<p>Reporting from the Land of the Opposite of GT: H took my car in and yes, he and the tire guy agree that I must have driven all the way home with a flat tire. I am now, in H’s eyes, the Stupidest Person on Earth. He hasn’t come out and said that I’m stupid, but I know it will be brought up for the rest of my life when stupid acts are mentioned. Good thing I’m smart, so I can afford to be that stupid.</p>
<p>Happy Birthday,FallGirl! Funny to hear people talking about Cedar Point. H and I met there in 1974 when we were working there during college.</p>
<p>Both of my kids were in gifted programs starting in elementary school. Both had friends from the neigborhood,sports teams that they hung with also and not all were in gifted stuff with them.</p>
<p>Congrats to your D2, missy.</p>
<p>Several years ago, I came out of a job interview, got in my car and drove several miles before a woman rolled down her window and pointed out my flat tire. I had parked on a nail and had no idea, just thought that the car wasn’t handling well. But hey, I got the job.</p>
<p>Yes, Moda. That’s sort of why I can’t figure out who’s who at times. I need the spreadsheet. Wait. She has a daughter? I thought she had a son. Oh, she has both. Who’s getting married again?</p>
<p>Happy BDay FG.</p>
<p>I was just reflecting on one aspect of my life. I bet lots of folks would feel uncomfortable in my skin. I’m trying to schedule a call and the person suggested Monday. I say, “I may be in town, in which case we can do it, or I may be in Sao Paulo (leaving over the weekend), in which case I can’t.” And, I don’t know yet and may not be certain until Friday. I do need to be back in time for graduation with a day cushion. And, I may have another trip to Sao Paulo and a trip to Paris next month as well as a trip (vacation) to Italy, all by the end of June. Only the vacation is set. People with a need for order and certainty would probably find this hard, but I can live with it because what I get to do is so much fun.</p>
<p>Here in Massachusetts, we don’t believe in gifted and talented. That would be too elitist for our public schools. The total amount in the state budget for GT education is … $0.</p>
<p>I always thought it was funny when D and the son of a friend of mine got B’s together in proof geometry – D got there by doing every single bit of homework on-time and turned-in, lots of class participation, and B- or C+ grades on exams. My friend’s son got the B by getting 98, 99, or 100 on tests & quizzes, and hardly ever turning in his homework.</p>
<p>High school (and probably college) grades mask a lot.</p>
<p>OK–it is too late to wish everyone the happiest of news but know that I do! MP you made me LOL about the tire and am also so glad you are so smart! We will always acknowledge that about you!
Shaw–dang–you no doubt have all of the right shoes and clothes to go anywhere at the drop of a call. I live in OREGON and we do not dress up ever so to go on a simple trip to Spain had become a huge undertaking. I have now ordered about $2000 of shoes from Zappos and now have two great pairs of Oregon shoes but alas nothing for Spain.
How do you folks in the East do this dress thing? My family is considered well dressed for here but I know enough to know that our dress up is your picnic garb.</p>
<p>Oregon, since I’m male, shoes are less complex, though I have fancy dress, comfortable dress, casual rich-looking, hiking boots, kodiaks, … . I used to only get cole haans Nike airs but recently have found some very comfortable sperry’s. I try never to check bags.</p>
<p>Thinking that if you have not spent time in Oregon or Washington state it would be hard to understand what the issue is—think that REI and Patagonia are our main shops. And! I now have a pass into the Columbia (made locally) Company Store!
Love it but still–whenever I leave the PCNW it is just a major undertaking!</p>
<p>Posted with you Shaw–I also try never to check anything! Especially shoes as I am a narrow and as they are too hard to find I carry on.
I actually pack so lightly that I have had to “borrow” underwear from H at times LOL
AND he packs twice as much as I do…</p>
<p>Oregon, wait and buy “dress up shoes” in Spain! However, if you’re determined to find something that’s reasonably comfortable for walking but dressy for a night out you might want to check out Helle Comfort’s 1404 in Bronze…very “Spain” but good to dance in…[Helle</a> Comfort 14004 - Zappos.com Free Shipping BOTH Ways](<a href=“No results for Helle comfort 14004 | Zappos.com”>No results for Helle comfort 14004 | Zappos.com). 
(These are the shoes I mocked for the Michigan Stadium graduation, but they’re truly comfortable or the first 10 miles or so ;))</p>
<p>Belated happy birthday, Fall Girl! And I’ll just leave the mojo machine running full tilt for our kiddos on the job front :)</p>
<p>So mcson finalized the video and the clients loved it and he headed back to Ann Arbor last night and although he’s been “gone” for 4 years now, I still had to work a bit not to feel a little blue with the realization this really isn’t “home” for him any more. </p>
<p>So I went out and bought a couple of gallons of paint and decided I’m going to paint the house before “lazy pool weather” gets here for good. I realize there is no obvious connection between these things, but I do notice that I tend to distract myself with over-ambitious house projects now and then, as if I have to “keep moving” to avoid grieving an inevitable change. I don’t have power over the passage of time, but I do have power over paint ;)</p>
<p>The psyche is a funny thing.</p>
<p>My goodness, KMC, all these projects! I could use your help at my house. Come on down…I even have a big hill we can walk up in the mornings! </p>
<p>D and H are headed over today to pick up the remnants of her room that we can be moved out now. She’s found quite a few takers for “stuff” she doesn’t want/need any longer, thank goodness, because I don’t know where we would put it. </p>
<p>MP, congrats to D2 on that first job!</p>
<p>kmc - you’re painting a house?!? What kind of DIY are you?!? I am proud as a peacock about getting the two benches of my picnic table painted yesterday and you’re painting a house!!</p>
<p>Sorry I missed the birthday wishes… I read all the news and then forget all but the last two things posted! And I am dead meat if multiple pages are involved. D went home yesterday… seriously, I am beat. Plus, we don’t get nearly as much done as we normally would. Love her Matron of honor but it still slows you down when you have a pregnant woman tagging along. She also has some complications in that she also has MS … at 28. But she’s a trooper in that she speaks her mind and D is true to what she has always been - accommodating. 
</p>
<p>H bought his suit for the wedding yesterday. He called and said he was on his way to Nordstroms and do you know what I did? I called ahead and talked to whomever answered the phone and gave them the 411 on H’s inability to be patient while shopping and yet, not knowing how to verbalize what exactly he’s looking for. I didn’t tell him I had called but he called me afterwards and said it was the best shopping experience he’d ever had!! Go figure. :)</p>
<p>PS… have no idea where this tornado was… but I sure hope Missy house is all alright.</p>
<p>Shaw, I agree with your point about predictability versus uncertainty making jobs a good fit or horrible fit depending on personality. S1 thrives on uncertainty and needs constant change or he gets bored. His job has a travel schedule similar to yours and he considers that a plus rather than a drawback. </p>
<p>In good news, S2’s grades posted yesterday and he made straight A’s this semester including an A+ in an engineering design class. He also thinks he did well on the tests for his interview yesterday, which he says were like doing a series of labs. There are 25 candidates and appear to only be a handful of positions. S2 says most of the other candidates are 25 or 26 and have done other things first. I will get a further update when he comes home tonight, but I get the sense he is enjoying himself, learning a lot, but doesn’t expect an offer. </p>
<p>We head out to graduation tomorrow.</p>
<p>My first one just graduated and from a school that was his safety - he stayed at it, graduated debt free, and heads to the west coast for a fully funded Phd program in August. He was very supported in his chosen major, and although he did not get the NSF grant as well, he was commended which was huge. </p>
<p>Life really is what you make of it, and for those others who reluctantly head off to safeties thinking only negatives, take heart. It does all work in the end.</p>
<p>Great news for S2 on the grades, TA. Very impressive - no senior slump there! Sending good mojo his way on the job front. As I recall, he didn’t think he’d made the cut for the interview; let’s hope he’s surprised at the end of the process with an offer too.</p>
<p>Great grades, analyst!</p>
<p>oregon, my travel style is to take basics and take black. I will wear a pair of black pants black top/sweater anywhere. And I second shaw’s recommendation of the cole-hahn nike air shoes. I have a pair of their ballet flats (black of course) that look good and are great for walking.</p>
<p>sabaray, that is very true. He likes to under promise and over deliver. He had me prepared for only two A’s rather than an across the board sweep in what was a very difficult course load. He has a classic Eeyore personality.</p>
<p>Great to hear about his grades TA and I really hope he hits it with this job. Enjoy graduation.</p>
<p>TA…Congratulations to S2! What a great final semester! Keeping my fingers crossed for a job offer for him.</p>
<p>kmc…I get it. My friends laugh that I always have a project going these days. After always being the parent volunteer when the girls were in school I have to fill my days some way! :)</p>