The LF is a junior in high school and I spent all of last year asking him what he wants from a university and even took him on one campus visit. He was totally disinterested in anything but Harvard until I took him to the other university campus, and then, he was all about that campus. Methinks his vision gets a bit narrow in that area! Now, he's been working with the guidance office (as all juniors are doing this) and he's actually thinking about what would be a good fit for him, in the right way. Whew! He's thinking UCSF for graduate work. Undergraduate, he still has no clue. He does pretty well on testing, e.g. tests like the PSAT, but his GPA could use some work and I've been saying, get it up if you want into a good school! to no avail. Until yesterday. They had a meeting about GPA and he came home saying, I need to get my GPA up. Well duh dude, but I had to laugh at him. My baby! I hope he's finally motivated to bring it home now. He's not wavered from wanting to be a geneticist since the age of 2. Still. I cannot get him to think of anything else. There was the phase of "I want to be a geneticist/rock star/spy", but that only lasted a couple of years. Yes, all three at once! Kids have the right outlook. Now, I am "on him" to focus on what kind of genetics. I've suggested all along that there are a million different ways to look at genetics, and he's still not getting it. I know that'll be like the above-never hearing it from me, but it will suddenly gain in importance :)

He's still not all that into dating, but he tells me it's because the girls aren't all that interested in him. Um, I see him at marching band surrounded by all the other flutes, and yes, the girls are interested in him. He must be oblivious! Or not interested in those who are interested in him. They have yet another marching band director and he's really different. He may finally get them where they want to go, and I hope it's all the way to state! We'll see. I was hanging out with other band parents when the one who heads up our contest that we host came over and asked me to chair the warm ups. I had to say no! I am up for all new work duties and if it takes off like I think it's going to, I'll be lucky to make it in time to pick up my boy from practices this season. That'd be a long walk home though, just 24 miles, so I guess I better make it to pick him up (he's getting his learner's permit the Tuesday after Labor Day. Next year, I refuse to take him or pick him up. He won't even be able to ride with anyone else/carpool since all the kids from his school are seniors this year and there won't be a ride.). He's been able to ride the train or bus everywhere he wants to go, so has been dragging his feet to get his license. It's time.

I have had the worst cold of my life! I had a sinus infection last year that ran from May 2015-February 2016. So needless to say, I had surgery. I have been able to breathe, smell, and sleep! Not so the last couple of weeks. I'm ready to be done with this cold/bronchitis. Ah, cold and flu season starting early. I'm off to see the specialist for my LAST allergic reaction test today. They've been testing me to figure out how allergic I am to medications. Back now-All are non-allergic, only listed as adverse reactions. I'm done with it! Hurray!!!! Hurrah! They tell me I am likely a poor metabolizer and that medications probably build up in my system which causes the reactions, but aren't considered allergies? All I know is, they cause rashes and difficulty breathing. But? And this part I really don't get, he put into my medical record (I can see it, as it's all electronic here) to feel free to prescribe the medications which cause reactions, but dose an antihistamine with it. Isn't that what you take when you're allergic? I think they need another way to describe "adverse reactions/allergies". There must be another level in there somewhere. The good news is, I am on a mailing list that has me slated to be in the million man cohort for Precision Medicine, and I'm already a member of focus groups for the program. If anyone needs precision medicine, it's a CYP2D6 enzyme screwed up person who can't metabolize medications and ends up with reactions. I hope I get it all solved. Well, within my lifetime.

I'm still loving my new house. Other than the floors. Dark floors and cats do not mix! Fur to the left of me, fur to the right of me, fur all around me! I bet it was there before, but who could see it? I have part of the outside back painted and that's it. I've insulated two thirds of it, but it needs storm windows on the living room, dining room, kitchen, office, and laundry room. Upstairs is new windows. The entryway, my bedroom, and the guest bath all have new windows. All the pipes are insulated. I'm almost ready for winter. My garden has gone gangbusters or not at all. I have one tomato that is inches tall. Still. And another that is at least eight feet tall, with pound+ tomatoes. I've harvested and harvested herbs, zinnias, and cosmos. But the roses? Nope. One's died. There is some weedy grass that is threatening to take over my entire front/back yards.

The cars are irritating. There is a part waiting for me on my front porch for the Acura that may fix the power steering or may not (If it doesn't, it's the pump which is five or six screws and costs $120. So it wouldn't be too bad). The Miata has been sitting in the garage since we moved in. Not being driven. It doesn't even have a current tag! My brother was supposed to replace the heater core so it could have heat years ago. I guess I should just put it out of it's misery, but I don't wanna. It needs a new clutch, heater core, speedometer cable, radio, window gasket, starter (so it'll pass emissions), and it may still have mold in it from when I went on vacation two years ago and my landlord drove it, but left the window open during a torrential rain, but I didn't know it because it had the cover on it when I got back. I'd really like to drive it and have the boy drive the Acura. We'll see. If I ever get a raise (it's been promised. Months ago.), I might be able to afford to fix them. The LF and I have talked and even if I do get a raise, it'd be an additional car, not a replacement. We're weird that way. Like a truck that will do what they can't. Just what I need three cars with insurance on them, all with a new teenage driver! So much for a raise?

Today is the one day a week that the LF doesn't have marching band practice after school, and I'm dying to finish work and go home. Eat a real meal. Relax and talk. It'll be fun!