Update: We will be going. Now, what to pack? I bought their prescription swim googles, paddle ball and a frisbee. Hard to know what teens would want for sand castles. They like architecture design, so I’m think they will build things but maybe not with preschool toys?

Congratulations 🧑‍🎓. I hope you have a great dinner and celebrate!

Two teens vaccinated this afternoon. Crossing fingers they can attend school tomorrow. I will feel guilty if an absence affects last week of ps grading period. However, they will be nearly fully vaccinated to take along for dh’s business trip.

Yes please share. Did you use online scheduling? I haven’t been able to find a system ready for under 16. I need to schedule around orchestra concerts in case they get a sore arm.

I am processing the revelation that she’s a girl. I must have missed all the news stories at the time.

@Katy Agh! J & J baby shampoo is how my eye doctors told me to treat blepharitis. I haven’t considered the safety of it. I wonder if it’s better that my eyes are closed while washing them with tiny amount versus a direct pour into open eye?

I had a great Nutcracker theatre scratching house from Target until my son fell on it. Both of my cats loved it. I have the sushi one ordered. I think it will be the same size.

I might have a chance to drive my kids to this part of Florida in June. They will be unvaccinated so I'm not sure how to plan covid cautious trip. Dh will be working in the area with a kitchenette in his room. I have never been to this part of the country at all. Most likely I won't have a car from evening to mid morning. I could try to rent a car, depending on availability and non-inflated costs. What are some recommendations for the area? We have never been on a beach trip. I would love to at least once, but don't know what to pack or do. I would be most excited about seeing new wildlife species and habitats. One child is currently having anxiety about non-masked people. I haven't decided if it is fear that she will get sick, or if she is just mad that people can't follow stated rules. This trip so uncertain, I haven't told her that Florida will have less mandates than our state. If you have been to the area in June, how reasonable is it to think that we could socially distance on a beach? I would love to snorkel. My children are nearsighted so I'm not sure how their experience would go. I don't think they are ready for contact lenses, and not sure that we could get appointments in time. Each time I change contact brands, I only get one trial pair to last until follow up apt. Lately, even getting eye appointments has been difficult. I will buy prescription googles for beach swimming since those are fantastic price. Snorkeling masks cost quite a bit more. I would absolutely hate to buy prescription mask online and then have it leak because it wasn't a good face fit. I also see masks are kid or adult size, and I have a small 13 year old. Has anyone tried gluing old glasses inside a mask? I think the distance from the eyeball would be off. There might be diveshops with prescription rentals, but I don't know if I will have much transportation. We are comfortable walking several miles a day, but I don't know if there will be pedestrian safe access between places. ETA: I think dh will be staying on Okaloosa Island. It looks like a Gulf Coast beach front condo.

@Quill ‘s painting is amazing. I thought about painting an acorn but haven’t made time.

If you find a solution, let me know too. I’ve given up, but dh really hates our current house. We haven’t put any work or replacements into it for years. We really should get out before roof, furnace, fridge etc all go on strike together.

I vacuum the wood floors frequently and use Murphy’s Oil soap occasionally. I squirt a section of floor and either wipe by hand or swiffer pad. It seems to be clean. The floors finish has worn off in some areas after at least 20 years, so I don’t want to change to anything that could hurt the wood.

A friend graduated with a BFA from the dance program at Univ of Cincinnati. Here is the minimum high school course credits. They are listing 3 years of science and 3 years of social studies. https://admissions.uc.edu/information/high-school/preparing/courses.html

She watches the CO2 rise as more people enter the office and is hoping to use data to get better air exchange.

A friend told me she bought a CO2 meter for her shared office. I’m curious to read more about that.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve thought that totally non-sportsball me should open a soccer league, or club or whatever the proper name. My soccer place would allow rec level beyond 12 or 14 years old. I made a decision, or rather circumstances did, that our family would not play select. I was going with the gamble that kids must not want to play in middle school or high school. I was wrong, I now know 2 and there is nowhere to play anymore. I and my kids do not need jerseys, trophies or tournaments. They just want exercise and teammates.

On another trip, we car camped on Madeline Island. It isn’t part of Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, as it is residential. It has a beautiful beach and busy tent and RV campgrounds.

Forgot to add, please verify with visitor center. I believe reservations are 30 days before your first night. Then you just say how many nights. So potentially people could reserve for all the Saturday start dates and then include the Sunday nights, and you won’t have availability for your trip. It seems to work out though because some people might camp Fri and Sat then leave etc.

My family has camped on Stockton Island. We used the NPS boat tour that usually drops off dayhikers. It is not operating in 2021. I do not have information on kayaking but that is what we saw most other campers use. Bears are very prevalent. We only saw tracks on the beach. Each campsite has a large food locker. I felt comfortable carrying food in my backpack while hiking or siting on the beach. We were immaculate at the campsite and stored all food, lotion, soap etc in the locker for overnight. I called the Bayfield visitor center about once a week while trip planning. They were wonderful with assistance.

My child’s public school does not weigh dual enrollment, AP, or honors classes. I don’t agree or understand. Each school or homeschool can set their own grading scale. I think honors classes should be an extra point.

My 15yo and I are in same situation. I’m disappointed he won’t take IMO easy money. Although for him, over a certain amount of income and he would need to pay self employment taxes on it. I think he feels stressed with each game knowing he might have to use first aid and knowing the potential for altercations with parents. I want to hope that volunteer coaches would step in as needed. However, he has seen me pull him from his own soccer game after a head hit, and then fall that broke his eyeglasses. I had to find the glasses lens in the grass and I needed him to sit for concussion checkout. The ref did not stop that game, and thought I was overreacting. I was pretty clear to both coaches and the league board in emails that I was mad. Both coaches said they didn’t see head hit, only the fall to the ground. I barely care about sports scores, but feel strongly about game safety.

Beautiful

I had to supply proof of childhood MMR or pay for titers for an education job. We didn’t have any records but I was able to write a state office. They told me they estimated about 50% of childhood vaccines from that time period were in an official register.

My lights will be up to at least April. The ones on the deck still turn on every night due to some wifi timer that dh created.

The plastic or metal inside the light probably contains lead or other material that requires labeling in California. I have read theories on 3rd shift employees having higher rates of cancer due to disrupted body cycles, lower Vitamin D and/or possibly higher rates of smoking. I do not think that those studies are considering nightlight situations.

Young medical professionals might have opportunities to work certain locations for loan forgiveness and then want to move to more populated areas.