Jared had an exciting physical training last Wednesday. He called it the insanity workout. It was about 1 1/2 hours of just non-stop craziness apparently. I cannot remember everything he said he did but, from what I can tell that workout was specifically for endurance building only! Kudos to Jared for only being sore in the calves - that's quite impressive!
On the Alex front we FINALLY have a date of when he's flying the coop! His plane tickets are for September 4th! He is very amped and excited - cause he's going to Ireland for a year! Sadly, his old classmate from the Waldorf School of Cape Cod, who is Alex's age of only 19 years old has ALS (at type of leukemia) and just had a relapse and is back in Boston Children's hospital. She is looking at alternative types of possibilities since she's just recently been through chemo and a bone marrow transplant. So, she'll still be in Boston when Alex is heading out to Ireland.
So, with that in mind Alex is stopping in Boston for the day first on his way out. He'll have to take the T line from the airport to the hospital and back again while dragging ALL of his luggage. He's such a sweetheart! HA!
I am very proud of Alex, as is Shannon, and we are excited for this new opportunity, and yet, feeling sad that he will be gone for a year. I may have mentioned this before but he is going to try and set up a blog once he gets there to keep all of us up-to-date on what he is learning, seeing and doing. If he does set one up I promise to link it up here and on facebook.
That's it for now. Lots and lots of changes. Our oldest is out the door first, but he will be back. It's my baby going to boot camp that will be even harder!
Monday, August 20, 2012
Sunday, August 12, 2012
Not A lot of New News
Not a whole lot new to update you on.
Alex is still waiting on his passport and from there he will figure out his flight over and when to get started. For now he is learning a few things about Callan, Co. Kilkenny, Ireland. Though Callan seems like a smaller town in the county of Kilkenny, it seems that the vikings are definitely part of their history there - which is quite cool. In Kilkenny, the city, there looks like quite a lot of tourism to do. Hopefully Alex will get the chance!
Jared has started physical training with his Marine recruiter. He will be going every Wednesday morning to increase his strength and endurance - doing pull-ups, push ups, crunches and running at least 1.5 or more miles. Then every 2nd Saturday of each month he is doing some 'bonding' with other recruits. Yesterday was his first time. They played combat soccer with about 30 or 35 recruits, no using of the hands to shove or push but they could use their bodies to push each other out of the way to get to the ball. If you used your hands you had to go to the side and do 2 minutes of some sort of calisthenics - which was a good thing because trying to play soccer with that many people on a small field was quite difficult, but luckily people were out on the sides quite often. HA! They also did some line running where they had to take turns rotating who was in front, run in unison, and learned some marching and turning along with some of his first cadences. He came home tired but seemed quite pumped up about the whole experience!
Alex is still waiting on his passport and from there he will figure out his flight over and when to get started. For now he is learning a few things about Callan, Co. Kilkenny, Ireland. Though Callan seems like a smaller town in the county of Kilkenny, it seems that the vikings are definitely part of their history there - which is quite cool. In Kilkenny, the city, there looks like quite a lot of tourism to do. Hopefully Alex will get the chance!
Jared has started physical training with his Marine recruiter. He will be going every Wednesday morning to increase his strength and endurance - doing pull-ups, push ups, crunches and running at least 1.5 or more miles. Then every 2nd Saturday of each month he is doing some 'bonding' with other recruits. Yesterday was his first time. They played combat soccer with about 30 or 35 recruits, no using of the hands to shove or push but they could use their bodies to push each other out of the way to get to the ball. If you used your hands you had to go to the side and do 2 minutes of some sort of calisthenics - which was a good thing because trying to play soccer with that many people on a small field was quite difficult, but luckily people were out on the sides quite often. HA! They also did some line running where they had to take turns rotating who was in front, run in unison, and learned some marching and turning along with some of his first cadences. He came home tired but seemed quite pumped up about the whole experience!
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Military Mom
It was a long day for Jared yesterday, most of it spent sitting around, waiting doing nothing. But here is what happened and what is next.
As I said in the previous blog, he was taken to Raleigh on Monday afternoon so that he can take the ASVAB and then he stayed the night there and woke up at 4:30am yesterday morning. He did end up having a roommate, another guy who was about Jared's age. Apparently they go by last names so the other guys name was Williams.
Williams came in with some envelope that Jared did not receive so Jared asked about it. Williams told him that it was the test results from the ASVAB and that he just happened to be at the right place at the right time to get it. Apparently, whoever gave Williams his envelope said that Wiley had scored the highest they had in this past quarter! Jared scored 95% on the ASVAB!
After they had breakfast they were bussed over to the military's building nearby for their physicals, and, a ton more paperwork. Jared said he was asked the same questions over and over again - mostly whether he was a terrorist or anarchist. I guess they really want to make sure that if anything happens later that they can say, "Well, we asked 100 times if they were a terrorist and they said no. What more can we do?" (Smile)
Then he just sat around in the lobby of this place and watched TV or chatted with some of the other inductees. Jared thought that he was to go over his career choices after finding out his test score but that seemed to not be the case so it was just waiting until the time came for all of the young inductees were done - then they had them come together to take their pledge in a group, and then sign their official forms to join the military!
So, it's official. Jared has joined the Marines. He will be meeting with his recruiter later this week or early next week to decide his career choice - in which he should have any choice he wants with such a high score on the test. And, this Thursday he and the other 14 or 15 young men and women who were with Jared will all be going to a Durham Bulls baseball game in Durham and before the game starts will be out in the park to do their pledge once again in front of all the people in the audience!
Jared's ship out date to boot camp at Parris Island, SC is November 26th, right after Thanksgiving. Boot camp is 3 months, and when he completes that he will immediately be trained for the next 8 weeks or so for the career path he has chosen before he gets shipped or placed wherever the Marines want him to go.
We are so very proud of Jared and so very sad to see him go. A four year commitment is such a long time - and yet, really it will go by in a blink of an eye for him. But we know he will be successful and find himself and his path along the way. We love you kiddo!
And now I am a Military Mom - a whole new job and a whole new life to learn...
As I said in the previous blog, he was taken to Raleigh on Monday afternoon so that he can take the ASVAB and then he stayed the night there and woke up at 4:30am yesterday morning. He did end up having a roommate, another guy who was about Jared's age. Apparently they go by last names so the other guys name was Williams.
Williams came in with some envelope that Jared did not receive so Jared asked about it. Williams told him that it was the test results from the ASVAB and that he just happened to be at the right place at the right time to get it. Apparently, whoever gave Williams his envelope said that Wiley had scored the highest they had in this past quarter! Jared scored 95% on the ASVAB!
After they had breakfast they were bussed over to the military's building nearby for their physicals, and, a ton more paperwork. Jared said he was asked the same questions over and over again - mostly whether he was a terrorist or anarchist. I guess they really want to make sure that if anything happens later that they can say, "Well, we asked 100 times if they were a terrorist and they said no. What more can we do?" (Smile)
Then he just sat around in the lobby of this place and watched TV or chatted with some of the other inductees. Jared thought that he was to go over his career choices after finding out his test score but that seemed to not be the case so it was just waiting until the time came for all of the young inductees were done - then they had them come together to take their pledge in a group, and then sign their official forms to join the military!
So, it's official. Jared has joined the Marines. He will be meeting with his recruiter later this week or early next week to decide his career choice - in which he should have any choice he wants with such a high score on the test. And, this Thursday he and the other 14 or 15 young men and women who were with Jared will all be going to a Durham Bulls baseball game in Durham and before the game starts will be out in the park to do their pledge once again in front of all the people in the audience!
Jared's ship out date to boot camp at Parris Island, SC is November 26th, right after Thanksgiving. Boot camp is 3 months, and when he completes that he will immediately be trained for the next 8 weeks or so for the career path he has chosen before he gets shipped or placed wherever the Marines want him to go.
We are so very proud of Jared and so very sad to see him go. A four year commitment is such a long time - and yet, really it will go by in a blink of an eye for him. But we know he will be successful and find himself and his path along the way. We love you kiddo!
And now I am a Military Mom - a whole new job and a whole new life to learn...
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Empty Nest
I couldn't do two difficult posts in one day. It's been hard enough to process everything that is going on internally, let alone trying to communicate it out to friends and family.
Alex has finally chosen a path - at least for this coming year. And that path is working at Camphill Ballytobin in Ireland. Yes, I said Ireland!
Camphill is an international charitable trust working with people with intellectual disabilities and other kinds of special needs. This one in particular is working with children with special needs.
Alex's 12th grade end of year trip was working at a Camphill in Pennsylvania and he did an amazing job there. Though it was difficult at times, he truly enjoyed his overall experience and, after taking time off this past year doing three different jobs, decided that this is what he wants to do next.
He has been accepted and has to wait for his passport to come, then he will be on his way.
So, in a few more weeks Alex will be packed up and boarding a plane to Callan, Co. Kilkenny, Ireland.
I am incredibly proud of him and glad to see him continue the work that he seemed to connect to and do so well at back when he was in 12th grade in high school. He has an amazing skill working with all children of all ages, but to be able to handle and connect to children with special needs is completely amazing and humbling and awe inspiring for me.
More to come on the exact date he leaves - and then from there, hopefully lots of photos and emails and skype calls to keep up with his next year in Ireland!
Alex has finally chosen a path - at least for this coming year. And that path is working at Camphill Ballytobin in Ireland. Yes, I said Ireland!
Camphill is an international charitable trust working with people with intellectual disabilities and other kinds of special needs. This one in particular is working with children with special needs.
Alex's 12th grade end of year trip was working at a Camphill in Pennsylvania and he did an amazing job there. Though it was difficult at times, he truly enjoyed his overall experience and, after taking time off this past year doing three different jobs, decided that this is what he wants to do next.
He has been accepted and has to wait for his passport to come, then he will be on his way.
So, in a few more weeks Alex will be packed up and boarding a plane to Callan, Co. Kilkenny, Ireland.
I am incredibly proud of him and glad to see him continue the work that he seemed to connect to and do so well at back when he was in 12th grade in high school. He has an amazing skill working with all children of all ages, but to be able to handle and connect to children with special needs is completely amazing and humbling and awe inspiring for me.
More to come on the exact date he leaves - and then from there, hopefully lots of photos and emails and skype calls to keep up with his next year in Ireland!
Monday, July 30, 2012
Between Pride and Panic
Some of you have already experienced your children growing up and going out to have their own life... others, well, there is still so much to look forward to before that happens.
It's funny how you raise your children, knowing deep down inside that they are not yours, but a gift to you to guide and love, and learn from as well as teach. We raised our boys to be conscientious objectors - or, so we thought.
I sit here, with highly mixed emotions - somewhere between pride and panic - as Jared is in Raleigh this evening, having finished up his ASVAB and, tomorrow has his physical, goes over his test score to figure out his career, and then takes the pledge to become a Marine!
Yes, that's right - a marine.
He was contacted by a recruiter about 3 or 4 weeks ago, after having gone to their website and asked to be contacted a month or more prior. This isn't coming to us a complete surprise as he has been talking about becoming a police officer, or possibly joining the military for the past year or so. But the discussions were that, and nothing more.
And now that discussion has finally become a reality.
(The panic...) I am thankful that it was a year long discussion, as the first time Jared mentioned his interest in possibly joining the military to us, it took every ounce of ourselves to not blurt out, "Are you fucking nuts?" but to calmly just listen and nod and say, "Okay, well, that is a possibility... that you should think hard on, and research to see if you are sure." And then, each time it came back up the seriousness of it kept sinking in more and more. But even after all that time and talk, having the reality upon us is still a struggle - with all the dangers that come along with being in the military, along with no longer being an individual but part of the collective of the government, and so on.
(The pride...) The other side of the coin is what an amazing young man he has become to feel the need to do something as courageous as becoming a marine. Wanting to help people, wanting to be a part of something bigger, wanting to better himself as a human being, wanting to push himself to new limits and see how he comes out on the other end! These are things we should all strive for - and so I am overwhelmed with pride for my baby (yes, he will always be my baby) boy to be brave enough to do!
For all of you parents out there who's children are still young - just remember that they all have their own paths to follow - and the best thing you can do is to give them all the support and love you can to help them on their way!
Once we know more tomorrow about what his career choices are, and, more importantly, when he'll be shipping off to Boot Camp - I will post something more.
I leave you with some Absolute Standards of the Marines - that I had been posting on Facebook...
The Marines set some absolute standards for their people to follow:
Tell the truth.
Don't give up.
Don't whine or make excuses.
Do your best, no matter how trivial the task.
Choose a difficult right over the easy wrong.
Look out for the group before you look out for yourself.
Judge others by their actions, not their words or their race.
Have a Fulfilling Life
It's funny how you raise your children, knowing deep down inside that they are not yours, but a gift to you to guide and love, and learn from as well as teach. We raised our boys to be conscientious objectors - or, so we thought.
I sit here, with highly mixed emotions - somewhere between pride and panic - as Jared is in Raleigh this evening, having finished up his ASVAB and, tomorrow has his physical, goes over his test score to figure out his career, and then takes the pledge to become a Marine!
Yes, that's right - a marine.
He was contacted by a recruiter about 3 or 4 weeks ago, after having gone to their website and asked to be contacted a month or more prior. This isn't coming to us a complete surprise as he has been talking about becoming a police officer, or possibly joining the military for the past year or so. But the discussions were that, and nothing more.
And now that discussion has finally become a reality.
(The panic...) I am thankful that it was a year long discussion, as the first time Jared mentioned his interest in possibly joining the military to us, it took every ounce of ourselves to not blurt out, "Are you fucking nuts?" but to calmly just listen and nod and say, "Okay, well, that is a possibility... that you should think hard on, and research to see if you are sure." And then, each time it came back up the seriousness of it kept sinking in more and more. But even after all that time and talk, having the reality upon us is still a struggle - with all the dangers that come along with being in the military, along with no longer being an individual but part of the collective of the government, and so on.
(The pride...) The other side of the coin is what an amazing young man he has become to feel the need to do something as courageous as becoming a marine. Wanting to help people, wanting to be a part of something bigger, wanting to better himself as a human being, wanting to push himself to new limits and see how he comes out on the other end! These are things we should all strive for - and so I am overwhelmed with pride for my baby (yes, he will always be my baby) boy to be brave enough to do!
For all of you parents out there who's children are still young - just remember that they all have their own paths to follow - and the best thing you can do is to give them all the support and love you can to help them on their way!
Once we know more tomorrow about what his career choices are, and, more importantly, when he'll be shipping off to Boot Camp - I will post something more.
I leave you with some Absolute Standards of the Marines - that I had been posting on Facebook...
The Marines set some absolute standards for their people to follow:
Tell the truth.
Don't give up.
Don't whine or make excuses.
Do your best, no matter how trivial the task.
Choose a difficult right over the easy wrong.
Look out for the group before you look out for yourself.
Judge others by their actions, not their words or their race.
Have a Fulfilling Life
Friday, February 4, 2011
Alex's 12th Grade Project...
Here is the website he just built, on his own, for his 12th grade project... enjoy and keep checking back. Our son, the artist!
http://www.wix.com/ale261/volsung-saga
http://www.wix.com/ale261/volsung-saga
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Junior Internship...nothing like last minute!
The Junior class at Emerson Waldorf School have to do one week of an internship every year. Last year Alex did his week internship with an art therapy school learning about art therapy. It has helped bolster his desire to seriously continue on that career path and is now looking into colleges that would help support him.
Jared mentioned last year that he was interested in becoming a police officer and wondered whether they took on interns. At the time I advised him that we would check into it but that he should consider a second option just in case that was not possible. Well, time got away and before we knew it school started up this year.
We eventually got in contact with the Hillsborough Police Department - and though they did do internships in the administrative side, they did not do internships with the actual police. And, because of some event that was happening in October the particular week Jared needed was not possible. They did have a program called The Explorer Post which was a year commitment for two Saturday's a month learning about becoming a police officer. We had nixed the idea in the beginning because it did not fit the criteria the school wanted.
So, we moved on to the Chapel Hill Police - who had an internship but it was for 17 and 18 year olds and it was a year commitment - not old enough. So back to the drawing board.
We attempted to contact his back-up choice of Architect but we were having no luck on any local places being available that week either.
So we asked to see if the Explorer Post would work in lieu of the one week - as I felt a whole year had to be much more worthy and education than just a week. At first we were advised yes, then we were advised no, that he still needed something for the week of internships. And now it's the Thursday before the internship is supposed to start!
Luckily for me I happened to complain to just the right parent at our school about the whole thing and she said, "How about the sheriff's office? I happen to know the sheriff and his daughter. Let me check on that!" And off she went.
Well, it was incredibly last minute, Sunday as a matter of fact but she called back and said that Jared was all set to start on Monday at the Orange County Sheriff's Office in downtown Hillsborough.... Yipee!!!!
Jared had an awesome week and really seemed to enjoy himself! He went out a couple of times cruising a rougher neighborhood with some of the inspectors, learned about finger prints and how to lift them off objects with different devices, he saw an interview, went to the court, went to the jail, and also saw many old weapons from old cases that had not yet been destroyed. He also did a lot of filing for them and got to see lots of graphic photos of some of the cases the different inspectors had worked on over the years. All-in-all I think he had a great experience and that this has strengthened his desire to become a law enforcement agent of some kind.
He is still going to start the Explorer Post as well and see how where that takes him over the next year. I can't wait! I'm very happy to see him so happy, engaged and interested in something so noble!
Jared mentioned last year that he was interested in becoming a police officer and wondered whether they took on interns. At the time I advised him that we would check into it but that he should consider a second option just in case that was not possible. Well, time got away and before we knew it school started up this year.
We eventually got in contact with the Hillsborough Police Department - and though they did do internships in the administrative side, they did not do internships with the actual police. And, because of some event that was happening in October the particular week Jared needed was not possible. They did have a program called The Explorer Post which was a year commitment for two Saturday's a month learning about becoming a police officer. We had nixed the idea in the beginning because it did not fit the criteria the school wanted.
So, we moved on to the Chapel Hill Police - who had an internship but it was for 17 and 18 year olds and it was a year commitment - not old enough. So back to the drawing board.
We attempted to contact his back-up choice of Architect but we were having no luck on any local places being available that week either.
So we asked to see if the Explorer Post would work in lieu of the one week - as I felt a whole year had to be much more worthy and education than just a week. At first we were advised yes, then we were advised no, that he still needed something for the week of internships. And now it's the Thursday before the internship is supposed to start!
Luckily for me I happened to complain to just the right parent at our school about the whole thing and she said, "How about the sheriff's office? I happen to know the sheriff and his daughter. Let me check on that!" And off she went.
Well, it was incredibly last minute, Sunday as a matter of fact but she called back and said that Jared was all set to start on Monday at the Orange County Sheriff's Office in downtown Hillsborough.... Yipee!!!!
Jared had an awesome week and really seemed to enjoy himself! He went out a couple of times cruising a rougher neighborhood with some of the inspectors, learned about finger prints and how to lift them off objects with different devices, he saw an interview, went to the court, went to the jail, and also saw many old weapons from old cases that had not yet been destroyed. He also did a lot of filing for them and got to see lots of graphic photos of some of the cases the different inspectors had worked on over the years. All-in-all I think he had a great experience and that this has strengthened his desire to become a law enforcement agent of some kind.
He is still going to start the Explorer Post as well and see how where that takes him over the next year. I can't wait! I'm very happy to see him so happy, engaged and interested in something so noble!
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