<p>NM – what’s the delivery time from alice dot com?</p>
<p>It was just a few days. You can call their customer service and ask. They were super nice and helpful when I called to ask how to input her college address the first time. I even sent her laundry detergent and bathroom cleaner the last time…she said the box was really heavy! ;)</p>
<p>D is DONE!!! I-90 and the Thruway are both closed along Lake Erie, so she has to go hours out of way to get home, but better safe than sorry. Part of Western NY life I guess…it is the first time in years that Erie lake effect has gotten to where I am…</p>
<p>Happy Hanukkah to those celebrating, the snow on the menorah outside of our town looks so pretty…</p>
<p>Rachcha…wishing your D a safe and speedy way home!</p>
<p>Just in time for Hanukkah:</p>
<p>[Star</a> Trek LED Menorah Design is Nine Times as Geeky | Walyou](<a href=“http://www.walyou.com/blog/2009/12/10/star-trek-led-menorah-design/]Star”>http://www.walyou.com/blog/2009/12/10/star-trek-led-menorah-design/)</p>
<p>Sigh. I think ALL of you get your kids before McSon trundles home. He could have written his last exam early (as in next Thurs.) but due to workload decided to write it in the Dec. 22nd slot and also decided to take a gig on 19th. So he will be about the last kid turning off the dormlights. On the up side, I get to keep him this xmas, so I won’t pout : )</p>
<p>I am already wondering what my two will be doing for their lengthy breaks. S will be home Tuesday; D on Wednesday. She has an exam from 7 to 10 p.m. Tuesday. Who thinks of these time slots! Then she’s home until the 17th of January, S goes back a week earlier. D doesn’t seem overly stressed over finals; she has three and then had a large portfolio due and a final paper. </p>
<p>I am really thankful not to be up north right now. Family in Buffalo; D considered UMich for school; makes me glad I only have to worry about a bit of fog on a mountain when retrieving D. Of course, I still have to do 99% of my Christmas shopping. Seems I came to the right thread for suggestions!</p>
<p>Haha! D2 just texted and said she is renting a shovel to get her car dug out of the snow banks! Just made me laugh since she doesn’t shovel at home or run the snowblower! At least she figured it out! 
Oh, and another test finished today! Three more to go next week! And her first weekend at school that there is no soccer and she is not coming home! Can you believe it!?!?! A milestone, indeed!</p>
<p>One week and counting down. S arrives around midnight next Friday and he will be home for 22 days. Bet he’ll be ready to go back after that LOL</p>
<p>S not home until the 19th and then wisdom teeth out the 21st. Should be a fun week:( as he is not a very fun patient. GF will no doubt be around but NOT in his bedroom:D. Both H and I did not like it over Thanksgiving (the all of 2 hours it happened with the door OPEN even). H told him that it is not Ok ongoing. Funny story though–I found a nice female belt in his room and thought it was his GF and was going to make a huge deal out of it. My D told me to leave it on the floor and low key it. Well! it turned out it was their cousins as she used his rooom a few weeks ago. I would have made such a fool of myself. But what else is new!</p>
<p>Have a party to go to tonight and need a hostess gift. Think I will give the Andrea Bocelli Christmas CD. Has anyone listened to it? Is it any good???</p>
<p>Hmm…I need to buy three hostess gifts and nothing I’ve seen inspires me. Usually I see a cute little something that I’m too practical to buy for myself, so I buy it as a hostess gift. The CD sounds like a good idea. All the folks on my list are big “music snobs” so I don’t dare buy them a CD.</p>
<p>Whoa…how come the last few posts don’t show up and moves this thread to page two!?</p>
<p>edit: That was sooo strange! Now back.</p>
<p>kmcrindle, ShawbridgeSon will be home on the 22nd as well. But, he’s been home several times because he has had several tournaments in Boston and stays over and gets a ride back, so we’re less deprived.</p>
<p>NM, I posted a reply to your hostess gift post about 30 minutes ago and it hasn’t appeared.</p>
<p>Was it a good post missypie??? Haha! Was it zapped by the naughty censors??? ;)</p>
<p>There is something wrong with the way the postings are appearing this afternoon. I posted something on another thread and it appears above the OP and shows a weird time. And it wasn’t even naughty.</p>
<p>I think it has to do with the overload from yesterday’s ED announcements. I remember cc got wacky like this last year as well…
Oregon - D is having her 2 remaining wisdom teeth out on the 21st. I think I’m dreading it more than she!</p>
<p>NM - if the Andrea Bocelli CD has the “What Child is This” duet with Mary J Blige they did on Oprah, that alone is worth it!</p>
<p>D finally made it - eight hours for a trip that normally takes five, but she is in one piece!</p>
<p>Rachacha–Glad to hear your D made it home. After watching the news I was a bit worried for her too. You must be relieved and HAPPY! </p>
<p>NMinn–compared to lots of the country our weather wasn’t so bad, but I worry because I have a new driver in the house, and they do a terrible job of snow removal here. Just 1/2 inch can turn into an icy mess on our hills and curves. I was almost hit head on Monday morning with just a light snow. I still expect “Chicago style” snow removal/salting. I think I’ll have to keep waiting for that. </p>
<p>One of my nephews has a mental and physical disablity. One interesting thing about people with his disability is their musical precociousness, and their love of music. He was a VERY difficult infant and toddler (still is sometimes), but Andrea Bocelli could always sooth him. I’ll have to find the CD and have it around for Christmas. It sounds wonderful. </p>
<p>missypie–I hope it helps to know you’re not alone in looking at a pay decrease. My business is way down this year. DH’s is also down, but we anticipated that and have become used to the income highs/lows that come with self-employment. Still doesn’t make it easy though. </p>
<p>Happy Hanukkah</p>