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.

Happy Holidays

Both boys are still home.  Computer Dude returns tomorrow but Engineering Guy will be with us until Sunday.  It's been wonderful to have them home.  They have both grown into great young men.

Engineering Dad spent Christmas Day at work - something to do with exploding electrical bits which even I know is a bad thing.  We had our Christmas supper on the 26th.   He was bummed but all he really missed was the very LOUD sounds of Guitar Hero and Rock Band.  I suck at both.  This surprises me as I used to be a band geek.

New Years Eve will consist of a steak supper prepared by Engineering Guy followed by watching the Canada vs. U.S. Junior hockey game.

Blowing off the cobwebs

My empty nest is full for the moment so it's funny that now I have the time to blog.  Both boys are done exams.  Computer Dude will be starting his work term in January and Engineering Guy will be heading back to school to finish off his first year.

Computer Dude found this term a real struggle but I am proud of the fact that the "Q" word hasn't entered his vocabulary.  He'll work for four months, regroup, get a tutor for the course he is struggling with and he'll persevere.  He can't imagine studying anything else but computer science so he'll figure things out.  

Engineering  Guy has found his first term of university to be everything he had hoped and more.  He's having a lot of fun, managing his heavy course load, and finding time for hockey and hanging out with friends.  It helps that his best friends are fellow engineers who also have a heavy load.

We have our new puppy home now and we are all in love with him.  Well it did take Mindy a bit of time to warm up to him but she is a lot less lonely now and she plays -which she has never really done.  I can't resist showing off the picture that made our Christmas card this year.

Time Flies

Thanksgiving was wonderful.  It was great to have both of the boys home.  I haven't spent Thanksgiving with my parents in probably ten years so that was nice too.  Engineering Guy's high school commencement was on the Friday night (weird I know).

Yesterday was Engineering Guy's 18th birthday.  He was in class from 8:30 - 5:30 and had a midterm at 7:00 so I didn't get to talk to him.  I hope to catch him tonight.   It's hard to believe that my baby is now 18.

We went to visit our new puppy on the weekend.  His name has morphed into Max.  He's even cuter now than he was.  I can't wait to have him home.

Full Nest - Yay!

Not only are the students returning to the nest to be fattened up over the long weekend but my parents are paying their once in every ten years visit.  Not only that we get to go and see the new puppy on the way to pick them up.  Life is good.

Filling the nest

We miss Zeus.  Nothing will replace him in our hearts but we decided that for our sanity (and for Mindy's) we (well I) needed another doggie to love on.  

Presenting Barney/Rusty/Ringo.  He's a week old and just too precious for words.  He's a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel like Mindy.