College: On A Scale of 1 To 10 - 2009

10 = :) ............... 1 = :(

and somewhere in between = :/

Anxious to leave and get on the road
by 7 AM:
Note: It is 9 AM

Son ~ 3 :/ ............... Mom ~ 9 :)
Really. What's the hurray?

Dorm Room:
Note: Signed up for the Math & Science dorm in a double.
Assigned to a different dorm in a triple.


Son ~ 6 :/ "I'll make it work."
Mom ~ 3 >:(

Finding out the third room mate decided to move to an apartment leaving a good possibility of leaving it a double:

Son ~ 9 :) ............... Mom ~ 9 :)

... but with all that furniture:

Son ~ 6 :/ ............... Mom ~ 2 :(

Room mate:
Note: Seems like a nice, considerate boy. Even though he arrived much earlier than us he waited until son2 arrived to talk about the lower bed. Son2 graciously offered to take one of the higher bunks.


Son ~ 9 :) ............... Mom ~ 9 :)

Sunday report from son:
Note: He is signing up to be his 'wing representative' because "I'd like to get to know people and I enjoy talking to new people."

Son ~ 10 :) ............. Mom ~ 10 :)

Dorm room report after first night's sleep:
Note: The room is in a noisy location and the fan does not work.

Son ~ 7 :)
"I'll get used to it and to the high bed too but I am so close to the ceiling I can't sit up on my bed and read."
Mom ~ 2 :(
I find the RA within minutes after arriving and have him put in a work order to fix the fan.

The RA lives in the room next door.
Son ~ 7 :/ .............. Mom ~ 10 :)

Monday AM phone call before we meet for breakfast then leave for home:
Note: Son says he is exhausted from the night before of playing cards with his wing mates, playing Frisbee on campus, watching Star Trek and going to a pep rally.
Son ~ 9 :) ............... Mom ~ 5 :/

Over all report card of maternal emotional state at this point:
Note: Good. Better than expected.
Waking up to this for the past 2 mornings has helped tremendously.
A view from the bed:

At this moment you could not see the hills and seaside town in the distance but both came into view as we laid there and watched the fog burn off. I think the town should be called Brigadoon. It magically appeared and remained in the slightest haze as if to seem in a dream.

Mom ~ 8 :) .............. Dad ~ 10 :)
If Mrs. P.M. is happy then Mr. P.M. is happy.

View from the outside the room:

The waves crashing on the shore with cool morning fog rolling in.
We shared our morning with quail, a squirrel, two blue birds and two Adirondack chairs.

Picking up son2 and taking him out to breakfast:


Note: Mom is looking for all subtle signs of physical and emotional well-being and stress. Reminds him to take his vitamins and to get plenty of rest.
He assured me he would.
I choose to believe this.

Son ~ 8 :) Such a good boy. Mom ~ 8 :)

The Good-bye:
Note: "Make it short and sweet" - request of son2


Son ~ 9 :) ............... Mom ~ 9 :)
Strong hugs all around but no tears and not even a quivering lip in sight.

When your child is happy all is good!


Son ~ 10+ :D
Note: I turned around for a second and missed the best picture of all~
son2 kicked up his heals and clicked them together.
At least Mr. P.M. saw it.
I gave the moment an added '+'.

"He's A College Boy" ~ Billy Murray