Parents of the HS Class of 2009 (Part 1)

Parents of HS Class of 20xx
30701

<p>We’re preparing for the invasion of ShawWife’s family for Passover. Generally they are all nice, although one sibling and family are holier than though vegetarians, which makes things a little complex at times. </p>

<p>ShawSon left and then showed up last night unexpectedly. He’s getting some coding done by his friend/business partner to enable his senior thesis research and needed to sit with said friend until the work was done. Now he can return to working on his thesis. Maybe anxiety will soon reduce.</p>

<p>A couple of big milestones. The angel investor representative of famous billionaire agreed to put up $25K now to match the two parents and then another $25K later. Plus, the company got its first check from a customer. And, ShawSon is now on LinkedIn. I was shopping and smiled as I watched a father walking with his young son, holding hands, as they walked down the aisle, and realized it didn’t seemed that long ago, and yet it also seems light years away.</p>

<p>I suggested that ShawSon use his school’s alumni network (though small, I think there are a lot of highly placed alums) by writing the president and head of development of his school to see if they’d like to introduce him to alums who are either entrepreneurs who could mentor or investors who might be interested. The president and head of development at the school the other kids attend are actually doing that. ShawSon said, “Good idea, but not yet because I can’t follow up immediately, which is what I’ll need to do to make them look good.” Then he left again and will return after talking to a serial entrepreneur who attended my talk last week just in time for the Seder.</p>

30702

<p>Good morning, all. I see my post from yesterday evaporated, but I half expected it may not have published as my 3G had gone into “deep think” mode and I had wandered off to get ready to work some overtime.</p>

<p>Shaw, it sounds like shawson is well in hand. A month will flash by and they’ll all survive it one way or another. Terrific news about the investor! Enjoy your family gathering!</p>

<p>Moda, keep those Heloise tips coming, lady. You might motivate me to spring clean one of these days. Then again, that would require that spring actually exists as something other than a figment of my imagination, which is how it feels at the moment.</p>

<p>Oregon, your gson sounds adorable. Makes me want one but I’d better be careful what I wish for at the moment. Mcson and gf are in no position to manage such a thing. </p>

<p>Eg. I noticed mcson had gone through twice the money he should have from our joint account last week (eg more than I spend on groceries to feed mch and I). I suggested he was teetering on the brink of spending his rent before he was paid again if he didn’t slow down his spending. He said between the studio, rehearsals (multiple) etc. he was having 20 hr days and not home to cook, so he found himself eating out (and drinking espressos) non-stop. I get it, but he’s not working enough hours to keep pace. I hope he gets it in balance. I’m not sure how he’s going to manage it all come May, but I suppose that’s in part the point of his staying there next year - to figure out that whole living independently thing. </p>

<p>On the other hand, the universe is toying with us. Without going into too much identifying detail, a company we dealt with more than a decade ago on an unusual commission wants to do it all over again. I’ve reserved agreement for the moment, because we do not presently staff the kind of casual labor and manager we used to have when we had the Canadian fabrication studio. The distraction from our core business would interfere with my capability to generate our core continuing revenue. But it’s something that could handily employ mcson (and a small crew) for a good few months, and he knows the program. But in a way, its more important that he be looking for reliable, enduring work where he’s living. So I don’t really want to tempt him with more short-term work. It’s tough to balance all this – his need for money and my need for help :wink: Argh! If he were coming home for the summer, this would be a no-brainier. But I don’t want him coming home out of fear, however justified, of unemployment.</p>

<p>I’ve turned down a few of these types of commissions over the last several years because in my experience the distraction factor isn’t good for our core business, even when they’re profitable in the short run. But the truth is I enjoy them, so maybe I should go ahead and take this one and staff up, and see where mcson lands. But I am so busy right now, and there are just so many hours in a day. Lots to ponder!</p>

<p>Missy, enjoy your march madness with your d! </p>

<p>I have a date with a hot tub – got a schwinn airdyne exercise bike for mch and I yesterday and attempted vigorously to act like someone actually capable of interval training. My muscles are less than impressed! Am hopeful the hot water will render me functional! I may not have mentioned it here since I’m on the health and fitness thread for motivation, but I have lost 22 lbs to date despite the busyness through trekking my hill in the a.m. And tracking my food intake with an online tracker.</p>

30703

<p>Greetings from coastal NH! S and I flew to Boston yesterday and am now at sister and bil’s house. Unbelievably beautiful where they live, old New England houses on the water ( the views!) looks like a movie set. S decided to add another college visit to the 2 we will visit in Boston, so tomorrow we will be driving to Maine.</p>

30704

<p>Have a wonderful trip, FallGirl. Wave to my children for me (one in Boston and one in Maine).</p>

<p>Most Palm Sunday services in our area were cancelled due to a snow storm. I think S was lucky to get back to Maine!</p>

30705

<p>kmc, good job on the weight loss. Congratulations.</p>

<p>It is good to turn down distracting, non-core stuff. The balance with mcson a little trickier. Can he do your work while looking for his own?</p>

30706

<p>Arabrab - My BIL redid our shower floor. Also at Menards, home depot is a grout color that basically did the trick. Problem is, I don’t know the color choices, but ours was a taupey color that any thing darker did look bad. Anyway… he also used a kill seal incase there was anything “growing,” but like you… it was there but not for the lack of trying on our parts (bleach etc etc). </p>

<p>Had our first showing today. Just the husband, from out of town, they were a half hour early (which is REALLY early when it comes to MY clock) but they are coming back for a second showing with his wife, which, who are we kidding, is the one who is going to make this decision. They loved our lower level though, so that’s good!</p>

30707

<p>Wow! Moda, fingers crossed!</p>

30708

<p>Woody, I am not holding my breath, but as long as there wasn’t something glaringly and obviously hated, I’m good. Another house down the block came on the market - ugh - but they had an open house today during our showing so we stopped by. they say it’s just a shade smaller on the top two floors, but I have my doubts… it seemed MUCH smaller somehow. But they have huge master bath and closet, so maybe that was it. Other than that, it only had three bedrooms and the basement was unfinished. This is all good because I thought it was priced really really well! </p>

<p>I meant to say how cute Oregon’s grandbaby sounds… and yes, your S’s thankfulness for shoes sounds familiar. My oldest is always much more thankful whenever I buy her anything. I bought her a nice “spa” robe for Christmas. I swear she texts me STILL to say thank you and that was for Christmas! And I have to say, shoes are always the first thing Son asks for for birthday AND Christmas… running/boots/walking etc. And too, he needs them most.</p>

<p>As for rainy day… I can be pretty ingenious with the stay at home mom hat on. If it were me, I’d tell son and DIL to go a museum or something to take time for themselves and then I would just immerse myself in baby world. Some of my favorites were … finger painting with pudding (add a little food coloring). And definitely non-toxic. This actually works better when older and understand the difference between do not put paint in your mouth and do not fingerpaint with food in a more general way. :slight_smile: But we also danced a great deal around here. There’s probably a playdough recipe online which was always another favorite. But there is absolutely nothing I like better than reading. And I have to say I am glad to have packed away a lot of my favorite board books from the kids- all in great shape - some blocks (basic squares) (Still bummed I sold the wooden block set that had it’s own little cart thing), lincoln logs, some legos, Playmobile - but those are all for the slightly older set. Have fun! HUG often. Nothing quite like a hug from a little one and I can just imagine it’s even better when it’s “yours.” And yes… I was one of those young moms. Kids don’t know they’re not eating filet when they’d prefer pbj and mac and cheese regardless. But not until our third was born could we really afford to take them all places. However, our oldest is the most chill of all the kids. She could also entertain herself for hours given nothing more than her imagination.</p>

30709

<p>OHHHH–Mod–and all–I just do not have the baby love gene and never did (though we watched DVD’s tonight and I acted just fine when they were babies. But even better when they were 4 and older). I needed either valium or a drink by noon today. Instead I went to a toy store and bought an expensive toy that he could not throw and bounce. The ping of balls on the hardwood floors and the frequent whining was getting to me. Even calm H said he had had his grandchild fix. Poor kid has yet another day care cold. Still, maybe because they are anxious for our approval-? the parents seem to react to him much faster than I would. He is cute and smart, I am sure I will totally enjoy the activities you mention, Mod, in a few years. I too wish I had kept so many of the cool toys that I got rid of just 11 years ago.
S and DIL loved their anniversary dinner out and the day at the zoo worked fine because at least we were outside. I wish they lived in town and our visits could be an appropriate 3 hours and not 3 days.
I am still very happy that they seem to get along well as a couple and have the energy to tend to their little guy. Also, that they have made such good efforts to visit as we have seen then every 3 months or even more often.</p>

30710

<p>Oregon, my mom is the opposite. She loves babies until they can really talk :wink: – give her a helpless infant any day and she’s happy as a clam, which might be why she had four! For me, talking was when it got most interesting, which probably explains why mcson was such an early and verbose child ;)</p>

<p>Moda, I know what you mean about your eldest D. Mcson was an only child as opposed to eldest, but my sisters always marveled at his capacity to entertain himself and “chill.” </p>

<p>Shaw, mcson can work half time for us remotely while job searching. For the commission, though he’d have to come home and it would be a tough thing to lose him in the middle of. He’s coming home for a visit this weekend, so I’ll have a better sense of his thinking then, I hope.</p>

30711

<p>Oregon… make “balls” out of tinfoil. They’re shiny… can be thrown, but dont make any noise. then you can give him tupperware to play hide and seek with the ball or toss them into the bowls. It’s quiet but active.</p>

30712

<p>Gee – I always made the mistake in wishing my kids would talk. Then they did – and they never SHUT UP! H calls me a kid magnet. All the kids seem to like me. I love babies and kids. Would have had my own little team of them if H was on board. Obviously he wasn’t as we stopped at 2.</p>

<p>S went back to school yesterday. Just a few more weeks of school for him. D will be home in a couple of weeks and then back to school for short tearm. I can’t believe it’s almost over for both of them. Now just need D to get a job…</p>

<p>Spent the weekend at MILs. She moved into an apartment while we were on vacation. Still has the house – we went down to take some things out of the house that we wanted and help with the clean out. She doesn’t want anything to go! It’s driving us all nuts. Even cards that she received years ago she has some reason for not wanting to part with them. She also believes that we are going to drop everything every couple of weeks and go there to get it cleaned out. NOT GOING TO HAPPEN! Ugh! Can’t wait until this is over.</p>

30713

<p>My poor D had the trip from H*** getting into NYC on Friday, landed at La Guardia but had sit on the plane 45 minutes to let the other plane get towed away from the terminal, it was only a 36 minute flight. Her BF told her which bus to take and that he would meet her at a certain stop which was about a block from his place. She got on the bus and everything was going fine until the driver stopped told everyone to get off the bus because his shift was over and he was ending his run right there. She said about 25 people had to get off with suitcases and start walking. Luckily she was only about 10 blocks from where her BF was waiting and he starting running to meet her as she had a rough idea where she was but was a bit nervous. Nothing like standing out like a tourist pulling your suitcase along behind you. Proud of her because before she left she printed out sectional maps of the bus route in case something happened so she was somewhat upset, nervous but not scared. Her BF made it to her in about 15 minutes and all ended well. Needless to say we have hired a limo to pick her up Tuesday morning and bring her to the airport for the return flight.</p>

30714

<p>Moda, good luck on the sale of the house. It sounds like you’ve made it pristine. </p>

<p>Oregon, I wish I could have some grandbaby time…with someone else’s grandbaby, of course!</p>

<p>Shaw, so great that the startup is gaining investors.</p>

<p>Kmc, many congrats on the weight loss.</p>

<p>Well, after almost 32 years in Texas, I finally own cowboy boots. I told H that I wanted some for my birthday (which was last week) and Saturday we went to pick them out. Older D went with us and (of course) she ended up with boots, too. (She just looks so darned cute in everything.) </p>

<p>D and I watched a whole lot of basketball this weekend…mostly womens’ but some mens’. I’m sure I posted the identical thing at this time last year: how do people spend all weekend almost every weekend watching sports? Even though I got a few things done (the tax info is ready to go to the accountant! Yay!), I feel like a total slug…how do others log so much couch time on a regular basis?</p>

30715

<p>So can anyone help?</p>

<p>Looking for a vegan brunch recipe. Since we are not vegan and not even vegetarian I’m at a loss. Vegetarian I can do but vegan has me questioning since no eggs, milk, butter I’m sort of questioning what I can do. Don’t want the person to just eat fruit salad! :)</p>

30716

<p>How about grilled veggie fajitas or quesadillas? You might need to buy some non-dairy cheese or sour cream, but some of that is pretty good.</p>

<p>You could probably come up with a terrific cold/room temp. pasta salad. Corkscrew pasta with roasted asparagus and edamame would be great. But again, it would probably be best with a vegan substitute for feta or parmesan cheese.</p>

<p>Just as aside, I have discovered that vegan restaurants are dangerous for those with nut allergies. When younger D and I were staying in the hotel week before last, I took her to a really cute, quirky vegan restaurant that she just loved. But it was a minefield for me, because many of the dairy substitutes were nut based…almond based milk, cashew based cheese, etc.</p>

30717

<p>Busy days for everyone! I can’t imagine trying to sell our house right now. . . .</p>

<p>So our biggest recent news is that our son-in-law was recruited and hired by Google (Boulder). This is his dream job, and he and D1 are so excited. Among other things, he loses the 45-minute-each way commute to his current job, substituting for it a 15-20 minute walk. And you can guess some of the rest of the perks/benefits of working for Google.</p>

<p>Now D is worrying what happens when she finishes her PhD and they need to move for a teaching position. I told her: worry later, enjoy it now! (Where did she get that worrying gene??)</p>

30718

<p>Great news about Google, Zetesis! (Does that make two of the 2013-extended family at Google this year?) </p>

<p>We’ve also got bus trouble percussiondad – a bus rear-ended H’s car this morning. Sigh. Everyone ok, but the car has enough damage that I think they might total it – and H really, really, really likes it. (It is also the second time he’s been hit by a city bus – what are the odds?) But I can’t imagine the bus driver who would simply announce, “All off, my shift’s over.” That is incredible.</p>

30719

<p>Congratulations to Z’s SIL. I may be getting confused but is your D going to the West Coast for Chemistry (or is that someone else’s D).</p>

<p>Vegan – how about pasta primavera or with a pesto sauce that doesn’t have cheese. I think at my SIL’s house, we tend to get lots of grains and lots of dark green vegetables. Not my favorite, but they think it is wonderful. Also, salad with lots of stuff including nuts and quinoa. Or vegetarian chili or beans and rice (but you will be sinning against established religion if you use white rice).</p>

30720

<p>D1 is at Boulder (computer science); D2 is planning to come to the west coast for chemistry. On that score, at this point the winner may be Caltech. But we haven’t discussed it since she went back to school, so I don’t know if she’s changed her mind …</p>

<p>As for brunch, I’d echo Shaw’s suggestions. I do a lot with beans and rice since daughter is vegetarian (e.g., black beans, tomato, avocado, corn salad with jalapenos, onions, and lime/cilantro dressing; green beans with pesto; mango/black bean salad; quinoa with dates, nuts, and/or apples; potatoes/green bean/cherry tomato salad with vinaigrette). Can PM you recipes/suggestions!</p>