<p>S and I actually had a really nice talk before the snow driving practice. He asked if I felt comfortable with him driving. I told him that I wouldn’t know until we got out there and I saw how he handled it. I also told him that he is 20 so I don’t feel I can flat out tell him “no” and you get experience by doing. I almost felt like he was looking for an “out” from me.</p>
<p>We spent about a half hour in an unplowed empty parking lot. I gave him a lot of sudden instructions: stop, turn, etc… so he could get the feel of what the car does. That was the main point of the lesson. In the end, he decided to bail on the plan. He knew the snow was supposed to start blowing, the roads would freeze during the night and it would be dark. I was so happy that he came to that decision on his own. I think he was pretty happy with it too.</p>
<p>When I woke up this morning it was 3 degrees and then dropped down to 1. There are only a few schools that were supposed to be open today and they canceled. I am supposed to take S back on sunday and they are calling for another round of snow and then even colder temps. I was supposed to go back to work today but took the day off. There is a possibilty I may end up not going back until wednesday. It will be lonely though without the extra person here. I do wonder when temps get that cold (wind chill of -20 to -30), do they cancel classes at the university? We’ll see.</p>
<p>Bookmouse-hoping your S made it home ok last night. Worrying sucks doesn’t it. I seem to be able to always worry about something. Hence the name-NervousNellie1. :-)</p>
<p>Glad that snow practice went okay. I just watched my son slide down our driveway to go out. We got about 5 inches last nite. Yeah, worrying does suck. I hate when it keeps me up at nite.</p>
<p>Ha, snow driving. My son has driven in snow before but the roads are the worst I’ve ever seen them and the county hasn’t done any plowing of the 9+ inches we got. The kids are at their dad’s house this week- about a mile from my house. So there’s apparently no food in the fridge at dad’s house and my D wanted Taco Bell. My S was going to a friend’s house so he said he’d take her Taco Bell, drop her back off at Dad’s house and then go to his friend’s house, in my subdivision.</p>
<p>They got out on the roads and S decided he could not do any left turns because the left hand turn lanes are really deep. Their car is tiny and not great in snow. So he figured out a route of all right turns but couldn’t get to Taco Bell that way. So he dropped D off at my house instead. So then I had to get her to Taco Bell and back to her dad’s house. Thanks S! I guess part of me is glad he’s cautious and worried about getting stuck in the middle of a road, but I was not happy to have to go out myself!</p>
<p>Glad everyone’s kids made it through. Son made it home safely, but he did admit it was scary driving at night with the snow coming down steadily, flying into the windshield and covering the lines on the road - poor visibility. Phew, I guess we will never stop worrying about them.</p>
<p>Well we are having snow flying issues around here. Both DDs were due to fly to the west coast this week. Both flights canceled. D1 could not get out until Sunday (original flight Friday). D2 got out very, very late last night on an alternate flight but is now stuck in an airport hotel partway there since she missed her connection due to the delay. The good news is she is traveling with a friend and has a confirmed seat for noon today. Ugh. I suppose they are learning to be resilient travelers. Stay warm everyone in Hercules’ path, the cold last night was supposed to break records around here.</p>
<p>Got S back to school yesterday. It’s a good thing I took Friday off since my battery died. Got that fixed up and new tires and was good to go. I was supposed to go back to work today but school has been canceled for today and tomorrow.</p>
<p>Shockingly S’s classes were canceled for today as well. I am thinking they will tomorrow too. Living so close to the univeristy, I know quite a few people who work there. Over the weekend I had asked someone if OSU ever cancels classes and was told it would be very unlikely. I must say-I miss my kid terribly especially on days like this when we are both off. I keep telling myself-he needs to be there. He is finally in a good living situation and this will be great bonding time for them. Why have him be bored here when he can be bored there with others.</p>
<p>I know the food service places are on a very limited basis today due to the weather. It will be interesting to hear what they did for meals. He did get some gift cards for places that deliver and his dorm is right next to the medical center. I hear there are places in there (Wendy’s, cafes, etc…). That would be my choice for this brutal cold.</p>
<p>Hope everyone is doing well and bundling up!</p>
<p>Glokid and I drove back to school (NH to VT) on Jan 3. It was awful!!! The usual 2 hour drive took us 3 1/2 hours. The last half on country roads that had several inches of snow that had compacted into ice. It was dangerous! When we checked in, the RD invited me to stay in D’s suite for the night instead of driving home! There were only 3 other students on campus that night and she was the only one in her suite, so I did stay. (D returned early to work at an event on the 4th). We enjoyed our slumber party! The only negative was having to share blankets in -13F temps.</p>
<p>Barnardgirl went back to New York early this morning after her brother’s Eagle Court of Honor yesterday. Classes start back on Tuesday. It was nice having her home for so long.</p>
<p>Just a follow up - if you remember S was really ticked at the TA’s in his CS class - changing projects, not returning emails, taking forever to grade - he was so upset he was ready to go talk to a dean about it.</p>
<p>Apparently on the first day of class the other day the prof started the 2nd class of the series by apologizing about the TA’s last semester! Went a long way to help S feel better about this semester.</p>
<p>My guy flew back last Tuesday and classes started Wednesday. Wed night he e-mailed to say his books had all arrived in great condition and he liked his new classes so far. He might call or e-mail tonight. Sunday is usually his “check in” time, but we let him do it on his schedule for obvious reasons.</p>
<p>Eyemamom - glad the prof admitted to the problem! I hope this semester goes well!</p>
<p>D2 has been back at school for over a week now. She is not busy with school. We haven’t been able to speak with her because she is busy with sorority rush. She is giving the house tour, giving a speech, a skit…She has been up every morning at 7 and not get to bed until midnight. She promised to call tonight.</p>
<p>DS turned 20 yesterday. How did that happen? He was out diving so we had to wait till after 7 pm to speak with him. However, DH was able to have the entire family online via google hangouts, which was very nice! He is taking 20 credits this semester, which includes a four times a week research diving course. He is also starting his own research and working about 12 to 15 hours a week. Busy guy. He is happy, but tired. He will be traveling to Bonaire over spring break with the dive course and plans on working in Miami area over the summer. Seems he is well on his way to starting a wonderful life!</p>
<p>After 3 days in a row of apartment hunting, S chose one for next year and of course it was the first one he looked at. Cannot beat the location, very within walking distance of campus and his classes. In fact may be closer to some classes than his current dorm. Now he just has to find a RM. We all know he has had trouble in that area but they were all random RMs and this one he would be chosing himself. He is actually in a very good place now but unsure if any of them would live off campus. That is his job to find someone.</p>
<p>The place that showed him 3 apts today opened up their leasing for next year 10 days ago and are already 80% filled. We figured-find the place first and worry about the RM after. Very excited for him-but he will come home less once he is out of the dorms. :-(</p>
<p>Time flies! Nice to see everyone is doing well. DD took a “J” term class this year and got a job less than 2 miles from her apartment and right on the bus line! She has her fall '14 living arrangements all set and is going abroad spring '15 (deciding between Ireland or Italy). Made the Dean’s list again this past semester. Unbelievably “uber-organized”</p>
<p>Hard to believe where we were 2 years ago :o</p>
<p>That’s the truth… and to think time will pass that quickly and soon we’ll be two years from now!</p>
<p>My guy is loving both his classes and his schedule this semester… and hoping for overseas this summer. Two years ago he was hoping for acceptances…</p>
<p>Meanwhile, today started my first radiation treatment… 6 weeks, every day M-F. Such a fun winter with lots to look forward to. (sigh) </p>
<p>On the flip side, the machinery is cool… it’s amazing what they can do with technology nowadays - far, far surpassing my college days or even just a decade ago. I wonder what our kids will end up doing/seeing? I suppose when they reach the age we’re at now all of this will be obsolete too.</p>
<p>The science part of me finds this all really intriguing and I’d love to stick around and explore more (not allowed, of course). The “center of attention” part not so much.</p>
<p>Let’s hope those radiation treatments take care of the issue and this will all soon be a distant memory for you Creekland! My new Crohn’s medication seems to be helping me quite a bit and I was kind of dreading it. Giving myself an injection every other week hasn’t been so awful for how much better I feel in general. </p>
<p>I’m relieved Barnardgirl got to NYC before the snow storm started.</p>
<p>Glad you’re feeling better Barnardmom! Also glad your D beat the snow. I’m glad youngest didn’t have to work yesterday as he’s home alone. School was cancelled too, so he was likely quite happy home alone giving himself permission to be online all day long (aside from critter feeding and late evening driveway shoveling). He has a two hour delay today. Then a new semester (and new classes) start for him.</p>
<p>I do hope the lengthy radiation works as it’s a bit to go through if it doesn’t and life, of course, offers no guarantees. Meanwhile, I’m currently planning a mid-treatment weekend at the beach for some therapeutic “treatment” on the side. I doubt it will be a southern beach (definitely my preference), because I’m not so sure I’m willing to take the gamble on flights and delays, but something ought to be better than nothing. Maybe they’ll have palm trees in the atrium if I pick the right place. The trade off is the rates are quite good for true oceanfront rooms at the northern beaches.</p>
He was out diving so we had to wait till after 7 pm to speak with him. However, DH was able to have the entire family online via google hangouts, which was very nice! He is taking 20 credits this semester, which includes a four times a week research diving course. He is also starting his own research and working about 12 to 15 hours a week. Busy guy. He is happy, but tired. He will be traveling to Bonaire over spring break with the dive course and plans on working in Miami area over the summer. Seems he is well on his way to starting a wonderful life!</p>