Kmc, you know so much about so many things.
I have been amused by the news stories about the new SAT. It’s supposed to be easier. Don’t people realize that if it’s easier, it’s easier for all the other students with whom one is competing for admission?
MP, you are right. In making it easier (again), they are probably compressing the tails (again) so that elite schools will have a harder time distinguishing between upper tier students.
Hello to all! H and I are back from our trip to FL. We managed to miss the storm that was going on up here when we left, and weren’t bothered by the one happening when we returned. We had a few coolish/windy days, but it was sunny! Great tour of the Kennedy Space Center with the WPI crowd, and then several beach days on the west coast. And the time changes this coming weekend, so I’m a happy camper!
dte – so very sorry for your loss.
Re: houses – 10 years ago when we moved from Fairfield County, CT, we did a fair amount of improvements to sell the house. It was all good in that we got a great price for it, but what irked me the most was I never got to enjoy said improvements, especially in the kitchen and master bath. At least that’s all in the past, and I’m now enjoying both a new condo and new beach house. And I really hope we’re done building! Every time we go to FL, H comes home with ideas to buy/build a place down there. I don’t want any more real estate!
Re: heating – when we/the architect initially designed the beach house, it had radiant heating (i.e., under the floors). It would have been lovely, but it ended up being way too expensive. After the first round of bids, we took out several of these “dream house” features.
mp – my first thought about the new SAT was simply, “I’m SO glad we’re done with all those stupid tests, in any and all versions.”
Had the dreaded stomach virus this weekend. Stomach is still recovering. I think I actually pulled muscles. Feel like I did a few hundred crunches. Not a good weekend although it did get me out of going to MILs for the weekend.
Trying to find a venue for the wedding/reception. D seems to know what she wants but man are we having issues finding it - and of course she can’t totally articulate what it is. Seems like number one on the list is views. One would think that wouldn’t be too hard to find based on where we live but seems more difficult than one would think.
Sendin you the be well mojo, though can’t seem to work it on myself at the moment 
fighting a cod for all its worth and not sure I’m winning!
CBB, in my imagination I think it would be a ton of fun to build from scratch…but I suspect half the things i’d want, I’m actually too frugal to include in the end By contrast, I can rationalize things like slate flooring and metal roof renos in THIS house because I bought “low” and have a lot of equity.
Mp, when I read your pot about the SATs, the phrase “dumbing down America” went through my mind…so I googled the phrase and found numerous articles about he SAT with that phrase in the headline
Hope all who are under the weather are feeling better!
Speaking of weather, it is beautiful here. Unfortunately it’s our crunch time and I did not get outside at all yesterday. I did walk/run a bit outside today and hope to get out for a break at work.
Speaking of weather, it’s raining cats and dogs here! I wore a bright orange sweater and scarf to combat the dreariness. My cough just keeps hanging on. It tires me out. I’m thinking of going to the gym tonight just to do a very slow treadmill walk. I’m not up to anything else, but I feel so worthless just coming home every night, watching TV.
Healing energy and light to all in need. We’re supposed to be hitting 70 tomorrow, so it really feels like spring.
kmc – I’ve probably mentioned this before, but one thing we did NOT cut from the original beach house design was the metal roof. Well worth the $$$, in our opinion.
Stomach still isn’t back to “normal”. Being very careful what I’m eating. Hope all get better soon!
May have come up with an idea for wedding/reception – asked this morning if a “destination” wedding in the Adirondacks might be an option. She likes the idea but needs to discuss with fiance of course. Not sure what that would do to the guest list. Not sure if that would impact the number of people who would come or not. Something that we will need to keep in mind depending on costs.
H has been sick with the flu. I am a crazy lady with the clorox wipes and berating
myself everytime I put my hands near my eyes.
I sent H to the guest room. D is in San Miguel for a wedding for the week so she should be safe from catching H’s virus. It is also a nice visit for her and her BF.
Read “Our Souls at Night” and just adored it. H just finished it also. I have read a number of his books
and have always been satisfied. Thanks for the recommendation! But I cannot remember who it was here that
mentioned it— :"> .
We visited S and DIL a few weekends ago. Saw their new married student apartment for the first time.
And older townhouse but DIL has done a great job decorating. It is cozy, cute and has a calm vibe.
She was so proud–had me look in all the drawers and closets to show how she has organized everything.
Pretty amazing and was sweet that she showed me.
S started a new job in charge of social media. He works from home and is salaried so
they are thrilled.
G’Son turned 4 a few days after our visit. Very easy and cute kid. After they visited a friend with a newborn he told his mom that the next time he goes to the store he is going to buy a baby. I suspect there will be a sibling sometime in his future.
Four already, Oregon! How time flies!
Oregon, no worries for not remembering, but I had mentioned the book … Glad you liked it!
He can’t be 4 already, Oregon! Wow.
I still have the PND, laryngitis and bouts of furious coughing. Grrr… this is one full week into this cold. I am so done with it. Speaking to a large group tomorrow, and I sound like a frog. Ribbit.
H just had me listen to his lungs. First time ever for me and even I know it could be pneumonia,
Be careful arabrab!
Poor younger D. Since she met him, she has known that her BF wanted to work on a cruise ship. He got an offer for a company that leaves out of Florida…some chance of seeing each other occasionally. But there was never an actual opening on an actual ship, so the BF looked elsewhere. Now he has an assignment…departing out of Australia.
ShawD is having the spring break from hell. She has pneumonia. Her aunt is taking care of her with help from her godmother. Otherwise, ShawWife was going to fly back.
Sorry about ShawD.
H has pnemonia too.
Egads, what is it with this nasty pneumonia jazz!
I am still hacking like a fool and have a presentation too, arabrab, so I know exactly what you’re sayin!
Missy, sad for your D. How long is his contract?
So sorry about the pneumonia! It was just about two years ago that I had it. It took quite a while for me to feel like myself again.
D’s BF has said he wants to work on a ship until he’s 30. He is very pragmatic financially. He started school in ROTC but then had to drop out when he developed serious health problems. Because of that, he ended up with student loans that he hadn’t planned for. In the 10 months since graduation, he has worked multiple jobs and basically couch-surfed and has repaid almost all his student debt. Besides actually wanting to work on a cruise ship, he knows that he can save virtually every cent he makes. I don’t adore him or anything, but he is by far the most “normal”, highest achieving guy D has dated.
^ I think that young man sounds pretty mature and responsible. Not so great for your D, though if he is so far away.
Sending quick healing thoughts to all who are ill/have family members who are ill.
I haven’t posted much this week as I have worked long hours Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Thankfully that’s over fr this month and today I can work from home. I started/ will finish early today as a friend and I are going to an open house at S’s high school which is finally finished with a major renovation project. Friend’s S graduated a year after mine but they have been buddies forever. Sadly both of their classes ended up spending a few years in a building that was under construction and didn’t reap the benefits. Still I’m glad they did this as it was badly needed.