Friday, August 31, 2012
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Surrender
I gave up.
After a summer of trying to keep up with the grass, I gave up. Ten minutes ago, I picked a mowing company out of the phone book and said come cut this stuff. Because this is ridiculous. I last mowed one section of grass three days ago - and today it's thick enough to cause my electric mower to stall out repeatedly -- sometimes, a foot at a time.
Next year, I don't know. Maybe we'll take our chances again. Maybe we'll buy a self-propelled gas mower. Maybe even make the leap to a riding mower.
But for this year, the war is over, and I lost.
After a summer of trying to keep up with the grass, I gave up. Ten minutes ago, I picked a mowing company out of the phone book and said come cut this stuff. Because this is ridiculous. I last mowed one section of grass three days ago - and today it's thick enough to cause my electric mower to stall out repeatedly -- sometimes, a foot at a time.
Next year, I don't know. Maybe we'll take our chances again. Maybe we'll buy a self-propelled gas mower. Maybe even make the leap to a riding mower.
But for this year, the war is over, and I lost.
J&M
This is from a comic strip called Jesus and Mo. I really like it. I suspect that hardcore Believers won't, but those with a sense of humor -- I think they would.
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Monday, August 27, 2012
Cette Semaine
Going to be a tough week.
Daughter's grumpy over her proto-military experience (though, hey, she may have found a way to compensate).
Wife's emotional from impending retirement (but this evening I gave her the first three seasons of a beloved show to ease her transition).
I'm going to the dentist tomorrow to find out why one of my implants is occasionally painful.
And tomorrow I talk with a French conversation partner whom, I just learned, might be - well, I won't use the graphic high school term that comes to mind. Let's just say she's not the quiet, innocent person I thought she was.
Daughter's grumpy over her proto-military experience (though, hey, she may have found a way to compensate).
Wife's emotional from impending retirement (but this evening I gave her the first three seasons of a beloved show to ease her transition).
I'm going to the dentist tomorrow to find out why one of my implants is occasionally painful.
And tomorrow I talk with a French conversation partner whom, I just learned, might be - well, I won't use the graphic high school term that comes to mind. Let's just say she's not the quiet, innocent person I thought she was.
Back Again
We went down to see our daughter this weekend. It was ... interesting.
At first, she told her that she was thinking about quitting the Corps. Last week was much harder than she had thought it would be, and she did not like the mind games that they played on her. Like, giving them, literally, one minute thirty seconds to use the bathroom. (It wasn't until one girl complained, saying 'We aren't boys, we can't just whip it out', that they got a whole two minutes thirty seconds. ) Or, bringing in the marching band to play for them while they were having lunch.... but then insisting that they had to stand and cheer, cheering time being subtracted from their eating time.
Then, after sleeping without interruption for about ten hours at the hotel, and having a decent breakfast, she was relatively cheerful, talking about whether she should pick a college focus that was what she wanted, or what she thought the military might want. (She decided the former. Good for her.)
She still has to do stupid things, like saying Good morning to each upperclassman she meets, naming them, and doing so in alphabetical order of their names. She can only leave her room going to the right, so that if the room she wants are to the left, she has to go all the way to the end of the hall, turn, go all the way to the other end of the hall, turn, then into the room - and if she goes past, she has to do the whole circuit again. Things like that. Not just new cadets, either. One senior, standing in a line on the edge of a parade field, watching the new cadets march by, fainted; my daughter said she would unquestionably get into trouble. Seems harsh, I said. You sure? She nodded. They told us, you faint, its because you didn't drink enough water. Your fault.What if it was because you were sick, I asked. She shrugged. They'll assume it was your fault unless you can prove it wasn't. They made my roommate march when her foot was so swollen she couldn't get it into her shoe. Finally she got to see a doctor, who said no marching or running for a week.
But today is the first day of classes, and while she is in the academic building area of the campus she doesn't have to play those games, or even wear a uniform, per se (just khaki pants and a polo shirt with the Corps logo on it) so perhaps life will get a little better for her. If you can call encountering college-level classes for the first time better.
-------------
Update: She just called with a question. She says her first day was okay but awkward -- no one talked at all in her classes, and she's usually the only cadet in them. They'd been told that civilian students usually are not initially sure how to react to then. And thats with the casual uniform. When she called, they'd just been told to change into cammo. Why? She had no idea. Because.
Anyone who's been in the military has gone through that kind of nonsense, and sometimes, it really does have a good reason. But it hurts to see your intelligent, skeptical-of-authority daughter going through it. Which is why we told her: give it a fair shot. Then, if you want to get out of the Corps, go for it. But give them a chance, first.
At first, she told her that she was thinking about quitting the Corps. Last week was much harder than she had thought it would be, and she did not like the mind games that they played on her. Like, giving them, literally, one minute thirty seconds to use the bathroom. (It wasn't until one girl complained, saying 'We aren't boys, we can't just whip it out', that they got a whole two minutes thirty seconds. ) Or, bringing in the marching band to play for them while they were having lunch.... but then insisting that they had to stand and cheer, cheering time being subtracted from their eating time.
Then, after sleeping without interruption for about ten hours at the hotel, and having a decent breakfast, she was relatively cheerful, talking about whether she should pick a college focus that was what she wanted, or what she thought the military might want. (She decided the former. Good for her.)
She still has to do stupid things, like saying Good morning to each upperclassman she meets, naming them, and doing so in alphabetical order of their names. She can only leave her room going to the right, so that if the room she wants are to the left, she has to go all the way to the end of the hall, turn, go all the way to the other end of the hall, turn, then into the room - and if she goes past, she has to do the whole circuit again. Things like that. Not just new cadets, either. One senior, standing in a line on the edge of a parade field, watching the new cadets march by, fainted; my daughter said she would unquestionably get into trouble. Seems harsh, I said. You sure? She nodded. They told us, you faint, its because you didn't drink enough water. Your fault.What if it was because you were sick, I asked. She shrugged. They'll assume it was your fault unless you can prove it wasn't. They made my roommate march when her foot was so swollen she couldn't get it into her shoe. Finally she got to see a doctor, who said no marching or running for a week.
But today is the first day of classes, and while she is in the academic building area of the campus she doesn't have to play those games, or even wear a uniform, per se (just khaki pants and a polo shirt with the Corps logo on it) so perhaps life will get a little better for her. If you can call encountering college-level classes for the first time better.
-------------
Update: She just called with a question. She says her first day was okay but awkward -- no one talked at all in her classes, and she's usually the only cadet in them. They'd been told that civilian students usually are not initially sure how to react to then. And thats with the casual uniform. When she called, they'd just been told to change into cammo. Why? She had no idea. Because.
Anyone who's been in the military has gone through that kind of nonsense, and sometimes, it really does have a good reason. But it hurts to see your intelligent, skeptical-of-authority daughter going through it. Which is why we told her: give it a fair shot. Then, if you want to get out of the Corps, go for it. But give them a chance, first.
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Monday, August 20, 2012
Sunday, August 19, 2012
New Cadet
My daughter (and 420 others) started New Cadet Week yesterday. For the next seven days, they'll undergo a stressful environment -- though, according to the instructors, more mentally stressful than physical -- learning how to be a cadet at Virginia Tech. The staff warned us that there are always about ten kids who will call home, saying that this isn't for them. The call will come through the commandant's office -- for the next week, the kids don't have any sort of electronic devices. They said how we handle it will be our call, but the track record is, if you say to the kid 'It's your life, your decision' at a time when they're tired, discouraged, and depressed -- they'll probably bail out. I doubt we'll get the call, but you never know.
Her roommate is tall - about six one - and smart -- she's her high school valedictorian, going for a degree in Mechanical Engineering. Seems like a nice kid. Her mother told me that the girl wanted to come, but was very nervous. Sounds about right.
Seeing all those kids - more than kids, less than adults - and all their energy and enthusiasm -- it wore me right the heck out. And I think Was I actually that energetic? Probably. Hard to believe, though. I believe she'll be fine. When I see what the kids look like after four years -- sharp, focused, almost glittering -- I know I could never have done that. I'm proud of her. And she knows it.
Her roommate is tall - about six one - and smart -- she's her high school valedictorian, going for a degree in Mechanical Engineering. Seems like a nice kid. Her mother told me that the girl wanted to come, but was very nervous. Sounds about right.
Seeing all those kids - more than kids, less than adults - and all their energy and enthusiasm -- it wore me right the heck out. And I think Was I actually that energetic? Probably. Hard to believe, though. I believe she'll be fine. When I see what the kids look like after four years -- sharp, focused, almost glittering -- I know I could never have done that. I'm proud of her. And she knows it.
Thursday, August 16, 2012
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Sunday, August 12, 2012
Reading
I've returned to reading Six Frigates. It's a thick enough book that at times it intimidates me -- and how I hated when I realized years ago that thick books were beginning to have that effect on me . I’m not sure why, whether I’m not as smart as I used to be (probably true) or not as intellectually curious (not sure I ever was that curious), but whatever the reason, I don’t tend to read books now that are more than about two hundred pages. I suppose my mind has been softened by age and the Internet.
But I like Six Frigates because it talks about politics back in an age when, I thought, everyone was of the same attitude – all strong, forthright, determined, all right thinkers. It astonishes me to read that that wasn’t the case at all – that some, for example, fervently held the opinion that the United States ought to have a military because otherwise it would be attacked, and others were equally vociferous with the opinion that it was the existence of the military that provokes attack; to read about politicians who, unable to sway opinion, took to inserting clauses into bills in Congress which had nothing to do with the bill, but had the effect of implementing what the politician could not get passed on their own; to read about people arguing points that seem obvious to us now, but at the time, were very much – literally – up for debate. And not gentlemanly will the senator yield ? debate, either. Holy hell, I think. Things were as screwed up then as they are now.
There are times when I despair for the future of this country, I really do. I know that I’m not a strong thinker; I’m not the brightest guy around, and I tend to feel that everyone has the right to their opinion, when, probably, they really don’t. There's a lot of stupid people around, and sometimes I'm one of them. I am amazed that people can be in favor of politicians who display disdain for them, and I’m sure that others are amazed that I can be in favor of a politician who does things that are clearly wrong, or politically motivated. I console myself that of course, you can’t vote against someone just because of their attitude to one topic, and then I see the success of the NRA because that’s exactly what their members do. I find myself thinking well, maybe its not such a bad thing that people want to have their own guns, because most guns that are used for malicious purpose were acquired illegally – and then I think but if I’m agreeing with them, but they never agree with me that steps need to be taken to control gun violence, doesn’t that mean the NRA won? (Yes, I think it does.) So maybe it is a good thing to be a one or two or three issue person, and just vote for the people who are your way on those issues, even if you suspect that they’re lying, even if you know that there are good reasons not to support what you want. Let the other side worry about equality; stick up for your side.
I know, we’ll survive, but there are times when I wonder if its worth it.
But I like Six Frigates because it talks about politics back in an age when, I thought, everyone was of the same attitude – all strong, forthright, determined, all right thinkers. It astonishes me to read that that wasn’t the case at all – that some, for example, fervently held the opinion that the United States ought to have a military because otherwise it would be attacked, and others were equally vociferous with the opinion that it was the existence of the military that provokes attack; to read about politicians who, unable to sway opinion, took to inserting clauses into bills in Congress which had nothing to do with the bill, but had the effect of implementing what the politician could not get passed on their own; to read about people arguing points that seem obvious to us now, but at the time, were very much – literally – up for debate. And not gentlemanly will the senator yield ? debate, either. Holy hell, I think. Things were as screwed up then as they are now.
There are times when I despair for the future of this country, I really do. I know that I’m not a strong thinker; I’m not the brightest guy around, and I tend to feel that everyone has the right to their opinion, when, probably, they really don’t. There's a lot of stupid people around, and sometimes I'm one of them. I am amazed that people can be in favor of politicians who display disdain for them, and I’m sure that others are amazed that I can be in favor of a politician who does things that are clearly wrong, or politically motivated. I console myself that of course, you can’t vote against someone just because of their attitude to one topic, and then I see the success of the NRA because that’s exactly what their members do. I find myself thinking well, maybe its not such a bad thing that people want to have their own guns, because most guns that are used for malicious purpose were acquired illegally – and then I think but if I’m agreeing with them, but they never agree with me that steps need to be taken to control gun violence, doesn’t that mean the NRA won? (Yes, I think it does.) So maybe it is a good thing to be a one or two or three issue person, and just vote for the people who are your way on those issues, even if you suspect that they’re lying, even if you know that there are good reasons not to support what you want. Let the other side worry about equality; stick up for your side.
I know, we’ll survive, but there are times when I wonder if its worth it.
Friday, August 10, 2012
Thursday, August 09, 2012
Dressage
I have to admit that I didn't read the whole thing, but What's So Bad About A Boy Who Wants to Wear A Dress is intriguing. I liked their observation that no one thinks it odd for a girl to wear jeans and toss a football, but the reverse - well, that's something else again.
Coffee and...
I really wanted to like this article.
Paris, cool. Pastries, great. Good coffee, nice. But the general tenor of the article, which I'd summarize as OMG MOLTEN ORGASMS ON TAP!!! - uh, no.
Though that Dr. Frankenstein brewing dealie is pretty cool.
Paris, cool. Pastries, great. Good coffee, nice. But the general tenor of the article, which I'd summarize as OMG MOLTEN ORGASMS ON TAP!!! - uh, no.
Though that Dr. Frankenstein brewing dealie is pretty cool.
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