Calling all military folks!
Head on over to the SargesList Blog, and enter their Operation Sweetheart sweepstakes.
If you’re together in CONUS, you win a dinner date (up to $150). If your Valentine is deployed, they’ll ship out a special Deployment Cake to let them know you care.
Enjoy!
And check out SaresList while you’re there, if you’re not already familiar with it… Something like craigslist, but created especially for the military community.
And who doesn’t need that, right?
Head on over to Life in a Shoe, and enter to win a “Cansolidator Pantry Plus” organizer from Shelf Reliance. (Ends December 9th)
Or, you know, don’t go enter, since that makes my odds better!
Aw, I’m just kidding, go ahead… 
As you have probably noticed, we’re talking a lot about a more whole food, traditional diet, both here and over at As For My House.
One of the foundational books on getting back to this way of eating is the cookbook (but so much more!) Nourishing Traditions.
What better way to check it out than to WIN IT! And better still, you can win one copy for yourself, plus a second copy to give away as a Christmas present.
Just head over to the wonderful blog Butter Believer, and enter the drawing – ends on Dec. 17th.
Good luck!
I like to include photos with our family Christmas letter, but that has always left me with a bit of a dilemma.
Naturally, everyone doesn’t look quite as life-like in black and white, but the cost of printing a lot of copies out in color really adds up. And, of course, printed on paper is not as nice as a photo in the first place.
One solution I’ve used in the past, and I’m in the process of ordering again, is Christmas photo cards from Shutterfly – sent alone, or with the text letter, depending on the recipient.
And of course, even beyond Christmas cards (or other greeting cards), Shutterfly is a really simple way to make gorgeous photo gifts of all kinds.
We’re currently designing Nick’s photo graduation announcements. They don’t have the 2012 graphics up yet, but since Nick had his Senior Portraits done, it’s fun to see them laid out.
What do you think?
Okay, but those aren’t until Spring. Here’s the Christmas Cards I’m working on:
.
Who would have thought it possible!
After a really bad experience earlier this year, it was with trepidation that we set out to buy another vehicle. But it was largely because of that experience that we needed to — it’s no fun driving a truck that doesn’t work wonderfully, isn’t what you wanted it to be, and reminds you of the ongoing stress and strain.
In the process, we discovered that we could get a Suburban with third row seating for about the same price as we’d pay for a Tahoe (since we’re in both cases looking for a 1999 with barn doors on the back). Yay!! Since our family exactly fills the Tahoe, it’s been a source of frustration when Grandma comes to visit, or we want to bring a friend home from church, etc.
Having done a great deal of research and shopping just six months ago, that part of it was much easier. Wolf quickly found a few vehicles not too far away that looked potentially like good buys.
It was our intention to trade in the Tahoe, plus some cash as needed, to get the truck we wanted.
Various combinations of “we” had gone and looked at a couple of trucks, but it just seemed like they wanted too much money for them relative to the condition they were in. There seemed to be a great deal in Tampa – but who can go to Tampa on the CHANCE of making a deal?
Then Wolf found another one on a dealer lot close by – at Jason Pilger Hyundai in Gautier.
He went to look at it after work, and called me to say he was ready to make a deal!
WHAT?
He’s really not that kind of guy. And besides, I had the Tahoe all the way across town at Jewel’s ballet lesson, and he had driven there in his little Bronco. How was he going to manage the trade-in?
Well, it turns out that Charles and Todd, although they were selling pre-owned vehicles, were not “Used Car Salesmen”. If you know what I mean.
The Suburban had some definite issues – a few cosmetic, a few mechanical, and a few “functional” (broken door handles and the like), plus bald tires. After riding with Wolf on the test drive, Charles was in agreement that the price they were asking was too high.
It was Charles’ suggestion that we keep our Tahoe to sell private party (hopefully for a higher price than they could give us), and he made a deal on the price that fit our budget, with the help of the finance manager, Todd. They were even willing to re-do the paperwork when we came back in the evening to pick up Wolf’s Bronco (he’d driven the Suburban home), to title it in my name.
So, Clyde is my new buddy.
Clyde? Well, see, my previous white Tahoe was called “Horse” (my shining white steed). So this is like a BIG horse… Something like a Clydesdale… See? Okay, never mind.
The point here is that there are still some helpful, honest folks out there selling cars.
If you’re looking for a used vehicle, or want a new Hyundai, we can’t recommend Jason Pilger Hyundai highly enough!
So, picking up where I left off with the first half of this saga…
I was going through the obstacles that we faced in transferring Nick’s credits (two years of public school in Florida, one year of legally registered homeschooling here in Mississippi) to the local public High School.
It occurs to me to mention also the fact that when I called at the end of the last school year, not all the staff was in the office, and I spoke to the Head Guidance Counselor. As we approached the beginning of this year, I began working with Nick’s actual assigned Guidance Counselor.
Both had long conversations with me, and reviewed all the documentation. Both gave me the exact same answers.
Nick’s counselor mentioned that she was new to the district, having worked for quite a few years at the school district “next door,” so perhaps her information was the same because it all came straight from asking the Head Counselor. But this does not change my opinion that either or both of them could have and should have done more to try to find solutions, and to advocate for us.
Anyhow, off soapbox, on with the list:
I understand that transferring is going to cause some disruption, and that things don’t always line up…
But almost every High School I have ever heard about or attended has a six class period schedule. Every single one, except Biloxi High, which has seven classes daily.
No big deal, you might think. But consider the implications…
Nick spent two years at a public school, earning 12 credits that were gladly accepted here. The students at Biloxi High, though, during the same time-frame, earned 14. Correspondingly, the Biloxi graduation requirements are based on having a possible 28 classes before graduation, as opposed to the other schools’ 24.
Thus even a student who has completed every requirement and carried a solid class load at his former school will find himself “behind” in his requirements upon arrival!
Really, each credit from a six-period day ought to count as 1 1/6 credits transferring in to a school with a seven-period day. Or… something! You can’t fix the fact that there will be unmet required classes, perhaps, but this would at least address the issue of the “total credits required for graduation,” and could be applied to the generic “electives” credit area.
1. They said the he could not be tested for U.S. History, since that was a State Tested subject.
This simply makes no sense to me, still.
Had he taken U.S. History in the Florida public school, they would gladly have accepted it. He still (as now) would not necessarily have covered every line item on their state-approved agenda, and he still (as now) would not have taken the State of Mississippi standardized exam. But they would have accepted it. Without retaking the course; without testing for competence in the course; without taking the state test.
Why, again, are we as homeschoolers being discriminated against?
He is not only not given credit for the course outright (not expected, since they “don’t do that” across the board), but there is no option to take the subject tests to be awarded the credit for his work, to take the State Test in the Spring when it is administered, or any other reasonable solution.
2. There is a two credit Technology requirement, which assumes the student receives credit for an introductory course taken in the 8th Grade.
Yep, that’s right. Middle School courses are now being counted against my son’s High School graduation. I was stunned.
Once again we would have benefitted from more active help and support from our school counterparts. In the back of their own Student Handbook, I found some intersting information from the Mississippi Department of Education.
Evidence of proficiency in Keyboarding and Computer Applications is accepted in lieu of the required courses if the student earns one unit in any of the courses listed in the Business and Technology Framework (academic and vocational).
Meaning that if Nick takes one Technology course, he should be granted a second Technology credit if he can demonstrate proficiency in some basic skills.
3. MS History and the Social Studies requirement
Students at Biloxi High have specific required Social Studies courses all four years:
- Freshmen take World History, which Nick took in Florida as an Advanced Placement class (passing the class and the AP test with flying colors).
- Sophomores take one semester of Mississippi History and one semester of World Geography; Nick took Advanced Placement Psychology (again easily passing both class and AP test).
- Juniors take U.S. History, which Nick also took last year in homeschool.
- Seniors take one semester of U.S. Government and one semester of Economics.
So Nick was already required to retake U.S. History, for the perplexing reason of “State Testing.”
The counselor then informed us that he would also have to take Mississippi History / World Geography, since Mississippi History was absolutely a required course.
I hoped that someone else had some common sense about that, and the Mississippi Department of Education documentation came through for me again. They had a long paragraph about how this requirement didn’t apply or could be changed for students transferring in under various condition, concluding with
An out-of-state student who transfers after the junior year may substitute any other ½ unit social studies course.
Whew!
But why didn’t the Counselor find that?
Summer school is only for students to retake classes that they took and failed. So neither the summer before nor the summer after could Nick take one or more classes to finish up.
There is apparently a program where you can concurrently enroll, and take a correspondence course through Mississippi State (I believe that’s where it was). But this is only allowed to be done for a single class.
Virtual School exists, but is little used, and apparently limited and costly. Vaguely, we were told that in the past they have, if they had room, allowed Seniors who were in danger of not having enough credits to graduate to take their required course(s) free… But no word on if or when that might be offered, and what classes would be available.
So, really, someone with a 1 1/2 credit deficit could be in serious danger of having to attend another full year of school!
I wrote all my concerns up in a lengthy letter.
Since I had specific concerns for Nick’s credits, I addressed it to the Biloxi High School Principal.
But I truly feel that there are bigger issues here – some issues that should be addressed by the School District, as well as some that have implications for the entire State of Mississippi. Thus I also sent a copy of the letter to the Biloxi Superintendent of Schools, and our U.S. Congressman, Steven Palazzo.
The Guidance Counselor called me back later the day I dropped the principal’s letter off, to set up a meeting.
In said meeting, the principal proved to have that rare and precious quality – common sense.
Quite a competent and caring individual. I was impressed. I don’t think I’ve ever held such an opinion of someone in a public school administration roll.
Anyhow, without further ado, she walked through the adjustments I had suggested.
U.S. History was untouchable. State Testing is a strange, big deal.
But she readily concurred that Personal Fitness was the equivalent of Health, Psychology fulfilled the credit normally requiring Mississippi History and World Geography, and that a second Technology credit would be awarded by proficiency demonstration (to be performed by the teacher of the Technology class he would take).
Yeah, just like that.
Now, rather than not being able to graduate on time, Nick had six required courses, and was able to pick an elective for his final class!
Yeah, I’m still holding my breath just a little. The Technology credit still has to be written up, and I would like to see all the rest of it in an official transcript, as well…
But, truly… Thank God for keeping things under control!
And I did get a call from Congressman Palazzo’s office. I spoke at some length with a young lady there, explaining that while my son’s situation had been resolved in a way we found satisfactory, there were still underlying policy issues that I hoped the Congressman would seek to address.
For now? Off to Back-to-School night!
(If you’re wondering, you can read What Do I Mean By, “You’re Fired”?)
I haven’t blogged about this, but boy, I have written about it a whole bunch of times.
Since we purchased a used Tahoe from Team Gunther KIA in Daphne, Alabama in February 2011, I have written long and detailed accounts of the situation in letters to the dealership, the Better Business Bureau, KIA Corporate, the Alabama Attorney General, and more. I even created a complaint page on The Squeaky Wheel.
The situation is so frustrating that I’m not even up to writing this with wit and panache, so I’m afraid you’re going to have to settle for large chunks of rehash of my previously-written accounts, with tidbits of interest of back-story thrown in.
Summary:
We purchased a used vehicle from this dealership. It was advertised on their website as (and the salesman affirmed by phone) having air conditioning, third row seating, and a black interior. The salesman adamantly insisted it had never been in an accident, and a CarFax report was not discussed or provided.
The salesman said it had been thoroughly inspected for safety and functionality by the service department. He explained that the dealership provides a 90-day warranty on all purchases (even when not specified in contract); the salesman said due to our remote location, any work would be contracted at a local dealership. The contract also included a payment of $100 to be sent to us upon receipt of our trade-in vehicle, which was being delivered to them the following week.
Description of the issues – Multiple instances of fraud, misrepresentation, refusal to honor warranty, etc.:
- Vehicle has no functional air conditioning, no third row seat, and a blue interior – while we grudgingly accepted the loss of the last two factors to purchase the year and model vehicle we were seeking, we were not aware that there was no air conditioning when we made the deal.
- Also, after extended driving revealed that the vehicle would overheat and leaked coolant, it was determined that the water pump needs to be replaced.
- CarFax documents that vehicle has been in an accident. (Found out after the fact)
- We were called two days after sale, required to drive back to have safety inspection done – so we had been sent home in a potentially dangerous, un-inspected vehicle (which they had assured us HAD been inspected).
- Dealership refuses to repair air conditioning, and now also the failed water pump. They will not even take or return our phone calls and refuse to honor what they called a standard warranty.
- No $100 payment sent (refused).
- Title paperwork was not released for over three weeks, allowing temporary permit to expire – yet was sent off prior to the safety inspection having been done. Title paperwork was completed with flagrant errors (erroneous listing of a lienholder), causing an additional week of delay before registration.
Their conduct has cost us a great deal of time off work, driving back and forth from Biloxi, MS to Daphne, AL (including gas, and wear and tear on the vehicle), and time stuck waiting at the dealership (including meals, entertaining children, etc.). We are still awaiting the money owed, and driving a vehicle which was not the one represented to us.
It’s complicated, of course… Without all the details it just isn’t as easy to picture how it happened, or why it’s such a big deal. You don’t get the feel for the way we were led down the rosy path, the way they left us alone at the dealership after closing time – then later asked why we didn’t tell anyone when we discovered that the a/c wasn’t working… But the story is so long, it would just bore you to tears, anyway.
They have spent most of their time backpedaling, lying more to cover their tracks, or passing the buck – and of course insisting that nothing matters unless it’s in writing. While we (sadly) realize that that’s largely true, in this case we were apparently conned by a pro, who sweet-talked us into a state of trust…
At one point, Team Gunther KIA had us talking with their business manager, who seemed on the verge of agreeing to the token settlement amount we had proposed. Then, suddenly and conveniently, she declared that she couldn’t talk to us any more, since they had handed the file off to their attorney when they found out about the Attorney General complaint.
The attorney, naturally, ignored me for a while, then finally sent a response to my Certified Letter that was two pages of absolute rubbish. Bah!
We’re supposed to have arbitration if something goes wrong, but the arbitration agreement says we must use the Mobile BBB’s arbitration service, while simultaneously saying that it is supposed to take place at a “mutually agreed location”. Not happening. So now what?
Well, now we hope that someone has enough good sense to realize that if I keep sending their attorney long, detailed responses, his time reading them is going to add up to a bigger bill than the settlement I’m asking for pretty quickly!
If you have any friends shopping for a new or used car on the Gulf Coast, please warn them to STAY AWAY from Team Gunther KIA in Daphne, AL.
And please, help me with a click? The Squeaky Wheel notifies the company every time someone visits My Team Gunther KIA Complaint Page. So click and be counted! And spread the word!
* * *
Funny update, still no resolution: We were shopping (again? still?) for a replacement Tahoe, and mentioned a little of this drama to our salesman. He said he lived in Mobile, AL, and asked what dealership. When we said that it was Team Gunther KIA, he said, “Oh! Say no more!!” And he went on to relate that two of the people “who run the place” had worked for him at another dealership previously, and he was not at all surprised to hear about their behavior.
You probably know that Wolf is absolutely Captain America crazy – you know, from back in “the old days.”
Luckily there’s the new movie out, since the craze has now spread to the youngest male of the household.
I was blessed to be offered the opportunity to review a costume from Costume Super Center, which has a great selection of boys Halloween costumes, including the all-important Captain America costumes (which, naturally, also come in grown-up boy sizes).
In addition to the “classic” comic book Cap costume, still in production after all this time, is the one R.T. chose – the Classic Captain America Movie Costume.
I also had the, ahem, opportunity to put the Costume SuperCenter exchange process to the test.
Naturally, it was disappointing when R.T. pulled the costume on and discovered that it wasn’t sewn properly all the way across the front. Luckily, it was a relatively painless fix.
First, you order the replacement online (making sure (a) you get it quickly, and (b) they have the order number to associate for the credit on your return). I wasn’t crazy about spending the money upfront, but it does make sense.
Next, you fill out some information online (including both original and replacement order numbers), and print out a pre-paid UPS shipping label. You could ship it back right then and let them cross in the mail; since I had thrown out the packaging, I waited until the new one arrived, then sent the defective one back in that.
So, R.T. has the costume he wanted, and all is well with that end of the deal. I have shipped back the defective one, and although I have not yet received my credit for the replacement order, I am not worried about that — trust me, you’ll know if there’s a problem! 
Hey, it’s a cheap kids’ costume. Stuff happens. I don’t blame Costume Supercenter for that – and in fact, their process for handling it was very smooth. Definitely someplace I’d feel confident shopping again.
.
Meet Nick.
Nick will be starting his senior year in High School shortly.
Nick is not a juvenile delinquent.
Meet Tiffany.
Tiffany is not a neglectful parent or home educator.
Tiffany has complied with all the requirement to legally homeschool Nick for the past year in the State of Mississippi.
Nick attended a very fine Magnet School music program in Florida for his 9th and 10th Grade years. When we moved to Mississippi that summer, he came back to homeschooling for 11th Grade.
For a variety of reasons, Nick has decided to return to public school for his Senior year.
At the beginning of summer, when this was decided, I called our local High School and discussed the situation with a guidance counselor.
She informed me that they do not transfer credits from homeschooling. Period.
W H A T ? ?
They would gladly accept the two years’ worth of credits from his school in Florida. But from a year of homeschool study? Nothing.
Well, there was a tiny bit of opportunity.
For three of his classes, he would be allowed to take the four end-of-grading-period standard tests (each) that the children in school there would take. If he scored an average of 70 of higher, he would be awarded the credit (and that percentage as his grade).
This only applied to:
Nick passed with flying colors (apparently a rare and surprising achievement in their eyes).
But as you might imagine, this caused some problems with his timetable for graduation. The Florida school had a 6-period schedule, while Biloxi High has 7. Add in only 3 credits from last year, and you come up short… Specifically, 1/2 credit short by total credit count, plus an additional 1 credit of requirements not fulfilled.
There are a number of issues here, all woven together into a complicated problem. For some of you this may be far more detail than you ever wanted to know. I felt I should document it, though, for the possible benefit of someone walking down this road after us.
Homeschooling is a legal option for fulfilling the education laws in the State of Mississippi, and we complied with all the requirements.
Yet my son’s studies count for nothing? His computer and technology studies? His Driver’s Education, even? And what about that U.S. History (more on that later)?
I don’t necessarily blame the counselor for not recognizing that Florida’s “Personal Fitness” class was the same as the semester of “Health” that they require – you couldn’t possibly know all the possible permutations that might come across your desk.
But I do feel that the people involved in the process with us really dropped the ball here. Knowing that he was coming up short of graduation, wasn’t that an obvious place to start looking?
Why did I have to fight for a meeting with the principal, just to have her agree with my obvious assessments? Yes, Health was fulfilled by Personal Fitness. And yes, the 9th Grade Social Studies credit was fulfilled by his AP Psychology course. (The MS State educational policies specifically state that the MS History course could be satisfied by any SS credit for students transferring in as upperclassmen).
Yes, there’s more, of course… but let me post this bit while I continue trying to organize my thoughts…
Just click the image above to go visit Hallee the Homemaker, and you can enter to win an AMAZING prize package, including a grain mill and tons of goodies!
On second thought, maybe you SHOULDN’T go enter. That makes my chances of winning it a lot better, right?
Okay, go ahead…
A once-and-future full-time RV family shares their adventures - homeschooling, home business, life in an RV, Christian living, interesting travel and dining experiences, you name it...
Life on the Road © 2007 TiffanyBlitz.com - All Rights Reserved. Using WordPress Engine
Entries and Comments.
Sleepy Cat Design 1.0 made by Beeutiful Graphics
