<p>Our grocery also has sushi, either pre-made or I’m sure you could order platters. But it’s pricey! Maybe that’s something he would like for just for your immediate family some time away from the party. </p>
<p>Since we are not doing a big party at all, and the grad ceremony is in the morning, originally we planned to go out for a nice lunch afterwards. Now a good friend of hers is having a picnic party (catered by Moe’s, a good option) that afternoon, so we will go out for a nice celebratory dinner the night before. D’s food choice is the sushi restaurant. We live in a resort area and there are probably 100 restaurants within 15 miles, but she wants the little sushi place. Maybe she should meet @onlyonemom’s son.</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice on Edible Arrangements. Debating an arrangement, or getting her a box of chocolate covered strawberries, her real favorite. </p>
<p>So horrified by the UCSB shooting. In actuality, it sounds like the police responded well and it could have been worse. Just terrible.</p>
<p>After the spring break riots and now this, my son is now vowing to never set foot in Isla Vista next year. I am so saddened for everyone involved.</p>
<p>@2dandelion - you comment made me smile… -S wants me to order the large sushi platter so we can have left overs - I told him it would not keep ;> …we are not having a big party I invited 30 but only expect 20. He only wanted to invite 4 friends …so we can splurge on the sushi - I was thinking of ordering from whole foods but will look at other local grocery stores - maybe some things from whole foods and some things from the local grocery store. </p>
<p>The shooting is so tragic. My heart goes out to the families of the victims. Sometimes I wonder what this world is coming to with all these mass shootings. </p>
<p>@12dandelion - I’ve had two Edible Arrangements in the past few months. One was excellent, the other Ok. D and I love chocolate covered strawberries too. We make it a point to stop by the Godiva store and treat ourselves when we are downtown shopping.</p>
<p>I haven’t made any plans for graduation yet. I think I’m afraid I will jinx things. D is still working like crazy to finish her assignments. It amazes me how much work some of the teachers have assigned these last few weeks - even after AP exams. The worst, however, is her only non-AP course. The amount of busy work is mind boggling. </p>
<p>16 parties down, 5 to go! I’m tired, but since my cooktop is broken, I appreciate the food. </p>
<p>We’ll be moving into summer mode soon. D has a week to get all her thank yous written, and then it’s off to work. H and I had a few empty nest days while d was away at the state track meet. Man, this is going to be weird. I need some more hobbies</p>
<p>@12dandelion There is an Edible Arrangements store in my office building and sometimes I end up in the elevator with the delivery guy. They really look terrific. I think the quality of the fruit may vary by your region and what’s truly in season, but I bet this time of year the strawberries would be fantastic!</p>
<p>I’ve been working hard to get my house in better shape since my dad and his wife are coming into town for graduation. They’ll be here Wednesday night. I just replaced my sink and garbage disposal today (with lots and lots of help from a friend) and made new sheers and drapes for my living room. I also made two covers for throw pillows and I’m working on a matching cover for an entryway bench cushion. Tomorrow is landscaping day. I told my ex-husband I’d come over Monday to help him clean his house to get it ready for the party. I really wish he and his girlfriend hadn’t split up and she hadn’t moved out! </p>
<p>Things are not working out as planned. My mom ended up coming here to recover from a hospital stay while we sold her place and found a new one. Her place did sell. Part of the deal was she would get therapy here and she fired the pt after one visit. We’re all furious. She ended up having a stomach virus while in the hospital and carried it to us and we all have gotten horribly sick. D missed the big grad party yesterday, but seems to be recovering well. </p>
<p>She graduates Tuesday then we leave Wed evening for her orientation. She seems to be prolonging the agony with the boyfriend. First they decided to break up at the end of summer, and now she’s regretting that and going back and forth recognizing she’ll miss him on one hand but is ready to move on. She wants to break up now, then she doesn’t. Ay yi yi. </p>
<p>@eyemamom It can be important for young people to be decisive in those cases. Eons ago when I was graduating from college and preparing to go off to grad school far away, I was in a similar situation. My gf at the time and I knew we would break up, and I wanted to break up at the beginning of the summer and move to my new home. But she pleaded with me to wait until the end of the summer. So I signed a summer lease to stick around and even signed up for some classes to have something to do. But a couple of weeks later, she changed her mind and decided we should break up right then. I was already taking classes and hated to tarnish my academic record with a withdrawal, so I stuck out the entire lonely, miserable summer there. I was angry with her for that and we ended on bad terms, which was so disappointing because it had looked like we were going to end on good terms and be friends for life.</p>
<p>eyemamom: I do not envy the situation with your mom … or your daughter! In your daughter’s case, hopefully, she stays very busy this summer (after the trip) so that she has limited contact with her boyfriend. That way, the breakup will not be as tough.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, Son '14 did nothing on the first day of the three-day weekend, except sleep. No, I’m not complaining, because he really needed the rest. Friday before he went to track practice, he went to see the college counselor about the award ceremony he missed (because of his track coach). He assumed that he would get just one scholarship in the amount of $3K, and he was grateful for that. Then, the counselor started pulling out all these things from a giant envelope. He joked that he thought it would end! He earned enough local scholarship money to wipe out his loan for his freshman year. He was just in awe, when he came to bring me everything. Of all the awards he won, however, he was most excited about earning the math department’s award as its top student. He just loved his math teachers, and all the others in the department. The award came with a small scholarship, but moreover, a nice medal that he can wear at graduation, along with his NHS sash and honor cords. Two teachers have told me that if Son '14 wins a state title, he should pin that medal to his graduation robe, too, since the state meet is just a day before the graduation ceremony. </p>
<p>I did ask Son '14 if he told his track coach about the scholarship money. He said no. He really does not want to talk to him much these days. I will add that two other boys from the team were allowed to miss the meet. Nether would have scored too many points, but still … a double standard seems to exist.</p>
<p>Oh, as for Edible Arrangements, awesome stuff! My folks got one a year or so ago from my cousin as a thank-you for letting them stay when she and her kids visited.</p>
<p>I’m still considering Edible Arrangements, since they often include pineapple, her second fave. But if I’m just doing strawberries, I’ll get them from the local chocolatier. I wonder if they could do some kind of ‘arrangement’ also. Thanks for all the advice. </p>
<p>My D had a boyfriend throughout junior year, then he broke up with her at the beginning of senior year. She is STILL mad at him. The way she glares at him (they have many mutual friends) is almost embarrassing. Somehow we get through the torment of those early relationships, but boy is it rough at the time. Reading the above posts, at least I can appreciate that the guy was decisive and didn’t string her along for another year. Good luck @eyemamom and also in dealing with your mom. Been there, doing that, but it is a bit easier now that she is in memory care.</p>
<p>S and I went out to dinner last night after we’d both had a long, busy, tiring day and he was very talkative. He informed me that he and the girl he took to prom are now “official”. Great timing for prepping to go away to college. </p>
<p>@eyemamom my oldest asked me why break ups hurt so much, and I wanted to scream “Because you kids drag them out forever!” Cut it off. Now. Don’t hang around together and try to be friends (at least not for a good, long time). If you know it’s over, don’t set a future date for the breakup. Just do it now. Why drag out the drama for months? </p>
<p>Been offline much of the last week, just caught up on all the posts. @momreads – I’m furious with the coach and the administration for not making that work for your son-- If the prestige of the meet is so important to the school, then don’t schedule the awards for the same time. Academics (and recognition for academic excellence) should always take priority over sports – it is a school, after all. </p>
<p>D14 graduated HS on Friday-- lovely ceremony for the most part. Kids were super excited, especially to have their former principal (universally adored) come and read their names. With such a small class, the ceremony wasn’t too long. Parents were disappointed that the slide show (pics of kids baby thru grad, and a mini bio of college/scholarships) was rushed to the point that you couldn’t read the slides. I found out later that the new VP insisted it had to be shorter and if she had gotten her way, it would have been eliminated altogether. So I need to write a letter, and encourage other parents to do the same, so that the families can enjoy what is important to them during graduation. There was a long-winded and condescending judge who spoke— no one cared what she had to say, and we were looking around at each other wondering when she would stop talking-- that they can eliminate-- but not the slide celebration of our kids!</p>
<p>Okay - we can stick a fork in it, it’s done. sheesh… I’m sympathetic, and he really is a nice kid, their time was just over for now. Sadly he is the kid you marry - when you meet 10 years from now. They don’t hate each other, in fact she’s a little sad he’s not sadder - lol. So she’s crying, but going out to lunch with her girlfriends. They’re both busy this summer and in reality wouldn’t even get to see each other that much. After her orientation she’s going to the beach for a few days with friends, then she’s working at my company for the summer - with a few other summer kids. She’ll also travel to see her cousins and she leaves early August. The time will fly by. </p>
<p>Congrats @glido and @PetraElise on surviving graduation. I don’t get the school cutting the slideshow but letting an adult with little connection to the students blather on. Am getting concerned about the length of Spygirl’s graduation as we have lunch reservations at a downtown restaurant in the middle of Stumptown’s biggest annual celebration. May need to move the lunch back a half hour.</p>
<p>Excellent news for your son @momreads! All those scholarships should take the sting out of dealing with the crazy coach. </p>
<p>@eyemamom - Sorry to hear you’ve been sick and are dealing with your mother. You have a lot on your plate. At least the break up is over and your daughter can concentrate on moving forward. </p>
<p>We spent yesterday planting, watering and cleaning up the garden beds. The vegetable garden is tilled and ready to be planted. Our roses are just starting to bloom and should be perfect for next week’s party. But it’s supposed to start raining tonight and I’m hoping it’s short lived so painting can continue. I’m ready for a vacation…</p>
<p>Weather forecasts for Friday’s graduation and Saturday’s open house/graduation party are looking perfect! Sunny an dnd 75 degrees. I couldn’t ask for better!</p>
<p>I went out today with the intent of doing lots of landscaping today. By the time I had mowed the back yard, I realized that I am not in the shape I used to be in and I’m not going to be able to do this by myself. I’m going to have to hire someone. It is just too much. My hand muscles cramped from holding the lawn mower handle that long. My feet and gastrocs were cramping and now I feel like I could sleep for days. While the Crohn’s seems better, I’m not better from months of malnutrition Twelve years ago this weekend, I did my front landscaping all by myself. I shoveled 3 yards of rocks, built a retaining wall using more than 100 landscape blocks and planted shrubs- all in two days. I want to be that person again and I just can’t do it. I will get tomatoes planted and that will be about it, I think. </p>
<p>Hi, all - been reading all week, but haven’t had time to post!
@eyemamom I agree with the breakup. My daughter went through a similar situation. It was much better to break up than to go on the trip! @momreads I sympathize! My son missed senior awards for track, and a host of other things along the way, including graduation practice that the school held DURING an AP test! Duh! The awards ceremony wasn’t nearly as big of a deal for my son, though, the school doesn’t give out much and doesn’t announce most of the scholarships.
@2016BarnardMom I can’t even imagine trying to do all that work, much less with a chronic illness! Take care of yourself!</p>
<p>Our week has been amazingly busy and quite exciting! Our daughter gave birth to our first grandbaby on Monday! We were all at the hospital all night, and DS’14 held a brand new baby for the first time! (He <em>was</em> the family baby!)
DS also made it out of districts in track and field and yesterday went on to sectionals. It is the toughest sectional in the state and hit a PR, jumped several places beyond his seeding and will be moving on to state! I think his coach was even more excited than DS! We raced across three counties from sectionals to make it to Baccalaureate and grad dinner at the school - both were exceptionally nice. This morning we headed to the Opera House for graduation and his sister (the one with the new baby) surprised her brother by attending the ceremony - something he really wanted. In an hour we are on our way to lock-in. Whew! </p>
<p>Congrats to all those who have graduated! Good luck on all the parties and festivities, I hope all the weather is balmy, the food delicious, the guests are well-behaved and the memories are perfect!</p>
Twelve years ago this weekend, I did my front landscaping all by myself. I shoveled 3 yards of rocks, built a retaining wall using more than 100 landscape blocks and planted shrubs- all in two days. I want to be that person again and I just can’t do it.