random rejoicing thread

[KDibildeaux]

Work day is over

[KDibildeaux]

Lentil soup is yummy

[WizardBeast]

I slept from 2200 last night until 0700 this morning, so good!
Then snoozed an hour too...

i got almost 9 hours sleep last night too...so nice to recover after being drunk for like 10 days straight.

[WizardBeast]

Let this be a warning to those that dare visit the gnoffi

yeah, he will keep bringing more beers out of that famous beer fridge until you are about ready to pass out!

metal + bacon + sweden + generous gnoffi who shares his beer = best vacation!

[WizardBeast]

Let this be a warning to those that dare visit the gnoffi

yeah, he will keep bringing more beers out of that famous beer fridge until you are about ready to pass out!

metal + bacon + sweden + generous gnoffi who shares his beer = best vacation!

We sure did some nice damage to the contents of my fridge!

Hey if you had the best vacation, I'm satisfied

i certainly drank more than probably any other vacation. LOL

[DrinkMoxie]

only 3 days in and I already have 3 items sold and a whole bunch of bidders and watchers! So far so good.

ps - if you're interested in bidding awesome, but even if you can just help spread the word by sharing the link with people you know who might bid, it'll help me raise money to move and will be HIGHLY appreciated

http://www.ebay.com/sch/nythnuh/m.html? ... 4340.l2562

[KDibildeaux]

only 3 days in and I already have 3 items sold and a whole bunch of bidders and watchers! So far so good.

ps - if you're interested in bidding awesome, but even if you can just help spread the word by sharing the link with people you know who might bid, it'll help me raise money to move and will be HIGHLY appreciated

http://www.ebay.com/sch/nythnuh/m.html? ... 4340.l2562

Cool! I will pass it on

[DrinkMoxie]

only 3 days in and I already have 3 items sold and a whole bunch of bidders and watchers! So far so good.

ps - if you're interested in bidding awesome, but even if you can just help spread the word by sharing the link with people you know who might bid, it'll help me raise money to move and will be HIGHLY appreciated

http://www.ebay.com/sch/nythnuh/m.html? ... 4340.l2562

Cool! I will pass it on

thank you Kate

[KDibildeaux]

You're welcome

[Memnoch]

It's over! We finally negotiated a deal that I could accept. Not as good a deal as I would've wanted, but at least it's over now. And yes, I got a nice sum, so Barge or 70k is paid for now.

[MadameLePink]

It's over! We finally negotiated a deal that I could accept. Not as good a deal as I would've wanted, but at least it's over now. And yes, I got a nice sum, so Barge or 70k is paid for now.

Glad to hear that! One more reason to celebrate, drink beer and eat bacon :)

[Rab]

Cashed in my petro points got some scratch tickets won 25 bucks

since i dont pay for gas thanks to the work perks its pure profit

[WizardBeast]

It's over! We finally negotiated a deal that I could accept. Not as good a deal as I would've wanted, but at least it's over now. And yes, I got a nice sum, so Barge or 70k is paid for now.

congrats, what a relief that it's all over!!!!!!!!

[Memnoch]

It's over! We finally negotiated a deal that I could accept. Not as good a deal as I would've wanted, but at least it's over now. And yes, I got a nice sum, so Barge or 70k is paid for now.

And your name is cleared too?

Well, technically no, but I'm allowed to tell anyone the contents of the deal and what the situation was. So yes, my name is cleared in a way.

[Memnoch]

Yeah, I like cash. Not as much as bacon, but yes, I like it.

[TOM CRUISE]

I LOVE THE FOE FEATURE HERE. GOT ONE BITCH ON IT AND CANNOT SEE HER POSTS !! WOO HOOOOOOOO

[mooyagi]

It's over! We finally negotiated a deal that I could accept. Not as good a deal as I would've wanted, but at least it's over now. And yes, I got a nice sum, so Barge or 70k is paid for now.

Congrats!

[mooyagi]

I LOVE THE FOE FEATURE HERE. GOT ONE BITCH ON IT AND CANNOT SEE HER POSTS !! WOO HOOOOOOOO

Did you just call me a bitch?

[Laura]

A few weeks ago our older daughter found out she did not get accepted into any of the ten "selective enrollment" Chicago Public High Schools she applied to. Getting your kids into the better public schools here (e.g. magnet, selective enrollment) is a challenge. We really lucked out with the lottery for our kids' K-8 school (a math & science focus magnet school), but knew high school was going to be the next hurdle. She's a great student, but in one school's case, they received 12,000 applications for 250 freshman spots. The local papers reported it was a particularly "brutal admissions year." There are no longer racial quotas (FYI, for those who don't know, non-hispanic whites are a minority in Chicago), but the racial quotas have been replaced by 4 socio-economic quotas (called tiers) based on your zip code - each applicant has to have top admissions test scores and grades to be considered, and then they take an equal number from each tier. Bottom line is - if you're a smart kid from a "good" zipcode (i.e. neighborhood), the competition is super stiff.

So, I could have put all the above in the random bitching thread (and especially since daughter Veronica was initially devastated)...but, as we always tell her, be confident it will all work out somehow...the whole idea of when "one door closes, another one opens." In other words, no crying over spilt milk idea and we immediately went into rapid Plan B mode - and had her apply to some private and "charter" schools. (by the way, our local public high school has a high drop-out rate, is "low-achieving," and has a fair amount of gang-related problems)

Long story short, she was accepted into a great private school which she is very happy about attending in the fall....and to be honest, we all think will be a better "fit" for her all-around. Of course, the major drawback is paying tuition which we weren't expecting, but that's the breaks, and we'll make it work.

[mooyagi]

I always thought the idea putting a child's future in the hands of a lottery system is one of the most ridiculous things that can happen. It's a shame that system exists in Chicago. It may be good to get some of the better performing students out of low performing schools but it sucks that it's put to chance for the individuals applying. I'll hold off on a wall of text rant on the state of public education in this country.

Hopefully your daughter enjoys the new school and succeeds in it.

[AlaskaRachel]

Good for your daughter, Laura! I have lots of friends that went to private schools or alternative schools in high school and most of them had very little trouble getting into the top-tier colleges they wanted. I think it's just wonderful when parents take an active interest in their children's education.

Funny that Mooyagi brought up ranting about the education system, since I've been engrossed in a conversation today with a former fellow student and her mother about the state of the education system, and how we both became "well-educated" because our parents pushed us to learn much more than what was taught in school.

[mooyagi]

Funny that Mooyagi brought up ranting about the education system, since I've been engrossed in a conversation today with a former fellow student and her mother about the state of the education system, and how we both became "well-educated" because our parents pushed us to learn much more than what was taught in school.

Parenting can be a great help to kids in their development. Parents that push their kids to learn more and have an active interest in their education are doing the right thing, but the education system also plays a huge role and that has a whole host of problems.

[WizardBeast]

A few weeks ago our older daughter found out she did not get accepted into any of the ten "selective enrollment" Chicago Public High Schools she applied to. Getting your kids into the better public schools here (e.g. magnet, selective enrollment) is a challenge. We really lucked out with the lottery for our kids' K-8 school (a math & science focus magnet school), but knew high school was going to be the next hurdle. She's a great student, but in one school's case, they received 12,000 applications for 250 freshman spots. The local papers reported it was a particularly "brutal admissions year." There are no longer racial quotas (FYI, for those who don't know, non-hispanic whites are a minority in Chicago), but the racial quotas have been replaced by 4 socio-economic quotas (called tiers) based on your zip code - each applicant has to have top admissions test scores and grades to be considered, and then they take an equal number from each tier. Bottom line is - if you're a smart kid from a "good" zipcode (i.e. neighborhood), the competition is super stiff.

So, I could have put all the above in the random bitching thread (and especially since daughter Veronica was initially devastated)...but, as we always tell her, be confident it will all work out somehow...the whole idea of when "one door closes, another one opens." In other words, no crying over spilt milk idea and we immediately went into rapid Plan B mode - and had her apply to some private and "charter" schools. (by the way, our local public high school has a high drop-out rate, is "low-achieving," and has a fair amount of gang-related problems)

Long story short, she was accepted into a great private school which she is very happy about attending in the fall....and to be honest, we all think will be a better "fit" for her all-around. Of course, the major drawback is paying tuition which we weren't expecting, but that's the breaks, and we'll make it work.

well i'm glad it seems it worked out well - congrats to your daughter and i hope she gets a lot out of her new school!!!!

[Laura]

I always thought the idea putting a child's future in the hands of a lottery system is one of the most ridiculous things that can happen. It's a shame that system exists in Chicago. It may be good to get some of the better performing students out of low performing schools but it sucks that it's put to chance for the individuals applying. I'll hold off on a wall of text rant on the state of public education in this country.

Hopefully your daughter enjoys the new school and succeeds in it.

Just to clarify, the admissions are different for the grammar (kindergarden-8th grade) schools here than for the high schools. The magnet K-8 schools are mostly lottery (but still adhering to the tier socio-economic quota system). The "selective enrollment" high schools are NOT lottery - admissions are based strictly on a combo of grades and test scores, as well as the quota system. So, getting into a really good public high school here is like getting into an Big Ten or Ivy League university - every kid there is "smart." That is why I always think it's dumb that they include the selective enrollment Chicago Public High Schools in the overall state rankings - comparing the achievements & test score of those CP high school kids to just about any other hs in the state is like comparing apples and oranges. The CP selective enrollment schools always rank at the top because the kids had to be smart to be admitted in the first place. (rather than for example, the high schools that my husband and I attended in the suburbs which simply drew from the mix (varying abilities) of kids in the neighborhood)

Don't want to rant too much on this...but I think the school "system" and especially the teachers are unfairly blamed for the overall "failing" Chicago Public Schools. Don't know if this is still true, but for a long time the CPS was considered the "worst" in the country based on test scores, drop-out rates (still around 50% I think), and the like. No doubt there are some bad teachers and bad administrators out there, but for the most part - the real issue is that there are massive (and I mean MASSIVE) social problems (e.g. family, gang, crime, drug, etc. related) involved with so many kids here. I've done some tutoring with some "disadvantaged" grade school age kids, and although it is very sad to say and sounds defeatist, it is like so many are born behind an eight ball. I'm not saying the public schools shoudn't try to do everything they can to help these kids (and no doubt some are able to rise out of their eight ball situation), but the reality is, there is a limit to what a school can do or provide.

[Laura]

Oh - and thanks Ryan, Rhia, and Rachel for the well-wishes.

[KDibildeaux]

My arm is a lot better this morning, if it stays like this all day that's gonna be sweet!

Now it only hurts in a few positions and at a few ways of working it

feels pretty good after 2 months of pain

Guess them doctors are good for something every now and then

Excellent!!!

[KDibildeaux]

It's over! We finally negotiated a deal that I could accept. Not as good a deal as I would've wanted, but at least it's over now. And yes, I got a nice sum, so Barge or 70k is paid for now.

Awesome! good that it's finally over

[KDibildeaux]

A few weeks ago our older daughter found out she did not get accepted into any of the ten "selective enrollment" Chicago Public High Schools she applied to. Getting your kids into the better public schools here (e.g. magnet, selective enrollment) is a challenge. We really lucked out with the lottery for our kids' K-8 school (a math & science focus magnet school), but knew high school was going to be the next hurdle. She's a great student, but in one school's case, they received 12,000 applications for 250 freshman spots. The local papers reported it was a particularly "brutal admissions year." There are no longer racial quotas (FYI, for those who don't know, non-hispanic whites are a minority in Chicago), but the racial quotas have been replaced by 4 socio-economic quotas (called tiers) based on your zip code - each applicant has to have top admissions test scores and grades to be considered, and then they take an equal number from each tier. Bottom line is - if you're a smart kid from a "good" zipcode (i.e. neighborhood), the competition is super stiff.

So, I could have put all the above in the random bitching thread (and especially since daughter Veronica was initially devastated)...but, as we always tell her, be confident it will all work out somehow...the whole idea of when "one door closes, another one opens." In other words, no crying over spilt milk idea and we immediately went into rapid Plan B mode - and had her apply to some private and "charter" schools. (by the way, our local public high school has a high drop-out rate, is "low-achieving," and has a fair amount of gang-related problems)

Long story short, she was accepted into a great private school which she is very happy about attending in the fall....and to be honest, we all think will be a better "fit" for her all-around. Of course, the major drawback is paying tuition which we weren't expecting, but that's the breaks, and we'll make it work.

Shame she didn't get into the initial school she wanted but it's great that she's going to a good school in the end. Hopefully she'll really like it!

[Laura]

Thanks Kate....and ooops....sorry again for rambling on as......(I just love this cat - had to post him again )

[KDibildeaux]

Thanks Kate....and ooops....sorry again for rambling on as......(I just love this cat - had to post him again )

You're welcome! and that cat is awesome

[DrinkMoxie]

It's over! We finally negotiated a deal that I could accept. Not as good a deal as I would've wanted, but at least it's over now. And yes, I got a nice sum, so Barge or 70k is paid for now.

Congrats!

[Memnoch]

Thanks everyone! Last night I slept like a baby, wonder why.
Oh, tonight I get to see Graham Bonnet and tomorrow night Exhumed (with Torture Killer and Cannibal Accident)! Yay!

[Stained Class]

Sort of a bitch/rejoice.

Above Symmetry cancelled PPUSA BUT Beyond The Bridge was their replacement definitely an upgrade!

[mooyagi]

Sort of a bitch/rejoice.

Above Symmetry cancelled PPUSA BUT Beyond The Bridge was their replacement definitely an upgrade!

Nice!

[Stained Class]

Sort of a bitch/rejoice.

Above Symmetry cancelled PPUSA BUT Beyond The Bridge was their replacement definitely an upgrade!

Nice!

Made sense too, since one of their singers is the singer from Sinbreed. That guy is opening both days now. Still, hopefully I'll eventually be able to see Above Symetry.

[AlaskaRachel]

So for those that haven't heard, I've decided to move to Edmonton in May. I started sending out resume's last night, and I already got a call back from Home Depot this morning, asking me to contact them in April to schedule an interview

[Stained Class]

So for those that haven't heard, I've decided to move to Edmonton in May. I started sending out resume's last night, and I already got a call back from Home Depot this morning, asking me to contact them in April to schedule an interview

Congrats!!!!

[mooyagi]

So for those that haven't heard, I've decided to move to Edmonton in May. I started sending out resume's last night, and I already got a call back from Home Depot this morning, asking me to contact them in April to schedule an interview

Congrats!

[sageoftruth]

Tomorrow, I'm going to be using one of my birthday presents from December: A set of tickets to the the Barber of Seville opera. I'm bringing three friends.

[Laura]

So for those that haven't heard, I've decided to move to Edmonton in May. I started sending out resume's last night, and I already got a call back from Home Depot this morning, asking me to contact them in April to schedule an interview

Congrats! An exciting new chapter in your life is about to begin!