Spring Break

Jack is doing great in his second semester at UConn. He’s planning to spend spring break with the rowing team at camp in South Carolina. I wish I was going away on spring break!! It’s still icky and cold here but I heard it’s not exactly hot down in SC. But definitely warmer than CT that’s for sure.

I was trying to get the full scoop about the trip from Jack this week so I know what’s happening and when.

Me: Where’s the agenda? Like what’s the plan?

Jack: There’s this creepy presentation I can show you that has the info in it.

I start flipping through. It is weird looking but I keep going to see if they tell the kids what to pack and what to expect, etc. I get to a big checklist.

Jack: Woah, I didn’t even see that!

Me: Come on, did you not go through this? It has everything you need listed out here.

Jack: Well it kept getting stuck on one page so I gave up.

Me: Nice. Lucky for you I got this far into it. So what’s the driving situation? Does everyone take turns or what?

Jack: We’re driving down in vans and it’s about 12 hours to get there.

Me: Who’s driving?

Jack: The older guys. There’s a driving buddy that has to stay awake with them. Then they swap. There will be lots of breaks.

Me: I can’t believe you’re all leaving at 5pm on a Friday! Like wouldn’t it be better to leave in the morning, miss all the traffic and actually drive during daylight?

Jack: There’s these things on Friday called classes and exams, Mom.

Me: Oh yeah.

Jack: They told us we needed to bring a sleeping bag and mine’s at home and dad doesn’t want to drive it to me tomorrow.

Me: I guess you’ll have to bring the blankets from your bed then.

Jack: Nah, I rented a sleeping bag for $12 from the school.

Me: Okayyyy… maybe want to wash it?

Jack: No way I’m waiting for a sleeping bag to dry tonight Mom.

Me: Good point. Well, ok have a good night and don’t forget to call me before you leave tomorrow.

Jack: How can I? You call me like 3 times a day already.

Me: 😬😬😬

End of an Era!

I’m assuming this is the end. Anything is possible but when Jack leaves FOR COLLEGE next month, I mean, what other shit can I write about? Will he even call me regularly, never mind provide actual instances that I can quote from for this blog? Hmmmm…

A LOT has happened since May the 4th, my last post. It was a literal whirlwind of activity for Jack’s end-of-senior-year activities, graduation (OMG!), prepping for college and waiting for acceptances to come in, selecting a college (UConn-Go Huskies!) and a major in Engineering, oh and just a few other things like selling our home of 18 years!! Yea it’s been crazy and if you add in a few vacations and Jack’s summer internship, there’s hardly enough time to squeeze in a little blog post.

Jack also finished his rowing career for now. His club had an end of season banquet and they wished all the seniors well and sent them off with some nice parting gifts. It was a fun chapter in his life. Jack wont row for UConn (“they practice at 5am Mom!!!”) even through I really wanted him to try. Ah well. 🙂

Jack is currently in DC for a VHS Collection concert and mini vacay with his dad. nice right!!??

But the weeks that we have left to pack and purge and move Jack to UConn and us out of the house are so few.

me: Jack, when you get back from DC we really have to get your things packed for college and your room packed for moving.

Jack: There’s plenty of time for that.

me: Ummm there are only two weekends left until we go on vacation and then come back and move you to UConn.

Jack: Oh that’s plenty of time! I have all the nights after I intern plus I have Fridays off and then those two weekends. My room won’t take that long.

me: But there’s the entire house to do, not just your room.

Jack: Isn’t that what we pay movers for?

me: Gahhhhhhh!

Ready for prom

The GRR crew

Graduation 🙂

Our trip to UConn for orientation

Last time on the dock at GRR, Housatonic River

The final oar carry

Greetings friend

Jack and I pulled up to the gym where his rowing group is practicing every day off-season. (Gotta keep those kids in shape all winter!!)

We saw one of the rowers heading into the gym. I forget his name…lucky for him 🤣

Jack: Hey, there’s so-and-so, keep driving… don’t stop here.

me: What do you mean don’t stop here? You have to get out here.

Jack: No, pull up more so I don’t have to walk in with him.

me: Why? Don’t you like him?

Jack: I like him but I don’t want to do that awkward talking as we go in the door. Just wait here until he’s in.

me: Jack, you can’t just say hello to the poor guy? Geez. Even dogs sniff each other’s butts as a greeting.

Jack: Yeah, I’m not doing that either.

🤨😬

Lolllllll!!!’ Too funny. So we waited that extra half of a minute so Jack could walk in alone. Sheesh.

Quote of the day – rowing

Jack has been rowing now for a few months and has been doing workouts regularly for the first time ever. His 14-year-old body is starting to feel it.

We were in the car driving home from rowing when Jack turned in his seat and I heard his back crack sounding like snapping a celery stick. Gross!

Then he turned and did the other side.

Jack: Ahhhhh, I’ve mastered the art of cracking my spine like a glow stick.

😱😱😱

Happy first day of summer!

(And I’m late with this post. Don’t judge! I was all ready to finish this up but then had to work, run home at lunch for Jack and Moca, sit in crazy rush hour traffic, meet a contractor after work, drive Jack to his GFs house, take Moca to the dog park, walk with my friend and then eat dinner and pass out… sooooo…. anyway read on!)

😂

We are still here though have been quiet for a few weeks. Very sorry about that!

The end of school, and the beginning of summer planning has taken up every ounce of my free time.

Jack has started rowing camp, a.k.a. crew, and is enjoying it so far… That happens every afternoon… And he will also be a counselor in training at an outdoor camp in town. So that boy is going to be busy and in super shape by the end of the summer 🙂

What have y’all been up to in the last few weeks?

Today is the first day of summer and the longest day of the year so normally I stay home and enjoy it, but today I worked simply because I forgot! 😱 Can i still blame new mom brain?

Jack spent the day home playing video games and “walking” the dog. Ha. But Moca seemed happy so I’m sure it was all good.

On the way to Jack’s GFs house we had a chance to talk. Or as Jack says: Mom I don’t even have to talk because you ask questions and then you answer them yourself.

Oy.

me: How are you feeling? Still sore from rowing?

Jack: Yeah.

me: You’re gonna be in really good shape by the end of the summer.

Jack: Grunt.

me: I know it’s been raining a lot but it’s going to get sunny and hot soon so you’ll have to wear sunblock for rowing.

Jack: Mhmmm.

me: So you don’t get all sunburned.

Jack: I know what sunblock is for.

me: Do you wear a hat in the boat? Do they let you? Because you might want to wear one to protect the top of your head and keep the sun out of your eyes.

Jack: I know what a hat’s for.

me; My first really really bad sunburn was in a boat when I was about your age. I forgot sunblock and my face burned to a crisp so like a week later big strips were peeling off. It was so bad.

Jack: They didn’t have sunblock back then?

me: They did but no one cared .

😫😫😫

Remember the days of baby oil and sitting on the roof of the shed to tan?

I do.

Happy summer!