Something about Nothing, come join in........ Part 3

[marciemi]

I think I wanted a girl, but always 'knew' I'd have a boy

I wanted a girl. Three times. Oldest DS I was sure was going to be a girl - we'd had 2 ultrasounds and each time they told us they couldn't see anything. Second DS I REALLY wanted a girl and was pretty depressed when we found out from the ultrasound and when he was born. Third DS I just knew would be a boy anyways - and he was!

Do you ever have one of those days where you just have to deal with busy-work crud? Pain in the butt junk?

Jodie - I'm going to ignore your rant because the rest of us never have days like this! I've never dealt with idiots at the bank, or at work, or at the dentist's office. Oh, wait! Never mind! I do that all the time! I also wonder in addition to how some places stay in business, how the people who work there keep their jobs!

marcie,

to the life of parenting teen boys.

gee, mine starting the pouting way before age 15. looks like you got a few years break in there from the shouting, locking doors type of fun.

hang in there.
you have 2 more to go through that stage.

We actually went through this right when DS turned 14. He was just impossible - to the point of actually considering military school or sending him to live with grandma. Nothing affecting the real world - just the constant mouthiness - "you can't tell me what to do". Lasted about a month, and he's been a good kid for about 20 months. Guess we were due for another dose!

Haven't quite gotten there with DS14 yet. He gets moody at times, but it's much easier to deal with sullen pouting than a kid swearing in your face!

And gee - thanks for the encouragement - just 2 more kids to go!

Cash works best around my house too.

I say the Pats are going to play poorly but still pull off the victory.

In the Giants - Pack game Eli is amazingly not be the one that chokes. Instead the kicker will miss two field goals that could win the game in the last 5 minutes of the game. It will then go in to over time and the Packers will win the coin toss. Even more amazing then Eli not choking Favre will throw an interception and the Giants field goal kicker will redeem himself and kick the game winning field goal.

I know, that sounds really far fetched but it could happen. What do you guys think?

First of all, unlike a few of you, evidently it's never occurred to me to offer my kids cash to help shovel snow! It's more like "because you live here too!" Although we do pay them to cut the grass - not sure why the disparity!

As for your game prediction - WOW - it's like you're psychic or something!

Again, I think you guys were nuts! Glad you had a great time though.

So a snow blower is also called a snow thrower in GB huh?

Yeah, I'd think we were nuts if we lived in Oklahoma too and I read about this weather. Wait, I live here and I STILL think we're nuts!

Apparently the snow thrower thing isn't that uncommon since the last time I went to weather.com, it had an ad for snow throwers (meaning snow blowers!). You southerners may not be familiar with it! (Mac, are you a southerner?!)

i copied this from what lori posted.


"No, being the world's most unreasonable parents would have been not letting him go to the dance they had already spent money on. But if he continues to throw that fit even that would not be unreasonable. In fact if mine had been throwing things around the house the dance would have already been gone. I guess I am the worlds most unreasonable parent. "

i'm an easy going mom but when my boys got out of hand when they were a lot younger, i was the meanest mom in the world. i even scared mr mac.

one winter day the boys were 15, 14, 12 and fighting in the house.

Wait, MY boys are 15, 14, 12! That must be the problem!

And I'm glad to hear you all don't think I'm being totally unreasonable. I haven't really talked to DS since I've been home today (or this morning), but he hasn't been yelling and hasn't even asked for his phone back so maybe he's deciding to back off some! (or maybe he figured out he might not go to the dance if he kept it up!)

I do have to take the time though for a rant myself. Sorry in advance.

Allyson turned 9 years old one month ago. She is very intelligent. She is on a six or seventh grade reading comprehension level, meaning of course she can understand what those bigger words mean. This does not however mean she has teh maturity of a sixth or seventy grader. So I get a note from her teacher the end of last week that says for their reading program this semester she is required to get 15 points each nine weeks. No big deal. But this note also says that she has to read books within her range (900 - 1100). She brings home a book called "Miss Frisbey & the Rats of Nimh" from "The Secret of Nimh". It is rated at 760 and is a fifth grade, eighth month level book. She says that the Harry Potter books are rated at around 920. I'm sorry but I think that is a little much for a 9 year old to be expected to read. Heck what does she have to read to get to 1100? The Scarlet Letter? Shakespear? War and Peace? Geez! Shouldn't she be reading books that have things in them that interest kids in her age group, not jr high & high school kids? Am I over-reacting? I'm going to go have a talk with the school.

Lori - I went through this with Matt when he was about 9 or 10. Seemed like a lot of the books at his reading level contained a lot of stuff that wasn't appropriate for him (ie things relating to puberty, teen sex, etc.). I'd have to scan the books he was thinking of reading to make sure they were okay. Some he really wanted to read, honestly, I ended up buying a spare copy and using a black permanent marker to block out passages or pages of sex scenes that I felt he just wasn't ready for, although the plot of the book would be say making the basketball team.

He also had to do a project in 6th grade and ended up doing it on Julius Caesar to stay in the right reading level. So Shakespeare's possible!

Eric just had the same problem in school as well. They also use those numbers (I'm guessing from what you're saying, probably the same ones). He's in 7th grade, which they say should be around 700's. Well, he was like 1400's, which is college level. (Do they call them something like lexile ranges?) Literally had War and Peace, Moby Dick, etc. on his list of options for a book to read for a report. We went online, searched the books, and basically got the shortest one. It was extremely boring, but if I'd gotten him War and Peace he'd be IN college and still reading it! He's a good reader (in terms of comprehension) but a VERY slow reader!

A) he doesn't want to do it
B) i don't want to pay for it
C) it interfers with our vacation plans...should've heard the gasp on that one.

We used the same argument last year for not allowing DS14 to take the summer school advanced Language Arts and SS option. Especially option C! Definitely option A too, but I guess I couldn't argue Option B was a problem since it cost $10!

 

[RVGal]

not sure whether to say congrats or sorry

you're the 1st person i know that has ever claimed it

tuff even when high deductibles ur self-employed & pay private rates for insurance, eek....makes me queasy

Welllll... when you have a couple of medical years from HELL... it helps. Throw in less than stellar years for the business to coincide with the medical woes and viola'. Deduction.

 

[marciemi]

And I KNOW you're all wondering what I learned at my SPEC conference! Did you know:

High school is a game. And if you don't graduate number 1, then you've LOST!

You MUST pad your resume for college, even if it completely means making stuff up.

It would make more sense for DS12 to take easier classes next year, then go to summer school to make up the more advanced classes, rather than just taking the advanced classes in the first place.

DS12 should already be heavily involved in volunteer work, and should know what he wants to do in high school, college, whether he wants to travel or not, whether he's going to grad school and what he's doing for a living. He's way behind the power curve.

Evidently, since DS15 is IN high school and doesn't know or do many of these things, we might as well write him off now. That's it - he's going to be stuck working at Mc Donalds for the rest of his life.

Can you tell it was a bit confusing of a conference? Oh, and DS came up highest on the Artistic category on their aptitude test - despite that being the ONE area where he really has no interest or ability. Made all kinds of sense! We didn't really resolve the main things I wanted to, which was primarily his schedule for next year. Darn it - you need to figure out what you're going to be doing when you're 25 - that's much more important than next semester!

Anyways, vent over!

 

[loribell]

I got the W-2s done and mailed, except the big master packet that goes to the federal gov't. I'll get that done tomorrow with my bookkeeping crapola.

Good for you! I know that isn't exactly fun.

And stalk away my friend! I would recommend spending some time here (or anywhere) before you decide to move, but personally I love the area and think you'd feel at home here.

I will check it out. I just know I am getting out of Okahoma. So I will go ahead and stalk you since it is okay with you.

Like the For Sale kind of magazines that you pick up for free? Or the kind that real estate agents subscribe to so they know about listings? Or something else?

The free kind. She has really built the business into something great. She gets sick of it but it sure pays good.

I'm good!

Sorry I made you cry again. I kinda knew it was inevitable, but... it was worth it, right?

Yes it was worth it. I smiled through most of it. Those are the kind of memories I want my kids to have.

You are a dedicated homie!

Or an insane

Okay, that is wrong on so many levels. The spelling words thing? Puh-leez. If she gets the words on paper the right number of times and in the right order, who gives a holy hell HOW she got them on the paper??? Seriously! Does her teacher have a humongous bug up his/her butt or what?

And the reading thing, oh yeah... you definitely have a point. There is a HUGE difference between understanding the meaning of a difficult word and being able to handle the meaning of mature reading material.

Well I am so glad to have my people agreeeing with me. Tomorrow should be interesting. I had a mother stop me after school today and ask me to call her. She is concerned about how much homework they are bringing home all of a sudden. Guess I'll be calling her in a bit.


Will do!

I'll be sure to show him. He enjoyed all the other birthday wishes too. Barb's even got an, "Oh MY!" when he saw hers.

I just wish I hadn't missed it. Tell him I was lost!

Just a quick drive by today. The taxes are filed and I'm getting a juicy refund this year!

Hope everyone is doing well!

Woo Hoo!!!!!

Evenin' all.... here to check in and do MY ketchup from the day.....




I think you should win an award for this 'ketchup' job

Alright! What do I win????

is it the dis or me?

i have been trying off and on since about 3 today to read and post here on the thread.


i can not for the life of me to get the thread to open thru my email notifications.

i came in the back door by the UO forum direct.
even then, a lengthy wait to post.


rose, i'll try again to post the links.
i had them on another page and i know if i go to it, i will be knocked out of the thread again.


todd, so glad you are back.
if anyone is giving you trouble, let me know.
i can hurt them.
and i will take bubba along with me as he is the karate expert.

i'll just talk the person to deaf..............

It is the dis. It has been awful all day.

Way kewl! That's good news.

We paid enough out of pocket medical expenses that we get to claim it on our taxes.

Woo friggin Hoo.

Woo! That's always a great.

mac's sneakin in the back door , hurry go open the front door...i couldn't get on either.
yep, i have my edumacational priorities in order ; the peeps i've polled today all gave me "the look" tuff toenails

ds has taken general enrichment courses @ Penn State since he was in grade school. Also accepted into C-Mites/Carnegie Mellon (strict application process; have to pass a test, yadda-yadda).

i've also had to pay for remedial classes out the wahzoo for middle DS (he who scored highest on IQ tests of the 3 ) several years and then sports camps.

i'm done, done, done with it all...henceforth; it's unstructured summers for the youngest (except for tennis camp of course )

It is your decision. It is yoru child. He should only go to things he wants to go to. There is no reason to take an extra math class in the summer unless he fails one. Doens't sound like that is going to happen. Tell em your people said so!

 

[KStarfish82]

Evening everyone!!

Got back from the dentist and have my teeth...this should be it!!!!! No more dentists...but let's not jinx....

2.5 weeks left of swimming!

Cannot wait to get my life back!!

 

[bubba's mom]

No I’m not stalking you though Tricia. We want to get closer to Florida but not in Florida and we want to be somewhere that we don’t have to worry about temperature extremes and lots of bad weather.

I dunno Lori....we could have some fun if we stalked her

I don’t want them cutting in to our summer time either. Of course it doesn’t matter since Mikey has to play summer ball if he wants to play for the school the next year and it is not over until the end of June. That is why we are leaving for vacation on July 5th.

....and seein' ME!!!

Yeah you and Tricia made it very hard for me to catch up. This is me throwing a hissy fit!

sorry (altho, I don't see any 'hissy' )

I have never shoveled snow in my life either. I will also add I will never shovel snow in my future. If we ever get enough snow that it would need to be shoveled I will not be going out of the house until it is gone. Once it is gone I will immediately be putting my house up for sale and moving to a different climate. I promise you, it ain’t gonna happen!

You go girl

My family knows who my buddies in the box are. They completely understand who I am talking about. They do not think I am nuts. Of course if I mentioned it to extended family they would think I was nuts. Then again, I think they are the ones that are nuts.

Wait'll they meet THIS nutjob!!!

I’ll make my pics now -

I say the Pats are going to play poorly but still pull off the victory.

In the Giants - Pack game Eli is amazingly not be the one that chokes. Instead the kicker will miss two field goals that could win the game in the last 5 minutes of the game. It will then go in to over time and the Packers will win the coin toss. Even more amazing then Eli not choking Favre will throw an interception and the Giants field goal kicker will redeem himself and kick the game winning field goal.

I know, that sounds really far fetched but it could happen. What do you guys think?

I dunno Lori....too much of a stretch....don't think it'll happen

Hey I was supposed to make my dining reservations 180 days out. I need to figure out what we are doing so I can get them made. But I agree, who knows what or when they want to eat 180 days in advance.

You better use that "calculator" and make those ressies....don't forget, make more than "one" per night....

It is ridiculous for people to allow their children to behave that way. Mine would not be sitting for a week if they behaved that way.

Mine neither

Mr Mac just needs to understand that UO is how you keep your sanity. Why doesn’t he go with you? Can you not both be gone because of the boys? You are cutting your trip back and I am trying to lengthen mine every year.

Somehow, I manage to succeed at this every year (not that I'm complaining.... )

I am so sorry I missed Bubba’s birthday. HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY BUBBA!

We go through at least 7 gallons of milk a week.

Thanks...he had a nice day and enjoyed himself!!!

And...SEVEN gallons..YIKES!!!! (maybe Tricia will 'loan' you one of her cows )

 

[RVGal]

I hope you can do Daytona.....a much needed break for you!! ....even if it's not "Tricia" style.....

Kinda sounds like a TAG to me

I hope I get to go too, but at this point who knows.

Oh, now wouldn't that be a tag to remember. "I'm always up for a hump."

The free kind. She has really built the business into something great. She gets sick of it but it sure pays good.

Wow, that's great. So, I guess the money is in the advertising? I worked for a real estate publishing company many, many years ago that sold listing books to agents. Insane business.

And I KNOW you're all wondering what I learned at my SPEC conference!

Anyways, vent over!

I just got a flash of those Playskool commercials with Ryan Stiles.

http://www.fanpop.com/spots/ryan-stiles/videos/539831

 

[loribell]

Quick drive by cause this crazy criedt card is killin me cause trying to plan our trip for july and so far all it let me get was 2 plane tickets and called they told me since the airline was charging the tickets 1 at a time that the card thinks someone may have stole the card and trying to run up charges and I told them why didn't it do that last year

That stinks. Good luck getting it done.

I wanted a girl. Three times. Oldest DS I was sure was going to be a girl - we'd had 2 ultrasounds and each time they told us they couldn't see anything. Second DS I REALLY wanted a girl and was pretty depressed when we found out from the ultrasound and when he was born. Third DS I just knew would be a boy anyways - and he was!

And do the boys know this???

We actually went through this right when DS turned 14. He was just impossible - to the point of actually considering military school or sending him to live with grandma. Nothing affecting the real world - just the constant mouthiness - "you can't tell me what to do". Lasted about a month, and he's been a good kid for about 20 months. Guess we were due for another dose!

Haven't quite gotten there with DS14 yet. He gets moody at times, but it's much easier to deal with sullen pouting than a kid swearing in your face!

And gee - thanks for the encouragement - just 2 more kids to go!

Well here is a little encouragement for you. I had these problems with Chris. They started when he was about 12. Michael is now 16 and I have never had an ounce of trouble from him. Just because you have it with one does not mean you will have it with the others.

First of all, unlike a few of you, evidently it's never occurred to me to offer my kids cash to help shovel snow! It's more like "because you live here too!" Although we do pay them to cut the grass - not sure why the disparity!

As for your game prediction - WOW - it's like you're psychic or something!

Well I have never offered to pay mine to shovel snow either. They would have me commited. DH mows the grass. Mikey mows and gets paid very well for his grandparents. He also works somein the summer for his uncle harvesting wheat.

Wasn't that prediction amazing?

Yeah, I'd think we were nuts if we lived in Oklahoma too and I read about this weather. Wait, I live here and I STILL think we're nuts!

Apparently the snow thrower thing isn't that uncommon since the last time I went to weather.com, it had an ad for snow throwers (meaning snow blowers!). You southerners may not be familiar with it! (Mac, are you a southerner?!)

Well I guess we both think your nuts. Guess that settles it.

Of course I would never know what they call them, snow blower or thrower, because I'm not ever going to own one.

Wait, MY boys are 15, 14, 12! That must be the problem!

And I'm glad to hear you all don't think I'm being totally unreasonable. I haven't really talked to DS since I've been home today (or this morning), but he hasn't been yelling and hasn't even asked for his phone back so maybe he's deciding to back off some! (or maybe he figured out he might not go to the dance if he kept it up!)

Glad Matt seems to have calmed down some. Maybe his girlfriend reminded him that it could get worse.

Lori - I went through this with Matt when he was about 9 or 10. Seemed like a lot of the books at his reading level contained a lot of stuff that wasn't appropriate for him (ie things relating to puberty, teen sex, etc.). I'd have to scan the books he was thinking of reading to make sure they were okay. Some he really wanted to read, honestly, I ended up buying a spare copy and using a black permanent marker to block out passages or pages of sex scenes that I felt he just wasn't ready for, although the plot of the book would be say making the basketball team.

He also had to do a project in 6th grade and ended up doing it on Julius Caesar to stay in the right reading level. So Shakespeare's possible!

Eric just had the same problem in school as well. They also use those numbers (I'm guessing from what you're saying, probably the same ones). He's in 7th grade, which they say should be around 700's. Well, he was like 1400's, which is college level. (Do they call them something like lexile ranges?) Literally had War and Peace, Moby Dick, etc. on his list of options for a book to read for a report. We went online, searched the books, and basically got the shortest one. It was extremely boring, but if I'd gotten him War and Peace he'd be IN college and still reading it! He's a good reader (in terms of comprehension) but a VERY slow reader!

There is no way I am going to scan books for inapropriate stuff. She just is not going to read them. Period. End of discussion. If the school has a problem with it, they will have an even bigger problem when the news stations come to visit. Of course if they were that insistent on it I would also pullher out and home school her. I don't want her in a system that thinks that is okay. She is not going to do anything with Shakespear even in the 6th grade.

Yes it is lexile scores so we are talking about the same thing. She's not going to read War and Peace, Moby Dick or any of those other books. For pete's sake she is a kid.

Guess you can't tell I am a little upset about it.

And I KNOW you're all wondering what I learned at my SPEC conference! Did you know:

High school is a game. And if you don't graduate number 1, then you've LOST!

You MUST pad your resume for college, even if it completely means making stuff up.

It would make more sense for DS12 to take easier classes next year, then go to summer school to make up the more advanced classes, rather than just taking the advanced classes in the first place.

DS12 should already be heavily involved in volunteer work, and should know what he wants to do in high school, college, whether he wants to travel or not, whether he's going to grad school and what he's doing for a living. He's way behind the power curve.

Evidently, since DS15 is IN high school and doesn't know or do many of these things, we might as well write him off now. That's it - he's going to be stuck working at Mc Donalds for the rest of his life.

Can you tell it was a bit confusing of a conference? Oh, and DS came up highest on the Artistic category on their aptitude test - despite that being the ONE area where he really has no interest or ability. Made all kinds of sense! We didn't really resolve the main things I wanted to, which was primarily his schedule for next year. Darn it - you need to figure out what you're going to be doing when you're 25 - that's much more important than next semester!

Anyways, vent over!

Again, for pete's sake. He is a kid. And what are they teaching him by telling him to pad his resume even if it isn't true? My goodness!

 

[RVGal]

And...SEVEN gallons..YIKES!!!! (maybe Tricia will 'loan' you one of her cows )

Ummm... my cows are beef cattle, not dairy.

They're the "What's for dinner?" kind.

 

[loribell]

Evening everyone!!

Got back from the dentist and have my teeth...this should be it!!!!! No more dentists...but let's not jinx....

2.5 weeks left of swimming!

Cannot wait to get my life back!!

That is great Katie. I hope this was the end of it.

I dunno Lori....we could have some fun if we stalked her

Well stalking her would be fun but she said I could do it so is it actually stalking?

....and seein' ME!!!

And dd won't be having any divorce dates that willl keep me from leaving when I am supposed to and screwing up my entire plan.


ote][qusorry (altho, I don't see any 'hissy' )[/quote]

You just couldn't see me stomping my feet, but I was.

You go girl

Wait'll they meet THIS nutjob!!!

You're not a nut job, you're my people!

I dunno Lori....too much of a stretch....don't think it'll happen

Trust me! You can bet the farm on it.

You better use that "calculator" and make those ressies....don't forget, make more than "one" per night....

Well I was going to make 3 a night but I guess I could just do 2.

Mine neither

Somehow, I manage to succeed at this every year (not that I'm complaining.... )

I have too. Mikey has seen my 28 day plan and that is what he wants to do. That would be 11 days longer than we have ever done it before. We'll just have to see if there is any way to pull it off. If not this year then it will happen next year. I think this one will probably be 21 or 22 days total. Love my DVC!!!!!

Thanks...he had a nice day and enjoyed himself!!!

And...SEVEN gallons..YIKES!!!! (maybe Tricia will 'loan' you one of her cows )

You're welcome. Wish I had been able to tell him on his day.

Thankfully our little store here almost always has milk on sale and that is what I buy. Today the 2% went on sale for $2.79 a gallon and will be through next Tuesday. I will be buying plenty of it up.

Oh, now wouldn't that be a tag to remember. "I'm always up for a hump."

Wow, that's great. So, I guess the money is in the advertising? I worked for a real estate publishing company many, many years ago that sold listing books to agents. Insane business.

Lots of money in the ads. And only about a week and a half of real work a month.

 

[loribell]

Ummm... my cows are beef cattle, not dairy.

They're the "What's for dinner?" kind.

Yeah they are the good kind! And I'm not drinking any milk straight from a cow. Yuck!

 

[bubba's mom]

Also have coyotes that are getting very close to the house. Had one come in the front yard last week with the puppy outside. Think he was coming for lunch. Fortunately our beagle was out there too and went nuts when he saw it.

& ..... killer beagle image

And with this I am officially caught up! It only took about 10 hours! I do have a life. Really I do! Now I have to go catch up on it!

You deserve an award

i copied this from what lori posted.


"No, being the world's most unreasonable parents would have been not letting him go to the dance they had already spent money on. But if he continues to throw that fit even that would not be unreasonable. In fact if mine had been throwing things around the house the dance would have already been gone. I guess I am the worlds most unreasonable parent. "

i'm an easy going mom but when my boys got out of hand when they were a lot younger, i was the meanest mom in the world. i even scared mr mac.

one winter day the boys were 15, 14, 12 and fighting in the house.
it was a drag out, knock down, slug out fight.

they refused to stop so i called the police.

one son ran down the street barefooted in the snow.
another hid in the basement.
and good son did what he was told and sat on the couch.

they sent 3 squad cars to the house, i guess it sounded like things were out of control at the home when i called 911.

the one that took off running refused to get in the police car when they found him. i was in the car with the cop. once the copper said, i will tell you for the last time, get in the car or you will be arrested and taken to juvie hall.

he got in.


only had to call the cops one other time and then they listened to me better when i told them i had enough of the fighting.


the next day, all 3 brothers were friends again......

and now one of my sons is trying to get a job as a cop.
to think, i had an influence on him with his future career........

Loved the story.... that "tough love" thing has a funny way of working out....

I do have to take the time though for a rant myself. Sorry in advance.

Allyson turned 9 years old one month ago. She is very intelligent. She is on a six or seventh grade reading comprehension level, meaning of course she can understand what those bigger words mean. This does not however mean she has teh maturity of a sixth or seventy grader. So I get a note from her teacher the end of last week that says for their reading program this semester she is required to get 15 points each nine weeks.

Am I over-reacting? I'm going to go have a talk with the school.

Thanks for letting me vent! Any advice appreciated!

Sorry...gotta agree with the others....absolutely ridiculous.... I cannot imagine Ryan reading a Harry Potter book or anything of the such.... even IF she's at a higher reading level like that.....I agree to have a little chat and visit your neighbor if you don't get any satisfaction

Oh, forgot to add the teacher took one of her papers last week and threw it away. She was supposed to be writing her spelling words 5 times each. Well she wrote each one down and then went back to write them each 4 more times. She was supposed to write each one 5 times then move on to the next! Umm, do kids not learn in different ways? Are they not different? I told her it must have been because she wasn't following directions but man was it hard to do that.

Actually, I see both points here.... I see Ally's that the way she was doing it was "her way" of learning....however, the teacher was going for the 'repetition' thing....nonetheless, no need to take the paper and throw it away....especially if she knows how to spell them! She could have 'talked' to her and explained that it was fine this time, but to do it the way she wanted the next time....

I am a very easy going mom too but you have to draw the line somewhere. I remember when Chris was in the 6th grade during Christmas break he got very mouthy with me & I told him he couldn't go somewhere. He proceeded to tell me he was going so I told him if he walked out the door I would lock it and he would not be coming back in. The smart@*** that he was decided to test me and went out in a t-shirt & no shoes. I then locked the door behind him and let him stand out there for about 10 minutes. Sometimes in Oklahoma in the winter that isn't bad but this particular day it was very cold out. He decided that I was right and he would stay home and mind after all.

good for you and your 'tough love'

who received the special family gift in the exchange in jodie's family?
how did they react?

i'm dying to find out.

and


barb, did you figure out my ahem's last night?


penny, tell us what the doc said when you get back from the scan and test.

Yeah Penny and Jodie....I haven't ketchuped far enuf yet....(i'm gettin' there tho!)

and mac.... you 'ahem'ed me last nite? musta missed it?? why did you 'ahem' me?

If I don't get any satisfaction I will go to the superintendent, who just happens to be across he street & I have known for 20 years, and I will get satisfaction that way.

you go girl!

 

[loribell]

I'm gonna go read a couple of other threads before I have to head out to a baseball meeting. Catch you guys later.

 

[bubba's mom]

They're the "What's for dinner?" kind.

Ohhhhh.....the "Chik Fil A" cow kind??? (eat more chikin)

 

[Metro West]

todd, so glad you are back.
if anyone is giving you trouble, let me know.
i can hurt them.
and i will take bubba along with me as he is the karate expert.

i'll just talk the person to deaf..............

I've got it under control...thanks though.

metro - i tried, kept losing my stuff on tax site i use. We do exactly what they tell you NOT to do, get back a juicy return. I consider it my patriotic duty to give the government a tax-free loan. A portion goes to investing & the rest is "early retirement travel funds."

Janet - what helped me this year was I refinanced my mortgage and had to pay a lot in interest to settle the old loan. H & R Block did mine for me...this was the first time I ever went to anyone for help on my taxes. Mine are usually very simple.

 

[bubba's mom]

Just a quick drive by today. The taxes are filed and I'm getting a juicy refund this year!

Hope everyone is doing well!

Hey....that's good to hear....gonna get those brakes now?

is it the dis or me?

todd, so glad you are back.
if anyone is giving you trouble, let me know.
i can hurt them.
and i will take bubba along with me as he is the karate expert.

i'll just talk the person to deaf..............

just don't talk my blackbelt to "deaf"...he needs to be able to hear!

We do exactly what they tell you NOT to do, get back a juicy return. I consider it my patriotic duty to give the government a tax-free loan. A portion goes to investing & the rest is "early retirement travel funds"

Uh....aren't you worried you're gonna have a problem and owe it back??? I'd be scared to do what I'm not supposed to ....which is why my Uncle CPA does our taxes!!

Quick drive by cause this crazy criedt card is killin me cause trying to plan our trip for july and so far all it let me get was 2 plane tickets and called they told me since the airline was charging the tickets 1 at a time that the card thinks someone may have stole the card and trying to run up charges and I told them why didn't it do that last year

good luck Lawrence...let us know how it turns out.... Nothing worse than a surprise problem with your credit card....and you KNOW there is nothing wrong with it.... been there, had that happen my friend

I wanted a girl. Three times. Oldest DS I was sure was going to be a girl - we'd had 2 ultrasounds and each time they told us they couldn't see anything. Second DS I REALLY wanted a girl and was pretty depressed when we found out from the ultrasound and when he was born. Third DS I just knew would be a boy anyways - and he was!

I think you wished SO hard....you jinxed yourself!

 

[Metro West]

Hey....that's good to hear....gonna get those brakes now?

Those have already been taken care of.

 

[AlexandNessa]

OK, I am starting to catch up, but I'm not going to have time to catch up on everything just yet because I am heading in for my last night of work before I start my WEEKEND AT 7 AM TOMORROW MORNING! Woot!

But first, I have to say, Lori, you are my hero .... I cannot believe how many pages you've gone back to catch up!

So here goes:

I do have to take the time though for a rant myself. Sorry in advance.

Allyson turned 9 years old one month ago. She is very intelligent. She is on a six or seventh grade reading comprehension level, meaning of course she can understand what those bigger words mean. This does not however mean she has teh maturity of a sixth or seventy grader. So I get a note from her teacher the end of last week that says for their reading program this semester she is required to get 15 points each nine weeks. No big deal. But this note also says that she has to read books within her range (900 - 1100). She brings home a book called "Miss Frisbey & the Rats of Nimh" from "The Secret of Nimh". It is rated at 760 and is a fifth grade, eighth month level book. She says that the Harry Potter books are rated at around 920. I'm sorry but I think that is a little much for a 9 year old to be expected to read. Heck what does she have to read to get to 1100? The Scarlet Letter? Shakespear? War and Peace? Geez! Shouldn't she be reading books that have things in them that interest kids in her age group, not jr high & high school kids? Am I over-reacting? I'm going to go have a talk with the school.

Thanks for letting me vent! Any advice appreciated!


Oh, forgot to add the teacher took one of her papers last week and threw it away. She was supposed to be writing her spelling words 5 times each. Well she wrote each one down and then went back to write them each 4 more times. She was supposed to write each one 5 times then move on to the next! Umm, do kids not learn in different ways? Are they not different? I told her it must have been because she wasn't following directions but man was it hard to do that.

Lori, I am certified to teach English in Grades 7 - 12, and this is wrong. Just because your daughter can read at that level doesn't mean she has the maturity or interest to do so. First of all, being able to read at a certain level doesn't mean that she is able or mature enough to comprehend themes at a greater grade level. She may understand the words, but not the overall concept.

As for the spelling: the teacher was ridiculous. All students learn different ways, and we were taught to be especially sensitive to that. Unless there was a reason that the teacher gave the directions that specific way, she should not have been penalized.

I would have a meeting with the teacher over these things. I am pretty sensitive to the plight of teachers these days, given the number or helicopter parents out there who try to butt in, but I think these are pretty legitimate concerns, and I would address them.

i copied this from what lori posted.


"No, being the world's most unreasonable parents would have been not letting him go to the dance they had already spent money on. But if he continues to throw that fit even that would not be unreasonable. In fact if mine had been throwing things around the house the dance would have already been gone. I guess I am the worlds most unreasonable parent. "




i'm an easy going mom but when my boys got out of hand when they were a lot younger, i was the meanest mom in the world. i even scared mr mac.

one winter day the boys were 15, 14, 12 and fighting in the house.
it was a drag out, knock down, slug out fight.

they refused to stop so i called the police.

one son ran down the street barefooted in the snow.
another hid in the basement.
and good son did what he was told and sat on the couch.

they sent 3 squad cars to the house, i guess it sounded like things were out of control at the home when i called 911.

the one that took off running refused to get in the police car when they found him. i was in the car with the cop. once the copper said, i will tell you for the last time, get in the car or you will be arrested and taken to juvie hall.

he got in.


only had to call the cops one other time and then they listened to me better when i told them i had enough of the fighting.


the next day, all 3 brothers were friends again......

and now one of my sons is trying to get a job as a cop.
to think, i had an influence on him with his future career........

Is this why the police send you a Christmas card every year?!

i have more stories i can share about parenting.

Please share!

my inherited siamese cat is named tinkerbell

fit him to a T

This totally gave me a chuckle.

So, you picked a stinker of a stock in Ford, huh? I did that when AT&T Wireless stock had its IPO. Was grateful I put a limit order on it to sell. A lot of people lost a lot of money on that! Who knows? Maybe Ford will merge with Chrysler or GM and streamline operations or they'll have the "it" hybrid a few years from now, and you'll be rich beyond your wildest dreams!

i second that request from lori.



who received the special family gift in the exchange in jodie's family?
how did they react?

i'm dying to find out.



and


barb, did you figure out my ahem's last night?


penny, tell us what the doc said when you get back from the scan and test.

OK, first, I have to say, I was totally wondering what the "ahem"s were!

Second, of all people to get my special gift, my cousin got my bag. He said, "Who the hell is Mitt Romney?!" and was annoyed that he'd have to explain to people who Mitt was when they asked about his bag. Since prior to opening gifts, my uncle went on his Bush rant and claimed he was voting for "Baraka," my gift was a little anti-climactic.





OK, will need to finish up later!

But, after my rant (ty for that), I woke up to a full string of emails from all my friends from graduate school. I had been thinking about them and thinking it was time to send out a message to the masses, and I was so excited and so happy to hear from them.

 

[bubba's mom]

Welllll... when you have a couple of medical years from HELL... it helps. Throw in less than stellar years for the business to coincide with the medical woes and viola'. Deduction.

oh.... deduction.... i first read it and thought it said destruction

And I KNOW you're all wondering what I learned at my SPEC conference! Did you know:

i did not know that....but i DO know I'm glad i don't have to worry about it for a little while yet

Evening everyone!!

Got back from the dentist and have my teeth...this should be it!!!!! No more dentists...but let's not jinx....

2.5 weeks left of swimming!

Cannot wait to get my life back!!

How's the new choppers feel??? Got a pic?? How long is the swim 'break'??

There is no way I am going to scan books for inapropriate stuff. She just is not going to read them. Period. End of discussion. If the school has a problem with it, they will have an even bigger problem when the news stations come to visit. Of course if they were that insistent on it I would also pullher out and home school her. I don't want her in a system that thinks that is okay. She is not going to do anything with Shakespear even in the 6th grade.

Yes it is lexile scores so we are talking about the same thing. She's not going to read War and Peace, Moby Dick or any of those other books. For pete's sake she is a kid.

Guess you can't tell I am a little upset about it.

Again, for pete's sake. He is a kid. And what are they teaching him by telling him to pad his resume even if it isn't true? My goodness!

You just couldn't see me stomping my feet, but I was.

Thankfully our little store here almost always has milk on sale and that is what I buy. Today the 2% went on sale for $2.79 a gallon and will be through next Tuesday. I will be buying plenty of it up.

lucky....ours is just under $4/gal here

Yeah they are the good kind! And I'm not drinking any milk straight from a cow. Yuck!

well...no....it has to be that homogenized thing first

I'm gonna go read a couple of other threads before I have to head out to a baseball meeting. Catch you guys later.

WHAT!?!? There are other threads on here??

Janet - what helped me this year was I refinanced my mortgage and had to pay a lot in interest to settle the old loan. H & R Block did mine for me...this was the first time I ever went to anyone for help on my taxes. Mine are usually very simple.

Yep....mortgage interest will most definately help.....altho, we are at the point where we pay more in taxes and principle than interest, so that isn't really gonna help us (...then again, eliminating a mortgage payment altogether in the foreseeable future is pretty kewl too )

 

[bubba's mom]

Those have already been taken care of.

That's good....those are important to have..... so i hear....

Second, of all people to get my special gift, my cousin got my bag. He said, "Who the hell is Mitt Romney?!" and was annoyed that he'd have to explain to people who Mitt was when they asked about his bag. Since prior to opening gifts, my uncle went on his Bush rant and claimed he was voting for "Baraka," my gift was a little anti-climactic.

But, after my rant (ty for that), I woke up to a full string of emails from all my friends from graduate school. I had been thinking about them and thinking it was time to send out a message to the masses, and I was so excited and so happy to hear from them.

Drat!!! Uncle ruined it Oh well....WE thought it was funnie....

Dontcha love getting those kind of email?? Always a nice surprise... Makes yer whole day and puts ya in a good mood!

Enjoy YOUR "Friday"