The Debate and More

[lydamorehouse]

Was it just me, or were you also worried that Grampy McCain was going to just wander off in the middle of the debate?

I thought it was very odd that you'd see him strolling around the stage while Obama WAS SPEAKING!! I couldn't tell if McCain was just mugging for the cameras or trying to "connect" with the audience or if he was, like, lost. Plus, the moment everyone is going to remember I hope is "that one" which was condescending enough to border on racism, IMHO. It wouldn't be on its own necessarily, except once again Grampy couldn't seem to make eye contact with Obama or anyone of color in the audience, even those asking questions. (It makes you wonder how it is McCain was able to read "K.G.B." in Putin's eyes, given he seems to have general trouble meeting people's gazes.)

In non-political news, Mason was really upset last night about school. There were many, many tears of panic. He's freaked that the substitute teacher is going to give a "bad report" and the whole class will lose "choice time" (aka "free play") for an entire WEEK.

Apparently all these issues with discpline are really wearing him out. He's having trouble concentrating on his "daily work" (they have letters they need to trace before they can move on to "choice time" and other more fun activities) because he's so busy trying to police his colleagues so the whole class won't lose out on things like "hill time" (a second recess).

I wrote an email to his teacher about it because if he can't get his school work done, this has turned a very serious corner. At home, I taught him the serenity prayer:

God(dess) grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

At the very least I hope that we can keep him engaged at home. He's been typing out his Christmas list, which has been fun for him (and educational). We still read a lot. He's been reading the STAR WARS novel with his mom, which I think is awesome, given that I first read is as a teeenager.

Comments

[supergee.livejournal.com]

I was kind of hoping Gramps would wander off during the debate. Maybe even the electorate would have noticed.

[naomikritzer]

This can be one of the big issues with collective punishment/reward systems. You don't WANT kids trying to police each other; it doesn't make things better. Poor Mason. I sympathize with his frustration (it drove me utterly over the edge as a kid when I would get punished for other kids' poor behavior).

Too old

[muneraven.livejournal.com]

I love elderly people and worked at a nursing home to pay for college. Some of those people in their 80s and 90s were mentally sharp, cool people. But last night McCain wasn't one of those. As McCain wandered around the stage I kept having the urge to go take his hand and lead him back to his chair before he wandered off and got lost. "Let's sit down, John. "Wheel of Fortune" is on in fifteen minutes!"

[algy.livejournal.com]

There's also the Serenity prayer:

I am a leaf on the wind.
Watch how I soar.