Does anyone else use phosphate-free dishwasher detergent? Do you have problems with it?
I recently bought Palmolive eco+ gel liquid detergent. I did this for two reasons. 1) My regular Cascade was not available, and 2) I was feeling particularly earth-friendly that day and the Palmolive seemed like the best deal for my dollar. My problem is that ever since I started using the Palmolive eco+, my dishes are not nearly as clean. Not only are there food particles still stuck on the dishes much of the time, but they ALL have a very visible residue on them every single time I use the stuff. I've tried using more. I've tried using less. I would think it's a problem with my dishwasher except it started the same day I started using the Palmolive. Is any of this a symptom of the phosphate-free? Or is Palmolive eco+ just sucky?
I've considered Seventh Generation detergent, which I'm pretty sure is available at my local Target (alas, not at Wal-Mart), but if the issue is with the lack of phosphates, then, sorry, the earth will have to suck it.
Have any of you had any experience with this?
>
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Monday, April 21, 2008
Really, I just want to register
So everything got resolved last Friday and I was able to register for all of my classes. And for the most part, people were intelligent and helpful. The folks at MCC were pretty inefficient, but such is life.
And then I discovered my well-laid plans for my fall classes were not so well-laid. I had planned on taking fewer hours this fall because I will be working part-time (because Noah will be going to Pre-K...*sigh*). For the past two semesters I have been taking eight hours (two four-hour classes) and I thought that I would back off a bit since working outside the home, even part-time, will afford me less time to do school work. So I registered for one four-hour class and one one-hour class. Five hours--perfect, right? Not so much. See, when I got my financial aid packet last Friday (yes, that same Friday) I realized that I have to take at least six hours to get financial aid. I have realized this every semester up till now, and that's even why I registered for two classes at UIS for the summer, so I could get financial aid. WHY my brain didn't transfer that knowledge to the upcoming fall semester, I'm not quite sure. It's one of the mysteries of my life, my brain.
So I had to un-register for my one-hour class and find another class to replace it, one with two hours or more. I settled on a three-hour Undergrad Prior Learning Portfolio Development class. Basically I will develop a written portfolio for why the university should give me college credit for things like my continuing education copyediting class, and NaNoWriMo, and my brief stint as a volunteer copyeditor. I had to fill out an informational form and I'm waiting on permission to register for the class, so it's not finalized yet. I miss the days of just picking a class and signing up for it.
On a happier note, I only have two-and-a-half weeks of school left in this semester. The light is beckoning. My research paper stands in the way, but even it can't get me down for too long. Besides, it's not due for another two weeks and that gives me plenty of time to procrastinate. And blog.
And then I discovered my well-laid plans for my fall classes were not so well-laid. I had planned on taking fewer hours this fall because I will be working part-time (because Noah will be going to Pre-K...*sigh*). For the past two semesters I have been taking eight hours (two four-hour classes) and I thought that I would back off a bit since working outside the home, even part-time, will afford me less time to do school work. So I registered for one four-hour class and one one-hour class. Five hours--perfect, right? Not so much. See, when I got my financial aid packet last Friday (yes, that same Friday) I realized that I have to take at least six hours to get financial aid. I have realized this every semester up till now, and that's even why I registered for two classes at UIS for the summer, so I could get financial aid. WHY my brain didn't transfer that knowledge to the upcoming fall semester, I'm not quite sure. It's one of the mysteries of my life, my brain.
So I had to un-register for my one-hour class and find another class to replace it, one with two hours or more. I settled on a three-hour Undergrad Prior Learning Portfolio Development class. Basically I will develop a written portfolio for why the university should give me college credit for things like my continuing education copyediting class, and NaNoWriMo, and my brief stint as a volunteer copyeditor. I had to fill out an informational form and I'm waiting on permission to register for the class, so it's not finalized yet. I miss the days of just picking a class and signing up for it.
On a happier note, I only have two-and-a-half weeks of school left in this semester. The light is beckoning. My research paper stands in the way, but even it can't get me down for too long. Besides, it's not due for another two weeks and that gives me plenty of time to procrastinate. And blog.
Friday, April 11, 2008
To register...or not
Can I just express to you how frustrated I am right now? Well if not, you can just leave.
Seriously, all I want to do is register for class. Every college I've ever attended (4, thank you very much) have made a big deal about how easy it is to register, how convenient it is. And my experiences have generally backed that up. I don't think I've actually gone to a school to register for class since 1997. Maybe '98. I've been able to register by phone and internet every other time (2000, 2002, 2005, 2007, 2008--I'm a student for life.) How easy! How convenient!
Not this time.
I will be taking classes from the local community college (MCC) and from UIS this summer (10 hours at any given time, 13 hours total), and I will continue taking classes at UIS in the Fall. The issues with registration began about two weeks ago. I applied to MCC and had to request that official transcripts be sent to them from TJC and UIS. That process was relatively painless, although I had to pay $5 for my UIS transcript (what a rip.) So I called MCC on Monday of last week to verify that my transcripts had been received--this is a prerequisite for registering--and was told they had the TJC transcript, but not the UIS one. It's been the same story every day since then. My credit card was charged, and UIS said they sent it, but it's obviously gone to the Bermuda triangle of lost mail. UIS has graciously offered to send another one at no charge, but here's the catch: MCC will need another official transcript AFTER the spring semester is over. In the meantime, they will accept an unofficial transcript, which I can access, print, and mail to them. So today I will be asking if UIS can send another official transcript, but wait until the end of the semester (less than a month!) to do it. I doubt they'll be so accommodating, but we'll find out today.
So all I need to do to be able to register is print the unofficial UIS transcript and send it to MCC, right? Wrong.
The information I have access to has my UIS ID number on it, but not my social security number, which is some of the required info. Will MCC accept it anyway? Again, we'll find out today.
And now on to my problems with UIS. I have to get permission to register for classes at UIS and in the process of asking for permission to register for a psych class for the fall (Child Development), I discovered that my Intro to Psych class from TJC never transferred to UIS. This wouldn't have been a pressing issue except it's a prerequisite for the Child Development class. So in the middle of trying to get that straightened out I discovered that UIS records show they've never received my official AP scores. What?!? I had those sent in March of '07!! (Are you understanding my frustration by now? Wait, there's more...)
So I called the AP people and was going to gripe them out but good, because they totally cashed my check ($25) when I discovered, yes, they DID send the scores. The problem? My scores have been archived because I took the tests over ten years ago, and the scores sent to UIS were archived. Meaning? Whatever UIS got didn't look like the AP scores they receive for incoming freshmen so they marked them as unofficial. AP has graciously agreed to resend the scores at no charge (this is a lovely trend, and I'm grateful for it) and are *supposed* to somehow note that these ARE the official scores. We'll see. (FYI, the AP thing doesn't directly relate to registration, it's just been one more thing to deal with.)
So back to the psych class. After battling with The System for a few days, UIS finally got my psych class transferred over and I was able to ask permission to register for the Child Development class. I still haven't heard back on that, so that's another call I'll be making today.
But at least I can register for the summer semester at UIS, right? Wrong. Yesterday, the first day I was allowed to register, I logged on and found there's a hold on my account. The problem? They say they haven't received my transcript. (Pause to appreciate the irony.) Really, two semesters in and you haven't received my transcript? I can access my student information and SEE my transcript, but you haven't received it? Hmm, how does that work out? I'm willing to bet a gojillion dollars that this is related to the issue with the psych class, but COME ON, PEOPLE! And, that's one more phone call to make.
And, did I mention I'm in the middle of a major research paper? I need a personal assistant.
**Update: Remember how I said the AP scores didn't really have anything to do with registration? Strike that. It turns out that's the reason for the hold.
Seriously, all I want to do is register for class. Every college I've ever attended (4, thank you very much) have made a big deal about how easy it is to register, how convenient it is. And my experiences have generally backed that up. I don't think I've actually gone to a school to register for class since 1997. Maybe '98. I've been able to register by phone and internet every other time (2000, 2002, 2005, 2007, 2008--I'm a student for life.) How easy! How convenient!
Not this time.
I will be taking classes from the local community college (MCC) and from UIS this summer (10 hours at any given time, 13 hours total), and I will continue taking classes at UIS in the Fall. The issues with registration began about two weeks ago. I applied to MCC and had to request that official transcripts be sent to them from TJC and UIS. That process was relatively painless, although I had to pay $5 for my UIS transcript (what a rip.) So I called MCC on Monday of last week to verify that my transcripts had been received--this is a prerequisite for registering--and was told they had the TJC transcript, but not the UIS one. It's been the same story every day since then. My credit card was charged, and UIS said they sent it, but it's obviously gone to the Bermuda triangle of lost mail. UIS has graciously offered to send another one at no charge, but here's the catch: MCC will need another official transcript AFTER the spring semester is over. In the meantime, they will accept an unofficial transcript, which I can access, print, and mail to them. So today I will be asking if UIS can send another official transcript, but wait until the end of the semester (less than a month!) to do it. I doubt they'll be so accommodating, but we'll find out today.
So all I need to do to be able to register is print the unofficial UIS transcript and send it to MCC, right? Wrong.
The information I have access to has my UIS ID number on it, but not my social security number, which is some of the required info. Will MCC accept it anyway? Again, we'll find out today.
And now on to my problems with UIS. I have to get permission to register for classes at UIS and in the process of asking for permission to register for a psych class for the fall (Child Development), I discovered that my Intro to Psych class from TJC never transferred to UIS. This wouldn't have been a pressing issue except it's a prerequisite for the Child Development class. So in the middle of trying to get that straightened out I discovered that UIS records show they've never received my official AP scores. What?!? I had those sent in March of '07!! (Are you understanding my frustration by now? Wait, there's more...)
So I called the AP people and was going to gripe them out but good, because they totally cashed my check ($25) when I discovered, yes, they DID send the scores. The problem? My scores have been archived because I took the tests over ten years ago, and the scores sent to UIS were archived. Meaning? Whatever UIS got didn't look like the AP scores they receive for incoming freshmen so they marked them as unofficial. AP has graciously agreed to resend the scores at no charge (this is a lovely trend, and I'm grateful for it) and are *supposed* to somehow note that these ARE the official scores. We'll see. (FYI, the AP thing doesn't directly relate to registration, it's just been one more thing to deal with.)
So back to the psych class. After battling with The System for a few days, UIS finally got my psych class transferred over and I was able to ask permission to register for the Child Development class. I still haven't heard back on that, so that's another call I'll be making today.
But at least I can register for the summer semester at UIS, right? Wrong. Yesterday, the first day I was allowed to register, I logged on and found there's a hold on my account. The problem? They say they haven't received my transcript. (Pause to appreciate the irony.) Really, two semesters in and you haven't received my transcript? I can access my student information and SEE my transcript, but you haven't received it? Hmm, how does that work out? I'm willing to bet a gojillion dollars that this is related to the issue with the psych class, but COME ON, PEOPLE! And, that's one more phone call to make.
And, did I mention I'm in the middle of a major research paper? I need a personal assistant.
**Update: Remember how I said the AP scores didn't really have anything to do with registration? Strike that. It turns out that's the reason for the hold.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)