<p>Long time, no post for me.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, the local HS graduate kid that disappeared is still missing. Police was saying that it appears it was voluntary and planned. He left his wallet and wiped out the content of his laptop/phone. He also disabled all his social media accounts. He doesn’t have a car and he probably walked or somebody picked him up. I hope he wasn’t lured by a cult or something. I can only imagine the pain his parents are going through right now.</p>
<p>So sad and scary to hear about the missing HS graduate.</p>
<p>@momreads - I can’t believe your son’s coach did that! It’s just inexcusable! I’m sure your son will welcome college and the support he’ll receive there!</p>
<p>DD had her physical this morning so all the forms are ready to be sent to school - one more item to be checked off the to do list. And she can stay with her pediatrician though college which is great because she loves her! Just makes it easier than trying to find a new doctor when it may only be for four years, depending upon where she ends up. Plus she’ll be close enough to home that she can come home to see this doctor if it ever becomes necessary. I did have DD sign something saying her doctor could talk with me about her medical care if anything ever comes up just to be safe.</p>
<p>No update on his whereabouts, but one of the bits of information that came out is that he is likely carrying a My Little Pony backpack. I was incredulous that an 18-year old boy would carry such a thing, and mentioned it to my D who was his classmate. She filled me in - apparently there is a new version of the show that is very smartly written and has gained a wide fan base among teens and adults, including many males, who refer to themselves as “Bronies”. It’s a thing - I just read all about it on whatisabrony . com. Not sure if this is relevant to his disappearance, but fascinating nonetheless.</p>
<p>I put my name on the waitlist at the local library long ago for the book “The Perfect Score Project” and finally checked it out last week. It’s about a mom who takes the SAT a dozen times, trying to figure out the best prep options for her son. This should be right up my alley, but now? I really don’t care anymore! I guess I will take the book back, so the parent of a young high schooler can start preparing…</p>
<p>@MImama–she needed to take the test a dozen times? Wow. I’m not even motivated to read the book about taking the test….</p>
<p>Congrats to all the new graduates! A couple more days here…</p>
<p>Thanks for all the support regarding my son’s former track coach (we can say that since Son '14 has graduated!!!). It is shameful that he did not follow through on his promise to send the boys to nationals, but it’s over. Son '14 has moved on. He’s having a blast with his older brother in DC. Walked all over the city the other day. Went to the National Zoo. Watched the World Cup together (both are former soccer dudes). Son '14 will be back later in the week.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, I still have a few days to work before it’s summer in my world. Unfortunately, life interrupted my world, and I’m off to the dentist this morning with a bad tooth. I did accomplish one thing the other night. Got a storage place for a month. So during orientation, we can put away Son '14’s stuff for college. That way, we can fly down for move-in day. It’s just me moving him in, too, but at least he does not want to take the volume that his older brother did his first year! This kid does not need dozens of shirts and shorts – that’s why there is a washing machine and dryer, he said. (Of course, he needs to learn to use it …) His older brother is teaching him how to use a steamer (I already bought one for Son '14), so he can keep his dress clothing nice. Bought a couple of laundry bags. Need to get some plastic tubs for the linens and other items. I figure that is the best way to move him. Keeps the moisture and bugs out.</p>
<p>@momreads - a steamer is a great idea! It’s likely to get used far more than an iron and those small/table top ironing boards are a pain. Kids dress for class at Sewanee and D is a clothes horse so a steamer will come in handy. Now if I can only convince D that a huge walk-in closet and 2 dressers full of clothes are not going to fit in her dorm room! I have a feeling that I will be hauling a lot of stuff back home! </p>
<p>So has anyone started the shopping?! yikes With my son it was one trip to bed bath & beyond and then weeding out what he already had in terms of clothes. A completely different ball of wax with D. She finally picked out her bedding from pb teen and we’ve begun the shopping for sorority recruitment plus new things she needs for a different climate and a lifetime of uniforms. </p>
<p>D purchased a quilt and shams, but we need to hold off on sheets etc until she receives her dorm assignment in early August. Some dorms have regular twin beds, others twin XL. We are in the process of making a clothes list. TN is colder than our home. D has way too many warm weather clothes and too few cold weather clothes. Unfortunately, clothes shopping at this point only adds to the former category. @eyemamom - maybe we can arrange an exchange. 
</p>
<p>We have accumulated several items so far. Grandma gave comforter and towels last Christmas. I bought a cool desk lamp at Costco last fall. Just bought a tower fan and Brita pitcher at Costco. S will use grad gift money to purchase pad and sheets - probably in late July when stores have tons of dorm stuff. Will shop for new laptop after orientation . </p>
<p>D is not changing climates so not much need to shop for clothes, except we do need to do a socks and underwear survey to make sure she has enough for busy periods when laundry is not a priority.
We got sheets, a comforter and a plush blanket a few weeks ago on sale at Target. Taking some towels from home. Got a clip on lamp, and she put it to use right away on her dresser to use for makeup. Got a shower caddy a year ago, luckily I could still find it in the mess of her room. Her stackable storage bins are currently full of ???, so she’ll need to clean those out by mid-August. Other than rain boots and possibly more sturdy snow boots I think she’s set. What she thinks might be different. ;-)</p>
<p>@12dandelion - “what she thinks might be different” - Lol! That seems to be so true of girls! </p>
<p>One thing I purchased for older S that he LOVED (and that I will get for D) was a thick down featherbed topper for his mattress. </p>
<p>I bought D a pair of Hunter rain boots, but she will also need snow boots. Any suggestions from my cold climate friends?</p>
<p>Also, for any of you with children who you think may neglect doing laundry - buy light colored towels. They will show the dirt (and mold - gross!) so they know they need washed! </p>
<p>Ps can you tell I don’t feel like working today? :)</p>
<p>@Overtheedge Where did you get the down mattress topper? I haven’t looked VERY hard, but found only one for about $400!! Found some “down alternative” ones. Did you spend that much?</p>
<p>@Maryjay60 - I bought S’s feather bed back in 2006 from BB&B. It was a baffle box down (maybe blend ?) that held up really well. D later used it when she was a JC at camp. I think I paid @150 with a 20% off coupon. I just looked online and they have definitely gone up in price. Company Store has a twin feather/down blend for 110. Looks like Overstock has some twin/twin XL down/feather blends and down alternative toppers for under 150. I will definitely start shopping around (wish I knew D’s bed size) because I’m not paying 400! </p>
<p>Overstock used to have a lot of XL twin memory foam toppers but now there’s nothing, boo hiss. However, if your kid isn’t super-tall and you’re considering a topper that doesn’t have fitted-corner type anchoring, you can just get a twin sized topper and place it towards the top of the bed. Dunno if that works with feather beds…</p>
<p>D1 had some sort of “green tea” XL memory foam topper which, wonder of wonders, didn’t stink coming out of the packaging–it actually had a nice slightly cocoa odor. We insisted that she bring that home at the end of sophomore year; it’ll go off to school with D2 this August. </p>
<p>Snow boots: D1(in Boston) uses her waterproof hiking boots (check out Sierra Trading Post for great deals, especially if you also check for discount codes) and those classic LL Bean boots. Order those sooner rather than later if your kid opts for them because they do sell out as cold weather approaches. D2 (who will be in SoCal) has a pair of Timberland boots with shearling lining which do work for snow. And she has a new pair of waterproof hiking boots which need to be broken in before wilderness orientation at the end of August.</p>
<p>Thank you so much for bringing up feather beds!!! I’d been thinking we should buy a foam mattress topper but I REALLY didn’t want to spend the money for one, since coming up with that tuition check is going to be very trying. But you all reminded me that we have a perfectly nice down-alternative twin feather bed from Cuddledown that isn’t being used! Problem solved. Thank you.</p>
<p>We’ve also been collecting dorm stuff the last couple of months. We hit Target on the way home from Accepted Students Days for duvet cover, sheets, light and curtains. Snagged curtain rods for 50 cents at a yard sale last weekend. Ordered the bath caddy from Amazon and it arrived today. I think I have some older towels she can bring so as not to have to purchase new ones. And we’re watching Craigslist and yard sales for a mini-fridge :)</p>
<p>Before you invest in a memory foam topper, make sure it’s allowed in the dorm. At D’s school (RIT), egg crate and memory foam mattress toppers are not allowed due to fire safety regulations.</p>
<p>I’ve done some shopping for Son '14 … and Son '09, who is heading to law school. </p>
<p>Today, the steamer I bought for Son '14 came. It’s in a pretty royal blue, like one of the university’s colors. Two hangable laundry bags came the other day. He has sheets and a comforter. He prefers beach towels, so I’ll send along some of the ones we already have. Got a really nice mattress pad in a XL size. It has a quilted top, so he should like that for his room (ordered from Belk). We have lots of extra blankets, so I’ll pack up one or two for him. Have some extra bath mats, too, thanks to my mom’s donation. Need some hand towels and wash clothes. He has a kitchenette, so he will need some dish towels, maybe a small dish rack, some dishes. But we need to speak with his roommates about what they will bring. A vacuum and a Swiffer will be needed, too. As for clothing, he’s in pretty good shape. His older brother found another pair of shorts and a pair of khakis for him the other day. He seemed pleased with that.</p>
<p>We also rented a storage place for one month. I figure that we’ll establish a working relationship with the owners, because Son '14 needs a place to store his stuff next spring. Got a good deal on the storage unit, which we will fill up when we drive down for orientation in July. We can fly in for his move-in day, clean the place out and move in.</p>
<p>As for the older son, he is moving into an off-campus apartment in early August. He has pots and pans, but asked for a new set of dishes, as several got broken at his current place. He needs to buy a bed (he wants a queen-sized one), so I can give him some sheets. Come to think of it, I’ll see if my mom has extra sheets and blankets, too. Never hurts to ask? He’s very excited about his place, because it has a nice oven and a dishwasher. Meanwhile, he is taking his dresser and nightstand, along with my 20-year-old dining room set and a lovely rocker my mom gave us years ago. He also would like a small grill. Why make his apartment hot when he can grill out some nights?</p>
<p>Clothing? He has more clothing than the Good Lord does – my mom said!</p>
<p>@momreads I am jealous you have a son who cares about a nice oven and a dishwasher. I’m sure they must exist but not in this family. If genetics are a guide they aren’t likely to grow into it, either.</p>
<p>I’m spacing out the college nagging and won’t get to supplies anytime soon. We’re still plugging away at thank you notes and financial aid paperwork. Figured out tonight who the roommate actually is and they are now FB friends. I will wait to find out if they take advantage of this to contact each other (if the other guy even realizes that’s why we sent the friend request). It’s a social experiment.</p>
<p>@gertrudemcfuzz My son is in a crowd that includes bronies. Not sure if he would claim the label, but he and his brother have recommended we watch a few of the new series. There are subcultures for everyone these days. </p>
<p>What’s the word on the missing grad? I guess the hope would be that he’s chosen to walk away to a new life – this is something that my cousin did more than thirty years ago. He left for college but never arrived. Eventually turned up in San Francisco where he found more acceptance. Traumatic and sad for all concerned, but eventually reconnected with family. Hope that happens sooner rather than later in this case.</p>