died early Monday morning. He was 93 and he has been in bad health the past few years, but it still is sad. In some ways, I hate to say this but it is a relief. He was in a lot of pain and hasn't recognized members of his family for a few years. He had dementia. Please keep Darryl's grandmother in your prayers. She and his grandfather were married for 71 years.

I am so sorry Mary and will keep y'all in my prayers.

 

[kmores]

Just a quick check in to tell everyone hi. I hope everyone had a great Mardi Gras!! I have to go back quite a few pages to catch up.

We had a great unbelievable Mardi Gras season, but got some sad news yesterday--my husband grandfather died early Monday morning. He was 93 and he has been in bad health the past few years, but it still is sad. In some ways, I hate to say this but it is a relief. He was in a lot of pain and hasn't recognized members of his family for a few years. He had dementia. Please keep Darryl's grandmother in your prayers. She and his grandfather were married for 71 years.

so sorry dear - will keep you and Darryl in my prayers