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riviera
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| Joined: | Tue Jan 30th, 2007 |
| Location: | California USA |
| Posts: | 108 |
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Posted: Wed Aug 20th, 2008 08:03 pm |
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| We leave in a week. My son will be packing light: bedding, clothes, and his bike. He is not sure he needs a fridge or microwave. He'll decide when he meets his roommate who is from Taiwan. Apparently, seniors are selling their used items at the beginning for the year. Also the local Target is not far from the campus.
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outwest
Member
| Joined: | Sun Mar 4th, 2007 |
| Location: | CA |
| Posts: | 681 |
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Posted: Thu Aug 21st, 2008 01:15 am |
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Ellenrch, great tips. I am bringing kleenex, too.
Riviera, My D said she probably doesn't want a minifrig because they make so much noise and there is a floor refrigerator to use. BMC has an honor code and she is taking that to literally mean people won't mess with her yougurt. We shall see. Also, her roommate doesn't want a frig because, "they waste energy". Since my D is the one who got our whole family to recycle and save energy, I believe she may get along with this girl.
On the mailing front, we mailed two boxes this afternoon. We will not be doing that again. It was over $50 the slow way across the country and the boxes weren't very heavy. Thank goodness Southwest doesn't have the baggage limits the other airlines have imposed. We each get two bags plus a carry on, so that should be more than enough. I am thinking duffle bags so she can keep one for trips home and we can shove the others into the regular suitcases. I was worried about fitting the fluffy comforter and bedding into the suitcase. I suppose it would have been smarter to not buy that until we got over there, but she didn't care for the BB and Beyond choices.
We have one shopping day over there and coordinated bedding takes time to choose. 
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Momof3
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Posted: Thu Aug 21st, 2008 11:10 am |
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Ellnrch, I remember a similar experience with my son freshman year. We definitely packed too many clothes....I ended up bringing quite a bit back and then my living room looked like a rummage sale.  We also packed way too many towels!
I also thought my medicine box was very appreciated and it also gave a reason to talk to other students...he luckily wasn't sick at school (besides a cold) but others loved the readily available pepto-bismol, advil, benedryl,Immodium, etc. The school store charged about double, so it was a good idea to bring it. (also you tend to get sick at night when it's closed) I also threw in vitamins which he didn't take very often, but it made me feel better knowing the sometimes erratic eating patterns of students.
I also second the under bed boxes and stacking bins...they have some that collapse it you decide you don't need them. My son ended up using one for holding cereal, crackers, etc.
He also said the biggest borrowed item the first week was duct tape! He asked me to bring it when we visited a month later because it was almost gone.
Last edited on Thu Aug 21st, 2008 11:13 am by Momof3
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ellenrch
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| Joined: | Fri Aug 24th, 2007 |
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| Posts: | 92 |
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Posted: Thu Aug 21st, 2008 04:40 pm |
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I second the duct tape (for my S, it's gaffer tape, the photographer's equivalent). His school also requires 3-M Command Adhesive hooks on non-drywall areas. He's using them in his closet. I had never heard of these, but I love them and am going to get some for home.
His first e-mailed list of things to send (received this morning) includes a few things he did not use at home but finds he would like to have in college (such as his laptop remote). Don't forget how easy it is to ship stuff to them. And when they forget things, they are forced to communicate with you.
Today (day 2 of the empty nest) I'm feeling a whole lot better!
Last edited on Thu Aug 21st, 2008 04:43 pm by ellenrch
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jocelynDAD
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Posted: Thu Aug 21st, 2008 05:26 pm |
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Outwest:
Forget the Umbrella, when the rain in our area is heavy - it tends to be windy (so you get wet anyway and the umbrella is a pain), when it is light, a hoodie is fine. The buildings at BM are close and if she takes the bus to Haverford, she will be waiting under an arch - so an umbrella would be more an added item to carry and if wet, another pain.
Shopping: King of Prussia Mall has everything and is 10 minutes (driving) away. An Ikea is two or three exits east on the Pa Pike.
We just returned from bringing our D3 (Jocelyn) to Illinois Wesleyan. She called this morning with her probable classes (meeting her advisor this PM). She is in love (with her school - happily) and likes her roommate, who has different interests but is nice and friendly.
We got to her school a day earlier (because of our long distance from NJ), so move in was quick and easy. Her room was set up, bed lofted for bureau under, but only lofted 5 ft high so easy in. Next day, we enjoy watching the mad scramble as students moved into seven floors of two adjacent dorms, while D3 room was already up and in order.
Next week, I will be driving D2 to St Olaf arriving on the first day of the Republican COnvention. The Twin Cities Airport will be a mess - but driving up from the southeast should be easy.
My beautiful bride is going to be without her two youngest and for the first time in 46 years, none of my children will be at home, so empty nestville is soon to be our normal situation. 
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outwest
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| Joined: | Sun Mar 4th, 2007 |
| Location: | CA |
| Posts: | 681 |
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Posted: Thu Aug 21st, 2008 05:38 pm |
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Thanks for the tips, JocelynDad. Wow, 45 years of kids is over? Have a fantastic Fall! I am looking forward to that move in mess. I remember Freshman year well with #1 and 2 and this is the last for us, too.
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CarolynLawrence
Administrator
| Joined: | Sun Mar 5th, 2006 |
| Location: | USA |
| Posts: | 3754 |
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Posted: Thu Aug 21st, 2008 08:41 pm |
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Well, we're off in the morning. The car is semi-packed -- we'll be up late tonight! I'm kind of taking a "what me worry?" approach at the moment, although that will probably change as we head north.
Good luck to everyone dropping off kids. It will be fun to see how everything turns out for this year's group of kids!
Last edited on Thu Aug 21st, 2008 08:41 pm by CarolynLawrence
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Canadian
Member
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Posted: Thu Aug 21st, 2008 11:51 pm |
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| Good luck, have fun, and don't forget to breathe!
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outwest
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| Joined: | Sun Mar 4th, 2007 |
| Location: | CA |
| Posts: | 681 |
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Posted: Fri Aug 22nd, 2008 12:07 am |
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OMG...Carolyn...are you driving? That is really far! How many days are you taking? I hope you and DH get to take your time getting home. Have a wonderful trip!
Last edited on Fri Aug 22nd, 2008 01:35 am by outwest
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Lynda
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| Joined: | Mon Mar 6th, 2006 |
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| Posts: | 219 |
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Posted: Fri Aug 22nd, 2008 01:26 am |
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Good Luck to everyone and a safe trip for Carolyn,
I can still feel the first night of empty house and the "kid is home" dance the dog and I did for the son's first visit home from college.
It took forever to find, but son just started a job that will continue during his first year of grad school. He also found a place to live within walking distance to campus. It really is great to be alone in the house with husband . Everyone is looking forward to son moving into his apartment with his roommates. I think we will still have lots of his stuff stored here, but at least we can move it so it isn't the first thing we see when we open the front door.
I survived son's college years, although there were several times when I wondered how. I think if I can, most anyone can. Do enjoy the ride.
I give duct tape in all my gifts to HS grads. Son also found lots of uses for flashlights-the battery and hand crank types. Can't think of anything else to add to the first aid kit.
Lynda
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scoop
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| Joined: | Wed Oct 4th, 2006 |
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| Posts: | 652 |
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Posted: Fri Aug 22nd, 2008 05:25 pm |
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| Good luck to you and your kids. My daughter is just starting the college application process and last Saturday we got a puppy! My first dog and I find it is helping me reduce my worry about deadlines since I am dead tired! I recall this conversation last year and remember that someone really needed one of those tiny eyeglass screwdrivers and screws to fix their eyeglasses. I know a friend had a lens come out and needed to travel to the nearest optical shop to have it fixed.
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WestrnMom
Super Moderator
| Joined: | Fri May 26th, 2006 |
| Location: | West Coast, USA |
| Posts: | 1285 |
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Posted: Sat Aug 23rd, 2008 12:50 am |
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Good luck on your college move-in trips. I am moving our sophomore back to school at the end of next week. I found with both children that they took more than they needed.
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riviera
Member
| Joined: | Tue Jan 30th, 2007 |
| Location: | California USA |
| Posts: | 108 |
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Posted: Sat Aug 23rd, 2008 03:28 am |
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Last minute shopping at Office Depot: bought an electric pencil sharpener. I guess my son likes to write with a pointy pencil!
Good luck to everyone traveling!
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HijinksAndSue
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Posted: Sat Aug 23rd, 2008 07:03 pm |
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What with all of my lists, lists of lists, etc., did get a great reminder today from another mom who returned from moving her freshman daughter in ...
LIGHTBULBS for the desk lamp (and any other lamp you might be bringing). I know I would not have thought of that ... even though we have the new desk lamp. Luckily, have a whole box of the "green" lightbulbs in the right wattage so just tucked three into the box which should last for the year ...
Heading out later today for (deep breath): lock for computer, a box or two of her favorite pens, bathroom stuff (plunger, scrubber, shower curtain liner and rings, over-the-door-robe hook, etc), memoboard for the door, boots, rain jacket, dishwashing liquid and scarf/hat/gloves if Target has them in stock this early.
Starting to sort/pack clothes tonight. *sigh*
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Momof3
Member
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Posted: Sun Aug 24th, 2008 01:07 am |
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I remember feeling a little smug when my son's roommates mom said to her husband, "I didn't bring any lightbulbs!" and I had a 4 pack ready...then the duct tape to fix a chair and tape some wires out of the way and batteries for his roommates clock....of course we left some notebooks on the dining room table....but all and all, it went pretty well.
Last edited on Sun Aug 24th, 2008 01:08 am by Momof3
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Canadian
Member
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Posted: Sun Aug 24th, 2008 02:39 am |
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| We had the toolkit, they brought the duct tape........a happy partnership.
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WestrnMom
Super Moderator
| Joined: | Fri May 26th, 2006 |
| Location: | West Coast, USA |
| Posts: | 1285 |
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Posted: Mon Aug 25th, 2008 02:58 am |
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We had everything. Light bulbs, tool kit, emergency kit. S told me that this year he wants to take half as much as he did last year because most of it didn't get used. I was deflated after thinking I did such a good job of planning last year.
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outwest
Member
| Joined: | Sun Mar 4th, 2007 |
| Location: | CA |
| Posts: | 681 |
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Posted: Wed Aug 27th, 2008 01:19 am |
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The flights were uneventful, long and boring. The weather is super nice. It actually felt really cool to us. There is a nice breeze this evening. The trees are pretty and lush. Nobody seems to water their lawns here (Pennsylvania). That is a good thing. People in SoCal waste a lot of water watering lawns.
The thing none of us can get over is the noise. There must be 5 or 6 different kinds of bugs whirring, squeeking, buzzing and the like. It's a bug symphany! I asked the desk clerk what kind of bug it was that was buzzing so loudly and she said, "What noise?" I hesitated asking anyone else because she looked at me like I was nuts. I looked up the areas bugs and I think they might be cicadas? At least, those ones buzz. They are the loudest darned bugs I have ever heard. They start off buzzing quietly and get louder and louder until I am sure there will be an explosion and bug guts everywhere. Along with these buzzy buggers are a myriad of other buggy noises, it is really quite striking how loud it is. This be a very cool place to study entemology.
The town is just as nice as we remember it. We found the train station a mere block from BMC. We ate in a yummy diner with nice guys nearby. There are lots of students everywhere.
We shopped all day and stressed a bit about the differences in driving then went to BMC to check out her dorm building. Her dorm is centrally located and her room has a little balcony. I don't think you can actually go out on the balcony, though.
The only mistake we made was with which Bed Bath and Beyond to have her stuff at. There is a Bed Bath and Beyond convention around this place. We passed three of them on the way to the one we used. LOL. Our pocketbook is much lighter this afternoon and we are a little jet lagged.
I hope everyone else is getting along well, too!
Last edited on Wed Aug 27th, 2008 01:46 am by outwest
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hummingbird
Member
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Posted: Wed Aug 27th, 2008 01:40 am |
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We are leaving early tomorrow morning, to move our son to the University of Maryland. He is almost completely packed. Right now he's straightening up his room .
Looks like our family of four will be taking 5 or 6 suitcases full of son's stuff, plus carry-ons of our own. We packed a mattress cover, towels, sheets, and a pillow. He has his laptop, duct tape, scissors, cordless screwdriver, 3M hanging things, over-the-door hooks, a whiteboard for the door, and miscellaneous other stuff. Said an emphatic NO to a corded/landline telephone. When we get there we will buy a comforter, cushiony mattress pad, shower caddy, laundry detergent, printer, and school supplies. I fully expect to make one or two Target and Staples runs once we get him moved in and figure out what else he still needs.
The roommate is bringing the fridge. We are supplying the carpet (pre-ordered so hopefully it will be in the room when we arrive). Roommate is also bringing a fan; no A/C in this dorm.
I will miss him. It's going to be so strange here with him gone. Yes, I packed some Kleenex!
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outwest
Member
| Joined: | Sun Mar 4th, 2007 |
| Location: | CA |
| Posts: | 681 |
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Posted: Fri Aug 29th, 2008 05:58 am |
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We're back, I'm tired, but excited for my D. This is her dorm building 3,000 miles from home. Bryn Mawr has them programmed all week until classes start:
Roommate seems nice, room is great. She has a mini-single as a Freshman with a common room inbetween. In her room are little plaques with the names of girls who have stayed there ince the late 1800's. That is so neat! The dorms are tired inside as they are over a hundred and twenty years old, but because of that she has this in the middle common room:
Isn't it cute?
I hope everyone else had a positive experience, too.
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