I don't think this is any different than other big events. Prices are usually much higher during major events.

I don't think I've ever seen someone wear a tux as a guest when it wasn't a black tie affair. But since it isn't an immediate family member, like my dh or son, I wouldn't say a word.

I'm not sure I understand. Are people planning to come to the reception that weren't invited? And if so, how did they know when and where?

This!!!!! Teachers are expected to do continuing ed on their own dime and time. If they made more, it might make sense, but they are not paid wages commiserate with their job. And double yes to survival mode! Teachers work way beyond their contracted hours AND the parents and school system still want more out of them. Ask me why I no longer teach.

I'm sorry you are suffering but am glad you are well enough to be online. I'm also glad that you have family that can help out.

Agree 100%. We need to RAISE standards for all students, not lower them. We already outsource too much due to our LOW standards in math.

We went through this with dh's dad. I lived in fear that he would kill someone in another car in an accident. And what that would cost dh's parents. It could easily wipe away their retirement funds. Let alone the criminal liability of involuntary manslaughter. Fil is now deceased but before he died, mil's attitude was that he enjoyed driving and no one should be able to take that away from him. He was in Texas. My therapist called adult services in his county to report the issue but he passed a few weeks later, so they only had one visit from them, and were contacting the doctor to fill out paperwork to submit to the state. At that point, I didn't care if they knew I was behind it. What mattered was their safety AND the safety of others.

Would the doctor do it? I'd rather go for that 2-3 months than do nothing. Especially if the keys can't magically disappear.

OH is a state where a physician or rehab facility can fill out a form for the BMV & they will investigate for canceling one's driver's license. From what I've heard, it's not a lengthy process.

I want it to be easy to figure out if they welcome/accept ALL people and not just tolerate the LGBTQ community. If I can't figure that out within a minute of being on the site, I'm done. After the above: I want to see their statement of faith, worship style/schedule, and small group information. I want to see pictures, which might indicate if a congregation is truly diverse and appeals to various age groups. I want to see an up-to-date calendar. I want to see what they do for community outreach.

I'd extend the school year before I'd drop field trips or social activities. Both are important.

That has to be hard. At least she graduates soon & that part will be over.

I take trazodone for insomnia. It's at a lower dose than what someone with depression takes. It's made a world of difference for me. I used to "think" for hours in bed. Now, I'm asleep within 20 minutes.

I've not seen those. We used to live in TN and would drive through from Nashville to Chatty. I don't object to them. I've just not seen them. Thanks for sharing the pic!

I've never seen this type of thing in any rest area in the U.S. I've seen real toilets. Mostly in the south, mid-Atlantic, Ohio, and Texas.

Same here!

Dh is counting on fully self-driving cars by the time it isn't safe for him to drive anymore. I figure he's got 20 years for that...

((((((Wendy)))))

Yes! It was a small town when my parents moved us there in1969. People moved there to raise their children in an economically, racially, and religiously diverse city. I was clueless that it wasn't normal until I went to college in Southern Maryland. Although, I did take a bus to high school 😉. The interfaith centers were incredible for supporting religious diversity. I hope they are still that way. I wish I could have raised my children somewhere like Columbia.

It is ridiculous!!! I'm thinking about the people who you employ to help you when you aren't there... it's nice that they have a way to make an income!

Maybe? I suppose we'll pay cash, but it will likely be most of what we get for the house we sell. When we downsize, I will want the house to be new or very close to it so that we aren't dealing with more than maintenance for a long while. That said, we currently have almost 4000 sq. ft. plus a finished basement. I'm in my late 50s, dh will be 60 in a few days. We hope to be able to manage this house for another 20 years. We love our space and our backyard is amazing. And our youngest will likely live with us until we can't help him & he needs to move in with his brother OR we find a way for him to live on his own with support. We like him having the finished basement so he can hang out on his own, without his parents all of the time.

I'm retired half the year and working half the year. But not in halves. I work for about 2.5 months out of every election season for the BOE. When I'm not in one of those seasons, I'm still busy. I'm very active in Rotary, a women's auxiliary for the children's hospital, and other things in our community. I serve on the Rotary board, which is almost like a part-time job at times. I try to tackle big projects during the off-season, as well as any regular appointments. And catch up with friends for more lunches than I can do during the season. I don't imagine changing much of that until I can't. Dh still has 8-10 years until he will retire. He enjoys many of the same volunteer activities as I do. We will travel while we still can.

Others have already explained "how" the bail might have been met or why it was dropped. Why not keep him in jail? For a petty crime, with little physical risk to society, it can simply be a matter of jail space.

I wonder if part of that is access to decent seafood in the grocery store. I've had a hard time finding what I want in Ohio.

We'll have that issue from time to time. Usually for clorox cleaning wipes.