August 24, 2007
It’s gonna be a bummer weekend
Best day of the entire year: the last day of school. Then I know we get the kids home all summer long!
Worst day of the entire year: the day they go back to school.
Knitting Daughter has been back to high school for a week now, and College Guy (aka Web Guy) goes back up to school in Indiana this weekend. Bugger. Oh, HE’S just fine with it. 
He likes his school and his friends and his classes. I will admit that it’s easier for me to have him head off there, knowing he’s so happy up there. But it sure is lonely here without him. No College Guy to hang out with, no late night walks around the neighborhood, website issues don’t get resolved quite so fast, printer/computer problems remain a problem until WH gets home at night, etc. And his bedroom. It’s empty when he goes off to school. I hate that. Yep, it’s gonna be a bummer weekend.
Give him a wave goodbye as he goes off to his Junior year of college. (You know he’ll still be taking good care of the website from afar. He’s good about that. He knows we all depend on him!)
Sheri makingmorechocolatechipcookiesthisafternoontosendtoschoolwithhim
Imighthavetotastetestafew,youknow,toconsolemyself…
Melissa said,
August 24, 2007 @ 10:35 am
Have a good semester college guy! We really appreciate all of your help and improvements to the site.
Mary said,
August 24, 2007 @ 10:37 am
I know how hard it is to send them back to school.My son left yesterday to go back for his Junior year in Canada.The house is so quiet and the refrigerator looks so full! I know by this time I should be used to him leaving but it doesn’t seem to get a whole lot easier. If I were there I’d come over and eat cookies with you and we could commiserate together !
Kristin said,
August 24, 2007 @ 10:38 am
I hate sending them back to school too, but this year it’ s high school and kindergarten….two completely different spectrums! I can’t fathom college at this point. I’m going to need a lot of chocolate chip cookies! Hope you get to taste some today too!
Kristi said,
August 24, 2007 @ 10:42 am
My wee ones have been AWAY all summer–and they come home tomorrow to a new home and new school Tuesday! I go from quiet to chaos in one fell swoop. But I do feel for you, and have a cookie for me.
Wanda in AR said,
August 24, 2007 @ 10:43 am
Have a good year College guy. We are love you because you keep our favorite website going.
Liz in IN said,
August 24, 2007 @ 10:51 am
‘Bye, College/Web Guy! Enjoy! The website updates rock–esp the ordering-without-leaving-the-page feature. Love that! Oh, and the currently-out-of-stock photos, too.
Sheri, from your descriptions of the kids, it’s obvious that you’ve given them both roots AND wings; a safe, happy place they love to come home to, and the confidence to walk out the door with a smile.
IOW, ya done good. And yeah, you know all this.
But right now, the cc cookies will definitely help.
Diane said,
August 24, 2007 @ 10:54 am
Wishing College Guy a Happy Send Off….especially with the Choc Chip Cookies!…my college guy left 2 weeks ago for training for his College Soccer team……but as long as they are happy is all that matters!
Have a great time at school….COLLEGE GUY! We’re all gonna miss ya!
Blogless Diane
penny said,
August 24, 2007 @ 10:58 am
to college guy: enjoy junior year… you’re over halfway done and you’ll miss it when it’s gone.
to mom: enjoy those taste tests!
Tracy said,
August 24, 2007 @ 11:06 am
Hmmm. Sounds like you need to make a trip to Starbucks and bring on the whipped cream and the whole shebang. And cast on a new sock. Just because. (or…maybe a lace project). Sheri, maybe you need an mp3 player and you can load a knitting podcast episode on it and listen to that as your “company” for your neighborhood walks (I know, not the same as having College Guy with you, but….don’t give up your walks!).
Michele in Maine said,
August 24, 2007 @ 11:10 am
I feel guilty to report that I love it when my daughter starts school again. She’s only going in to 4th grade, though, and I might feel differently if it were college in another state. For me, as a working full-time single mom, summer is a jigsaw puzzle of camps, babysitters, play-dates and occasional vacation days (by me). The day after Labor day I put her on the bus at 7:15 and breathe a sigh of relief – another summer survived in vacationland!
Kim B. said,
August 24, 2007 @ 11:14 am
College Guy … enjoy your school year. These are some of the BEST years of your life. We love the work you do on the website and I know your mom appreciates you so much…but leave some time to have fun!
Patricia said,
August 24, 2007 @ 11:15 am
I know just how you feel. My oldest is now married and living in another state and my baby is just starting her senior year of high school. I never understood those parents who could not wait for their kids to leave. I like the people mine have become and I want to keep them….
Anniebananie said,
August 24, 2007 @ 11:25 am
College Guy – enjoy and study hard for soon you will have to enter the “real world”.
And Sheri, I kind of understand how you feel. My son starts 1st grade on September 4 this year. I can hardly believe it. It seems like just yesterday that he was this blob of a baby in my arms… now he is a kid – where did the time go, and what happened to my baby boy???
Angie said,
August 24, 2007 @ 11:26 am
My mother did pretty good when she dropped me off at Purdue that one day so long ago. Well, she did good till she went grocery shopping which we always did together. I have this thing about making sure groceries get put away into the right places. The first time she had to do it by herself, she just made it in house where she proceeded to sit down on the kitchen floor and have herself a good cry. My grandmother later told me.
Grams – Marty, what’s wrong?
Mom (sobbing hysterically) – Angie always brings in the groceries and I miss her so much.
To this day, if Mom knows that I’m coming to visit, she will put off the shopping till I get there.
Lisa said,
August 24, 2007 @ 11:27 am
College Guy – Have a great year at school! Be safe, be smart, and be happy.
And to Sheri – Peanut M&M’s work well, too!
Amy said,
August 24, 2007 @ 11:31 am
Best wishes on another successful year College/Web Guy! I certainly appreciate all you’ve done to make this a great website!! I can’t wait to try your mom’s chocolate chip cookie recipe out! I’m making some for my brother. Now, he’s out of college, but he recently stayed with me for a while and we haven’t hung out that much in years and got a lot closer as a result. I miss him a lot. So, I plan to surprise him with some of those cookies (and test them out myself, of course, lol…).
And, Sheri, enjoy every moment of the weekend before he leaves… : )
debbie said,
August 24, 2007 @ 11:36 am
have a wonderful semester college guy! Sheri, i know what it’s like since my own college guy will be leaving next week – but we have christmas to look forward to! i’m afraid i also depend on my son when it comes to computer issues – my husband is worse than me in that category….have a nice weekend!
Kristin G. said,
August 24, 2007 @ 11:37 am
I think College Guy is my age… if you compare the average age of people in certain years of school. If I wasn’t already married, I would pursue him… it would be fabulous to marry into the Loopy family!
My MIL is a machine knitter, which isn’t nearly as fun 
Eat as many chocolate chip cookies as you need… and if you can hack it in this heat, hit up Starbucks as well… and revel in the fact that CG comes home for summers! (I never did, my poor mom).
Janice said,
August 24, 2007 @ 11:43 am
Maybe we can meet half way and eat cookies; drink lattes and commiserate??? Oh, and knit. Of course we would knit. Then we’d both feel right as rain. (Well, maybe not, but we would at least feel sad together….)
Theo said,
August 24, 2007 @ 12:04 pm
Isn’t it wonderful to have a son (and daughter for you) that you enjoy so much, that you LIKE and would if you met them elsewhere. All aside from the intense love. .. What a gift!
Enjoy College Guy! You do awesome work and we all appreciate it.
Terry said,
August 24, 2007 @ 12:13 pm
This is what I’ll be feeling in a couple of years w. my son? Oh gosh, don’t think I can handle it
Well lotsa thanks to College Guy for keeping the site sooooo interesting. Bet the summer went by toooooo fast for you.
Emily said,
August 24, 2007 @ 12:20 pm
Instead of Starbucks, I recommend Cold Stone Creamery to take away the blues (and add on the calories.)
At least College/Web guy still comes home for the summer! I guess he’s has to for his summer job as your at home web admin!
freecia said,
August 24, 2007 @ 12:35 pm
Ciao ciao web guy! Hope you have a good start to the school year!
Laurie said,
August 24, 2007 @ 12:39 pm
Have a great year at school, College Guy!! I join others in thanking you for all you do for us crazy Loopy customers to make our shopping experience such a delight!
Hang in there, Mom…It is so nice to know that you have such a wonderful relationship with your kiddos and hate to see them have to go back to school. Enjoy making/eating those CC cookies and eat one for me too!
Mickie Taylor said,
August 24, 2007 @ 12:51 pm
Good luck at school College Guy. You make your mom proud of you. And all of us Loopy Groupies have come to depend on you so much. I always hated to see my kids go back to school too. Hang in there Sherri and know will be thinking of you. It might be time for a pepermint latte. Hugs
Monica said,
August 24, 2007 @ 1:04 pm
Have a great school year college guy. Thanks for all the great work you do on the website. I love all the improvements you have made this summer.
Sheri , have several cookies, it will make you feel better.
Lou said,
August 24, 2007 @ 1:20 pm
Hope College Guy/Web Guy has a great Junior year! He’s done an wonderful job with the website — as far as I can tell. I’m sure you will miss him, but soon, it will be Fall Break or one of those weekends when he comes home because he misses his family and wants a home-cooked meal.
)
Enjoy the chocolate chip cookies — sounds like a great rememdy for loneliness to me.
Mrs. H said,
August 24, 2007 @ 1:33 pm
Mine aren’t even in college yet and I miss them when they go back to school.
*HUGS* to you, Sheri. Glad I’m not the only mom who hates the beginning of a new school year. I’ve actually had people call me crazy for this. Now I know I’m in good company!
And have a great junior year College Guy/Web Guy. Call your mom often. She misses you when you’re at school.
melissaknits said,
August 24, 2007 @ 1:46 pm
poignant, kids are, aren’t they?
DataGoddess said,
August 24, 2007 @ 1:59 pm
Sheri, if he’s anywhere near Indianapolis, let me know and I’ll try to keep an eye on him
My husband started school this week (which is how I know WebGuy isn’t at Purdue), but he commutes so I get to see him every day.
*hugs*
Beth said,
August 24, 2007 @ 2:06 pm
(waving) Have a great school year, and thank you for all your hard work on the website!
I am NOT looking forward to the days that my kids leave home. I’ve got a while since they’re only 2 1/2 and 7 months, but still, every time I think about it I have to stop before I get really upset. Maybe it’ll get easier over time.
Hariamrit said,
August 24, 2007 @ 2:11 pm
Bye Web Guy. Enjoy your colleges years, they are some of the best. And thanks for all your hard work on the web site. You have done a wonderful job.
Melissa B. said,
August 24, 2007 @ 2:27 pm
Have a great year at college Web Guy! Thanks for making some really cool changes to the site! (P.S. Welcome back to Indiana!)
Meg said,
August 24, 2007 @ 2:35 pm
Back to high school for a week already! (gasp)
They recently passed a law that school can’t start til after Labor Day in Michigan, so mine are home for another week and a half. Although, I do have to say I enjoy getting ready for school with my daughter – and going out the door with her rather than leaving her waving on the porch.
Enjoy the start of a new year CG! Sheri, make sure you have some cookies on his first day, too.
Theresa P. said,
August 24, 2007 @ 2:46 pm
Cheer up, Sheri. Only 84 days until Thanksgiving break and we get to see our college kids again! Start marking your calendar (like I do). I had to wave goodbye to my girls last weekend as they headed back for their senior year at UF (Go Gators!). But I just think about how much fun fall semester is — the football, the weather, the excitement of being back — and I feel better knowing they are having the time of their lives. (I remember when)
Waving ‘bye to College Guy. Have a great fall and thanks for all your hard work this summer. We yarnies truly appreciate you!
Melissa said,
August 24, 2007 @ 2:48 pm
college guy-have a great semester, have fun, but not too much fun!
Sheri-hang in there, Thanksgiving is right around the corner and then it is Christmas!
Oh man I better start my christmas knitting, I’m behind….
Puring Sprite said,
August 24, 2007 @ 2:50 pm
Enjoy your school year CG! Remember us loopies
meg said,
August 24, 2007 @ 3:00 pm
My turn to have you in my late night prayers, Sheri.
Natalie said,
August 24, 2007 @ 3:01 pm
Make extra cookies for yourself, it sounds like you’ll need ‘em.
Sue J. said,
August 24, 2007 @ 3:05 pm
Best wishes for another excellent year at school, College Guy/WebGuy. Thanks so much for making it so easy to enjoy all the fibery goodness from your Mom’s business. Do you really know how many happy people there are because of all your hard work and everyone at LE? Tons! Heaps! Yup, couldn’t get along with it. I know what it’s like when a son goes off to school, so give your Mom an extra hug.
amy said,
August 24, 2007 @ 3:08 pm
Very curious which school College Guy attends, as I went to a small college in Indiana many moons ago. I just found out about a month ago that my mom got physically sick the day I left for field hockey camp my freshman year of college.
It all turned out OK, though.
Junior year was by far my favorite year of college. Good times…..
Beth said,
August 24, 2007 @ 3:18 pm
We so appreciate them when they’re here…but not nearly so much as we do once they’re gone, yes?!? Just sent off my second to school last weekend. He, (as opposed to his I-can’t-wait-to-be-out-of-this-house brother), is still my buddy and is faithfully calling/texting me with progress reports, random comments, and requests to yell at him to get up for his Algebra class! I know once he starts making more friends that will dwindle, but perhaps by then I’ll be more used to walking past his empty bedroom…serious bummer. Empathy, empathy!!
Joni said,
August 24, 2007 @ 3:23 pm
Hmmm, I was thinking how you might comfort yourself with yarn…I think I came up with a new way! You could take some of your stash and use it as padding under the covers of College Guy’s bed. Then when you walk by the slightly open door to his room, you can pretend he’s just sleeping the day away. ha ha ha
Trish said,
August 24, 2007 @ 3:29 pm
Great big hugs to you Sheri…..I know it’s gonna be tough but it won’t be long before he’s home for the holidays.
Have fun at school College Guy/Web Guy!
Nancy said,
August 24, 2007 @ 3:59 pm
Have a good year college guy–your Jr. year will be much easier than the Soph year and don’t forget to call your mom pretty often.
Denise said,
August 24, 2007 @ 4:09 pm
Bye-bye College Guy! Keep up the great work on the web site!
When my own college guy heads back (Boiler Up!), the thing I most notice is our dramatic reduction in milk and cereal consumption. It will only get worse next year when “senior in high school son” leaves, too. My BABY!! Tonight is our last “opening football game of the season”, ever. I think that the whole school year will be like that. Our last……, ever.
Must knit as a diversion. If it would just cool off a little.
Castiron said,
August 24, 2007 @ 4:13 pm
Michele in Maine, you’re not alone; I’m also looking forward to school starting (Monday!), as is my son. A whole day in the office, able to actually concentrate on work without being interrupted every few minutes!
(Though all this talk of kids moving away is making me miss my mom. I’ll go email her now.)
Joan Callaway said,
August 24, 2007 @ 5:07 pm
Junior year…that’s when the fun begins, when you get to take the courses you really came to college to take, where your interests really take hold. Have a great year, College Guy! We sent one grandchild off to UCBerkeley last Sunday as a Freshman (semester system so starting early). We have another one starting at UCDavis (quarter system). I remember well eating my share of chocolate chip cookies when an earlier generation left home for college a couple of states away. Thanksgiving couldn’t come soon enough!
Joan
Liz said,
August 24, 2007 @ 5:11 pm
*sniffle* I got a lump in my throat… I feel for you, loopy Mom!
i’m sitting here with my 8 year old and 5 month old and I know I’ll feel the same when they go off to college. Heck, i get weepy when my guy is gone 8 hours a day at school!
You’re so blessed with two beautiful, talented, smart, LOOPY children! Have a good weekend.
Wendy said,
August 24, 2007 @ 5:35 pm
Bye, Web/College Guy! Us Loopy Groupies are happy to know that you’re still there looking out for the website. Have a great junior year!
Anon. said,
August 24, 2007 @ 6:20 pm
Goodbye and good luck!
Hang in there, Sheri!
I start high school on Monday… I’m getting a wee bit nervous about it (wait, that’s an understatement…)
rohanknitter said,
August 24, 2007 @ 6:42 pm
Hang in there!
It’s so nice to read posts from people who are actually going to miss their kids being at school. (even though I know it’s hard) : )
Lynn said,
August 24, 2007 @ 7:29 pm
My kids are just 7 and 3, but my brother is 6 years older than I am. So I had just started Jr. High when he went off to college. Man i remember how much I hated his empty room..though I did enjoy FINALLY having the remote control!
Thanks for your email about yarns like STR. I appreciate it!
Karen in Toledo said,
August 24, 2007 @ 8:51 pm
*waving* Have a great year, Web Guy! thanks for all the hard work you did to make our shopping easier!
I take my kids to the school district where I work. They aren’t in my building, but only 5 min. away from me. We drive in together every day, and I am waiting outside their school every afternoon when they walk out.
Bonnie said,
August 24, 2007 @ 8:55 pm
Have a great semester, College Guy! And, Sheri, I hope your daughter has a great year, too.
My College Daughter stayed at school over the summer and worked. Luckily, she’s only 90 minutes away so we can see her often, but it’s not the same as having her home. {sniff}
Zonda said,
August 24, 2007 @ 9:14 pm
Bye CG have a great year! Thanks for all your hard work this summer, I know your Mom (and all us loopies did) Take care!
Sheri, eat a CC cookie for me! Next year it will be my first year of sending my CG off!
Melissa said,
August 24, 2007 @ 9:23 pm
Thank you Web Guy for making my shopping and stalking a much more enjoyable experience this past summer. I hope you can find the time to make the wish list option.
Have a great semester!
Sheri – Bless your heart. Just thinking of my little 17 month old son going off to college 17 years from now makes me so sad. Hope you can go visit and talk on the phone often!
minnie said,
August 24, 2007 @ 10:05 pm
after hearing you boohoo about the kids going back to school, i’m almost ashamed to admit i celebrated them going back (PSYCHE! of course i’m not ashamed to admit it! this was our first summer together since the guys were little bitty things. it was a trial. to say the least).
safe trip college guy! don’t eat ALL those cookies at once !
NewJerseyLaura said,
August 24, 2007 @ 10:19 pm
I agree. This is the worst time of the year. This year we’re all really draggin’ So to cheer us all up, a family knitting night!!! (well, for me that would be great). But seriously we’re adopting a dog that needs a home. At least that’s one happy thing to think about while packing those blasted lunches and filling in the calendar.
NewJerseyLaura said,
August 24, 2007 @ 10:21 pm
P.S. College in Indiana…hmmm…well due to family ties I can say that I really hope he’s a happy boilermaker or hoosier. My DD is applying now.
Gina said,
August 24, 2007 @ 10:50 pm
I must be a terrible mother…I’ve always thought of the first day of school as Independence Day! But they’re all grown up and lots of fun so maybe they didn’t notice. Can’t WAIT for Wendy’s patterns to go up……
Amy said,
August 24, 2007 @ 11:08 pm
Good luck College Guy! You’re farther along than I am (and I’m betting he’s a Hoosier, the campus near us starts next week).
Wendy in Cambridge said,
August 24, 2007 @ 11:13 pm
Bye, CG–have a great junior year! You did an incredible job with the website, for which we all thank you.
Sheri, I’m thinking of you. Eat lots of cookies!
Phoebe said,
August 25, 2007 @ 1:41 am
Gosh it brings back fond memories of being in college. Enjoy your Junior Year, CG or also Loopy Offspring. Hope you were sent off with many dozens of cookies and other delectables from mom.
Hattie said,
August 25, 2007 @ 2:08 am
I can’t imagine sending my kids off to college…
My son is only 2 and people keep asking about kindergarten! I’m amazed how quickly they grow up and are off to school…I don’t like it.
Well, bye college guy, have fun in school!
Fiona said,
August 25, 2007 @ 3:06 am
Hi Sheri my heart goes out to you-My boys are only 9 & 5 but when Toby goes to school camp for 3 days I am bereft! Hope College Guy has a great time and that the chocolate chip cookies sustain you!
Michelle Martino said,
August 25, 2007 @ 7:39 am
Sheri, you tug at my heartstrings each time I read a post of your “babe hittin’ the bricks” ;( Mine is a h.s sophmore this year but I just know I’ll blink and his time to fly the coop will be upon me. Talk about bittersweet! UGH!! thank God we have a wonderful lifeline like knitting to keep us sane!
Joanna said,
August 25, 2007 @ 10:32 am
Have fun at school College Guy…study hard, take time to relax, and hurry home so your Mom gets out of her funk…
Melissa said,
August 25, 2007 @ 12:51 pm
Sheri,
I just baked up those chocolate chip cookies, and they are a superior chocolate chip cookie, as promised.
Maybe if my parents had started a cookie ritual for the first day of school, I wouldn’t have hated school so much. Of course it didn’t stop me from going until I was 24, but still.
The good news is that if you raised kids that you love being around, you did a good job. The bad news is that you miss them when they’re not around.
Tamara said,
August 25, 2007 @ 1:11 pm
Have a great year back at school, College/Web Guy! And, Sheri, Christmas vacation will be here before you know it!
Marianne Y said,
August 25, 2007 @ 2:43 pm
I know it’s hard to let them leave to go back to college.
My college son had to leave Thursday morning to go back because he had to be at work at 6:00 Thursday evening, with his audio job. Since it is such a long drive (450 miles) thru some country that while it is really beautiful, it is really wilderness, etc, I have him call me periodically along the trip, so that I know he is doing ok, etc. He’s kind of funny when he’s driving sometimes, in that he knows that I can come up with answers quickly for him on the Internet, whether for an alternate route because of traffic problems, construction, etc (I’ve been known to answer my cell phone, “Mommy’s Mapping Service”) or whatever. Thursday, an error code for his air conditioning in his older model car popped up, and I had answers quickly for that, too. Fortunately, just stopping & restarting the engine rebooted its computer. 
My guy was home just two weeks this summer–one at the beginning & one at the end, because he went to summer school all summer & worked up there.
Please send my best wishes to your College Guy for a great school year! I can remember from my junior year, that it was really busy, with course load, but the courses were finally fun in my major and related subjects. College Guy, you have done a great job with the web site. We’ll miss you. We know that you’ll help your mom troubleshoot any problems with it long distance! Hugs to you both! Take care!
Marianne Y said,
August 25, 2007 @ 2:47 pm
Sheri, I forgot to tell you that when College Guy leaves, maybe you can talk WH into going to Cold Stone Dairy to get you a nice frozen treat to go with your Chocolate Chip Cookies! And, at least KD is still living at home for another year! Hugs to you all!
Stacey said,
August 25, 2007 @ 6:49 pm
Good luck at school College Guy! Study hard!
And Sheri, maybe you can console yourself with yarn? It usually helps me!
Kelli said,
August 25, 2007 @ 11:13 pm
This Hoosier gal is happy to welcome Web Guy back to Indiana. Surely with his mere presence all of our computers will act better.
Capi in the Arizona High Country said,
August 26, 2007 @ 12:07 am
Waving bye bye to College Guy…..study hard, make your parents proud, but have a good time too….there is always that delicate balance…..Capi
Marsha said,
August 26, 2007 @ 2:54 pm
College Guy, the web site is awesome, so you must be really great! Western State College starts here tomorrow, and we live just across the street. We enjoy having the students here and it always energizes town to have them around. Have a good time.
Sheri, squeeze some soffft yarn…..
Dawn said,
August 26, 2007 @ 8:21 pm
*hugs*
It could be worse – he could go to a co-op school and never go home again because you’re either working or going to school all year long. That’s what I did.
I know that probably doesn’t help, but remember the summer you had and knit.
This week, I’m at “would 1st grade please start already!” so I’m not quite there with you, but I took the first two weeks of school off from work so I could be here if my daughter needs me. I guess we’re not that far apart in concern for our kids starting school again.
Cynthia said,
August 26, 2007 @ 8:53 pm
I feel your pain. Our son is a junior in high school this year and we are just dreading when he leaves home in a couple of years for college.
Shannon said,
August 28, 2007 @ 12:16 pm
Yay!! Indiana!