Late Fragment.

Where the Kids Are Alright.

Last week, near where I live, a 15-year-old girl shot a classmate to death, apparently after being spurned romantically by her.  She told police "I wanted her to feel pain like I did."

This weekend, a senior at my daughter's school was stabbed during a fight with a classmate.  He died as a result of his injuries.

When I was a kid, the most dangerous thing that could happen at the hands of your classmates was that you'd be embarrassed, and lose face and social standing.

It would have never occurred to me to use deadly force to settle my scores - not when I was a teenager and not now. 

I do not know what is wrong with the world.  I only know that I am scared to death about letting my kid grow up in it.

You May Be Right.

The Ten Cannots.

You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift.
You cannot help small men by tearing down big men.
You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.
You cannot lift the wage earner by pulling down the wage payer.
You cannot help the poor man by destroying the rich.
You cannot keep out of trouble by spending more than your income.
You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred.
You cannot establish security on borrowed money.
You cannot build character and courage by taking away men's initiative and independence.
You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they could and should do for themselves.

-- Rev. William John Henry Boetcker, 1873

I Can't Explain.

Truth is that I don't much care about the outcome of the election.  As I've said, I wasn't going to feel good about it, no matter who won.  I'm glad it's over and I look forward to moving on.  I am not surprised.

But can someone please explain this to me... my state gave all of its electoral votes to Obama, and still voted to change the state constitution so that a marriage is a union only between a man and a woman.  By a LANDSLIDE. 

How is this possible?  How?

I do not understand this world I live in.  Not at all.

Can't See Nothing in Front of Me.

This scares the hell out of me.  Especially this part:  "What makes it all stop? You've got me. It could end in some dramatic display of globally coordinated government action. I'm increasingly getting the feeling it's going to be with a whimper. When everybody gets more or less equally discouraged about the future of financial markets and the economy, we'll have hit bottom. But we won't know it at the time, and probably won't believe it until months after it has happened."

I work for a finance company.  In the middle of a financial meltdown.  And I hate my job.  But there's not much out there.

Sometimes I really wish that I drank.

We're Two for the Road.

This makes me so so sad.

About a month ago:



And today:

I Feel Like a Hypocrite Talking to You.

Two things.

1.  If you get to Late Fragment by means of google, I can still see you on my statcounter, you know.

2.  Something to think about... when someone knows a lot of stuff about you, stuff that could be potentially dangerous and/or damaging to you, it's probably not a good idea to piss that person off.

Hardest Itch to Relieve.

I woke up this morning covered in hives.

Turns out you really can be allergic to Monday.

With Her Regards.

Are you really trying to hurt me?

Huh.  Apparently you are.

On the one hand, it's working.  On the other hand, it makes me relieved that I'm not any deeper in than I am.

Nice job, friend.

Arguments, Squabbles Can't Break the Contract.

I have a friend who is mad at me because she doesn't think I've been sympathetic enough.  And on the one hand, I guess I see her point.  Right now, all she wants to hear is that she's the wronged party, that she has every right to be wounded, and that it's a crying shame the way life has turned out.

Problem is... I can't be the person to tell her that.  Because while I understand that she's hurt, and I do think it's a crying shame that her life has hit a rough patch at the moment, I don't think she's the wronged party, nor do I think she has every right to be wounded.

Please take note.  This does not mean that I take the side of the other party in her particular situation.  I don't think he's right any more than I think she is.

Divorce is ugly business.  No one comes through it looking good, and no one gets through it feeling very good. 

But when you get to the point of divorce, rarely is one person the wronged party.  It takes two to tango.  And it takes two to truly fuck a marriage up.  Besides, frankly, it doesn't matter who is to blame.  And it doesn't do any good to think about what you are owed.

Life is a struggle.  For everyone.

I am sorry I cannot be more patient.  I am sorry I cannot be more sympathetic.  I am sorry I can't say the words she wants to hear.  I am sorry she is hurt and I am sorry she feels alone. 

But I am not sorry for how I feel.  And I am not sorry for telling the truth about it.

If that makes me a bad friend, well... Let's just say I have a difference of opinion.

Bad to the Bone.

I got a phone call today.  The woman on the other end said "Hi, it's Mrs. So-and-So from the Brazenette's school.  First thing, she's fine."

And then she proceeded to tell me that she was the guidance counselor, that the Brazenette had been brought to her office... she'd been naughty and willful and just unmanageable all day.  She showed everyone her new panties.  (I am just glad she didn't show anyone her bare ass.)

Not even five, and she's been to the principal's office already.  What am I going to do with her?...