You can take the Trybyczewski out of The Old Neighborhood in Cleveland, but you can't take his kielbasa.

Mmmmm...kielbasa.

This is our chance to shine! Brightly, like little twinkly lights!

Okay, maybe not the last part.

The Old Neighborhood in Cleveland, but you can't take his kielbasa

Man, flea, now I want some of the kielbasa from West Side Market.

I should go get grapes for tomorrow night. Provided we make it to midnight. No candied almonds though. Those things are blech. I do have turrones out the wazoo. Maybe we'll break out one of those as well.

No roast piggy. Bummer.

We are going to meet the challenges facing us.

We are going to exceed expectations.

We are going to emerge victorious.

When I was in high school, there were a few vocational classes, but not a full curriculum. There was a vocational school, but a lot of districts seemed to use it as a place to send the troublemakers they didn't want to deal with.

At my high school, it was pretty much expected that everyone would go to college. Every year, there were a bunch of people who had just never been interested in or good at academic stuff who went to college because it was expected, then dropped out after a year or two and went into construction or something like that. (It seems like more of the girls finished -- I can't think of very many girls in my grade who dropped out of college, but I can think of a bunch of boys who did.) The high school releases stats each year showing that something like 96% of graduates go on to a four-year college, but I've got no idea if they keep any stats about how many graduate.

Oh -- I should mention that Coldwater Creek is having a 70% off sale right now. SEVENTY PERCENT.

This shirt, which I am totally buying in red, is $23.85. That's less than a tank of gas! (Well, not anymore, for my little spud. But still.)

This sweater, which I am totally buying, also in red, is $14.85. That IS less than a tank of gas! Hm. Maybe I should buy it in black, too. t edit Damn. Not in my size in black.

Anyway. Use this code when you check out: WXH6452.

Methinks Steph reads the same blog I do! I almost went a little crazy with Talbots women's petites, but I restrained myself. I do keep meaning to buy a nice suit there.

ETA: Coldwater Creek's 1X goes to a bust 45 and the 2X starts at a Bust 47. I am a Bust 46!?!?!

Methinks Steph reads the same blog I do!

Actually, they e-mailed me. Although I don't buy a ton of stuff from Coldwater Creek (a lot of it is too matronly for me, and also WAY too expensive when not on sale), I do buy a few things a few times a year. Their clothes are generally very well-made (at least, everything I've bought has been), and their plus-sized clothes fit very, VERY well (i.e., not regular size just made bigger all over, but sized for a plus-sized Steph).

So since I buy stuff from them, they tend to e-mail me with their siren songs of 70% off.

ETA: Coldwater Creek's 1X goes to a bust 45 and the 2X starts at a Bust 47. I am a Bust 46!?!?!

Sophia, do a 2X, then, unless it's a knit item (sweater, knit tee, etc.). Well, if it's knit and you want it loose, also do 2X.

I see. I was reading a Manolo blog which listed all sorts of after X-mas sales, including Coldwater Creek (and Talbots!)

Apparantly, my size does not exist at Coldwater Creek, though.