Don’t feel sorry. I just don’t do birthdays. I’d spent the weekend like any other weekend, hiking, socializing, and trying to get laid. A birthd...y could only be significant in that it helped me achieve one of the other three. This time it hadn’t been helpful.Cynical.Yes. I suppose so. I was grouchy as a spring bear when I got to my office at Anderson Elliott Consulting, and found the entire network in collapse.Discovering why would change my life.I’d managed the tech department since we had. I cannot express to you how sad this trip made me. It was as if something was now very wrong with the world and nothing would ever be quite right ever again. No exaggeration.Most of the drive was made in relative silence as the old man was very lost in his thoughts, but near the end of the drive as we passed Joshua Tree and neared Palm Springs he began to open up."Jonny, my old friend ... there are going to be challenging days ahead for the both of us. Weston has new ideas for renovating the. So my worry about her might be needless. On the other hand, we had actually met you, dear. And you two never broke up." I looked over at Bob. He was trying to look innocent; he can't do that look. "Parents do worry. I don't like that pattern of breaking up, but at least they've known each other for a long while." I think," Bob said, "that you are making too much of my silence. I didn't keep you informed about every conversation with Jeanette, but you knew about most of my dates. I asked for the. Richard: It was her idea, sweetie.Jen: Oh No…Richard: I will not permanently hurt you but I am going to make your tiny bottom sting like crazy every time you do not concentrate on your homework.Jen: I will do much better today. I will be a good student! I do not want to be spanked.Richard: We’ll see.During our study session I could tell that Jen was trying harder than usual, at first, but her lazy traits soon took over again. Every time I noticed her failing to try, I took a small notebook.