Hodgepodge Wednesday Picnics and Ants
It's time for another Wednesday Hodgepodge with Joyce over at from this side of the pond.
1. The Hodgepodge lands on National Picnic Day...will you celebrate? Do you enjoy picnics? Dining out of doors picnic or otherwise? What are three or four things I'd find in your picnic basket?
While I enjoy a good picnic it is much too cold and rainy and windy this time of year to enjoy one just yet. As soon as it warms up and we get out all the patio and deck furniture I try eat just about any meal that I can outside.
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| The boys and I used to picnic outside ALL the time! |
While I've never owned an official picnic basket you'd probably find fresh fruit, salad, iced tea (though I haven't had any in months since I gave up sugar!), and utensils in my picnic basket.
2. A time recently where you felt 'antsy'?
Gosh I feel like I have been antsy so often lately! I have been unable to sit still as my mind is constantly whirling. We have a whole lot going on this month that has left me very restless. This past Saturday we were helping pack up some of his dorm stuff and while he was busy removing some of the sticky things we used to hand things around the room with the hair dryer I was pacing around looking for anything else we could pack and take home with us so we'd have less to do on his last day of school next week.
3. As the saying goes...'when life gives you lemons, make lemonade.' Do you like lemonade? When did you recently need to make lemonade out of lemons, figuratively speaking?
I do like lemonade but I prefer flavored lemonades like the signature blueberry lemonade we got at the Jordon Pond House at Acadia National park. Or the strawberry lemonade most restaurants make.
I can't really think of a recent experience where I've had to make lemonade from lemons.
5. Favorite thing about the 'space' you're sitting in right now?
My favorite thing about the space I'm sitting in right now is always the view!
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| This is the view from my bedroom window (taken a few weeks ago though) |
6. Insert your own random thought here. Alec's college instituted a 3 year residency requirement this year... and yet they ran out of dorm-rooms when it came time for all the current students to pick their housing. Is it just me or is this crazy? It seems like in this day and age they easily know the # of student, the # of room/beds they have. Why up your residency requirements from 2-3 years if you can't accommodate those students anyway?
Linking up with:
I do love a picnic, especially when the weather is just right.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you have had a lot going on lately. I hope you are feeling less antsy soon.
You have the most amazing view onto the lake.
That does sound crazy, not having enough room to house all of the students.
Aw, thank you! I do love being outside when the weather is just right (and the bugs aren't too bad). I remember my college having housing issues too and putting up a huge portion of the freshman class (when I was a junior) in one of the local hotels for a year.... I'm not really sure what happened with those students after that.
DeleteWell, I hope the college is building more dorms... nothing says bureaucracy quite like, "you have to do x,y and z" though they are literally impossible to do. Love your view!
ReplyDeleteAs far as we are aware they have no plans to add any housing anytime soon. But I completely agree with you on the bureaucracy!
DeleteWell that year for college went by quickly-what do you think? Eek! Totally understand your housing frustration- have heard similar stories all over the place- it is just crazy especially with the amount of money these colleges collect ever year-unnecessary stress!
ReplyDeleteI feel like it FLEW by so fast! 1/4 of the way done already. I have heard similar stories too and in fact have my own similar stories from when I was in college so I'm thinking if they haven't addressed this issue in 20 or so years they probably aren't going to at all.
DeleteThere is apparently a national college housing shortage. That to me means that too many kids are going to college! Ha! At UK they had to turn double rooms into triple rooms. They are also charging so much!
ReplyDeleteYou can't require they live on campus and not have enough spots - duh!
Absolutely! It's incredible to me too to hear some of the stories of how others in his class are doing grade-wise and effort wise when it costs so much too. I guess it could be worse according to my niece her college rents out their dorm rooms to other colleges in the Boston area and never save enough for their own students!
DeleteMost universities cannot keep up with the housing demands I have found. Remind me to tell you about my daughter's sophmore year living situation.
ReplyDeleteI get that.. but then perhaps not make it mandatory to stay on campus? I mean Alec would anyway but they are REQUIRED to live on campus for 3 full years and only get a waiver for that requirement if they live within the city of Providence itself and can prove that paying housing would be a hardship (or something like that).
DeleteI loved reading your answers! I'm sorry that you've been feeling antsy lately; too much of that is not a great thing. I don't enjoy that feeling, so I assume most people agree with me on that. Your next week will be packed! I'm glad you're getting away this weekend with us girls, hopefully it'll sustain you for what you have to come! Two more sleeps!
ReplyDeleteThat's what I'm hoping too! I nearly canceled but realized I REALLY needed a break and some fun.
DeleteThe housing situation just seems like unnecessary stress to put people through, and also super poor planning on the part of those in charge. It happens all over though. I live near a big university and a couple of years ago they were building more dorm space but it wasn't finished and they had to put students up in a hotel for their first semester. You have a pretty view! May is always so busy I think for everyone. Will your son be home for the summer? Have a great day!
ReplyDeleteIt really does! And not just with housing either; one of the science classes he wants to take has a required lab and while there was space in the class there is no more space in the lab... it's a lab science so who would take the class without the lab component?! Why not offer 2 labs or just have fewer seats in the class! Yeah, he's moving home for the summer.
DeleteGabbie's school has a housing issue too. Luckily she managed to get in on an on campus apartment for next year! I feel antsy a lot too. I hope things calm down!
ReplyDeleteOh yay for her! Alec wanted an apartment on campus but realized that was probably a dream as only a sophomore.
DeleteYou do have such a wonderful view from your porch, I'd want to eat outside any chance I'd get too! The housing issues sound like they really shouldn't be an issue. Makes no sense. I'm sorry you are dealing with it!
ReplyDeleteAw, thank you! I'm hopeful to get my outdoor furniture outside within the next few weeks and then I love to eat out there. Luckily he's a pretty easy going kid and seems to take so much of these nonsensical headaches in stride. Like he said he doesn't love the dorm he's going to be assigned to but at least he has a place to stay.
DeleteThat is crazy about the residency requirement. It is probably just a way for them to make more money! At Auburn, the housing is ridiculous. They don't even have enough dorms for the freshman class. Luckily, there are lots of apartments around campus! See you soon!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely! I'm pretty sure if living off campus was a possibility he'd have been looking around for an apartment since he HATES the dining hall food so much (you'd think a culinary school would have good food)... though with the real estate/rental prices up here I'm not sure he could have afforded it anyway
DeleteI have to agree - your view is one of the best!! I would spend so much time out there - just enjoying that view!!
ReplyDeleteAw, thank you!
DeleteThat is so nuts about Alec's college!!
ReplyDeleteAll I could do was shake my head and be thankful that he found a dorm room for next year (plus they offered to put him on a wait-list if a better dorm option opens up!). I guess it could be worse?
DeleteWhat a gorgeous view you have! I don’t think I could get any work done.
ReplyDeleteSo sad about the housing situation at your son’s college. Did he find a room?
Hope your antsy feeling goes away. That's not fun.
Take good care my friend.
Aw, thank you! He did find a room but he had to call over to housing and wait for them to make one available for him.
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