<p>Good info KMC. H actually was our general contractor when we added on 1000 sq. ft. to our house so between him and his brother (who actually built his house in the Adirondacks and it is gorgeous) are quite “handy”. D and her BF are not but since H would help in all repairs it MIGHT be a good thing. However after doing some reading yesteday I’m not sure that it is something that she should do and I think your post even convinces me more. Although she could end up with more house for her money I’m not sure that in the long run she would make out. We’ll see what happens. At this point they are just going to open houses to get an idea of what they want – which is a good idea in my mind.</p>
<p>eddie, it was fun meeting up for lunch last weekend!</p>
<p>I have been reading but not much going on for me to post.</p>
<p>We are heading up to Boston tomorrow for our grandson’s first birthday. I can’t believe a whole year has gone by.</p>
<p>Doesn’t seem like a year, boysx3. Have fun!</p>
<p>I’m having a large dinner party Saturday, so today is clean & prep, which I guess means getting everything put away from vacation. Bad planning on my part. </p>
<p>I have worked on untold numbers of foreclosures and my share of short sales…which is why I would never buy either. (I’ve only seen the problems, never the upside.)</p>
<p>Small vent ahead: My client and I - with a combined 73 years of legal experience - are having a bit of tussle with two attorneys at big name NYC firms, with Ivy degrees - with a combined 13 years of experience. The young uns were quite surprised that we wouldn’t just do what they asked our client to do, with no upside for our client.</p>
<p>Son is studying like crazy for this three midterms. He is really behaving like a smart HS senior/ college freshman should behave. It’s wonderful to see the progress, but I’m still at a loss for what advice I’d give to similarly situated parents…what are we all to do with these kids during the 5 years it takes them to catch up, maturity-wise.</p>
<p>Good Morning! Not much new here. D2 has me crazed with her late night work hours, though. She has a 20 minute walk through the skyway to get to her parking garage. Last night part of the skyway was closed when she left work so she had to go outside to get to the car. That part of town is pretty deserted so it is a bit scary. I keep telling her to get an escort but she won’t. grrr…</p>
<p>D1 met with the head of HR where she is temping yesterday. The HR boss said they would love to have her stay and are looking for positions for her after their hiring freeze is over. She is very excited and hopes things work out. Keep your fingers crossed!</p>
<p>Fingers crossed for both of them, NM!</p>
<p>Such light activity on this thread this week.</p>
<p>I’ve got my fingers crossed for D1 – glad she’s feeling the love from the company.</p>
<p>MP – this is so cool that PieSon is so engaged. I hope he gets good news soon on his transfer application(s). What does he plan on for a major?</p>
<p>Snow again. Blech. But no surprise – March is the heaviest snowfall month. </p>
<p>Managed to bruise the top of my foot, and every pair of shoes I own hurt to wear – and this is not sandals weather. Grrr. </p>
<p>I agree – not much activity. Must be that other people have a life unlike me. Must be the weather but I’m currenlty in a funk. Don’t like my job (well really don’t like that I don’t feel like I’m compensated correctly for what I put up with), don’t like my house, don’t like my LIFE! I think if I could be my butt to the gym things might be better but when I get this way all I want to do is eat massive quantities of food and sleep. I need to get out of this funk. One major item for my job will be done at the end of next week so after that happens maybe I’ll feel a bit less pressure. So far this week I’ve worked 50 hours and don’t see that changing next week. If I LIKED what I was doing it wouldn’t be a big deal but lately not so much…</p>
<p>Well, I’ve been in training the past 3 days, which means I’ve been cramming in all the things I normally do in a day during my lunch breaks, so I’ve been pretty absent here. Training went well, but is on a new software that was rolled out 2 years ago in a poorly planned project, which is why I am just being trained now. The project is not being managed much better now, so it will be interesting going forward. Note to administration: do not put a control freak in charge of a big project that requires lots of collaboration and expect it to go well.</p>
<p>S is coming home for his 2 week spring break tonight. Last year we both went the first week to see my folks in Florida for some warmth. I was hoping to do the same this year, but between my work schedule and my budget constraints, it’s not happening this year. The good news is right now the forecast for Monday is around 70 degrees. </p>
<p>D is flying back to Chicago this weekend; has a couple of interviews set up on Monday. She’s flying a different airline/airport and is only taking carry-on luggage after her experience last weekend of a cancelled flight and lost luggage.</p>
<p>RochesterMom, sorry for your funk, and arabrab, ouch on the foot. </p>
<p>Hope everyone has a good weekend, filled with rest and relaxation.</p>
<p>I will be working. Sigh…</p>
<p>MP-- so happy that your son is hitting his stride!
NM-- your girls are doing great!</p>
<p>Just back from an afternoon of playing with my grandson-- I’m exhausted. He is very busy and thinks naps are for other babies. He would rather crawl up and down the stairs and empty his toy baskets and bang his drums and chase his balls and read his books…</p>
<p>After his bedtime, we brought in kosher vegetarian Indian food…</p>
<p>And now I am collapsed on the bed myself.</p>
<p>Sending good weekend wishes to all. No warm weather in sight here, but at least the time changes tomorrow night, which is something I always welcome. </p>
<p>Speaking of funks, H was in CA all week, and now he’s in his usual “post cross country trip” version of that. I know most of it is due to the time zone changes within a a few days (shaw, how do you deal with that?), and this time things aren’t helped by his coming back from warm LA to the cold here. Not to bore everyone with the details, but as a result of his “funk,” a few minor accessories I bought for the bathrooms here are now going back to the store since he “doesn’t like them.” Sigh … I should know better after all these years that timing is everything. In this instance, though, I’m pretty sure the accessories he wants don’t exist.</p>
<p>On a (more) positive note, we’re off this afternoon to visit friends in our old stomping grounds in Fairfield County, CT for a few days. From there we head back to Cambridge, and on Thursday, the weather gods willing, the puppy arrives! I think we’re going to be VERY busy for a while!</p>
<p>My Coursera class started last week. It’s very well done, and from the online discussion forums, I gather it’s much better than many others. There are lots of readings and video lectures, as we’ll as weekly quizzes and exercises. People have “pinned” on a world map where they’re from, and the span is pretty amazing.</p>
<p>CBB, I can’t wait to hear about your puppy! Arabrab and I will live vicariously through your puppy-parenting adventures 
Our cyber puppy is busy licking her bruised foot right now to make her feel better!</p>
<p>Missy, I’m gad to hear that PieSon is finding his stride, and know what you mean about those late bloomers in terms of executive function. I do think it helps parents to hear these kind of “tortoise” stories, because when you’re in the thick of it, its hard to see that holding tight and trusting time to work its magic is a legitimate strategy.</p>
<p>Sending happy hugs and fairy dust to RM…and just going to say that my wish for you is that you’ll encounter an opportunity to find a new corporate culture that respects work-life balance. Sometimes a department can transform, and other times this requires a new job/company entirely. Do you know any good recruiters? If I recall correctly, you’re in IT. There are specialists out there who might be happy to quietly search for a better fit for you.</p>
<p>NM, I am very excited for your D and the new life she’s building. </p>
<p>I am soooooo glad to have this week behind me, and excited for the new digs. Despite working 12-15 hour days all week to try to get caught up, I can tell I’m going to enjoy the structure of sharing my time between the home and downtown studios. </p>
<p>To celebrate, last night about 20 of my business group associates turned up at the brewery next to the downtown studio for shenanigans and a tour. One of them has already approached me that he’d like to “rent” a bit of meeting time with his clients in our new meeting space. Hadn’t really thought or planned on doing that, but it certainly might afford an opportunity for new networking and referrals since many of his clients might benefit from our services. So I might agree to do that with him.</p>
<p>At any rate, though there’s still more to do, I’m planning on a comparatively slacker weekend. My sister is coming down from Canada for some tea and sympathy (aka going out tonight then for pedicures, etc. tomorrow. So an epicure/pedicure weekend 
)</p>
<p>She is the more delicate of the sisters, and on top of current discontent with aspects of her life, always gets blue on the anniversary of our Dad’s death. I always miss him too, but I was older when he died, and able to see it was merciful, and that he’d had a good run. 15 years age difference changes your vantage, I think.</p>
<p>And maybe its because my house was in order with him, and perhaps she feels hers wasn’t. I wish there was some way for her to feel “complete” about it all, because she seems unable to move forward and tolerate my mom’s new boyfriend, and Im not sure she can see this rejection of him is robbing her relationship with mom in a way.</p>
<p>Good to hear from you kmc ,CBB, RM, arabrab and boys! I think so many of us have been in a funk due to weather. This time of year isn’t the best around here. H and I are really missing a spring break trip again this year. This is the second year in a row after having made those trips for the 20 or so years previously. </p>
<p>I am back on my shedding for the wedding plan and have been working very hard this week. I just hadn’t been able to wrap my head around losing weight until I got the invitation to one of D2’s showers. Yikes! I walked 6 miles yesterday between the dreadmill and walking D1’s dog. I just need to be consistent!</p>
<p>Thinking of you sabaray and hoping things are better for you. You too, RM.</p>
<p>Best of luck to NM D1. </p>
<p>ShawWife and I are with a couple of friends at the Ritz in Miami beach. Swam in the ocean, sat in a hot tub. Fancy gastronomic experience coming up tonight. Lots of plastic surgery on display. </p>
<p>Yesterday when I left work it was sunny and I did seem to feel a bit better. Today back to clouds. I think although I am working a lot of hours and there is significant pressure with the new job it’s not everything. I also think some of it is that there just isn’t enough time in the day to do all that I want. I think if I just get doing some things I’ll feel better. Going to try to start spring cleaning. Not that I like cleaning but I always like how lit looks after. I’m sure that this too shall pass. :)</p>
<p>Question: one requirement for an interview D has on Monday is to have ACT or SAT scores in the 90th percentile or higher and a college degree with a college GPA of 3.5 or higher. She meets both qualifications, thus the interview. Do any of you find it strange that an interview for a college graduate would require a test score from high school?</p>
<p>Shaw - your plastic surgery notation made me laugh out loud along with a “i bet!” While I think you live a charmed life, I know it has not been without struggle and a lot of dedication and hard work. So for that, I tip my hat and wish I was in miami as well.</p>
<p>As it is, I am looking at emergency digs but want to be where I want to be, which is causing a little scuttlebutt. We will look at a corporate/short term rental tomorrow - INCLUDING the place I rented when H&I seperated five years ago! It is now a furnished unit and rentable by week or month. A little more expensive than most,but not being held to a lease is preferable to me. H keeps saying he only really needs to be here about 3-4 days a month to which I find laughable. So I said, let’s try it this summer. We’ll rent this place till June, head to the nook and see how well you do. AND we’ll save three months of rent, mortgage, taxes etc in the process.</p>
<p>S has spent today apt hunting in NYC, has a few more tomorrow. I think he is learning a lot about the city in the process. Not sure why the rush to get out of GF’s digs, but I do know he really requires stability and organization to feel optimal. Not the most flexible guy, this is for sure. But mostly it’s just the transition that throws him.</p>
<p>As for the ACT/SAT … funny you should say that as S had me looking up his SAT’s last weekend. I knew the ACT,but couldn’t recall SAT because he never used them to apply and unlikely to be anywhere near the 90th percentile. I see no point of this score after college. College GPA I can see, even a GRE score maybe. But SAT only says POTENTIAL to do well at studying in college. It says absolutely nothing about people skills or skills gained through maturity. Ridiculous. Although I will say, S’s boss seems to be plucking some pretty smart cookies to give him a few years right out of college. Mostly NESCACs and Ivy graduates. </p>
<p>Never heard of SAT/ACTscores used for post-college employment, but here is one rationale. College GPA in a meaningful major tells you something about how well the kid applies him/herself. SATs measure one kind of intelligence, particularly the kind useful in research jobs. The combination might help pick out great “data slaves” as one partner in a management consulting firm called the college grads they hire. I’m less clear on why the ACTs would be useful except yo the extent they are correlated with SATs. </p>
<p>^ACTs correlate to IQ the same way SAT does, Shaw. It’s the company’s only legal method of saying “are you natively smarter than 9 out of 10 people?” </p>
<p>If it were legal to require IQ tests, I’m betting some companies would.</p>
<p>One of my recruiter clients was telling me the other day that many candidates are screened out before they know it on personality profile tests as well. </p>
<p>I’m not certain I trust all this faith in testing, frankly, and it does seem to cause that intellectual partitioning in society that the Bell Curve warned against. Which is why dystopian novels like Margaret Atwood’s MadAddam series leave me with a chill ;)</p>