Parents of the HS Class of 2009

[kmcmom13]

I second (or third) the nomination of woody for sainthood. All in favor say aye I also say friend with the power ball win better take woody for a spa week to some exotic island with manservants!

Shaw, glad you have heat! Funny about d, but also a great opportunity nonetheless!

Oregon, I hope your friend starts to make better progress. Don't worry about the construction. Stick to the important stuff and enjoy your friends and family. When I used to be a reporter I witnessed a lot of people opposing something after it was too late, and it made me sad how those occasions robbed them of enjoyment. Don't get me wrong, I even grieve when I lose a tree in a storm. Change can suck. Just don't let it own you. Hugs!

Missy, as a stress-seeking individual who needs the adrenalin rush of a close deadline myself, I totally get your son. All I can say is give him a few decades or hope you stop noticing and, hugs to you too. I know it sucks to be around me at the 11th hour...so I say just avoid him until after thanksgiving

Speaking of executive function...mcson managed to call for a prescription in advance last week before I went to Ann arbor, and then asked me to pick it up and bring it. I was impressed he was working that far ahead. So I managed to remember to pick it up a full day before the weekend.
So we go to Ann arbor and do the concert and family meal, and I get back home and there are four voice mails and texts on both my and h's cell phones. Our phones had been turned off for the concert, and we'd forgotten to turn them back on. Of course it's mcson, who one minute after we left realized I'd forgotten to hand him the scrip that I'd even managed to remember to put in my purse!

So I still ended up FedExing it! Chalk it up to genetics. We're so used to doing last minute that when we actually work ahead it somehow messes us up

[TheAnalyst]

Another Aye for woody's nomination to sainthood. I know it will be a good week-end.

sabaray, sorry about the football loss. I have a feeling S's team will have similar results. He is done now for break but will stick around for the game on Saturday and come home on Sunday. He has a "ridiculous" amount of tests, papers, and projects in the next three weeks so says it will be a working vacation. I will believe that when I see it. He has heard next semester will be a "cakewalk" and he seems to be in a consistently good mood these days.

[FallGirl]

You're a better woman than I am, woody!

akck- glad that commencement issue worked out.

Hugs to moda and oregon.

[missypie]

All day firm meeting yesterday, then booster club board meeting. A mental beating.

Moda, how wonderfully constructive to write to your congressman. The son of my congressman is one of my partners (sounded better when I could say he was one of our associates - then I could say he worked for me.) I appreciate the fact that he is content to be in congress....isn't perpetually running for higher office or appearing on Fox or pushing a book...but I've never voted for him. Maybe I should actually write him!

Oregon, how sad about your friend.

Akck, yay on the graduation.

Aye for Woody on sainthood. I fear the experience would have driven me in the opposite direction.

Kmc, congrats on your son at least initiating the Rx process.

Younger D has all of next week off from school. I am as excited as if I had the whole week off myself. Older D gets home Tuesday night Son actually has classes on Wednesday. I guess at cc they figure no one needs to travel home.

[woody]

Hardly a saint...couldn't wait to wave goodbye!

Good luck today, Fallgirl!

[missypie]

Speaking of Facebook, with a lot of my Facebook friends, when something with which they agree happens in the country, they say it was the will of God and when something with which they do not agree happens, they say that Satan is at work in our Country. Here is my (tongue in cheek) question of the day: How will the liquidation of Hostess be perceived? Yes, sad for 18,000 people to lose their jobs. But no more Twinkies for the World? Did God just say "enough already"?

[sabaray]

Saint Woody. Has a nice ring to it. FallGirl, hope all goes well today and a speedy recovery is forthcoming.

Horrible game last night. Really glad D went to a bowl game last year when she had the chance because there sure won't be one this year. Tough loss, tough season.

D has two classes Tuesday and then I will pick her up. We've had "her" car here getting some work done. I have submitted my grades for the term and I am done, so now just number crunching. I may teach a class or two spring term, but really want to see how work develops. Sabadog is overdue for serious training and that needs to be a priority.

Never liked twinkies but I am constantly amazed to see on Pinterest people making homemade versions of twinkies, Hostess cupcakes, etc...sure they taste better than the originals with a shelf life of 100+ years.

[RochesterMom]

I also vote for Woody. I would have had to check into a hotel if that were me. I'm dreading just Thanksgiving at MILs house. I don't want to GO!! I would so love to beg off but it's the only time in the year where all of H's family is together (yeah for me that it's just once a year). I really don't like most of them -- I will spend the entire time on eggshells waiting to leave.

[oregon101]

Thanks for the support, everyone. I fear I have not been pleasant to live with lately. I tend to need to be annoyed (minimally) to gather my energy and get loads done in a short time. Managed to knock out 80% of the gifts so far and made 1/3 of the bread last night. H is worn our from work but it is bugging me that I have done everything so far. But, yes, you are right, I would never have let him shop alone.
No news about our friend.
MIL will be her 5 nights in Dec.and I am planning to act like a grown up and let her know nicely that she cannot ask me 35 question in a row. I will accept three. I realize she is old but I either finally step up or I will do my avoiding, not talking, running errands act. I have barely had contact with her the last five years. Last visit I was very ill but did not know what it was and did not even tell her I did not feel well because I was not up to the multitude of questions. So I stopped talking for the visit and that went into 5 years. I am pleasant but don't stay on the phone. She lives far away.
Woody, seriously, you are amazing. I got a stomach for you just reading your posts! I might have put a flask in my closet.

[TheAnalyst]

oregon, I'm impressed. My favorite shopping day has always been the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. Traditionally, my mother and I go shopping together and I buy her a new outfit that she gets to pick out. The stores are fully stocked and totally empty and we always make a full day of it and have lots of fun. This year, I'm really backed up with work and it's going to take some effort to make time for that outing. I worked a 10-hour day last Saturday and will do that again tomorrow (which is saying something given I have a part-time job). I also have to clean, shop, and so forth. And S1's birthday is next Thursday and we haven't gotten him anything yet. I'm thinking wire transfer at this point.

[sevmom]

TA, I lost my mom last year and my mother in law this year. These traditional outings with your mother sound wonderful and I hope it will work out this year for you to be able to do this again with her.

[Modadunn]

My Great Grandmother used to take us each out for lunch and shopping for a new dress every year on our birthdays. It was really special. I just don't know if I could do that with my mom.... although perhaps I should try.

I think I could institute the three question rule, but is there a time limit? My mom would ask the three, wait five minutes and ask three more. Is this a daily limit, by hour, segment of day kind of thing?

And yes, to the flask in the closet... although is it wrong to keep one there anyway??

[arabrab]

I'll join the chorus for St. Woody, and agree with the flask in the closet (though I'd probably substitute a box of really, really good cookies or chocolates).

Madly trying to get everything done before heading out of town. As usual, bunches isn't going to get done. Must acquire a new pair of pants tomorrow, since my absolute favorite casual pair has reappeared with a mysterious rip in the calf area that is not repairable. GRR. They were the ones I really liked for travel. GRR.

I've turned more and more to letting my fingers do the walking when it comes to Christmas presents. I am just SO not a shopper.

Getting the Christmas trees (27? 52?) set up next weekend MissyPie? I just arranged with our painter to have him come hang the lights on the high gable so that H isn't having to deal with ladders on roofs. I did decide to get the tiniest bit crafty this year -- 3M makes some nifty removable hooks, and so I am going to put (real) garland up on the mantel swagged the way I like it. What that company can do with adhesives is nothing short of amazing, and I've been unwilling to put holes in my mantel.

And, the window cleaners have been through!!!! Clean windows, even 15 feet off the ground (but at eye level from inside) -- and, at least for this week -- NO COBWEBS inside the storm windows, and no dead bugs. (The perils of old houses with historically mandated wooden storm windows are unending. And drafty.)

[CountingDown]

Ah, we have cobwebs, bugs and bats. The bats slip in between the double screens and hang out during the day.

Need to find white holiday lights on green strands. Not for the holidays -- for S1's wedding celebration next summer. This is the time of year to find that stuff, though.

[oregon101]

CD--think I saw them at Target.
I am pretty sure H and I threw most of our Christmas tree lights out last year both because they were not working well and we thought we might not do a tree for the first time. Now with company and a party we will need to--but H gets this job with no complaints! as payback for all of my shopping and baking.
I love o n-line shopping but needed to get things that the kids could exchange/return easily. I have a solid rule that I will never be upset if they do. Kills me when people keep things and then do not use them.
I think the dollar store salespeople groan when they see me coming. 62 luncheon plates,61 cake plates and 48 cups. I will keep on the search for a few more cups. I know of two more events in the next year or two that these will be used, so hopefully not a stupid buy. Also, may take some back.
arabrab--thanks for the reminder about the window washer--now we must find a non rainy and non windy day.
Chocolate goes great with a flask in the closet!
Mod--you have given me my next task--how many questions within a 10 minute time frame? Gosh, maybe I will just hide or have a migraine or something. At least the kids will be here and they do not seem to mind.
TA--lovely shopping with your mom. Sweet story.
I once counted 19 gifts that I had given my mother and she liked 3. The last few years she does not even mention if it arrived. Needless to say, I do not put much effort in anymore.