<p>Kleenexes and hugs to all …</p>
<p>We got home from “the launch” to SoCal – we live in one of those towns where the fires are burning; they say 5% containment; and friends have evacuated… We can literally see smoke and fire from here. </p>
<p>Not very nice.</p>
<p>Congrats to our most recently successful launchers, or at least the most recent reports, historymom and ilovetoquilt. </p>
<p>zetesis–not a nice thing to come home to at all. Hope you and your home stay safe.</p>
<p>Spoke to my son for the first time last night. His classes had started on Wednesday so he gave us the low-down on them. (They ranged from 300 students to a freshman seminar with 8 students.) I told him that he should try to make friends with someone in each class so that he could get class notes from them if he’s out sick, etc. and he told me that he already has! I said, in each class – even the one with 8? He said that he had already gotten friendly with someone on his pre-orientation program that’s in that class. I guess I shouldn’t be worrying about him!</p>
<p>DH is gone tonight, and I am serving 'Ritas, guacamole and hankies to all launchers this week!!! Cheers (up) all!</p>
<p>blackeyedsusan – aren’t the preorientation programs helpful? Our D did one, and it really helped her make some good friends. She’s so glad she went.</p>
<p>zetesis – absolutely! My son was really glad he did the pre-orientation program. He met a lot of kids that way.</p>
<p>Successfully launched DD yesterday. An amazingly wonderful day. Ended with a Candelight Worship Service. So beautiful and emotional and touching and…just lovely. No good-bye tears. I think I’ve cried so much in the past year and a half, that there are none left. I figure they are coming, though. DD is so happy, a school that just seems to suit her so well, etc. Oh - we took tools and ended up not needing them. Did use my measuring tape, though. Put her dresser in the wardrobe to give her some extra space in her room.</p>
<p>:: puts a platter of freshly-baked cookies on the Launching Pad, aka the buffet table ::</p>
<p>We have chocolate chip, sugar, and oatmeal chocolate chip. </p>
<p>Brownies will be out of the oven in a bit; I have to take cookies and brownies to a fundraising event tomorrow (one that is soooooo not me, it’s comical), but I made an extra batch to share here.</p>
<p>talked to D today back from wilderness loved it and met people sounds happy, I mis her but will see her oct. a little incentive as my first round of cemo will (hopefully) be done by then. Gotta count your blessings!!!</p>
<p>eddieodessa spacewise we could practically we put D’s closet in her dresser!. Honest to goodness if the closet is over 42 inches wide I would be surprised AND she shares it with her roomie. Other D has a closet close to twice that size for just her! </p>
<p>down to earth best of luck with the chemo…cancer sucks!</p>
<p>owl you are such a hostess and we have missed you and your treats! Any news from the spawn?</p>
<p>SJTH this is the perfect place to cheer/drink up!</p>
<p>Excellent idea, SJTH!!</p>
<p>Downtoearth… my heart is holding a special prayer spot just for you. You are being a wonderfully strong example to your D. </p>
<p>I think I have my S’s school website totally memorized, read the blogs in the community and more. Beyond their freshman seminar class, they don’t register for classes until they meet with their advisors etc. There were supposed to look over the classes (they seem to hold out quite a few spots for freshman). The point being… While I can say I am hoping to merely anticipate his questions, but really I am trying to absorb every available tidbet about what life MIGHT be like for him and while I and think I am trying to anticipate his questions. </p>
<p>I have folded clothes and made lists. But I havent put one thing in a suitcase. Lots of things to do tomorrow… and I have yet to even think what I am throwing in for myself! I am definitely behind the proverbial 8ball.</p>
<p>Well, we are almost all launched! Had a rocky start when our plane couldn’t leave the gate due to a malfunction but they found another plane and we were only two hours delayed! Did the Bed Bath and Beyond thing and bought some new fall clothes. Drop off was very smooth. Left D this afternoon to do her pre-orientation program. I guess knowing we are going to see her again on Sunday delayed the trauma. She unpacked and fit everything in her room. We were very proud of her.</p>
<p>One thing to add, and someone warned me but I still didn’t listen–I was so busy making lists and packing for D, I totally neglected myself! Left my raincoat home and it has been raining off and on all day, and left all the Bed Bath and Beyond coupons home, too. 
Oh well, I can bring in the receipt when I get home but our BB&B doesn’t accept expired coupons like this one does!</p>
<p>
That stinks – I thought they all took expired coupons. For the first time in years I am actually out of BB&B coupons. Usually I have a stack in my car. Good thing all the college shopping is done.</p>
<p>Downtoearth, don’t know how I missed that–hope you’re doing ok. </p>
<p>I have so many friends in my neighborhood who have just launched their first–we have a LOT to compare notes about. It is interesting to compare noted about Freshman activities–the ice cream socials etc. that all the schools seem to have, and the safety nets in place. Thank goodness! </p>
<p>Loved the cookies, and didn’t overdo on the margaritas. Fortunate, becaus ewe 're going to a two year old’s bday party on a farm today!!!</p>
<p>Got the “I had to eat lunch by myself” phone call yesterday while in the grocery store. I was able to finish shopping and make it out to the car before falling apart. She’s fine, and had lots of other good news to report, but it doesn’t take much for me to cry, still.</p>
<p>Other bad news, a girl in the next room, with whom D shares the bathroom, has a confirmed case of H1N1, with another case suspected on the hall. Oy! Tell the CDC to hurry up with that vaccine!</p>
<p>Oh heavens chintzy!! Did you leave a supply of hand sanitizer behind?</p>
<p>hugss ((((((((((chintzy and chintzygirl)))))))))))))) on the alone lunch thing. Was she calling for advice or simply sharing? I am sure there were other alone kids too. If there is a next time she could sit down with one of them and maybe form a new friendship.</p>
<p>I sat next to an alone girl when I had no one to attend a freshman event with and that girl and I are still best of friends almost 30 years later.</p>
<p>
Yikes. I second the hand sanitizer and washing,washing washing.</p>
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<p>historymom- I love this.</p>
<p>Just got a text from D: “I love college. :-)”</p>
<p>I think I’ll save it …</p>
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<p>In the meantime, our fires are growing; even with all the (double-glazed) windows shut, it’s smokey <em>inside</em> and supposed to get up to 100. It’s like living in Mordor.</p>