Mama Carol

I know what you mean. My youngest graduated in 1999. From 1974, before I was married, until 2012 I paid school taxes on at least one piece of Cobb County property and some years on two. From 1978 until 2012 I paid taxes on two pieces of property. Hubby turned 62 last month so if we had stayed up there, we would not have had to pay school taxes next year. Florida doesn't do that and we will always have to pay them here (unless the law gets changed).

I knew that at McEachern the band and the athletics were not necessarily supported by tax dollars but by foundation money. I am not sure but I thought that SPLOST money paid for the turf. Note to self: might want to research that one. My objection to artificial turf is that it does not contribute to helping a kid learn how to do algebra or how to learn to read. That is where the majority of the school funds need to be spent, not on glitz and glitter.

These are valid reasons for taking them. I'm talking about the parents who just drive their kids to school in spite of the bus (that goes to the school the kid does) stopping in front of the house. I know about that allergy thing. Someone on my bus wore "Ambush" one day. To say I'm allergic to it would be an understatement. But for my parents to have driven me to school was not acceptable either. Also, not possible as my dad had to be at work at 6 a.m. and my mom worked 3-11 so my sister and I had to get ourselves up and ready for school. We had no choice but to ride the bus. M

In that situation, driving them to school is what you gotta do. But when the bus literally stops in front of your house and you still drive them to school just doesn't make sense.

Yeah, they would probably have to add buses. In a lot of places the kids families DO have to pay for the privilege of riding the bus. And other places don't have buses at all. I just never got why anyone would drive their kid to school when the bus stops outside their house. Yeah, I understand that a lot of times it doesn't stop "right outside the house" but still why not drive the 1/10 mile to the bus stop instead of the 5 miles each way twice a day to the school. My kids went to the bus stop. The only time I ever took them to school was if the bus didn't come (and there were those

They always ask my husband a lot of questions about EXACTLY how much time he spent in England. I wasn't aware about Spain but then again, I haven't been out of the US so I just kind of glaze over when I get to that question.

We think alike. My oldest informed me the first day of middle school that she HAD to have leather Nikes. I told her she didn't. It was NOT required that she have them. She had all that was required (and then some). She would never have had leather Nikes if her biological mom hadn't paid for them. Turned out to be the worst thing she could have worn on her feet, too.

IMO, if the school system pays that much for buses, mechanics, bus drivers, etc then those new lanes on the street to accommodate all the cars which come to pick up and drop off the kids shouldn't be necessary. Charge a fee to drop off the little princess instead of putting her on a bus. Seems wrong for the taxpayers to foot the bill for the buses AND the turn lane. Never have figured out how a crystal chandelier, marble floors and artificial turf contribute to a child's quality basic education especially when the percentage of students going into college have to take remedial courses

Yes, that's what they are teaching the kids.

Been to England for an extended period, huh?

Why the hell can't they? It's not like they don't get plenty of money.

Hard to pay for classroom supplies and still pay paper pushers six figure salaries. Teachers do get to deduct $250 in supplies on their tax return, whether or not they itemize. I've had non-teachers try to deduct it.

I guess it's open to interpretation. That state, Pennsylvania I think, says that a coupon where an item is free or discounted it has a different price and that the tax should be collected on that. I wouldn't have thought twice about tax being collected on an item I got free with the purchase of another one. I would have thought twice about paying 21 cents tax on an item that was less than $3. That's a very high tax rate.

Congrats Grandma! What is it with these younger mothers and looking so good just after giving birth? I looked like death warmed over after I grunted and groaned having my bundle of joy.

If it is used in the classroom, it should be provided by the school system. Parents should not have to provide a way for the dry erase board to be cleaned unless they have provided their own child with a dry erase board. I always felt this was just an attempt to get the parents to provide supplies that in all reality the school system should be supplying. Besides, alcohol works much better to clean a dry erase board than anything else.

I'm alive because of blood donations so there is no need to Google anything. Oh, and that is MY blood donations, not transfusions. Transfusions do have risks. But I did Google "risks of donating blood" just for fun. There are potential short-term side effects, however. These effects depend on the type of product being donated, your body's tolerance to the procedure, your overall health and your previous experiences with donations. Side effects can be minimized by being well-hydrated prior to donation, eating a well balanced meal before and after donation, and getting plenty of slee

Yes, the items the parents send in are for the use of all students, whether or not their parents have contributed. I actually wrote to the school board back in the early 1980s protesting having to buy school supplies for the classroom or having to pay a supply fee for elementary school. I refused to do either. I told the board that I was paying property taxes on two pieces of property within the county and in my opinion, I was paying enough without having to drop another $25 or so for classroom supplies that my children may or may not use. I can see the paper, pencils, etc but ZIPLOC

My hubby's main vehicle since 1990 has been a straight shift. First a Nissan pick up, then later a Saturn Sky AND a Nissan pick up. When he drives either his Silverado or my Kia, both automatics, I have to remind him "no clutch". You should see him in the Kia trying to remember that one, it doesn't have a clutch and two, the gear shift is in the floor not on the column.

Such as? You're not putting anything INTO your body other than just a fraction of an inch of a sterile needle. I've donated 60 times. Not likely but certainly possible. Since the cause of most cancers is not known, it would be difficult to say without question yes, or no.

Lowering iron levels in the body helps reduce cancer risk, particularly the risk of liver and pancreatic cancer. It also helps reduce cardiovascular problems and reduces the risk of diabetes.

I wholeheartedly believe it does help extend your lifespan. My dad was a regular donor until he retired, after which he never again donated blood. He died about 17 months after he retired. I honestly don't believe he would have lived that long had he not been a donor. I donate every time I can. Hope to go next week and give a pint. I'm needing it.

I know what you mean. I have a famous distant relative and several times I have met people who claimed to be related to him but were not related to any of his family. I'd ask "are you a descendant of his brother Paul or his sister Anne?" Nope, neither. "Well, how about brother John or sister Mary?" Nope. OK. "How about brother George or sister Sue?" Nope. Well, guess what, he only had three brothers and three sisters and if you're not descended from any of them, you're not related to him. Besides, they don't look like the family. And yes, we all have a common physical feature.

That's a starting place at least. You never know what you might find. I wouldn't give up. Maybe someday soon every person can get their father's DNA not just males. I'm sure it's in the works. BTW, this might be just my opinion but your adoptive family IS your family, whether or not they are your biological family. It certainly wouldn't be "lying" to do a family tree on your FAMILY. They accepted you into their family as their own. I understand the need to know the biological/genetic side but you have a family who obviously loves you. Accept them.

I really hate this for you. I can't imagine not knowing about my blood relatives. HUGS!!!!!!!! Do you have a name for your father??? Even that would be a place to start looking. I can understand the state not unsealing adoption records but if you have a name, even of a relative, that would be a place to start. Research that and see what you find. Just don't give up!!

You can get any public records. You may have to pay a fee for the records but you can get them. It might not be much to go on, but it would give a starting point. At some point in the near future, females will have the ability to be tested for paternal lineage. I'm sure that is being worked on now. So much has come about in the 20 years or so that DNA testing has been available.