Bat girl

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We had Boo overnight again. She woke up around 3 coughing. At 5 I'd had enough and so had she. She refused to take medicine, so I got up with her and watched Dumbo. As soon as she was upright the cough was gone. Post nasal drip I guess.

Poor Wheelie couldn't get back to sleep either so he got up and had his shower at 6.
In the meantime Boo was roaring and ready to start the day, running around with her bat hat on eating BUGS, because that's what bats DO, while the both of us kind of sat around bleary eyed and yawning.

She then proceeded to sit at her little table, invited Wheelie to sit by her and started "reading" him a big pile of books. It was now 7 am (yes, that is Matt Lauer on the TV and yes, it was still kinda dark outside.)

We had our breakfast, got her to brush her teeth, took my own shower, and then got her dressed in her new outfit. It is picture day at school. Her first! So she had to look nice. Well, she did.

As soon as I got back home I jumped back in bed and managed to sleep for a few more hours. Wheelie took a nap at the dining room table. He simply refuses to go back to bed for a nap.

So life has been going well. No large upsets. Weather still just amazing. Mom doing pretty good.

Bugs received her first child support check the other day. Crap! She was SO hoping he wouldn't so she could take him back to court again in November and get his sorry butt back incarcerated.
Unfortunately she only gets half of what she is supposed to, probably a condition of the Fathers Work plan. The State takes it out of his paycheck, and since he is working in a Salon as a receptionist and hair sweeper, he can't be making much.

She claims she doesn't want the money. What a dunce! We suggested she start a savings account for Boo with it. After all it IS for HER. So now we are waiting for him to contact Bugs in regard to visitation of some sort. She is petrified. But since he hasn't made any effort in that direction she has some breathing room. Of course the time will come when she will have to face the music and make some arrangements with him. I can tell the whole issue still overwhelms her.

My mother has been trying to get me to go OUT and DO things (she should talk, hehe)
So when one of my neighbors invited me to join her at the knitting club at St. Francis, I went.
What can I say. Bunch of old ladies knitting and crocheting and yapping. Not my cuppa tea, but what the heck. I'll honor my neighbor's invitation and go a few times.

Since the weather has been so cool in the morning I've also started to do a little walking again. My hips are simply rusted. It's downright disgusting how I've let myself go the past year.
I can't go very far, but try to go a little further every time.

It's a start, isn't it?

SGMKJ!

10-10-10

Another Sunday.
After our "live" alarm clock got us up at 7:30, we got a phone call from the fraud department of one of our major credit card companies.
Someone in Florida was getting gas and groceries in Homestead and charging it to my account.
I wonder how in the world they got a hold of it, since I never physically use that card, and only use it for Amazon and ordering flowers for Mom online.
It amazed me that they had all the information at their fingertips, and told me exactly where the card was used and when. Thank God no one tried to buy a flat screen TV or some other large item.
It was caught in time. The account is now closed, the cards cut up, and the issue investigated.

I took Boo-boo home at ten (Bugs was still asleep, I later found out she didn't get out of work until 4:30am, this girl needs a different job)
While driving I dropped something and muttered: Oma is such a dummmy... Comes the voice from the backseat: nah, Oma is friggin'....
Huh? *lol*
After I dropped her off I went to the store for the paper, and the rest of the day I spent fast asleep in bed. Dead to the world, strange dreams, driving the car with my eyes glued shut etc...

The temps are warm again, very strange for October, 90 degrees!

I guess the last few days have been nice and quiet.
One of my neighbors knocked on my door the other day. She heard from my neighbor across the street that I needed to get out and DO something.
Well, on Thursday I will join her and her other cronies for the Knitting Group at St. Francis Catholic Church.
I sold all my leftover yarn and knitting needles during my garage sale. Actually I sold some and GAVE most of it to yet another neighbor, who, as it turns out, goes to the same "club"

Not an unfamiliar activity for me. Both my aunts back in California did a lot of knitting and crocheting for "the Sisters" in their parish. Many of my afghans went there as well.

So we'll see what this is all about.

Mom spent last weekend at my brothers'. She said she had a good time (mind you, weekend meaning: picking her up late on Friday and bringing her back early Sunday, baby steps, I guess)
But getting out of her house seems to have perked her up a little. My sister and her man should be back from Spain by now, but I haven't heard from her yet.
I get the feeling everyone needs their space at the moment. I certainly can identify with that.
I wish I could just go and disappear for a while by myself.

SGMKJ

What is wrong with my head?

I've made a real mess of my checking account. Just have no idea how I could screw it up so bad. I do my banking online. I guess sometimes when I pay the bills I fill out the info, like the amount and date, but I forget to CLICK the submit button on the bottom.

Really stupid stuff. It's frustrating.

My head hurts. Feels like it's stuffed with cotton. Sometimes I say the weirdest thing without realizing it. Like I was telling Bugs last night about Boo: "Her little motor mouth never STARTED"...(instead of STOPPED)
Then my husband mentions I was whistling "that" Sousa march (Stars and Stripes) last night...He mentioned it two minutes after I apparently did. I had no idea I did...

My short term memory is pretty bad as well. I'll get up to do something or get something and the minute my butt leaves the chair I will have forgotten what it was.
And no, it's NOT something we ALL do sometimes. It is getting worse. It's embarrassing. I can't remember people's names, Folks I know. I forget my phone number, complete blank the other day.
I still cry at the drop of a hat. Don't need much to get very emotional. Thank God I keep it down to while I am in the car driving.
Yeah, I know...dangerous...Sometimes I literally have to pull over...

Today is my day off. Had to go to the bank, did some browsing at Target and Kohls, but I got so dizzy in the stores, I had to leave.

Boo was funny last night. She is very good at entertaining herself these days. Sits and
reads books to her invisible friends, runs around the house flying her fairies around. Gets everything out of my jewelry cabinet. Holding up a solid jade bangle: Look Oma, a tiny hoola hoop!

Wheely seems to be getting more withdrawn, fragile. He scares me when he dozes off. Or when he's asleep in bed. He can look so old, so pale, so dead.
I found a bunch of his old coworkers on Facebook. Some of them emailed him, and he wrote them back. But I don't see much joy or surprise in him. Maybe he just doesn't want to be bothered.

It has gotten cold at night. I love this weather, nice and cool and sunny, crisp. Time for the down comforters and the flannel sheets.

I've got $267 left in the bank until the 27th. Should be interesting. At least all the bills except the Cable is paid for the month.
Lots of soup for dinner I guess....

'Daddy' managed to send Philip a message in Facebook. He says he wants to do the right thing.
etc. So...where is he? Why isn't he calling Bugs instead? He seems to be circling around, trying to find a way in. He probably wouldn't dare email me, he's probably scared pissless of me and my big mouth. :>)

One of Ph.'s dogs had to be put down. He bit Ph's little brother (AGAIN) The kid's father, who had him for the weekend found out and called the cops. The dog was gone and dead before Ph. was even told. I can't blame the guy though. Both dogs have bitten the children. You simply cannot mix two small hyper kids and three big dogs in one small house. It doesn't matter what kind of dogs they are. (This, unfortunately, was a pit-mix) Even our dachsie was known to nip a few people in her time.
I feel bad for Ph. But I would have done the same thing. So the other dogs are now on notice. The bluetick hound who bit Boo a few months ago is a sweet dog, but if the kids get to wild with her and corner her, she will try and defend herself. Ph and I got into a very emotional word exchange about that. (that's putting it nicely)

Sweet dog or not, children en other humans come first in my opinion.

And so it goes.....

SGMKJ

Flowers from Mom

Got this big surprise yesterday. My Mom sent me flowers...."just because"....
Such a sweet surprise.
Of course Boo-boo had to pose with them, putting on her ham face.

It has been a nice quiet Saturday. Went grocery shopping this morning. Started out at the big Target, was disappointed with their prices, so I shopped at Super Wallymart instead.

It's tough when you only have about $400 to spend on food until next payday (October 27) after all the bills are paid. When the money wasn't so tight I would be shopping for little things for Boo, like clothes and shoes and little treats. No more. Bugs will now be the sole clothes / shoes buyer from now on.

The weather to great. Didn't walk this morning (not going to overdo it I suppose, hehe)
And right now Boo is sprawled out on my bed watching Pocahantas, for the 300th time.
I wouldn't be surprised if she nodded off. Not good, because she is spending the night and I am hoping to get her in bed at 8:30 (Oma's time)

So...no news is good news.

I tried to film Boo and myself singing a song last night, but it didn't turn out so hot. Will have to try another time.

Wishing you all a great weekend.

SGMKJ!

We're walking again

This morning was so nice and cool, I decided to go for a walk. I desperately need it!!
It was raining a little, but that didn't stop me from enjoying my little stroll.
Just 15 minutes, a loop around the neighborhood and a short ways up the road a piece.

Just really love this cool weather.

Boo-boo is being an angel today. She is behaving and very sweet, low maintenance. Whew.
I think she just inherited her Opa's and Mom's feisty nature. She ate all her dinner, didn't want/need a bath, brushed her teeth with her new toothpaste and toothbrush.

************

When I wrote Daddy's father I also copied his mom. Well, mom came at me from a different angle. :>)
She thought my email was GREAT and she made Daddy read it, And she thinks he changed his behavior immediately!!! Like I am going to believe THAT!
Than she started her usual spiel about how much Boo-boo loves them and wants them and misses them. Boo-boo wouldn't know them from Adam.
She wants us all to be a big happy family. Blah blah blah...Not in this lifetime, lady!

Is it just me, or am I expecting too much from Daddy? Shouldn't he have contacted Bugs by now, even just tried? Has he shown any interest in his little girl? Nah....

If I were released from jail early, and I was missing my little child so much and wanted to do good for her, I wouldn't waste a second, I would make sure it was known that I was THERE, trying to be a good person, contributing to her welfare, trying to make up for lost time, and APOLOGIZE to everyone who has been touched by his bad behavior.

I guess this is all supposed to happen through osmosis...

Perhaps I should just shut up about this issue, but dammit, I AM affected, my family is affected.
And I am angry about it.

************

Overseas, Mom is going to spend the weekend with my brother's family. I hope the change of pace will do her good. My sister and her man are driving down to Spain to spend a week in the sun in Barcelona with her son. Good for them!

I am trying to get Boo-boo to sing a song with me and film it.

She's not in the mood tonight. Oh well!

Tomorrow perhaps!

SGMKJ!

Damn hand

A few weeks ago I had this amazing dream. Mind you, most of my dreams are amazing, always extremely entertaining. This one though was a bit like a syfy movie. I was hanging onto a ledge on a tall building, during some sort of space war. All the cats turned feral, and one of them, a big calico cat, was chomping on my right hand, hanging on for dear life, me hanging on the ledge with the other.
It hurt like hell. It woke me up. My hand still hurt after I woke up!!
And it still does today.
It's not like the arthritic pain I have been having in my fingers. No, this feels more like how they describe carpal tunnel syndrome. The whole hand is sore from the inside out.

It might be from using the mouse....who knows.

My sister had just had surgery for that on both hands. She was out of commission for 4-6 weeks for each hand. I can't imagine me being out of commission...Brrrr....

The weather has made a huge turn for the better. Last night I even had to pull the quilt over myself. It's almost flannel sheet time again!!!! Now I have to try and remember where I stored our down comforter. Can't find it anywhere, and this is not a large house. Gotta be in the attic.

Boo-boo is in bed. Hopefully she'll get to sleep fast (HA!) Last night she, Philip and Bugs and another couple with a small boy went to the Braves game in Atlanta.
We were having huge storms come through so the game was delayed for an hour and a half. They stayed through the 7th inning (game went into 11 innings). The kids LOVED it!!!

I can't wait to take her to see the Nutcracker, and some of the Ice shows. She is getting to that age where she can enjoy the shows.

Bugs and Philip went to see Alice in Chains tonight, so Boo is sleeping over.
I was hoping she would still be pooped from last night, but she is having serious conversations with her dollies about behaving and listening!!!! Oh Lord.

I already read her her books, sang her three songs (my limit) and she's had her drink of chocolate milk. So she should be 'good to go'

She is completely ignoring Wheelie tonight. Wonder what that's all about.

Well, it's time to get the whip out, get that puppy back in bed :>)

SGMKJ!

Atumn at last

What does depression look like?
Anyone know?

I decided to stop cold turkey with my antidepressants about three weeks ago. I just really hated the way they made me feel. Always just coasting on an even keel. No high or low emotions, no laughing out loud or screaming of frustration.

The withdrawal symptoms were mild. Headaches, dizziness, blurred vision. But that all went away eventually.

The old me is back. But in a way I've learned to curb my impulses...well...for the most part....
So the meds did have some benefit I guess.

It's still a chore to babysit my little Boo-boo. Mentally and physically. It's not that I don't love her or want her to be here, my body is just protesting. I try not to be so damn selfish about it. It's part of life. The duty of family when you need to pitch in.
Yeah, try telling me THAT at 9 in the evening when she is still going full tilt. :>)
She is a fun loving little kid. She LOVES going to "school" She has friends, is excited to go there, and also excited when I pick her up. We play hide and seek in the house, play with the many puzzles we have, She is an amazing story teller, goes into these fabulous fantasy playtimes with her dollies and her little animals. She is an absolute angel when she is asleep :>)

We all miss our father. Mom is much affected. Misses him, feels bad, is losing weight, can't eat, feels so damn lonely, her heart problems seemingly getting worse. The doctors assure her it's
"just" the stress. Yes, she does have heart failure, high blood pressure, but her grieving is making her sick. Telling her it's just the stress isn't helping.

She has no clue about finances. Is at a loss every time she receives a bill for something. I explained to her today that these bills will keep coming in for a while. Things are just catching up, being straightened out. Leave it to my brother or my sister to take care of. She cannot be expected to take care of the financial crap at this point in her life.
She needs rest, needs a soft place to fall.

As much as my sister helps her and is there at her beck and call, I feel an overwhelming guilt for not being there. So the phone calls will just have to take care of that.

Not sure if it helps her much. Not being so happy myself. Life is not very exciting at the moment. Everything seems to be coasting along.

We finally had some relief from the heat though. 80-some days with temps over 90 was enough to drive you nuts. Last night the thunderstorms and the rain made me snuggle under my blanket and smile, and say: Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Wheelie and I have our little bedtime talk before his meds kick in. Last night I tried to explain how blogs work; how Facebook works. He doesn't understand how I manage to find all these folks from our past.
Which goes to show you how bored I am all day when Boo isn't here. I surf the net!

Daddy is out of jail. Philip found him on Facebook the other day. He must have been let go in the first week of August. Needless to say I had to check it out. Wish I hadn't. He is still the juvenile moron. Is proud to have kicked all his drugs, has been clean for 15 months. Well, no duh!!! He was in jail!

What really pissed me off to no end was that at one point he posted some rather vile garbage while using Boo-boo's picture as his profile picture. No one that I could see ever called him on that. His parents were pretty much enabling him to spout whatever he thought was funny.

Well, It got rather bad the other day, and my impulsive side came out and I wrote to his father.
Not calling anyone names, kept it real short, and to the point. Told him how disgusted I was about his behavior online, and that I was keeping hard copies of everything that was over the top.

Seems that Daddy's Dad didn't like my attitude. As always, they drew their wagons around their precious son. Accusing ME of being the bad guy.

Well, after that, Daddy did take off the latest rants on his page. He also finally discovered how to set his privacy settings. *lol*
So, not being able to read his crap anymore anyway I blocked him, his parents and his siblings. If only to stop myself from peeking once in a while. It's just way too upsetting.

But it sure felt good to poke the fire a little.

Of course Bugs hasn't seen a penny of child support. She went straight to DFCS to make sure they had her new address, just in case. Daddy had already been there. In my opinion probably a condition of his release/parole, he signed up for some father work program.

Right now he is working in a "salon" sweeping up hair and answering the phones. I'd rather see him working for the DOT, on the roads, filling potholes, directing traffic, soaking up asfalt, you know, dirty hard MAN work.

Bugs is waiting for the end of November. At which time if she still hasn't received any child support, she can start the whole business all over again, and have him thrown in jail again.

She was told that she will most likely never see any of the outstanding money he owes her (two+ years worth) unless he wins the lottery. She was frustrated to hear that of course.

So we wait again...she might alltogether just petition the court to have him denounce his parental rights. Screw the money.

And so it goes. Bitch bitch bitch bitch....................:>)

I am being told to find some friends, start a hobby. Hmmm...I am 63, been there done that.
I want to be retired, travel, go to the opera, the symphony, the museum.
Don't want to go alone. Wheelie is becoming less and less moveable. Has a rough time getting in and out of the car. Just doesn't want to bother anymore.

Could be worse, I know....:>)

SGMKJ