<p>wjb~Thanks so much for the reminder that in the whole scheme of things, this is SO temporary! I think I am beginning to calm down now, mostly due to the wisdom and support displayed in this thread! Thanks everyone! 
You are too kind to compare me to the amazingly witty and astute Erma Bombeck! Awwwww! I have to tell you something exciting though…thanks to my dear friend, searchingavalon, I now have a VERY interesting possible writing prospect on the horizon. I am sooooooooo excited! As soon as this decision is in the mail, I will turn my efforts to that very interesting project. Thanks for posting…you are always so sweet. ~berurah</p>
<p>I would like to add my concern and good thoughts to all those that have been previously posted. As I read through it occured to me, that while cliche’
it seems to me true, that it is “darkest just before the dawn.” I think you must be just around the corner from your decision. Trust your S - I imagine he will choose well, how could he not? Enjoy your pampering amd family. Thank you for your kindness and good humor on the board</p>
<p>suz</p>
<p>Hi suz!</p>
<p>Welcome to this thread and thanks so much for passing along your good thoughts and concern. I am beginning to feel a bit better. I have made it a point to work out the past couple of days to release some of the stress, and that has seemed to help some. I have really gotten off my workout schedule this year! <em>lol</em></p>
<p>I do very much trust my son. Frankly, he is the most rational one at this point :). Poor thing…he’s getting lots of opinions and pressure from some of the sibs (and Max can be a HUGE pest! <em>lol</em>). </p>
<p>I would love to know more about you and your college-bound kiddo! Are you the parent of a junior or a senior this year, or do you already have one in college? </p>
<p>Thanks so very much for posting. Your support is MOST appreciated!</p>
<p>~berurah</p>
<p>I had previously sent you a pm on the JH thread, but I just changed my screen name from fsutheta. I am trying to move from lurking to posting more. My S is a high school senior headed to Vanderbilt. Your frustration on the piles of papers was actually comforting to me. I am not naturally an organized person and the papers have been overwhelming. I am relieved I am not alone. My younger son is also quite sick of hearing about College. He is only in sixth grade, so I guess I get to hang round for cc another six years.:)</p>
<p>suz,</p>
<p>Oh, O.K., yes, I remember you! CONGRATS on Vanderbilt!! It is a wonderful school. My kids’ orthodontist’s daughter is a senior there this year, and she has had a fabulous four years. I wish all the best for your son as he embarks on this exciting journey!</p>
<p>I’m so glad that others can relate about the paper issue. Paperwork has always been a huge dealio in our home what with six kids bringing home piles each week from school! I am determined that once this decision is made, I am going to attack the various stacks that have found their way onto each and every flat surface (and some not so flat, hence the ones that slip and slide to the floor occasionally! <em>lol</em>)</p>
<p>Our poor younger kids! They sure have to put up with alot throughout this whole college process! But we (and THEY) will be all the wiser when it is their turn!</p>
<p>Hang in there, and join in on the discussions of the logistics that are sure to follow the decisions!</p>
<p>~berurah</p>
<p>Berurah: <<i am=“” going=“” to=“” attack=“” the=“” various=“” stacks=“” that=“” have=“” found=“” their=“” way=“” onto=“” each=“” and=“” every=“” flat=“” surface=“” (and=“” some=“” not=“” so=“” flat,=“” hence=“” ones=“” slip=“” slide=“” floor=“” occasionally!=“” lol)=“”>></i></p><i am=“” going=“” to=“” attack=“” the=“” various=“” stacks=“” that=“” have=“” found=“” their=“” way=“” onto=“” each=“” and=“” every=“” flat=“” surface=“” (and=“” some=“” not=“” so=“” flat,=“” hence=“” ones=“” slip=“” slide=“” floor=“” occasionally!=“” lol)=“”>
<p>Last night I was sitting at my computer quietly (probably reading CC) when all of a sudden out in the kitchen–CRASH on the floor! What was that?!? A huge pile of catalogs and newspapers slid off the counter and crashed down to the floor, landing IN the dogs’ two water dishes. Nice. I think I need to buy some folders…</p>
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<p>bookiemom~OMG!!! You live my life!!! This is something like an hourly occurence in our house!!! Oh, I needed this laugh!!! :)</p>
<p>~b.</p>
<p>
Whoa. This is huge. Sounds wonderful.</p>
<p>Bookiemom, I bought folders for my piles. Now the folders slide off the counter and fall on the floor. Besides having to pick up all the papers, I also then have to rearrange them in the proper folders.</p>
<p>I am done with the college process, but my mom is in an assisted living and we are in the process of emptying and selling her house. So as soon as I rid myself of the piles of college papers, my “formal” dining room became full of boxes of stuff from her house which we need to go through when we have time. It is a big depressing mess. I guess this is a sign of the stage of life I (and most of you) are in right now.</p>
<p>Berurah: If you think the falling mountain of papers story was funny, would you like to hear about the little kitchen fire I had with some papers that somehow crept over to the edge of the stove? Now THAT was a wake-up call experience! I now try to keep a “firewall” around the stove perimeter. </p>
<p>However, last weekend I had set some kiwi fruit on the stove as I was putting away the groceries. (It’s a flat-top stove–look out, that is not another flat surface for storage.) My H took his dinner plate over to the counter, and somehow turned on the burner under the kiwi fruit!</p>
<p>A few minutes later, I heard an alarming HISSSSSS! from the kitchen. Yikes–grilled kiwi fruit!</p>
<p>bookie, </p>
<p>You have just become one of my favorite people!!! <em>lolololol</em> I REGULARLY have to push papers out of the way to regain use of my stovetop! (Well, not JUST papers, but assorted toys, writing utensils, and who-knows-what?) We do NOT have a flat cooktop, so invariably we’ll experience the aromas of burning items that will have slipped down through the cracks of the burners after the kids have spilled/dropped things up there. We’ve not grilled a kiwi (yet!), but my dh did explode a casserole dish by placing it on a burner that he didn’t know was on. Everyone was talking about the “bang!!” and the flying glass for quite awhile! <em>lol</em></p>
<p>~berurah</p>
<p>Berurah: LOL! Well, don’t get a flat cooktop, because it’s just a temptation to put things there!</p>
<p>I am such a squirrel about keeping things, especially anything paper. I do hate to discard…did you know that is a sign of a creative person? You can always think of a potential use for something, so you hate to discard. (And with 6 kids, you must have lots and lots of art and school projects going on.) </p>
<p>You will like this since you have Ds in theater: I was famous in my D’s high school theater program for being able to whip props, costume and set decor items together overnight due to my extensive stash of craft materials and items. Once they needed a three-cornered Revolutionary hat in a small size–hey, no problem, I had a child’s pirate hat down in my storage room. You get the picture.</p>
<p>hey hey hey…no “folder” jokes now… you guys are killing me… I wish I was as organized as I talk…but I married a closet slob, so even though I have tried to create rational approaches to where things belong, since we live in a very small house, no one else really honors the systems…I have bought a lot of rubbermaid too over the years in an attempt to “store” things… the only thing that rubbermaid doesn’t make is a snap tight lidded coffin!! I keep thinking I should send them a suggestion…lightweight, padded handles… moisture proof!! </p>
<p>Thanks for your invite Berurah to move next door…but I could not live without my water view…I can see Portland Headlight from my kitchen and right now the colors on the water as the sun is setting is just beautiful…kind of like opalesque??? soft blue, hints of peach… Kansas is too much wheat, yes?? I was in Kansas City Missouri years ago… Hallmark HQ area…and Russell Stover, a great city…very pretty area… but, the northeast is where I will be until I win Powerball… </p>
<p>if you want a quick laugh…go to the Princeton site…and read thru the thread entitled “Is Princeton more prestigous than Yale?” the kids really go off tangent with searching google to see which has most hits, ie Princeton and prestige vs Yale and prestige…well it goes on for a while and then someone throws out a crazy match about smelly butts…and one of the kids, JohnnyK has a reaction that is still making me laugh 18 hrs later… if you like absurdist humor!! </p>
<p>anyway, enjoy the evening everyone…</p>
<p>Aaaargh! I am married to a berurah type! He looks organized because he is so neat, but underneath the tidiness is a maelstorm of chaos.</p>
<p>I found this out about a month after our honeymoon when we started working together. He would get assignments and pile them neatly, in lovely stacks, across the top of his desk. And that’s where those assignements stayed. Nicely stacked and off his mind. Scary. On a $500M/4M square foot project.</p>
<p>I’ve become an organizational genius. Because of his chaos? Not sure. I certianly had it in me. My mother is a temple of self-discipline.</p>
<p>Here’s a big pity party for the spouses of you squirrels!!!</p>
<p>::!!###!***!???^^^!!!:::</p>