Blady

Cursive writing is still a required standard by the state of Georgia beginning in third grade. It is introduced that year, then continued in fourth. It is not part of the Common Core, but was / is part of the Georgia Performance Standards, which are combined with the Common Core to form the CCGPS. After fourth grade, it is up to each teacher to at least expose students to cursive (or not), though I do not believe it is required. That would be why older students can't read cursive or write their names - it isn't that they "never" learned it, it is that they forgot it since they haven't used

We took my parents for brunch and it was terrible. Food was so/so and lukewarm, service was bad. What a shame, because we, too, like to support local businesses.

They were still going at 11:30pm in Bentwater. I believe in celebrating our freedom (though I'd rather shake a soldier's hand than blow something up), but when my honey has to wake up super early to go to work the next day, I get a little perturbed.

Cursive writing IS still taught in public schools in Georgia. It is a third grade (and maybe fourth grade?) standard. Because it isn't assessed on the CRCT, most teachers teach it the last quarter of the year. If students can't read it, it might be because upper grades (middle / high) aren't using or requiring it. If you're not exposed to something you've learned, you will forget it.

I cook it in chicken broth and add various veggies. It's also good with cherry tomatoes and feta, sort of a Greek twist. Yum! I haven't tried it for breakfast yet but have seen several recipes.

A family member wants a Brighton charm bracelet for Christmas. I've purchased specific Brighton pieces online before, but I don't think that will work since she wants certain charms and a certain bracelet. Any suggestions on where to look for the best prices? Also, how much should I expect to pay for the bracelet itself, as well as charms? I'm new to this. TIA!

San Sebastian Winery has free tastings - if you like Muscato wine, you will love that place! Very yummy.

Just an update: I went to Cartersville this morning (Thursday). Got there at 9:00, got a number at 9:05 (yes, you have to wait in line just to get a number), walked out with my temp license at 10:05. Not bad, considering I was prepared to wait hours! When you first get a number, they ask to see all your paperwork. So if you forgot anything, you don't sit around waiting for nothing. The ladies were very pleasant!

According to the DSS map, it's still on 41 just north of 411. Any suggestions on what time to get there, if 8am isn't a good idea? Thanks!

Ten years goes by so fast... it's time to renew my drivers license! Should've done it before July 1st, but I didn't know I could do it that early. Anyway, does anyone know the current wait time at the Cartersville DSS? I'll avoid Tuesdays and Saturdays. What about if I get there when they open? Thanks for your help!!

Pennsylvania for my niece's graduation, then later to the Mayan Riviera in Mexico.

Whenever I hear someone (famous or not, athlete / singer / whatever) thank God, I take it to mean, "Thank you for the talent you've given me to get me to this place in my life," or something similar. Not "Thanks for helping me win this award / game / championship..." Of course, not being a mind-reader, I don't know what they really are thinking when they say it, so maybe I'm just trying to be optimistic. Whatever their reasoning, it is their right as Americans to do so, so I can't hold it against them. Just my 2 cents!

We were in Charleston, SC for the weekend. Our first night there, we were walking around the Battery, near the big pineapple fountain (if you've been there, you know where I mean!). He led me to a bench right by the waterfront, got down on one knee, and proposed. No one was nearby, you could hear the waves crashing, and it was a gorgeous early-summer night. Of course, I started crying happy tears and said yes. My hand was shaking so much when he went to put the ring on my finger, the ring fell into the sand! To this day, he jokes that I must not have like the ring, because I "threw the ri

Mini twist pretzels covered in white chocolate "bark." Just microwave to melt the bark; stir often - don't melt it until the lumps are gone, or it will be burnt. Stir out the lumps. I just dump a handful of pretzels into the chocolate, then use a toothpick to fish them out. Cool on wax paper. I may top some with crushed candy cane this year to make white chocoalte peppermint pretzels.

I love to shop, but never on Black Friday. I hate dealing with parking, long lines, etc. I do most of my Christmas shopping online!!