September 18, 2011

• Today Is The End Of MY Work Week, So-To-Speak

   

  TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

  Any regular reader of this blog knows I take care of my great-granddaughter, Chewlee, while the Princess works.  During weekdays, Chewlee attends a preschool that is part of the early education program or what we post-hippie era oldsters called Head Start back in the day.  I don't know they would like that term since it's really a structured program to prepare kids for kindergarten but the number of children able to be accepted is limited by both space and funding.  Anyway, the Princess attends her college classes, picks Chewlee up and then either gets ready to drop her off here on her way (albeit the long way 'round) to work, picks her up after work and heads home.  Then the Princess gets to work on her homework for college.  She's taking 15 credit hours which translates into approximately 30 hours of homework.  Thankfully, she doesn't work EVERY day but she does sometimes have to substitute.  I think that part is a joy for her however and not a CHORE.  She gets paid for that and may even be able to do some of her required reading, etc. while she's doing it.

  In the meantime, I get Monday and Tuesday off.  Two whole days in a row!    It's not how it used to be.  Then I get Chewlee on Wednesday and Thursday while the Princess works, (usually) Friday off and then Saturday and Sunday I sit for her.  The Princess dropped one of her shifts on Saturday (supposedly) and only works one on Sunday to allow her time for shopping, washing, cleaning and homework when needed.  I say *supposedly* because, so far, she's been called in by her boss the first day it was to start.  That's what happens when you are dependable AND dependent on your job for expenses (and paying what your grants don't cover).  At least she won't have a student loan to pay off when she graduates.  BUT....

  I am an old person.  Retired.  In pain right now.  I do it because I love the Princess and Chewlee.  Any way that I can help her in her quest for higher education, I wll do gladly.  I admit I sometimes feel taken for granted.  I don't ask for pay because that's part of the reason I do what I do.  If she had to pay someone for what I do, it would be too expensive for her to even take the classes she does.  She would need a better paying job, for one.    I do, however, think a bottle of mudslide every two weeks isn't a whole lot to ask.  Or even a bottle of vodka on occasion.  Those are things I haven't been able to get for myself for over three months.  She's gotten me some (and not asked for the money or told me *forget it* when it was offered) but I have to ask for it special.  When they move in with us and are here all the time, she will be paying rent to the Beast and I just know that it will make it seem more like she's already paying for my services.  That makes me sad.  No one likes to think the other person doesn't appreciate what they are doing for someone.  I don't like feeling that I am taken for granted and it's something I MUST do just because I am grandma.  What do YOU think?

  Sorry about that complaint.  It's just that I figured out I work longer than the Princess does.  Can't be helped.  Chewlee has to be dropped off BEFORE work and isn't picked up until AFTER work.  So I work almost an hour and a half longer every week than the Princess does...and that's IF she doesn't need to stop off at the store first.     No winning for losing as my dad used to say,'

  I posted about my grandson, Doc, when he first did his early enlistment and scattered info about his recruiter putting the boys in that program through various training prior to their going to boot camp.  He was very ready for the punishment the Marines put their recruits through.  I'll say this, too.  I think I fully understand the lifelong feelings of unity and trust that the Marines have by the end of boot camp.  First and foremost....a Marine.  Once a Marine, always a Marine.  No man left behind.  Boo Yah!!!

  He's graduated, had his leave and is now back on Parris Island, NC for additional training for his placement and unit assignments.  My son, Marcus Aurelius (his father) wrote a wonderful *Letter to my son* blog here on Xanga and it's worth the read.  It made me cry so have a tissue handy.  My son is blogging under the name MAurelius (cute, no?).   Here's the link:   http://maurelius.xanga.com/755076945/letter-to-my-son
  

  I really had things I wanted to do today but my feet punished me for all my activity yesterday.  Bratfink reminded me I was going to try some of the ActivOn I had here on the bottom of my feet but I had forgotten it this morning in the wake of trying to walk this morning.  However, I went ahead and put some on this evening and, in a short time, I regretted having forgotten to try it out this morning because......it actually seems to have helped!    This is even though something has happened to it that I need to call the manufacturer about in the morning.  It's separating into liquid and small round, firm balls.    I know!  I haven't exceeded either the temperature high or low they say on the label so I'm just stumped.  Hopefully, they will have an idea about it.  I doubt I am the first one that has found this happened to theirs.

  Love you all.  Got to go now.  Two days off now so I am trying to decide if I want to do something wild and reckless (run naked with scissors?) or just collapse and lay around the house.  I'll figure out something.    Hope you have a wonderful day.  You deserve it. 
  

  • 11:21 pm
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