Girls Coffeeshop Talk

[Kinnakeet]

Originally Posted by Art 1

Hey Carl, can you post the one of Bowie and Bing Crosby singing the Christmas song?

Art and Carl- I soooo remember watching this performance "live" on the Bing Crosby Christmas Special when I was a kid!

[Art 1]

Originally Posted by Kinnakeet

Hmmmmm, he must be an old soul....

You know he is.

[Art 1]

Thanks Carl.

[FeelingTheBlues]

Originally Posted by Art 1

Thanks Carl.

[Art 1]

I remember showing up for school my Junior year in HS with a haircut similar to the one Bowie has in the Bing Crosby video. The Principal was a Nun. It took her about half an hour to find me with her scissors and cut the back of it off.

[Kinnakeet]

Originally Posted by Art 1

I remember showing up for school my Junior year in HS with a haircut similar to the one Bowie has in the Bing Crosby video. The Principal was a Nun. It took her about half an hour to find me with her scissors and cut the back of it off.

Well, my HS principal was also a nun, as was at least 1/3rd of the teaching staff, and by today's standards, it's staggering- the amount of "abuse" those women got away with

[Art 1]

Originally Posted by Kinnakeet

Well, my HS principal was also a nun, as was at least 1/3rd of the teaching staff, and by today's standards, it's staggering- the amount of "abuse" those women got away with

I graduated in '78. I had mostly Nuns. It was sort of the beginning of the end as most of them were elderly. They always treated us with much respect. If we misbehaved they would politely ask you to leave the room and go to the office. Things weren't not good if that happened, your parents were called to come to the school and take you home. If you were really bad and couldn't get with the program, you were taken into a small room and the Dean of Men threw you around a bit, never happened to me. At some point they would just kick you out of the school. Pregnant girls were kicked out. There was one I recall.

Those Sisters of Charity were excellent teachers, the best. I think of them and thank them each day.

[East Bay Rider]

[Art 1]

Originally Posted by East Bay Rider

I agree.

[Lisa]

But life goes on. My husband thinks the world has just come to an end. I think it can survive another four years. He, on the other hand, will probably begin stockpiling.

[East Bay Rider]

Originally Posted by Lisa

But life goes on. My husband thinks the world has just come to an end. I think it can survive another four years. He, on the other hand, will probably begin stockpiling.

Your husband and I are a lot alike. If he lost 50 IQ points and all coordination we'd be practically the same.

[Lisa]

Originally Posted by East Bay Rider

Your husband and I are a lot alike. If he lost 50 IQ points and all coordination we'd be practically the same.

Nah... he just needs to gain a motorcycle and a dog... and lose a couple of kids!

[chicfarmer1]

No gloom, despair, or agony here...nope. And thankful we check certain things at the TRF door.

Gonna need a nap soon, however.

[FeelingTheBlues]

Originally Posted by chicfarmer1

No gloom, despair, or agony here...nope. And thankful we check certain things at the TRF door.

Gonna need a nap soon, however.

Have a good nap Jay, I need to go work on a lathe pretty soon myself...

...Why don't you guys feel good for me instead!? Adore me! Loooooooooooooooove me!

[Lisa]

Well, that's a good idea, Carl. You're pretty adorable.

[East Bay Rider]

Originally Posted by East Bay Rider

Your husband and I are a lot alike. If he lost 50 IQ points and all coordination we'd be practically the same.

Originally Posted by Lisa

Nah... he just needs to gain a motorcycle and a dog... and lose a couple of kids!

While some might jump at a trade offer like that I'd have to decline. I mean, my dog means a lot to me and my bike is really really nice.

[Lisa]

I'd be very keen to see how you would handle my 12 year old. I'm running out of ideas.

Well, anyway... l need a little cheer this morning and you're helping.

This doesn't help, though: there is a dead raccoon stuck on our power lines next to the garage. I've contacted the utility company to see about him, but had a devil of a time getting through to a live person. None of the automated help categories had an option for assistance with electrocuted mammals hanging from the power lines. It's a rather horrific sight. Dave, on the other hand, thinks it's pretty cool, and Phoebe has named our new pet "Sparky."

I'm just not seeing the humor in it.

[East Bay Rider]

Hahaha, that girl is sharp. Sparky. Love it.

Is it still touching 2 wires? I'd prolly just throw a football or soccer ball at it until it falls.
In Oklahoma isn't that called Vittles? LOL
It's pre cooked.
I've heard of drive thru but never drop in.

Ok I'll stop now. LOL thanks for brightening my bad day. Not as bright as that raccoon was, but I feel his pain and I understand why he did it.
Ha! I slay me.

[Kinnakeet]

Originally Posted by Lisa

I'd be very keen to see how you would handle my 12 year old. I'm running out of ideas.

Well, anyway... l need a little cheer this morning and you're helping.

This doesn't help, though: there is a dead raccoon stuck on our power lines next to the garage. I've contacted the utility company to see about him, but had a devil of a time getting through to a live person. None of the automated help categories had an option for assistance with electrocuted mammals hanging from the power lines. It's a rather horrific sight. Dave, on the other hand, thinks it's pretty cool, and Phoebe has named our new pet "Sparky."

I'm just not seeing the humor in it.

Hi Lisa! What a way to greet a wednesday morning- But Phoebe has a great perspective!
Adolescent daughters....groan....unfortunately it may only get more intense
as she nears 16-17. Here are a couple of survival tactics- hang onto your sense of humour for dear life-laugh at her(not in front of her of course), don't take her words/actions too seriously and know that you-Lisa- are the normal one!

[Kinnakeet]

Originally Posted by East Bay Rider

OMG Its Hee Haw!!!!!

[Lisa]

Originally Posted by East Bay Rider

Hahaha, that girl is sharp. Sparky. Love it.

Is it still touching 2 wires? I'd prolly just throw a football or soccer ball at it until it falls.
In Oklahoma isn't that called Vittles? LOL
It's pre cooked.
I've heard of drive thru but never drop in.

Ok I'll stop now. LOL thanks for brightening my bad day. Not as bright as that raccoon was, but I feel his pain and I understand why he did it.
Ha! I slay me.

Oh you're making me laugh now. Stop it so I can revel in my misery a bit longer......

[Lisa]

Originally Posted by Kinnakeet

Hi Lisa! What a way to greet a wednesday morning- But Phoebe has a great perspective!
Adolescent daughters....groan....unfortunately it may only get more intense
as she nears 16-17. Here are a couple of survival tactics- hang onto your sense of humour for dear life-laugh at her(not in front of her of course), don't take her words/actions too seriously and know that you-Lisa- are the normal one!

If I'm the standard for "normal" then I fear greatly for that child!

[chicfarmer1]

What I remember most from dealing with that age was, my buttons were fully present and she knew exactly how to push them. Only eventually did I realize that it was a little bit on me to not react, react, react. In fact, our beloved preschool teacher had once told me something I easily forgot during the preadolescent and adolescent years: pick your battles.

Eventually, and don't ask me why or how, chewing on Mom results in social mastery later in life.

[Lisa]

Appreciate the advice, J. We have picked our battles... it's schoolwork. How do you instill in a kid the importance of working hard in school? This girl just doesn't seem to care, and her grades are showing it - and her teachers have taken notice. It's a shame to see all those smarts not being put to use. I was a bit of an underachiever, but I never just stopped doing assignments and homework. The issue has me seriously worried!

[Lisa]

Bill, I called David and read your post to him.

He loves you.

[chicfarmer1]

Originally Posted by Lisa

Appreciate the advice, J. We have picked our battles... it's schoolwork. How do you instill in a kid the importance of working hard in school? This girl just doesn't seem to care, and her grades are showing it - and her teachers have taken notice. It's a shame to see all those smarts not being put to use. I was a bit of an underachiever, but I never just stopped doing assignments and homework. The issue has me seriously worried!

It depends. Is she a classic underachiever at the moment, i.e., bright and a go getter but just sort of goofing around? This can be developmental, a little immaturity, is all. My incredibly precocious girl was like that at 12, and so was I.

To deal with it, what we did was always keep the standard high, if the capabilities are there. She may balk and refuse the message but--if she's anything like my girl was--she is also listening and taking it in.

The other thing is: who her companions are. If she's in good company, with good kids, they're getting the same message at home, and this will ultimately reinforce your message.

[Lisa]

Hmm... how to describe her approach to school.... in my best estimation her struggles stem from a lack of organization, a shortage of concentration, and the ever-present lure of her drawings, her books and the computer once she gets home. She "forgets" to write down her assignments, or she'll get an assignment or project and put it off until the last minute, at which time she feels overwhelmed.

When her teachers called me in for a conference two weeks ago, they gave me a list of her late assignments (which are only given partial credit) and a list of her incomplete work. She's failing one class and has a D in the other. She's just simply not turning in her work. The most ominous bit of information to come from the meeting was that she would be asked to leave the school if she collected a total of five unsatisfactory scores. She now has two. Three more strikes and she's out.

At this point, Dave and I feel like we're trying a lot harder than she is to do well. The approach of letting her fail to deal with the consequences hasn't resulted in any improvement. But, if nothing else, it has mobilized us as parents to focus on getting her on a better course.

[The Joker]

Originally Posted by Lisa

I'd be very keen to see how you would handle my 12 year old. I'm running out of ideas.

Well, anyway... l need a little cheer this morning and you're helping.

This doesn't help, though: there is a dead raccoon stuck on our power lines next to the garage. I've contacted the utility company to see about him, but had a devil of a time getting through to a live person. None of the automated help categories had an option for assistance with electrocuted mammals hanging from the power lines. It's a rather horrific sight. Dave, on the other hand, thinks it's pretty cool, and Phoebe has named our new pet "Sparky."

I'm just not seeing the humor in it.

At least you have dinner sorted. I recommend a nice bottle of pinot grigio with raccoon.

[chicfarmer1]

Well that is beyond goofing around.

Have they advised an individualized plan at school, or something like that?

It's very good that you are active on this, L.

[Rockrolex]

Originally Posted by The Joker

At least you have dinner sorted. I recommend a nice bottle of pinot grigio with raccoon.

Seems to me a pinot noir would go better. After all, red goes better with meat than white.