<p>I love the good natured teasing. I am naturally a thin-skinned person but feel (rightly or wrongly) having gone through ‘the war’ with many of you quite comfortable here. That’s why we come, to comfort, encourage, etc, and continue to share the journey.</p>
<p>I found out this morning that my ‘informant’ is now sick too I think the lack of sleep and young immune systems are just being tested. Hoping this runs it’s course and they all gain the ability to fend off these things better. Bluejr has surgery scheduled over winter break and can’t be sick (even a little)…it’s a gamble.</p>
<p>FlMM - You picked a lovely time to travel south. Waving right back at you! The weather has been stunning post Irene. I continue to be amazed at your travel schedule! I hope you are really enjoying it. You Rock!! :)</p>
<p>Sent DD photos of our cats snuggling with the stuffed animal she’s had by her side since she was a year old. She debated taking it(“HE”, Mom!) with her, but decided (reluctantly) that she’d rather it/he stay safe at home. I think at least one of the cats misses her–he’s taken to sleeping on her bed nightly, something he only occasionally did before.</p>
<p>Her a cappella auditions are tonight! She sounds excited and happy.</p>
<p>Thanks for the perspective, sonsami. I’ll check with Verizon on how they might have been affected by the storm. </p>
<p>Last night we very deliberately did NOT mention the pets. Even my tough as nails D1 always melted whenever we mentioned (or Skyped) the animals. That was really, really hard on her all through college. But maybe D2 will like updates on them - we’ll ask her.</p>
<p>All of you who are making sure you are paying attention to “left out” younger siblings - I’m realizing our recent college grad has her limits on listening to the saga of D2, and I’m having to remember she’s in a major transition, too. Not like I have to coddle, particularly, but at least be considerate. I guess the parenting never stops.</p>
<p>Our dog is at a kennel, since we’re only home for a day between the college trip and a real vacation, so our house definitely feels empty. But already I’m liking the freedom a lot. It’ll be a little lonelier when H goes back to work, but really this is all just fine with me.</p>
<p>Good luck with the auditions! D2 is hoping to keep singing (she is not in a musical theatre program, although of course she, and many of the other students, love MT). She said she hopes to find some people to sing a capella with her, if she doesn’t have time for choir. For the past 2 years she has arranged all of the a capella group’s songs at her HS, and she really enjoyed that a lot.</p>
<p>H bought her WAY too big a toolkit for a typical college freshman (girl), as he did for D1. But since D1 is a field researcher and D2 will be doing plenty of theatre tech, we’re finding he did the right thing. D2’s roommate (the theatre junior) oohed and aahed over her tools!</p>
<p>My Ds keep their FBs very private - more in messaging than on wall posts - but I am seeing new friends pop up every day. That’s about as extreme as my stalking can be. Luckily my Ds like to post among the family and have no problem if I message them or comment on anything.</p>
<p>We’re in launch -2, and we drive up tomorrow. Supposedly DS will have everything packed in car tonight–I remain a tad doubtful. :)</p>
<p>AK–Too bad my DS2 and your DD aren’t at the same school. After walking him through his schedule and discussing best routes to get to classes (we also have two levels with entrances on both levels depending on where you are, and the lower level is only under part of the school). His comment was “I’ve got a map in my head”. He does! He’s amazing with directions. I’ll never forget taking a walk in our new neighborhood when he was 4 and it was starting to get dark on the return. He’d never been on the walk before and he knew exactly which streets to turn on to get home (and there were several and he didn’t read yet, so no sign help). Such a great skill–wish he could pass it to your DD.</p>
<p>FLMM–I waved as you drove thru! Good luck on the rest of your return.</p>
<p>We’ll leave tomorrow after DS2 returns from his freshman orientation at the HS. Trying to keep it together!!! Note to self: throw in a box of tissues! Thanks!!!</p>
<p>BI & EB–thanks for the post launch humor! Hang in there! (Speaking of which, my DH – who never throws out anything–has a Hang in There poster with the kitten hanging from the pole–well DS1 is taking it to college!!! Very retro, don’t you think)!</p>
<p>I know I am sharing an emotional journey with all of you, but I also feel like you are traveling with us as we traverse the country. Our country is so beautiful. This trip is whetting our appetite for more travels. There is so much to see. We are planning on renting an RV next year to start exploring. Anyone with experience, thoughts, suggestions, please pm me.</p>
<p>DS started class today. I can’t wait to hear the details. I believe it is an engineering design class which starts to get their brains thinking like engineers. All classes first semester are pass, fail. The focus is on design, team building, entrepreneurism, out-of-the-box thinking, finding a volunteer passion,developing good health and fitness habits. Definitely not your typical college. Roommates must write a roommate agreement which forces them to openly discuss issues that most roommates have at one pointy or another. Great practice for marriage. I’d love to be a fly on the wall for that discussion.</p>
<p>@ momofboston and Amanda: our cat has a fb page of his own (occupation = mighty hunter) and D has made us promise to update it frequently now that she is away. And yes, she hardly let him go in the days before she left, but she has not asked about him recently and I am not bringing it up.</p>
<p>Settled my D in her dorm , the move in was quite smooth. Due to Irene the move in schedule actually turned out to be blessing as we were allowed to move in on Saturday , 27th August. We were able to buy the stuff for the dorm over the next 2 days as the official date was moved from 28th August to 29th August. So the actual move in was spread over three days. So no lines, no waiting for the cart and the room mate moved in just as we finished settling in on the 29th. Absolutely smooth for international parents.</p>
<p>The school orientation is for 5 days for D’s School. So she has been busy with academic advising, Residential Hall orientation, Commuinty service, trip to US
Open, half a day at Central Park, President’s Welcome, New Student’s Orientatation with a reality play which would answer most of their queries on health, homesickness, roommate issues, academics, safe sex, alcohol etc…</p>
<p>So all in all she is busy and since befriended a lot of people via Skype and
Facebook, she is in good company. The NYU President extended a very warm
welcome to all Parents at an event only for parents and even gave Bear hugs
for which he is very well known. Then at another event D’s School’s Dean also
mingled with parents reassuring us that our children had made a sound decision
with their choice and they were in good hands. </p>
<p>The whole interaction had us leaving our D without a worry and we are hoping and praying that she will do well and become her own person in every sense of the word. I was really happy to read her latest text this morning " I met my
class of BPE, it was awesome, I like all of them". BPE is a select class of 40 within Stern School of Business.</p>
<p>We are in Lake Placid for few days celebrating our empty nest. Go back to NYC on Monday the 5th, celebrate my H’s 50th Birthday on the 7th with our D and
take the flight back to India on the 8th.</p>
<p>My best wishes to all the parents and pray for all the kids for happy and
successful journey through college. Also a big Thank you for all the tips and wise
words that made our own journey so easy.</p>
<p>Anialways, enjoy your time in Lake Placid! How did you get there? My friends have a home on Saranac and since Keene was destroyed they have to go west and up through Inlet - a much farther drive from Albany. </p>
<p>Are you staying at Mirror Lake Inn? </p>
<p>Jealous your daughter is going to the Open. I usually go but with getting boychild ready for college and all the expenses that entailed I skipped getting tkts this year. :(</p>
<p>Regarding animals and their missing people: Son’s college apparently has a very nice person in administration whose Golden Retriever routinely comes in with her and welcomes attention from all the students. That perked up our son when he heard about her.</p>
<p>Son called last night to ask how to fill out his w-4 form. He got a job on campus, in fact he thinks he can do it from his dorm room, for four or five hours a week. Something to do with cloud computing. Sounds perfect to me.</p>
<p>D1 said whenever anyone brought a dog to her college, the students went crazy petting it. Pet withdrawal is rough!</p>
<p>D’s junior roomie works at the performing arts center and has encouraged D to apply for a job there. We aren’t pressuring her to work as a freshman, but it sounds like the kind of place where she could do a few hours here and there as a stagehand (and get in free to cool shows!).</p>
<p>The admissions rep for UVa, Dean J, has a very popular pup, CavDog, a four year old golden that comes to grounds with her quite often. When he’s at Peabody Hall with her she puts a pawprint in her window so the students know he’s there. She also posts pictures of him on her admissions blog. He comes to admitted students days, etc. He has quite the following! :)</p>
<p>My youngest, Bluejrjr, has been bugging me that Bluedog needs to take a field trip to Charlottesville to A) go meet CavDog, and B) go visit Bluejr because she keeps sneaking onto his bed to sleep. We’ll see…maybe later in the fall. I think CavDog is booked , but Bluejr might enjoy a visit with Bluedog on a free afternoon.</p>
<p>I immediately thought of CavDog when Kathiep posted. We met CavDog at UVA admit day. Beautiful, friendly, dog. I know DS will miss our dog. DH already asked if we could bring her to drop DS off–I told him “no”!</p>
<p>Rough day today. D has not been in touch (which is good news. Really.) H is out of town until late tomorrow night; he left last Saturday morning because he HAD to be at destination on Monday am and could not risk hurricane delays, and S (HS '14) won’t get home until about 9pm (for the second day in a row) because of music tryouts at school. I’ve been alone too much this week. Really need to get on with reinventing myself. Thanks for letting me cry on your cyber- shoulders.</p>
<p>Highhead - You go ahead and cry if you have to. We’re here for you, and we have all been in those down days. I think once dd1, dd2 and dd3 go off to school next week, I will be in need of reinvention too. God forbid, I might even clean the house (it’s come to that, geez…)</p>
<p>we haven’t heard from kiddo much
I guess my kiddo and your dear student are loving their new home (1352 class of 2015)!
I know mine had calc and foreign language today (I Think???)</p>
<p>I heard from a parent of a soph when I asked about plane flights nad the breaks…who said the first week with orientation and all is one of the best weeks of their lives…
that stuck with me…</p>
<p>They are launched and happy! Clothes, bank cards, fro-cos and all …
Hugs dear one. It is hard and allow yourself to grive the change.
That is healthy.</p>
<p>AK–I hear ya on cleaning…I actually started chasing those doggie dust bunnies today and will be doing vacuuming and floors…
omg, let me lie down so this feeling passes!!!</p>
<p>and if you want to know if I have too much time on my hands this week…
see I have been here too much :(</p>
I think the lack of sleep and young immune systems are just being tested. Hoping this runs it’s course and they all gain the ability to fend off these things better. Bluejr has surgery scheduled over winter break and can’t be sick (even a little)…it’s a gamble.</p>
, but Bluejr might enjoy a visit with Bluedog on a free afternoon.</p>