I'm creating an account on a networking-type site and it asks me to choose the industry that best fits my "primary expertise," but the closest I can get is "Education Management." Buh? I get that the site is apparently geared more toward the high-powered 3-martini type of business playa, but it's got "Alternative Dispute Resolution" as an option but not "Education" or "Teaching/Training"! It does have "Higher Education," but not "Lower Education," so that doesn't exactly help. The heck?

Is there a way to find out online whether a particular B&N has a particular book, or do I have to haul my sorry ass to the store to find out?

I'm also June '61 - and we were definitely Not Boomers and Not Gen X. We're post-hippie, pre-Internet.

I think that's how my youngest uncle (born Sept. '61) would describe himself too.

I remember taking this gen ed course in college. Professor pulled me aside and asked why I'd missed the last exam; I explained that I had no excuse, I'd had a sinus infection and just slept through my alarm, but it was okay, since only 2 of the 3 exams counted toward my final grade, right? I think she was so taken aback by my honesty that she let me take a make-up exam.

And require, uh, special handling. More guidance, more mentoring, more babysitting, basically. Fun.

If there's one thing I hate, it's being handled. I require no babysitting, thank you kindly.

I was born in 1961 and don't feel any connection to Boomers.

We need our own damned Gen designation. W? 5? Some really cool Prince-esque symbol that can't be pronounced, only seen?

I don't need AARP spekaing for me, but I am not a fan of rap and hip/hop. My favorite music is on the "we don't dare call it the Oldies" station. I want my trendy generational designator! I want my MTV!

I suspect I may be hormonal. Please ignore any unseemly overexuberance and posturing. The seemly stuff is purely intentional.

Had to take some managers workshop hooey last week, and were told that the GenY like to be called Millenials. And require, uh, special handling. More guidance, more mentoring, more babysitting, basically. Fun.

OK, considering where lori works that is freaking HORRIFYING.

At my job? Some brat in a law firm whines about this or that -- so what. But when you work in a field that is largely used as a synonym for amazingness and smartness and best of the best? Dude.

We need our own damned Gen designation.

I've heard "Kennedy Kids" for those of us born while Kennedy was president.

Dutton's won't get the book until later--duh! I knew that--so meanwhile I'm going to try to get to B&N to pick one up. And still get the Dutton's copy later, since I'd rather buy from them.

My demo is Hec's demo. My DH is Gen Y, but really not, he's Gen X like me. And my thoughts on raising children are far too complex and contradictory to get into right at the moment, but suffice to say that, I was raised by parents who made me feel special *and* who taught me to treat others with respect but stand up for myself. I'd be proud if, down the line, I can say I raised my kids like my parents raised me.

Also I am surprised at how early issues of how to treat others come up, even with basically well-behaved kids like Frances (eek! I don't even want to think about Isaac's talk two years from now!). Most recently I've been working with Frances to get her to see the difference between saying "I'm mad at you" and "you're not my friend anymore!" She doesn't get it yet, but I hope she can learn the difference between expressing her feelings and being deliberately hurtful.

Is there a way to find out online whether a particular B&N has a particular book, or do I have to haul my sorry ass to the store to find out?

1. Go to the B&N page for the book: [link]

2. Look for the "Find it in our stores" box and enter your zip code.

When I was a senior in college, the most hardcore professor in my major gave me a break on a paper. I had a computer meltdown, and my paper turned into a jumble with missing pages. Late papers were never accepted, and I had pulled an allnighter. I was a mess. I walked into her office with my jumble, my notes, my notecards with citations, and said, "my computer had a meltdown, this is all I have left."

She told me to go home and get some sleep, put the paper back together, and gave me another day, with no deductions.

I'm fairly certain it was because it was my third class with her and I'd never turned in shit, or late papers, and it was obvious that I'd done the research and work.

She was SO HARDCORE, though. It still floors me that she gave me a break at all.

I would have given you the extension too Allyson, but I'm fairly liberal with extensions. My rule is the student should ask before the paper is due, and they only get one freebie, the rest come with a grade deduction (but a lesser one than a late paper).