It was the first day back to school after spring break. I think my joints got used to spring break levels of activity. After being on my feet all day for teaching, my knees and ankles are killing me.

Shanie is such an adorable big boy!

I'm home from my day out with my nephews. The younger one is quite the handful in a way his brother never was. He moves quick and when he isn't moving he asks hard questions all day long. We had a great day, and now I'm exhausted.

Relatedly, I can't figure out how a family of 3 or 4 ever affords to do a movie night with kids. TCG and I usually use AAA tickets we get as gifts for the movies, so we very rarely pay for them. But today I wasn't at that theater. Lunch at Chili's, movie tickets, movie candy, and two small action figure type toys=$106. Now, I didn't mind spending that money today because I never see the boys, and I have years of spoiling to make up for, but really how do regular families ever afford to do stuff like that?

Dollar movies at the second-run theater.

Which now cost $3. We never eat out AND go to the movies on the same day, and I sneak in candy bought at the grocery store if we go to a first-run movie.

we used to sneak stuff in. but mostly, it was lunch or a movie, rather than lunch and, until my parents got divorced.

Which now cost $3. We never eat out AND go to the movies on the same day, and I sneak in candy bought at the grocery store if we go to a first-run movie.

Our second run theater costs between $3.50 and $7.50 depending on the day/time. Today's afternoon showing was $7.50 per ticket, even for the little one.

I think families that cannot afford to throw down that much for a night out do one thing at a time. "Wanna go see a movie? Fine, but we'll eat at home before we go. Oh, you want popcorn? Great, spend your allowance money on it. Pop? $4 for a small pop you'll finish before the previews and need to go to the restroom in the middle of the exciting climax. Yeah, good luck with that." At least, not having any children of my own, my guess is that more parents than we realize can be miserly like mine were.

Cutie Shane!

I sneak in candy bought at the grocery store if we go to a first-run movie

Ditto. And we either share one soda or share a water.

We also learned long ago that one parent takes the kid to the movie, not both. I think the last time we went as a family was for the first new Star Wars, with both boys. I was pissed I paid for that one.

There are no second-run theaters here, which bites.

Now I'm wondering if our usual theater is actually a third-run, or if we really are out here in the sticks. $1.50 is the top price, unless it's 3D, then it's %3.50. And management focuses on big shows and kid stuff. They know their audience. There are several discount theaters around here, but families are big and college students are cheap.

t Whine

Dance meetings are typically 8:30am on Wednesdays. With traffic, that is a nightmare for me to make, as I usually come in at 10:30 to avoid all that traffic stuff. It means leaving home at 7am (for a 24 mile commute)

Typically, shop time with the Grad Students is M,Tu,Th afternoons 3-6pm.

This quarter, due to selfish drama professors who wanted afternoon classes, shop time was forced to be M, Tu, Th 9am-noon.

Coincedentlly enough, the dance meetings, were moved to Wed 5pm.

Next quarter, dance meetings are moving to 8am! And shop time is back to 3-6pm.

This job doesn't want me to avoid traffic or sleep in. Don't they know, I got into theater because I'm a night owl! Mornings are for sleeping through. ::sigh:: Sucks to be middle management. All the responsibilities, none of the decision making.

t /Whine