<p>Re the quarter system meltdown – probably right before and during midterms. Or earlier – mostly when kids realize how fast the quarter system moves and that they need to adjust how they work. It’s a big adjustment the first quarter and it can hit them pretty hard.</p>
<p>My D has midterms already, this week.<br>
Hoping they are meltdown-free!</p>
<p>hsmom - that’s great. It is always such a relief.</p>
<p>D2 told me that she is registered to vote. It dawned on me that this will be her first time to vote and for the presidential election. She is very excited.</p>
<p>S’s school just switched to semesters this year. This is the way I understand it: they have 2 sessions in the semester. So next week he has exams (mid-terms) for session 1, then they will have the final exams for session 1 in Oct.?, then repeat for session 2 and final exams for the semester in Dec.</p>
<p>It just seems really early for exams-feels like he just started classes but in reality he started Aug. 22. He has yet to complain about the amount of work or the speed at which they are covering things. I think he was born to be a student so he is probably loving it (for now).</p>
<p>I never knew about the upcoming possible meltdown. Glad I know to watch for the signs. Reminds me of when I was in labor-I never knew about back labor. How can I not know these things? I am usually all over every piece of information I can find!!</p>
<p>I haven’t been around for a few days due to a surprise visit from DS. He popped p on Friday night as we were getting ready to do to a football game. His gf knew all week but it was a great surprise for us. He leaves this afternoon. </p>
<p>He is happy at school but feels a little overwhelmed at times with school, work and pledging.</p>
<p>MizzBee, what a wonderful surprise, how sweet! I hope the visit went well and it is not too hard to say goodbye this afternoon! My S arrived for a week last night after six weeks of summer school and a month away before that, it was wonderful to have a family dinner, it was the first one with all five of us since mid-June.<br>
He is still asleep. He left his door open, I am LOVING just peeking at him all cuddled up in his bed. I can’t believe this almost grown-up man was once my little baby!
Thanks Mim and WeatherGa for the input on when to expect quarter-system meltdowns, I’ll be watching come Fall mid-term time.</p>
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<p>To this day, I have never heard anyone talk about thigh labor, but that’s what I had with my first.</p>
<p>^^^^^
Ok-never heard of that one!! :-)</p>
<p>Good luck to our last 7 kids to launch!</p>
<p>S got off campus today to go into Philadelphia to look at some art for a class. Pretty easy going in and back on the train once he figured out how to read the schedule.</p>
<p>D auditioned for Columbia U orchestra Thursday, found out she got into first violin section today. Says there are quite a few Barnard students in orchestra; will be a nice opportunity to meet others with musical interests. Still hasn’t been able get final schedule set. Doing great, doing things she’s never had to do before.</p>
<p>^^^Congrats to your D! Is she a music major?</p>
<p>My D auditioned for her university’s symphony orchestra but didn’t get in. Instead, she’s doing chamber music with a recreational-level group. Maybe a blessing in disguise, as the official orchestra would’ve been very time-consuming – a half-dozen performances per semester! The chamber group keeps her involved with music in a way that may be more compatible with engineering-major academic demands.</p>
<p>The wackaloon offspring are doing so many cool things in college already!!</p>
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</p>
<p>I believe the correct term is “fruit of our wackaloins.”</p>
<p>Speaking of orchestras, S1 and S2 had their first college orchestra rehearsal yesterday. They attend the same school so it is fun that they will have a year playing in the orchestra together. I called S2 last night and asked him how orchestra was and he said they ‘played some beautiful music’. Wow - can’t ask for more than that! I hope others have some great musical experiences in college this year</p>
<p>Congrats to notakid’s D - let us know how it goes.
Also I agree mihcal1 that the chamber music might be best for an engineering major. Too many performances and rehearsals for the orchestra…</p>
<p>The wackaloon offspring </p>
<pre><code>*I believe the correct term is “fruit of our wackaloins.” *
</code></pre>
<p>^:)^</p>
<p>Good morning, everybody. I’m just back from our empty nest vacation to Martha’s Vineyard. It really was like a second honeymoon. I ached for D on the ferry over, as she’s such a great traveler and I wanted to share every little thing with her…a feeling that I indulged a bit by texting her one photo a day from the island…but as the week went on, H and I got into a nice groove. Hikes, beach, books, lobster, sunsets…mattress “traction.” A happy burst of romance 23 years into our relationship.</p>
<p>MommyMommy … Now that’s a BINGO point. It takes effort to rekindle and you and H are doing it! Maybe you can gross your D out with a little smoochiness when she returns home not to an empty nest but a LOVE nest. :)</p>
<p>mihcal1, D is not a music major. Undecided with a pretty wide range of interests for now. The orchestra has a 3-hour rehearsal every week, and D will get two credits for it. They are preparing one program (Brahms Sym. 1 & Bartok Miraculous Mandarin) for two performances in December. She has signed up for a campus practice room 5 days a week (hour each time) and has a private lesson a week not too far away by subway. She really wanted to make sure her violin playing didn’t slip away while she was in school, but it adds a lot to the schedule. Hope it’s not overwhelming.</p>
<p>Love it, PN! Does that mean mimk6 had “wackaloin labor?” I’m just so glad the labor part is over. Though mommymommy may be starting a new generation!! </p>
<p>D continues to bubble over with happiness, excitement, and revelation-- all just thrilling to me of course. </p>
<p>We are having a bit of a second honeymoon here, too-- cooking together, working in the garden together.</p>
<p>Our empty nest activity for the weekend was to drive 90 miles to visit S at UMass Amherst. He was happy enough to have lunch with us and his roommate and tell a bit about his classes. Returned home same day. Trip now seems easy after having made it several times. </p>
<p>D switched calculus class to be in one with new friend and thus gain a study partner. New class doesn’t use a text, so she got to return the unused $275 text the first class had assigned for it. Since the shrink wrap had been broken the Barnard book store would only give her $120 credit for it. Pretty sure Amazon would have given full refund.</p>