<p>Wow, thanks everybody for your good wishes, it worked in as far as I think I did very well. Whether they agree is now the question.</p>
<p>I heard from one parent that whatever they spent most of the night doing at school for the senior prank was taken down before school started this morning. What is the point? It wasn’t anything offensive, why not at least let the other students see it. I will be so glad when this is over, not the times, just all the drama.</p>
<p>Happy64 - I may be the only one envious of you! Bluedad is Danish (first gen) and my family is in Sweden. We don’t get there often for a number of reasons but love it and would go in a heartbeat. Kids around that age adjust beautifully. Perhaps you could look onto an embassy school. I don’t know if they still do that. The Danish kids finish hs earlier then our kids (generally 16) so this may lead to a disconnect in later years? It’s such a personal decision, but what an amazing opportunity!</p>
<p>I didn’t think I’d have any prom stories (D decided not to go – she was invited – just didn’t want to). But she went to the “after parties” with her friends. She texted me she’d be sleeping over at a friend’s house. </p>
<p>That friend’s mom told me that she came down to her basement Sat morning (prom was Friday night) and was pulling laundry out of the dryer and yelling to her husband about waking up their son and did he take the dog out and then she sees…two sleeping girls (D being one of them) conked out in sleeping bags on the floor. They slept through all the yelling! Must have been pretty tired…</p>
<p>Graduation is another all night party. Good preparation for college all nighters.</p>
<p>OWM</p>
<p>Thank you very much for your post. I really mean that. While I am sorry the airport and 2 grandmothers/planes/terminals was hard on you–I saw some great humor and taking things in stride…So kudos to you and your DS
And
Your point about being home in clean clothes with family all accounted for is well made. My heart goes out to those in Joplin. Like Alabama, it will be a long time in rebuilding etc. </p>
<p>Peace.</p>
<p>fogfog</p>
<p>OWM - I always tell my DH & DS to have Plan B. In your case, you needed a Plan C. What an experience. Good for you not taking AA’s first offer. Women are so cool! Happy birthday to your son. Stay safe.</p>
<p>Amanda - Happy Birthday - loved the ring story. On my parent’s “list”, the only thing I asked for is their wedding bands. I will probably wear them on a necklace. </p>
<p>Happy64 - my gut says go for it altho I would definitely check out all the school options.</p>
<p>HGTV - huge fan here. My favs are all of Sarah Richardson’s shows (I want to be her), Candice (old shows not new ones), Selling New York, Income Properties (I think Scott is THE man). I DVR them all. The contractor who reno’ed my house auditioned for a show like House Crashers. Still may be picked up. He sorta looks like David Bromstead but straight.</p>
<p>Son’s summer job fell thru TODAY. Big disappointment. He is scrambling to figure out another plan.</p>
<p>FLMathMom, I was at a cocktail party/fashion show (I guess it was a brokers open, too) in a tri-plex in Brooklyn (DUMBO) last week that was being filmed for SNY.The only agent I recognized was the blonde from Kleier. </p>
<p>This is the condo. </p>
<p>[Gumley</a> Haft Kleier, Manhattan Real Estate Brokerage](<a href=“http://www.ghkrealty.com/Listing_2059]Gumley”>http://www.ghkrealty.com/Listing_2059)</p>
<p>So if you see that epi, look for me. I’m the only one not wearing black. ;)</p>
<p>I can’t stand HH. Everything is always “nice.” This is “nice” and that is “nice.” And the young people who think they can’t manage without 5 bedrooms and bathrooms and walk in closets the size of a 3 car garage. Drives me crazy.</p>
<p>I’ve been reading furiously. So glad everyone is safe and sound and accounted for.</p>
<p>Adding our graduation date to the list</p>
<p>graduation day:
5/13-15:emilybee
5/20-22: MaryOC, olderwisermom, FLMathmom, MaMom
5/26: GaMomof3
5/27-29: cgpm59, momofsongbird, Shawbridge, Novelisto, snoozn
5/31: momjr
6/1: researching4emb
6/2: keylimepie
6/3: Militarymom
6/4-5: EmmyBet; 2education; missypie D, arisamp’s D, happy 64’s D, AvonHSDad’s S, Proudmomof2’s D, Ohiomom24’s S
6/6: Momofzach’s S
6/9: Mommylaw’s D, HighHead’s D, dandemom’s D, ldinCT’s S2
6/10-12: blueiguana, rom828, oregonianmom’s D, seattle_mom’s D, collegemaw’s D, rodney’s D, madbean’s S2, phbmom’s D2
6/14: Pepper03
6/17-19: kinderny’s D, kathieP’s Son; Classof2015’s D
6/21 : VaMom2015’s S
6/23: SlitheyTove’s D
6/24-26: Holliesue’s D
6/27: aria2000’s S</p>
<p>emilybee- I feel the same way about the US Househunters, but the Int’l one has a different feel to me anyway. </p>
<p>Right now, it is practically music to my ears, as the tutor is going over the online math class material with my D at our kitchen table. I can hear that D actually gets it, but just needs a little help in mastering a few areas and the tutor is teaching her some tricks how to decipher what the instructor is putting in his questions. It is apparent that D has been working at it, but got psyched out by a bad quiz and then demoralized when the teacher did not respond to questions. (I also hear how much D actually likes math.) A good night here…</p>
<p>OWM - I think you should have earned a scouting badge for managing those airport shenanigans. I love how your Mil was having words with the airport people…and that you could hear her in the background. Priceless.<br>
FlMathmom - Fell through today? Ugh. My ds was hoping to get work with the catering arm of our local fam fav (the one I can never again return to) but was told that party bookings are way down and they don’t need him (aka you are only 18 and I can pay illegals half)
Ldinct - Hope it works out and you have a new gig soon. Then you can hire me!
Emilybee - HouseHunters Intl is more fun, it’s armchair travel for me and if the people are too annoying, I mute them. I just love the differences in what is small or big from country to country - HongKong was the eye opener. How they can cook in a 3’ x 3’ space is beyond me. And the “ruins” that they sell as homes in Italy. (“Does it come with the goat that is grazing inside what you are calling the living room?”)
Thank you all for the birthday wishes - going off to the Middle School for my dd2s jazz band concert - she said her tenor sax solo is my present. We will see…</p>
<p>emilybee - I saw one show in DUMBO about a month ago with a to-die-for view of Manhattan. Do you live in the area? In the late 70s - 80s when I lived in Manhattan, I had several friends in Brklyn Hghts & Park Slope. I loved it there. I’m glad the show realizes there is more to NY than the overpriced island altho it was a fabulous place for a single professional to live. I’ve looked up some of the buyers and sellers of the apts. WOW the money is just outrageous! Their shoe budgets are bigger than my mortgage.</p>
<p>FlMathMom – And your closet is probably bigger than their apartments! It’s amazing how people live without elbow room. Even if I lived alone, I don’t think I could handle it. </p>
<p>AK – I always love how in Italy and other countries people * take the kitchen with them when they go*. So the realtor is showing somebody ‘the kitchen’ and it’s an empty space with pipes hanging out. </p>
<p>EmilyBee – When I come to power, one of my new rules will be that you can’t go on House Hunters until you learn 3 synonyms for ‘nice’. I am also freaked out by all the people who ‘entertain’. I occasionally have friends over or throw a dessert buffet but I have never ‘entertain’. I don’t sing and can’t dance and forget punchlines so entertainment is off the menu. </p>
<p>I learned today that my D will be leading the singing at 2 grad events. Pretty good for a girl who has only been taking formal lessons for a little less than a year!</p>
<p>FlMM, I live in the Cap. district but I go to the city all the time - lived in Manhattan after college - late 70’s 80’s too (worked at A&S in Bklyn.) I shop at the store which put on the fashion show - which is how I got the invite. I did get my picture taken by a NYTimes photog but didn’t make the article (which was in today’s paper.) I’m sure once the RE editor goggle my name and found out I was nobody I was tossed in the delete file. </p>
<p>I loved the condo - fantastic 360 degree views and if I had a spare $23M laying around I’d buy it. </p>
<p>The condo is the most expensive ever in Bklyn! </p>
<p>I saw the show with the other condo in DUMBO, too. </p>
<p>Here’s the article if you’re interested. <a href=“The Appraisal - Real Estate and Reality TV Intersect - The New York Times”>The Appraisal - Real Estate and Reality TV Intersect - The New York Times;
<p>LOL Novelisto! The extent of our entertaining is having friends over to drink wine & eat popcorn while playing dominos. </p>
<p>And what is up with everyone on HH having to have a home office?!?</p>
<p>I love HH and HH International also, although I agree that the buyers on HH can be pretty annoying. I love the 20 somethings that can only put 5% down but must have granite counters and stainless steel appliances. They look at bathrooms that look like mine and instist that “they would have to be redone.” And what’s with all the couples buying expensive second homes in Mexico, Honduras and other exotic locations? Wouldn’t it be more economical to just stay in a hotel for a week?</p>
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<p>LOL. I love House Hunters and House Hunters International, but those thoughts are on my mind quite often when I am watching. </p>
<p>I just came back from our Senior Awards Night. Overall, I think, it was ‘nice’. There were a lot of local scholarships and it was great to see so many kids getting them. I am so happy for all of them. But because of that the ceremony was a lot longer than I expected and I was SO relieved when it was finally over. </p>
<p>S picked up some unexpected awards: his first ever exemplary attendance award and the science department award. The exemplary attendance award must have been based on the first 3 grading periods, because I called him “sick” twice over the last 2 weeks. The senioritis is finally kicking in here. And he is the best science student in the HS (if you ask me), but he was not taking any science classes at the HS this year. He also got a monetary scholarship and now I have to find out how/if he can use it. He has the full ride to his U, but maybe he can use it to buy the text books. </p>
<p>Oh, the kids that had the exemplary attendance for 4 years got plaques. In my opinion, 4 years of exemplary attendance is an outstanding achievement.</p>
<p>emilybee, cool party – read the article. have to say, as much as i love brooklyn, if i had $23M I’d buy in the city. w/ that cash you could probably get something on Central Park West or a cool apt downtown.</p>
<p>OWM, i loved reading your post which offered a terrific perspective. man, you will probably need to crash for a few days after your MIL leaves. at this age, if i miss a night or two of good sleep, I’m a mess for a week. I’m very happy that all went well with your festivities.</p>
<p>Kielime: congrats to your son on his awards!</p>
<p>fog: your shopping/survey episode was hysterical. the girl must have scratched her head.</p>
<p>happy b-day to amandaK, OWM’s S1 and anyone else i may have missed! amanda, wear your mom’s rings well! it’s incredibly sweet that she left them to you. i too would have broken in sobs at the dining table!</p>
<p>here, the sun finally came out today. it felt good. son continues to work hard both because he’s interested in his courses and doesn’t want to disappoint his teachers, but w/out stressing about his grades at all. that’s such a relief.</p>
<p>idinct: so glad to hear that your job interview went well. keeping my fingers crossed that you’ll hear good news before long.</p>
<p>emilybee - thanks for the article. I agree with RM. I’d have to be VERY rich to spend $23 million on any apt let alone one in DUMBO. I think Sabrina & Samantha are going to wear out out their $1000 shoes and $1500 handbags showing it. Sounds like you and I lived in the City at the same time (76-87).</p>
<p>I thought Dumbo was a Disney movie about an elephant with big ears. What am I missing?</p>
<p>Keylimepie – Woot! That’s great…and a little extra money can’t be a bad thing. </p>
<p>Momjr – Ain’t no such animal as a ‘starter home’ any more, or so it seems. It’s got to be up-to-date or forget it. Even the ones who want to ‘remodel’ seem to want it 95% done already. </p>
<p>Um…I can think of lots of things to spend $20M on. An apartment is not one of them. Oh, okay, maybe in London.</p>
<p>Amandak, so sorry about the drum major auditions, especially if it seems something might not have been on the up and up. It smarts enough without having to worry if the process was fair.</p>
<p>HAPPY BIRTHDAY…what beautiful news to learn about your mom’s wishes that you should have her rings. SO worth the inconvenience of having to find a new fave restaurant.</p>
<p>Actually, I’m not sure you DO need to do that; remember that makeover you were going to get? After the clerk asked if you qualified for the senior citizen discount or something??? Well???</p>
<p>Happy64, congrats on your D’s recital. I’m sure it was just beautiful!</p>
<p>Mnmomof2, congrats to your co-val D! Well done! And what a beautiful wish you sent out for all the grandparents. Right now, my parents are just like little kids the week before Christmas. Every day, they walk me through the “schedule” of fun we’re going to have during Baccalaureate, the Recital, Graduation, and the attendant dinners. This means so much to them, and adds to our happiness to have them be such a big part of it.</p>
<p>Finding your references to HH and HH Intl pretty amusing as I have no idea what you’re talking about. I gather this is TV? We haven’t had one in over a decade, so I never “get” these kinds of references.</p>
<p>But we were having a fine Bogart film festival last month, and if you haven’t watched “Maltese Falcon,” “Treasure of the Sierra Madre,” “African Queen,” or “Sabrina” in awhile, what are you waiting for? I guarantee you he knows WAY more than 3 synonyms for “nice,” some of which don’t require actual spoken words at all. :)</p>
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<p>Slightly disagree with you here, keylime. In our experience the kids who achieve this (or even come close) do so by coming to school sick at times. Not saying your son ever did that, but most teens don’t go 4 years in a row without ever being sick. It’s hard to appreciate their good effort at attendance when they’re spreading germs all over the place, coughing, sneezing, touching everything in sight, and running fevers around everybody else. Our school got so “sick” of this, they abolished any sort of awards for attendance and are super strict about “If you are sick, don’t bring it to school.” Don’t mean to diminish your son’s accomplishment because I’m sure he’s one of the rare few who did it while always healthy and not compromising the health of others.</p>
<p>
My D was NEVER in any danger of getting this kind of award. She learned about mental health days in third grade (we called them cookie hooky) and has never looked back. 
</p>
<p>But hurray for the extra money in scholarships and other recognition our kids our getting as the school year winds down.</p>