Dear Beloit

"Dear Beloit College,
I am scared. I am afraid that my son will not attend college if you don't accept him. I know he's not perfect. I know he leans away from conformity and being a "sheep" just herded through life. I know that he believes in ideals that are not realistic and in cultures that are archaic. He wants to experience all that life has to offer, but he needs guidance and education as to how to go about doing this the right way. I feel that your institution is best suited to help him mature and grow into a man that will make changes in the world. Given the right opportunities and the right forum, he will make great changes in the world.

Thank you for listening,
Christopher's Mom"

I would write something like that if I thought begging would help! Please help us by praying that he gets accepted by Beloit. Yes, he was accepted by Hiram. He seems pleased by that, but it's Beloit he still talks about when he talks about college. On the bright side, at least it's not Reed in Portland, OR anymore!

"... after what you've been through."

After two major abdominal surgeries last year, I decided that 2010 is the year to get healthy. I have been conscious of what I eat and my portion sizes. I have been walking around the plant at work after the production floor employees go home in the afternoon. I've been doing the Wii Fit Plus and monitoring my weight and daily caloric burn.

Doesn't that all sound great? Yeah, it was until I noticed that the tiny bulge in my abdomen was getting bigger. It's right above an incision from the surgeries. Todd told me it was a hernia. I thought he was nuts. Turns out he's not so nuts. The abdomen is his playground, and I don't know why I doubted him. Yes, in all honesty, I do know... I did not want it to be a hernia. I went to Dr. Mike today. It's a ventral hernia. Yes, the exercises will make it enlarge. Abdominal exercies especially will make the bulge enlarge. The only "cure" is surgery. "But this is an easy one compared to what you've been through," he said.

Really? Easy? Would someone please understand that I AM TIRED OF SURGEONS... Please?

My doctor made an appointment for me. I see my surgeon on March 8. My surgeon's rounding nurse is a good friend. I called her tonight to make sure that this is a surgery that he should be doing. She said that it is protocol for the initial surgeon to be the referral surgeron when there is an incisional hernia. It actually happens often "...after what you've been through." My abdominal wall is weakened thereby allowing my intestines to penetrate the abdominal wall. She reiterated that "It's an easy fix."

My question to her was, "Am I under warranty?"

Taxes and FAFSA

Today is President's Day. I had the day off work. I spent late morning until mid-afternoon filing taxes and FAFSA (Free Application for Student Aid). Taxes were more of a pain than FAFSA turned out to be. FAFSA will provide the Pher's application to the five colleges he has applied to. Once the schools sort through all of the student applications, they will sort through the FAFSA filings and determine who needs aid and how much they need. I hope they think we need aid and A LOT OF IT. For a kid that does not embrace material possessions, he sure has applied to some high-end tuition colleges.

Sorry Mom

Mom, I'm sorry. Please excuse the language. I know you agree with the basic premise of both. I really did laugh out loud when I saw both of these. The funniest part is that I remember when Cathy had Christopher surrounded by signs for George H.W. Bush and she was taking his picture. She had him so worked up about that election that he went to preschool (which was a polling place) and demanded that his teacher take him up to where ballots were being cast. He then proceeded to poll voters as to who was voting for that "liar, cheater, Bill Clinton." He had his teacher frightened and intrigued. What happened to that little Republican anyway?

Winter Olympics

As I watch the opening ceremonies for the 2010 Winter Olympics, I remember my exchange sisters all over the world. I remember the customers, colleagues, and sales people from every continent that I had daily communication with at my previous employer.

Watching the Olympics makes me think of how I would love to have an exchange student reunion and how much I miss international business. It is a very small world after all.

More on Hiram

Christopher received a letter from Hiram yesterday. He received a $10,000 (renewable for 4 years) scholarship for academic merit. The shopper in me said, "That's like Buy 3 Get 1 FREE!"

Project Lead the Way

When Cameron was old enough to start rationalizing, he started looking at how things are put together, how to take things apart, and what exactly makes things run. Pher was never that inquisitive. He took for granted that his toys worked. Cameron wanted to know and explore the How's and Why's of his toys working.

Last night was Freshman orientation at Carroll High School. Cameron has gone back and forth on what he wants to be "when he grows up." Freshman year is time to get serious. He needs to start taking classes that will be the foundation for his college education. We walked through the different exhibits, and Cameron grabbed information pamphlets, but didn't ask any questions... until we got to Project Lead the Way.

Project Lead the Way is an academic program for high school students to study engineering. He was very interested in the displays that the teachers had on tables. All of the exhibits were designed, built, and tested by the students. The curriculum teaches how to be successful with all of these tasks.

Cameron started talking to one of the teachers. The man told Cameron about the program. I stood off to the side. This is Cameron's gig not mine. He needs to make choices regarding his class selections. We are around to guide him. So, the teacher was telling Cameron about the program. Cameron was nodding and listening attentively. Then he stated with much assertiveness, "I have an interest in Chemical Engineering." The teacher nodded and smiled. He then replied, "Understand this, there are Engineers, and they are really smart. Then there are Chemical Engineers, and they are WAY OUT THERE smart." Cameron smiled his beautiful smile, nodded his head in acknowledgement, shrugged his shoulders and then stated, "No problem."

That's my boy. Oh, and on the way home he told me he wants to go to Purdue because "ALL OF HIS FRIENDS" are planning to go to Purdue. I'm not going to push Rose-Hulman... yet.

One year ago today...

... I was in the ER at Parkview Hospital expecting the doctor to tell me I had appendicitis or gas (hoping for gas). I did not expect the perforated diverticulitis diagnosis. I did not expect to be told that I was lucky I did not die. I did not expect to be hospitalized for 13 days. I did not expect the bowel resection surgery or the colostomy.

I was supposed to go to Indianapolis on that Sunday morning to visit my sister... who was in the hospital. She was on bedrest in an effort to stop labor. So, our parents had a daughter in the hospital in Indianapolis and a daughter in the hospital in Fort Wayne. Cathy was fighting for the lives of her babies, and I was fighting for my own life.

It just goes to show that no matter how together you think you have it, life can be derailed in a split second.

Superbowl XLIV

February 7, 2010
New Orleans Saints 31 --- Indianapolis Colts 17
Rats.

Hiram's touch of class

Christopher has applied to the following colleges: Beloit, Knox, Wooster, Hiram, and Earlham. He was accepted at Hiram (we haven't heard from any of the other schools). A representative from the Admissions Office called to congratulate him and give him the good news. The phone call was followed by a traditional acceptance letter in the mail. I liked that little touch of class. It personalized a process that is driven by impersonal numbers... GPA, Class rank, & SAT scores.

This is really happening. My first-born is really growing up.

Advice from Matt

Facebook post a few weeks ago highlighted the following:
Matt to Madeline: "Daddy does know a few things."
Madeline to Matt: "Well, that's all you know."

During a phone conversation tonight, I told Matt that Pher is driving me CRAZY. It will actually be a relief when he is out of the house and learns on his own how easy he had it at home while in high school. Matt and I discussed Pher's plans which are currently "to go somewhere."

Matt told me to let him know that even if he doesn't want to go in to worship, he will always have someone to turn to and a phone to use to call for help by going into any church.

Yup, Matt does know a few things.