Kevin's Watch

Hope you heal quickly, Rob!

rdhopeca wrote:...using crutches is more of a workout then tennis ever was!

Awesome! Plus you can use your crutches to "backhand" obnoxious people.

I'm feeling okay. Wedding plans are coming along well and my friends are all begging to help me with things (which is great!). Also, as long as the money lines up I may have found a cute little cottage to begin married life in (no more one bedroom place for me!). Oh, and after a year of working 11am-8pm, I finally got switched to days (8-5). This should make my marriage work so much better since my honey works 12am-8am currently. So, good times on that.

On the down side, my fiance is having some legal problems involving his old roommate. I've got to go to court on Thursday in case I need to testify. We are hoping that the whole thing is just thrown out (it is just stupid in the first place). Anyway, send us some positive thoughts if you can spare them. Thanks!

Positive thoughts headed your way, Lyr!

Wishing you the best, Lyr!

Had to defrost the freezer today, as we couldn't get the drawers open to get the food out.
I hate defrosting the freezer - just a waste of a day.

Speaking of which, does anyone know why I'm getting puddles forming in the bottom of my fridge? I've never had a fridge that's done that before.

CovenantJr wrote:Speaking of which, does anyone know why I'm getting puddles forming in the bottom of my fridge? I've never had a fridge that's done that before.

In the fridge itself?
Or the pans underneath it if it is a self-defrosting fridge, Cj?

I know my fridge will have condensation form inside from the humidity during the height of summer. We have to take it off "energy saver" mode at that time to get rid of it. Why? I couldn't tell you. But switching it to "normal" mode at this time of year generally does the trick.

Not sure if your refrigerator has such a switch, nor what you would do if it doesn't. But that's what affects ours.

Yes, inside the fridge itself. No, it doesn't have such a switch. It just suddenly started flooding.

Not tremendously important, just thought I'd ask while vaguely on the subject.

CovenantJr wrote:Yes, inside the fridge itself. No, it doesn't have such a switch. It just suddenly started flooding.

Not tremendously important, just thought I'd ask while vaguely on the subject.

(Putting the do it yourself hat on...)

Cov Jr #1- Check you freezer door to make sure that nothing is obstrcting the door magnets from closing the door all the way.....
#2 Check to see if you may have a leak in the ice maker or lines going to it
#3 If it is humid where you live ,moisture is commonplace in the summer..a small amount, that is.
#4 Pull the fridge out and see if the condenser vent is clogged with dust or debris. It looks like a small radiator. Clean if necessary.
#5 Lastly if these steps fail, call the repairman..it may be that the freon gas in your compressor is almost gone , and it may need to be recharged

Thanks----------H

Thanks for the suggestions. Since it doesn't have an ice maker and I live in Wales, which isn't known for humidity or even warmth (and there's enough water in there that it spills out onto the floor when I open the door), it's most likely number 3. I'll see what I can do.

Thanks again.

Or if the fridge belongs to the landlord, call him/her.

It does, and I have. He's very...leisurely though. He's a nice guy and means well, and he does get things done, but it often takes a while for him to get round to it. I just thought it was worth asking in case someone's seen a similar phenomenon.

OK all, I need the help of the recent and current college students again, those who took APs and the ACT.

L-rd Mhoram?
Owlie?
magick?
Any one else who remembers what scores actually meant in the overall scheme of things?

Both results for Beorn arrived today. Keep in mind he just finished his sophomore year and we have heard even AP's generally aren't taken until junior year.

As a freshman, he took AP World History last year. At the time he took it, College Board did not have all his accommodations in place, and we're fairly certain his essay brought his overall score down. He passed with a 3, but even his guidance counselor/sponsor of the Cambridge Program at his school told me privately he was a little disappointed in Beorn's results.

This year he took AP European History, and had all of his accommodations in place, including use of a computer for his essay. So, his score went up to a 4, out of the maximum (I think) of 5. Considering his writing level, due to not knowing about his dysgraphia until 8th grade, we'll take that score with celebration. I know a 5 would have been better, but well, we'll take it.

Now, the ACT. The scores are different from the practice one he had taken, so I have no idea how colleges would look at them. This take was only done to get his accommodations in place with ACT; they insist the student take the exam in order to put them in place. But now that they are in place, they will remain in place when he retakes it his junior, and if needed, senior year.

That all said, his composite score was a 32, out of a potential of 36. In both nationwide and in the state, ACT says his composite score of 32 puts him in the 99% of recent high school graduates who took the ACT.

However, his four subject test scores are all over the place...

English: 29 score 92% rank
Mathematics: 31 score 97% rank
Reading: 34 score 99% rank
Science: 34 score 99% rank
Combined English/Writing: 27 score 86% rank
(essay combined with English score above)

Again, I would say given he took it at least six months early compared to his classmates, we're pleased. But, I am curious how this first take compares with our gifted college aged students (or those who took it and remember their scores) here on the Watch.

I know for certain he'll take it again at least one more time, in his junior year next year.

Thanks for any feedback.

I went to SUNY Binghamton today to try to find out if I can work on a second bachelor's degree there. No one was sure and all I came away with was an e-mail address of (hopefully) the right person to ask. Whey a second bachelor's, instead of a master's? Because federal aid will not help me get a master's. However I am optimistic, as I have other options.

Does this mean y'all will be settling in the Birmingham, NY area, DotD? How lovely!

Menolly- I m turning the computer to my 4th year college daughter Jamie...here she is:

Hey there, I'm Jamie and like my dad said I'm 21, and a 4th year at a C.S.U. (California State University). It sounds like you have a very gifted son and should be very proud!

As far as the ACT's go, it sounds as though you're trying to get him into a U.C. (University of Califonia) or a higher reputed university. I assume this only because of the fact that those particular tests are required for stated universities, whereas C.S.U.'s and Junior Colleges (J.C.'s) merely require SAT's. It's amazing that he is already taking AP courses and upper diivision classes at such as young age and passing. 3's are still passing as will still be counted for credits and higher g.p.a. points on his record (as you probably already know).

As far as the ACT goes, I would definately have him take it again (although he really doesn't need to because of the first score being so high). If you take it again and score better then great, if you don't...I believe that only the highest score is recorded. The individual scores, although inportant, although important for you and him to show areas where there can be some improvement, aren't really looked at as much as the overall score.

Rest assured dear friend, for it sounds as though you may have a future leader on your hands! Good luck...and hope I helped a bit!
-- Jamie

Thank you so much Jaime! That was so very kind of you.
Can you give me an overall impression of a good composite score we should be looking at?

As far as why he's taking the ACT, well, it's required for the magnet program he's in, the University of Cambridge's (of England) AICE Diploma program. It's not technically required by Cambridge for the Diploma, but his school's implementation of the program requires their students to take both the SAT and the ACT.

Since my son has accommodations due to his autism, we needed to follow the different testing boards rules to get the accommodations in place before his junior year. Hence, him taking the ACT for the first time at the end of his sophomore year.

You're right, who knows where he will wind up going to school. As long as there is a program willing to work with him regarding his documented issues, he will succeed anywhere he decides to go.

...yeah, yeah...
I am a bit biased.

Thanks again.

Awesome scores!! Go Beorn!!!

I'll have Brooke come on and give a rundown on how her testing went. Heidi's too.

Thanks Furls!

There is absolutely nothing wrong with those scores, Menolly. Congrats to Beorn!

When it comes to getting college credit for AP courses, it depends on the college. Most will give credit only for a score of 4 or 5, and many programs only give credit for a 5. The college's admissions office can get you that info, if it's not in their brochures or on their website.

I'll try to get Magickmaker to pop in, as I don't remember her scores.