Good afternoon folks. Yay on the upcoming offer letter, Dotty!
Okay, I know I’m going to sound ignorant, but I’m confused. We finally got the daughter’s FASFA squared away and everything is good to go. However, there is no way we can afford what the FAFSA says our contribution should be.
I have a very bad feeling the daughter is not eligible for a Pell grant because of our income. I don’t know what to do, what types of student loans she should be looking at, nothing. I just cannot face the heartbreak my daughter will suffer if we can’t make this work for her. Any help, pointers, experience, etc?
I guess my sentence structure was truly bad if you all thought we had to go to the credit union for Mr. Taters’ new shoes. Sorry about that.
I think we’re going to do the credit union thing on Saturday morning, though, vs. today. I’ve just too many other things happening today and we HAVE to make sure we’re in Tacoma NLT 5:00 for the food handlers card class/test for my daughter.
Blech…I just want to relax, but I don’t see a day of relaxation coming my way until Sunday, unfortunately.
Rebo all your son is “obligated” to do is offer the couple his [del]sympathies[/del] congratulations/best wishes. Giving a gift is a nice but not obligatory thing. Ever. Never. Never. Ever.
Oh wait, wrong holiday!
Anyhoo!
Still no computer at the new house, and today is the first day I’ve gotten back here in over two weeks. I miss my puter, and I miss you guys.
We went to Shipshewana In, yesterday to the flea market. Perhaps I’m jaded but the monstrosity that is the Covered Bridge Festival, but it didn’t seem so big. The kids had a great time though. I got burnt though. Been trying to keep myself out of the sun more. Did a better job than I thought. So I’m sore and I get chills once in a while.
We’re going to a party tonight, and having a cookout tomorrow. Fireworks both nights cause I love fireworks. One day I will get to Navy Pier to see them. I dream small.
Tuesday we find out if the Tadpole still has a tail or not. So excited!
Taters, the FAFSA seems to think parents can afford a whole lot more than they can. That’s why you should get yourself to your credit union pronto; you can take out all kinds of loans at ridiculously low interest rates. Pell grants are very difficult to get, but Stafford loans are easier, and Young Tiger got both Stafford loans and parent loans from the credit union that are surprisingly easy on the budget. So don’t feel that you’re alone in thinking the FAFSA people are idiots. They are.
One major advantage to Young Tiger having gone into the Air Force – he’s emancipated as far as student loans are concerned, i.e. even though he’s under 25 parental income does not have to get figured in for him now (plus, of course, he has the GI Bill). Otherwise, you guys will be on the hook for some time to come.
Have you talked to the school’s financial aid office? Because they may be able to help you out in ways you hadn’t thought of. Also, there’s bunches of small scholarships available; do some googling, and you may find some things that will help. Even if it’s on a thousand here or a thousand there, every little bit helps when it comes to the cost of education!
Poor Papa Tigs got caught up in the massive traffic jam caused by the funeral of a Prince Georges county policeman who got slain in the line of duty a few days ago. It’s actually turning into a major scandal for PG County – the guy who was arrested for the murder was found “unresponsive” in his maximum security jail cell the day after he was arrested, 15 minutes after an every-30-minute check, and died at the hospital. And although jail officials said there were no physical signs of anything wrong, after the autopsy it was declared to be a homicide! So now the FBI is looking into just how an accused cop-killer could have been asphyxiated in his maximum security jail cell. Yeah, it’s kind of a scandal. To put it mildly. At least it keeps the local news media happy. :rolleyes:
Good for you, dots! Hope this job is a better fit.
rebo, I think your son should give a wedding gift BUT if I recall correctly, you have a year to do so before it’s considered a faux pas.
taters, you will definitely be able to find some kind of student loans for the daughter. I agree to [del]hound[/del] inquire at the financial aide office.
Here’s hoping the doctor’s appointment went okay li-li.
I called Italy this morning to make my reservations to see the Last Supper when we get there in October. Can you imagine? You are only allowed to view it for 15 minutes and October is three months away. There were a total of 4 (four) time slots still available on the day we need to reserve. So the time I reserved wasn’t ideal but at least we’ll get to see it before it crumbles off the wall.
Hey all, thanks for the, ahem, concern about my head this am, but as I have become a bit of a lightweight when it comes to alcohol and I only drank 4 Mike’s Hard Cranberrys my head is fine. I slept very well, which was my main goal, stormy nights make me ache, so a bit of the juice and I sleep like, well, an old arthritic woman with a few pops in her system!
I have to rush a bit, the puppies are going in for their first set of shots at 4:30. I predict much trembling and crying. Probably the puppies will cry too. I will attempt to get some nice photos of them when we come home, as they are freshly bathed and are fluffy and smell good.
Thanks all for the advice. We are planning on hitting up the credit union. I guess I’ll have to call the financial aid office and see what kind of assistance they can offer.
We got new tennis shoes for the hubby, switched out our empty propane tank for a full tank, and stopped at a little Thai place for some lunch on the way back home. It was good food, but I couldn’t eat it all. I brought the leftovers home and they’re in the fridge.
While we were at Lowes, we thought we’d see if they had any swamp coolers. There weren’t any, so we looked at air conditioning units. Christ almighty, the only one they had that fit our type of window (slider/casement) was over $400.00. I’m not spending that kind of money, and besides, the unit was huge.
Once I get back to the computer downstairs, I’m checking out the site **Smartie ** linked for me.
MT, poor ol’ Rusty sure wouldn’t have liked it here all last night and through the morning. We had thunder and lightning storms of epic proportions here and they did not abate until around 10:00 this morning. It knocked our power out once this morning, and obviously sometime during the night because our alarms clocks were blinking. The thunder was so damn loud it kept me up most the night. I swear to Og it seemed like it was right over my house.
Good luck with the financial aid, Taters! Definitely try to meet with someone at the university’s financial aid office. One of the counselors who worked at the Financial Aid office at Michigan State really helped me out a couple of times (thanks, Rafael!). If you know anyone who’s been through this at her school (I can’t remember where she’s planning to go - remind me…) and worked with financial aid to get recommendations on who to talk to. Also, look on the school’s web site to see if they have scholarship listings (hopefully, they have something like this on their office of financial aid page). IIRC, MSU had a listing of scholarships funded by donors. And yes, here’s the online list, 30+ years later…take a look at it, some of the scholarships aren’t just for MSU students. Take a look at the search service links; they look pretty useful. Also, talk to everyone you know and let them know you’re looking for information. Wow…I guess I needed to share.
::Waves at NoLa and SO and rosie and whoever else I missed::
I wanna go to Italy!!! (Can I go with you Puggy? I’ll carry your bags or something… :D)
That is an EXCELLENT situation to be in Dotty. Good thing you’re getting out so quickly.
Yay for surviving the week. I’m hoping to get lots and lots done here at home.
I have a confession. You know how I was told not to bring anything to the shindig tomorrow? Well, this mornin’ I took out some cheese and butter to soften and I just made a batch of cheese straws to take. No, I do not know why I did this. Apparently I have some kind of obsession that will not allow me to show up empty handed. I mean, I could just be all normal and take a bottle of wine but I just HAD to make sump’n.
Am I possessed by Martha Stewart y’all reckon?
Puggy just think, you may be among the last people to see The Last Supper before it crumbles to dust.
Parent Plus loans. That’s what they’re called. They’re offered by commercial lenders, but the interest rate is federally mandated at a ridiculously low level, and repayment is set at a nice reasonable pace. I don’t know who your credit union is, but ours (Navy Federal) offered an extra bit off the interest rate for timely repayment over a certain length of time. So do shop around if you don’t think you’re getting the best deal, if that’s the way you want to go.
You’re right that Rusty would have been unhappy with that, Taters. That sounds like what it used to be like when we lived in Louisiana. I’ve spent many a night sleeping as irregularly as LiLi has been lately thanks to that poor doggie being scared out of his mind. I definitely prefer him in this climate, that’s for sure!
And speaking of LiLi, what news from the doctor? Is there anything that can be done to help Nat sleep better?
Swampy, that’s very Southern of you! and cheese straws are always welcome.
Didn’t read much (sorry), am tired after a light day at work (so why am I tired? No idea). I am officially OFF on Saturday as there are no cases planned and the Monday schedule is light. Got those phone calls done and here I am.
TH is also home. Says he got a text from my brother (the one who took #1 to Oz–in fact, my only brother for those playing along at home) that said to be “sure and ask #1 son about his girlfriend”.
:eek:
I don’t have a problem with his having a GF, but an Aussie he met and has only known for 2 weeks? Talk about a long distance relationship! :eek:
Nice and cool here. Traffic was insane today–everyone and his brother was going to MI or downtown for the fireworks. I’m staying home.
If your son is anything like mine, probably something embarrassing happened with a girl and your brother is setting you guys up to further embarrass him. Which is what I’d do were I in his place, obviously.
People have started setting off firecrackers. Sounds like some of the newer neighbors must be firecracker fans. Ick. And…it looks like it’s actually people about a block away - and they’re setting off fireworks. Wish they’d leave it to the professionals.
Still contemplating whether to wander down the hill to watch fireworks. They don’t start for another 55 minutes or so.
Have started to move dining room stuff around so that I can move my mattress and box spring out of my room. That’ll be fun.
Thanks to everyone who has participated in my thread. It’s been a long day and I’m exhausted.
You wouldn’t like it here, GT. TVMan is one of those crazy people who decides to set off and even create his own fireworks. I am not happy about it, his mother is decidedly less than thrilled. She’s afraid not only that he’ll hurt himself but also that he is going to have the police called on him because he’s already upset some people with his Works bombs. Should be interesting. :rolleyes:
And, yes, I did happen to snag a spare fire extinguisher from the shop just in case.
I will attempt to get some nice photos of them when we come home, as they are freshly bathed and are fluffy and smell good.