:iagree: Wonderful post!

Same situation here. EK's highest score this year was the writing (71) and her lowest was the math (54). She has a solid A average in math at home. ETA: Her writing went up by 17 points this year (54 last year), although I've also heard that some thought that Writing was harder this year.

Neither of mine were NM scholars, nor even Commended, but I'm proud of both of them. My 11th grade dd took the PSAT for the 2nd time & scored 26 points higher this year: 10th grade PSAT: 162 (73rd percentile) 11th grade PSAT: 188 (92nd percentile) I attribute the increase to: 1) her having completed geometry & started Algebra 2 and 2) her familiarity with the process--she has huge test anxiety unless she knows what to expect. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Her brother (now a college senior) took the test in 2005 & 2006: 10th grade PSAT: 187 11th grade PSAT: 197 (Can't remember the percentiles, but he missed our state's cutoff by only 3 points in 2006. Since then, our cutoff has increased by 15 points!)

Thank you! I'm adding this to my Christmas list!

Oh, yeah, I knew that. Our state's cutoff last year was 215, I think, and while EK didn't score that high, we're pleased with the score she got this year (she's a junior)--her "personal best". She improved in each area over last year's test: her score went up 1 point in reading, 8 points in math, and a whopping 17 points in writing. :thumbup:

That's what I thought, but just wanted to be sure. EK won't likely make the cut off this year, but she did do well (92nd percentile). I'm positively ECSTATIC that she raised her score by 26 points over last year!

http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?p=3351155#poststop http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?p=3319771#poststop

We have HUGE stockings, and Santa fills them with unusual snacks & candy, gum, CD's, DVD's, toothpaste, toothbrushes, socks, card games, pens & pencils, underwear, handkerchiefs, batteries, pencils, markers, cologne, cosmetics, gift cards (iTunes, GameStop, Amazon, Taco Bell, Starbucks, Subway...), etc.

Well, IMO, it's too soon. You're emotionally vulnerable right now, and that's risky. You should consider connecting with other singles through your church or through civic groups--community theater, choral ensembles, service organizations, etc. Get to know people and make some friends, both male and female, and if something develops over time, that could be a good thing. :grouphug:

I think you answered your own question. I think it's that old middle school mentality rearing its ugly head: they want to be "cool" and "popular". My SIL is like this. She spends hours at the gym every day, goes to the tanning salon, dyes her hair "peroxide blonde", wears skirts and shorts that are WAY too short, jeans that are WAY too tight, and even had breast augmentation surgery last year. She spends a ton of money on shoes and clothes and having her hair done, etc. She's 6 years younger than I am, yet one time when we went to the fair together, the "Age Guesser Guy" guessed that she was a lot older than she actually is, and guessed that I was younger than I actually am--younger, in fact, than SIL.

:iagree:

Exactly. :iagree: :iagree: I'd be really, really tempted to tell her this, but in reality, what I'd probably say is, "Oh, I'm sorry! I wish you had mentioned this to me ahead of time, but I've already bought another gift."

I'd love to know where you get a mug-sized French press! Thanks!

Yes, I would, if I trusted the group leaders and sponsoring organization.

:iagree: And for the record, I make awesome coleslaw. I never liked coleslaw before I found this recipe and made it for dh. I still only like my coleslaw and the coleslaw at one locally-owned (IOW, not a chain) restaurant in our town. And I'd be happy to share the recipe for mine if anyone wants it.

My mom is one of my dearest friends, and I am one of her dearest friends also. She lives about an hours' drive from me. We talk almost every night around 9:00 PM, usually for about 30-40 minutes, sometimes more, sometimes less. And we also text or talk briefly during the day a few times per week.

Once a week here, on Mondays. We only recently began having trash pick-up services; we are in a rural area, and until last year, we had to haul off our own trash.

Found it! http://thegreenbeanscrafterole.blogspot.com/2010/12/all-that-glittersminus-mess.html

Found it! http://thegreenbeanscrafterole.blogspot.com/2010/12/all-that-glittersminus-mess.html

I was the one who asked today, and here is the link someone posted: http://www.inklingsandyarns.com/2011/10/christmas-ornament-with-glitter-ritz-and-floor-wax/. This is similar to another link someone posted recently, but I haven't found that one yet. If I find it, I'll post that one too.

Are the cut-offs for the 2011 test available somewhere? I was under the impression that they wouldn't be available until next fall. According to the National Merit website: "In September 2012, more than two-thirds (about 34,000) of the high scorers will be designated Commended Students. They will be named on the basis of a nationally applied Selection Index qualifying score that may vary from year to year."

:iagree:

Today is Day #86. This is our last week before Christmas Break, and at the end of this week, we will have 89 days. We have to have 180 days per school year.

Thank you! That's not the one I remember, but if I don't find that one, I'll try yours. Thanks again. :001_smile:

:ohmy: :laugh: