<p>Well, taxes just got back from the Accountant tonight. It’s the one and only time I’m thrilled my business had a horrible year last year. I look positively destitute on paper, and I’m just thrilled about it!</p>
<p>Saturday, Scholarship Day at school 3.5 hrs away. Need to be there by 8:30 am, but decided to get up super early and do it in one day. The B&B bills are adding up.</p>
<p>Then home Sunday for a marathon FAFSA/Profile extravaganza. Sb says she’s cooking me something wonderful for dinner. Amen to that!</p>
<p>Monday we get up early again and drive to another 3.5-hour-away school for vocal audition, classes, and choir rehearsal observation.</p>
<p>I am in bed, pretending I don’t feel a sore throat coming on.</p>
<p>For those of you sending children to less balmier climes than those to which they are accustomed, I suggest:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Buy multi-part integrated sets, with a high-dernier breathable waterproof outer layer, and an inner quilted layer with removable sleeves that can be used as just a vest. My favorites among the general manufacturers are Columbia, Mountain Hardware (which has an extra-tough abrasion-resistant outer layer that can go through brush and slip past rocks) and Marmot. Sierra Trading Company tends to have the best discounts online, and it is worth looking at other companies like REI. However, I have found that the equestrian companies make a better product, at least for women - Mountain Horse and Ariat are always good value, and have larger hoods than standard jackets and gussets in the hems that allow for more movement. I usually shop at Dover Saddlery and State Line Tack.</p></li>
<li><p>Rain boots don’t to me have much point. They do not breathe, have no ankle support, and are useless when walking on anything but pavement. They also split easily, and duct tape doesn’t go with most of the colorful patterns. I have found through years of outdoor sports that a very good waterproof breathable-liner laced hiking boot is much more useful, and they last forever. Vasque is always excellent. Ariat makes very good boots that are more like a high-topped tennis shoe if the true hiking boots are too heavy.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Regarding prom dresses - I believe that consignment shops are the very best way to go, and next to that, Ebay. Even better than a dress, however, are evening separates - with careful choice of style, color, fabric and accessories, one can build a wardrobe of evening outfits that can be worn in different combinations for events from dressy to white tie for a lifetime. Our daughters are getting old enough that they may want to think about acquiring pieces that will take them beyond college.</p>
<p>MOSB: hang in there – you, Emmybet, and others in the audition arena are in the final stretch and we’re all rooting for you. I can’t imagine adding your workloads/trips on top of the rest of this process; my admiration for you and your kids runs deep.</p>
<p>i still need to catch up on at least a week’s worth of postings on this thread. have been w/ my mom the last few days arranging physical therapy, acupuncture appointments. taking her to a few places so that she can choose where she feels most comfortable. meanwhile, one son is on break while the other only had mon/tues off. hard to juggle everybody’s needs/schedules. </p>
<p>also beginning to feel waiting anxiety. was fine until just this week but now am beginning to feel uneasy about S hearing back from deferred ED school and if it doesn’t come through, concerned about him only having a month to sort through his other acceptances. intellectually, i know that it will all get done by may 1, hopefully (waitlists?-yikes), but i’m bracing for a possibly intense 6 weeks from mid-march through may 1, hearing from other reach/match schools and then figuring out where in the end he actually wants to go and where it makes most sense.</p>
<p>The forecast here for Friday is a winter storm warning with 7 - 12 inches of snow beginning around 3 AM. Looks like another snow day for the kids. This will be #5 for S this year and #4 for 9th grade D who is at a private girls HS. S was off this past Tuesday because the bus fleet supervisor for the local city school district never had anyone check the busses and we had an ice storm the night before (President’s day) and they couldn’t get any of the bus doors open! Our local system was the only district in the surrounding 3 counties that was off. You can imagine that the local press is having a lot of fun with this one.</p>
<p>I casually suggested to S that he will have a day to work on a couple of longer scholarship essays that he was going to pass on due to lack of time and I got that wonderful teenager stare back at me. Said he was going to sleep in until noon and then head to baseball practice which they seem to have whether school is on or off. We are pretty sure he is just about burned out regarding scholarship apps and essays.</p>
<p>DW and I will be so happy when we at least know where we will have to travel to in April for the admitted student sessions. Unfortunately, except for the two state safeties, the schools he applied to are all 6 to 12+ hour drives and one is a cross country flight. This waiting seems worse than waiting for Christmas when I was 5 years old. I am pretty sure its worse for us parents than for the kids.</p>
<p>I will post the Friday countdown after I clear the driveway in the morning.</p>
<p>Ds didn’t get the big scholarship that would make Michigan affordable…(did you hear the collective sigh out of NJ last night?) don’t know why this had become the dream school for ds in the last few weeks. I think the whole reaction by peers to his other choices being “safety” schools played into it. But, he did the last minute scholarship app, without much thought or dedication so…“I told you so” is soooo waiting on my tongue but I will direct that to the dogs, because he (for once) looks stressed over the disappointment. His best bud is on the road with those music auditions going round the country…he’s going to my alma mater this weekend (finally someone who appreciates small town, small school). Ohio has snow yes? We got all rain but the backyard is still covered with snow/icepack. Waiting for April to see my grass I suppose. Is it too late to establish residency in MI?</p>
<p>AK-sorry to read that. I hope he is able to make peace with his other choices. Is he going to visit/revisit any of them? An overnight stay might make them more appealing.</p>
<p>Amanda: I’m sorry about the Michigan scholarship. Michigan’s OOS tuition is shocking. Mamom has a good suggestion about having your son visit some of his more affordable choices. Schools really try to woo kids at the Accepted Student programs, so one of those might get him more excited. It’s hard for kids to block out the peer pressure.</p>
<p>MOSB and Emmybet: Good luck to your daughters at their auditions. It sounds exhausting but fun. Enjoy this time together.</p>
<p>Madbean: Our trip to Europe was amazing. I’m sorry you won’t get to go. Maybe you can get there when S2 studies abroad.</p>
<p>AvonHSDad: so sorry that we sent that snow from Missouri to Ohio. We got 7 inches yesterday. Two hour early out yesterday and now no school today. It is snow day #9 for us. I’m going to guess we lost the Monday after Easter day off with this one. We’ve already added two days at the end of year. The state legislature may give everyone a reprieve. We’ll see.</p>
<p>I suggested last night that today would be a good day to finish the final three local scholarship essays and got that same stare. He can recycle some previous essays for two of them. But one is very specific–for the state association of building code inspectors. (Husband is a member.) He has to write at least 500 words about the new national fire code requiring sprinkler systems in new residential construction!</p>
<p>Amanda: sorry for the disappointment. Michigan OOS is a chunk of money. My mom has a home in Michigan and both boys considered U-M but she didn’t want to claim them as depedents! About that grass…we saw it for a week and it was glorious, even if it was brown.</p>
<p>Morning All,
Glad to hear the various news, the good, bad an ugly as they say…still at least with more news/info we can make better decisions.
We wont have finaid worked out yet—until later as the taxes come into play and we wont have final package number for awhile…the acct called to ask questions so we do know they are working on our packages. Like MOSB we are self employed and the returns are complicated. </p>
<p>As far as prom–kiddo has an out of town event (several srs are in same predicament/at same event) and so we need to consider how on earth to swing this. I have pitched a idea to kiddo for a “prom alternative” celebration for another weekend…just to plant the idea if the situation isn’t doable.</p>
<p>Sorry to hear about more snowy weather for some…our area is getting spotty spring weather…so the pollen suffering has begun.</p>
<p>Sorry to hear about the scholarship decision AK, it is always hard.</p>
<p>For us, it is easier that one school did not give dd a full scholarship since now we feel better about her not going. There were good things about the school but it isn’t the best fit for her and the only reason it was still in consideration was based if she got a full scholarship. SHe did get a very good one but not enough to sway her to the school. </p>
<p>So we are down to 7 admits, 3 still waiting with 3 of the admits out of consideration now. </p>
<p>Last weeks visit to MN and St. Olaf’s was interesting. All the other members of the family loved it (H, younger d, and myself). D is not so sure but hasn’t ruled it out. Yes, weather is part of it but also some things we think are just not important. They don;t have ROTC nor a military base nearby (though we did point out that there was a National Guard unit in town plus a Reserve base about 30 miles down the road). (No, she isn’t joining the military because of health reasons but since she has lived her whole life as a military kid, she feels very reluctant to leave that). She also wasn’t sure that the students were enough like her. What we liked- her 2 classes she attended were very good, according to her. THe books in the book store were at an appropriate level. The students were studying on Friday late afternoon. The food was excellent. Her overnight visit was spent going to a lecture on Sami people of Norway, baking cookies, and hanging out and talking. No drunken histrionics visible. The students were talking either about classes or intelligent subjects at lunch line and in the cafeteria- no stupid stuff.</p>
<p>Anyway, we aren’t pushing her there but are very happy she hasn’t dismissed outright. It is her only school left without greek life and we are really, really unsure about whether she will do well in a greek ruled school. She has always been a practical child and although she does like to dress well and does wear makeup, she isn’t into cutesy girl stuff at all. Since my school had no sororities and only one co=ed frat, all I know about sororities is through their promotional material and one book I read. It doesn’t seem like a match for my kid.</p>
<p>AK- sorry about the scholarship but I hear you on directing the “I told you so’s” to the dog. Also commiseration for MOSB and EmmyBet for the continuing rounds of auditions and havign to be on the road. Glad our D does not have that on top of everything else.<br>
I was so surprised at D who has been coasting for her first two weeks of school this semester. She actually buckled down and did almost half of one of her online semester classes (the only one required to graduate). Guess that “suggestion” that she can’t take a part time job and go on an out of town week long trip in March during school term unless she is ahead on classes took root. What happens when we don’t have this leverage? Maybe by then they will have internalized the time management/prioritization skills- at least one can hope.</p>
<p>Sorry to hear about Michigan, AK. Maybe it will sting less if you keep pulling up the weather report and saying ‘tsk, tsk, another 3 ft of snow up there…and wind gusts up to 20!’</p>
<p>Does it seem as though our children have internalized the ‘just in time’ production system? I mean, I’m a pro procrastinator but kids today (jeez, I just aged 20 yrs!) do seem to cut it rather fine. I don’t know if it’s because they are carrying so much on their shoulders or something in the national psyche…</p>
<p>MilMom - my neighbor’s two Ds go to St Olaf and LOVE it. It has been a great choice for both of them. They are bright, caring, talented young women and are both thrilled to be there. Perhaps Carleton, same town, has a ROTC program that would be available to meet your D’s needs.</p>
<p>AK - so sorry about the scholarship. I think some of these state schools are desparate for full pay OOS students given budget issues. My D did not get the full ride at her appealing safety, so we can sympathize. I truly believe a closed door is “productive” in the decision making. I know all our kids will find a great open door that works financially! </p>
<p>As has been mentioned, I encourage everyone to attend the accepted students programs when possible. It’s lovely to be wanted! Visiting one last week with D has taken a ton of stress off the table.</p>
<p>phbmom - Love the idea of asking girls to the prom who have never been to one. Very thoughtful.</p>
<p>MOSB - Hang in there. Make some chicken soup. We’re close to the finish line.</p>
<p>AK - So sorry about the Michigan $$$. It stings.</p>
<p>Novelisto - I had ANOTHER discussion with son about deadlines and procrastinating yesterday. All the seniors received an email from the teacher coordinating their community service hours. This is a very big part of the IB program. 180 hours split into three different types of community service each documented by an adult and accompanied by a written reflection by the student. The computer system is cumbersome which adds to the annoyance. </p>
<p>The teacher wants everything DONE by 3/1, but his email expressed annoyance that many students haven’t finished yet. Son doesn’t understand that a 3/1 deadline doesn’t mean that the teacher wants everything submitted to him on 3/1. Reading between the lines, the teacher really wants everything finished, reviewed, approved and processed at the latest by 3/1. </p>
<p>I explained that when a teacher/boss gives you a deadline, it is to your advantage to have your work done before the deadline and to keep the person apprised of your progress so there are no surprises. Son didn’t understand. Said if he turns something in on the deadline date that should be fine. Also said if the teacher wanted something different from what he said, he should have said it differently. </p>
<p>Perhaps it is a generational thing, maturity thing or email vs. explaining in person thing.</p>
<p>OLIN -Son is on his flight to Olin right now for Candidate’s weekend. He had a big smile on his face as he walked out the door this morning. It sorta felt like the first day of Kindergarten except he is taller than me now and his voice is deeper. My heart is with him.</p>
<p>Amanda - sorry about the non-scholarship. Know how it feels - I knew it was a long shot for D, but still felt pretty bad when it didn’t come. Hopefully, something else will work out.</p>
<p>D is home this afternoon and the plan is to apply for summer jobs. Someone (Novelisto?) mentioned a summer camp fair - but I don’t know of any around here, so it’s going to hard for D. I mentioned a few summer camps she has attended and asked her to check their websites for counselor applications. Hopefully, she’ll find something.</p>
<p>We had a conversation with her last night about the decision process. It’s pretty clear that in her mind she has an order list - at least for half her schools. She hasn’t visited one of her safety schools (that she has an acceptance to) and doesn’t plan on visiting if she hears back positively from some other schools higher on her list. H does not like this - he thinks that she should at least visit before making up her mind. Problem ? School is a four hr flight away from home. We stopped talking about this when it was obvious to me that she was getting very upset and agitated with H’s insistence on this. Aargh - april is going to be stressful and we might not have a decision until April 30th :(</p>
<p>BBB - From BBB Facebook page - Our coupon marketing plan is very fluid but not to worry they (coupons) should pick back up soon so you can shop till you drop when the new spring merch hits our stores. In the meantime, if you haven’t already signed up for our emails, click the link below to sign up- first time email subscribers get a 20% off one item savings certificate to use in-store in your “inbox” right off the bat. Hopefully that will help tide you over :-). </p>
<p>Another message - If this helps, I was told by a BB&B cashier that you can pay full price, then when you get coupons, bring them in with your original receipt and they will credit you the difference.</p>
<p>You can also sign up under each email address you have, so shop, shop, shop.</p>
<p>**March 31st schools - 34 days to go. Now less than 5 weeks. **</p>
<p>Today’s countdown is a bit late due to clearing the driveway this morning. Well, half of it before the snow blower died. With a snow day S now has the option of hand shoveling the other half of the driveway or writing scholarship essays for a couple of apps that he originally elected to pass on. My guess is that the driveway will be clear when I get home this evening.</p>
<p>Hi all! Once again I am very behind on the thread! Sorry to Ak bout michigan, happy for others, my heart with you too, to the son on his visit to Olin - and on and on. We are in the thick of it!
I am so happy to have this cyber-group as the environment here is only getting more tense. S has mono! He has been sleeping and sleeping but we are going to try a few half days of school. He’s doing the IB diploma and there’s no way he can even fathom missing much school. I’ve got to figure out how to keep him down. I may need to stay home from work just to make sure he STAYS HOME. He is resting all weekend with zero activities as he has a big scholarship competition next week, and a national competition the week after that. I never thought I’d have trouble with kids sneaking INTO school!!
And secondly, the job news is only getting worse. It now looks like approx. 50% pay cut between H and I for next year, however we may not have firm numbers until June or July. I feel helpless. It’s not like I can tell the colleges “it looks bad” without real information! But by the time we have the numbers we need from employers, it will be too late to take into consideration
We are firm believers in doors opening and things working out for the best, with a plan we may not understand or choose for ourselves, but it sure the makes the waiting more tense!
Senior yearbook message being turned in today with the cutest little 6-year old photo you’ve ever seen - hair like sunlight, and mischief in his eyes. Makes me cry! We all love our kids SO!</p>
<p>arisamp - If it is any help, my D chose a boarding school that she had not visited and for which she’d only had a phone interview. She has been very happy there. If your D has a good feeling of the ‘vibe’ – and they have so many ways of judging, from friends, this site, and others – then it’s something less of a gamble if she should choose that one. </p>
<p>re: Just In Time. We’re going to find ourselves in the position of someone with a friend who is always late. If the movie starts at 8:30…you tell her 8:00. With the kids, if the teachers or bosses want everything by 3/1, they’ll have to say 2/25. I think you are right to say it has to do with E-mail. We had to build in ‘lag-time’ for the mail delivery…all they have to do is push the button.</p>
<p>AvonHSDad: I am the mean mom. Son is out snowblowing the driveway and sidewalk now. Then he will hit send on one scholarship application and write another essay (the fire sprinkler one) before he can leave the house. The city hasn’t plowed our street hit so it’s a moot point, but it’s his best friend’s birthday and I know he wants to go hangout with him.</p>
<p>Last two essays have late March deadlines and he can reccyle an essay for those. Light at the end of the tunnel.</p>
