<p>olderwisermom - My hair is also stick straight. No frizz, no waves. I had my good hair days when I was in HS in the mid 70’s when the style was long and straight and parted in the middle. Every curl I have now is due to mousse, a curling iron and hairspray. Thank goodness for hair products.</p>
<p>I haven’t had the heart to mention the Profile paperwork to my husband. He did it last for one of our kids in 2005, but I know it was not real pleasant.</p>
<p>Fog, no apology needed. You’re one of the most empathetic, helpful, supportive posters on this thread, and I can’t believe you were treated so rudely on the finaid one.</p>
<p>I will not be venturing over there.</p>
<p>I don’t watch TV, so I’m not really sure what getting “voted off the island” means, but I can guess, and you’re not even close. Stay here, we’ll try to figure things out, commiserate with each other, and serve unhealthy snacks and adult beverages, as needed.</p>
<p>As someone who’s been self employed since 1989, I take serious issue with the suggestion that you “get a real job.” My little “pretend” job has provided steady work for me and up to 10 subcontractors (except this past 18 months when everything hit the skids), covered all my own “benefits,” paid my mortgage, put food on my table as well as allowing me to generously, and privately, support a handful of charities I believe in.</p>
<p>Get a real job??? Mine, yours, and the other self-employeds on this thread are about as real as it gets. Sheesh! End of rant.</p>
<p>Morning All</p>
<p>MoSB, isn’t that the truth^ I was shocked last year to find out that all of the charitable stuff gets added back. We have been recipient of charitable donations so its near and dear to our hearts and we give generously. Americans on the whole are very generous as a society, far more than our industrialized nation counterparts…so I was surprised the schools add that back too…that was last years rant so I wont start here…</p>
<p>[Soaring</a> Hoover Dam bypass bridge finally complete - Yahoo! News](<a href=“http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_hoover_dam_bypass]Soaring”>http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_hoover_dam_bypass)</p>
<p>These are some cool pics–talk about an engineering project!!</p>
<p>Also–anyone following the Chile rescue. Quite a feat, and they sealed the “tomb” as the media called it…I am sure psycologists and all kinds of social engineers will learn so much from how those men kept their sanity, organized etc. Really such a moving moment–as the tv cameras saw the last rescuer get in the capsule to be hauled to the surface. </p>
<p>We are all happy its Friday in this house. Last night we sent scores to a school…since it was the ACT it was two separate trasactions…as the school asked for all scores. Today kiddo will meet with her advisor to push submit. We will be very glad to have an app out, complete, with essays etc…I wish I could be there to take a picture of it–corny parent thing however since I will be at work today, I won’t be there to see the smile of satisfaction…</p>
<p>fogfog - sorry about people railing you over in FinAid. I was getting upset by a few posts on the “education is a good thing” thread this wk and had to stop watching it, it was just going where I thought our country had moved beyond, but I guess I am just naive. For some people, their humanity leaves them at the door and they can anonymously be obnoxious. My dh is self employed too and I can’t wait to see what happens to us! :)</p>
<p>On a more personal confession note: tired of waiting for son, head over heels in first love, on the homecoming court, spirit week bruhaha…to do his college apps…ok, well I started them. Not doing the personal parts like the essay or question responses, just the data part - account set up, name/address/hs name, courses in this yr. I know I should feel guilty, I should feel remorse, ds should be driving this - but actually, I felt such a relief. He visibly was relieved. It was a good thing to do because in the process, one (never mentioned on their website) kicked out a “recommendation form” which they prefer go with the recs, another said “supply us with emails and we will send them the form to fill out” - his recommendation requests went to his teachers 9/8 and I fear some nice snail mail letter is sitting on a pile at a huge university with ds’s name on it, and they can’t match it up with any file and toss it. His Sunday is blocked for adding in the essays, resume, proofreading and hitting submit.</p>
<p>Fog, sorry you were given such a hard time on the FA thread. It seems to me you were doing your homework by getting an early read from the school. jeez.</p>
<p>amandaK- I will be doing the same thing this weekend if S doesn’t get his act together. He has already given info to his teachers writing the recs, but hasn’t filled in their email addy on the CA or done anything for the three schools who don’t use CA. He has to get the essay finished so I will act as his clerk right now to push things forward. </p>
<p>Well I got to spend yesterday and the night before trying to get my Dad’s credit/financial stuff in order. Someone called him Wed and said they were his grandson (he said they sounded like my son and assumed it was him). Usually story they were in trouble and needed money wired to get out of jail. My Father did try to call me at home but didn’t try my work of cell phone. Ironic thing is S had Wed off because jrs and sophs were taking psat and fresh were doing a service project. Of course, he nevers answers the land line at home, plus he had friends over and they were practicing (they have a band) so he may not have heard the phone. If only he had my Father would not have started down this wicked path. So he wired money to someplace in London. After I talked to him I called my brother who works in the internet security/fraud field and he called Western Union and got assurances that they would put a stop on the transaction and refund my Dad’s money. Then I got another call from my Father who told me someone from Western Union called him and they needed his SS#. Of course, he gave it to them. OMG I could have killed him. (It wasn’t Western Union) So I had to run over to his house, call the credit reporting agencies to put fraud alerts on. Told him to not answer the phone if it wasn’t me or my brothers calling. I took the next morning off work to get his refund from Western Union, move most of the very large amount of cash he had in his checking to an account in my name, removed overdraft from his checking, changed his phone number (he was getting more phone calls from people trying to get info/money from him), and report the incident to the police. Everything seemed to take an hour and half each and I didn’t finish with him til mid afternoon. Although he understood when I left his house to not give any info to anyone calling or coming to his house, I am not comfortable he won’t be scammed again by someone saying they are with the city/police/bank, etc. I also had to tell him to call me or my husband if anyone in the family calls/asks for money. He is obviously easily fooled. And that was one reason I moved all his money in excess of normal living expenses out of his account. I can now view his account on line and will move money in and out as needed, but I want to know when he is spending amounts over 1K or even if he is taking money out in excess of what is normal. He isn’t real happy with the situation, but understands the need.</p>
<p>The funny thing is he kept bugging me all day for my kids SS# so he can buy them savings bonds for xmas which he usually does. I finally told him to just give all the grandkids cash which the parents can put into their 529 accounts or buy bonds if they want. There is no way he is getting my kids SS# now.</p>
<p>mamom - OMG! What a nightmare! So sorry you had to deal with that.</p>
<p>What makes it hard is that your dad is a kind, sweet person who wants to help his family members. And those personal traits landed him in trouble. You wouldn’t want him to change, but his kindness makes him gullible.</p>
<p>mamom, Holy Cow, what a nightmare! Boy, is your dad lucky to have you there to “fix” this mess. Sounds like you did everything exactly right, but what a pain. (Especially this particular month, when you have so much free time on your hands, right?)</p>
<p>Glad you got your Dad and his $$$ taken care of. That could have been disastrous.</p>
<p>Another “self-employed” person here. Ok, it’s dh, and things get really complicated because he’s a pastor. It’s a mix so bizarre that even the CPA firm we use for taxes calls it “weird”. More fun? Sitting with my paltry clergy family’s income in a CPA firm serving people with millions. Ok, that one’s kind of funny. Anyway, have all the tantrums you want. I may even join you soon enough.</p>
<p>This time around, we won’t have to do the profile. Od1’s schools are all Fafsa. Next time around. . . right there with you. I know od2 will be looking at more “name brand” schools.</p>
<p>So, what is everyone doing this weekend? Any plans/goals?</p>
<p>I will try very hard to make my S work on his apps. Ideally, he should have 2-3 applications finished by Monday. He has no school today, but he has his college classes in the afternoon. And I am not at home to nag. So most likely nothing will be done today. Monday is the opposite; he has school, but no college classes. </p>
<p>He has 7-8 more applications to submit and in my opinion, its a lot of work. But he is telling me that he is far ahead his friend in the application process. So, I am guessing, procrastination is normal in his circle.</p>
<p>Lots going on here! Best wishes to everyone!</p>
<p>D fell asleep on the couch watching cartoons by 9 last night. I was keeping my promise about staying quiet apps and stuff, and I’m glad I did. She’s been great, no requests to stay home, hasn’t even seemed that tired, but clearly she needed an evening to catch up.</p>
<p>She has a busy weekend, but she told me how she’s fitting in her ACT prep. Mon-Tues she finishes the reprise of her summer play, and after that we rev up on apps. She needs to start a couple more non-CA accounts and get her recs in order. Then I can order scores and she’ll just have essays to finish. I think we’ll be able to kiss October goodbye in a good place.</p>
<p>Again I’ll mention that in comparing this stress with my college senior’s, I’m in a very happy mood. This kid is going to move into a dorm next September at a very nice school (whichever it is!) and life will be good. It’s the kid who doesn’t know where she’ll be living, what she’ll be doing, how she’ll pay her bills or eat - that’s the one who actually has problems. But on the good side, she’s a grownup and will take care of this herself. Of course I’m concerned for both of them, but I feel very much like merely a friendly fellow traveler. I’m sleeping way better.</p>
<p>Also heard some tragic news this week from a friend that put EVERYTHING in perspective.</p>
<p>Hurray for HS kids having fun and being happy!!! And for those worrying about “enabling” - only you know your kids, and sometimes we do these things. A little boost at the right moment is golden. SO much of their procrastinating is fear, and I know that a little push over the first hurdle can be very much appreciated - plus, as was said, it sometimes forces them all by itself to keep on going with the next steps.</p>
<p>Emmybet: Thanks for putting things in perspective. Although I’m stressed about my daughter’s procrastination on her applications, I am happy that she is excited about her last Homecoming this weekend. After she spent 2 weeks on a college campus this summer, I was really worried that she would hate senior year. It’s been nice to see her enjoying her classes and having fun with her friends. Lots of seniors spend all of senior year with “one foot out the door.” I’m glad she’s not one of them.</p>
<p>It’s od1’s very last marching band competition. She’s sick, on antibiotics, will be marching around in cold (temps swing pretty wildly this time of year - this morning it was 35 and this afternoon will be around 70), not back until after 2 am, and trying to get a voice back for all state auditions on the 23rd. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that the trip doesn’t send her health over the edge. The quarter ends on Tuesday, so there are plenty of tests early next week. </p>
<p>She has to order transcripts for her last app but “lost the form”</p>
<p>I think D went to bed at 5 am. I know that school work should take priority, but do teachers really have to give tests and assign mountains of homework the day after the only weeknight away football game?..the football players, marching band, drill team, cheerleaders, trainers, etc etc all got home for the first time all day at around 11 pm and started homework.</p>
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<p>Two years ago when I was going through the application process with Son, one of the schools had its own online app and the program was defective. (So defective, in fact, that after Son turned his in, the school switched application programs and waived the app fee for everyone who started all over again.) Anyway, certain info wouldn’t save and after Son input the same info twice, I took over the application, working with their tech support (only available during the school day) to get the darned thing done and saved. Yes, the essay was his, but it was me who typed in the name, address, scores, classes, etc over and over again until it could be submitted.</p>
<p>mamom: You and I, and I’m sure many others here, are true Sandwich Generation members. Dealing with college applications and aging parents simultaneously. Ours is a triple-decker sandwich since our older son and his wife (20 and 21) have an 8-month-old baby. We have ongoing health issues with my mom who lives 300 miles away. My brother and I now handle her money online as well.</p>
<p>I heard that grandchild Western Union scam somewhere else recently. When I told my son about it, he said “what the heck is Western Union?” Different generations.</p>
<p>We all need a weekend of no drama, don’t we?</p>
<p>CC withdrawal for a minute there while server was down. LOL</p>
<p>fogfog, I also thought the comments on the Fin Aid thread were rude and overly judgmental. It’s one thing for people to say, BTDT and commiserate with you. But some of them were just raking you over the coals. From what I’ve seen on this board, you’ve been extremely diligent about FA matters and school’s calculations still came in at a shocking number. As I’ve said previously, it makes me very nervous to find out what my D’s FA is going to look like.</p>
<p>Both Ds attended concert last night of hip hop artist they like (Drake). Got home after 11 pm and had smallish amounts of HW/studying to finish. But both dutifully dragged themselves out of bed this AM to get to school- without a complaint. I’m sure they were afraid that if they griped, it would be their last weeknight concert -and they’d have been right 
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<p>Was relieved to learn that both of D’s EA/priority schools had rec’d her test scores (one posted online, one I called admissions office to verify). Now she just has to finish Apps and hope that school sends her transcripts on time.</p>
<p>D’s HS has open house this weekend. Attendance of NHS members is mandatory and they don’t even get service hours for being there. D will be tour guide for prospective students and their families. D was invited to scholar visit for instate flagship. (I am way more excited about it than D is -it’s also my alma mater) </p>
<p>I’ll probably resume working on the Profile. What fun that will be! Wish all of you an enjoyable weekend.</p>
<p>mamom, that’s terrible about your father being victimized like that. It is a scam that has been in the news in my area recently. In addition to making a police report, you may also want to report it to your state’s Attorney General. Often they have an office that deals with elder abuse and they network with other jurisdictions to solve or at least warn about these scams. </p>
<p>It breaks my hear that the elderly are targeted for scams. I’m sure it makes them feel so bad about their gullibility, but the scam artists are so good at their craft, it would be hard NOT to be sucked in.</p>
<p>mamom, what a difficult couple of days you have had! I guess this is a reminder to all of us to talk to our parents and try to make them aware of all the predators out there. A friend was just telling me last week that a similar thing just happened to her parents. Luckily, her dad answered the phone, and when the voice pretending to be his grandson asked for money to be wired to him, because he was in trouble in Spain, and his parents didn’t know, the fiesty old guy said, “ask your mom, I’m not sending you money!” and hung up. Gramma in the background heard this and was distraught – quite obviously if she had answered the phone she would have wired the money. Friend had to let them know this was a scam attempt and to never, never wire money to someone who calls.</p>
<p>Celebration in our house last night. S hit submit on his EA application, and fine arts supplement will go out in mail today. Now we nervously wait for his teachers and counselors to finish their part.</p>
<p>D submitted CA om Monday. Just has one supplement to finish this weekend. Teacher showed us her rec yesterday! I love it. School forms will be sent out next week… So now it will just be waiting… In particular until late Jan early Feb when her top two inform EA decisions. We will hear from a couple rolling admission schools before then.</p>
<p>Thanks for the recommendations on hair straighteners. Sorry for taking the thread on a tangent yesterday - but I did enjoy the responses/recommendations! I will look for the Sedu online.</p>
<p>D has been really busy and in a bad mood at the end of the day this week. So have I! Doesn’t make for good conversations about apps!! We had targeted this weekend to get most of the EA apps completed - we’ll see how that goes.</p>
<p>Question - D has three “matchy” schools - 2 of which are EA (assuming she gets her act together!). She has several other reach schools on her list as well (RD). She has looked at a couple of safety schools - but the problem is that she never really liked any of them. She doesn’t want to apply to UMass Amherst - “I don’t like it and will probably not go there” is her response. She sorta liked UVM - but the price tag there for OOS students is hefty, even with a possible merit scholarship. Clark looks good on paper - but we haven’t been there. All these three safety schools also offer EA.</p>
<p>I’ve been asking her to apply to Clark/UMass EA. She doesn’t want to do UMass - she will do Clark if I ask her to. H is insisting that she do UMass as well - just as a backup. What do you think? Could we leave out UMass completely? Or apply to UMass RD if response from her EA schools is not great?</p>
<p>I wish she could have found a safety school that she likes. She likes all of her match schools and is realistic about her reach schools. I think I’ll be way happier once she applies/hears back from her match EA schools :(</p>