Girls Coffeeshop Talk

[Lisa]

Originally Posted by mikkibarry

Oh Lisaaaaa.... Look at alexandrite. Love it....

It is a beautiful stone, Mikki. But we've got some big expenses coming up (hubby's malpractice insurance, kids' school tuition, and trying to budget for a vacation this summer) so for now, I need to look at cheapie stuff. The alexandrite shown to me at our AD was as pricey as their diamonds.

[Art 1]

Originally Posted by Lisa

I did pay a deposit, but nothing was said about it being non refundable.

And I'm not sure it meets the criteria for a special order. I asked the guys in Switzerland (Henry, to be exact!) if they would produce a specific dial/case combo and they said they would. They will produce many, not just one. It may have already been in the works.

Well, that's pretty cool that it was your idea.

[Art 1]

Originally Posted by Lisa

It is a beautiful stone, Mikki. But we've got some big expenses coming up (hubby's malpractice insurance, kids' school tuition, and trying to budget for a vacation this summer) so for now, I need to look at cheapie stuff. The alexandrite shown to me at our AD was as pricey as their diamonds.

Lisa, that school tuition is one thing that I do not miss. I have college tuition, housing, meals books and so forth but the HS tuition was just as bad. Books, uniforms and that damn yearly application fee. Some years the books were $1000 per each one of mine. It costed $1000 a year for the baby to be on the dance team. The K-8 wasn't as bad as HS but it was still expensive. I hope that it was worth it but glad it's over with.

[East Bay Rider]

I hate bills.

[Lisa]

Originally Posted by Art 1

Lisa, that school tuition is one thing that I do not miss. I have college tuition, housing, meals books and so forth but the HS tuition was just as bad. Books, uniforms and that damn yearly application fee. Some years the books were $1000 per each one of mine. It costed $1000 a year for the baby to be on the dance team. The K-8 wasn't as bad as HS but it was still expensive. I hope that it was worth it but glad it's over with.

I hear you, Art. And this is for THREE kids. A couple of times last year it about killed us... but it's a little better if we plan and budget ahead.

Yeah, what is it with the stupid annual enrollment fee? $1,200 already for next year... $400 for each kid. How can it cost $400 to re-enroll a child?

[Lisa]

Originally Posted by East Bay Rider

I hate bills.

But I like Bill.

[East Bay Rider]

Talked to my son about applying to West Point. Excellent education. Free. Guaranteed job after graduation (5 year commitment as an officer in the US Army), resume straight to the top for all future jobs as a West Point grad. No student loans.
He doesn't want to be an engineer. Oh well.

[Art 1]

Originally Posted by Lisa

I hear you, Art. And this is for THREE kids. A couple of times last year it about killed us... but it's a little better if we plan and budget ahead.

Yeah, what is it with the stupid annual enrollment fee? $1,200 already for next year... $400 for each kid. How can it cost $400 to re-enroll a child?

Ours was $400 or $500. I hated that fee. They just should have added it to the tuition. Ours was due in the spring the year before so I guess it was a huge influx of money for the school. Paying for the books bothered me as well. It was a good school. 99% went on to college or military academies. Dominated at sports. My Son's senior year every boy soccer player got a scholarship and all but one baseball player was drafted. The northern Universities are always around here looking to pick both the boy and girl athletes up. My wife insisted they go there. I get sick thinking of all the money it costed. When the kids first started college they thought it was strange to not wear a uniform.

[Art 1]

Originally Posted by East Bay Rider

Talked to my son about applying to West Point. Excellent education. Free. Guaranteed job after graduation (5 year commitment as an officer in the US Army), resume straight to the top for all future jobs as a West Point grad. No student loans.
He doesn't want to be an engineer. Oh well.

That would be good. My Son had a buddy go there, the father is a General that went there and the Grandfather went there and retired as a General. That would be nice if your son went there. A guy I graduated with went to the Navel Academy and just retired as a Marine Colonial. He saw a good bit of combat along the way.

[FeelingTheBlues]

Wes, the stone is not mine but I can still give you the footy scores...the left foot wins...

Lisa, I can't wait for your watch to be on your wrist! As for your ring, it is very nice! That stone is definitely special looking.

P.S.: Lisa, I found another penny today, straight from Uncle Sam's pocket and from 1920!

[mikkibarry]

Originally Posted by Lisa

It is a beautiful stone, Mikki. But we've got some big expenses coming up (hubby's malpractice insurance, kids' school tuition, and trying to budget for a vacation this summer) so for now, I need to look at cheapie stuff. The alexandrite shown to me at our AD was as pricey as their diamonds.

Whoa! I bought mine over 10 years ago, when they were not nearly that bad. And yeah, malpractice insurance is pricey...even mine and I'm just a contracts lawyer. It is indeed true that there are many beautiful stones out there that aren't crazy expensive. I do like labradorite. I also like tourmalines. I saw a gorgeous deep pink tourmaline at the jeweler where I got my rings repaired. I had never seen tourmaline done that beautifully before. I should take photos when I go to pick up my latest batch of repairs. Just some tiny clasps, a broken link, and a frankenwatch I left there. They may be done today in fact.

I really ought to poke around this area more for nice vintage pieces. A little bit west of us you can't throw a rock without hitting an antique shop. I've just been crazy busy with long work hours, fibro bad days (weather going nuts does a number on me) and considering auditioning for a play next week. Yeah, I'm crazy. What can I say?

[mikkibarry]

With all this talk of kids and college, my 21 year old daughter recently announced she was moving to the Netherlands to take up with a boy she had met gaming over the Internet. They've met in person a total of once, for a couple of days. She bought her plane ticket, she's leaving next month, and well....uh... what's a mother to do? She's 21 so I can't say "NO" but I do know what will likely happen. I guess she has to learn somewhere, sometime.

[East Bay Rider]

Originally Posted by Art 1

That would be good. My Son had a buddy go there, the father is a General that went there and the Grandfather went there and retired as a General. That would be nice if your son went there. A guy I graduated with went to the Navel Academy and just retired as a Marine Colonial. He saw a good bit of combat along the way.

I think he could handle the training and the discipline. He's good like that. He's so far just never been interested in the military. I think you have to really want that life to make it through. If he was about that I'm confident he'd do a freaking great job of it. Ultimately it's his life to live so he has to do what he wants. Unfortunately he's going to end up with lots of student loans.
One thing at a time. Right now he needs to decide where he wants to go, what he wants to do and we'll look for scholarships.

[East Bay Rider]

Originally Posted by mikkibarry

With all this talk of kids and college, my 21 year old daughter recently announced she was moving to the Netherlands to take up with a boy she had met gaming over the Internet. They've met in person a total of once, for a couple of days. She bought her plane ticket, she's leaving next month, and well....uh... what's a mother to do? She's 21 so I can't say "NO" but I do know what will likely happen. I guess she has to learn somewhere, sometime.

Oh, no way. I'd be a wreck.

[Art 1]

Originally Posted by East Bay Rider

I think he could handle the training and the discipline. He's good like that. He's so far just never been interested in the military. I think you have to really want that life to make it through. If he was about that I'm confident he'd do a freaking great job of it. Ultimately it's his life to live so he has to do what he wants. Unfortunately he's going to end up with lots of student loans.
One thing at a time. Right now he needs to decide where he wants to go, what he wants to do and we'll look for scholarships.

What grade it he in?

[Art 1]

Originally Posted by mikkibarry

With all this talk of kids and college, my 21 year old daughter recently announced she was moving to the Netherlands to take up with a boy she had met gaming over the Internet. They've met in person a total of once, for a couple of days. She bought her plane ticket, she's leaving next month, and well....uh... what's a mother to do? She's 21 so I can't say "NO" but I do know what will likely happen. I guess she has to learn somewhere, sometime.

I can both understand where both you and your daughter are coming from.

[East Bay Rider]

Originally Posted by Art 1

What grade it he in?

11th grade.

[Art 1]

Originally Posted by East Bay Rider

11th grade.

I guess he is gearing up for the SAT and ACT. Time will fly by now.

[East Bay Rider]

Yep he's taken PSAT and will take SAT in March. Luckily he has some interest from some soccer coaches. His premier club team has a few tournaments scheduled this spring for them to come watch. We'll see if anything comes of that. Most of the schools he's shown interest in are smaller division 3 schools that don't even offer athletic scholarships so I guess his grades are what's going to count. I think he'd prefer a smaller school.

[mikkibarry]

Originally Posted by Art 1

I can both understand where both you and your daughter are coming from.

I've told her I'll support her decision, and she's welcome to come back home anytime. However, I'm pretty uneasy. On the other hand, I left home at 17 to go to college overseas. Difference was that I didn't have to worry about where I'd sleep or whether I'd get fed.

Kids... you never know quite what they're going to come up with next.

[Art 1]

Originally Posted by East Bay Rider

Yep he's taken PSAT and will take SAT in March. Luckily he has some interest from some soccer coaches. His premier club team has a few tournaments scheduled this spring for them to come watch. We'll see if anything comes of that. Most of the schools he's shown interest in are smaller division 3 schools that don't even offer athletic scholarships so I guess his grades are what's going to count. I think he'd prefer a smaller school.

That's all good. It's an exiting time for you both. My daughter was able to get 75% off of her tuition for any Fla. St. Univ. as long as she maintains a certain GPA. We have to pay the full tuition up front and then it's reimbursed. We use that to help pay for the housing, meals and so forth.

[mikkibarry]

Originally Posted by Art 1

That's all good. It's an exiting time for you both. My daughter was able to get 75% off of her tuition for any Fla. St. Univ. as long as she maintains a certain GPA. We have to pay the full tuition up front and then it's reimbursed. We use that to help pay for the housing, meals and so forth.

Wow! You must be very proud of your daughter, Art.

[Art 1]

Originally Posted by mikkibarry

I've told her I'll support her decision, and she's welcome to come back home anytime. However, I'm pretty uneasy. On the other hand, I left home at 17 to go to college overseas. Difference was that I didn't have to worry about where I'd sleep or whether I'd get fed.

Kids... you never know quite what they're going to come up with next.

My girl is also 21. So far no big surprises like that. She did text me that she and a few girls were flying to NYC in March and to expect to see it on the CC statement.

Seriously though. I would be very upset and nervous if mine announced what yours did. But you know what? Don't be surprised if it all works out.

[Art 1]

Originally Posted by mikkibarry

Wow! You must be very proud of your daughter, Art.

I was. She studied very hard all her years in school. It's her nature to be like that. She worries a lot about her grades.

[mikkibarry]

Originally Posted by Art 1

My girl is also 21. So far no big surprises like that. She did text me that she and a few girls were flying to NYC in March and to expect to see it on the CC statement.

Seriously though. I would be very upset and nervous if mine announced what yours did. But you know what? Don't be surprised if it all works out.

Yeah, I am pretty nervous about it. If I was supporting her, I feel I would be in a position to have more of an impact, but since she's been pretty independent, I don't feel I have much of a leg to stand on, as it were. I do hope it works out well for her. Perhaps this boy is the love of her life and all will be super peachy. Time will tell, indeed.

[Art 1]

Originally Posted by mikkibarry

Yeah, I am pretty nervous about it. If I was supporting her, I feel I would be in a position to have more of an impact, but since she's been pretty independent, I don't feel I have much of a leg to stand on, as it were. I do hope it works out well for her. Perhaps this boy is the love of her life and all will be super peachy. Time will tell, indeed.

Yes, only time will tell. But it will be a good experience and could very well work out just fine. If it works out maybe they'll move back to the USA.

[East Bay Rider]

I'm more old fashioned. I would expect the boy to make an effort to come here, meet you, find a job and allow your daughter to remain close to her family.
In other words, the boy should take all the risk. Seems the more gentlemanly thing to do.

[mikkibarry]

Originally Posted by East Bay Rider

I'm more old fashioned. I would expect the boy to make an effort to come here, meet you, find a job and allow your daughter to remain close to her family.
In other words, the boy should take all the risk. Seems the more gentlemanly thing to do.

That's one way to look at it. However, my daughter says that she's always wanted to live in Europe for awhile. He lives with his parents, who have offered her a room there. He, of course, could have a room here with no problem, but she really sincerely wants to go over there. She's bought the ticket, she's selling her horse (big deal) and thinking of selling her car. The rock has already started down the hill despite logical attempts to keep it up at the top. Not much to do now besides wait it out.

[Lisa]

Originally Posted by mikkibarry

I've told her I'll support her decision, and she's welcome to come back home anytime. However, I'm pretty uneasy. On the other hand, I left home at 17 to go to college overseas. Difference was that I didn't have to worry about where I'd sleep or whether I'd get fed.

Kids... you never know quite what they're going to come up with next.

Mikki, just reading about your daughters adventure has made several gray hairs suddenly sprout out of my head. I felt them.

Age 13 is trying enough. You mean it gets even more challenging?!

[Lisa]

Originally Posted by mikkibarry

Yeah, I am pretty nervous about it. If I was supporting her, I feel I would be in a position to have more of an impact, but since she's been pretty independent, I don't feel I have much of a leg to stand on, as it were. I do hope it works out well for her. Perhaps this boy is the love of her life and all will be super peachy. Time will tell, indeed.

Maybe all well end well and they will have each met the love of their life. Has the makings of a pretty great love story.