DAILY DIRT: ‘Be so good they can’t ignore you’

One grandpa is realizing that first day of school is drawing closer for grandkids of all ages … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 693 of The Daily Dirt.

1. I’m a lucky guy.

I realized that — again — when my wife and I were talking about our five grandkids. Two are getting ready to begin their senior year in high school, one is in the midst of her junior high career and two are just beginning their journeys at the pre-school level. Talk about a wide age range.

I thoroughly enjoy conversations with all five. The perspectives are so different. And they all will be returning or starting school in the coming days. Here are some thoughts about those three age ranges from individuals much smarter than me:

Preparing for a final year of high school

“High school is what kind of grows you into the person you are. I have great memories, good and bad, some learning experiences and some that I’ll take with me the rest of my life.” – Giancarlo Stanton, MLB player.

“High school is about finding who you are, because that’s more important than trying to be someone else.” – Nick Jonas, musician.

“No matter how you feel, get up, dress up, and show up.” – Regina Brett, author.

Getting ready for another year at junior high

“This is a new year. A new beginning. And things will change.” – Taylor Swift, singer.

“School is a building which has four walls with tomorrow inside.” – Lon Watters, author.

“Middle school is kind of like Middle-earth. It’s a magical journey filled with elves, dwarves, hobbits, queens, kings, and a few corrupt wizards. Word to the wise: pick your traveling companions well.” — Kimberly Dana, author.

What will pre-school hold for inquisitive little minds? 

“Work hard, nap hard.” – Demi Lovato, entertainer.

“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.” – Dr. Seuss.

“Be so good they can’t ignore you.” – Steve Martin, entertainer.

I think that final thought from Steve Martin is excellent advice for everyone, no matter what the age, who is returning to school next week: Be so good they can’t ignore you.

2. A couple of food items are on my mind today.

A. What the heck happened to Arby’s potato cakes? You can get french fries anywhere, but Arby’s had those tasty (and crispy) little triangular potato cakes that always set the roast beef giant apart from other fast foods. 

And now they’re gone.

I see there are online petitions demanding Arby’s bring them back. We must stand united. Viva la spud!

B. I tried a new product from Hostess, something the pastry company calls “Dong Dongs and Twinkies Mashups,” a sort of two-in-one disaster. These are absolutely horrible. If a pastry was a baseball team, these would be the 1962 Mets.

3. These were the best entries I “Found on Facebook” this week:

• “He threw Jell-O at his wife, who had him arrested for carrying a congealed weapon.”
• “The first scientists who studied fog were mistified.”
• “The only thing Flat Earthers fear is sphere itself.”
• “Did you hear about the group of boats which crushed each other against their mooring structure? Yet another casualty of pier pressure.”
• “I just burned a Hawaiian pizza I was making. I should have cooked it at aloha temperature.”

Steve Thought O’ The Day — Don’t be mad at lazy people. They didn’t do anything.

Steve Eighinger writes daily for Muddy River News. The Hawaiian pizza joke is a little insensitive in light of the island basically being on fire right now, but Steve doesn’t watch much national news.