Dear So and So

[Crankin]

We stopped speaking to my BIL and family, when he set up a Go Fund Me page supposedly for his daughter who had leukemia. He had insurance and a good job. They wanted a new house... his daughter is fine after a bone marrow transplant (so we hear), but she got a Make a Wish Trip to "go shopping."
I think that's wrong. Her parents could take her shopping.

[ny biker]

This reminds me of a situation years ago with some friends (who are now ex-friends). They had two young children at the time. They believed that vacations were supposed to be for adults only, not children. So they planned elaborate trips to Europe just for the two of them. And expected their family and friends to take care of the kids while they were away. So grandfather took the kids for a couple of days, one friend took them for a weekend, another friend took them for a few days. I was appalled. When we were growing up, sometimes my parents would go away for a weekend on their own, but real vacations included all of us. And we never had much money so the trips were to visit relatives, or to go camping someplace close to a historic site. Anyway. What really got me about these (ex-)friends was when the wife looked me in the eye and asked me, "what days will you be taking our children while we're on vacation?" Not "can you please help out" but "when will you take them." So I said "none." I'm sure the look on my face said much more than that.

(This actually was not the reason they became ex-friends. But that's a story for another day.)

[Blueberry]

What really got me about these (ex-)friends was when the wife looked me in the eye and asked me, "what days will you be taking our children while we're on vacation?" Not "can you please help out" but "when will you take them." So I said "none." I'm sure the look on my face said much more than that.

On my. That's some entitlement. Don't blame you one bit. We're expecting we'll get a similar request from the BIL one day. He has one, they want more - and they are travel obsessed (while we're been saving money for retirement, etc.). Hopefully her mom will take them (they bought a gigantic house with an extra wing for her) - but nothing would surprise me.

I've also become frustrated by the many, many go fund me pages out there. It seems like half of our local news stories have funding pages attached to them. I realize there's a lot of hurt and need in the world, but at some point, it gets excessive.

Thanks also for the sympathies on the medical school situation. There's not really much we can do - graduate, get the MD, and move on. Doubt I will have forgotten when they ask for donations, though (actually, they already are). Trying to keep the debt down so that I don't have to make a decision based on earning potential - as some of my classmates who will be 200-300k in debt (for a state school) will have to.

[Crankin]

NY, that story is terrible. If you want to travel without your kids, then hire a babysitter, like I did, or ASK the grandparents. I was lucky that I had several people who I hired, some relatives, some co-workers, as well as the family of our teenaged babysitter.

[azfiddle]

Dear 7th grade student who shared the test answers: I don't know who you are but you got at least three other kids in trouble with me and the office and now everyone in all four classes will have their test score thrown out and have to take a new and harder version of the very easy quiz I gave you.

And thank you for the opportunity to stay an hour late after school on a Friday afternoon to rewrite the test for Monday.

Sincerely, your extremely annoyed teacher.

[smilingcat]

dear weather,

Last week, it was pouring rain and the daytime high didn't even hit 60F. And this coming Sunday, its predicted to hit 100F. It just seem that you do not want me farming.

Back in Mar/Apr time frame, we had several days of 90+F heat. The temperature was enough to bolt my radishes. Then it got super cold and most of the kale thought it was winter again... This isn't so bad but when it warmed up again, most all of my kale thought it gone through a winter, a process called vernalization, and it prompted the kale to bolt. Kale is biennial so it flowers the second season. But the heat wave then the cold then the warm weather made it think it had gone through a winter.

grrr. work from sun up around 5:30AM till about 1:00PM. siesta from 1 to about 6:00PM then work from 6:00PM till sundown around 9:30PM. My cats are not happy that they are getting their evening din din around 10:30PM.

[azfiddle]

I did give out some zeros and did a lot of lecturing. I know this year (and my district is a "year round school" so we're actually already in session - I will not do trade and grade on multiple choice tests. It's pretty sad!

[azfiddle]

And Muireann, the cheating was actually so widespread- way more than 3 people had the answers. I only caught 3 for sure.

[Trek420]

Dear so and so,

I'm planning to retire in about 164 days but who's counting? It's been a good ride, I am grateful for this surprisingly good job all told. Awesome bennies. And I'm not one to complain. But as I prepare to wind down and perhaps go to an encore career I'd like to speak frankly to my audience, you, the customers. Yes, I've worked all manner of customer service for a really beeeeg telco. And you need to know that ...

When you call or chat in or Tweet or however I'm going to need some kinda verification. Your first name is not enough. Have your number, the passcode if there is one and there almost always is and if you don't have that, an immediate plan to get it. Yelling at me, for 15-20 minutes "This is my account, I pay the bill, you sure want your money every month and I pay you hundreds every month .... don't you see that????? I demand to speak to your manager. I know the president of the company!!! I'll have you fired!!" is not enough.

I'm protecting your account. How would you feel if someone called, gave your name and number, we didn't verify anything and they ordered a few iPhone 7's and iPads, had them shipped to another address and you got the bill as is happening with Sprint? Not too good.

You have passcode and passwords. There are apps to save those or even a little book. Use those. Stop yelling at me.

Trek I can help you with that 420

[Crankin]

I can't say anything, except people are azzholes.

[rebeccaC]

Trek I can help you with that 420

and enjoy your retirement adventures wherever they lead!!!!!

[emily_in_nc]

We stopped speaking to my BIL and family, when he set up a Go Fund Me page supposedly for his daughter who had leukemia. He had insurance and a good job. They wanted a new house... his daughter is fine after a bone marrow transplant (so we hear), but she got a Make a Wish Trip to "go shopping."
I think that's wrong. Her parents could take her shopping.

Wow. I knew people were taking advantage of it, but that's ridiculous. Don't blame you for cutting them out of your lives. Some people have zero ethical compass and feel no shame!