Getting a haircut during a pandemic

Posted by Forward thinking dad on March 16, 2020
Posted in: corona, essays, miscellaneous, personal observations. Tagged: , , , , , . Leave a comment

The Greek Bouzouki blasts from the tv screen overlooking 3 barbers. Two young hip,stylish American Greek men wear sleek black plastic gloves that match their hair color as they trim and buzz the two patrons in the shop.

But the older barber with the creases in the back of his neck, that my kid calls “credit card swipes,”cuts and snips with his bare hands. You just know he’d rather die from Corona before he’d wear sissy plastic gloves. He reeks of machismo.

After he removes the customer cape, and walks to the register-he doesn’t even think about a squirt of Purel. He just scratches his face, hands the patron his credit card receipt and gives himself a quick crotch pinch.

Thank you. No Corona worries here. Opa!!

Voting during a Pandemic

Posted by Forward thinking dad on March 16, 2020
Posted in: corona, essays, Life, personal observations, politics, reflections. Tagged: , , , . Leave a comment

My 18 year old son is about to vote for the first time. He’s researched the candidates and is ready to influence the election, despite the Corona virus. He knows- we all know the safe practices to follow.

After being bombarded with candidate cards and smiles as we approached the voting area, it was clear little consideration had been given to social distancing. The voting lines were filled with people standing about a finger nail apart. The volunteers were huddled around the corner of a plastic card table with no hand sanitizer to be seen.

After asking for his driver’s license, a distracted poll worker handed him an unsterile, clear Bic pen with bite marks on it to sign his name on the sticker establishing that he exists. This was then followed by her giving him an equally unsanitary white plastic card to vote with. More lines. As it was time for him to vote, the bell rang as if we were at Trader Joes; and he heard a wave of applause at the announcement ” first time voter.!” And then he’s escorted to a computer screen bouncing with leftover germs from the last 3 voters. Yuk!

After Voting, he was rewarded for his bravery during this national crisis with a dollop of hand sanitizer and an “I voted today”sticker. Go vote!

18?

Posted by Forward thinking dad on January 1, 2020
Posted in: arts. Leave a comment

It’s 2020. My boy graduates in 2020. Starts college somewhere in 2020. When I started this blog, I couldn’t imagine any of that. I just wanted to capture a few observations about his childhood. Until today, I wondered why I got off course and started commenting on cool art. I think I figured it out. As the boys were trying everything they were interested in from sports, to Wii, to music, to silly moments with friends; it created a safe space for my wife and I to do the same.

Sorry Rachel, I’m watching the Voice

Posted by Forward thinking dad on December 3, 2019
Posted in: essays, miscellaneous, politics, TV. Tagged: , , . Leave a comment

She’s fantastic! Perfect song choice-Adele. Flip to MSNBC- facts, evidence, substantiated proof, Adam Schiff- Rachel has “breaking news” yet once again. Wow the singer with Blue hair is terrific! Adam and Rachel blah blah. I can’t do this Rachel. I’m not sure who disappoints me more you or Trump.

I’ve sat through so many “breaking news” moments followed by wonderful legal scholars only to watch Trump work his way around the law, lie, manipulate the media, and buy another day. I don’t think I can keep being teased that you and your Ivy League trained team can beat trump. It’s high school all over again.

The nerds are trying to demonstrate their intellectual superiority to one another. Sadly they are so thrilled by their own conclusions that they fail to see how they tend to ignore or dismiss the people they deem to be lesser than them- the average students.

And trumps team feels like they are entitled just because of being rich or appearing to have more. The rules don’t apply to them. Exceptions are made. Coaches look the other way if they are busted for drinking; or their grades don’t meet the criteria for playing in a game.

In high school, trumps team always wins. If this high school musical continues for another 4 years- I’m out Rachel-I’m watching the Voice.

What a waste of power?

Posted by Forward thinking dad on November 27, 2019
Posted in: arts. Leave a comment

A young college student was sexually assaulted and strangled by a man on probation. She was then left in the back of her family’s KIA. And Trump sends out a tweet of his head photoshopped on Rockys airbrushed body. He’s the President of the United States?

Is it foolish to wonder if we will ever have a President who could console or reassure that girls family? Or must we settle fr tweets and photoshopped images as Vets freeze in cardboard boxes, and kids are gunned down in the streets? We are better than this- aren’t we?

Christmas is almost here?

Posted by Forward thinking dad on November 4, 2019
Posted in: arts. Leave a comment

It’s Sunday night, and I’m in a crowded grocery store parking lot…on a Sunday night?

The aisles are narrow. Carts with angry scowls attached to them line up behind us as soon as we roll past the sliding glass doors. No time to stop. There’s no room. Thank goodness, the carts don’t have horns. Can you believe she’s rolling and talking on the phone? She’s going to hurt someone in frozen foods.

For a moment, I’m distracted by the Christmas cookies from Matt’s: holiday coffee creamers; and boxes of holiday wrapping paper. Already?! I grumbled to the cashier about it being too soon to think about Xmas . She tilted her head to the right, stared at me and said, ” this ain’t nothing- they start Halloween in July.”

NOVEMBER 1 Deadline for College applications?

Posted by Forward thinking dad on November 3, 2019
Posted in: college applications, parenting, teenagers. Leave a comment

Up until November 1, all I heard about from anxious parents and school counselors was how important it was for my son to turn in his college application by 11/01. Nothing else mattered or forget about his future!

And then at 12:01 AM on November 2, we started receiving notices from numerous colleges, ” Great news! We’ve extended the deadline 3-5 days more. Seriously? Are you kidding me?

Perhaps they will extend the same courtesy when students fail to finish their papers by the due date?