<p>Blueiguana, thank you, that is exactly what I was looking for! I forwarded the links to my friend, hopefully this will help.</p>
<p>blueiguana,
I am sorry I missed that discussion - as usual, a day late for me 
. Yes, we (his father and I) clearly spoke with him separately the next day about expectations. I told him that when he is home, he is not “at college” and completely different rules apply. It wasn’t his “usual crowd” that he went out with during Fall break; his HS friends will be home on TG when he is home and they are in the neighborhood and that is totally different.<br>
I agree wholeheartedly about the respect thing. I’ve heard from so many parents who have been through this before me that it’s a real battle of power when the kids come home for a spell after being on their own…</p>
<p>So sorry to those of you without power. I really hope it comes back soon.</p>
<p>Amanda: I’m glad that your Dad is safe with you.</p>
<p>Fishymom: No suggestions on the alarm, but I wanted to say hi to my fellow BU parent.</p>
<p>Emmybet: I didn’t carve a pumpkin this year either. I might look for one of the electric ones now while they’re on clearance.</p>
<p>We got some good news yesterday. My D1 got a post graduation job offer! She’s got another final interveiw with a company in a preferred location next week, but it does look like she’ll be employed after graduation.</p>
<p>DorisFiona - If you’ve had the discussion then YOU did all the right things. When he get’s home, but before he goes out with buddies, would be a good time for both you and DH to kindly talk to him and say you are so happy he’s home, you understand this is a time of change for all of you and finding the ‘new normal’ can have bumps and glitches. Ask if he understands what the expectations are and let HIM tell you what he understands…he will, I’m sure. You can fill in anything he might forget. The tell him "good, we all understand each other and I’m sure that what happened on your last visit won’t happen again, right? right! 
It should be quick and to the point, and not a rehashing of what happened. I’m sure he’ll get the message. Hopefully he will decide to show more respect this visit. Gentle hugs to you!!!</p>
<p>I’m behind on today’s reading…</p>
<p>Hoping those without power are warm and safe and will have power very soon!!! Warm hugs your way!</p>
<p>Kinder, you are a saint my friend! Lots of vegan recipes in the holiday Wegman’s magazine. I thought of you as I read them :)</p>
<p>fishymom - hope those suggestions help your friends son. The round one looks so cute to me!</p>
<p>Emmy - No carving for us either. Our kids have painted pumpkins many years, but somehow it just didn’t happen. Our S3 is working on some apps for summer programs that are due mid Nov. I have shivers remembering last year every time I fuss about his progress (or lacktherof…).</p>
<p>momjr - Whoot-whoot!! Congratulations to your D1 on the job offer! That is AMAZING!! 
You must be so proud and relieved!</p>
<p>So sorry to hear about continued loss of power. Hoping situation will resolve itself soon.</p>
<p>Glad to hear I’m not only mom reminding DS about applying for summer position. Anyone have any thoughts about long winter break?</p>
<p>For the long winter break, I’m thinking that we’ll have an opening for dinner prep chef. :D</p>
<p>Ya’ll are better folks than me. If I was without power for 72 hours I would be in a fit right now. In central Texas if we are without power for any reason (flooding, crazy weather) it has never been longer than 24 hours for as long as I can remember. I guess you do what you have to do…but I don’t think I’d do it well…lol.</p>
<p>If anyone wants to give up the scoop on the Shutterfly ins and outs I have some funny Halloween picutres to post. The theme for a bunch of the greek parties this weekend was Heaven and He!!. So many devils and many angels, but my D came up with something pretty funny. Drove through the campus Saturday night, about an hour after the game let out and it was such a hoot seeing all the costumes. I am sure some momma and daddys wouldn’t be to happy, but some seriously funny thinks…like a group of students dressed Tetris squares. I think Halloween is such a great stress buster for the kids.</p>
<p>Bluejr won’t be working over the winter break. Partly because he doesn’t have a job to easily come back to, partly because he’s having surgery that will knock a week out at least, and partly because he’s worked full-time the last two summers and done a great job saving (and not a lot of spending so far). I don’t know that he could find something for three weeks in our area if he didn’t already have a foot in the door. Seasonal hires go quickly to SAHM’s, retiree’s, and college kids who have worked there before. If anyone of the ‘because of’s’ were not there I would probably be pressing for gainful employment over winter break.</p>
<p>amandakayak: Egads, that’s what it was!! Thanks for the link, although our serenader was wearing a shirt and did not as far as I can tell have suspenders, haha! I don’t know if I should be honored to have had my own little brush with an internet meme, or horrified that I didn’t recognize it as such until you sent me that link! :D</p>
<p>Emmy- totally with you on the pumpkin carving thing, but for me it’s the smell, I absolutely can’t stand it. Every year I dutifully drag out my plastic jack-o-lanterns from the basement :)</p>
<p>momjr, congrats on D1’s post grad job offer, how great that she got it so early in her senior year, it will take so much pressure off, yay!</p>
<p>To those who are power-less, hang in there, I can’t imagine what it would be like to be going on 60 hours without heat or electricity. Sending warm thoughts your way.</p>
<p>Well…we had about 2 doz little goblins, fairies, firemen, pirates etc…all of the trick or treaters were the younger ones…
In years past we had a slew of HS ones–guess they are all in college or “too old” because after about 8pm–nothing.
We have leftover candy…I bought only 1 large bag (all chocolate favs) from Costco in hopes of not having leftovers…ugh.</p>
<p>Last night, at the U, the symphanoy gave a midnight performance to correspond with a silent film done by film students. Kiddo snagged a ticket --$10 this week. The black market for them was $20-30. Cool that for a college campus this event sells out early every year and that it is so well attended/supported. So kiddo said it was amazing and was so imprssed by student orchestra etc. etc.</p>
<p>I am wondering if there was “liquor-treating” beforehand…and wont ask …</p>
<p>Might need to put all of this candy into “if it fits, it ships” box at the USPS…</p>
<p>fog, I’m impressed that your son attended the symphony performance! I don’t ask much about the party aspect either. We talk about safety once in a while to touch base, but I don’t want to come off too preachy or he won’t talk to me, kwim? Bluejr has taken a liking to the many great acapella groups on campus and sees their shows regularly. More culture would be a real joy for me! I love your idea of shipping left over candy!!</p>
<p>^ I hear you…
that is why I didn’t ask about the "liquor-treating:…Dh didn’t know about it…I figure it will come up in passing over turkey weekend…
Kiddo wasn’t a partier in hs–and I know with all of the cool theme parties etc on campus–and the “screws” etc, that there is much to do. There have been nights that they have gone to "improv " shows etc…The students support all of the arts. So this symphony event is a very in demand thing…starting at midnight (11:59)</p>
<p>Back a month or so ago–kiddo and roommate went to the symphony only to not snag seats…and the police were there to keep kids from sitting in the stairs…kiddo was quite disappointed…this time a pre-purchased ticket helped…though I think there was a moment kiddo considered making a profit…</p>
<p>The symphony is very well supported at the U…
I am quite impressed…</p>
<p>[YSO</a> tickets become hot commodityCross Campus | Yale Daily News](<a href=“http://www.yaledailynews.com/news/2011/nov/01/yso-tickets-prove-hot-commodity/]YSO”>http://www.yaledailynews.com/news/2011/nov/01/yso-tickets-prove-hot-commodity/)</p>
<p>For all of you without power, I hope that you will soon have power, I think we need to start a campaign to bury power lines, with all these storms we have had recently the Power companies would eventually recoup what it would cost and we could all keep our power!</p>
<p>FogFog, Know that there was Liquor treating on Saturday night not sure about Monday. D is doing better had a plan of attack to conquer whatever it is she is struggling with!. Highhead, did not wear my coach boots at all this weekend. The first day they didn’t match but on Saturday figured I would ruin them so they stayed in the suitcase. Can’t believe you and Yalemom15 were sitting in the same lobby too bad you hadn’t planned on meeting before hand. I did not plan ahead and as a result was in a town 12 miles outside of town but managed to run into some CC parent but not sure who she was as she was a mom of a sophomore and happened to say well on CC, I heard…I actually kept my mouth shut as I was not sure I was ready to “reveal” myself to her…and not sure which threads she frequents will do a bit of Stalking to figure it out, I certainly learned a lot about her and her kids in the few short minutes that she spoke!!!</p>
<p>Momjr Awesome news about the Job! Congratulations!</p>
<p>Computer is down, borrowing my youngest D’s who is looking at me with the hairy eyeball wondering when she is going to get her computer back, guess I need to go. </p>
<p>Good luck with the Power!</p>
<p>Momjr, congrats to your D on getting a job!</p>
<p>Boychild will work over Xmas break at his summer job and is planning to work a few days over T’giving break. </p>
<p>Not having a good day here, little dog bit my finger again. i don’t know why I can’t stop myself from trying to groom her. Then I lost both cable and internet for a few hours (I know, not going to get a lot of sympathy from the powerless - but it was aggravating.)</p>
<p>Then my mother called. My cousin’s ex wife called in sick to work with a headache yesterday and when her 13 yr.old came home from school (they share custody) he found her in bed, dead. I cannot imagine anything as horrible for a child. She had a very rare disease, Dystonia, which was diagnosed when the son was a toddler. It’s hereditary and the son has it too and has already exhibited symptoms. She was doing very well though and of course we won’t know if her disease had anything to do with her death. </p>
<p>Then a good friend called telling me her DIL went off her meds and had to be admitted again. My friends are leaving for a month to go to Peru, Ecuador and the Galapagos on Friday so asked me if I would be available in a pinch to drop off the youngest at nursery school or babysit in a pinch. They have 3 kids (yours, mine & ours) and he can’t take any more time off of work, so of course I said yes. This situation is also so sad and so hard on their young kids. Sigh.</p>
<p>Oh emilybee! I don’t know what to say. I am so, so very sorry, for all of it. What a day you have had. I also can not imagine the loss that 13yo boy must be going through right now. So very, very tragic with way too many emotions for a young person. My heart goes out to you and the family. Gentle hugs to you my cyber friend.</p>
<p>S2 also attended the midnight concert. Said he didn’t get to bed until 1:30, not the best way to start the week, liquor-treating or not. He has a bunch of stuff due in the next few days and I could hear in is voice today he is exhausted. I guess there’s no good way to deal with a Halloween tradition like that when Halloween falls at the beginning of the week. I expect quite a few naps were taken this afternoon.</p>
<p>Oh emilybee - hugs…</p>
<p>hugs to you emilybee…</p>
<p>EB…I am so sorry for your family’s loss. The loss of a parent is so deep and hurtful. Again, I am so, so sorry.</p>