@albert69 guard your snacks? 
@scholarme I have to say Iām so ignorant of the subject that I donāt get the jokeā¦ Could you elaborate?
Oh, I was thinking hookah = marijuana, which causes the munchies.
I believe the implication was that if tobacco was not used in the hookah, it would be marijuana. Iām not aware of anything else used in a hookah, since opium and hashish would be off the table I expect.
Oh, I think itās probably tobacco. I was just saying that the effects are apparently even bigger than regular tobacco smoking to give some perspective. Iām not sureā¦ I didnāt want to inquire too much, but I wouldnāt think someone would tell me straight up that they were smoking something illegal in their second email introducing themselvesā¦ but that may be just me.
The kids who my D knows who go to hookah bars are pretty harmless. She thinks they do it as a way to go hang out - sort of the thrill of doing something illicit without it being illicit. Itās like going to a bar where they donāt serve alcohol.
Scholarme, you are making me laugh.
Smoking of any kind will not be allowed in university housing. He can do what he likes outside or in a private club.
@twoinanddone I see. Yeah, it sounded like an activity that wouldnāt happen in the dorm, but thanks for clarifying.
@bjkmom Excellent suggestion. Thanks so much. Sharing this with them now
@shoboemom ā so very sorry to read about your mom. I hope you are soon able to rely on the wonderful and funny memories when you find grief overwhelming. I love that she pegged the college choice!
Weāve had a heck of a week hereā¦DH was hospitalized a week ago and just came home yesterday afternoon. He is on the mend but has 3 weeks of IV antibiotics to self-administer 3x a day and a flurry of follow-up doc visits. And he has always been the healthy one! Crazy. Iām so glad he got sick after graduation, etc. The kiddos and I had basically nothing going on, so that was a huge help. S left for a 2-week Philmont scout trek early this morning, so weāll get a taste of an S-less house. I know Dā20 will be extremely bored while he is away!
Congrats to all the very recent graduates! It seems wild that some are still waiting at this point.
@Loganator, Sorry about your H! I hope he mends soon and well. My S hiked Philmont 2 years ago and loved it. He was the youngest in his troops group that year. He has the opportunity to go again next summer and jumped on it. He will be one of the oldest in the group this next time! This summer a small group of them are doing a Boy Scout SeaBase excursion to St. Thomas. He has been very lucky with his Troop adventures. I hope you S has a wonderful time at Philmont. FYI, it rained a lot while S was there.
Hope everyone is on the mend hereā¦physically and emotionally. Itās a tough time without any of the extra challenges some are going through.
DS just texted, and he does NOT have to take his physics final! Much relief over here, as itās been touch and go in that class. He doesnāt need it to graduate, but his transcript will be reviewed upon arrival at USAFA, and a C would have been a red flag for possible revocation of his appointment. This kid has been such a joy in most ways, but his laid back ādonāt worry, itāll all be fineā mentality (plus a bit of laziness/procrastination) has bitten him in the butt a few times. I hope he finally gets that itās just less stressful all around to not wait til the 11th hour to kick it into gear. I guess in 14 days itās no longer my issue to worry aboutā¦ Not that it ever really was. This letting go thing? Not my favorite part of parenting.
@Loganator, get well wishes for your H. That sounds pretty scary.
@shellz, congrats on the physics final exemption! That must be a big relief. Iām right there with you on the letting go struggles.
Donāt the hookah bars/lounges also offer herbal concoctions that donāt include nicotine or tobacco? I am going to guess that hookah smoking of any type violates fire codes in a dorm so I wouldnāt worry about that being an issue. Iād go along for a good Turkish coffee.
@3girls3cats My dad says that itās a great way to spread respiratory illnessesā¦ so I think Iāll pass. I donāt need to raise my chances for getting sick.
@Loganator - Maybe our sons will pass. Mine heads that way Monday. This is his 2nd time. He also went when he was 14. Scouting has been so awesome for him and he has been active since he was in 1st grade.
Well, since D is away at SS and does not get to walk the stage, we decided to have a small get-together when she is home between SS and fall semester. Not 1300 of her closest friends but I think 10. It will give her a chance to say goodbye and good luck.
@shellz - can imagine the relief you feel but can only imagine it as S did have to write his AP Calc BC final AND did not do well on it so now has the dreaded āDā on his transcript. So we will have to wring our hands and hope the university does not rescind for one bad grade. Iām still waiting to all out celebrate his graduation - hope they can give a definitive answer once they have this final transcript. In the meantime he will line up support from his hs counselor and the school principal if necessary (Calc teacher is a jerk so we donāt expect any help from him).
@singermom4, I am sorry that things did not turn out well on the final. With so much pressure I cannot imagine it was easy for your S to have the calm testing environment he needed. I will hope with you that the university can overlook the grade!
My S is the oldest (and largest, i.e., carrying the most extra gear!) crew member on the Philmont trekā¦he joined a (co-ed) Venturing Crew a few months ago after getting to know some of the members who staffed the NYLT course he and my DH led. He lucked into this trek that they had been planning for a couple of years! He and DH almost went two years ago with their troop, but S had the opportunity to do a Marine Biology summer class at his school that included a week of scuba diving (got the merit badge!) in BVIā¦that was a once-in-a-lifetime deal, so he took it. We are thrilled that he got a second chance for Philmont. DH is a bit jealous ā they went to Northern Tier together the summer before 9th and have wanted to do Philmont together, but DH has not gotten involved in the Venturing Crew (yet). Of course, all turned out for the best since he is sick and could not have gone anyway. 
Thanks for the get well encouragement ā itās a rough road for a while, it seems.
@singermom4, Iām sorry for the difficulties your son is havingā¦hopefully having the counselor and principal advocating for him will get him through. My son is having issues with his calc teacher and while so far it hasnāt affected his grade in a major way, it still is so aggravating and stressful 
.
Two weeks and a day until graduation. Itās going so fast. Then the next day DS leaves to be a camp counselor for the summer, so Iām trying to get him all settled now for what heāll need for the next two months. And hoping that heāll be faithful with his thank you notes even when heās surrounded by little kids 24/7, lol.
One fun unexpected bonus: DS is NM Commended, and we found out at awards night that a local company has funded a $1000 special scholarship this year. This was a big surprise since his sister didnāt get one last year so we didnāt think they would do one now. A nice surprise though.