Shawn, I LOVE Carlos Mencia. I totally forgot about his language lessons! He did an extremely funny (and probably offensive) show on Katrina that I can see you enjoying.

Teachers and principals...I was taught not to call someone by their first name until they give you permission, but most people didn't learn the same and don't offer it, so eventually, I will ask. In front of students we are all always Mrs. or Mr. This is especially funny since my oldest has my maiden name for his last name, one child in his grade is continually calling me Mrs. Maiden Name. He's trying to be so polite that I can't stand to correct him. Forgive me for being un P.C. for a moment but I hate having to call someome Mrs. Hyphenated Last Name. Saying Mrs. Hernandez-Johnson for example gets old really quick. Why you would chose to do that when you work with small children I will never understand. That's just my opinion.

At least it was cold so the food stayed 'refridgerated'. I guess it could've been worse! They have to pay the repair bill somehow. I'm with you, though. I would've been mad.

Next time you want to get a good night's sleep by making a huge, elaborate meal and then doing all of the clean up work yourself, come to my house! I'm a good friend like that. You're welcome any time.

I would have hung a sign on the window/door warning patrons of the situation so they can make the choice (leaves the blame in the patrons lap) or just closed and stated why on the door. I hope they had hot soup ...

Okay, here's a question for everyone.

You own a restaurant. Your pipes freeze and break and heating problems(which are probably why the pipes froze) have your establishment at a brisk 61 degrees. Would you stay open? The place we went for lunch did. The only problem was we didn't realize how cold it was until after we had ordered our food at the counter area. We ate with our coats on and my toes are still frozen! They could at least have been giving out free cups of coffee and tea!

Needless to say, I'm kind of crabby now and just want to go home to a warm blanket.

Oh, I found a cure for my restless nights of sleep: cook a huge, elaborate dinner and have no one help you clean up the vast majority of the mess. I slept through the whole night!! Family pulled themselves from the living room to help with the last bits of clean up. I think they were lethargic from the meal. Not really sure I want to do this EVERY night though.

d - I just alway call them drywall anchors. But I think I know the ones you're talking about.

About the principal name, I guess I shouldn't have said I always use his first name. In the office, in front of students, at PTO meetings, it's Mr. ..... But face to face I call him by his first name or when he comes up in a conversation with another parent. In the book, Protecting the Gift, there's a strong message about giving other grownups in your child's life more power over you than they warrant - teachers, coaches, principals, etc. I guess I took that message to heart but didn't think how it would impact other aspects of life. Sheesh. It's hard to keep all the 'shoulds' straight!

Ugh..... I'm really having to push myself through the housework today. It's hard to get excited about the same laundry, dishes, cat hair, dust, for the 1 millionth time.

I asked the principal if she was comfortable having me speak to and of her by her first name to the other parents. They are always very respectful to me and use my last name so I wanted to reciprocate. Now we are comfy enough (after 3 years) to call each other by firsts in private but still use proper names for groups or in the office setting so no one misinterprets our working relationships (i.e. one parent hears d as opposed to Mrs. D and is offended that she is not referred to by her first name as well.)
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