almost time to get back on it

it's about 11pm, and Loren's off to bed, and i've got a few minutes to myself before i head that way too.

another weekend come and gone. i grilled up the remaining steaks from Steve's visit (marinating for a full WEEK now....cook 'em or toss 'em) and we ate them with some fresh broccoli and mashed potatoes. again, the marinade made the steaks a bit salty for my taste (admittedly hard since i'm pretty much a salt afficianado) but Loren loved it- cleaned his plate.

watched the entire 3rd DVD of Star Trek: Voyager, season one, and half of the 2nd DVD of Full Metal Alchemist, while a rare thunderstorm dumped rain and hail and rumbled and flashed- we picked a good day to watch too much TV. Chowder got completely drenched and muddy, and got his entire ventral side and all four legs hosed down but good before being allowed back in the house. he took the indignity patiently, as always; good dog.

finished going over Loren's unfinished work for the past week with him- he seems to be operating under the principle that nothing needs to be completed until it's due, and that's not going to work. after going over the list in detail with him i found out that he'd yet to start on his reading log (a brief account and description of what he's read over the past week) and yet to do half the work he should have completed by now on a paper he's writing. the reading and writing classes are two of the worst grades he received last time and the ones i'm most concerned with. the other was his advanced math class, which he left himself much room for improvement in. the math work seemed complete, if he's answered my questions honestly / correctly. this may very well turn into my kicking his butt all the way to the finish line, but i hold out hope that his maturity will eventually catch up to his level of responsibility and he'll make a good show of effort under his own motivation eventually. negative reinforcement only goes so far. today he told me, "You've been insulting me a lot lately" (about his school performance, in reference to comments i made to the extent of "it's not your ability that anyone's questioning but your work ethic" and "The problem isn't that you're not smart, but that you're lazy.") and i told him i wasn't insulting him, only telling him the truth that he needed to hear. i tried hard to leave an encouraging face on the matter when he'd completed his work this evening, and told him i was proud of him when i put him to bed. he doesn't seem upset with me, so i'm pretty sure he's assimilated what i had to tell him in the spirit it was offered.

time to move along home, the next shap awaits. i hope those who know that reference are amused; everyone else i leave to ponder it at will.