<p>I had to call an IT guy to get me back on line computers would not connect to the internet, then BTW can you hook us up to the printer we couldnt figure that out either
Fingers crossed for TM son.
NM that sounds good. I do agree it helps the family. My H has no clue what to fix. my D loved the risotto that was sent over. My friend sent a curried soup but I could not eat it. I was sicker than most on chemo, my doctor said someone had to be on the wrong side of the curve I guess I failed Chemo 101. I am doing very well so far in rads. I eat better but dont love it. I lost 70 pounds in this process so although how I did it was tough I like fitting into clothes. although people dont recognize me -new body and “hairstyle” LOL One lady at the school who had not seen me said 'I love your hair, it makes you look so much younger" (a wig)
Its a tragedy for both sides, it seems people resort to violence so much easier than they used to. Its scary to think about. I hope all the kids are safe. D will be home this weekend. got a great internship no job couldnt stay. but will look for one here has a few interviews.
dont you think 2k is a lot to paint a house when 3 sides of it are shingles, and the bottom trim has already been painted?</p>
<p>I loved The Soul of the New Machine. One of the few books on my keeper shelf. </p>
<h1>TM, I admire the support you are showing your S in your posts. H wants to read our S2 the riot act, who as you remember dropped a beginner CS course and changed majors to avoid a retake, and now is also struggling with physics. I like your approach. As long as our S doesn’t give up on himself, I don’t want to give up on him either. He is our mule. We have to give him his head to find his own way. If we pull on the reins, all of his effort gets distracted into pulling back and fighting us. But if we let go, he starts choosing his footing more carefully.</h1>
<p>TM - Am crossing my fingers for you!
RM - My bet is that the LISP you learned was the beginning of what branched off as Schema from the original LISP (recursion ridden/academic variant?) since I am told “Common LISP” is actually used today in the ole RW – (and yes, it is different from java but it is conceivable to be exposed to both in the same course if one is discussing data structures, approaches to object oriented programming, etc., though LISP is expression based but also handy in OOP.) </p>
<p>I say this of course with no actual direct programming experience whatsoever but with daily exposure to geekspeak. Kind of like a horse whisperer, they say I am the geek whisperer (aka how are we coming along on that project? Not good? How come? (forty minutes of explanation). Okay, when WILL you be done? ; ) Just kidding, sort of…(toddles off to cry a spell…)</p>
<p>Well I spent 18 years writing code. I was a consultant for 15 years so was basically at the mercy of the client – what ever language they wanted me to use with their standards I had to pick up very quickly. I even had to learn Ada (which isn’t used that much) at least in the North East. Even as an engineering manager I still need to keep up. It is very much a culture where you learn the basic fundamentals and then the idea is that you can carry out those fundamentals in any language. Some easier than others but there is a push to be able to pick up a new language quickly and easily. That is typically the push in the first year or two to make sure that you have the ability (although that perhaps isn’t the right word) to do that.</p>
<p>kmccrindle - you are probably correct in that the LISP I learned was a much older version. We also started out with Pascal - which I don’t know if ANYONE uses. Most of my jobs have been in either C or C++ over the years with a tad of JAVA and C# (pronounced C sharp) thrown in. I have done a bit of COBOL and Fortran but those were a EONS ago.</p>
<p>No idea of which language you speak, so confused! LOL</p>
<p>I have a CS degree, and programmed in LISP for ten years or so. I quit working to stay home with Fang Jr, who needed me, but Mr. Fang is still in the software biz and I still remember how to program. Lately I’ve been thinking I should learn Python as part of preparation for grad school in statistics. I expect it’ll take me a week or so to pick it up.</p>
<p>That’s okay. How many times have I asked people what things meant - like spanx (do I have that right?) - I had never heard of them. That’s what I like about here. So many people from various areas and life experiences who are friendly and NICE to others much nicer here than some of the other topic areas on this site. Thanks to all and for all the mothers please have a nice Mother’s Day.</p>
<p>All this computer language talk makes me feel like I am reading something Charlie Brown’s teacher would say… remember how she talked in those animations? I have no idea how to spell it… but something like… waa wa waaa waa. Carry on and love that no matter what someone brings up, there is expertise somewhere. </p>
<p>I like the mule analogy. And agree that sometimes the distractions of us cause them to not focus on what step they should be taking next. I am only hopeful that S hears what I would say in certain situations so as to take my absent advice rather loudly!</p>
<p>D16 is going to put me in a psychiatric ward. I’m just saying.</p>
<p>Crossing fingers and toes that everyone does well on their finals!!!</p>
<p>Missy – any word on paper? CF - how is fang jr doing?</p>
<p>Painting house… I need a bid myself, but expect it to be closer to 5K+ for the whole thing. We did just the trim a few years ago and it was about 2k. I think it has to do with height and scaffolding etc and the back side of our house is three stories and the sides are then, of course, on a hill. Makes things trickier I suppose.</p>
<p>Fang Jr is taking Spanish (tough for him since he’s dyslexic) at the community college. We found a coach for him, a wonderful woman who is equal parts drill sergeant, pit bull and cheerleader. He’ll take a course this summer at Stanford. So, things are going fairly well.</p>
<p>We’re looking more towards a junior transfer to a local school and less to a return to his old school.</p>
<p>I would expect it if I didnt have just the front , and only the upper trim. Its nuts, I wish I could just do it by myself. It is a two story, but I think they charge you for the neighorhood honestly. I live in a nice neighborhood in a diverse town.But its the same way I feel when a bottle of water costs 3 dollars at the movies, or Disney come on!!
wonder what it will be like having the kids home for the summer.???</p>
<p>I continue to be amazed at how much all of you know about your S’s and D’s exam and final paper schedule and how they are doing. D tells us virtually nothing - we know that she has no finals, just major papers in all 4 classes. </p>
<p>And now we know when she is coming home. She had given me a day and preferred timetable, but apparently I committed a grave faux pas by texting the flight options to her instead of emailing. To make matters worse, she misread the text, assumed I was trying to put her on an early morning flight, and decided to take matters into her own hands. The result? She booked herself on a flight a day earlier (yay!) but she’s landing 10 minutes before D2’s confirmation service at synagogue. I hadn’t warned her about the potential conflict, because she never indicated she might come home that day! Oy!</p>
<p>I had a great day with D16 - we drove a couple of hours to Kent State for the 40th anniversary observance. On the way home, I overcame my paralyzing fear of riding with her - H has done all the driver training thus far. I’m not sure who was prouder when we got home - D for completing her first 50 mile drive or me for staying (almost) completely calm! ;)</p>
<p>PRJ, riding with the kids is an important milestone. H did all the driver training as well and I think the first time I rode with D she already had her license. But I honestly can’t recall. I think it was S who got his license first that put the fear of God into me about riding with the kids. </p>
<p>That whole texting instead of emailing…just had this conversation with D. If I text you, or gchat you, it doesn’t require a response. It’s conversation. If I send you an email, it requires a response! In fact, yesterday I sent her a bulleted memo in email format, much as I do for my boss, with “discussion points”. I told her to pull it up and call me so we could cover it point by point. All the things that I was worked up about and needed to have spelled out to me. </p>
<p>I’m lucky to have such an indulgent daughter! I can’t imagine sending S that kind of memo and actually getting a response.</p>
<p>DTE, painting is expensive. I used to help my dad paint- he was a college prof and in the summers enjoyed doing work around the homestead. It was great fun to spend time with him and help. He was absolutely meticulous about everything- a big project was cleaning/organizing his office. He’d offer to pay me to help him but I really just liked helping and having lunch with him and his colleagues. Some of the best memories.</p>
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<p>that makes me feel better 
I keep saying “but I’m good at so many things, why can’t I do this…?”</p>
<p>Hmm, I think DS may be retaking Object Oriented Programming also. </p>
<p>As for the community service, it’s a requirement for work-study at WPI. At the beginning of the year, I asked son to check into it. He responded that he was doing tutoring as part of his work-study job. At midyear I asked him to contact financial aid to make sure it was OK. He assured me it was OK. One month ago we received a letter that said he had completed 0 hours of community service and needed to complete the 15 required by the end of the school year. I told DS to check on this. Two weeks ago, he finally did and has been scrambling ever since to get in “approved” hours. I’m hoping he learned a lesson here.</p>
<p>PRJ: I know why! It’s not fun, you feel nervous, your kid gets upset that you are nervous, etc. etc.</p>
<p>Oh, I’m so glad to hear I’m not the only Mom who doesn’t enjoy being a passenger with their child driving!</p>
<p>I did most of the driver training for both girls. After dd2 got her license, a friend asked me if I felt nervous when she was out on the road by herself. I said, No, I just feel relieved I’m not in the passenger seat with her! I felt like a terrible Mom, but goshdarnit, it’s the truth!</p>
<p>I just won’t ride with the kids. Isn’t it enough that I support the whole lot of them?</p>
<p>PRJ, what was the tone of the Kent State observance? I’m so glad you went.</p>
<p>The only grades that are up for Son are choir, voice and gym…gotta enjoy looking at that 4.0 while I can! :)</p>
<p>That calls for a screenshot, missypie! Preserve it for posterity.</p>