My eldest son is graduating this May 2016. Although he plans on taking a gap year before starting graduate school for his masters, he thought he'd "test the waters" and apply to his first choice grad school program. Great news - he was accepted!!!! However, he would still like to take the gap year to improve his language skills in Greek, Latin, and French. The general FAQ section of graduate website says that the college will grant up to 1 year deferments for grad school programs. Although nothing is stated on the specific Classics MA webpage, we are assuming that they follow the college's general policy. So my questions are......When requesting a deferment..........: 1.) Do you contact the Classics Department or the general graduate school admissions department? 2.) Is it necessary to give detail reasons for the request or just a blanket statement requesting deferment? Any advice? Thanks, Myra

Are you referring to the health center? Thanks, Myra

On his first day of spring break, my college sophomore son's blood work came back positive for mono and strep throat. So far he has spent the week in bed alternating between sleeping, sweating, fevers, and oh such swollen throat/glands. So he goes back to college on Sunday.....so any advice on how to handle mono and college? Thanks, Myra

I think sending money is appropriate. I would be wary of addressing the envelope (and/or check) to Mr and Mrs Groom's last name as seems disrespectful if the bride and groom are not sharing the same last name after marriage. Therefore, I usually address the envelope and/or check to the person that I know - in your example, the groom. If I'm enclosing a card, I write a note inside with both bride and groom's first name as salutation. Myra

Thanks so much for the help! I ordered the textbook from bookrenter. Also gave my son a "text" of a lecture on procrastination and the value of a college education, etc, etc. This son is giving gray hairs galore! Myra

Okay - have you used Bookrenter before? If so, then I'm off to place the order - thanks,

College son needs textbook for class he is taking right now but university doesn't carry it. Of course, he is just realizing this after 3 weeks into the course - but that is a whole different issue that I am addressing loudly with him already! So I find one on Amazon but it says: Buy new 146.49 Usually ships in 1-2 months They couldn't possibly mean 1-2 months, could they? The textbook Argumentation: Inquiry and Advocacy 3rd edition authors: ziegelmuller and Kay Help! Myra

I attended three financial aid seminars when my eldest entered college. Two of them were a total waste of my time as they just talked in vague generalities. But one of the seminars was on target. It explained the process of how aid was determined - both merit and need-based. The speaker was very knowledgeable and provided the nuts-and-bolts of financial aid. They even had time slots to talk personally with the college financial personnel. I came away from that seminar empowered with enough information to apply for endowment scholarships (netting an extra $2K per year for my son!) However, when it came to son #2 I only attended the seminar for the final college. But it was a rehash of vagueness!!!! I thought I should attend just in case but no new info was presented that I didn't already know ..... As for whether your son should attend or not - I don't think it makes any difference. My sons only attended one seminar and were bored silly - looking back, I don't think they grasped the financial end then as they were just beat from the application process! Myra

Also bingo with candy hearts for markers - you know, the kind with sayings on them like "I love you" or "U R cute" - bingo is often overlooked as a party game, but it is so simple to play and allows everyone to be silly or quiet! And I second cookie decorating - you could even buy unfrosted sugar cookies at the grocery store and canned frosting/sprinkles to let the guests decorate the cookies. Myra

My son who has sensory issues could only wear Target brand socks - I can't remember the exact ones but they had a gold strip at toe area to show size - one gold strip was smaller, two stripes medium, and three stripes large. Myra

She is only seven years old so I wouldn't be overly concerned with what dress she was wearing - she'll look sweet and appropriate in any dress you have for her. I think the bride and groom will not even notice what she is wearing! I know that I'd be shocked if parents went out and bought a new dress for a youngster to wear - we just always expect people to wear what they have and come join the celebration. But if you are concerned, just have her wear a sweater/shawl/scarf or tons of costume jewelry necklaces from Wal-mart or the Thrift store nearest you. Myra

When we order a cord of wood, we specify the length we need to fit into our wood stove. Absolutely no problem getting wood to fit and we solely heat house with one wood stove in the main room open plan downstairs. By the evening, the upstairs (bedrooms) are usually around 70 F - toasty and around 60F in the morning (brisk). Myra

It's fine for you to say no.......but I'd take in the dog in a heart beat as I know how stressed our dog gets if kenneled. I'm always looking to trade favors with a friend without any pay. But I won't be upset if a friend said no when asked to pet sit. A few times I have actually just "moved" into friend's house for the time along with my kids - sort of a vacation for us, too! Myra

Let's talk about student loan repayment options that are out there. My eldest son will graduate with his bachelor's degree this May 2016. He is planning on taking a "gap" year by taking two semesters in French and a semester of Greek before applying to graduate programs in the 2017-18 term. He has taken out subsidized and un-subsidized student federal loans & we have also taken out Parent Plus loans for all four years of undergraduate work. So what are the payment options out there? Consolidation,etc? Any advice or info would be appreciated! Myra

My grand parents were farmers but lost the farm to eminent domain - a proposed airport that was never built! I think the difference is that my parents weren't farmers but lived off of the land in the sense that they bought their produce, meat, etc. directly from the farmer. We would head to the farms every Saturday and purchase bushels of corn, potatoes, half a cow, chicken, eggs, milk, etc. directly from the farmer's field - no middle man, grocery store. Myra

My son likes the looks of a Communication Studies BA degree. The internet searches for careers in this area are very vague. Anyone have concrete examples?

Absolutely not - no way! Christmas is a time of celebration at our house. Consequences and rewards for behavior are meted out when the event occurred and then we move on - no grudges or long term reperussions. Christmas is time for being together and celebrating our family. Myra

Okay - we are considering breaking the bank and going to Rome this summer. I know that costs vary depending on accomdations, etc, but could you give me a ballpark figure on how much a trip for four adults (our family of four) leaving from NYC would costs for a ten day trip. And how you found the best prices... Hotel? Airfare? Etc? Thanks. Myra

Okay - we are considering breaking the bank and going to Rome this summer. I know that costs vary depending on accomdations, etc, but could you give me a ballpark figure on how much a trip for four adults (our family of four) leaving from NYC would costs for a ten day trip. And how you found the best prices... Hotel? Airfare? Etc? Thanks. Myra

Also try jockey women's briefs for underpants as they over the "Bump" and come up to the waist. They are 100% cotton and even the larger sized 9-10 come in very attractive and "youthful" colors, prints, and designs. I have also discovered that the "cheaper" corduroy leggings are thinner and stretch easier. I got a pair at Job Lots Discount store on a lark for $10 bucks and they are great. As a matter of fact I'm wearing them right now with a big old flannel shirt on top! Good luck!

But if you are using an ID with an address on it (like driver's license) it must match, I think. A friend of mine's daughter was prevented from taking the SAT at the nearby high school last year because she had a different address on license than on SATregistration. If I were you, I'd really check this out.

I have always believed that if I could trust a people to be guardians for my kids then I can trust them with the money, too. So that is how we have done the wills - Myra

I have a extra large size dog door that has a double (supposedly more energy efficient) large clear plastic flap for entrance. It also has the added feature of being able to slide in a metal "plate door" that prohibits entry - this is good for when we have company and don't want the dog to be able to enter or leave the house freely at those times. It took a week or so or my yellow lab to master the door, but the golden retriever figured it out within minutes. I don't think you have to worry about the smaller dog as both my cats can easily push the flap aside. I really like the dog doors a lot and are glad that we installed them. I know longer feel guilty when I'm gone for a day since the dogs can go out as needed! Myra

11/22=x/9 Step 1: Cross multiply 11 times 9 = 22 times x that gives you 99=22x Step 2: Divide both sides by 22 99divided by 22 = 22x divided by 22 that gives you 99/22 = x Step 3: Reduce 99/22 to lowest terms 99 divided by 11 = 9 22 divided by 11 = 2 that gives you 9/2 = x

Here's a question for those who chose to hyphenate the two last names for marriage - Susan Jones-Smith - what is going to be the protocol when your children's last names when they get married? That always has me wondering! Myra