Talking a bit with the lad yesterday prior to leaving him at school. Â I get the distinct impression that he is holding something back. Â
For those that don’t know, or have forgotten, I worked in the restaurant business for just short of 15 years. Â Needless to say I’m pretty observant and can tell when someone is saying something that might not be on the up-and-up.
It bothered me, the tone he used and his sudden quietness. Â So I asked him about it when I talked to him after school. Â He is usually more forthcoming with me when I’m 60 miles (and possibly 2 hours) away. Â So I asked him why he was acting so weird earlier, and again presented him with the same question.
Reports cards were being handed out yesterday. Â I asked him what to expect. Â He said, straight away, same as before. Â Well, that’s a start, right? Â I asked him if was still keeping up with getting his classwork turned in, as well as his home work. Â That’s when he stumbled.
But, when I’m 60 miles away, he gets a little brave and came clean. Â Of course he isn’t doing his classwork. Â Of course he isn’t turning his completed homework in. Â What was I thinking?
Honestly, I think it’s beyond him to do well in school. Â And, since he isn’t very good at it anyway, and since there isn’t much time left in this school year for him to recover from an F in all of his classes that matter, I figure it’s time to focus instead on what he does well.
So, when I got home last night, he was working on homework. Â I know he won’t turn it in anyway, so I told him to stop. Â Then, I told him to go ahead and spend the rest of the night on the internet and/or sending text messages after I gave him his gadgets back. Â I also asked him why he even bothers going to school in the first place. Â Since he doesn’t do anything anyway, why waste the time of the teachers, other classmates and himself?
Now I’m going to have to go to his school and somehow talk them into holding him back a year. Â This should be a load of fun since they wouldn’t hold him back after he failed the 8th grade. Â Yes, you read that correctly. Â He failed the 8th grade but was advanced to the 9th. Â Way to reward bad performance. Â
The reason? Â Oh, you are going to love this. Â When I asked why they wouldn’t hold him back, they said they felt it was PUNISHMENT! Â What? Â Really? Â
Don’t you wish that when you failed at your job, you could keep it? Â Don’t you wish that you could break the law and get away with it? Â Wouldn’t it be cool to be able to do whatever you want, whenever you want without any fear of reprisals? Â Man, that would be so awesome!
But, I live in the real world for the most part. Â And, here in my world, when someone fails at anything, there is usually some kind of punishment. Â That’s the way it goes. Â
I’m thinkin’ about sending him to spend a week with his mother in the flop house full of crazy drug users she lives with. Maybe that will help turn him around.
Or maybe not. I’m out of ideas at this point. Constructive suggestions are always appreciated.
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One of these days I’ll get the numbers sorted out. Sheesh. Just imagine I say 9 everytime I say 8.
I’m not sure if you have noticed this one or not, but there is a new phrase to replace the word basically. I’m not certain, but I’m starting to think I might want basically back.
You know what I mean, right? People that use basically as a placeholder instead of saying nothing or ‘um’? I know you know these people. Nothing drives me crazier than someone who over uses basically.
Or, rather, nothing drove me crazier. Like I already mentioned, there is a new phrase in town and his sounds laid down by the underground. Oh, wait. I got a little sidetracked there.
The phrase? Here’s the thing.
Think on that for a minute and it will come to you. Heck, you might have started using it yourself.
Here’s the thing about here’s the thing. See? Does that make any sense? Why oh why?
I have to guess that it, much like our old friend basically, is being used as a placeholder. And, here’s the thing, it’s getting fairly annoying.
Why not just not say anything? Leave a gap in your speech. Some verbal whitespace if you will. Saying here’s the thing all the time is just a fancy way to say um. Take the break, it’s ok. Nobody will mind if you stop talking long enough to catch your breath (and your thoughts) before you continue. Then, you won’t have to say here’s the thing before you start.
So, if you are a sayer of here’s the thing, please stop.
Thank you.
About a million years ago MTV used to play music videos. For reals!
Also, about a million years ago, there were staples found in videos. Hot girls drapped over something mechanical. Cool shaped guitars. Big/crazy hair. Smoke, fog and other lighting effects. You know, the good stuff.
Unless you were a pop outfit. Then, for sure, you had to have scooters.
What a depressing day. Not because of my work load. Not because of traffic. No, I didn’t get any bad news from any family member.
I listened to news radio.
What was I thinking? First, there was the ridiculousness that was the Olympic Torch in San Francisco. I’d type it all out again, but Michael already did.
Then, more on the housing problems. Coupled with news/reminder about how much the war is costing on a daily basis.
Finally, lets finish with a rousing round of increased oil prices! To which I say, no shit Mr. News Guy. I paid $3.91 for a gallon of the good stuff today and fully expect it to be over $4.00 by the end of the week, even if oil doesn’t go to $120 a barrel.
Much like going to the gym, I must remember to keep the ipod with me at all times. I mean, it’s nice to know what’s going on in the world and all that, but this much at once was just too much.
Uncle I say.
Maybe, Mr. and Ms./Mrs. News Person, next time you are going to pile it on all at once you can remember to dig out those human interest stories that you keep hidden for slow news days. Or maybe play a song, or a short comedy bit, maybe something from last night’s Letterman (He’s CBS, you’re CBS. Talk to your people).
Thank You.
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