I wish I had learned this back then...

With three kids in college, it got me thinking about things I know now that I didn’t know then but wish I had learned then.

1. How to be successful in an interview. Many colleges offer “mock” interviews now, but 30 years ago, they didn’t, at least not in the education department. Perhaps they did in the business department, though.
2. How to begin saving for retirement. It would have been so much better to learn it then than to wait until I was married with kids to figure things out.
3. Lessons about interest charges… credit cards, auto loans, mortgages, and so on. Again, maybe they did this in the business department, but I think it should be required to graduate.
4. How insurance works.
5. What a healthy relationship looks like.
6. How to solve a Rubik’s cube! Hahaha!
7. How to deal with difficult people. You shouldn’t have to wait until you’re on the job to learn some techniques to deal with the inevitable “unable-to-be-pleased” co-worker.
8. And along those same lines, conflict resolution.
9. What jury duty is REALLY like.
10. Self-defense – at least for females. I know that a lot of colleges offer these courses for women now.
11. The real-life consequences of not meeting deadlines. It’s not just a grade anymore.
12. How to set up a household.
13. How to find true happiness in your life!

I'm going to try to link up with Thursday Thirteen, but the website hasn't actually been active for a while.  Maybe I should restart it?

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13 Facebook Observations

With school starting a few weeks ago and three of our kids starting college, I haven't had much time to  blog.  But that's all changing starting... now.  I have been on Facebook quite a bit in the meantime. It's easy to get to it from my phone whereas the blogs are easier on the laptop.  In this time, though, I have made some observations about things I do and don't like on Facebook.

These things really get on my nerves!

1. Pictures of people’s feet and toes with the pool or beach in the background.
2. Posts that brag about how great their fiancé/boyfriend/husband is. Once in a while is okay, but every day? Multiple times a day? One is my friends is sooo guilty of this!  (Here's a sample)

September 1 near (city, state)
 If I wasn't sure before I AM now! I'm sooooooo marrying this guy!!!! Just fixed me the most amazing super cheesy grilled cheese & tomato soup, just the way I like it. And never even asked me -with (fiance's name)

3. People that “check in” to EVERY SINGLE PLACE they go. So-and-so is at “Clinic” getting a shot. Now she is at “Dentist” getting teeth cleaned. Now she is at “store” buying tomatoes. Now she is at “store” picking up digital photos. Now she is at “restaurant” eating Greek salad. Now she is at … all. Day. Long. Every. Single. Place. Until she is finally “home” snuggling with fiancé/boyfriend/husband.
4. Morning selfie! Afternoon selfie! Going out at night selfie! Of course, darling, you are gorgeous!
5.  Advertisements.
6. Pictures of people’s radio stations. I don’t care what you’re listening to! Does anyone?

Posts I’m not Tired of!
7.  Cat and kitten pictures!

8.  Posts about general topics or trivia. I don’t want to know when you last went to the bathroom!
9.  Sports and news updates.
10.  Posts about people’s kids… where does the time go?
11.   Vacation updates/photos.
12.  Recipes
13.  Throwback Thursday posts.  This is a friend who graduated the same year I did.  Memories!

Always end with the positive!  I'm linking up with Thursday Thirteen, although I haven't seen much activity there for over a month.

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Friday Five

I'm linking up with Emmy Mom for Friday 5 - 5 thoughts and 5 pictures.  Come join us!

Thoughts
1.  You might have read my review of The Fault in our Stars.  I wasn't very kind.  It didn't stir a lot of my emotions because I felt like it was predictable.  Well.  I'm going to (sort of) eat my words!  I went to see the movie today, and I bawled my eyes out!  I was crying silently for about the last half hour of the movie, then let it go at the end.  It may be because of all the other stress in my life right now, but whatever the reason, I cried.
2.  I have to give kudos the the young actresses in the movie, particularly those that played Hazel Grace, Augustus Waters, and Isaac.   They were incredible!
3.  In less than a day, I will leave to take my youngest to college six hours away from home.  That may not seem like far to some of you, but to me, it is a world away.  I don't know how I'm going to function without seeing her every day.  She has gone away for a week, two, or even three at a time, but she was always coming home from those trips.  I will see her maybe in September, November, and December.  That's it!  I see a lot of Kleenex in my future!
4.  My son, her twin, is staying at home, thankfully.  He has decided to attend community college, which is a huge step for him.  Just a month or so ago, he wasn't sure he even wanted to go to college.  I couldn't force him.  I could threaten him, sure, but really, it had to be his decision.  I'm so happy.
5.  Our 21 year old has her associates from community college, and she took a year off to work full time, but she has decided to go back full time, so she will be leaving for university nine hours away from home.  She leaves Sunday.  She moved out back in December, so we became accustomed to seeing her infrequently, but again, knowing that she is so far and that we CAN'T see her will be difficult.

Photos

My twins at age 2

My daughter, senior prom.

My son, his pig Rebel, and the buyers at the FFA Auction.

Today would have been Jenny's 18th birthday.  She was my daughter's best friend until her untimely death four years ago.

The young lady in the middle is our 21 year old going off to university as is the 18 year old on the right.  That's me on the left.  Behind us are the 21 year old's bf and my husband on the right.

Friday Five

I'm linking up with Emmy Mom for Friday Five:  5 thoughts/5 pictures

1.   My daughter returned from her mission trip to Catadupa, Jamaica late last Saturday night.  What a life-changing experience for her!  She worked so hard:  cutting rebar, planting trees to beautify the spring, building two outhouses, laying concrete, chopping bamboo with a machete.  She also worked with kids at "Vacation Bible School" type activities.  No AC, no hot water, no WiFi!  I am so proud of her.  She would love to go back in two years when our church is scheduled for their next Jamaica mission.

2.  I've been eating healthier this week... until tonight's dinner.  It was so delicious!  Parpadella pasta. chicken, and mushrooms in a cream sauce and garlic bread.  Oh well.  More time at the gym tomorrow.  I've been to the gym three times this week.  Once you clear 45, preventing weight gain, much less losing weight, is much more difficult.

3.  My daughter leaves for college in 16 days.  She will be 6 1/2 hours away, so definitely not an easy weekend visit.  She is mini-me, and I don't know what I'm going to do without her!  She's excited, and I'm excited for her, but I know I am going to bawl my eyes out.

4.  Thankfully my son, her twin, is staying home.  Actually, I was worried he wouldn't go to college at all.  He doesn't know what he wants to do, and I think he feels like college is too hard, or maybe he is scared in some way.  He is used to his sister getting academic accolades, but he is no dummy!  He lacks confidence, but I am pleased that he is going to take classes at the junior college.  That should show him he can do it, and maybe he'll decide what he's most interested in pursuing.

5.  A friend of mine used to attend church with the parents of the doctor who has contracted Ebola in Africa.  He  has been doing mission work with Samaritan's Purse.  Today, the CDC sent a serum, not a cure, but something that should help, but they only had enough dosage for one person.  Dr. Brantley said to give it to his co-worker, a middle-aged female.  That, IMHO, is the epitome of self-less-ness.  The mortality rate is 60-90%.  Please pray for them.

1.  It's Friday, not Thursday, but here's a Throwback Thursday photo taken my freshman year of high school (1979-1980).  It's a photo from a newspaper article about student council.  Which one am I?

2.  Jamaica - My daughter with the machete, smiling while she works.

3.  The Menger Hotel bar in San Antonio.  The Menger is the most historical and most haunted hotel (they say) west of the Mississippi.

4.  A picture of the kids my daughter worked with in Jamaica.

5.  Sunset over Lake Travis (in Austin) taken last Friday.

Be sure to link up with Friday Five, and have a great weekend!

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Random Thoughts

I'm linking up with Stacy for Tuesday's Random Thoughts.

   

I ordered some ear plugs last night.  Doesn't sound like a big deal, but the snoring in my household is loud.  So, I did some research.  I looked at ten reviews of ear plugs.  They each had a Noise Reduction Rating as well as ratings for comfort, durability, ease of use, and a few other things.  I had no idea that you could buy ear plugs for over $100!  But,  I'm glad I did my research because the ones that I actually purchased were only about $5.  I'll let you know if they work!

 

I'm watching Mitch Albom's For One More Day as I type this.  I have avoided this movie because I have always wished for one more day with my dad, and I didn't know if I could handle the emotions I was sure would follow viewing it.  So far, I think I'm going to be okay.  But what I wouldn't give for one more day with my dad!  Anything!  Everything!  It's been 9 and a half years since he passed suddenly and without warning.  Here one minute; not the next.  I miss him so deeply.  I don't believe I have ever completely dealt with my sorrow.  I think I am still in the denial stage, even after all these years.  Because if I accept it, it's going to hurt too badly.  This picture was taken a year and a half before he passed.  (See?  I can't say the word died.)  He was a handsome man, IMHO!

I'm counting down the days until basketball season, except I don't know what the Rockets are going to do since we lost Parsons and didn't gain another "superstar."  We have Ariza, which is good, and our guys are in training this summer, hopefully getting better, but I sure we we'd have gotten Bosh!  This is totally random and probably means nothing to you, but isn't that what this is all about!

I've got my legs propped up in the recliner, and this sweet angel is sleeping on them, as usual.  I don't know what I'd do without her!

Happy Random Thoughts to You!

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