I do think people who pay rent/mortgage in an OK neighborhood underestimate how much you save by living in a bad neighborhood and taking the bus!

If I didn't have kids, I would have a way bigger house in a way worse neighborhood. But bad neighborhoods have bad schools in them, so we're kind of stuck.

[edit: Or alternately, paying much more for the same amount of space in a better neighborhood, which I could do because I wouldn't be spending so much damn money on childcare!]

Yeah, schools are a problem with kids. We could be living two towns over for a lot cheaper than we can rent here, but I really don't want the kids going to school where they're walking through metal detectors and have full-time guards.

the kids going to school where they're walking through metal detectors and have full-time guards

How else are you going to quality assure the guns in school?

I just had to speak the mostest in this meeting--talking about system errors, human errors, things we promise we won't err on this weekend...talky schmalky.

When, really, the IMPORTANT task I have to do is my daily drawing challenge, and I completely thought I had a different one to do today...fuck, why isn't my favourite word purple?

Oh, I agree, Amy and Jessica. Just the $15,000 families probably don't have that choice (or don't know to think about it).

Where I live, even people in the good neighborhoods, if they can afford it, pay $25,000 a year to send their kids to private school. (And no, not every private school costs that much, but a surprising number of them do.)

I recommend getting the kind of backpack which has an outside holder for water bottles.

I recommend getting the kind of kids who remember that those side pockets exist.

I've tried that solution and have had the same problem that Jessica has had with it. I mean, had she just, you know, put her water bottle on the counter when she came home from school--as I have asked her to do nearly 5 days a week for the past 5 years--there wouldn't have been any spill.

I find this whole conversation confusing. Somehow people I find very dear are upset, and I have to admit I didn't hear anyone on the board say anything about how friendships are structurally oppressed in the same way gay couples are. All I heard is that some think friendships tend to be discounted as less important. And then, after Plei reminded me of how much I hated Ernie as a kid because he was so mean to Bert, I'm kinda just in the zone where really the pair shouldn't be considered role models for anybody.

SUCH A MEANIE HEAD! I should probably state that I, at least, wasn't upset, and I'm sorry if I upset anyone, it's just that, well, the original author used language in a way that makes me roll my eyes, because I see it on Tumblr way too often, and I'm a crankypants bitter old human.

Who is really glad that SOMEONE ELSE RECOGNIZES THAT ERNIE IS THE WORST.

Just the $15,000 families probably don't have that choice (or don't know to think about it).

Oh, I know. But while I can have some say in it, my kids are going to the best public schools possible.

We have reached that very amusing moment in the spring where I have one clean-shaven leg and one leg that has not been shaved since last October. That is all.

I am not wearing a skirt on this lovely warm day because I don't want to shave my legs. April is hard -- I'm happy about the warm weather, but I don't want to give up my lax personal habits of winter.

I also can't wear sandals because my toenails look like my grandpa's right now. I am a springtime mess.

Who is really glad that SOMEONE ELSE RECOGNIZES THAT ERNIE IS THE WORST.

It's true.

We have reached that very amusing moment in the spring where I have one clean-shaven leg and one leg that has not been shaved since last October. That is all.

And in 5 more minutes do you have two shaved legs, or do rock the mismatched look for a few days first?