Re school supplies: Thank goodness my kids are grown and I don't deal with the madness anymore. What I wondered back then (and still do) is why don't some enterprising fundraiser groups put together boxes of basic school supplies they could purchase in bulk for each grade per the lists provided by the schools? They could sell them to the parents at a profit to save the time of running to 5 different stores to satisfy the whims of certain teachers and make a modest amount for their organizations? I remember having to go to Long's for a spelling notebook (specifically for spelling, regular cheap empty writing book not good enough), Wal*Mart for most items, plus a couple of other locations for other more uncommonly specified oddities. I would have gladly paid extra to have it all in a box or bag conveniently for each child.