Sorry

I guess I shouldn't have vented so in my last posts.  I am not sure this is the place for it; I just had to vent.  Going to the kids (who saw the entire thing) isn't the thing to do, so I could compose words here somewhat better.  I appreciate the kind words - and especially the prayers.  I need them.

My attitude is still poor.  I really want to tell him to go to the SSB while I stay here, but I know that won't fly.  I would like to just be alone for a while though.

It is happening a little bit.  Yesterday, he had his colonoscopy, so things were rather quiet yesterday.  Today he had jury duty and got chosen as an alternate.  That means I have time to myself.  This will be good.

I have been working on the alter linens for the last couple of days.  Our "assistant" pastor asked me about them on Sunday.  Don't know why - it's only been at least a month since I said I would do them.  I had cut some out, and then realized that I didn't take the hem into account - been sewing much Grandma?  Apparently not.  That was a really stupid mistake.

Sunday night Lady Bug told me she wouldn't be in "camp" next week - she was between the ones they are attending.  She would be available to help me.  I wish I could have her that week, but it is SSB week.  Monkey Boy wanted to spend Saturday with me again.  I told him it was fine - I hoped he would enjoy the day at Women's group!  He quickly withdrew that question.

I was going to buy some new shoes today with DIL.  But we are getting blessed rains.  Like everything - when it doesn't rain - it doesn't rain forever.  When it rains - it floods.  I will not complain.  I will just sit here in the house - and have my arthritis hurt big time.  But it is still glorious rain that has lowered our temps considerably.  That is so good.

The shoes are a big deal because my first class feet require expensive shoes.  Now  were I independently wealthy, it wouldn't be a big deal.  I would have been buying those designer shoes all along.  No - I just wear a cloddy looking Finn.  They are certainly not pretty, but they feel so good.  They also start at about $150.  I know that isn't much, but I was always the Pay-Less queen.  Perhaps that's why I need the Finns now!

Peace.

Church picnic

Yesterday was really a fun day.  The people who attend our church are really great people, and being able to spend time with them in a relaxed place was great.  We used our little city's park, and it worked out so well.  The weather was perfect - a good breeze and temps only rising into the lower 90's.  We set up under the pavilion, which really was a basket ball court until kids from the low income apartments near by would come and hanging out for hours ultimately destroying the basket ball goals repeatedly.  But it is a big nicely covered slab. If there had not been the breeze it would have gotten not under the roof.  It is metal, and heat is held.

An inter generational kick ball game began after we had lunch - hot dogs from the church, and a covered dish from the members.  Those people really enjoyed that and are looking to start a league with the near-by church (our old one).  It could be a lot of fun.

I made a cake from a mix to take - it was really nothing to inspire anyone to eat it, so G has cake around here.  People ate bought cakes before my little bundt.  Oh well.  I knew after it came out of the oven that it was pretty pathetic.  Certainly not what I usually try to do.

Of course, the picnic was a great opportunity for us to have a fight - well for G to display his wonderful personality.  We ended up really not speaking Saturday night.  I guess he thought I didn't begin preparing the steak soon enough to go on the grill.  What preparation that takes.  Sprinkling cajun seasoning on the meat - or if I get really fancy a little olive oil and THEN the seasoning.  I began talking about taking a table or so to eat from.  He exploded.  I don't remember what he said exactly, but it was completely uncalled for.  So I was pretty much silent after that.

Is there male menopause with the associated personality changes.  If so, he has had it for about  30 years!  Ah, well.

Peace

Yes, unfortunately I still exist

I've just been out of pocket for another week.  The bad news is that ATT let me down.  No internet through them and my fancy phone.  The worse news is that I guess if I want internet, it will have to be by satellite.  I guess the $50 (plus taxes and all sorts of fees) can go to the satellite that is advertised at $40 (plus taxes and all sorts of fees).  G doesn't like the idea - he isn't even on board for the satellite tv!


We actually returned on Tuesday, but I was too tired to post then, and yesterday I went to Doodle Bug's "graduation" from pre-school.  They were cute.  I will try to post a picture tomorrow - especially since Lady Bug "graduates" from 5th grade.  OMG!  Let's make all these big occasions.  In a way, LB's does mark her moving into a whole new era.  


In other news, I guess technically I am not a great grandmother.  My step granddaughter had her baby yesterday.  Strange family this makes.  I am a grandmother to a 4 month old and great grandmother to a newborn.  


Anyway, M came through it with flying colors.  I was worried about her.  Like every pregnant woman, the last weeks are miserable, and you want that baby out more than anything else.  So it was with her.  Last week she was told her cervix wasn't softening.  But she was given the choice of waiting or inducing (on her due date because of the gall bladder problems).  Guess what she chose?  So she went in on the evening of the 22nd for the Cervadil.  Seems to have worked.  Her water broke about midnight, and Allie Beth was born yesterday afternoon with a fairly easy labor.  Congratulations M.  Now don't follow in your birth mother's steps, who by the way isn't speaking to M.  


Yesterday I pulled a real boner stunt.  We laugh about the bottom step on our steps being the "killer step."  I have fallen more than once, G has fallen, Son fell - holding his son and hurting his foot really badly.  I try to be extra careful these days.  Well, yesterday I was trying to get the suitcase with the fabric I took up the stairs when I remembered Simone had not gotten her pills.  I was coming back down, not paying attention, and missed that last step.  Down I went.  I landed squarely on my right hip.


G, from the other room, asked it I were OK.  Duh - didn't you hear the thud.  Couldn't you have gotten off your dead a** to see?  Anyway, things were all in tact yesterday.  Today I am so sore!


Today I will be working to complete an outfit for Allie Beth and doing two more Baptismal blankets (that I have been asking about since January - our church - no communication until it is really serious!).


Peace.

A little time today

For a change, I actually have a bit of time today.  I STILL have been sitting here for a couple of hours, but some of that time was on the phone with Daughter.

JuJu asked me how I managed to get the ridiculous comment verification thingy off.  Honestly, all I remember doing - finally - was going back to the old way blogger used to be.  I knew where that setting was.  On this new look - I have no idea.  JuJu, I will try to find out how again then send you an email!


The biggest news about these parts is the ever-using step granddaughter.  If you don't remember, this young lady (19 1/2) met this fella - slept with him, got pregnant, moved in with him, was convinced to quit her job in SA, moved with him to Alabama where she knows no one, had to go back to SA for court after a shop-lifting charge at Target(??? of all places), not wanting to get married while hugely pregnant,  and now is saying he is not the man she fell in love with, and is thinking of moving away - but NOT to SA (that means to Dad and Step-Mom, Daughter).  Yes, she is a stellar girl.


Needless to say, Daughter is rather beside herself.  When SGD left here at the ripe old age of 14 after living here for  two years, Daughter was quite relieved because Lady Bug would not have the influence anymore.  Daughter would not take SGD back.  She still doesn't want her - at all, but she is so concerned for the baby.


Today, she even said something about trying to adopt the baby because she can see that it will be as screwed as SGD. I told her that we have known all along that the heritage there will never stop.  I flat told her that if she were to do that, SGD will really be in her life, and she will still influence the baby.


The only time SGD calls them is when she wants something.  For months and months on end, her dad would call her.  She never could bother to return the call unless she needed something.  This is her "way to roll."  She lived with them for a bit because her mom was moving to California, and she didn't want to go.  She made up lies about her mother's current man (there have been several).  She caused such a stink - lying on a legal statement about that guy.


She needs Dad and Daughter (mine) now because her mom won't speak civilly to her.  SGD has followed her mom so well.  Her mom was hoping for better for her, I think.


So now she has told Daughter that her physician there wants $1400 because her insurance won't pay.  Then she also needs about $400 for more court costs.  And really she wants to move here to live off them. This is something that is very typical of SIL's whole family.  Daughter thought she could change that trait in SGD, but looks like it won't happen.  I just want this girl/woman away from my three grandchildren in that house.  She is toxic.  


I guess I am really cold.


Anyway - peace.  Have a great weekend.

Sibling rivalry

Ah - what a deep subject for a Monday morning.  It is a subject that I have no personal knowledge of other than my own children since I was an only child.  I see it with G at times.  Whether is was his perception of his mother's actions or not, I know he will occasionally make statements that could be construed as springing from sibling rivalry.  I think that is not the case - I knew the witch for 42 years.  She didn't like any of this family.  My question is rather rhetorical I guess because of my previous statement, but does it ever end?

Daughter had not gotten out to meet the newest baby in the family.  I know she is busy, but ...  So I asked her if she would host family dinner last night since her dad wasn't feeling well and didn't want to infect six children.  She launched into such a tirade!

She had contacted DIL on Saturday asking if it would be ok to come out that afternoon to meet #6.  DIL said it really wasn't because Son had a gig at a BBQ cook off.  Family dinner was brought up, and DIL made a comment along the lines they hadn't decided what they were going to do, but she would let Daughter know Sunday morning.

About 1, Son called me to tell me his had scored a couple of briskets at the cook off, and he would bring one.  When I talked to G later, we decided that (1) it was Daughter's turn to host, and (2) we weren't.  So then I made "The Call."

What a storm I stepped into there.  She was furious with DIL and Son for waiting so long.  They had started pork already.  On and on she went.  I finally just flat told her to let me get a word in.

After a bit, she called and apologized to me.  But, you know, the damage really had been done.  I felt terrible about the situation.  I wish I had the nerve to tell her that she had been wrong for not making time to go out to see the baby.  I know her reaction was partially out of guilt with the situation.  But still.  Even her kids were taking the brunt of all this.

She is so jealous of her brother at times.  There is no reason at all.  They have always been treated equally, and if it was unequal, she usually had the better times.  Son doesn't seem to have these feelings.  He is pretty even tempered - until something really gets to him.  Even then, he blows up and it's over.

Daughter is looking closely at 40.  I can't help but wonder if there might be some peri-menopausal stuff going on there.  I don't know, but this stuff is really getting to me!

Better things to think of - our Pastor was absolutely amazed at the working of the women's group with out initial meeting.  He saw positive things happening the entire time we were together.  My co-conspirator was furious he was there.  She felt he dominated the meeting.  I told her for this first one, it was fine.  I wanted him to see that we were a good thing for the church.  If he comes in the next time, we will politely tell him to get a plate of food and leave!  So there were good things happening on Sunday too!

Peace

NUTS!!!

I thought I could successfully steal the video of Lady Bug winning her 50m breast stroke from the Facebook page.  It was just a tease for me.  On THIS computer, it worked.  I later found out from the comments that I was woefully wrong.

Anyway, she did win that meet, and placed in each and every one she swam.  She gathered a lot of points, and today since she is 11, she is not in the same group.  Things will be a little different for her.  Instead of (and excuse the terrible pun)being the big fish in the pond, she will be one of the youngest.

I have to give it to her however.  She got up and went to swim practice this morning.  When her dad asked if she didn't want to just chill - she said "no, all the good swimmers will be at practice this morning."  What a kid.  I think I am going to have to make sure I have my passport up to date for 2016!  She has her eyes set on it.  With this dedication I think she will make it.

Angelica went home this morning.  She was so excited to see the kids!  She was getting really settled in here too.  She was getting a little jealous of the attention I would give Simone.  That broke my heart because I really wish we had that little girl living here.

She had a bit of excitement when she went out for the last time last night.  G came in to tell me there was a rabbit in the middle of the yard.  Simone even was a little interested.  She usually has a "live and let live" attitude.  She doesn't care about the squirrels - and we wish she did!

I asked him to take Angelica out front, but she went to the back.  Well - the rabbit was back in the middle of the yard.  Angelica is fast!  I would have really freaked out seeing that.  I was so afraid Angelica would have a midnight snack. G said he never saw a rabbit move so fast.  Fortunately it made it under the deck before contact could be made. Fun and games at Grandma's house!

Peace.

So what do I do now?

This probably isn't going to be a very perplexing problem for you.  In fact, I doubt that anyone else in this entire world would give this a second thought, but to me - I don't know which answer I am going to use.

You see - yesterday I found I had filled the hard drive on the old laptop I use upstairs for my embroidery designs.  Now this could be because the hard drive is something like 65 gb.  The computer is getting old.  It crashed once, and I suspect that all those old files that were on it are still lurking someplace in the dark recesses of the hard drive.  I have tried to find space.  I deleted a lot of old files.  But I think there are some I cannot find, and I don't delete files willy-nilly anymore.  I managed to do some serious harm to my school issued laptop when I was still an in-service teacher.  So I try to be a little more careful.

The other explanation is perhaps, just perhaps, I have too many blasted embroidery files.  Just because collecting free embroidery designs has replaced my passion for genealogy ...  The last time the files were counted they numbered something like 46,000.  Hmmm.  Perhaps, just perhaps.

But the problem exists never-the-less.  I have been thinking of various solutions.  The most immediate solution is to put the designs on CD's.  That is an easy fix, and many of the designs were placed on CD's when I used the reader to load them into the machine.  That was pre-digitizer.  Yeah, spend $1400 to replace a CD reader. But it is a set-up that works well, and IF I ever learn to use it properly, I will have greater flexibility - to get MORE designs.  Well...

The downside is that I don't trust CD's - at all.  I really don't want to lose those designs.  Not all were free.  And many of those that were free are special.  Nope - can't afford to lose them.

Another possible solution would be to get some large thumb drives.  I have mostly small ones now because the machine reads the 2 G ones easily.  The bigger they get, the more time it takes to load the designs.  But I could use them as storage to then move the design to the computer to load into the machine via the digitizer.

Downside here - not trusting of the thumb drives either.  Of course, I should be so trusting of the hard drive on the computer?

The last thought I have had is to buy another external hard drive.  I have one, and I backed up the designs on it yesterday, but I need to take a cold look at the files on that drive.  I have piled files on there that seemed to be of vast importance when I put them there.  Now I am trying to remember just why those files were so important.  Plus, I have backed up embroidery designs so many times, I am not sure where the most recent back-up is.  Darn chemo-menopause-old age brain.

This has the same downside as the other ways.  Plus, the external hard drive is the most expensive.  For some reason I seem to trust it more, however.

I think what I am going to do is a combination of at least two of the possible solutions.  Probably all three.  It is tempting to go to an off-site storage place I have seen advertised.

But the problem is that I cannot get this computer to accept the router, meaning I have no internet upstairs.  I got the wild idea to try to set up the home connection thingy.  I have worked on that for the last couple of days.  It still doesn't work.  I look at my  internet accesses upstairs, and it shows that it recognizes this computer as an internet place.  But this computer doesn't send any information to that one.  I guess this one is just too stuck-up.

As to the weekend with the dogs - the old lab is still alive, and doing well.  When you are taking care of a dog that old, you worry.  You surely don't want him passing on your watch.  Simone and Angelica are doing ok, with Angelica staying in her kennel most of the time.  We just keep them apart with that little grating.  Shadow on the other hand is back on top of the china cabinet.  Last night I went in to pluck him down so he could use his litter, eat and get some water.  I imagine he is back up there today.

All will be back to normal tomorrow.  Mean time, Lady Bug won her 50 m breast stroke.  It was a pretty sight.  Perhaps I will see if I can hijack the video from Facebook and put it here.  Brave talk from one who is becoming very technology challenged!

Keep warm, and peace.

Angelica

In just a few minutes, Angelica will be here for the weekend.  You forgot who Angelica is?  Well!  She is the little boxer we wanted to foster (and adopt), but she likes Shadow tooo much!

It should be an interesting weekend.  Lady Bug is off to LSU (??) for a swim meet.  It is a big deal.  The other boxer is going to the vet for boarding, and the old lab will be at home.  I will be going over to let him out, and all.  But I get to have my cutie back here for three days.

Shadow may be traumatized by the whole thing.  If he's smart, he will only come around when she is in the kennel - which will be a lot of the time.  She likes it there.  But I am really happy to be able to have this sweetie!

Haven't gone to the hospital today yet.  Is it just me, or does the wonder and excitement of grandchildren sort of subside - after five or six.  He IS number six.

So, I will go and make ready for the sweetheart.  I hope Simone will be OK.  She has been acting strangely.  That worries me.  She is getting old, and she has had those mast cell tumors.  The vet said they could well start up in the digestive track.  Great.  She already has GERD.  About once a month, the throws up.  She has been acting like she wants to for a couple of weeks now.  This may really set her off.  But we have her nausea meds now.

Have a great weekend.  Keep warm wherever you are.  Seems like winter has found all of us.

Peace.

Time warp

I must have stepped into a time warp.  Where did those other days go?  I really thought I had been here since the last post.  Oh well - it's hell to get old.

In an old category - weather.  It seems it is either feast or famine around here.  We went through the summer, well most of the year, with almost no rain.  We didn't even get a tropical storm.  Today we are getting flooding rains, and the news people are out standing in the flood waters - through all the regular programming too.

You know, I really don't mind the flooding rain except that my kids have to be out in it to work.  Both don't have jobs that are in an office.  Daughter has accounts (mostly corner stores) to see, and Son works for the telephone company.  I told Daughter this morning this is when retirement is really wonderful  At the first clap of thunder this morning, I was able to just roll over to go back to sleep!!

The weekend was rather uneventful with the exception of having to host family dinner.  Five grandchildren aged from 2 - 11 is really too many!!  The toys migrate their ways into the den, and then not a single kid has played with them.  Ha!  I told one of them that I don't play with them, so I shouldn't have to pick them up.  Perhaps I should just get rid of the toys.  Went over like - well you fill that in!

Thursday we will add grandchild #6.  DIL will go in for her C-section.  The other day she remarked on Facebook that she is anxious to find out what it is.  I wanted to be a smart-a** and tell her that technology will do that these days.  It is called "ultrasound," and she has had several!  I didn't.  I didn't know what her mood was at the time.  Pregnant women can be awfully hormonal!

Step-granddaughter has me wondering again.  She needs $$$$ to fly back to SA.  There is a legal problem she must attend to, and I can't help but wonder if she isn't using her dad and step mom.  She's done it before - many times.  And what do they say about leopards?  Yea.  We'll see, and I will hope for the best.

Peace.

Yes, we are back from the edge of the world.

And we hit the place running.  It seems like I haven't slowed down since we came home.  But then, when you are 8 or 9 days without internet, and you do a lot on the internet - it takes a while to go though it all.

All is on for the new baby arrival next week.  DIL went to the OB yesterday.  All is in place, and her body, as usual, has done nothing to be ready to deliver this third baby.  She is still clamped tight.  Well the good doc will take care of that!

My step-granddaughter is pregnant.  That was a shock to say the least.  I worry about this relationship.  She is a nutzo, or at least had been.  She and the father have only been together five months.  Guess how far along she is.  Right - 5 months.  Due in May.

He had been engaged before they met.  I could smell "rebound."  They have moved to Alabama now.  There is no support system in place for them.

But according to Daughter (the new grandmother), SGD has grown up a lot.  She is more mature, and seemingly less needy.  The dad wants to marry her - now, but she doesn't want to be hugely pregnant when she gets married.  What?  She wants her daughter to be flower girl?  Sorry - ugly!  Just slipped out.

Anyway, they made the big move on Sunday.  Seems like things are going well.  There are still a lot or worries in everyone's mind, but they seem like they plan to make things work.

I hope so.

Since I haven't been here to say it - Happy New Year.  Ours was incredibly quiet.  We were in bed fast asleep by 11.  We lead such an exciting life.

I am working pretty diligently trying to get a Women's Group going at church.  We really need one.  But our plans probably have been changed for the first meeting, and I have to call my partner in crime on this.  Our Pastor was supposed to announce the first meeting on Sunday, but I don't think he did.  I am a little ticked about that!!

So - off to call my co-conspirator, and then draft the email to send out to all the women!

Peace.

Merry Christmas then and now

I thought I would add pictures of the clan.  The one to the left is last year and is all of them.  Son and family on the left, Daughter on the right.

This is Son's family this year.  Little girl has grown - a lot!!

I don't have a current family picture of Daughter's family, but they are at an age where they don't change as much as Little Girl.  You can't see Baby #3 - still inside.  Will be here January 12.


The first picture was one of the many I was given for Christmas last year.  They were framed beautifully.

So - that's my family.  Daughter's birthday was yesterday.  She turned (gasp) 38.  Cannot believe all these years have passed.

Peace.

More time with the kidlets

Seems like our Pastor is in a bit of a quandary.  Daughter is on the board.  They wanted to have lunch after church.  That's all that needs to be said to give background.

So what does that have to do with anything, you ask.  Well - it meant that we had the kidlets after church today.  We had them twice as long as we were supposed to have them.

I sound terrible, don't I.  You KNOW I love those kids.  I enjoy being with them - but when I am told x amount of time, I plan on x amount of time.

Kids being kids, want to play with toys they don't normally have around.  Such is the time at Grandma's.  But I knew that it would be a whirl-wind when parents came to get them, and they were spending their time getting out multitudes of toys.  I really did not feel like picking them up.

As it turns out, they did better than great - they were superb. Couldn't ask for better kidlets.

In yesterday's pics, Lady Bug's personality showed through like a champ.  She is such a great kid - it scares me.  I do love them all, but there is just something about this one!

Perhaps it is because I am more comfortable around older kids.  One reason I never, ever wanted to teach in the elementary school.  Sixth grade science was the lowest I ever taught - thank goodness.  I have to be honest - high school biology was the fav.  The others are growing too, so someday ...

Peace.

Busy, but nice

Today, I got to spend the better part of the day with Lady Bug.  She came over and we BAKED!!  Her brother joined us later.  Cookies, cookies, cookies!  Oh and she decorated my little skinny tree.  Quite the clown - that girl.

Times have changed

Not too long ago, Daughter thought she was Wonder Woman.  She thought she could have a full time job, volunteer at the school, have the kids in sports, keep a spotless house - basically do it all.  And this was all with SIL out of town, a lot!

Last week her world began to crumble a bit.  Nothing really bad, but just enough that she FINALLY decided she does need to call on me sometimes. SIL was out of town, and Monkey  Boy had one of his GI problems thereby missing two days of school.  That was last Wednesday and Thursday, with me keeping the two older ones on Friday after school.

Yesterday was one of those days for her.  She is frantically making her calls   on her stores.  They have a number they are to meet in a month.  She will be in Orlando most of next week for a company meeting, so there goes a week for her.  She has been elected to the "Board of Elders" at church, and they had a meeting last night.  Lady Bug had swim practice.  (I need to find her picture from the swim meet last week and show you - she got 4+ medals!!).  SIL is out of town.

She asked me to watch the two younger ones.  Normally - no problem, but I spent the morning with DIL and her two.  We went shopping, then met G for lunch.  Fun morning.

The problem was that when I got home, I was so full it was like Thanksgiving all over.  I was stuffed, and I wanted to sleep.  I am so glad Daughter called.  I had forgotten about me watching hers!

I went over there.  That was probably the first mistake.  Monkey is not supposed to play video games during the week.  He pulled a fast one on Granny!  He went up to the game room first to play.  Then he came downstairs and commandeered that TV.  When Daughter got home she was rather livid.

It seems while she was at the swim meet over the weekend, SIL allowed the day to be full of video games.  MB spends too much time, and does not take potty breaks - leading to constipation then diarrhea.  Then after last night, well...

So Grandma probably made a mistake, but that's what happens!  Not gonna' let it get to me.

Have a great one!

Peace.

This and that

Yesterday I moaned and groaned about not getting things done for the Craft Show.  Well, and this is a familiar mantra in Texas anyway, but bring on the rain.  We are forecast to have a 60% chance of rain Sunday.  If that happens, there will be no show.  That would be great because I am not ready at all!!  So - as usual - bring on the rain.

As for Monkey Boy.  I said yesterday that he now loves me while before he really could care less.  It is the strangest thing.  Oh, and I have him once again today.  He is happy to stay with me which would not have been the case in the past.  He is very demonstrative with his affection.  He is really growing into a great kid!

Now the other grandson - the three year old.  I get the same reactions from him that I had gotten from MB.  He refuses kisses and the likes.  He avoids me like the plague.  I guess that one day he will change too.

One day - that makes me think.  It is really strange knowing that my days are numbered.  I don't know how long I have on this earth.   No one really does, but at 66 there are certainly fewer than there were before.  And then there's always the "c" factor looming out there.  Will it return?  Probably.  It almost always does.  Obits will say "fought cancer for x number of years." It is just sobering to realize you are really mortal after all.

OK - enough gloom and doom.  I have MB stationed in front of the TV, and am headed up to sew.  Pray for rain again!  Please - I need more time!

Peace,

Sweet sleep - at last?

Sleeping may be a fact in my life again!  When I talked to Daughter this morning, she told me that both Boxer girls will be going into boarding at the kennel that works with the rescue group.  EXCELLENT!

Of course, she managed to make me feel rather guilty about us spending Thanksgiving at the SSB.  But then it doesn't take too much for me to feel guilty about almost everything.  Anyway, Lady Bug is going to miss three swim practices.  Really.  I know she is in competitive swim.  She loves it .  She is more than good at it. She has set the goal of being an olympic swimmer.  She had a meet this past weekend and placed first in the 50 and 100 meter breast stroke.  But really - no break with the exception of Spring Break?

We are doing the only craft show of this year December 4.  LB has a swim meet that day.  I don't know what I will do.  I guess just hope for the best.  I would ask Son to help me set up instead, but he is way south of town being worship leader for a church down there.  G will hopefully do it with not much grinching about it.  I think I will go look for a cart to move things before that.  I have thought about it for a while.  That way he can just sit in the truck while I set up tables and merchandise.

Anyway, my life looks better now.  I don't have to think about several days with an untested Boxer and a poor cat.  Don't get me wrong -  Boxers are my passion.  They are so great.  But.  They can and do like cats a little too much.  They can have a big prey drive.  Our first one - a huge male - knew cats from the day he walked into the house.  He was absolutely fine with them - but squirrels and rats - another story!

I still am having a problem with the lies that come from SIL's mouth.  I still have a problem with a lot of things he does.  This is after them being together for 13 years.  I have to get a mind set change.  It is getting worse and worse.

So - now I have to trundle off upstairs.  I have been playing too much recently and need to get more things done.

Peace.

Not normal

Usually the time change wears me out, especially when we "fall back."  My body tells me that it is bedtime early.

That isn't happening this time.  I attribute this unnatural state to my Daughter and SIL.  I am still steamed about Angelica.  I am still steamed that they are planning to bring the other little Boxer girl, Princess, to the SSB.  She is untried around Simone AND Shadow.  I foresee five days of sheer hell.

There is no place to move around.  Someone (somedog ??) is going to have to be isolated.  G will not be happy about that.  If we have to put S and S in our room - he will not like having to be sure they are both cooped up while he makes his million and three trips to the bathroom or whatever.

If Princess is the one - she loves to sneak off and poop and pee.  At least we have solid surface floors everywhere.

It is just the fact that - again with the lies - we were never asked.  SIL would say that he wanted to see Princess with SImone.  He would add he wanted to compare sizes since Princess is a rather smallish Boxer.  Liar, liar, liar!  He wanted to see if they got along.  Why not just SAY THAT?  Gad - that man is pathological, and they wondered why his daughter from a fling lies all the time?  Well, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

Anyway, I am still upset about Angelica.  She is the one who is losing in this.  I tried to get Daughter to let me turn her back to the rescue.  No - she wanted her.  She is "thinking" about adopting her.

In the meantime, I am worried about this whole thing.  I know there is  no good coming from it.  Of course, it may just be Daughter's way of not coming to the SSB.  G is really angry about this.  He does need SIL's help - what there is of it.

Last time we were there, we talked about who we were leaving the place to when we are gone, not that it really matters.  We won't know.  But we know SIL won't take care of it.  He thinks he is a handyman.  He messes up more than he can do.  He had damaged the place already, and we watch him like a hawk.  Son and DIL don't come.  She, like a daughter, is wrapped up in her family.  This is especially true since she and her dad have reconciled.  We thought of just selling the place to our neighbor.

Another gripe session.  Sorry.  I hope to get out of this soon.  It doesn't help that last night I got the update on Previous Pastor. Doesn't look good.  He had surgery, and the tumor was larger than expected.  It was wrapped around some blood vessels.  They took the head of the pancreas, gall bladder, some stomach, and some intestine.  There will be chemo and radiation.

Also a dear friend who lives around the SSB was diagnosed with ovarian cancer.  G's aunt who lives up there had ovarian cancer the year before I was diagnosed.  She is still doing well, so there is hope for Pat.  I hope she can get the same type of treatment Flo got.  So my label has gone from the little c to the big c.  That's how I feel right now.

If you are of a mind - please include these folks in your prayers or thoughts.  Wish them well.  They need it.  I guess I do too to get over this funk I am in!

Peace

I swore I would never be this way

My MIL was a mean, vindictive woman.  She verbally attacked me on more than one occasion.  I knew what it was like to have at least one in-law from hell.  FIL was ok, but not her!

I promised myself I would NOT be that way.  I knew what it was like, and I simply would not be that way.

Well, guess what - it seems I am getting that way.  Not to the point of verbally attacking - at least yet, but I am getting to be angry with SIL.

The man doesn't know what it is like to open his mouth without having a lie come out of it.  When we first met him, all he did was try to impress us.  For example, he swore he and George Strait were friends.  He would refer to him only by the first name.  I tried to impress us with the fact he tried out for the Astros.  He didn't make it - at all.  Not even to the farm team, but he would always talk about the "Killer B's" as they were referred to.  Please don't ask me to name them - Bagwell, Biggo, and ???

Anyway.  Last night he was sitting there when Daughter said she didn't know what she was going to do with Angelica (remember the foster dog) while we are all at the SSB for Thanksgiving. Being with us is not an option with Shadow there.  He popped up and said "we are on a waiting list for boarding at the vet's office."  I KNEW that was wrong, but I just shut up.

This morning when Daughter called, he "beeped" in - as is the usual case.  He said the vet had a suite open for Thanksgiving.  There was no waiting list.  I just sat and fumed.  I was so glad there isn't telephone service for us with the camera.  I would have had a hard time hiding my expression.

Also last night, he was ragging on the church for having a "workship" yesterday.  They went to some group homes and worked instead of having formal worship in the church.  He knows that I am a great advocate of doing some things as a whole congregation in an informal setting.  We need to form bonds.

As he was sitting there, he said "that church meeting next Sunday ought to really be something."  Well, no.  We have just chartered.  Our next step is to elect our board and set a budget.  I told him that, and the answer was another lie out of his mouth - "oh, I know."

When I said that he interrupted my call with Daughter, it happens almost each and every time I am on the phone with her.  He calls her multiple times in a day.  When they were dating, she was almost fired because it was always calling her.  When she came home for a visit - he called about every hour on the hour.  Long distance.  His phone bill for the week was $300 - which he didn't have.

Whew - I feel better.  Vented that out.  There is more - like signing Monkey Boy up for year around baseball.  He said he would never push his kids into sports - ha!

Now I am through.  Thank you for allowing this.

Peace.

And the fun just continues

So - what's new.  Of course there's something.  Yesterday after introducing Angelica to Daughter's boxer - Princess, I came home and crated Angelica.

Then she began coughing.  And coughing, and coughing.  I contacted the rescue group. Their answer - sounds like kennel cough.  Just wonderful.

So today I checked with my vet.  Simone is covered - if it is not a new strain.  Princess is good.  King - the OLD lab was due in July.  So now what.

I really don't know.  Daughter and SIL are still willing to take her.  King will have already been exposed even though he was outside the whole time I was there, but the girls had a complete love fest going on for most of the time.  They shared cocktails (a water bowl) while there.

Guess I will contact the rescue group to see what they suggest.  I am at a complete loss right now.  And I have a honking dog that I think just barfed.  Glory, glory.

The cat is upstairs, and has been for at least 24 hours.  I asked G if we shouldn't put a litter box up there along with his food.  His answer was no - the cat could come down.  So I guess I will go up and try to bring him down without him killing me.

And how's your day?

Busy day

We ventured into the Big City yesterday.  We went to Aunt W's house first.  Actually it is a condo in a verrrry nice part of town.  The people who had it  before they bought it, bought two condos and made it into one large (2700 square feet) unit.  I absolutely love it.  My big drawback is "no animals."  I do love my animals too much.  I have always had pets.  I probably always will (hence biology major me!).

They are trying to sell the place so they can move to Dallas where Aunt B's children are.  I personally do not thing it is a good move - and I will talk about that more later.  W says she thinks it isn't selling because the HOA fee is $1300 a month.  I nearly fainted when I heard that, but that includes ALL utilities.  And if there are repairs...

Aunt B is in a rehab hospital right now.  She had been there about 3 weeks, and isn't expected to be released until Oct 1.  She fell 3 times in one day.  It was finally discovered she had been having TIAs.  These used to be called  mini-strokes.  The place they were going in Dallas requires she be completely independent.  No wheel chairs or walkers allowed in the dining room.  I don't know how they can require that of old folks who would be living there!!

So B's daughter is saying she will put her mom in assisted living and W can have a room there somewhere, and they can see each other.  They planned to live in the condo until one of them died, and then decide.  Don't think this will be a good move for W at all!

We then took Daughter's 35mm SLR to a camera shop to be repaired.  I figured paying for repair wasn't a bad deal when she said she had bought another camera.  The shop advertises repair on line.  When we walked in, the guy rudely told us they don't repair.  Well - he lost a customer with me.  There are a lot of people who sell cameras!  It wouldn't be there.

But they did give us the address of repair places.  It was 3:30 - in busy Big City, but we went to one of the places.  He couldn't do it, but suggested we contact the manufacturer, and send it off.  So we will try that.

We made it home without too much traffic.  We both were dreading the trip though.  Felt like a real country bumpkin too!

Peace.