My oldest nephew is also a senior! He's been a rather lackluster student (he can get As if he just put some effort in, but he's willing to settle for Bs instead), but he found out that his school has an incentive for their seniors--if they get all As during the semester, they don't have to take finals in that class. His goal is to not take a single final all year long.

He wants to study computer programming, preferably at a school here in Chicago (either Roosevelt or DePaul, since they both have downtown campuses, which he loves). Since he's from NJ, Chicago was a surprise choice for me, but he apparently has fallen in love with the city in his family visits out here. Of course, the distance from the 'rents is part of the appeal. When he was out here last month school shopping, I told him I'd be available if he ever wanted to get away from campus for a free dinner, and his grandpa's house in the 'burbs would be available for free laundry.

Of course, the distance from the 'rents is part of the appeal.

Absolutely. Aunts and uncles and grandparents = free dinners and laundry; and away from the parents = away from the parents.

he found out that his school has an incentive for their seniors--if they get all As during the semester, they don't have to take finals in that class.

Yeah, we had something like that too, called exemptions. I forget what the requirements were.

Of course, the distance from the 'rents is part of the appeal. When he was out here last month school shopping, I told him I'd be available if he ever wanted to get away from campus for a free dinner, and his grandpa's house in the 'burbs would be available for free laundry.

Ah, this boy understands college.

I've sent an email off to my elder sister and spoken to my twin sister on the phone. Twin is tired of getting run over my my elder sister but elder sister doesn't handle these kinds of disagreements well.

I hope my email was polite and politic enough to sooth her into pulling her weight and not stressing my twin sister out anymore than she already is.

Thing is, I've tried really hard to spread the burden. My in-laws are chipping in, my parents are going to help. Twin is taking the lion's share of the time and I appreciate that. We'll see if I can get the issue resolved tonight without tears.

Connie, much car-ma to you. Maybe you can find someone that can do the fix for you without too much expense.

She is making quite the list. I think I'm gonna need a student loan just to cover the application fees.

Heh. If she wants someone to talk to about East Coast colleges, feel free to give her my number/email.

Cashmere, I hope Elder Sister steps up and without the use of a bludgeon or any other weapon.

If she wants someone to talk to about East Coast colleges, feel free to give her my number/email.

She seems as though she wants to stay in California. She got a softball recruitment letter from a school in Chicago and doesn't want to respond. I'm trying to encourage her to at least respond and see if they have any programs that would fit with physical therapy. I mean, if they are willing to help pay the bills and have the classes she wants - it is worth responding.

She is making quite the list. I think I'm gonna need a student loan just to cover the application fees.

And I've just now remembered how it was that I blew through all my not-inconsiderable savings somewhere at the tail end of my twenties. Getting a car didn't help, but what really broke me was two years of attempting to get into grad school.

And I'm vibing you both much sanity and calm. Grad or under-, the application process can be fairly crazy-making (though you two have such an amazing relationship that you'll probably get through it all just fine).

Non-asshattery~ma to Cash's eldest sister, and car~ma to connie.

I'm going home now. Sick and congested and coughing up uckful things. I've canceled my job interview for this afternoon and I'm just going to crawl home and drink a billion bowls of veggie broth with curry and hot peppers and any other phlegm-cutting ingredients I can think of, and maybe tomorrow the gunkus will be gone.

Does she want to play softball particularly or would she play if given the opportunity?

I'm going home now. Sick and congested and coughing up uckful things.

Oh yuck, JZ. That sounds like the ick I was down with for a week+ (still have a lingering cough and clogged ears). Here's hoping it's not. Health-ma!