<p>Yes, she is the youngest and yes, just the two girls. H just called. He is coming home early this afternoon from work. He is also struggling that his “baby” will be gone. They have spent so much time together as he coached her in every sport over the years. He definitely will need a new hobby!</p>
<p>NM – we have two girls as well. Our oldest leaves for grad school in a week; and our younger for college in less than 3 now. I understand how you both feel. I’m in denial.</p>
<p>As a senior in college I had an old Plymouth Duster and the battery was dying (dead?) so every day to start it I had to jump the battery! I knew to back into the parking spot for easier accessibility the next morning.</p>
<p>What makes a Chi different from some other ceramic straighteners?</p>
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<p>No idea…my D has very thick wavy hair that has defeated less expensive straighteners. The Chi works, so that is what we buy.</p>
<p>amtc- a chi is not as damaging and it’s more than the ceramic. As someone who has very thick wavy hair, most straighteners really fry my hair or don’t do the job or both, but now I use a little moroccan oil (i paid way too much and then my friend found it on amazon for about half) and I have to say, my hair is in really great shape. I honestly think the oil improves the texture immensely but doesn’t make it oily in the least. </p>
<p>NMN - you made me completely tear up! I think we’re in for an incredibly quite fall when we’ll only have our youngest D in the house. I used to think that with all that son has had on his plate the last four years he’s hardly ever home and when he is, he’s usually into his own thing and not chatting it up with us all the time so, how empty could it be? But then I thought about the sound of him… the refrigerator door opening almost immediately upon his walking in the front door having let the screen slam behind him. Guitar hero, rapid gun fire and the backlight of a computer screen coming from his bedroom well after he had said “good night; I’m exhausted.” There are a million little bits of him that he leaves scattered around even when he is barely here… but he is still here nonetheless. In 30 days we leave on a plane to take him away from us. It’s not his leaving that scares me. It’s wondering how much he might change while he’s gone that makes me want to hold on to these days… even when he is pushing my buttons and driving me quickly insane!!</p>
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<p>If it were me, it would be time for a sundae with peppermint ice cream and hot fudge…doesn’t go well with margaritas, but I think hot fudge is more comforting than alcohol.</p>
<p>Modadunn, you made *me *tear up…</p>
<p>NM hope you feel better soon. It’s a big step for all of you. We focus so much of our time on making sure that our kids will feel good about going away that we forget the adults that are left behind are also going through an adjustment as well. </p>
<p>S leaves again in 3 weeks. D in just over 4. S was ready to be in college. D I’m just not sure of. S had spent 3 weeks overseas in HS on a trip and grew up a lot. D hasn’t been away from home for more than a week although we have given her the opportunity over the years. Here’s hoping her transition to college (8 1/2 hours from home) goes smoothly.</p>
<p>NM good luck. At least you will see her in a week. Something to look forward to.</p>
<p>We seem to like ghd better. Professional strength and durability. D1 has had her ghd for four years. Doesn’t get build up from styling products, cord doesn’t twist, doesn’t catch in her hair and it hasn’t burned out on her long thick hair! D2 likes it to straighten her long curly hair and also likes the ability to make spiral curls that she can control.</p>
<p>Thanks all! We have a wedding to go to this evening and we’re only going for a little bit. I know D2 will be out saying goodbye to friends but wanted to be here and supervise and make sure alll is ready. D2 said she didn’t get much sleep last night. Just took a zantac for my aching stomach but will hold off on the margarita and ice cream. Think a nice Cab this evening will be just right!</p>
<p>A gazillion pages ago there was discussion of laundry detergent and someone mentioned Dropps. Saw that they had them at our Costco today but have never used. Can someone speak to how good they are? Obviously less space is good and anything that weighs less than a bottle of detergent is a good thing but how well do they clean? And they are High Efficiency.</p>
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<p>The night before Son leaves, he’s going to a birthday party at Six Flags. I’m taking the girls to see the US Gymnastics championships. We’ll have to have our weepy last nights in the days before.</p>
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<p>Cheers, NorthMinnesota. I’ll drink a toast in your honor tonight - you are the first of us to say goodbye to our Class of 2013 D or S, right? I get weepy just thinking about you :(</p>
<p>NorthMinnesota, I’m sending you some virtual tissues for the tears. It’s moments like these that help us truly understand the word bittersweet.</p>
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<p>Our pediatrician keeps kids until 21 also. Turned out to be a good thing as my oldest daughter applied for a particular scholarship that required that the health info be from a physician that she had seen for the past five years. She was 21 at the time and had continued to see the pediatrician for a health check each summer - so no problem. Not having any health issues, it would have been easy for her to forgo having a physician of record.</p>
<p>what an odd scholarship, 5 years? people move, doctors retire, or die, insurance changes, how they ask for some so weird? So, if you had to switch doctors, would you not get the scholarship?</p>
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<p>I think it was to determine mental health rather than just the standard shot record and/or physical issues, and I believe the forms needed to be submitted after the scholarship was granted rather than before. The doctor needed enough of a relationship to comment on the mental health and stability of the applicant. I do know that my daughter felt that it wouldn’t have been an issue had there been any extenuating circumstances (i.e., retirement); it was just nice to still have that ongoing relationship with her doctor.</p>
<p>sharonohio, we just tried Dropps today (had to order it online, couldn’t find it locally), as I reminded S about how to do laundry. Dropps seems to work fine. S seemed to embrace the concept. The clothes are clean. And they can be used in “high efficiency” machines.</p>
<p>NM, we’re away, w very limited internet access, but I wanted to wish you the best for tomorrow. Hope the Cab. and the wedding distraction helped. Hugs to you.</p>
<p><< discussion of laundry detergent and someone mentioned Dropps.>></p>
<p>I just went out of town for a trip from work and actually bought some of the Purex ones. I thought they worked really well. I was using a laundry machine from a hotel, so I don’t think the size of the load would be the same (mine was small) but the clothes were clean and with a nice fragrance, not to overpowering. And the softener also worked well. No static cling either…no t-shirts sticking to other clothes. lol</p>
<p>I would use them again. Just my 2 cents.</p>
<p>I think those one sheet laundry things will be great for my son… as long as remembers to drop the sucker into the wash!!</p>
<p>Thinking of you Northern MN… hope it all goes well and you can fill us in on the drop off and the week later review! :-)</p>
<p>She is gone in a flurry of tears, puffy eyes and nervous tension. Already OOS and just under four more hours to drive to get there. Got her bags packed for this week but the rest of her things are sitting out but not packed in her room, waiting for us to bring them up next week. It was very hard when she cried as we hugged goodbye and she said she wouldn’t have any fun. Thought my heart would burst. :(</p>