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I may dread “Back to School” season even more as a parent than as a student.  The focus on new supplies and clothes and STUFF drives me crazy.  Little, if any, of it is necessary. They are heavily tilted to the “want” category and not the “need”.

Summer's over. Get to school!

My 8th grade daughter started classes last week.  We bought her the recommended package of school supplies for her grade level.  She bought herself a new backpack with her own money and I bought her two shirts.  I had planned to buy just one but it was buy one, get one half off at American Eagle.  And I got 15% off my entire purchase by using the new Shopkick app.

As part of the Yahoo! Motherboard, I was encouraged to write about this pivotal time of the year for our kids.  I spent most of this month in China working on a project while procrastinating about writing this post.  But here it is, ready to go on the final day of August, like a term paper turned in right before the due date.

My parents were always very matter-of-fact about school.  They worked hard at their jobs and I was expected to work hard at mine – do well in school and go to college.  I didn’t get new pens or backpacks every year.

This post was inspired by the Yahoo! Motherboard and this month’s focus on… school.  Ugh.

Part of the Shanghai skyline.

After spending the past two weeks in China, I am about to board a flight back to Chicago… Sweet Home Chicago.  I didn’t have the time to cross post my blogs from Big Tiny World.  << That link will take you to my final post from Shanghai.  Just click through the previous posts to find out why I came to China in the first place.

It’s been an incredible time.  I am returning with two super-packed suitcases and a brain full of great memories.  Xie xie, China!

After taking part in a unique writing project, I blogged about it. Now, I’m blogging here about that blog at ChicagoNow which is about my blog for the3six5 project.  Please click here to hopscotch over. Thanks!

Mr. and Mrs. Donahue!

It was a beautiful day for a wedding.  Congratulations to my dear friends, Sondra Solarte and Jim Donahue.  Click here to link to my blog at ChicagoNow.  Thanks!

View from the WGN anchor desk.

Why we must always expect the unexpected in the news business: Click here to link to this Chicago Now blog.  Thanks!

Easiest class ever.

Interesting lessons in defensive driving and human behavior in traffic school.  Click here to steer over to my blog at ChicagoNow. Thanks!

Lots o' live trucks to cover the Taste.

Covering the Taste of Chicago is always one of the yummiest assignments of the year.  Click here to see why it was also convenient given one of the crew guys I was assigned.

All aboard and don't go overboard!

What a weekend!  Find out how a dozen women nearly went overboard for a friend.  Click here to motor over to my blog at ChicagoNow.  Thanks!

Haiti's beautiful future.

Yes, all three of those topics are covered in one blog post.  Click here to find out how in “Big Tiny World” at ChicagoNow.

He's a total Bozo!

It’s now official.  I am a proud member of the WGN family after getting a personal welcome from Bozo the Clown.  Click here to zip over to my ChicagoNow blog on why we spent a night on the town together!