<p>I actually did retire in the spring of 2008 and loved it. Keeping busy was not a problem. Then H was downsized and his new position pays 25% less than the old position. That meant I had to un-retire even though I swore that would never, ever happen at the time I left. If we had moved our investments into 100% fixed income, high grade bonds before I retired, as in hindsight we should have, we might have been OK. But, we didn’t, so took a huge hit like many others. All you can do is remain flexible.</p>
<p>In other news, I see there is a GS cookie recall of the Lemon Chalet Creme cookie. Delivery for our service unit is next Wednesday. This is not good.</p>
<p>I have been reading this forum for quite a while but never posted anything. Here is my question: Our freshmen D told us this week that she wants to major in Psychology. We both are in science-oriented fields and don’t have any clues what’s the career path to this major. Could any parents who are in or familiar with this field offer us some inputs? Thanks.</p>
<p>Not to get off topic - if there ever is just one topic - but a week or so ago I joined my phone to my cable blah blah blah. As a bonus I was to get HBO… so they came yesterday and just now I watched that Temple Grandin. Man… way to end up emotionally exhausted before 3pm! Great movie.</p>
<p>Re Psych major: I’ve heard that it’s about as hard to get into a PhD program in clinical psychology as it is to get into med school; easier to get into law school. My son was planning to go the route of being a school diagnostician-type, which is a masters program. (But I predict he’ll change to English soon.)</p>
<p>Modadunn - wasn’t Temple Grandin wonderful? Emotionally exhausting, yes, but wonderful still. I still have it saved in TIVO, hoping to watch it again.</p>
<p>Hopefully her computer is down. something simple.
My sisiter called me outraged that my D1 is looking for internships near her college this summer instead of coming home. She thinks she should come home as ihave had a tough year. I said she should live her life and persue the things she needs to do to advance in her career. I guess this is the difference between someone who has kids and someone who doesnt. I apppreciated her concern but was taken aback. Dont we all think this way?</p>
<p>I’ve “known” Owlice for a long time – we’re both CTY parents who connected on another forum. I PMed her over a month ago and hope everything is okay as I’ve heard nothing from her. </p>
<p>I am going to be working for the rest of my life! I worked a half day today and headed over to see D who is leaving for break next Friday. Had to buy a bathing suit and of course that led to more shopping. A good “fix” for me --who was feeling sad and lonely this week.</p>
<p>grrrrrrrr
let me vent some
Dear Son did not get his housing deposit in and missed the lottery.
I hope to hear that he did not need the lottery because he has a group he is housing with, but I am seriously doubting that.
He called yesterday and left a message sayinghe needed $ in his account to pay the housing deposit and I though oh goodie, he is being proactive and making sure he is covered for housing but I started feeling uneasy and checked the college website. The deposit was due WEEKS a go, housing was assigned 2 days ago.
Called him tonight but he was in the middle of something or other (it sounded official - hopefully it was something for the idiots who did not get their names in the lottery) so I still have no idea what’s up - but I am seething.</p>
<p>I think Owlice last posted in late December. I too hope she is OK.</p>
<p>Sabaray, thanks for the reminder that spring break for S1 is coming up soon. He has not seen our house since last June even though he is an hour away so it would be nice if he swings by this upcoming break. The last time we spoke, he said he planned to go to Florida and wouldn’t be coming by the house unless he needed a car for the trip but thought he was all set. Oh well. If we want to see him, we go to him rather than the other way around. </p>
<p>In our area, there isn’t much for college age students to do. In contrast, the college towns have tons of activities all the time. S2 will need to go to summer school to catch up on the changed major thing, so expects to just get a regular job working fast food (which he has done before) or at a loading dock kind of thing (might as well get paid for exercise). Now that he has dropped his CS class, I have encouraged him to look for part-time work now rather than wait. </p>
<p>He got a lease on a house with a few friends around Thanksgiving, so the housing is a done deal. At his college there is very limited housing available for sophomores. I think they had trouble housing all of the freshman on campus last year, but there is a lot available within walking distance of campus. #TM, I’m sure something will pop up. There are probably kids who have deposits who end up deciding to drop out or transfer so spaces open up late. He just needs to get on the right lists.</p>
<p>We live in a college town but it doesn’t have a lot to offer D, unfortunately. This summer she’ll be doing a class and I’ve suggested employment at a retail establishment that offers an employee discount! Pretty sure she’ll be acting on that suggestion. </p>
<p>Desirable housing filled up pretty quickly it seems- amazingly D found an affordable two bedroom that she’ll share with one other girl. Trend seems to be towards these 4 bedroom/4 bath party palaces- glad she found something quieter with some privacy available when desired. </p>
<p>I doubt we’ll see much of D home in the future. We have a better time when we go to visit her- S will be returning home and there will be some issues to work out there that she’d rather not be involved in. So I’ve just resigned myself to driving over the mountain as needed.</p>
<p>I was surprised that DS plans to come home for all of spring break I think he wants some down time. </p>
<p>During short visit we had a chance to talk about classes for next year and he plans to stick with Physics and Math. He acknowledges that Calc III is really hard, but has found a classmate who makes a good study partner. (huge step for Mr.Stick-It-Out-On-My-Own)</p>
<p>Also he plans to take Creative Writing next semester, because he misses writing. (Never thought I’d hear those words!!!)</p>
<p>Argh, I find myself helicoptering again! DS said he may want to take a couple of classes at the local CC this summer so I spent a couple of hours seeing what might make sense for him. I’m pretty sure he’d have the same reaction as he would have in HS, which is that anything I suggest gets tossed out the window. Relax, mom, relax…</p>
<p>S is heading to Cleveland for spring break. Yes, you read that right! There’s a group of 8 of them taking a bus to where one of the kids is from. He says he doesn’t know what they’re going to do, but that it was cheaper than coming to Southern California. That will be a good story for him in life, that his first college spring break was in Cleveland! Fortunately, his school also has a five day Easter break (a big plus of going Jesuit!), so he’ll come home then. </p>
<h1>TM – Sorry to hear about the housing flub. If it’s any consolation, (to you andto Peltz who worries she is helicoptering…) I wholly suspect the reason McSon has a roof over his head next year is because the last six Sunday calls have went something along the lines of: “So, have you received the housing email yet? No? Have you made decisions? Do they affect me financially? Do you know what you are going to need to do? You realize that the good stuff fills up immediately, right? That you cannot dally? Are you sure you don’t want to live off campus? Are you sure you’ll pay the differential for the single room yourself?..”</h1>
<p>So, now that we actually know there is an executive functioning deficit, can I rationalize my own semi-heli-coptering ?? (Maybe, maybe not…)
Or should I instead pay the coach at the link I am about to post for you $95 /hr. to skype him each week and say “Have you received a housing email yet?..”</p>
<p>Just kidding (sort of) – I’m sure the coaching program involves more accountability than that. At any rate, we’re taking a look at these books, which are supposed to help kids who have executive functioning/organizatinal issues – I am sharing the link in case it interests you: [Managing</a> Your Mind](<a href=“http://www.managingyourmind.com%5DManaging”>http://www.managingyourmind.com)</p>
<p>And I am certain TMSon will land happily into a good situation. They always do (if only to prove us wrong ;)</p>
<p>I have no idea how Son’s classes are going … none. It seems we get half a conversation out with whatever is in the moment and then he has to go. It doesn’t help that he sounds terrible. I mean as in sick terrible. I can hear the lingering scratch in his throat that he says is from a cough, I can hear the stuffed up nose. And there is nothing I can do to convince him to get to the doctor. So, it seems we spend at least two or three minutes with me annoyed that he doesn’t sound good. As a result, I am going to put together a box of health to send him… vitamin C packets for water, some over the counter stuff etc. I just don’t even think he remembers what it feels like to be 100%. So any good stuff you can recommend would be appreciated.</p>
<p>His school is dorm living all four years and so I have heard nothing about deposits for next year… all I know he is probs living with his same roommate. H will see him over spring break because he’s decided to head out to Colorado with a couple guys because my inlaws place wasn’t rented. They’ll overlap by a few days, so H&D16 will stay with the parents and S&Friends will stay in what we call “the little house.” I won’t be going and will use the time to have the wood floors redone (fun!) but hopefully H will have a chance to have a normal conversation about what the plans are. Nothing set for summer etc. Basically, a lot of unknowns around here for now.</p>
<p>well as it happens S proves me wrong. He lucked out and a 6 person suite needed another person and he (luckily) jumped on it. Although he acknowledges that he should have put in for the lottery just in case (and because the better the number the better your choices of houses)
Anyway, he has a single in suite, it sounds very good, though I know it will cost more for the single, but at least he has a spot. He said he signed the contract for the house and the meal plan - still he has not put down any money so this worries me. I asked him to check on that but I think I will check at the same time.</p>
?? (Maybe, maybe not…)