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Archive through May 05, 2004

The TVClubHouse: General Discussions ARCHIVES: 2004 Nov. - 2005 Jan.: Free Expression... (ARCHIVES): The return of The Return of the Gripe Thread (ARCHIVES): Archive through May 05, 2004 users admin

Author Message
Carrie92
Member

09-15-2003

Tuesday, April 20, 2004 - 4:50 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Whoami, you said everything I felt when I lived at my old place. Fortunately I don't have the same problem here, our drawer handles are like a wide U-shape. Now my problem is the door handles, or rather the height of them. I'm always catching my sleeve on them when I wear big t-shirts!

Carrie92
Member

09-15-2003

Tuesday, April 20, 2004 - 5:07 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
On to my next gripe...
Whatever happened to cute little neighborhood grocery stores? You know, the ones your mother used to send you to for a loaf of bread or head of lettuce (I once came back with cabbage)

I have to go out this morning just to get a couple things, and I really don't feel like parking a mile away and trucking through a big huge store just to get juice, milk and toilet paper! Of course they are all at opposite ends of the store. I could go the the gas station but I'd pay twice as much.

BTW, whatever happened to going to the gas station just to get gas? Our nearest gas station has a Subway, bagel shop, and hot dog/sandwich stand. Not to mention, the greeting cards and gifts section, the beverage section with cappuccino and coffee machines, fountain pop of every kind, slushies, juices, etc. And you can get the same thing in bottles on the other side of the store. There's even a walk-in beer cooler. And whatever happened to full service? With gas prices as high as they are, we should at least have someone to pump our gas! Oh boy, I could go on and on! Looks like it's going to be one of those days...

Llkoolaid
Member

08-01-2001

Tuesday, April 20, 2004 - 5:17 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Lol,Carrie, come to Nova Scotia, we still have lots of full service, I am not pumping gas anytime soon.

Mak1
Member

08-12-2002

Tuesday, April 20, 2004 - 5:44 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Come to small town Maine, Carrie. We still have 3 cute little neighborhood grocery stores here.

Carrie92
Member

09-15-2003

Tuesday, April 20, 2004 - 6:12 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Y'all are crazy! It's too cold up there!

Spitfire
Member

07-18-2002

Tuesday, April 20, 2004 - 7:34 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I've never had to pump my own gas. I was finally shown how to do it this past summer.....I'm 29 years old. Pathetic I know. We also still have small corner stores that carry you basic necessities. Small town living in Ontario.

Juju2bigdog
Member

10-27-2000

Tuesday, April 20, 2004 - 9:15 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Carrie and Spitfire, you could move to Oregon. By state law you can't pump your own gas there.

Llkoolaid
Member

08-01-2001

Tuesday, April 20, 2004 - 11:25 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Good law, it keeps people in work, I don't notice the prices go any lower when you have to pump your own.

Abbynormal
Member

08-04-2001

Friday, April 23, 2004 - 4:38 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
This is more of I can't believe this than an actual gripe I guess. So my son goes on a field trip to Atlanta to do the CNN tour. It cost $50.00 Ok, we're cool, other than he had to be at school at 5:30 am. So they said bring at least $10.00 for lunch, since they were eating at the Varsity. Also any extra if the kid wants to buy something. So I give him $20.00 to take, hey live it up, ya know.

Today he is telling me all about it and shows me his ticket. It cost $7.00 to get in. $7.00!!! What????? He fell out laughing because he said he knew how I would react when I saw that. LOL Anyway, OMG!!! I realize they had 4 charter buses, but please! If you have enough children to fill up 4 charter buses, that's a heck of alot of kids X 50 bucks. OY! I need to be a charter bus driver obviously. To top it off, they didn't go to the Varsity to eat after all, just ate at CNN. He ate at Taco Bell for a whopping $2.25. Did he come back with any money? No. He bought another kid a souvineir,(sp) which makes me proud so hey no problems there. It was his to spend how he saw fit. I am just a little shocked by this blatant rip-off the school did on all of us. Or I could be wrong

Ddr
Member

08-19-2001

Friday, April 23, 2004 - 4:55 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Abby, when I charter a 55 passenger bus, it runs me $300 for four hours. I don't know how much it is your area, but it gives you an idea of costs.

Abbynormal
Member

08-04-2001

Friday, April 23, 2004 - 5:17 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Wow Ddr. So if I were to use your costs to figure this out, just at a rough estimate, the school would have cleared around $6,500.00!! after paying for the buses for 10 hours and the tickets. Wow! I don't begrudge them the money, schools can use all the help they can get, it's just WOW, I'm still kinda shocked. This is my 3rd kid and after many field trips I am just now getting a clue. Wow!



Ddr
Member

08-19-2001

Friday, April 23, 2004 - 5:21 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
There must be some other costs involved. Check with your school to see if they can make a profit off of field trips. Most schools only charge actual costs in this area.

Also ask how many chaperones were on the trip. Did they pay their own way or did the students pick up their cost?

Bus charters typically have a base rate for so many hours and then charge an additional amount every hour after that.

The catholic school my son went to last year could not get a bus less than $500 for any trip they went on.

Hope this helps.

If they did make a profit off of the field trip, parents should have been notified of this before hand along with what the profits would be used for.

Abbynormal
Member

08-04-2001

Friday, April 23, 2004 - 6:22 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
There where 30 chaperones, they had to pay their own 50. I probably won't say anything about it, except in passing to one of his teachers. She'd be honest. It's really not that important to me except I guess I was just shocked when I saw the ticket price. No matter how you slice it, they are making a huge profit somewhere, because if they are paying a charter company almost 10,000 then I am definately gonna start hitting the want ads for a bus to buy! LOL

Lumbele
Member

07-12-2002

Saturday, April 24, 2004 - 7:34 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Abby, if they were using the trip as a fundraiser, they should have definitely advertised it as such. In your shoes I would at least mention it to the teacher. Sometimes schools need watchdogs, too. If their expenses were legit there should be no problem accounting for them.

Serate
Member

08-21-2001

Saturday, April 24, 2004 - 4:43 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I think the school should have made the cost of the trip $57, OR told the students/parents that the students would need $7 for a ticket and $10 for lunch. What about the kids that only brought the $10 recommened? They would have only had $3.00 to eat and were lucky for Taco Bell.

Teachmichigan
Member

07-22-2001

Monday, April 26, 2004 - 5:10 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Just my 2 cents...around here, we couldn't get a bus to go to Chicago and back (it's about a 4 hours trip one way) for anything UNDER $1200! That didn't include the museum, the play, food or ANYTHING...just the dang bus!

I would definitely ask about the costs....schools should be upfront with you and most want your support and are willing to answer any questions. CNN may have charged them for the "group tour" on top of the ticket price, too.

Llkoolaid
Member

08-01-2001

Tuesday, April 27, 2004 - 8:19 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Speaking as someone who has organized many school trips, you would be surprised at the costs. When I do it I have to account for every dollar spent. I have to submit a budget to the auxillary and then I have to give them an actual expense sheet accounting for all the money spent with receipts. These are always made available to any parents that question the costs. It covers my hide. Buses are the biggest cost and the school board requires 1 chaperone per 10 junior high or elementary student and 1 per 15 senior high, Teachers and trip co-ordinator(that's me) do not count as chaperones. Teachers and chaperones costs are always covered as they should be. It shouldn't cost people money to take care of someone else kids and it is a huge responsiblity, believe me, the little angels that leave home become differant people when the bus pulls out. There are also lots of hidden costs. We always charged a little extra to cover a sudden emergency or sometimes an extra meal if things were running late. Any extra money is always refunded if there is $5.oo or more per student, if not it goes in the pot towards the next trip for that group.

If I were you, I would just ask to see how the money was spent. I didn't realize until I got involved, and no one minds when a parent asks.

Reader234
Member

08-13-2000

Tuesday, April 27, 2004 - 1:10 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Dear Somebody,

My son is failing, he is hard of hearing, and had NO services. He has been to the office, and still recieves NOTHING... and so he fails.

Is this the only way you treat students with issues, fail them so you dont have to deal with them?

He needs assitance in English, arent there any mentors? Arent there any tutors.. when he asked that part time lady at the office of disabilty he was told nothing, he has to pay for note takers. He misses spoken instructions, and doesnt know he misses them, and is penalized.

How sad to fail someone with low self esteem. He had such hope, and joy, and promise coming to ISU, and now look what happens.

I am a teacher and cannot believe there is nothing for him. I am willing to come down there, just as I did at the beginning of Fall Semester. I went with him to the office of Disability, and felt confident, all would be well. He failed Chemistry and English, but felt he has taken the necessary steps for Spring Semester. I believed he needed to do this for his self esteem. He was put on acedemic probation. Why was there no follow thru? Why cant anyone help him, are there so very many kids on acedemic probation?

Now, he is again failing , and defeated. He feels he should come home and do nothing.

I sent you a child with a high IQ. You are sending me back a child that is very depressed. I have given him steps to get out of his depression. Each day has challenges. Each day he feels a door slammed in his face. Why isnt there an advocate to help him thru the maze of college as a student with disabilties.

The very saddest aspect is we visited Ball State University. We talked to their office of disabilities. Other of his friends at other schools have services to help per the American With Disibities Act. I knew he would succeed at Ball State. He believed in ISU. When he walked on your campus, his heart swelled and he said "Mom, I feel like this is 'home'"

What can I do? I understand that he is good with excuses, but can you understand he doesnt processing information like other hearing students?

I am willing to come down there and interpret the information he needs, is it too late?

Somebody, please, help me help him. We are desperate. Somebody has to show us hope for his future.

Sincerely,
reader234

My GRIPE IS THE RESPONSE I GOT>>>


Reader234
Member

08-13-2000

Tuesday, April 27, 2004 - 1:12 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Your email was forwarded to me by the registrars office.
> I have met with your son Nathan and explained to him the services we could
> provide to help him succeed in his classes. Nathan said he did not wish to use
> note takers and he has not used the other accommodations that we have offered
> him. I cannot do anything more unless Nathan wants to use our services.
> Sincerely,
>
> Disability Concerns

so I told THEM... ( I cc'd these to as many as I could)

Reader234
Member

08-13-2000

Tuesday, April 27, 2004 - 1:14 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I disagree, vehemently... you have done nothing to help my son. For instance, you are not even there when services are needed Yes, he told me about that meeting, how sad that you dont know how to reach out.

Can you honestly tell me ISU doesnt have places that offer tutoring? Places that help edit English papers? IF you are a trained Hearing Impaired person than you of all people should recognize the deficiencies in hard of hearing students in their auditory receptions negate their writing outputs...

why is it other schools DO and aide these kids... especially those that are on acedemic probation

AND I AM NOT TALKING ABOUT CODDLING... I am saying, follow up, follow thru, give him keys or procedures that will help him move forward, not stay the same.

Your office was the office that told Nathan he could monitor professors classes and find a professor that was more intune to his special needs. HAH, and Nathan and I believed that nonsense! Why is his professors class all girls, but Nathan? Why did all those boys drop the class BEFORE the drop class? Why did THEY know, but NOT Nathan?

HOW THE HECK IS A NOTE TAKER going to help EDIT AN ENGLISH PAPER?

Do you EVEN realize how antiquated note takers are? MOST universities in the 21st century are computer intelligent.

OK, so I lost my temper, (esp since her email makes her sound so helpful!! And maybe she believes she was helpful, or that it was all ds fault!!) but I have given up... I dont know how to help, and it is so very frustrating!!

Watching2
Member

07-07-2001

Friday, April 30, 2004 - 6:20 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Reader - Oh boy did your gripe strike many cords with me! I sent an honors, high IQ student to what we thought would be a great college for her - small, private, etc., and her grades went into the toilet. She did end up graduating, but by the skin of her teeth, with all of her financial aid pulled (including the academic scholarship which was a deciding factor in choosing this college), so she had to take out a 12K loan just to finish the last semester. All the promises made when they're trying to get you to pick them, seem to disappear once they have your money.

I can't even begin to go list all the frustration I've had with my son through the years. I finally got him a 504 plan prior to middle school, but all the excuses, esp. since he's progressed through the years, have made it to the point that he virtually has no plan. His a sophomore now and does cope better with some things than he did when younger (ADHD) but unless I contact each teacher to check up on how he's doing, I'm just told they have too many students to let me know if he's falling behind. Uggh..

Not1worry
Member

07-30-2002

Wednesday, May 05, 2004 - 11:33 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Here's my gripe. I had a medical procedure done in March and it was recommended I have it done again in 3 months. I called to make an appt. in March and they said they couldn't make appts. more than one month out and to call again in May. I called today and they said they can't give me an appt. because my referral for the procedure was adminstratively closed. Why? Because I had not made an appt. within 30 days. Now they have to give a message to the Dr., he has to call me, I have to tell him to do another referral, then I have to call back for the appt. It's just so stupid. I don't even want the uncomfortable, painful procedure anyway!!

Rupertbear
Member

09-19-2003

Wednesday, May 05, 2004 - 12:01 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Wow, that's so aggravating Not....the classic Catch 22 Syndrome.

Guess while I'm here I'll add my gripe.

Lately everyone seems to be pulling in front of me at the last second. And it's not like I putz along either but...they'll wait til I'm just about up to them, THEN decide to pull out. Some are going in the same direction, some are cutting right around me. Others, pull out in front of me, then stop IMMEDIATELY, to make a left turn.

So far I haven't used the horn once but these people....grrrrr!

Whoami
Member

08-03-2001

Wednesday, May 05, 2004 - 1:47 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Rupertbear, I'm convinced my car has a few signs on him (yes, I call my car a "him"). One say's "please pull out in front of me." I also think he wears a Romulan cloaking device, cause so many people act like I'm not there. I'll be driving and say "Jasper, please turn off your cloaking device." or "Jasper, will you take the 'cut me off' sign down please?" Sometimes it actually works! (Yes, my car is named Jasper.)

Not1, what a goofy doctor's office that is!

Rupertbear
Member

09-19-2003

Wednesday, May 05, 2004 - 2:05 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Who...funny about him being Jasper an' all. I know someone who calls her car Molly.

Well, it crossed my mind today that these people must think they can read my mind....they 'think' I going to turn right, so they'll go, even thought my indicator is not on...well one of these days I probably will, right into the side of one of them...rofl.

I don't want to jinx myself but I've never had an accident. I'm what you call a defensive driver...I know these *ahem* people who are 'auto-challenged' will pull in front of me, so I anticipate it.

Like I said...I'm not putzing along...truth be told, my right foot is a little on the heavy side, so these people aren't being inconvenienced.

Any how, Who...your post made me smile. Thanks for that, kiddo. :-)