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[side_show]

Speaking of old people shitting themselves, did you know I briefly worked at an old folks home as a dietary technician (basically I was the person who put the food in a blender and turned it to mush, then served it to people with varying levels of senility)? 

I remember the day I quite, I was clearing the tables and this old guy who was in need of a diaper change reached over and pinched my ass.  When I yelped his care worker said "oh, he doesn't know what he's doing."  But I looked at him, and that mother fucker was grinning from ear to ear, and looking right at me.  This is not why I quit though. 

I quit because when I asked an Alzheimer patient if she was done with her food to no response twice (the rule was that you had to ask the senile patients at least twice if they were done eating before taking their plate away if there was still food on it), when she didn't respond, I took it, and she started weeping and wailing uncontrollably.  I put her plate back and she tried to shove it off the table while continuing to weep.  The care person came over and held her as she cried.  Another patient at the table also started crying, and the care person hissed at me to take the plate away.  It was one of the saddest things I've ever seen, and I was so depressed that I went home and cried and never went back.  It was my first job, back when I was 15 1/2, and my mom tried to convince me to go back, and I just couldn't do it.  I was so saddened by the whole situation.

[Hobot]

side_show, is the treatment of the elderly in Canada similar to that in the States (i.e., old folks are herded into nursing homes and assisted living facilities once they become too frail to live on their own, instead of living with family members because it would be too "burdensome")?  I know that for the most part here, we have an alarming lack of respect for our senior citizens, and prefer the "out of sight, out of mind" strategy of dealing with their infirmity, as opposed to appreciating the insight they can offer to us about life.

[side_show]

Yes, that is basically exactly how the elderly are treated in Canada.  On the flip side of my horrible job at the old folks home though, my last job before fully committing to my work in theatre was as a journalist for an Aboriginal paper where I interviewed community elders and war veterans and wrote biographical articles of their lives.  It's taken me from fearing aging (and therefore fearing the aged) to a more traditional view of elders as important teachers in my life, and the life of others.  I also learned that old men love to talk about their former girlfriends from 60 years ago when their wives aren't around.  Amusing!

[robot_god]

as opposed to appreciating the insight they can offer to us about life.

Like, "I think this room has gotten smaller," and, "What have you done for me lately?"  Also demanding coffee to be made at 2am, or 3am, sometimes 4 or 5am.

I certainly appreciated it, though.

Accept for asking when I was going to have a child, I didn't appreciate that at all.

[theinevitable]

oh man, today I was invited to a "party" that was actually just me, a nice girl, a friend of mine, 2 guys I don't know, and the nice girl's huge jewish family.
they were entirely:

• over the age of 60
• speaking Yiddish
• under 5'6"

[wombat]

under 5'6"

You got a problem with that?

[misterqueue]

oh man, today I was invited to a "party" that was actually just me, a nice girl, a friend of mine, 2 guys I don't know, and the nice girl's huge jewish family.
they were entirely:

• over the age of 60
• speaking Yiddish
• under 5'6"

My favorite "family that wasn't mine" shindig I ever went to was for a friend of mine Chiharu who is Japanese.  Not only was her family extremely accomdating and a blasty, but I could pretend I was A GIANT! 

I mean, I don't want to say I thought about Godzilla, but dammit I did.  I'm not made of wood alright? 

[theinevitable]

womb-- no, the shortness was fine. It was just that I suddenly realized I was the tallest person at the party by a wide margin.

...

also I think they all thought I was dating their (niece/granddaughter/daughter/some other relationship). it was kind of funny.

[theinevitable]

Current toddler status, 6/5: She gorged so messily on capellini with tomato sauce that our dinner guest literally flipped his plate, stormed out the door, and peeled his car tires out in the driveway as he left.

I am not sure what is going on here.

[jough]

Oh man, that's the funniest toddler update yet.  He was SO ANGRY AT THE BABY.  Even his car felt his wrath.

[robot_god]

I hope that is true, if it is true, then I like it.

Otherwise, I hate it.  I know these dudes that make jokes about shit like that, all the time.  It's so old.  Man, enough imaginary scenarios, dudes.

I hope the toddler was splashing sauce all over.  Saucing up the guest good.

[Drygioni]

Current toddler status, 6/9: She and I (mostly the latter) got yelled at when she played with my special book-signing fountain pen and got ink all over her hands, her fancy shirt, and Cornelius Bear's forehead.

Noooooooooooooooo

[wombat]

Current toddler status, 6/13: She hid the TiVo remote in the trunk of her toy car, and it was actually kind of a problem for a few hours.

[jough]

Clearly, a cry for daddy's attention.  "Please daddy, stop watching TV and play with me!" AKA, The Saddest Thing

[thedudeabides85]

   
Current toddler status, 6/15: On Saturday we are going to see Otto the Clown 'Copter, who apparently has a 75 lb. functioning yo-yo.