<p>Stopping by to check in. Congrats to those with good news. Oregon, your mom sounds like a trip. My Mom asked my Dad to help her die the other day. He pretended he didn’t understand what she was trying to communicate to him. Then she told me that she wanted to die and I told her it wasn’t her choice, but God’s timing. Back in 1970 she tried to commit suicide, but failed. Was hospitalized for a little while…Ah, we all have unpleasant memories, I suppose. Missing Odessagirl, but Skyped with her last night. The teen child of her professor died at school this week. A medical emergency, they said. In the music room where he was practicing. Many of Messiah History students and alumni will be attending a viewing and the funeral as a group. The funeral is on the first day of Odessagirl’s student teaching, but she has spoken to whoever she needed to, to be able to attend the funeral. Just so sad.</p>
<p>I sound like Debbie downer today. Sorry. Had 2nd cataract removal yesterday and am doing fine. In bed with my little Maltese, Georgie, against my leg.</p>
<p>Eddie, thank you for checking in. I’ve been thinking about you. Glad your surgery went well. So sad about the prof’s daughter!</p>
<p>It’s hard to know what to tell an older person who doesn’t see a need to live. H’s grandmother lived to be 94, the final years in a nursing home. She had no idea why she was still alive (survived her husband by about a dozen years) and no one seemed to have a good answer for her.</p>
<p>Eddie glad your surgery went well, but sad about your mom and also the young girl.</p>
<p>Missy - Hope that worlks out with your Sister and nephew. Funny thing, when you mentioned the “stripper looking” gf I was picturing her with a young nephew in his teens, not
With a 30 year old.</p>
<p>Eddie you are not a downer, that is tough dealing with parent issues. I think my MIl has been the start of some of my angst. With her memory problems. She is widowed and most of her friends are in poor shape, so depends on her children who arent all that attentive. M SIL the nasty one does most things, but she is tough and we do things but live the farthest away. Makes me realize that old age isnt necessarily all that fun, and so live for today. I hope your eye recovery continues to go well
MP I remember that day, must have been weird to hear the sonic booms. kept hoping somehow they survived. I went to Florida shortly after that (Kennedy space center_) and looking out on the ocean felt so surreal
Glad Robin Roberts is back .She looks so thin.
I think Imay be having a chink in my education plans as what I want to do will require a PHD, this makes no sense financially at all. I will continue to investigate.
I watched Ellen Degeneres yesterday, they featured a family that had been helped, thats what would like to ID a family, and personally help. Just have no real faith in organizations.</p>
<p>Eddie–happy you are doing well. Bet Georgie is a cutie. So sad about the prof’s child. </p>
<p>But my mother is planning on not ever dying 
Why die when life can be so exciting? She is 91. Loves a good drama. This time though I really do not know what she is going to do. I feel badly for her only because I know how frightened she must be underneath it all. Still, part of me wonders just what she thought would happen and also is this is secretly what she wanted to happen–then it did–and then she woke up and now cannot turn it around. I am so very grateful for my B and SIL and also that I do not live in the same state.</p>
<p>Nephew’s (former) GF has a responsible job, two kids (I think they’re something like 8 and 10, so she started young) and a volatile ex-husband. I think Nephew wisely understood that it was too much baggage for him. Growing up as my sister’s child, there was a whole lot of drama and chaos, and he now avoids that as much as possible in his personal life. </p>
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<p>That is FIL, and really why he did what he did with the Christmas money…wanted to stir the pot, be the subject of conversation, etc. The two of H’s siblings who FIL gets angry at the most keep being afraid that he has written them out of his will. Ridiculous! That would require him to actually pay money to an attorney, which he is really really loathe to do.</p>
<p>Looks like D may have an interview lined up. Here first one. She got through the phone screen and they said htat they would send her an aptitude test first but they didn’t and have emailed her to set up a in person interview in Wisconsin. She has indicated that she is not sure she wants to live in Wisconsin but worth a trip to see at least and get experience on interviewing! She was surprised how fast the process went.</p>
<p>So my question is that a while ago people were talking about where to go for D’s appropriate interview attire. At the time I filed it away in by brain but I have sense lost it there. Can anyone help me out with ideas? Her response today was I need to buy a blazer and yucky pants. My response was – those are called DRESS pants.</p>
<p>RM…D2 has had great luck at Express for work pants that she wears every day and they stay in great shape for years. They have different cuts/styles for different body types. Make sure you have a coupon! The Limited also has different cuts/styles for body type. For interview attire she has also had luck at Nordstrom Rack, J. Crew and Banana Republic outlet and regular store. She did not like anything at Macy’s as she thought they were a little too “old” for her. D2 refuses to wear a black suit to interview in. She likes to wear a silvery gray pants suit with a colored silk top to stand out a little. So far it has worked for her! D1 likes Ann Taylor or Loft as she likes more wide leg trouser fit.</p>
<p>By any chance is she interviewing at Epic? They recruit lots of really bright kids.</p>
<p>NM - Yup that’s the place. Anything you can tell me about it? If so I would be interested.</p>
<p>I did tell her J. Crew, Express and Ann Taylor for some ideas. My D isn’t really one to stand out if you know what I mean – she likes to blend in. She is very shy although it’s better than it used to be! </p>
<p>Her concern is she doesn’t have a background in CS and has no programming knowledge – just the bio and math degrees but they seemed okay with that and are going ahead if they can work out an agreeable timetable. The weeks they gave her are right before and during midterms so that is just not going to happen. She was going to email and see if she could come more in the later Feb. or early Mar. time period. We’ll see what they respond with.</p>
<p>NM - also if you know anything about the area that would be appreciated as well.</p>
<p>RM, Forbes had a long article about Epic ([Epic</a> Systems’ Tough Billionaire - Forbes](<a href=“http://www.forbes.com/sites/zinamoukheiber/2012/04/18/epic-systems-tough-billionaire/]Epic”>Epic Systems' Tough Billionaire)). They’ve got a quasi-monopoly on certain software that hospitals need/should have. I think it is privately held and with a female founder/CEO if I remember correctly.</p>
<p>Oh man time warp, was thinking Challenger,my bad, when I took some time to think, I was like 10 years? sonic boom in texas? gads senior moment?
Oregon 250 K a year ? that is so much money. I dont live in that world.</p>
<p>A friend of D’s works there; I will enlist her into service, RM, to see what we can find out about working there and the interview process.</p>
<p>RM…H’s healthcare system just signed a mult-imillion dollar agreement with Epic. We have lots of friends who have kids employed there. I have seen pictures and a video of the campus. It is very impressive. Every building has a different “theme” to it. One is in a Western theme, one is Asian, etc. They hire from lots of different majors. They mainly want very smart kids and then train them. The salaries are reportedly quite good. The son of a close friend graduated from Wash U last year with a degree in international business and was quickly snapped up by Epic. He is currently working on a big installation at UNC/Chapel Hill. He is there during the week and then the company flies them home to Madison or wherever they would like to go for the weekend. He loves it. It sounded like they work hard but are compensated well through perks and salary.
The campus is close to Madison which is a very fun city. Lots to do there with the University. Oh…I remember my friend’s son saying how casual it is in the office. While they are training and not meeting clients they actually wear shorts to the office!</p>
<p>Once again, I’m pages behind … on interview clothing, do you think it matters at all what a student wears to a “visit weekend” for grad school?</p>
<p>Shawbridge - thanks for the article. I’ve sent it on to D. </p>
<p>NM - Thanks for the info! I will pass that on as well.</p>
<p>RM–H uses epic and teaches it to other doc’s. Verona is outside Madison which is a very neat town. Assure your D that it is sophisticated and fun.
Banana R is where D goes for such clothes.
Z–I would think it might matter where the location of the grad school is…</p>
<p>Oregon, good point; well, all western states and mostly California so, yeah, probably doesn’t matter that much!</p>
<p>I keep thinking that our daughters need to own dark wash trouser jeans, to wear in “dressy casual” situations. I can’t convince older D to buy any as she thinks they are so old lady. Are they? They just seem like the perfect thing for a campus visit where you don’t want to dress up, but still want to look nice and put together.</p>