<p>It’s not that hard (switching to Dvorak), it may even come with Windows. My son kept switching my laptop over, and he programmed it so it was easy for me to switch back. (via a keyboard icon in the bottom tray.)</p>
<p>OK, this one doesn’t have anything about email, but it is a college story.</p>
<p>We sent WashDadJr a care package last week: the power supplies for a pair of external hard drives he took to school, some socks, a couple of shirts he forgot to take, and – tucked in the bottom of the box as a surprise – the new Terry Pratchett novel. </p>
<p>I spoke to him this weekend and asked if he had received the box with the power supplies.</p>
<p>Me: Did you get the box?
WDJ: Yes! Thanks!
Me: Did you like it?
WDJ: Yes! The drives are reformatted now.
Me: Anything else?
WDJ: Oooooo, socks. Thanks for sending the shirts, too.
Me: Is that all?
WDJ: Yes.
Me: Was there anything else in the box?
WDJ: Yeah, I think there’s something under the peanuts, but I didn’t check.
Me: When did you open the box?
WDJ: Yesterday.
Me: You opened the box yesterday and didn’t look to see what else was in there?
WDJ: I already found the power supplies.</p>
<p><em>sigh</em></p>
<p>He still has the box, doesn’t he, WashDad???</p>
<p>Oh, Washdad, if it had been my S, he would have devoured the Terry Pratchett novel and forgot about the peanuts and the power supply. :)</p>
<p>WashDad: sounds like my son. These computer guys really are clueless, aren’t they? Maybe singleminded is the better word.</p>
<p>Dad sent S a big envelope with some of his flying magazines, a couple letters (bills), and some little goodies (candy) enclosed. Plus, DH wrote a note saying something like “quit spending all your money so fast” - or close approximation. On the back of the letter, DH taped a $50 bill (see, deep down he’s NICE). S grabbed the mags, ate the candy, and tossed the letter w/o ever looking to see what that tape on the letter was all about. Luckily (or typically) S hadn’t emptied his garbage and when DH called him over the weekend, S retrieved the money. So, do you really think I should make ALL his favorite foods when he’s home at TG?</p>
<p><em>sigh</em> indeed.
Do I take comfort in knowing that clueless nerd-boy (I mean DS) is not the only one that ignores the obvious?
Wonder if DS is clueless enough that he won’t notice there is a new T.P. book- it would be nice if he could wait til the long TG weekend to read it.</p>
<p>My son, a soph, calls/emails/IMs me all the time. I’d say I get nearly daily emails/IMs… phone calls less frequent. Most of our conversations are pointless, funny things… and very brief. Sometimes he’s giving or asking for info. He often sends me papers to proof read for him, or links to articles in the NY Times he wants me to read. We finally got over the teenage hump, and he’s incredibly pleasant to be with. (I say this because he was just home for 2 days for a doctor’s appt. and we snuck in a Bdwy show, too). Last year I was going through a hard time, and he became very protective of me… and checked in often, just to say “hi”, even though I knew what he was doing. I got lucky. He grew up into a very nice kid.</p>
<p>Last year S called alot. This year not so much. So I started emailing him, very little response, even if it was something important. I started putting outragous and funny statements in the subject line to get his attention. It worked like a charm, now we have fairly regular email exchanges, with both of us trying to top the other in the subject line. Also I think that keeping it “newsy” from home rather that questions about him works well.</p>
<p>My D never emails but does call me when she’s walking to class and she’s forgotten her Ipod. I always tell her I’m honored to play second fiddle to her Ipod.</p>
<p>SpringfieldMom: Too funny.</p>
<p>Moms of clueless boys: Report from Family Weekend this past weekend: Anything sent to DS was strewn all over his desk so (of course) he couldn’t use it. Box of food (my S doesn’t even focus for sweets) his grandmother sent him was sitting on the floor taking up precious floor space. </p>
<p>He had me clean up papers (well compulsive neatnik that I am, I offered, but he agreed) on his desk/dresser. Most of them had been unlooked at since orientation. Recycling waste basket within his arm’s length of desk.</p>
<p>I swear the only mailed item that would get his attention would be one sent by owl or a howler (for Harry Potter fans.)</p>
<p>Not cure CS (clueless son) would notice a polite owl on the windowsill. </p>
<p>But, where can I get a case of Howlers? That might work…</p>