Parents of the HS Class of 2011 - Original

Parents of HS Class of 20xx
16901

<p>MilMom, welcome back, and congrats on joining us on the other side of Graduation. Sorry to hear about the health issues, though. That’s no fun! Wishing you a speedy recovery!</p>

<p>Cooker, first of all regarding the tree…what a pain! We had those same storms here yesterday (about an hour before you, I imagine), but no tree fell on my house! </p>

<p>Secondly, omg!!! Could more stuff of a decidedly unpleasant nature be happening to you in one week? I suppose so, but I don’t want to think about it. </p>

<p>Sending prayers and good vibes your way that all the little things resolve themselves quickly, that the medium-sized ones are worked out by next week and that everything settles down with your job security. Who needs that kind of worry? So sorry this has all hit you at once.</p>

<p>Really puts in perspective my own little trauma: I sideswiped our mailbox yesterday. I know, I know…who does that except an idiot??? :o</p>

<p>Now my 150K mile, unblemished car…isnt. :(</p>

16902

<p>Cooker: That day sounds truly horrible. At least it’s over. Sending a hug your way.</p>

<p>Vamom and MOSB: Sorry about your cars. I managed to damage the side mirror on my van coming out of the garage a few days ago. I think that this is a sign that it’s time to get rid of the mini-van after this summer’s beach trip and college drop-off. </p>

<p>Seattlemom: Congrats on your D’s graduation and all the other events.</p>

<p>I think that I may have to join those of you who are planning to chain your kids down to write thank you notes.</p>

16903

<p>Right - BB&B does not have its “college stuff” out yet. They told us July. </p>

<p>Pillowcases: I just sew them, no piecing or quilting. I did find a pattern today for a laptop case (zip or velcro) that would be more quilt-like. I’ll make a PM with the pillowcase pattern for anyone who wants it. You need 3/4 yd of the main fabric, a 12" cut of the “end” fabric, and about 3" of a 3rd fabric for a little piped accent if you want. It’s 3 seams - nothing difficult. Fabrics are so cute these days - kids just love them.</p>

<p>cooker: sending you a big hug!</p>

16904

<p>Sending prayers and hugs to cooker and MM and anyone else who is stressed or in pain or is just…whatever. I hope tomorrow is a better day.</p>

<p>DS’s school sent us info on property insurance - $$110 for $4000 coverage incl computers ($25 deductible). Other coverage and deductibles available.</p>

16905

<p>cooker, search for the video showing a crane moving a swimming pool into a backyard. Oops. :)</p>

16906

<p>

</p>

<p>Really, whether it’s their idea or yours, I think the blitz approach is the least painful way to go. Sb did something like 34 in one weekend, each personalized if you can believe it. And I know somebody else’s kid here (forgot who, sorry) did over 40 that way – one fell swoop. Sb says you really get into a rhythm, and it’s not as bad as you think. (She describes the alternative as “death by a thousand cuts.”)</p>

<p>Since that weekend, as the gifts continue to dribble in one at a time, she writes the note immediately – if not the same day, then the very next morning. She’s mailing stuff almost every day, but swears this is the way to go.</p>

<p>So I pass that long for your kids, if they can stand it.</p>

16907

<p>Slithey, just googled the swimming pool crane accident. Holy cow! Makes me feel like WAY less of an idiot for the mailbox incident! Geez…!!!</p>

16908

<p>Oh my word, are we a stressed out group? Trees through the roof, damaged cars, windows being installed, floor being redone, invitations, graduations, salutations, and, oh yes, jobs that we need to pay tuition.</p>

<p>Hugs and glasses of wine all around. (Floor refinishing is the worst. I had a work trip that week but still got a headache from the finished product when I returned.)</p>

<p>I am in Day 6 of my Bachelorette Experience, feeling very modern as I am conducting interviews for an open position in my deparment via Skype. Tomorrow, I interivew a young lady from Mizzou and from my sorority. It will be difficult for me to be impartial. Her resume and portfolio were rated #1 of the candidates by all the reviewers. </p>

<p>Last night, DS2’s roommate and his girlfriend stopped by to pick up some items of theirs that I had found in the clean-and-purge. They sat out on the patio with me and we all had a lovely conversation. Good company.</p>

<p>And DS2’s dog bite? Swelling has gone down and the broken skin is scabbed over. Roof completed on the house and they are at the owners’ sheep ranch today working.</p>

16909

<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>

<p>Take a look at insurance that covers loss, damage, and repairs. We managed to get four years out of an Apple with several major replacements of hard drives, etc. It is more likely that your son will put his laptop in a bag with overripe peaches (this is a true story) and destroy the keyboard with peach juice than that he will lose it or it will be stolen. There also may be insurance policies that will let him have a loaner while his is being repaired - our first high school had that. I would see if S’s college might have some contract under which students can buy good insurance at a reduced cost.</p>

<p>On airline credit cards - With Delta, at least, the number of miles required for US travel are pretty high, based on the cost of the tickets, when compared to the miles versus cost for international travel. We have been going to Europe for years with free airline travel off of our American Express, and summer before last, when DD said she’d rather not go, we had enough for business class to Paris for the two of us (you would not believe the business class lounge for Air France at Charles de Gaulle Airport!). I get on the phone with Delta at 12:01 AM the 331st day before the first date of travel (the earliest you can book) with a list of countries we’d like to go to, and see what I can find. We always rent a house or apartment - you can get much better accomodations for much less money than a hotel, and I love to cook in other countries. We haven’t gone for a couple of summers, but now that we don’t have to travel in the summer, I have my eye on New Zealand when finances permit (I so need to gallop a horse through the countryside where they filmed the Rohan sequences in Lord of the Rings).</p>

<p>On dorm shopping - BBB is great, but also take a look at Linen Source, especially their sale stuff. Be sure to check the cleaning instructions on bedspreads - my D’s prospective roommate had some things listed as thoughts for coordinating colors that are dry clean only, which would not happen. </p>

<p>Thanks to everyone for all their suggestions and thoughts on the money issues. I think there is a way to disable a user’s ability to go over the balance with a debit card, but we have an overdraft line on our checking account, and I would never have an account without one.</p>

<p>Finally - KinderNY, I hated your school before, but after today’s posts, I really, really hate it!!!</p>

16910

<p>Gosh, I feel like a slug compared to all of you. </p>

<p>DH has been in DC for the last few days (meeting today was at the WH!) and I’ve done nothing since he left except read my book and putter in the garden. Boychild has either been at work or hanging with his friends so I haven’t even had to make dinner for him. </p>

<p>Maybe it was being able to send boychild off to summer camp for years and never packing his duffles, etc until the day before the had to be shipped that we feel no rush whatsoever to get organized for going to college. </p>

<p>Kinder - eek on all the Republicans! Even boychild’s school wasn’t that bad.</p>

16911

<p>On the laptop insurance, you might want to look at [CSI</a> College Student Insurance - Instant Quote](<a href=“http://www.collegestudentinsurance.com/]CSI”>http://www.collegestudentinsurance.com/) which is basically student personal property insurance, and would cover theft, droppage, spilling a drink in, etc. of a laptop, but not standard warranty stuff, but also protect all their other “stuff” too (phone, ipod, etc.) I don’t have any personal experience yet, but we are considering purchasing that for our S. (I should add that I heard of it on CC and a number of members gave it great reviews, including/especially their claims service)</p>

16912

<p>emilybee- I am also in slug mode with this stuff. I do think it is because D went away for the summer for 10 years. The first few years I packed way in advance. the last few we did it the day before and seemed to do okay! I do think that sometime in July we will get the bedding etc, just so the selection is still good.
there is still a moratorium on any shopping for college stuff until D cleans her room…so who knows…she may be sleeping on a bare mattress! :)</p>

16913

<p>

</p>

<p>Hey, hey, let’s tread carefully around the political stuff, ok? We’re all such good friends here, and guess what some of your best friends are??? ;)</p>

16914

<p>Thanks for the CSI link. It gave an instant quote. I checked with our homeowner insurance (AAA) and yes it does cover the laptop if it is in the dorm, but AFTER the deductible which is much higher than the cost of a laptop.</p>

16915

<p>Why every home should have a large variety of nurf guns at the ready…</p>

<p>Today’s use was to retrieve a bunch of mylar balloons that floated to the top of the foyer. Bluejr and bluejrjr attached string to the end of a large nurf bullet (the size of an OJ can) and then shot it from the landing holding on to the end of the string (about 20 ft). They shot the bullet through the ribbons and then were able to bring the balloons down. Their first choice was to put sewing needles on the end of the bullet and shoot them down…I asked for another option. There was much cheering at their success and I couldn’t resist taking a picture of the two… When I think of the trouble they could be getting into at 16 & 18yo I am overwhelmed that they can still be amused by such things. Life is good…</p>

<p>Have a great evening everyone!! :)</p>

16916

<p>I renewed S’s laptop insurance today as his new macbook pro was stolen the last day of school Jr. year. I’m sure someone was looking for a new computer to take to college. That was an expenditure I did not want to have to make again. Probably should have looked into the broader insurance but maybe for next year. Once its over 2 years old then it doesn’t kill you to think of replacing it and I’m sure it loses value insurance-wise.</p>

<p>Its going to be a long summer. S doesn’t have a job and we are home together all day. Perhaps he and I will find something soon.</p>

<p>Grad-zilla, 2015 love it. Graduation felt like a wedding, particularly with all the money flying out of my hands. Lunches, dinners, brunch, flowers, suit, ties, shoes and of course I needed a new dress. I didn’t have anything in my closet that was going to work at 95 degrees.</p>

16917

<p>Hi everybody,</p>

<p>I’m finally coming up for air. I plan on reading pages of this thread this upcoming weekend if I can, although I’m still in the midst of tutoring – really just quizzing – my younger S, the freshman, for his finals/regents this upcoming week.</p>

<p>The last few weeks have been crazy. In addition to my work being a bit nuts, my younger S applied at the last minute to Columbia’s summer program for creative writing – his intended, for now, college major. That app was just like a college app - essays, teacher and counselor recommendation, transcript. It only lacked standardized testing. He just got in and now I’m in the midst of the paperwork – health forms, student ID and tuition bill, concurrently w/ his older brother’s similar stuff for college.</p>

<p>Older S had his physical yesterday b/c his health papers are due July 1. Spoke w/ his doctor about gardasil (sp?)vaccine for boys. He recommended it, although it probably won’t be covered by insurance. We made an appt for him to get it in Aug right before he leaves for orientation.</p>

<p>S had his prom last week (i posted the pics on our shutterfly site – and took a look at all of yours. ironically, his pre-prom party, to which parents were invited, was held in the Stanley Kaplan --of SAT prep fame – penthouse at Lincoln Ctr, Julliard school. will post there soon but want to say that our kids are such a good looking group, if i say so myself! everyone looked like they had a great time). Also had his senior parents/kids dinner which was very bittersweet and he finally graduated on Tuesday, June 14. He’s already begun his summer work for Brown. He has to read a book they sent and write a reflection on it; write a letter to his academic advisor and another to his peer advisor; and finally, take an online chemistry course and then placement exam at the end of the summer. He’s also filled out a bunch of online forms for them. Gosh, I wish it was a little more chill. He starts his summer job next Monday working 40 - 50 hour weeks at a neuroscience lab in NYC and commuting every day. This was his choice but again, I wish he took it a bit easier this summer just to recharge his batteries. I hope we can take a 2 week vacation in August before he starts school.</p>

<p>I want to congratulate all of us for getting through this year. it was tough but I’m so glad to have shared it w/ all of you. Can’t imagine a nicer group of people w/ whom to go thru this experience.</p>

<p>i’m excited to back read and discover all of your “comings and goings.”</p>

16918

<p>

if only all our household chores could be so much fun!</p>

<p>I think we are going to buy the CSI insurance. Although our homeowners will cover S’s stuff at school, the deductable makes it worthless. </p>

<p>

Isn’t it nice to have these kids grow up and be good company? Glad the dog bite is healing well.</p>

<p>

yikes, what is going on around here?? I actually would love to have my car totaled. It has over 240,000 miles on it, but still runs and I really don’t want a car payment right now. But, if it was totaled I would have to get another car. -)</p>

<p>Emmybet - I have made pillow cases for my kids also. SO easy and like you said so many fun fabrics out there. </p>

<p>gosh cooker, there is nothing left to go wrong, right? It can only go up from here. </p>

<p>S has no interest right now for college shopping. Neither do I. I just paid 11yoD’s summer camp tuition and there is nothing left in my account. S had a rough day at work. He started off having to move 250 new toilets from an 18 wheeler to storage. He ended it having to move almost 3000lbs of rock salt. Of course, being tired and exhausted did not stop him from going right out after he showered. nice to be young.</p>

<p>S has been doing his own laundry since school let out. He decided that today would be a good day to do a load. Unfortunately for me, I had a load in the washer which he dumped into the dryer. I have several articles of clothing I hang dry, but not today. S unwittingly put them in the dryer with the rest of my stuff. -( I just hope they still fit.</p>

16919

<p>Sharing excerpts from kinder jr’s overview of the last four years and what she has learned, discovered, opportunities she has undertaken and experiences she has had- as required by the school. Please excuse the poor structure (D’s first reflective piece- a podcast- was rejected as too short) so she went stream of consciousness, following the list of topics identified in the assignment. </p>

<p>

</p>

<p>So I am guessing an “A” is not going to be forthcoming…</p>

16920

<p>cooker: So sorry to hear about your bad day. When it rains, it pours! Hoping you had time this evening to do something nice for yourself.</p>

<p>OWM: Hope the dog bite heals easily. Ouch!</p>

<p>BlueI: Hmmmm…I’m wondering if there’s a way the nerf guns could rescue the white athletic sock that is stuck in the light fixture in my entry. (It’s a 2 story entry with a light fixture that is glass, open at the top, closed at the bottom. S3 thought it would be fun to see if he could get the sock in the light fixture by tossing it from the upstairs landing. What were the chances that it would go in? And now, what are the chances that I will get it out without calling someone with a very tall ladder?) For now, I keep the light off and hope that visitors don’t look up.</p>

<p>Need to work on the computer insurance. S1’s college gives computers to all students freshman year and requires insurance coverage. We did a rider on our homeowners insurance for that one. I might check out some other options for this one. Something else for the list.</p>

<p>Hoping to post the few prom pictures that I have this week. As luck would have it, my camera battery died just after I took my first picture – which was a lovely shot of the limo. So I’ve had to beg a friend for some photos that actually include people.</p>