<p>Just thinking if anyone is keen… feel free to PM me and Ill pass on my facebook details have loads of photos etc there would def be a peek into my different world!</p>
<p>sabaray, it’s too bad we can’t shake her on your behalf. We are headed that way this afternoon. In talking to S1 today he realizes he needs a suit for a Wednesday job fair he wants to go to just as a back-up in case the Rio opportunity falls through. For some stupid reason (I guess thinking about space) he had us bring home all of his dress clothes when we were up there last week-end. I really do like the fact that the college is close enough to do this without too much effort. We will enjoy taking him out to dinner. If S2 made these types of errors (which he never seems to do), it wouldn’t be possible.</p>
<p>I have half a mind to drive over there myself but would have to make it over the Mountain and back in the dark. And I’m not eager to do so. </p>
<p>It is just so frustrating to see great opportunities being poorly managed. And just general social immaturity rising to the forefront. Some of you have complained of too little interaction/communication with your college student- there are quite a few times where I wish I wasn’t getting so much! I’m sure things will work themselves out but it’s just challenging to experience it with the child who always seemed so in control of things. Well, if she loses opportunities it will be only herself to blame for it.</p>
<p>Darn furnace went out again last night. 59 degrees this morning. Then started by itself a little bit ago after we called for service. Oh, well they’re not coming until tomorrow. It might be about time for a new furnace. sigh…yet another expense.</p>
<p>So sorry sabaray!!! I was also a little frustrated with D2 this weekend. She didn’t come home but stayed in her apartment all weekend by herself. Wrote a few papers and other homework on Friday night, grocery shopped on Saturday afternoon and not quite sure about last night. There were some activities on campus that I mentioned to her but she has absolutely no interest in doing anything there. No complaints on her part but it drives me crazy!</p>
<p>I just sent H on his way without me. I don’t like being on the road after dark when it will surely get very icy. H is from Wisconsin, while I grew up in California so I guess he takes it more in stride. If some other driver hits him he will need somebody to take care of him and he has The Fountainhead book on tape to listen to, which is 26 CDs so he needs the listening time. You can tell I feel guilty and am just making excuses here. </p>
<p>NM, I know what you’re saying but at least doing extra homework is not as bad as the alternative. S2 has exams next week and while he talks a good game, I’m not sure he actually implements. His last email said something about needing to play dodgeball. Sabaray, I hope things work out for your D. S2 has not been as aggressive with an internship opportunity as I would have liked, but he is not one that can be either led or pushed so I never really get my hopes up with him. I just kind of toss ideas out and if they take, it’s a mini miracle. S1 is much more open to advice.</p>
<p>I know the frustration of watching from a distance and wondering, why did she make THAT choice? Why doesn’t she get involved in this (obviously perfect for her) activity?</p>
<p>And yet, from a different perspective, my D spent a fair bit of time in her room this weekend, because she wanted to get ahead on her work. She just auditioned for and made it into the spring dance performance (she’s thrilled) but it will take a lot of time.</p>
<p>But last weekend she had an unpleasant encounter with two of her friends after they’d had a little too much to drink (D doesn’t drink). She got kind of fed up with their rudeness and immaturity, which they said “isn’t our fault, we’re drunk.” D couldn’t quite stomach that, so told me she just needed a little break from them…</p>
<p>Someone told me that the people kids hang out with at the beginning of freshman year are rarely those they stick with by the end – but now D seems to be, possibly, on the verge of recreating her social world …</p>
<p>I feel like I could save D from a lot of pain if she’d just listen to me. I guess to some extent they have to find their own way. But I also am reminded of the words of a good friend with slightly older kids: Keep talking; you don’t think they’re listening, but they are.</p>
<p>Don’t we all wish our Ds or Ss would just listen to us. It’s not like we haven’t all been through the growing up process but you would think it was invented just for them. There are times…</p>
<p>Oh well this too shall pass I’m sure.</p>
<p>D hasn’t been feeling well and called in a very b****y mood yesterday. Hard to talk with someone when no mater what you say it’s not right. She was supposed to go on a school ski trip but it was canceled due to the cold. She was trying to go today. Not sure it she went or not and then was crabbing that she COULDN’T study. Its just wouldn’t sink in. Well like I can do anything about that other than to tell her to take a break and try again later? Ugh… </p>
<p>S is still trying to decide on which grad school. Wish he’d make up his mind soon.</p>
<p>Well, D and I had a long talk this afternoon. 45 minutes, which is a long time for her- she hates to talk on the phone. </p>
<p>I think now that it is second semester some of the “shine” of college life has worn off. People are more familiar, and the drama that was perhaps exciting first semester is now old in the second term. I think a large part of my frustration was D’s reliance on text messaging, facebook and gchat for communication. Just doesn’t work for this old fogey. Need some intonation and inflection to communicate so the message can be adjusted if necessary. </p>
<p>It was a rough week for her on several fronts, I think. Lots of drama with a selective organization she’s a member of; trying to embrace the Greek scene; friendship issues as a result of a packed schedule; a boatload of work and just general anxiety. I try to remember that. So a lengthy pep talk, a list of items to complete/attempt/accomplish and an agreement to limit our online communications but speak to each other at mutually convenient times were agreed upon. I think it will help her to keep on track. Maybe I’m a micromanaging helicopter parent, but so be it. If all I am doing is reminding her to meet with the program director to talk about some of the issues, it might actually get done. Can’t advise her on engineering issues, but I can advise her to meet with the people who can. </p>
<p>In about two months she’ll have to declare a major. I think that weighs heavy on her as she’s looking at engineering as a stepping stone to graduate work that may not necessarily be in engineering. Hopefully having some of the meetings will help to resolve some of her uncertainty. </p>
<p>Zetesis, I think you’re right about the friendships at the beginning of the year- those have pretty much gone by the wayside. On the other hand, girls she was not particularly close to at the beginning of the year are now among her closest friends. </p>
<p>Glad to know I’m not the only one having issues! Come on spring! Brighten everyone’s mood!</p>
<p>Maybe that’s it for us up north. Haven’t seen much of the son or been able to get out much. It’s been too cold for most things or too warm to have snow. I like to snowshoe when it’s cold or go skiing. Haven’t been skiing this year because hubby has been having some knee issues and I like to go with him after breaking my leg skiing a few years back. Just don’t like to go alone.</p>
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<p>Today we replaced our thermostat. We had already replaced the battery in the old thermostat, but it still didn’t kick the furnace on when it should (we had a few chilly nights too…). It may just be your thermostat - they sell them in blister packs at Menards, where I got mine. Stay warm!</p>
<p>NM, we are nursing a 42-year-old furnace along (H. being of the mind if it ain’t broke…) and are considering getting it replaced (although it keeps ticking along) and I will tell you with the tax credit applied you can get a lot of furnace for the money right now. The only reason we hesitate is because we KNOW we will never have a trouble-free-run-for-40-years-with-no-complaints furnace again and we’re enjoying the maintenance free phenom of quality ; )</p>
<p>H&I drove around town today and looked at downsizing. But after so long in the same house, it’s hardly downsizing if we get less square footage for more money. But we are definitely getting on the same wave length. </p>
<p>Now… if I can find someone to kick my butt in gear and be ruthless about telling me to throw out stuff etc, I’d really be on top of my game. I honestly think I need one of those HGTV shows to come to my house!!</p>
<p>We spent yesterday cleaning out the “playroom”. Tonight one of our friends came and got some of the toys for their grand kids so it’s already out of our house!!! YEAH!!! We have kept some stuff (Legos, Playmobile, American Girl stuff) for our grand kids some day. I probably kept too much but it is so hard to let go out some of these things!</p>
<p>We have a closet under the stairs that we finished out specifically for legos. Son and friends went in there over Christmas break and when I looked in there there were HUGE creations left behind. So my point is… they never grow out of legos.</p>
<p>And I meant to mention it earlier… glad to hear you had a nice long chat with your D, Sabaray. Just be glad she is contact and yes, I agree… just keep talking, they really are listening.</p>
<p>Now this is just too weird - we replaced our thermostat today too. Unfortunately, our heat did not start up again, so the downstairs is a chill 54 degrees, while our upstairs is toasty.</p>
<p>Modadunn – so true about the Legos – my college boyfriend and I used to hang out in his room playing with Legos. His mom was quite puzzled by this…</p>
<p>When we moved 3+ years ago, I cleaned out A LOT of stuff – but kept all of S’s Lego & K’nex sets. That stuff will never go out of style. </p>
<p>For anyone getting ready to tackle a “purge the house” project, try Freecycle. It’s a Yahoo group – do a search for a local group near you. You list/describe what you want to give away (it’s only for free stuff, not stuff you want to sell) and then someone who wants it comes to your house and takes it away. Best thing ever!! I guess there’s also a “Free” section on Craigslist.</p>
<p>Saw S yesterday afternoon. We drove up for a Parents’ Open House at the fraternity he’s pledging. Not where I’d want to live, but I’m sure he’ll enjoy it. 
It will actually save us money on Room & Board next year. Had a nice lunch after at the on campus restaurant.</p>
<p>Modadunn, we have thought about the downsizing a lot. We initially expected to put our house on the market as soon as S2 graduated from high school and then decided it didn’t make sense because of the depressed real estate market. Now I’m thinking we will probably wait until he graduates from college. The house is too big for two. When we bought it, I had a heavy travel job so we had live-in help when the kids were younger. I wanted enough space to keep the nanny happy when off duty and places I could go to find peace and quiet, when desired. We have shut the doors and turned off the heat on much of the upstairs (four of the bedrooms and two of the baths), so that helps with the cleaning and electric bill but there are still rooms downstairs that never get used and the outside maintenance is a never ending chore. We can do the mowing and edging but the weeding, trimming, and mulching gets away from us so the beds look pretty ragged in the summer. I’m sure our neighbors all hate us and wish we would get a lawn service.</p>
<p>We replaced our HVAC last week. The good thing is that they had a 12 months no intereste deal. The units dated from 1986; the AC problem was the issue. It would leak in very hot weather (causing one of those ceiling issues to which we were all confessing a few months ago.) The AC guy said the units were rusted through.</p>
<p>Brrrr…temps down to 58 degrees. The furnace will start, run for a minute and shut down. Tries to restart but stalls out. The repair people will be here between noon and 4. It is a little chilly. Don’t believe it is the thermostat as we replaced it just a few years ago. Definitely something with the ignition/starter and whatever keeps it running. Hey…does shivering burn extra calories??? 
Wow…isn’t that strange we are all having HVAC prolems!!!</p>