TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

It was bound to happen.  Assholecakes struck again.  He turned off the Princess's internet service and it wasn't in his name.  He lied to the customer service people and said she hadn't lived at the location for two weeks and got just the cable service, not the internet.  He did this knowing the Princess had two films for school she had to view plus an online test she had to take this weekend.  She went in to the office and had a fit and they told her he had to authorize turning it on.  She kept calling him (40 times) and he wouldn't pick up.  When she went home (livid of course), she yelled at him and told him that she was fed up and was leaving TODAY.  She then started moving boxes and furniture out of the trailer and into her storage unit (after she picked up our truck, of course).  He then called the service and, on one of her trips back, told her she just had to call and say it was fine to turn the internet back on but she told him it was too late now.  Then he went into his *I don't understand why you're being so mean about this.  What did I do?* mode.

So, we now have Chewlee and the Princess here a bit earlier than planned.  The good news is that the cottage/shed is in place.  The guy came early this morning and he did a great job leveling it, too.  The Beast, unknown to me, had already put in a clothes rod (a big one) in it so the Princess had a place to put her clothes that were on hangers.  We also moved out some of the least used winter clothes from our hall closet so there's enough room for Chewlee's jackets since she will be sleeping here when everything is said and done.

The Beast also finally moved out some of his other stuff from the closet in the guest room and emptied some of the drawers that he had filled with his *stuff* from computers that he had stripped and a bunch of stuff that belongs in his camera bags.  It was just easy for him to drop them into drawers rather than be neat and put them in the camera bags.  At least there is room now for Chewlee's clothes.

So we start on our journey into becoming a cohesive family unit for a while.  When the Beast started worrying about where his brother would sleep, I told him *no problemo*....he can sleep with the Beast and I'll sleep on my recliner for the time he is here.  They will be the ones working hard and will need a good nights sleep.  I'm just hobbling around here and will have to worry about our dinner mainly.  I keep weird hours anyway, especially lately. 

Love you all.  Will keep you posted. 

TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

Buttmunch, when talking to me yesterday, brought up the fact that Sheepie is graduating this year.  I was stunned.  Time really does fly by.  It really seems like just last year or so she was a freshman.    I said I would pay for her cap and gown rental but Buttmunch hasn't called me back yet to tell me how much that it.  I mentioned it to the Beast and he just nodded his head.  He never took the walk when he graduated so he doesn't remember but I'm pretty sure that the cost hasn't really risen that much.  I'm just so tickled that so many of my grandkids are looking good as far as graduation and even going on to college.  That makes me VERY happy indeed.  I have to check with Marcus Aurelius but I think his daughter Aimee graduates either this year or next.  I think it's next year.

The Beast was outside checking the wetness/dryness of the areas the driver needs to use to get the cottage/shed in place and pronounced it fit.  The driver will be here tomorrow to finally get it placed where we want it.  Then the Beast can call the Brother so he can come down to help get the interior fixed up.  The Beast has some of the supplies already and others he's waiting on getting it when they are ready to start the real work.  The Princess is going to be putting things into her storage unit little-by-little for the next week and then will probably have Tara's boys and Tonto help move the bigger stuff into the storage unit that she's not going to use for quite a while. 

I'm able to stay on my feet with less pain each day.  It's my endurance that has truly suffered and what I have to rebuild.  But I am able to do more and more every day and am starting to remember what it feels like to be human once again.  I've had so many things I couldn't do for the past several months that need to be done (cleaning under beds for example and cobwebs in some of the rooms) that I can't think of what all I have to do, I just think of one task at a time.  Otherwise, it gets too depressing.  I have shelves that need wiping down, those kind of things and I have my table in my computer room that is piled with clothes that I really want to pack up and send off but I need some things in order to do that.  **Sigh**  It'll get done.  It's just going to take a bit of time for me.  What I am anxious for is being able to drive myself someplace....anyplace.  You never realize how wonderful it is to be able to just jump in your car and drive until you CAN'T.  Even the Beast, who used to think I spent too much money on groceries, has discovered that his *short* trips to the store almost every day adds up to more money than I spent every two weeks.  Some lessons can only be learned the hard way.  Even he is anxious for me to be able to drive again.  That way he doesn't HAVE to be the one to go.  We can really share.

I need to do a little *other* shopping and it's not something I can put on a list for the Beast.  He would be totally clueless.  So, I wait, anxiously.  Chewlee keeps telling me that *when your feet are better and you can drive....*.  She knows that she will be getting a treat since one of the things I need to get is something SHE wants.    Trust a kid to have a memory like an elephant.

I have no idea where it came from but Chewlee complained today about Baron trying to eat *her beautiful hair*.  I asked her who told her she had beautiful hair.  She looked at me so innocently and said, *Everybody tells me that, Grandma.*  I expect it's true.....when her hair is nicely brushed or if they just love the natural curls she has (nice and loose).  I just shook my head and told her that Baron doesn't eat hair.  She probably had it caught in his tags on his collar. 

Love you all.  Have a totally fantastic Friday and a great weekend.  Spend time with friends and loved ones if at all possible.  Those are the best times. 

TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

Sorry this is up so late but Buttmunch called me earlier today and I wondered if I should mention it or not.  Her reason for calling me, I mean.  She was very upset.  It seems she heard from the Golden Child today.  Now some of you that have been following my blog know who that is but for any new ones, she is the oldest child who was full of promise when she was young.  She had good looks, an outgoing personality and a way with animals and insects that had to be seen to be believed.  But then she got involved with drugs.  To make a long story short, it was many years that the family, and especially me, tried to believe she really wanted to change.

All she really did, however, was use everyone that she could and she robbed us all blind to support her habit.  The Princess was her daughter but the Beast and I raised her from when she was very small.  We finally adopted her because we knew there was no hope for a successful reuniting with her mother.  Her mother is still on drugs and homeless.  Unfortunately, she also gets her money for her drugs and temporary dwellings through the oldest profession in the world.  Not a pretty picture.  I think I was the last one to finally open my eyes and really SEE what was happening and I was given the book on Tough Love.  I can't tell you how many nights I cried for my beautiful, lost daughter but I had to admit that she didn't love any of us. She only loved what we could give to her or she could steal from us when we weren't expecting it.  We loved her but it was not returned.  She didn't even love her beautiful daughter enough to straighten out her life.  Now that daughter wants nothing to do with her.  She doesn't even want her to know where she is living.

After I got over my surprise that she had called Buttmunch, I asked how she had even gotten her phone number.  Buttmunch had told her friends living in the area where we knew she was last that, if they ran across her, to call because Buttmunch wanted to know how her sister was doing.  It was not a good conversation and, when Golden Child asked about her daughter, Buttmunch said to her, *Why do you want to know?  When did you ever really care?*  At that, the Golden Child called her a bad name (starts with a *C*) and threw the phone to Buttmunch's friend then ran out of the bar she was in, crying.

Buttmunch was crying as we talked.  She loves her sister.  Hell, we all do but we just cannot trust her any more.  Any positive moves must come from HER and she will have to expect that we will be disbelieving and cautious if it happened at all.  However, there's no sign of that happening.  I know why the Golden Child ran out crying.  She will be able to return later on and lots of people will want to know why she was upset.  She will milk that for all it's worth and get drinks and cigarettes from it at least.  She was always conniving.

But my heart breaks every time I think about her being homeless and the lifestyle she has chosen to live.  She usually gets arrested during the winter so we don't have to worry about her being found, dead of hypothermia under some bridge.  She's in Florida but it still gets cold enough for that to happen.  Either that or someone might kill her and we won't find out about it unless one of Buttmunch's friends sees the newspaper article about a woman found dead in some dumpster and they use one of her arrest photos to identify her. 

I hurt for Buttmunch who really misses her sister.  Even though there's anger there, there's also love and concern.  She could have a nice life but she's getting up in years and probably isn't in the best of health.  Buttmunch just can't understand WHY the Golden Child doesn't love her family the same way we love her.  I'm clueless in that.  She's bipolar so that might have something to do with it.  I'm just not sure.  I still say a prayer for her sometimes and ask that God watch over her and keep her safe from harm.  I know no one can protect her from herself but I do hope no one else harms her.  Both of the Golden Child's brothers don't talk about her much because they held out a helping hand to her but, because rehab was a condition, she refused.  That broke their hearts.  It's broken all our hearts and especially the Beast.  He loved her very much as the first child.  When she got involved with drugs and other things he had no use for, he totally turned his back on her and it froze his heart from caring for many years.  Me?  I'm a mother.  I love all my kids and wish with all my heart that she could be saved and that I would live to see it.  A useless wish, I know. 

Love you all.  Have a wonderful day. 

TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

Woke up this morning feeling really good.  I slept so comfortably that it was amazing.  Of course, how can sleeping on clean sheets be uncomfortable?  Truthfully, I've slept on them during this ordeal but this was different.  My feet didn't hurt me so I was able to go right to sleep.  Even my dreams were nice.

When I got up, I grabbed up the dirty linens and threw them in the washer.  I started working on the floors but had to stop to rest more than I liked.  I've lost a lot of endurance that I need to get back.  I try to stay on my feet until my muscles are screaming.  I almost hate to do that because I sometimes JUST make it to my computer room and collapse on my chair.  I don't know how else to recover except the way they do it at a rehab center.  I watched them when they worked with the Beast so it has to help.

On one of these *rest* periods, I got an IM from the Princess and we talked about this and that for a while until it was time for her to go pick up Chewlee from school.  One of the things we had talked about was their coming for dinner.  I decided to make that Crunchy Onion Chicken they advertise on TV so when the Princess went to the store, she picked up the chicken and french fried onions for it.  Our menu is/was:  Crunchy Onion Chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, some of my canned zucchini/onions/tomatoes mix and applesauce.  It was fun having the two of us preparing dinner together.    I thought about making some garlic bread but the Princess is watching her diet to lose some weight.  She's lost 7 lbs. already and has almost totally lost her love handles.    (Pssst:  She really didn't want to have to buy more jeans and definitely not in a bigger size....LOL)

The chicken was really good but...you think there would be enough salt on the crushed onions but there isn't.  It NEEDS salt and a little pepper.  It was really good even so.  The mashed potatoes were perfect...not a lump to be found.  The veggies were a bit vinegar-y.  I forgot to add some sugar to the mix, otherwise tomatoes will take over and that is almost all you taste.  I will know better next time.  Oh, the applesauce was perfect.

When the Princess got here, Chewlee was so full of piss and vinegar that it was like someone gave her a 5# bag of sugar.  She was bouncing off walls and it took a while before the Princess got her under control.  Wouldn't you know it but, as soon as the Princess sat in my recliner with Chewlee in her lap, the two of them fell sound asleep.  It looked so cute!  I turned off the overhead light in here and slowed down everything that was cooking at the time so they could get at least an hour's sleep.  It worked out perfect because the Princess got a phone call that woke her up just before I was going to wake her anyway.

They went home shortly after we were done and had the dishes loaded in the dishwasher and the one piece of chicken that was left was put in the fridge.    The Princess got her storage unit today.  Just in time, I think.  It seems that Assholecakes (you-know-who-THAT-is), put her sectional out on the patio because HIS couch was going to be delivered today.  I guess there was no hope for him to get into the Marines.  The Princess said, *He bought himself a couch but I sure hope he bought a bed because mine will be gone in a few days.*  My niece, Tara, and her boys will be picking up the sectional tomorrow and delivering it to her storage unit since there will just be a short time for her between when she gets out of school and then has to go to work.  She will have time to change, pick up Chewlee from school and drop her off before she has to be at work.              

She also said that Assholecakes unhooked the TV in the living room from the cable and put it in the bedroom.  When I asked if he had bought a TV, she told me she had no clue since she really wasn't interested.  She said this is obviously not going to be a civil breakup due to Assholecakes attitude.  Since he bought a couch, I guess the Marines don't want him either.

Love you all.  Have to finish folding these sheets I washed earlier and get my (now clean) bedspread on our bed.  The Beast has been really good about keeping Baron off our bed so it will stay clean longer.  I'm really loving it because now *I* am not the bad guy when I make him get down. 

TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

Chewlee got sent home from school today due to running a fever so, of course, the Princess says it's MY fault.  I reminded her that I haven't left this house in over three months so SHE gave it to me, I mutated it slightly and returned the favor.    A good dose of liquid aspirin or whatever is popular now and Chewlee was fine.  Me?  I'm still being cautious because I am still getting nauseous.  I haven't vomited though, thankfully.

The Beast made some corned beef hash and came in to say he would share it with me if I made (and shared) some eggs.  It sounded good to me so I made us both a couple of eggs but...... two bites and I started getting nauseous again.  But I sat quietly and my stomach settled down so I ate more, cautiously and gave the dog what I couldn't manage to finish.  The dog loves licking the egg off the plate.  He loves yolk.

Chewlee snatched up the Beast's TV to watch her shows while she was waiting for her mother, the Princess, to do what she came over to do, which was to seal the floor with spar varnish.  That stuff, although expensive, is a great sealer due to how hard it is when dry.  They use it on boats, hence the name, because it truly does seal wood against damn near everything.

Tomorrow the Princess will be here again (no work) to help the Beast with starting to get the insulation installed.  He says it won't be an easy job because they weren't consistent on how far apart the framework is so he's dealing with more than two different sizes and will have to do some cutting he hoped he wouldn't need to do.  But, since this is technically a shed, normal building codes don't apply.

Chewlee was so excited about the work being done on the cottage/shed until she found out she couldn't stay out there and help.  But she did run in to let me know they were painting out there!  She had to have her regular hot dog plus she ate a banana, had her usual chocolate milk and then some potato chips.  Since she can pretty much have them here any time she wants, she started eating a lot less of them I've noticed.  The same goes with grapes and oranges.  Oh, today we were looking at these different gummy candies and Chewlee asked what the purple ones were.  I told her they were grape.  She stepped back from me, hands on her hips and says, *Grapes are NOT purple, Grandma...they are green!*  I laughed and told her that just because she only likes green ones, it doesn't mean grapes are not purple.  But she shook her head and said, *They aren't purple, Grandma.  I will have to show you next time we go to the store.*  I can't wait for that.  She will probably have a heart attack if they have red ones there, too. 

I'll be busy again tomorrow.  I have to mop the floor since the rain and all the in-and-out traffic of the past few days hasn't been kind to my floors.  Love you all and have a great day. 

TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

I'm blaming Bratfink for being so sick today.  Actually, it started last night as I went to my bed.  It was totally dark in the house and I hadn't gotten my eyes readjusted yet.  When I suddenly hit the Beast's chair, I knew I had a problem.  I became totally disoriented.  The Beast had already awoke because he needed to use the bathroom.  He knew I was having a problem because this had never happened to me before.  He got up, took my arm and helped me find the bed so I could reorient myself.  I was so nauseous that I had the Beast grab the small garbage can.  I had to sit on the edge of my bed for about 10 minutes before I dared lay down.

I slept in my bed until around 10:30 or so then got up, walked to my computer room and discovered that I should have brought the little trash can with me.  Luckily, when I make up my cigarettes, I put them into a Rubbermaid container that's just perfect for any use.  There were only 6 or 7 cigarettes in it.  I grabbed the container,threw the cigarettes onto my desk and emptied my stomach.  I laid down in my recliner and, once my stomach settled down, went back to sleep until about 1:30pm.  I got up, emptied the container and rinsed it out.  When I went back into my room, I sat down, laid back and promptly fell asleep again until Chewlee got here.

The Beast says he hasn't vomited at all yet but he's been nauseous all day , too.  When Chewlee realized I was sick (she practically had her nose next to mine when I barfed), I got a lecture about taking medicine because when *she* was sick, the medicine made her feel better.  She said she would get mine and was crestfallen when she realized I didn't have any that would do that for me.

She then got an idea.  She grabbed my hand, gave it a little pull and said, *C'mon Grandma, we have to go to the doctor.....NOW!*   When I told her that doctors don't work on Sundays except for emergencies at the hospital, she knew just what to do.  She wanted us to go to the hospital, of course. 

I ended up laying back in the recliner while Chewlee played her Mahjong.  I didn't sleep mainly because she would yell *Grandma!  Don't snore.*  Not every time I started to drift off but enough to make me jerk awake and barf once more.  A couple times I woke to little arms around my neck and a little kiss on my forehead.

When I first got on here to try to get this blog done (I've done it in bits and pieces as I was able), I discovered that Chewlee had done a bit more than play her game.  I have no idea just what she did but my keyboard stopped working.  I went and got a wireless one from the Beast's supply closet (it used to be his but he didn't like it because it would make double letters when he used it).  It was set to very sensitive to touch and our *one-finger* typist held down each key for just a little longer than he should have.  I had offered to show him where that setting was but he actually just needed an excuse to buy another one that he liked better.  I checked the settings when I put it on my computer and all is well.

I need to go lay back again.  I'm nauseous again and just don't want to barf, tyvm!  Love you all.  Hope you are taking good care of your health.  Just think!  You too could end up a health wreck like me if you don't.  LOL    

TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

Today Chewlee decided that most of the things we had to eat here were not on her list of foods she would eat.  It boiled down to all she would eat was a banana (good), a piece of pizza (actually she ate a piece and a half because she ate half of one, walked away and Baron snatched up what she left on the plate.  Luckily, there was another piece for her), chocolate milk (2 small glasses), a half of an apple turnover and some potato chips just before it was time for her to go home.  She also shared a dixie cup of ice cream with me.  She gave me less than half but I don't really eat ice cream so it was no hardship here. 

Now, you might ask, just what was it she turned down?  She turned down some sweet potato with cinnamon butter, some nice ham, warm out of the oven, some green beans and some apple sauce.    You have to understand that this kid used to eat a whole CAN of green beans by herself and it wasn't all she ate at a sitting either.  She was also offered some fresh cooked (boiled) chicken but, if it's not fried up or baked, it's become *DOG FOOD* in her mind....at least at our house.  I even showed her how I ate some but she told me that *I* eat dog food because I ate Baron's vegetables.  **Insert eye roll here for the frozen veggies I like**.

The Beast had to go and get a load of gravel to mix with some of the dirt that was pushed out of the ruts left by the truck that was supposed to set the cabin in place.  He didn't dare leave them because there is no way the truck could place it with those ruts left there.  Not fun for him.  I told him he should call Tara and see if the boys are free to help out but he is so freaking stubborn.  He's MACHO MAN!!!!  He don't need no stinkin' help!  He can do it hisself!  **Insert eye roll**

He ended up going to Lowe's three times today because he kept forgetting some flying insect spray.  I know these things driving us nuts are from something old in the one pantry.  They hatch out and spend a lot of their time at the ceiling.  I told the Beast we need to throw out most anything made with flour that is in there but he doesn't believe that is where they are coming from.  His thought?  Those things are COOKED as they are prepared.  How can anything live through that?  So, I said to him....well, there are a few things in there that WE are supposed to cook.  Have it your way and we'll throw all those out.  It's why I told him not to buy a lot of those corn muffin mixes and things.  Those will hatch out bugs like this, too.  We saw it a lot in Florida and we kept the AC on almost all year long!    They just have a *lifetime* before those kind of things happen.  The very idea of that doesn't sit well with me, although we women have learned to accept the fact.  **Sigh**

I was going to put Chewlee in the bathtub but....she told me she took her bath already and *maybe tomorrow*.    Tomorrow most definitely because she has school on Monday.  I don't know if she really took a bath or not but her hair DOES look a little less wild than it did when I took her braid out last night.  In fact, it looks a LOT less wild. 

Chewlee watched her mother changing the dressing on my back yesterday and told me she loves ME but she doesn't love my back.  I told her we tried to tell her she didn't want to watch it but she never listens.  Today she stayed away so I guess she really does learn a few things....eventually.  The Princess told me it's looking WAY better now and that's encouraging.  I was beginning to feel like nothing would heal on me.

Today the feet were burning and kept getting those electric kind of internal shocks from the nerves in the feet.  I am hoping beyond hope that it's a sign that the damn feet are finally going to heal or at least feel better than they have these past three months plus....keep praying.  I sure am.

Time to get this posted.  Tomorrow I have lots I would love to do so I am praying very hard for a good day.  Please, Lord.  Love you all.  Have a great Sunday and, if you go to a church, be sure to smile and relax with your fellow worshipers. 

TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

Today Chewlee decided that most of the things we had to eat here were not on her list of foods she would eat.  It boiled down to all she would eat was a banana (good), a piece of pizza (actually she ate a piece and a half because she ate half of one, walked away and Baron snatched up what she left on the plate.  Luckily, there was another piece for her), chocolate milk (2 small glasses), a half of an apple turnover and some potato chips just before it was time for her to go home.  She also shared a dixie cup of ice cream with me.  She gave me less than half but I don't really eat ice cream so it was no hardship here. 

Now, you might ask, just what was it she turned down?  She turned down some sweet potato with cinnamon butter, some nice ham, warm out of the oven, some green beans and some apple sauce.    You have to understand that this kid used to eat a whole CAN of green beans by herself and it wasn't all she ate at a sitting either.  She was also offered some fresh cooked (boiled) chicken but, if it's not fried up or baked, it's become *DOG FOOD* in her mind....at least at our house.  I even showed her how I ate some but she told me that *I* eat dog food because I ate Baron's vegetables.  **Insert eye roll here for the frozen veggies I like**.

The Beast had to go and get a load of gravel to mix with some of the dirt that was pushed out of the ruts left by the truck that was supposed to set the cabin in place.  He didn't dare leave them because there is no way the truck could place it with those ruts left there.  Not fun for him.  I told him he should call Tara and see if the boys are free to help out but he is so freaking stubborn.  He's MACHO MAN!!!!  He don't need no stinkin' help!  He can do it hisself!  **Insert eye roll**

He ended up going to Lowe's three times today because he kept forgetting some flying insect spray.  I know these things driving us nuts are from something old in the one pantry.  They hatch out and spend a lot of their time at the ceiling.  I told the Beast we need to throw out most anything made with flour that is in there but he doesn't believe that is where they are coming from.  His thought?  Those things are COOKED as they are prepared.  How can anything live through that?  So, I said to him....well, there are a few things in there that WE are supposed to cook.  Have it your way and we'll throw all those out.  It's why I told him not to buy a lot of those corn muffin mixes and things.  Those will hatch out bugs like this, too.  We saw it a lot in Florida and we kept the AC on almost all year long!    They just have a *lifetime* before those kind of things happen.  The very idea of that doesn't sit well with me, although we women have learned to accept the fact.  **Sigh**

I was going to put Chewlee in the bathtub but....she told me she took her bath already and *maybe tomorrow*.    Tomorrow most definitely because she has school on Monday.  I don't know if she really took a bath or not but her hair DOES look a little less wild than it did when I took her braid out last night.  In fact, it looks a LOT less wild. 

Chewlee watched her mother changing the dressing on my back yesterday and told me she loves ME but she doesn't love my back.  I told her we tried to tell her she didn't want to watch it but she never listens.  Today she stayed away so I guess she really does learn a few things....eventually.  The Princess told me it's looking WAY better now and that's encouraging.  I was beginning to feel like nothing would heal on me.

Today the feet were burning and kept getting those electric kind of internal shocks from the nerves in the feet.  I am hoping beyond hope that it's a sign that the damn feet are finally going to heal or at least feel better than they have these past three months plus....keep praying.  I sure am.

Time to get this posted.  Tomorrow I have lots I would love to do so I am praying very hard for a good day.  Please, Lord.  Love you all.  Have a great Sunday and, if you go to a church, be sure to smile and relax with your fellow worshipers. 

TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

The Princess dropped off Chewlee as per usual after picking her up from school.  Of course, the first thing Chewlee noticed after hugging me and getting a kiss was the fact that part of the fence out back was down.  Then she spotted the cottage and wanted to go outside to see it.  Papa obliged her and she pronounced it *cute* but says it *needs fixing inside because it's all gone in there!*    I told her Papa (the Beast), the Brother and Mommy were all going to be working on that to get it ready to be moved into.  She got more excited because she thought SHE would be living there.  I told her that her Mommy was just going to be sleeping and studying out there.  She then said she didn't want to sleep out there because it's *too dark* out there at night.  I didn't explain it would have lights.  I don't really want any conflicts going even before they move in. 

After that, she just wanted me to read her book to her until she spotted that I had Poppit (a balloon pop game) up on the computer screen.  Then she just wanted to play that so I let her.  After she tired of it, we switched to her *block* game (Mahjong) and she played that.  I normally keep Nick Jr. on the TV for her to watch but, unfortunately, it has programs on it that she doesn't like so I have to change to Nick.  Now, I don't mind Nick Jr. because they really don't have toy ads they show on it.  Cereals, yes, yogurts, yes...other food items but no toys.  I love it.  Nick, on the other hand, advertises every toy in the world!  I hate that because Chewlee wants it all.  With very few exceptions unless they are really boys toys.  And, trust me, there are few of those things that she can't see herself playing with, too. 

Tonight, I was really tired of hearing about it because she wants the same things and tells me every time the ads come on.  I usually tell her *we'll see* and that's fine with her.  She will stop nagging.  Tonight I made my big mistake.  I happen to know that she is going to spend a week with her paternal grandfather in October when her mother goes down to Port Charlotte to visit with some old friends and see some new babies.  Also there is a meeting up with an old school buddy who will be home on leave from the air force around the same time.  There will be a bunch of them meeting up together so that should be fun without her having to worry about a babysitter.  The paternal grandfather lives in the panhandle of Florida so she will drive her down there, drop her off and pick her up on her way back home.  Chewlee will have a blast because he, like all grandparents, spoils her rotten. 

What happened was this....I said to her....*Why don't you wait until you see your bald-headed grandpa and ask him about some of these toys?  Grandma can't buy them all for you.*  Well, she had a fit!  She yelled at me and said, *Grandma, I DON'T call him my bald-head Grandpa.  I just call him my Grandpa because he's not really bald, only a little.  He HAS hair!  I just call him Grandpa when I talk to him because I don't want him to feel bad.  YOU just call him MY Grandpa, too.  Okay?*  With that, she crossed her arms across her chest and gave me this mean look.  I couldn't help it, I laughed as I said to her, *Well, Chewlee, when you talk to ME, you call him that so I know which one of your Grandpas you are telling me about.  I wouldn't call him bald-headed if he were here.  I know his name and that is what *I* call him.  But I will say it's your *other* Grandpa now if you want me to do that.*  Then I stopped talking.  She unfolded her arms, crawled in my lap and just said, *Okay...but don't forget!  He isn't my bald-head grandpa.  Remember that.*  I still have to laugh when I remember how serious she was telling me this.  She can be so damned funny and serious at times.

Anyway, I don't think she knows she is going to see him next month.  I guess he will be back very soon and is looking forward to it.  The Princess thought it would be more fun for them both if he was able to be in his own home while he had her, rather than in a motel here.  Besides, Chewlee loves the beach and he will be able to take her there a couple times while she's visiting, weather permitting.  And he takes her shopping, which she loves.  Hell, she loves shopping with me and I don't buy her as much at one time as he does.  But then, he's only got himself to worry about so he's got the time and the money, especially after spending over a year in Afghanistan working as a civilian contractor.  But I will bet you he's glad to be back when he gets here. 

I don't take care of Chewlee all day tomorrow, just for the evening so I am going to enjoy sleeping in late tomorrow.  I'm just hoping the rain is truly all over with for the next few days so we can get the cottage set in place early next week.  Going to get this posted now before the Beast gets back from Walmart and I have to help him put things away.

Enjoy your weekend.  Keep me in your prayers still on the foot problem which was not as good today as yesterday (but still slightly better than normal).  Love you all. 

 TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

Just letting everyone know the cottage/shed/storage unit is here.  Definitely looks more like a cottage than anything.  Has windows on both sides as well as the front.  Porch isn't real big but big enough for a couple chairs.  This should be interesting.  I'm going to try to get some pics and post it.  Has a nice metal roof so no worry about replacing it down the road.  It's barn red (the roof) and the rest is a natural wood.  Almost looks like cedar.  Hmm.  Looks like the ground is too wet for them to get it in place.  He's dropping it just outside the fence that was taken down.

Looks like he will be back on Monday or Tuesday (we hope) when the ground is drier.  Oh well.  The Beast was afraid of that.  We don't need deep ruts in the ground leading up to it.  THAT would be hard to fill up so it didn't cause water to pool under it.  Will keep you posted.

Oh....and as for Johnnycakes and the Princess.  He's supposedly going to talk to a Marine recruiter today.  He told the Princess that without her there, there's no reason for him not to join.  Sure....NOW he will be leaving the apartment she could afford but she's committed now and so are we.  She got her storage unit set up and has given the Beast her down payment on the cottage.  She won't be paying for it all but she has to stay at least a year per the agreement.  She's also going to have to do the sealer on the wood....LOL.  That's not going to be easy since the outside looks like it's a bit rough.  Oh well.  C'est la vie!