thief! and other topics

So my parents' home in Connecticut was robbed a few weeks ago. And by robbed, I mean...really robbed. Like $6,000 worth of stuff robbed. Now, my folks never locked their doors previous to this incident, as they live in a small town where everyone sort of knows everybody else. And one day, they came home to find loads of things missing. All of my mom's jewelry (including her grandma's wedding ring), all of my little bro's game systems and extensive card collections and whatnot.
Well, the good thing is, they caught the guy. Yesterday. He lives across the street! He's a 20-year-old high school student who apparently never got enough attention as a child, or something. So he's probably gonna do some jail time.
Now, I did some dumb things as a kid- I remember my brother and I climbing into the neighbor's apartment through a window several times and getting caught. And stealing stickers from the grocery store. But I was maybe six at the time. I can't imagine walking into someone's house, taking expensive things and leaving with them. If the fear didn't get to me, the guilt surely would. Hell, I feel guilty about things I said or did years ago! So, needless to say, I don't understand those who seem to lack a conscience, even if they are still in high school (where good morals go to die).
In a way, I feel sympathy for this kid, because I'm sure he could have turned out to be a decent guy. He's probably had family problems, or emotional issues...who knows? And I'm guessing jail time won't make him any less angry or troubled. The point is, if you have kids, raise them correctly. Not your idea of correctly. If you don't have the time to spend teaching and listening to and learning from your offspring, then they're going to have problems. Which is why parenthood is a really frightening responsibility that shouldn't be entered into lightly. Anyway.

In other news, my puppy is getting neutered today. I feel really, really guilty about it. He's in the ASPCA mobile unit right now, under anesthesia. Someday, perhaps he'll forgive me.

And in still more news, I deferred my admission to Brooklyn College till Fall '09. I may take classes there next spring, but I won't start the dramaturgy program till later. It'll give me some time to save up and get more work experience before I throw myself back into academia. Also, the program isn't accepting new students this semester, because they are restructuring the major. So, when I enter, there will be only one class of dramaturgy kids, and thus more opportunity for teaching assistantships and such. Woot woot.

That's all for now. I gotta go and find some cool things to do tomorrow cuz Cindy's comin' to visit!!