Hell in a handbasket

My kids won't eat biscuits if they are buttered. They want jelly only.

Yet they will eat butter straight out of those tiny tubs you get in restaurants.

***

I met a young man recently who talked to me about a Guns 'n' Roses song. I asked him what album it's on. "Album? It's just a G 'n' R track. I don't know."

Ah... this is life in the MP3 era.

***

He also called me "sir" repeatedly, which was equal parts disturbing and... appropriate. Dang.

***

Most of the young men I see today would be met by yours truly with a loaded firearm if they came to my house to pick up my daughter for a date.

"I have no problem going BACK to prison."

Heh heh.

***

Paramore? Is this really the name of a "punk" band??

***

I watched a young man in the parking lot by my office berating a young woman who clearly aimed to get in her car and drive off without him.

"Fine, I'ma just get anothuh one o' my hoes to come get me!" He yelled at her.

Let me just say that if you're really such a pimp, sir, you probably own your own car.

***

Another young man told me he has a hard time sitting through two Who songs in a row.

What?? Ack! Blasphemy.

***

But I actually don't mind Kanye West.


***

Good night.

Couple Notes About My Kids

Couple days ago THEGIRL invited me into her room for a private picnic.

I sat down and saw a pink plate covered with little girl stuff (hair ties, tiny toys, etc). A princess doll stood on either side of the plate.

I picked one up: "Who is this princess?"

"That's not a princess. That's your drink."

Ooooooh. The little things were all supposed to be food. Got it.

So she'd point out something and instruct me to "eat" it. The little pieces of styrofoam were celery.

"Yuck! I don't like celery!" I said.

I picked up one of the plastic bugs on the plate. "What's this?"

"That's a sandwich," she said.

"Oh, okay," I said, pretending to nibble. "What kind of sandwich is this?"

"A bug sandwich."

***

I picked up Wolfboy today, and he asked me what I know about French. Not much, I explained, though my great grandfather, Pierre Poursine, was a Frenchman.

I asked Wolfboy why.

He explained that there's a new kid in class who speaks only French. I asked if he's from France, or maybe an African country.

Wolfboy said he's African. He then told me that he wanted an English/French dictionary so he can talk to the new boy.

We went to the library tonight and checked one out.

I explained to him that this new boy, a second grader from across the globe, is about as far from home as anyone can imagine. He may come from a place where there's war, or where the government doesn't like him because of something like religion or tribal affiliation. I asked Wolfboy if he can imagine how strange this new place where no one really looks like him and no one speaks his language must seem to him.

I have never been prouder of my little boy, and I told him so.

Just a dash of this and a pinch of that

Good morning.

Rangers won 9-1 in their opener yesterday (which thankfully wasn't on the road for once). They lit up Cliff Lee pretty badly. I gather Lee looked awful in spring training as well. I imagine the Indians should be concerned about their Cy Young winner. Do I recall that he was 22-3 last season?

***

BB's current therapy: Death is this Communion by High on Fire.

***

I started my new group last night. I was supposed to start next week, but that got changed. That is, everyone was informed that it'd be changing except yours truly, who got the call only a few hours prior. But that's okay. This ain't my first rodeo.

It went well. I'm excited.

***

Work tends to be extremely busy lately. Our Refugee Services department makes steady referrals to us, so I'm often in the middle of some Food Stamps and/or Medicaid stuff with clients.

***

My work computer has died, so I've got my trusty, road-worn iBook here to get me by.

***

And... I wanted to say thank you. You know who you are.

***

Happy Tuesday.