<p>Oh dear for Fang Jr. So sorry Cardinal.
Happy New Year all.</p>
<p>Off to play Scrabble with brother and family who are heare until tomorrow.</p>
<p>Ouch Cardinal… my son would have been ballistic. Last year son was working on college essays when it went up in proverbial smoke. Now all word documents are “saved” every three minutes or something ridiculous every three minutes. Another good thing about a MAC… I’ve never had a doc go missing however every once in a while when I open a new document and it’s number 6 or 7, I realize I have a few I’ve forgotten about! :)</p>
<p>Happy New Year, everyone! Newbie here and happy to have found this thread. Wish I’d found it much earlier! D1 is an international student so this was our first Christmas and New Year with her so far away 
But she has had a great first semester (all A’s and 1 B - in math) and is very happy at school, so it’s all good :)</p>
<p>D1 will be home for the summer. So while I wish the days would fly by, a big part of me is savoring every moment of D2’s final semester of high school. I’m not in any hurry to say goodbye to this part of my life! <em>sobs</em> D2 is now in the midst of applying to art school. Having said that though, the apps process is more fun the second time around. </p>
<p>Here’s to hoping 2010 will be a great year for all!</p>
<p>welcome Mirall</p>
<p>Happy to report the mini facials at Origins were wonderful! I’m sure it helped that D & I booked these on New Year’s Day, when things pretty quiet at the mall. Also, I’m sure the experience varies widely, depending on the skill, knowledge, and just plain personality of the Origins rep. The young man we had was great. Since I was almost out of several items I use in my (minimal) face care routine, I was prepared to buy stuff anyway – although he really wasn’t giving us a high pressure pitch. </p>
<p>Our mailbox is back together – not sure how many more times it can be repaired. Oh, and we all went to see The Blind Side last night. A real feel good movie; very nice. Now I’m staring at the tree and other decorations, trying to work up the motivation to start taking things down.</p>
<p>With S2 and H gone (they get home tonight), I never got the TV turned on yesterday, so missed the Rose Parade and all the football games. Classes start on the 11th for S2, so he has another week at home. He is easy to have around and keeps H entertained but cooking for two is easier than cooking for three. </p>
<p>One of S2’s friends, who was given a January admit, leaves for college today. He went to cc in the fall so his adjustment will be interesting to watch. His mother and I are walking buddies so I get regular updates. It sounds like he moves into his dorm room on Sunday, takes a placement exam, meets with an advisor to sign up for classes, and starts classes all in the same week. His mom thinks there was an orientation they could have gone to in October, but they never made it to that. She is a warm, loving SAHM who is habitually overscheduled, so misses deadlines and confuses details. The son has told his mom he has it all under control, but is a laid back type so his perspective is open to interpretation, in my view. His mom is stressing about the room decor, yet doesn’t know what classes he plans to take. They were planning to drive down in two cars because her son “needs” a car to be able to go surfing on week-ends. I did suggest to her that she might want to rethink that. My son hates it when I mess up his friends’ lives but I just couldn’t let that stand with no comment. I’m sure her son will talk her into letting him keep the car anyway.</p>
<p>CBBBlinker, the Blind Side was a feel-good movie but a seriously interesting, thoughtful book by Michael Lewis (author of Liars Poker, Moneyball, etc.). The thoughtful part starts out with his wondering why left tackles are the second highest paid position, is delightful.</p>
<p>Happy 2010 to everyone!</p>
<p>I go back to work Monday, but DS has another week at home. I hope the weather holds so that the heavy duty yard work can get finished. (Much of our summer was more than 100 degrees, so plenty of delayed maintenance around here.)</p>
<p>DS’s GF will come to stay with us for a few days before the dorms open. One of the most interesting aspects will be that she is vegetarian, DS is a meat-o-vore (eats almost no veggies), DH does all our cooking and prides himself on his bbq, steaks, pot roasts… My plan is to stay out of the kitchen as much as possible.</p>
<p>The Ohio School for the Blind marching band was so touching. It would be very cool to be one of their escorts.</p>
<p>I student taught at our state school for the deaf. Same town as the state school for the blind. They wrestled against each other. Think about it. (BTW, the blind kids creamed the deaf kids - that is their sport.)</p>
<p>Most of the trees are undecorated. Need to finish up the giant living room tree that requres use of the ladder purchased for the sole purpose of deaing with a giant Christmas tree. It’s going so quickly that I think we might try to squeeze in some movies. Youngest D has 3 hour cheer practices today and tomorrow. Older D has a 5 hour musical rehearsal today. January has started with a vengence.</p>
<p>With all the quiet time undecorating yesterday, there was way too mucy time to think. I realized that I am still seriously ill about how Son’s semester went.</p>
<p>Welcome, Mirallwood! CBB, the “carrot” I have for myself to get the tree down is/are the movie tickets (for “Up in the Air” DH just bought on Fandango–we’ll go to the local mall, return a book I got for xmas, buy the MIL a birthday gift, and see the movie and “do” dinner after…IF I get the tree down. So down it damn well come! And, hopefully, all the other christmas decor with it. Where would we be without all those wonderful plastic storage tubs?</p>
<p>Welcome Mirallwood!</p>
<p>I’m with all of you, putting away the Hanukkah decorations. My “carrot”: dinner guests arriving in 6 hours :eek: Luckily DH is making most of dinner. Won’t have time to clean the candle wax out of all the menorahs, that will have to wait.</p>
<p>mp - sorry you are reliving the pain and disappointment of S’s semester. Wish I had words of wisdom for you other than “this too shall pass.” Inadequate I know, but do know I am thinking of you.</p>
<p>I feel like we just got our tree up. I may leave it for one more week, since S is home for another week. I’ll just pretend it is still Christmas.
We finally have some significant snow, and now it started raining on it. grrrr
Makes the x-country skiing (part of my new year fitness/diet program) unpleasant
I start the diet tomorrow - family just left a few minutes ago - H just taxied them down the hill to their car in a snowcat! My young nephew was in tears becasue he did not want to leave. We were up til 1 again last night playing <em>Dictionary</em> and laughing hysterically, and the teens all got out their iPods to share <em>their</em> music - a surprising amount of it which was actually <em>ours</em>
But it is back to reality time. Have not dared step on the scale for the past week. I hope it is not too much of a shocker tomorrow.</p>
<p>MissyPie
I know the feeling. It keeps creeping up on me just when I am doing something routine.</p>
<p>H left to take S to airport for his 6am cst flight and then I got a phone call at 5:10 am to say he forgot his wallet! So there I was racing to the airport at 5:12 arriving at 5:25 (which only proves how fast I was driving!!). Then he texted to say they landed an hour late and then about 5 minutes later he texted to say they didn’t land in Boston because of snow and had to refuel/de-ice in NY before heading back in that direction. His suitemate has been waiting since 11am est!.</p>
<p>Oh man Moda</p>
<p>I was worried about the flight back to New England next week for S before your post. Now I am REALLY worried.</p>
<p>Let us know when he arrives safe and sound</p>
<p>Oh modadunn, I think you’re the first one to send one back? I’m sure he’ll make it back to his destination soon. DD is around for another week. </p>
<p>DH, D, and DS are at a movie so I’m slowly putting the Christmas decorations back in storage and various closets. </p>
<p>missypie-we also have one of those ladders specifically bought for the extra tall tree. Once the family returns it will be up to DS and DH to dismantle the tree and remove the decorations on the top. Even with the ladder I’m a bit too short for the task.</p>
<p>H and I got the decorations put away and the tree dismantled today. The only thing left are outdoor lights that are frozen and won’t be able to be put away until we have a decent thaw. Heading to dinner and a hockey game this evening. D2 is out and about and then going to the Gopher hockey game. Not sure if she will see what is happening down on campus. She went to the casino for the first time ever last night. Spent $8…good girl! Can barely keep track of her. Her surgery is at the end of the week so she is busy now but will probably be down for the count next weekend. Thinking she will hear from one of the transfer schools next week. Keeping my fingers crossed in regards to merit aid.</p>
<p>Welcome Mirallwood! Happy New Year!</p>
<p>Maybe the first one back, but I’ve had him home since the 12th or something like that of December! It was time. :)</p>
<p>He called a little while ago and had finally arrived to his friends house. I think the plane landed sometime around 3 and so it was 9 hours sitting on a plane for him today. I am sure he is relieved to be there. Plus… it’s like 30 there whereas he it’s something ridiculously close to that BELOW zero wind chills. So he’s got that going for him.</p>
<p>H&I watching football (Ole Miss v Oklahoma). Wild game but you’d never know it from the score at this point!</p>
<p>Welcome Mirallwood!!</p>
<p>HA NMN – Son went to the casino the night before new years and lost $60! He was up and then broke even when a friend had a “killer hand” and wanted to double down so they all chipped in blah blah blah. His loss, but stupid stupid stupid. H said if he was going to give away money so easily he really should just play against him!</p>
<p>Another disappointing shopping trip with D. She received cash for Christmas and wants a couple of new shirts to wear for going out at college. Problem is that she would like something sleeveless or spaghetti strap sleeves and that is just not what is in the stores in Rochester in Jan. Not that she will have any better luck in Maine I would think at this time of year. I ordered a couple of tops that she picked out for Christmas presents but once sh saw them she didn’t really like them so they went back also. She is picky - and more so when it’s HER money. I’m out of options in the Rochester area now. She’s starting to look on line again…</p>
<p>Rochester Mom - D is checking out the forever 21 site as we speak. She wants something dressy and a little skimpy in the event she gets invited to some frat thing. Apparently, the frat parties in spring semester turn into invite-only parties and are a bit more dressy than the usual t-shirts and jeans. Who knew?</p>