I really AM tired today.  I could NOT sleep last night.  I was suffering all day with a bout of IBS and, once my bowels were emptied, I was left with an enormously distended abdomen.  I was so glad I didn't have to do any walking around somewhere because I would have been a real life walking *granny fart* caricature.  Trust me on that. 

I decided to lay back in my recliner for a while, hoping the gas would pass and I would get rid of the stomach *ache*.  I fell asleep and ended up waking myself up shortly thereafter and having to put on the fan.  I put a can of Febreze (Moroccan Bazaar) next to me so I wouldn't asphyxiate myself by accident.    I gave up trying to sleep after a while and just laid there, watching DVD's of my favorite movies.  I know I snoozed off a time or two but I have pretty much walked around groggy all day long from lack of proper sleep.

The Beast knew what was going on and just ignored the fact that I didn't darken our bed.  He was actually kind of grateful, I think. 

The heat index today to up to 106.  I watched the temperature start climbing up into the 90's by 9am.  By noon, it was almost 100 actual degrees.  If the humidity had been higher (it was only 36%), so would the heat index.  We kept lights off to keep the inside temperature of the house down since I know how much they can add to the heat in a room just from my computer room.  It's considerable.  Try it yourself at home and you'll see.

I just found out I won't be getting Chewlee tonight like I thought I might so guess what I am going to do?  I'm going to bed early.  Like as soon as I can get into my jammies.

The Weatherman was right....it was HOT today.  Almost too hot even with air conditioning in your vehicle.  I don't know how those people can stand it in Arizona where the temperatures are often found in triple-digits.    If we didn't keep the car in the garage, it would have been unbearable.  As it was, the sun streaming through the window was enough to make me turn all the vents I could directly on me.  I was glad it was a short ride home.  Even Chewlee hit her face under her *Ti-ti* because it was both hot and blinding.

I could tell Chewlee didn't get a nap today.   Although she is always happy to see me when I come to get her, when we got to the house, she got quieter than normal.  I suppose if she hadn't been thirsty, she might have actually gone to sleep.  Thankfully, her mother got here a bit earlier than expected.  She was happy to see her but wasn't quite ready to go home with her.  If her mother hadn't threatened to go home with *Ti-ti*, she might have made us do more running around to catch her.  The Princess told her we didn't want her to stay, I told her she had to go home with mommy but I would pick her up from school tomorrow.  She finally went (after stubbing her toe and crying over THAT) but she wasn't really a happy camper.

The Beast was happy today because he put the replacement scope that Canon had sent him for the bad one he shipped back to them.  They found it *unrepairable* so it was brand new.  He put it on the muzzle loader, he got it leveled and centered then headed off to the gun range with some advice about being careful in the heat.  I knew I couldn't stop him from going.  He can never be patient and wait.

Well, it seems this did the trick.  He did the 25 yard shoots, then 50 yard.  The shots he made were so close together that the center of the target had a hole in it about 4 inches across.  Talk about a shit eating grin.  Then, of course, to finalize the whole thing, he decided he would make the trip up to Gander Mtn. in Huntsville to get the proper primer for the muzzle loader.  What he had been using (and the cause for most of the fouling) was the Winchester primer that is ONLY for Winchester muzzle loaders.  Well, duh!  Seems to me he fell down on his research there. 

He went off to do that and I knew he would be stopping at Publix on his way home.  He got me some more of the Black Forest bologna I love and he picked up some of the smoked liverwurst we both love, too.  Lunch for the next couple of days!!!    You already knew he got the bread we love, too, right?  Yep, the Chicago Italian and the 5 grain Italian, too.

I discovered something yesterday but had to look it over thoroughly today before I could believe it.  I found out the Beast must have some very grandiose plans for it and when the economy goes to hell.  He bought a hand-cranked meat grinder/sausage stuff.  I looked and, sure enough, it has the special *nose* part that you thread the sausage casing over.  I told him that he had better consider the fact that if such a thing happened, HE would have to be the one to clean out the deer guts for casings to use for sausages.  Plus, he had better think about building himself a smokehouse or some such thing because he would get very tired of the same thing over and over.  I see it in his regular diet and that wouldn't change, I know for a fact.

Even though the Beast knows that tomorrow is supposed to be even hotter than today, he still plans on hitting the gun range.  I told him he best make it early or be sure to take Gatorade or something with him.  At least he DOES wear a hat but that only helps a little.  He wants to make his final adjustments to the muzzle loader at 100 yards and then he feels he will be ready.

He is really looking forward to taking out Tara's oldest boy that lives with her to the gun range.  Then, later on, hunting.  He's always wanted to go but wasn't old enough in his old state ... plus there are all kinds of restrictions there.  Here, lots of men have had their sons and nephews at the gun range, teaching them to shoot in anticipation of the upcoming hunting seasons (turkey and then deer).  He also wants to take him to scout out a couple of the reserves where they can hunt to see the best place for them.  I'm just glad the Beast will have someone with him and I have a feeling they will be towing along the ATV with them, too.    Might as well have a little fun, too, right? 

Tomorrow's heat index is supposed to hit from 105 to 107.  I'm not looking forward to that at all.  Saturday will probably still be brutal and I was hoping to be able to let Chewlee play in the sprinkler.  Heck, I may let her anyway for a bit early in the day.  I'll just hit her and Baron with the hose (and me, too) and then let them run around to dry.  Baron could use a bit of a bath so she can help us give him one.  She might as well learn those type of things, too. 

An observation:  Today, when I pulled into the garage with the car, I noticed something that I thought was kind of cute.  I drive with the GPS up and just have it show the map of the area I am driving through.  When I stop the car and shut off the engine, the GPS screen always asks if it should continue to run on battery power or shut down.  I always press shut down and don't think about it much.  Today, Chewlee leaned over after I let her out of her seatbelt and pressed the shut down button.  She grinned and told me, *I did it, Gramma*.   She didn't have one of those *I am so smart* grins on her face; she was just matter-of-fact about it.  She just did it before I did.  Kids really are bright.  They notice the smallest things sometimes.  You should always remember that about them because EVERYTHING is a learning experience for them.  Make them count.

Love you all.  Have a wonderful day.  Stay cool and safe; smile a lot; laugh a few times and try to make someone else laugh, too. 

The Beast got up very early today to take the truck over for new tires.  He was first in line so it went fast.  They also checked the spare tire (which is mounted underneath the darn thing) and it is somehow wired into a sensing device that kept telling us the darn tire needed more air.  They checked that out and it was under-inflated kl so they added what it needed.  If we get the warning again, we will know that it has a very slow leak and we'll replace it.

That was the easy chore he had planned for himself.  He spent quite a while getting the flat tire off the pontoon boat trailer.  When it was new, he used a special grease on the bolts since they get doused with water when you put the boat into water and take it out.  It prevents rust so you can get the bolts off when you need to.  Lie! Lie! Lie!

The poor Beast really struggled and had to use a lot of force to get the bolts out.  I felt awful for him because he almost cried *uncle* and thought he would have to get a couple strong men to get it off.  But, he persisted and did finally get it off.  The bolts?  They were okay but it didn't prevent the *hole* itself from rusting.  The Beast was really shocked.  He's going to use some naval jelly to clean it up and then try a different grease for it when he gets the new tire for the trailer.  That's the extent of the Beast's activities for the day since it was so hot outside.  As it is, he did wait until almost six to finish his attempt at getting the tire off.  Tomorrow I expect will be his day to take the rim in for a replacement.

It's not that the tire is worn, it just got sliced up a bit on the side.  Don't ask me how.  Whenever it happened, he was lucky he got it home before it went flat.

The Princess had a *date* today with Johnnycakes.    I know, I was surprised, too.  They spent a few hours together after she got off work.  When I asked her how it went, she said *Okay* but didn't elaborate.  I imagine I will find out later.

I had Chewlee, of course.  She was really cute.  The Beast said she is getting very polite.  When she came in to see him while he was on his computer, she said, *Excuse me...* since he was playing a game on Pogo.  He said she said it twice and put her hand on his arm so he would know she wanted to talk to him.  When he answered her question, she told him, *Thank you* and then walked away.  I asked him if he said *You're welcome*, he gave me this weird look and told me of course he had.  With him, you never know but he seems to pay more attention to her than I ever saw with any other kid....except her mother when she was growing up.

We watched a Godzilla movie together and it HAS to be the worst of all the Godzilla movies so far that I have seen.  It's titled *Godzilla vs. Gigan*.  I won't even TRY to tell you the story but, at one point, a tape that is played by aliens allows the monsters on Monster Island to talk to each other.    Chewlee grabbed my hand and told me I had to go roar at Papa and the doggie to scare them.  She walked me out and stopped me by his recliner and told me to roar and scare him.  I roared at him and then at Baron.  When I was done, she looked at me, pointed and told me  *Go back to your room*.  Then she yelled at Papa for taking her chair AND changing her TV.  He looked at me and said, *Did she say HER TV?*

The acting in this movie is AWFUL and be aware that you must first choose your language or else it's all in Japanese except for the subtitles. Since it was the first time I was watching it, I didn't know that.  I had to take it out and start over. The verbiage does NOT match the subtitles.  Like I said....AWFUL. 

I gave her some juice while we were watching the movie and, when she finished it (apple juice), she handed me the glass and said, *That was delicious*.  She was so sincere and cute when she said it, I had to laugh.  She was glad to see her mother but told her she wasn't ready to go home and then she changed her mind and got out of my chair.  I think she was also bored with this particular Godzilla movie so knew she wouldn't miss anything exciting (to her). 

She's gone now and I have no idea why I still have this stupid movie on.  I guess I really want to see how the aliens are defeated.  Trust me, they deserve it. 

That's about it for my exciting day.  I have to get a couple more things done before bedtime.  I've been going to bed early (for me) lately mainly because I am having a tough time getting to sleep and staying asleep.  I have no idea why.  I may ask the doctor about it when I see him on Friday for my usual six month checkup.

Love you all and I hope you are having decent weather wherever you are.  If not, I can sympathize.  This heat is awful here but we should be getting a break in a day or two.  Oh crud....just checked Weatherbug and our severe heat advisory has been extended through Friday evening.  Oh well.

Stay cool, laugh a little, have some fun.  See you again tomorrow. 

Today we were under a severe weather alert that involved heat instead of storms or tornadoes.  There were all kinds of warnings about limiting outside activities, keeping hydrated, etc., etc.  The humidity was high (73%) and it got up to 96 degrees.  The heat index was 102 degrees the last time I checked.  With no wind to speak of, let me tell you, it was AWFUL outside.  The humidity made the air seem thick and difficult to breathe. 

The Beast wanted to mow the lawn but, once he read the alert and then stepped outside, gave THAT idea up.  This weather is supposed to continue until Thursday evening.  Remember, I am writing this on Tuesday (not Wednesday when you will be reading it).  That's three whole days of this abominable weather.  I don't mind heat but I don't want to be able to slice it up. 

I spent the day washing more clothes.  Oh, and I must tell you about the sheet sets I got.  Not only did they wash up beautifully, they dried wrinkle-free and still feel almost like satin.  I guess they were worth the money I paid....in fact, they really are worth more since they were a bargain.  That's why I was so suspicious.  They folded up like they were made from super fine spider web (without any of the sticky stuff).  Guess what is going on our bed when I change linens next?

My sinuses are playing hell with me first thing in the morning.  They start draining like crazy and make me both nauseous and sick to my stomach.  I have no idea why but I'm sure that SOMETHING is blooming or in the air.  Oh how I wish for the good old days when I had no allergies.  Yes, there was a time when I didn't.  Old age is NOT for sissies, trust me.

No Chewlee today since it was her mother's day off work.  Chewlee doesn't like it when her mother picks her up from school but she will get used to it eventually.  She has to accept it regardless.  I was just glad I didn't have to go out in the heat.  I waited to water until the temperature dropped down below 90 and there was no direct sun on the plants any more.  They were VERY thirsty today and who can blame them.  I'll check them early in the morning tomorrow and again later in the day to see how they are doing since I have quite a few strawberries on them.

My niece, Tara, stopped by very briefly to drop off some food for us.    I know, I was surprised, too.  She had made some stuffed green peppers with the good, fresh green peppers from the Flea Market and some blueberry pie.  They look wonderful but I won't be able to eat them.  I took one sniff and there is a lot of garlic in it.  Garlic and I don't get along well, especially since I have trouble now with Irritable Bowel Syndrome.  That will set me off in nothing flat.   But it will feed the Beast and, perhaps, even the Princess if she comes by for lunch tomorrow.  The Beast laid claim to the blueberry pie already and has it put aside for his breakfast in the morning.    I'll be lucky to get a taste of it.

The Beast had to buy a new floor jack today because the handle for the one we had went missing.  He thinks it might have fallen out of the truck one of the times he rode with it down.  He's always forgetting when he has stuff like that in back.  It probably happened the last time he got wood to build the big shelves in the garage.

Oh, get this.....the Beast finally admitted that I was probably right about his being out of touch on some prices for things these days.    You could have knocked me over with a feather, I was that shocked.  He was talking about the prices he found online for a floor jack and he thought they were TOO expensive.  I told him I didn't think the one Lowe's had was all that unreasonable but he didn't believe it until he went to a local auto parts store and found out what THEY wanted for them.  He bought the one Lowe's had.  It was about double what HE felt they should be and I told him he was living in a past age somewhere.    I really think that it's part of the short term memory loss thing from the strokes because he's sure bought enough stuff to know how much everything has gone up in price.  Heck, he's even talked about how expensive wood has become for his projects.

He also made another trip to Huntsville to his new favorite gun store just to ask a few questions from the gunsmith there.  He's discovered part of his problem with the muzzle loader fouling is the roughness of his inner barrel.  The other is he has been seriously UNDERcharging the powder load.  What a surprise!  He can be so thrifty (cheap) for all the wrong things.  He was told that it also made a huge difference in his sighting because the bullets aren't getting the proper velocity.  Oh well.  Live and learn.

You can tell he tells me ALL about this stuff even if I don't ask.  If only
Baron could talk.  I could be spared some of it.  He really, really needs a male friend to bond with and who might be a better listener than I am.

The Beast spent another day at the gun range, still adjusting the scope on the muzzle loader.  He got it *in* for 50 yards but now had to adjust it for 100 yards.  I guess he thinks that's the closest he will get to a deer.  He's having problems with *fouling* that we never had with the old style muzzle loaders, or black powder rifles as they are called.  He says he's having to clean the barrels after two shots when we used to clean up our old black powder rifles when we got home and were done shooting.  Modern is NOT always better.

He's not happy with the *bullets* either and he's tried several different types.  He says the first ones he used (the more expensive ones, of course) were the best.  I told him not to worry because he either got the deer with the first shot or it was over anyway.  He was never going to be able to take a second shot. 

Today was a very lazy day for me other than the time I had with Chewlee.  All I did was make some split pea soup, make the bed, straighten up my desk and play games on Pogo.  Chewlee ended up yelling at Papa for two reasons.  He had the nerve to take over her seat (his recliner) AND he turned off her program to watch his news.  Guess who won?  He didn't give her his chair but he DID turn her program back on until she left with the Princess.

She's gotten some new facial expressions lately.  One is a pout-y face and the other is a mad face.  Both are so cute, you can't help but laugh.  Especially when she puts on her mad face and crosses her arms across her chest. 

She told her mother she didn't want her picking her up from school.  She told her, *I go to school and then I go to Gramma's house.*  When the Princess told her, *Okay*, she said to her, *Do you promise??*  When I picked her up, she actually told a couple of the kids there, *See?  I told you my gramma was coming for me.*  One cute little girl started to cry and I handed her the teddy bear that Chewlee had been clutching and wanted to take home.  I told her the toys that belong at the school stay at the school so she can play with them another day.

She was so eager to leave so she could go to my house where she would see Papa (*I love him* she said) and HER doggie (*I love him and he loves me*).  I told her that Papa loves her, too and she said, very matter of fact, *I know.*

The Princess had hoped my soup would be ready to eat when she got off work but it wasn't so she will have to wait until tomorrow to have some.  I made a double batch so I can send some home with her.  She has always loved my split pea soup.  I am halfway expecting her to show up at lunch time for some, watch and see.

It was only about 86 for our high today.  The last couple days have been much lower in temperature than it has been.  We've been up in the 90's pretty much every day since May.  We also got some decent rains, too.  Not today so I had to go out and water my plants.  Well, some of them.  The strawberries all perked up.  Real rain does that to all the plants.  The Beast says he's done with the gun range for a bit.  He has a big lawn to mow. 

I am finding out, little-by-little, that the high unemployment rate, the sheer amount of the national and international debts and the very strange weather patterns changing has created a kind of paranoia even here in our little corner of the world.  Let me give you an example:  We have an actual rocket scientist (that's a joke but he is a specialized type of engineer that has always worked for NASA) that recently lost his job due to the fact that the space program has been canceled.  Like he said to the Beast today, *It's kind of tough to find a job when you are a rocket scientist!  Not much call for them nowadays.*

Now we are talking a highly educated man.  Know what he was doing?  He was practicing with his high-powered bow and arrow set to get comfortable with it since it was a new purchase.  Know why he bought it?  Because he feels that not just our government but most of the world governments will probably collapse within the next couple of years and he expects one of the things that will happen is all guns will be confiscated.  Whereas a bow-and-arrow is not something that you must register and is very quiet when you shoot it. 

He is anticipating the possibility of having to shoot things to eat in the future.     He was interested to find out that the Beast's muzzle loader was also a weapon that doesn't require registration and he and the Beast went off to discuss the pros and cons of THAT.

THEN....as if the news isn't bad enough to listen to every day here (the Beast watches one news station after another when he stops *doing* stuff), I find the Beast listening to this guy, he's a financial analyst that the Beast has bought his lectures and traded some around with a few of his friends.  This analyst, I will admit, has (in retrospect) been right on the money of what was very solid investments vs. the high earning prospects being touted at one time or another (especially real estate when it seemed so solid).  Now he is advocating turning assets into liquid assets, paying off all debts (although he has ALWAYS advocated that, I'll admit) and banking your cash in the Bank of the Mattress (so-to-speak). 

He is saying that when the world governments collapse, the people who have euros and dollars will find their money will be worth ten times it's value now.  Plus, once this all takes place, real estate will be selling for pennies on the dollar.  He also says that it is time to get out of the cities because there the conditions will be the worst.  Become as self-sufficient as is possible and being out in the country will be the most desirable place to be.  Plant gardens, learn to can, etc., etc.  I'm sure you can see where this is all leading....a survivalist mentality.

Now, I can see planting gardens, even hunting to help keep your expenses down as much as possible.  But somehow I have a difficult time going along with this thinking.  He DID say that there will be a form of government that comes out of all this but that cash will be something not many people have. 

Instead, we will all have debit cards for everything.  Your pay for any work will be credited, your expenses will be debited.  Those with real cash will be the new *rich* because they will have been able to buy up the real estate and businesses when they were pennies on the dollar just as was done during our Great Depression in the 30's.

I remember years ago someone saying that one day we will all just have plastic, like credit cards, that will take the place of cash money.  I remember my dad laughing and saying it would never happen.  But, tell me, what would you do without your debit card nowadays? 

We have a friend who is normally a very intelligent and level headed sort.  A while back, he got involved with a bunch of retired people, mostly ex-military (but not necessarily retired military).  One of the guys owns some property in Florida and was starting to build a fortified compound because these ex-military and also ex-cops feel society is going to go to hell in a hand basket.  He and his wife have been down there in their motor home and have been learning all kinds of things.  Like how to go stealthily through a forest, sharp shooting, etc.  Sounds to me like some sort of black ops thing, don't you think?  Or worse, one of those para-military groups that are anti-government and anti-everythingelse, too.

I have noticed a change in the types of emails he sends us lately.  Little by little, it has taken a kind of racist, fatalistic turn, even in what passes for jokes.  It's not pretty.  More paranoia.  I think *I* am getting paranoid about paranoia  

I'm sure I am not the only one noticing things like this going on, am I?  If so, let me know because then I will have to see if I can find a *chill pill* somewhere and consult a good psychiatrist. 

Most of today was peaceful since the Beast left the house early and didn't get back until late afternoon.  He had a problem with one of his scopes on the muzzle loader and ended up having to make the trek up to Huntsville to resolve it.  Nothing earth shaking there.

However, when he came home, he spotted a bit of color on one of the young trees we have at the edge of the other lot.  When he walked over, imagine his shock to find....a peach!  In perfect shape.  And ripe!  The ground it is planted in is part that drains well plus, when the Beast had inspected it earlier, it had no blossoms on it and no fungus. 

I'm not even sure he sprayed it.  He did, however, wash it off and then split it in half.  He shared with me and even Chewlee ate some.  Juicy, sweet and nothing wrong with it at all.      Since it was a small and very young tree, we had no expectations of it producing anything this year at all.  It was a nice surprise.

I didn't have Chewlee during the day like normal since the Princess had the day off.  But I got her later on because Mom was going to Gadsden for dinner and a movie.  Chewlee was really funny because she claimed the Beast's recliner since he wasn't sitting in it.  In fact once, when she got out of it to get some chips, he sat in it and she ordered him off it because SHE needed it.  When he told her it was HIS now because she got up, she crawled up into his lap and sat with him. 

She pulled me into one of her imaginary games and we were going to *save Donald* and find his mommy and daddy.  I had to sit on the floor, she sat to my left and told me I had to put my seat belt on.  She was driving.  When I went to get up, she yelled at me because the *car* was moving and I was sentenced to a time out and a spanking. 

We finally DID save Donald and returned him to his parents and she let me return to my game.  She ate *sketti-o's* and had her usual glut of popsicles on a stick.  When I went to put her to bed, she told me she was mad at her mommy and didn't love her because she wasn't coming for her.  She said she wanted to sleep at her new house.  But she did go without much more protest except she wouldn't let me kiss her goodnight. 

I asked her why Gramma couldn't kiss her goodnight and she told me because she was MAD and she made this mad face that just cracked me up.  She told me you don't kiss when you are mad. 

She heard me talking on the phone with the Princess and got out of bed and told me she was going to wait for mommy to come and get her.  So she is waiting as I write this.  I just hope her mother gets here soon.  I think she was calling from Gadsden so she should be here shortly.  The baby will probably sleep as late as her mother tomorrow. 

Just a normal, boring day until time to pick up Chewlee.  Oh...wait!  I almost forgot about getting my new knife today.  I sent for one of those ceramic knives I've heard and read so much about.  I will tell you this much....it seems to work as advertised.  I cut some ripe tomatoes with it and it cut smoothly through it.  No crushing at all even though one of them was verging on only fit for sauce. 

I also got two sets of sheets.  They are microfiber sheets and they are the most incredibly fine and soft sheets I can remember feeling.  They are beautiful with delicate embroidery along the top and on the pillowcases.  I'm quite pleased with them so far.  However, the proof will be in the pudding because I am going to wash them and want to see how THAT works out as well as if they shrink at all.  I got one set for the guest bedroom and another for ours.

Okay, so I am getting ready to pick up Chewlee from preschool and what do I see but the sky is clouding over.  It's getting that dark color you KNOW means rain is a-comin'!  Sure enough, about halfway to the school, it starts drizzling.  Nothing serious but steady.  I pick her up, get her into the car and she asks her usual *We going to Walmart?*  She was tickled when I told her yes.

It seems the Beast didn't gas up the car and it was getting low.  I mean seriously low.  I almost stopped and threw in a couple bucks worth just to make certain I could make it to Murphy's (which is the Walmart Gas station brand if you aren't familiar with it).  I also needed to get a few things from Walmart anyway so I told the Beast OF COURSE I didn't mind filling up the tank.

So, we are headed down the last road before our turn into the Walmart parking lot and it starts to POUR.  And I mean POUR like pull-over-to-the-side-of-the-road-and-wait-it-out POUR.  I got under the canopy to fill up the tank and Chewlee kept saying (as she looked out at the rain), *What is going on???*  Like she had never seen a hard rain before. 

I really hoped the rain would be short-lived but, alas, it was not to be.  Even after driving around for about 10 minutes, looking for a spot close to the door since I had Chewlee with me, it was STILL raining cats-and-dogs.  So I hand Chewlee a terry rag the Beast had in the car and tell her to hold it over her head.  That at least stopped her saying, *What's going on??*  I opened the door, grabbed Chewlee on my hip and walked quickly through the front doors of Walmart .  Chewlee thought that was fun!  She handed me the rag and told me to hold it for her and we started heading for the grocery section when it suddenly dawned on me....if the Beast hadn't gassed up the car, it had to mean he hadn't picked up his meds either.  So, I whipped the cart around and went to check.  Sure enough, he hadn't.  Heck, he probably hadn't remembered it. 

We got that and several other items I needed.....including Chewlee's popsicles *on a stick* as she calls them.  It was still raining but lighter and Chewlee begged me to let her walk to the car.  I told her she would probably get wet unless she walked fast and she said it was *Okay, Gramma.  I like being wet.*  I told her to just walk fast and she shouldn't get TOO wet so off we went.  When we hit the lot, Chewlee started to run and yelled at me, *Run, Gramma, run! *  She looked so cute trying to run without losing her flip-flops and she turned around to encourage me to run faster.  The rain was starting to fade to a light drizzle and, when I opened the car door to let her in, she was so excited and said, *Isn't it FUN to run in the rain, Gramma?*  I couldn't help it.  I laughed out loud...loud enough for people to look over at me and wonder just what it was I found so funny.  But they DID smile.

It was pretty much an average day today except the Beast and I drank coffee out on the deck this morning before the humidity drove us inside.  Plus a hornet seemed to find the Beast interesting so that added some incentive to get inside, too. 

I changed my linens (early, I know) because I was just tired of dog hair getting in my nose because the Beast is NOT making Baron get off the bed, especially when the Beast takes his naps.  *Sigh*  When I went into the bedroom, guess who was on the bed.  When I yelled at him to get down, I started taking off the comforter and I guess Baron thought I wanted to play.  It took me a bit to convince him it was the very last thought in my mind so then he got off and sulked in the Beast's recliner.

The Beast left to do his final *sighting* on his muzzle loader at the gun range.  He was so tickled with the results, he brought home his target to show me.  I asked him if he wanted to put it up on the fridge and he laughed and said, *Not yet!*  Not quite sure what he meant by that but *I* was only joking.

The fun with Chewlee started when her mother got here.  Since I had made some chili mac for dinner (I just had a taste for it), she decided to eat here. 

I've mentioned that we have been working for quite a long time on Chewlee's potty training and she SHOULD be in big girl's pants by now but hasn't been.  I told her no more *clicking* on the games on Pogo until she is going potty all the time for BOTH pee and poop.  Her mother, the Princess, has other *carrots* she uses, as well as punishments.

Today, she had an *accident* at school (and it was because she was in the playground and couldn't get into a bathroom fast enough).  You know kids...when they are having fun, they wait until the last moment.  AT least, that is what Chewlee told me.  So, they put a pair of pullups on her after they had cleaned her up.

When her mother got here and asked her if she wanted to eat here, she said *No.*  It surprised us both.  However, her mother prepared some for her and had it cooling down a bit.  When I went over to pick her up to put her in the high chair, she finally said, *No...I pooped.* and put her head down in shame.  Well, her mother checked and, sure enough, she had so she dragged her into the guest room, stood her up against the wall and put her in a time out.  Chewlee cried the whole time.  The Princess had to make her go back and stand where she was put twice before she finally brought her out to eat.  She made her sit in the pullups.  Ack! 

Chewlee ate and, while she was eating, she told me her mommy wasn't friends with her any more.  Her mother said, *No, I'm not.*  Chewlee also told me she was NOT a baby but the Princess told her she was because BIG GIRLS don't poop in their pants.  Chewlee's reaction was to keep saying, *I am not a baby.*

That is when the Beast walked up to her and said, *You are MY baby!  I love you.*  Chewlee looked at her mother and me and said, *Papa is my friend.  He loves me.  I love Papa, too.*  She looked at me and said, *I love you too, Grandma.  Papa is my friend and I love him.* 

When they were both done, the Princess put their dishes in the sink and wiped off Chewlee's mouth and hands before putting her down on the floor.  She told her to put her shoes on and *let's go home*.  Chewlee ran into my room for a kiss and protection from *the monster* (her mother).  I told her Mommy was not a monster and she had to go home so she could get cleaned up and ready for school tomorrow.  At that, she looked at me and her mother and said, *We should stay here at Gramma's, mommy.*  When her mother told her they HAD to go home, she finally went to her mother and turned to me and said, *Mommy is NOT my friend.*  She got almost to the door and had to run back to me for another hug before she left.

I guess it's the combination of the looks she gets on her face when she is saying some of these things and the way she says them that makes me laugh (although I have to hide that sometimes).  She can be so melodramatic or so flippant at times.  And if you could see how she tries to cajole you into doing something she wants.....if you protest, she puts her fingers to her lips and keeps saying *Shhhh* each time you try to talk.  The whole time she will grab your hand and tug at you so you will go with her to do whatever or get whatever it is she wants. 

She has a vivid imagination that you would have to be around to appreciate.  She will make imaginary food and bring it to you or she pours you imaginary things to drink.  She sometimes has little containers she uses and she will stand there to watch you eat or drink what she has brought to you.  Then she will take the *cup* *bowl* or *plate* and ask if you want more.  She really doesn't care, she ALWAYS brings you more.   

When I do my exercises, if she's here, she's become my coach.  Either that or she tries to do whatever I am doing.  It's both funny and cute.  Today, on our way home from preschool, she was very serious and told me that she didn't want her mother to pick her up from school.  She said to me, *YOU do it, Gramma!  Not mommy*.  When I asked her why, she says because mommy doesn't take her to Gramma's house even though she tells her.  That made me laugh because I can actually see her saying that to her mother.

Our temperature got up to 98 today and our heat index was 102.  Didn't seem as bad as the weatherman said it would be (106 degree heat index) but, hey, anything in that range is awful.  What was really strange was how our humidity dropped.  I guess the heat and sun made much of the water on the ground evaporate or some such thing.  It dropped to almost half of what it started out at early this morning.  It was still high for us but much better than while the Beast and I were outside for coffee.  THAT gave me a bad hair day since my hair curled and frizzed.

Sis (Bratfink) talked about the ice cream truck yesterday and we were talking on an IM when I read it.  As soon as she mentioned how we kids loved the times we got to actually get a treat from one (we were poor...but didn't realize it most of the time, truthfully), I had this flashback.  Even before I clicked on the link she had, I remembered how much she loved the Bomb Pop.

To me, that was really dumb because you usually lost half of it from melting because of their size (and the fact that we had to eat them in the heat outside).  I much preferred a Drumstick.  Those were treats you couldn't get at the candy store.  But....once a year for just a month, they had an ice cream flavor that just drove me wild.  I would buy it whenever I could scrape together the money.  It was when you could buy raspberry ice cream.  OMG!  Creamy and delicious.  It was a flavor to drive you nuts.  But that was in the days before the stores started carrying flavors I never heard of until I had kids of my own.

I will STILL look for it when it's out at the ice cream stores.  I guess the flavor doesn't preserve well or something.  Or perhaps it's just not as desired by other people.  But it remains my favorite overall.  Second in line is butter pecan or a good French vanilla. 

It was really hot here today.  Got up to 94 before I stopped looking at it.  I just know our poor AC was really struggling and never did stop running until just a bit ago when the outside temperature dropped down to about 88 degrees.

My Tremors Attack Pack (the whole Tremors series of movies I ordered) got here today.  It made me so happy to get it.  I was surprised it got here so fast, too, since I didn't order special shipping.  I ordered it on the weekend, it shipped out on Monday (via regular mail) and arrived in my mailbox today.  Of course, the first thing I did after opening it was to pop it in the DVD player and that's what I am trying to watch while I am writing this.   

The Beast got an order of ammunition for his guns from Cabela's yesterday and he knew from my face that I was really pissed over it.  He said to me...*That's the end of it, I swear.  I have all the ammo I could possibly need for my guns.*

Then, today, UPS stops in front of the house and I see the Beast tearing open a box and heading for the garbage can.  I guess he thought he could smuggle his order in without me knowing.  I was standing at the door and said to him, *You are SO busted*  He got this shamed look on his face and all I said to him when he walked in with his purchase was *The end of it, huh?*

He told me it was for the muzzle loader, not the regular guns...like it made a difference.  He came into my room later to tell me he ordered some more bullets for the muzzle loader because he found them for half the price he had paid for them at Gander Mtn.  He said that was going to really and truly be the end...finito.  I looked at him and said (in a very gentle, deceptive voice)...*I'll believe that when I see it NOT happening again.*  That was also when I decided the hell with it, I was going to go ahead and order a few more DVD's I have on my list.

Oh, I won't go crazy with it.  I STILL like to get what is on sale.  The heck of it is that a lot of my Godzilla movies I want are on sale but some of the ones I REALLY want are not really cheap.  Oh well.  C'est la vie!

Chewlee was really glad to see me today.  She told me on her way home with me that she had told her mother not to come...that Gramma had to get her from now on.  I could almost see her telling her mother that.  I'm sure it was because the Princess told her today that I would be picking her up.  She spent a lot of time in my lap or laying in my recliner.

I told her today that she couldn't *click* any more on the computer (and she does love Mahjong) until she went potty in the potty ALL the time and could wear her big girl pants.  She tried to tell me she did but then corrected herself and told me she pee'd in the potty all the time.  I told her that wasn't good enough.  Now we will just have to wait and see if it works.  I'm sure it's going to have to be reiterated a few more times before she believes it.