<h1>theorymom–Such an Honer and so happy for you!!!</h1>
<p>TM I would also like to peruse your book. congrats on the honor.
MP you always exhaust me.
Shaw so glad you had a nice trip. I wish I had remembered you were in DC
RM congrats to your daughter
D1 is studying for the LSATS. she is going to apply to law school. </p>
<p>#theorymom, yes, Son is transferring to a 4 year school about 45 minutes from home. We move him into his apartment over the weekend. </p>
<p>Good Morning, all. Haven’t had a lot of time to post lately still muddling through at work. Both kids have been in the midwest visiting my parents and inlaws, but H and I couldn’t get away so hopefully we can in the fall. D is starting the wedding plans and yesterday she looked at dresses in a lovely bridal store near our families. She cleared this with me first as we have not yet done this together, but she was able to have both of her grandmothers there with her and I know that they enjoyed being able to do that. She sent pictures and has found a few “possibles”, but she wants to look more and I’ll be with her next time. </p>
<p>We leave on Sat to take S to school, move in is on Tuesday, but we will be stopping in NYC as well as at my sister’s place. I really thought that I would be one of those people who dance for joy over an empty nest, but now that it is real, I am finding myself very sad. I will miss S and truthfully I have always worried more about him than I did with D, because I always felt that I needed to. And he will be far away. And so it goes…</p>
<p>Hugs, Fallgirl.
If its any consolation, there are many things to enjoy about the empty nest 
However, you may not remember/recognize those things unless, like me, you have someone RETURN to the empty nest for a spell ;)</p>
<p>For example, I am still adjusting to the need to wear a swimsuit during evening swims (mornings all bets are off!). Sounds minor, but Sunday night when mcson was out of town I made him text me when he left…not for his safety so much as for my swimming enjoyment 
</p>
<p>From what I’ve been told by others - I guess hitch hiking in New Zealand isn’t nearly as worrisome as it would be in the USA. True or not, it’s what allows me to sleep at night!</p>
<p>Fallgirl - friends of mine here are experiencing the empty nest as well. I forgot how weird it feels - at first. Now, it just is, and I have to agree with kmc… having someone returning to the nest does make one long for it to be empty again. I do not have a pool, but if nothing else fewer groceries and less laundry are things one can get used to very easily.</p>
<p>We are now down to decisions needing to be made almost immediately. D is slated to come back from New Zealand Nov 19… and unless we have a home for her to come back to, I told H that our planning a trip to visit her couldn’t happen. I am hopeful that might serve as motivation. Otherwise, I am really confused by this all being his decision as to when we pull the trigger. Who knew this would be so weird a dynamic after 25 years of marriage?</p>
<p>After chilly temps for weeks, it’s finally looking up around here. Yesterday was the first day I took the boat out in ages. My cousin used it one nice day I was in the birkshires, and of course, didnt refill the gas which was considerable when you’ve got as many house guests as they did and take a spin to the other end of the lake for dinner. I am not in the position to pay for their entertainment. grrrrr. She wasnt even supposed to use the boat, but one of her guests knew how to drive it I guess. Truth is, she didn’t even ask and then didn’t put gas in it? I found it rude especially because I had specifically asked her to refill it while she was still in town. I hate when people leave me to be the gas nazi. Still… I love the boat and will be out floating midlake today.</p>
<h1>tm - I just ordered your book. The few that I read in the sample were simply beautiful. I’ve been a bird lover since I was a little girl so these really spoke to me. Thank you!</h1>
<p>DTE, I will be back in DC in September, possibly a little more time. This weekend was crazy. Had to leave Sunday night for Germany after working all weekend in DC. </p>
<p>Good Morning! Not much new around here so it is exciting to hear about the new beginnings as some head back to school. Good luck to pieson and D2 as they start new journeys! Also good luck to dte! I am so impressed that you are returning to the class room. I am a voracious reader but I don’t think I have the discipline to sit through lectures. </p>
<p>My friend who is in hospice care is still battling. She speaks and eats very little but still has the strength to get out of the bed and walk with a walker to the bathroom. She sleeps most of the day. She was unable to see the white coat ceremony as her D started med school but the family woke her to watch the live streaming of it. She didn’t speak but smiled when they announced her D. She is so proud that her D is following in her footsteps in the medical profession. Tough journey.</p>
<p>D2 is trying to figure out the cost benefits of staying on our insurance versus her own as her H’s company says they will no longer carry spouses who have coverage through their own employers starting in 2015. I was unaware that she could actually stay on our plan even if she was married! Guess it is a new Affordable Care Act thing that started in 2014?? If she can save a penny she will find a way! ;)</p>
<p>Both girls are in training for fall races. D1 continues to enjoy her job but needs to make some decisions about further education. H and I think she should start soon but we are not seeing any urgency on her part. Stay tuned! ;)</p>
<p>NM, How poignant that your friend has held on long enough to see her daughter start medical school and watch the live streaming of the white coat ceremony. </p>
<p>My youngest is 23 and I guess technically he could have stayed on our insurance (but not totally sure how that works ) but he just automatically transitioned to his employer’s insurance. I viewed it as just one more step toward independence. But if he didn’t have a job or access to his own insurance , that would have been a different story.</p>
<p>I don’t know if I have a way to remove my D from my insurance? She has primary coverage of her own now, but she’s also covered under my policy until she turns 26. I need to cover S and my policy includes all children.</p>
<p>D2 said she will compare costs of her employer’s insurance to H’s employer. She wants to go with whomever is less expensive. If it is H’s she will reimburse him. She is a true accountant at heart.</p>
<p>Sounds like a good plan, NM. Maybe also check differences in amount of coverage in the different plans, preexisting conditions. I assume she would have no problem transitioning to her employer’s plan when she turns 26 if she goes with your H’'s plan . Now sure how this works if a condition comes up while she is on your H’s plan. I’m never clear on how this preexisting stuff works. Here’s one link about this: <a href=“http://www.healthcare.gov/can-I-keep-my-child-on-my-insurance-until-age-26/”>http://www.healthcare.gov/can-I-keep-my-child-on-my-insurance-until-age-26/</a> </p>
<p>Also, there’s a good article from the Wall Street Journal-google WSJ Should Young Adults Stay on their Parents Health Plan? Talks about comparing coverage, networks and locations, tax issues, privacy, needing to transition to another plan later, etc. Sounds like some plans may be moving to charging per dependent. Good that your D’s an accountant so she can get it all figured out about what’s best for her particular situation! </p>
<p>Thanks for the info sevmom! I appreciate the help in understanding how the system is supposed to work. </p>
<p>Rainy and very humid here this morning. It is already around 70 degrees. Supposed to get very warm later today with heat index around 100 degrees! I will head to the lake to catch a cool breeze later this morning. Want to stop at the Farmer’s Market on the way to pick up some flowers. They are just gorgeous at this time. Last week I made some zucchini bread from some fresh zucchini. It was a new recipe for me and we all loved it! The texture was more like a cake than bread. It is a lemon poppy seed zucchini bread and delicious! I used Meyer lemons and the flavor was subtle and yummy! If any of you are interested in the recipe send me a PM and I will forward it to you. </p>
<p>cq…any news from Chicago? I am so excited for your D to be in a good place!
Zetisis…how are things going with your D?
RM…when is the move in date? I think it would be hard to wait after you buy a new place!
missy…good luck on the move ins! Lots of change in your house!
woody…how is your summer progressing? Are you back teaching yet?</p>
<p>Good thoughts and fairy dust can be directed to Chicago - today is the day D takes the first licensing exam. I forgot to ask her when she hears the results. Hope she doesn’t have to wait! She thought the prep course last week was very helpful and hopefully she will pass on the first try!</p>
<p>Hi NM - move in date is TBD. Which makes it even more difficult I think. Makes it hard to reserve a truck that’s for sure. They have until the end of Aug. If they go longer the “rent” goes up and they will need to pay more per day. D’s lawyer put in that they need to be out by Sept. 15th but it’s difficult to really kick someone out if they don’t have a place to go – hopefully that will not be an issue. We are just waiting to here that they have closed on the their new house and have moved out. Sooner the better.</p>
<p>So on a lighter note we have had a hoard of chipmunks this year and H put out a have a heart trap and has been relocating them to the local farm. So… yesterday he saw that the trap was closed. Just figured it was a chipmunk in there. Went to grab it and looked in side after it was in his hand and guess what was in it… A SKUNK!!. Luckily the trap was so small that he/she couldn’t lift its tail but then – huh what to do… He was able to relocate it to a local forever wild area but I think prayed all the way that it didn’t get loose in the bed of his new truck and that it wouldn’t spray when he opened the trap. Too funny…wishI had been there and not at work!!!</p>
<p>Yikes on the skunk! </p>
<p>D texted, she PASSED her licensing exam! Woo hoo! Since she passed on the first try she gets a bonus (plans to get a new, sorely needed laptop). If she had not passed, she would have had to take it again at her own expense, and if she didn’t pass the 2nd time, would have needed to look for a new job.</p>
<p>Great news! Congratulations to your daughter!</p>
<p>Wonderful news CQ! Congrats to your D.</p>