Thanks Anastasaeon! I look forward to receiving the package.
Are you calling us mindless, Vorlon? :dubious: 
No, just the dolts who work in our school system.
A few years ago, TPTB decided, as part of No Child Gets Ahead, that there would be a standardised test given.
The results were preditable.
Now the school year, up to the test date, is full of test prep, and ONLY test prep.
Balance a check book? Know how to use a screwdriver? Nope we can’t have that…
No, no, no…half of my callers at work, now, they are mindless. I am merely flaky.
that’s what I was thinking
So, they fed us today a royal feast indeed. A “moral boosting” (in quotes, because it didn’t really do much as far as that goes) End-Of-Summer bash. We had
Tossed Salad
Caesar Salad
Pasta Primavera Salad
Cole Slaw
Potato Salad
Saurkraut
Hot dogs
Veggie burgers
rotisserie chicken
fried chicken
ribs
mashed sweet potatoes
beans
cheese/crudities/fruit platters
Ralph’s Ices
brownies
tiny cupcakes in chocolate, carrot, red velvet, and cheesecake flavors
Plus
a toy pail and shovel, and the pail was filled with candy and summer themed chotchkes,
a raffle in which ten people won DunkinDonuts gift cards (but, alas, not me)
AND
there’s enough leftovers for all of us to have lunch again tomorrow, and probably Friday as well.
I’m stuffed!
kai, those are very cute photos. Your glasses suit you well.
The Boy and I ended up going out for Szechuan food for dinner tonight. I also attempted to buy some supplies for this weekend’s camping trip, but was foiled by a combination of incompetent merchandising layouts, inept cashiers and closed self-checkouts.
Speaking of which… anyone got some good tried-and-true camping recipes? To make things extra [del]complicated[/del] fun, FIL is keeps somewhat kosher, which rules out anything that requires pork/bacon/ham. Mixing of dairy and meat is also off-limits (I had to extract my foot from my mouth when I realised that extolling the virtues of a proper campfire dog with Kraft singles would be lost on my audience).
For bonus giggles, here are tonight’s fortunes:
Do you believe? Endurance and persistence will be rewarded.
Love is a present that can be given every single day you live.
Snerks ahoy! 
Sounds like a fun lunch rosie!
Wow, Haze. That reminds me of one of Faraway Best Friend’s exes. She went out with him for about a month before it was revealed that he had a girlfriend. Who was moving to Columbus in a few months. Yeah, that relationship didn’t work out. Actually, neither of them did, now that I think of it. He wound up married to someone else, at least for a while. Why do people behave this way??? More hugs.
RE: the changeover. rigs is up next. I figure she can chose to start on Monday and then get us started again on Tuesday. Or, we can have a one-day MMP and then a TMP. Or…there are probably lots of possibilities I’m not thinking of. I vote for: let’s wait and see what happens.
Love the pics, kai, especially the one with glasses.
I’m very sleepy…so nitey nite.
GT
Home, tired, blerg. Evil assistant knows how to play the system, so if she show up tomorrow, it will be write up #1. Her [del]quack[/del] doc will write her notes for missing work any time she needs it. Also, Fay is visiting today.
So, Haze, if I pretend to have a girlfriend, will you reconsider my proposal? 
Hugs, drugs,Hi Pugs! to all!
I forgot to say welcome to the MMP, The Vorlon!
yawn Beddie-bye time. I like sleep.
All of a sudden, I’m very tired. I don’t know why.
Tomorrow promises to be busy. First off to UW, then to work, then to the grocery store, then to the Y for our workout.
My daughter is not well pleased with me at the moment. I told her she’d have to come in to work with me after her orientation tomorrow. The reason I need her to do that is because if if drove her back home and then headed back to work, I wouldn’t get there until 1:30 or so. That’s a huge waste of time and gas for me.
I promised her that if the orientation ended sooner than what’s listed, I’d do my level best to take her home first.
**kai, ** you are very attractive. I think we’re all our own worst critics. I’m very hesitant to share pictures of myself too.
Welcome, Vorlon. I hear you on school district stupidity…I hear you.
When I was growing up, I was seven HOUSES from the bus line, but was not allowed to take the bus to school.
Our state has the Washington Assessment of Learning (WASL). It’s a requirement to pass it for graduation now. My daughter’s class was the first to have the requirement and she graduated in June of this year. They started testing the students in 4th grade. I well and truly hate it because it seems they teach to the test. All sophomores must pass the test and receive their certificate or they won’t graduate high school. They’re given several tries. This test has caused much controversy and consternation here.
My son took his test last year as a 9th grader. If he passes, he won’t have to take it as a sophomore. They gave the test early to a limited number of students who are doing especially well in school and have good test results.
Well, I think I’m gonna hit the sack.
ETA: I like the haircut, Haze. I’ll bet your head feels ten pounds lighter. I know mine does whenever I wack the hair all off.
Darling haircut,Haze! Himself just looked over my shoulder and opined that you’re really gorgeous and didn’t even add his automatic addendum “for a non-blonde,” which is very high praise indeed!
Sounds like daughter needs to get acquainted with the bus system there, Taters!
Someone say drugs? Thanks, doggio, don’t mind if I do! 
Argh, I’m tired–really enjoyed watching the DNC coverage though. Some excellent speechifying today, and Biden’s family is so precious, cutest little toddlers evar! Of course, I’ve been guzzling peach cider too, that might have something to do with it! Yawn, g’night…
:swoon: :thud!: You’re truly gorgeous!
Nah, you got it wrong… if she likes guys with boyfriends, she’ll just love married guys! 
Especially one with, oh, say 3 kids…
::wakes up from reverie:: Or not… :o
**Haze **-- seriously, that’s his problem, not yours… especially if you’re not looking for a relationship just now. Seize the moment, let *him *worry about consequences! OTOH, if he didn’t tell you this himself, be very careful of anything he may tell you… use him, enjoy him… don’t let him use you!
**Kai **-- you’re beautiful, too 
Got you confirmation, Taters! And I second Aleq’s remark about public transportation. Maybe I’m going a bit too far the other way, but in our household you’re taught to take buses during the summer between 6th and 7th grade! You’re a big kid now, going to Junior High… you can manage paying the driver and getting off at the right stop!
Unless you live literally miles away from the nearest bus line… in which case I see the problem…
Damnit haze, I’d send you a barely-used, early-30s, gets taken for late-20s all the time Spanish accountant who is most definitely not taken and in need of a girlfriend, except that inflicting Littlebro on you would probably get me banned. Mind you, he’s not so bad except for occasionally needing a kick in the ass and looking a lot more serious than he is…
Sheboss informed me that she was thinking that maybe we should do (this) and (that). I agreed and asked whether that meant she was doing it or I was, because, you see, all those plurals just confuse me. Have you guys ever noticed how stiff everybody looks when they’re working hard to contain the laughter? I need to work harder at channeling my inner Akane Tendo, I do.
I’ll be in my bunk.
laughs at BBBBobbio Poor guy … but seriously, Haze, you do look mahvelously sexy.
Good Thursday morning all. Up and caffeinating - coffee today, thankfully. Not totally awake yet, though.
Cripes, Haze, you look even better. If that’s possible.
We’re up, I think it’s morning (grumble), and Other Quasi-Daughter and her husband might be coming today, in which case they can take all the stuff we’ve been keeping for them. Yawn.
Muppet, name of the place that has lamb poutine, please? My MiL has promised that we’ll go so they can watch me eat it. And since KRaft singles don’t contain anything that resembles cheese, I think they should be kosher with meat. Come on. They’re not dairy. They’re plastic!
Up and at it again. Probably all day.
You look good, Haze.
Wow, Haze, what a cute haircut! I was wondering what style would make you unrecognizable.
I’ve been up and awake for a while, now… Need to get up and get the trasch out of the garage. Didn’t get as much done as I wanted to yesterday, but I should have time to do a bit more yet this morning.
I’m guilty of the “we should do X” thing, too. Buit I’ve learned to clarify by saying “We, meaning [insert name of lucky winner here], should do X.”
How many times does teh Evil One have to be written up before she’s out the door, doggio?
I’m pretty sure the Taters clan isn’t close enough to public transportation that that’s an option, BTW.
Off to start the day…
GT
Good Mornin’ Y’all! Up, caffienatin’ and had an accident free commute this mornin’. Yeah, workin’ from da cave again today.
Haze the haircut is f-aaaaaa-bu-lous!
<snerk> IN BED! <snerk>
Yay! Spazsnark to read!
Love it!