<p>Yikes! How do they justify this??? I’ve seen more problems with curling irons and hair straighteners! They are deadly!</p>
<p>This reminded me of Top Chef the other day. Did any one see the episode where Master Chefs had to fix a gourmet meal in dorm rooms??? Hilarious! But what great food!!! And yes…I think someone did use a hot pot!!!</p>
<p>Count me as another one who had a hot pot in the dorm room (not red, though). It was strictly forbidden by the college, but I am fessing up now. Think they’ll revoke my diploma? :)</p>
<p>So they can cook their hair, but no ramen noodles in a red hot pot? Of course, if they banned Chi’s, none of our local girls could go to college.</p>
<p>In one of the (older) dorms I lived in, we often tripped the circuits (or did we blow the fuses?) on our floor when too many hair dryers got going at once. So, yeah, cooked hair; no cooked noodles. Pity.</p>
<p>Northminn, I saw that episode. I especially loved the chef who cooled his pasta in the shower with cold water and later reheated it in the shower as well. </p>
<p>D’s school allows microwaves and many other appliances but requires “fireshield” brand extension cords and power strips. </p>
<p>And good news, D’s roommate got back to her on facebook. Turns out she met her (and spent hours with her) when she was interviewing for the Richmond scholarship. They hit it off really really well. So, hoping for the best.</p>
<p>We just got back from another trip to Kohls and a very small pack and hold order for BB&B. My jumbo tote space bags arrived yesterday. And D’s replacement laptop actually has a tentative ship date of next Tues. They threw in free 2nd day air so she should have on her day off next week. Hoping for the best with that.</p>
<p>Modadunn–I am the same here. D took so so much and with S it is like I am having a brain warp. He is in charge of all his clothes except undershirts. Told him he needs 2 dozen undershorts and socks. Bedding, hangers. flip flops. bucket. towels. alarm. a very few desk things such as a stapler, pens. (bought way to much for D and he can get locally and then he will know what he has and where he stores them). Oh-some dishes for snack including utensils
and little frig. a few posters and putty stuff to hang. A sleeping bag is nice to have for when a friend visits. this is in my head so far. He says that 30 days is too soon to think about it…</p>
<p>I am amazed at D2’s turn around!!! She just found out she was placed in a larger apartment and will have her own bedroom! She is actually smiling and laughing. (hmmm…is this really my slow to warm kid??? ;)) I am thinking the stress of leaving home (and the boy toy), the distance away, new friends, new team and having to share a bedroom was eating away at her. I know there can still be a meltdown in the next two days but I am enjoying it for now! Made teriyaki pork tenderloin, corn casserole and garlic and gouda potatoes per her request. Looking forward to a nice evening!!! :)</p>
<p>I would LOVE to have your recipes for the above NorthMinnesota. I just finished dinner and that even sounds good when I’m NOT hungry.</p>
<p>Ahh NorthMinn, the boy toy! D has been seeing a very nice young man for almost 8 months now. The original plan was to split when she left for college, but now they’re going to carry on a long distance relationship. I hope this doesn’t interfere with her ability to get involved in college life. Anyone else have BF/GF concerns?</p>
<p>Yes chintzy, my DS has his first serious girlfriend now. They starting dating in March and they are spending a lot of time together this summer (she’s here right now and they’re watching some cooking show–he NEVER watched this kind of stuff before–so amusing). Anyway, it concerns me at some level that he won’t be fully present when he goes off to school and won’t look at the other girls, but of course I have no idea what will happen. She’s a rising sophomore at a local commuter school. I try to just keep neutral. At some level, I’m very glad they got together so he will have had a serious relationship, but not TOO serious! I like her fine, mostly I like the way he is around her–at ease and pleasant.</p>
<p>Here is the potato recipe. Easy to post since I have it on computer:</p>
<p>Garlic Potatoes Gratin</p>
<p>3 - 4 pounds of yukon Gold potatoes,thinly sliced<br>
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
8 ounces of Gouda cheese, shredded and then divided<br>
1 teaspoon salt
3 Tablespoons butter<br>
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
5 cloves garlic, chopped ( I use the jarred roasted garlic) </p>
<p>Directions:</p>
<p>Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Lightly grease a 9 x 13 baking dish. In the baking dish layer 1/2 of the sliced potatoes, 1/2 of the cheese, then the remaining potatoes. Melt the butter in a small skillet. (I do it in the microwave with the jarred garlic!) Saute garlic until fragrant and golden brown. Pour over potatoes. Combine cream, salt and pepper, pour evenly over potatoes and sprinkle with remaining cheese. Bake in preheated oven for 75 minutes. Serve immediately.</p>
<p>I sometimes slice an onion and add with the potatoes. I have also thrown in a handful of 6 Italian shredded cheese just to make it cheesier. It is a VERY forgiving recipe. The cheese and garlic form a crust on the top that is crispy so don’t worry about that.</p>
<p>She wants this salad for tomorrow. It’s a nice summer salad.</p>
<p>Chicken Blackberry Pear Salad</p>
<p>Marinade:</p>
<p>1/2 cup fresh orange juice
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1 Tbsp. EVOO
1 tsp. chopped fresh basil
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper</p>
<p>4 medium skinless boneless chicken breasts halves (1 ¼ to 1 ½ lbs. total)</p>
<p>Combine marinade ingredients. Place in plastic bag with chicken breasts. Refrigerate for 1 to 4 hours.</p>
<p>Salad Dressing:</p>
<p>1 cup fresh black berries
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
3 tbsp. sugar
1 tsp. Dijon mustard
1/4 tsp. dried oregano, crushed
1/2 cup EVOO</p>
<p>Combine first 5 ingredients in blender. Add EVOO in steady stream until incorporated. Refrigerate until ready to serve salad.</p>
<p>Salad:</p>
<p>Grill chicken breasts 12 to 15 minutes until internal temperature of 170. Slice chicken breasts. Arrange on 4 plates with:</p>
<p>1*8 oz. pkg. Mediterranean mixed salad greens
2 medium pears
3/4 cup feta cheese (3 oz.)
2 cups blackberries</p>
<p>S has had serious GF (who will still be a senior in HS) for the last 1 1/2 years. They almost broke it off a few weeks ago. He told me (rarely talks) that he figures most freshman hook up and make mistakes and this way he will not do this as he has a GF. sigh. OK --glad he thought it out but I was so hoping he would leave for college as a single guy.</p>
<p>So instead of the Red Hat Society, we are forming the Red Hot Pot Society. Love it! Missypie,what’s a Chi? SharonOhio and Northminn–didn’t see that episode, but we also used to make grill cheese sandwhiches using a hot iron and wax paper in our dorms. Good times.</p>
<p>haven’t been around here much, busy few weeks–miss everyone. </p>
<p>oregon–I know what you mean. my d just broke up w bf of 1+yrs couple nites ago. She said she knew she didn’t want a long distance relationship in college and wanted to be open to new experiences at college. always felt good when she was out w bf, since he was a sensible good kid. new experiences–sounds so good, in theory. 
I guess the best thing is if they are listening to their own heart, and making choices based on what feels right to them. so overall feel pleased w how she’s handling this transition…</p>
<p>we’re going to vacation near d’s school, Siesta Key–gorgeous beach in Sarasota Fl. Then bring d to orientation on 16th. </p>
<p>Silly little things that remind us they are truly leaving. was shopping in Target this evening, again…saw the cutest college shower curtains and realized d wouldn’t need it in her dorm, but then thought, hmm…why not get it for her bathroom at home. only to have it hit me, duh, why would she really need that. she will NOT be here 
managed to get out of target with mascara intact but it was close…</p>
<p>planning for two family weekends this year…making reservations and plans and feeling well, kind of overwhelmed thinking of having a freshman d, and sophomore s away this year. my little guy (13, 5’ 7") will be missing his sibs. just bought apples to apples and taboo in hopes of playing board games while at beach house for a week. holding onto those golden moments…hope everyone’s hanging in these last weeks of summer and enjoying your children…</p>
<p>NM thanks for the recipes!! I think we may be having salad in the next couple of days now that I see that recipe. Looks REALLY good. </p>
<p>The potatoes will be on the menu coming up as well.</p>
<p>Thanks again.</p>
<p>D’s physical therapy is going and they seem pleased with the outcome of 1 week. They have added several more exercises for her to do and are doing an injection every time she goes to reduce the swelling. Seems to be working. She says she has no pain anymore when climbing stairs. Now some of that could be the Advil and the antiimflamatory but it’s all good. She’s hanging out with her friends more, seems happier now that the pain is subsiding, and is starting to be in a better mood. She has started (all on her own) to assemble some of the college stuff that we have purchased in our hardly ever used living room. Pile is growing and she doesn’t leave for 4 and 1/2 more weeks. Least she is doing it on her own so she can’t say that I forgot something :)</p>
<p>YUM - thanks for the recipes NM - my blackberries are just about ready, they just needed a couple of days above 80 (sorry to you all that are sweltering at the moment) so I will try it!</p>
<p>The North Face Surge (as well as other styles) are on closeout at ebags.com</p>
<p>[The</a> North_Face > Sale - eBags](<a href=“http://www.ebags.com/the_north_face/sale/category_search/index.cfm?N=20030270]The”>http://www.ebags.com/the_north_face/sale/category_search/index.cfm?N=20030270)</p>
<p>My D wanted to go the messenger route so she found a good deal on a North Face Off-Site on ebay.</p>
<p>Just figured out that the great hot pot deal I got for D at BBB is illegal in the dorm (wattage is too high), so she will still bring it and the mini George Foreman I found at our hospice’s sale, just use them in the dorm lounge instead of her room. I told her that the smell of cooking bacon or sausage is sure to attract guys…</p>
<p>Rachacha, thanks for that link. D still needs a pack so we’ll be looking there. I especially like the “will it fit my laptop” feature!</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>You either have a son, or a D with great hair. A Chi is a relatively expensive flat iron/hiar straightener. For several years, the “look” for the middle and HS girls around here has been totally (unnaturally) straight hair. Our family owns three of them.</p>
<p>I watched Woodstock with Son last night. (Actually just the first disc so far - the director’s cut is long…that guy from *Ten Years After *may still be singing.) Son loved seeing Joe Cocker because he knows him from Across the Universe. We kept the computer nearby to look up who was still alive and who was not. (Most of those performers are still with us which is amazing given the amount of drugs they were said to have consumed.) </p>
<p>Most fun “where are they now”: Barry “the Fish” Melton, lead guitar of Country Joe & the Fish, is now the Public Defender in Yolo County, California. </p>
<p>Most depressing “where are they now” (besides the drug deaths): John B. Sebastian wrote the music for the Care Bears movies.</p>
<p>D and roommate figured out how to split the stuff they want. We’ll buy a TV for them once we get to Richmond but I told her to wait and see on the microwave. If they want it I’m willing to purchase and mail order it to them so don’t see why they have to decide right away. It’s easier to add things then to take them back I think.</p>
<p>Just ordered a North Face Surge - thanks for the link! It’s large enough for Son’s large-ish lap top. I had been putting this off because the laptop backpacks are so expensive. Another thing checked off the checklist.</p>