Random Thoughts

From the Desk of John Rourke – May 1st, 2017

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Garden is almost completely planted. We had torrential downpours last week which helped but was concerned too much water would create issues. Supposed to get rain today then clear up. Trying several types of tomato’s and pepper’s this year along with cucumbers, yellow squash, and zucchini. Wifey planted some herbs as well. Eggplants so far look like they need to be put out of their misery.

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My 18-year-old isn’t going to graduate high school on time. What a struggle it has been dealing with him and school. He has zero motivation to get his work done and will have to either attend summer school or go back in the Fall. I try not to stress out about it but it is difficult. I try to remind myself he is a good kid and has a very kind heart.

What happened to the eight-year old that looked at me like his best buddy and thought I was the smartest man in the world?

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Get a load of this: The “OK” hand sign is now considered “racist” by some on the Liberal Left. Insanity.

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In an AR-related Facebook group I am a member of a guy rearranged the magazine selection at his local grocery store. Diversity is good, right?

gun, magazines, book, grocery, rack, SHTF, preparedness

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GOOD NEWS: Joe Biden has come out and said “I’m not running” for President in 2020. Well, maybe that’s bad news. It would have been entertaining.

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Anyone else feeling a bit overwhelmed with the amount of “stuff” going on? North Korea, Russia, China, Mexico, Antifa, Liberals, Neo-Cons, deficits, debt, surveillance, politics in general – then add in regular life stuff.

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Have good week folks!!

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15 Comments

  1. StevefromMA says:

    Sorry to hear about your son, John. I know we all had various advice a few months back. FWIW, I would try to get him in morning classes, with a tutor to follow up later in day, and an afternoon job to look forward to.

    Reply
  3. joyce says:

    JR….being a parent, not exactly like we imagined it the day they were born. Hearing he has a good heart is a HUGE plus in your situation…much better than straight A’s and lack of that good heart for sure. About thirty years back, when our four kids were just starting to show us how much of our stubbornness they had inherited, i was feeling as if i was at the top of a roller coaster looking down on the first long terrifying drop. i realized they were getting too big for me to make them do as i asked/told them to. But then, that is sort of what we all are….kids (God’s) that have a mind of our own (as well as think we know it all.) The only difference is God COULD make us do what he says…but he doesn’t. i don’t remember the setting but do remember what i told these (over anxious be grown up) kids i love. “I can no longer make you do as i ask/tell you to even though i want to. So….here’s the deal, you will be making a lot of choices as you become more independent and able. Dad and i will give you our input and advice and yes,we will continue to “tell” you what to do but what you do is a choice…your choice. The bargain is this, you will get the credit for your choice. When it is good, we will hold up that good choice and say to you, our family, your friends, your teachers, your boss…anyone who sees and say you did SO well, you made a fabulous choice. Conversely, the poor choices you get to own as well…whatever consequence comes is yours. Dad and i will stand by you, support you and always love you, but what your future holds is not because we were good or terrible parents, it is because of your choices.”

    Now, it has not been easy at times. Choices made have not been perfect, but it has been good knowing who “owned” the choices…even the ones us parents made. (Even the ones God would have preferred/not preferred we make.) Everybody is free to make their own good/not so good choices AND be rewarded for them.

    You never stop being dad or a mom….i do LOVE having adult kids…Oh, and the grandkids are pretty great too. Praying for you all as you move forward this year….

    Reply
  4. shiloh1973icki Thoma says:

    My stepson was about 17 when I apologized to him. I told him I was sorry that his brain had fallen out and I must have packed it in one of the boxes we took to our new home. It took him almost 5 years to find a partial part of it while he served in Desert Storm. Unfortunately, I never found the rest of it. We do the best we can and have to let God take care of the rest. Sometimes the results are not what we had hoped for.

    Reply
  5. Oren says:

    John, as a man that went thru the very thing your son is going thru, a piece of free advice. Don’t pressure him to go to college. It will be an expensive flop. I had mediocre grades all thru high school. I went to college straight out of high school. I wasn’t ready. Bombed out in 1966. Grew up when I woke up in Vietnam. Came home and went back to college with a totally new attitude and had grades that put me on the Dean’s List every semester.
    I’d recommend he go into the Reserves or just enlist. The military has an amazing influence on young men that seems to help them grow up. It sure helped me. If I had it to do again, I’d do the same thing, except I would not waste the time and money in school, I would have enlisted straight from high school.

    Reply
    1. Capt.Michales says:

      Hmmm…interesting thought. He would be going to Parris Island for sure if he went into the Marines. I was and I’m still proud to be a former Marine. I remember in boot camp we were knuckle heads and followed the drill instructor’s lead of mocking reservists all during boot camp. However…let me tell you. When all us regular had to go to the fleet and the reservist were going home, reservists still had the title of Marine, and live in the regular world. Guess who had the last laugh 🙂 Just saying.

      I had a similar problem when I was going to high school. It was a real bummer and moral deflator. It really sucked I was going to summer school when everyone else was out celebrating, but I refused to be a quitter. Rourke, will the school at least allow him to walk with the cap and gown? Some parents have reached out to the school, based on follow up completion, and the school let them walk with the class.

      Great video..thanks. I will be re-sharing it. I saw that this weekend and I was like..What?? how Stupid can this get.

      Overwhelmed? No brother. Remember, paranoia will destroy ya. You can’t let paranoia take over your heightened legit concerns.Personally for me, you’ve been a convicting model of preparedness for me. Your on the right path, your so much farther than most, and we’re all working that way.

      Reply
      1. JR says:

        Thanks Capt. No – they will not allow him to walk the stage unless he is graduating. I guess that has been a change as they used to allow that.

        Reply
    2. JR says:

      College is not for him though Tech might be fine or a certificate program. Military service is out – he is Type 1 diabetic. Appreciate the thoughts Oren.

      Reply
  6. goingray58 says:

    Garden.. ditto..
    Still have feed corn and sorghum I’m trying to figure out .. and thee hot then cold nits are wearing out the plants… and the deer.. May need to fix that deer thing.. umm hmm

    Overwhelmed about stuff ? It always has been we just have news that pounds us with it over and over now… cheap cable and media ..
    I have been watching C-SPAN to listen to them talk myself.. so I can hear what they say and not someone’s interpretation. A small number are capable.. the rest … are remarkable oblivious to the way people work and what motivates them… They will make tons of mistakes as always.. prepare and do what you can to take care of your family.. Try and enjoy life a little .. it’s short. If the balloon goes up .. we’ll do what we been getting ready to do.. live

    On the Son..
    you do the best yo can and keep the communications open.. and try not to push too hard. Right now you care about his future more than he does and you want MAKE him understand. I totally get it. They stress and strain against parents.. and it’s part of becoming an adult.. eventually he will get smacked around buy the world a little and start hearing what you have said for years. It’s hard but you have to let it happen, and be there for when he asks what to do .. you have to be listening when he does. He he’ll knows you don’t approve and that is what he wants .. your approval,, he will all his life. He’ll get there
    Offering the military is a good idea. He can take the test with no commitment just to see what they will offer. Then it’s up to him. I went with mine and picked him up when done.. had dinner and just listened,, no advice until he asked.
    Hang in there… it’s what we do brother. The kid you knew is still in there.

    On the racist ok sign.. I only need one finger to show them what I think .. You have a one in five chance of getting it right 🙂
    GG58

    Reply
  8. SingleMom says:

    Been where you are, Roarke, and the only thing you can do is ride it out and not be too hard on yourself. You can only carry them so far before they have to stand, or fall, on their own two feet.

    That said, I’m proud of my girl right now. She’s been staying with friends while one of them recovers from surgery, and their house caught fire yesterday during a bad storm. She was the only one who kept her head and got everyone and the pets out of the house. Fortunately, it was caught in time, and there’s not too much damage, but her friends are saying that they might not have come through it so well if she hadn’t been there. It’s nice to know that our drills at home really do pay off!

    Reply

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