Living In America ..You say Goodbye, I say Hello, ...

[kickassangel]

New Thread.

I'm so sorry Anorak. Still it's good to know that you can stay independently. Don't feel bad about coming here for any support we can offer!

Oh, anorak

I am glad you have found a way to stay there. Please feel free to talk as much as you want/need to. I think our little group has formed quite a bond and I know everyone wants to give you all the support that we can.

Thinking of you

jabber

Anorak, it's such a horrible time, isn't it? I'm so glad you have found a way to stay there. That was all a nightmare for me so I am glad you don't have to go through that. How are your DC? Big unMN-like hugs to you, xxx

I wholeheartedly second what Jabber said about us forming a bond, and wanting to support you. More un-MN hugs to you, and I only wish I could do more.

anorak, how old is your dd who is in love? is it first love, or the 'real deal'?
sorry to hear such sad news, and hoping that you & the dcs get through this.
BTW, i don't do hugs (checks to see if no-one is looking), oh go on then, just a quick one (())

Don't worry. We didn't see that, kickass.

Everyone, where'd you go???

Anyway, I solved my volunteering problem today. All of you can laugh heartily at my expense. Where is the easiest place to volunteer while your children are in school? The school itself. I talked to his teacher, and even if she doesn't have anything for me to do, which she doesn't think will happen, she's sure someone else will. (Colin's class actually has a gaggle of parents who help out.) I talked to the food bank, but my hours really don't work with what they need when the kids are in school, and there's only a few things you can do if you have kids with you, and they have to be 6 or older, which only Colin is.

I also let the teacher forward my name to the PTO, to see what they could use me for. I'm not to sure about that, because having worked at his co-op preschool, I quickly tired of the parents that wanted to control everything and make it all go their way and the parents who agreed to help, but always managed to get out of doing anything. I'm kind of worried that that is what the PTO will be like, but right now they just sound thrilled for someone who wants to help, so we'll see.

All right, dooney! You know, it is ironic how the most obvious answer doesn't seem that way, lol.

Hello!

Dooney - I started volunteering doing Meals on Wheels about 6 months ago. I do it with a pal, only once a month, but it feels good to do something that really helps other people. Also gives me a chance to see my friend. We usually go out for lunch after, and catch up on what is going on in our lives.

Hope the school thing will work out well for you, and that you find some lovely (not overbearing parents to work with).

My other big volunteering thing is underway at the moment. Another Mom and I are in charge of 'hospitality' for a huge school event next Tuesday. The children (k - 4) put on a show for the parents and grandparents (the school figures grandparents who don't live locally might be in town for Thanksgiving).

All family members go to the child's classroom for refreshments and a chance to meet the teacher and look around. It is a lovely event, but ridiculously complicated. I have a crew of volunteers who are helping replate/distribute (to classrooms) 250 dozen brownies/cookies baked by families for the event.

My garage is stacked high with tablecloths, napkins, saran wrap, zip lock bags, etc. It is quite an undertaking.......

My daughter is 17, and I think it is the real deal - they've been together for over a year and still nauseate everyone staring into each other's eyes. He is a lovely lad though, so I am quite happy about it.

I haven't completely solved my immigration problem, if I don't get a job soon and immigration find out I will be deported and will take the children.

Luckily immigration don't care so I'm ok for now, as finding a job is very difficult. The recession has hit here a few months behind the rest of the world, so we are still in the middle of it.

Oh Anorak, I do hope something comes up soon.

Well done, Dooney.

OK, so what is the 'etiquette' for card giving in first grade? is it like valentines & halloween where EVERYONE else will know the deal, but I'll be a complete newbie & get it wrong? any ideas?

dd will either want to give the entire school a card, or point blank refuse to write any. I'm assuming there's a middle ground to aim for.

also assuming that there should be a gift for the teacher & bus driver (who gives the kids sweets so I really must get him something)

anorak - good luck with getting a job. It has been so long since I have had to job search (apart from teaching which is just plain weird for recruiting) that I wouldn't even know how to go about getting one!

I don't know the answer to that one, kickass. In preschool, they never gave cards, they just brought cheap plastic tat stuff that increases the trade deficit with China for each member of the class. I'm glad you brought it up. I guess I'll have to think of something for the teacher, the aide and Colin's bus driver. I really like his bus driver. You can tell she really cares about the kids.

I'm so sorry about everything that's been going on, anorak. I hope you can find something very soon.

Do you mean gifts for Thanksgiving? In the 3 schools I worked in while in the US, no-one ever gave Thanksgiving cards/ presents.

sorry, no Christmas.

As I have to get everything posted off soon, i'm in full christmas mode here. just spent FOUR HOURS wrapping presents & putting them into parcels to go to post office tomorrow!

now just got the US stuff to sort.

I'm so ahead for Christmas this year, I've scared myself. I only have DH to buy for. I have no idea what to get him, so glad I can concentrate fully on that.

Today I'm in full-on Thanksgiving mode. I made the cranberry relish, rolls, breakfast for Thanksgiving morning, the stock for the gravy, and the bread for the stuffing. Tomorrow I have the pie, and the bourbon sweet potatoes, and then do all the prep work for cutting things up for the stuffing and such.

dooney - I'm impressed! Sounds like you and the family will have a great meal.

We're doing a 'potluck' Thanksgiving this year, and i am responsible for the dressing. I've got all the ingredients, and will get to chopping later today Hope it tastes OK, as i have never made dressing before.

Dd's school event yesterday (which I helped organise with another volunteer Mum) went extremely well. The head of school thanked us by name and asked us to stand for applause/recognition - don't recall her ever doing that in the past. It is a relief to have it done.

Anorak - I keep thinking about you, and keep hoping that somehow your dh (ex dh) will come to his senses, and that somehow the two of you could try again. But there may be too much 'water under the bridge' by now.

I give you alot of credit for thinking about what you want now, and beginning to build a different life for yourself and the dc. But it is such a painful thing, and I am so sorry all this has happened.

Dooney (or anyone else who knows) - for cooking purposes, are chicken stock and chicken broth interchangeable?

Just had an email for a new restaurant in London that touts their 'pheasant goujons with Oxford sauce'. Somehow that doesn't sound appetising at all.......!!

I'd say yes, broth and stock are interchangeable. Same thing, different languages, aren't they?

Dooney, yum!

They're not the exact same thing, but definitely interchangeable.

No in-laws now. FIL called right before school this morning to say MIL is sick, and she's far too sick to travel. Both kids were crying, and I had to take Colin to school all red and puffy eyed.

Dooney sounds like my ILs. Wait until preparations are made, food is cooked, beds are ready, kids are all excited and then cancel.

She's sick. Very sick. We could hear her coughing in the background, and he had to take her to the doctor today. The frustrating part is she's been sick for over 3 weeks, but doesn't want to go to the doctor. If she had just gone to the doctor the first week, she could have gotten her antibiotics and probably would have been better by now, but she doesn't trust doctors.

I'm just frustrated right now because this most likely could have all been avoided and my kids wouldn't be so upset. It isn't like my family is ever going to come in and make things better.

I'm so sorry to hear about your MIL dooney. She's probably like my mother. I had to take her kicking and screaming to the ER a few years ago b/c she had developed pneumonia and wouldn't admit it.

Earlybird, maybe a bit late but there's a couple of Southern US dressing recipes on this thread Can't believe I posted that 5 years ago!!!

Happy Thanksgiving all!

Donney if your MIL actually is sick and doesn't like seeing the doctor then she is nothing like mine.

Hope she is ok and that you had fun anyway. We really enjoyed Thanksgiving this year! Dh and I are from different religious backgrounds and we celebrate lots of religious holidays so its nice to have a celebration which is just for fun and without religious significance on either side.

It also really enjoyed the turkey and may cook one for Christmas (was thinking of prime rib instead).

Do many people do turkey for Christmas too?