I was very lazy today.  I didn't cook; I nuked.  What I didn't nuke was a salad and sandwich.  I took my shower at my leisure.  I made the bed up before I refilled my coffee cup sometime after noon.    I know...the height of laziness for me.    I haven't had to sweep the floor or empty an ashtray or clean up cups and glasses laying around either so no reason to go into a cleaning mode.  I really make very little work for myself.  That is the part I enjoy about when the Beast is away.

No Chewlee today since her mom has taken some of her vacation days off work.  She has company visiting from Florida.  A friend and her two kids.  That should be interesting to hear about after they leave because Chewlee will be sharing her bed with one of them.    She isn't real big on sharing so far that I have known.  But we shall see.

The Beast has had three packages delivered here between yesterday and today.  Both are from gun places but I DO know none of them are guns.  I think this is just *etc.* stuff but it annoys me just the same.  More $$ spent on his latest obsession.  Just like his cameras when he was hot and heavy into it.

It got up to 101 today with a heat index of 107 before I stopped checking on it (and that was before the hottest part of the day!).  Not that it mattered because we actually got rain!    I know...it wasn't predicted.  Weird, weird weather all over the world.  El Nino or La Nina, either one, is sure playing havoc, isn't it? 

They aren't predicting it being so hot tomorrow (only 95 for a change) and there's a 30% chance of showers so there's no telling what the weather will be like at all.  I would sure love to see some moderation in our weather before winter sets in, wouldn't you?

I'll be doing *stuff* tomorrow after the drs. appt. like...my overdue haircut.  I have to refill my prescriptions, buy a bathroom scale and a few other minor things.  I may even buy a DVD or two.  The Princess bought this cute top at Belk's the other day and I thought I would take a walk through and see if they have any others similar to it.

Oh, I meant to mention this the other day (but forgot..blush).  If you EVER see the movie called The Mutant Chronicles on TV....PASS IT UP!  That has to be THE worst movie EVER made...and I have a high tolerance for bad movies, trust me on this.  I tried to watch it far longer than I should have.  It left a terrible scar on my mind.  They had to have paid out millions to make it and every dime was wasted.  It's THAT bad.  Not one redeeming feature to it that I could see or even want to see.  Yuk!

I grabbed a cup of coffee after I checked on Chewlee, who was sleeping soundly.  We chatted and drank our coffee until it was time to wake up Chewlee so I could feed and dress her.  She was not a happy camper when told she had to get ready for school.  She wanted to spend the day with me but I reminded her of all the kids in her class and the *toys* in the playground.  After I dressed her and fought to brush her hair, she sat quietly watching Sponge Bob until it was time to leave.  She refused cereal for breakfast but had a banana and some juice.  Just before it was time to take her to preschool, she decided she wanted some *noodles* but it was too late and I told her so.  I gave her a baggie of fruit loops (which she loves without milk, tyvm!) to take with her.  She asked me so sweetly to carry her that I did.  She said goodbye to Papa and Uncle BIL and off we went!

Just before we got to school, she looked around and said in a stricken voice, *Where is my ti-ti?*   I realized we forgot to grab it before we left (I should have remembered...color me red) and she wouldn't take her nap without one.  All the kids bring a blanket for nap time.  I told her I would call her mother to drop a ti-ti off for her so she would have it later.  She smiled and I really think she was trying to reassure me that it would be okay because she said, *That's all right, Gramma.  I have another ti-ti at my home.* 

The *boys* waited until I got back to finish packing up BIL's car since they decided that's what they would do.  I think the Beast enjoyed the thought of not driving for a change.  He just doesn't get a chance to relax and look around since he feels if it's our car, he must drive.  You know, the male ego thing.  So they are off to NC to visit the aunt and then they are going to drop down to Atlanta to visit with BIL's oldest son for a day.  The son will have off from work so they will have a nice time to visit.  Besides, I believe he even has a pool at the house he is renting (and his company is paying for while he's going through some advanced training for the airlines). 

Baron was having an anxiety attack because they kept going in and out without him.  He was so happy when he was finally invited out that he leaped off the front porch onto the ground with one jump!   I believe he was afraid they were going without him.    No way in hell was that going to happen.  Regardless of how annoying the dog can get at times, that is the Beast's faithful companion.

Me?  I have my own plans for the next couple of days.  First, a haircut.  I am taking the Princess to lunch at this one local Mexican restaurant.  I WILL get her the margarita she envisioned, complete with the salty rimmed glass.  It really IS a big deal to turn 21 and it happens just once in each lifetime.  There are enough disappointments in life ahead of her, I am sure.  But, whatever I can do to make just one little thing come true, I will.    (Note:  Lunch was great!)

I made up our bed after a bit and Baron settled himself back on his dog bed to sleep for a while.  It annoyed me no end and I seriously considered waking him except that it kept him out from under MY feet for a while.  Later on, after the Beast and BIL got home, I had to ask the Beast why they weren't at the gun range.  It seems my BIL isn't really interested in guns so that plan of the Beast fell flat.

I straightened up the kitchen a bit and almost kicked myself because I hadn't checked on it when we got home last night.  I ASSUMED the Beast had done that and I hadn't really looked around when I poured my coffee.  Who really wants to SEE the first thing in the morning?  Hell, who CAN see?    Not me, that's for sure!

The guys had stopped and eaten breakfast at McD's (the Beast loves the BIG breakfast...especially the pancakes).  **Insert eyeroll here**  This was to *spare* me (of course!).  Yeah, right!  Actually, I was glad I didn't have to make breakfast for them. 

I spent a great deal of time reading the news.  Lots of interesting articles today that got my attention.  I noticed the house got very quiet and I assumed (again with that word!) they had gone out to the garage or were on the deck while it was tolerable.  But, when I got up, imagine my surprise to find them both napping!  And it wasn't even noon.  That's when I decided to take one myself.  We all slept about two hours.   It was fend for yourself lunch since we have so much lunchmeat and fresh bread.  I told the two guys that dinner was leftovers.  They had their choice:  yesterday's spaghetti or the previous day's curried rice and chicken.  I was planning on a nice fresh salad and some Texas toast to round out the menu.

Once I picked up Chewlee, however, I had to run to Walmart for a few things and then stop at the liquor store for a small gift for the Princess.  I got her some Chi-chi's prepared Margarita mix.  It has the tequila actually in it.  She never DID get her margarita she had told me she wanted for her first legal drink.  She laughed when she picked it up after work.

I have Chewlee for the night and will drop her off at school in the morning before the Beast leaves for his aunt's house in NC.  She was also pretty quiet for herself tonight and went to bed nicely.  I knew she was tired.  And so my day ends....another exciting, hot day at the Brat Farm. 

So, off we go to Huntsville because the Princess wanted to eat at TGI Friday's.  I think it had something to do with this super-large drink they serve there but she thought better of it because she has to work tomorrow and there are plans to do some bar hopping with some friends. 

Chewlee was so happy to see me when we met up there.  The brother-in-law and I drove in his car while the Princess, Johnnycakes and Chewlee drove in hers.  That way, if they decided to go to see a movie, they could (but we had fun and stayed later than expected so I think they ended up going straight back to the Princess's apartment.  Chewlee was in a rare mood to begin with but, once it hit around 10pm, she started getting cranky because she was tired.

The Princess had two of the specialty drinks they make at TGI Friday's.   They were both different but the base was some fruit concoction.  Both were different and tasty since she let me try a sip.  We ordered food and BIL treated us as a birthday present for the Princess.  We laughed, talked, joked around and I think we all had a good time.  I know I sure did.  Chewlee got a bit loud at times because she hates feeling ignored but she was still so sweet.  She HAD to put straws in everyone's water and drinks.  She stirred BIL's White Russian for him.  She shared everyone's food since she is notorious for not eating what you order for her, even when she says that is what she wants.  Her first words to the waitress that came over to the table was she wanted chicken nuggets.  She didn't even notice she didn't get them at first.  She has a rib, some steak, a couple shrimp and lots of french fries.  I only gave her a few at a time until she finally told me that was enough.

The Princess and BIL related for Johnnycakes some of the tales of the disastrous fishing trips that BIL had endured with his brother, the Beast.  I had forgotten about a couple of them until the tales were being told.  Those were some of the things we all laughed over.  Poor BIL has never gone fishing with the Beast on any of his boats that he ever caught a fish or even had a boring day with nothing unusual happening to them.  He said he is almost afraid to think about ever going out on our pontoon boat but I reminded him that at least they couldn't drift out to sea and there would always be plenty of water to drink in our local lake.

That was the end of our evening and the drive home was uneventful.  When we got home, the Beast was sound asleep on the bed and the house was dark.  He had, however, turned on the outside light for us.  I was really grateful because it's so damn dark here at night.  He did, however, wake up after a bit and right now he is sitting at the kitchen table while BIL relates the evening to him and his observations on Johnnycakes.  BIL said he thinks Chewlee is the cutest kid.  She's funny and a chatterbox which reminds him of his wife's youngest son's daughter.  The Beast fell in love with that kid and I think it's part of the reason he adores Chewlee.  The two have a lot in common, I guess.

I'm beat and am going to drink my coffee, play a game or two of mahjong and then head off to bed.  I am going to babysit Chewlee while the Princess does her barhopping tomorrow evening after work so I am going to need all my strength for that.

The bad part of it is how it sets you thinking.  Like...who will cry for me when I am gone?  I mean for more than the few days it may take for them to get used to my passing?  It's not like I have done anything earthshaking.  I know my brothers and sisters will miss me for a while.  My kids, for a while.  But people have lives and life tends to move onward.  I would like to be a good memory for more than just a few minutes, hours or days.  But, I suppose, since I may be in the Guff awaiting my next life, I won't know these things.  It would break my heart to think that all those that I cherish and love...even those departed from this life...may never know or even care.  But, I continue to hold them dear to my heart regardless.  I think of them often, even if I don't speak with them or have the chance to spend time with them.

I am just too damn sentimental for my own good.  Love you all and I wish you a wonderful day.  I will be continuing my frantic getting ready for the Beast's brother's visit.  I think I will only have the floor to mop by the time I finish today.  Had to take a pain pill because I did a few things additional that I normally stretch over a couple days so that everything gets done...eventually.    Just as well since the dog seems to be shedding more than normal during this hot weather.  *sigh*  My poor dustmop looked like a Pekinese. 

Other than that, her attitude was good and she was in a cute mood.  She had the Beast and I both laughing with some of the things she came up with.  I gave her some Sponge Bob fruit candies...just a small envelope of them was all I had....and she was so dramatic telling me, *Oh thank you very much, Gramma!*  The Beast got a kick out of her singing songs like *Itsy Bitsy Spider* and the ABC song.  She sang along with a couple of the Dora songs they sing all the time and came running up to me to tell me (in a very stern voice and with a *mad* face) that *I* wasn't singing and I had to sing, too.  Usually she's telling me, *Shhh!  Be quiet, Gramma!* 

She ordered noodles to eat and I asked her if she wanted something different.  She told me *NO!  I'm sick, Gramma.  I need noodles!*  So, noodles she got and she ate them.  Twice.  Once for lunch and another at dinner time.  I tried to interest her in other things but she refused.  Oh well.  As long as she was happy.  We only had one bad incident...well, bad for her.  She wanted a picture I had and I refused to let her keep it.  She kept saying it was HERS and I told her not everything she wanted was hers and she had better learn that.    She threw a bit of a hissy fit and that was when I decided it was bedtime for her.  I knew she was tired because she usually tries to bargain with me.  When she fusses and cries, she's tired.

The Princess picked her up after work and that is when the Beast broke the news to me that his brother was coming to visit on Monday and on Wednesday, they were going to go to his aunt's house in North Carolina to spend a few days with her.  I did a bit of a happy dance since they will both be here just the two days (the Beast and his brother) and then gone for a few.  I was not totally happy about not seeing the sister-in-law but I figured she is probably feeling the same way I do when I get a chance to get rid of the Beast.  The BIL told the Beast that she wanted to paint while he's gone.  I know the feeling. 

I think the only real reason they aren't leaving the next day is because the Beast has no idea if there is a place up in NC that he could go shoot his guns but he knows where to go here.  He'll take his brother out on Tuesday and the two of them will have some fun.  Knowing the Beast, if the weather isn't too unbearable, they will probably take the ATV's out for a bit also.  They get exactly like little kids when they are together.

The one good thing is my BIL will finally be able to meet Chewlee.  Not for long, granted, but better than nothing.  Chewlee is always fascinated by meeting *family* although she still doesn't understand the concept of aunts and uncles. 

Well, I am tired out after have Chewlee two whole days in a row (and most of a third one) mainly because my IBS has decided to give me hell.  I haven't figured out what set THAT off but I've taken my pills so I should feel better after a good night's rest.  Love you all and I am going to get this set for you all for later.

The temperature dropped radically.....about 20 degrees.  I doubt it will affect tomorrow but it's sure nice right now.  You can actually go in and out of the house without gasping for air. 

Chewlee is feeling a bit better but the fever persists.  All of which leads me to think she has some kind of hidden infection.  At least her bowels are not runny and I am very grateful for that, TYVM!  I am really wondering if she might actually be lactose intolerant.  Partly because this seems to run in our family although it doesn't hit people until they are a bit older...usually.  But also a kind of process of elimination I've been running through my mind.  I'm going to have the Princess start keeping track of any milk products Chewlee might be eating or drinking and see what happens.  If it seems to be possible, then she can tell the doctor about it.  I am sure they must have some tests for that.  All babies go through a test after birth that can detect such things but who is to say it can't start later on?

I fell asleep after the Princess picked up Chewlee.  She was with Johnnycakes because they had gone to Cicis for the pizza buffet after she had gotten off work.  Chewlee needed to take some Motrin and I will not subject you to the whole scene we went through to accomplish that. 

I apologize for this not being up if you are used to reading it right after midnight EDT.  Color me embarrassed.  The Beast must have come in to say goodnight and saw me sleeping because he turned off the light.  He knows better than to turn off the TV because it wakes me up immediately.  He may not understand how I can sleep with a TV on or even why turning it off will wake me but he has learned to live with it. 

The temperature hasn't gone down much once the sun went down.  The rain made it a lot cooler during what is usually the hottest part of the day.  It's 75 right now with a prediction that it will only go down to 73.  Tomorrow it is supposed to be in the mid-90s BUT.....they say we will get more rain tomorrow afternoon.  We shall see.  I know the rain we got today was a real blessing for the farmers around here.  The corn and cotton crops are really suffering but, lord, you should see the local watermelons and cantaloupes.  :shocked.  The cantaloupe I bought today was almost as big as a watermelon and it was one of the smaller ones that were available.  I could hardly believe it!  Even the Beast was shocked when he saw it. 

Well, I am going to get this up for you all even though it's late.  The Princess will be dropping off Chewlee nice and early tomorrow.  If she is as energetic tomorrow (Saturday) as she was today (Friday), I will need all the rest I can get.  She even got into a fight with the Beast about the TV out in the living room being HER TV.  The poor guy was trying to catch up on the news and Chewlee wanted HER programs on.  She even told me to go get the remote from him and put HER programs on.  I made her come into my room and watch instead.  She just likes the BIG TV more than mine.

They took her temperature before I left with her just to make sure.  Did you know they are required by law to take it from under their arm?  Weird.  And you have to add a degree when you do it that way.  But the kids don't object to it like they do other ways you can take their temperatures so I guess it works.  More sanitary, too.  Less chance of cross-contamination. 

Here's the strange thing and why we are wondering if they are feeding Chewlee something she is allergic to.  She was fine yesterday when her mother dropped her off early.  They fed her breakfast.  Shortly thereafter, she started barfing.  That continued here as I noted in yesterday's blog.  But.....she got a rash on her left cheek that seemed to come out of nowhere.  This morning, when she woke up and her mother was getting her dressed, she found that Chewlee had another patch of rash on her left arm and, when she was changed (she had wet her pullups during the night), everywhere the urine had touched in her crotch was covered in a rash.  When I checked it out, it didn't look like a normal diaper rash.

They told me at the school that Chewlee hadn't eaten much of her breakfast which looked to be biscuits and gravy but I didn't think to really check it out.  It may have been a good thing because, after about two hours here and one and a half popsicles, Chewlee was hungry.  Despite yesterday's comments from Chewlee, she wanted her noodles.  She said to me, *I think I am ready to eat, Gramma.  I want noodles.*  She could hardly wait to get into her chair which she had pushed directly in front of the TV.    She only ate about half of what she normally does but she kept it down.  No barfing.  Not even complaints about her tummy not feeling good.  She sat herself down afterward (in Papa's chair, of course) and told me she wanted juice with ice in her sippy cup and some grapes in her bowl.  Yes, she has her own special bowls here....no comments about a grandma spoiling the kid.  I just ordered a t-shirt that says *Grandma's the name......spoiling's the game*  I'm proud of being able to do a little spoiling.  Especially to a GREAT-grandchild. 

So, the Princess stopped on her way back from the doctor's office and picked up some benadryl for Chewlee and some motrin for the fever.  When she had to drop her off later (she had an appointment with a *personal* trainer at the gym), she did it because Chewlee was still running a fever so she couldn't go to the child care room at the gym.  She was a bit drowsy beside and fell asleep in Papa's chair.  She still had a fever when her mom came to pick her up.  We decided that Chewlee will just be dropped off to spend the day with me and I will give her the motrin and see if the benadryl has helped at all.  If this continues, I may have to take Chewlee to her doctor's.  Her mom has to work (she's still paying for her car ) and I know the location of the doctor's office.  It's a family center and I used to go there until my doctor moved to another practice.

Chewlee was funny today.  The Beast has learned to lock our bedroom door when he showers due to Chewlee thinking it's okay to go in the bathroom when he's doing that.  She thinks nothing of pulling back the shower curtain, which leaves the Beast feeling VERY exposed.  Today, he locked the door and, since the door is in Chewlee's line of vision when she's in Papa's chair, she had to go over to try to open it.  I was in my room (she often orders me to go to MY room once she's settled and ready to watch her programs) and she suddenly came running in, yelling, *Quick, Gramma.   Papa needs help!*

She grabbed my hand and pulled me towards the bedroom and I was wondering if, indeed, the Beast had fallen or some such thing.  When we got to the door, she immediately went to open the door and it was locked.  She looked at me and said, *See!  The door is locked!  Quick!  Papa needs help.*  I couldn't help laughing and said to her, *Papa is a big person and he knows how to unlock the door.*  She wasn't happy about it but she finally settled down and went back to *her* chair.  When we had come in from the garage, after I picked her up, she headed right for the Beast's recliner but she stopped and looked directly at him and said, *This is MY chair now*.  Even the Beast smiled at that.  He was sitting at the kitchen table making up his cigarettes at the time.  He didn't even argue with her for fun since she was sick.

She also told me that Baron smelled bad when he came in from outside and went over to lick her face.  She patted him on his head but moved her face away from him when she told me that.  Since he had been doing his version of sunbathing while outside (he lays in the grass, legs up in the air and spread open for a while), I knew he probably did have a strong doggy smell.  He also stinks after he does his exercise with the Beast every evening when it gets a bit cooler.  That's chasing after and trying to beat the Beast around our circle here and get back home.  He cheats.  The Beast stays on the pavement but Baron takes a short cut on the last leg of the run.  He loves it when he sits down on the driveway before the Beast gets there.  I swear, he has this smug look on his face!  ROFLMAO!

It hit 100 here today around 1:30pm.  It's 9pm at night when I am writing this up and it's still 80 degrees outside.  The humidity is 94% and that's without rain.  It sure thundered a lot for over an hour but.....not a drop of rain fell.  At least, not anywhere close to us.

Since the Princess has our truck while she's waiting for her car repairs to be finished and the Beast was out driving around in hell, the Princess had to run to the school, drop Chewlee off to me and then run back to work.  No sooner had Chewlee sat down when she barfed and started crying.  It was all bile.  The school told me she had hardly eaten any lunch and, what she did eat, she barfed up shortly thereafter.  She had to have been feeling poorly right from the get-go.  She didn't have much of a fever, just a bit over a degree and she was very lethargic.  She barfed a time again later then almost fell asleep.  When she got up for a bit, she seemed a lot happier and said she wanted some noodle soup.  She only ate half of it but that was better than being hungry. 

I had tried, earlier, to give her a popsicle and she really wanted it but then only ate a little and gave it to me to put back in the freezer.  I knew she wasn't feeling good at all then.  That is definitely NOT our girl.    Within about 20 minutes, she was barfing up the noodle soup and complaining that it was *nasty* and *disgusting*.  The barfing part she was talking about.  She was upset that she vomited her noodles and I have a feeling she won't be asking for them again for a while because of it.  When she said her mouth hurt, I tried to get her to swish around some water in her mouth (or some juice) and then spit it out to get rid of the bad taste but she wouldn't do it. 

When I got her to lay down on the couch, she curled into a ball and I asked her if her stomach hurt or was she cold?  She told me she was cold so I got her ti-ti (blankey) and put it over her.  She uncurled after just a few minutes.  I told the Princess when she came to get her to keep her from getting chilled.  I may end up with her tomorrow if she's not feeling good because the Princess has a drs. appt. in Huntsville tomorrow.  I am hoping she feels better because I hate to see her feeling bad for any reason.  But, I am heading for bed shortly since the Princess will have to drop her off very early then.