There is something about the form of the typical large flowered clematis that turns me off. The smaller flowered cultivars look charming to me - kinda like jasmine but the big ones generate an automatic recoil that I can't explain. This is especially true of doubles (like Multi-Blue). There are of course a few exceptions. While I'm still not fond of the flower shape, the color of PERLE D'AZUR and PRINCE CHARLES strikes me as very attractive. Then there are the clematis with bell shaped flowers. I really like those. Two that have fascinated me are ROGUCCHI and BETTY CORNING. In particular Betty Corning has captured my heart. I recently saw her for sale at a local nursery and smelled one of the tiny lavender blooms. What a wonderful sweet fragrance! I didn't buy her because my hands are tied with garden projects right now but I still remember the fragrance. She is definately on my list of must haves for next year. Betty Corning Image by Gardenbug at Hortiplex Rogucchi and Perle D'Azur Image by david 5311 from a post at the Moon Garden Forum Prince Charles Image by Larrybob at Hortiplex

You should thank Pebbles for giving you another view because there may be some parents you haven't heard from as yet who don't feel the way you do. It's important to understand that if you are to be effective in changing this situation. It may flatter your ego that you've been ask to "take it to the streets" as you say. I wouldn't go about it that way. I'd take a quiet, methodical approach and attempt to build a consensus with a specific alternative plan of how this *should* work -- a plan which is reasonable, will not sound like you are trying to take over the school and dictate how they should be running things (not your responsibility after all though you can certainly take your kids out of the band), and a plan that has a prayer of being adopted. You can make this into a diva vs diva situation, polarize the community, get everybody screaming, upset a lot of the kids even more and end up in a fight that goes on and on with everyone dug in. Because that's how these things usually go. Or you could quietly call someone who knows municipal and public law, an accountant, a travel agent, a child psychologist, a couple of other parents (maybe one a teacher) who know how to keep their mouths more shut than not, and produce something concrete. Figure out how to get your plan out there to be legally and logically considered, a plan that will benefit everyone and be reasonable. But I will bet that if you are emotional about this and go on about it and turn it into a crusade it will be less effective than it might be. We have a lot of that where I live. Somebody's always screaming about something and even when it's worthy you just tune them out. The bottom line for me -- and I say this as someone who has no children in the school system so I don't know what this sort of thing should/would cost -- it sounds very much like the school board members in our city who were having "meetings" in fancy hotels around the country and traveling there to meet with various educators on other issues and it was a complete reprehensible boondoggle -- free vacations. Or the school superindentant who ordered a $3000 leather couch for her office. In our community the tabloids get hold of the $3000 couches or the $125 catered lunches and people don't stay in those jobs very long because after 1 or 2 front pages and public humiliation and photos that make them look like they're taking the perp walk, there's pressure on the mayor and the school board to act. Public education in this country is a disgrace in many states. And while band is certainly an excellent and creative activity and a great experience I'm sure, I'd rather see that kind of money go into books, facilities, enrichment programs, special education. I'm sure many parents feel the same way (and of course some won't). But if it's not done in the right way the principal and band director are going to marshall their forces and roll right over you and the other parents without even looking back. Then it's your kids who will suffer.

Um, this forum is about remodeling. Check out the Garden Forums for dozens of great garden topics. Click on "Forums" on the top off the page.

Mom2Sethc: Glad the info was helpful. In making final decisions, the fabricator drew the outline of the sink on the granite and then we drew in each runnel (including the taper from shallow end to the sink). We started with the runnels more inset from the front and back of the sink, but decided we liked them closer to the front and back, so we redrew them. We fiddled with the spacing between, too, and decided that for the sink, six would look good. You might try that with your fabricator, too. I really like the look of OldHouseGal's runnels. She has seven and because she has a farmhouse sink, hers start further back from the sink front. She also has what I've heard referred to as the "colonial style," in which the middle runnel is longer than the rest and the others taper in length from there on both sides. The bottom line is that there are lots of ways to do runnels. You just need to play around with how they will look best with your granite, your sink, and how much room you have on either side of your sink. You can also Google "sink runnels" using Google images and you'll see lots of options as well. Good luck and be sure to post pictures when the work is finished.