Hey!!! Wake up! Where is everybody???

This is my dilemma for the day----

There's a kooky old guy who keeps coming into our business. He tells me he wants us to work on his restaurant entrance doors. The thing is I don't think he actually owns this restaurant. He also tells me that he owns the World Bank, that he is personal friends with George Bush and Alan Greenspan. Actually he said he is related to the Bush family. He also claims to own several resort hotels. He said he owns all the oil in the world, but it's been hard to get it out of the middle east because of the war. He also owns a large share of Disney. I just humor him when he's telling me all this stuff, but he's way creepy and kinda scares me. I just write up a work order like we really intend to go work on this building, but of course we don't because this guy is obviously unbalanced. Do you think he's harmless? What do you think I should do? nothing? call the police and ask them if they've had problems with him?

Well, this cow was sleeping.
 

Hi!! I'm back!! What a day! We left at 8:00 am, had lunch at that Pesce Blue restaurant on the way to Boston, got to the parking garage for the concert at about 3:00, and then I took everyone on a mini-tour. It's funny how I'm always the one who says okay let's do this and come on let's go. Apparently I am just bossy enough. We had DD's bf's parents with us and they were happy to go wherever I suggested, and the kids were actually surprisingly amenable to it as well, considering that it was 8 17-18-year-olds. None of them had ever been on a subway before (except DD, DH and I) and several of the kids had never been to Boston. So I took them on the subway, got out at Boston Common (it was really foggy so the park wasn't much of an attraction), walked them past Emerson College where DD has applied to go and piled them all into the Steinway piano store. That place could have been a little intimidating and they would never have gone in there without bossy Kiwi, so I'm really glad I did. There was a very nice young salesman there who had time to talk to us and we made DD'sBF sit down and play several of the Steinways. He was blown away and his parents were a little misty (he's really an amazing pianist) and we got a bunch of pictures.

So that was cool. Then we walked downtown to the shopping area and the kids picked up some dinner at a food court, and us parental types went to Filene's Basement and whiled away half an hour going "holy crap look at all this stuff!" then we took the subway back to the Fleet center, the kids went to the concert and the 4 of us took a cab over to the restaurant. We had an unbelievable dinner there. You have to go there, Bagz, sometime when you're in Boston. It's called Giacomo's, the one I linked to the other day. The calamari is about the best I've ever had and the special raviolis are the thing that really knock my socks off. We had lobster ravioli and butternut squash ravioli, both amazing. The restaurant is pretty small and you have to wait outdoors for a table (it was misting the whole time, but so what, huh). The waitresses are the kind of loud bossy types but nice and attentive. They don't serve dessert (not that we needed any), so we took a walk in the North End there which is very cool. Maybe I'll post a few pictures later. Then we declared we had walked off enough dinner to go to the Italian pastry shop (well, wishful thinking anyway -- we were totally stuffed, but we didn't let that stop us). We had lattes which were served with a swizzle stick of rock candy, which is perfect for twirling around in the foam and licking off, and canolis and cake. Then we headed back to the parking garage and had about an hour to kick back and try to take a nap before the long drive home.

The kids had an absolute blast at the concert. It seems that William M. Joel's still got it!! They all got t-shirts and stuff. We got lost getting out of Boston :rolleyes: and had to drive through mist and snow all the way through Maine. Got home about 6 am or so. Just before sunup. DD got up and went to her math class today. Ahem, that is the last class of the day... Oh well, the trip was well worth it. Basically 24 hours with no sleep, but I've abused my body worse other times.

Wabbit, your inlaw relatives say hi. That's okay, Painty, we had the visit pretty well scoped out, although I'm always interested to hear recommendations, especially from people who live there.

And Jet is doing well, awake from the surgery and all groggy apparently. I can't go get her until tomorrow. The timing was very good, as I got to just sleep today without having to get up with her or anything.

And how was your day?

What are you nervous about, Peachie? How can I advise on choice of beverage when I don't know the subject matter?

Kiwi

Hi Wabbit! I think there's one of those in every town. Have you asked anyone you know on the same street if they have visits from this guy? Chances are he's harmless, but what an annoyance!

Wabby, do you know any policemen? I'd want to talk to them if I had to be alone with him so regularly.

Kiwi, YAY for you!! You sound so cheery.

Kiwi again, I don't know what I'm nervous about especially. Motherhood is a bit trying these days.

Kiwi butted in front of me in line.

So ... I just had a mom-to-mom chat with the director of ds's school. LCP is very smart, is aloof and has been rude to teachers. By rude, we mean bad language. Like she doesn't know how to act appropriately. Loner. Like DS.

My problem is he talked to his mentor who has little kids, not teens, and mentor sees no reason he shouldn't drive his metor 7 hours way, rent a motel and visit this girl who has no curfew. It's no easy job being a mom. When I insist on NO, will he:

1. Go anyway.

2. Make my life miserable.

Plus, LOTS of people have stories about kids who follow someone to a college and end up miserable a few months later. Director knows one who dropped out of school. I can't stand it. !!!!!! (insert smiley face pulling out hair)

Kiwi, sounds like much fun was had by all! Giacomos sounds yummalish.. and so does swizzling rock candy in Lattes and eating pastry... I hope Jet will bounce back quick..

Wabby: yeah, I would ask the Pole leece about this guy.. I agree with Kiwi, he's probably a harmless old eccentric :shrug:

Pernie: I think Mentor needs a chat.. If he is in an advisory capacity he should be more mindful and respectful of the parents. Even if it was said in an off the cuff way. Is this a school DS would have considered regardless of GF? DS will probably pout and sulk but that's an awful long ride, and very far from home and a looong time to be unsupervised...

I am bummed. I got tickets fer DH and I to see Larry, the cable guy ( a comic) for our birthdays. He starts his new job on the 6th, but they are actually flying him out to Austin for 2 weeks, then a weekend home..then fly him out for another week... so we won't be able to go... but more importantly he will be away for 3 weeks.. I'm going to miss him..sniff... sooooo, I think maybe I'll pack up the furkids and take a drive to NJ to visit with friends and MIL..and then up to PA to spend a week with my DF ....

Peach, it is so not fun being the mom of a love sick teenager. How much longer until he turns 18? Hard as it may seem, you're going to be forced into giving up some control. Just hang in there, if you've taught him well, then he'll be ok. :hug:

Schatzie, sorry you're going to miss Larry the Cable Guy. Some friends want us to go see him when he comes to our town this spring. Sounds like you have a good plan while the DH is gone. Nothing like a road trip to perk you up. Right, Kiwonker?

The kooky guy looks just like the preacher on the movie Poltergeist. Do you remember him? Tall, lanky and skeletal looking. Eeep.

Just don't see that giving up control is the same as letting him do something I'm totalllly against and which puts him in danger. He's not 18 yet. Still under my authority as far I know. It's just when people say that .. have to let do what he wants as he is or will an adult .. it makes me feel like I'm totally inconsiderate of his feelings and desires. I took him to her college for Pete's sake. I fetched her to bring over her for a visit before she left. I have been supportive. But he does not have the experience driving a vehicle to safely go 7 hours away. He laughs at me when I say that. I sure do feel alone here.

Shots, I just saw your post. The director offered to talk to him but it'll Monday. I just have to put it off .. that's her advice.

Poor Peachy, I don't mean that you should just give up control.... or that control is a bad thing. Believe me, I still exert a bit of control over my chilluns, I just have to do it w/ guilt. I don't like to admit it, but I'm not above using guilt when I know it's for their own good. Is it the drive that scares you or the totally unsupervised motel room situation? or both? If it's just the drive, how about a bus ticket? if it's the totally unsupervised situation, that might be harder to solve.

If you want to see what the kooky man looks like - I mean exactly looks like google images Julian Beck. He even wears a hat just like the guy in Poltergeist II.

poor Julian, he was CARRRREEEEEEPY lookin... He was terminal ill and died shortly after the movie..

well, that's my trivia contribution fer the week.

Originally Posted by Cowpernia:
2. Make my life miserable.

Guaranteed...

Originally Posted by Cowpernia:
Plus, LOTS of people have stories about kids who follow someone to a college and end up miserable a few months later. Director knows one who dropped out of school. I can't stand it. !!!!!! (insert smiley face pulling out hair)

Unfortunately, true. You always hope that their education is important enough to them that they can make the right decisions, but they are being pulled in different directions. It would help if the gf could be a little bit objective about it, but it doesn't sound like she is the type to listen to you. DD's bf is very supportive of her desire to get a big city education, even though he is planning to go to a Maine school, and I think that is helping her keep focussed (although we shall see).

Schatzi, bummer about the comedian tix and DH being away. But road trip, excellent idea. Speaking of road trips, are you coming to visit me at the beach this summer?

Originally Posted by Wabby:
Nothing like a road trip to perk you up. Right, Kiwonker?

Ain't dat the truth!!

Which of course brings us full circle -- under 18-year-olds should not be going on road trips all alone to go stay in motels!! Do her parents (aunts? whoever) know that he wants to do this -- would they be all right with such plans?? (Although granted they sound a little dysfunctional) As a parent of a girl, I have to say that if the same situation came up with DD after she was in college, I would probably feel there was nothing I could do about it. However while she is still living at home and under 18 and still in h.s., that will not happen in any form. I believe DS just has to learn to accept that he is still your kid and that means something.

In my mind there is a great big line of demarcation between still in high school and off to college. If they can't cope with independence after that point they will be in trouble, but before then you are still in charge. And it's one of those not fair, maybe not even logical, things that kids just have to live with.

That said, get this (maybe you should avert your eyes, Peachie): one of dd's friends (ahem, the one you've met, Peaches) flew to L.A. over Christmas vacation by herself to visit her BF who is in school there. She stayed with him. She also paid for the trip herself by working her butt off at the local grocery store. Neither of them had any money to speak of while she was there, but they had a great time anyway. Her parents are very good people, but very lenient.

Who is this mentor, anyway? Not the person you called LCP is it? I may be confused.

Here's a weird thing: that name Julian Beck rang a very loud bell for me. Here's why. That is the name of the character that our friend John plays occasionally on Law and Order.

I've been on here too long.

Kiwi

oh my bejeezers i would be freakin out over this situation miss cowpern!!! when the girls were in grade twelve ,like your boy is there is no question that i would have said-----I AM SORRY BUT YOU ARE NOT GOING TO DO THIS---- I KNOW THAT YOU ARE MAD AND YOU CAN DO WHATEVER THE BLAZES YOU WANT ONCE YOU ARE OUT OF HERE,BUT YOU ARE NOT YET OUT OF HERE,AND YOU WILL HAVE TO PUT UP WITH ME-----I AM A WORRIER AND I JUST CAN'T TAKE IT!!!!---- now of course they do whatever they like and i can't stop it----when dd was driving to TORONTO last fall,i nearly freaked out---she did alot of the driving and i was SICK about it-----nothing i could do----BUT!!!!!! there is no way she would have been driving to Boston {same distance as your place to the college} IN GRADE TWELVE-------------i was freaking out about the unsupervised nature of prom night !!!!! SOOOOOOOOO====whether iT works or not,no matter how freakin mad he gets,i would still say NO!!!!!!! ----AND LOTS OF PEOPLE WOULD THINK I AM A CRAZY OLE B!#TC#!!!