Maybe It's Me

I just got back from our annual pilgrimage to back to school night at the elementary school. Mrs. Dirpus said she cringes every year when the topic of homework comes up, because she knows I'm going to attack the teacher about my personal windmill. I say I'm not attacking. I'm trying to make a point and continue to hold out hope that, some year, somebody will get it. It seems like an obvious point to me. But teachers never seem to get it. Oh, and the Mrs. says she doesn't disagree with my point, it's just that it's not going to change. Maybe I'm an optimist. Or maybe it's the nature of my job to try to improve the process.

Here it is. What do you think? Am I way off base with this.

If a student doesn't do their homework, they get a note sent home and must do the homework the following night. However, they will not get any credit for that homework. Every year, my question is "What is the child's motivation to make up the homework?" There's no carrot at the end of the teacher's stick. They are already getting zero for not doing the homework. They can make it up and still get zero. I know I wouldn't be doing it. Heck, give them 10%. At least there is SOME incentive.

I continue to hope that some teacher will realize the idiocy of what they are saying. These are kids after all. They're selfish. They aren't going to do anything without getting something in return. I remember choosing a spanking over eating boiled spinach when I was a kid. I still think it was the smart choice. It's not like I still had to eat the spinach. It's the same thing to me.

Opinions?

FORE!

Some things don't make sense. Last Friday was one of the hottest days of the year around here, so far (106). At least it was cooler than Saturday (111) and Sunday (113).

I had contemplated calling up a friend on Thursday evening to see if he wanted to play golf on Friday. I decided that it was just too darned hot and didn't call. So what happens? Friday morning he called me. Since Mrs. Dirpus had to work that afternoon, like an idiot, I decided to go.

If you ever want to play golf when it's not crowded, go on a day when the temperature is over 105 degrees. We pretty much had the place to ourselves. At least we had enough sense to get a cart. The lady driving the drink cart around the course kept coming by to make sure we hadn't died. I think her job was more paramedic than bartender that day.

So blah, blah, blah The point of this, and the part that doesn't make sense.

Mad dogs and Englishmen, and apparently golfers go out in the mid-day sun. But I shot my best score in 25 years. Mrs. Dirpus thinks the reason is that because of the heat, we drank water instead of beer. I don't buy it. I think it's because the heat loosened up our old joints and kept us from trying to swing too hard. Whatever the reason, I may have to invest in a lot of sunscreen and play some more before this heat wave ends.

Happy Birthday Dave! (Wherever You Are)

Today is the birthday of the best man in my wedding. I was the best man in his wedding, too. We were goalkeepers together on our college soccer team. We double dated. We almost got arrested together. We were close.

I have absolutely no idea where he is now. How awful is that?

I tried tracking him down during the world cup so we could praise the German style of play and curse the evil Italians for stealing the cup from them. But I didn't have any luck. Stupid internet.

I also tried sending an email to his sister-in-law, but I didn't get a response. I suppose I could call his parents house I still have their phone number memorized. I need to do that. It's been far too long since we got drunk together and pissed off our wives. We could even invite Barry (sorry, inside joke).

Everyone go find your friends.

Farewell To 1998

Today is the the day Microsoft ends support for Windows 98. I understand the reasoning (besides for the money). Technology continually acvances and new operating systems need to be developed to give us all the latest things we can't live without.

I would love to upgrade, but I don't think my hardware meets the minimum specs for Windows XP. I built my poor little computer out of the cheapest parts available years ago. It started out with Windows 3.1 and has been upgraded to Windows 95 and then to Windows 98. I get a headache just thinking about how many leftover junk operating system files must be on that thing. It's older than my youngest daughter.

I may have to break down and build a real server. Although, I don't really want to lose that system. It has stuff on it that probably wouldn't run on a new system.

The optimist inside of me hopes Microsoft will offer a deal to upgrade to XP from Win98. The realist in me just laughs and laughs and laughs.

The Wall

No, not Pink Floyd's. The one you hit that makes you want to stop whatever it is you want or are supposed to be doing.

I've been going like gangbusters at work for... I don't know, a long time. I have reached a point where I am not feverishly working on something that somebody hasn't asked me to complete in the next 10 minutes. I made the mistake of taking a deep breath and relaxing. Ask Mrs. Dirpus what happens when I breathe and relax. It isn't pretty. I now have absolutely NO motivation to dive back in and do something. My status report is being reviewed and isn't due until tomorrow, so I can't do anything with that. My end of June financial stuff is all done and sent off to the corporate office. I could prepare some labor estimates, but I really don't wanna.

Maybe I should go see "Superman Returns". But, I can't do that because my boss had a crisis at home and needs me to e-mail her files to review or edit.

I wonder if anyone would notice if I took a little nap while I'm sitting here.

SIGH!

We're Not Worthy

This man is a geek God.

Talk about a Super Beetle...

Italy? Dag-nab-it!

The World Cup came to a close yesterday with Italy beating France 5-3 on penaly kicks. This came after 90 minutes of regular time and 30 minutes of overtime and the score still tied 1-1. My favorite, Germany, beat Portugal in the third place game Saturday, 3-1, after losing to Italy on a fluke goal in the last two minutes of overtime on July 4th.

Mrs. Dirpus had been out running errands yesterday and got home just as the penalty kicks were beginning. She watched the drama unfold as she ate her lunch and cheered wildly when it was over and Italy had emerged with the victory. Not that she cared who won or lost. She was cheering because it will be four more years before this all comes around again. She lost interest (not that she ever had any) right after the USA was eliminated. Oh well, she gets 47 months of no world cup. She can put up with my 1 month of the tournament. I think I'm getting the short end of that stick.