The Chit Chat Chit Chat Thread

[Gabe1]

Hubs has wanted to get a deep fryer for years. It I won't let him because I hate the mess of frying too. Health wise we don't need a fryer either. Oh and I don't like the smell of the grease.

As I look back at life....I look at my Mom and the things I love about her. Still even today I look at the woman that does things to be appreciated according to her... As much as I adore her as a Mom I still can look at some of it all as Stop It. She is 83 and still goes overboard trying to please. And it is appreciated but so not necessary if you understand my thought process, cause we love our Moms. All they continue to try to still accomplish is beyond what is necessary and wish they wouldn't expend so much energy on.

 

[Figgy1]

That is what keeps me from getting more kitchen appliances. If I cannot lift it easily from a cabinet, I won't buy it.

I worry more about having room for kitchen gadgets. If it won't have a home, I'm not buying. That said my dh bought a few gadgets for "his" use. He buys them, he tries them and says the food just somehow doesn't taste the same as when I cook the exception is his keurig and Forman grill. He plays with them quite often

 

[Figgy1]

Good morning and another day of one kid off to music all day I'm going to be playing house ketchup today

 

[MinnieM123]

@donaldtoo , how are the roads in the Austin metropolitan area? Are you able to drive to work? Just wondering, because I know some areas in your outer vicinity were flooded. So I was hoping that you can still get around, since the rain hasn't stopped for days.

According to everything I've seen on the national news, Austin wasn't hit as hard as other communities down there, but that doesn't mean that there were no transportation/other challenges for you and your neighbors in the area.

Please note that so many people in the country are contributing (in various ways), to help your fellow Texans. From Boston, our mayor has sent down first responders, Red Cross vans and volunteers and supplies. He has also set up donation drop off locations in Boston City Hall for people to donate supplies, that will be trucked down to Texas. Some of us at work at stopping by today, to drop off items.

Also, because I love animals, I'm concerned about the burden on the shelters down there, with lost or misplaced pets from the hurricane. If anyone is interested, here's a link I've used for donations to a local pet shelter in Austtin, that is helping to take in pets from the hurricane areas (along with its own animals that are there already). It's called Austin Pets Alive. https://www.austinpetsalive.org/

 

[MOXOMUMD]

4 days until International Bacon Day.

 

[MOXOMUMD]

 

[Figgy1]

View attachment 225648

4 days until International Bacon Day.

Followed by international cardiologist day?

 

[BAChicagoGal]

If you are planning another trip within the year it would probably be cost effective to upgrade to an AP. You might want to research AP to get because some do have blackout dates. I would upgrade at the start of your trip because there are excellent AP discount, almost any place to dine at including the corn dog cart offers an AP discount. And of course there is a discount on merchandise and tours if you purchase those.

You can use your reward dollars and gift cards for upgrading your ticket as well.

Thanks for the info.

 

[Songbird76]

YIKES Thank goodness bikes are popular over there

That's WHY bikes are so popular over here. Bikes and public transportation.

 

[Songbird76]

Playing Ketchup...but wanted to ask, @donaldtoo are you still safe? They've had Texas on the news here every day with pictures of people up to their waists in water, waiting 18 hours to get help, etc. I hope you are ok!!

 

[Songbird76]

Happy both you guys and he got a break from all that. Pixie Dust.

Hope next week is better. Here the world of Dress Codes is taking a national hit.
Basically I am anticipating by the recommended policy....everyone will be wearing whatever they please to school irregardless if it is appropriate or not. God Bless the staff.

Dress codes? We don't really even HAVE a dress code here that I know of. I told DD once that most of the things she wears wouldn't be allowed in the US at school...shorts or skirts that don't come down past the fingertips, tank tops with less than 3 inch wide straps, etc...DD is a girly girl, so she never wanted to wear pants up until this year, and without airco in the schools, kids wear short shorts and tank tops when it's warm. She was so shocked that that's even a thing.
So far this week has been a mixed bag. There was another incident yesterday, but we did talk to the teacher and we worked some things out. And today he had a really great day...he was really excited because he was the only kid in his year who was placed in the plus group for language. He's thrilled. And yesterday he was put in the plus group for math, but there are at least a couple of other kids in that group. So yay.

 

[Songbird76]

Hi all!

Thinking Texas for the last few days.

Been a bummer of a week here from health of my DD issues to loss of life due to health insurance restrictions in America. DD bummed with a colleagues death. Went into hospital with a severe case of phenomena and they released her with meds. So she died. 30 years old. Broke her heart and mine too. Wrestling with the @FutureCEO thought process of move elsewhere. 30 years old and dead because of a restrictive insurance plan. This would be my own kid(s). I am so wrestling. I type this with tears in my eyes. How does this happen here.

So sorry...how is your DD handling it? It seems so ridiculous. I wish they would fix it! My friend in Canada, her US boyfriend, 35 years old, was visiting her and felt really tired. She called her doctor, but because the guy was American and had no insurance, he couldn't make an appointment there...the doctor was nice and told her to bring him in, he'd try to squeeze him in in between patients. They went and he had a heart attack and died in the waiting room. There has to be a better way.

 

[Songbird76]

View attachment 225513

Is that Mont Saint Michel?

Edit, and now I see that was already asked...nevermind. Great minds, I guess!

 

[Songbird76]

And often forgotten is the people who do not have the resources to leave or a place to flee to. Sure they open places after the hit but a destination prior to the hit would be helpful to those who lack family or financial resources to flee. We look back at those who could afford to flee or not with Katrina and thought there would be lessons learned. We shouldn't have pregnant people on roof tops.

Amen to that!! Or Elderly people up to their waists in water, which is what was on our news today.

 

[MouseDreaming]

Hubs has wanted to get a deep fryer for years. It I won't let him because I hate the mess of frying too. Health wise we don't need a fryer either. Oh and I don't like the smell of the grease.

I had all of these reasons to not have a fryer, and then

Enter the air fryer.I think I want one.

 

[Songbird76]

Well DS FINALLY had a good day today. I'm so relieved!! He is still complaining about the noise in the classroom, but at least he did not get bullied today. And he was super excited as he was the only one in his grade to be placed in the plus group for language. I was not really enthusiastic when he said that they weren't actually going to give him the plus materials, but he has to take the plus tests, but HE's happy, so I guess that's what counts. The reasoning is that if he has the plus materials, they have to have a teacher for it, and since he's the ONLY student who qualifies in 5th grade, they don't have the space and teacher to spare for only one kid. They'd have to take up a different classroom and provide a separate teacher, just for him for language. But I asked some questions, and the plus test is the same test, but with an extra page at the end for plus kids, and that page doesn't count towards his grade, so basically it's just busy work for kids who work faster so they aren't sitting doing nothing while all the other kids are finishing the regular test.
DD is confused...her teacher doesn't do plus groups, but the computer program they have for reading comprehension still has her in group C, while her class is doing B. (A is for 4th grade, B is for 5th, C is for 6th, but she has been working a year ahead, so she did C already last year) But the teacher set the instructions for B, so the instructions for the B section don't match the questions for the C questions, so she can't do her reading comprehension homework because she's still set up to do C but it's different stories and she's got C questions for B stories. It's basically like...you're reading a story about heath care, and it's asking you a question about fire safety. And they haven't found the materials for her Spanish yet since the move, so for now she has to help the teacher with the English lesson...same with DS. He asked the teacher yesterday what he will be doing during English lessons and she said they haven't figured that out yet...for now, he can just help them because his English might be better than theirs.

 

[DryerLintFan]

Well DS FINALLY had a good day today. I'm so relieved!! He is still complaining about the noise in the classroom, but at least he did not get bullied today. And he was super excited as he was the only one in his grade to be placed in the plus group for language. I was not really enthusiastic when he said that they weren't actually going to give him the plus materials, but he has to take the plus tests, but HE's happy, so I guess that's what counts. The reasoning is that if he has the plus materials, they have to have a teacher for it, and since he's the ONLY student who qualifies in 5th grade, they don't have the space and teacher to spare for only one kid. They'd have to take up a different classroom and provide a separate teacher, just for him for language. But I asked some questions, and the plus test is the same test, but with an extra page at the end for plus kids, and that page doesn't count towards his grade, so basically it's just busy work for kids who work faster so they aren't sitting doing nothing while all the other kids are finishing the regular test.
DD is confused...her teacher doesn't do plus groups, but the computer program they have for reading comprehension still has her in group C, while her class is doing B. (A is for 4th grade, B is for 5th, C is for 6th, but she has been working a year ahead, so she did C already last year) But the teacher set the instructions for B, so the instructions for the B section don't match the questions for the C questions, so she can't do her reading comprehension homework because she's still set up to do C but it's different stories and she's got C questions for B stories. It's basically like...you're reading a story about heath care, and it's asking you a question about fire safety. And they haven't found the materials for her Spanish yet since the move, so for now she has to help the teacher with the English lesson...same with DS. He asked the teacher yesterday what he will be doing during English lessons and she said they haven't figured that out yet...for now, he can just help them because his English might be better than theirs.

I'm probably more confused than your daughter after reading that, LOL. I hope they straighten out her instructions soon!

 

[MouseDreaming]

Well DS FINALLY had a good day today. I'm so relieved!! He is still complaining about the noise in the classroom, but at least he did not get bullied today. And he was super excited as he was the only one in his grade to be placed in the plus group for language. I was not really enthusiastic when he said that they weren't actually going to give him the plus materials, but he has to take the plus tests, but HE's happy, so I guess that's what counts. The reasoning is that if he has the plus materials, they have to have a teacher for it, and since he's the ONLY student who qualifies in 5th grade, they don't have the space and teacher to spare for only one kid. They'd have to take up a different classroom and provide a separate teacher, just for him for language. But I asked some questions, and the plus test is the same test, but with an extra page at the end for plus kids, and that page doesn't count towards his grade, so basically it's just busy work for kids who work faster so they aren't sitting doing nothing while all the other kids are finishing the regular test.
DD is confused...her teacher doesn't do plus groups, but the computer program they have for reading comprehension still has her in group C, while her class is doing B. (A is for 4th grade, B is for 5th, C is for 6th, but she has been working a year ahead, so she did C already last year) But the teacher set the instructions for B, so the instructions for the B section don't match the questions for the C questions, so she can't do her reading comprehension homework because she's still set up to do C but it's different stories and she's got C questions for B stories. It's basically like...you're reading a story about heath care, and it's asking you a question about fire safety. And they haven't found the materials for her Spanish yet since the move, so for now she has to help the teacher with the English lesson...same with DS. He asked the teacher yesterday what he will be doing during English lessons and she said they haven't figured that out yet...for now, he can just help them because his English might be better than theirs.

Hope more good days are ahead! And, I can see why DD would be confused. That is confusing, and I hope it and the missing materials all get figured out soon.

 

[MouseDreaming]

DS is back to school. It was a little easier to bring him back this year, but still a little sad, too. The house is so empty and quiet during the day. Yesterday was strange. I had to go to the grocery store by myself. No help getting the groceries, putting them in the car, or taking the cart back. And then I have to come home and cook. He was making us some amazing meals.

The good news, he will be back for the long weekend, and already has sent me an ingredient list.

 

[Goofyernmost]

Dress codes? We don't really even HAVE a dress code here that I know of. I told DD once that most of the things she wears wouldn't be allowed in the US at school...shorts or skirts that don't come down past the fingertips, tank tops with less than 3 inch wide straps, etc...DD is a girly girl, so she never wanted to wear pants up until this year, and without airco in the schools, kids wear short shorts and tank tops when it's warm. She was so shocked that that's even a thing.
So far this week has been a mixed bag. There was another incident yesterday, but we did talk to the teacher and we worked some things out. And today he had a really great day...he was really excited because he was the only kid in his year who was placed in the plus group for language. He's thrilled. And yesterday he was put in the plus group for math, but there are at least a couple of other kids in that group. So yay.

I'm not sure what part of the US they are talking about. I went to schools over 60 years ago, my kids in the 80's & 90's, my grandchildren now and none have ever had to have a uniform. There are some but those are "private" schools or religious based schools. Those have had this situation for years. I spent my first 9 years in Catholic Schools and the only one that had a dress code (other then modesty type restrictions) and that was my first year in high school. They do have codes in that body parts have to be covered, but, there is nothing that isn't just normal civilization requirements.