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The "Mark"

By The Armorer on July 21, 2005 | | Comments (48) | TrackBacks (1)

Damn all paedophiles and child abusers to a special level of hell. But more about that later.

I was late to work yesterday. More on that later, too.

The Castle, as long time readers will know, is overrun with critters. The Interior Guard, the kitties. The Exterior Guard, the puppies. Chipmunks, squirrels, birds of all types. Frogs of several varieties. Toads. Visiting rabbits. A resident opossum.

All of the Herd found us. We didn't seek them out. We're happy to have them. Even the Skunk Who Lived Under The Porch for two years (thankfully since moved on elsewhere... mebbe because I *sealed* the cave...).

Clearly, there is a mark on the Castle that says, "Safe Haven." Somewhere, somehow. They just *know*.

I've long maintained this, the presence of "The Mark."

Apparently, it works with humans, too. At least children.

Did I mention I was late for work? There I was, gathering up the last bits of stuff that I brought home last night from the Big Project - and the doorbell rings.

That's odd, this time of morning. Cursing to myself, thinking "Damn it's early for the Jehovah's Witnesses/Mormon Missionaries/School Fundraisers to be out!" I head for the door, and open it.

It's a young man. 10, mebbe 11. Slighty flushed and sweaty.

Okay, school fundraiser. Starting early. Warm, muggy day here in Kansas.

I wish.

I ask, "What can I do for you, sir?" (Yes, I do call children "sir" and "ma'am")

"I need to use your phone, may I?"

"What for?" I queried.

"I need to call someone to pick me up," he responds.

Okay, I can deal with that. Off to the living room to pick up a wireless handset. Hand it out to Young Boy on Porch.

He takes the phone, finger poised over the number, but not punching any of them.

"Forget your number?" I enquired, "We can look it up."

Young Boy on Porch looks up at me and says, "I'm running away from home." Heh. That explains flushed and sweaty. He's literally running away from home.

Urk. I do not know Young Boy on Porch. He is *not* a neighborhood kid. Stalling for time, and to 'develop the situation' as we military guys like to say, I conducted some reconnaissance. "And why are you running away?"

"My parents are abusing me."

Urk again. Big Urk. The "Magic Word" that causes credentialed professionals to Have To Call Law Enforcement/Social Services. I'm not a credentialed professional in that regard, but I also don't want to be the Guy Interviewed on TV who says, "But I didn't know!"

Did I mention I really, really, really detest paedophiles and abusers? I do so even more, now. Why? Because of what happened next.

Middle-aged Man Living Alone (for the moment because SWWBO is traveling) said, "Hmmm, I see, why don't you come inside?"

Then, Middle-Aged Man with Masters Degree in Criminal Justice who is Living Alone kicked Middle-Aged Man Living Alone in the metaphysical family jewels and said, "No, you idiot - you can't do that. You don't know enough about this boy and what the situation is. You've got to keep him in the open, in plain sight of everyone, on the porch, where there is no question of *anything*. Or at least lesser chance of being a question. Especially since he used the "A" word and you pretty much have to call the Police or you are putting your ass in a crack, dolt. Yes, it's first and foremost about the kid - but let's not give *anyone* an opportunity to make it about you. Good thing the weather doesn't suck, huh?"

So, I had to tell Young Boy on Porch, "On second thought, let's sit out here, and talk about this." So, we did. As we go through a brief chat, it begins to sound a lot like this is more about Young Boy thinks his parents ask too much of him around the house, and some Youthful Rebellion and perhaps Very Stern Father... but not abuse.

But, Young Boy on Porch used the "A" word. And was at my house. I briefly considered calling the Parents... but, dammit, I didn't know enough about the true situation. So, reluctantly, I called the Police, and relayed the story. Officer Roach (his real name, not a snark) arrived shortly thereafter. Officer Roach is a father of two children about the same age. This is a Good Thing. After Officer Roach shows he's going to be Officer Friendly and Young Boy on Porch is comfortable - I head inside to grab Orange Juice All 'Round.

Officer Roach does an *excellent* job of leading Young Boy on Porch to tell his story over orange juice - without putting words or concepts into Young Boy on Porch's answers or mind. It's clear from shared looks Office Roach and I have that he has reached a similar conclusion to what I have - that this is Not Exactly What It Seems. Which is a good thing. And Officer Roach explains to Young Boy on Porch that he and Young Boy had best get home - because if Young Boy's parents call him in as missing or a runaway - Officer Roach, being advised of that status, is required by law to take Young Boy on Porch to Juvenile Detention, and that would be Bad For All Concerned. Young Boy agrees, and off they go to his home.

I put away the glasses (but I forgot to put away the OJ, dammit!) and headed for work. Where, it turns out, co-workers live in the same neighborhood as Young Boy and pretty much confirm that it's a case of Stern Parent and Young Boy, not abuse. Which I find comforting, as I feel that all around we dodged a bullet today.

But I hate Hate HATE that the paedophiles and abusers, and society's response to them, put me through the little mental dance I did. I didn't mind protecting the kid - I swore an oath to do things like that, and am still bound by it - most especially emotionally, my sense of duty, and honor. But I hate that I had to add the caveat, to protect myself. It eats at me that I had to treat Young Boy on Porch that way, even though I don't think he really noticed. He was too busy realizing that he'd run two or so miles from home... but that going home was going to, well, be a longer journey if too short in time in Officer Roach's car.

I hate you bastards for doing that to me - and that you made me think of me, vice Young Boy - except the whole thing this morning had your pathetic shadows all over it, and hov'ring nearby.

Today, it's hard to just hate the sin, and not also hate the sinner.

One of my friends and co-workers saw the Hand of Providence in it. That Young Boy on Porch had chosen a home where he wouldn't be sucked into some horror - whether abduction or worse, or someone who would over-react and make the problem more complex than it needed to be. And that the Dispatcher sent Officer Roach, a father of two young children and not some Caped Crusader who might have immediately gone the Must Deliver to Juvie route.

I dunno. I'm not sure that Providence works to quite that level of detail - there are an awful lot of children like Shasta Groene, and I had no idea if I was getting into Something Horrendous. Thankfully, for all concerned, I wasn't.

But, I guess I'm glad The Mark is on the house. Or my forehead. Or SWWBO's, or where-ever. And that Young Boy on Porch did choose the Castle.

But dammit, I *still* feel soiled, ever so slightly, because of the perfectly rational ass-covering I did. *DAMN THEM* for the damage they do to the fabric of society.

Dean Esmay touches on this topic, tangentially.

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Such is the way of the world today from Random Fate on July 21, 2005 4:33 PM

John of Argghhh! was afflicted with the harsh light of now today, in a very personal way. Fortunately, he was and is capable of handling such situations in a way that causes no new harm, and he comports himself in... Read More

48 Comments

By G on July 21, 2005 7:40 AM
I know exactly what you mean. There is so much sickness in this world, evil is often assumed instead of innocence. I love small children (I have 3 teenagers now). I love playing with them, making them laugh. They make me smile and feel better about the world with their innocent way of looking at things. Unfortunately in the current state of our society, a lot of people would look at this as me being some kind of pervert. Nothing could be further from the truth, but I too have to consider my actions so that no one can falsely accuse me of anything inappropriate. I too have a very hard time not hating this type of sinner as it's hard to imagine anything more vile than sexually preying on an innocent. Thanks for being there for this kid.
 
By AFSister on July 21, 2005 7:46 AM
John... you have such a kind heart. It's impossible for anyone with a kind heart to not reach out and listen to a child who is claiming to be a runaway or abused. It's impossible for any of us here at the Castle to understand truly abusive parents (as opposed to "stern" parents). You did that boy, and his parents, a world of good. There must have been some divine intervention involved- that child was pointed in your direction for a reason, John.
 
By Fuzzybear Lioness on July 21, 2005 7:49 AM
John, your story has drawn me out of the shadows I've been hiding in of late. I am one of those required by law to report any suspicion, and in my daily interactions with young children the knowledge of the possibiities is always lurking. As a female, I am given much more leeway than a male, and I can celebrate the hugs, gentle touches from small hands, and even the traditional greeting kisses I receive from children of South American descent. I have always felt sorry for my male co-workers who have decided the necessary course of action is to ignore/discourage childish embraces if possible, or pat on the head in response if absolutely necessary. I think it literally stifles the very kind of warm interactions with a compassionate and accepting adult that so many children need these days. As you say, damn the unspeakable evildoers to a special circle of hell for the damage they do to our society. And don't get me started on its effect on the victims I have known, from my college friend who I frequently found hiding under her bed, to the 10-year-old with tears streaming down his face that I watched literally try to stuff his fist into his mouth in an obvious attempt to keep inside the words that he so desperately wanted to tell me. And words fail me now... the righteous rage is indescribable. I have never been face-to-face with a pedophile at a time when I knew him to be one. In all sincerity, I wonder what I would do if I ever was...
 
By Boquisucio on July 21, 2005 7:51 AM
Yup, Providence was the guide to that boy. Many a times, we are not aware of the deep effect that we have on others. That kid could have easily knocked on someother's home. A home of someone disinterested in the welfare of others. That kid could have easily given up on reaching for help and kept on going on his road to perdition. That kid surely had his Guardian Angels earning Pay-and-a-half yesterday morn'. But no; he was guided to 2017 Castle Argghhh - a safe, welcoming haven. Don't beat yourself up for having to keep the dreaded CYA's in the back of your mind. It's a pitty that the emotionally sick in our society, has forced us to be transparent in how we interact with others. You may never know deeply you have affected the life of this kid in a positive manner, and that is the silent miracle of it all. As they say: 'Tis the Miracle that it's important, not the Saint who made it.
 
By Boudicca on July 21, 2005 7:53 AM
I hope, John, that should my boys ever find themselves in a scary situation, that there is someone like you that they instinctively feel safe to turn to.
 
By Peggy on July 21, 2005 8:13 AM
I work in a court system and whatever internal discomfort it may have caused you to have to be cautious John, be assured it was wise. False accusations occur much too frequently. Please consider, that in spite of the precautions you took to protect yourself, you were still a big part of the reason the situation turn out for the best.
 
By Beth on July 21, 2005 8:17 AM
John has such a big heart. I'm proud of him every day, even more so after this story. I will say, though, that our front yard is not typical - with pond, an Ent and other interesting things - that might have been why he picked out our house.
 
By Alan on July 21, 2005 8:29 AM
John, I have been in the presence of pedophile as criminal counsel and you did exactly the right thing...and not from a CYA point of view. While you are sensitive to the issue of abuse you did not have that cop's training. Calling a cop to help is not a problem. When I was a kid I knew the cop was my pal. I did not know that pedophiles existed or even that I could cry "abuse"...but I knew to get to the nearest safest looking adult and say "mmm...maybe call the cops." I am proud to be the lawyer here assigned to our cops and know that they want that call to be made, too. Once, the safest looking adult was one of the older brothers of one kid in our gang of ten to twelve year olds when, in 1975 for who knows what reason, a bunch of 17 year olds in a car decided it would be fun to beat us up as we played in a park. I got away and, sadly for them and their 60's VW beetle, that older brother just came back from hunting and he decided to shoot out the tires and engine before going over to ask them why they they were kicking the hell out of his brother. While a levelling of a shot gun into a car was cool to me at ten, it was also dangerous. Anyone who calls the cops transfers that danger to those trained and ready to do the right thing. That is all you did and it would be right in 1975 or 2005.
 
By Damian on July 21, 2005 8:29 AM
Well, that's another drink I have to buy you whenever we eventually meet. If you keep being such an all-round decent human being, I'm gonna go broke. Good for you, John. Thank God for folks like you.
 
By Cricket on July 21, 2005 10:10 AM
John, if the pedophiles truly have won, we would not attempt to even understand. Sigh. And good for you that you kept it in sight of the neighbors and gave him a chance to talk. He really needed that, and needed to know that he could trust you. And bless that officer that he had the sense to know the difference too, based on his family experience. what a miracle you were there at a time when you were truly needed.
 
By John of Argghhh! on July 21, 2005 10:15 AM
Geez, guys, my head *can't* get any bigger. Good thing I'm not a Catholic... this is starting to read like a brief for Sainthood (not to worry, there's one *Hell* of a trail for the Devil's Advocate to use before the tribunal). I just did what was right - and shared it because it irked me that I had to do it the way I did.
 
By Boquisucio on July 21, 2005 10:56 AM
Oh Massa, didn't you know that you don't haffta be a Catholic to become a Saint of the Church? Sure, it may gain you a few brownie points, but it's not a prerequisite. I'll be the first one to lay witness for your Beatification Process.
 
By John of Argghhh! on July 21, 2005 10:57 AM
Thankfully, I have to be dead, first. So I won't die of the embarrassment.
 
By BloodSpite on July 21, 2005 12:15 PM
You sell yourself short John Be proud, you did a wonderous good deed. Yea, there's evil out there, your absolutely damn right. But without evil we'd have no Good, according to the so called natural balance. GLad to know your one of the good guys ^^
 
By Barb on July 21, 2005 12:43 PM
John - I am so glad that Providence, or whatever you want to all it, led the boy to your home and into your tender care. Not that this surprises me in the least - but I am even prouder of you for the excellent way you handled it. *hugs*
 
By Roger Ritter on July 21, 2005 1:18 PM
Ya done good, John. One of the reasons, you say, is that you swore an oath. I've never sworn that oath - but I would have done the same thing. What you did goes beyond oaths. As an adult, protecting children is a Duty. Once again, you've done yours.
 
By Boquisucio on July 21, 2005 2:22 PM
Though there's that issue of BEETS. Dunno whether you could be Sainted without eating yer Beets.
 
By ry on July 21, 2005 5:00 PM
Beets! Beets! We hates the beets! We's still at war with the beets! You done good, John. Both with aiding the wayward boy and the opposition to the infernal beet menace.
 
By John of Argghhh! on July 21, 2005 6:20 PM
I'm with ya on the beets, Ry. I'm with ya on the beets. If that costs me Sainthood... well, by golly, sometimes ya just gotta do what ya just gotta do - consequences be damned!
 
By EagleSpeak on July 21, 2005 6:41 PM
Good on you, John. Perfect handling of a delicate situation.
 
By Kerlyssa on July 21, 2005 7:05 PM
My life has been such that I came into contact with any number of social workers and their ilk while growing up, and the saddest part of it was always that the men couldn't show how they cared the way the women could. The monsters among us damage us all.
 
By Neffi on July 21, 2005 8:27 PM
Nice job handling a dicey situation, John... Pedophiles... In March of this year the office manager where I work came to me with a file she had downloaded and printed from the 'net. She has a five year-old girl in day-care here in Longmont and had had a casual look at the Sheriff's department site for registered sex offenders. ...and found that a guy we had hired some nine months previously was listed as a 'violent sexual predator'. I ran a Colorado CBI check and found that he had been convicted of multiple offenses against children as 'a person in a position of trust'. I called him to my office and confronted him with this info- he told me it had just been a ploy by his ex to make him look bad... ...but the jury had convicted him in 1994 and the judge sentenced him to ten years in the pen at Canon City. He served the whole sentence. I did a lot of research to try to find the details of this case but records concerning minors are suppressed here in Colorado out of deference to the victims so I had only the bare facts from the CBI report. When he applied for the job last September he had lied on the application- one question asked if he had ever been convicted of a crime other than a traffic violation and he said 'no'. So it was an easy thing to let him go- I checked with the corporate legal beagle and he said 'cut him loose, and cut his balls off if you can' or words to that effect. A week later I (deliberately) drove past his house and found that he had not posted the 'registerd sex offender' sign on his property that Colorado law requires. So I called the police and reported it- they contacted him and he is now in a bit of hot water, court date coming up. I see where more and more law enforcement departments are publishing sex offender info online. Check it out and see if one is living near you and your children. This man I fired called himself Lee, though the CBI file showed he had some four aliases- and in his official 'registered sex offender' photo he had a big shit-eating grin on his face. I'm a peacable man these days; but I finger the SIG and twitch a bit knowing this animal lives only a mile away...
 
By cw4(ret)billt on July 21, 2005 9:18 PM
John - It ain't just The Mark, it's the curbside GAs who illuminate it for any in need of seeing it... The same GAs who partner with Officer Roach... The same GAs who nudged Neffi's office manager and then, in turn, nudged Neffi... The same GAs who nudge us back on the path before we even realize we're on the way to getting lost... And don't worry--nothin' 'bout beets is ex cathedra, particularly the (urk!) abomination named *Harvard* beets...
 
By Boquisucio on July 21, 2005 9:18 PM
Though definitely not the Patron Saint of Miscelaneous Tubers, mebbe there's hope for that of Wayward Chil'n.
 
By cw4(ret)billt on July 21, 2005 9:26 PM
The word around the apse is that Saint Barbara's looking to take on an adjunct who'd be the Patron Saint of Folks Who Have Bayonetted Themselves...
   
By Beth on July 21, 2005 9:51 PM
Well, John, I told you you were a good guy, now everyone else has, too! makes me love you even more!
 
By Beth on July 21, 2005 9:51 PM
Well, John, I told you you were a good guy, now everyone else has, too! makes me love you even more!
 
By Neffi on July 21, 2005 9:52 PM
Chief, St. Barbara would look in on the armorer first= he being doubly deserving as an arty guy and a self-bayonetter. But she would positively *cluck* to look upon mine own scarred hands... lo, these thirty years of bayonet collecting have written stories upon these hands- yea, verily doth the cicatrice tell the tale...
 
By Cricket on July 22, 2005 12:14 AM
Beets is good food, especially if made and served Cricket-style. But in order to be Truly Sublime, they have to be homegrown of the Organic Method of raising them. Select your beets, and top them. Boil til tender and serve. Peel the little blighters, butter and salt and pepper lightly and a splash of a good basalmic vinegar. Heaven.
 
By Justthisguy on July 22, 2005 12:26 AM
Oh, man, where do I start on this one? Dunno, so I'll start with an anecdote. A few years back, I was flying a model airplane in a public park here. A kid walked up, wanted to know how it worked, where he could buy one, etc. I gently explained to him that you don't *buy* model airplanes, you *make* them. I got out my pen and paper, wrote down the names of some good firms that made free-flight kits, and the name of the local hobby shop, as well as my own name, addy, and phone #, when who comes huffing up but the kid's (I presume) Mom, who proceeded to get all over me for talking to her darling overprotected boy. I thought of telling that cow exactly what I thought of her, asking her where the kid's Dad was, get yer Mommy to explain decalage as determined by center of gravity and size of stabilizer relative to wing, and the relationship between fin area, dihedral angle, and spiral stability. No, I was a good boy. I held my tongue. I don't think it's the paedophiles who have caused this, it's the wimmin. Helped, of course, by those men who will do anything for the approval of a woman. Then there are the "doth protest too much" types; You know, like the firemen who are secretly pyromaniacs? I read a book on this subject 4 or 5 years ago, and it mentioned a universal database of child-porn pictures, indexed by age, sex, background, types of deeds depicted, you name it. It was accessible only to policemen. We can trust them to act only from the purest motives, right? And Neoteny. Some people claim that one of the reasons humans are smarter than other animals, is that we retain our juvenile characteristics into a later stage of life than other animals. I forgot where I read it (on the Web somewhere, recently) but somebody wrote that the bad side of this is that about a fifth of all males are more or less attracted to gals who are really too young. The recent lowering of the age of menarche, due to good nutrition, estrogens in the food supply, or whatever, has not helped this situation. Hey, at least I'm immune. I've known that I'm an undersexed polymorphous pervert since I was a little kid. Lemmee tell you about this very voluptuous Bell pepper I saw in the Publix the other night...
 
By Justthisguy on July 22, 2005 12:41 AM
Sorry, where I wrote "decalage", that should have been "longitudinal dihedral." Decalage is a quantity that only happens in biplanes.
 
By John of Argghhh! on July 22, 2005 5:58 AM
Cricket, bleah! JTG... somehow, all that just fits.
 
By Cricket on July 22, 2005 7:11 AM
Hm. As a woman with children, and lots of them, I have tried to teach them to not talk to strangers who offer them candy and sweets or rides, or ask them for directions. Lest you think kids are overprotected by the wimmin, it is one thing to pick a guy's brain versus a child getting lots of stuff from a perfect stranger. It is a matter of discretion and judgment. You see, had it been one of my kids, they would have asked me if it was all right to talk to you, and then dragged me along with them. I also think that since you were doing something interesting that appealed to the lad, he might have run off without telling her where he was going, which might have triggered her response. I have been a parent for about 19 years, and while I am by no means an expert on the subject of childrearing, I have spent some time teaching my children about how and when to approach strangers. That there is a huge difference between them coming up to someone they don't know versus them being sought out by an adult. My sweetie who is the special one, is the most trusting kid on the planet and has no fear. Last fall I went spare and thought he had wandered off. His cub scout den leader had come to pick him up for a hike. He didn't call beforehand to warn me, and my guy just went with him. I was told he went off up the street, walking. I combed the neighborhood for two hours, pounding on doors, and even calling the sheriff. He showed up with his leader all innocent as if nothing had happened. I happen to know this man and his family and he was appalled at his forgetfulness, etc. I was okay once I realized he was with someone we knew and trusted, but I don't think my reaction was out of line, given his disabilities and the circumstances. John, he sought you out and I believe that children have a special guardian angel for that very purpose. My now 13 year old shut down Fort Lewis when he was five years old.
 
By Boquisucio on July 22, 2005 10:52 AM
Crichetta - I'm looking forward to sampling some of your Beets - YUMM. Maybe it will help The Massa get his wings.
 
By John of Argghhh! on July 22, 2005 12:31 PM
Hah! Do your worst/best - all in Vain! You can keep yer asparagus (except for white, pickled), too!
 
By Damian on July 22, 2005 4:07 PM
Hey, it's all fun and games until someone starts disparaging the asparagus. Steamed, with garlic butter and salt? OhsweetmotherofGod. Are we officially off topic yet? And while I'm asking silly questions, Beth, are you having to put Vaseline on John's ears to get his head through the doorframes at The Castle yet?
 
By Cricket on July 22, 2005 4:52 PM
We are rather overrun by the Outside Barbarians. These would be Unresolved Issues. In the years that I had a garden, we planted leeks, corn, peas, green beans, potatoes, tomatoes and peppers. Winter fare was beets, cabbage, onions, salsify and carrots. Beets that are organically raised are sweet with an earthy toothsome taste and texture. Most vegetables don't have any flavor if they are raised commercially or out of season. It wouldn't have to be an acquired taste, but some people have their food biases for those reasons, or they were improperly cooked (see the truly nauseating application of Harvard beets. Those are enough to gag a maggot). One winter day we made soup out of the produce we had grown and preserved either by canning or freezing, and bread baked from wheat I had ground and butter the kids had churned. THAT was fun!
 
By John of Argghhh! on July 22, 2005 4:57 PM
(hands over ears) LA-LA-LA-LA-LA-LA-LA-LA-LA-LA! I DON"T CARE. BEETS=ICKY! ASPARAGUS(less white, pickled)=ICKY! VEX ME NO MORE, EVIL SPRITES!
 
By Cricket on July 22, 2005 6:03 PM
Spoil sport. Asparagus is awesome. I think to feed the Denizens I will have a vegetable platter and if John ignores them that's fine. Oh, you won't starve. You have reached that stage of adulthood where if you don't wanna eat it, you ain't gonna. I have issues with Lima Beans. Dried ones. My mil, a hearty PA Dutch cook once made lima bean sloppy pot pie. To accompany this choice dish was a jello salad (another food issue) made with beets and cranberries. It wouldn't have been so bad, but she burned the potpie and burned limas and flour are nasty. Being a frugal soul, she inflicted it on us anyway. It was a disgusting meal and to this day I refuse to serve dried limas and jello. I also don't like Oscar Meyer bologna. However, succotash is delish.
 
By John of Argghhh! on July 22, 2005 7:26 PM
I'll take your bologna. I share your antipathy for lima beans. In fact, I like *fried* bologna - the germans taught me that. Anyone remember the old AAFES snack bars, and the "Davy Crockett?"
 
By ry on July 22, 2005 8:51 PM
Bologna=good. Fried or the old school Wonder Bread sandwiches. ASparagus-bleech. Beets--infernal food(down with beets). Made my Grandmother fart something aweful(80 year old farts are NASTY). And they, beets, tastes funny. At least enjoy Beth telling you how proud she is of you--in stereo even.
 
By Cricket on July 22, 2005 10:00 PM
well, in the early days of my married life, I was brainwashed into thinking that protein came in the form of Oscar Meyer bologna. I had not been able to keep anything down except ginger tea and lemon water. So, the sweet man I married made me a bologna sandwich thinking I was going to starve to death. I lost it, spectacularly. It has been on my hit list ever since, as I ended up spending ten days in a German Krankenhaus for dehydration. It is the definitive mystery meat and totally greasy and disgusting. My inlaws think bacon is a luxury but will spend more than that for scrapple and panhaus. My parents survived the Depression and WWII and believe in preserving food. I also dislike powdered milk, having been forced to drink WWII and Korean War surplus because they were economizing by not having fresh milk. I don't care that technology has improved to make and preserve a better and more viable product. Powdered and reconstituted milk is up there with bologna and lima beans. The engineer buys it to make instant cocoa mix, which is a darn good recipe because the chocolate kills the taste and even I will drink it. But I have never and will not use it to stretch my food dollar. I will sell stuff on ebay to buy a cow and milk it myself before I use powdered milk as a replacement. Let's hear more food phobias and dislikes. This is interesting.
 
By Boquisucio on July 23, 2005 7:18 AM
With very few exceptions, I am a Seefood kinda guy. I see food and I eat it. Or as I often say to my all so appreciative bride: "If you put it in my face - I'LL EAT IT"! ***but back on subject*** The only exceptions that I can think is most internal organs on a beast. I'm ok with hearts, and can tolerate livers, but brains, kidneys, sweet breads, liver, etc. forgettaboutit. There are other foods that I love, but do not love me back. I love a good dill pickle, but sadly they do not have the same kinda love back to me.
 
By Justthisguy on July 23, 2005 8:17 AM
Tapioca pudding. Rice pudding. The texture, and flavor, of those would gag a maggot. Oh, beets. I can eat beets, if they haven't had too many awful things done to them, but Harvard Style is what they should use on me if they haul me off to Gitmo.
 
By Justthisguy on July 23, 2005 8:24 AM
Cricket: Den "Leader" was a *guy*? Whatever happened to Den Mothers? (I think my Mom's Den Mother uniform is still around here somewhere.)
 
By Cricket on July 23, 2005 9:04 AM
For the 11 year old cub scouts when they transition to the Boy Scouts, they give them male den leaders. I was downstairs vacuuming and the other three kids were doing homework/watching television and so I didn't hear him leave, although he said he told me. I was so relieved to see that he was all right and with someone we did and still do trust that I was in tears. That night I crept into his room and sat in the rocker and fell asleep.
 
By Justthisguy on July 23, 2005 12:24 PM
Hmmm, maybe the Mark is what brought *me* here. People are always telling me how childish I am. I prefer "childlike", sounds less pejorative, dontcha know. Though I be old enough for AARP, I think of myself as more of a sickly 10-year-old with a learning disability. I must have a GA or two, m'self, considering. Part of the definition of the way my head seems to be wired includes a tendency to associate more with adults than with kids, when a kid. As I said on another thread, if Arthur C. Clarke had shown up when I was 9, saying things like "So, I see you liked the book. Need some help with the Maths? By the way, have you ever seen a naked man?....." Oh, I prolly would have been safe. I *had* seen nekkid grownups and, like Shirley Temple when confronted by the naked producer, considered them so absurd-looking as to be laughable. Looking at my self in the mirror lately, I think the kids have the right of it. Shirley doesn't just count on psychology, though. I read that she never goes anywhere without her revolver.