Wow! It's been a minute since I've written. I should probably make this a more regular thing. I think I've said that before. It's funny how we have the best intentions to do things that are good for us, but then inevitably life gets in the way. I know that writing is good for the spirit, I would just rather sit and knit. LOL!
Joe's been away at University of Michigan for about a month and a half now. God, I miss him. Deaglan has been extra huggy to cover for Joe. It's really sweet. Oh, sorry, did I forget to mention that Joe was accepted to University of Michigan with almost a full scholarship? His tuition is covered as well as most of his room and board. He's majoring in bass trombone performance. He's adjusting to college life pretty well. He misses us but that's to be expected. I went up to see him this past Thursday morning. My birthday was Saturday and I always try to go to Becca's (she's my best friend for those of you that don't know) in Lansing Michigan. Well, this year since Joe is in Ann Arbor (only an hour-ish drive from Lansing) I decided to scoop him up for breakfast before his first class at 10:30. That meant that I was up and on the road at about zero-dark-thirty (4:30) because it's a three and a half hour drive and because Michigan is in the eastern time zone, the trip is more like four and a half hours. Our visit was brief but he's doing well. He's getting over a cold, but his grades are good and he needs to get a job. Part of his financial aid package is based on him doing a work/study. Becca and I are working on the logistics of getting him to her, so she can get him home for Thanksgiving.
Deaglan is doing really well so far this year as a sophomore. He just got his permit and hasn't hit anything. He is in Advanced Placement US History (APUSH) and a few other Honors classes this year as well as a shop class. He was accepted to perform with the Chicago Youth Philharmonic Orchestra this year, following in Joe's footsteps as well as still attending the Tuition Free Conservatory (TFC) at the Merit School of Music in the west loop. He's got a girlfriend (she crochets so, she hangs out with me on Friday night at stitch n bitch). He and Padric are both enjoying having their own rooms and the bickering has gone down dramatically.
Speaking of Padric, he's doing ok too. He's having a little trouble with time management but we've worked out a solution and things seem to be improving. He is doing amazingly well with trombone and is still in the TFC with Deaglan. He was just placed in a younger brass quintet that may be ready for competition as early as this spring. The group had their first rehearsal yesterday and they sounded pretty good together. The oldest kid in the group is a freshman, the youngest is 11, so this group should be together for the next 4 years. He's doing really good in school and is being super helpful here at home. Puberty is beating him about the head and neck, so his voice is changing and he's got a little bit of dirt above his lip that I can't seem to wash off no matter how much spit and scrubbing I do with my thumb (I'M KIDDING, I don't use my bare thumb, I usually have a paper towel too).
Chris is still with Verizon and was temporarily working at the Hyde Park store. That made life a little more interesting because the hours were slightly different. But now he's back at the Evergreen Park store and can come home for lunch if he wants to.
I'm hanging out in the land of limbo. If you've read any of the more recent posts, I decided to go back to school to become a nurse. I successfully graduated from Moraine Valley Community College with my associates degree of Arts back in May. I had originally decided to apply to the University of Illinois at Chicago to get my BSN but have since thrown all my eggs into one basket and applied to St. Xavier University's nursing program. I made that choice because I'm a member of Phi Theta Kappa, the only community college fraternity. Because I am a member in good standing I am automatically awarded an EIGHTEEN THOUSAND DOLLAR tuition reduction. That's about half my tuition, gone. Yes UIC is cheaper but it's farther from home, the classes are larger and a lot more competetive. I find I do much better in a smaller, more intimate class setting where students don't feel intimidated or pressured. So I wrote my essay, got my transcripts, filled out the application, and clicked submit back in July. The deadline for applications was October 1st. Admissions doesn't look at any of the applications until 9:00 am on the 2nd. No one is notified of acceptance or rejection until the end of October/beginning of November. Everyone is notified at the same time. So I am waiting. Yes I graduated suma cum laude and got an 89 on my TEAS test (the nursing placement test), but I'm still nervous that I won't be accepted. Everyone keeps telling me not to worry but until I have the acceptance letter/email, I'm going to worry.
In knitting news, I've currently got 3 projects going. I usually don't have more than 1 but, I needed something mindless to work on at a family party back in June so I cast on a pair of socks, when I had a pretty complicated layette set on the needles. I finished the set and cast on a sweater for myself, leaving the sock for mindless knitting when needed. Well when I went to visit Joe, I realized that he needs a hat, scarf and gloves for the winter. I bought some blue and yellow yarn and cast on the scarf. So now I have an unfinished sock, a sweater and a scarf. I'm planning on finishing the set for Joe by Thanksgiving so I can send them with him when he goes back to college.
Well, that's my life in a nutshell for the moment.
Take care, enjoy life, and as always; happy knitting!
