<p>Last minute decision to join DH bringing DS back to Rice. I’ve been wanting to go, however, was trying to save money with one less plane trip. DS offered to pay for my ticket! What a kid. So we’re all off for the airport tomorrow at about 4:30 a.m. DS already has plans with his roommate who lives in the Houston area for Friday night. Yes, it does get easier. I’ll give a report on how moving in 90+ degrees goes. Freshman parents, hope you enjoyed all the wonderful help with the moving last Sunday. You’re on your own now!</p>
<p>anxiousmom, where is there an IKEA in Houston? I’d love to check it out.</p>
<p>Hi Anxiousmom, momofwildchild, peariceparent, and all of us “older” ricemoms! And of course hello to the “new” ricemoms too!</p>
<p>I am still recovering from the drive/move-in/furniture assembly. Didn’t realize how tiring it was! Pearice- the IKEA is off I-10 just outside I-610. Getting to the IKEA was no problem-- getting back was a headache because of the construction on the highways that closed the entrance ramp back onto I-10. The detour was rather circuitious. I shall NEVER complain about my local highway system ever again. Houston’s definitely takes the cake. What a tangled maze of roads. Ok. Done ranting. As for IKEA-- we just happened to go in the exit door rather than the entrance because of where we parked-- and ended up in the “As Is” part of the store-- Got some GREAT DEALS!!! I HIGHLY recommend you do that-- we got his bed (mattress, bedframe and center rod) for 1/2 price. The only thing we paid full price for were the slats that go under the mattress and his matching dresser. If we’d had more time (we had the only key to the house at that point and his rooomies had arrived) we’d have gotten his desk there too. The bedframe has a ding in it, but its on the back and you cant see it-- so it loooks perfect. Really comfortable too. Another place for bargains is the Big Lots on Kirby, a block off Main. Theres a dollar store, a furniture store, a linen store and an Office Depot in that shopping center- its across from the Super target near campus.</p>
<p>Anxiousmom-
They took a mecca back to IKEA yesterday because one of the roomies broke a piece of his shelving. It was only then that my s. saw the other side of the store-- the showroom, food cafe, etc. What a place! They apparently FINALLY got their electricity on at 5pm yesterday. The roomie who was in charge of dealing with the electric co. tried the “yell at everybody up the chain of command” route rather than being nice but persistent, and not only did they get stalled til yesterday, but their house was the last stop of the day Sometimes I think it is better to let the parent model how do do it right for the kids rather than make them learn from experience. Oh well. So now they are a bit more comfortable, thought I think the A/C needs some adjusting/repair. Hopefully the landlord will send a repair guy out today. The heat and humidity was a bit intense these past few days. I am glad your d’s move in went well. What kind of job did she get on campus? My s. is thinking about that as well, but since they had no electricity, he hasn’t been on line to look at the job oppt’ys.</p>
<p>I stayed in one of the hotels near the med center, and had the boys stay there an extra night (they stayed with me the first nite too) because there was no power on at the house. That worked out well-- the hotels give you great rates when you say you are with Rice (or if you are using one of the hospitals). It was $69 with a free breakfast. I was sitting at breakfast Mon. morning when my S called me with the additions to the shopping list (they’d already gone back to the house). The people next to me asked if I had a s. at Rice. They’d just moved their freshman s. into Will Rice the day before. The mom was crying ans wanted to know if her son was going to be able to call her (she thought my s. was a freshman too). I asked if it was her only child-- no. Her older d. is a jr at Penn. She didn’t cry when her d. went to school, but now that she is an empty nester, she’s struggling. Swell. Something to look forward to. Also, they’d driven from El Paso, which took almost as long as our drive from Ga. Wow! Didnt realize Texas was THAT big!</p>
<p>Whew. This is getting long. Moms-- we can make it through this. It does get a “little” easier…</p>
<p>My son moved into Jones college as a freshman Sunday. We were really impressed by the enthusiasm of the senior students. After lunch, They put together a fashion show about stereotype of Rice students(pre-meds, couples, slackers, music, drunkens…etc), which was absolutely hilarious. The four speeches in the hall were great too. I forgot which one who asked parents to congratulate each other. I thought that was quite appropriate.</p>
<p>It was not as sentimental as we expected, perhaps because we still come home with another 12 years old. Somehow, we forgot how our 12 years might feel until when we got home. My wife asked him to call his brother the next day. When his brother told him he was too busy to talk, he broke down and cried his way to his room. Wow, talk about brother love…</p>
<p>Moved our s (junior) into his new apartment last weekend. The move was difficult (third floor) but the apt was really nice - much better than any place I lived at his age. Gated for security and the inside completely cleaned and freshly painted.<br>
Beside the heavy lifting every thing went quite smooth. Power was on and TV Max (local cable and internet co.) showed up the next morning as scheduled.
Went to eat at Benjy’s (Rice Village) and it was excellent. After supper we went to Target for essentials such as shower curtain, microwave, etc. We stocked new apt. well because we know he will be in Houston for quite a few more years. After Rice s will be across the street at Baylor for at least 4 more years.
His roommate moved in Wed, so I guess they are really settled in now, nothing left to do but prepare of the first day of classes.</p>
<p>Welcome cajun and owl dad-
Nice to have both sides of the parental units represented here! Congrats on the Rice/baylor program. thats great! What res. college is your son affiliated with, Owl dad?</p>
<p>Blackeyedsusan-
I am sorry I missed your restaurant reccs. We ate at Mi Luna, the tapas restaurant in Rice Village. Other than that, it was fast food. I completely forgot about the ice cream place (Amys). It’d have really come in handy! The electricity is on, but the a/c isn’t working correctly. Hopefully the guy will fix it tonight, like he promised.</p>
<p>USmominuk-
I am glad your move-in went well. Seems like just yesterday that we were talking about hotels, O-week, etc. Time flies!!</p>
<p>jym626 - time does indeed fly! I never found Rice village, but have high hopes that D will know where it is when I return for parents week-end prior to going back to the UK. We did get to meet the other freshman swimmers at a Sat night dinner at Lupe Tortillas, though, and it was great. We also got to sample Papadeaux, which was a treat for me since I can’t remember the last time I ate fried oysters. D is still having a wonderful time, knows she made a great choice, and is rejoicing over her A level results. I’m not crying yet!</p>
<p>usmominuk - No doubt your D will quickly find where Rice Village is, but FYI it’s just west of the campus. Both of the streets - University and Rice Blvd - will take you directly into it. </p>
<p>Glad everyone’s settling in. In case your kids are wondering about when Houston weather will ever cool off, tell them by mid-October.</p>
<p>As a returning parent I am really looking forward to parent’s weekend this year! The scariness of the college experience is gone (for us! DD was never scared!), and it will be fun to just visit and hang out - and NO HOTELS. Hubby and I will be sleeping on the couch in DD’s little efficiency. Wow! The generations have turned and we will be visiting our adult daughter in her own “home”. I’ll have to bite my tongue to keep from commenting on any cleanliness and housekeeping issues. : )</p>
Sometimes I think it is better to let the parent model how do do it right for the kids rather than make them learn from experience. Oh well. So now they are a bit more comfortable, thought I think the A/C needs some adjusting/repair. Hopefully the landlord will send a repair guy out today. The heat and humidity was a bit intense these past few days. I am glad your d’s move in went well. What kind of job did she get on campus? My s. is thinking about that as well, but since they had no electricity, he hasn’t been on line to look at the job oppt’ys.</p>