Molly Bolts? d

Haven't picked up the book yet ... still crazy cold here - deliveries are even pretty late around here. Typically I do not use the Teacher or Principles' first names in a first sentace when establishing a conversation with another parent; I use their last name. Once the conversation is established I will use their first name but will say Miss or Mr (so and so). The habit of Miss or Mr was born from years of daycare. IMHO you can use the first name in an established conversation but must take into account the perception of using a first name - better to show you are not 'best of buds' by using a title with the first name.

I don't use the principal's first name(or teacher's) in front of students, but other wise I do. That comes from being in the school for 8 years and working closely with her on lots of projects. She's the principal at my child's school , but she is also my friend. I guess I could see how people could feel left out, but she is very open, so they could very easily attain that same level of familiarity if they choose to do it. That may not be the case in all schools.

I'll have to pick up that book at the library this week.

The one with Kevin Federline working at a fast food restaurant was pretty funny!

d - I know the ones you mean. I bought a kit that comes with several kinds of anchors, hooks, nails and wire. I also picked up some super glue, sharpie markets, pencils, ruler, little things like that.

I picked up a copy of the book Queen Bee Moms and Kingpin Dads and read just the introduction so far last night. She doesn't pull any punches. You all might be interested to know that one of the primary groups she mentions as 'abusing their power' is the PTA. You pick up pretty quickly that she uses 'PTA' to stand for all parent groups. I'm anxious to read more of it. A lot of it is really based on the perception some parents have of others but since I often say that 'perception is reality' I'm interested to read how other 'outsider' parents view the parent groups sometimes. Do you know that some parents instantly feel like an outsider if they hear another parent call the principal by their first name? They automatically assume there's some club that they aren't a part of. I always use the principal's first name because he isn't my principal. He's my partner in my child's education. Anyway..... I'm looking forward to reading more of the book, perhaps seeing some of myself in it and learning ways to improve that perception!

I liked the one for the car where the men came up and started washing it. Not so much for the commercial although it was funny, but I love the story that it was the winner of a nationwide contest and the desigenr was a freshman from Univ of Wisconsin. Everyone else came with teams of 2-4 and these wowwed out video presentations and she came with black and white pencil drawings on the overhead and won. THAT's the American dream.
CC - great idea...the only other thing I could think of were the nails that come with the sleeve that expands to use through plaster walls (may be what you had in mind for picture nails). I can't believe I cannot remember the name right now...but you know what I mean (mason nails?). Anyway--she'll love it...d

If they ask you for a Beer, 'say no Habla English' - and they other Mencia commercial with at the apt- the boyfriend telling his girls secrets about what she says about the other girls.