<p>
[quote]
I did figure out the stupidity of purchasing and sending nice new towels. Those things go directly to the floor and stew there.
[/quote]
Sigh... one of the things I had show up for S in the pre-purchased box of room goodies was a towel rack that hangs over the back of the door, to avoid the steaming stew in the corner of the room. He informed me that it "didn't fit on the door". So much for my bright idea.</p>
<p>Yes, pleez, slugg and alu, DofS and who am I forgetting that's Bay Area? I'm coming out for :eek: the surprise 60th birthday party of a <em>much</em> older friend. I would truly love to realize our California Dreamin' CC party thread of old. Don't be scared; it won't break the spell if we meet in person. carolyn, coureur and I did it in San Diego and we've lived to tell the tale.</p>
<p>And I don't bite either! I'll start the "Bay Area jmmom Gathering Thread" on the cafe this weekend -- at least let's check in there, pick up a quick one, and then we can go bar-hopping. Figuratively, of course.</p>
<p>The real question is how low can you go on rock-bottom, cheapo-crapp-towels? I think we're all obsessed with linens, btw...except for Cheers, who seems to have some higher brain function remaining after sending one (or more) child off to college. All of the men are immune from this affliction, I guess. ;) Okay, now I have to stop and go find out if dadofsam was obsessed with making his son's bed when he dropped S off at college...I dunno, can't tell, who cares? :p </p>
<p>As I was saying about the towels, first year, sluggD went off to college with reasonably priced, JC Penney towels. Monogrammed, of course, so that she wouldn't get them mixed up in the laundry room with all of the other students who were laundering their towels and sheets. Hahahahahaha! :D</p>
<p>Last Fall, I vaguely remember seeing a >>SPECIAL SALE!!<< sign at Target on a shelf full of thin, hairy, rags resembling towels that were being sold in bulk. I grabbed a wad of those, trailing threads on my way to the checkout line. In January, I saw them again in sluggD's apartment, in a heap on the floor next to the sink. When I picked them up, they actually kept their shape and fought back when I tried to force-hang them on the towel bar...The bast@rds! </p>
<p>I'm over my towel fetish, now. But, I've still got a thing for those sheets! :D Point me toward the SA "health bar." It's another tequila Friday.</p>
<p>er, slugg, I think you mean: mental health bar.</p>
<p>Moot, I'm in! Now, where did I put my plastic butt? :)</p>
<p>^^ slugg, will you be bringing that plastic butt to the gathering and, if so, will I have to avert my eyes?</p>
<p>Oh, and were you so successful with that Vinny "chat" that there won't be any need for a posse? :( I still really wanna be part of a posse....</p>
<p>A sweet story about my youngest S who is still so little...</p>
<p>Came home buzzing about the upcoming choce of who will rep his third grade class at the student council... He'd thrown his hat into the ring. The teacher selects based on essays the kids submit about why they would be a good choice. I asked him what he had written.</p>
<p>His answer:</p>
<p>"I am confident.
I am willing to give up my recess for the meetings.
I am energetic.
I am a good public speaker."</p>
<p>So fun to still have such a little wee kid!!! And I won't have to give him up for 10 more years... :)</p>
<p>My D called her Dad today and said, "I want to thank you for every time you grounded me, kicked my butt, or kept me in line. You were right to push. I am so happy I wound up here. I love my school." </p>
<p>It's a great, great feeling that she is so happy.</p>
<p>Great stories, SB :)
Now, as for the young politician, I know something about these things. Watch out for his opponents who will bring lollipops in as campaign favors and promise other goodies. My son's big issue was trying to get another water fountain installed on the elementary school playground (he was running for 2nd Grade representative), but the little lollipop girl (and her mother) pooh-poohed his passionate concern about dehydration and promised to push for free ice cream in the cafeteria instead. Guess who won. (They didn't get the free ice cream, either though, the little chumps.)</p>
<p>I wish I still had a little wee one. He's taller than me now, and I'm 5'-11"</p>
<p>I know, the best part of saying goodbye for college is realizing how much to savor the wee stuff while I still have it.</p>
<p>And good point, perhaps there'd better be a lollipop run over the weekend.</p>
<p>
Has Dad stopped smiling yet?</p>
<p>SB,That is sooo great!</p>
<p>I got a phone call from S via skype that switched over to ichat since that is free and the computer connection was clearer. Love my Mac! Mine is in worry state trying to keep all his appointments, meetings, new events organized. This is something new! So I love it. Funny thing, years ago a guy at the State Dept recommended that when American kids growing up overseas go to school they sign up with the international house. Who are his friends right now: a guy from Iceland, a guy from Germany and a local kid from across the border! I know this will change and he likes his roomie who is a local kid but .....
I have a feeling at Christmas time, a new guy is going to be visiting home.</p>
<p>thanks guys-- we are lucky because our D actually says stuff like this... I think many kids probably think it but don't articulate it.</p>
<p>cur, Dad has heretofore been taking our D's departure pretty hard, but this conversation has effected a miracle cure. We have both been grinning & glowing.</p>
<p>SBMom:</p>
<p>It took my oldest longer to say it, but in year 3 of uni she called to say, "thank you for raising me so well, thank you for sacrificing to do the best you could for us, I cannot believe the situations of the family loves of some of the people I know, all I can say is thank you for being great parents." I am not sure exactly which friend's life inspired this, but she has seen some people with really lousy home situations and is now appreciating all those years of nagging & that "judgemental" parent thing is no longer offensive.</p>
<p>She truly said those words and even emailed a letter to her dad. We were blown away, she gave us fits of rebellion (for a great kid, not dangerous rebellion, just attitude) at the end of her senior year.</p>
<p>Wow somemom, very excellent. I'll bet that felt like honey pouring over you. Well done. And hug that little one for us all tonight, eh SBmom?</p>
<p>S emailed me a copy of his first essay today (!!) without comment. I found an IM from him later in the day while I was out: "hey. did you get that email?" Is this his way of communicating? (Implying "read my essay, tell me what you think of it," maybe?)</p>
<p>Hey! Popcorn and zinfandel, I hope I'm starting a new trend!</p>
<p>somemom, right on! </p>
<p>mootmom, I hugged him lots today plus gave him a foot massage (his absolute nirvana experience.) He's a friendly little fellow so anyone needing wee person hugs can borrow him.</p>
<p>Ooo-ooo! May I get in on those little boy hugs?! I miss those running, full-throttle, bear hugs. :) </p>
<p>
[quote]
My D called her Dad today and said, "I want to thank you for every time you grounded me, kicked my butt, or kept me in line. You were right to push. I am so happy I wound up here. I love my school."
[/quote]
Isn't it great when children go off to college?! There are some very nice perks. ;)</p>
<p>Yesterday was move-in day for D. The big fight we always have just before loading up the car is always fun! Yesterday's topic: Why taking two hours for make-up is less important than packing the car.</p>
<p>Anyhoo, we got it done, despite the surprise band rehearsal in our garage while we were trying to load up the car, while D was still in the bathroom putting on make-up. I guess, D called her b/f from her cell phone because he showed up in the middle of the chaos. Let's see, at that point, we had 4 cars lined up in the driveway. </p>
<p>While trying to prevent simultaneous episodes of deafness and cardiac arrest, H and I were still trying to load up the f-@#!ing car when the four cheerleaders showed up in their Expedition. Why the %*!! not?! I looked at H and said, "We're in HELL!" Swear words were flying, we had our neighbors blocked into their driveway, so they couldn't leave, and our dog was about to have a doggie nervous breakdown right along with us. :::Serenity, now!::: :D</p>
<p>Finally on our way, D lectured us about why we don't have to be "so negative." H and I stared straight ahead like lizards, watching landmark after landmark pass by. Finally, redwood trees meant that we were getting close. Then, the ocean. Then, the all-too-familiar road up to campus, at which point, I think I started thanking God that we made it.</p>
<p>H followed the signs, like a mouse with electrodes drilled into his skull, despite the plethora of snarky <em>suggestions</em> from me and D to drive straight up to the apartments and avoid the check-in. Turns out, we actually needed keys to get into her apartment, so we had to find the housing office. While I waited for them to get back with the keys, I dumped myself out under a giant redwood and propped myself up against the hood of the Escape, noting the irony of our vehicle's name...the Escape. I saw another mom pour herself onto a bench across the parking lot. Her hair was completely white, and I thought, for sure, she must be older. Maybe, not. </p>
<p>Back in the anti-Escape, and we headed up to D's apartment. Pulling into the beautifully landscaped courtyard, passing hand-painted murals of international students frolicking across meadows and forests with baby animals and rainbows...we found ourselves in a place that H and I would gladly move into right now. D ran her finger under the names on the front door, and all three of us gasped when we walked into that apartment. I didn't think it was possible, but this place was bigger, newer, and more modern than any place she had lived on-campus, so far. By that time, I was hallucinating, but I think that trumpets blared and light actually beamed down upon us as we entered Nirvana.</p>
<p>And, I kid you not. I was not hallucinating when I rounded the corner on my way to her room and came face to face with a Greek god in a towel. Hello! He was one of her new international roommates. I stammered, stuttered, and babbled something about being some girl's mother. :D</p>
<p>H and I drove home, let the dog out of her crate, and checked to see if S remembered to lock the front door before he left for work. We cracked open a bottle of Oregon Benton Lane Pinot Noir and collapsed on the front porch sofa that the Salvation Army wouldn't take. We lit some candles outside and sat there melting into that gorgeous, full, September moon, hoping that our neighbors had enjoyed the day's show! :p</p>
<p>ROTFL!! I am sorry I missed the greek god; lucky you!!</p>
<p>Hello All,
It is morning here and I think I need a drink...I really stiff drink.</p>
<p>Today DS is scheduled to have his senior portraits taken at school. Last night we went over all that needed to be done to be ready to go in the morning. Things like, shave, have your suit coat, shirt, tie, pants on a hanger covered in plastic, be ready early to ride to school with mom, etc. The morning was a disaster. He wasn't ready to go. His suit coat, shirt, tie, and pants were wadded up, yes wadded up, in his backpack. We unwadded his clothing, hung it up on a hanger, covered it in plastic, and herded him to the car. Down the road, I turned to talk with him and noticed he hadn't shaved. I screeched to a stop and yes...screeched at him, turned around and headed home. He shaved in record time and I got him to school. Jeezzz....on days like this I can't wait for him to go to college.</p>