We got rid of our landline and bluetooth our phones to our landline phones when we are home so we don't have to talk on the cell phone if we get or need to make a call. It's so nice not to get the solicitor calls anymore!

I was swimming in the ocean at 8 by myself so I am with you. 10 is old to need a parent right there.

I'm probably a 3 or 4. I am a lazy dresser, yoga pants, lots of workout wear even though I don't work out. I am all about comfort. I wear a little makeup if I know I will see someone I know when out and about. I think I may be more girly at heart but am too lazy to do it. :tongue_smilie: I wait way too long between pedicures, haircuts, and updating waredrobe, but I love when it's done and I look nice.

:iagree: I agree with this. I remember parents of my friends, 25 years ago, saying this when it was time for me to go home. I was latch key, so I am sure my friend's parents were dealing with me not wanting to leave. lol It never bothered me as a kid. I just went home.

Funny, I have had 5 or 6 friends (and their families) leave southern CA for new jobs in other states, some listed on the best list. Makes me think we should move too. It's so expensive here. The most successful turnouts were WA, with a job at Amazon that popped up on LinkedIn, CO, and MD.

:iagree: This. We do have a housekeeper that comes once a month that I pay for with my very part-time job. It's easier for me to do something that I'm good at and then pay someone to take care of what I'm not good at, cleaning bathrooms. :) That said, I still get burnt out on the daily cleaning. My DH works 50+ hours a week as well and he does NOTHING around the house. He also leaves his stuff everywhere. It is beyond annoying but I can't imagine having to work a corporate job 50+ hours a week. I would be miserable and freak out on anyone asking me to clean when I got home.:tongue_smilie:

I purposely sign my boys up for activities so we will leave the house. Otherwise I can be a complete hermit, just going out when absolutely necessary. It just doesn't seem healthy, so I schedule us out of the house. The boys love their activities. It's a win-win.

I took photos of a few random houses that I liked when we were planning our front landscaping. My DH is very visual, so I had to show him exactly what I liked.

I pronounce the "T". I didn't realize there were Americans who didn't until I saw the movie Clueless as a teen. Britney Murphey's character keeps saying Elton, like El-en. No T sound at all. I knew British people didn't say them though.

Flat is in here, socal. It seems like boys want to wear flat rimmed hats withe oversized jerseys. It looks too gangsta wannbe for my tastes.

I'm with you. I am soooo over the snacks at games. If you kid wants a snack, bring it. I loathe buying snacks for the games. I also loathe how some parents go way over the top with snacks, and fill them with soda and candy.

Sure, tell the dad, but honestly, this shouldn't be a big deal. If the kids are nice enough, I'd entertain them for a half hour then take the 3 year old back and ask the babysitter to play outside with ALL the kids. She needs to do her job, but this is a non-issue. Nothing to stress over.

I'm at 22 weeks with #3 and I do have a lot more energy then my 1st tri. Weeks 11-14 were the toughest. I think we got take-out for a month.

How do they expect to have K'ers spelling "quack"? That is bizarre, imo. Most K's start the year barely being able to read, let alone spell. True, there are always kids that are more advanced but don't they usuallly start spelling in 1st, or at least when the teachers know the kids can actually READ?

Anything (especially media mail) that has to go through Bell Gardens, CA is at risk of being lost. I can't even buy books from here and have them ship media mail because Bell Gardens will lose them. http://www.complaintsboard.com/complaints/us-post-office-in-bell-california-den-of-theives-within-the-post-office-c371070.html

Our public school has about a 1000 kids attending and held their annual fundraiser already. They hit nearly 50k in two weeks! I've cut way back on work so we didn't even donate this year. I was happy to see those that could donate, did. I plan to take part in the smaller events and donate what we can. I also volunteer twice a week, so I feel less guilty about not donating yet.

I bottlefed both boys until they were 3 at night with a "dreamfeed." Neither of them have any cavities. I think genetics plays a huge part in dental cavities. I am only guessing but people have different enamel strengths, ect.

They only pay about 10% in IL, and pension benefits are based on the highest salary ever earned. I think it's safe to say that the tax payer pays the majority of the pensions going out, not teachers. Many pensions are above 50k per year!

If this is true, what the heck are they complaining about? This number doesn't even count the amount they well recieve in PENSION money when they retire. Can you imagine not having to save for retirement? Seeing that number makes me wish I had become a teacher.

Congratulations on your new baby boy!!!

You are ok with teaching your own kids to judge people by their looks? How incredibly shallow of you.

Congrats on the weight loss! I'd keep it, just because it's a hassle to return stuff.

AMEN to that!

The knock offs I have found at Target are thicker then the original Spanx. I can't wear the knock offs under pants, but they work great under skirts and dresses.

Both my CA native parents were in half years. My January dad started K in January and my August mom started K in September. Both started in 1955 and both graduated in 1968, my dad in the January, my mom in June. Too bad they got rid of that practice.