Nothing important to discuss, so on the virtually nonexistent chance there is someone that tries to follow any of this, you may want to just stop reading now. This here post, as with most posts I guess, is purely for my benefit alone. hmmm, not that I will benefit in any way from this shit...

My daughter just called. While talking to her I realized I still had to get my son from a friend's house where they were working on a project for school. See, boring shit. While talking to my daughter she mentioned she was having a good time with her cousin, or had a good time. This is the daughter of the brother that is so judgmental of everything. My daughter was appalled by something her cousin related to her about her graduation party... at least I think it was the graduation party. No, it was my brother's retirement party. My niece shows up to the party with her roommate, who happens to have a tongue ornament. This is third hand info mind you, but it's said that my brother would not allow them on the premises because of the ornament.

On the way to picking up my son I got to thinking about this. He's always been like this. In fact I used to love to inform him that my wife and I, before we were married, were still living together out of wedlock. "We're still living in sin." I would tell him. He would just sigh, knowing there was absolutely nothing he could do about it, but still judging me on that basis alone. Maybe he needs a few AA meetings so he can learn their mantra about accepting the things they cannot change. It's a good mantra, even if it calls upon 'god' to grant the power and wisdom to do all that.

Ok, back to my thinking. I couldn't do too much of that mind you, as the smoke would hinder my view of the road. I was wondering how two people could turn out so different being brought up the same way by the same person. Our mother kept a 'hands off' approach to parenting, as much as possible. I was never harassed about homework, as I harass my son. Of course, I knew that if I didn't do it I wouldn't get harassed, just a sore ass. A good indication of her wonderful approach was the time I came home and tried to act cool even though I was intoxicated. I stood behind the couch so I could lean on it for balance, and as soon as she realized it she laughed at me and said, "You're drunk!" Just a statement. My acting skills were obviously affected by the 7&7's I'd been imbibing. (I don't really remember what it was, but it was either that or rum&cokes)

I was still living at home, so I wasn't even 18 yet... well, maybe I was close to 19, I'm not sure. I wasn't 21 though, I had my 21st birthday in boot camp. So, I was under age. My mother must have thought I was responsible enough that she didn't worry about it, I don't know. I do know that if my son is that age and still living here he'll be going to college. My mother and I have very similar views, but we do have our differences. Anyway, I would probably act the same way in a similar circumstance. Hell, I'd probably even be getting them drunk before they turn 21! They would have to endure hours of lectures about drinking responsibly of course, and I have a feeling they don't think it would be a fair trade. (In fact I did buy my oldest daughter a couple of drinks when I brought her to Tokyo after she graduated High School) So you see, my brother doesn't drink at all, and will be berating his children well into adulthood if they did. We were brought up in the same manner, he enjoyed all the freedoms I did, more it seemed to me, but we are worlds apart when it comes to such matters as parenting.

That's not to say I'm a great parent. I don't know how to praise our kids, they are constantly fucking up and they hardly give you a chance to get praise in. I don't spend enough time with them. I speak too harshly, probably expect too much, and have to constantly remind myself how old they are. It's easier with my daughters now that they are in school and doing well so far. As far as I'm concerned they are on their own, making their own decisions and learning from their own mistakes, but they always did seem to be more responsible. It doesn't seem my son is capable of learning from his mistakes, but I'm sure he'll come around eventually. He will, or there's plenty of trailers he will be able to afford to live in on a salary from McDonalds.

I was talking about my brother. The point is we both think we live well morally. I guess the difference is he knows in his mind he lives morally better than I. I on the other hand, think it's possible that he does, but will reserve judgment until there comes a time, if it ever does, that I understand him enough to make that judgment. There's only a handful of people that fall into that category... well, I can think of two off hand, and both women are more'n a handful. :-)

The reason I started this post. I've finally started working on the project out back again. I've got a walkway going out to the corner of the yard, that's the plan anyway. It will lead to a sitting area beneath the fruit trees we've planted out there. I've been procrastinating on it, giving it a lot of thought as to how it should be done. I tried hooking up soaker hose to plant beds that I'm going to have lining the walkway, but that didn't work. Even with a pressure regulator water still sprayed out of the hose instead of just seeping as it's supposed to. Instead I've got adjustable drippers hooked up along the future plant bed, and that seems to be working well.

Other than that I've been cleaning house, mailed a package, went for a swim for exercise, and listened to my Nomad whenever possible. I'm holding off on the books for now and going through all the history lectures I have that even remotely relate to Western Civ. Right now it's Ancient Rome, which I've heard before, and after that I think it will be Will Durant's Caesar and Christ, his 3rd chunk of his Story of Civilization about the same time period. I've listened to that before too, but there's so much of it I'm sure there's a lot I missed.