The Chit Chat Chit Chat Thread

[Gabe1]

Plants? Once again, you have enlightened me about things that grow out of the ground! Don't laugh, but I always thought that citronella was the odd smell in "citronella candles". When the candles were lit, the smell repelled mosquitoes, for whatever reason. (Never gave a second thought to what citronella actually was, and that it originated from a plant. )

I put one on each end of the patio where we have a seating area. They too have an odd smell that I really don't care for. Soon I will be spraying down all the bushes, plants and grass with its tough to be a bug spray. They are out!

 

[Gabe1]

I'm with DWifey! I'd be headed in the other direction. But then, I was stupid when I was about 9 and touched a copperhead that I thought was dead....it wasn't. We had pulled the car up and parked and I opened my door and there was a snake. So my mom moved the car but the snake didn't budge. I thought it must be dead, and I wanted to see what it felt like, so I went up and touched it and it rattled. I backed away and my mom ran to the shed and grabbed a shovel and cut its head off. Boy did I get a lecture and I've certainly never had a desire to go near one, ever again.

Oh My!

I read this and my mouth dropped open and eyes bugged out. eek.

 

[Gabe1]

Sounds like a pretty good system, which I would expect in a place like Disney. I will have to do the picture thing every morning....good idea! DS got "lost" in a store once. He didn't see us and he started to walk out the door thinking maybe we already went outside and someone who worked there saw him and stopped him and brought him to us. We've now had several talks about what to do if you can't see mommy or daddy and we remind them whenever we go somewhere unfamiliar. DD remembered it, so last time we were at a park and she couldn't find us (we let them go where they wanted because you could see ALMOST everything from the central table area and they didn't need anyone to ride with them) and she went straight to a family with kids and asked for help. We always said either go to someone who works there, or find someone with kids...a mommy or a daddy will want to help. So she did that, and the family took her to the entrance and had us paged on the intercom and then they waited with her until we got there. For today, I gave her a lanyard with her name, her school's name and our home phone number and my cell phone number and she was going to ask her teacher to write her phone number too, so if she got lost, she can ask someone if they'll call her teacher.
I just found out this morning that DS's trip next week is the same....they aren't allowed to walk alone, but they will not have an adult with them. They are letting them loose in Kalkar....2nd and 3rd graders....who don't speak German. I kind of think this is a bad idea. Apparently they gave each kid a map yesterday so they can look up where they want to go. DS is still home sick, but we went this morning to wave goodbye to DD's group and some of the parents were talking about it...several of them have kids who are going to Kalkar. DD's best friend's mom said her other daughter has never been there...she's in 2nd grade...barely 8 (2 months younger than my son) and she's going to be let loose with nothing but a map and her best friend in a country where neither of them speak the language and can't ask for help if anything happens. DS can speak English, so he'd be ok....he could ask someone to call his teacher as most Germans can speak English. I also worry a bit because they get to choose who they go with and I remember vividly last year going to see them off for their trip and DS was sitting in the top section of the double-decker bus...a coveted spot, which he got because he was one of the first ones on the bus....and no one wanted to sit next to him. All the kids would rather sit downstairs than sit next to him. So who is he going to walk with? Are the teachers just going to stick him with a group and say they have to walk with him and then they dump him at the first opportunity? Or will he find someone else no one wants to be with? Or will he end up walking with a teacher? At least we've been there several times so he DOES know his way around a little bit. Maybe I worry too much, but some of these kids might only be 7 years old...I don't think they should be wandering around an unfamiliar park in a foreign country unsupervised.

Skip the me parent part...if our staff told us as a school board they were turning primary school children loose with a map in an amusement park..........dead meat. They do turn our middle school students loose at Six Flags. Every two hours they have a designated spot that they must meet staff and wave Hi! to make sure everyone is still accounted for. My DD was happy in high school to miss that adventure round #2 for her physics class as we were in Orlando for a school board convention. She looked at their coasters instead.

 

[Gabe1]

Makes one wonder why certain people ever got into education. If they are just going to do everything to derail students, why bother? My counselor was the only adviser for the whole school. He took a dislike to us pretty early on...we THINK because we didn't fit the stereotype and let him be the hero who "saved" us. We were children from divorce, and we were poor, so statistically, we should have been problem kids with bad grades. They started a big brother big sister program when I was in 6th grade and they chose me to participate because I was "underprivileged" . I chose not to participate. The "big sisters" they had asked were all kids who were horrible to my family. Yeah...please sign me up to spend 2 hours a week with someone who hates me and is mean to me. Um...no, thanks. And my brother and I both got good grades and had the reputation for being really good, responsible kids. So the counselor couldn't swoop in and make himself look good by providing resources to help us. He threatened to break my brother's nose once. We had gone in the week before school started to look up our schedules and my brother's wasn't done yet and he told my brother if he heard anyone complain that he said a certain class was offered at a certain time, he'd break his nose. He badmouthed me to someone who wanted to give me a scholarship because I had turned the application in directly to them, as it said to do on the paper. He had given me the wrong date...told me it was due in March when it was due in January. His secretary called me and told me to get my butt in to turn in the application..we drove an hour that afternoon to get it in on time. They called the school to ask for references and he told them I didn't deserve the scholarship because he had told all the students to turn their form in to him and I hadn't done that. But he had done the same thing to my brother with an application for a summer program 3 years earlier and did a "pre-screening" where he decided whose applications he wanted to send and whose he didn't, so we weren't going to put my application in his hands. Then someone else called about giving me a scholarship and he told them I wasn't allowed to have anymore...I had enough, and I would have to turn it down if they gave it to me. Fortunately they didn't listen and gave it to me anyway. That guy was a train wreck to education and our principal was even worse. I'm so glad you were able to help your daughter and that she had a different adviser her senior year. I don't know how many scholarships I lost out on because he lied. I'm lucky I got the ones I did! Sounds like your daughter escaped a bullet! Is she doing her internship now?

My son did an internship but got paid. As I've said many times before my DD and @StarWarsGirl are clones, both wise beyond their years and very analytical, both being able to see through the muck and choose a path that is right for them. My DD was a double major in college and graduated early. She looked at the internships and said nope. She graduated from a very good University that had more pull than any internship would bring. She was right, one of the Universities that she applied to the Director of Human resources pulled her application as he was also a U of I Illini He didn't place her in that position but in a better one. On campus they have an Alumni center where they tend to have many positions posted by other Alumn She put this all into consideration and furthered her resume by gaining management experience in her Park District position over an internship. Sometimes listening to your gut is best.

And yeah my DD first thought was to be a high school math teacher, one of her majors. Over the years she had a few excellent ones but mostly duds. She tutored students in Math and was quite proud to be able to get students to understand when staff could not. She decided to work for a University over secondary cause she couldn't deal with all the negativity Yeah I agree with ya. There are some that need a new profession. Makes me respect the special teachers my kids had along the way that much more appreciated. We have a district goal now of show us how to make it happen vs a presentation on why we can't. It has helped me in not wanting to tear my hair out. My DD had an IEP throughout elementary school but dual Gifted program those two conflict. That is how I came to run for office. Some students with IEPs are beyond intelligent and that needs to be addressed.

 

[Gabe1]

We have an ice cream truck that comes to my college and provides us with free ice cream. The truck also has snowballs. Never heard anyone complain about it other than that the line can be horribly long.

Yep, when dealing with college students they are adults and make adult decisions. That is a luxury we don't have with minors in our district.

 

[Gabe1]

We have an ice cream truck that comes to my college and provides us with free ice cream. The truck also has snowballs. Never heard anyone complain about it other than that the line can be horribly long.

Yep, when dealing with college students they are adults and make adult decisions. That is a luxury we don't have with minors in our district.

Amen! And also if you are involved in a lot of extra-curriculars, which look great on college applications. Schools and scholarship committees want to see well-rounded students...students who have hobbies outside of school and know how to manage time effectively. But the more activities you're involved in, the harder it is to "coast".

So true.

 

[Songbird76]

holy sh...... Id be crapping my pants if I rode that thing. So high!
At first I was like "meh", then it keep rising, and rising, and rising, and then got above the power plant cooling tower...

I know....I won't even go up in the tower, but DD loved it! I took DS on some little boat things while daddy went with DD on that ride. CRAZY.

 

[Songbird76]

My house is going to be over run with teenage boys and their appetites tomorrow afternoon, so first thing in the morning I'm getting a mani pedi to relax a bit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Enjoy! I don't understand the fascination though...most of my friends LOVE getting mani pedis, but I had one mani and one pedi in my lifetime and I hated BOTH. That leg massage thing? OOOOOWWWWW. How is that even remotely relaxing?

 

[Songbird76]

Oh my. Glad you didn't get bit.
But, if it rattled, it was probably a rattlesnake and not a copperhead. Copperheads don't have rattles.
Years ago, DWifey and myself knew some folks that had a child outside that got bit on the face by a rattlesnake. By the time they figured out what had happened, he was in dire need of medical attention. Fortunately, he survived, but, the poor kiddos face looked like h**l for a few years. Yes, a few YEARS.

Wow....scary. Yes, it was a rattle snake I touched, but there are different kinds of rattle snakes....diamond backs ( which this one was NOT) and I THOUGHT we called this kind copperhead, but must not be..now I can't come up with the name. I thought it started with a C, though. I guess a rattle snake is a rattle snake, though, no matter what pattern it has!

 

[Songbird76]

Oh My!

I read this and my mouth dropped open and eyes bugged out. eek.

My mom was quite a woman. It was what was available. I remember when I was probably about 4, maybe 5, when we were still living on the ranch, I was outside playing and there was a rattlesnake in the sandbox. I was in the tire swing, and my mom made me go inside and then she and dad both went out with pistols and shot the snake. She was pretty used to killing rattlers by the time I touched the one. When you live out in the country, it's par for the course.

 

[Songbird76]

Skip the me parent part...if our staff told us as a school board they were turning primary school children loose with a map in an amusement park..........dead meat. They do turn our middle school students loose at Six Flags. Every two hours they have a designated spot that they must meet staff and wave Hi! to make sure everyone is still accounted for. My DD was happy in high school to miss that adventure round #2 for her physics class as we were in Orlando for a school board convention. She looked at their coasters instead.

Well, I'm glad it's not just me who thinks this is completely insane!!

 

[Figgy1]

What kind of mouse ears are you making? Could you post a picture?

I've got leopard print ones with a hot pink satin bow done and if the hoards of boys don't bother me too much I'm hoping to get 2 pairs of black ones done today one with a pink with white polka dots bow and one with a red bow done. I'm also going to make one pair of Tangled themed ones done and one pair of Frozen ones done this week. I'll try and get pics up as soon as they're all done if not they'll be in my official PTR

 

[Figgy1]

Today was our last full day of school, as a reward to the kids that passed their classes and stayed out of trouble we took them to an amusement park called valleyfair. It is a nice amusement park but it is no Disney. We are also currently stuck in traffic on the school bus, magical express it is not. But tomorrow is the last day and I only have to stay until around one. Yay!​

Congrats and thank you for being a teacher!

 

[Figgy1]

So glad tomorrow is Friday. Looking forward to a relaxing weekend. Might go to the pool.

The one we belong to doesn't reopen for a couple of more weeks It's going to be near 90 tomorrow and no pool

 

[Figgy1]

I had MRI today and will get results tomorrow. I have full range of motion, it's just weightbearing that hurts. I'll be in the brace for another few weeks.

Good luck I hope you're all better soon and brace free

 

[Figgy1]

@figmentfan423 1982 Epcot Dreamfinder with Figment mug. My 99 cent find.

Very cool!

 

[Figgy1]

My son did an internship but got paid. As I've said many times before my DD and @StarWarsGirl are clones, both wise beyond their years and very analytical, both being able to see through the muck and choose a path that is right for them. My DD was a double major in college and graduated early. She looked at the internships and said nope. She graduated from a very good University that had more pull than any internship would bring. She was right, one of the Universities that she applied to the Director of Human resources pulled her application as he was also a U of I Illini He didn't place her in that position but in a better one. On campus they have an Alumni center where they tend to have many positions posted by other Alumn She put this all into consideration and furthered her resume by gaining management experience in her Park District position over an internship. Sometimes listening to your gut is best.

And yeah my DD first thought was to be a high school math teacher, one of her majors. Over the years she had a few excellent ones but mostly duds. She tutored students in Math and was quite proud to be able to get students to understand when staff could not. She decided to work for a University over secondary cause she couldn't deal with all the negativity Yeah I agree with ya. There are some that need a new profession. Makes me respect the special teachers my kids had along the way that much more appreciated. We have a district goal now of show us how to make it happen vs a presentation on why we can't. It has helped me in not wanting to tear my hair out. My DD had an IEP throughout elementary school but dual Gifted program those two conflict. That is how I came to run for office. Some students with IEPs are beyond intelligent and that needs to be addressed.

Amen

 

[Figgy1]

Enjoy! I don't understand the fascination though...most of my friends LOVE getting mani pedis, but I had one mani and one pedi in my lifetime and I hated BOTH. That leg massage thing? OOOOOWWWWW. How is that even remotely relaxing?

I guess it's a love it or hate it type of thing. The place I go has massage chairs and I know exactly what setting works for me besides my toes are in flip flops all summer and I don't need to scare small children with icky feet I also have and have always had thin nails. THNX mom, grandma and so on and so on. I have gel overlay on my nails so I can have a bit of nail

 

[MinnieM123]

Went to American Psycho the musical tonight (saw it before, but got another ticket tonight because it closes on Sunday)View attachment 144526 . It's really amazing.

I'm not supposed to post a pic of the set, but it is only playing for a few more days so.....

View attachment 144527
All white - ready for lots of amazing projections (nominated for Tony Award) and lots of blood.
View attachment 144528
And here's a video from the show. I feel like I already posted this somewhere, but in case not ------ because this show is freaking amazing:

I really like the lighting effects in that clip--very stylish.

 

[MinnieM123]

Nope. Banned.

It actually started with a parent claiming it was unfair for her DD to have to watch other kids eat ice cream and she could not. Out went the ice cream truck. Then a family with religious thoughts on the topic of hot dogs. There were alternative foods made available to fit their diet requirements but that made them 'different.'

Good grief, this is beyond pathetic. As I see it, this is a trend toward (some) people becoming more and more selfish. What ever happened to people being gracious about the fact that perhaps they, themselves, could not indulge in (for example) ice cream, or other foods--yet, being generous enough to be happy for others? I think the comment that disgusted me the most was when provisions were made to include some alternative foods, and yet some people felt they were being labelled 'different'? OH PLEASE . . . !!!

I wish that the picnics went on, regardless, as it sounds to me that the majority of people had no issues at all and wanted to have a good time. The problem is that the people who want to spoil everything for others are winning these types of battles, and it's infuriating. However, I figure that in our litigious society, your school system had no choice but to shut this down.