I was going to post updates in the Class of 21 and 23 threads but 2021 is closed!
First, D21 is writing her masters thesis, will graduate a semester early in December, and got a full TAship and research job meaning she has full tuition funding and plenty to live off for her final semester! Her other two semesters had about half of the costs funded with research/grant/merit.
Next, D23 is officially published! She is the second author, and the journal is apparently the top journal in this scientific field, as in even I have heard of it! She told us it was accepted weeks ago but it is finally “out” for all to read and I can click on her author name and see her info. I also read the article, but the official link to her bio is equally exciting as a mom. The paper is on work she did last summer when she was on the other coast for a research internship; she began (co-)writing the paper at the end of that summer.
Hugely major brag coming but awaiting final approval.
Minor brag today: I built my first AI agent a few weeks ago to remotely monitor for an event and then inform me via email. I got the email yesterday (and today). Now I can shut it down.
It was trivial but that is what I wanted and I wrote it both using a MindStudio platform and with Gemini (that wrote a bit of Python for me). Very gratifying.
I’m now engaged in building a much more complex agent (actually a suite of agents that work together). Let’s see how that goes.
Update: the bowl didn’t dry properly. Dont know if someone accidentally out their piece near mine or if mine was too wet, but the side kind a caved in. Was able to et it and try to reshape it but I think it has a crack
Just call me the Laundry Miracle worker! Not only was I able to get the multiple blueberry stains out of the front of Twin B’s new white school dress, I also was able to remove the mud stains fromTwin A’s new pastel pink dress. (She rode her bike in her dress so she had line of mud spatters up the back the dress, plus she caught the hem against the rear tire and had about 6 inches of hem that was pure ground in mud.)
First time they’d worn their new dresses and Dad was sure they’d ruined both of them.
DIL2 is a solo featured speaker at her profession’s national conference this fall, is leading one of the panel discussions, and will be recognized for her work’s “societal impact and professional innovation” in addition to “exemplary leadership in teaching” (she’s a professor). She is 32 and not yet up for tenure.
She gets a big shiny plaque, we get comp tickets to the conference ceremony and her lecture — but she has to pay for their room and conference fee. AHhhh, academia
earlier this day they had their first exam. he happily texted it wasn’t as hard as expected and attended this function. we’ll be there for white coat ceremony next spring
DS2’s gf was in an entrepreneur showcase tonight with more than two dozen creatives, and she won best booth! And she got a new client while setting up!
I’d just like to say that I am bragging about my kids being generally good and kind. When they were younger, it often meant they weren’t included by some or missed out on opportunities, but being true to themselves was more important.
I think this week it paid off for both of them.
We were just out in CO visiting S23 and were tailgating for the big game. He noticed the people a few spots down were struggling with their grill. He tried to help, but couldn’t get it working so invited them to share his. Their daughter came to thank him while we were cleaning up and it turns out she was the same niche major. They got to talking (he is very highly qualified) and it turns out she wants to hire him after graduation.
It is VERY hard to get teaching jobs right out of school on our area (of nationally ranked schools). Especially for elementary, and even more so for D22’s dream of kindergarten. While most of her classmates haven’t gotten any interviews, she’s had 2 that didn’t pan out. Both positions went to people that were already in the district. I’ve been on hiring committees where we receive hundreds of applications per opening. I can’t remember ever hiring someone that was right out of school. D22 was willing to take any grade, and actually prefers high needs students/ districts, and was feeling really defeated when school was about to begin and noting panned out, but knew she was probably going to have to work as an assistant or long term sub for at least a year just to get her foot in the door. She has worked for 6 years (started in high school) at a preschool, so she was really struggling with having to leave a lead teacher position there to go be an assistant or sub. A few weeks ago she got a call out of the blue asking her to apply for a kindergarten position in a very highly regarded school system. Turns out her professor saw the listing had come out right before the start of school so called the principal to recommend her knowing they might be in a rush. The mother of one of her preschool students, who is an admin in the district, ALSO recommended her. Even though they had no shortage of candidates, after receiving two independent unsolicited recommendations, they invited her to interview even though they felt like they already narrowed it down to who they wanted (I was thinking it was a courtesy interview, as that is what we often do when we know we won’t hire someone but they were recommended by a staff member). She was the last person interviewed ( which I took as another bad sign as I was sure they probably had already fallen in love with a candidate or two). Interviewed at 4:00 on a Thursday by the principal and the 4 other kindergarten teachers. Offered the job at 8:00 that evening. The principal told her that the other teachers loved her so much that they wanted to be on the call to make sure she accepted and welcome her to the team, but that she wouldn’t allow them to do that. We are so happy for DD.
I am so proud of S2/DiL. Her mother died a few years ago, and having never updated her will since DIL was a minor, all her investments went to the uncle. Who was gracious and lovely and managed these accounts until something could be figured out. But Uncle died a few months ago, no will, no documents, no information. 1200 miles away. No family but DIL.
S2/DiL have spent weeks – and they just had a baby – talking with the firms and collecting documents and paid a lawyer to help, hoping that the investments would cover the cost. (DIL said “You’d be proud, I swallowed my pride and asked how much would it cost first”) Yesterday the investment accounts were transferred to them, and it turned out the uncle had made very good choices and this is a 5 figure amount of money. Which they are now trying to put into a 529 for the baby.
It’s September and I just thought of a great idea for dh for his November birthday and I have forwarded to the guys and they are on it! This is unheard of.
D1 didn’t save a life…She has been on put on her bank’s managing director selection committee. I asked if it was just for her division. She said it was for the whole bank.
