In the “good news” department – my package showed up yesterday, i.e. the day AFTER tracking said it was delivered. I’d had several go-arounds with the store, who kept insisting that the package had been delivered since “that’s what tracking showed.” One customer service rep actually asked if I had checked my mailbox. Seriously? Anyway, the letter carrier delivering the package said sometime they get carried away at the USPS sorting facility and (electronically) mark something as delivered when it arrives at the facility, as opposed to when it’s actually delivered. How helpful!
And, I think things are all sorted out re: the wedding, at least for food. Long story involving insurance regulations with outsiders using the kitchen, the logistics of getting everything to the island, etc. The chef who does the food for the weddings at the camp is actually a caterer, as opposed to the regular summer camp chef. The “boss” said there had never been a complaint about the food, and the chef can do whatever we want; 2 entree choices + vegetarian option. I’m actually fine with not having to find an outside caterer. She (the boss) said she had no idea why the other person told D an outside caterer was OK, but would be having a chat with her. We also sorted out the overall camp fees. H had been correct in his interpretation in spite of the poorly worded contract. Our very good friends (who we met years ago at camp) had interpreted things differently, though. (Their D is getting married there in June.) I relayed the info I had found out and could hear my friend “gulping,” since the amount they thought were spending just went up … They had signed the contract without asking questions or making any changes. We’ve done both; ask and change.
I’m getting that sense, too, dte. I’m definitely opposed to this tradition, and was SO glad D’s fiance did not ask/talk to H. D is not a piece of property to be given away! (This is my opinion; I know others will disagree.) I’m also sensing more brides now take their H’s last name instead of keeping their maiden name. Certainly lots of women my age did change their name, but there was a trend there for a while of not doing that. D is undecided.
We’re headed to Easter dinner at H’s BIL & SIL’s, as usual. Mostly the same crowd as Thanksgiving – let the good times roll! Then we’re headed down to the beach for a week. H wants to get a jump on prepping the sailboat for the summer – a little earlier than usual, but with us being gone for 3 weeks, he needs a head start. I hope to get to the golf club and hit some practice balls. The course opened Wednesday.
Agree CBBB. Asking the father seems like an archaic and offensive gesture. Lots of young couples still have 2 names, but ShawWife says she wishes she had changed to mine. Simpler and easy to spell / sign. Plus less confusing for kids’ teachers etc. I was ok with either.
Happy Easter to all who celebrate!
@arabrab - thanks for mentioning the Macy’s Flower Show. Didn’t know about it. Yesterday H and I were near Macy’s, and I discovered they are closed on Easter. Looked at the display windows. H and I are off this week so it’s on my list of things to do. Right now it’s raining and H is still asleep (Holy Week is always exhausting) so probably not today.
Our basketball teams are out of the tournament now. Always sad when that happens.
Re asking the father - I’ve been married twice and I don’t think either guy even considered asking my father. Son did want to talk to his fiancé’s father, but he beat Son to the punch, scheduling a lunch together. If you recall the story, her father wanted to make sure Son was aware of his D’s medical conditions and that the time to bail was then if he wasn’t sure.
For One Shining Moment on Saturday night (after the two men’s games) I was sitting in first in my basketball pool (a group of 352!) I had to tell everyone because it’s not going to turn out well (I had Xavier in the final game) but Virginia’s loss to Syracuse did me in earlier than I had expected. But it’s still been fun because I’ve never been anything but last in a basketball pool before.
Cq, being married to a church musician and Son being a church tech guy, I can certainly relate to the exhaustion of Holy Week.
Alas, we are packing up the houseboat. We are loading our stuff into the back of our SUV and someone will put it on a truck tomorrow and drive it back east. Too soon to leave but I’m going to be spending almost the whole month out of town anyway (London, Frankfurt, Istanbul, Toronto, and California) so it probably is good not to be here. ShawWife produce 29 paintings – as always, she sold one to cover all of her costs of renting the studio – she is a frugal woman. She has had over a couple of galleries that would be interested in showing her work. Next year, we will stay for longer.
ShawSon asked if we could have dinner with him and GF on our last night. We canceled dinner plans with another couple at the best restaurant I’ve been to in the US to make that happen. We love our son.
“name that restaurant” Shaw!
Wow, that menu looks wonderful!
True love for sure Shaw!
My friend’s daughter is getting married, she is a full figured woman. not huge on top but pear ish shaped. She needs a dress and is struggling. any advice. I think she looks good with a jacket but open to all suggestions. I want her to look stunning.
Have I read the 200 or so pages I’ve missed since I last tried to catch up? No. Have I been gone so long that hoping to renter the conversation is a non-starter? I hope not because while I’ve kept some contact with peeps on FB, I miss the conversation here and frankly, want to know what all the kids are up to!
I am back in the Twin Cities - and officially submit an invitation for lunch to NMN and about time. It’s was a very long year but it was what it was. But I figure if you don’t keep growing, you’re surely headed in the wrong direction. Anyway… FINALLY have a place to call home and am now paralyzed having bought the place and knowing where to start! What I know for sure is that this is a group that has no trouble sharing an opinion!
A quick catch up of everyone would be awesome if, as I said, I haven’t missed just too much in a years time.
Good to see you here, Moda!
I see you on FB so this should be review, but the last two years have meant great change in my life. Seventeen months ago we moved from a small city in the midwest to the Big Apple for H to take a temporary assignment. I joke it’s like Green Acres in reverse, complete with the penthouse view!
I took a new job that has me traveling all over the US and occasionally overseas, doing software training at colleges and universities.
D graduated almost 3 years ago, and lives/works in Chicago. Made a job change in January to a different company. S will be graduating in May and is considering law school next.
Have just one dog now, who is almost 15 years old and has good days and bad days. Not sure how much longer he’ll be with us.
@downtoearth - does she want a traditional style wedding dress? Usually for a pear figure an A-line or full skirt is recommended. If she likes jackets and wants to balance the bottom half, maybe a bolero style jacket to add balance?
OMG Moda – SOOOOOO good to have you “back in the fold!” I don’t know about everyone else, but my friends and family just don’t get the attachment I have to this group.
You also see me on FB, so here’s the condensed version of our year: We’re 6 months in Cambridge and 6 months in RI, on the shore. H works from wherever he is, so we’re all about flexibility.
D (HS '06) is still working at dte’s hospital, as a Project Manager doing process improvement. She got engaged in November and will be getting married at the family camp we go to in NH – but not until September, 2017. (They only do 4 weddings a year since the place is used all summer for camp.)
S (my '09) is a 1st Lt. in the Air Force, currently almost half way through a 1 year assignment in South Korea. (I was much happier when he was based in NJ!) He oversees all non-runway maintenance and construction and co-manages a budget of $3 billion. H and I are going to see him toward the end of April – and then adding on other stops in South Korea, Japan, and HI. As usual, he’s not good at staying in touch, so we’ll be glad to see him in person.
Does your new home need a lot of work, or is it mostly redecorating?
Hi Moda! I was thinking about you lately, glad you checked in.
D (HS '09) was married in October, she is still living in Brooklyn and still loves her job. New SIL is getting his master’s while working full time.
S (HS’14) is in school in London this year. Still don’t know if he will go back there in the fall or return to the school he attended last year. I tell everyone I will know in September.
I am still working full time, office has changed locations and my commute is a bit longer, but not bad. I keep busy with yoga and walking and am starting a training program for a 5K.
That’s about it.
Moda, so so happy to have you back… I’m also loving the updates from everyone else because sometimes I have a hard time remembering what each kid is up to.
Son now wants to be a HS Soc. Studies teacher. If all works out (when has it, you ask) he will student teach at this time next year. He is getting married (to the GF of 8 years) in 8 weeks.
Middle D graduated from college in June and it working at a Big 4 in a northern city.
Younger D has 4 (or 5?) tattoos, is a sophomore at an OOS U, is doing very well and has a kitten.
My mother is still living, is mostly blind and miserable. Right now my sister is sending me pix of mom’s 17 page explanation of insurance benefits because my sister doesn’t want to incur the brain damage require to figure it all out.
I am at the same job, wondering how much longer I can last.
My last post was such a downer. Sorry! I didn’t mean it to be. My family of 5 is healthy and doing well and I am still gainfully employed. Is that better?
Moda, glad you are back. We are doing well. ShawWife and I are returning today from a fabulous 3 months on a houseboat in Sausalito. We have enjoyed meeting new people and the out of doors. ShawWife has produced about 30 paintings, that are being shipped back in our car. Her health got better here and then the boat had a problem and her breathing declined somewhat (though not nearly as bad as back home). ShawD is running all out to complete her clinicals so that she can graduate in May with her MSN. She had pneumonia which caused her to miss her at least a week of clinicals. ShawSon is in the first year of his MBA and still completing his Data Science/Computational and Mathematical Engineering degree. He has a great GF – we had dinner with them last night – and she is trying to figure out her next job as she is not enjoying her current job.ShawSon has two startups in his sight and has to pick one. One of the two really ties to his Data Science/CME skillset.
Saw the Macy’s Flower Show yesterday with H. I don’t think it was his thing. I don’t think he got the Outlander Season 2 costume exhibit at Saks Fifth Avenue either.