Monday, April 19, 2010
Friday, September 4, 2009
College Move in Day
I admit, I have to post more because I am usually a few weeks behind and have to trust my memory to recall all the details. From this day forward I commit to posting at least once a week! (we only hope)
anyway move in day... Monday August 17th! Andrea had an appointment that morning and after that we headed home to continue to pack. Yes I said continue, although she had started packing maybe a week or few days before. Never mind that I had been telling her ALL SUMMER long to start washing her clothes, and organizing things that she wanted to take...
Anyway, we got home from the appointment and started loading my Milan. Mind you, it's a Milan, a medium sized car. Now if the gas hadn't risen to about $4.00 last year, we would have had the luxury of my Ford Freestar van. But when gas prices hit $3.75 I said that I was downsizing to a car. Now let me tell you how that happened.
I worked in Independence and there was a Lincoln Mercury dealership down the street where I took my Freestar in for service. I went to there during lunch on May 8th or 9th to make an appointment for my service. I made the appointment and then thought "mmm... I wonder if the man is here that I spoke to last November regarding trading my van in. Now mind you I really loved my Freestar. It was a 2006, Dark Toreador Red Metallic, with a tan interior. It had a spoiler and a luggage rack, and I bought it brand spanking new. One of maybe three in life that I was able to pick the colors and features. Not that I needed a van with two teenagers at home, but my thinking was this: I was a real estate agent and I wanted to start my bridal boutique business so I could use the van to carry around buyers, and to haul gowns and wedding accessories in.. Sounded good to me at the time. I called it my Dark Red Chariot!
By this time the gas prices just kept going up, and up. It took at least $50 to fill it to half a tank. I was not selling any houses, and when I did meet buyers they drove their own cars. Further, I hadn't started my bridal boutique, so I decided that once gas hit $3.75 I was downsizing.
That day I went out to lunch and traded my car in for a Milan! It is a beauty, dark ink blue and in the sun it has a pearlensce finish. Another thing I like about the color is that it looks black too. the interior is black, so I don't have to worry about it getting dirty like the tan interior on my Dark Red Chariot. It gets good gas mileage also and I can fill it up on the $50 that I could only get 1/2 tank of gas with my Chariot.
Ok, where am I? back to move in day.. I was wishing that I had my Chariot for all of my daughter's stuff... We got just about everything packed into my Milan, except for her desktop computer, and a bulletin board. Mind you she has a laptop, but wanted to take the desktop for all of her music she has stored on it. The IPod doesn't hold all of it! Now when did she get to the point that we need to have all of this music? She told me how many songs there were, and I know that she can't be listening to them all at once!
So we packed the car and took off. On the way I stopped by my former job, which was on the way so that my coworker and friend Nicole, who is a MU alum, can meet and give my daughter some advice, from one MU grad to a freshman. We were supposed to get together earlier this summer but I guess our schedules and lives got too busy. We then headed to campus.
Nicole had given us some different directions from what we had and it was a straight shot, missed the cornfields and everything.
Since Andrea was a part of the early arrival group, which moved in on Sunday, (some moved in on Tuesday, and the rest of the students on Thursday) she was the only one moving into her dorm. We got there, picked up her key and went to her dorm. Of course it wouldn't work! So we called her advisor and she sent someone over to check. He told the RA to get the extra key and that one worked. Did I tell you that she got a single room? No kidding... when she applied for one I told her that freshmen most likely don't get a single room. but she did! her room is just about as big as the one at home! It's longer and not as wide but I would guess the area is about the same... the closet is huge, a walk in with shelves on top...It has high ceilings too. wow! talk about home away from home. We did order her a refrigerator...
We unloaded the car and put everything on the huge porch and in the hall. then we had to haul all of that stuff up two flights to her room, which was all the way down the hall at the end...
whew... lots of stuff, containers of stuff, bags of clothes, shoes (mostly stilettos and high heels)
We finally got all the stuff hauled in, and started putting some of it away. by this time it's around 8:30 9 pm (we got there around 7 something). So we head off to BW3's uptown to get something to eat. We take our food back to her room and eat, and then put away more things. She has gotten all of her posters up, which she had covering her walls back home. She really has a nice room. I think we worked on the computers and then tried to fit in her extra long twin bed! Mind you you would think that she would say "Mom you take the bed, since you packed me up and drove me 4 1/2 hours down, and you have to drive back tomorrow, I'll take the floor." But no, she let me try and fit at the bottom and most of the time I was on the hard floor!
So thankful!
the next morning we got up and found the Wal Mart to buy more stuff that she needed! Can you imagine more stuff! Later I had a parent's orientation. At the orientation they told us parents that we could stay over if we wanted. Originally we were supposed to be gone by 6, that is when the students had a get acquainted banquet. I asked her if she wanted me to stay over, and she shook her head 'no'! NO! I hadn't really slept all night, been to Walmart spending more money and could really use a good night sleep, she says NO!
Well I took her to the building where the banquet was and walked her to the banquet (she had said I can walk her up there when we got to the building). A student helper came up to us when we got the the door and asked was I having a hard time leaving her. I said a little. I then had her take our picture and then hugged her and headed home. Mind you this was a little after 6 pm in the evening, and I am not a night driver... but I figure by the time nightfall came I would be close too home.
I guess this is where I would admit, I was a little sad leaving her, and I teared up just a little...
I also was thinking that I would not advise anyone taking their children or should I say young adults to school to do it alone. Her dad is in Mississippi, so I guess he couldn't make it back up, which to me is no excuse. He knew for months where she was going to school and should have made the effort to at least meet us there. I asked my husband, just so that he couldn't say that I didn't offer, but he said no.. He and my children never developed a relationship in the almost 10 years that we have been together (we dated for 3, and been married for almost 7). He says it's my fault. whatever! A total waste of my time and energy if you asked me. (That's another blog)
Anyway, parents if you are married or divorce please see that you make the time to take your child to college. Mothers if you are single take someone with you a friend, sister, someone.
This is something that no one should have to do alone.
I've got to go.. my friend just informed me that her friend and former fiance just passed. He has been battling a brain cancer for about two years. Please keep the family and friends of Carlos Davis in your prayers.. May He rest in The Lord's Presence.
anyway move in day... Monday August 17th! Andrea had an appointment that morning and after that we headed home to continue to pack. Yes I said continue, although she had started packing maybe a week or few days before. Never mind that I had been telling her ALL SUMMER long to start washing her clothes, and organizing things that she wanted to take...
Anyway, we got home from the appointment and started loading my Milan. Mind you, it's a Milan, a medium sized car. Now if the gas hadn't risen to about $4.00 last year, we would have had the luxury of my Ford Freestar van. But when gas prices hit $3.75 I said that I was downsizing to a car. Now let me tell you how that happened.
I worked in Independence and there was a Lincoln Mercury dealership down the street where I took my Freestar in for service. I went to there during lunch on May 8th or 9th to make an appointment for my service. I made the appointment and then thought "mmm... I wonder if the man is here that I spoke to last November regarding trading my van in. Now mind you I really loved my Freestar. It was a 2006, Dark Toreador Red Metallic, with a tan interior. It had a spoiler and a luggage rack, and I bought it brand spanking new. One of maybe three in life that I was able to pick the colors and features. Not that I needed a van with two teenagers at home, but my thinking was this: I was a real estate agent and I wanted to start my bridal boutique business so I could use the van to carry around buyers, and to haul gowns and wedding accessories in.. Sounded good to me at the time. I called it my Dark Red Chariot!
By this time the gas prices just kept going up, and up. It took at least $50 to fill it to half a tank. I was not selling any houses, and when I did meet buyers they drove their own cars. Further, I hadn't started my bridal boutique, so I decided that once gas hit $3.75 I was downsizing.
That day I went out to lunch and traded my car in for a Milan! It is a beauty, dark ink blue and in the sun it has a pearlensce finish. Another thing I like about the color is that it looks black too. the interior is black, so I don't have to worry about it getting dirty like the tan interior on my Dark Red Chariot. It gets good gas mileage also and I can fill it up on the $50 that I could only get 1/2 tank of gas with my Chariot.
Ok, where am I? back to move in day.. I was wishing that I had my Chariot for all of my daughter's stuff... We got just about everything packed into my Milan, except for her desktop computer, and a bulletin board. Mind you she has a laptop, but wanted to take the desktop for all of her music she has stored on it. The IPod doesn't hold all of it! Now when did she get to the point that we need to have all of this music? She told me how many songs there were, and I know that she can't be listening to them all at once!
So we packed the car and took off. On the way I stopped by my former job, which was on the way so that my coworker and friend Nicole, who is a MU alum, can meet and give my daughter some advice, from one MU grad to a freshman. We were supposed to get together earlier this summer but I guess our schedules and lives got too busy. We then headed to campus.
Nicole had given us some different directions from what we had and it was a straight shot, missed the cornfields and everything.
Since Andrea was a part of the early arrival group, which moved in on Sunday, (some moved in on Tuesday, and the rest of the students on Thursday) she was the only one moving into her dorm. We got there, picked up her key and went to her dorm. Of course it wouldn't work! So we called her advisor and she sent someone over to check. He told the RA to get the extra key and that one worked. Did I tell you that she got a single room? No kidding... when she applied for one I told her that freshmen most likely don't get a single room. but she did! her room is just about as big as the one at home! It's longer and not as wide but I would guess the area is about the same... the closet is huge, a walk in with shelves on top...It has high ceilings too. wow! talk about home away from home. We did order her a refrigerator...
We unloaded the car and put everything on the huge porch and in the hall. then we had to haul all of that stuff up two flights to her room, which was all the way down the hall at the end...
whew... lots of stuff, containers of stuff, bags of clothes, shoes (mostly stilettos and high heels)
We finally got all the stuff hauled in, and started putting some of it away. by this time it's around 8:30 9 pm (we got there around 7 something). So we head off to BW3's uptown to get something to eat. We take our food back to her room and eat, and then put away more things. She has gotten all of her posters up, which she had covering her walls back home. She really has a nice room. I think we worked on the computers and then tried to fit in her extra long twin bed! Mind you you would think that she would say "Mom you take the bed, since you packed me up and drove me 4 1/2 hours down, and you have to drive back tomorrow, I'll take the floor." But no, she let me try and fit at the bottom and most of the time I was on the hard floor!
So thankful!
the next morning we got up and found the Wal Mart to buy more stuff that she needed! Can you imagine more stuff! Later I had a parent's orientation. At the orientation they told us parents that we could stay over if we wanted. Originally we were supposed to be gone by 6, that is when the students had a get acquainted banquet. I asked her if she wanted me to stay over, and she shook her head 'no'! NO! I hadn't really slept all night, been to Walmart spending more money and could really use a good night sleep, she says NO!
Well I took her to the building where the banquet was and walked her to the banquet (she had said I can walk her up there when we got to the building). A student helper came up to us when we got the the door and asked was I having a hard time leaving her. I said a little. I then had her take our picture and then hugged her and headed home. Mind you this was a little after 6 pm in the evening, and I am not a night driver... but I figure by the time nightfall came I would be close too home.
I guess this is where I would admit, I was a little sad leaving her, and I teared up just a little...
I also was thinking that I would not advise anyone taking their children or should I say young adults to school to do it alone. Her dad is in Mississippi, so I guess he couldn't make it back up, which to me is no excuse. He knew for months where she was going to school and should have made the effort to at least meet us there. I asked my husband, just so that he couldn't say that I didn't offer, but he said no.. He and my children never developed a relationship in the almost 10 years that we have been together (we dated for 3, and been married for almost 7). He says it's my fault. whatever! A total waste of my time and energy if you asked me. (That's another blog)
Anyway, parents if you are married or divorce please see that you make the time to take your child to college. Mothers if you are single take someone with you a friend, sister, someone.
This is something that no one should have to do alone.
I've got to go.. my friend just informed me that her friend and former fiance just passed. He has been battling a brain cancer for about two years. Please keep the family and friends of Carlos Davis in your prayers.. May He rest in The Lord's Presence.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
College Orientation
The fourth week of June we had college orientation. We drove the 5 hours to Oxford, where Miami U is. I was thinking on the way down how will this go, seeing that Andrea did not want to attend Miami. I remember her putting a bag of high heeled shoes in the car, and I told her that she would not get a chance to wear them, seeing that we will be walking all over the campus. That didn't make her take them back into the house... she kept them in the trunk.
The drive wasn't a bad one after all. It was a straight shot, and I didn't get lost or turned around until the last few miles, in the farmland... looking for the college. I remember when we were passing through Eaton, which is a small town near Oxford she looked out and said "Lord help me!" LOL! I couldn't help laugh because I thought Eaton was a nice sized town. It had a WalMart and a lot of other stores and restaurants and stuff there... but it wasn't a Cleveland!
and of course what we saw of Oxford was smaller...
We got to the campus and checked in. The students were in a dorm, and their parents another. She got to her room and pushed the twin beds together, determined not to share the room with another student! I told her that the orientation paperwork said that they would be sharing, and she was adamant that she wasn't going to share her room!
We then met to go and find something to eat. We drove "uptown" as the students call it and found a BW3 ordered wings and fries and took them back to the dorms. I found out that I had a room mate too! (hey I didn't want to share either!) she was from Solon and her daughter was coming to Miami. She was nice got up early to run the next day. I wished I was an fitness person, Lord knows I need to get rid of this belly that's been creeping up on me... oh well..
I believe we then went to sleep and met up for the orientation the next day. It was a long, looong day and we had orientation together, and then a part the entire day. I think it was after 9 when we were done! whew...
she did not want to be there and her face and body language showed it. You would think that she would at least act like she was ok with it since she was there, but no... In one orientation at the Business School she sat in the very back of the lecture hall and had a scowl on her face the entire time! mind you she was the only African American student in the whole hall! I know the instructors noticed her! You couldn't miss her!
Boy I was so, mmm... I was upset and really feeling that this was emotional enough coming here to see where my child will spend the next 4 years or so, but to have her there and acting
unappreciative, bratty, disrespectful, that just added to it. I was mad too because I would have loved to been able to go away to college and experience college life, and she has the opportunity with supportive parent(s), and she's acting like this! Boy I was ticked! I wished it were me going to live on a college campus!
We ate lunch and dinner on campus the first orientaton day. They really have some good nutritional food at that cafeteria. Wow! The next day when we met for breakfast, I noticed that she was wearing the Miami U t-shirt that she had gotten the day before in her orientation package. I mentioned it to her, hoping that she had softened a little after the first day of orientation. She said "I slept in it!" What?! There goes my "softening up" theory.
After breakfast we went to an information fair, then to register for her classes. She met with her advisor, picked her classes, registered, and it was off for home. What a long three days it was!
I hope that after she starts she would really like going there and thank me. We'll see. A girl can dream can't she.
The drive wasn't a bad one after all. It was a straight shot, and I didn't get lost or turned around until the last few miles, in the farmland... looking for the college. I remember when we were passing through Eaton, which is a small town near Oxford she looked out and said "Lord help me!" LOL! I couldn't help laugh because I thought Eaton was a nice sized town. It had a WalMart and a lot of other stores and restaurants and stuff there... but it wasn't a Cleveland!
and of course what we saw of Oxford was smaller...
We got to the campus and checked in. The students were in a dorm, and their parents another. She got to her room and pushed the twin beds together, determined not to share the room with another student! I told her that the orientation paperwork said that they would be sharing, and she was adamant that she wasn't going to share her room!
We then met to go and find something to eat. We drove "uptown" as the students call it and found a BW3 ordered wings and fries and took them back to the dorms. I found out that I had a room mate too! (hey I didn't want to share either!) she was from Solon and her daughter was coming to Miami. She was nice got up early to run the next day. I wished I was an fitness person, Lord knows I need to get rid of this belly that's been creeping up on me... oh well..
I believe we then went to sleep and met up for the orientation the next day. It was a long, looong day and we had orientation together, and then a part the entire day. I think it was after 9 when we were done! whew...
she did not want to be there and her face and body language showed it. You would think that she would at least act like she was ok with it since she was there, but no... In one orientation at the Business School she sat in the very back of the lecture hall and had a scowl on her face the entire time! mind you she was the only African American student in the whole hall! I know the instructors noticed her! You couldn't miss her!
Boy I was so, mmm... I was upset and really feeling that this was emotional enough coming here to see where my child will spend the next 4 years or so, but to have her there and acting
unappreciative, bratty, disrespectful, that just added to it. I was mad too because I would have loved to been able to go away to college and experience college life, and she has the opportunity with supportive parent(s), and she's acting like this! Boy I was ticked! I wished it were me going to live on a college campus!
We ate lunch and dinner on campus the first orientaton day. They really have some good nutritional food at that cafeteria. Wow! The next day when we met for breakfast, I noticed that she was wearing the Miami U t-shirt that she had gotten the day before in her orientation package. I mentioned it to her, hoping that she had softened a little after the first day of orientation. She said "I slept in it!" What?! There goes my "softening up" theory.
After breakfast we went to an information fair, then to register for her classes. She met with her advisor, picked her classes, registered, and it was off for home. What a long three days it was!
I hope that after she starts she would really like going there and thank me. We'll see. A girl can dream can't she.
Graduation
Well it's been about 5 weeks after graduation. I should have written before now, when the memories were still fresh. anyway... here goes.
Graduation went well. It was held in the Palace Theatre, and of course as it would be, we were sitting way, way, waaay up in the nose bleed section... almost touching the ceiling! I kept looking up and thinking I am closer to the ceiling than I am to the floor.
It was packed out! I mean packed. The entire theatre was full from top to bottom. Andrea's Dad and Aunt had come in to see her graduate, and they ended up sitting in our row, and behind us.
When we were leaving I kept hoping that someone didn't start shooting, or a fire broke out because many of us would have been doomed. We couldn't hardly move and it was hot in there... many would have been trampled to death! I had my grandson and he kept waving and touching people... he had a good time seeing all of these people in one place.
The ceremony didn't last too long. (thank God) I do not like graduation ceremonies, because there are usually too many speakers and too many names to call out, and they seem to last forever... but we got through it alright. mmm...I may be thinking about college graduations!
I had to go down to the balcony section to take pictures of her as she walked up the stage... wow! finally my youngest was graduating. I've been waiting on this for years, like 18! It was awkward trying to hear them call her name, aim the camera and trying to clap and cheer at the same time, all the while I'm standing in front of some man and trying not to fall over the balcony! but I managed somehow. Afterwards it took around 15 minutes to get from way, way, waaay up in the theatre, down the stairs, and out of the lobby to the outside! the air felt great! we managed to find Andrea and take some pictures of her and her friends under the theater marquee that had SHAKER in red letters! YES! this was it... my daughter and youngest have graduated high school! WAHOO!!!
We had a small cake and punch reception at the house afterwards, and her friend Ashley and her mom, brothers, aunt, and cousins came by. Later this summer I plan on having a combination graduation, 18th birthday, and off to college celebration.
Guess what, you know how they just give you the cover to your diploma and you have to pick up the diploma later. Well, you know I ended up picking it up from school just a week or so ago because she hadn't picked it up yet! when I got to the office there were at least 3 boxes of diploma packages that the students hadn't picked up! What?! 18 years or more, some less of school and you haven't picked up your proof of hard work?! I figure that the parents will end up picking them up, sooner or later, because they know that they worked just as hard to get their students through school as the students themselves did! Her diploma is at home now, displayed on the buffet in the dining room. Proof of hard work, sweat, tears, ups, downs, encouragement, disagreements, disappointments, etc. etc., and I am not talking about her, I'm talking about me!
Graduation went well. It was held in the Palace Theatre, and of course as it would be, we were sitting way, way, waaay up in the nose bleed section... almost touching the ceiling! I kept looking up and thinking I am closer to the ceiling than I am to the floor.
It was packed out! I mean packed. The entire theatre was full from top to bottom. Andrea's Dad and Aunt had come in to see her graduate, and they ended up sitting in our row, and behind us.
When we were leaving I kept hoping that someone didn't start shooting, or a fire broke out because many of us would have been doomed. We couldn't hardly move and it was hot in there... many would have been trampled to death! I had my grandson and he kept waving and touching people... he had a good time seeing all of these people in one place.
The ceremony didn't last too long. (thank God) I do not like graduation ceremonies, because there are usually too many speakers and too many names to call out, and they seem to last forever... but we got through it alright. mmm...I may be thinking about college graduations!
I had to go down to the balcony section to take pictures of her as she walked up the stage... wow! finally my youngest was graduating. I've been waiting on this for years, like 18! It was awkward trying to hear them call her name, aim the camera and trying to clap and cheer at the same time, all the while I'm standing in front of some man and trying not to fall over the balcony! but I managed somehow. Afterwards it took around 15 minutes to get from way, way, waaay up in the theatre, down the stairs, and out of the lobby to the outside! the air felt great! we managed to find Andrea and take some pictures of her and her friends under the theater marquee that had SHAKER in red letters! YES! this was it... my daughter and youngest have graduated high school! WAHOO!!!
We had a small cake and punch reception at the house afterwards, and her friend Ashley and her mom, brothers, aunt, and cousins came by. Later this summer I plan on having a combination graduation, 18th birthday, and off to college celebration.
Guess what, you know how they just give you the cover to your diploma and you have to pick up the diploma later. Well, you know I ended up picking it up from school just a week or so ago because she hadn't picked it up yet! when I got to the office there were at least 3 boxes of diploma packages that the students hadn't picked up! What?! 18 years or more, some less of school and you haven't picked up your proof of hard work?! I figure that the parents will end up picking them up, sooner or later, because they know that they worked just as hard to get their students through school as the students themselves did! Her diploma is at home now, displayed on the buffet in the dining room. Proof of hard work, sweat, tears, ups, downs, encouragement, disagreements, disappointments, etc. etc., and I am not talking about her, I'm talking about me!
Friday, June 5, 2009
SIX MORE DAYS TO GRADUATION!
Well, it's six more days to graduation! Andrea took her last final yesterday! Her final final! well at least in high school.
I picked up her grad announcements on Monday, and I was a just a little sentimental as I was writing them out. Where did the time go? It seems like only a few years ago that we moved back to Cleveland. Shawnya had just graduated, and Shaun was in the second, going to the third; Andrea the first going to the second. Now less than a week from now, my youngest will be walking across the stage to receive her diploma! WOW!
What am I going to do with myself? HA! I have quite a few things in mind. Can you say CELEBRATE! LOL! I emailed my friends announcing the countdown on yesterday:
"SEVEN DAYS TO GRADUATION! THAT'S IT AND THAT'S ALL OR THAT'S ALL AND THAT'S IT. IT'S KICKIN' IT TIME, WITH A CAPITAL "K" HEY, HO! HEY! HO! HAH, HAH! DUN, DUN, DUN, DUNT....."
I'm having a Graduation Party... or should I call it an Empty Nest Party... ALL SUMMER LONG! everyone is invited! LOL!"
I do plan on celebrating all summer long, as I prepare to send her off to college. She will be attending Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. The girl really thought that she was going far, away! While we lived in Michigan and even once we moved back here, all she talked about was the University of Michigan. I was OK with that, just right up the road, and I know people there that she can contact in case of an emergency.
Then a few years ago that changed. Why? I don't know. She talked about the University of Southern California! Now mind you I don't know anyone out there, not family anyway. Second, how would we get her college things out there? Hell, I know I'm not driving that far! Third, How would she even get back and forth? Plane? Train? Car? If plane, who has the money to fly her back and forth? How would we get there if something came up suddenly? She didn't care... I brought all of this up to her and she still thought she was going there. She also looked into a fashion design institute out there. Mind you that place didn't even have a campus and she would have to live in some apartments they have or something. HUH? What part of "we don't have the money to send you that far, and we don't have any family or close friends to help look out for you did she not understand?" Anyway she had been in contact with an admissions rep for the fashion school, and was in the process of applying!
She did apply for USC, but didn't finish the process, so that was that... I even told her to apply so she wouldn't spend the rest of my life saying that I kept her from applying...
She then applied at quite a few schools, most of them far away... Fordham in New York; Clark Atlanta - I'm still trying to figure out why she applied there because she was set against going to a HBC, and one day she came in and said I'm applying to Clark Atlanta! Go figure!
The last four she applied to because of the free application were: University of Northern Arizona, St. Johns in Queens, NY, Xavier in Cincinnati and Northwood in W. Palm Beach Florida. I added University of Dayton and Miami University because of all the colleges that were sending stuff, I have an entire crate of college materials, those two were the only ones that mentioned money up front, for her ACT/SAT scores, and for being an Ohio student.
She got accepted to all except Fordham. And she had her heart set on Northwood, in W. Palm Beach. Out of all of them the best financial packages were from the Ohio schools. No doubt because we know that state schools have the lowest tuition. Even explaining this she still wanted to go to Northwood. I don't think she had ever heard about the school until she found the free application online! We do have family in W. Palm Beach, so if I decided to send her there, she would have someone to contact or keep in touch with, family. But again, what about the cost? How would she get back and forth? How would we get her things back and forth? and as I said before I sure ain't driving down there!
We later found out that Northwood is an automotive business school, originated in Detroit by Ford or GM, for students that were interested in the automotive business. They had maybe two more campuses, with one in Florida. Now why would she even want to attend a school like that? I imagined it being like a U of Phoenix or something, not a really big campus, but a satellite school...but she didn't care.. Actually all she was trying to do is get away to somewhere sunny, not even thinking about how she was going to get back and forth and who has the money to pay for it! I don't have any money, and her dad sure don't.... and of course the little money that I may have started saving is long gone, due to being off of work at times over the years. Let me add this piece of advice, and it's free... Start trying to save money for college when the kid is born, because that time goes by so fast and then you will find that you haven't even saved for college. I know things come up and that money sitting there can help you out, but start early so if you need to borrow from the college fund, hopefully it won't be depleted by the time the kid go to school. Now I'm off of work, and her dad is on disability so none of us have money that we can go to to send her to school. I had to rely on financial aid, and thank God we have that to rely on.
She still is not happy about going to Miami U. Still pokes out her nose and says that it's in the middle of no where. although Cincinnati is just 45 minutes away. We confirmed her acceptance on May 1st in the evening. Did I tell you that the deadline for confirmation was May 1st! The last minute! She was holding out that I would be OK with Northwood! HA! I gave her 3 choices out of all those that she were accepted to. University of Dayton, Xavier, and Miami U. All of the state schools were better choices financially, with Miami first, U of Dayton second, and Xavier 3rd. All were doable financially, so of the 3 she reluctantly, hesitantly, chose Miami.
I forgot to mention that we attended a Miami U accepted student reception in April and she was kicking and fighting, saying she's going to Northwood. Actually that's how we found out is was an automotive business school, from one of the reps there. She also met two freshman from our area that attended, and both of them said that that was not their first choice. The young lady from Shaw said that she only went there because of the financial aid package they offered. Now both of them really like Miami and was singing its praises. I hope Andrea will feel that way next year this time. We'll see.
I don't know about our kids these days. I think many of them are spoiled because we were able to give them things that we didn't have growing up. I know I can say this about my situation. I came up without what we will call the basic necessities, and of course being in a better situation financially my kids were born with stuff. Examples: A nice house, car, computer, phone, color TV/TVs. cable, washer and dryer, lots of food, clothing, toys, etc. A lot of you may say well those things are the basic necessities, but coming up I didn't have many of them. Mom was trying to raise 6 of us alone, and we didn't have the washer and dryer at home; we didn't have a phone, computers were not available then; we walked everywhere, didn't have a car; we didn't have a lot of food, especially junk food around; we didn't have a TV in every room, maybe 1 and that was black and white; of course cable wasn't out then, so we had a few channels 3, 5, 8, 43 and 61. We didn't have video games, they were not out then, but I think Atari came out when we were teens, but we didn't have it; I can go on and you get the picture.
So our kids come up thinking that the stuff that they were born into is basic, and everyone has them, and since they got stuff, we got money... they can go and eat anything that is in the refrigerator, kitchen, etc. We didn't have any options, what was fixed that night for dinner, that was it! No sandwiches, dinners, etc.. what was on your plate you ate, or you went to bed hungry! We didn't get to eat fast food more than once a month, it was a luxury for us to have fast food, when Mom got her check. but my kids got Wendys or McDonalds maybe 1 a week, when they got older of course.
Side bar: Why do toddlers know about Wendys, McDonald's happy meals, etc? That's why doctors are talking about testing toddlers for cholesterol as a part of their physical exams! that's why kids are overweight and fighting diseases that years ago only were found in adults! High blood pressure, high cholesterol; diabetes,etc... kids are eating too much fast foods, high sodium content foods, fried foods (can you say french fries, chicken nuggets, Happy Meals?)
and I really believe that most of these kids with ADD/AHDD really don't need medicine, they need a diet free of sugar.. I've seen toddlers with rotten teeth, having to have caps, teeth pulled etc. What the! stop giving them candy, cookies, pop, etc. my kids were still getting a half of can of pop when they were really old, like 10/12! my oldest and youngest never had a cavity! Shaun, that's a different story, but it's not because he ate a lot of candy and sweets!
Johnny don't need Ritalin, he probably needs 1 or 2 things: an old fashioned butt beating or the sweets and fast food cut out of his diet. I bet Johnny would settle down then!
OK, back to spoiled kids: they just had stuff when they were born and coming up. their own rooms, they didn't have to share with 2 more sisters or brothers. not to mention their own TVs, cell phones, computers, etc. they wore nice cloths, not necessarily the most expensive ones, but nice ones.. they didn't have to wear their tennis shoes as their only shoes. they had boots, church shoes, tennis shoes and maybe a pair of school shoes.. I remember having to wear the same shoes all winter long, and they were not boots, and no I didn't have another pair to wear. we walked to school or was lucky enough to get a ride with a friend's brother, sometimes...
Yes, we give our kids more than we had coming up because we can afford to. But is this making them spoiled, unappreciative, entitled, lazy? I think so... I believe that if they came up like we did, and had to work for all of their stuff, then they would appreciate it more. They need to experience how to manage without electricity or gas. They need to learn how it is to walk to the laundry mat or to wash cloths in the bath tub. They need to learn how to live without a TV; share a room with their siblings; eat only what's fixed for dinner; no options; no cell phones; no phones; no computers; a few changes of cloths; 1 pair of shoes; OK, that's enough... for now...
I write all this to say that is why I think Andrea thinks that she can go across the country to school. she thinks we have money because she was born into some stuff... she didn't have to go without the basic necessities that I came up without, and she has a lot of things that I didn't have until I was grown with my own money! The Girl needs a reality check! LOL!
well until my next post...
I picked up her grad announcements on Monday, and I was a just a little sentimental as I was writing them out. Where did the time go? It seems like only a few years ago that we moved back to Cleveland. Shawnya had just graduated, and Shaun was in the second, going to the third; Andrea the first going to the second. Now less than a week from now, my youngest will be walking across the stage to receive her diploma! WOW!
What am I going to do with myself? HA! I have quite a few things in mind. Can you say CELEBRATE! LOL! I emailed my friends announcing the countdown on yesterday:
"SEVEN DAYS TO GRADUATION! THAT'S IT AND THAT'S ALL OR THAT'S ALL AND THAT'S IT. IT'S KICKIN' IT TIME, WITH A CAPITAL "K" HEY, HO! HEY! HO! HAH, HAH! DUN, DUN, DUN, DUNT....."
I'm having a Graduation Party... or should I call it an Empty Nest Party... ALL SUMMER LONG! everyone is invited! LOL!"
I do plan on celebrating all summer long, as I prepare to send her off to college. She will be attending Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. The girl really thought that she was going far, away! While we lived in Michigan and even once we moved back here, all she talked about was the University of Michigan. I was OK with that, just right up the road, and I know people there that she can contact in case of an emergency.
Then a few years ago that changed. Why? I don't know. She talked about the University of Southern California! Now mind you I don't know anyone out there, not family anyway. Second, how would we get her college things out there? Hell, I know I'm not driving that far! Third, How would she even get back and forth? Plane? Train? Car? If plane, who has the money to fly her back and forth? How would we get there if something came up suddenly? She didn't care... I brought all of this up to her and she still thought she was going there. She also looked into a fashion design institute out there. Mind you that place didn't even have a campus and she would have to live in some apartments they have or something. HUH? What part of "we don't have the money to send you that far, and we don't have any family or close friends to help look out for you did she not understand?" Anyway she had been in contact with an admissions rep for the fashion school, and was in the process of applying!
She did apply for USC, but didn't finish the process, so that was that... I even told her to apply so she wouldn't spend the rest of my life saying that I kept her from applying...
She then applied at quite a few schools, most of them far away... Fordham in New York; Clark Atlanta - I'm still trying to figure out why she applied there because she was set against going to a HBC, and one day she came in and said I'm applying to Clark Atlanta! Go figure!
The last four she applied to because of the free application were: University of Northern Arizona, St. Johns in Queens, NY, Xavier in Cincinnati and Northwood in W. Palm Beach Florida. I added University of Dayton and Miami University because of all the colleges that were sending stuff, I have an entire crate of college materials, those two were the only ones that mentioned money up front, for her ACT/SAT scores, and for being an Ohio student.
She got accepted to all except Fordham. And she had her heart set on Northwood, in W. Palm Beach. Out of all of them the best financial packages were from the Ohio schools. No doubt because we know that state schools have the lowest tuition. Even explaining this she still wanted to go to Northwood. I don't think she had ever heard about the school until she found the free application online! We do have family in W. Palm Beach, so if I decided to send her there, she would have someone to contact or keep in touch with, family. But again, what about the cost? How would she get back and forth? How would we get her things back and forth? and as I said before I sure ain't driving down there!
We later found out that Northwood is an automotive business school, originated in Detroit by Ford or GM, for students that were interested in the automotive business. They had maybe two more campuses, with one in Florida. Now why would she even want to attend a school like that? I imagined it being like a U of Phoenix or something, not a really big campus, but a satellite school...but she didn't care.. Actually all she was trying to do is get away to somewhere sunny, not even thinking about how she was going to get back and forth and who has the money to pay for it! I don't have any money, and her dad sure don't.... and of course the little money that I may have started saving is long gone, due to being off of work at times over the years. Let me add this piece of advice, and it's free... Start trying to save money for college when the kid is born, because that time goes by so fast and then you will find that you haven't even saved for college. I know things come up and that money sitting there can help you out, but start early so if you need to borrow from the college fund, hopefully it won't be depleted by the time the kid go to school. Now I'm off of work, and her dad is on disability so none of us have money that we can go to to send her to school. I had to rely on financial aid, and thank God we have that to rely on.
She still is not happy about going to Miami U. Still pokes out her nose and says that it's in the middle of no where. although Cincinnati is just 45 minutes away. We confirmed her acceptance on May 1st in the evening. Did I tell you that the deadline for confirmation was May 1st! The last minute! She was holding out that I would be OK with Northwood! HA! I gave her 3 choices out of all those that she were accepted to. University of Dayton, Xavier, and Miami U. All of the state schools were better choices financially, with Miami first, U of Dayton second, and Xavier 3rd. All were doable financially, so of the 3 she reluctantly, hesitantly, chose Miami.
I forgot to mention that we attended a Miami U accepted student reception in April and she was kicking and fighting, saying she's going to Northwood. Actually that's how we found out is was an automotive business school, from one of the reps there. She also met two freshman from our area that attended, and both of them said that that was not their first choice. The young lady from Shaw said that she only went there because of the financial aid package they offered. Now both of them really like Miami and was singing its praises. I hope Andrea will feel that way next year this time. We'll see.
I don't know about our kids these days. I think many of them are spoiled because we were able to give them things that we didn't have growing up. I know I can say this about my situation. I came up without what we will call the basic necessities, and of course being in a better situation financially my kids were born with stuff. Examples: A nice house, car, computer, phone, color TV/TVs. cable, washer and dryer, lots of food, clothing, toys, etc. A lot of you may say well those things are the basic necessities, but coming up I didn't have many of them. Mom was trying to raise 6 of us alone, and we didn't have the washer and dryer at home; we didn't have a phone, computers were not available then; we walked everywhere, didn't have a car; we didn't have a lot of food, especially junk food around; we didn't have a TV in every room, maybe 1 and that was black and white; of course cable wasn't out then, so we had a few channels 3, 5, 8, 43 and 61. We didn't have video games, they were not out then, but I think Atari came out when we were teens, but we didn't have it; I can go on and you get the picture.
So our kids come up thinking that the stuff that they were born into is basic, and everyone has them, and since they got stuff, we got money... they can go and eat anything that is in the refrigerator, kitchen, etc. We didn't have any options, what was fixed that night for dinner, that was it! No sandwiches, dinners, etc.. what was on your plate you ate, or you went to bed hungry! We didn't get to eat fast food more than once a month, it was a luxury for us to have fast food, when Mom got her check. but my kids got Wendys or McDonalds maybe 1 a week, when they got older of course.
Side bar: Why do toddlers know about Wendys, McDonald's happy meals, etc? That's why doctors are talking about testing toddlers for cholesterol as a part of their physical exams! that's why kids are overweight and fighting diseases that years ago only were found in adults! High blood pressure, high cholesterol; diabetes,etc... kids are eating too much fast foods, high sodium content foods, fried foods (can you say french fries, chicken nuggets, Happy Meals?)
and I really believe that most of these kids with ADD/AHDD really don't need medicine, they need a diet free of sugar.. I've seen toddlers with rotten teeth, having to have caps, teeth pulled etc. What the! stop giving them candy, cookies, pop, etc. my kids were still getting a half of can of pop when they were really old, like 10/12! my oldest and youngest never had a cavity! Shaun, that's a different story, but it's not because he ate a lot of candy and sweets!
Johnny don't need Ritalin, he probably needs 1 or 2 things: an old fashioned butt beating or the sweets and fast food cut out of his diet. I bet Johnny would settle down then!
OK, back to spoiled kids: they just had stuff when they were born and coming up. their own rooms, they didn't have to share with 2 more sisters or brothers. not to mention their own TVs, cell phones, computers, etc. they wore nice cloths, not necessarily the most expensive ones, but nice ones.. they didn't have to wear their tennis shoes as their only shoes. they had boots, church shoes, tennis shoes and maybe a pair of school shoes.. I remember having to wear the same shoes all winter long, and they were not boots, and no I didn't have another pair to wear. we walked to school or was lucky enough to get a ride with a friend's brother, sometimes...
Yes, we give our kids more than we had coming up because we can afford to. But is this making them spoiled, unappreciative, entitled, lazy? I think so... I believe that if they came up like we did, and had to work for all of their stuff, then they would appreciate it more. They need to experience how to manage without electricity or gas. They need to learn how it is to walk to the laundry mat or to wash cloths in the bath tub. They need to learn how to live without a TV; share a room with their siblings; eat only what's fixed for dinner; no options; no cell phones; no phones; no computers; a few changes of cloths; 1 pair of shoes; OK, that's enough... for now...
I write all this to say that is why I think Andrea thinks that she can go across the country to school. she thinks we have money because she was born into some stuff... she didn't have to go without the basic necessities that I came up without, and she has a lot of things that I didn't have until I was grown with my own money! The Girl needs a reality check! LOL!
well until my next post...
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Prom Day
I forgot to mention in my last post that it was Prom Day!
However, Andrea decided not to attend. She had been looking for dresses for a long time. Some were out of her price range, but many were within her range, but she wanted a certain style. Strapless, short or long. She actually bought one from Jessica McClintock in Beachwood Mall, but decided to return it before the 3 day return deadline was over. Imagine paying almost $200 for a dress and only having 3 days to return it! This dress was short, and rather plain for the price, but as my friend pointed out it's a designer dress, and the price is because of the name. Anyway I was glad she returned it because to me if you pay almost $200 for anything, it should come with a shawl, shoes, stockings, jewelry, hairstyle, nails, etc.. ok, that's just my frugalness coming out..
She actually went back to the mall on either Wednesday or Thursday and found one. She called or texted me to let me know that she was going again....but by the time I got home and asked about her it she had changed her mind... again!
This have been going on for weeks. It's not that she didn't have any young men asking her, she did but didnt want to go with them. She had friend that graduated 3 years ago, and he was willing to take her, but the dress thing just wasn't falling into place. We had been to David's Bridal (3x), Cachet, Jessica McClintock, Dillards (2x), Macys, JC Penney, The Red Carpet Boutique, Catans Bridal, Demetrios, Nordstroms, Saks, and maybe some more places that I can't recall. She found some online, but by that time it was too late to order, and who knows about the online places, if you can trust them. Her oldest sister suggested she wear her prom gown from 11 years ago, which still looked good. Of course that was out! She also suggested that she can wear a sharp bridesmaid dress that she wore in her aunt's wedding about 2 years ago. But nothing came from that.
Well anyway on Saturday we went to see one of her best friends get dressed for the same prom that Andrea wasn't attending. Watching her get dressed, seeing her date picking her up, and seeing them taking pictures really made me feel sentimental. I was thinking all the time that Andrea should be dressed with a date (or not), and taking pictures with them. I felt sort of short changed because I was kind of looking forward to her going to her prom. And it was strange seeing her take pictures with her freind and her date, (who by the way is both of their friend), and she not being dressed. A few of her friend's relatives were asking her why she wasn't going. I wondered if she felt regretful that she didn't go? I know I regreted not insisting that she go. Afterall isn't that what all high school seniors look forward to besides graduating, the prom? sigh....
I noticed as I drove home cars lining the streets and crowds surrounding the colorfully dressed prom goers. I thought to myself " that should have been Andrea, why didn't I make her go?" Now can one really make their child attend the prom? I figured well she's going to after prom, so that's ok. But after watching her friend get ready and seeing her and her date take pictures, and sharing that time with them, I wished it was us. You only get to go to prom one time, and after that, you can't relive the moment. Even if someone asked her to go now from another school, it wouldn't be quite the same.
She did attend after prom and she said it was nice. By the next day her friends had their prom pictures posted on Facebook. I peeked at her computer screen and noticed them. The prom pictures were also posted on their photographer's web site. I actually spent a lot of time looking at almost all of them. sigh... I noticed that the young ladies had some really nice dresses, but there were some that were not fancy at all. If only she could have picked a dress, any dress and attended. Just to say I went and I got the picture and the memories to prove it! I still can imagine her being dressed up and driving off. Did I mention that their prom was at the Crawford Auto Museum? A really classy place for any kind of party, not to mention a prom... sigh again...
Oh well, until my next post....double sigh.....
However, Andrea decided not to attend. She had been looking for dresses for a long time. Some were out of her price range, but many were within her range, but she wanted a certain style. Strapless, short or long. She actually bought one from Jessica McClintock in Beachwood Mall, but decided to return it before the 3 day return deadline was over. Imagine paying almost $200 for a dress and only having 3 days to return it! This dress was short, and rather plain for the price, but as my friend pointed out it's a designer dress, and the price is because of the name. Anyway I was glad she returned it because to me if you pay almost $200 for anything, it should come with a shawl, shoes, stockings, jewelry, hairstyle, nails, etc.. ok, that's just my frugalness coming out..
She actually went back to the mall on either Wednesday or Thursday and found one. She called or texted me to let me know that she was going again....but by the time I got home and asked about her it she had changed her mind... again!
This have been going on for weeks. It's not that she didn't have any young men asking her, she did but didnt want to go with them. She had friend that graduated 3 years ago, and he was willing to take her, but the dress thing just wasn't falling into place. We had been to David's Bridal (3x), Cachet, Jessica McClintock, Dillards (2x), Macys, JC Penney, The Red Carpet Boutique, Catans Bridal, Demetrios, Nordstroms, Saks, and maybe some more places that I can't recall. She found some online, but by that time it was too late to order, and who knows about the online places, if you can trust them. Her oldest sister suggested she wear her prom gown from 11 years ago, which still looked good. Of course that was out! She also suggested that she can wear a sharp bridesmaid dress that she wore in her aunt's wedding about 2 years ago. But nothing came from that.
Well anyway on Saturday we went to see one of her best friends get dressed for the same prom that Andrea wasn't attending. Watching her get dressed, seeing her date picking her up, and seeing them taking pictures really made me feel sentimental. I was thinking all the time that Andrea should be dressed with a date (or not), and taking pictures with them. I felt sort of short changed because I was kind of looking forward to her going to her prom. And it was strange seeing her take pictures with her freind and her date, (who by the way is both of their friend), and she not being dressed. A few of her friend's relatives were asking her why she wasn't going. I wondered if she felt regretful that she didn't go? I know I regreted not insisting that she go. Afterall isn't that what all high school seniors look forward to besides graduating, the prom? sigh....
I noticed as I drove home cars lining the streets and crowds surrounding the colorfully dressed prom goers. I thought to myself " that should have been Andrea, why didn't I make her go?" Now can one really make their child attend the prom? I figured well she's going to after prom, so that's ok. But after watching her friend get ready and seeing her and her date take pictures, and sharing that time with them, I wished it was us. You only get to go to prom one time, and after that, you can't relive the moment. Even if someone asked her to go now from another school, it wouldn't be quite the same.
She did attend after prom and she said it was nice. By the next day her friends had their prom pictures posted on Facebook. I peeked at her computer screen and noticed them. The prom pictures were also posted on their photographer's web site. I actually spent a lot of time looking at almost all of them. sigh... I noticed that the young ladies had some really nice dresses, but there were some that were not fancy at all. If only she could have picked a dress, any dress and attended. Just to say I went and I got the picture and the memories to prove it! I still can imagine her being dressed up and driving off. Did I mention that their prom was at the Crawford Auto Museum? A really classy place for any kind of party, not to mention a prom... sigh again...
Oh well, until my next post....double sigh.....
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Countdown to the Empty Nest!
May 16, 2009
Well, it is 26 days to the day that my youngest child, Andrea walks across the stage and get her diploma! YES! Today I went to pick up my tickets to her graduation ceremony.
A father was there getting his tickets and talking with the workers. They asked him how many children did he have and he said a lot! He had a young son with him, maybe around 5 years old! I told them all gleefully, this is my last one! Smiling, and wanting to break into a jig or the Holy Ghost dance! LOL! can I get an AMEN somebody? Wow, I've waited for 11 years to say those words! 11 years!
Andrea was in the first grade going to the second when her sister Shawnya graduated. Shaun was in the second going to the third grade. I can remember thinking that Shawnya was graduating, YES! But then I looked down and had not ONE but TWO more to go! TWO MORE! and they were 10 years behind her! HELP ME SOMEBODY PLEEEASE!!!!!
Well, it is 26 days to the day that my youngest child, Andrea walks across the stage and get her diploma! YES! Today I went to pick up my tickets to her graduation ceremony.
A father was there getting his tickets and talking with the workers. They asked him how many children did he have and he said a lot! He had a young son with him, maybe around 5 years old! I told them all gleefully, this is my last one! Smiling, and wanting to break into a jig or the Holy Ghost dance! LOL! can I get an AMEN somebody? Wow, I've waited for 11 years to say those words! 11 years!
Andrea was in the first grade going to the second when her sister Shawnya graduated. Shaun was in the second going to the third grade. I can remember thinking that Shawnya was graduating, YES! But then I looked down and had not ONE but TWO more to go! TWO MORE! and they were 10 years behind her! HELP ME SOMEBODY PLEEEASE!!!!!
Yes finally the empty nest! The EMPTY NEST! Did I say EMPTY? YES! I have waited for almost 29 years for this day to come! 29! Shawnya will be 29 in July! I have never experienced being an adult and not having any children to care for. You see I found out I was pregnant with Shawnya on my 17th birthday. What a helluva birthday present. SEVENTEEN! I was a junior in high school, with my whole life ahead of me. I thought I wanted to be a pediatrician, and I thought I did not want children. Nothing personal... I used to babysit these kids and they took me there. Well... that all changed... so I was a child/kid/young lady having a baby... Life would never be the same... that's another blog.
So if I seem too eager for the empty nest I AM! LOL! I've been looking forward to this day since July 21, 1991, when Andrea was born. Her brother Shaun was just a year and 17 months old when she came. Not only did I have a daughter that was a few months shy of being 10 when Shaun was born, now I had another baby! HELP! TWO BABIES! I wished I could have had them every two years, by now I would be done. Let's see they would be 29, 27 and 25! YES sounds good to me!
Back to the empty nest. Do I feel a sense of sadness? Mmmm, let me think about that... maybe... OK, just a little thought. I am ready to live my life as an adult with no children pulling on me for something. I know that a mother is always a mother until the day she dies, but at least I don't have to be responsible for anyone now... Yes, it's a little different responsibility, but nothing like having school aged children.
You see when children leave your nest, they learn how to appreciate you and all the things they had and enjoyed while they were living at home. Right now I don't think Shaun or Andrea really appreciates me. And you know, that's ok because they will when they have to pay their own rent, electric, gas, cable, phone, and buy their own groceries, toiletries, household products, etc. The day is coming and I can't wait! LOL!
So I'm going to be sharing my thoughts and cheers, not fears of becoming an empty nester... Oh did I tell you August 20th is move in day! YES! I've been telling my friends that when I drop Andrea off, my bags will be packed and I will keep on going! LOL! HA! I'm going to kick it with a capital K! LOL! HEY, HO, HEY, HO! Party ova here! Party over there! where is the party? Party Hearty! Lolly Dolly we like to party! yes, that's all old school y'all. I dont even know if they even say that anymore, it's been decades since I've gone out..
until my next blog entry ....
oh, let me put this in before I forget.. when they call Andrea's name to get her diploma, I will be waiting in the wings, not the audience...You see I will run up and snatch the diploma from the hands of whomever is handing them out and run off the stage, up the aisle and out the door! Everyone will wonder who or what was that because I will be running like someone doing the 100 yard dash, or whichever one is faster... leaving behind me a cloud of dust, smoke, something...I've earned this diploma! LOL! I've earned it!
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