<p>Wow. 2forcollege: Your strategy worked! D gets her prom and (fingers crossed) her school. Way to go.</p>
<p>Enjoy the prom night.</p>
<p>My son was not too happy about doing Fafsa/CSS together…ah, togetherness! We have hit submit on both of them, whoosh.</p>
<p>In for just a minute, but will be back later this evening.</p>
<p>lindz, for you: [Lexington</a>, Virginia Bed and Breakfast in the Shenandoah Valley](<a href=“stoneridge-inn.com”>stoneridge-inn.com)
Stayed there this winter, in the James Clark room on a drive back from Tennessee. Lexington is a very interesting little burg, and is certainly in a beautiful spot. We didn’t have a lot of time to explore, but enjoyed what we did explore a great deal.</p>
<p>I’ll grab a pina colada when I return; I have to run to the store for a few things. I’m hoping to make English muffins from scratch for breakfast, plus we are out of milk, plus we need a package of English muffins Just In Case. :)</p>
<p>gladmom, instead of your son throwing away stuff at the end of the school year, he could donate it to a shelter or other such place. In fact, if the school doesn’t already have some type of donation scheme arranged, perhaps your son could be the driving force behind getting one arranged. A local charity to set up donation boxes around campus, maybe staff some of the locations, with trash dumpsters handy-by. I could see that being a real benefit to everyone involved. (While helping a friend move out of his college apartment, we had to throw out an amazing array of things, which just crushed us to have to do, but time didn’t allow otherwise.)</p>
<p>cotton, thanks for the chives! We will put them to good use here!</p>
<p>2blue, one of the reasons I was yanking stuff out was to make room for basil. We have no basil in this little garden, and want lots, so I’m cutting back stuff I have there just to have something there. (We have the best-smelling yard waste in the neighborhood! 
)</p>
<p>2for, no catering biz; my apologies! (I’m way too lazy, believe me!) </p>
<p>French toast casserole? Sounds good to me!! I will sometimes bake oatmeal maple bread specifically for making French toast. This is a dark whole wheat bread with maple syrup as the sugar source for the yeast. </p>
<p>Good for your D! I hope she has a splendid time at the prom, and I hope your H realizes he’s lost before he even starts.</p>
<p>mythmom, I’m reminded somehow that I have a couple of great titles for books I would like to write someday. Now all I need is the interior text. :D</p>
<p>2forcollege - did you really buy your D’s dress the day of the prom? You are so brave…lol! D is going to her BF’s prom in June, and we bought the dress and brought it in to be altered about a month ago! I hope she has a great time - and good for her, getting a headstart on the Blitz!</p>
<p>cottonwood - speaking of financial aid, have you been reading the thread about entitlements? It’s a real eye-opener! The other similar FA threads are also stirring up a little ruckus, but that one is something! I want to respond, but a few of the less-compassionate posters have left me speechless!</p>
<p>lindz - I have been trying to get D to look into W & L. You’ll have to keep us posted about how your son likes the school once he’s there. Have a great trip. We may be heading down that way ourselves at some point over the summer.</p>
<p>2forcollege and owlice - a few months ago, I found a recipe online for french toast casserole that was stuffed with cheesecake! Can you imagine just how decadent that was? I’ll see if I can find it again and then post it for you.</p>
<p>I try and tiptoe out where people are being rude…things they would never say in person or if they knew the person well. I have been particularly put off by the attacks on hs seniors, they have enough to deal with! Sorry about the dangling participle.</p>
<p>I’ve been reading the entitlements thread and finally had to jump in today. I didn’t try to address any of the specific posts, but just had my say about the original poster’s comments. This isn’t the kind of thing you usually hear from people when they are talking to you face to face. The anonymity of the board makes it easier to express negative opinions.</p>
<p>Ditto. </p>
<p>My son is taking me to campus dining, gotta go.</p>
<p>The entitlement and similar threads are bringing out the best and worst in people. I started reading them but then I got a little disenchanted and disappointed - by attacks, counter-attacks, etc. As they always say, never talk about religion and money. And yes, the anonymity of the board does make it easy for people to “say” things they would otherwise not say face to face. Sigh.</p>
<p>2forcollege - Glad your D had her say before your H! The website allrecipes has an excellent French Toast casserole; I usually make it for brunch when I have company.</p>
<p>Yes - S has told me to mail the Colby YES card on … April 30, Wednesday. I hardly had any labor pains for this kid and I pushed for an entire 15 minutes before he popped out, but I think he is making up for it now. He was a grouch today but I did manage to get him to come with me and choose new phones. :)</p>
<p>Hm. I have a randomly inserted post – a list of all the antidepressants in the world in tiny blue letters. Is the internet god telling me something?</p>
<p>Re that thread – I don’t get why people worry about other people. We can only do the best with our own circumstances. And people get so riled up about some “little guy” and not the big guns who control the system.</p>
<p>I have never gotten it.</p>
<p>One year one of my students, a lovely minority girl, was the first of her race to be named Valedictorian. I had the honor of being mentioned in her speech. People made the nastiest comments. She was attending school on complete FA and people sneering said, “At least the money wasn’t wasted on this one like on all the others.” Huh? People don’t resent some rich development kid spend all his time doing blow and coasting on daddy’s money. No, let’s blame the struggling single mother.</p>
<p>I am happy that all of us have found some way to get our kids through college, either because we’re lucky or enterprising enough to have the means, or through need based aid, or through merit aid the student has earned in a different way, or because the kid attends the state flagship that her parents can just afford.</p>
<p>Sheesh.</p>
<p>I tried to post the links for the French toast recipe - it didn’t work - sorry. I’ll see if I can copy it instead.</p>
<p>Mountains - Congrats on your son choosing Colby - a great school! Best of luck to him and to you.</p>
<p>Ok, here is the recipe I was talking about. I don’t know why the link wouldn’t post - but it was a big hit. Honestly, it’s a little bit much - but as a once in awhile treat, it’s great.</p>
<p>Baked Stuffed French Toast presented by The Beach Rose Inn Bed and Breakfast Email this page to a Friend<br>
“This is absolutely delicious! A real favorite with our guests-subtly sweet, light and fluffy.”</p>
<p>20 to 24 slices raisin bread
6 eggs
2 cups half and half
2 cups milk
2 teasp. vanilla
1 cup sugar
dash of cinnamon
dash of nutmeg</p>
<p>Filling:
16 ounces of cream cheese
1 teasp. vanilla
2 eggs
1/2 cup sugar</p>
<p>Arrange bread slices in a 13x9 baking pan that has been sprayed with Pam. Sprinkle bread with cinnamon. Spread cream cheese mixture over bread. Layer with the remaining bread and cinnamon. Slowly pour egg mixture over the top until all the bread is soaked . Cover and refrigerate overnight. Bake at 350 F covered for approximately 40 minutes. Then uncover and bake for 20 minutes longer. Let stand 5-10 minutes before cutting. Sprinkle with confectioners’ sugar and serve with saute’ed apples or peaches and pure maple syrup.</p>
<p>Enjoy!</p>
<p>LIMOMOF2 - Thank you … and I have also noticed he has been going over Colby’s course book, planning his freshman courses, and has even decided which orientation trip he’ll sign up for. He is slowly letting go of the waitlist school; we actually have not talked about it for days now. </p>
<p>I quickly checked the entitlement thread and it has taken a very vicious turn. It’s too bad because a lot of the posts are helpful. Oh well.</p>
<p>2forcollege, I’m so glad your daughter chattered away about the school. I hope her prom and your ballroom blitz go well. We’ll be waiting for your report! mountains, I understand why your son is waiting to mail the card, but think it’s neat he’s planning his first year at Colby. LIMOMOF2, I wonder if that recipe would go over with my kids’ friends. I get in the same ol’ buttermilk waffles rut when we have a houseful of kids here for breakfast.</p>
<p>Thoughts on some of the other threads: I agree people post things on the net they wouldn’t say face to face, and feel especially bad when kids feel caught in some of these threads. So far as FA goes, I think it is a lot like taxes. We’d all like to pay less, unless we’re wishing we had the means to have to pay more.</p>
<p>***- dude – I think you’re in the wrong CC room… go away (did you all see this??)</p>
<p>Anyway – </p>
<p>Mountains – snow tires?? what’s that??</p>
<p>Owlice – what do you use mint pesto for?? I know basil pesto, but interested to know about mint pesto. I have mint, marjoram, sage and oregano right now.</p>
<p>TARGET- took a spin through the “dorm goods” and saw the following:</p>
<p>towels $1.88 each no matter what size (good for boys to through away but pretty cheap feeling)</p>
<p>microwaves – from $49.99 to $129.99</p>
<p>fridges – same as the microwaves</p>
<p>dishes – pretty plastic dishes at Target, but I have a boy… paper plates will be just fine!!</p>
<p>sheets – I have enough at home to mail every month for a “change”</p>
<p>airfare – we, too, will b going 2000 miles or so away – right now Delta has the best fares for my route</p>
<p>peace of mind – priceless (S is out to a movie with friends, including his room-mate to be – wish us luck)</p>
<p>also, (really, I do NOT work for Target but…) … if you go to target online and “search” for your college name, they have lamps, rugs, some blankets etc… they had them for mine — have fun!!! And Penney’s has some college sheets, comforters etc</p>
<p>Fingers crossed for all still deciding and HAVE FUN at PROM!!! (wish I was a fly on the wall)</p>
<p>if you’re wondering what was on the “post” I dissed, it was a list from someone with screen name “mc_hitler” and had a listing of “available drugs” – by the time I finished my post, it was gone (I’d reported it)</p>
<p>2blue - I’m not sure how well the french toast recipe would go over with kids. My kids won’t even try it - D, because she doesn’t like raisin bread, and S, because he refuses to taste cheesecake! It depends on whether they are picky eaters. There is a web site with loads of oven-baked french toast recipes - some of the others might appeal more to kids. I wasn’t able to post the link for some reason, but I’ll try again. </p>
<p>I know that people say things online that they would never say face-to-face, but I felt terrible thinking about how the kids who get caught up in some of those threads must feel.</p>
<p>I saw that too university - I’m glad you reported it - thanks.</p>
<p>I see you’ve been having fun - right into shopping mode…lol. Great tips - too bad I don’t have to furnish a dorm room this year.</p>
<p>Owlice, I was curious about the mint pesto too. Exactly what do you serve it on?</p>
<p>University1: I don’t know which school you are working with, but neither of my kids’ school allow microwaves in rooms, and the common rooms usually come outfitted with microwaves. So you should check before you buy one.</p>
<p>Televisions: D had one. S didn’t bother. He said he could watch DVD’s on his laptop and down load TV shows, and he does almost all of his TV viewing in the common room with other kids.</p>
<p>S also forewent a fridge; D had one. Many of these schools are following a green incentive and encourage as few appliances as possible. Fridges take the most. Just some info from one who’s been through the trenches.</p>