<p>Cardinal Fang - Good Lord! I am so sorry to hear of those tragedies. I feel like a bit of an ass for worrying about a stupid party.
{{{{HUGS}}} to you…
NMinn - I’m too much of a control freak, we’ll see…</p>
<p>Saw son on ESPN last night cheering for his school’s basketball team. Today I received a text message telling me that being on TV was the greatest achievement of his life. LOL. I told him that he was setting his sights a bit low.</p>
<p>Woody, I didn’t mean for you to feel bad. And I think you should have the party, if you think the bank account can stand it. You said, “This party was FUN! … So much fun!!” Probably the guests thought the same way.</p>
<p>Oh, Fang, so sorry…so sad. Woody, could you have the party in a different way? Dessert? Potluck? Cookie exchange?</p>
<p>oh Cardinal Fang, that is terrible. every parent’s nightmare. I am so sorry. and the friend with the potentially suicidal child - I hope she is getting support from the school?</p>
<p>NM - what sad news. and a bit of a wake-up call for me. my sister’s family is in terrible shape - her H has moved out, 20 yr old son dropped out after 1 yr of college (very bright, probably has undiagnosed LDs); 18 yr old D accepted at state flagship for this year but my sister “forgot” to apply for financial aid so D is at community college (and was busted for pot last spring); 16 yr old D just hospitalized for several days with stress-induced migraines that weren’t responding to meds; 7 yr old S with LDs and behavior issues - he’s been at my house for a few days while sis deals with D in hospital.</p>
<p>I don’t know when or how things got this bad for her family and now that the kids are becoming adults I am becoming more worried about drugs, unintended pregnancy, etc. </p>
<p>sorry. didn’t mean to vent. it’s been an exhausting few days.</p>
<p>woody - have the party! can I come? after I get home from seeing missypie’s trees?</p>
<p>On the subject of parties, ShawbridgeMom used to feel like she had to make every party into a work of art (and sometimes still does). We’ve had color-themed dinners [Every dish was black and white; or red], geographically themed (usually from a country we’ve just come back from, etc. Salads that could be works of art. Very elegant displays on the table [once a cleaning lady came to me the next day and said, "The flower petals on the table. Is it art or can I clean it up?] </p>
<p>I’ve persuaded her to be more casual except for occasions of state and she is much more relaxed. woody, if you can do it in a relaxed way, great but stay sane.</p>
<p>My own preference is for small gatherings where you can really talk to people.</p>
<p>The mom of the girl hasn’t talked to the school. Hasn’t even told them her daughter is having problems, despite my urging. I seriously considered calling the school’s counseling office myself and saying “You know Troubled Girl? The one who was in a psychiatric hospital a couple of years ago for being suicidal? She’s acting very depressed again, could you just keep an eye on her?” but decided it was a bad idea.</p>
<p>CF–you can do it anonymously if you are sure you have actual facts–such as a true hospitalization and real reasons to believe she is in trouble now. Just say you have information and while you expect no information in return that you wanted to let someone responsible know. Remember that sometimes what a kid tells a parent is somewhat enhanced to how it really is–after all we have always been their source of comfort.
How very very sad, too, for your friends D’s sudden death. So good that you are there for them.</p>
<p>We used to have a huge New Years Day party where it was our one party a year for just about everyone we know. I basically did a huge ham and a bunch of hordeorves and everyone else brought a little something to share. We did beer and wine and my husband made his famous bloody marys. It worked out really well because it involved a lot of football etc. It made for a crazy week before Christmas and New Years and I hated going out new years eve. I was thnking of doing it again and hiring D16 and some friends to serve like I used to for older D. Still on the fence but it would be nice to include the families S graduated with. But I agree, it’s a really expensive proposition at the busiest time of the year.</p>
<p>CF, how terrible about the freak accident. I don’t know…last year was a year of financial calamity, but this year it seems like there is just so much death of not-old people.</p>
<p>Woody, if (a) you truly enjoy hosting the party, and (b) can do it in a way that won’t break the bank, have the party! I think there will be a lot fewer holiday parties this year (my law firm is doing a big fat nothing) ,so I think your guests will appreciate it more than ever.</p>
<p>Last evening I received the dreaded “Mom, I’m sick” phone call from Son. Oh I so wish they got out of school tomorrow instead of Tuesday. I told him to go to health services as soon as it opens this morning and to insist on a prescription for Tamiflu if they think it’s flu. I actually think it’s just a terrible cold but H wanted to call health services to make sure Son got Tamiflu.</p>
<p>H and I do a sit down for 9 couples before Christmas every year. Big sit down soup to nuts type of gathering. We all have a blast. I wouldn’t miss it for the world. I always try something different and love doing it. This year we are going to try buffalo I think. Still need to figure out where to order it however. I love it although it’s one more thing to do during the holiday season. I am also a bit of a control freak so I do all the cooking. I usually take the day before off from work to get some of it done then and get the house cleaning started. Love it but lots of work. Love pulling out the china etc. Don’t use it enough.</p>
<p>You have a table large enough for 18 (or is it 9 couples plus you, thus 20)? And a dining room large enough to fit a table for 20?</p>
<p>missypie, I think it’s a good idea you insisted your S go to the health center. When my D had H1N1 in August, it started out exactly like a bad cold – she didn’t get the fever until the next afternoon.</p>
<p>And I loved your comment about the graham cracker cabinet! Too funny!</p>
<p>One morning a few years ago I returned home from being at the gym for a couple hours to find a huge, loud waterfall in the middle of my kitchen. The hose to the washing machine upstairs broke and was putting out an amazing amount of water. It had been going long enough that there was 3 inches of water on the first and second floors, and it had gone down the stairs and walls to the basement, which was almost completely flooded. What a mess. This happened about 4 days before Thanksgiving, and we weren’t able to move back in until Dec. 22.</p>
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<p>Every parent has to make that decision of when is the proper point to leave their kids home alone (no baby sitter) for the first time. H and I decided it was time…it was daylight and we were just at the city pool 5 blocks away. We were so surprised to see D RUNNING to us at the pool…the upstairs toilet was flooding and water was pouring down the hallway. So, I guess they weren’t old enough to be left alone. (First ceiling repair.)</p>
<p>I’ve decided that life is too short and we all need to sing a little more. I’m having the party!</p>
<p>Good for you Woody!!!</p>
<p>Cardinal Fang, I think your instincts are right. The girl’s mother probably doesn’t want a label to stick to her daughter, but her daughter needs support. They will never know if you make an anonymous call as oregon101 says and you may save a life.</p>
<p>My impression is that most of the freshman class is sagging right about now with Thanksgiving break on the horizon, counting down the days!</p>
<p>Woody, your party will be happy times for everyone lucky enough to know you–bless you for spreading the cheer!</p>
<p>Yeah Woody… I will look for the invite in my virtual mail!</p>
<p>When I was first married we lived in a townhouse. Our neighbors went home to Chicago for Christmas and the H TURNED OFF THE HEAT. On December 26th I woke up to find my entire family room flooded, including all the presents under the tree. The common wall was bleeding water through it’s surface. We had a key to their place and I went in only to find it literally raining inside. The pipes had burst in multiple places. Everything was ruined. To this day I am freaked about leaving town during the winter for fear our heater’s pilot would go out (which it has done in almost every home we’ve ever lived at least once a winter). </p>
<p>Miserable grey (or is it gray?) day here… D16 is bummed because she thinks she isn’t gong to make Varsity basketball and was a complete mope last night which made my life completely stressful. She is so impossible to try to cheer up that I went to “bed” at 8 but didn’t actually go to sleep until nearly 1am. With H out of town, looks like a good day for a nap.</p>
<p>I wondered why Son didn’t have a better position at registration since he should have had 15 hours of AP credits. After asking Son to check into it, I finally broke down and emailed the Registrar. According to him, they have not received the official report from the College Board. Did we really forget to do that???!!!</p>
<p>Just got off the phone with College Board. They confirmed that we had never requested that they send an official AP exam score report anywhere. LOL, why didn’t y’all remind me to do that??? What in idiot I am. I spend untold hours on CC and still forget something like that!</p>