The Chit Chat Chit Chat Thread

[brifraz]

I live in South Central PA here and they now start the school year mid August. It was August 17 this past school year. They are supposed to get out May 30. They never had Spring break even when they started a week later. It was always Good Friday and Easter Monday. My half-brother lives in Australia where their schools operate all through the year as you have described. Their biggest problem is what to do with the kids during the 2 weeks they are off every bunch of months. In this country it would be a mess because many businesses are based off the school schedule as it is. Just my opinion. I homeschool, so the schedule doesn't affect me at all. Our new school year always starts on July 1 and we do 180 days per the requirement, but we generally always do more.

I have a feeling we are fairly close to one another - I'm about 10 miles due south of Hanover, PA.

I totally get the mess that year round schooling would cause when it is first implemented, as with any large change to culture. Every new educational study that comes out finds that brain development and education is seriously hindered by any more than 15-20 days break in learning. But after a quarter century working in public education, I know all too well that the main focus is rarely on what would be best for actual learning!

 

[MySmallWorldof4]

I have a feeling we are fairly close to one another - I'm about 10 miles due south of Hanover, PA.

I totally get the mess that year round schooling would cause when it is first implemented, as with any large change to culture. Every new educational study that comes out finds that brain development and education is seriously hindered by any more than 15-20 days break in learning. But after a quarter century working in public education, I know all too well that the main focus is rarely on what would be best for actual learning!

Yep, pretty close! I have to head to Hanover today actually for 2 kids' orthodontist appointments. I am west of there and it actually takes me an hour to drive on local roads, but he is a family acquaintance. We get a discount so I brave the drive to save some Disney money. No brainer.

 

[brifraz]

Yep, pretty close! I have to head to Hanover today actually for 2 kids' orthodontist appointments. I am west of there and it actually takes me an hour to drive on local roads, but he is a family acquaintance. We get a discount so I brave the drive to save some Disney money. No brainer.

Few years back, I played bass in a band that had the majority of their gigs between in a triangle between Harrisburg, Gettysburg, and York so I know the area quite well! Love those local roads (certainly more than route 30!) and any chance to save money is a chance I won't pass up, for sure. We might be up that way as well if our neighbor team can get enough of our road cleared for us to get out.

 

[MySmallWorldof4]

@21stamps @Cesar R M and everyone else. I got an email from Raise.com today. They are offering an extra 5% off on discounted travel gift cards. 2 of the brands are Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises. They also have Southwest, Delta, and Marriott. The Celebrity were already over 14% off. The RCCL were at 6% . Those percentages are before the 5%. I bought gift cards from them before and never had an issue.

 

[DarthVader]

If you want some of the snow (you know, just to feel good about the kids being off), I have some you can take! They forecast 4-8 inches for us (a few of the outlier weatherfolks said 5-10 inches) and we got about 16 inches of very heavy, very wet snow. Heading out this morning for shoveling number 3!

We've had plenty of snow, this is the 4th nor'easter in 4 weeks. The last one (the one before this) dumped close to 2 feet of snow on us. The first nor'easter 4 weeks ago, caused significant flooding and damage. I may need to demolish my garage because of that storm.

 

[brifraz]

We've had plenty of snow, this is the 4th nor'easter in 4 weeks. The last one (the one before this) dumped close to 2 feet of snow on us. The first nor'easter 4 weeks ago, caused significant flooding and damage. I may need to demolish my garage because of that storm.

So sorry! We got wind and rain and just a little snow from the first three, but this one hit us quite unexpectedly. That first one was tough on us for the wind, a couple of our trees got taken down. Good luck with the garage - that really stinks.

 

[SteveBrickNJ]

As a follow up to last night, I shoveled my wife out. She is on her way to work. I guess I'll now have a relaxing day at home.

 

[MouseDreaming]

If you want some of the snow (you know, just to feel good about the kids being off), I have some you can take! They forecast 4-8 inches for us (a few of the outlier weatherfolks said 5-10 inches) and we got about 16 inches of very heavy, very wet snow. Heading out this morning for shoveling number 3!

Be careful moving that white stuff! Don't overdo it.

 

[MouseDreaming]

Good Morning! Sun is out, with an expected high of 48. You know, what the kids here think of as shorts and a t-shirt weather. Snow predictions keep fluctuating. Just looked. 4-8? I should have known. The boys are supposed to fly back in to town Saturday. Hope it is all over and plowed by then.

 

[21stamps]

@21stamps @Cesar R M and everyone else. I got an email from Raise.com today. They are offering an extra 5% off on discounted travel gift cards. 2 of the brands are Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises. They also have Southwest, Delta, and Marriott. The Celebrity were already over 14% off. The RCCL were at 6% . Those percentages are before the 5%. I bought gift cards from them before and never had an issue.

Thanks! I will Check it out!

 

[21stamps]

 

[21stamps]

Good Morning! Sun is out, with an expected high of 48. You know, what the kids here think of as shorts and a t-shirt weather. Snow predictions keep fluctuating. Just looked. 4-8? I should have known. The boys are supposed to fly back in to town Saturday. Hope it is all over and plowed by then.

Ha ha. That’s so true about kids and weather.

I hope everything is cleared up by Saturday!

 

[MouseDreaming]

View attachment 271694

Very pretty! But what is with that white stuff?

 

[93boomer]

I'm sure this will sound gross to everyone, but we bought the kid window markets for her Easter basket and it made us really sad. It means we'll have to finally wash the nose marks off the window from our dog that died three and a half years ago. If you're waiting for that feeling to go away before getting a new dog, you may never get a new dog again.

Same way with cats! Still haven’t got over losing our kitty 10 months ago.

 

[Mr Ferret 75]

Same way with cats! Still haven’t got over losing our kitty 10 months ago.

 

[Mr Ferret 75]

Hey @figmentfan423 hows the weather ?

Spoiler: Don't hate me :-)

 

[MouseDreaming]

Hey @figmentfan423 hows the weather ?

Spoiler: Don't hate me :)

View attachment 271704

Oohhh! Pretty!

 

[StarWarsGirl]

Same way with cats! Still haven’t got over losing our kitty 10 months ago.

I was desperate for a new cat when I got Belle. We had lost Moxie about a year before getting her. Having had at least one cat around my entire life, it was horrible having no cats. The day Belle leaves will be HORRIBLE, but at least I'll still have Jasmine to get through it. But Belle's 10, so hopefully I can keep her going another ten years.

 

[StarWarsGirl]

Hey @figmentfan423 hows the weather ?

Spoiler: Don't hate me :)

View attachment 271704

Who let you out of the cage?

 

[Figgy1]

I looked at their menu the other day and it has gotten much smaller with very few options for vegetarians and kids.
View attachment 271666
There are 3 flatbread choices, but none are appealling to me. It also had assorted ready to go sandwiches and bakery choices. The kids menu only has nuggets and an uncrustable pb&j We probably won’t go their this trip.