Parents of the HS Class of 2009/College Class of 2013 - Page 1659

FallGirl · 03-25-2012, 02:45 PM

Happy Birthday to all, family members included.

And congrats on the acceptances. I have my fingers crossed for those yet to arrive.

woody · 03-25-2012, 03:28 PM

D came home from her week in Europe. Had a wonderful time and has already left to go back to school. Way too soon for my liking. S called to say he'll be home for a few weeks in July!! D heard that and just started sobbing - tears of joy. She misses him so much!
MIL not improving much - still not out of bed. And she's experiencing some significant delusions. UGH...

NorthMinnesota · 03-25-2012, 03:39 PM

Oh, woody... thinking of you and hoping things work out for the best. Take care of yourself. So good to hear about summer family gathering! You deserve it!

TheAnalyst · 03-25-2012, 08:23 PM

woody, does your S have another year after his vacation in July or is it open-ended? S1 called a bit ago to wish S2 happy birthday and we all got a chance to catch up. For some reason, Skype has never taken off in this family and phone calls are very rare so this was exciting. S1 sounds fabulous and very adult in his interests. He expects to be in Canada for the month of May and we are kind of hoping he might be able to come down for a week-end, but that remains to be seen.

woody · 03-25-2012, 10:44 PM

Thanks, northminn...
Hi TA - S is signing up for another year. Since he has some experience at this point, he wants to shop around for a better contract. In the meantime, they've asked him to "Go West, young man!" for a few weeks in June to teach some teachers! (Western China, Kashgar, to be exact.) He's thrilled because he's wanted to go there forever (think Silk Road project in 7th grade) and this is a double-the-salary all expense-paid trip. It's home to the Uhgyar people who had some scary uprisings a few years ago. So... we'll see

oregon101 · 03-25-2012, 10:47 PM

Thanks for the warm welcome back. Not sure if I have a graduate for 2013 any longer. He left a message that cut out asking for his passport and social security card as he has a job. He does not talk as a rule...seriously. So we have not heard a word since last Sunday. We left 3 messages this weekend to call.
So MP and FG--you are so right, I am still angry and dissapointed. I know this for sure as I was shopping today at a discount store and as I stood in the check out line I realized that it had not occurred to me to wander through the childrens section. Even I was a little bit surprised and then I thought of all of you and admitted that I really am not embracing this little family. So then I stop at my local grocery and who do I see? A grandmother and her 15 month old grandson. He was 1/2 Caucasian and 1/2 Asian.
Peter is 1/2 Caucasian and 1/2 Korean. So I saw my future. He was a darling child and she sounded like a nice g'ma. I plan on going by Nonni--"little g'ma" in Italian. Not sure about DH--thinking POPS but then we do realize it will be whatever Peter decides.
Give me a few more months!

Woody--hope you MIL has a rebound.

Again, thanks for all of your kind words.

college_query · 03-25-2012, 11:50 PM

Happy birthdays to those celebrating! D's due -date was tomorrow, but her 21st birthday is Sunday, AKA April Fool's Day.

Modadunn, a page back you asked how many classes 60 credit hours would be. If it's the same model as where I attended and where I work, then that would be approximately 2 years worth of classes. Depending on the weight, could be around 20 classes.

Typically students take 5 different classes a semester, at 3 credit hours each. Science classes with labs can be worth more, often 5 credit hours. Full time (federal financial aid definition) is 12 hours a semester. So around 30 credit hours a year, with around 120 to graduate.

It usually corresponds to class time per week. So if a class meets 3 times a week for an hour on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday; or for 1.5 hours twice a week on Tuesday/Thursday, each would be 3 credits.

D's school does 4 classes a semester, and each class would equal 4 credit hours in tbe other system.

arabrab · 03-26-2012, 03:02 AM

D's classes are mostly 3 credits, but language classes and sciences with labs are 4 credits, and there are the 1 and 2 credit seminar classes at times. Isn't that helpful! (But you probably really need to read the school's own information -- our local flagship used to charge you (I think) for 12 units, but that covered up to (something like) 18 units at no additional fee. Now they're going to be charging you for 14 units, and you still won't have to pay for any units above that, at least up to some cap. At D's school there is a fixed tuition amount up through 18 units. (Maybe from 9-18.)

oregon101 · 03-26-2012, 04:07 AM

S--wondering if you think it is best to read the Hunger Games before seeing the movie? I can only think of one book turned movie where I thought the movie was better and that was the English Patient.

kmcmom13 · 03-26-2012, 07:14 AM

Hi all, and cheers to birthdays, acceptances, and other happy times; hugs to disappointments and worries, and thanks for sharing. Speaking of EMPs, iPad is about to die, so I have to be brief

downtoearth · 03-26-2012, 10:40 AM

I cant keep up but congrats and Happy birthdays to all
I read and had my husband read the books before the movie, I think it helped to understand the nuances that the movie cant get in. You dont have to read all, just the first one. its a quick read. I enjoyed the movie but with the popularity of the movie was crowded, and we had to sit too close. The way it is filmed , you need to sit a bit back.

downtoearth · 03-26-2012, 10:45 AM

Oh yes Sabaray will keep you posted not sure what she has in mind. We are working through it. She thought being deferred EA that she wouldnt get in, so now she is rethinking some things. Money, lack there of haha, etc....i would love her to visit it.

NorthMinnesota · 03-26-2012, 11:10 AM

Definitely read the book oregon! It just helps with background. Waiting for H to finish so we can go to the movie.

D2's first university gave 3 credits per class. Her current university classes are 4 credits. All of her classes transferred but she would have been behind on credits if she hadn't had AP credits. This reminded me that she would be graduating this spring if she wouldn't have transferred!!!

The college I attended many years ago gave 1 credit per class. You only needed 34 (I think) to graduate. There were two semesters per year and a January term.

college_query · 03-26-2012, 06:55 PM

Was thinking about the school website with all the errors . . .

Depends on the context, but I have sent messages to webmasters about errors, broken links, etc.

Some places care and are appreciative. Others, not so much. I know I have made mistakes on websites in the past. My favorite was when our Registrar's Office called me laughing hysterically because I left out a letter and it said "lick here" instead of "click here."

Which reminds me of a recent discussion. Let's just say hypothetically, a pastor (not H) sends out emails, newsletters, and other various written communication with typos, grammatical errors, and misspelled words.

I personally find this troublesome and it distracts me from the intended message, because I'm horrified a well-educated person can't form a complete sentence, let alone spell. I know several others who feel the same way.

However, the person who communicates this way contends that it is our issue, and we need to stop being so obsessive and distracted by stuff that doesn't matter.

Part of me understands the point - for example, I know some older members who obsess over the clothing choices of others in attendance. They are horrified and distracted if someone is dressed "too casually" (by their standards). They think it shows disrespect.

A friend (and fellow grammar nazi) would get in arguments every Sunday with her sons, because she required they wear a shirt with a collar to church. I was happy with clothed and out the door, and didn't care about collars.

Are they the same thing? I have completely let go of any expectation of men in suits or women in dresses. Do I need to let go of my old-fashioned language expectations as well?

arabrab · 03-26-2012, 09:41 PM

I was none too impressed when a kid who'd actually lived with our family for a while showed up at my grandmother's funeral in sandals and junky jeans and a t-shirt. With his girlfriend tagging along in a midriff-baring top.

I don't need a suit, but would it really have been too much to ask that someone show up in tennis shoes, socks, clean jeans, and a sports shirt?

On the grammar and spelling: Years ago my brother worked for our Safeway in the produce department. The produce manager knew his fruit, but couldn't spell for beans. Since stores print their own signs, you'd be greeted with specials on "cantelope" or "celry". It made for a humorous trip though the otherwise boring shopping. (The other comedic thing was Safeway's training for produce staffers, summed up as, "If they ask, they eat." "Are these pineapples ripe?" means grab one and cut it open right now to give the customer a taste in response. But what do you do for questions about onions, rutabagas, leeks, or other pungent foods? Remember, "If they ask, they eat!" -- and so if you asked where the red onions were, the produce guy would grab the nearest piece of fruit and cut it open to give the customer something to savor while contemplating the onions. Cooler heads seem to prevail these days. It got so I felt guilty asking where to find anything.)

I've got no tolerance for egregious grammar mistakes from principals or teachers, particularly when it involves terrible word choice errors or grating subject verb agreement mistakes that should have been excruciatingly obvious. And I winced at today's comment by Tim Tebow: "Me and Mark are good friends."

But I'd probably laugh at the mistakes from the minister.