Thanks for all the birthday wishes! I got two amazing presents today: 1. Because I advise seniors, I only had one parent conference, and now I can go home. 2. Our loan has been funded! The wire transfer should should up in the bank account later today.

WIN!

The worst part is, I could really use some actual fatherly advice right now.

I wish my father was here to provide it for you. For whatever it might be worth, it would probably be, "With all due respect--if any is due at all--to your father, get the degree. One class per semester, if that's what you can afford. It'll take a long time that way, but it'll take even longer if you don't take the classes at all."

I miss Dad. His father didn't think school or books were worth much (Dad actually had to hide his book reading as a kid, because Granddad would tell him to knock it off and go do something "useful"), but Dad's service in WWII helped him get a degree via the GI Bill.

ETA: That's great, Pix!

Have we heard from Ginger today? I wonder if she's already lost power.

Thank you all for the birthday wishes! And happy, happy birthday to Pix!

Congrats also to Pix. I'm just getting a snowstorm and a house.

Many hugs and brackets for those that need them. While my parents aren't perfect, and they've screwed me up a bit mentally, they are good people whom I'm lucky to have as my folks. I'm sure they wouldn't mind adopting a few more. You will definitely be stuffed full of food and homemade wine.

Heard quote on NPR this morning, talking about cost of college education. Went something like, "the only thing that costs more than a college education, is not having one."

Sean - he puts you in a no-win situation. Go to school with no plan he can see = bad. Not going = bad. I say go, get your own damn plan, and he'll see it if he wants to. If he doesn't, screw him. You see it and that's what matters, babe. It takes a lot of work and a lot of time, but it's freaking worth it. I promise.

Sean, it seems to me, the folks who know you (i.e. Us), know you can do it. If your father says otherwise, clearly, he doesn't know you that well. I have confidence in your abilities. You can do it!

My dad just...sort of reflexively craps on any idea I ever have. Maybe he's negative, or maybe it's something about us together, but... I say get started. It might not be what you need to do, but from that you could find something else.

Sean, I am so glad that so many others are weighing in on this. Because I have issues around going back to school. You should totally get your degree so you can make me envious. And proud. Incidentally, as regards fields of study - I started out with chemistry, then changed to psychology before dropping out.

I have power, and so far things seem to be considerably less apocalyptic than predicted. The roads are a mess, but nobody's driving except sand trucks and TV reporters.

Completely unrelated to the weather, I managed to pull something in my back that’s really painful. In the ultimate non-sports injury, I was reaching behind my head to adjust a pillow and something went “pop.” I hope I haven’t broken another damn rib.

My mother and sister go through periods of rewriting my father.