Summer 2015

It has felt like a longer summer than most.  That's actually a good thing.

In late-June, we hosted everyone in the family to celebrate Abbie's graduation.  It was great to have the clan here.

I was in an interview process during June and July, so Kim and I stayed home from South Carolina.  Fortunately, we were able to fly Abbie down to be with everyone.  She had a good week and got to celebrate her eighteenth birthday with her cousins.  One of the milestone events was going to "Senor Frogs."  Apparently she looks mature for her age because they didn't ask.  This meant that she didn't have to wear the "wrist-band-of-shame."  This seemed to please her very much.

Since coming home from SC, she's been to camp twice, once as a volunteer counselor, and once as a camper, her final time.  She's also had a good amount of time with her friends her at home.  It seems that she is anxious about college, but perhaps more so about leaving her friends.  Fortunately, she's had lots of time with Allie and Alex.  

Ultimately, I did not get the job, although I did get an offer.  I learned some things through the process, but mostly I ended up feeling a bit more discouraged about my career status.  It seems that it's unlikely I'll be able to switch jobs at this point without giving up a significant amount of money.  For now, I'll invest where I am.

Nate came home from camp in early July.  It was discouraging that things didn't work out for him this year, but he seems to have landed on his feet.  He usually does.  He found a lifeguarding position at an apartment complex a couple of days after he returned.  Three and a half days a week and better pay.  He's spent a good portion of his off time, visiting with friends and seeing his girlfriend, Sara.

Kim and I have managed to keep busy and do summery things.  We've eaten out, gone to concerts, walked around Saratoga, vacationed in Maine, attended parties and spent time with friends.  It feels as though we've packed in a bit more than usual, and it's been great.  I'm never in any great hurry to return to work, but at least this year, I don't find myself wondering, "Where has the summer gone?"

Nate will drive back to Ithaca tomorrow.  His classes start on Wednesday.  He's moved some of his stuff to his campus apartment already.  It seems significant that he'll go back without our involvement, but it also feels appropriate.  It's hard to believe that he'll be done with school in 9 months.  He'll be living with Robert again this fall.  They get along well and enjoy working with each other.  In December and January, Nate plans to be involved in the filming of Robert's thesis project.  After that, he'll head to L.A. for his final semester.

We'll take Abbie to Michigan on Wednesday.  Dave Barnes has volunteered to travel with us to help with the driving.  He'll fly back home on Thursday.  We have amazing friends.  Abbie will move into the dorm on Thursday, one day sooner than the other incoming freshman.  She'll start cheer practice that afternoon.  The orientation program is extensive and includes activities for parents, so we'll be with her on campus on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.  At 3:30 on Sunday afternoon the schedule calls for family pictures and goodbyes.  Our plan is to follow the schedule.  We'll start for home that afternoon.  We figure it will be better for her and for us to be out of reach.

I report for work on September 1, the day after we get back from Michigan.  The new normal?  Time will tell, but I'm honestly eager to find out.  Maybe this is why the summer has felt long; it's been months of preparing - practically and emotionally - for the next phase.

Bring it on.

Snow Day 
(... must be time to blog again)

I realize that I have a pattern of blogging during February snow days.  It's one of the few times when I feel I have enough unscheduled time to indulge in writing about things.  Okay, maybe that's an overstatement, but I clearly have a pattern of doing this.  In fact, many of the posts over the past few years are weather related.

This storm is no record breaker for us.  It's a typical "nor'easter."  But this storm system really punched the south before heading up to us.  Atlanta and Spartanburg saw snow, ice or both.  What a mess.

This was to be the last day of school before the Presidents' Day week of vacation.  Timing is everything.  It means that I can skip over the Valentine's Day activities.  It rarely impacts my schedule, but the kids can become unglued by the whole thing, because of the parties and the card exchanging.  I'm a Scrooge.  True to form, I'm glad to skip all of that.

Abbie's getting over a concussion this week.  She got elbowed in the head last Saturday at cheer practice, coming out of a stunt.  We didn't take her to the emergency room until Monday evening, and although her only symptom had been a headache, the doctor told us to have her sit out of all physical activities for about a week.  At this point, the headache seems to be gone, so we expect that our doctor will clear her for PE and cheer when she sees him on Monday.

We have little chance to be in touch with Nate at this stage.  He called the house on Tuesday night to wish Kim happy birthday.  He said that he wouldn't be able to call on Wednesday since the group would be heading into the wilderness for a week of winter camping.  He told her not to worry; they changed the route for this outing to avoid the areas where there are currently avalanche warnings.  If he had been here when he told her that, I might have dope slapped him.  She doesn't seem to be too anxious about what he's doing, but she may be choosing not to think about it.  I'm trying not to bring it up.


The group has a Facebook page and they have posted some photos from the first event, ice climbing.  I'm hoping that whoever started this documenting will continue it through the whole experience.  I find it exciting to see updates about what he's doing.  The Facebook page also has a link to another site/application that seems to be tracking the location of the professor leading the group.  It's cool to be able to look at a map or satellite picture and see where they are...  if that is, in fact, what the app does.

Link to the Facebook page.
Link to the tracking tool.
Link to the Colorado Outward Bound Facebook page
Link to the Colorado Outward Bound Site.

We don't have a whole lot planned for the week off.  We have made a few appointments for doctor visits and tax preparation.  On Wednesday and Thursday, we'll be in NYC, just because we want to go and spend some time away.  Sounds like the weather will be milder on those days, so it should be easy to get around.  Abbie will take her driving test next Friday, so we'll also try to spend some time practicing each day.  She's driving very well, and I expect that she'll pass the test easily.  We just need to spend a little time practicing parking, but that's been very hard to do during the last few months, since it hard to find a quiet street where you can actually see the curb.

Cousins Camp 2013

July 6, 2013 at Camp Fowler

And now for something completely different...

Abbie had her wisdom teeth removed yesterday.

It was hard not to think about Nate.  I remember that he was so giddy in recovery that nurse started giggling too.  I had to tell him to stop trying to talk with gauze in his mouth, so he tried to write his questions and comments on post it notes.

By contrast, I think that the nurse was a little anxious when she came to get me after Abbie's surgery.  She told me that Abbie was a little weepy, but that she would probably stop crying pretty soon.  I'll take giddy any day.  Poor thing.  She just sobbed and sobbed.  At one point the nurse started using gauze to wipe away her tears.  By the time she reached the car she was crying less, but she barely moved and never spoke during the ride home.

I'm happy to report that she's doing much better.  She spent yesterday on the sofa with ice packs watching countless episodes of Say Yes to the Dress; Atlanta.

I'm glad to have this in the rear view mirror.