Cranky today

[Randy F]

I was going to have the young man mow my lawn but the state of Delaware put the kabosh on it. Requires him to be sixteen. His mom found out about it after he put out his flyers.

The kid deserves a pat on the back for trying. His parents won’t have to worry about him.

 

[PARA45]

@Randy F;
Man, you do have some self control, I would have told that ungrateful POS to figure out a way to jump start his car, and walk away before getting in trouble. WOW!!!!

That kid paying for your coffee was a wonderful and commendable gesture for that kid to do. I believe that my friend was sign from above to let you know that it's not all lost and that there is hope.

You'll get to Africa soon, hang in there brother, you are not alone.

 

[Ragman]

It's crappy you're not in Africa as planned. But that post made my day! I'm in my early 50s as well and a lot of the 20-somethings I see nowadays really is disheartening. Not just the ones who don't want to work or think that they are better than certain jobs, but the young folk who also think they need a brand new vehicle and nice big house (which is fine I guess if they can make the payments, but really shackles them if times are tough). But there are many like my 20 year old stepson who are real workers.

And like you every once in a while this old, cranky guy gets a wake-up call as well. A few weeks ago I ordered my breakfast at the Tim Horton's drive-through and when I got to the window to pay, the girl told me that the person ahead of me paid it already. I don't have a clue who it might have been but sure was humbling. So I paid for the person behind me!

 

[Troubleshooter]

Maybe go back and offer that kid at McDonald's a real job.

Good advice right there! ^

 

[Randy F]

Good advice right there! ^

Oh it would’ve been no question it I’d had a full time position available.
I’m fortunate to have a great full time group that’s been with me for a long time. Also he was wearing a university hat which tells me he was going to school as well and it’s never a great fit for what we do.
That said, I got his name.

 

[meigsbucks]

Sorry to hear about your Africa trip. A huge disappointment.
Your story brought back memories of so many interviews I was part of. One guy came to his interview wearing a cap pulled down so as to almost cover his eyes. I asked him to remove it. He took it off and tossed it on my desk. Needless to say it was a very short interview.
Then you get that occasional person that is professional and courteous. Unfortunately they are getting fewer and farther between.
Hopefully this COVID thing ends soon and you as well as the rest of us can get to Africa.

 

[Randy F]

Sorry to hear about your Africa trip. A huge disappointment.
Your story brought back memories of so many interviews I was part of. One guy came to his interview wearing a cap pulled down so as to almost cover his eyes. I asked him to remove it. He took it off and tossed it on my desk. Needless to say it was a very short interview.
Then you get that occasional person that is professional and courteous. Unfortunately they are getting fewer and farther between.
Hopefully this COVID thing ends soon and you as well as the rest of us can get to Africa.

Thanks. I now everyone is in the same boat and I agree, everyone needs to get back at it asap.
I was lucky enough to get over there once, there's the hook, can't wait to get back.

I truly and honestly wish everyone who wanted to could experience that at least once.
If not they're almost better off not knowing what they're missing!

 

[RafterMan]

I am fortunate. The young people I work with I am very impressed with - polite, intelligent and hard working. I was telling my wife, these young folks aren't bad! Honestly most of them are good kids. They do their work, and I cannot recall any rude encounters - now some of the older more jaded folks, yes I can certainly recall some interesting HR events.

There's always going to be good and bad. It's a mix of ages where I am at. I have the older baby boomer group as well, and amongst them are some rude, entitled folks who are just coming in and existing at their desk to collect pay and await a retirement of maybe a few years of obesity and diabetes. In some cases, it may be where the hard working young people are going to in specific industries. Young folks who stay out of trouble, do well in school, volunteer - they are probably making their way to things like internships and job sectors that are paying and actively recruiting for them. That's just the truth. Getting the young kid off the street - the kid in his dad's basement, or in the small town - that may be the kid who didn't apply himself. Not always the case, but something to consider. If there is a promising, hard working and clever person out there - well that person may very well be the one who gets a scholarship and gets recruited. Parents need to do better too. Good on the dad for working hard, but work doesn't stop when you get home. Work on raising a good kid. Talk to them, take them out, teach them to work hard and be courteous. Teach them the importance of politeness. Can't go out, do a 12 hour day, buy the house, then come home, hang your hat and watch TV. If you have a kid, the work don't stop - you have an obligation to teach the kid, and an obligation to not drop a burden onto society.

I am also fortunate to work with some young military folks - a lot of them seem better to me today than I was back then. Certainly seem smarter, they are polite, and many seem fitter than I recall some of the guys in my old unit. Again though, it all depends where you are at and what you are up to. Prior to this covid business, I traveled a lot, and America is a diverse place. Some places, folks in general were just polite. Some parts of the country, loads of homeless, druggies, and just a rude lot of people.

 

[Newboomer]

Been living in our home for 31 years. In those 31 years, twice did kids come around and offer to shovel snow, never anything else. Unbeknown to us, a new family moved in a block away. Got this in the door one day. I removed any personal references to the letter. I had him stacking wood and will have him do more work for me. He said he has a lot of work lined up for the fall. There are some good kids out there, just harder to find.

View attachment 372835

Been living in our home for 31 years. In those 31 years, twice did kids come around and offer to shovel snow, never anything else. Unbeknown to us, a new family moved in a block away. Got this in the door one day. I removed any personal references to the letter. I had him stacking wood and will have him do more work for me. He said he has a lot of work lined up for the fall. There are some good kids out there, just harder to find.

View attachment 372835

For a 12 year old that is one enterprising young man. Very articulate and not afraid to take on most anything. Too bad his kind are so few and far between.

 

[CBH Australia]

I'm 31, allow me to extend an olive branch of diplomacy from my generation.

With my generation it seems you get one extreme or the other, we're either complete crushers or complete pieces of crap. There's not much in the middle. It's simultaneously exciting and terrifying that my peers will lead the country in the future.

That being said, this is system we inherited.

It wasn't MY generation that crushed US manufacturing by shipping jobs to China and passing NAFTA. But it's my generation that will have to fight to get it back.

It wasn't MY generation that enabled our country to rack up unfathomable amounts of National debt. But it's my generation that will pay it back with our taxes. Not to mention it's almost a mathematical impossibility that I will receive an adequate amount of Social Security that I've been forced to pay into.

It wasn't MY generation that got the country involved in endless War in the middle east. But it was, and is, my generation that has to deal with it (I was in the Marine Corps for 10 years), and it's my generation that is trying to end it.

It wasn't MY generation that bailed out the bankers in 2009. But it's my generation that pays back the bail out.

The Marxist professors in the US colleges aren't from MY generation. But it's my generation that has to deal with seeing my peers brainwashed and living in a false reality.

If the current (and past 20 years) "Leaders" of the US are the example my generation will have to live up to, Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer, and Mitch McConnell, the shoes aren't going to be very hard to fill.

The Nihilism that has become somewhat of a trait of my generation comes from a sense of hopelessness for the future of both our liberties and economic opportunities. Not to mention the rampant corruption, and lack of accountability the "leaders" of our country are held to. The "leaders" of our society brainwashed my generation to "Go to college so you don't end up working at McDonald's or digging a ditch" then when they leave college with crippling debt and no job opportunities they say "Don't think you're too good to work at McDonald's or dig a ditch." I'm glad I didn't fall for this lie, and I do know many guys who ignored our teachers and went into the trades.

I know to listen to elders, and to take the good with the bad. I've been blessed with time, circumstance, and the wherewithal to surround myself with men of good good character both young and old. I have heard terrible advice from men of all generations, as well as good advice. One of the most important characteristics of a man in my opinion is integrity. This is a trait that has to be learned and instilled into young men from very early on.

My generation has many faults, and I'm one of the biggest critics of my generation. The lack of traditional values and degenerate behavior displayed by my generation is despicable at times. However, rest assured there are many among us who completely understand how serious the stakes are, and who don't worship at the altar of the NFL and the other modern day bread and circuses that Marcus Cicero so wisely told us can't appease the real human hunger. Logos is rising, and the elasticity of time and culture will snap one day and launch us back into the right direction.

Rant complete, God bless all!

Hey Buddy,
Don’t worry about what your generation did or What We done for you.

None of us asked to be brought into this world but we need to make the most of the life we were born into.

People have made bad decisions in good faith to provide for the masses. Politicians, religion and public servants.

Generations before yours developed simple things like fire , the wheel and transport.

They developed civilisation and communities.

Look at the technology that you had and where it’s headed to make life easy.

Honestly your generation may have had it easier than any before it.

You get to pay the debt of the country, you get the benefit of the infrastructure it provides , the security and education.

Make the most of it and don’t be one of those shit people in your generation that think we owe you.

All of cranky ol pricks are still working and contributing. I have kids and worked hard to make sure they had every opportunity. I l,an to leave something for them but in the meantime I expect them to plan Tom make something fo themselves.

I’d be pissed too if my day started like that, It was a good read and entertaining. Sadly it’s true and you need to preach to your generation not the generation that made it easy for them

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Today my boots were supposed to be on the ground in South Africa for round 2 of African addiction relief so I was kinda cranky today. It turned out to be kind of an interesting day anyway...one that shot my faith in the next generation right in the head only to see it get up and charge again like a warrior dagga boy.

After rolling out of bed this morning pissed off at the world because I was lacing up work boots at home instead of hunting boots on the opposite side of the planet, I began the task of trying to shrug it off. But I knew it wouldn’t be a great day for anyone that pushed any of my buttons today.

As I cruise through the little town near where I live there is a hood up on a car by the curb on a short side street and I can see the frustration on the young man’s face. I turn around and as I’m rolling down my window to offer assistance, the kid interrupts my offer by blurting out “you got jumper cables.”

“Well yes, yes I do, would you like to use them?
I received a sarcastic “well yeah” complete with a roll of the eyes.
Oh boy. This kid has no idea who he’s dealing with today.

Ok, I can see from 10 feet away as he’s hooking up his end of the cables that the positive cable is way loose. “Pull it off with your hand” loose. But I’m not saying a word now. He burned that bridge.
He jumps in, the car starts, he gets out and removes the cables and walks them to the back of my pickup where I’m waiting to put them in their proper storage spot.
He’s not said a word but just stares at me for a second, drops/throws the cables on my tailgate and starts walking away shaking his head muttering something. Oh oh. I hope he didn’t just say what I think he said.
I closed the tailgate while saying “Excuse me? What did you just say?”
Not quite back to his car yet, y
He turns and says “You heard me, rude old man, not even a thanks.”
I wanted to say “you’re about to die an agonizing prolonged death.”
What I did say, while in disbelief, was “Thank you for what? Wasn’t I the one who turned around to help you out?”
With an ill-meaning “yeah thanks” he informed me of how sick he was of “rude old people” and how rude I was that I didn’t thank him for disconnecting, rolling up, and bringing me my own jumper cables to the back of the truck for me.
WWHHAATT!!??
At this point we are both standing between the front ends of both vehicles and I’m daydreaming of denting the inside of the hood on his piece of crap little city car by slamming his head in it a few times. Instead I closed the hood on my truck, and calmly told him “I’m am in fact 54 years old and I understand why that is very very “old” to you because if you continue to treat people like this you will never make it to that age.”
As he was trying the figure out what I just said with that stupid look on his face I had stealthily moved to the front of his car and slipped the cable off of his battery.
The look on his face was pretty classic as his car again died and I got in my truck and left.
Moron.
He had no idea how close he was to serious injury today.

I’ve worked in the Ag Industry my whole life, more specifically specialty crop production...potatoes, peas, sweet corn, etc...ok farming. In recent years I’ve come to the realization that young people willing the work the hours and start the climb,“whine free” and not entitled to a kings ransom for sweeping the shop, are becoming an ever increasingly rare commodity. I get it. That’s where we are. Reminders shoved in my face today of all days?...not so great.


First on my agenda today was a somewhat unexpected interview with a young man whose elderly father had a week or so earlier asked if we might be looking for anyone to help part-time with harvest. Even though at the time we were nearing the end of harvest, there is always work to do afterwards so of course I was in the market...there’s never enough help.
Well he didn’t mean for him, he meant for his 28 year old son living in his basement whom I would later find out had quit college three months before completing his degree and had never held a job for more than three months since. I really wish I would have had that information beforehand as today was not exactly the day for this little miscreant to plop himself into the chair across from my desk.

He charged through the front door apparently spying the the “general manager” label on my door and barged in without knocking while I was on the phone closing a deal on a contract. He literally plopped in the chair without being invited to sit...or even be there, bypassing the HR door and the farm manager’s door presumably because they were deeply and repulsively beneath him.
Steeeerike one!
He apparently assumed that I and my entire staff not only would know who he was but were gleefully awaiting his arrival. The HR director scampered down the hall to my door so ,with a wink and a nod, I assured her that I was finished with my call and curiosity had me enthralled so I would see what this was all about.
After a couple of minutes of questioning who he might be and what it was we could do for him he had the audacity to say “Well who do think I am? You and my Dad set this up.” The way he said “Dad” oozed contempt so already I know the professional in me is going to be extremely tested by this creepy little ingrate.
The light came on in my cranky brain as to who this person was and why he was here as he sat slouched way down in the chair...still wearing his sunglasses. Hmmm. Be cordial. Be cordial.

Asked politely to remove his sunglasses, he burst forth an obnoxious, highly exaggerated sigh and chucked them to the floor.
Steeeerike Two!!
As they clattered across the tile my mind reverted to me flying across my desk and choking the living shit out of this little puke. Reality dictated my desire to keep federal prison off my resume so I bit my tongue.
Obviously he will never be on my payroll but now I’m going to see just how vile this pr*ck is. So believe it or not I thanked him for removing them and told him we were indeed in the market for post harvest employees to assist in clean up and other work and so asked him to describe his work history. You know that part already. I then asked if if he had any questions. Of course the first question was regarding pay rate to which he scoffed and informed me he would need 3 times that amount. The next question was what time were breaks and how long was lunch break. With a sniff he dismissed those as hardly sufficient for a “man” of his abilities.
Ok so I knew these would be the questions but I needed to hear it for whatever morbid reason my melon concocted today so I allowed him to continue to waste both of our time.
His next question was one of hours. I delighted in telling him that for the next four weeks we will yet be working from light to dark Monday through Saturday but only half days on Sunday. Oh no, huh-uh, that just won’t do for someone of his caliber and proceeded to explain to me that “that crazy worthless pushy old man“ of his said this was just a “part time gig”.
Yeah. He went there.
STEEERIKE THREE!!!
In my mind I was thumbing the safely off of my Kimber 1911 in 45 ACP. Good thing it was in the truck.
Instead I slowly rose from behind my desk and walked around it purposefully grinding a pair of sunglasses into cold ceramic tile. I sat on the edge of my desk right in front of him...contemplating. I’m making him nervous. I’m in his space and he’s uncomfortable. Yay!
He knows by my expression that he crossed a line as he’s guessed that I know who his father is. His father is a fine man who has done nothing but work hard and gone nowhere except to work everyday of his life. The only mistake the man ever made was not pulling out on this one.
With extreme restraint I leaned toward him so as to remain unheard in the rest of the office and quietly told him “I’m sorry, we can’t use you. You’ve simply caught me on a bad day because I’m supposed to be in Africa right now firing off a round from my favorite rifle at a trophy animal that no doubt has more brains and ambition than you will ever have. I happen to have that rifle with me today. It’s out in my truck. Want to see it? By the way, how fast can you run? Can you zigzag? I hope I never hear of you bad-mouthing your father again. He’s a great guy.
He was up and heading for the door as I was telling him I’d be right out. Too bad. I wasn’t done talking.

Ok what a start to the day. I decided I’d run into town to get a couple of things I needed and swing by McDonalds drive up for a coffee and get back to my day while tolerating my incessant internal whining about wanting to be elsewhere.
So get this...I order a coffee at the drive up and am told to stop at the first window with the amount as usual. As I’m rolling up to the window this young man who looked maybe 12 years old but I’m assuming must be 18 is waving me on to the next window. Well of course I stop anyway. As I look at him in disbelieve he says “I got it sir. I got your coffee today, you can pull up the the next window and pick it up”.





Not “it’s on the house”, “not we’ve got your coffee”, but “I got it today sir”.
I am dumbfounded to the point that all I can muster is a lame “well thank you young man, that’s very nice of you”.
I actually felt stupid when I drove away as I saw him dropping change into the till from his own pocket. Now he needed his change way more than I did and although the amount is really irrelevant, the gesture is enormous...especially after experiencing the piece of shit I had in my office earlier. I’d seen this kid at the drive-up window several times. He always has a smile. Happy to be there. Happy to work.

That kid just singlehandedly renewed my faith in the next generations.

I might even go back and untie and remove the gag from earlier said offender.

Maybe.

I’m still a little pissy.

@RandyF
What is the world coming to. Unfortunately that is the way of a lot of the younger generation today.
I don't know the rules in the USA but in OZ the dogooders have stuffed up the rights of parents and given them to the kids. They know more about their rights than we do.
You can't even give your kid a clip in the ear for being a rude little ass.
That rule doesn't apply in my house, you push to many buttons and your going to get your arse whooped.

I once offered to kick the arse after a few teenage miscreants for being mouthy dickheads only to be told you can't do that mister that's child abuse. Well I walked out my gate and offered them the biggest dose of child abuse they had ever had. Haven't seen them again.
My son has his days but knows well enough when to stop. 99% of the time he is a great kid with please and thank you and has respect for his elders and peers but it hasn't been an easy road for us in today's so called modern society.
Bob
Stress is caused when the mind over rules the body to belt the living shit out of some arsehole that desperately needs it.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Been living in our home for 31 years. In those 31 years, twice did kids come around and offer to shovel snow, never anything else. Unbeknown to us, a new family moved in a block away. Got this in the door one day. I removed any personal references to the letter. I had him stacking wood and will have him do more work for me. He said he has a lot of work lined up for the fall. There are some good kids out there, just harder to find.

View attachment 372835

@Hogpatrol

Now that's one kid to be very proud of. Well done ed and all the best to him.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I was going to have the young man mow my lawn but the state of Delaware put the kabosh on it. Requires him to be sixteen. His mom found out about it after he put out his flyers.

@Hogpatrol
Typical nanny state, old enough to hunt but God forbid they might injure themselves with a lawn mower.
Bob

 

[sestoppelman]

Chalk it up to 2020, worst year in living memory.

 

[Newboomer]

To all you younger generations sniveling about inheriting the debt. We old farts inherited it from our ancestors, too, and you don't hear us crying and moaning. We are damn grateful for all the things that debt gave us. Maybe you should take a minute and consider all the benefits you have today that were not available just 20 years ago and lend a hand. Try thinking about others instead of just yourselves. It could be very enlightening as well as productive.

 

[Hogpatrol]

@Hogpatrol

Now that's one kid to be very proud of. Well done ed and all the best to him.
Bob

Called his mother early this morning for some yard work. Too late, he was already booked for the day.
Won't be available until next weekend. Looks like he's going to need one of those number thingys. LOL

 

[sestoppelman]

A couple of years ago I introduced my son, about 20 at the time to a retired Navy Master Chief SEAL friend of mine who is near 70. Next time I saw him he complimented me on how my son presented himself. All I could say was thanks, I tried. He said, your doing it right.
Coming from the source, a man of impeccable credentials and character, I felt proud. There is hope.

 

[thriller]

To all you younger generations sniveling about inheriting the debt. We old farts inherited it from our ancestors, too, and you don't hear us crying and moaning. We are damn grateful for all the things that debt gave us. Maybe you should take a minute and consider all the benefits you have today that were not available just 20 years ago and lend a hand. Try thinking about others instead of just yourselves. It could be very enlightening as well as productive.

I am sorry that not everyone agrees with you on the positive value of crushing debt and overregulation. I am grateful for what I have in my life but I do believe in trying to make things better over the course of my life. I consider many things when it comes to government regulation and how it deals with my life I have to like everyone else. But expressing an opinion over the debt racked up by this country doesn’t constitute sniveling just because you don’t agree with it.

 

[LivingTheDream]

To all you younger generations sniveling about inheriting the debt. We old farts inherited it from our ancestors, too, and you don't hear us crying and moaning. We are damn grateful for all the things that debt gave us. Maybe you should take a minute and consider all the benefits you have today that were not available just 20 years ago and lend a hand. Try thinking about others instead of just yourselves. It could be very enlightening as well as productive.

Comparing the debt inherited is a bit of a joke by comparison. If this additional debt went to the military I could agree with you but see how much of it is wasted buying votes. Grateful no....pissed off yes.

May I suggest you pay more than you owe in taxes or give all of your social security back when you receive it. Consider it enlightening and helping others.

 

[Tubby’s Canteen]

Gentleman I can see merit in both points of view in this discussion, I myself am only twenty seven. I’m embarrassed to be associated with many members of my generation as the ideals the believe are radical and frankly dangerous.

in saying that and in know way standing up for my peers simply making an observation. Many of you gentlemen are of the generation known as baby boomers a generation that itself was split between moral upstanding members of society and also fanatical liberals with radical ideals known as hippies.

I’m sure you gentleman of that generation at some point we’re lumped in with your peers regardless of your own views on the issues of the day. And as such should know all men deserve to be judged on there own and not as a mass.

I have very little use for members of my generations sense of entitlement, of there disrespect of there elders of the crazy agenda there pushing. I equally have very little use for a now senior citizen who dodged a draft, spit on returning soldiers vilified them for following orders etc.

there are demographics in every generation that we all can find fault with, likewise there are demographics of every generation who find faults with our beliefs.

I was raised by a single father after my mother ran out on us taking my baby sister with her, my old man was a part time logger fisherman farmer and the last end after he got crippled up a truck driver. I learned early on life doesn’t owe anyone anything. My father did the best he could to teach me and shape me into the man I am today. When I look around at my peers I have to wonder how many would of turned out the way they did if they were raised in the real world instead of babysat by video games and computers.

I believe billy Joel was on to something when he sang we didn’t start the fire. Like wise my generation didn’t either please hold out hope for the few of us still trying to fight it as time goes on we may grow smaller in number but our pride and conviction doesn’t allow us to stop trying.