<p>Zetesis–yikes! How scary. I hope you’re safe and they’re able to contain the fires.</p>
<p>Hmom–thanks. She has met people in her classes and is working on extending her circle. The people she knows in her dorm all have different class schedules, so she tends to be the only one eating at that time on Friday. That said, she’s out shopping for rain boots with friends this afternoon! You remind me of the adage: “To have a friend, be a friend.”</p>
<p>Zetesis-good luck with those fires, when do you have to evacuate??? The nightmare drive to my D’s college was tough but I kept thinking of all of that special way of packing that has to be done for airplanes. We are thinking of flying with parents weekend nad will need to do some clothes exchange.
that H1N1 makes me nervous esp with people coming from all over. I packed santitizer and masks (silly) in case it got out of hand. but was glad to see she carries one in her pocketbook and uses it. She is also not neurotic like me so i would have thought she would pay not attention to that!!!
Chintzy it will work out!!!</p>
<p>But Zetesis, how did you get there? One doesn’t simply walk into Mordor. Seriously, hope they get those fires under control. And I love your D’s text. That’s definitely one to save.</p>
<p>chintzy, it sounds as if your D has things nicely balanced. Hope she can stay healthy.</p>
<p>historymom, what a lovely reward for your bravery. I know your girls are making the same sorts of wise, kind choices.</p>
<p>owl, love the virtual goodies. Thank heavens they’re not real since they’d cause problems with the diet. </p>
<p>D called today while H and I were out running errands and after he spoke with her for a bit he told her we had to go! I was ready to kill him for not letting her be the one to say goodbye. I would have been prepared to listen in the Costco parking lot for another 20 minutes if she had wanted to talk more. She definitely seems to be forming a nice group with the girls on the science floor. Last night they had a movie night on the floor with about 8 girls packed into one room (they did this last weekend also). Then her roommate and several other folks were playing wii until wee hours of the morn which she enjoyed but she realized she will need to get to bed earlier tonight. We reminded her to make sure she advises roommate that it was great last night but can’t happen tonight too. When she woke up this morning she had a text inviting her to brunch with the girl she speaks of most frequently and she called after brunch. Her only complaint is that they are reviewing math that she and seemingly most of the others in the combined science class did 3 years ago and having to do a lot of math problems as homework. We suspect this won’t last long. The rest of the class seems great. They were growing e-coli in their lab.</p>
<p>I did see in the paper that 2 OH colleges are already having H1N1 outbreaks but luckily none of the cases seem to be too severe.</p>
<p>Zetesis, good luck with the fires. It doesn’t sound pleasant.</p>
<p>I’m gonna guess one of those Ohio colleges is Kenyon, where we just dropped off our son this week. We heard a little about a case of swine flu while we were on campus Thursday, then got an e-mail from the President informing us that a case was definitely confirmed…</p>
<p>I’m definitely NOT one to get too worked up over these things (have never gotten flu shots for my kids, and none of us have EVER had the flu as far as i know), but for some reason it’s a little more worrisome to hear this right as you’ve dropped your child off 8 hours from home!! I did tell him to be sure to “wash his hands often and well” and hopefully he’ll try to be a little careful…the college promises to keep us informed about both the H1N1 vaccine and the “regular” flu shots when they are available. I guess this will be the year my son does get his 1st flu shot(s) - I think it would be silly not to!!</p>
<p>As usual, we’re behind you guys. This week was shopping week as my son finally realized he might need things, but my 16 yo daughter and wife did the shopping. He has been a bit overwhelmed – anxiety, I think, and not sleeping well due to the anxiety – and my daughter did a lot of the work. He passed his driving test today (finally as I had said he really ought to get it out of the way before he started school) and is saying the 2nd to 6th round of goodbyes to the same friends. [Wouldn’t once suffice?] We’re driving to school early, early tomorrow morning.</p>
<p>On Monday, we visited the IT department at the school to install speech recognition and screen reading software. They were great. Friendly, helpful and ready to spend as much time with him as needed. The Dean of Disabilities Services emailed to ask him to set up an appointment in the 2nd week of classes. He emailed back and said he would when he knew his schedule and she emailed back minutes later. The support network looks like it is there.</p>
<p>We should average our weather, Zetesis. We appear to be getting ready to use an ark as we’re getting the outer edges of Hurricane Bill. </p>
<p>We didn’t get hand sanitizer, but will do so.</p>
<p>Good luck to everyone.</p>
<p>Well… I think it’s gonna cost me. I kept thinking we wouldn’t have more than 3 bags… and frankly, I wouldn’t have had more than three had I not had to adhere to the 50lb rule. As it is, we’re probably going to have to pay for a second bag. The biggest bag I had in the mid 60’s before I repacked. Currently it weighs 51 and so I have two large sweatshirts that I can take out and son and H can carry if it’s an issue.</p>
<p>Everyone will also have a carry on and my son’s backpack is probably going to be stuffed to the gills. My sister arrives in 2 hours and is bringing her largest carry on bag that she has. I am hoping it will do the russian doll thing with my larger suitcase when we come home.</p>
<p>Son was out last night with GF who left this morning. H took him shopping to pick up his suit and then stopped at Macy’s to pick up a navy blazer… but get this, it’ll be two weeks before they can finish tailoring it. Can you believe that? Two weeks? They could get it done in a week, but apparently it was like $25 bucks or something. I am glad I wasn’t there as my H it was so frustrating… the salesmen trying to say one fit that clearly didn’t and then the seamstress saying something like it didn’t need altered when my S’s shoulder width and youth (meaning girth is relatively slim) almost necessitates a little taking in.</p>
<p>I will say however I have listened to nearly all of Ted Kennedy’s funeral throughout packing. I wonder if years from now, I will remember that. </p>
<p>We’re doing ribs from this place son loves tonight and D15 is in the kitchen now whipping up some sort of dessert that just cost me 37.00 at the grocery store that based on ingredients is the most unhealthy thing you could possibly eat.</p>
<p>Modadunn - hope you sign on at sometime and tell us all what the dessert was. Love to know. I’m intrigued.</p>
<p>D is almost backed. Way to much stuff but hopefully it will fit in the car. I’m picking my battles and we’ll bring back what doesn’t fit in her room.</p>
<p>Weather – 104 degrees and about 10% humidity; yeah, we could use some of the east coast rain. I can hear planes/helicopters overhead (dropping water). I can also see that the breeze is starting to pick up a bit, and that will be bad news.</p>
<p>$37 for “the most unhealthy thing” Hmm; super fine dark chocolate, whipping cream, butter, some kind of liqueur …??</p>
<p>Did the move in 2 weeks ago and so far, so good. Modadunn, you really owe it to us to tell us about this dessert. My mouth is watering and I agree with Zetesis…has to be chocolate, butter, sugar…and more. Do tell!</p>
<p>Zetesis, stay safe!</p>
<p>Downtoearth, praying for you.</p>
<p>I want to know about the dessert too. I’m overweight and break out in fat when I’m around chocolate. H and D are both allergic to chocolate. So I rarely eat chocolate and limit it to the “good stuff”. And there’s never any chocolate in the house. So I’m thinking this dessert much be chocolate. And I want to hear all about it. And I will probably put on about three quarters of a pound just hearing about it. But spill, OK? :-)</p>
<p>Launched D16 at BS in the rain yesterday, while S18 is about to start week 2 of college classes tomorrow. I can’t believe it’s over. Certainly I am grateful for and happy about their positive and optimistic futures, but I am experiencing sadness and mourning over a time in life that is gone for good. </p>
<p>I just picked up “Letting Go: A Parent’s Guide to Understanding the College Years” by Karen Coburn and Madge Treeger. I am hoping it will be helpful, not so much for the advice, but just to recognize anecdotes and feelings I am experiencing so I will feel better knowing that I am neither alone nor unique. </p>
<p>So much of what we all have been doing has been preparatory to getting them into college. So little of what we all have been doing has been preparatory to what we do once we succeed.</p>
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<p>Truer words were never spoken! I’ve been thinking that I was “prepared” for this just because I’ve thought about how I will fill some of my suddenly free time. I don’t know why I thought that I could easily handle the emotional tsunami. DH says that he’s more worried about me than about D.</p>
<p>Best wishes to those leaving over the next couple of days. I think it’s shawbridge, modadunn, and rochestermom, and any I forgot. </p>
<p>laxtaxi–congrats on the launch. </p>
<p>Regarding feelings: it’s pretty rough. I think one of the hardest parts is not knowing what this child is doing. Friday night I kept waking up thinking DD should be coming in from an evening out. I had to remind myself that wasn’t happening. It was very odd and created a bit of anxiety to not know where she was last night. Even when D was out running around with friends I had a general idea where she was. Sighhhhh</p>
<p>I’ve always said that I’m raising my children to leave me. I’ve given some thought as to what will happen when they both leave, but I’m not sure one can prepare for it until it happens. It does help a lot to come to CC and read that others are experiencing similar things. I hope many of you stick around this thread for awhile.</p>
<p>Zetesis: Please try to keep us updated as possible. If you disappear for awhile many of us will be wondering and hoping you are fine. </p>
<p>downtoearth: You remain in my thoughts.</p>
<p>Wow, really smokey this morning, even inside the house! They now say they expect containment by September 8 – over a week away. In the meantime, while apparently no houses have burned, 20,000 acres of national forest have. The scrub will regrow, but the big old trees (what few there are) are gone – so very sad. John Muir once described the mountains around here as some of the least hospitable for cross-country hiking – very steep terrain, and that’s why it’s so hard to fight the fires. </p>
<p>rrah – it is odd not to know what they’re up to. D sent an email this morning with her plans for the day, including finding all her classrooms, since classes start tomorrow. She really seems determined to thrive. </p>
<p>I am shocked, however, that I’m not grieving the departure of D2 as much as I did D1’s four years ago.</p>
<p>modadunn – hoping the dessert hasn’t done you all in … we are waiting for the report!</p>
<p>Our first night daughter-free I woke with a start and realized she wasn’t sleeping in her own bedroom.
She’s 3 days in and seems happy. I see she has a number of new Facebook friends. She has texted and we have chatted on Facebook. So far, so good. Hubby and I tried to go out last night, but the performance we wanted to see was sold out. So we went grocery shopping instead. Wah-hoo! Big time Saturday night. Today we are going out to buy toothpaste. Gotta have plans. Ha!</p>
<p>Too funny eddie</p>
<p>Began the unearthing process in DDs’ room. I didn’t mean to but I stripped the beds, then I made them, then…well the top of the dresser was a dusty cluttered mess sooo…before I knew it I had dusted and organized every surface in the room. It was good therapy for me.</p>
<p>Zetesis: Which fires? My brother is a fire fighter working in the Gilroy area right now I think. He lives in Santa Cruz and is w/ the campus fire dept at UCSC but goes to CA wildfires when needed. Anyway…sorry it’s so smokey, lets hope they keep it all away from the homes!</p>
<p>FB updates and text messages indicate that both girls are having a busy & happy time in this weekend of welcome. Today they get on buses and go enjoy one of “28 things to Do” in the area that they chose from a menu of options. </p>
<p>laxtaxi: excellent quote, I think I’ll pick up a copy of Letting Go too though I am showing signs of improvement. In our small community you ALWAYS see many many people you know at the grocery store. The first trip on friday had me crying on three different friend’s shoulders. Yesterday I was able to make it through in spite of seeing two classmates’ moms and the much beloved band teacher.</p>
<p>eddieodessa: dream big and live large!!!</p>
<p>don’t usually pop in here (not my son’s year) but have been checking to see what that recipe is!
in the meantime as it seems there are alot of chocolate lovers here …here is a really quick easy, “better than sex” chocolate recipe! LOL</p>
<p>get 2 rolls of toll house cookie dough and a bag of snack size milky way bars (not the tiny ones, the ones about 2" size)
9X13 pan.
cut up one roll of cookie dough and place on bottom of pan
place milky way bars on top, about 24 of them ie 4 across, 6 rows (more if you want)
cut up 2nd roll and place on top.
bake at 350-400 just a bit longer than you would the cookies,
serve hot
gooey wonderful mix of chocolate, nougat, caramel MMMMMMMMMM!!!</p>