Really lovely. Great job!! (I think it's a steal at $200.) :)

I work for myself (service-based small business). I do it mainly because I love the flexibility, and I enjoy the autonomy. I love using my own creativity and skills to propel things forward. I am very much a make-your-own-path kind of person, and I think I'd wither elsewhere. Yes, I could make more money in a standard teaching job, but then I would have to give up a lot--like homeschooling.

I did JA in grade 11 as an after school extra-curricular. I really enjoyed the experience. We had a neat little company going--the only downside was selling door-to-door, but we still made money. I was even chosen as the representative for my group to attend a big-city weekend conference. I don't remember there being any political affiliation, but I was only 17. It was very democratic and capitalistic.

I get sick from regular perfume, but I like some scented products that make use of essential oils. My favourite fragrance is the scent "Karma" in certain Lush products. Actually, I love a lot of the lighter scents at Lush.

Definitely the Junie B. Jones series. We read some together (and had many laughing & rolling around the bed moments) and then she read the entire rest of the series herself.

Ahhh, one of my favourite soap-boxes! I totally agree! I have no idea what has happened to audience etiquette, but I find it sorely lacking in many venues. I haven't run into any trouble at symphonies or professional musicals, but in other places? Yeesh. A couple of years ago, I attended a public school field trip with my dd's grade 3 class. We went to see a well-known Canadian children's singer (Fred Penner) in a large theatre. Well, not only did those kids have no idea how to behave at a concert, they were barely listening and had to make comments about being "bored". At the ends of songs, perhaps a third to half of the kids clapped. (I find that so rude!) Then, at the end (and this happens ALL the time in all kinds of shows) people started putting on their coats and gathering up their stuff so they could hightail it out at the last note, instead of going through the normal clapping for each performer and all the bows. I can't stand it! I remember one of my dd's school concerts, and there were *adults* in the audience chatting away while the kids performed. It was especially obnoxious during a small group playing a few recorder songs... so noticeable that I think even the performers were aware. I would imagine it hurt their feelings after all their hard work. Anyway, yes... yes... yes... :iagree:.

Great topic! The ones I was going to add off the top of my head are already on your list. I'll see if I come up with more after further consideration.

I agree with pp who think perhaps the OP is projecting her own insecurities onto others. I mean this in a gentle way, as something to consider. Is it possible that they're thinking something else entirely? I mean, how exactly do you know? Have they said as much? If not, maybe they're just w*tches that act kind of snotty to everyone. If you're thinking that every working mom looks at you that way, I just don't see that as possible or reasonable. Seriously, people wear a lot of different things... casual, fancy, racy, burkas, biker gear, punk hairdos, Amish dress... lots and lots of looks out there. I doubt you're being singled out. I pass by people and rarely give it a second thought, unless it's something like wearing a bikini in Walmart. Most of us know that insecure feeling where we just *know* everyone is staring because it's our bad hair day. Or because we have a stupid zit on our chin. Or because our teeth are more crooked than we would like, or we gained 10 pounds over the winter, or whatever. But, it's usually nothing but a self-defeating internal dialog, because people generally aren't even noticing. Just something to think about.

It's interesting, because I think a lot of people feel ready to practically give their stuff away, and yet if you look at the stuff posted on Craigslist/Kijiji, the prices are bizarre! I mean, do people really expect to get 50% of the price they paid for a used item? I can find *new* stuff for 50% off a lot of the time. I wish people would post items cheaply in the spirit of getting it out of their house while blessing another family. (P.S. I don't mean you, of course!)

The furniture? No problem. (As long as some little furniture fairy did all the moving in and out, and hanging of curtains and pictures and whatnot.) I would have to keep the piano, most of the books, all of my teaching and tutoring stuff, all the art supplies, some of my favourite kitchen gadgets, sentimental items... quite a bit, actually. I could probably get rid of about a third of the "items" if only I had someone to help me do it. I find it difficult to muster the energy to tackle it.

I agree that doesn't sound like bedbugs. Lucky! Almost certainly you will have an easier time dealing with just about anything else!

I think this is a good point!

From what I understand, once you've reacted, you may react more strongly each time. This is what happened to my dad. There is some type of lotion that you put on to form a "barrier" for the skin... maybe try that next time? As for right now... I wish I had a suggestion!

Not healthy? But it contains 40 roasted hazelnuts in every jar!!! :tongue_smilie:

I get the pine pellets or sometimes the cracked pine, and it's my favourite out of all the ones I've tried. I can't stand the clay litter. The pine smells pleasant, while the clay stuff makes me gag. Pine doesn't clump, but I don't find it to be a problem.

I must be weird, because I always look forward to it! :D Wait, I'm definitely weird--I also love to pull out and decipher the instructions to a new and complicated board game. :tongue_smilie:

I've dealt with this too, so I've definitely BTDT. My absolute favourite, sanity-saving site was the ACN forums: http://www.latitudes.org/forums/index.php?showforum=1 There are so many helpful, experienced, intelligent people there. I spent a lot of time reading, learning, and asking questions. It really helps to have people to talk to who have been there, and that board is full of them. Best of luck.

There's a CD called "The World's Very Best Opera For Kids". I only have a sample CD with a few of the songs, but we really like it. World class opera singers got together and recorded famous arias in English to enhance enjoyment for younger listeners. I second the idea of Phantom, if they can handle the scariness.

When am I *not* in the mood for guacamole? Also, on Sunday we will be having veggie sushi and Thai green curry, both of which I am very much in the mood for.

May I jump in here and ask for a bit of a description of this book? It sounds like something that could help some of my students. Thanks in advance!

School stuff: - finish math, if not yet done - finish history (will definitely not be done :) ) - dedicate significant time to a typing program - do a level of French - possibly start Latin - recorder Other stuff: - lots of read alouds, audio books, and silent reading - swimming lessons - do more involved projects (some on the horizon include making a solar oven, building stilts, and doing some entrepreneurial things) - lots of outdoor play - camping - lots of festivals - gardening

:iagree:Yep--wouldn't have it any other way. :)

Sure! The two I have right now are the Pilot Hi-tecpoint V7 Grip and the Pentel EnerGel (needle tip 0.7mm) with "liquid gel ink". Hope that helps!

When I have students with this problem, I have them use a very flowy gel-ink (liquid) pen. It has to be good quality, otherwise the ink skips, which is frustrating. Because such light pressure is needed to get a flow, this trains the hand quickly. It also reduces the drag you get with pencil lead, so it's easier on the muscles and the experience is more pleasant. As a bonus, the writing is in a pretty colour. I know some people don't like the fact that you can't erase, but I personally have no problem with the child either drawing a line through a mistake or using a white-out roller.

I'm getting to 40, but I feel young, enjoy young things, and am still young in my head. The one thing that gives it away is that I'm all like: "Man, KIDS these days!!" when teenagers are doing their teenage stuff. :tongue_smilie: