What ever Bulldinkie.I really could care less about the price of gas.Every vehical I own gets near or well over 30 mpg. When I started this topic I was curious if people were traveling like most normal summer vacation seasons.Or if they were staying closer to home.My real intentions at the time were to see if places I was thinking of traveling to were crowded or if it would be a good time to go.Because of less crowds. Most members were aware of this.A few including your self became defensive.I guess if I had a 15mpg vehical that I was so proud of as your self.Perhaps I would get my shorts in a twist when I was reminded of the gas prices also?You certainly are proud of the Escalade.You mention you have one very often.How Great it is!How hard you worked for it! I think the real problem you have with me.Is I gave my opinion.I probably hit close to home?Other wise why would you feel the need to bring up your Phonics slam?You like to let everyone know how well off you are?I do not do that.For several reasons. I can say I worked for every thing I have also.Im not rich however live comfortable.I probably live a much more modest life.Reason because I worked so hard for what I have and it did not come easy. I have friends and family from both sides of the tracks.Both Well off and down right poor.I think the same of both sides.I do not think the poor group are less then my self.Luckily the Well off group think the same as my self.The few that thought they were better or smarter!Were removed from my group of friends and the realitives that thought they were better or smarter I do not claim. Perhaps you do not have any poor friends or relatives?Since you seem to give the impression that only Wealthy people work hard for a living?I must say that my poor friends and realatives work harder then any group of people I know and for less pay.Thats why there poor.I do feel sorry for them with the gas prices.Trying to feed a family most are two income parents.Who manage to get by.However gas prices and the chain reaction caused by the gas prices.Make it more of a struggle. Excuse me Bulldinkie for feeling sorry for this group.However I must say I feel more sorry for you.Because of your attitude toward this group.Believe me not everyone is as fortunate as your self.You should be so proud to not have to think of the poor or have the slightest caring feelings for this group of working class poor mostly younger just starting out familys. Not everyone was born with a silver spoon.But I guess you missed that while majoring in Phonics.You should be so proud of your self!Just do not get all bent out of shape when you cause me to Vomit!

LOL,how funny!

PLEASE take your child in for a complete eye examination. Find an OPTHAMOLOGIST, preferrably one who specializes in pediatric, developmental vision problems. If you do not have vision, don't be tempted OR satisfied by an "eye exam" at WalMart, etc. Here's why: We began homeschooling our son in first grade. I noticed he wasn't "grasping" reading. I used Alpha Phonics, a thourough phonics progam. Results...few. I thought perhaps he wasn't "ready" so...we switched to the Expode the Code series. We returned to Alpha Phonics at the beginning of second grade. Same results. Convinced he had a vision problem and without any vision insurance, we went to WalMart for one of their eye exam specials. Dx...farsighted with an astigmatisim in the left eye. GREAT! For under a hundred dollars we had the eye exam and glasses! I had an "answer" as to why he had such problems reading. WRONG. He was still struggling. At this point, I began to blame myself. Why, I must not have chosen an appropriate program. 100 EZ lessons, more Explode the Code and Reading Reflex later...I took him to a different eye doctor, one that had been highly recommended by a friend (whose child had been labeled "dyslexic" and "learning disabled" by the local ps) this eye doctor did a thourogh exam and found her son had a developmental vision delay. I took my son and guess what? Yep, an undiagnosed vision problem. My son is now in bifocals to correct a DEVELOPMENTAL VISON DELAY. To make a long story longer...he can not TRACK left-to-right because he is ever so slightly crosseyed (no you can NOT see this by watching him read). His eye doctor told me that most reading problems are NOT dyslexia or actual learning disabilities...rather UNDIAGONOSED vision problems. As he put it, "No phonics program in the world will improve your child's reading IF his eye's can not do their job...the signal to the brain can NOT be made." Many children have vision problems and will only improve by proper diagnosis/corrective lenses and/or vision therapy. If you've already ruled out vision problems...take the time to get a second opinion. My son is quickly catching up! However, this has not been without countless hours spent one-on-one with him, day after day. I will say that Phonics Pathways/Hiskes, especially Pyramid is an EXCELLENT program for children who specifically struggle with tracking problems. You can check them out at http://www.dorbooks.com Best wishes.

:-) I would not have driven that far normally except that I really have been wanting a vintage desk for my DD's room and the neighborhood was in a nice area near the city that I am somewhat familiar with, so I felt comfortable making the drive. The seller not ponying up extra pictures should have been a tip, yes. But I felt rushed because she was moving out and it was a now or never kind of thing. Usually in those circumstances I go "safe" and just let the item go but in this case I went for it. I must say that I'm a little taken aback by the notion (I'm not saying they were directed toward me) that seemingly "well-off" people shouldn't use craigslist or the thrift store. I could probably come across as being at least a little well-off. I drive a new SUV (only the second new vehicle in my life) and carry an expensive handbag. I like to wear nice clothes. But my SUV is very "basic" inside, not many extras. I have only one handbag to my name, I take care of it, and it is several years old. At home we manually chop firewood and heat our house with an outdoor wood furnace. I wash out my plastic ziploc bags and reuse them rather than grab a new one, I brown-bag every single day, and so on. I do like to be frugal in some ways  not buying new furniture is one of those ways. I don't have the money to buy all the new furniture pieces I want for the house, so used is my option. I certainly don't "over-haggle" and most craigslist prices I've seen I thought were fair and paid them without question. I would not falsely denigrate an item if I really thought it was great. I agree that would be annoying. If I want to barter down, I would say  I really like this, but I am only willing to pay X for it  if you still have it and want sell it later for that price, feel free to re-contact me. I have to agree that it is not so much the price that the original seller paid, but rather the fact of what the buyers are willing to pay that drives things. If anyone is still reading, all my dealings with craigslist thus far have been very good  I make sure I have email and phone communications with the seller ahead of time, and they must come across as very "normal". And the neighborhood has to be safe / low-crime or I wouldn't go. I always let my DH know exactly where I am going, and take someone with me. The items I've sold, I've always met the buyer in a busy shopping center parking lot.