One of the things I don't miss at all about going to school was having
to wrestle book covers onto my books at the first of the year. 
What a pain!  It wasn't so bad once I learned how to fold the top
and bottom in, then the ends, and slip the book cover into it, but who
recalls having to get scissors and tape and carefully measuring and
cutting and taping?

Oy vey!

Naturally, today's kids are Simply Spoiled ROTTEN as what do they have? 

Stretchable fabric book covers, that's what.

I missed the disposable diapers with the refastenable tapes, and now
this.  It's not fair, that's all there is to it.  It's just
not fair.

Y'all are accustomed to hearing about Dmitry's and my trips to what we
refer to as "The Russia Store," which is actually known as Taste of
Europe, on Pioneer Parkway in Arlington.  They've been through a
renovation and while checking out their website - which is obviously a
work in progress, which is why I haven't provided the link - did find
this photo:

Yessir, if it's a little bit o' Russia you want, here's your place.

Charles has returned from new student orientation at Tech.

He enjoyed himself tremendously, saying there's already a group of friends assembled.

He also got a TT parking ticket.  Personally I think he ought to
gripe about it, as there was a map provided of permitted parking lots,
with the areas for the incoming freshmen's use outlined in red. 
There was also a warning that they mustn't park in 30 minute parking
spots or service vehicle parking.  He parked in the middle of a
long row of spaces, only to discover - along with ten other people -
that waaaaay down on the far
end of the row, where it cannot be seen unless you're right THERE, is a
sign saying "30 minute parking" with an arrow pointing down the row.

It looked to be within the red boundary, and coming up on the space
from the direction he did it's impossible to see the "30 minute
parking" sign.  He said at least ten people got tickets, and two
poor schnooks got towed.

Sounds to me as if the fault in this case lies with a very poorly designed parking map.