<p>I have been lurking on this thread after I posted originally too many years ago now. My D has done phenominally in college and will be graduating this May with a double major, Music Peformance and Music Business. We are extremely proud of her she has taken between 22 and 26 credit hours each semestre and has maintained an over all 3.98 GPA. She has made fantastic friends, has been an RA for 2 years now and has generally grown up into the most special young adult we know. We still get a text everynight from her at 10 just to say goodnight, love you.
Now the nerves are starting all over again though, she sent in all of Grad school applications and this coming weekend is the biginning of the rush here and there for audtions. Saturday evening we fly to NYC for an audition at NYU Sunday evening. Monday morning fly back, get in the car drive 5 hours for another one on Tuesday, then drive another 5 hours in the other direction for another one on Thursday. Hoping for good weather next week. We are nervous for her as these are major schools she is trying for but I guess the only way we can look at it is whatever happens happens and we will deal with then.</p>
<p>I never get voicemails – I have things go to Google Voice, which a) converts the voice message to text (with only a modest degree of competence); b) sends me an email with the text and includes the recording if I want it.</p>
<p>ShawSon called as a fast-growing consulting firm wants to do a deal with his company and wanted my advice, which I gave.</p>
<p>Exciting news,shawbridge!</p>
<p>Hi percussiondad! I’ve seen you on other threads but didn’t know you were a '13P. Wonderful update on your D! Congrats!! You should there’s another storm brewing for this weekend in the NYC area. Forewarned is fore-armed!(sp??)</p>
<p>And shawbridge…wow! That is very cool indeed! I’m sure yours was excellent advice!! Good luck to shawson!</p>
<p>Wow! Did you watch Rubio’s response? Said he just paid off his $100,000 school loan.</p>
<p>Yes. Rubio went to University of Florida for undergrad and University of Miami for law school. Probably the majority of that debt is from law school.</p>
<p>Actually I think he had a football scholarship somewhere his freshman year, then went to CC and then transferred again to U of Florida and law school. Can’t imagine that amount of school debt.</p>
<p>Well, with that kind of loan, it’s a good thing we’re paying him his federal salary for life. 
</p>
<p>Sorry for the snark, but I am sick of the politics. All sides and all of them. It’s insulting to any kind of legacy this country has of working together to solve problems. We are no better than the Middle East at this point. We just live next door to one another - plenty of guns but not rocket launchers - yet.</p>
<p>Yikes! I really am in a foul mood.</p>
<p>We never expected kids to move back here either. It’s really only S who wants to consider our uber awesome flagship for their dual degree phd/med school program. Otherwise, I honestly can’t see them every coming here to live again… </p>
<p>S got special student status approval today. Like AMTCs D, he only has two classes he has to take for his major and minor, any other class he thought about taking conflicted and he was offered a paying job as a TA for one class and another job in overseeing an undergrad lab for a professor who is really busy this semester I guess. He’s moved off campus, will be rebilled giving us a very large refund. Still, apparently he laid out his expenses to his dad as if he had no income at all. H’s response was to not worry and let him bank as much as he can because the gravy train ends the day of graduation. Not sure he’s told S that so clearly or if he has, if S is taking it as seriously as it’s intended.</p>
<p>shawbridge, that’s an exciting development. PD, good luck with your D’s auditions. She sounds like an impressive young lady.</p>
<p>S1 told me he signed up for a Harvard edX class that starts in March on Justice. I looked at the description and it involves reading Aristotle, Kant, and Locke amongst other things. I don’t know where he is going to find the time and if he does have free time, why he wouldn’t use it to take graduate level course toward a masters in engineering or business. But on another level, I’m proud of him. I am a reader, but honestly S1 puts me to shame. He has been steadily working through the classics. I have tried a few recently and find them too challenging in my old age.</p>
<p>Wow, lots of exciting news. Sendin mojo to all who need it.</p>
<p>Moda, I will join your cranky-pants party. As I say far too often these days: “Humans! They’re delicious!” When the mothership comes to get me, I know I will get spanked for this because it could blow my cover ;)</p>
<p>Welcome back to the grad posters. I agree it’s hard to understand where the time has gone. In the case of my beloved s, however, I suspect the roller coaster journey has just begun. His next year will, in effect, be a sustenance-style gap year after a fashion since he’ll be waiting for his gf to finish her performing arts degree in 2014. Then who knows what those two will get up to! He used to have a sign on his door that his teacher gave him: it was a yellow caution sign saying “Don’t feed the creatives.”
In this case I think he’ll need a new sign that says “Please feed the creatives.”</p>
<p>I’ve taken a peek at a synopsis of the play mcgf is directing this year for which mcson is doing the sound design. It’s a pretty heady Stoppard work. The gal likes a challenge It will be interesting to see how their talents end up intersecting over time, or how they manage the twin challenges of being together and pursuing performing arts. Not for the faint of heart, but interesting ;)</p>
<p>Checking in – worked until 8 pm the last two evenings. Today I get to be in TRAINING all day long for our new online learning management system. Try not to be jealous!</p>
<p>We’re making plans for graduation as well. D is having a fabulous final semester so far. She knows she will soon be done so is trying to savor every moment and take advantage of all the traditions and offerings. She had a blast at the all-campus sledding party.</p>
<p>None of us have any idea where/what she’ll be doing afterwards, but I find that kind of exciting.</p>
<p>C_Q -I’ll try to reserve the jealousy. Training all day! Will you order in subway as well?!?</p>
<p>Beyond S’s summer internship, we have no idea what S will be doing next year at this point and are just hoping he manages to find something for the upcoming year through that. He said he was offered interesting opportunities last summer before they realized he wasn’t a grad student or even a senior in college, so we’ll see. But when I tried to ask whether he would NEED to have been a grad student to qualify, he didn’t know and by the unsure tone of his voice, I don’t think he is ready to completely think about it all yet.</p>
<p>Analyst - S was considered a Latin scholar in HS. Loved to read, translate etc. It helps with the science I suppose, but when I tried to convince him to take a latin or philosophy class or even a lit class to finish up, he said he didn’t want to mess up his GPA because last time he took a class for “fun” it was more work than fun. 
I admire anyone who reads the classics. I can barely get through a Sparks novel these days. Not sure why my reading has fallen off but every time I start to read a book, I fall asleep!</p>
<p>We leave tomorrow to visit my Mom and then will see D and her team on Saturday. This is a trip that has good news/bad news all over it. I hope it goes well. Packing the xanax on top.</p>
<p>Having a career that requires auditions and a risk of constant rejection is not for the faint of heart. I have a lot of respect for the dedication and passion involved. And it sure aint easy to live cheap in any part of the country with a thriving Arts community.</p>
<p>Morning all. So glad that Rubio dived for that tiny bottle of water…I watch this stuff just for those type of moments…Bachman not being able to find the camera, Jindal essentially blowing his status as up and comer the year he gave his response…I thought that Robio would be too polished to be interesting but at least he gave us those few seconds to mock. (I recommend that he go on the late night talk shows and laugh at himself.)</p>
<p>I will say that the sights and sounds of the SOTU have become a lot less “all male” over the years. Good development.</p>
<p>It was such a good move to ground younger D and to open the lines of communications with her teacher. Big test today and she has gone to all of the study sessions, made flash cards, etc. Poor thing doesn’t realize that she pretty much can’t pass the class this grading period. Even if she manages an 85 for the second half of the grading period, with a 53 for the first half, the average is still failing. Not to mention that the class average for the tests is typically in the 65-75 range. I’m sure that an experienced teacher would know how to “game the numbers” to give her enough points on something or other to squeeze by with a 70 (to recognize her efforts and transformation) but this will be this teacher’s first time to do grades ever.</p>
<p>A couple of years ago there was a lot of talk over the Dallas school district’s policy of never giving a report card grade under 50. Lots of people said that was ridiculous but I actually agreed. If there are three grading periods in a semester, the kid blows off the first period and earns a 20, then works his tail off the next two grading periods and gets 90s, he still has a failing average.</p>
<p>Trying to figure out what to do for Valentine’s Day for the two kids at home. I’m thinking a giant candy bar and a little cash.</p>
<p>Haven’t checked in here for too long so just wanted to say hello to all. Truly can not believe the ride for our 2013’s is just about over–where in the world did these 4 years go? Youngest D is a junior in hs and we leave on a college trip tomorrow so my ride begins for a third time…and we get to see D 2013 (as well as D 2015) in NYC this week-end and I’m beyond excited, particularly if anyone has seen my other thread about being responsible for a roommate. Originally D2013 was not going to make the trip to meet us but now she just needs to get away and, I believe, also reconnect with family for a couple days.</p>
<p>Part of the reason I haven’t checked out this thread is that I thought I might read how every grad has a job/future plans all lined up. Mine does not and feels a great deal of pressure that weighs her down. Trying to be supportive while, at the same time, we all recognize the importance of meaningful employment! If a job hasn’t appeared, it is likely that she will travel with friends for 5-6 weeks. We have an agreement that we are very supportive as long as she continues her job search during this time, stopping at internet cafes, etc. D does plan to return to grad school in 1-3 years but would like to gain experience in her field in the interim. </p>
<p>Wishing everyone a good day!</p>
<p>Not at all a classic: Just read The Paris Wife for my book group, but had to make myself do it. I know it’s wildly popular, but I thought it was overwritten, and a bad attempt to imitate Hemingway, with frequent sentences like, “It was fine and strong and brave and true.” Too many of those. I once read every novel Hemingway wrote, and went back and tried to reread The Sun Also Rises and realize I don’t really care for his style all that much!</p>
<p>So hope you all have a day that’s good and fine and short (for CQ) …</p>
<p>Welcome back collage! Our '13s are all over the board with future plans! The good thing about this thread is the support through the highs and lows that is found here. I also appreciate the wisdom of so many of my friends here. Sending clarity and good luck to your D!</p>
<p>See Zetesis - I would have given you major green squares for your post! Too funny.</p>
<p>And Collage1- I pretty much stopped reading other threads because I was kinda overdone with the seeming perfection of every kid whose parents post on CC. Here, that is definitely not the case. Some have great things lined up or are working towards it. It’s very much been the case that everyone is on a journey - few of which are perfect. And it is my conclusion that perfection is rarely the whole truth anyway. My goal is to not have to financially support the kids past graduation and my job is to offer support and confidence that this will be the case.</p>
<p>PS… I honestly couldn’t hear what Rubio was saying with the whole dry mouth thing going on… and the slurping of the water? I see SNL opening skit all over that one. Can’t wait.</p>
<p>Collage1 - well my D hasn’t lined anything up yet so I’m in the same boat as you. She is completing her second thesis this one in Math – her bio one was done last semester and was really good. Even though she only has a couple of classes her thesis takes up a lot of time so it’s hard to find time to do a job search too. She does have one company interested but they may lose interest if she doesn’t call soon and set up an interview! They have called at least 2 times that I know of. At the very least I keep telling her to take the interview it will give her experience even if she doesn’t want the job! Kids!</p>
<p>I can’t be mad at her today though. Need to call her shortly as she turns 22 today. Where did the time go!</p>