Keeping it straight

My mum reminded me of her younger years with her father -- who died before I was born.

Apparently there was a terrible fire in his house when he was a boy, due to a Christmas tree fire. Thereafter Christmas was a downer for him and for my Grandparent's family, who adapted to the situation and made it all they could.

I hope that I would not resort to a near-denial of the spirit of Christmas.

Apart from silly little strings never faithfully lighting and the occasional bulb breaking, nothing of much concern has happened.

spam 4

After the ranting it's great to laugh again.

"Pollyanna, may picket"

Okay. Those who know some one by that name ... please let me know.

Tangent from "circa 2002" -- politcal too

That is sad ... sickening, but yet ... I have other, worse stories.

A different school.
Normally on referral slips, there are bulleted items that can be checked (ex: remove from rooom, refer to office, behavior, academic, etc.). At one school there were more bulleted items. You would bullet items, not to account for every possibility, but rather for common items, making it easier to read. The longer list, this is an elementary school (in the 53rd largest US city -- I think), includes drugs, paraphenelia, assault, sexual assault, weapons, et. al. Now. If you have it happen often enough to bullet it, I'd say that is the problem and referral slips aren't going to solve that.

From another source: "That area has an epidemic of molestation ... like a rite of passage, almost." Pragmatically, I suggest that you nuke the rapists ... return the biomass to the planet; or deploy them as mine sweepers in Arabia or toxic waste disposal in the Yukka Mountain, if instant destruction of the rapists isn't prudent or "moral". What makes does God grant all humans, free will. Taking, denying a person free will, especially those unable to understand free will. BTW: all persons know right and wrong -- schizophrenics being the possible exception. It is through training that we are taught otherwise.

circa 2002

I was at an urban school -- 1st grade.

They were studying weather and part of the practice was to nearly daily, check the wind as shown by the US flag in front of the building. As this was the first day for this, I had the kids don their gear to walk outside. When finally outside, the kids could care less about the flag -- recess was on their minds. I got that!

What I didn't predict was one of the boys pulling his stocking hat over his face, bumping into one of the other kids, then, in a gruff tone, damand her money. What a charming act. Even more, likely a home-environment thing that is not "critical" enough to warrant investigating the house, let alone possibly relocating those children.

Gift

After the difficulty I had with Charlie's birthday gift and the resulting frustration I had with assembling the ruddy thing, I had to find something different. It has just as many pieces, but no set structure. It'll be all over and I'll be blamed and I'll be okay with that, because it can be creative and follows two of the ten basic rules for better gifts for kids: does not require batteries, was not designed to make noise (music).

Soothing humor

Some time ago, a person (whom I know, but their association to me is unimportant to the story) had minor frequency. It was suggested to him that he naturally take care of the problem with, say -- dried plums*. That's wasn't unreasonable, save that as they were that person, the character ate from the container like popcorn at the theater. Within 18 hours, the frequency was back and strangely more frequent.

The person found that running -- sprinting, not marathon, was important to do. I understand there was a slight, "panicked look" when the person got the 2-minute warning. Some vacation beginning, eh? Does the frequent pottier, go in the woods? You bet! Grass stains are better than other stains.

I believe that the windows were used often too, as bowels were breaking and chairs were quaking.

Tip: don't over do it on the medicine--natural or otherwise.

* dried plums sound much better than the stigmatized, "prunes"

Ah ... ordering online

I ordered something Friday from a Michigan company. I continually looked at my account to see when it was charged.

Saturday, no. Monday, no. Tuesday, no. Wednesday, yes.
Will the order be sent by Sunday -- highly unlikely.

So, if you are ordering by online ... plan well ahead. I didn't spring for over-twice the shipping fee for faster delivery. Maybe it would have been worth it.