After the launch

College Majors Visual Arts and Film Majors
1521

<p>Launch at MICA went very well. They were pretty well organized at the Commons. The line to get in to unload took about 40 mins, but we were dry in the car so it didn’t really matter. D is on a lower floor thank goodness. I couldn’t imagine moving into the top floor without elevators. We unpacked then made a Target run for the things we didn’t think about and left her for the night. We had lunch plans with her for Friday, and somehow elongating the goodbye made it easier. In fact, it was wonderful. D had a chance to sleep in her new home and get used to her surroundings for a day. When we left her, we left a more confident young woman which made me feel good about her new adventure rather than sad about her leaving. </p>

<p>I have to say that she has been wonderfully responsive since we left. She texted as requested about the hurricane effects and confirmed that all were safe and dry. Asked her to text after her first few days of class (or if she runs out of flex money buying supplies) and let me know how things are going. I don’t know if she has tried the cafeteria yet, but figure she will when she runs out of cereal.</p>

<p>D said there are about 550 freshmen. So far so good, but I am going to keep an eye on counseling and other resources that might be stretched with that kind of a load.</p>

<p>So that’s it! It went so smoothly, I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop.</p>

1522

<p>First of all, glad to hear everyone did fine in the earthquake and hurricane. We had put all our yard items away before we left, but not much happened here.</p>

<p>Little Redbug successfully launched! Took the 3 day Amtrak trip from Orlando to Chicago via DC, then flew from there to Minn. Picked up one load from storage space on the day before Friday’s move in so we’d have one ready to go. She’s on the 2nd floor so it was 2 flights of stairs this time. Lots of kids around with MCAD Crew shirts on, but with the exceptions of a couple of boxes at the end, we took it up ourselves. Kids seemed more interested in socializing than schlepping stuff. Last year we didn’t have to carry a thing!! One of D’s friends showed up and carried up 2 massively heavy suitcases and some boxes that was so helpful. Friend she shared storage space with was driving with her dad, and got there about 1 pm, and we had the whole storage space emptied and up to the apt by the time they got there. Glad they provided a BBQ for dinner. Sat was orientation plus free breakfast and lunch so altho we didn’t have to go to the orientation stuff, we were there for the food!! They have a great caterer, so we didn’t want to miss that.</p>

<p>She was supposed to be in with 3 other girls, but one of them could not get the loan she needed, so she wasn’t there. So there’s 3 in an apt meant for 4, so I wonder if I’ll get a supplemental housing bill. Unlike MICA, they had plenty of housing available, so I doubt there will be someone going in there. Spent some time looking for a bike for her. We had started at the high end stores - she liked a $400 one of course, but we were looking to spend half that. We saw plenty at lower prices, but she needed a small frame which was harder to find. Finally found one at Dick’s Sporting Goods that met both parameters. Got the panneirs, and helmet at one shop, then went to a local shop to get the rear rack. Her friend brought her bike up this year, so they have made their maiden voyage to the store to try out the panniers. Thought she had left her Mac charger at home, so got an aftermarket replacement, and then proceeded to find it in the suitcase she had been using the whole time - she just never saw it. So she felt derpy. Oh well, better too many than not enough I guess!</p>

<p>Helped her unpack a few things, sheets and towels, so she could at least have someplace to sleep and take a shower. Went to grocery store, and she packed her own groceries. Green onions ended up in same bag as toiletries - on the bottom of bag so when someone saw bathroom stuff, the whole bag went into the bathroom linen closet on her shelf. Liversausage and yogurt were discovered the next day, still in a bag on the chair.</p>

<p>She texted me asking where her shirts were - most were in the laundry from the trip, along with some she left on the floor of her room. So I will ship those, along with a couple of bowls and a drink pitcher. Considering we had 5 large suitcases and 4 carryons, its amazing that there’s still something left to ship. </p>

<p>Got to go to the Minn state fair (we missed it by a week last year), which was fun - haven’t been to a nice fair since I left Maine. </p>

<p>As far as keeping stuff/things that past teachers have said, I do have a few things, but not much, the usual report cards, and some artwork from high school mostly. H has kept a lot of her stuff tho. My favorite teacher quote was from her 5th (I think) grade teacher. He told me that she drew all thru math class and could I ask her to stop. I thought - I could, but it won’t work - told him he was going to have to tell her himself. Seemed to me that that was HIS job, but I didn’t tell him that part!!</p>

<p>Mom4Art - hope your D decided to bring her good supplies, she will be happy she did, and not tempted to buy more because she will miss them!</p>

1523

<p>Looks like little redbug is all set!</p>

<p>Mom4Art -“When we left her, we left a more confident young woman which made me feel good about her new adventure rather than sad about her leaving.” Love your way of thinking! This can make launch easier.</p>

<p>D is still home and we watched a movie: “howl” last night and watched another south Korea movie Tuesday night: “bittersweetlife”.
I took off Tuesday to take the one hour “self defense” session alone. It is fun, after that I shared what I learned with D. The reason she did go with me:

  1. not get permission to register for HER
  2. she already have this kind of training in high school and a woman club conference.</p>

<p>I called Buchkick policy department yesterday and the guy who answered my call is a nice person. I asked him how late the street will be empty like no one walking around and he said this is New York, it will have people around really late. That makes me feel good. He said the place D stay is pretty safe. He suggested" “Make sure after she get out of subway, walk on the street. NO READING, NO PHONE CALL, then she will be safe”. This makes me feel much better.
I can enjoy two more days with her and it is fun! After that my launch will be easy, drop her off the airport and then i am done.</p>

1524

<p>Hey Love
When my daughter was taking Krav Maga, prior to her short stint at MICA, the instructor told me about this really great book called “The Gift of Fear” by Gavin de Becker. You might want to pick this up for your daughter and get her to read it. It has really valuable instruction/insight into factors that can predict when a situation may turn violent and helps you become more aware of the behavior of people around you and subtle signs that something might be amiss.
Hopefully she’ll agree to read it.</p>

1525

<p>thanks Gmom!
I will find it and read it by myself.
I did talk to her too much about safety and this annoy her a lot now. Yesterday, I told her I called the policy department and she question me :"Can you stop ? … ".
Based on all my research, I am not that worry any more. I started to cheer up and thinking she will grow stronger and learn more the coming year.
Thanks! Gmom.
For your D, you got to ask yourself:

  1. Do I know what she is thinking?
  2. Is there any trigger, I can use to motivate her?
  3. Treasure all the time she is with you and find a way to help her out.</p>

<p>You just can not account on all the help you get from outside.</p>

1526

<p>Gmom…I think we need to take Loveblue’s message to heart…treasure the time with our Ds even during the most difficult of times. I think I focus too much on the frustrations and not enough on the way D is company for me in a way that neither S nor H nor any friend is company. It is company with stress and conflict, sure, but in many ways we know each other better than anyone else in the family (thus her success in “pushing my buttons”) and while she rarely says it, I know she truly values the fact that I will always be there for her. I feel that the relationship with her babyhood lovey-a stuffed rabbit- is a perfect metaphor for the mother daughter relationship…absolutely essential as an infant, much mistreated when a toddler but dragged everywhere (so now no longer white but an indeterminate grey fur, missing eye and torn ear), the cause of embarrasment in front of friends at age 9 (hidden under pillow but still a critical requirement for mental health and sleep), stuffed behind the bed as a teen (out of sight, out of mind) but always available should there be a crisis and always (in her soul but never acknowledged to anyone) the old toy rabbit is the most loved object in her room. We moms of daughters are battered/ragged/sometimes misunderstood but deeply needed and loved…</p>

1527

<p>fammom
you must describe the bunny in miniscule details.
I have to come up with new bunny for the babies that supposedly secure my next four years of employment. do help?</p>

<ol>
<li>size ( my guess is 12inch)</li>
<li>where it came from /who gave it to her</li>
<li>if you purchased yourself, how much was it at where?</li>
<li>what made you pick that certain bunny?</li>
<li>when did that eye came off, and how? plastic eyes should pass pull test for so and so pound (it changed since our kids were little. regulations now are crazy! we barely use plastic eyes anymore)</li>
<li>what is the color of ear lining, nose, paws (if contrasting colors are used?)</li>
<li>how many stuffed toys she had?</li>
<li>how/why do you think that bunny became the chosen one?</li>
<li>does it have floppy dangling ears or shoot upward ears?</li>
<li>head size to total body length ratio (my guess is 1:3)</li>
</ol>

1528

<p>Yes, D1 and I have our ups and downs. But overall I think she has shown a tremendous amount of growth over the last year, especially when I reflect on her pouty dismissal of us from MICA when she was in a hurry to get on with her life… and then the conflicts with the phone and the lip ring and who knows what else. I see a lot of hurt in her now, but there’s precious little I can do about it. She knows we’re here to help her but we cannot force our help on her. It is sad to see her as such a lost and lonely soul (well that’s my opinon, anyway). I have been trying hard to not intercede in the register for community college business – the social worker is supposed to be working with her on that and getting her to be able to do it independently. BUT it’s Sept 2 and no registration has occurred which kind of makes me gnash my teeth. I had a talk with Aspie girl who is still balking at her summer assignments. She is starting a ‘job’ at the barn doing the morning feedings on Sunday mornings (guess who gets to drive her there…) in return she gets an extra ride a week (guess who gets to drive her there). But I was trying to point out to her that it will be very very difficult for her to support herself doing barn work. She needs an education, preferably a college education, but (as we’ve seen with D1) we can’t make that happen. She has to do it/want it. sigh.</p>

<p>D1 latched onto MY favorite stuffed animal a long time ago. This poor poor toy dog (Lady) is over fifty years old now. D1 took it with her to MICA and Lady is still a fixture in D1’s room. One eye is falling off, the thing is completely threadbare (still has stuffing though) and the poor little red tongue felt got ripped off. It is a yellow long bodied droopy eared dog – think basset hound. I don’t think they make toys that last like that anymore. It should be in a museum. I would never throw it away. D1 also has a sentimental attachment (go figure) to her great grandfather’s genuine silk top hat. But perhaps its the novelty of it. I remember being surprised when she asked my Mom if she could have it. </p>

<p>In the meantime, she has now added crossword puzzles to her daily activities (sudoku, jigsaw puzzles, random internet stuff, strange books on mythology and magic and aztecs and incas and crop circles and I don’t know what else… I view it as percolating…or stewing…but she knows the most interesting random things) and is mad that I’m refusing to buy anymore jigsaw puzzles. Manga girl (oh… guess who showed up unannounced on my doorstep yesterday, fresh off the plane from Japan??? Manga boy… and he came bearing gifts (from Japan) for Manga girl!) started this jigsaw puzzle obsession, but it has really taken over D1 – we’re talking two and three thousand piece puzzles or double sided puzzles… but then again she loved puzzles as a toddler… maybe its a regression thing… ack… </p>

<p>I’ve got to get back to work now…</p>

1529

<p>OK fammom is busy with other gigs. fine.
I have done it!!
after three days two nights. many bunny skins and chopped off limbs in various shape and sizes.
THE perfect bunny!! (not? I don’t know til boss is back and get reviewed)

  1. size is 12inch, 1/4" give or take depends on how it is stuffed
  2. where it came from /who gave it to her … will be a problem, nice mom pop stores are dying out. mega box stores and online shopping are too impersonal for this sort of thing
  3. if you purchased yourself, how much was it at where?.. should be less than $18.99 with tax, in my dreams
  4. what made you pick that certain bunny?..million dollar question, divided by 18.99
  5. when did that eye came off, and how? … eyes will be machine embroidered thread like everything else. Will not have "Velveteen Rabbit " tear drops glistening coming to life effect. back in those days, eyes were made of glass or shoe buttons.
  6. what is the color of ear lining, nose, paws … secret heheheh
  7. how many stuffed toys she had? …I had only one Japanese badger
    [url=&lt;a href=“http://www.google.com/search?q=たぬき&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wi&biw=1680&bih=838”&gt;http://www.google.com/search?q=たぬき&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wi&biw=1680&bih=838&lt;/a&gt;]??? - Google Search<a href=“but%20my%20toy%20was%20Japanese%20rendering%20of%20the%20animal,%20more%20like%20raccoon%20-sh.%20remember%20anime%20Rascal?%20no?%20eh,%20OK.%0A%5Burl=http://www.google.com/search?q=あらいぐまラスカル%20動画&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wi&biw=1680&bih=838]???%20??%20-%20Google%20Search%5B/url%5D%0A-which%20had%20hole%20thru%20plastic%20paws%20and%20threaded%20with%20cords,%20was%20attached%20to%20vertical%20bar%20on%20top,%20that%20is%20to%20hang%20from%20the%20ceiling.%20each%20cord%20was%20tied%20to%20the%20ring%20as%20stopper%20out%20from%20the%20paws%20and%20you%20are%20to%20hook%20your%20finger%20in%20the%20ring%20and%20pull%20the%20cord%20alternatively,%20left%20right%20left,%20right…%20and%20%0AMAGIC!!%20the%20raccoon%20would%20climb%20up%20to%20the%20top.%20you%20let%20go,%20it%20slid%20down.%20repeat.%0Aafter%20awhile,%20the%20cord%20broke%20and%20he%20was%20taken%20down%20but%20I%20kept%20it%20on%20my%20bed%20for%20long%20time.%0ACome%20to%20think%20of%20it,%20ever%20since%20I%20was%20sewing%20up%203D%20sculpture.%0AWho%20knows%20it%20become%20one%20day,%20cough%20cough,%20career?%20%0AGive%20a%20bear,%20dog,%20bunny,%20raccoon%20a%20chance.%20Someday,%20it%20might%20save%20your%20kid’s%20soul%20all%20over%20again.%0Awow%20giant%20rant”>/url</a></p>

<ol>
<li>how/why do you think that bunny became the chosen one? … this, I have to have to know</li>
<li>does it have floppy dangling ears or shoot upward ears? … people love floppy biiiigggg ears, so I was told. Is it right?</li>
<li>head size to total body length ratio (my guess is 1:3) … the golden formula, but too old fashioned nowadays.</li>
</ol>

1530

<p>Gmom!!
drama drama!! and ramune (soda with marbles) date is back!!
so he can come visit at his will now? what happened to his mother? have you seen her yet yet? </p>

<p>If you ever want to restore Lady, I know of this national treasure plush designer who can fix anything.
I personally think it should kept all in original fabric and stuff, threadbare-ed as is, and yes, in the museums.</p>

1531

<p>Hey…I took the bunny thing seriously so I hope it is still useful. Go to <a href=“Shutterfly: Photo Books, Cards, Prints, Wall Art, Gifts, Wedding”>Shutterfly: Photo Books, Cards, Prints, Wall Art, Gifts, Wedding;

<p>to see the darn rabbit during its early glory days and now.</p>

<p>This rabbit is 12 inches (good guess); it probably was purchased in the mid 1970’s? as a gift for me because I loved stuffed animals into my early teens. Likely an easter gift from my parents. It was gleaming white with pink satin inside the ears. It sat on its tummy and its ears flopped but not completely–sort of sideways and down so you could see the satin. </p>

<p>I came to the US from Ecuador to visit my parents and to go to an econ conference. I left my 6mo D with 4 year old S wiht my parents in missouri. the baby was still nursing so I left lots of bottles and left her for the first time. My parents had a great time with little kids for first time with no neurotic mother fussing around. My D was fine with the bottles but was fussy trying to sleep without natural pacifier (me). So…they put bunny in crib, she grabbed one ear with one hand, the other hand put finger in mouth and an impossible-to-break-habit-for-6-years was born! I returned 4 days later to find D completely weaned (boy was that painful!) from me but addicted to finger and rabbit ear. I think the semi floppiness of the ear PLUS satin is the key to addicting children. I was addicted to a blanket that had a satin hem/edge. I had a nephew who, embarrassingly, liked his mothers satin undies and would raid her drawers until she started buying him pieces of satin to hold.<br>
I notice that smart marketers are introducing squares of satin into lots of soft toys. They obviously know how to hook a kid.</p>

<p>Anyway, the rabbit was called otro-guagua (the other wow-wow) because that is what dogs are called in Ecuador and my son had (see photo) a stuffed GUND dog (guagua) that he slept with. So…logically the rabbit became the other wow-wow. Son gave up his habit so rabbit is now, simply “guagua”.
If you want to start a bunny habit make sure there is satin on those ears! somewhere.</p>

<p>I would have paid untold dollars to find a replica because I couldnt risk losing the bunny. We bought at least 6 others that were despised and never even looked at. She never liked another rabbit.</p>

<p>Unfortunately, she would drop it when sleepy in her stroller so the bunny has been lost in Oxford, on the DC Metro, in the Amazon (a rather close call in a dugout canoe), and most famously in Yellowstone. It was dropped somewhere in the campground but its absence was not discovered until late after my parents had left the campground. D was 8 and embarrassed to have lost and cared to have lost so said nothing until quiet weeping in car attracted the attention of grandparents. They had driven 400 miles already and weren’t sure if it was lost en route at a gas station, etc. I called the park…someone, some saint, had found the bunny clearly run over once or more, on a campsite and had taken it to the ranger. This experience left guagua very lopsided and no longer sits upright. It had to be a mother who saw the worn ears and realized that this was a true lovey and would be missed. D could not sleep so…parents drove BACK to yellowstone to retrieve said bunny…only a grandparent would do this and only for that bunny. </p>

<p>So…there you have it…enjoy the photos. I had forgotten how white the rabbit once was. Please note that the current location/flop of one ear is not quite accurate as one ear was ripped off and then stapled by husband (supposedly this caused more trauma than comfort when D was 3) and then sewed inexpertly by me upon my return.</p>

1532

<p>fammom
I am crying my eyeballs out
how fluffy, plump, white it was. Your parents are in US already, yes?
so it was bought somewhere in FL?
Do you know the maker? tags are called SIL - sew in label that usually on animal’s left lower body, one for company origin, one for fabric content and care and produce origin, china, etc if that is so)
Kids either love them (if satin) or hate them (non weave plastic/fabric) and parents would cut them off or would be lost from nibbling and tagging.
Satin, is a proven drug. We are told many times and use them accordingly but like you said, it got stigma of lacy undies and gangsta/prostitute beddings. I will see if I can incorporate in ear lining, or some trims.
Thank you for risking bit-o-privacy.
No one is up yet so you can take it down if you please (how selfish of me! to deprive others… seriously cute bunny and cute kids!!)</p>

<p>I was at bloody war on parents turf (whaaattt?) last night and there came allied force to Northern front where I was not aware of, and the enemy retreated (or it seems, who knows where Gadaffi really is)
I was bracing for you-know-what anyways for the mess and it came… but it was from our good fairygodmother, with nice note, not my sentence I was waiting for. I was half crying eyeballs out of gratitude already before the bunny thing.
phew
Life is good. There are hope in virtual wilderness, someone would notice lost lovey and help you out.
Peace.</p>

1533

<p>I can’t tell you how much I love this thread! FAMMoM, thanks for sharing the photos! I can relate so much to what you said about 'lovey’s. Manga girl’s lovey is ‘sa-sa’, a baby blanket that my mother crocheted for her when she was born. She always had to stick her fingers through the little crochet holes when she nursed. As she got older and we would have snuggle time before she went to sleep I used to drape sa-sa over my fingers to make a ‘mouth’ so that sa-sa could talk to us. Good memories! No satin anywhere though. Sa-sa is still a hallowed fixture of manga girl’s life. No drama with ever losing her, though once when there was a lice infestation sa-sa got put in a plastic bag for a couple of weeks and manga girl was quite traumatized by that.</p>

<p>As for the manga drama, manga boy was here, I think, on account of the hurricane – he came back from Japan a day or two before, then the hurricane hit, and he has been without power ever since, so no computer or video games. So he and manga girl were down here on the computer and maybe that was his ulterior motive? Though he did bring her a present… so who knows. Bottom line is he moves back to Japan permanently in January. Boo Hoos all around. Manga girl has a good head on her shoulders and I think they will just stay ‘friends’ as opposed to some more involved romantic relationship (so says the clueless mother who’s two older daughters have never seemed to aspire to actual romantic relationships). No, I have not met the mother, but I did meet the father. </p>

<p>As for other drama… yesterday was the registration deadline for the community college. D1 let that sail by. I gave in and went to talk to her and she said she was not motivated to go to the community college. All she wants is a second chance to go back to MICA (in January). I told her that sitting around in her room doing puzzles, playing solitaire etc did NOTHING towards proving that she could handle going back to MICA. She says she ‘needs to get out of here’ and we are holding her prisoner (!). She wants us to stop treating her like she has a disability. I told her she was an adult and if she felt that the social worker and therapist were not helping her then she should by all means stop. She is free to pick someone of her own choosing. My personal opinion (and I told her this) was that she can’t have it both ways and claim she can’t get any work done without her medication yet claim that there’s nothing wrong with her. I told her she’s free to get a job, make money, move out. We are not holding her back. I also told her she needs to be more honest with the psychiatrist because I don’t think the new medication she is on is helping her enough. So she was upset and pouted the rest of the day. The social worker told me that they were looking into having her take some classes at SUNY Purchase, but classes have already started there. So I feel like now we’re backed into a corner where she is choosing to do nothing… and January will come and she will not be going back to MICA, her year that she’s allowed to take off will be up and it will be a non-issue. I think she’s completely irrational about the whole thing. Pace University would have taken her… we could have gotten her into the Bridge Semester program at Landmark, but she wouldn’t do any of that. How is doing nothing a better option?</p>

<p>Ok,enough of my rant. I don’t want to rain on everybody else’s launches.</p>

1534

<p>When D was a baby, she had a blanket that my cousin had made for my son (14 years older than her!). She loved that blanket and literally wore it out to a small patch of cloth. Her current blanket, which she has had since about 7 or 8 took its place and is now threatening to disinegrate. It is actually dangerous in spots, because the stitching is coming loose and its possible to get your foot or neck stuck in it.</p>

<p>D has had a dalmation dog named “Spot” for years. She took it with her to Lions Camp every year from age 6 to about 12 or 13, and brought it pretty much everywhere she went where she spent the night, including MCAD last year. It has recently been replaced by an elephant and a pair of hugging otters given to her by her boyfriend’s mother. Spot got left behind at home this year, but the otters and elephant went to school. After the earthquake, which really un-nerved her, her otters were her go-to animal. So Spot will be relegated to the shelf in her room, unless she realizes she forgot to pack him!!</p>

<p>During a shopping trip at the mall, D saw a child in a stroller drop a stuffed animal, and the man pushing the stroller did not stop. D ran and picked it up and returned it to the child who was crying. It was dirty and well-loved, and the man acted like he could care less that she dropped it. Very sad, D was upset over it, couldn’t believe a father would act that way.</p>

1535

<p>Gmom
how’s his dad? does he looks like, who was that you said, cousin, uncle of your Ds?
If he is 100% Japanese, today’s ike-men (good looking) guys are supposedly like these
[福山雅&#27835</a>; - Google Search](<a href=“http://www.google.com/search?q=福山雅治&um=1&hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&biw=1680&bih=838&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi]福山雅治”>http://www.google.com/search?q=福山雅治&um=1&hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&biw=1680&bih=838&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi)
used to be this
[??? - Google Search](<a href=“http://www.google.com/search?q=木村拓哉&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wi&biw=1680&bih=838”>http://www.google.com/search?q=木村拓哉&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wi&biw=1680&bih=838&lt;/a&gt;)
I don’t know teens’ standard.
not that much different anyways…
so no last bit-o-memory making drama! drama!! anticipated eh?
are you 100% sure? you wanna me do spy?</p>

1536

<p>OK everyone, post your/kids’ loveys in miniscule details.</p>

<ol>
<li>size </li>
<li>where it came from /who gave it to her/him</li>
<li>if you purchased yourself, how much was it at where?</li>
<li>what made you pick that certain item?</li>
<li>did anything came off/broke, and how? </li>
<li>what is the color/materials of body, ear lining, nose, paws, accessories if any (if contrasting colors are used?) any satin?</li>
<li>how many blankets/stuffed toys he/she had?</li>
<li>how/why do you think that item became the chosen one?</li>
<li>does it have floppy anything?</li>
<li>head size to total body length ratio if animal</li>
</ol>

1537

<p>G-mom…you must be so worried and frustrated that she has opted for “nothing” but…just check and see if she can register for online classes with the cc. They sometimes allow late registration or 1/2 semester classes that start late. My S did one this summer and actually found it very engaging and interesting. He said he had more interaction with the professor and other students on the discussion board than he had for his english class at CMU. It might be a way for her to have something to do without actually having to leave the house. He did have to go to a center to take exams but apart from that he did the reading, comments, submisisons of papers, all online even from Ecuador. So…I think I understand that it really pushed some buttons when she said she was a prisoner. Is it possible to tell her that she MUST get her license this fall because you need help driving sisters to activities? Have an instructor come to the house and take her driving? Even if it is just around the block, over and over until she gets bored and more confident? I must have driven around our closest 5 streets for at least 10 hours before D would go on a road with traffic. Driving really freaks D out so I am in no hurry for the license but I do make her drive every single time I am doing a very easy route. </p>

<p>Just some ideas…good luck and try to stay calm. Perhaps you need your own ‘sa-sa’ but I think you are doing great being so patient and reasonable.</p>

1538

<p>I found a book at a used book sale that is still on Amazon [Amazon.com:</a> Dirty Wow Wow and Other Love Stories: A Tribute to the Threadbare Companions of Childhood (9781580088329): Cheryl Katz, Jeffrey Katz, Hornick: Books](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Dirty-Wow-Other-Love-Stories/dp/1580088325]Amazon.com:”>http://www.amazon.com/Dirty-Wow-Other-Love-Stories/dp/1580088325) we thought it was hysterical that the book is called wow-wow. </p>

<p>Bears…no label. I think I cut it off because, like you guessed, it was satinny and became disgusting from sucking/chewing. It was, I am almost certain, bought in Florida in teh 70’s or potentially early 80’s but I was in college then…still could have been a gift but I know it stayed with my parents for years and I was surprised that it moved with them from Florida to Missouri. It was a nice rabbit. My son’s gund puppy (bought by a friend in 1992) was like a golden retriever. Also very loved…but my son was not a finger/thumb sucker so didn’t suffer the abuse of a true lovey. I think the floppy nature was a big attraction, easy to hold when sleeping comfortably dragged by paw or tail. Can be sat on without major pain…etc. My brother was addicted to a panda (identical! to the one in the book above)–thumbsucker–holding one leg at allt imes but my mother was a great seamstress and intelligent and made a whole bunch of “bear’s legs” that were just rolls of material with stuffing so she could take bear’s legs on trips and leave the real thing at home. I had my blanket and also a “chicken little” --small stuffed chicken from UK that was lost at Niagra Falls (not actually IN the falls, just somewhere at the park) when I was 3 and we had recently arrived in the states. Part of the reason my parents went back for guagua was the memory of that fateful day 35+ earlier when I made myself sick with grief over the loss of chicken little.</p>

1539

<p>gawd the dog on the cover!! just look at him. Wowwow
I can smell some styling/ selective aging visual tech in it but…
nah NYPL has no copy.
maybe B&N
aw I wish I am not so much of can’t throw away books/anti materialistic/ cheapo/ buy the book only you’d read 100 times again-nutso.
Gund has nothing to worry.
Branded as brand goes.
which we proudly lack.
…
can I steal your mom’s idea/design?
It would be hilarious to sell bag of legs!!</p>

1540

<p>Gmom
I thought D1 the brave one is already driving and the next girl is the one who would be a learning buddy with my kid? not that I’d be picky or anything.
When my kid was in K, he had a classmate, a girl who was a 1st grader, those two grades are looped so regardless of calender ages, every kids could develop in their own pace (magic word) more able ones helping still leaning ones, sort of thing.
When he was in 1st grade, the girl’s sister who is a year apart was in his class.
two looked alike but different variations in the most aesthetically pleasant way that young boys would get instant crush on them as a “unit”
maybe Spicegirls’ then popularity had something to do with it.
anyways, about same size, mixed and matched outfits, hair (one wavy, one curly) giggling chatting singing jumping dancing around.
I never had any desire to have a daughter because I had no idea what to do with it if it was my own.
but man, they were cute together.
I bet that and plus one more, you got in there, and in your memories.
Awwww</p>