The Vent and Rant Thread

[Pookeysgirl]

Originally Posted by Stitchawl

I'm glad that it worked out well for your child. It's too bad that it had to take another child being injured before the school took any real action. In many ways I can understand the school's fear of taking the wrong actions, but in just as many ways I wish I could make my own laws once in a while.


Stitchawl

I'm with you there.

[poohbear_nc]

Great news Pookeysgirl - hope the school stands firm on the expulsion!

[pdurrant]

%^^%$% Trilogies that aren't!

I've just finished Dragon Keeper by Robin Hobb. It was supposed to be the first book in a trilogy. It's not. It's the first third of a very long book.

The second third is only recently out. The last third will hopefully be out mid-next-year, but I won't be buying it until the paperback and a lower ebook price arrive sometime mid-2012.

I knew it was a new trilogy. I should have remembered it'd be a long time until the last volume. But I didn't know that the story would just stop (literally) mid-stream. There /was/ a logical break point a chapter or two earlier, but this break point makes no sense. It's like stopping a.

Just like that.

Oh well, perhaps I'll remember it fondly enough in a couple of years time to buy the other two books in the 'trilogy'.

It's certainly forcefully reminded me that half-done trilogies are risky reads.

[UPDATE: I was wrong. It's the first part of a single book split over two physical books. So I should be able to buy the second half around April next year for a reasonable amount. I feel a little better.]

[Pookeysgirl]

Originally Posted by poohbear_nc

Great news Pookeysgirl - hope the school stands firm on the expulsion!

Thanks! I've got my fingers crossed that I won't have this problem again.

[Pookeysgirl]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

%^^%$% Trilogies that aren't!

I've just finished Dragon Keeper by Robin Hobb. It was supposed to be the first book in a trilogy. It's not. It's the first third of a very long book.

The second third is only recently out. The last third will hopefully be out mid-next-year, but I won't be buying it until the paperback and a lower ebook price arrive sometime mid-2012.

I knew it was a new trilogy. I should have remembered it'd be a long time until the last volume. But I didn't know that the story would just stop (literally) mid-stream. There /was/ a logical break point a chapter or two earlier, but this break point makes no sense. It's like stopping a.

Just like that.

Oh well, perhaps I'll remember it fondly enough in a couple of years time to buy the other two books in the 'trilogy'.

It's certainly forcefully reminded me that half-done trilogies are risky reads.

I had that problem with the last Frankenstein book from Dean Koontz. The first 3 ended like any book should, but the 4th one just stopped. I had to go through the whole book again (there's no go to page on my kobo) just to make sure I wasn't missing a part of the book. I feel your pain.

[KarenH]

Originally Posted by kindlekitten

DYAMNNN!!! this has been a hellacious storm! power finally back on after about 36 grueling below freezing hours. I MUST get the generator fixed and clean out one of the storage rooms that has a fireplace in it!

it is still a little below freezing in my room. it will take hours for everything to heat up with my little heaters. no telling when my water pipes will thaw

I'm feeling very fortunate right now - after being out for over 24 hours in last week's storm, we didn't lose power this time. I can't imagine trying to keep my 80+ year old parents warm in these single digit (F.) temps without power - it's been hard enough with power! I'm glad to hear you've got power again, I know there are a lot of people over in your area that are still out and some they're saying might not be restored until as late as Friday. I'll keep my fingers crossed for your pump and pipes!

[kindlekitten]

Originally Posted by Bilbo1967

That's pretty rough, but it could be worse!

Nine day traffic jam!

PS. Hope your pipes thaw soon and you get the heating going OK.

I remember seeing that on the news, it reminded me of a Doctor Who episode!

Originally Posted by bjones6416

Yikes! Isn't it a little early in the year for that? Animals all okay?

it is early. but then again as I had pointed out earlier this fall, we have been told to expect the worst winter in... what was it? 75 years? I have been over feeding the horses, I would have liked to give them hot beet pulp when it was so windy, but oh well. they are ok, and actually dry due to all of this. that is a big help! the indoor critters are fine. I think Strider and Arwen are holding me personally responsible for the cold and lack of power. Monday night through the windstorm was horrid, they were so freaked out and could not settle. I have to admit that the noises were straight out of a horror flick. what was grinding was that it was CONSTANT, all night long, not just gusts, on and off. the dog is stois as ever and wants to know when we can go back out and play again

Originally Posted by ShortNCuddlyAm

Hope they thaw soon

Is it worth leaving a tap on once they have thawed?

yes, and I always do when it is so very cold. of course having had the pwer out meant that the pump was not working

Originally Posted by Pookeysgirl

Soooo, here's the update:

.

w00t! I wonder if it would be worthwhile for you to contact the parents of this new victim to give them your own information so that the school district can be brought to task over their policies?

Originally Posted by Stitchawl

When I lived in New England I used to leave every tap dripping all winter long. (And that was even with having heating tapes on all the incoming line!) But that doesn't help if there is a power failure and the pump stops working. The last couple of years I lived there I used to pile hay bales all around the baseboard outside of the house.

Stitchawl

we've never had a problem with leaving a faucet barely running. we've had freezes and windstorms since we have been in this house, but this is the first with both of them. *sigh* definetly need to get my genny fixed

Originally Posted by desertblues

We once on a holiday in winter.
When we came back, the waterpipes had been frozen up and thawed. The first thing we heard when we opened the door was this Niagrafalls.
Water came out of our kitchenceiling. Thaught us to block the main watertap in the cellar, the next time we went away in the winter.

KK; good luck with on powershortage and water. Must be a hell of a time not to have warm water/ warm house and the rest of it. Hang on.

nothing like hanging out in your snivel gear in the house . last night I seriously think there was no difference between indoors and out. that windstrom seriously compromised all retained warmth. listening to the news reports, we weren't the only ones

[bjones6416]

I just had a funny memory! I know there are a lot of military people here -- do you guys remember the "T" buildings? These were temporary buildings, designated with a building number like "T-117," that were never meant to be permanent structures. However, in the great wisdom of the Army some of these buildings that were put up during WWII are still in use. I went into work late one day during the Christmas season to be met by a coworker standing in water almost to his knees, assuring me he had "everything under control." This was a one story building with all the pipes in the ceiling, right under the poorly insulated roof. I looked up and saw the ceiling tiles actually buckling as if a giant worm was crawling along them, from room to room. There was a frantic man with a broomstick running along the hall poking holes in the tiles as he ran to take the pressure off, so little streams of water were fountaining down everywhere. It was like something out of a comedy movie. Ah, good times.

[ShortNCuddlyAm]

Originally Posted by kindlekitten

yes, and I always do when it is so very cold. of course having had the pwer out meant that the pump was not working

True - I was forgetting you get your water from a well

[Pookeysgirl]

Originally Posted by kindlekitten

w00t! I wonder if it would be worthwhile for you to contact the parents of this new victim to give them your own information so that the school district can be brought to task over their policies?

I actually gave my number to the parent that told me about the incident. The mother of the injured buy is planning to sue. I haven't heard anything yet, but I hope she calls me.

[kennyc]

The coldest day we've had yet and the set of the fire alarm! Everyone out into the 28F cold and shiver for 15 mins. .... at least it wasn't raining....

[SameOldStory]

If Canada is like the US that will not be the end of it.

Here, at least, the local/state government is required to educate him. More often than not that means transferring to another school. A distant relative of mine has/had a kid like the one you mentioned. I don't recall the term (sociopath?), but he could not understand the difference between right amd wrong, truth and lies. He would pass a lie detector test. What he would do to other kids didn’t matter to him.

The last time that I heard about him he was kicked out of his fifth school by age 10-11. But, as I said, they had to find his a new school.

What that kid did, possibly putting out an eye, was not an intentional criminal act, and we as a society have no way to deal with the situation. Getting him away from your kids is the best we can hope for.

Hope for the best, Pookeysgirl, and try to help your kids enjoy school again. That kid may be gone, but I'm sure he left a very bad memory.

[kindlekitten]

Originally Posted by bjones6416

I just had a funny memory! I know there are a lot of military people here -- do you guys remember the "T" buildings? These were temporary buildings, designated with a building number like "T-117," that were never meant to be permanent structures. However, in the great wisdom of the Army some of these buildings that were put up during WWII are still in use. I went into work late one day during the Christmas season to be met by a coworker standing in water almost to his knees, assuring me he had "everything under control." This was a one story building with all the pipes in the ceiling, right under the poorly insulated roof. I looked up and saw the ceiling tiles actually buckling as if a giant worm was crawling along them, from room to room. There was a frantic man with a broomstick running along the hall poking holes in the tiles as he ran to take the pressure off, so little streams of water were fountaining down everywhere. It was like something out of a comedy movie. Ah, good times.

I've spent a great deal of time in the old WWII barracks and they are MISERABLE! fortunately I wasn't in them for either basic or advanced training, but the little time I did spend in them was enough!

Originally Posted by ShortNCuddlyAm

True - I was forgetting you get your water from a well

yep really need to get the genny fixed. that is the next financial goal. I'm not doing htis again!

Originally Posted by Pookeysgirl

I actually gave my number to the parent that told me about the incident. The mother of the injured buy is planning to sue. I haven't heard anything yet, but I hope she calls me.

keep following up on this! a lot of times people in the position of hte parents feel uncomfortable about asking for outside help.

[Stitchawl]

Originally Posted by SameOldStory

Here, at least, the local/state government is required to educate him. More often than not that means transferring to another school.----{SNIP}---
The last time that I heard about him he was kicked out of his fifth school by age 10-11. But, as I said, they had to find his a new school.

24 years ago I was the Director of Academic Studies at a high school for kids like that. These were kids who'd been kicked out of every available school, both public and private, and this place was more of a warehouse with classrooms and dorms. It was located in a very remote part of northern New England, very expensive, and we could NOT suspend or expel students regardless of their behavior. 95% of these kids were not violent (thank God) but it was good to be stronger, faster, smarter, and meaner than the other 5%. Coincidentally, this afternoon I'm going to meet with one of the students. He's visiting Kyoto with his wife. I just barely remember him as he wasn't one of the violent ones...

Stitchawl

[Stitchawl]

Originally Posted by kennyc

The coldest day we've had yet and the set of the fire alarm! Everyone out into the 28F cold and shiver for 15 mins. .... at least it wasn't raining....

Here as well! Almost reach the freezing point this morning. It's going to be a cold ride into town...


Stitchawl