Random Facts About You #56

So the kids can learn about victory and defeat. There is alot of handy life lesson learning in competition.

 

Eh... competition is one of humanity's problems. The whole "I'm better than you are" deal.

 

I think part of it is all in good fun and sometimes maybe part of it is the parents kind of living vicariously through their kids. Some people definitely take it too far. When I used to compete in martial arts tournaments, we used to tell the kids that it's all about learning and improving and having fun....challenging yourself and stepping up to that challenge, etc. It really was because that's what we made it all about. I think that was good for the kids. But then in my division....let's skip the childish facade....this is full-contact and nobody is here to lose. So I think competition is really what you make it. It can be fun or super serious and I think it should be fun for kids. I don't think competition is all bad but winning shouldn't be the only reason you enjoy doing something.

 

i just remembered my dad has a nice newer .22 savage with the accutrigger

id kind of like to have that one too

 

Actually, the guy who has been working during the times that we've been there saw her targets from this evening. He seemed impressed and told her there are competitions that she could participate in if she wants to. There just happened to be a 16 yr old girl there this evening who is supposedly very good in competition and she started at the same age as my daughter. I asked my daughter if that sounded like something she might be interested in. She immediately said "Yes! That would be fun to try!"

So that kind of thing will be completely up to her. I won't push her one way or the other. None of my kids have been into playing sports....my daughter is no different. She couldn't care less about that kind of thing. She would rather read books or mess around on her computer but.....I want her to have other hobbies besides things that people just sit on a couch to do...the people who never leave this town and become anything. So I kayak with her, she's into working out, she's into playing music, now she wants a rifle.....fine. Do something. Do anything. Pick what you enjoy doing and I will do my best to make sure you can do it.

 

Perhaps it is because my mother always pushed (shoved) competition down my throat; but, I have never been a competitive person. In fact, I'm more likely to just pull out if there is competition going on. Also, competition always seems to trigger a "screw-up" gene deep inside me. For instance, when I used to play a lot of pool, I'd do fine, and I mean I'd be winning UNTIL there was money put on the table and then I would promptly become incapable of sinking a shot.

I found out (way later) that there were times when I'd be playing that if they wanted to bet (which they would) they would make sure and not let me find out. lol good grief...but it worked.

The only exception to me not totally screwing up if competition was involved was academically. I always did fine with the books, not that it matters in the least now.

 

you DO realize the problem with that, is that no one is entirely good for any one?

 

I realize that. But there are certain kids who I don't want her around.

 

the foggy mist was so thick before dawn that it set my security camera off and recorded 2 hours of what looked like a snowstorm but it was just mist

 

hey jimmy...whats that on your head?

 

that friend finally came over and paid me back in full

 

yay

 

yeah...now i can stop imagining dropping road flares in his parked truck

 

hooray

 

i'm plum tuckered out.....

 

Brushing and burning all day today... I'm beat. Was finishing up after dark, maybe photos tomorrow.



I wanted to get this section under the pines right now because they are dropping their needles at the moment, so after it's done it gets a fresh coating of pine needle carpet.

 

RF: We are apparently sponsoring the lunch accounts of 4 high school kids who I have never met (and they don't know it). Really. The first one was my idea. The other three were included by my wife today. I'm fine with it though. If a kids acct gets negative past a certain point...they don't get to eat...at all. The three from today are extenuating circumstances.

The first one is a kid my wife was telling me about a few weeks ago. He seems to have no friends, his clothes are all old and too small for him, he rarely talks to anyone because he probably gets made fun of and feels like nobody cares what he has to say anyway (my wife's assessment) and his lunch acct was negative so he wasn't even allowed to eat lunch unless he paid in cash. That bummed me out when I heard that. I told my wife that I wanted her to talk to whoever she needed to and make sure that this kid could eat whatever he wanted....everyday....for the rest of the school year. I will pay for it.....even the extra stuff.

We need to give a fuck about each other. How can kids be expected to learn but not eat? Seriously? For some kids, the food they eat at school is most of what they will get to eat everyday. I was one of those kids for part of my childhood. Your brain needs fuel to function. There is no reason why we shouldn't be making sure these kids get something to eat.

 

It's awesome that you all are able to help that way, Wiz!

 

You are so right about every single thing you said, and you and the wife are totally excellent people to anonomously fix the food situation for several teens in need.

Its so pitiful that the kid doesn't have any decent clothes. At that age being different is really hard...looking different with ill-fitting clothes would be enough to knock any kid's self-esteem down in the dirt.

 

my kid goes to a special high school program for hard kids....they have food there to for free to lure these kids onto the school and serve hot lunch free as well....they also have clothing available for kids like the one wizard mentioned


middle of the night...I went to bed too early