I feel random.
I have to cook half the night and get up early to finish cookin.
And that’s after workee workee and takin the girls back-to-school clothes shopping and grocery shopping. I amaze myself, I really do.
You guys, I finished that project at work and Mentor brought me eight other sections and said, “Here, work on This.” I’ve never done This before. This is a lot of work. And can I just say, This used to come in boxes and now This is all in tidy lil lectronic files? Isn’t that nice? I tell ya, a girl can keep her manicure in the digital age.
We had to do parent school things three days this week. We both have two to do next week. What the fuck is that about? In the midst of that, there was an evening parent meeting.
Errr…
The Mister’s response to the mandatory parent meeting was, “Mandatory. Fuck that. Ain’t fuckin me, feedin me, or payin my bills, so you don’t mandate shit.”
I didn’t share his sentiments exactly, but we do pay lots of money, we do drive to the things, sometimes we even drive and feed other people’s children, AND we do above and beyond the ‘required’ volunteering hours.
We’re invested. Okay, so sometimes he paces the lobby while I lie on the floor, but sometimes the things last a REALLY long time.
We’re experienced parents, which means We’re tired and intolerant of your bullshit meetings. Send that bullshit in an email. We love our kids, they’re the best. You’re lucky to have their brilliance and talent at your school, but we don’t demand you come here and listen to us talk about it. You’re welcome.
No. We did not go.
So that’s it, that’s the random burst of my brain.
Okay, off to chop and slice.
First, though, we pour the Riesling and turn on the music.
Happy Weekend Everyone!
joeyfullystated 
Another advantage of homeschooling.
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I had absolutely no interest in homeschooling, but I did homeschool our eldest for kindergarten and that was fine enough.
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I did pre-K through 12th for the two younger, K-12 for the oldest. Loved it. Just the thing to do with a PhD and a damaged brain – and I couldn’t see wasting my little bit of energy on school buses, lunches, and administrative garbage. I was ALREADY home. We had a good group, and no state supervision, and kids who loved reading. Not perfect, in general, but great for us.
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I hear you. No kids here, but we both used to work at jobs wherein we were expected to ‘volunteer’ to do things everywhere that we didn’t want to be. You put in enough hours doing that which you’re hired to do, and you do it well, then– *boom* here’s more we require of you. I’m with your husband and his attitude about this. Mandatory? I say piffle!
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The school expectation for parent involvement is definitely increasing at a rate which obliges helicopter parents.
Total piffle, be it work or school.
As for work, last year I discovered I have a cutoff on what time I’m willing to put in on salary alone. That number would be 45. After 45 hours a week, salary or not, I want overtime pay or it’s just not worth it to me. I find that I’m willing to do considerably more than some people I’ve worked with (run errands, build boxes, tidy up) but we all have our limits, and mine is 45 hours. LOL
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Been there, done that. I’m surprised in this day and age they don’t just tweet you a message or put up a YouTube. I can’t imagine you’re the only parents who blew it off. 🙂 Good luck with the cooking.
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Thanks, Judy. The thing is, they hit you everywhere now. They’ll send you an email, give you a robo call, text alert, send a flyer home with your kid — and then they’ll leave off a really important part, like what door to drop them at. I Hate It. I’m so glad my kids are on their way out of school as opposed to just beginning. I’m tellin ya, it’s gettin worse.
Cooking went VERY well, thank you again!
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Mandatory? Whadda they gonna do, put you in Time Out? You’re cooking all night and all morning? Is it Thanksgiving already?
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Family Reunion — I was on Highway 57 today, but I had all the yummy foods! 🙂
I know, right? Let them try to punish my kid for the absence of her parents. Let them try. My husband sit here like, “I wish a mothafucka would.”
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I am with the Mister on that “mandatory” shit.
Have a good weekend
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HAH! Yes! You know it!
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Sounds rather demandatory to me too. Sheesh.
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Niiiice! 🙂
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Doesn’t it make you want you send off a reply to the mandatory sentence: yeah, that’s the meeting where you tell us the students aren’t allowed to shout swear words at the teachers or run around between classes eating delivered pizza, right?
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Good mercy. If my kids have to be told that at this point, I have failed them completely!
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My three are close in age, so it became a countdown when their last few years of school were closing in. I hear the young parents at work talking about the meetings, and expense…..and whew! My days with that are over! Say Amen!
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I’m so glad I’m nearing the end. I am with you on the countdown. We’re officially on the three-year plan now, Lois!
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Woo hoo! **waves arms and cheers**
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I agree with Alicia. None of that when we home schooled and field trips were a breeze (and a joy.) 🙂 I wish I felt random this morning, but I feel that I have to go to work in about 20 minutes and unfortunately that’s true. I’d love to have a Saturday off, preferably today.
Enjoy your weekend!!
janet
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I never had any interest in homeschooling, although I did homeschool our eldest daughter for kindergarten. It’s like havin babies. You know when you’re done. When teachers are done teaching, it’s final 😛
My Saturday was spent with my husband’s entire paternal clan. The weather was good and the elders are happy, but it was far from a day off.
I hope you had a good day at work 😀
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Baahah, you found a good fuck-that,-it’s-Friday song. ❤
I like you lying on the floor like that.
I'm awaiting amore after a month. Nuff said.
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Oh Manja, you must be pining terribly. ❤ I hope amore is home to you soon!
And thank you 🙂
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He’s here. All good. 😀
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Lemme put it this way, children are for the young. As much as I love ’em, they’re like library books and I have to return them so that others may enjoy. Have a wonderful weekend.
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Hahaha! 🙂
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I agree with the Mister. Have fun cooking, and I hope the rest of the week-end is relaxing and doing what YOU want!
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The cooking was splendid, I had lots of helping hands and a great DJ 🙂 Thanks!
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Went to the mandatory meeting for the first one because, you know, mandatory. The second one was only 2 years later so we “were just there” and knew everything they were going to say so we didn’t go. By the third one, 10 years later, we knew it wasn’t really “mandatory” but we had to convince our over-achiever daughter that she wouldn’t get expelled if we didn’t go. I was so happy to be able to say, “This is the last back to school night.” She just graduated from college and while there was a “mandatory” orientation for parents to get her started, that was worth it. Hope you are enjoying doing the cooking! Happy weekend to you.
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Mandatory parent meetings in college? Uh, no, that won’t be happening. I’m speechless. They’re 18. Omalord.
What made it ‘worth it’? I’m … No. My older kids did not have that.
The cooking was great, thanks! I hope you’re enjoying whatever you’re up to this weekend. I’m guessing artsy and/or sunshine things 😀
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It may not have been “mandatory” but they made it seem it was very important for us to attend, especially since she was going to be living in the dorms for the first two years.
Since neither of our other two went to college the orientation was very informative for us and helped prepare us for the things that Rachel would be experiencing on her first time living away from home. It is true that being 18 all the school info went directly to her and she made all her own decisions about classes and the like. The next time we went to any kind of school function was to attend her graduation four years later!
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Hurrah! And now she has a great new job! 😀
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I am so glad to be finished with that school district bullshit. Young adults come with a different brand of fertilizer, but at least it’s different.
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Yessssss, so glad we’re closer to the end than the beginning. Enjoy your absence of robo calls and people saying things like, “Think of the children…” 😛
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I remember the feeling! Wait until they’re seniors in high school! Then it gets really expensive and time consuming! I can remember going to those back to school nights absolutely dog-tired after work and almost falling asleep! I’m sure I made a great impression.
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Right? The May of graduation years. Hellabusy and pricy. I’ll be older the next two rounds, too! (I’ve got two adults out there now.)
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Reblogged this on Where Genres Collide.
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Thanks so much!
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You’re welcome, Joey!
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Damn! Closing this post with Jump Around wins the internet. Go to the danged meeting with a boom box, and jump around. 🙂
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Haha! Thanks, Robert 😀
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I love that song!
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ME TOO!
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Reblogged this on Art by Rob Goldstein and commented:
from Joeyfully Stated
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Thanks again!
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You amaze me, too! And I hear you about meetings like that. Just so bogus. It’s to make you think somebody else is doing their job.
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“It’s to make you think somebody else is doing their job.”
YOU ARE SO RIGHT! What prize do we have for Luanne today? Luanne, you win the shiniest blue ribbon this side of the Mississippi!
Thanks!
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[Takes a bow] Yeah, isn’t it incredible how many people spend all their time thinking up that stuff instead of just doing what they are supposed to do? I guess it’s related to CYA.
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CYA?
I dunno, my kids go to public school.
This week’s things were show choir and as far as I can tell, our kid didn’t need us to sing or dance for her…
These people. I may have to rant again another day. Or twenty more times!
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Oh good grief. Go ahead and RANT!
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😀
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“parent school things” – In July?
I’m with the Mister on this one.
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Yes. School starts Thursday, Dan. Thursday. Ugh!
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This Thursday? August 2nd Thursday? That’s craziness. I hope the school is all AC’d.
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Yessir. And yes, although the gyms stay warm for some reason! 😉
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I totally love that you lay on the floor during meetings. If I ever have to do that as a grandma (please no) I will bring a blanket and a pillow.
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Hah! I don’t lie around during the meetings, but sometimes during events. Few people ever see me, but I do.
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It’s all a scam. They get you to the mandatory meeting and the next thing you know you’re the PTA president. We were just talking about how nice it was to not have to go to school events. We spent sooooo many years volunteering for everything, including Scouts. We think we may move to the prairie so that we don’t have to go through the events of grandkids’ we will be babysitting, no doubt.
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I hear ya April – and maybe after running the PTA they want checkbooks opened more.. ha!’and we did the same as you scouts – and just too much – so good call Joey
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That last bit made me LOL!
Yeah, I have reduced my participation greatly over the years. I’ve done it all now and I’m really quite tired. I’m there to support my kids, but the staff needs to get a grip.
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The smiles kept coming – from the sneaker shot – to thinking of keeping manicures in a digital age – to the meme – omg – mostly a lady! and the Jump Around song brought me back to an engagement party we went to in 2004 where some hispanic dancers were doing this twirl with their knee to this song. You know – where they stay still and do something with one foot and the knee. super cool.
— but my manicure might have gotten ruined with the nine hours it took me to scroll all the way down here to leave a comment (kidding – but my wireless mouse went dead and this old mouse made it arduous to grab the little bar to scroll down – tsk tsk – I am kidding)
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There really is something fabulous about the lack of paper and boxes now. Now and again I want the paper stuff and I can always print it, but I don’t mind not schleppin it around!
I’m glad I brought you the smiles. Your comment gave me some, too!
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Yes – schlepping is a good word – –
Hope your week is going well –
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Pingback: The End of July? – No Facilities
I hope you had an awesome weekend, Joey, and got all of your cooking done. And had time to rest. Hope you have an awesome week without parent/teacher bullsh*t and more wine.
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I had the best weekend I’ve had all month! Thank you!
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On the road trip to Florida, I could only listen to the Top 40 songs on repeat for so many times. Even Miss Sunshine had to agree. We listened to a lot of the 90’s station. House of Pain made me wish I was out of the car to “jump around”, but I did my best. I heard a lot of goodies (it just doesn’t feel right to say oldies, but goodies…I’m not that old!!). Miss Sunshine even added Flip Fantasia and few others to her playlist. I’ve been to many parent meetings. I don’t do many of the school ones anymore. If there’s a problem with something by high school, they know where to reach me.
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Cantaloop, Flip Fantasia! *cue the horns* I know, right?
I’m so over parent meetings, I can’t even.
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I need to channel your school bullshit go fuck yourselves vibe, as I’m girding my loins for that same nonsense next week. I mean, really…..
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It’s like anything else. After a while, whatever your while is, you just stop giving a fuck. Kid fed and wearing shoes and having a brain? Ready. The rest? Ehhh…
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I love those mandatory volunteer hours. We have 30 at LM’s school, plus they’re always asking for more. I don’t mind doing meaningful stuff, but there’s so much bullshit. Especially the workshops. I have no desire to attend something I could run myself.
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I know, but it’s very dangerous to take charge. It’s like when you say, “OH he’s a joy, you can bring him over any time.” AND THEY DO. That’s how it goes with the volunteer stuff, too.
We’re required X amount of events per semester. We usually try to get them done in the early part, and we try to do them together as a couple so we don’t miss as much time.
Performing arts, now we have two, so I’m curious to see if they’re doubling us up. I figure this year and next I’m the dedicated, and then I’ll slack off a bit when Moo is a senior 😉
Learn to say no, E. You can always say yes, but learn to say no.
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