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Post by 9idrr on Dec 20, 2019 20:37:06 GMT -6
You seem to've created an admirable protagonist, sir. Thanks for the latest.
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Post by texican on Dec 21, 2019 16:18:15 GMT -6
ppb,
We are currently living this....
The outcome is still not determined for people are waking up and President Trump is fighting this....
Texican....
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Post by pbbrown0 on Dec 25, 2019 11:53:56 GMT -6
Post #6 Young Growing Things
Pete was relieved that he did not need to water his garden. The rain in May and June was adequate and also fairly regular. It surprised him that some of the seeds he had sown sprouted before those he had 'planted' in the soil. The rates at which the young plants grew after sprouting varied quite a bit. Being an analytical thinker, he had kept notes about what and how he planted. He intended to watch carefully and record the progress of the plants. His expectation was that some types of garden vegetables would do better than others with one method or the other. He also expected that some types of vegetables might not grow as well in this type of soil. Rudy never offered the name of anyone experienced in gardening to help him. Pete figured he had just forgotten about the suggestion with his taking care of so many details running the cafe. By late June some of the vegetables like lettuce and greens were showing signs of being ready to harvest soon. Others, like peppers, squash, beans, and tomatoes were starting to put on blooms. Pete was having to pull a few weeds and grasses that were sprouting up through the straw where his mulching had been thinner. He had no idea how much his garden would be producing, but this was why he needed to put in a garden now rather than waiting until he had his own land. Meanwhile he was still reading as much as he could about gardening and homestead style farming. Pete was also periodically searching online for small parcels of land that might be for sale in the area. Everything he was finding was way out of reach from what he could yet afford. Most parcels with just a few acres included a house on the land. He was sure that was a factor in the price per acre being so high, yet when he found enough acres without a house already built the price per acre of the listing wasn't that much lower. He knew that eventually he would have to buy a vehicle to be able to go take a real look at the land, but he did not want to do that until he had to. Every month he could delay getting a vehicle would add to how much money he could save before picking up insurance and upkeep expenses. - - - - “Jenny, I just can't believe what they're doing with the high school schedule next year. Classes are starting in the middle of August and the band director is starting practices two weeks before that!” I know Linda. That's the same time the football coaches are starting required practices 'before school starts'. You know Carl was on the school's baseball team this spring and with the bi-district and regional playoffs he didn't finish up until almost the end of June.” “It seems like they are trying to stretch the school year longer and longer each year. I guess it won't be long until the kids are having to go practically year round.” “What doesn't make sense though is that the school year is getting longer, but the kids aren't learning any more than they use too. Rob actually found out that the teachers are being told that they cannot give the students homework. All the teaching and all the 'study time' on assignments has to be done during the class periods. And yet they encourage the kids to participate in sports, band, and any other contest category they can come up with so the school can win trophies or recognition for this or that school achievement. It just seems inside out to me, Linda.” “Jenny it's not just the schools that seem inside out. Bruce is always griping about how at the factory they spend more effort proving that they are following this ISO standard or that new ISO standard for the processes they follow than actually checking and improving their quality and productivity.” “Ya know, Linda, it makes me wonder what kind of world our kids are facing when they grow up and try to make it on their own. Rob has talked about how it seems that American owned companies making goods are moving more and more production offshore, and most of the factories that are growing here in the States are owned by foreign companies. Something just doesn't seem right there.” “Okay, now I am out of my league. I don't even try to understand international economics anymore. Believe me, though, Jenny. I do understand your worries about our kids. Do you have any idea how rare it has gotten for couples to have marriages like the two of us have with our husbands? I mean neither of us are rich, but we have a steady income, knock on wood. More important is how we both have real partners and our relationships are strong. I just pray that Colleen can find a partner someday like we did.” “Don't I know it. I almost made a big mistake before I met Rob. I was really smitten, I thought by a guy I met in college. I thought he was prime husband material. I am so glad I listened to the warning bells I was barely hearing. I found out later that he got a high paying job right out of college and got married right away. Four years later he was divorced. And he married again, several times.” “Girl, that's what I'm talking about. And I know you are just as worried about Carl. He's a fine young man, but he is a … young man. There are some very attractive girls out there that are looking for a sugar daddy to capture. The problem is when that is their primary motivation, it won't be long before they find another sugar daddy that they think might be a better catch.” “Linda, Rob and I both are trying to be good parents. We try to talk to Carl about making wise decisions instead of clever decision. We even talk to him about our relationships in the family instead of just hoping he catches the right ideas by osmosis. I just hope he doesn't get lured into a bad mistake.” - - - - “Mr. Cochran, I know you are accustomed to hiring either young teachers fresh out of college, or teachers with a little more experience who are somewhat older. Well I am both and neither. I'm not so young and I don't have more experience teaching high school. At the same time I am a little older, I am fresh out of college with a master's degree, and I did teach a few classes that were mostly students fresh out of high school at the university while I was in graduate school. I would really like to teach. I like to cultivate and grab the interest of young students in this subject that surrounds us and shapes our environment every day.” “Well, Ms. Blankenship, I will admit that it is unusual to find a...ur...uh, teacher with more life experience who still has your enthusiasm for her subject. It is especially hard to find teachers who are as qualified that are willing to teach this far out...well in this area. I am willing to take a chance with you on a one year contract. After that we will just have to see how this goes. I will present your name and credentials to the school board and ask for their approval. If you are approved you will be notified and information will be sent to you for our teacher training starting in August. Thank you for coming in.” Joann was really hopeful about this job. It was closer to her home than the university had been, so that was a big plus, and it would be a full time job, even if it was a teacher's pay in a 'poor' small town school district. If she got this position she would not have to move, even if it was still a bit of a commute. Thankfully, the part time job she had at the grocery store in Clear Water during her last two semesters at the university had allowed her to add a few more hours per week since her graduation in December. With her school work finished, she had been spending many hours every week looking all over this part of the state for a full time position. This one in Barnsville was the only one that looked promising. She had become all too accustomed for the last seven years to very long hours and pinching pennies every day in order to survive. If this job came through she knew she could make it until her first real paycheck in September, that is if she could keep her car running just a few more months. - - - - Pete was surprised at how well his garden had fared this summer. He was getting more fresh vegetables than he had expected, and he still had not watered once. Some of the things he planted had not done as well as others, but he was actually growing more than he could eat of other crops. He mentioned it to Rudy and Gladys after one of the meetings and they suggested he bring the extras to them periodically. “Pete, there are some in our congregation that don't have as much as others. As one of the elders, I become aware of things like that from time to time. We don't make a habit of supporting anyone just sitting around looking for handouts, but from time to time a brother or sister needs a little help and encouragement through a difficult time. I can see to it that the fresh food that is more than you need gets to someone who is needing a little help without embarrassing them by announcing to others that they are struggling at the moment.” “Rudy, that would be great. It would make me happy to know it was helping someone who is really needing it. That's a wonderful idea.” As the summer wore on Pete's garden was producing more and more. He was still saving his money, but he decided he was harvesting so many vegetables he ought to start canning some for the winter. He had no equipment or supplies for that, and he only had one hot plate to cook on. He thought about that and remembered seeing a design for a cinder block rocket stove when he was at the library looking online one day. The more he thought about that the more he liked it. He could get enough cinder blocks at the farm store for less than the cost of a hot plate. He could use them outside while he was canning and then disassemble them when they were not in use. But where would he get the wood? He could get that in the forest, of course. He could gather plenty just picking up fallen branches on the forest floor. Pete bought ten cinder blocks at work and brought them back to the house in his bike trailer. He did not need that many for the stove itself, but he decided he could use the extras to lift it higher off the ground. To keep the blocks out of the way until he was ready to use them, he lined them up on the ground at the edge of his garden. On his next day off he rode his bike to the forest and started gathering fallen branches. He had to break them short enough to fit inside his bike trailer. For a few of them that were a bit thicker, he used his camping hatchet to cut them short enough. Before long he had a trailer full of small branches and headed back home. His next step was to get a canner and some canning supplies. Those he got at the farm store. He talked to his boss who agreed to order one of those pressure canners that had the metal screw clamps. These were designed so that the lid sealed metal to metal rather than using a rubber or silicon gasket. It cost a lot more than other brands, but Pete was convinced in the long term it was worth the extra cost. He also needed to buy some canning jar supplies. He had to dip into his savings for the pressure canner, but he was spacing the rest of the purchases out over several pay periods. He was also studying online articles about canning, since he had never done this before. It was probably more than obvious to some, but Pete, being a novice at the idea of preserving foods beyond using a refrigerator or freezer, was finding out that some vegetables were better suited to canning than others. He had grown up thinking that spinach was a kind of dark green mush that came in a can or in a frozen brick from the supermarket. The first time he noticed a plastic bag with small oval leaves in the produce section labeled 'baby spinach' it was very confusing to him. He did learn to like those dark leaves in a salad, though. Pete's eating habits were changing more now with a garden producing a different variety of fresh vegetables. Many foods he had not bothered to buy in the grocery stores were ready for him to eat, even if he was not ready with a recipe for fixing that food. With his garden forcing a new inventory into his micro-kitchen he was scrambling to avoid being wasteful. Meanwhile, he was providing fresh vegetables to people in need within the congregation without knowing who they actually were. Rudy kept thanking him for his 'donations', but was not forthcoming about who they were going to. Pete managed to get the rocket stove and canner going, and was trying to learn what he was doing with the equipment. He finally worked out boiling the jars inside on the hot plate and filling them with the vegetables. Then he lidded them before carrying them outside to the pressure canner. He bought a few more cinder blocks to make a work space outside. He used jar tongs to take the finished jars out of the canner and set them on a towel to cool. He actually got to where he could turn out some pretty good canned items, after he had made a few failed attempts. He had decided to try a few small batches at first and then try opening the canned vegetables and reheating them to see if they had actually turned out well. Pete was finding some complicated recipes online but was looking for simple, healthy, tasty things he could do with his fresh food. He eventually found some sites suggesting they had forgotten recipes of the pioneers and simple canning recipes for vegetables. He wasn't so sure about how many recipes the pioneers had for canning, but it did give him some new simpler recipes to try. He also liked being able to cook outside during the summer. The canner he bought was rather large and absorbed a lot of heat from the rocket stove. That helped him resolve to include a 'summer kitchen' in his plans for building a house someday soon; at least he hoped it would be soon. His sense of urgency would not leave him, yet he still felt a quiet confidence like he was somehow still on the right path to getting ready. - - - - Jenny and Carl had just walked in as Rob was getting the table set. Jenny had put some jalapeno-cheese cornbread in the oven before going to pick up their son Carl and Colleen, Bruce and Linda Cooper's daughter, from their after school activities. It was the first week of school and the new school year always seemed like it started up with a flurry and a crazily pressured schedule. The cornbread recipe was one she got from Rob's dad. It was almost like a cornbread casserole cooked in a cast iron skillet in the oven. She had a batch of pinto beans slow cooking in the electric crock pot since the night before. Rob had fond memories of this meal, which was a good thing. It seemed like prices for almost everything were climbing. It also seemed like the pay raises where Rob worked were becoming only token changes that were not keeping up with the real cost of living. Carl seemed to be extra hungry tonight. Of course his appetite all summer had been staggering. He was almost six feet tall now having had a startling growth spurt over the last four months. “Take it easy, son. There is plenty here. You don't have to race to get your share.” Rob was half chuckling at his son's feeding frenzy. “Sorry, Dad I have a lot of studying to do before I go to bed.” “Studying? What happened to the teachers never giving homework?” “Oh, this isn't homework. It's football. I have a lot of plays to learn and what the execution rules are for each one at my positions. I have a chance to make the varsity team, but only if I know exactly what I am supposed to do when the coach calls a play.” “So, you have to study hard for your extra-curricular activities, but not for your school subjects?” Carl paused for a moment. “That's kind of messed up, huh, Dad? Our classes are so different. They are working so hard to make sure they pass everyone they can that it's hard not to get bored sometimes. All you have to do is to actually do the exercises the teachers give us in class and you pass. Some of the kids don't even try half the time, so the teachers have to offer bonus work to make sure they get enough points to pass. If you've done all the original work and then the bonus work too, it all adds up even if you make a bunch of mistakes. The teachers even give you time in class to do the bonus work. All you have to do is use the time they give you.” “The sports and things like that are a different story. That's competition. Colleen was even talking about how in band not everyone gets to march on the field. The director has some precision maneuvers designed and if any student is out of line from the assigned spot in the formation it reflects badly on everyone else. He has a pool of younger or less diligent players 'on the bench'. If someone is not staying consistently in the right positions on the field and tey are making the patterns look sloppy, he will pull someone 'off the bench' to take their place right in front of everyone.” “This was a great dinner, Mom. Thanks. I gotta run and get to studying. I'll wash dishes this weekend to make up for it.” Rob had a concerned look on his face and exchanged glances with Jenny. “Jen, I don't like this. Is this really the way we want our son to learn what is and isn't important? I mean sure, it 's good that he is learning to apply himself and work hard at some things, but it just seems there are things he should be learning that he's not being taught. He's too smart to be wasting his time in classes where he is being taught there is not much to be learned.”
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Post by texican on Dec 25, 2019 18:51:37 GMT -6
ppb,
Education is turning into passing everyone that they can instead of teaching the subjects as needed to educate the children....
Far from when we were in school....
This will show up when these under educated children have to enter the work place....
Thanks for the chapter....
Texican....
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Post by papaof2 on Dec 25, 2019 20:06:48 GMT -6
ppb,
Education is turning into passing everyone that they can instead of teaching the subjects as needed to educate the children....
Far from when we were in school....
This will show up when these under educated children have to enter the work place....
Thanks for the chapter....
Texican.... Some of those under-educated children were made worse in liberal (non-educating) colleges and universities and we have very visible examples such as AOC.
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remembergoliad
Member
if you send friend req on FB, message me too. I won't accept if I don't recognize you.
Posts: 158
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Post by remembergoliad on Dec 26, 2019 8:14:58 GMT -6
Seems the challenging and interesting aspect of school is being added to the activities that stress "doing your part" of a group exercise in accordance with your training of how to sit, stay, roll over, play dead, beg, (wait, WHAT?) and so on. Individual-based extracurricular activities, and come to think of it, intellectually-based extracurricular activities are downplayed afterthoughts.
Of course, all this is to 'round out' the student's 'school experience', a tacit admission that the current classroom experience has very little core value. (Is THAT the 'common core', and is it hollow?)
When I was in 9th and 10th grade, back in the late 70's, both the history courses that came during those years were taught by one older fellow who made the material interesting and related it to today's (at that time) events and even pointed out how those shaping the current events would do well to learn some history. I learned a lot in 9th grade and spent that summer actually being eager and impatient for fall so I could get back into Mr. X's classroom. Imagine the letdown when we walked into the classroom and there was Coach Zero who opened the textbook to page one and-read-in-a-metronomically-paced-monotone-exactly-what-was-printed-and-paused-only-to-----------turn-the-page. We endured that crap all year and for many it ruined the appreciation of our history that Mr. X had developed. Seems every subject has a Coach Zero now somewhere, by design, to throw a wet heavy blanket on kids' enthusiastic inquisitiveness. Sad.
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Post by papaof2 on Dec 26, 2019 10:07:33 GMT -6
One of our daughters was fortunate to have an American History teacher who made things interesting - and brought in a lot of things that weren't in the book - and this was in the late '80s. There may still be a few good ones around but the .gov is so afraid they won't know who's learned what and how well that it appears that more time is spent on paperwork than education.
Then there's the definition of "success". My definition is "able to provide for yourself (and family if you have them) and happy in what you're doing".
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Post by pbbrown0 on Dec 26, 2019 18:21:43 GMT -6
I want to thank all of you making comments about elements in this story. It is encouraging to know that I am touching on subjects that are important and reason for concern to you, my friends.
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Post by 9idrr on Dec 26, 2019 19:52:25 GMT -6
I want to thank all of you making comments about elements in this story. It is encouraging to know that I am touching on subjects that are important and reason for concern to you, my friends. I'm sure I ain't the only one who likes stories that make me think and remember stuff.
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Post by texican on Dec 26, 2019 22:39:43 GMT -6
I want to thank all of you making comments about elements in this story. It is encouraging to know that I am touching on subjects that are important and reason for concern to you, my friends. ppb, You could be more encouraging by posting more chapters, don't you think.... Texican... rg, Is THAT the 'common core', and is it hollow?Sums up education today and it is hollow.... Texican....
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Post by pbbrown0 on Dec 27, 2019 8:48:58 GMT -6
"Common Core" is merely one of many, MANY means to a common end; an end about which the vast majority of the proponents of those means remain clueless.
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Post by kaijafon on Dec 27, 2019 14:00:51 GMT -6
Common Core comes from communism Karl Marx, an American, started it for various reasons.
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Post by papaof2 on Dec 27, 2019 14:21:25 GMT -6
Put "common core" together with "paperless" bank/credit accounts and you have people who have no idea what their salary is, how much the .gov is taking, etc.
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remembergoliad
Member
if you send friend req on FB, message me too. I won't accept if I don't recognize you.
Posts: 158
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Post by remembergoliad on Dec 27, 2019 19:16:11 GMT -6
My sis and I were talking about this just a few hours ago, about the time y'all were posting your comments. They were TRYING this crap with us, and by "us" I mean my contemporaries. I'm 55, so anyone in their 50's and possibly late 40's and early 60's is in the ring here. Problem (from their angle) is that we still had been taught how to do arithmetic, and had first-hand exposure to people who were removed from even semi-overt attempts to dumb down the system. Today's group of kids is version 2.0 of the stupidizing of American citizens.
With the Rube Goldberg method of teaching arithmetic, and the omnipresent smartphones and tablets with calculators in them, I'd guess that 99% of the population under age 30 couldn't make change without a machine telling 'em what to do. I have come across exactly four people in the last ten years who counted me back my change properly. Amazingly, one of them was a KID! Although, on further interaction, I learned it was the homeschooled son of the owner of the establishment. I sought out said parents and complimented them on their son's ability to actually think, especially when he was completely un-flustered when I belatedly handed him the pennies to even out the change due. He handled it perfectly. That makes ONE time I was impressed by a kid in the last two decades. Sad commentary on what's coming when it comes. And it's coming.
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Post by pbbrown0 on Jan 2, 2020 11:56:18 GMT -6
Post # 7 Let's Get Real
Joann was excited about her new job. There were all these young minds that knew so little about the world around them, and she now had an opportunity to wake them up. The training and orientation for new teachers was mostly about administrative procedures and rules the teachers had to follow. That was the boring part of her job as a teacher. Then there was the in service training for all the teachers which was another way of saying, “We [the school administration] want to be sure you get plenty of pep talks about how well we are doing our job of enabling you as teachers to teach, and to be sure you understand that without our help you would probably not have a clue how to be effective as a teacher.” Joann was determined that she was going to make this more than just a job. She was going to go beyond merely meeting the minimum requirements. She wanted to make a difference to her students. Joann quickly realized that she was not the only teacher who was trying to be the best teacher she could be, but there were others who, for one reason or another, had become cynical about their ability to make a difference. Joann was undeterred. She would simply have to resist letting the attitudes of the cynical rub off on her. Her strategy was to make her students hungry for learning more, to stretch and push her students' natural curiosity. She was often staying late at the school working to enliven the environment of her classroom, pressing forward finding activities and visual aids to stimulate the creative abilities of her students. After driving home she would throw something together to eat and then spend more hours trying to plan ways to make the lessons even more interesting for her students. Week after week for her it became the same routine. Striving all day to help her students learn the subject, while also trying to teach them the basic skills, like reading, that she had mistakenly thought they were being taught in their previous years of being moved through the school system. She also had to spend time most days meeting the requirements of the school administrators for documenting all that she was doing, and why she thought those activities were necessary and helpful for the students to reach the school's academic goals. It began troubling her when she realized that the goals being presented to the teachers by the administration were frequently including the word 'students', yet the goals were always formulated in terms of the school's statistics rather than the growth of the individual students. It did not take long for the school year to become exhausting and frustrating for Joann. Every Saturday she was “oversleeping” and not getting as much done as she had hoped. Every Sunday, after the congregation Bible study, she routinely began feeling anxious about catching up or trying to concentrate enough to maybe get just a little ahead for the week to come at school. - - - - Pete was getting better acquainted with Ruben both at work and after the congregation meeetings. One day Ruben asked an unexpected question. “Pete, I once asked you why you moved here from Texas, and you gave me the same dodge you have given everyone else about change of scenery and liking trees better than endless miles of grass. If you have some secret that you don't want to spread around, then that's your business, but that had to be a really big change for you to come here. You have family back home, and you had no one here. You don't seem like you have the personality to be a hermit, Pete. I am still a little puzzled about what you plan to do, now that you are here with all this new scenery. Canning vegetables and cooking on cinder blocks is not exactly improving your view of all these trees, is it?” Ruben's smirk was poorly hidden by design. Pete took only a moment before he began to reply. “Ruben, I do love the trees, and I also love the hills. Ideally I would like to buy some property here so I can enjoy the scenery better. The problem is that due to some history, which I do not relish rehashing, I do not have the money to buy any yet. I am saving as much as I can until I can afford a small space in the woods where I plan to build a house and settle down. In the mean time there are some skills I need to develop like gardening, so that when I can afford the right place, I can actually make my plan work.” Ruben looked very thoughtful for several minutes. “You are serious about that, aren't you, Pete? I have a pretty good idea how much you are able to save since I work with you. It sounds like you are planning to grow a lot of your own food when you find a place in the woods, but it will likely take several acres in the woods because the trees can create a lot of shade where your garden plants can't get enough sunlight. Can I offer a suggestion about finding a piece of land?” “You sure can, Ruben. So far it looks like I may be saving for a long time before I have enough to buy my dream property.” Pete was rolling his eyes while referring to his dream property. “Check out this website.” Ruben began scribbling out a web site address. “Every year there are a lot of properties that are sold at auction because the property taxes haven't been paid for several years. Maybe you can manage to pick one up for a lot less than market value. I know a few people who managed to buy a house that way and avoided having to take out a mortgage. That helps an awful lot on your expenses if you can start out without having a monthly house payment.” “Thanks, Ruben, I'll look into that. Now as for that hermit thing, I have too much on my plate to take care of right now to worry about that, but I do hope I can talk my son and his family into joining me here someday.” Pete did consider Ruben a new friend, so he was walking a thin line between not lying to him and not telling him everything that was on his mind at that moment. Pete found a day to take a break from his gardening and canning work one rainy weekend in early November. Most of his crops were no longer producing as the weather was getting colder and staying overcast most days. Pete had not bothered to build a roof over his outside canning operation so it was effectively shut down for the season, anyway. He spent much of the day on a computer at the library studying the website Ruben had mentioned to him. There was a steep learning curve here to make sure he understood how this tax sale process worked. He was being meticulous to make sure he understood any 'gotchas' that might pop up. There were a number of properties scattered around the state that had been put up for auction in the previous year without any bidders offering the minimum bid. He found that surprising since some had what he considered a very small minimum bid shown. All of the properties listed like this were apparently residential lots within various towns around the state. None of them were rural with more than an acre of land included. As he studied the processes and the information on the site he decided this tip from Ruben just might become a real gold mine for him. There was a schedule of auction locations and dates beginning in late spring the following year. This way he could plan in advance when to get time off from work to go to the auctions. What he did not know yet was how many properties would be put on the auction block next year. - - - - “Dad, I really appreciate you and Mom coming to watch the game last night. It's nice to know you two were there for me.” Carl was up early for a Saturday. “Carl I'm glad we got to see you play again. We were surprised you were getting as much playing time in as you did. It was a lot more than in the game last week. The coaches must be pleased with how you are doing.” “Well, that's what I am hoping for. My goal is to be a starter before the end of the season. That's when it will really pay off.” “What do you mean, Carl? How is it going to pay off?” “Well, the coaches look at you differently, of course, but the other guys and girls at school do, too. It's like you are elevated to a different level in the scheme of things. The seniors don't look down on you like you're in a lower class if you are a starter. It's almost like you are on the same level with them even if you are younger and in a lower grade.” “Has there been a problem for you feeling belittled by the seniors, Carl?” “Not exactly. I mean not actively. It's just that the senior guys simply ignore the guys in the lower grades like they don't exist, and … well some of the junior and even sophomore girls act like you don't exist unless you are a senior or a starter on the team.” “So, not all of the girls act that way, but some of them do. Are there some particular girls that you think would be more friendly to you if you made the starting team?” “I don't think so, I know so. Like Sharon Jordan, one of the cheerleaders for example; she's in 10th grade, but she has dated a lot of juniors and seniors. Kim Wilson told me he had asked her to go on a date with him earlier this year, and she turned him down. Then, after the game last week when Kim was in the starting lineup, she came to him after the game and asked if he was still interested in a date with her. Suddenly he was elevated to a different level in the social structure.” Robert was thinking before responding to his son. He was smart enough to know that a parent simply telling a teenager that they needed to rethink their values was not a guarantee that they would. “Okay, Carl, help me understand here, are you saying that you want to make first string just so you can get dates with the prettiest girls in school, or is there more to it than that?” “No, Dad, it's not just about the girls that guys think are are really pretty, even though that is a factor. It's more like the ones that are just, well, not just the most popular either. Some girls are just unmistakably fine. It's the girls that the guys know are out of their league, unless the guy is a – well someone in the 'in' group at school; you know, the guys who are well known and looked up too.” “Hmm. Okay, son, be honest with me. Is this about a particular girl you are worried about impressing, or is it about your feeling like you may or may not be attractive to girls in general that are among the most popular at school?” It was all Robert could do not to laugh as he watched Carl's face. It was like a fast slide show of changing expressions flashing across his son's face. Robert had his answer even before Carl spoke. “Dad, it's just that... well... how can I... why would a... what do I have to offer that would make a really special girl think I would be worth … their attention? What have I done that is so special. I don't have any skills, special abilities, or achievements. I'm just one more guy in a school full of a thousand other guys. Why would a girl like that want to date me?” “Son, I want you to catch your breath and listen real close to what I'm going to tell you. You are going to be confused about somethings I'm about to say, so try to concentrate. I understand a lot more about what you are thinking than you know. Yours is not the first generation in the history of the world to struggle through the transition from adolescence to being an adult. You are most certainly not the first young man to have strong feelings for a special girl, and to both hope and doubt that she would ever have similar feelings about him. I also remember all about the social caste system in high school. A lot of kids tried to dismiss it and discount it, but it stubbornly persisted. The important thing for you to remember, though is this: Dating is an artificial and dysfunctional social phenomena. Did you hear what I just said, Carl? Forget about dating a girl, ever. It's a bad idea. It is a game that was badly designed, so it causes more problems than it solves.” “If you are interested in a particular girl, then simply get to know her as a friend and let her get to know you as a friend. Find things you both like to do and find a time when you can do them together. Don't rush things. If you think of something you might do to make a good impression on her, don't even try to do that. Instead, just be honest and be yourself. If you want to do something nice for her, do it because you want to, not because you want to make an impression on her. If the relationship between you two grows stronger, then it grows stronger. If it doesn't, then it doesn't. No matter what you think you feel about her at the beginning, be patient about her feelings for you and your feelings for her. Carl, you don't want to make her think you are something you are not. If you do make her think you are something or someone that you aren't, that will only cause problems for both of you later on.” “I've probably already told you more than you will remember, so I will stop there. Just try to remember some of it. If you forget something I've just told you; just ask again.”
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Post by bluefox2 on Jan 2, 2020 12:26:05 GMT -6
^^ sounds like Dad has a good handle on how things should work and hopefully his son will understand.
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Post by texican on Jan 3, 2020 21:58:24 GMT -6
^^ sounds like Dad has a good handle on how things should work and hopefully his son will understand. Yep, dating in high school is emotional and can be devastating.... As is getting advice from one's parents.... Now Pete will have to open up sooner that he realizes for friends can help one thru difficult times and can at time give good advice.... Thanks ppb for the chapter.... Texican....
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Post by pbbrown0 on Jan 7, 2020 17:40:58 GMT -6
Secret Experiments
“Well, that didn't last long. So much for distracting them and trying to erode their confidence in their leaders. Oh, and what was that you were saying about their forgetting how to act like the alpha?” Vlad's sneer was unrestrained as he mocked the other committee members. “Don't be so impatient, Vlad. This is only a minor setback and it will blow over soon. We need to stay with our strategy and let it play forward.” “Christine, a strategy is worthless unless it is executed properly and skillfully. If we are going to erode their confidence we must be certain that their leaders are going to fall in line with our expectations before we hand them an opportunity to flex their muscles. They must be in a position so their boasting and bluffing appears hollow. It must appear to be bluster and talk that they cannot carry out. That is how to erode confidence. If a leader is able to act without first getting permission from others, they appear strong, and many people will follow a strong leader. I know this. I have proved this.” “Vlad has a point. We tried to reuse a tactic that worked in the past, but it worked before only because we had the right pieces in place. We had already placed a weak leader in that position, and he was assured of holding that weak position for several years without interference. We have misjudged this one's courage to act unilaterally because we were listening to our own propaganda that we wanted the people to be hearing about him. The people may have been distracted, but he was not. I fear that this incident will serve to strengthen his position for the coming election. Unless we can pull another rabbit trick before their election time this erosion we have talked about will have been delayed for several more years.” “Perhaps David and Vlad are on to something. Many in the States are beginning to think the way we hoped, but many others are not. Some are clinging tenaciously to the old mindset, and we may have been misjudging that tenacity. Perhaps we have also been failing to properly understand the mindset of these hold outs. Perhaps we need to focus now on those who are the problem and find a way to make them feel betrayed by their own kind.” “Jami, you, too, have some admirable points, but you are all missing the root of the issue.” Zhao had just surprised all of his colleagues by speaking out in one of these meetings. “These 'troublesome ones' in the States have been present always in each of our own countries. The difference is that for too long, as a result of their revolution long ago, the government in the States has been influenced by those determined to keep opportunities and hope alive for individuals. That is the problem. In spite of our efforts to erode the conditions there, that hope and, even though more limited now, those opportunities still persist. In my country and in Vlad's country we led the way in changing over our governments, but the conditions were right for the people to concede to those changes. In both cases our existing governments had become nearly complete failures in providing the basic needs for the people, when our governments were drawn into a major war. That was not a mere straw breaking the camel's back. The backs of our countries were already breaking when the hardships of war stuck the camel's back. That is when we were able to finally motivate those already aligned properly to revolt and overwhelm those with the 'troublesome mindsets'. It has been many years since the true hardship, especially that of war, has struck at the heart of those living inside the States.” “The decision we face is one of execution, not strategy. Do we continue down this path of slowly eroding this mountain until it is no longer a mountain. That may take another century, in which case none of us in this room will be here to enjoy the victory or the spoils.” Zhao very slowly turned his gaze to each member present holding their attention before turning to the next person around the table. “If that is what you want, I can easily find more interesting things to entertain me in my own country. However, if you wish to succeed, I suggest we excavate rather than erode. Then we can plan a war or two to finally convince these holdouts that there is one and only one path to 'Peace and Security'.” - - - -
During the winter break, Joann was at first elated at the freedom from pressure. Very soon, though she started thinking about ways to help her cope better once the next semester resumed. She had noticed the garden behind her house that was being worked by that new person in town, Pete something. She had figured out who he was when she noticed that new face during the Sunday meetings of the congregation. The garden idea was something that tugged at her but she didn't see how she could put in enough time to do one herself. But, there was that old chicken coop. Maybe if she could raise just a few hens, it would feed her need to be connected to the real world. There were problems with that idea, of course. Winter was just starting, but she walked out back to check the condition of the coop. The coop wasn't fancy, but it was sturdy enough and could provide a shelter from the weather. The nesting boxes were falling apart, so that would have to be addressed. The biggest problem would be feeding the chickens. Ideally they could be allowed to feed themselves scratching in the yard. Without a fence and her being away all day five days a week that was just not feasible. She didn't want to get into buying processed feed at the farm store year round, but she couldn't afford to put up a decent fence all around the yard, yet. Her eye was drawn to the garden that her tenant had been working. Even now, at the end of December, there were scattered greens and cabbage plants growing here and there. She even saw what looked like some straggled brussels sprouts plants over there. As she walked back to the house the wheels in her head were turning. Pete had been out looking over the garden plot earlier in the week and decided that he was going to need some more straw for the garden. What he had put down last year and even during the summer had been trampled in until there was very little mulch effect remaining. He talked to his boss at the farm store and found that they would be getting in a load of bales in a few days. It seemed that every year about this time there were some small time farmers and such who needed more than they had planned for. About this time of year the bedding for whatever animals they were raising was getting trampled in and needing to be mucked out and replaced, again. Pete had asked a customer to help him by dropping off a few extra bales by his apartment one afternoon. When he got home his first job was to break them up and start mulching the garden plot again. Planting was a few months away, but Pete figured it was better to do it sooner than to wait for later. That Thursday when Joann was leaving to go to the mid-week congregation meeting Joann noticed by the moonlight that more straw had been spread on the garden plot. After the meeting she made her way over to see Rudy and Gladys. “Hi, Gladys, Brother Lingelbach. I'm sorry I don't get to stop and chat with you very often. It seems with my teaching job my time is always pressed. Of course I know yours is too with you two having to run the cafe every day.” “Well, sister Blankenship, we all have responsibilities and challenges. You don't have to make apologies to us. How is that teaching job going? You'll have to be getting back to it in a few days, won't you?” “Yes, I'm afraid so. I have really enjoyed having a break. I really enjoy being able to teach the kids, but it seems like there are so many other responsibilities that I never dreamed would be considered requirement for teachers. I guess that is just part of the way things are for most jobs. I wanted to ask you about something, Brother Lingelbach. You know that tenant you found for my extra room?” “I hope there hasn't been any trouble, has there?” Rudy was looking slightly concerned. “Oh, no. It's been very quiet. If it weren't for the garden out back I might almost forget someone was there. I just wanted to ask about your impressions of him; Pete isn't it? I've been toying with the idea of raising a few chickens next year, but there are some issues about caring for them with my hours and commuting and all. I was wondering about seeing if I might arrange for some help from him regarding the chickens, if he is interested of course. I just wanted to get your opinion about dealing with him or not for something like that.” Gladys and Rudy looked at each other for a few seconds, before Rudy replied. “He works with Ruben at the Farm Store, and he has visited at the cafe a few times. He's also meeting with Ruben once a week for Bible study, but he only comes occasionally to our mid-week meetings. We have been hearing good things from Ruben, and we are hoping he will be joining us soon, but we won't know that until he makes the decision.” Gladys put her hand on Joann's arm. “The word around town is that he is a hard worker and a decent man. But we all know you can't judge a book by its cover. If you want to contact him about arranging for some help, it would probably be safe, but you know to be careful, anyway. Let us know if you need any help.” “Thank you, Gladys, Rudy. I appreciate your concern and your help. You two have a good evening.” It was a mid January Saturday morning when Joann walked around the house and knocked on Pete's door. Pete wasn't expecting anyone and it was an hour before he needed to get to the Farm Store for work. When he first opened the door, he did not recognize Joann. Even though he had seen her at the Sunday meetings, they had never spoken or been introduced. “Hi, I'm Joann Blankenship and you are Pete …?” “I'm Pete Smith. Actually it's Peter Smith, but not Petersmith as one word or uh one name. Just call me Pete. Say, haven't I seen you at the Sunday meetings?” “Yes, I've seen you there too; just never introduced myself. I wanted to see if I might get some help from you.” “Whatcha got in mind ... Joann was it?” “I've seen you working that garden out back and I've been impressed. Using straw for mulch instead of buying bagged mulch, and mulching during the winter instead of waiting 'til just as you're planting in the spring. That's good, real good.” “I really don't know what I'm doing out there. I'm just trying to think through some things and trying to see how it works out. Back in Texas if the ground was not all covered it would be dry and hard by time to plant, so you had to break it all up again. I just thought the ground might stay softer if the moisture was kept in until time to plant.” “Well it probably rains a bit more here than in Texas during the winter, but with the mulch in place before spring it gives time for the straw to break down and gives the insects food close to the shelter of the ground so the soil is healthier. That is especially true with straw or leaf mulch. A lot of bagged mulch is course bark. That's better than nothing but the insects can chew up and poop out the grasses and leaves faster than hard bark. That's the best way to get started. Of course after the systems get going the bark and wood chips, not sawdust, can add... I'm sorry, I'm taking up your time and not getting to why I wanted to talk to you.” “No need to apologize. I like learning about this kind of stuff. What was it you wanted help with?” “I have been thinking about trying to raise a few chickens this year. I've got a coop out here, as you've seen, but with my job I have some limitations on my time for taking care of them.” “Wait, This is your house? Uh, does Rudy know you are talking to me?” Joann looked confused. “How did you know I talked to Rudy and Gladys?” “Well he asked me to avoid contact with you. I thought that was being a bit overprotective of his sister, but I told him I would honor his request, since he was helping me out. But I guess there is a history – that I don't need to know about, but you're obviously no longer married and – I'm sorry. I think I need to shut up before I cause... Did you talk to Rudy about talking to me about...the chickens? ” “Rudy and I are not related by blood or marriage. He is my brother in the faith. He was just looking out for me since you were very new in town when he told you that. And, yes, as a matter of fact I did ask Rudy and Gladys about talking to you about the chickens. I wanted to check your references before I discussed any arrangements with you. Now where were we before that? Oh, yes. Chickens. Follow me.” Joann turned quickly and started walking toward the chicken coop. She stopped rolling her eyes just before she got to the coop and turned to face Pete again. “Okay, Pete...er Smith. Let me explain. Ideally I would like to let the chickens roam free and scratch for their own food: seeds, bugs, worms, plants. Around here that is a problem because an adequate fence around the yard to keep the chickens in and predators out would be expensive. An alternative would be to stay out here with the chickens to watch over them and keep them from wandering off.” “So, I know nothing about taking care of chickens, but you want me to be your chicken tender? I already have a day job, and an part time evening job.” Joann closed her eyes for a second so he wouldn't see her eyes rolling again, then held up her hands. “ I know how things are right now. We each have to work at jobs to get paid enough to buy the things we need. I'm just walking through this so you understand what I am thinking. I want to raise some chickens to learn some of those things that are not found in most books and articles on raising chickens. But there are practicalities I am trying to think through. I could leave them in the coop all day and let them out for a few minutes after I get home, but that is not ideal and I would still have to supply virtually all their food. However, buying chicken feed at the Farm Store is not my idea of the healthiest diet for laying hens. I might as well buy factory eggs from the supermarket. Not only that, the feed is an added expense in caring for them.” Pete stood there waiting, but Joann said nothing more. “So where is your thinking headed that you think I can help you?” “I was just thinking. I saw some of the greens and late cabbage leaves that you did not harvest last season. There were even some spent Brussels sprout stems with small sprout heads barely developed. All of those would be awesome for chickens.” “So you want me to let the chickens feed in my garden?” “No, no, no. I was only thinking,” Joann paused for a moment with a thousand mile stare. “Sorry. It's just that There are so many interactions in my head about the fringe leaves in the garden and the insects and the chickens and the soil. There is a whole ecosystem here waiting to thrive, but we are conditioned to use methods that keep them isolated from each other where they can't interact.” “Ah, I get it. The leaves and stems that are trimmed off and not used can feed the chickens, and the waste from the chickens can make compost to feed the soil.” “Pardon the chicken pun, but that is only scratching the surface. If the leaves and trimmings are thrown on the ground and the chickens are allowed to access it in stages their eating the leaves, scratching for bugs underneath, and pooping there too means they are speeding up the composting process. You don't even have to turn the compost pile. They stir the pile for you. ” “Okay so let me think this through. I could trim away the poor quality leaves on greens, cabbage, spinach, and such. I could even trim the poor leaves and stems from other plants and toss them all to a 'chicken patch' for lack of a better term. We could let the chickens out to feed on the leaves they wanted and any bugs that are attracted to that environment. If these leaves are already close to ground the garden the bugs will be attracted to the leaves readily accessible on the ground rather than climbing to the heights to find food and then back into the ground for shelter. As a patch becomes a rich compost mix from chickens scratching and pooping we can start another 'chicken patch' and let the compost mature before spreading it in the garden as a fertilizer.” Joann waited for a moment after Pete stopped. “My first idea, that is what I intended to ask was if I could have the scraps and trimmed leaves from your garden to just feed a few chickens, or maybe if it isn't too much trouble to plant an extra patch, a small patch, to grow more greens or grains to help feed them. Then you started ... I really like your ideas, but that could become a lot more work. There's also the issue of maintaining the right balance of leaves in the 'chicken patch'. And don't forget the issue of having time to watch the chickens while they are scratching and feeding if we go that way. They have to have enough time foraging or we would still have to buy feed for them.” “Didn't you say you wanted to learn the things about raising chickens that you don't find in articles on the internet? That's the same reason I started this garden. If I'm understanding right there is potential for learning the practical details of exactly how the chickens and garden can be mutually beneficial. Studying concepts is only the first step. Learning how to apply those concepts is where knowledge can make a difference in the real world.” “So, Pete, I thought I was going to be negotiating for a favor, but now it sounds like this is turning into a joint learning project. Are you sure this is something you want to do?” “It's definitely caught my interest. Let me ask, are you wanting to raise chickens just for observation, for egg production also, or for uh chicken as a food source too?” “Well, of course there is the learning element, but I see fresh eggs as one cheap food source where I don't have to worry so much about eating the results of Dr. Jekyll's secret chemistry experiments.” Joann made a smirky face. Pete was laughing out loud at that comment. “I hear that. Since you know more about chickens, why don't you figure out how many chickens we'll need for the egg production you want as a target, and by the way I could easily handle two to three eggs a day. Then let me know what plants and how many we'll need for the number of chickens you decide on. I'll get busy planning this years planting and getting the garden ready.” “Okay, Just remember this is a learning experience for me, too. I'll be estimating based on what I can dig up, not on my own hard experience.” “That works for me. I'm afraid I have to run. I need to get to work. We can talk more after you get your research together?”
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Post by texican on Jan 7, 2020 20:07:03 GMT -6
ppb,
Pete meets Joann and they have common interests....
Will love and companionship bloom?.?.?.?
Thanks for the chapter....
Texican....
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Post by pbbrown0 on Jan 16, 2020 13:21:56 GMT -6
Post #9
Planning Ahead
“Really, Vlad? We thought we had reached an understanding about lowering the profile of your control over the religions. Then I hear that you have convicted another and plan to put him in prison. Even the length of the planned sentence was leaked before the judge has a chance to make it official.” Christine was trying to sound bewildered and perplexed rather than simply scolding. “I guess there is some good that can come from this. We are at least learning what not to do when it comes time to eliminate the other religious groups. Speaking of learning, Zhao, you are a sly one. You have already been tightening down on multiple religious groups, and yet the press is all but ignoring your moves. How do you do that?” “It is not so hard my friend, if one remains true to the principles of a revolution. We made that an unmistakable premise of our revolution from the beginning while 'the press', as you call them, were focused on the more exciting developments of a major war. Our revolution was harsh, and the changes we established seemed quite harsh to many of you westerners, but the economic greed of those outside our borders forced them to turn a bind eye to it's harshness. It also helps that when prisoners expire during our interrogations we make certain that information never finds its way out of the interrogation site. Likewise, when we round up religious troublemakers, even for seemingly small issues, we make sure any persons with or without camera devices who see it happen are included in the arrests. There have been a few incidents over the years like that foolishness on Tiananmen Square that caught the attention of media organizations, but those were soon forgotten, along with the 'buy American' slogans. It would be wise for you to be less critical of Vlad, in spite of any missteps, and begin thinking more seriously about how YOU will get your 'western' countries ready for what still must come.” Once again Zhao was openly asserting his influence in one of their meetings. David and Jean-Claude seemed unruffled on the surface, but Jami and Christine could not hide their surprise. “Yes, Zhao, we must continue to make the ground work move along for that last issue, but at the moment, readjustment of the economic and military balances must be our first priority. Of course you and Vlad are well acquainted with how tightly connected those two issues are. After we have achieved those goals, we will then be in a better position to remove that massive opiate which has been in our way for so very long.” Christine was relieved that Jami had voiced the priorities that she was committed support. If difficulties arose later she could claim she had merely supported the course that the others had agreed to pursue. - - - -
“Mom, Dad, I need to talk with you about something.” It was mid-March and Carl had been out of school for the better part of the week already during Spring Break. He had been home alone during the days while Rob and Jennifer were at work. Robert and Jennifer were not very concerned, because he was showing himself to be reasonably responsible for his age. He had just turned sixteen earlier this month. His statement however surprised his parents who had been conversing over dinner while Carl had been unusually quiet up to that point. Rob saw the look on Carl's face, so he put his fork down and leaned back in his chair before he spoke. “This looks like something important, Carl. Go ahead. We're listening.” Carl was looking down at his plate rather than at his parents when he started tentatively speaking. “I've been doing some thinking this week; well, more than just thinking. Now don't fall out of your chairs. I know teenagers are supposed to never think of turning to their parents for advice until after they've messed up. The truth is I think I need some help in thinking this through so I don't mess it up.” Jenny took a deep breath and let out an audible sigh. Then she looked to Rob with obvious concern. Rob spoke to his son with very measured tones. “Carl I don't know what this is about, but it is obviously important. It's important not jus to you but to your mother and I as well. Whatever this is about, take your time and talk to us. We will do what ever we can to help you.” Carl looked up to his parents and saw the concerned looks on their faces. “Look, there is nothing to worry about. I haven't messed anything up already. I'm just looking ahead and trying to sort somethings out; some important things. This is complicated, and I don't know where exactly I should start. Okay, let me try this. You know I have been taking a lot of advance placement classes for the last few years. The counselors at school are pushing for me to keep that up, except, well they are trying to get me to pin down which track of advanced courses I'm going to take over the next two years.” “So, your having a hard time choosing the right path to take?” “Not exactly, Dad. It's more complicated than that. Yeah, I'm interested in a lot of different things, and the counselors think I need to pick one path or another and really focus. I started out trying to learn more about each path, hoping it would help me clarify what I want to do, not just for the next two years but on past college. That's what they are really pushing for, even if they don't come right out and say it. When I got to digging in to things, I really got frustrated. I talked to teachers about the courses. I talked to some juniors and seniors that are ahead of me about what they are learning from the courses in those tracks. Yeah, some of them are just going through the motions, but some of them are serious about the tracks they are on. ” “This week I've had more time to do some serious surfing for more information. That's when I started questioning a lot of the information I was getting at school. Do you have any idea how many college graduates can't get a job in their field of study? I'm talking about ANY job in their field, not even part-time. After spending years in school focused on that one field of work they can't find a job even related to what they studied. I know that there are published statistics indicating you have a better chance of getting a better paying job by going to college, but that gap has narrowed to the point it is now insignificant if you are using sound analytical principles. To be honest after spending a lot of time looking at the data put out on government websites, I am not real confident about the integrity of a lot of the data they are publishing.” “Carl, first take a deep breath. You are looking at a very complicated pile of information. Back up a minute. Have you thought about what you really want to do and why you want that?” “Actually I have Dad, except I don't have much to base that on. Think about it. They have career fairs at school where they talk about the kinds of things that people in different careers do. Everyone tries to present a dressed up, over simplified version of what people do in different career fields, but they don't get into the real nity-grity of what people do in those careers. How can I know whether I would like doing those things, when I am only imagining what it would be like without ever having done it? It sounds cool when you say a civil engineer designs bridges and dams, but what is it like to really go through the tedious and rigorous calculations to make sure it is all going to fit together right and not fall apart? Let's suppose I spend the next six or eight years on a career track studying for that. Then let's suppose I am lucky enough to even land a job in that field and eventually get to work on a project like that. How do I know I'm not going to be miserable doing a job I worked ten, fifteen years, or more to get?” Rob and Jenny were silent. They didn't have a quick answer for “their little boy”. Jenny spoke first. “Carl, you are a very smart young man. Don't get caught up in being afraid of going down the wrong path and failing. What ever you put your mind to, I am sure you will be able to do it well.” “Thanks Mom, but the point is not about succeeding or failing. It's about making good choices. What good is it if I make a success of a career, if succeeding requires doing things that are not right for me or for my family?” “Carl, does this have anything to do with what my Dad decided to do? I know you miss him. I do too. Is that what started this?” Carl got a surprised look on his face. “No, I don't think so. I hadn't thought about a connection there until just now. I think it started last Fall when we were talking about, uhm, my wanting to be a starter on the football team. You remember telling me to not try to impress someone else, but to be who I am? I listened to you and thought about what you were saying. I began to see how much I was choosing to do because of what I though someone else might think of me if I did or didn't do those things. I started taking your advice and I think it was good advice.” “Well, thank you son.” Rob was taken aback that Carl had given so much thought to that conversation without ever mentioning it again. “Carl, you said earlier that you wanted our help before you messed something up. Is there something you are considering doing that you want our input on before you make a choice?” “Yeah, kinda. I'm just not sure, because I'm guessing you might not like my ideas or agree with my reasoning.” “Well, Carl, you can't know how the play will work out unless you snap the ball. Can you?” “Funny you should mention that, Dad. Here is what I am thinking. One: I don't want to play in the baseball or football programs in school anymore. It might be fun, sometimes, but I have more important things that need my time and attention. Two: I don't want to choose a career track in the high school curriculum. I may have to tell them I am picking a track, but it will be one that gives me the least constraints on what courses I must take. Three: I want to find a job while I finish school, but not just a job anywhere to make a little money. I need a job where I can see and learn more about what real jobs in the real world are like. I know there are career tracks in high school with job programs connected to them. Those they have at my school are not for me. Hopefully I can find some jobs where I can learn some things that will help me find what kind of work I might enjoy. I need to find an area of work I can enjoy, at least a little, when I have to provide for my family. Fourth: I'm thinking I might not go to college at all. If I do go to college I don't want to go straight from high school into college, just because I can make good grades in high school. As for the reasons, you and Mom have shown me that family and responsibilities are both important. If I find a career that eats me up, I won't be able to give my family what they deserve. If I can't find a career that takes years to prepare for and years more to pay for the preparation, again I won't be able to provide my family with what they need. You do know that the effective income for people in our country has been going steadily down for a lot longer than I have been alive, don't you?” “Carl, I have to say I am surprised you took that talk we had as seriously as you did. I'm not at all disappointed, I just didn't expect so big a change in your thinking. I sure didn't expect it to change this many areas of your perspective or the direction of your thinking this fast.” “Well, I didn't either, Dad, but when I looked at what you told me it made sense. The more I thought about it the more things I realized, and one thing lead to another.” “Let me suggest something else and I hope this helps, too, Carl. Don't rush too fast to burn your bridges until you are convinced you won't want to back track. Also it won't hurt to talk things out with us while you are considering them. Sometimes when you say something out loud that you have been thinking about it doesn't sound so right as you had first thought. Other times saying it out loud to someone helps you to see more clearly that you are on the right track. In the mean time, I suggest you start looking for a job that fits what you think you need to find. See how that goes before you commit to changing your whole mode of education.” After supper Carl had gone to his room and Jenny wanted to know what Rob had said to their son to make him decide he didn't want to go to college. “Sweetie, I had no idea it would lead to this. He was talking about how important it was for him to get on the first first string of the football team, even though he is only a sophomore, because that was the only way to get a date with a trophy girlfriend. I was trying to get him to think in terms of developing a real friendship with the right girl rather than showing off who he was dating. Tell me how I was supposed to foresee that kind of advice would lead him to this?” “Are you serious, Rob? That is what started this? Well of course you were right to guide him toward better values. Wait you don't think... He did mention in all of that something about when he has to provide for his family. Rob he's too young to be worrying about things like that.” “Jenny, I sure don't want him worrying about that, but it sounds more to me like he's trying to use his head and think about what is coming down the road. It kind of makes me proud that he isn't satisfied to simply act like a lemming rushing into the sea. You said it yourself. Carl is a very smart kid trying to become a young man. That isn't a bad thing, is it?” “No, Rob. I guess it isn't. He just seems to be growing up too fast. I suppose that's better than growing up too slowly. I just hope he doesn't rush to grow up too quickly and jump to wrong conclusions.” “Jenny, I'm sure he will draw some wrong conclusions along the way. The thing is he listened to some advice that was offered and then drew his own conclusions. Then he apparently did a lot of research and looked for more advice before acting. It makes me think he may do alright eventually.” Rob, when you mentioned your dad, I could tell that you are still wondering about him and the decision he made. Are you thinking he made a good decision, or not?” “Darlin', I don't know how that is going to turn out for him. He has to make his own choices. Maybe it was the right choice for him, but I can't see that as a choice that would work for us. We are in very different circumstances than he was. I'm guessing he will have to make some adjustments along the way. We all have to do that. You can't exactly make a big decision and rigidly cling to your first planning no matter what happens around you. The world couldn't care less about conforming to all your expectations. You have to be able to adapt your plans as you learn more.” - - - - Joann was catching her breath during spring break starting. She could see that Peter had been getting some planting and sowing done in the garden, but they had not talked enough for her to know for sure which seeds he had gotten planted yet. She had stopped at the farm store on her way home from her job a week ago and asked when they would be getting in chicks to sell. They told her it would be the last week in March, so she was starting to think about how she could keep the chicks until they were big enough to leave out in the coop overnight. She walked out to the coop to look it over. It had not been used in several years and she was sure it would need some work. When she opened the door she stood there for a moment just staring. Instead of a dirt floor there was a smooth layer of concrete. After her first shock she started looking around to see what else had been changed. It looked like some of the nesting boxes had been removed, and there were none of the cobwebs she had expected from it sitting unused for that long. Joann decided it would be a good idea to talk with Pete about the chickens and garden when he got off work this evening. About seven-thirty that evening she walked around to his door but did not see a light on in his window. She knew the farm store where he worked closed at seven and opened the next morning at seven-thirty, so she decided to try and catch him before he could leave for work in the morning. He had mentioned something about more than one job, but she knew nothing about his schedule or where his other job might be. She was also a little concerned about how soon he might have vegetables ready from the garden to feed the chicks. She was thinking she would probably need to start the chicks out on chick feed from the store. The next morning she was knocking on his door at six-thirty. When he came to the door only seconds after she knocked it surprised her. “Pete, I didn't know your work schedule, but I need to talk with you about our garden and chicken plans. Is this a good time?” “Sure. I've been thinking it would be a good idea to talk some more about that, but my schedule has been busy and you've been leaving fairly early and getting home near dark. I take it you have a bit of a commute to your job. Either that our you work long hours.” “Sometimes it feels like it's both. I teach in Clear Creek, but even after I get home there is still work to do with lesson plans, grading, and stuff. I'm on spring break right now and I need to make the most of my time here this week. You didn't tell me you were going to pave the floor of the chicken coop.” “No. I hope that was okay, but I kept not connecting with you. I thought it was a good idea and felt like if I was going to do it, I needed to get it done before working on the other things in there. I hope that's okay.” “I do wish you had talked with me first, but I guess that is as much my fault as yours. I just had not planned on that expense. How much did that cost?” “Don't worry about it. It's already paid for, and I made the decision without talking to you first.” “I didn't say it was a bad decision. I just did not expect it. I'm not going to let you make improvements on my property without compensating you. Just tell me how much it cost you for the materials and how long you worked on it.” “Whoa, I didn't mean to upset you. Let's just talk about this a minute. We had talked about a joint project with both of us learning about the interactions of the chickens and the garden produce. I figured that if the chickens were needing to spend a lot of time in the coop rather than in the garden because of our work schedules and not having an adequate fence we would need to have an easy way to move their poop to the garden. Obviously we don't have time to coop break them, so they are not going to wait until we let them out of the coop for them to go.” Pete was trying to keep a straight face with only limited success. “I did some reading and the concrete floor sounded like a good idea. It makes it easy to scoop out the poop and straw, and then clean the floor for fresh straw or wood shavings. I don't see that as a property improvement as much as it is a garden improvement. You are right. I should have discussed it with you first. But its already done. I hope we aren't going to need to keep meticulous accounting of all our expenses. I already bought a lot of seeds and straw for the garden, but I haven't kept the receipts. Some of those seeds will produce food for the chickens, and some will be food for me and for you if you want it. That could get a little tedious if we start trying to figure how much of the produce you are eating and how much I am eating. How are we going to determine what portion of the seeds I should pay for and what portion you will pay for what you eat, not to mention accounting for what the chickens eat and how much of that should be paid for buy you or me. Then there is the problem of any excess produce hat we have to give away rather than let it spoil. I think that could get more tedious than either of us want it to be. I really hope that doesn't become necessary.” “Okay, I see your point. I'm sorry I reacted that way. I'm just use to keeping tight control over my expenses and I hadn't planned on that expense. It was a good idea, by the way. At the same time it's not fair for you to be paying for all of that and paying for the seeds and straw. So far, you've been doing all the work and I haven't done anything on this project.” “Okay, How about this? There are more expenses coming. We don't have the chickens yet, and we may have to buy some feed for them if the garden isn't producing enough at the beginning or into the winter. I also think we may need to make some additional minor improvements on the coop. We need to talk more frequently about what is needed and when, so when we talk we can discuss what you will buy and what I will buy to keep it fair. Does that work for you?” “That makes sense. I'm just not use to partnering with anyone where there are continuing expenses involved. I can carry my own weight with the expenses, now that I'm not a full time student anymore.” “So, you haven't been teaching that long?” “No, I had worked before, but when I went back to school to get my degree I had only part time jobs. Money has been really tight for the last seven years. This is my first year as a full time teacher, and I am still adjusting to that.” “I see. So, you wanted to talk about what we need to do next in our project.”
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Post by texican on Jan 16, 2020 15:14:55 GMT -6
ppb,
Carl is on the road to figuring out that he doesn't yet know at 16 what he wants to do with the rest of his life, but between his parents and him, it will work out....
Seems like Joann and Pete are heating up as a couple and they do not know it yet....
Thanks for the chapter...
Texican....
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Post by kaijafon on Jan 16, 2020 20:34:16 GMT -6
Thanks my dear hubby! Great chapter yet sounds familiar for some reason.
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Post by 9idrr on Jan 16, 2020 20:53:25 GMT -6
Very good continuation of the story. As far as workin' in one's field of study, I seem to remember that a few years back there was a pretty big row about how some culinary schools were inflatin' their success rates by toutin' the fact that something like 80 or 90% of grads were gettin' jobs related to their schoolin'. Turned out that they included those who graduated as "chefs" but could only find work in fast-food places, sandwich shops and coffee places, upscale or not.
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Post by papaof2 on Jan 16, 2020 21:13:20 GMT -6
Very good continuation of the story. As far as workin' in one's field of study, I seem to remember that a few years back there was a pretty big row about how some culinary schools were inflatin' their success rates by toutin' the fact that something like 80 or 90% of grads were gettin' jobs related to their schoolin'. Turned out that they included those who graduated as "chefs" but could only find work in fast-food places, sandwich shops and coffee places, upscale or not. Working the fry machine at Mickey D's is working in food service, although not the level of gourmet food the culinary schools present. On the other hand, Mickey's fries were considered the best back when they still used at least a little lard in the fry oil. It all depends on your taste buds and what you remember of Momma's or Grandma's cookin'.
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Post by solo on Jan 17, 2020 9:33:25 GMT -6
Very good exploration of an emerging problem that is already on us... High School students have been pounded for so many years that College is the only route. This resulted in two issues: There is a dearth of people in the apprentice and journeyman level for almost all the trades and There are a group of folks who are getting a degree that really didn't want to go through the process so they end up doing something that they weren't wanting to do looking for a job/career that they really don't want and one that really isn't there to begin with.
Having just built a house, I got close with our electrician (I like to watch and learn what they do and he is open to my thousands of questions) and sometimes it is tough to get him or his wife out to work on one thing or another. He is that busy and he is always saying he can't find anyone that really wants to A. work in the first place; work ethic is suffering and B. has any passion or a priori knowledge that he can used as a foundation for training. He said it is becoming a huge problem and the trades are losing more and more experience each year leading to a buyer really better beware situation. This was proven by our plumbing sub who come to find out didn't really know much about large scale plumbing; ended up tearing out most of what they didn't and redoing it and still we have leaking problems from the little bit that was left. It's frustrating. But think of the opportunity for a person with the desire to work, can think on the fly and is good with their hands, there is much fertile ground there.
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