Giants Win The Superbowl!!

And then the Giants won the Superbowl.

Alex was with her friends at a 6-guys-living-in-one-suite on campus and called us right after the Giants won, to celebrate with her total-Giants-fan father.
The next day I received this text.

I'm so mad that tuesdays are my busiest day cuz the giants parade is in ny on that day and I live 15 min away! So many people from school are going :(
I got my own table yesterday cuz it was slow and kurt the guy who was training me was like busing the table behind me so he can still hear what was going on and could still help if I needed it. It was easy tho cuz these people come here a lot and knew exactly what they wanted and didn't ask a lot of questions

I think I would make an exception and just go to the parade. It's early in the semester and hopefully you can make up your classes with notes from others. Screw school tomorrow, go to the parade. 

I love u so much! I'm gonna go to my 930 to 1045 class cuz my professor is a lil nuts and calls people out on missing class and I don't want him to do that to me lol

Will that still be time enough to make it to the parade? Do not drive in your car, of course! Is it tomorrow? Keep texting me how it all goes down, sweetheart. When does it start?

It starts at 11 so we'll just take the next train

Are you going with others who are also going in later? I don't want you to miss it. Just go when the last goers leave, don't finish class and then go all by yourself.

I'm going with my friends. They r going the entire length of broadway if we get there by like 1130 we really wouldn't have missed much cuz they start all the way at the bottom and go all the way to the top

I just watched them land on tv in the caf it was exciting

Super atmosphere, right? Tomorrow will rock.

Ik I'm so excited

New Jersey will not get left out of the action.

In a Twitter post, Gov. Chris Christie said a rally for Big Blue would take place Tuesday at 3 p.m. at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ. "@GovChristie: All Giants fans in NJ should be there if you can."

You just got permission from the governor. Just promise me and yourself that you will make up your missed classes and all homework, and that is only an exception, not a thing you can do more often. I am happy that you can go tomorrow, just text me every once in a while, so I can 'be there' too. Mom

Oh of course all of my professors are on black board which is a website thing where they post all of their power points and hw so ill be on there

Cool. Soooo happy for you. Shall I tell Dad? If not and he sees you on the telly he'll pee.

Did u just say telly?

Yeah, I turned into a Brit

That's okay I'm jamaican this week yeamon

Tuesday, February 7, 2012: Let's face it, she would have gone to the parade anyway, but now she had my blessing and texted me about her experiences all day long. All in all, she was so glad she went. She saw Eli on the float and the whole day was awesome.

If I were you, I would shoot for making it to the 4:30 class. Making up is a bitch,no?

My 430 got cancelled
She came home that weekend after work and arrived shortly before 2AM. I was waiting up. The pets sprinted to the door when she walked in and we talked for an hour, sitting on the couch. I asked about the parade. Everybody wore blue, everybody was super excited. There were alcohol bottles and cups everywhere, the cops didn't even try to stop it. Alex told me she and her friends were in line for the bathroom in a restaurant. The ladies' line was out the door whereas the men's line was short as usual.  A lady came in and lined up in the short men's queue, then cut everybody by jumping in front when the ladies' door opened and just walked in. People were cursing and threatening her, but there was one particularly tough woman who shouted, "wait till she comes out, I'll punch her in the face." Woman comes out, and the lady punches her in the face so hard that blood was flying. She bust her lip wide open. The woman being hit was in shock and cried, while her friend ran to get her husband, who called out for the cops. Anyway, that was a sight to see. Alex said, she doubts that woman will ever cut the line again. It was epic.

Restaurant Server Advice From Mom

Wed January 25, 2012:

Ooh, I'm so excited, finally an email from you with some text in it. I wish you all the best and especially patience dealing with difficult customers. You have to keep smiling, stay respectful, then punch the wall in the back room when you're done dealing with them. Some are looking at it as a game to see if they get a free meal out of it and will complain no matter what. Just call the manager and let him deal with it. No gravy over their heads, no matter how much you feel like it. Just remember, you don't have to go home with these jerks and they will be out of your life shortly. 

Your feet/legs will hurt, your arms from carrying heavy trays, but you can do it if you put your mind to it. You just need to remember who ordered what and your memory is amazing.

My class? Haha. My professor is older than your grandpa, he must be in his eighties. He's adorable and quite good just hard of hearing and he shuffles around. Seems like XXX is where all the professors go instead of retiring, it's very strange. He talked in English about the history of Spain and Mexico, then gave us Spanish homework. But I can do it. It's definitely not as good a class as my Public Speaking one, people wise I mean, and I miss them. We all became Facebook friends.

Oh, something funny. I added our New Year's pictures to your father's facebook site last night and while he was downstairs, I did the same thing Vinny always does to Dan from my last class, posting stuff on Dan's site as if he was him. So for two hours, while we watched TV downstairs, your father had these two posts on his fb:

Three dolphins walk into a hookah bar

And

I throw ball like a girl.

Then I commented as if I were Dad: Who the f***s on my facebook?

Nobody saw it because he only has 16 friends, but he was so pissed when he finally saw it and I had to delete it.

Well, that's all from home for now. I did enter "Skinny for Just One Day" in the Amazon Breakout Novel Contest and then sent the manuscript to my editor for the March agent conference. It's so much better now because of your help.

Your pets are doing fine, at least we have them to keep us occupied.

Love you, Mom

Tuesday, January 31, 2012: How was your day?

It was good. alyssa's boyfriend broke up with her today so Im hanging out with her

Aww, is she ok? How long have they been together? He's not on campus, right?

No, he goes to XXX and they were together since senior year.

Why did he break up? She's still able to go to work with you, right? Also, remember you have class tomorrow morning.

No, not until 6 at night.

So how is she?

Okay

And then the Giants won the Superbowl.

She's back on campus

Jan 24, 2012. She's back on campus since last week, and immediately landed a job at Ruby Tuesday's.

Congratulations again on your job, but please keep in mind that school comes first. Do not accept any hours that would interfere with your classes. It's not worth it.

As a server you will have to deal with nasty, demanding people. You cannot pour the gravy over them when they get on your nerves like the mother did in my new novel. You'll have to stay friendly and polite no matter what. I wish you good luck.

Thanks for texting us about the Giants winning, we were nervous wrecks and couldn't watch, and then twitter was on overload and froze. What a nerve-wracking game!

Dad invited Trafton up for the Superbowl, so I guess party at our house if you can make it. If you have to work that day, don't worry about it. It would probably be very exiting at any restaurant watching the Superbowl with a team from the neighborhood. Mom

No answer

Next email from mom, a day later:

Do you need to let Authentic know that you got the job at Ruby Tuesday's?

How many hours will they give you, what's your wage, how does it work with tips, and what did you do at orientation?

Please answer my questions, I am so nosy but that's good.

We are proud of you, Maureen says congratulations, and did you order any more books? Shoot me an email so I can transfer money for books and work clothes to your account. Mom

oh cool

Huh? Can you please answer your lonely old mother's questions?

She called: Mom, you're in your forties, have a ton of co-workers, and a writing career on the side. What do you mean, old and lonely?

That's what it feels like without you in the house.

yes i will call them to let them know it went through and that i have a job now.

i dont know about hours yet but i told him i can work thursday though sunday and i get minimum wage plus tips and he says that if i do good he can get me to be the bartender within a month even by valentines day maybe so im gonna do my best.

me and alyssa start training on sunday we do get paid for training but like barely anything but we do get to keep our tips if we make any during training.

orientation we just watched a movie on how ruby tuesdays got started and we just filled out our paper work.

i didnt order any more books yet but by tonight i will have had all my classes so i will order the last books together tonight

Parents, be involved in your children's success!

Alex just finished bartending school, a 2 week (40 hour course). She graduated with a 96 in the written part, which made her best in class, and a week later, she was the only one who passed the practical part, the "pour test." They had to memorize 210 drinks and pour 21 drinks in 20 minutes, using the correct glasses, alcohols, and amount.
Here is where the parents come in. I am tired of hearing she's 19 now, she's an adult, she has to be able to do everything by herself. Baloney. I believe in growing up gradually. Do they still need support to do good in school, make wise money decisions, be told to brush their teeth while we still pay dental insurance and bills? Absolutely. So what did we do to help her succeed in getting her bartending certificate?
The first night she came home, she said she needs index cards to help her study better. We went to Pathmark together the same night, so she could start preparing the next morning. When she didn't feel well, I drove her to class for two nights, waiting in a library and the car for four hours until she was done with class. Her father tested her on the drinks she learned and gave her tips on how to deal with drunks at a bar. The two nights before her practical test, I quizzed her with 210 index cards until she knew every drink by heart. Then I told her to visualize how she reaches for the correct glass, the right bottles, where they are behind the bar (every bottle is in the same place at any bar), pour the right amount. The way you visualize it, that's the way you'll pour.
She was very nervous when she left to take the test. We prayed together, then I imagined getting a text from her that she passed. That is exactly how it turned out. She said she was shaking when she was done, that's how much it took out of her.
When she told me the others didn't make it, I asked why she thinks they didn't. She told me, one guy said he can't study at home, because of his home life. He didn't even make index cards. Alex gave him hers. The other two ladies didn't take it seriously and didn't practice, just thought they would wing it. One gave up after the first drink, the other ran out of time.
Here's to you, parents: Your kids might be adults now, but let them ease into it. They still need your help, support and guidance. They will be adults forever, but they just finished being kids. There's no rush; our job is never over.
My sister in Germany congratulated Alex over Skype, then told her about a drink that's the hit in Germany for 2011, 2012. They go skiing in the Alps a lot and this is the drink everybody orders for apres ski:
Aperitivo Italiano or Aperol Spritz:
Place two ice cubes into a wineglass, add a slice of orange w/o rind, pour 3 parts Prosecco or white wine and 2 parts (or less) Aperol, and 1 spritz of Sprite. It is a very refreshing, orange-colored drink.
Prosit, cheers!

Certificate in Mixology adds to a college student's coolness factor

Wednesday, November 23, 2011: Alex,

Please be careful driving home today in the rain and holiday traffic. I will pray for safe travels. Hey, do you want to sit in on my public speaking class tonight, the professor said we can bring guests.

Later, mom

December 9^th, 2011: (It’s been two weeks)

Request: Update on your life. Mother

PS: Are you coming home this weekend?

I have formal tonight? So no lol

I know you have formal tonight, but I thought you would come home tomorrow.

I have studying and papers to write so I really don't even have the 45 min to drive home cuz I could get like a half a paper done in that time

Makes sense. Be careful tonight, you guys are staying at the hotel, right? I might come up during the week to pick up the fundraising things. Mom

Yeah we're stayin in the hotel yeah can u come up on like thurs and bring my pink suitcase I'm sched to move out sun the 18th

A text from me to her: During the formal:

Is the dance nice?

Its funnn

Next day:

Are you up? We’re at Uncle Tom’s party.

I just got back to campus.

In what town was it?

Oh it wasn’t too far

What kind of answer is that? Also, I sent you information about that Bartending school. Go to bed early tonight (has finals the next morning). Meet me in E. around 5:30pm (for bartending school interview), leave at 4pm, lots of traffic. Did you find out about the elections tonight?

I was still in chapter. Stop calling me all the time.

Date: Fri, 16 Dec 2011 Subject: money

Hey Sweetie,

I transferred $300 to your account which is meant for the bartending school. $130 came already out for the deposit. Don’t spend the remaining $170 on anything else, you’ll need that to pay the rest of the bill.

Mom

Okayy

PS: she requested to keep her love life private, so no Michael news...but I think they already stopped talking. Loser (he)
Alex is now home for winter break. She couldn't even find a job for the holiday season, but I'm not sure how hard she worked at applying. She is doing bartending school for two weeks instead. When she passes the final exam, she will have a certificate in mixology. At nineteen, which probably adds to the coolness factor. She will also look for a bartending job in a lounge or restaurant while she's off. Happy New Year!

Total Stress - The most normal email from a college student, says mom's friend...

Thu, Oct 27, 2011

Alex,

I would advise you not to drive anywhere tonight, we are expecting sleet, maybe snow, and freezing rain, and you know how dangerous black ice is. Can you walk to wherever you’re going? If not, be extremely careful, esp. when driving others.

What’s going on otherwise? Mom

Michael emailed me last night. He kept going on about how much better the library at our university is compared to his haha oh gosh I'm going to ruin him

This weather makes me want to go to salem wahhhhhhhhhhhh

Yeah I know, Salem is awesome. It’ll be there a long time, don’t worry.

Please make sure to call Wegman’s Human Resources Dept. and inquire about the status of your application. This shows you’re interested in the position. Do this with all the other places you applied to. Just call the main number of each business and ask for Human Resources dept.

Good luck, have a nice day, Mom

Wednesday, November 16, 2011Hi Schatz, good morning,

Please call Stop and Save to inquire about the status of your application.

its called stop and shop

right now i really cant look for a job i have SO much work right now and i'm so stressed i have a test on friday another one on tuesday 3 HUGE projects coming up all right after each other i have to make my big a paddle cuz shes graduating and its tradition in every greek org all over the world that you make them a paddle when they graduate and present it at the formal

 i need a formal dress still and elections are comin up for positions in my sorority and i need to make a speech so i can get elected for the position i want and like i have money for the paddle and a dress and whatever else but like all these expenses are comin up at once plus like christmas is comin and i need to buy presents plus birthday presents cuz everyones birthday is in january and i need a job but idk y i cant find one i have really bad insomnia lately and cant sleep at night so m dead all day i dont have time right now for anything  and i just want this effin semester to end

All right, breathe. The world is not ending, it just feels like it.

Do your schoolwork, don’t worry about a job right now, one will come up eventually. You still have money from the one I brought back from Germany, we’ll just have to take some from there. How much do you have in the account right now? I can also check when I go to the bank this morning. Keep Christmas small, don’t stress out over it, everybody knows college students are poor. I will support you financially as much as possible as long as you concentrate on schoolwork.

So relax, do your school work, try to sleep, and you’re done in less than a month.

I am praying for you, give everything over to God, He’ll take care of you.

Sending well wishes your way,

Love Mom

Then I forwarded Alex’s email to a young co-worker who survived college and gives the best advice. I just needed to vent myself, because emails like these panic me a little. My co-worker wrote back that Al’s email is the most normal thing she’s ever seen and that if someone is not broke and stressed for at least a certain length of college, they’re not doing it right. Al is learning to suck up and cope. It’s all part of what you learn at college. Yes, the book learning is important, but a lot of college life is about learning how to deal with multiple deadlines and pressures so you are getting prepared for the real world. Just be sympathetic, but let her deal with it. She needs to vent right now more than anything. Nothing in her mail sounds like the world is about to end even though it feels like it to her. Don’t fix her problems for her. They’re normal, everyone goes through this at times, she has to learn how to solve them on her own. Just watch the insomnia which is most likely stress and worry. This time of year is a miserable time in college because everything comes due at the same time and you also have the holiday stress to deal with. There will be tears and upset emails and personal drama. And then everyone moves on.

Three hours later: Alexandra wrote: Okay I'm better now, I did my math test and I knew what I was doing so I think I did good I ordered the paddle and the stuff that goes with last night and got it for an okay price better than the other website so now I just need a dress nd like I have money in the account its just when a lot of stuff comes up at once I get nervous

 

Parents at Halloween Party - Not

Hey Alex,

We are invited to a Halloween party at Julie’s house, you too, btw, but I told her you will probably be at X University. Anyway, it’s in an old farmhouse, and her parties are famous, tons of people, all ages.

I plan on going as a XU student, with a sign in the front, just simple and I will wear XUniversity sweats and red face paint.

Dad could go as the last straw, with a straw sticking out of his breast pocket, but it’s kind of lame. Do you have any ideas, silly, funny, very cheap? I thought you’d mentioned something when you were home last time. Mom

no those are lame (both of them) u guys should dress up as a couple costume like thing 1 and thing 2, frankenstein and his bride, cross dress, etc

some funny and easy but last resort ideas are smarty pants (tape smarties candies to pants), a quarter back (tape quarters to ur back)

actually u guys should just put sheets over ur heads and not embarrass me

(mom’s face having weird expression as she is reading daughter’s advice)

Never mind, old couch potato doesn’t even want to go. Hey, Uncle Tom is going as a box.

u guys r so weird either u never want to go or he doesn’t