<p>Thanks, shawbridge. She and her bf just got an apartment together, so she doesn’t want to leave the Chicago area. She has a very well paid temp job right now, has a third interview at the end of the month with another company for a position she’s very interested in, and the place where she’s a temp has talked to her about some permanent positions. So she is busy, happy, and earning money. She called on Father’s Day and gave us a tour of her new apartment using Facetime.</p>
<p>NM, I am thrilled that D1 is getting back her social life. It has been a tough time for her.</p>
<p>C_Q – before DH changed jobs, he ended up with a lot of use-it-or-lose-it time that he turned into 3 day or 4 day weekends, and they turned out to be greatly relaxing. We’ve got four weeks of out-of-town vacations plus Christmas week already mapped out for this year, so it won’t work now, but I hope next year that he can do this again. </p>
<p>Congrats to NMND for getting back in the saddle and having some fun with friends! I wish the nook was a lot closer to home for me because once here, Im here and there’s no running home for anything. Not that I have a home to go back to at this point. Hoping somethings come on the market that are interesting - whereby I will have to go home to check it out… either that or just wait until September.</p>
<p>KMC - what are the odds you can just go and knock on neighbor’s door and ask what the future is for the Aspen tree? I guess the buyers of our house have been considering chopping down a number of evergreens to put up a fence (where the association used to not allow for them, it has more or less expired and while most people just don’t have them, there is no real rule to not anymore. Not my problem, but I guess he also hates to mow the lawn and then when he does he leaves the long clippings to just lay there which will soon enough smother the lawn entirely. Again, not my problem. </p>
<p>H is in charge of getting D on her way for her semester abroad in New Zealand. While I know he thinks this should be my job (more or less), it is true that D prefers to work with him. I am also kinda secretly happy that he is finding it as frustrating as I would! </p>
<p>^lol. Glad you’re out of harms way on that one ;)</p>
<p>The aspen is no longer quaking here 
Life is good.
Went to a nice solstice gathering on Saturday, an art fair yesterday, and otherwise just had a nice visit with my friend floating around the pool. I forgot how relaxing a weekend without a home improvement agenda can be!</p>
<p>Mcson’s been posting articles about boomerang kids 
Likely not helped by the fact that his gf’s dad posted a funny YouTube video about Hitler trying to get an apartment in San Francisco He reported a bit of laughter but mostly tears…</p>
<p>However, Shaw, I will pass along that there is anecdotal evidence of employment in SF :)</p>
<p>Good Morning all.
Both sets of (Grand)parents and D have gone home. H left for a work trip (he is driving his parents partway), S is at beach week. It’s down to me and the dog here.
Graduation was lovely, best grad speaker I have ever heard, no individual awards/academic recognition as just graduating from that school is a big accomplishment, lots of acknowledgement of the large amount of community service the kids do. Stayed awake at the all night grad party, S and his group had a lot of fun and he even said it was well done. Got the Senior issue of the school paper, S was voted preppiest and most liberal. Hid it from certain grandparents due to the second thing
So fortunate that all 4 grandparents as well as H’s aunt were able to be there, took lots of pictures. On Friday we took them out to see the wedding venue. Just hoping that they will all be able to attend. H and I were talking that we can really see the toll that age is taking on all of them. Even my Dad (who is in great spirits) is showing effects of his meds.
Speaking of weddings, NM I can’t believe that your D2’s wedding is almost here! And so glad to hear that your D1 is getting out socially and moving on.</p>
<p>I’ve been reading but not posting. Last week I had a really nice lunch with CountingDown. Keep posting wedding details–hopefully I will need them again sooner rather than later. S2 has begun “thinking”. I give him a year or so----</p>
<p>And congrats to all those with children graduating high school and college. We won’t have another high school graduation in our family till 2033. </p>
<p>Working more hours than I really want to as my co-manager is having some family problems. We should be moving into our condo in about another month–I will be so glad to feel “settled” once again.</p>
<p>This World Cup has been so much fun…</p>
<p>Hi all, and agree with boysx3 for all the congrats due for graduations, jobs and relationships, and all of us transitioning homes and retirements.
H simply cannot believe that our S wrote such a heartfelt thank you card that we received today. First he addressed us as Mr. and Mrs. instead of Dr. ( I know he does not have a clue) and then signed it “your Son” with no name.
As I taught him how to write lovely handwritten thank you’s and as many relatives call me with shock that this non speaking kid can express himself on paper–well, he did write it and it is slightly odd and I still am as pleased as can be.
For two summer’s during Junior High age he took creative writing with a clever teacher that turned him into a decent and sincere writer. I get to claim this cleverness (also did the signign up and driving to and from) and so
I DERSEVE THE CREDIT
:D/ </p>
<p>back form the lake, lots of cleaning up. fun fun. every year it starts to look better although it is the money pit and a definite work in progress.
Shaw id your wife ever consider allergy shots? Mold was the only thing they cured me from.</p>
<p>Hello to all! I’ve missed a lot! My eyes are galzing over - not too much sleep for the last few days. The flight home was 5+ hours late and sort of a slow motion “adventure.” (Plane turned back because of engine trouble; when almost home hours later, had to abort landing at the last minute.)</p>
<p>I was still feeling relaxed until this morning when I called my mom and got the dump of mom, sister, nephew problems…I could feel my head start to pound. My nephew finally traveled back to TX to meet the son that he fathered some year and a half ago. So my sister is now a grandmother and my mom is a great grandmother, although it is doubtful that she will ever meet the little boy.</p>
<p>The trip was quite nice. Barcelona is now officially my Favorite City. It used to be a tie with Paris, but having visited them both on the same trip, and with Paris being insanely crowded with tourists, Barcelona wins. Highlights include a morning at the beach in Barcelona (yes, I kept my top on but many didn’t), a terrific lunch in Lyon, the best Baba Rum of my life in Aix au Provence, pitchers of cava sangria in Barcelona, the Dali museum in Figures, L’Orangerie in Paris, Pere Lachase cemetary in Paris, the Opera tour in Paris, the Guell Palace in Barcelona. </p>
<p>Life would be fine if we didn’t have to leave town again early Thursday morning to go to MN to celebrate the inlaws’ 60th anniv. I won’t even be caught up at work when I leave. But come Monday I’ll be home with no trips planned until we move younger D into her dorm in August.</p>
<p>One more thing. There was a young man on the choir trip who was obviously an Aspie. He has so many traits in common with Son. I had to restrain myself from being over-familiar, because I understood so many things about him. The guy’s “story” was both sad and encouraging. He was a national merit scholar, got a full ride to college, then lost it because of bad grades. He worked his way though school anyway, taking 6 1/2 years to finish his degree in computer science. He actually has the stereotypical “Aspergers Job.” He figures out the glitches in software. </p>
<p>Welcome home, MP. I hope you get some sleep!</p>
<p>Oregon – take all the credit. One of my friends told me that she’d send D a somewhat belated graduation gift…and then mentioned that D had sent her the nicest thank you note. Was I ever relieved that she did it without me knowing or nagging. </p>
<p>I’ve been thinking about allergy shots, DTE. I think I need them for grasses. Allergies are plain annoying.</p>
<p>Yes, welcome back MP. I got back very late last night , flying from Heathrow. A little late getting back but not bad like your 5 + hours late. Not sure how you do it all the time shawbridge!</p>
<p>I did find out when I got back that S2 has mononucleosis but nobody told me while I was gone so I would not worry. He will be fine but was pretty sick for a few days last week.</p>
<p>We had perfect weather for the entire time - no rain at all for the two weeks I was gone. London was great- the flowers were so beautiful. Highlights of the trip were Giverny (although very crowded the flowers were beautiful and Monet’s house very interesting) and Rouen (Joan of Arc), Guernsey in the Channel Islands, Liverpool, Edinburgh Castle and Wales . </p>
<p>Interesting thoughts about computer science and stereotypical “aspergers job.” S1 is involved with computers and is an engineer but is very social, athletic , etc. My guess is that the kids with aspergers are more involved with behind the scenes aspects with computers and not dealing as much with customers,etc. that would require good social skills.</p>
<p>Glad to be back and look forward to catching up with all of you.</p>
<p>Welcome back to our wanderers ;)</p>
<p>Rough week here…can’t go into it in detail but have an long-term employee suddenly off on leave plagued with some very serious issues and we’re in the middle of some major projects so I’m hiring up to get us through. The rest of the summer is going to be either very long work hours, very expensive to operate, or possibly both. Mch and I are feeling pretty sad.</p>
<p>But there couldn’t be a better time for mcson to be coming home, truly. He arrives Saturday.
My sister and her husband arrive for a visit Friday. Man, am I looking forward to the weekend. And the bus…where’s the bus ;)</p>
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<p>Yes, it’s the fixing glitches that make the guy’s job the perfect “Asperger’s job.” Some Aspies have the ability to hyper-focus and to spend days trying every possible fix under the sun until they find the one that works. That type of job would drive most us crazy.</p>
<p>Have any of you seen pigs flying around today? At the ages of 86 and 82, my inlaws have gotten their first dog! They said there was a “free puppies” ad in the paper and they got the last one. This, from the parents who told their kids that they could never have a pet because if they had one, they could never go on vacation. My MIL is pretty much losing her mind, so a dog might be great for her…as long as FIL remembers to feed him.</p>
<p>We leave very early in the morning for MN for their 60th anniversary event. Everyone involved (esp. H and my SIL) is getting VERY testy. I am sure my kids will be testy, too (because we have a very early flight.) I wanted to make sure there was a nice centerpiece on the table at the restaurant, but that was vetoed by SIL in favor of us going to WalMart upon arrival to find something that could go on the cake table and be planted in the yard later.</p>
<p>Would it be immoral to make some kind of Xanax laced baked goods to feed to the whole lot of them…every day?</p>
<p>kmcmom, Sorry to hear your week has been rough. Glad mcson will be home soon and hope you have a great visit with your sister and her husband.</p>
<p>missypie, That is too bad your inlaws have gotten a dog at their ages. There is a good chance that someone in the family will have to take the dog at some point. Safe travels to MN. Sorry you have to turn around and travel again so soon. Hope the 60th anniversary event turns out better than expected !</p>
<p>A puppy?? At 86 and 82??? Wow. </p>
<p>kmcmom – I hope things settle down for you and your employee, and that you have a great visit with mcson.</p>
<p>Yes, I saw a number of pigs flying today. Some happy but some not. I hope you do not have an issue with puupy potty training, mp. KMC so sorry as you deserve to just float all summer long. Welcome back travelers.
We leave tomoorow for our Canadian trip. I have never not been packed like I am tonight–just too much going on lately. Then I had a blow out with old time freind. I have too long of a fuse and when it goes I have a hard time caring enough to find my way back. It is much better to have a short fuse that has less energy behind it. While I know this is am wired the way I am wired.
My entire life I have wanted to live on a lake. We do not have many lakes in oregon that you can live on and all of our rivers front and ocean fronts are public territory. We did own a cabin on a river for 10 years and if anyone had wanted to camp on our bank they had the right.
Anyway, best wishes to all.</p>
<p>Thanks for the good wishes. The only good thing about big problems is that they put little problems into perspective ;)</p>
<p>Oregon, happy trails on your Canadian trip. My part-timer leaves today for a backpacking trip to Banff with her bff. Timing is unintentionally unfortunate but I’m hoping to live vicariously through her escape :)</p>
<p>Welcome back to those returning; bon voyage to those just departing.</p>
<p>mp - having just survived house training a new puppy, all I can say about your in-laws is, “uh-oh!” I’ve already told H I’m not doing this again!</p>
<p>Speaking of our puppy, H is on his own with her for 3 days. I’m in MA for various events, and enjoying a puppy-free stay! I don’t think it actually dawned on H until a couple of days ago that he’d be alone with Kiley; that he’d have to get up earlier than he’s used to, take her for walks, feed her, etc. </p>
<p>Was in my hometown in western MA yesterday for an extended family lunch. My oldest cousin on my father’s side lives in San Antonio, and we don’t see him (and his wife) very often. When I was in 11th grade he came to live with us and attend the community college in my hometown after flunking out of another college his freshman year. (The timing worked out since my brothers (twins) had just gone off to college.) ANYWAY, his living with us filled a void in my life, and he had me laughing all the time. Plus I was a little awed by the way he “chose to ignore” some of my father’s house rules – something I never dared to do. </p>
<p>Sorry to hear about your travails, kmc. Will mcson be able to fill in for the missing folks?</p>
<p>DTE, they offered ShawWife allergy shots for dogs. They did find however that she is basically allergic to everything. </p>
<p>ShawSon is backpacking with a friend but was hear when we had one of my dinner parties and he got to talk with several friends who are professors at a distinguished university – at their business and public policy schools. He made a nice re-connection with one, whose son is currently working in the town next to where ShawSon will be living in the fall. ShawD shadowed a friend who is an ER doc at DTE’s hospital last week. Haven’t heard how that went. The doc is mild-mannered, absolutely fascinating guy. He is of the couple that have decided that ShawD will be their daughter-in-law but will let her choose whichever son, but they suggested that she wait until they mature. </p>