Seriously, Nora! At completely random moments every now and then I'll find myself thinking of your description of Tom pretending to be one of your toddler niecephews, "NO I DON'T LIKE CHINESE FOOD I PROMISE AND YOU ARE MEAN!1!!" and I crack way the hell up.

And his Lieutenant Taz patrol reports?

A. Dorable.

Barb, yup, the Rack is just a few blocks away (a longish walk but probably only a 3-minute cab or car ride), and much more tender and gentle in its ravages upon your budget than Needless Markup.

The 5 openings aren't quite as ominous as the 17-20 teachers that have left.

In the last 5 years or so the school loses about a third or a fourth of our staff every year. I'm going into my 10th year at the wretched place and am considered one of the "old timers". There are maybe a dozen teachers who have been at the school 20-30 years. Probably 50% of the teachers have been at the school 5 years or less.

Convince me I don't really want these shoes in the merlot? [link]

yeah, no, those shoes are totally you! (Based on other shoes you've wanted/purchased that you've linked to here and shoes I've seen you wear.)

That's a horrible, demoralizing attrition rate. Are no higher-ups alarmed about it at all, or does the Draconian have the entire school district cowed?

Convince me I don't really want these shoes in the merlot? [link]

Can't do it. I'm a shoe enabler. I've been drooling over those and the ones from Needless Markup.

The Draconian was brought on 3 years ago to help raise morale and stop the flood of teachers leaving. Neither has happened. We think he's so sucked up to the school board and the superintendent he'll never leave.

The Draconian was brought on 3 years ago to help raise morale and stop the flood of teachers leaving.

Yeah, like that's gonna help.

Thought my fellow grammar nazis would appreciate The Blog of Unnecessary Quotations Marks

Barb, yup, the Rack is just a few blocks away (a longish walk but probably only a 3-minute cab or car ride), and much more tender and gentle in its ravages upon your budget than Needless Markup.

A) I just got back from NY where I walked EVERYWHERE. Even with the hilly landscape, the quads are up for up. ::makes note to bring good walking sneaks::

And B) You don't think I actually pay retail at Needless, do you? *g*

Poor Lewis is quaking in fear-- our local outlet mall is expanding and adding an Off 5th (Saks Outlet). I, on the other hand, am chortling with glee at the idea of the 70% off lowest marked price racks.

And his Lieutenant Taz patrol reports?

Ahahaha. Yeah. You're reading his LJ? So funny.