My own inadequacies

I just can't read this guy's site any more.
I refuse.
He reminds me that I write like a retard running around on stilts in a pool full of chocolate pudding trying to solve calculus problems out loud to the buzzards that are waiting for me to die. Really.
I bet we have something in common, though. See, I wonder how on Earth anyone cannot be blown away by science. And not see the sheer beauty and wonder of the world. And he probably wonders why I write like the above referenced retard.

And not only that, but there are so many of my own inadequacies staring my down with a 1000 yard stare that I don't need anymore. So, Tommy, I'm sorry. I just can't read you anymore.

But come to think of it, I could solve the easy calculus problems.

Birthday Wishes, sort of

Hey, guess whose birthday it is today?

Kim Jong-Il, ruler of the Democratic People\'s Republic of Korea (North Korea) and referred to as \"Dear Leader,\" ,Chairman of the National Defence Committee and General Secretary of the Korean Workers\' Party.

And what's a birthday without a surprise party? I say we get some of our Supersneaky Really Deadly Marines to sneak over there and beat his ass, I mean give him a birthday spanking he'll never forget. One that will help him remember the millions of children he has let starve to death. Or poison themselves by drinking sewage. And we need to get him something sparkly to go on his cake... with an 8 second timer and a big boom.

That bastard gave up his right to call himself a human about 30 years ago, it's time to remove him from this mortal coil....

I do believe I'm getting better, a little better, all the time

Sometimes getting older is not all bad.

When I first started teaching I relied heavily on several teachers for several years. How do I do this-and-such? Where can I find a whatnot? There was so much I didn't know, I didn't even know I didn't know it. You know what I mean? Now, there are a few teachers coming to me looking for answers. It's nice to be able to give that back and help out the new guy.

I remember trying to fix things when I was in my 20s. I always seemed to make matters worse, nothing was ever easy to fix. I'd have to call my Dad, then I would still have to take an extra trip to the store for another part. Or someone would have to fix it for me. Or worse yet, one of us would end up in the emergency room for stitches or metal in an eye.

But in the past year I've fixed my dryer twice and my washing machine once, without injury. And without further fuck-up-ery.
Way to go!

Now, to work on those preventative maintenance and redecorating skills.

Riley

I've decided it's time Riley stops being so paranoid. After Re-Pete was born all it took to get Riley having a conniption fit (is that spelled right?) was to let someone walk by our house. Sometimes we'd drag him away from the windows. Now I know some of you are seeing "Well, beat the shit out of him and he'll stop." We tried that. Didn't work. I made him come sit beside me, I'd banish him to him bed, still didn't work.
Taking him on walks finally did it. Not all the way, but he's better.
When we first started walking I spent a lot of time stopping and getting him under control, but that's gotten better too. I think he's part Cocker Spaniel, and someone told me they like to track scents, which he certainly does.
We have one of those retractable leashes so he can roam a bit on the walk, but I can still get him to my side in a hurry. He's much better and doesn't go ape shit anymore when he sees another dog, or Heaven help us, a cat.

So imagine my surprise last night. Walking with him, my friend calls, we're chatting (which is why I couldn't get video of this), and we walk up to a huge black and grey striped cat. I'm thinking, Oh hell, what now? The cat's sitting there very calmly. So Riley sniffs the face and ears, then the tummy. Cat stands up, turns around to let Riley sniff the butt, then lays down on its back with legs splayed open. Riley realizes what is is and walks away as if to say, "Oh, it's only a cat, I've got those at home."
No violence, no one was hurt, and Riley made a friend 'cuz the damn thing followed us awhile.