<p>Thank you Boysx3 for your kind words. Husband and I attended an event last weekend,
and alot of people were coughing there. We may have picked it up from the plane. I am hoping we have the swine flu to get it over with. lol. Symptoms are coughing, fever dizziness,sneezing etc. We did not lose much on the AU event as we did not sing up for the officiAL events. In mini’s world no one becomes ill. What should we expect from Olympia, Washington, only known for the radical feminist Punk movement, Jeff Smith and salmon?</p>
<p>Geez, CadRed, how breathtakingly snarky!! Maybe if you changed the tenor of your posts you wouldn’t invite ridicule</p>
<p>First Family Weekend report here! </p>
<p>H fell ill Thursday, so I went by myself, though S did drive down from Baltimore to join D and me for dinner Friday night. The only “official” events D and I attended were the political forum Saturday night–very lively and interesting–and Sunday’s “sparkling cider” brunch, which was quite nice. The rest either didn’t hold much interest for me (the various receptions were especially not my cup of tea) or were not at a convenient time (I didn’t arrive till late Friday afternoon.) On Saturday we went to the National Gallery so D could see an exhibition that was a class requirement, and then the Newseum, which is an interesting new addition to the DC scene. (And then the heavens opened and between the sideways rain and the giant puddles at every intersection, we both got soaked through our clothing and shoes–lovely!) I heard a number of tales of people sick with mono and strep, but not much about flu of any type. The campus was bustling with activity. </p>
<p>Although there were a lot of parents there, the majority of students didn’t seem to have family present, so I don’t think anyone who didn’t attend should worry about their offspring feeling abandoned. I don’t think I’d bother with Family Weekend again. I’d rather visit on my own schedule, and there’s certainly plenty to do in DC whenever you go. It’s nice that the school makes the effort, but the event is really not a “must” for any parent.</p>
<p>Hoverdad:</p>
<pre><code>Maybe if Mini stopped saying I do not have a daughter, my tone would be more positive about him? or her? You never with those 2 (:.
</code></pre>
<p>Momma J:</p>
<p>I hope that your hubby is doing better. We are still recovering from this cold/flu.</p>
<p>S has strep. Again.</p>
<p>Momma J,
It sounds like you had a fabulous time. We’re not much for the planned activities, either…I’d much rather talk with my son, and his friends, rather than have some poobah talking at me.</p>
<p>My son says he didn’t feel lonely at all this weekend. Several friend’s families invited him out with them, and one family was kind enough to include him in their shopping trip, so he was able to stock up on a few things. Including ramen noodles…a good thing now that he’s got strep/sore throat.</p>
<p>One of D’s friends mentioned she had just recovered from strep–seems like it’s the malady du jour–but at least it’s easily diagnosed and, unlike the flu, symptoms disappear fast as soon as antibiotics are started. I also heard a mention of mono on campus–another college classic. I guess every college is one big petri dish. I felt very vulnerable just being in the dorm for a short time. D has only had one mild cold so far, so my fingers and toes are crossed. Her roommate is definitely not the nurturing type, so flu would be a real problem.</p>
<p>My daughter, a first year grad student at AU (who lives a couple of miles from campus) also has strep, again. With the first bout, health center gave her amoxycillan, which she took for 10 days. Three days after finishing the medication, strep was back again. Now, she’s on another 10-day course of a different medication. Hope this one knocks it out for good!</p>
<p>^I used to run a boarding school health center. Amoxicillin is often not strong enough for strep. Most important is that she take it all and take it as close to on time as possible. I hope she is better soon. </p>
<p>D has had a couple of colds, nothing more. She doesn’t have tonsils or adenoids so I am hoping that helps. Somehow. She never gets sore throats and that is a common positive thing of no tonsils. I am telling both D’s to buy thermometer, tylenol if they don’t have any and a few 2 liter bottles of soda (not diet) to keep on hand. Her roomies are not particularly nurturing either should she get sick. </p>
<p>MommaJ glad you had fun with D! D went to the plays that first years were in and also Wild Party and liked it all. Trying to work out a schedule for spring that works around interests and her job. Not easy so far.</p>
<p>My daughter has had many stomach aches lately. Has anyone’s kids here had strep presented with a stomach ache? My daughter used to have this symptom when she was little with strep. Hasn’t helped that roomate goes out to clubs during the week til 1 a.m. and wakes up daughter when she returns making noise with the door. Daughter says roommate gets terrible grades and cries incessantly about it. Gee wonder why?</p>
<p>Wouldn’t the roomie make the same noise with the door if she
returned from the library or a study group at 1 a.m.? Does your daughter make the same noise with the door when she goes out at 8 am? </p>
<p>Your daughter shouldn’t worry about roomie’s grades–they aren’t her problem. Apparently, they aren’t friends and they don’t study together. So your daughter may not know the details about when and how long roomie studies. Or what expectations roomie has for herself, or what adjustments she is needing to make. Or what help she is getting. </p>
<p>Our first years just took their first college midterms and I’m sure a certain number of students got wake up calls. Maybe they aren’t studying enough; maybe they are putting in appropriate time but need to learn to study differently for college.</p>
<p>There is no d. to get stomach aches. There is no roommate going to clubs, just as there are no students going to the strip club near the Georgetown Public Library. There are no reservations at Citronelle, and never were.</p>
<p>I understand Au offers free imaginary counseling for imaginary students who are so depressed/antisocial/agoraphobic/incredibly boring (pick any one or more as applicable) that they are regularly asleep in bed before 1 am on the weekend. </p>
<p>BTW, MY imaginary offspring, on a full ride at Harvard, is regularly consulted by Hillary Clinton on matters of state–it’s annoying because it interferes with the her advanced nuclear physics project (I mean, how much longer should the world have to wait for time travel?) and her guest conducting at the Boston Symphony. ('Red, you need to think bigger.)</p>
<p>What’s wrong with the radical feminist punk movement? and I happen to like Salmon. Jeff Smith…well that’s another story, but I do have his cookbook!
Oh and the dinner I didn’t have at Citronelle was superb.</p>
<p>Actually, we were so busy in DC we couldn’t get reservations anywhere. We ended up at Le Chat Noir, in Friendship Heights, recommended by AU. It was rather good for a local French restaurant.</p>
<p>Hello5:
We were disappointed with Le Chat Noir this summer. You know Morty’s is across the street. They make a great hot open faced brisket sandwich on challah dripping with gravy. Their egg creams for a D.C. deli aren’t bad either! Mini:nice to hear you care about a child’s health ):</p>
<p>CR,
I’ve never had an egg cream in my life and am not about to start eating or drinking them now! And sorry, but when I’m traveling, I’m not into eating or paying to eat something messy and open faced that would be considered for a leftover in many households.</p>
<p>('Red, you need to think bigger.)</p>
<p>(You can find that on the Cornell board.)</p>
<p>To add to knowledge about the AU neighborhood food options, during the weekend we ate at Ruby Tuesday’s, dependable for a good burger, and Tara Thai, which was only fair. (Obviously we weren’t going for gourmet options.) I think the most interesting food I saw all weekend was in the Newseum’s cafeteria, which is a Wolfgang Puck operation. And then there was the pumpkin bread pudding with caramel sauce at the AU brunch–oh my.</p>
<p>Neighborhood options? My son TREATED me and H to Zburgers and shakes (so generous; but where does the $$$ he spends come from?)</p>
<p>Actually, the food there was yummy when you’re in the mood for a good burger and fries. And there wasn’t a drop left of my chocolate mint shake.</p>