Good-Bye to a fine young man

Today was the funeral for Engineering Guy's friend.  DNA results finally came back last week.  What they think happened was that he got stuck in the snow after leaving the party, when he couldn't dig himself out he went back in the vehicle and kept it running to stay warm.   I suppose he felt he couldn't call for help because he wasn't supposed to be there in the first place.  Unfortunately the tailpipe was buried in snow and he died of carbon monoxide poisoning.

The minister used the sermon to charge the young people there with looking out for one another so this type of tragedy doesn't have to happen again.  I think the message will stick - at least for awhile.  Two hockey teammates (one of whom was a teammate to Engineering Guy) gave very eloquent eulogies as they shared stories of growing up together.  I was proud of those two young men as they did something that nobody that age should have to do.  Engineering Guy is too far away to attend but I know this has affected him quite deeply.

Jen - we are going to the Galapagos for our trip.  It's a place I have always wanted to visit.  I figured I better go now before I become too old and doddery!

Engineering Guy will not be homeless next year.  This is a relief to all of us (especially him).  I thought it was early days but he was getting stressed.  This week he and five of his closest friends have signed a lease on a house two minutes from campus.  They were getting quite worried because most of the houses they viewed were real dives (and I'm not sure how bad it has to be to be a dive to 18 year old boys).  Engineering Guy is particularly excited because they have other friends moving into the street.  This apparently means they will be able to go to parties without hosting them.  I guess that is a good thing?

Computer Dude is loving his computer job.  Particularly he is loving getting a paycheck.  Unfortunately he has to deal with the more mundane adult things such as his lost cell phone - buying a new one and getting his account transferred before someone calls China on it.

To celebrate our 20th anniversary (which was 2 years ago) and successfully getting two kids through high school and out of the house Engineering Dad and I have booked a trip.   We are going in May..........Someplace I've always wanted to go.

New Purchase

I sent Engineering Dad to the store today to purchase a crockpot made for two.  Our family size crockpot is far too large to make meals for two.  I now have squash soup simmering away in my two quart crockpot.

We drove down to take Computer Dude out for lunch and took him a bunch of baking.  He enjoyed the first week of his co-op job despite the commute of an hour each way.  Last term was pretty intense for him so I think he is glad to have a four month break.  We'll see how much he enjoys going to school all summer for the first time in his life.

Sadness

Engineering Guy is having a hard time with the death of his friend.  DNA test results are not back yet but it seems the only plausible scenario.  He hasn't had to endure tragedy in his young life and although he and Wes only saw each other once or twice a year in recent years it still struck close to home.  Also Wes' dad was the Guy's hockey coach the year they played together and he was VERY good to my Guy.

Near as they can figure, he left a New Years Eve party, decided to "borrow" the van that belonged at the house and drove off.  At some point he pulled off to the side of the road and probably lit a cigarrette and fell asleep.  All very out of character for this young man I'm told.

In better news he got his first semester marks back and did very well.  He was in the top 3% of his physics class.  Sadly, I will have to admit that his physics brain did NOT come from his mother.  Ironically he is worried about physics this semester.  From what my non-engineering brain can understand it's because last semester they worked with things they could see.  This semester it's electricity and other invisible stuff. On general principle Engineering Guy is not in favour of anything that can't be seen.

Double post

Well I can't figure out how to get rid of it.  In my defense Blogger told me that neither post posted.

Heartbreak

http://lfpress.ca/newsstand/News/Local/2009/01/06/7928586-sun.html

Engineering Guy played hockey with Wes one winter.  Engineering Guy had to play in a different town.  Wes' dad was one of the coaches on the team and his mom was Engineering Guy's most vocal fan section before or since.  In later years when they competed against each other Wes would always stay after the game to razz or congratulate Engineering Guy (the guy is a goalie).

I hope and pray there is a way to put two and two together to come up with a more positive outcome.

Heartbreak

It was difficult for me to say good-bye to Engineering Guy, especially since he wasn't feeling well but he will be coming home.

A young man he played hockey with went missing from a New Years Eve party.  A male body was found in a burned out van that had also been at the party.  This is a small town - there aren't that many missing people or bodies found.  You can put two and two together as many ways as you want and it's hard to come up with a good outcome.  

One year Engineering Guy was cut from our local competitive hockey team.  Another town was desperate for a goalie - Engineering Guy was desperate to play.  Wes' dad was one of the coaches on the team.  His mom was Engineering Guy's loudest fan section before or since that year.  Every year after when they competed against each other Wes would be the one who waited after the game to either razz or congratulate Engineering Guy.

My heart breaks thinking of him and his family.  There really are no words.

http://lfpress.ca/newsstand/News/Local/2009/01/06/7928586-sun.html

Empty Nest Once Again

Ahhhh.............. It's the sound of silence.  We put Engineering Guy on the train this morning.   It was hard.  The fact that he was feeling quite sick didn't make it any easier.  He might have a touch of flu or it might just be separation anxiety.  I know he loves his school, his program, and has missed his friends over the holidays but it's not always easy to say goodbye even when you are excited about going.  I hope he feels better by the time he gets back because even at my age being sick without your mommy sucks!  He was sick when we were driving him to school in August so I am tempted to think it's nerves.

University has had a big impact on Engineering Guy (even more so than Computer Dude).  The school he goes to is well known for it's school spirit and engineers have the reputation of working hard and playing hard.  He was never very spirited in high school but he takes great pride in wearing his school jacket that he "earned the right to wear" after his December exams and is hoping to be a frosh leader next August.

Engineering Dad and I are going to see "Marley and Me" this afternoon.  Any tears I feel the need to shed missing my baby will surely flow watching the movie.  It might be too soon after losing our Retriever but I do think I'll enjoy the movie for the most part.