My leukemia's back.

[FridayYet]

Still reading....
Turtles how did you find/figure out about being the 1% being allergic to meds??
Phil and all: Hope someone's having a not so down of a day!
Struggling a little today because this date is the one my dad died just after I turned 13. It keeps popping back into my brain. Plus I want to call my mom but what do you say??? We had a bit of a falling out this summer so we are still working on being on an even keel. Couldn't understand for years why I struggled with depression and never really enjoyed December except the candle light midnight service. Still am grateful for the time I did have with him despite the mistakes and struggles we both made.
Loved the flock photos! Rachel, So awesome about Echo!

And could you slow down just a little?? Are you trying to keep up with Blooie?!?

Think that's as far as I have read...

 

[N F C]

My daughter just imformed us she is going to a college near home so she can live at home. Her goal is to be debt free when she finishes college in nursing, with flight paramedic certification and pilot licenses in 4 years. turned down full ride at Ga tech in engineering- says she just didn't get the rush she did at her medical conferences like the other summers AND It was two far from home. 4 HRS drive was her max she told us. she said and I quote " do you know how much money I can save by going to college and living at home. " notice the terminology "I can save". Not can save you - mom and dad. There goes my new spa room.

Guess I'll have to let her keep her bedroom.

My chickens will not be getting that upgrade either. sorry girls, they'll have to live in their 2 story tract sup. barn and extension for now. shhhh... glad she's staying home

raising kids is so confusing on your emotions.

My oldest son had offers to go other places for his bachelor's but he chose to live at home those 4 years and go to the local university...at the end of his 4 years, the school wrote him a check for the balance of his scholarship so he was not only debt-free, he was a bit ahead. And I got to enjoy his company (when he was around) for 4 more years. I hope you enjoy the extra time with your daughter as much as I did with my son!

My daughter came home last night....made us dinner....homemade baked mac and cheese.....BBQ chicken....she lives with three roommates....she's the cook....and they have been kidding her about her food hoarding.....she keeps sending me pics of the food she makes.....guess she won't starve.....

How nice to have her come home and fix dinner like that Phil! She sounds like a wonderful young woman from the stories you've shared.

Still reading....
Turtles how did you find/figure out about being the 1% being allergic to meds??
Phil and all: Hope someone's having a not so down of a day!
Struggling a little today because this date is the one my dad died just after I turned 13. It keeps popping back into my brain. Plus I want to call my mom but what do you say??? We had a bit of a falling out this summer so we are still working on being on an even keel. Couldn't understand for years why I struggled with depression and never really enjoyed December except the candle light midnight service. Still am grateful for the time I did have with him despite the mistakes and struggles we both made.
Loved the flock photos! Rachel, So awesome about Echo!

And could you slow down just a little?? Are you trying to keep up with Blooie?!?

Think that's as far as I have read...

I'm sorry you lost your Dad, and you were so young too. Go ahead and call your mom, she's probably hoping to hear from you and you won't have to say much. Mom's need to hear from their kids (no matter how old their kids are).

 

[donrae]

college is so expensive. I'm happy to hear there are students who don't automatically embrace the idea of graduating the tens of thousands of dollars of debt.

It makes me sad when I hear of folks working lower-paid type jobs with huge student loans. You took out all that money for an education, now you're not even utilizing it to pay your loan back. there's usually not work in their field around here. I've talked so hard to my boys about college. It's not "for the experience", it's not "to find yourself", etc. it's to get a J-O-B that will support you and your family! find yourself on your own time and dime, for heaven's sake. You're really not lost right now, honestly.

My father in law had a tree fall on his house last night

. One of the neighbor's big black locusts lost the battle to the wind and rain and came into his dining room. Hit right at his favorite chair. Thankfully it was night, and he and the dog were both in the bedroom at the other end of the house, no one was hurt at all.

 

[Blooie]

Oh, NO!! That had to be terrifying! Glad everyone is okay, but I always worry about the "after" - when there's a big gaping hole in the house and no protection from the elements. Seems like it takes forever for the damage to be assessed and then even longer for the repair work.

Funny thing about going to college right out of high school - lots of kids don't even know for sure what they are going to college to become. I feel kinda bad for them that they are expected to get into college, choose a career and then they end up changing their majors several times. I'd like to see them get out of high school, volunteer or intern in a field that interests them, and then if they like that choice in 2 years college is still waiting for them. Me? It took me until 4 years ago to decide what I want to be when I grow up. I'd love to work with kids like Kendra. Her therapists have all told us that if not for me Kendra would not have made the astounding progress she's made and that I have such good instincts about how to accomplish goals. I mentioned that to Tam one day and she said, "Well, why not, Ma? Go to school and get your degree in therapy." I just laughed at her. "Tam, I'm almost 65. It takes 4 years to get that degree and in 4 years I'll be 69!" She thought about that for a minute and then said, "Well, Ma, how old will you be in 4 years if you DON'T go to school?" Um, shut up, daughter!

 

[N F C]

Rachel, sorry to hear about the damage to your FIL's house. Glad to hear he was ok.

Blooie, that's one smart daughter you have!

As for college, I don't think that's the best option for everyone. There are good jobs you can get through trade schools and some kids would do better going to those rather than college. I used to work with people that took 2nd or 3rd mortgages out on their houses or drained their 401(k)'s to put Jr. through college and all Jr. cared about was the social life. I think an education experience is more appreciated if they have to work for it, at least part of it, rather than just getting it cost free.

 

[3goodeggs]

Glad your FIL is okay ,Rachel.
That is such a scary thing.
We are slowly getting all of our trees removed.
They are reaching the end of their life span.... and I just painted the house.

 

[donrae]

3GE--what color are you painting? I'm not sure I've seen you say. If we were closer, I'd bring The Locusts over to help. You and I could supervise and drink Diet Coke or lemonade. I'm allergic to ladders, so I don't do exterior painting to speak of.

I'm strongly encouraging Big Boy away from college. He's just not that brainy and I don't think it would benefit him. He's talking about being a mechanic and a gunsmith. I'm not sure what our local community college has for auto classes so he may have to find a trade type school for those. I thing being a diesel mechanic would be great for him, or at least for a starter job. With that skill, he could always support himself while he's learning something else down the line. Then again, I went to nursing school on that same principle, that I'd be able to support myself while I figured out what I really wanted to do. 25 years later, I'm still a nurse.....

Echo wants to go into health care, starting at our local CC. I'm a big fan of community colleges to start with. So much less expensive, and the same education for all intents and purposes.

Sugar Monkey is a mystery. I think he could easily do higher education, but I'm not sure for what. When I try to talk to him about career plans, all I get is "World Domination"

. But he's young yet.

Phil, do you have any input on learning to be a mechanic?

 

[N F C]

3GE--what color are you painting? I'm not sure I've seen you say. If we were closer, I'd bring The Locusts over to help. You and I could supervise and drink Diet Coke or lemonade. I'm allergic to ladders, so I don't do exterior painting to speak of.

I'm strongly encouraging Big Boy away from college. He's just not that brainy and I don't think it would benefit him. He's talking about being a mechanic and a gunsmith. I'm not sure what our local community college has for auto classes so he may have to find a trade type school for those. I thing being a diesel mechanic would be great for him, or at least for a starter job. With that skill, he could always support himself while he's learning something else down the line. Then again, I went to nursing school on that same principle, that I'd be able to support myself while I figured out what I really wanted to do. 25 years later, I'm still a nurse.....

Echo wants to go into health care, starting at our local CC. I'm a big fan of community colleges to start with. So much less expensive, and the same education for all intents and purposes.

Sugar Monkey is a mystery. I think he could easily do higher education, but I'm not sure for what. When I try to talk to him about career plans, all I get is "World Domination"

. But he's young yet.

Our country needs more tradespeople. Mike Rowe (Dirty Jobs guy) has made a big push for them, trying to make people aware that our cars, appliances, houses etc. all have to be maintained and/or updated. Someone with a degree in say, Romantic Languages isn't going to be as helpful as a mechanic or an electrician.

Community colleges are great. Unless someone is going into a field where the pedigree of the diploma is important (like politics or law), a community college fits the bill nicely for most people.

I like that, "World Domination"! I'll vote for Sugar Monkey if he still wants the job in a few years

 

[3goodeggs]

Andorian blue, apparently.

Not happy with it, but I will learn to like it.

Welding is a good paying career if he has the patience to learn and the ... um... What is the word? Um.. paint fumes! Dead brain cells! ahh.
You know, when you do the best job you can do and not just a job.
Better to do a little very well than a whole lot badly?
It has some artistic value as well.

And i have been on a ladder all day.
I do not like them.
I am down to trim work so when my head clears and I stop spinning I will get back out there.....

 

[lazy gardener]

Funny thing about going to college right out of high school - lots of kids don't even know for sure what they are going to college to become. I feel kinda bad for them that they are expected to get into college, choose a career and then they end up changing their majors several times. I'd like to see them get out of high school, volunteer or intern in a field that interests them, and then if they like that choice in 2 years college is still waiting for them. Me? It took me until 4 years ago to decide what I want to be when I grow up. I'd love to work with kids like Kendra. Her therapists have all told us that if not for me Kendra would not have made the astounding progress she's made and that I have such good instincts about how to accomplish goals. I mentioned that to Tam one day and she said, "Well, why not, Ma? Go to school and get your degree in therapy." I just laughed at her. "Tam, I'm almost 65. It takes 4 years to get that degree and in 4 years I'll be 69!" She thought about that for a minute and then said, "Well, Ma, how old will you be in 4 years if you DON'T go to school?" Um, shut up, daughter!

Blooie, I agree with you about kids going off to college right after high school. The sad thing is, that it's become an expectation. All the scholarships and grants that are given to kids at graduation promote that mind set. And, I'm not advocating against that! Just rueful that that money is not available to the kid who graduates HS, then spends a year or two in the work force before deciding what their career goals are. Yes, you would be a wonderful therapist. And it does not take 4 years. (to become a licensed OT or PT, it takes more like 5 or 6.) But, you can go to a trade school and become a COTA or a PTA in 2 years. I think you'd rock as a COTA. And, IMO, it's not as physically demanding as being a PTA, cause I are one! I didn't go into my program until my son was in high school.

college is so expensive. I'm happy to hear there are students who don't automatically embrace the idea of graduating the tens of thousands of dollars of debt.

It makes me sad when I hear of folks working lower-paid type jobs with huge student loans. You took out all that money for an education, now you're not even utilizing it to pay your loan back. there's usually not work in their field around here. I've talked so hard to my boys about college. It's not "for the experience", it's not "to find yourself", etc. it's to get a J-O-B that will support you and your family! find yourself on your own time and dime, for heaven's sake. You're really not lost right now, honestly.

My father in law had a tree fall on his house last night

. One of the neighbor's big black locusts lost the battle to the wind and rain and came into his dining room. Hit right at his favorite chair. Thankfully it was night, and he and the dog were both in the bedroom at the other end of the house, no one was hurt at all.

I may be hard nosed, but I don't think it's appropriate for parents who are reaching the end of their working life to go into big debt to give their kids a free ride. IMO, if kids own the debt, they are more likely to take it seriously, and work instead of party their way through college.

So sorry about your FIL's home damage, but thankful that no one was hurt!