Damage Control

So, I guess pot brownies are off the lunch menu at the high school, eh? ... What the heck were these kids thinking anyway. Pot at school? What a waste of a good high. ... Oh uh...er...I mean shame on them!

But seriously, ninth graders? Granted, it was a looooong time ago when yours truly was in the equivalent of ninth grade, but we had other pursuits. So did our parents -- like paying attention to where we were and what we were up to.

Yeah, yeah, both parenting and growing up can be a hard row to hoe these days. ... Still, it seems life back in the bliss of my adolescence was more about having fun than destroying things, let alone our reputations.

Okay, so here comes a wedgie from the Pet Peeve Department: What's the deal with destroying other people's property for fun? I never understood vandalism for vandalism's sake, even in my own angst-ridden (but blissful, mind you) teen years. ... I admit to a bit of errant property damage, but at least it was accidental, not like the 18 year old ES high school grad who recently destroyed city property for fun, or the juvie bunch who wreaked havoc in Basin Park just to pass time. ... Then there was the heedless damage to that astounding metal heron that once graced Grotto Spring. ... What was the point of ruining hundreds of hours of someone's hard work? That, I just don't get. ... Anyway, my unsolicited opinion is that kids who are allowed to "express themselves" without consequences can become little monsters who have no regard for others and seem genuinely surprised when they get nailed for criminal mischief.

But why am I grousing about kids when our own city council members were in such a childish fight about the budget they couldn't even pass one and now need the state to step in and sort them out?

Moving on, still no word from GSHS on the search for a new director. I hear on the grapevine that spot is vacant, but the GSHS board is mum. mum. mum. Except for soliciting donations. Not a good way to inspire public confidence.

And you can inspire me by writing to oliverdeplace@hotmail.com. Yeah, sure you will. Apathy rules.