Knowing What You Don't Know

<snip>
It's another one of those first-meetings I have a lot recently. I'm sitting in a bar/grill/café/I-don't-know-what-but-don't-care-as-long-as-they-serve-beer-place, across from someone who "works in education," but not really. Everybody "works in education" now, but few people want to actually work in education anymore, and I understand. Teaching is freakin' crazy these days.

The establishment is a local joint with odd, schizophrenic décor. The old "bones" of the structure -- the building itself, and the built-in furnishings -- are sloppily updated, and they mix uncomfortably with new things... that are supposed to look older and more established than they are. I try to ignore this as I exchange pleasantries with my charming new friend, who wanted to meet in order to "bridge our differences" regarding ed reform. <snip>