TALES OF THE BRAT FARM

Today Chewlee got here just when I was finishing up putting fresh sheets on the guest bed.  I went through the shelves in that closet and organized the sheets, blankets and bedspreads that were in there.  There were some missing pillowcases and I also found some I thought had disappeared.  At least the room is ready for when the Brother gets here on Wednesday.   I put a bedspread on it that Chewlee hadn't noticed before I guess.  It's a pretty eyelet one and she laid claim to it immediately.  I told her I had promised it to her cousin, Sheepie but she shot me a look that said, *Over my dead body!* 

She got a bit upset when I told her the Brother was going to be using *her* room next week.  She looked at me and said, *Why?*  When I told her he had to have a place to sleep and that he was coming to help out the Beast, she shrugged and said, *Well, he can't get it dirty!*  I just rolled my eyes at that.  She's the worlds worst at putting things away without being told.  I have to get a particular tone in my voice before she pays attention and does what she's told.

She had an adventure today.  School pictures.  The Princess said the photographer had some really nice backgrounds and now we are all anxious to see how they turn out.   She is also showing some kind of bad behavior that I think she is imitating from kids at school.  It takes me about a half an hour to get her out of it before she becomes herself again.  Not always but enough so that I think someone in her class has had a bad day and Chewlee is trying on the behavior to see what happens.

She's also become very loving once again.  I mean where she comes and wants to hold me and be held and kissed.  She will tell me she loves me and I always tell her I love her, too.  I don't want her to have to ask me that question....EVER.  I don't want her to have any doubt.  It's bad enough Johnnycakes pushes her away and tells her she's annoying.  He's been the only *daddy* she's known.  But he doesn't love her he told the Princess.  She isn't HIS.  What an ass.

We figured out a way to make it work for the Princess and Chewlee to get moved in even if the cottage isn't totally ready.  She can't stay with Johnnycakes much longer.   She's going to get a storage space for the furniture and things that she won't need.  She does say she may try to sell the couch which is a sectional and too big for most apartments.  I think she's going to use her table as a kind of desk since it's round but two sides fold down to make it more *desk-like*.    I would like to put the full size bed into storage with her stuff and put Chewlee's single in the guest room but we decided if we did have company (like over the holidays), it just might come in handy.  We shall have to wait and see.  We don't have to make that decision for a week and a half at least.

Chewlee has been dividing her time between the Beast and me lately.  She will go play with Baron in our bedroom while the Beast is on his computer and run over to give him a hug every once in a while.  She asks him questions about his game he plays (Hearts) and has decided she needs to be a *little bit older* to play it.

She was so pleased with herself because she was able to find one of *her* games without me being in the room.  She told me she knew it was a *short* word (Poppit).  She ran out to the kitchen where I was making some coffee to tell me I had to *come and see!*.  Which I did, of course.   I told the Beast about it and he was shocked.  She has a little harder time finding Mahjong Safari but no trouble finding her *room* (Cats).  She knows it when she sees it and will click on it and say *Cats* every time.  She likes cats.

Thanks to everyone that said a prayer for me and my feet.  I woke up early this morning and they were actually not as painful.  Still pain but much more bearable so I managed to get a few more things done than normal.  I hope this trend continues.

Got to get this posted now while the skies are clear.  Love you all.  Have a wonderful Friday. 

TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

Two disasters today.  #1....the Brother is coming.  Not that I would normally mind but he's coming to help out the Beast with the work that needs doing on the cottage/shed/storage building.  For that, I am grateful.  BUT...it means listening to the Beast after we go to bed complain about his brother being all thumbs (he really is useless that way but he can help hold things so *I* don't have to try to do it with my feet still in such rotten shape).

#2....the orthopedic doctor has apparently had some kind of misfortune and won't be making any of his appointments for the rest of the week.  The nurse said he is trying to get one of his *alternates* to take over while he has to be off and she will call me back to set up an appointment as soon as she knows when he will be starting.  There is only one other orthopedic doctor in this county (the bad side of country living) and I have no idea how good or bad he is so I am kind of stuck no matter what.  I will probably end up being one of the first ones seen by the person subbing for my ortho doctor only because I actually started to cry when his office called.  I told the nurse I was sorry but I have been in so much pain that I was hoping to see an end to it soon.  Oh well.  Chin up and all that.  Nothing else to do but wait and see and hope I don't slit my wrists if the Brother comes this weekend.

When the nurse and I were talking, she asked if anything helped at all and I told her only some serious pain pills.  Unfortunately, she can't prescribe them but she said she would call my regular doctor and ask him if he could fax a prescription in for me to tide me over.  Lord love a duck, I could have kissed her but I did tell her that I wasn't sure if he would or not since he had no idea about how bad my feet are.  He hadn't even taken an X-ray the day I came in.  The idea seemed to horrify her but she managed to keep from saying anything bad.  Her reaction was, *Oh my goodness!  Why not?*  To which I said, *Because I could still flex my toes then.*  She just let out a kind of *Hmmph* and left it at that.  Definitely a good, Southern girl.

No rain but they are saying we have a 40% chance tomorrow and that will put a crimp in the Beast's plans if the ground gets really wet.  He made mention of that and I am assuming it's because he doesn't want it sinking into the soft ground.  I think he wants to level it and that's easier with dry ground, for shure!    However, what about when it rains in the future?  Maybe I am missing something.

Chewlee got yelled at by the Beast today and she knew she was going to when she did it.  She came running into my room and hid behind my recliner just as I heard the Beast yell, *CHEWLEE!*  Turns out she let Baron out front when the little dog was out there and Baron likes to run with him and not listen to the Beast.  Guaranteed to piss off the Beast BIG TIME!  This time, however, there must have been murder in the Beast's voice because Baron came to him immediately and didn't stray when he brought him back into the house.  Chewlee told the Beast she was sorry and he could tell she really was.  She stayed back there for a little while though after he told her she is NOT to let Baron outside unless she asks first if she can.  I told her if the Beast is not in the house to ask, she has to ask ME because I know Baron can brush her aside easily if he wants to go out and play with that dog.

Well, Chewlee's bath is done and she's ready for me to put the braid in her hair that she says she wants.  First I have to get her dressed, though, or she will run around naked as long as she can.  She told me she can't WAIT until she comes to live here with us all the time.  Things must be deteriorating at home.  She even yelled at Baron to *get out of HER room* .... LOL.

Love you all.  Have a great day and keep me in your prayers for a bit, won't you?  The dampness doesn't help my feet any and I am down to just aspirin for pain now.  **Sigh**  What doesn't kill you......  

TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

I've been sitting here thinking about some of the differences in the way *I* was raised and they way my kids were.  I mean when it comes to feelings about family.  I've said before that my kids really lost out on that *family* connection because my family was in Chicago and they were born and raised in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.  Oh, don't get excited about that and think how lucky they were.  It's not really a whole lot different than growing up most anywhere.  Just no snow. 

If you have no family around (grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins...), it's really kind of sad.  Those times when you want to talk about a new crush and you aren't close to your sister or brother, where do you turn?  A friend?  What if that friend harbors a secret crush of their own on the same person?  That could be like helping set yourself up for a big fall.  Why?  Because a *friend* can become a total jerk in nothing flat if they want to undermine you in any way.  A cousin....or an aunt...uncle...grandparent....has no interest in doing anything of the sort.  Heck, most of the time, they don't even usually live in the same neighborhood.  You can share those kind of things with family. 

Also, when you are a teen and maybe are not having a good day/evening with a parent for any reason, family can become an intermediary or even just a place to go so everyone can cool off, know what I mean?  For lack of alternatives, many friends have taken kids down the wrong roads simply because there's no alternative.  Not even the alternative of someone who's opinion just might be listened to instead of just reacting to it (like most kids react to anything their parents might have to say).

Families have hugs, smiles, celebrations, picnics, weddings you can attend and have someone you like to hang out with.  They have sad events, too.  Deaths, divorces, accidents, failures of one sort or another.  They are a really great source of support no matter what happens.  My kids didn't have that.

I don't think they truly understand what *family is forever* means other than the way it defines THEIR relationships to each other.  It was tough for me to finally give up on *the Golden Child* that was the oldest daughter and the Princess's mother.  I think I was actually the last one to do so because she was my CHILD.  I loved her.  I wanted desperately to believe in her, to help her.  But she stole from me, from US ALL.  Money I could have and should have been able to spend on myself or the other kids went to pay for bail, lawyers, she even used the Princess as a way to get money out of me.  I suspected but chose to be blind many times but I finally...FINALLY....knew that I had gone beyond any reasonable point and was in danger of losing all my other children to that blind spot a mother can have when she won't wake up and smell the coffee.  The Golden Child was lost to the power of drugs and there would be no redemption.  At least not with me enabling her to continue on MY DIME, so-to-speak. 

I'm not sure if it was as difficult for my children to give up on her.  Oh, I know that Buttmunch misses her at times but she remembers, too, how she would be embarrassed by her also.  And how she stole from her, too.  Buttmunch was no angel but she did grow up eventually and she stopped doing drugs.  Just an occasional joint.  Ditto Mustachio.  Marcus Aurelius never got into drugs, thankfully.  He had lots of bad examples all around him between many of the kids in the neighborhood and the worst one, his sister.  I guess that's why I wasn't surprised that they thought nothing of moving all over the place when they got the chance.  Out of Florida and to places like NC, TN and KY.  They had done a lot of traveling around the country with us while they were growing up so they knew there really WAS life outside of Florida but I was surprised they wanted to live in places that had snow.    But then, *I* was the one that hated snow, not them. 

So, when I get upset with them and try to remind them that I am just as fierce about defending THEM as I am pissed off when they start squabbling because we are FAMILY, I really and truly don't know how profound that point is for them.  I have a feeling it means so much more to me.  It's sad.  Even worse, I don't think they even feel strongly about ME.  Perhaps it is because they know I love THEM.  Hell, I love ALL my family fiercely.  With all their warts and boils, strengths and weaknesses but I may even be alone in that.  I don't know.  I can forgive them for damn near anything.  Let me think......no, I can forgive them for anything.  I might take a day or two for some things but......anything.  But I don't think it's the same for my family about me.  I've lived apart from them for too long for me to be sure of anything.   Sad thoughts for someone drawing near to the end of her lifetime.  We all like to think we will be missed and remembered but it may not be true.    And how sad is that?  I guess that is why we need God.  Because if we are good enough and try hard enough, surely HE will remember us, love us, forgive us and not forget us.

Maybe that is truly what really matters.

Love you all.  Hope you have a wonderful rest of the week.

TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

Today the Beast pushed back the delivery of the cottage until Friday.  Oh, not because it's raining here but because he wants to have a few more things ready to get working on it when it gets here.  He has decided on one thing that surprised me.  He's putting in carpeting.  It helps solve a heating problem with winter coming up and will even help on the cooling because of less heat loss. 

He wants ME to talk to our satellite service for TV and lord only knows why.  I'm really not sure what the hell he wants me to find out for him after I find out how complicated it would be to just add another *room* to the service and how much that will cost extra per month.  He said something in passing about his running the cable but I don't know enough about what he has in mind or what the cable company would require to ask the right questions.  So, I think I will find out about just adding the additional *room* and then hand the phone to him to talk technicalities.  I actually think the people at DISH wouldn't have a clue anyhow.  It's going to require talking to the actual installers which are independent companies.  But, we shall see.

Once the Beast gets going on the cottage, it will go fast.  He becomes driven on his projects and will work like a beaver and he will collapse early every night while that is going on.   Even though it seemingly kills him, it's what makes his life worth living.  He NEEDS projects like a bee needs flowers or a bird needs wings to fly. 

As for me, I am just so tired of hurting.  I mean my FEET hurting.  You can't do a damn thing without your feet or some acceptable substitute.  Even going to the bathroom is a challenge.  I am sure feeling a lot of empathy for all those unfortunates that have lost a foot or even both.  God bless them and keep them and give them the strength to endure.  I have done nothing to warrant any sympathy from Him that I can think of but I would ask for a little bit of help if it can be spared. 

I am trying to consider this the *rain* in my life that must fall.  It's really tough on days like today when the pain is greater than normal.  I think it's the barometric pressure, humidity or some such thing that does it.  I just know that it makes me break out in a cold sweat as I try to walk even short distances.   I am hoping I can get some answers from the orthopedic doctor.  Or at least some degree of help. 

Since the weather is so *iffy* and we have lost the TV reception a couple of times already, I think I am going to cut this short and get it posted.  Love you all.  Hope you have a great day tomorrow. 

TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

Okay, I am a bit tired of people (and you know who you are) that don't seem to care about hurting anyone's feelings with some unwarranted comments.  First of all, the Princess is not a selfish bitch.  She is merely a person under a lot of various pressures trying to cope as best she can.  She may sometimes forget and not remember what other people think are important but I know she at least TRIES.  Like the rest of us, she just needs a poke in the ass sometimes. 

We are the ones that really pressured her into moving up here.  We didn't give her a whole lot of choice but went down and moved her up here to help get her away from the ex- that was stalking her.  She lived with us less than six months before she found a place of her own and got out on her own.  She's always been a working fool and has never gone more than a week or so between jobs.  And, to make sure you understand, she is not a flitter-by because she has never been fired from a job and has almost always bettered her $$ or her position with any move she's made.

Yes, we have helped her out by buying her a car because the one she had was undependable and we worried about the baby.  BUT....and this is a big one....you can come and see the repayment schedule for that car (and the insurance on it) and see that she has made every single payment on time, every time.  There is nothing we have done for her that she has not repaid us for.  It has not been a free ride for her by any means.  She does not deserve being called a selfish bitch when she is the only one that can say she has repaid us for these things that you (and you know who you are) are jealous about.  We have done what we can, when we could with all of you.  Some of it was appreciated; some I don't think was but.....no one called you selfish or any bad things.  No one hurt your feelings, did they?

So I am cranky at times and complain when I shouldn't.  It's only because I haven't been able to drive.  Hell, I have hardly been able to walk these past three-and-a-half months.  If I could have, I would have said nothing because I am fully able then to do things for myself.  I've always found it easy to help out other people than to ask or expect help when I needed it.  I love Chewlee, the Princess, Marcus Aurelius, Mustachio, Buttmunch and my other four grandkids.  They are my LIFE, even if I don't get to see or talk with them much except around Holidays.  They are my family.  I am MOMMA BEAR and I will correct my cubs myself and KILL anyone that tries to hurt them.  So, I am saying now.....BE GOOD TO EACH OTHER.  Friends come and go but FAMILY IS FOREVER AND WE ARE FAMILY.   We do NOT intentionally nor publicly hurt each other.  Got it?

Okay.  Love you all and I mean that.  Be good, be happy and be good to each other, too.

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. 

TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

Today was a really great day.  Bright sun, moderate temperature (75 for the high) and a very happy Chewlee.  I'm so glad she is always happy to come to Grandma's house.  The first thing she did was to inspect the DVD's Auntie Bratfink sent her.  When she saw the new Veggietales one, she immediately told me that *when Sponge Bob took his nap* (the time when there is a break in programming) we would watch the new one along with the other one we have.  Bratfink sent us *The Prodigal Son* and we have *Lyle, The Kindly Viking*.  All of the Veggietales have very solid life lessons to them.  They are done nicely and are cute to watch.  She really likes the ones she's seen (I think some of her friends have others) and tells me what she's learned from them.  The one that cracked me up was when she told me you don't bite friends.    Only enemies.

Bratfink also sent her a Yogi Bear DVD and one of the Nanny McPhee DVD's.  On our planned DVD schedule, Yogi is #3.  She recognized that Emma Thompson, who plays Penelope on Harry Potter, was on the cover of Nanny McPhee.  She says we will watch that after Yogi but I think she will be confused.  Emma is unrecognizable as Nanny but I hope she finds it interesting.  I shall see.

The Beast is outside mowing the lawn very short in the area where the cottage/shed will be placed next week.  I had to laugh watching him mowing with his John Deere.  It used to be fairly easy to mow the back even with the trees that are planted.  However, with the addition of the raised garden and flowerbed, it's now tougher for him.  Once the shed is placed, it will be even worse.  Oh, and lets not forget the area where the solar panels are.  **Sigh**  He makes his life complicated, I think.

I worked on laundry today.  I forced myself to do more walking than normal even though my feet are screaming at me.  Of course, with Chewlee here, doing more walking is really not much more than she forces on me at times because she doesn't really understand the kind of pain it causes me.  I'm Grandma and I am here to serve her or just to come and see things she finds interesting.  Sometimes, it's just to *pretend* with her or tickle her or help her find a match on her Mahjong game when she gets stuck.  That's not often, thankfully.  Today she ordered me to go put my feet up but it was really just because she wanted my chair for herself while she played her game.  She usually prefers to be on my lap and her wiggling butt is extremely uncomfortable after a short time.  I was glad to go and put my feet up, trust me.

She got upset with me because I made myself some California blend vegetables.  We've been adding them to the dog's chicken for so long that she thinks it's *dog food* and won't touch it.  I keep telling the Beast to buy us just the broccoli and cauliflower mix because the California blend has waaaaay too many carrots in it but he never remembers.  **Sigh**  I spotted a brand new bag in the freezer so I just finished up what was in the old bag.  I had a taste for veggies.  She kept running up to me, looking in the bowl and going *EWWWWWW!* and wrinkling up her nose.  It was totally funny!

Veggietales from Auntie Bratfink was a hit, as was Yogi Bear.  Nanny McPhee confused her.  First of all, it wasn't what she expected.  Secondly, she kept asking me questions and missing out on some of the action.  She told me we have to watch it *tomorrow*.

It's now almost dark and I decided to go ahead and let her take a bath since she spent about an hour running around the backyard.  For a while, she had her doll with her and kept rocking it while she stomped around after the Beast who was mowing on his John Deere.  She then put her baby to bed and told me I had to be very quiet in the house or I would wake her up.  Then she ran outside and around the yard with Baron.  Baron loves a freshly cut lawn.  He loves to roll in it, I mean.  The Beast or I have to then brush him down before letting him into the house or he tracks it all over.  I half expected Chewlee to join him. 

Well, love you all.  I have to finish my laundry now.  Mostly folding to do at this point.  I hung out my scatter rugs to dry because they don't do well in the dryer with those latex backs they have.  It's supposed to be cool again tonight and I hope I get some decent sleep.  I don't get Chewlee until the afternoon so I can sleep in if I want (or should I say *can*?).  I have high hopes of getting the floors cleaned up...at least the kitchen, living and dining room areas anyway.  That much would make me very, very happy since I haven't really touched them in over three months now.  Thankfully, you really can't tell and I love that about the flooring at least.  Then I plan on working on this rug in here.  I may even start on it tonight.  **Grin**  I am really tired of being mostly sedentary.  Wouldn't you be? 

TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

Today the Beast spent half the day complaining about the cost of what he was going to do to the cottage/cabin/shed...whatever the hell you want to call it.  In his whole life, the Beast has never done any kind of project, big or small, that wasn't more expensive or more complicated than he figured it would be.  I DID mention that fact to him when he started talking about having to put in two electrical circuits instead of one because of this and that.

Later he went to Lowe's to look at *some things* and came back a little happier because he figured out how to do with only one circuit.  Oh well, we all take our joys from different things.  I did get a little bit of satisfaction from one thing.  Where he originally said he was going to have the unit set down (and I told him it was pitched and uneven there), he decided to move it to an area that actually IS more level.  He just looked at me and said, *It's just too uneven if I put it over there.*  No apology, of course.  But he went out there with a level and walked the area before he decided I was right.  He didn't do it until he was loosening the fence post that needs it in order for the truck to drop off the cottage.

Has anyone reading this been watching the weekly program *The Haven*?  It got my interest right from the get-go when I watched the first episode.  It has the most interesting sets of supernatural happenings that the people that live there call *the troubles*.  The troubles happen every so many years and each time, they are different, depending on the families involved.  It's been so interesting, I hate to see the time between the end of this season and the beginning of the next.  Now is when I wish I had a DVR.  Oh well.  What it reminds me of is the saying by Stephen King.  Stephen King said:  Monsters are real; ghosts are real, too.  They live inside of us.  Sometimes they win.  **Shiver**

It got cooler with a vengeance today.  Our high was only about 64, I believe it was and it will drop down into the 50's tonight.  Although we suffered a miserably hot summer, I am not ready for an early winter.  I get this feeling we will see a very, very short fall season and then....BOOM!  Winter.  No thank you.  How do you feel about that?  Or are you ready for winter to be here?

Well, nothing more is doing here right now.  Chewlee will be here about 9:30am tomorrow.  That will cut my sleep time down.  I've been going to bed early for me (around 12:30am or so) and sleeping until 10 or 11am.  It takes me a bit to get my feet settled but, once asleep, oh man!  It feels so good!  Sleeping in my own bed for a change.  I've spent too much time grabbing a few hours here and there in my recliner.  It's not really comfortable and it sure isn't satisfying my need for rest.

My big toe in some ways is better although it SEEMS a bit worse.  My keeping it moist with the triple antibiotic is making it weep but...it seems to be healing.    You figure THAT out.  The Beast remembered to get me more of the gauze pads I wanted and even found some bandages that look perfect to cover that toe when I go to the orthopedic doctor next week.  Keep your fingers crossed for me that he can help me out somehow.

Love you all.  Have a great weekend.  Tara's sister-in-law and her son leave for home tomorrow which means Tara will be making the trip to Atlanta and back.  Luckily, it's not a bad trip and quite scenic in some areas.  It's only getting to the airport that it becomes a bit nerve rattling.  That's kind of the heart of the city area and several different roads converge.  But if you pay attention, it's not all that bad.  I'll be checking on her, trust me.  It will be fine once she's back on Alabama roads. 

TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

Today Tara called the Beast early to ask a favor of him.  Her good friend and ex-sister-in-law has been here visiting with her son.  They were going to Chattanooga today to visit those esoteric visitors centers called Rock City and Ruby Falls.  Upon their return, she was hoping he would take a picture of the three related boys (the ones involved with that particular ex-husband and the sister-in-law's son) for their paternal grandmother.  The older of the two boys belonging to Tara was fortunate enough to have his hair covering the 17 stitches he had to get for an injury from goofing around the other day (the three older boys were involved).

Now, here's where the love comes in.  A couple weeks ago, while scratching my back with a back scratcher, I hit a spot that shouldn't have been there.  With some serious gyrations, I discovered a bump that looked a lot like a developing cyst or boil.  The Beast is one of those types that is not helpful for something like that.  Besides, I knew it wasn't ready to pop yet. 

Today, when I leaned back in my chair this morning, I got that *ut-oh* feeling.  It was ready.  I've had one or two of these before and I can tell.  I was glad that Tara was coming over because she has helped me out in a similar type situation once before.  So, after the pictures were taken and the Beast was working on making up some copies, I pulled her into my room and asked her for her help.

As soon as she saw it, she said, *Oh, my goodness!  It's HUGE!  What should I do?*  I handed her some tissue paper and said, *Squeeze*.  When she did, she gave out a yell and said, *I guess it really was ready to pop*, as she leaned over and wiped up some stuff from the floor.  I then held the tissue box and told her to keep going until there was no more.  She did.  She then put some triple antibiotic ointment on it and a bandage.  Bless her heart.  It was such a relief.

Trust me on this.....it was not a little feat, nor a small boil.  It took her over two minutes to get it emptied.  And the stuff that comes out is not something most people can even look at.   I am so very glad she loves me and has the stomach for it.  And now I can sit back in comfort.  Well, almost.  The spot is just a bit sore right now but I know that will pass.  Thank you again, Tara.  Love you,too.

TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

So today the Beast busied himself in all kinds of calculations (from the AC & Heating program we used at our company) about heat load/cold loss with different product installations.  These include the insulation rating, the type of flooring, etc.  He had to show me each and every one.  Even though there is a lot of heat loss expected using the wooden flooring like we have in the house vs. rugs, since it is going to be permanently OURS, we figure it makes for a nice floor for the Princess and she can always get a nice large rug for while she is there.  We really don't want to have to worry about keeping a rug clean in the cottage/storage building.

I can see this is going to be a real pain in the ass until everything is done.  I made the suggestion that he should ask Tara's boys to give him a hand with some of the things (like holding the paneling when he has to cut it) and helping hold it in place while he nail guns it in place.  Even when he installs the subflooring and flooring on it, he can use the help and I won't be able to do it.

When Chewlee was dropped off today, she was a bit tired and half asleep.  I had the lights off in here since I had planned on taking a bit of a nap.  She never did get to sleep but she stayed quiet and watched TV.  I didn't get my nap in either but I did get my feet up for a while at least.  The Princess told Chewlee last night that she was going to have a regular 8pm bedtime (even if the Princess is not here) once they move in.  Chewlee had told her that they were moving in with Grandma and, when she asked where she heard that, Chewlee told her I had said so.  I explained to the Princess that Chewlee had said she wanted to stay here all the time.  I told her, *...but what would your mommy do without you?*  Her answer was, *Oh, mommy will stay here, too!*  I laughed and said that she would have her wish in a couple of weeks and she jumped on that with excitement.  She said, *Really?*  I told her *Really!* and she hugged me tightly and said, *Thank you, Grandma...thank you!*.  Now that makes me wonder what is so bad about where she lives right now that she wants to live somewhere else.  Could it be.....Johnnycakes?  Hmmmm.

I was telling Bratfink that there are times Chewlee will have a very adult type conversation with you.  It's almost scary.  Then she will get excited about Sponge Bob and it ruins the whole image.  I told her that I really think Chewlee has spent WAY TOO MUCH of her life in the company of adults.  Bratfink said...*SPENDS...*  I'm glad she has had the couple years of being with kids at the Village School first and now at the structured preschool.  I can already see the difference just in the way she draws things.  I know that's not a major deal but it's one that I know is important.  It's why I let her play the Mahjong Safari game on Pogo.  It really does help with her small motor skills and she can identify all the various animal tiles she matches.  From meercat to aardvark and platypus plus normal tigers and bears.  When she asks me to help her find matches, I will tell her the name of the animal on the tiles she can match and she has to find them.  It always amazes me that she does it as easily as she does.

Well, it's almost time for her *block* game (Mahjong)....we have a schedule, so I will get this posted.  Weatherbug is predicting showers later and I an see the sky clouding over.  If it gets thick enough, I lose my internet and that means I'll lose my post, too.  Love you all and I hope your day went well.  Tomorrow is Friday and the end of the work week so there's something to smile about.  Have a wonderful day.