Parents of the HS Class of 2009 (Part 1)

Parents of HS Class of 20xx
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<p>Z, glad the health scare seems to be receding and MP, glad to hear that your D could enjoy a show she probably thinks she “should” have been in.</p>

<p>MP, we are also not done paying. ShawD will graduate in December 2014, I think, but has 1.5 years left for her MSN. She may get a job for a while or work part-time and do school part-time (then her hospital employer might contribute to her tuition). ShawSon will likely do some combination of grad/business school. Some would be paid for. Some we’d pay for. The good news – there are still $$ in the 529 Plan. </p>

<p>He’s currently applying to a few of grad schools as a backup if the company sells, fails or he decides to transition out as CEO. It seems a little premature to me, but he always wants a Plan B.</p>

<p>Also, I used to do a search for shawbridge to find the threads to which I had contributed. The search list would be sorted on the basis of the most recent post that had been made and an entry would be bold if there were new entries and grayed out if there were nothing new. I can’t figure out how to replicate this (so I can see which posts I am currently monitoring. Any thoughts?</p>

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<p>Hi guys. Shaw, lovely vaca and interesting analysis. A friend of mine did a five week trip in that area and your comments resonate :slight_smile: it’s interesting to track influence when it comes to how a culture views itself. At any rate, welcome back and hope you had fun at Costco!</p>

<p>Arabrab, maybe you and I should buy a cute cyber dog to share. Then we could feel a part of things :slight_smile: We could have joint custody so that neither of us would be up all night with a puppy. We’d just be up half the night with our puppy :)</p>

<p>Missy, im glad were smooth for your D, and glad the play did not require my heckling :)</p>

<p>Mcson’s gf is mounting her senior thesis play in two weeks and he’s just posted the most beautiful posters for it. I’m looking forward to it. Given the other plays I’ve seen that she’s directed, this one should be in good hands. After the challenge of Tom Stoppard last year, I’m thinking she’s up for Albee :)</p>

<p>So I’m taking today as the calm before the storm move-wise. While I likely should go to the shop and start sorting, I really need to get a hike in and I’m attending a friend’s play in the afternoon. McH is not a Super Bowl guy, but I generally like to at least catch the commercials. This year, watch for the Volkswagen commercial. It’s cute and a client’s son was one of the makers :)</p>

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<p>I’m excited about the Super Bowl. One of the players played varsity basketball with S1 in high school-he was an an athletic phenom (this guy, not my son!). We are making hoagies , which is kind of a tradition. Hope everyone enjoys the Super Bowl! And hope the commercials are good.</p>

<p>We are luckily done paying for college and that is a relief as we have some big ticket items for the house this year we’ve been putting off. Neither kid is making waves about graduate school in the near future but I think that would be on them and/or their employer anyway.</p>

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<p>We are hosting a Super Bowl gathering with close friends. I have been busy making food for two days. I will try to construct a snack stadium with three different dips as the field (spinach, taco and dill). Should be interesting. Also making BBQ chicken sliders, meatball subs, wings and pot stickers. No one will go home hungry. </p>

<p>D1 is a little bit back on the payroll since she is home. D2 will be off after the wedding and she starts working full time. We have a cute dog for the moment but will be fine when she leaves with D1. :wink: </p>

<p>Glad missy D is doing better!</p>

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<p>Have fun parties! D offered to do some scrapbooking for a group she joined. I had “sticker shock” from buying all of the stickers and pretties at the craft store (the one that is closed on Sundays). Do you all have a favorite discount source for this stuff?</p>

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<p>JoAnn’s and Michael’s are good for discount scrapping supplies with sales and coupons.</p>

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<p>Kmcmom13 – I would definitely go in with you on the cyber-puppy. I think the Japanese are actually selling them.</p>

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<p>We aren’t paying tuition at this point, but D1 announced a few weeks ago that with H’s year end bonus from Google they paid off his college loans. She didn’t have any debt, but he did, and they’ve been working hard to pay it off by paying extra each month. Now: they are done. Hooray for them!</p>

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<p>That’s fabulous news, Zetesis. Now they can start saving for their future, rather than paying for the past. </p>

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<p>H and I will travel 3 of the 4.5 hours to S after work tomorrow night. That way we avoid the horrendous traffic. We will then arrive at the hospital and wait with him the next morning. He is to have surgery at 2:30 but in actuality it could be later or even the next day. He will have a Thoracoscopy to repair his lung blebs and they will do a pleural abrasion. His right lung looks as bad as his left one (which they will operate on). So this may be more genetic than tall thin guy syndrome. However, it is a syndrome for many of our S’s, but usually not reoccurring.</p>

<p>D is so depressed and so confused and she continues to feel that BF is just confused and will come around. I talked with her for some time today and felt extremely depressed myself after. I tell her that even if she is right and he does come around how will she know the issues will not reemerge in a few years. I then realized I was thinking too far ahead of her and so began showing more angst in the now and so on and she actually said a few thoughtful and intelligent things. Glad she sees her therapist this week.</p>

<p>I have decided :slight_smile: ( I hate the emoticons CC now provides so I will do the old fashioned thing) to take back my life after S’s surgery. I have had to cancel countless workshops and doctor and dentists appointment for months now, including 2 sleep studies, and change my own clients and it needs to stop.
period. And now the powers that be know that I am no longer a player so they need to sign someone else up.</p>

<p>We thought we were finished with S but now that he has taken a medical leave we will write one little tiny check for his last quarter in March. Poor D will be not be done for decades. I would be totally freaking out as she says she cannot concentrate yet she pulled off honors on her test last week in spite of her feeling. </p>

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<p>Sooo much to comment on… first of all, I did the facebook link. I am not signed into CC via FB and never would (since the whole “confidential” thing would be moot). So I went to a random thread to the third page and picked a post. While it did use the words of the post, there is no name associated with it and when you then click on the link in FB, it goes to the top of the thread (vs the post itself). So… I don’t think anyone is linking our thread. I know we have some readers/lurkers at times, but it’s not like the heading is about rising college costs or how boys have it easier to get into college etc. I don’t think it’s as security risky as we might have felt. Also, they use an alligator for the avatar… I don’t think I get it. if we’re going with the animal family, wouldn’t your go-to be an owl? Odd. I do like, however, that “drafts” are saved.</p>

<p>Oregon… I am so so sorry about your son. While I don’t understand the genetic vs tall skinny - it does seem a little overwhelming whatever the reason. My mom had her lung surgery last monday and as per usual in almost every treatment she’s had, there were complications surrounding scar tissue. I know this lowered the success rate which was only about 70% in the first place. Honestly, I have been so swamped that I have not called her… I seriously am going to hell … but I know my sisters have and if there was news to share I would hear. </p>

<p>Shaw - I found your impressions comparing Vietnam to Cambodia interesting. I have two adopted nephews, one from each place. Also, my sister helped start and sits on the board of an NGO school in Cambodia and spent two weeks in both places over Christmas. But just on the surface of your comments, I think they accurately captured my nephews inherent differences - interesting.</p>

<p>NMN - I didn’t see where you said how the phone interview went for your D1. And btw, what’s the date for D2?</p>

<p>So… S went to NYC on Thursday night and went to the offices of this boutique firm on Friday morning. He really loved it. Thought the people were great, and apparently the feeling was mutual. When he finally sat down with the boss man he said S would really have to screw up the next 30 minutes to not get the offer. Friend of S’s said that they actually had several folks from his school apply (she had posted they were looking on her FB wall), but that only he and one other had a phone interview and S was the only one they took further. He still hadn’t received the contract from the scribe job so technically he’s signed nothing. He’s to get an offer via email tomorrow. S will, in all likelihood take the job and excited to do so. The clincher was he was very upfront about Med School and not only did the boss say they could definitely work around potential interviews, he said that when S applies, he will be helpful as well. He only asks for transparency in what S is doing, which S was thrilled with - as he is literally the worst secret keeper. GF’s roommates are happy to have him share in their rent until he finds a place. I will admit that I think this will either be a great job for med school apps OR it will become the story of how his life took a different direction entirely. Not sure of any details, including when they’d want him to start. </p>

<p>I still have the storage room to do. Otherwise, they came to take pictures on Thursday and after cleaning until wee hours of the morning and H on the road by 4am, S shoveled MOST of the driveway before he had to leave for airport and so I did the remainder for the photographer. I honestly don’t think I’ve ever been so tired. There wasn’t any sun, and my house gets AWESOME light… so that was a bummer. But otherwise, I think it looks pretty good and realtor was really pleased. The storage room will be done tomorrow. No one home, no interruptions. </p>

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<p>Oh … Missy… glad to hear your D went to the musical. Sorry about the stupid boyfriend - and just for the record, when ever you write about him I envision Dylan (Halley’s bf on Modern Family)!! Cracks me up… although surely not funny to you. And for future reference. Gin/Vodka Tonic works great in a water bottle. Not that I know from personal experience or anything. :slight_smile: Do not understand MS kids being case in an upper school production regardless of subject matter. Glad it was a good show, but I do question whether it was really a good choice considering the potential/target cast? Is the MS attached to the US in some way? And yes, actors get rejected a lot. But it’s not like HS auditions are inclusive of actors from other high schools. Seems they cut the odds considerably to be cast by the subject… And I would guess that no one will say a word because if a kid isn’t cast and you raise the question, it’s seen as sour grapes and/or risk not being cast in the next one. You’d have to be an exiting senior with a lead and no younger kids to feel free to say something without repercussions. </p>

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<p>Moda, fantastic news. Oregon, it sounds like you are providing fabulous support under tough circumstances, but it is important to make sure you also take care of yourself.</p>

<p>ShawWife’s respiratory problems, which had gone away on the boat and on the beach in Thailand have resurfaced. Ah well. Maybe we have to move to a beach in Thailand. I’m heading to Miami this week and Europe next, but we’ve scheduled a long weekend in Miami in March just to see if that might be a place for us to spend the winter (I’m predisposed against because I like more open space, but it does have a great art scene, which is important to ShawWife). [I’m waiting a bit to see where ShawSon lands.] I </p>

<p>ShawD realizes that she’s going to graduate with her BSN in December and is trying to figure out what to do – travel for a bit, work part-time while completing her MSN, or work full-time and then go back to school full-time. She thinks she might like to live someplace else for a year because she believes she will live in Boston when she finishes her MSN because she likes the city and has friends, has a great place to live, has all of the teaching hospitals, etc. So, she’d like to experience someplace else first. She also wants to spend some time at an ashram in India.</p>

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<p>Sending the healing mojo to Oregon son and Shaw wife.
Congrats to Moda s! That’s awesome for him, whichever way it works out.
This means the universe might be ready to sell your house now that your kiddos are squared away :)</p>

<p>Temps dropped dramatically here this am after a “warm up” to 24 degrees yesterday. Longest. Winter. Ever.</p>

<p>I think the bus should swing by and take us to Miami with Shaw & co. </p>

<p>Arabrab and I promise our new cyber puppy will not spoil the trip. We will litter train her just like a cat. She will be magical that way :slight_smile: we may also train her to bartender. And talk…she’ll be a talking dog to honor the talking dog syndrome ;)</p>

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<p>Good morning all. So glad it’s not very icy, as I have a deal to close today and tomorrow. </p>

<p>Wonder what a talking puppy would say? “Pay attention to me. Pay attention to me. I’ve gotta pee. is there any food? Pay attention to me.” " (Did anyone watch the Puppy Bowl? Such cute puppies!)</p>

<p>I once had a nightmare that my cat stood up and started telling me what was on his mind…not a great dream when it’s a cat vs. a puppy!</p>

<p>Moda, take Dylan from Modern Family and dumb him down quite a bit and that’s D’s BF. </p>

<p>Sending good thoughts to Oregon Son on his surgery (and many hugs to you, too, Oregon!)</p>

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<p>I have a lawyer friend in Miami who is beautiful and fun and a native Spanish speaker, so I’m sure she wouldn’t mind making she we all have a wonderful time on our visit to Miami. </p>

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<p>I fear my mind is working like a puppy this morning. Moda, isn’t it wonderful for your son to have options? I think that is what we all want for our kids, why we logged on to CC in the first place, to help our kids have options.</p>

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<p>You guys might not love my Miami trip. Arrive in the evening. Work all day. Not sure I have someone to have dinner with. Fly out the next morning. Similarly, London and Luxembourg the following week. Not leisurely. Fly one day. Meeting in London all day the next. Dinner with colleague. Meeting in Brussels the next. Fly home that evening.</p>

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<p>Okay then, we’ll go with you as far as Miami and be your dinner dates. Then we’ll just hang out there while you’re in Europe. Deal?</p>

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<p>Sounds like a plan, Missy.</p>

<p>Moda - very cool news. I hope to read that it is a done deal very soon.</p>

<p>Kmcmom13 – our virtual dog will be the cutest, smartest and bestest dog ever. Have you ever seen the videos where the cat is trained to use the toilet – and flush it? I actually mused about installing a special kitty toilet in our laundry room when we had our kitty (since the thought of a cat using one of our regular toilets is just…no) but we unfortunately had the sweetest but stupidest cat in creation. Dumb as a box of rocks, we used to say – but utterly gorgeous. Kind of like some entertainers. Our virutal doggie will be cute AND smart, and easily trained, so I think we can skip the litter box and go straight to the dedicated dog potty. </p>

<p>Shawbridge – I hope your wife’s respiratory issues resolve. Does it have to do with humidification, or lack thereof? </p>

<p>Oregon – what a lot you’re juggling. I hope your son’s surgery goes well, and that everything else settles down. </p>