This post is likely to be all over the place...

...but such is the way my brain works.

First, I suppose I was slightly misinformed, or maybe just ignorant, when it came to my last post. I guess you could say I wasn't spot on about where the funds that are raised go (in some cases anyway). Still, I'm no fan of the way school fundraisers are executed, but think it's admirable that they (at least in some cases) go towards the PTO and doing things in appreciation of the teachers. I think teachers deserve all they can get and I applaud anything that helps them out.

Now that that's out of the way, I'm glad football season is finally here and the preseason is over! the Panthers looked pretty damn good yesterday, actually reminding me of the 2003 team that went to the Super Bowl...especially 2 minute drill at the end of the game. Here's hoping that they continue to play that well...and hopefully improve on what they did yesterday. In other football news, my fantasy football team is off to a limp start, but that's not really news since it's par for the course.

I'm also glad summer's almost over ("almost" being the key word here), mainly so I can get a break from cutting grass and all the other chores that come along with hot weather. But it's not over yet...even though it's September, I've lived in the south long enough (um, all my life...) to know that we've probably got a few more weeks of 90 degree weather. Yes, the temps will drop occasionally, but we're not out of the woods yet. That doesn't mean I'm looking forward to winter at all. I love the fall and the spring, but absolutely hate cold weather. I'd actually rather endure the humidity and sweat my ass off than to deal with cold weather. If I ever move away from here (which is highly unlikely), you can be guaranteed that it will be farther south and not to the north.

Maybe my memory's clouded, or maybe it's just perspective, but summers seem to have changed quite a bit since I was a kid. I'm not just talking global warming either. It's the little things...like fire ants. I don't remember having problems with fire ants in this part of the country when I was a kid. I do remember running into them when we'd head to the beach in the bad Carolina, but here in the good Carolina? Nope. We had ants for sure, but not fire ants. Now I have to dust new fire ant hills every single day. It seems with each one I get under control three more pop up. And what about fireflies? I still see them, but they're getting more and more rare every year. I'm sure if I went out in the country or in the woods I'd see more of them, but even in more populated areas I remember fireflies being in abundance when I was a kid. Are these things a result of global warming? Are we eventually going to have armadillos living in NC? Now that would be cool actually...but I digress. Once again, it could just be that my memory sucks...I already know my short term memory is bad, I'd hate to think my long term memory is going as well since I've always had a knack for pulling memories from many, many years ago. Memories that would make a good post for another day...

You know what really grinds my gears?!

School fundraisers! That's what grinds my gears!

Kids have been in school for three days now and almost all of them already have fundraisers going. I understand the need for fundraisers, but this soon? And every school at the same time? You get some guy come in, show the kids all the neat prizes they'll win if they sell 80 items and then expect them to compete with every other school out there who's done the same thing. How much over-priced wrapping paper do you expect one person to buy? And the kids can't even sell the stuff anymore. I remember when I was a kid, going door to door was somewhat acceptable, but now they specifically tell kids not to. It's a good thing for kids, but then the burden is put on the parents to sell 20 items so their kid can ride a limo to Ci-Ci's pizza, or 40 items so they can have a $8 remote control UFO, or 80 items so they can get an annoying bird that repeats what you say. Add to that having two or more kids, all of whom want this crap and are going to be disappointed when they get the level one prize that you could have bought them at the dollar store.


To the school system:

I understand that funds are limited. The state does not provide you with enough money to teach our kids. Every year the supply list grows and grows and includes such things as Ziplock bags, hand sanitizers ("Killing our kids immunity systems for over 10 years now!!", but that's a whole other rant) and cotton balls. I understand families buying their own paper, pencils, book bags, etc., but cotton balls?! The state can't supply these for our kids? Furthermore, why do you do the same lame fundraisers year after year? Isn't it time for some new ideas? Or at least co-ordinate with all the other schools in your school system so you're not all selling at the same time? And why so many, so soon after the others? It seems we get one done, then it's fall festival, then another send home brochure, then a pizza night...it's endless. Let's do less, yet higher quality fundraisers and try to raise more money at once.

To the state:

Yes, I realize that the cost of sending my kid to your school is substantially less than sending them to private school and for that I thank you...sort of. Truth be told though, if I could afford it they wouldn't even be in state funded schools (though private schools are just as guilty with the fundraisers). However, a couple of years ago our state started an Education Lottery that has generated millions upon millions upon millions upon millions (you get the idea) of dollars, yet every year we have more and more fundraisers, more school supplies to buy. Where is all this money going? And even beyond that, there's tax dollars that are supposed to be going into our schools. What gives North Carolina (and I'm sure I speak for other states as well)?

I understand, I really do...and I don't mind buying a bag of cotton balls for 98 cents to send with my kids to school. I also don't mind showing my parents and select other family members (most of them have kids or grand kids too) the fundraisers knowing they'll at least buy something, but I'm never going to bombard my co-workers (who, when I'm working, also have kids selling the same crap...or at least grand kids, nieces, nephews, neighbors, etc. who are) with pleas of helping my child's school out. I just wish there was a little more method to all this madness, that's all.