looks fine on the outside, but OMG someone went crazy on the inside (just look!)

That house is paneling hell.

It's one just like it, Sophia.

I can't remember, Sara, is it on that same street? I've driven by that neighborhood on the way to Lauraville or Lake Montebello...actually I've run by it during the 1/2 marathon. But never driven around in it. Looks adorable!

The fixtures on the tub are very much vintage, which is a little nervewracking.

My friend who did my kitchen has a lot of experience with vintage plumbing in B'more. If you needed anything done in the future.

And yet she's the hero of the "family values" crowd.

I wonder how much the "family values" image led to the engagement in the first place. I really feel sorry for Bristol, I imagine that having your pregnancy put on the national stage has to be the worst nightmare for a teenage mom.

Things what are bad: work.

Things what are OM NOM NOM: gyoza and egg rolls.

Wow, Sophia, someone really likes...wood.

I've got a bit of a philosophical question regarding G&T programs. Disclaimer: I was in them, I loved them, I would put my kid in one if I had one and it qualified.

As I understand it, the research on tracking (that is, grouping kids with others of similar achievement levels) says that it raises scores for the high achievers but lowers them for the low achievers (and the middles... I can't remember). I'd love to think that having low achieving students together would let us focus more resources on them and give them more opportunities for success, but god knows that's not how it's turned out in the classes I've been in. So... what's the right thing to do?

Remember to read my disclaimer above -- not only did I perform better, but was (more importantly, at least to my family) less miserably unhappy, which I think is reason enough to do it. But it's something I grapple with in terms of fairness.

Most of the crummy rentals we lived in when I was a kid had wood paneling -- you don't have to paint it between tenants.

I wonder how much the "family values" image led to the engagement in the first place. I really feel sorry for Bristol, I imagine that having your pregnancy put on the national stage has to be the worst nightmare for a teenage mom.

Totally. If they had won (god forbid) I bet we'd have seen a shotgun wedding. So there's another thing to thank Obama for.

I really feel sorry for Bristol, I imagine that having your pregnancy put on the national stage has to be the worst nightmare for a teenage mom.

God, yes.

Erin, you were drinking Gin & Tonics in the 5th grade?

Dude, it was the early 80's! Wasn't EVERYONE?

I also dipped into my mom's makeup stash after she left for work every morning, and went to school with a shitton of pearlescent white and navy blue eyeshadow spackled to my lids, and a nice mature coppery brown lipstick. I was 10. My lovely fifth grade teacher asked me if my mom knew I was wearing makeup so early, and I was all "We apply it TOGETHER! I am VERY MATURE for my age!"

There was a phone call. Needless to say, I was VERY IMMATURE in some ways for my age, vice versa in others, and my mom and dad had just split up and we moved from the country to the city...and to the "rich" school in the city, and we were NOT at all rich.

ISSUES!!