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So, Sargeant McBroom wrote back after I inquired him about what else I can possibly do to help Michael get with the program.
I already figured he has had number absences - it's a month into the school year and already 9 absences.

He said he would try to get him a bus pass. That will be the end of it for me, if Michael gets a free bus pass from school and STILL has absences, I'm washing my hands of him. He will be told he can come back and visit us - after the school year is over in June. Seriously. He allegedly got a new video game for his system as his family's house - which is why I didn't see him yesterday - I assume he missed yesterday as well. Missing school to stay home and play video games.

His parents think this totally acceptable and want to be "friends" with their kids. Nice - after they are grown up and out of the house - until that point, you are their PARENT, not their best friend. The things you force your kids to do probably aren't going to be very popular with them, such as the stance I am taking with Caleb right now. I'm sure when he grows up he'll think I was the worst dad on earth - so beit. I will not have him compromising his future because he's too lazy to get his homework done or doesn't want to participate in class.

So, time plods on and so do the issues. Seems like I can't buy a free moment of time to not have anything going on that is totally negative.

But, I did have a few moments of peace outside. For some reason, the dogs next door decided to not bark at me and I ended up putting in 4 more plants. I have 10 small ficus trees left to plant and 2 more larger plants, the name of which escapes me right now.

My problem is that I have no idea WHERE I want to put those ficus trees. I have a couple of spots left, sure, but 10 of them? I planted all 3 of the Chinese Elm this morning. 2 in the back and one out front, while ridding the front of dead mini rose plants. Half of them could not survive the intense summer heat. They just burned up. The other half were much denser and made their own shade to survive with. I like the little roses they put out, but I don't like the thorns when trying to clear away any weeds or grass that is growing around them, so no loss on getting rid of the dead ones and decided whether I want any of those plants out there at all.

The ficus cannot take their place, unfortunately. I have enough trees and shrubs out there already, I need more ground covering plants, the likes of which I have none. Some more nurseries are going out of business - but I'm not sure I want to spend another penny on plants right now, I have plenty. Until I figure out what I want to do, I have plenty of rocks from the back I can haul out there to cover the exposed ground.

Oh, I was thinking of putting the ficus out on the very front, next to the sidewalk, but I have had great difficulty getting anything to grow out there. So, gonna take a walk around the property, look at places an eventual tree might go, if there aren't any good places, I'm going to give them away - I paid all of a buck a piece for them. lol

That's it. Ken's mom just tried to call - and I was in the middle of looking for a video on my puter files which froze the whole computer up - the call went unanswered.
So, gonna call her back and then go take a look at where those ficus trees might go.