<p>There’s a whole (lengthy) thread on the new “reputation” thing, with the green boxes and the scales. From what I gather, the intent seems to be to allow newbies to more easily identify highly-respected posters. Many highly-respected oldtimers seem skeptical! ;)</p>
<p>stevec - I may be gaming the system while mizzbee deserves her rep!</p>
<p>I am not doing it voluntarily but an young friend is awarding beaucoup points with just a click each day to game it for me. Since some people’s clicks are worth a lot more points (to rephrase animal farm, we all are equal but some are more equal than others) I got more squares quickly.</p>
<p>mathinokc - someone posted a link to the said school orchestra roster today in another thread.</p>
<p>I’m not surprised that she is in the orchestra. When my daughter first met her, the friend actually felt pulled as much or more towards the cello as towards the math/science area where she ended up. I believe she’s very talented musically, in addition to the many academic accolades she has received.</p>
<p>Let’s all “like” (or whatever) texaspg – someone from the Parents of the College Class of 2016 should represent us in the CC Hall of Fame. And it will be interesting to see what eventually happens as those little green squares keep multiplying. I’m picturing the Grinch’s small heart growing three sizes that day… :)</p>
<p>I picked S up from school today and took him to our family doctor. Influenza B + bronchitis, not yet pneumonia but could be headed that way. She prescribed antibiotics and an inhaler, and REST. Even gave him a note to give his professors as he is missing a final today and tomorrow (these profs were doing them early, finals week is next week). He’s stayed in touch with the profs through his illness and has arranged to take both next week.</p>
<p>So I made my homemade chicken soup and am kinda enjoying babying him until Sunday when I will return him to school for 5 days then pick him up for break…during which I really hope he stays healthy :)</p>
<p>texaspg - yes, that friend plays cello. Always first chair in the large school orchestra here, the highest of the three orchestras at that HS. (but of course, that’s to be expected with that one!) I think she also played in one of the regional youth orchestras too. </p>
<p>IB program, top Intel, multi-year cancer research, started her own non-profit organization for specialized tutoring, first chair in the top orchestra… I’m pretty sure that kid never slept.</p>
<p>No, add me in. I suppose I’m old fashioned, but I’m generally able to tell who tends to know what they are saying by the content of their posts vs how many green boxes they may have.</p>
<p>Here’s hoping all those who have illnesses can maintain clear brains for their finals!</p>
<p>D2 is coming home this Sun for 6 weeks. She left for college 2 days after we moved to our new place, so it is going to be strange for her. I hope she’ll spend some time to decorate her new home. She already told me that she is going to miss her friends. D2 had a very good first semester. She seem to be pleased with her performance. I received many panic calls the first month of school, “I spent so much time on the paper, why I only got a B/A-. I don’t know what else to do.” Since this was my second time around I didn’t panic with her. </p>
<p>D2 is having her own experience at school, without following her older sister’s foot steps. She is very involved with her school’s community service, having many leadership roles. Her older sister wants her to join the same sorority this spring. I hope it all works out.</p>
<p>This was a long road, very happy to hear our kids are doing well (with few ups and downs).</p>
<p>Sending good wishes to all of our kids as they work their way through these stressful weeks before break.</p>
<p>S has been working on a paper and seems to be having his usual challenges with getting words onto paper. I worry about his difficulty with the process but it is nice to be far enough away to not feel his stress. I suspect I will once again be making the suggestion to look for campus resources to help him overcome his challenges with the process. I hope I can use the right words so he will listen. </p>
<p>I’m trying to get care packages in the mail today so they arrive before S flies home next Friday. We baked cookies last night and I’m trying to fill the box with other fun things. I can’t believe his first quarter is almost done!</p>
<p>Texaspg, I saw that article yesterday about Zuckerburg visiting the CS class at Stanford–my S isn’t in the class either, but I thought it was so cool! He’s in a dorm with a lot of CS kids and I’m guessing some of them might be in that class. I’ll have to ask him when we talk this weekend.</p>
<p>I’m sure my S would love that deal, SteveC! For better or worse it was due today, so it’s out of his hands. Now he has 3 finals to study for, which are scheduled at the end of next week. Math and CS shouldn’t be too bad, he needs to put some time into Econ.</p>
<p>OhMom- Sorry to hear your S is so sick. I am sure some time at home will put him on the mend quickly… </p>
<p>Oldfort- always like hearing about happy kids!</p>
<p>D- is sick again, I am sure part of that is due to camping out for Bowl Game tickets… She has her first final today. Her hardest is the dreaded Calculus final next week. I will be happy when she is done with that class, lots of tears shed over the fall.</p>
<p>Living n a college dorm must be like living in a petri dish. S very rarely got sick before college. Hopefully D and I don’t pick it up while he’s here…</p>
<p>D called this evening and talked a mile a minute about 80 different things to both my son and I. When she finally got off the phone, my son and I were like “What is up with her?” She wore us out! And kept talking and talking and talking. Adrenalin from stress, I think!</p>