Benefits of an Empty Nest

I think we are starting to get into a bit of a routine.  I am noticing some benefits of having just two of us.

1.  The house pretty much stays how I left it.

2.  If we want grilled cheese sandwiches or soup for supper we can have it without feeling guilty that the athletes in the family aren't getting enough protein.

3.  Our lives no longer revolve around hockey.  Therefore I have time to do some things that "I" want to do.

Both boys will be back in two weeks for Thanksgiving.  Engineering guy has his commencement that weekend.  I'm certainly not counting the days though.  My parents are also coming for the long weekend.  Only their 2nd visit in the ten years that we have lived here.

I'm back

Things have settled down a bit around the empty nest.  After dropping both boys off at school Engineering dad and I left on a vacation.  We figured we'd earned one after helping two kids navigate successfully through the school system.  We had a lovely week sailing.  Most nights we had anchorages to ourselves.  It was very relaxing.  

We came back to real life with a bang.  Our 11 year old Golden Retriever had started to fail this past summer.  When we picked him up it was clear he hadn't had a good week.  As it turned out he was just waiting for us.  He spent a few hours at home acting nearly his normal self and then he just lay down and didn't get up again.  We called the vet the next morning because it was clear that he was suffering and there was nothing we could do.  He was scheduled to come to our house at 11:00 a.m. to euthanize Zeus.  At 10:55 a.m. with both Engineering Dad and I by his side he lifted his head, looked at me, put his head in my hand and drew his last breath.  We knew this day would come but it didn't make it any less sad.  Rest in Peace Zeus.

Hell Week

This has been the week from hell and it's only mildly related to the fact that our nest is now empty.  Computer Dude finally left for good yesterday after multiple trips back and forth with stuff.  I have my own vehicle again (yay!).  I am hoping to do something about the fact that my own vehicle is a minivan now that I don't have to haul sports gear around - I'm thinking two seater convertible.

I talked to Engineering Guy the other day and he is having the time of his life.  He has the official Queen's engineer hairdo (which really involves very little hair and what there is is in mulitcoloured spikes).  I hope the frosh leaders remember to tell them to put sunscreen on their heads or he'll really be a redhead by now.

Our 12 year old golden retriever is really starting to fail.  It breaks my heart to kennel him for the week we will be away.  We took him to the vet today and the vet says he is pretty good.  I'm hoping the fact he really hasn't eaten is because he's missing Engineering Guy but I have my doubts.

Work has been particularly hellish. Since it was my last day before holidays of course anything that could go wrong did.  Thankfully I do have awesome co-workers.  I hope I didn't leave too much of a mess but after twelve hours without a break my blood sugar was in the toilet and I had to leave to take our little dog to the place she stays.  Tomorrow at this time I'll be on a boat drinking wine and without cell phone access or internet (which will be tough) so work will have to wait a week.

Moving

The dropoff went well.  I know that Engineering Guy was a bit nervous but as soon as he met his new room mate he felt better.  The two of them appear to be twins separated at birth personality wise.  We spent some time with the boys and met the room mates parents for the "free" parent/student brunch.  We ditched the parents presentation since we had gone through it for the engineering college in May (not to mention last summer for Computer Dude).  We left the room mates dad helping Engineering Guy set up on the university network.  He would have managed himself I'm sure but the other parents weren't quite ready to leave and we had a longer drive.

We drove the five hours home, loaded up the van again this morning and moved Computer Dude into his new house.  I forgot how much I dislike assembly of furniture.  Blech.  Maybe one more trip tomorrow night and he'll be all set.  I want to make sure he has enough groceries and such.  I' beat now though.  I love both of my kids dearly and I'm glad they are following the path they are but moving them both on the same weekend is not recommended.  Computer Dude is still here because his bed doesn't get delivered until Wednesday.