<p>Thx Shaw. Mcson was already scheduled to start full time Monday…so the answer is “sorta” but we already had. a volume of work or him to address and somehow against all sense I just closed two more projects today so there’s no getting around hiring up 
I’m reviewing/interviewing tomorrow and hoping to connect with another short term sub yet today.</p>
<p>On a break but heading back to it now. Hi ho ;)</p>
<p>We are in Minnesota and are all worried about the puppy. House training will not be a problem because they don’t intend to leave him in the house. When we left the house for the hotel, puppy had been out to bed in the garage and was crying. BIL and SIL have had dogs for years and they are throwing out lots of "suggestions.@</p>
<p>Hi missy! Did you cross paths with Barack? H and his family were also at Matt’s Bar yesterday but missed him by a few hours. H’s brother is in from NM and wanted his burger fix. He didn’t realize Obama was also hungry for a Jucy Lucy! 
Hope there is no flooding around your area. I am at our lake place in WI and while the lake level is high there is no flooding here. Sorry there is no sun for your visit! Good luck with the puppy!</p>
<p>Working on seating charts, DJ suggestions and place cards this weekend. Wish me luck!</p>
<p>Sending out fairy dust to kmc. Wishing you much peace and calm. </p>
<p>No, we decidedly did not cross paths with Barak. Rather, our plane circled for 80 minutes while the airspace was closed. The kids said it’s the only time they’ve been and at Obama. </p>
<p>Hi Ho indeed, kmc.<br>
Good luck on the seating charts, NM.<br>
I hope you can have a nice glass of wine and sit in a quiet eddy while the chaos swirls midstream, MP.</p>
<p>Went for a nice walk tonight – beautiful evening – and noticed that the park that is ordinarily jammed actually had empty picnic tables. I guess everyone was off watching soccer. </p>
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<p>Thanks, arabrab, your good wishes were fruitful. (Only it was high calorie margaritas from a mix.) I am now able to observe the family disfunction and not become emotionally involved. </p>
<p>The siblings have divided 2 and 2, with H and one brother in good graces with FIL, and H’s twin who lives next door and the sister not in good graces. Now the two siblings on the “outs” are trying to scold and intimidate H and the other brother into being their advocates to their dad…only they are providing zero material for positive advocacy, as both remain unrepentant jerks (substitute the profane derogatory term of your choice) The sad thing is that MIL’s Alzheimer’s is becoming fairly advanced and both are in a perfect position to be able to take a large load off of FIL. He is doing 100% of the household work and is caring for her alone. I am praying that both will see the light and realize that no third party can repair their relationship with their dad BUT that each is at a stage of life where he/she could provide so much help, which would be the perfect thing to repair the relationship.</p>
<p>The puppy may be okay. He has been allowed inside and I think once all the company leaves, things will be better, puppy training-wise.</p>
<p>As we were leaving the lake house (about 2 minutes away), we saw a large bear trying to cross the road. </p>
<p>’ BUT that each is at a stage of life where he/she could provide so much help, which would be the perfect thing to repair the relationship.’</p>
<p>Timely words, MP.
MIL who continues to have severe mobility issues got it into to her head to throw an 80th bday party for FIL this weekend as it would coincide with meeting a SIL’s fiancee for the first time as they planned to fly in from CA. MIL insists on having party at her house which of course means that I and other SIL must prepare everything at our own homes and schlepp it over there. MIL insisted on having printed invites for this shindig - - everything carefully orchestrated. She asked me to pick up decorations - akin to a child’s bday party. Friends from their previous life in a nearby suburb were invited - only one of their widowed friends will be there.
Third SIL lives in the South and has not been able to find time to visit her parents -despite the near death issues last fall and long-term hospitalization over the winter. Also despite vacationing in Europe (2X), New Zealand and the Caribbean as well. She did offer however to pay for the liquid refreshments for the party.
She’ll send a check for $35. </p>
<p>Well SIL in CA called last night to say that she can’t make it either. (No problems with her and her fiance…they just can’t make it.)
So the widow, one SIL with family, my family and a couple of my own sisters will be there. We can really put the ‘fun’ in dysfunctional!! Should be a rockin’ good time.</p>
<p>Wow, woody. I guess all you can do is enjoy your $35 worth of beverages!</p>
<p>LOL!</p>
<p>Woody, I think you should send the absent daughter the whopping margarita bill it will take to get through the day too I myself plowed through a godly amount of fresh limes this weekend, inspired by sib and bf ;)</p>
<p>Despite the work-related chaos, I did have a nice visit with mcson and his GF this weekend before she had to go back to work. It was good to see her in person, because I then remember how much I like her and what a good fit she seems with mcson. I am sad that they’re so sad to be parting, though so very grateful under the circumstances right now that he’s here to work. Yesterday it was so nice to have him hammering away and producing good work with virtually no direction. He too said he was really enjoying the design work he’s been assigned.</p>
<p>It has occurred to me, however, that I could book him 12 flights to SF for about the cost of a single month’s rent there. (Seriously, i just nabbed a return flight to SF in Sept for $360!) I know ultimately that’s no way to live, but I also know that mch, even more than me, wishes mcson would just stay and take over the company one day. I wish it too, but part of me wants to ensure he has no regrets, and feels there’s a big world out there for him to explore.</p>
<p>I so wish my city was a big theater Mecca. I got the sense GF would consider a variety of positions, and also got the sense that she’s willing to go wherever the work is. We shall see what unfolds.</p>
<p>Please send fairy dust, positive thoughts, good karma and prayers this way for D2 this morning. She sits for her first section of her CPA exam at 8:30. It is 4 hours sitting at a computer. If you need a bathroom break the clock continues to run! No water allowed in the room. I would go crazy! I guess the pass rate is something like 40% for first time test takers! 
Yikes! </p>
<p>Crunch time on wedding plans. Crazy busy! Will touch base again in a bit!</p>
<p>Sending the good vibes, NM.
I can relate, took the CPA exam years ago (with paper and pencils, no computer LOL).</p>
<p>All these limes and fruits mixed with liquor… my kind of day! Not the drama that goes along with it, but certainly the attitude used to fix it!</p>
<p>Good luck to D2 MN - I think the testing protocol is equally as stressful as the test itself! I sure hope she’s chewing gum or something. My mouth would turn into cotton. Honestly, I don’t know how she compartmentalizes. I don’t know how good my concentration would be with the wedding just around the corner - but then again that’s why there’s Mothers!</p>
<p>KMC - This separation will absolutely be a huge test for them. Life gets busy on both ends and honestly, I don’t think people plan as much when to talk on the phone since social media, cell and texts are so common. Meaning, there is a lot more room for misunderstanding when you are technically “constantly available.” I guess I am just curious what the expectation is there.</p>
<p>S had his primary application verified yesterday. Had already heard requests for secondaries from GW and UChicago. But apparently quite a few schools will ask for secondaries as well as your $100. On one hand I think it’s a little predatory and they should just cull the crop from the onset. On the other hand, I think S will have great recommendations and it is helpful that he will be looked at in the entirety. Anyway… cross you fingers that S will have good insight into these short answers etc. Not sure how long it takes once you send in secondaries to get an interview if you’re going to get one. I know Univ of Mn asked him as part of the secondaries where else he was applying and I THINK even the order of preference. How does one answer that if the “preference” would be very very hugely longshot schools. Anyway… this whole process is a venting exercise.</p>
<p>D2 landed in New Zealand and seems to be off and running on her semester abroad. Of course she almost didn’t get there and hats off to H for not calling me with the details. When she sent passport for Visa, they apparently lost her passport. Then she got a new one and they found the old one putting the visa in the now defunct passport. Anyway… they were told to not even bother going to the airport and then my sister said that’s BS… so off they went and she was right… airport said it happens all the time, just carry both passports and she will be fine… and she was. Phew.</p>
<p>D1 got a job!!! Teaching what they call “transitional” kindergarden in a public school in SF. She is over the moon excited to have her own classroom and be able to work one ft job come the fall. She is currently teaching a summer class in literacy and of course, this follows her year of working in the after school program. The neighborhood is very asian and OMG are these little faces “totally adorbs!” She sends me little video clips and it’s clear the rising second graders adore her… I told her however to invest in more black pants than anything because little four year old hands are often not the cleanest! Anyway… so very proud of her tenacity and thrilled she will finally have her own class as a teacher. She was truly born for it and she really does want them to love learning from the get go…</p>
<p>H gets to the nook tomorrow night, S comes with GF late on the 3rd and so it will be a full house for the weekend. Fortunately, we are rarely here except to sleep. And with bunk beds in the guest room, I am just glad that S and his GF spend more time at one another’s apt that this isn’t reunion weekend for them - if you get my drift. :)</p>
<p>Good morning, everyone!</p>
<p>Sending good CPA passing karma to NMD2. Is the CPA exam on the same day for everyone? Or is it different parts on different days, but on a national schedule? I ask because I’m pretty sure that older D said that her BF is taking a part of the exam on July 10th, but I think it’s the second part.</p>
<p>When I think about the bar exam, I guess it was close to the same way. Since it was 2 1/2 days, we got lunch breaks on days 1 and 2 but I don’t recall other breaks.</p>
<p>Congrats to Moda D1!</p>
<p>Moda, the med school app process is confusing to me.</p>
<p>Today is the day younger D is having her hair dyed lilac. All school year I’ve been saying that everything she wants to do - hair dye, more piercings, a visible tatoo - have to wait until after the church mission trip and the visit to the grandparents. So on the flight home, she was talking about all of the above. I was hoping she would change her mind about some of it.</p>
<p>missy…you can take different parts of the test on different days at different testing sites. The tests can be taken in any sequence so the person next to you could be testing for Financial and you could be taking the auditing section. You need to pass all four section within 18 months. There are blackout months. June was one of them as is September so she will try another section in August and then finish the last two in October.</p>
<p>Congrats to Moda D1!!! Yay! So happy for her! Keeping fingers crossed for S!</p>
<p>Kudos to ModaD! And good karma/test-taking vibes to NMinnD.</p>
<p>mp – well, at least lilac hair isn’t permanent … As I may have mentioned previously, at the start of D’s senior year at Wake Forest, she had her nose pierced. This was a direct result of the time she spent in India spring semester of her junior year. Anyway, she didn’t tell us AND didn’t even warn me – just showed up at home for fall break with it done. H totally freaked out. I can’t say as I was thrilled, but in the scheme of life, it’s not all that bad. She has since downsized the diamond stud she wears, and it’s not all that noticeable. H still gives her grief about it. Really? What is that going to accomplish?</p>
<p>Last Friday I was in my hometown in MA to play golf with both my brothers, my father, and my nephew. This was what my nephew wanted for his birthday – to play golf with the family. Quite fun! Then on Sunday D and I went to a bridal shower. Also a lot of fun – but clearly I’m behind the times since it was a “Casual Display Shower,” and I’d never heard of that. We ended up playing several fun games instead of doing the whole “unwrapping the gifts” thing. So, between my 3 days in MA and then most of Sunday tied up with the shower, H figures he’s done his share of dog-care for quite some time. Yup, definitely not a 50-50 split on this! As I keep saying, good thing Kiley is so darn cute! :)</p>
<p>NorthMinn, despite the fact that I don’t believe she will need it, I’m sending positive vibes D2’s way. Is this her last big hurdle before the wedding plans go into high gear??
How did D1’s weekend turn out?</p>
<p>Congrats to your D1, moda - great news!</p>
<p>MP, all I can say is take a deep breath.</p>
<p>This past weekend, multiple relatives in law told us what THEY would do if a child of theirs ever wanted to be pierced or tattoed. I just let it wash past me but was thinking: Really? You would REALLY kick your child out of the house? You would REALLY not pay for college?</p>
<p>kudos to Moda’s offspring.</p>
<p>In London again for a very satisfying session with a client. They are really setting in motion what we have been working out. Fun.</p>
<p>Tomorrow to convert former client into current client.</p>
<p>Congtatulations to Moda’s D and hope the CPA exam went well, NM.</p>
<p>Have a fun and productive time in London, shawbridge. I’m still thinking of the great Indian food I had there 3 weeks ago at the Bombay Brasserie.</p>