[What is in your purse?]

Usually

my wallet, a note/list, some receipts from who knows when, my phone when I remember it.

 

Sometimes I'll also have a bottle of Peak tea, a 5x8 binder/planner, a book or two, pens, chapstix, a hair band or clip,  among many other things along those lines (recently I've been packing around fabric samples).  I'll never have a sewing kit, makeup, hairbrush, mirror, or any of the many useful things my mother always carried in her normal sized purse (mine's a small shoulder sack that carries a wallet and phone :glare: ). 

[Power Auger/Plumber's Snake]

It can take hours to get through a clog. Plumber was here last week for 2 hours, running the auger the whole time and it's still got issues.  So don't give up after 20 minutes (like DH does).

[Sci fi shows like Star Trek, Stargate etc?]

Primeval, maybe

Dark Matter is actually really good but got cancelled after 3 seasons

I just binged Travelers season 2 but it's not off world  

One plus is season 2 has a lot of Amanda Tapping and see if you recognize Trevor's mom.

 

Librarians is good too

[It's cold :( I'm a wimp]

Not as cold here as it is back home (negative #'s I think) but the dog needs food and instead of running to Walmart for his favorite brand I think I'm going to cook him some organic(expensive) grass-fed (really expensive) ground sirloin I have in the freezer... seriously HATE the cold.

[weight gain on medication]

My 20 y.o got the depo shot just once about a year and a half ago and is just now starting to drop a few of the 40 pounds she gained.  She's vegan and eats a lot of carbs but, wow.  She actually didn't start losing weight until her period came back (more than a year after the meds were supposed to wear off).  She takes a few other meds (anxiety, depression, fibro)  that cause IMO fatigue so she's not as active.  It's all about what you eat and lifestyle, so no I don't think stopping meds is going to help her lose weight... but it might keep her from gaining more.

[Parenting Question: How would you handle this?]

Firstly, has dd been taught how to do these jobs ? I know it sounds silly, but sometimes kids just don't know how to tackle 'pick up the playroom' without 1. having the task broken down into its componenet parts eg pick up the Lego and put it in the box. And 2. without having been shown the right way to do each component part.

 

So that's what I'd do first. Choose a task for her to do regularly. Break it down into parts. Teach each part. Scaffold her to do each part before letting her do the whole task alone on a regular basis. Sounds time intensive ? It is - but only on this end. It pays off in spades later.

 

Another suggestion is to switch up the way you clean up - so instead of dividing up the chores between the kids, get the kids to do all chores together. 'Everyone, we're going to pick up the playroom together! Dd, please pick up the puzzle pieces, ds, please do X. I'll do Y."

 

Anyway. Rather than consequences, I'd try these things first. It really is worth it getting buy in on chores, and I've found the above really helps. 

:iagree:  :iagree:  This was going to be my advice.  Make sure she knows how then have them all work together with you (so you can head off arguments and keep them on track).  Eventually you can bow out/work elsewhere and they can complete the chores.  IMHO 9 is to young to be wholly responsible for cleaning a playroom that she didn't entirely make the mess in.  Have DS wash dishes while she rinses, he can pick up the toys while she does pillow and then they help youngest get all the bits of paper so you can vacuum... etcetera.  

[wall mounted gas heat systems experiences]

We did in an old house that had no central heating.... it was ok. We had to have fans in each doorway to blow the hot air from room to room.  It would have been MUCH better if we'd have had 2 smaller units spread out instead of 1 big unit centrally located.  We ended up getting portable space heaters for the farthest rooms that would kick on if the big one wasn't keeping up.

[Dr Hive - mild gallbladder problems]

reported, Zombie thread

[Mayo on pizza? Is this a thing in the UK?]

Oh, wow, you're right it is mayo and there's a bottle of ketchup and BBQ too. It looks like though that they're putting it on the plate not directly on the pizza. As for Ranch, we make our own with Kroger ranch dip mixes (tastes like the more $$ hidden valley buttermilk mix) and we dip our pizza crusts in it although I've been know to dip all my pizza in it.  It tastes nothing like the nasty oily store bought stuff. I use 1/3 mayo to 2/3 sour cream and then I thin it out with milk.

[Who pays for college?]

Who do you think should pay for college? You (the parent) or the student/child? How much should each contribute?

 

Do you think it's feasible or practically possible for most students to pay their own way? 

 

And most importantly, what are you doing/plan to do and why?

 

I'll come back later and add to this, but we've got two in college right now, so just curious how it looks for other families.

Who should pay? Parents or even better the government with some help from students if they can work without grades suffering

Is it feasible for students? Not with out borrowing a ton or working themselves to death.... it's not even possible for many/most parents to pay either.

We moved to TN where 1st 2 years are free at CC and 2nd 2 years are greatly reduced by a (no low income requirement) scholarship.

Also DS is saving 1/2 of every paycheck.  Hopefully when he goes to school in a couple years we'll be better off financially (both cars will be paid off, no more child support for DSD, and DH will have finished his BA).  DS can then use his saving for a car or something else since we can pay tuition (he does not want to live on his own).

 

DD will only be able to take advantage of the free tuition for 1st year, her major will likely require her to transfer sooner.  She wants to live on campus (about 15 minute drive  :glare: ) and we've agreed that as long as $$ isn't tight and she pays for housing (probably loans) we'll pay for the rest.

 

If it comes down to it and we can't help at all they are set up (thank you Tennessee Lottery!) to be able to get a full BA/BS for less than $10,000 each as long as they live at home which can be covered from either income or loans.

 

ETA- Our biggest contribution was packing up everything and moving several states away in the wrong direction so that we could take advantage of the amazing scholarships offered in TN.

 

 

[Calling all Asparagus Veterans: Please help me!]

I like to fry/saute in a high smoke point oil (like avocado) in my cast iron skillet. I cook it on med-high for a couple minutes to brown it (it doesn't burn cause I keep it moving) then turn it down and cover until it reaches desired tenderness (crisp for me mushy for DS). I add a little butter, salt, and pepper just before I turn it off for flavor.

[Christmas Eve lights poll]

Yeah, like I'd remember to turn them off.  If by chance I did think to turn them off It'd be day after Christmas before I'd remember to turn them back on.  

[Do you want a funeral or ceremony of some kind?]

DH's best friend (talked to him/played xBox daily) died last weekend unexpectedly.  He wanted to be cremated and to not have any memorial.  Dh and their other friends would probably have benefited from some kind of get together but those were his wishes.  

 

I always thought we'd do the same, cremation and no fuss but seeing how torn up DH is (they were like brothers) I think we'll at least let whoever wants to have a memorial type thing.

[what are you hoping to get for Christmas?]

  Each of my parents gave DH and I $150 ($300 total) that we used to visit them.  DH and I don't do presents to each other (or I guess my sewing machine is for Christmas and b-day... I bought it for myself).  That leaves DS and I'm pretty sure he got me exactly what I wanted, a gift certificate to the fabric/art supply store.

[How often do you vacuum?]

Rarely but my bedroom is the only room with carpet. I swiffer a lot.

[Marvelous Mrs. Maisel]

I don't usually watch shows that are character driven (I like mysteries) but I loved it, loved the way it ends and I'm pretty sure it's already been picked up for 2nd series.

[Help! Need gifts that begin with the letter W]

I would send a White Wool blanket. She wanted fun and wacky, instead she's getting practical and boring.  I'd then say, "if you had given me more time I could have done better, next year, right?"

[Random topic: do you do birthday swats?]

I don't recall my parents doing it but I do remember all the kids in class forming a line and the birthday kid crawled through everyone's legs and got a birthday whack on the butt.

OMG, I remember this from like first grade! I was so thankful that my mom always let me skip school on my birthday.

[Random topic: do you do birthday swats?]

My parent's did when were young but it didn't hurt, was a joke.  We would joke with the kids like we were going to but it always became "birthday tickles" instead.

[would you say something? confiscate the phone?]

My DD often uses her phone as a shield when she is uncomfortable/anxious, if you tried to take her phone I'd be seriously pissed and we'd likely have words when I picked her up.  Whether that's it or the kids just bored you should not take other people's stuff.  If you don't like it don't invite her again (IMO that's a huge over reaction and smacks of a control issue)..  

[Gift for mom]

I made her a lap quilt with chickens on it (she has a mini farm). My sister got her a bunch of hunting and fishing gear.  My other sister is buying her ammo.  Where as my children are getting me gift cards from fabric stores or (I hope) a pair of fuzzy indoor boots.  My point is that it's really going to depend on the mother.  It sounds like in the past you've gotten your mom something pretty that is just for her to enjoy.  I'd look for something that similarly fits that definition.

[Dungeons and Dragons--Dd wants character building dice. What is that? Help...]

We're also having a D&D Christmas

 

Bag

 

Dice

 

A gift cert. for Reaper Mini's

 

and a couple t-shirts that say funny D7D specific things. 

 

[What gift are you most excited about giving this year?]

Holy moly. When you take on a new hobby you go all in!  That's a lot of finished quilts in a month!

They're not huge, 2 are baby sized and the rest are about 44x66. But yeah, I've been busy, still not done. I'll probably be sewing until Christmas eve, finally found the perfect material for DS's quilt, then I might start on one for myself..

[What gift are you most excited about giving this year?]

I've recently started quilting (about a month ago) I've made quilts for my mom, my dad and his wife, my daughters, my fil,  but the one's I'm looking forward to giving the most are for my new nieces, 1 1/2 and 6 months, who I haven't met yet.  The quilts (orange elephant themed) match and have coordinating elephant stuffies.

 

I'm also looking forward to the air fryer I'm giving "Us", I'll get to eat french fries again! 

[Ethics question: Who is a 'home-schooler'?]

IMO both are HSer's and mom should do what's right for her kid as long as it falls within the confines of the law.  Other people's morality/ethics means very little to me and I how I live my life.