Sorry o/t but I laughed so hard i choked! HAHAHAHA Susan, Thank you for everything! These boards have been a life-saver for me and I had no idea they cost money to keep up with.

I also wouldn't use them again. They quoted me one price, then when they came to do the job, they didn't do everything they said they would do, and charged me more than the quote, stating they didn't realize how involved the job would be (I was being cited for some downed sheds on my property when I first moved in.) I had explained to them exactly what I had and approximate sizing of what it seemed the sheds were while standing. I also agree that the workers weren't very professional while here.

Yes. Same as the above poster. I disliked it, but it works. The hardest thing is when you're at Walmart and spending from the clothing budget and the food budget and you have to figure it all out either before you get to the register or when you get home. Other than that, it really isn't hard, just takes a little planning, and telling the bank teller "I want 3 $20s, two $10s and 5 $5s." LOL

What is Spalding? And thanks for the encouragement!

Okay, some of you know my kids are still in school. It didn't make sense to pull them for two months with the school system already on my back and all the paperwork involved. Anyway, I have been "after schooling" I guess you would call it. Getting really involved with what they're learning in school and supplementing when I can/have the time to. One of the things I have been doing is having them read the homework out loud to me - so for example if it's not a reading lesson, they have to read me the instructions. They skip words they don't know or mumble them to themselves. They can usually get the gist of what's being said, but don't try to sound out the word they don't know. When I was homeschooling them before, we always did that. So i asked them why they don't anymore and they said the teachers don't let them try, they just say the word the kid didn't get. I guess that's the "whole word" method. But it irks me. The other thing that gets me is the writing. First of all, "kid writing" sends me over the edge. But just the way the letters are formed is driving me insane. They don't teach HOW to form letters. As long as you can make the letter look something like a b, then that's okay. you can start in the middle of the bubble if you want to, if it looks like a b, then it's correct. SHEESH! I'm going to have to teach my 5th grader cursive (because she opted out without my permission, which they don't need), 3rd grader how to form b's and d's, and also how to sound out words (which he all already knew, but picked up some bad habits) and my little guy, the 1st grader, I don't even know where to start. He has no phonics at all. He's learned how to form his letters all wrong. It's just awful. I'm gonna spend a year un-doing all of this. *Warning - pity party ahead* WHY did I send them to school???!!! Granted, I thought it was the only decision at the time, but boy if I could turn back the clock... Thanks for reading.

That is so ME. for anything! :)

Me, too. Thought i was the only one. the description fits me perfectly, especially the part about being people focused. I tend to live my life around other people, and that's because it makes me happy to do that. When people ask me what do you want, what do you like? I think, whatever you want. Not because I can't make a decision, but because i'm happy when you're happy :)

Don't talk to me about weather. It snowed and iced overnight. It's 30 degrees (which is our high). Boo! It has my mood all messed up. Good news is this should be the coldest it gets for a while.

i think it was done purposefully. even the music was a downer. and their mascara was white, taking even more color out of their faces, the black rose petals... the girls in a circle reminiscent of a witch movie (please don''t hate on me for that, it's just what came to mind.) but seriously, it looked intentional to have the models look like that. so sad.

yes, the rings around the ear are removable. that's actually the FIRST thing i do is take them off, they mess with my glasses :)

coosh have worked well for us. i have three littles, and so far, only one pair broke because someone stepped on them. but normal wear and tear, none have fallen apart in the 3+ years I have been using them so far.

This feels like a silly question, but if you have a brand of pencil that doesn't break as you're sharpening it, or where the led doesn't just fall out of the pencil, can you post it here? We have such a problem with pencils and sharpening, it seems to take up more time than the actual work! Thanks ;)

I also agree that it's fine. My kids spent some time in ps, and they don't start history until 4th grade. So anything before that puts them ahead :)

Sounds great! Sending prayers your way :)

The Pocono region. :)