Parents of the HS Class of 2011 - Original

Parents of HS Class of 20xx
16881

<p>Well I am back and online here again. Just read everything that happened here since June 5th or so. Graduation on June 3rd was very nice. All grads (9) got a five minute period for a powerpoint and/or speech. Each did a powerpoint and d’s presentation and my h’s short speech for her went over very well. She ended up not being able to use the Mozart piece because it was too much bandwidth. So she went with In the Highways from O Brother Where Art Thou which she and her younger sister sang in front of the chapel at Sunday service soon after we moved to Belgium, and then followed up with I’ve Been Everywhere by Johnny Cash with lots of pictures of her everywhere. Then she had a nice grad dance party the next night and that was fun, then Cardboard Regatta, and then we were off for vacation to Niagara Falls, Toronto and Pittsburgh plus a few National Park Historic Sites. Well the first three days were fine. </p>

<p>On the third day, the air in Toronto was very bad but I felt okay except for needing asthma meds. Then that night, I developed a very bad cough. I had to find urgent care in Canada (they don’t really use such things, they get lower priced medical care but much longer waits usually) and did get put on an antibiotic. Continued on vacation at a reduced pace. After returning home on Sunday, I saw my doctor on MOnday. He put me on 40 mg. of Prednisone which is a large dose for 10 days and took an xray. Good news- it is bronchitis, not pneumonia, but bad news- I also have a partially collapsed lung. No change in treatment= he will see me again next Monday and take another xray.</p>

<p>On the homefront back here- d is writing thank you cards today, and also doing what she needs to do for the move right now and looking at what her course requirements are for graduation from college. WE still need her to get her shots updated plus TB test. SHe needs to take her math placement test by next Wednesday but her thinking is always muddled pre-cycle and so we are hoping for her taking it next Monday- she does get double time. We are still waiting to hear about movers. They should be packing up in about three weeks and picking up less than a month from now. Today is first a visit to the SS office to request a new SS card for me. Seems that in 24 years of moving with the military, somehow my card got lost. It didn’t used to be a problem since they used to print my SS # on my military ID. They don’t anymore. Then pick up medicines for dog, pick up prescriptions for d, turn in prescriptions for d and hope they have them (shortages of many medications are occuring), and then help youngest with algebra and finally rest.</p>

16882

<p>Oh, Kiderny, our d’s seem similar. D rejected one school also because the entertainment of choice was Jersey Shore and the classroom discussion was insipid.</p>

16883

<p>when is the best day time to book a flight in advance, also is wifi free and what other little perks is possible nowadays either PHL to LAX or LAG/NEWark TO LAX route max one stop?
good hotels/cheap car rentals near airport?</p>

<p>How much delays(besides the obvious), time max can I expect 5.5 to 9 hrs?
Anything I should know about in terms of checking in details and ways to pass time.
No funny ideas please…student haven’t traveled for some time now:))</p>

16884

<p>Get better soon, MM!</p>

<p>No luck in getting Chase to waive the annual fee on the Southwest credit card. BUT, y’all inspired me, and I called and got the annual fee waived on my American Airlines AAdvantage card. </p>

<p>It has become extremely difficult to use AAdvantage miles in the last few years (okay, the last decade.) Plus I hate AA. I have a Capital One card but can’t really figure out howto make the most of the great benefits they advertise. (I have it because last I heard, they don’t charge an extra fee for foreign transactions.) As I said, we charge a lot and pay it off every month, so I think the card will be a large net benefit even with the fee. I’ve flagged it on the calendar to call next May to see if they’ll waive the fee then.</p>

16885

<p>I have half a million AA miles (have earned 2.5 MM or more over the years) and am not having such a hard time using them. But, you have to be flexible about timing. I’m about to give ShawSon tickets to go visit girlfriend in the Midwest while we’re all traveling. As long as I adjust the days a bit, I can get a ticket. Got one for ShawD to Paris as well. I’ve gotten the fee waived some years on AA, but don’t use the card much.</p>

<p>I also use Membership Rewards points and shift to various airlines to buy FF tickets. </p>

<p>The best card of all is the Amex Starwood card. Starwood have best hotel redemption rates plus you can transfer the points, often at 1 point to 1.25 miles to several airlines.</p>

16886

<p>My S is getting a HP laptop. We are wondering if we should buy insurance to cover loss/being stolen. He said the cost would be about $200 for 3-4 years coverage for a laptop over $1000. Any thought?</p>

16887

<p>MM - Just a partially collapsed lung!!! I think maybe someone else needs to do that running around you describe and you can just sit still for a bit?</p>

<p>Momofboston - Envious to say the least. I would LOVE a getaway - and yes, sans hubby would be the icing on the cake. (sorry dh, you are a bit too tightly wound even on vaca). Here are my current NYC musts (revolving around foods that all our weight loss friends have given up) Joe’s Shanghai on Pell St for lunch - get xiao-lung-bao - or “soup dumpling” plain - not crabmeat. Best thing in the world. Also try their stir fried rice cake with beef (chao nian gao). And go to a Crumbs cupcake shop - there are a bunch around midtown, get a cappuccino cupcake. </p>

<p>Collegegoing - do you need a travel agent? what’s a PHL?</p>

<p>Ds basically has a half day of watching movies today and then waiting till next week for the graduation practices, breakfasts, cap and gown disbursement. Did I mention he is arranging for live music at his party from his friends?</p>

16888

<p>sunnydayfun- look to see what your homeowner’s may cover. It may cover loss or damage if your S lives in the dorm. Haven’t checked mine yet.</p>

<p>I did find out however, that my car insurance will go down for my D because she will be away at a school more than 500 miles. Just discovered this for my step-son after his first year at college. He is also spending the Summer at a college program over 500 miles away from home. We will save a few hundred dollars a year! Also don’t forget the “good student” discount. My insurance company also provides a discount for high school and college students who maintain a B average or higher.</p>

16889

<p>oops-- 100 miles (not 500!)</p>

16890

<p>sunnyday: If I recall correctly, we were able to get a renter’s policy for older son’s personal belongings at school. It was an addendum to our homeowner’s insurance and cost maybe $12 a year. But then we have USAA insurance and it rocks.</p>

<p>This is one of the items on my list of questions for summer orientation at younger son’s school and the list of administrative details to handle before he leaves.</p>

16891

<p>MMom - I do hope you can take it easy and feel better soon.</p>

<p>amanda - cool about the music. My D1 was kind of lucky because her BF was in a rock band that played at her grad party and lots of people came to enjoy listening. “Sort of” lucky because 1) that meant he was stuck at a drumset most of the time, and 2) she had to share him with another girl whose BF also was in the band and wanted them at her party, too (D got first shift, fortunately for our neighbors). </p>

<p>D2’s BF is in a band, too … but he’ll be on a church mission trip when she has her party. She doesn’t want to change the date (it’s her birthday weekend) and thinks it’ll be a little easier juggling the party without him, anyway. Plus she isn’t quite so fond of his band …</p>

<p>I suppose some kind of insurance rider for the laptop seems like a good idea (come to think of it, for D’s musical instruments, too, hmmm…). But high on the list of things people felt were not needed for their college students last year were laptop security devices. They said kids are quite protective of their laptops, and don’t tend to leave them unwatched, also that the devices are easy to thwart anyway. D1 told me of only one laptop theft during her 4 years of college - and that was studying abroad, when kids didn’t lock their hotel room. iPods and fancy phones are much more common theft targets, it seems.</p>

<p>Took our first recognizance tour of BB&B yesterday. Next time D gets the “wand” - and then I get to cross half the stuff off her list. Actually she was very thoughtful yesterday. It helps that her school is very strict about electrical appliances in dorm rooms (no cooking appliances whatsoever). One thing she bought yesterday was a second “ceiling projector” clock - she doesn’t want to unplug the one from her room at home so it’ll be there on breaks. I guess having the time in huge numbers on the ceiling has been a really good thing for her…also it makes “nature sounds”…whatever.</p>

<p>She doesn’t want me to make her a new quilt; she says she’ll take the old one, in case it gets ruined. She has a large collection of various quilted and fleecy throws, anyway. But she said she loves the funky pillowcases I’ve made her. That’s a snap! I’m going to try to send her one every month. Maybe she’ll actually get care packages that way. Shoot, I can send D1 some pillowcases, too, wherever she ends up. (Anyone who can run a sewing machine - I can post directions for an EASY pillowcase if you want. D has a Yellow Submarine one I made her, next will be Gone with the Wind … so many fun fabrics these days.)</p>

<p>D1 changed her request - doesn’t need the cramp-ons, but would like some bug-bite itch relief. Saw that one coming!</p>

16892

<p>^^emmybet: did the BBB in your area already have the entire line of college gear set up already? I recall that in years past it wasn’t all in stock until middle of July</p>

16893

<p>MM: Congrats on the graduation and I hope you feel better soon.</p>

<p>MOB: Have a wonderful trip! The Bermuda beaches are beautiful. The sand really is pink.</p>

<p>Emmybet: The pillow cases sound great. I wish I could sew.</p>

<p>My D isn’t interested in dorm shopping yet. We go to Boston for Orientation in two weeks, so I hope that will get her interested. I think that she is already dreading leaving her BF.</p>

16894

<p>I have had better days …
Yesterday, we had some (mild) storm activity, and a tree fell on my house. Fortunately, no one was hurt, and the damage appears to be limited to a couple of small holes in the roof, which a contractor is coming to look at today. But it was a large tree, and it’s taking a lot of time (and $$) to remove it. Should have some insurance coverage, thankfully.
In the meantime, at the same time I was juggling the tree thing, the floor guys came to refinish some floors. Incredibly noisy. So I was trying to work from home while dealing with this incredible decibel level, the tree guys giving me updates, calling the insurance company … Then I get an email from work - one of my cases is exploding and I need to get a number of ducks in a row really quickly. And both my cell and Blackberry phones are ringing. And I have to get my dog to the groomer so his dog-sitter can take him home for a couple of days to get him away from the floor work. Which will not be done on Friday as originally scheduled. Etc.
Now I am hearing reports here and there about activity at my employer which doesn’t bode well for long-term job security. And I started this job less than a year ago after being under-employed for over a year. And it’s a dream job. And I have to support and put two kids through college. If the second one can get his act together enough to get into college.</p>

<p>And both my kids are out of town this week. And now my dog is away as well. And it’s just me. Which I am not used to and frankly should probably enjoy more but I don’t. In part because it gives me too much time to do things like obsess about everything like I’m doing now.</p>

<p>D and S both come home on Saturday and I’m picking up my dog tomorrow. So I am sure by the weekend I will have everything in better perspective. Big family graduation party Saturday evening for D and my nephew, which should be really fun. Pasta bar, lots of appetizers, huge chocolate cake (I’ll be joining the dieters here shortly). Fun gift baskets for each graduate with college essentials (food, laundry, desk, closet and other items I shopped for with my sibs). Hoping the weather holds for some outside games.
Thanks for letting me vent!</p>

16895

<p>oh dear, cooker, I am so sorry. Your day puts mine in perspective.</p>

<p>Am swamped at work, but just had to post: D’s school created a news release on the graduating seniors. ****head PR person misspelled her name. She has been going there for 4 years- how hard is it? </p>

<p>(D still hasn’t graduated. And I still hate her school. )</p>

<p>That is all- now back to our regularly scheduled programming.</p>

16896

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<p>Sounds like what I plan for my DS when school finally ends (if it ever does???)! He insists the laundry is over the top, I told him I’m done with maid duty when he’s done with HS.</p>

<p>Emmybet–I’d like those directions. Do you just make regular pillow cases with fun fabric, or do you do some embellishing with quilting, etc? It sounds fun.</p>

<p>Cooker–I’m right there with you on the craziness! I’m sitting here catching up on this thread and listening to the pounding, drilling, etc while I’m having new windows installed in the entire house. I’m waiting for the insurance people to call back because last night I had a meeting in Baltimore and my car was broken into and they stole dumb stuff (old gps that even I didn’t want) but they broke the window, which is a pain. Now I find out that I was supposed to have all the windows done by tomorrow, but they just told me they plan to finish on Monday. :eek: My family comes in on Monday–so much for planning!</p>

<p>We use USAA (like OWM) for insurance and banking. Banking is open to everyone, not just military. We don’t even have a local bank, so won’t need one for DS at college. USAA provides free ATM (refunds fees up to a certain amount each month from other banks), has deposit at home (scan checks for deposit) and I can easily put money in (or take out ;)) of DS account.</p>

<p>I can’t decide what to provide for spending money for DS. He will be getting several hundred dollars each month stipend as part of his ROTC scholarship, but since we don’t know yet what his expenses will be for uniforms and such, I’m not sure what he will need.</p>

<p>He’s asked for the max food plan at his school, since he knows he will need breakfast before PT in the mornings, doesn’t want to go hungry, and his school has great food (thank goodness for that mandatory PT!). We can always adjust it down if needed.</p>

<p>Prom is tomorrow night, and graduation is Tuesday. We might actually be able to start enjoying our summer soon!</p>

<p>Edit: And we all really still hate Kinderny’s D’s school–misspelling is just another nail in the coffin</p>

16897

<p>Cooker - Hope the tree gets cleared away quickly, glad noone was hurt! Don’t rush those floor guys - I have and regretted it.
Kinderny - I read the article you linked, it seemed like a place where you would be known by one name (Cher or Willow or Rain) or a series of symbols (like Prince) - the whole last name thing is so very establishment. Power to the people baby!</p>

16898

<p>^^^ Actually this is QUITE the establishment place- upstate NY, you know. According to D all but one senior is registering as Republican as they turn 18. This is a very business oriented school- trying to train students for this century so they can “work for the man”. ;)</p>

<p>PS- I love you all.</p>

16899

<p>Well, I still hate that school. :)</p>

16900

<p>Hello everyone! I am hopelessly behind and in awe of all the posters who update right after big events. Since I was last on, D and/or I have successfully completed senior brunch (did the invitations, nametags and programs), senior project, senior project presentation, D2’s birthday party, out-of-town guests to and from airport, hosting brunch here, graduation, chaperoning all night party, and more. Just returned our last guests to the airport. Back to “normal”? Except we have a HS grad who’s moving out in two months. Yikes!</p>