Lucas wants to be a lot of things. His outlook on life is that of limitless possibilities. When I was growing up, I remember wanting to be lots of different things. Funny how it all sort of revolved around which TV show I was watching at the time.
Lucas doesn’t watch much TV for a five year old. He watches pre-recorded videos mostly. Not a lot of five year olds have most of Liar Liar memorized, but he does. Try to look past the fact that he watches movies that are PG-13 or higher. He has goals. He sat down next to me in my office downstairs today and asked me if I knew what he was going to be first when he grew up. I told him I thought he was going to be a teacher. He explained that yes he was going to be a teacher, but that was just not what he was going to be first. I am going to be a policeman first. You know, when you drive too fast and you get so many tickets that they will take you to jail? (A scene from Liar Liar) Then, after that he will be a doctor, a teacher, a fireman, an astronaut, and a coach. Not necessarily in that order. The order he lists them is always different, but the multitude of roles is always represented. I know he isn’t old enough to understand that although people do switch careers several times during their lives, on average, you don’t see that kind of variance in vocation very often. I certainly know that he won’t understand the sheer terror that a major switching guru could potentially cause a parent to experience, at least not yet. But my sociological question is this; when did we make the transition from kids wanting to be one thing at a time, and changing their minds frequently to kids expecting that they will be able to “do it all” during their lifetimes? I think it speaks directly to the culture we live in. Gone are the days of following in your father’s footsteps, being an accountant because that’s what Dad was. Notice that Lucas’ list does not contain any reference to computers or the Navy? I think Lucas knows he lives in a world where a lot is expected of everyone and work is sometimes placed higher on the priority list than it should be. I think I will have to start adjusting my priorities a bit, I feel like I might be part of the reason he is perceiving the world the way he is. I will teach him. He just told me he wants to learn how to be a grownup. I think he is rushing things a bit. I will have to write more about that later.

Minnesota Vikings: The Official Team Web Site Korey Stringer Passes Away
They are saying on the radio that Korey Stringer was a role model. That he was trying to "tough it out" and make it through the practice. Korey, you threw up three times during that practice. The heat index on the field was 110 degrees f. You missed the end of a previous day's practice with heat related symptoms. Your body temperature was 108 degrees when you collapsed and they took you to the hospital. I am sorry you died, but you are by no means a role model. When your body screams stop, over and over, making you vomit, making your head feel like it will explode, stop damn it.

McDonald's Number Two. This one is dumber than the last. At least this guy was fast and courteous. I ordered my food. He told me the total was $4.97 and that I should pull around. So I did, as I try to follow directions when I can. I even had my money ready for him, I handed him a $5 bill. Are you ready? Know what he said next?

"Did you want your three pennies?"

So I thought, "Hmmm, good question, I mean, it is only three pennies."

YES I WANT MY PENNIES YOU MORON. DO YOU THINK MAYBE YOU SHOULD HAVE THEM? How many cars go through a McDonald's drive thru every day? 100? 200? Is this guy asking everyone for their change? If it had been $4.03, would he have said "Did you want your three quarters, two dimes and two pennies? It's just change you know."

YES I WANT MY CHANGE YOU MORON. Are you a McEmployee or a McPanhandler? What the McHell is this world coming to? Of course I want my change. I don't know about you, but I love change. Know why? Because I put that change in a little can when I get home. And when I end up a little short for the month, that can comes in handy. In fact, it comes in very handy. I don't know how long it took to save up this much change, but I didn't do it by giving McIdiots my three McPennies. So, there is my two McCents worth.

As I pulled into the drive thru lane at the newest McDonald's in town, I was struck by a message on a sign that I had never seen before. I have already grown accustomed to the *parking* spots assigned to "drive thru customers only", but this one really took me by surprise. "Please be prepared with your order before pulling up to the speaker. Also please have your money ready when you arrive at the pick-up window." As if it were the customer's fault that drive-thrus are so slow? It was 4:09 when I pulled up to the speaker, with my order prepared in my mind.
"Welcome to McDonalds, can I take your order?"
"Yes, I will have a number 9, with a coke please."
Pause. Wait. The clock on the dash now says 4:11.
"Welcome to McDonalds, can I take your order?" said the exact same voice.
"YES, I WILL HAVE A NUMBER 9 WITH A COKE PLEASE!"
'Would you like to supersize that?"
"No thankyou."
"Please pull up to the last drive thru window."
Now I have to ask, because the sign tells me I must have my money ready, but I don't know how much to have ready. I really do know that a $5 bill will cover it, but I feel like being mean.
"How can I have my money ready if you don't tell me how much to have ready?" I inquire.
"Welcome to McDonald's, would you like to try a value meal?"
I give up and pull forward. The clock on the dash says 4:13.
When I get to the window, I just sit there.
"$4.12 please" says the uniformed conformist wearing her fake, but free smile. I pay with the $5.00 I knew I had, but I rummage around in my wallet a bit for show.
She hands me my drink, and my change and the little automatic window slides shut. No straw. You aren't allowed to drink your coke until your entire order arrives at this McDonald's apparently. Now the clock says 4:14. Now it says 4:15.
"Do you want ketchup or salt?" she asks.
"No thankyou, just my food." Ziiiiip. The window slides shut again. 4:16.
Then a hand with a bag shoots out. No "sorry for the wait" and no "thanks come again", just a bag of food in my face. I pull away from the window at 4:18 PM - a full nine minutes after the process began. There were no cars in front of me, there were no cars behind me. I counted less than 10 cars in the parking lot and I assume at least a couple of them belonged to happy employees. Almost 10 minutes of my life that I will never get back were gone, and I looked into the bag of food. No Napkins. And no straw.
And I sit there wondering if the employee that just (sort of) served me isn't remarking to her co-worker "Don't people read the sign? He didn't even have his money ready when he pulled up to the window."

Went camping this weekend at Taylor's Falls, MN. Right on the St.Croix river across from good ole Wisconsin. Took my 5 year old Lucas. He found a buddy at the campground almost immediately and it also started to rain as soon as we got the tent set up. Lesson learned: I need to camp more and longer.