Random things that have annoyed me this week, but none enough to make me ranty or anything. Just...out of sorts.

1.   Diva returned to school yesterday - which made me happy. But over the summer, the school decided to make drastic changes to how children are dropped off and picked up, and they did not communicate these changes to parents in anything approaching a timely or coherent manner, nor, I suspect, with any idea how it would work in practice. It's a very small school -- just under 700 students from Pre-K to 12th grade - but the bulk of the student body is contained in K thru 8th grade. In a (laudable) attempt to increase security on campus--the church/school campus is large and rather open--they decided that all students in K through 8th will be dropped off and picked up in one line attended by teachers. Which would take a REALLY REALLY long time in the mornings and afternoons. And in the afternoons it could be a tremendous pain in the ass for parents of multiples who, depending on their ages, may be dismissed at 2:45, 3:00, 3:15 or 3:30.

There was a much complaining on Facebook over the weekend, and both yesterday and today a lot of parents wandered the parking lot thinking "Where the FUCK am I supposed to take/get this child?" (It's an Episcopal school but I know many of these parents, and I know that's what they were thinking.)

As of this afternoon, the PTB have decided middle school students can be dropped off as they always have been, and collected in the parking lot. But who knows what they'll say tomorrow.


2. After picking her up from school (in the parking lot) and running by the grocery store, while we were pulling into the garage Diva said "Mom! I just remembered! I need a book cover for my Latin book and if I don't have it tomorrow, I'll get a pink slip!" (No, pink slips don't mean you're fired - but three in one marking period equals a detention.)

There was no mention of book covers on the school supplies list that I printed and took shopping WEEKS before the start of school. I didn't even know people still used book covers and you know what? They're not at a lot of stores that sell school supplies. We eventually located them at Office Max, but we were late getting home.

I was sorely tempted to shoot off an email to the Latin teacher to the effect that next year, if it ain't on the school supplies list that I get over the summer, then I ain't buying it. But then that would make me one of "those parents," and as my friend Amy says, you don't want to become one of "those parents" unless you absolutely have to.

3. I've always deplored the idea that just because a woman hits 35, or 40, or 50, or whatever, she has to cut her hair off. (I know Kelly Jamieson and PG Forte will back me up on this.) So I liked seeing this article in the Daily Mail about how keeping your hair length might actually help you look more youthful.

But I absolutely DESPISE the phrase "mutton dressed as a lamb" when referring to a woman of any age, as well as the notion that every decision we make regarding our personal appearance must be made with an eye to looking younger.


4. EL James has made ninety-five million dollars on Fifty Shades of Gray. That shouldn't bother me, but it really, really does.

On the other hand -- apparently there's now a musical of FSOG. (Yes, it's a parody.) My sister-in-law is booking a VIP table (near the stage, wine and cheese) for all the girls, and she's paying for my ticket and booze as an early birthday party.  So I have that to look forward to.

Good luck to everyone sending monsters back to school!