The Boat springs a leak, which is brought to the attention of the captain. The captain announces to the people that the boat is damaged and we run the risk of sinking in the freezing water if we don’t fix the leak soon. Menlo, a politician, addresses the people.
“This boat has a leak, and we need to work hard to fix it. I can lead you in a way that will allow all of us to continue to enjoy this boat as long as we all work hard!” The people applaud. Lonem, another politician, addressed the people.
“It’s too bad that Menlo has insulted all of us by calling this ship a boat. There’s nothing wrong with boats, but something as mighty as this is quite obviously a ship, and it’s a shame that the man leading us doesn’t see how great, mighty and big we are. And he wants you to work harder. You didn’t make the problems, and Menlo certainly can’t fix them. That’s why you need to vote for me!” And the people applaud. Menlo addresses the people.
“I have made a task force to look into the problems we are facing. These people are trying to figure out how to make things better. And in creating this task force, I have created jobs! Lonem hasn’t worked a day in his life, so he doesn’t’ understand what you and I know, that we have to work to get problems fixed! And together we can do just that!” The people applaud.
“Menlo couldn’t fix the problems himself,” says Lonem. “And that’s why he says we all need to help out. How insulting to think that I have to play clean-up after he breaks everything. You don’t need to clean up your mess and somebody else’s mess, do you? Of course not! And when you vote for me to lead you, you won’t have to clean up after anyone else!”
“Lonem hasn’t cleaned up after anyone, ever! He had a nanny clean up after everything he’s ever done, because he’s super rich and didn’t work for it!”
“Menlo isn’t really a citizen! And he wants us to work together to fix something we didn’t break!”
“Lonem doesn’t know how to build a boat or a ship. In fact, most of us don’t. If you’re enjoying prosperity here, you didn’t build it, somebody else helped create what you’re enjoying with you. No single one of us built this ship, but we’re enjoying it together, and together we can keep it running!”
“Did you hear what he said?! He said that you didn’t build what you’ve built! He said that you aren’t industrious, and he is where the American Dream goes to die! He’s killing all of us! Vote for him and vote for death! Death, I tells ya! DEATH!”
“Are you kidding me? Lonem doesn’t understand what it means to work, so he honestly believes he created everything. He doesn’t understand what you’re going through because he owns a horse!”
About that time, The Boat sank. And as people on The Boat died because nobody took action to fix the leak in time, all the politicians continued to blame each other, as they floated away from the sunken Boat on life rafts made and bought with taxes collected from the people of The Boat, who lay dead and dying on the ocean floor beneath the verbose, impotent politicians.
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Monday, August 27, 2012
Postponed Appointment With The Therapist
Our 16-year-old has an appointment to talk with his father today. This appointment is to take place with his therapist. He has said, in the past, that talking with his father is aided when he’s able to do it with the therapist in the room. She helps him express himself and facilitates communication (supposedly).
Recently, he has stated that even talking with his father with the therapist is pointless. Nothing happens, and there’s no point in talking with his father, as no change ever occurs.
Today, our 16-year-old was scheduled to talk with his father about his living schedule. For one month now, his father has not picked up our 16-year-old for his visitation time. He hasn’t told my wife why this is happening. Our 16-year-old believes it’s forever. Now our 16-year-old just wants to go over to his father’s house and get some belongings that are still over there. And his cat.
Prior to this meeting, the father wanted to attack my wife (primarily) and our 16-year-old (secondarily) for not including him in the decision to send our 16-year-old to driver’s education classes. Our 16-year-old and my wife have been attempting to talk with him about this for six months. He has said, literally, nothing to either of them about this subject. Then, when they actually take care of the issue themselves, he sends emails to the therapist—six, in total—regarding this atrocity. The “atrocity”, of course, is that he was circumvented by my wife and his 16-year-old, and his unwillingness to talk about a subject was not successful in making that subject go away or completely stop. Not talking is his biggest weapon. For those who believe in talking, the act of not talking, typically, shuts them down and makes them powerless. His tactic of not talking has worked on my wife, both his sons, 4 lawyers, one mother, one father, and a slew of people who used to identify themselves as friends to my wife. If somebody wants to talk with you, you are in power and remain that way as long as they want to talk with you.
So my wife sent an email to the therapist, saying that the father had 6 months to talk about driver’s education. He refused. This issue is dead. The most pressing issue right now is where our 16-year-old is going to be living, in what capacity, and how will he have access to his belongings and cat. This issue has not been discussed, and needs to be resolved before causing any more distress to our 16-year-old. My wife is not upset about driver education. Our 16-year-old is not upset about driver education. His instructors have told him that he’s performing well-above the average and suggested he take his permit test early. They are not upset about his driver education. The only one upset is the father. It is his problem alone. However, the issue of our 16-year-old’s living situation needs to be addressed.
Today our 16-year-old had an appointment scheduled with his father and his therapist.
His father texted my wife less than 2 hours before the scheduled appointment, stating that he rescheduled the appointment for next Tuesday.
Again, not talking.
I am convinced that if the meeting actually happens, it will not be productive. My wife and 16-year-old continue to talk like it’s a possibility that his cat will come live with us. They continue talking like it’s a possibility to he will get his belongings from his father’s house. If any of this actually happens, it will be completely against all history or knowledge of the individuals involved. In other words, there is no logical reason to believe these things.
And, in all fairness, things have happened that go against all logical reason.
In my opinion, it would be best for our 16-year-old and my wife to forget about the possessions. Either that, or else go over there and have our 16-year-old enter the house and simply take the things and the pet without saying anything. I believe this will be the only way the things come over to our house. And I do not believe this will happen.
It would be nice if I didn’t care about any of this. Really it would.
But I do.
Fuck.
Recently, he has stated that even talking with his father with the therapist is pointless. Nothing happens, and there’s no point in talking with his father, as no change ever occurs.
Today, our 16-year-old was scheduled to talk with his father about his living schedule. For one month now, his father has not picked up our 16-year-old for his visitation time. He hasn’t told my wife why this is happening. Our 16-year-old believes it’s forever. Now our 16-year-old just wants to go over to his father’s house and get some belongings that are still over there. And his cat.
Prior to this meeting, the father wanted to attack my wife (primarily) and our 16-year-old (secondarily) for not including him in the decision to send our 16-year-old to driver’s education classes. Our 16-year-old and my wife have been attempting to talk with him about this for six months. He has said, literally, nothing to either of them about this subject. Then, when they actually take care of the issue themselves, he sends emails to the therapist—six, in total—regarding this atrocity. The “atrocity”, of course, is that he was circumvented by my wife and his 16-year-old, and his unwillingness to talk about a subject was not successful in making that subject go away or completely stop. Not talking is his biggest weapon. For those who believe in talking, the act of not talking, typically, shuts them down and makes them powerless. His tactic of not talking has worked on my wife, both his sons, 4 lawyers, one mother, one father, and a slew of people who used to identify themselves as friends to my wife. If somebody wants to talk with you, you are in power and remain that way as long as they want to talk with you.
So my wife sent an email to the therapist, saying that the father had 6 months to talk about driver’s education. He refused. This issue is dead. The most pressing issue right now is where our 16-year-old is going to be living, in what capacity, and how will he have access to his belongings and cat. This issue has not been discussed, and needs to be resolved before causing any more distress to our 16-year-old. My wife is not upset about driver education. Our 16-year-old is not upset about driver education. His instructors have told him that he’s performing well-above the average and suggested he take his permit test early. They are not upset about his driver education. The only one upset is the father. It is his problem alone. However, the issue of our 16-year-old’s living situation needs to be addressed.
Today our 16-year-old had an appointment scheduled with his father and his therapist.
His father texted my wife less than 2 hours before the scheduled appointment, stating that he rescheduled the appointment for next Tuesday.
Again, not talking.
I am convinced that if the meeting actually happens, it will not be productive. My wife and 16-year-old continue to talk like it’s a possibility that his cat will come live with us. They continue talking like it’s a possibility to he will get his belongings from his father’s house. If any of this actually happens, it will be completely against all history or knowledge of the individuals involved. In other words, there is no logical reason to believe these things.
And, in all fairness, things have happened that go against all logical reason.
In my opinion, it would be best for our 16-year-old and my wife to forget about the possessions. Either that, or else go over there and have our 16-year-old enter the house and simply take the things and the pet without saying anything. I believe this will be the only way the things come over to our house. And I do not believe this will happen.
It would be nice if I didn’t care about any of this. Really it would.
But I do.
Fuck.
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
you are wrong
i'm really tired
of feeling tired
the weight of unfair
the weight of uncare
little thoughts
push down
bringing up
the back of my throat
you were wrong
you are wrong
you are so, so wrong
you are wrong
you are wrong
you are so, so wrong
now die!
it's like
petting
cobra
stay calm
stay slow
until
you are wrong
you were wrong
you are so, so wrong
you are wrong
you are wrong
you are so, so wrong
now die
go die
go fucking die!
stabbing is too good for you
bullets are too good for you
torture is too good for you
peeling off your skin
choking off your heart
snapping off your back
ripping out a lung
to watch you grasp
gasp
belch
for help
that's when i laugh
and laugh
and laugh
i fucking laugh
breathing
forcing
and looking
toward
peaceful
serenity
with you
bleeding
dying
crying
behind me
dripping
from me
from me
drained
you were wrong
now you're gone
of feeling tired
the weight of unfair
the weight of uncare
little thoughts
push down
bringing up
the back of my throat
you were wrong
you are wrong
you are so, so wrong
you are wrong
you are wrong
you are so, so wrong
now die!
it's like
petting
cobra
stay calm
stay slow
until
you are wrong
you were wrong
you are so, so wrong
you are wrong
you are wrong
you are so, so wrong
now die
go die
go fucking die!
stabbing is too good for you
bullets are too good for you
torture is too good for you
peeling off your skin
choking off your heart
snapping off your back
ripping out a lung
to watch you grasp
gasp
belch
for help
that's when i laugh
and laugh
and laugh
i fucking laugh
breathing
forcing
and looking
toward
peaceful
serenity
with you
bleeding
dying
crying
behind me
dripping
from me
from me
drained
you were wrong
now you're gone
Thursday, August 16, 2012
What I Want
I want my job to involve me performing.
I want to entertain people for a living.
I want to earn enough money to feel like my family and I could pay for all our essentials, eat out every meal and have alcohol if we wanted, and still have enough money to save every month.
I want to wake up without an alarm.
I want to enjoy waking up and feel rested after sleeping.
I want to feel talented, respected, important, useful, intelligent, and needed.
That's a start.
I want to entertain people for a living.
I want to earn enough money to feel like my family and I could pay for all our essentials, eat out every meal and have alcohol if we wanted, and still have enough money to save every month.
I want to wake up without an alarm.
I want to enjoy waking up and feel rested after sleeping.
I want to feel talented, respected, important, useful, intelligent, and needed.
That's a start.
So Tired Of It All
I woke up over an hour late today, almost when I should've been at work. Neither my wife nor I heard my alarm go off.
I went into the front room, and our 16 year-old was on the computer. He said that he hadn't slept. He had tried and taken some sleep medication, but he hadn't fallen asleep. I understood.
As I made my way to work, I saw a billboard for the lottery. Yesterday it was at $320 million. This morning, it was at $40 million, signalling that somebody had won. It didn't mean that somebody had won the jackpot, which normally doesn't happen, just that enough people had won smaller amounts to take the estimated total back to it's starting point of $40 million. And I got upset, because I had forgotten to buy a ticket yesterday. I had simply forgotten.
And then I heard the news.
A single ticket in Michigan was sold that matched all six lottery numbers. Meaning one person in Michigan was now $320 million richer.
Which was what I had wanted for myself. Which is something I have yet to have.
And I started crying.
I'm so tired.
I went into the front room, and our 16 year-old was on the computer. He said that he hadn't slept. He had tried and taken some sleep medication, but he hadn't fallen asleep. I understood.
As I made my way to work, I saw a billboard for the lottery. Yesterday it was at $320 million. This morning, it was at $40 million, signalling that somebody had won. It didn't mean that somebody had won the jackpot, which normally doesn't happen, just that enough people had won smaller amounts to take the estimated total back to it's starting point of $40 million. And I got upset, because I had forgotten to buy a ticket yesterday. I had simply forgotten.
And then I heard the news.
A single ticket in Michigan was sold that matched all six lottery numbers. Meaning one person in Michigan was now $320 million richer.
Which was what I had wanted for myself. Which is something I have yet to have.
And I started crying.
I'm so tired.
Monday, August 13, 2012
No Sleep For The Weary
Last night I didn't sleep at all.
I couldn't get comfortable. Muscle aches. I'd hit one position, and my back would start to ache. I'd shift, and my shoulder would ache. Those are the two big areas: shoulder and back.
I'd start to drift, and some horrible dream would pop up (probably not technically a dream, as you have to have REM sleep to have a technical dream, so the experts say... but tell me this, wise guy, if I'm having a day dream in the middle of the day without actually being asleep, would you challenge that I was dreaming or would you just go along with what I was saying, knowing that what I meant, without being a jackass and saying, "umm... no, you didn't have a dream, because you weren't asleep...". Fuck off, douche, and let me keep going and quit being a douche, douche).
The point is, I didn't sleep last night.
And I'm hurting today.
I really, really hate week days.
I couldn't get comfortable. Muscle aches. I'd hit one position, and my back would start to ache. I'd shift, and my shoulder would ache. Those are the two big areas: shoulder and back.
I'd start to drift, and some horrible dream would pop up (probably not technically a dream, as you have to have REM sleep to have a technical dream, so the experts say... but tell me this, wise guy, if I'm having a day dream in the middle of the day without actually being asleep, would you challenge that I was dreaming or would you just go along with what I was saying, knowing that what I meant, without being a jackass and saying, "umm... no, you didn't have a dream, because you weren't asleep...". Fuck off, douche, and let me keep going and quit being a douche, douche).
The point is, I didn't sleep last night.
And I'm hurting today.
I really, really hate week days.
Friday, August 10, 2012
Update
Today, our 16-year-old called his father, trying to get his textbooks back from his father's home so that he could purchase books for this year without paying a $100.
His father didn't want him to come over. He said that he had already looked for the books and they were no where to be found. He said that our 16-year-old couldn't come over.
The conversation devolved to our 16-year-old say, "Dad, are you honestly saying that I can't go into my room to look for my school books??"
At that point, with much reluctance, he was allowed to go over to the house where, according to him, he could actually see the books before he was inside his room.
There are certain people who shouldn't be allowed to live. And if they are allowed to live, they should be forced to pay a fine of $1000 every day to every human. If they cannot pay the fine, they should be killed.
His father didn't want him to come over. He said that he had already looked for the books and they were no where to be found. He said that our 16-year-old couldn't come over.
The conversation devolved to our 16-year-old say, "Dad, are you honestly saying that I can't go into my room to look for my school books??"
At that point, with much reluctance, he was allowed to go over to the house where, according to him, he could actually see the books before he was inside his room.
There are certain people who shouldn't be allowed to live. And if they are allowed to live, they should be forced to pay a fine of $1000 every day to every human. If they cannot pay the fine, they should be killed.
Thursday, August 9, 2012
Emails Between My Wife and Her Ex As She Tries To Care For Her Children Without Help From Him
From: [my wife]
Date: August 9, 2012 7:22:37 AM CDT
To: [her ex]
Subject: [our 16-year-old's] Imp. Documents
please bring [our 16-year-old's] birth certificate and social security card when you come [to pick up our 11-year-old]. he is scheduled to take his driver's permit test next week.
[a second email was sent before a response was received]:
[our 16-year-old's] is enrolled [in high school]. i payed all enrollment fees and purchased last year's yearbook for him. i have copies of his schedule and test results for you. since you did not meet us with his unreturned textbooks, it was a $100 fine. please bring his books tonight with his other documents when you pick up [our 11-year-old].
On Aug 9, 2012, at 10:06 AM, [the ex] wrote:
I am glad [our 16-year-old] is enrolled. The fines are unfortunate but it is not my responsibility and not my fault he did not turn them in earlier. They were at his spot on the kitchen bar for several months. He was responible for turning them in at the end of the school year, not me or you. I will bring them tonight and he may return them and the fine if it remains is something you will need to work out with him. Concerning the Driver's License, I will not be providing those documents tonight. This is a decision that is extremely complex and you failed to ask or involve me or [our 16-year-old's therapist] beforehand. He was set to discuss this with her last visit but we were unable to do so. She will discuss with you and him all of the issues associated with this pursuit.
Begin forwarded message:
From: [my wife]
Date: August 9, 2012 10:49:39 AM CDT
To: [her ex]
Subject: Re: [our 16-year-old's] Imp. Documents
i did discuss driver's ed for [our 16-year-old] with [our 16-year-old's therapist] and followed her recommendations. [our 16-year-old] and i have both waited patiently for 6 months for you to be open to discussing driver's ed. don't worry about the documents.
[another email was sent from my wife to her ex prior to any response from him]
From: [my wife]
Date: August 9, 2012 11:11:39 AM CDT
To: [her ex]
Subject: Fwd: [16-year-old's] Imp. Documents
since you have left [our 16-year-old] [at my house] since july 20th, it is necessary for you to send his school belongings you are aware he will need for enrollment purposes and the upcoming school year. i was not aware that there were any unreturned books until you mentioned it to me late tuesday evening, when you said you would bring them today.
Date: August 9, 2012 7:22:37 AM CDT
To: [her ex]
Subject: [our 16-year-old's] Imp. Documents
please bring [our 16-year-old's] birth certificate and social security card when you come [to pick up our 11-year-old]. he is scheduled to take his driver's permit test next week.
[a second email was sent before a response was received]:
[our 16-year-old's] is enrolled [in high school]. i payed all enrollment fees and purchased last year's yearbook for him. i have copies of his schedule and test results for you. since you did not meet us with his unreturned textbooks, it was a $100 fine. please bring his books tonight with his other documents when you pick up [our 11-year-old].
On Aug 9, 2012, at 10:06 AM, [the ex] wrote:
I am glad [our 16-year-old] is enrolled. The fines are unfortunate but it is not my responsibility and not my fault he did not turn them in earlier. They were at his spot on the kitchen bar for several months. He was responible for turning them in at the end of the school year, not me or you. I will bring them tonight and he may return them and the fine if it remains is something you will need to work out with him. Concerning the Driver's License, I will not be providing those documents tonight. This is a decision that is extremely complex and you failed to ask or involve me or [our 16-year-old's therapist] beforehand. He was set to discuss this with her last visit but we were unable to do so. She will discuss with you and him all of the issues associated with this pursuit.
Begin forwarded message:
From: [my wife]
Date: August 9, 2012 10:49:39 AM CDT
To: [her ex]
Subject: Re: [our 16-year-old's] Imp. Documents
i did discuss driver's ed for [our 16-year-old] with [our 16-year-old's therapist] and followed her recommendations. [our 16-year-old] and i have both waited patiently for 6 months for you to be open to discussing driver's ed. don't worry about the documents.
[another email was sent from my wife to her ex prior to any response from him]
From: [my wife]
Date: August 9, 2012 11:11:39 AM CDT
To: [her ex]
Subject: Fwd: [16-year-old's] Imp. Documents
since you have left [our 16-year-old] [at my house] since july 20th, it is necessary for you to send his school belongings you are aware he will need for enrollment purposes and the upcoming school year. i was not aware that there were any unreturned books until you mentioned it to me late tuesday evening, when you said you would bring them today.
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
I have 7 more hours of this today...
Oooooooooo.
I just hit a wall of tired.
Wrapped in exhausted.
Shoot me. Please.
I just hit a wall of tired.
Wrapped in exhausted.
Shoot me. Please.
Awake??
Last night, I went to bed way late. My wife and I were talking through life, our heads got busy, and before you know it, it was only a few hours from when I was supposed to wake up.
This morning, I got up and got ready for work. I went to the bathroom. Washed my face. Put on deodorant. Put on my shirt, my pants, my shoes. I reached for my phone which was charging next to my alarm clock. At which point I realized it was an hour before I had to get up. "Why did the alarm go off?" I groggily asked myself. "It didn't go off," I responded. "Go back to sleep."
Then, an hour later, I went back through the process.
I hate it when that happens.
My body is aching for rest, like it normally is. I can't really remember a time when I felt rested. When I felt relaxed. When I felt healthy.
Sometimes, life can get messy.
This morning, I got up and got ready for work. I went to the bathroom. Washed my face. Put on deodorant. Put on my shirt, my pants, my shoes. I reached for my phone which was charging next to my alarm clock. At which point I realized it was an hour before I had to get up. "Why did the alarm go off?" I groggily asked myself. "It didn't go off," I responded. "Go back to sleep."
Then, an hour later, I went back through the process.
I hate it when that happens.
My body is aching for rest, like it normally is. I can't really remember a time when I felt rested. When I felt relaxed. When I felt healthy.
Sometimes, life can get messy.
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Work Email
This is an acutal email that was sent in all seriousness to the other United States of America government employees that work with me in my building.
Please, refrain from wiping feces on the restroom stall walls. We are all adults here, let’s try to show some respect for those whose job it is to clean our facilities.
Thank you,
Wow. I don't think there's anything else to say about that.
Please, refrain from wiping feces on the restroom stall walls. We are all adults here, let’s try to show some respect for those whose job it is to clean our facilities.
Thank you,
Wow. I don't think there's anything else to say about that.
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Chick-fil-A Statement of Corporate Purpose
Taken from the Chick-fil-A website, following the links for Executive Bios that lead to President and Cheif Operating Officer, Dan Cathy (http://www.chick-fil-a.com/Press/Bios/Dan). Speaking about Cathy:
His personal passion is to see the fulfillment of the Chick-fil-A Corporate Purpose: "To glorify God by being a faithful steward of all that is entrusted to us. To have a positive influence on all who come in contact with Chick-fil-A."
I would like to start a campaign to bring truth to this statement of Corporate Purpose, and have the last sentence changed to read, "To have a positive influence on all who come in contact with Chick-fil-A, unless you are divorced, gay, support gay rights, or interpret the Christian Bible differently from the way we interpret it, at which time we will have a negative influence on you and your desire to live freely in America."
I don't think there would be such fervor about Chick-fil-A or it's practices if it presented itself honestly like this. After all, if they did have their Statement of Corporate Purpose changed as is mentioned above, it really wouldn't come as a surprise to anyone when they behave they way they do or make statements like Dan Cathy has made recently. No one is surprised when the Ku Klux Klan burns black people, probably because their Statement of Corporate Purpose says something to the effect of "we burn black people".
You think the Better Business Bureau is the place to start with a request like this?
His personal passion is to see the fulfillment of the Chick-fil-A Corporate Purpose: "To glorify God by being a faithful steward of all that is entrusted to us. To have a positive influence on all who come in contact with Chick-fil-A."
I would like to start a campaign to bring truth to this statement of Corporate Purpose, and have the last sentence changed to read, "To have a positive influence on all who come in contact with Chick-fil-A, unless you are divorced, gay, support gay rights, or interpret the Christian Bible differently from the way we interpret it, at which time we will have a negative influence on you and your desire to live freely in America."
I don't think there would be such fervor about Chick-fil-A or it's practices if it presented itself honestly like this. After all, if they did have their Statement of Corporate Purpose changed as is mentioned above, it really wouldn't come as a surprise to anyone when they behave they way they do or make statements like Dan Cathy has made recently. No one is surprised when the Ku Klux Klan burns black people, probably because their Statement of Corporate Purpose says something to the effect of "we burn black people".
You think the Better Business Bureau is the place to start with a request like this?