<p>dte - hugs to you and wishing you peace.
oregon - I hope your aunt is comfortable.</p>
<p>moda - best wishes for great outcomes!!</p>
<p>And MP - the first thing I thought about your new assignment was ‘who is going to do the Christmas trees?’ This could be a wonderful weight off your shoulders - unless of course, if you od it for yourself. If that is the case, may I suggest a tree for your temporary digs??</p>
<p>You know, woody, I had actually been thinking about which/how many of my “office” Christmas decorations I could bring over with me without them thinking I was nuts.</p>
<p>DIL and hairdresser both have family in Marysville, WA where the H.S. shooting happened today. DIL’s Dad is a superintendent in a nearby district. </p>
<p>DTE & Oregon – Hugs to both of you. It is never easy.</p>
<p>We drove through Maryville almost exactly a year ago. So sad. </p>
<p>Woody, you and I think alike…“But Missy, who’s going to do the Xmas trees?!” ;)</p>
<p>Hugs to Oregon and DTE.</p>
<p>Moda, I got up early on a Sat. For a full report 
okay, I know you know by now I always get up early, just thought I’d get in my request for a “mojo report.”</p>
<p>Strangely, I have Xmas done for my immediate family…without intending to. Mcson was easy, because a paid flight to SF is all he gets (and that was plenty!). But mch, who usually requires a great deal of thought, just got lucky this year as an artist he likes has taken to sending me emails which led to an early gift acquisition, and a specialty watch purveyor did the same thing. My sisters all mentioned at thanksgiving something they wanted that only I have access to in the states, so that was easy.</p>
<p>I’m gunning for a very relaxed holiday season at this rate. Maybe I should swing down south and put up Missy’s trees for her ;)</p>
<p>I am going car shopping today. I love my big old SUV. She is 18 years old and is now starting to have issues. I am looking at a mid-size SUV as we still need to be able to tow the boats. Wish me luck!</p>
<p>Good luck northMinn - We got rid of our old 16 yo Expedition 2 years ago when it was destroyed in aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. We downsized to Nissan Pathfinder. I think it tows around 2.5tons. Verrrry happy with our choice.</p>
<p>Good luck. We have an Acura MDX, which has occasionally been used for towing (a trailer with art stuff in it). There is a smaller RDX, though I don’t know what it can pull.</p>
<p>Oregon - I actually found a tear spring to my eye when you spoke of your Aunt’s granddaughter. Losing someone like that is so difficult. I have found myself missing my mom a lot these last few weeks, but I did talk to her husband who is my last remaining “parent” - While they didn’t marry until I was well past grown, I think it helps that they were high school sweethearts and knew the whole of each other’s lives. He loved her deeply, and for that I am grateful and he tries, like her later in life, to just be supportive reserving all judgment. I think I see more of that in myself as I grow older. Every story has a story, and people have their reasons, good days and not so good. Life, like college admissions, is kind of a crap shoot. :)</p>
<p>S is head over heels in love with this school. I mean scary in love. The first interview, where he felt a little tired at first, was a behavioral one, like “what would you do…” and he said that following his answer that revolved around sharing a viewpoint of a book he is reading, dignity of care, and my Mother’s hospice the interviewer seemed genuinely impressed when saying it was a great answer. So he’s hopeful if there was another answer she thought not so great, this good one will stick stronger in her mind. He felt he did really well in the second interview, and also got to shadow a NICU surgeon, which he said was amazing beyond belief. Lunch and tour was with some current students who said to him and one other guy that they were going to hang out to watch some cup (which I don’t know what sport that is currently) and gave him a number and the name of the bar, encouraging him to bring the friend he is staying with (who is also kinda new to the city within just a year). S said everything about the place was awesome - the facilities, the curriculum and the students and faculty. Loved it, and was particularly proud of getting a few genuine laughs from current students and his second interviewer. Im glad he loved it and felt he did well - but that just makes the “hope” bigger and that’s kinda scary… especially when you realize the odds even with an interview. Finally, they gave everyone a way to write a letter of interest, and he is DEFINITELY doing that and was headed back to his friend’s house and wanted to get off Thank You emails before the end of the day. I suggested he write real notes of thanks, but he said that they all said the best way to contact them was via email, and while I would insist he handwrite a note because email request probably pertains primarily to questions, it’s likely already done by now and I have no dog in this fight. 
So, I am really hoping it all works out… I have no idea when they let you know rejections accept or waitlist. Every school seems different, but most starting accepting Oct 15 (deadline for primary applications).</p>
<p>PS… I have to say I have an Lexus RX 330 - 2005. I love this car; it’s been very good to me. I know it’s getting up there (173,000+ miles), but it still drives pretty great even if lacking all the latest like GPS Sirus radio etc). Perfect size and I can parallel that baby like a pro.</p>
<p>Sad to say I am driving a 1997 Expedition but only have 150,000 miles! She is a beast but I love her! My Ds are embarrassed by my vintage ride! I am downsizing to an Explorer. Test drove one today but they didn’t have all the options I wanted so need to go to another dealer.</p>
<p>Glad Modason had a great interview!!! Yay!</p>
<p>Mod–So happy to read about Your S’s interview. Sounds very promising and hope he gets accepted ASAP.
D is home now and said that she did not hear from schools until Feb to be offered an interview. </p>
<p>DIL’s Aunt and two cousins were siting at the next table when the shootings happened In Marysville. (not sure if they then saw the shootings or not). Two of her other cousins work at the ER where the students were taken.
My Hairdresser’s Aunt lives on the same street as the H.S.
Both said that their families are quite shaken.
D said it barely made the news back East as the Ebola situation is the main news.</p>
<p>Oregon, scary stuff. It’s just so sad. </p>
<p>Moda, sounds like a great interview! Sendin the mojo.
Mcson had been “scarily in love” with his top pick back in undergrad so I know exactly what you mean. Fortunately, said beloved also had loved son…and I am a stand that the same holds true for yours, though I’m sure the stakes feel higher and odds longer with med school than with music school!</p>
<p>NM, and here I was going to suggest you wait for the new 2015 F150 for towing power
After the Land Rover, most vehicles feel “small” to me. The upside when I switched to an Audi Allroad as I get the same deft winter handling, height excepted, but get twin turbo and highway handling power (for speed that the highway patrol does not seem to think I need ;))</p>
<p>But nothing beat the Landy in terms of pure capability to power through a snowpocalypse or climb rugged terrane.</p>
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<p>My neighbor said the same about her son who is currently attending our state flagship. Apparently, this school starts offering acceptance mid December. The other “good” news is that while some people are getting a lot of rejections post secondaries (according to the website/forum for pre-meds), S hasn’t had any except for the two some time ago (Pittsburgh and Chicago).</p>
<p>Moda – what a great interview, after what an awful journey. Really glad it went so well. Fingers still crossed. When does the school start offering admissions? </p>
<p>I rode in one of the new Subaru Outbacks, only to find that the front passenger seat foot area is cut off on the right side, requiring that I either twist my foot or twist my knee, so that’s a no go. I hope mine holds on another year or two and that they revamp that space because it is pretty much the perfect car for our conditions and driving. OTOH, I’m putting under 8K miles a year on a car at this point, and that’s with an 1800 mile vacation trip up into the wilds.</p>
<p>Moda - sounds fantastic. Hopefully all will work out!</p>
<p>NM - good luck. I hate car shopping. Last one was an Chevy Equinox that didn’t make it past the 4 year mark. I had tons of issues with it. I have a real car now. Haven’t had a car since before the kids were born but I have no need any longer for the bigger vehicle for me. H has a full size pickup truck.</p>
<p>Sadly I cleaned this weekend and didn’t get more than 30 minutes to work on the quilt for the baby. The time is passing. I need to get some stuff done other than cleaning! Hopeful that this weekend will be better.</p>
<p>Arabrab, I know how you feel. My audi allroad is similar to an outback and they’d discontinued it in North America for about 8 years. They brought it back in 2013 but put it on an A4 body, changed the 2.7 twin turbo engine to a 2.0, and removed the height-selector wher you can raise the body to go off road or lower the body for speed.</p>
<p>So when the time comes, not sure I’ll love it quite the way I love mine now. So I will squeeze every drop of life outta my old gal The height selector to me makes a difference because dropping the level on the highway makes the ride feel more performance-ish. This feel is what I favor over most crossovers and SUVs.</p>
<p>That said, if you don’t mind dumping some extra cash into your next purchase, you may really enjoy the ride of the Audi Allroad…it would meet the kind of drive conditions that attracted you to the Outback. They have similar base characteristics (I used to own subarus way back in the day and love em). </p>
<p>Moda it certainly sounds as if the chemistry was there between your S and this school. Hopefully he will get good news and sooner rather than later.
RM- just a suggestion - is it possible for you to hire a cleaning service once or twice a month? You need a break to enjoy your weekends.
Good luck car shopping, NM. I love my little hybrid, but we are still hanging onto our SUV (the Acura like shaw has), what with a kid still in college.
Speaking of which, we are heading up to family weekend on Friday. My S and BIL will be joining us too. C_Q, I know you are in the middle of your move, but if you happen to be going, please PM me.</p>
<p>FallGirl - I would LOVE to have a cleaning service. H though is “stingy” to put it mildly. He absolutely hates to pay for something that we can do ourselves. Of course he doesn’t do the cleaning. Typically it only takes me 1/2 day to go through the house. I have it down to a science but right now with hosting the baby shower I"m washing the walls and cleaning carpets etc. which takes a lot longer. Did the living room and dining room this weekend. H also had a race so ended up doing errands that he typically does also. I’ll get it all done. I always do - sleep just may be optional in the last week. :)</p>