TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

Busy day for me today.  I finally got my homemade chicken soup and homemade noodles done.  It not only hit the spot but tasted fantastic.  The Beast ate two big bowls of it and so did I.  But....due to the Beast taking MY chicken and feeding it to the dog because he *assumed* I had already put the meat into the soup stock (I didn't because the carrots needed cooking and all the white meat would have been just fibers).  I have no idea how much meat he thought was on that chicken but it sure wasn't as much at all THAT!  So, I had to cook up some chicken legs for the soup.  That just delayed our having it until dinner time.

The Beast made a change in his plans.  His buddy/customer from Ft. Lauderdale that had him on retainer for so long called and begged him to come down and help out with this one building that they are having some incredible problems with.  He's been trying to tell her to budget to replace the unit entirely (it's a big water tower that needs replacing) but she's only the manager/broker for the building.  So, he's going down there to talk to the owners of the building (who will be visiting from their homes in England) and will also straighten out the problems they currently have.  The water tower, if I remember correctly, will have to be shipped from either Denmark or Sweden.  They need to get one with the same specs or they might as well remodel the whole damn building.  The current unit on it is over 20 years old.  Since we have to pay property taxes on both houses in December, he figures that will do the trick with the money he makes for the week he will be down there.

Then, when he gets back, weather cooperating, he will go visit his brother.  Actually, figure he won't make it until after Xmas.  The drive down to Ft. Lauderdale and then home, even though a week separates the two, will just about kill him and it will take him time to recuperate.  By then, it will be close to Xmas and there will be things that the Brother's wife will be planning with her kids and grandkids so.......

The Beast will have to go meet up with the insurance estimator or whomever is responsible for writing the check on the car they totaled.  He pulled the title for it out of the file so it's handy and the Princess needs to find out where they towed it so she can go get all her personal stuff out of it.  Knowing her, she'd better bring a couple shopping bags.  She doesn't keep the neatest car (and it's all Chewlee's fault, of course).  I carted around four kids and never had that messy a car even on a long trip!  Sheesh.

Well, it's cold and I have my heater on in here plus I'm all wrapped up in the Snuggie.  I find it a real pain in the ass to keep on and move around.  It's strictly for laying around in unless you are six feet tall.  Even when I take it off and lay it next to me, I have to be very careful to avoid what is laying on the rug in my path.  I almost took a header when I went to get more coffee from the kitchen.  I laid it over the arm of my computer chair and it trailed about 3 feet away from it right in my path.  If I hadn't looked down immediately when I *felt* the difference in the texture I was on, I would have hurt myself AND my feet.....again.

It's going to be getting colder at night all week long.  Bratfink had sleet today   Can such be far behind for US?  The Beast will be jumping in the car and taking off for South Florida just to enjoy some warmth. 

Love you all.  Be good.  Be careful.  Tell those you love that you DO love and care for them.  Life is short.  Let the last words you may ever utter to someone be tender words. 

TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

The insurance rep finally showed up at the place where the Princess's car had been towed.  He looked it over and decided the car was totaled.  The Beast has some papers he will have to sign and then we will get a check for whatever it's worth.  The figures of $11K-$13K have been tossed around but we won't know for sure until we get the papers.  It really is a shame.  I liked that car but the Princess felt it was cursed.  I almost can't blame her.  Anyway, she has a rental right now and she will start looking around for another car.  She wants one that gets better gas mileage since she will be starting her classes in Athens this next term and that's a long haul.  It's an hours drive away in good weather.  The worst weather here is still to come.

If she spends more than we get out of this (she almost had repaid everything on it), it's on her shoulders and her credit.  She has a dealer here that told her if they don't have what she wants (something fairly new, not heavy on the miles and gets 32 or more miles per gallon) then she just has to tell him what she wants and he will get it for her.  I told her be specific.  They just don't think about what you want INSIDE the car for your comfort. 

Anyway, the Princess is happy because now she can get a car SHE feels good about.  The Beast is happy because he won't be responsible for her foibles in the future.  They are talking again (that makes ME happy) and the Princess still says she will be back once her car business is settled.  I think she hopes that all the work will be done....soon.  That part, I have no idea about nor any control over.  But I think the Beast wants it over and done with.  The Brother will be returning with him from Illinois to do some of the finish work and finish up the ceiling area, I believe.  With the two of them working together, it shouldn't be more than 4 days.  I guess we just have to wait and see.

My left heel has become black and blue from hitting the sort spot on it on the legs of my computer chair.  I should have one of those that turn but don't roll around.  Why is it when you have a wound of any kind, you constantly hit that spot?  It never fails.  I think the Beast's homeopathic remedies for me have actually helped restore some of the feeling in my feet and that is both good and bad.  It's good because I know when I hurt myself but it's bad because OMG....THE PAIN....THE PAIN!!!  When I lay down to try to sleep at night, there is no way I can put that foot down that pressure is NOT on that heel.  It doesn't matter if it's on the side or directly on the back.  It's painful and prevents me from sleeping on my bed.  I end up on my recliner with my foot hanging off the side or else my toes are pushing against the arm and I am curled up in a ball.   I sleep but it's just not the same as being in my own bed.  **Sigh**  I know it will pass and that keeps me going.  I WILL live.  I just won't enjoy it for a while.

I decided to make some homemade chicken soup.  I used the water from boiling the chicken we make for Baron as a base.  The Beast boils it so the base is strong and that enables me to dilute it without losing the taste.  It's all dark meat and that makes the best base for the soup.  I threw the leftover chicken from Thanksgiving in with the remaining meat on it in the pot and covered it with water to simmer along with a chopped up onion and some chopped celery.  I tasted it and added the salt and pepper plus a few other spices and it's heavenly.  A little later, I will remove the now softened up meat from the chicken, cut it up and add it to the base.  Tomorrow I will add some more onion, celery and sliced carrots and let it come to a boil before I add my homemade noodles to finish the soup off.  I took more than a cup of grease off the top of the base before I even started and I'll check that again in the morning before I start working on it again.  I hate all that grease and I know it's not good for you.  The Beast has a cholesterol problem as it is.

It's cold here today and it was dismal outside.  The Beast actually had the fireplace going to take the chill out of the air.  I finally got the Snuggies I ordered and found out they make a great blanket with sleeves.  I'm not totally sold on it but it will be great for sleeping on the recliner for sure.  It's long enough to cover my feet well and the sleeves will even cover my hands and keep them warm. 

Love you all and I wish you a great week and good health.  Please remember my daughter-in-law, Raven, in your prayers.  She has her surgery tomorrow and I am praying for it to go well and be uneventful. Be careful driving.  Smile a lot and spread the good feelings around. 

TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

Why is it little girls just love having nail polish on?  Chewlee will pick out a color after she's worn me down and I tell her I'll put some on her but she has to be good so it dries nice.  I let her choose from the light pinks I have.  Two of the colors actually only look like her nails are shining because they are so light but it makes her happy.

It's not just Chewlee.  Our neighbors have the cutest little girl who will proudly show me her nails when her mother puts some on her.  She wiggles her fingers so much that you almost can't see the color.  They also seem to get more feminine.  They know that nail polish is something that their mothers and BIG girls wear so they are doubly happy when THEY get some.  In their minds, it puts them in the same category as BIG girls.

Chewlee starts off wanting nail polish on her fingers.  The next thing I know, the shoes and socks are off and I have a foot in my lap so her toes match her fingers.     Then she doesn't want to cover them up with shoes and socks.  Who can see that she has nail polish on them if she covers them up.

Chewlee has this toy cell phone that's really cute.  It will call her from time-to-time when she puts it ON.  I found to shut the damn thing OFF I have to hit the ON button again and shut the top.  It goes off after about 30 seconds.  You can tell because the light around the antenna section goes out.  She has an amazing variety of people that *call* her.  She will answer her phone and say, *Hello?  Oh hello xxxxxxxx!* and then go on to talk about her day and she asks what they are doing.  Yesterday she came into my room and told me to turn down my television because she was on the phone.    Today, eery time someone called me, she HAD to be on her phone at the same time and she would sit on the floor next to me blathering until I tapped her on her head and told her to go talk in the other room or in HER room because she would talk louder and louder until you couldn't hear.  Typical little kid stuff.  They always want to be the center of attention.

Her conversations with her mother on HER phone are really hilarious at times.  She will run up to me with her hand over the phone like she doesn't want the person she's talking to to hear and say things like, *Mommy wants to know if you want to go to the zoo with us when your feet are better.*  or *Mommy wants to know if you need anything from the store today*.  Just too funny.  I play along with her because she is so sincere.  You would think from listening to her talk that she actually has someone she's talking to.  I saw one of Tara's sons do a double take when she was walking around with the toy cell phone one day.  That's how real her conversations sound.

It has rained here all day today to Baron's chagrin.  He hates rain as much as he does snow so he wouldn't go out to pee until he couldn't hold it any more.  He barely got down the stairs before he had his leg lifted.  As soon as he was done, he whipped around and wanted in.  We keep a towel close by so we can towel him off when he comes in and wipe his paws. too.  He makes large footprints on my floor with those clodhopper feet of his.

The Beast will probably go to the Brother's on Wednesday and I told him that I was going to clean the floors while he's gone because then I can do it a little at a time and not worry about Baron dragging stuff in the house from between his paws.  Oh, have you seen the ad on television for the new knock-off of the Rhumba machine?  You can use those wet or dry clothes on it and it whips around your floors and cleans or sweeps for you?  I told the Beast I really liked that and discovered that he had already looked it up on the Internet after seeing the ad.  He found out you can buy it at Walmart for about $200.  I just smiled and said, *What a dynamite Christmas present that would make for someone, wouldn't it?*  I hope he takes the hint.  I almost knocked him over the head with that one, don't you think? 

Love you all.  Have a great week, ya hear?  Go easy on the Christmas shopping.  Don't do too much at one time.    Oh, do you want my Wish List?  I'll be happy to post it for you if you want. 

TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

First, lets talk about Sirius Radio.  It seems that more and more cars are coming with it already downloaded and ready to use.  It''s actually incredible to have if you do any traveling.  Know how stations fade in and out or you lose one station and have to search for another?  With Sirius, there's no fading.  No loss of signal.  And OMG! the selection of music is incredible.  If your cable company or satellite company gives it to you then you have some idea of the variety of music you can choose from.  I love the 50's and 60's music  and there's even a romantic music channel offered.  Like Country and Western?  Several types are offered.  Jazz.  Blues.  Classical.  You like it, they offer it.

The problem is that we only have it for a short length of time and then, if we want to keep it, we have to pay for it ourselves.  It isn't cheap, by any means.  But the Beast loves it and really doesn't want to lose it.  We also have the same option for OnStar.  That we are definitely keeping.  It's not all that bad in price for the year.  But Sirius?  $$$$$$$.  It's expensive.  I was tired of hearing the Beast moan and groan over the upcoming choice to be made so I said, *Oh for cryin' out loud, Beast, just do the two year program.  Pay it and don't think about it.  You know you want it so go for it!*  He just looked at me and said, *You're right.  I know it.  I guess that's what I'll do.*  Yeah, like he wouldn't have anyway.  For his own reasons, he just had to make sure I agreed with him on it.

Today, Chewlee and Baron almost came to blows and I got mad at the Beast over the whole thing.  I made lunch for us all.  Turkey sandwiches.  Some cottage cheese/fruit salad.  Chewlee also wanted some celery.  I cut up a stalk of celery in easy to eat pieces and gave her a small container of Ranch dressing to dip the celery in.  I cut her sandwich into four pieces so it would be very easy for her small hands.  Bad move.  It was also very easy for Baron to snag off her plate.  She had eaten two and was casually eating some of her celery while watching her cartoons.  The plate was on the little table next to the recliner she was sitting in.  I heard her yell out Baron's name and went out to see what happened.

The Beast was sitting, making up some cigarettes for himself, just about six feet away.  She immediately told me that Baron had taken one of her sandwiches and she was really upset.  I knew something was up with him because he always goes into Chewlee's room when he's got something to eat that he shouldn't have.  That's where he will then chew it and come out of the room looking innocent.  It's the reason that the garbage can we have always has the lid down.  So I told Chewlee to just finish up the last sandwich on her plate and next time Baron gets too close to her food, tap him on his nose and tell him *Back!*  I'm not even back in my room and I hear her yelling that out and I turn around and she's crying because Baron actually took the sandwich out of her hand!  I yelled at Baron to go to his bed and told Chewlee I would make her another two sandwiches (one slice of bread cut in half and then in half again).  I closed our bedroom door so Baron wouldn't be able to interrupt her lunch this time and, at the same time, I yelled at the Beast.  I told him that he was closest to her and yet he ignored her needing help.  He could have stopped his *son* from stealing the turkey sandwich pieces.  He looked at me and said....get this!.....I didn't notice.  He was totally in another universe.  MEN!!!  Worse, THE BEAST!!!!

He talked to his brother tonight so I guess he's set his plans on when he's going to go up there for his visit.  His brother will come back with him to help finish up the interior work on the cottage/shed.  At least, that was part of the conversation I heard.  I'll find out later when he's going to go up there.

We've had some incredible weather here the past week.  It's like Indian Summer weather and it's the second time in the past month that we've been so blessed.  Not terribly warm but in the upper 60's, sunny and just NICE.  I sure hope you've had the weather you enjoy.  We are going to go out and trim up the rose bush out front.  It has some gorgeous roses on it and they are just starting to open.  They smell wonderful and I'm anxious to get them into my vase to enjoy while we can.  That's the rose bush that I bought thru the mail and it was a bare root plant.  It's done wonderful.  We had already trimmed it back when it presented us with this prize of more roses.

Love you all.  Get those Christmas decorations out and up.  It's THAT time. 

TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

Calm day today.  The Beast and I slept in.  Later on, he went out to Pet Depot and bought some more dry dog food for Baron (and Baron got to go, too!).  Baron loves that store and the people that work there all know him and think he's adorable.  He really behaves himself....like he knows he has to behave or he won't be able to actually go inside with the Beast any more. 

Afterward, the Beast finally took him to the park and just let him run to his heart's content.  When he got home, he plopped down on his bed and went to sleep so I guess he had a good day.  At least he calmed down.  Nothing worse than a 110 lb. doberman in a small house that's antsy.

Later on, the Princess brought over Chewlee.  Chewlee is staying overnight because she and Johnnycakes (I THINK it's Johnnycakes anyway) are going to a concert in Huntsville.  It will be late before they get home and I would have Chewlee all day tomorrow anyway.  She decided she wanted to watch Fern Gully again and I got the Beast to put it in for her on the big TV since he was going to take a bath.  She will never want to watch it on my TV after seeing it on the big one.  It's incredible how the larger picture and the TV being HD makes.  I thought my TV was an HD but, if it is, I think it's getting old now.  It wasn't an expensive one but it works for me.  No complaints here.  I did like watching the last two Harry Potter movies on the big TV, however.  Sometimes, bigger IS better.

Chewlee is growing up so fast.  She has things she wants to talk about and they sometimes seem so grown up.  She's becoming very polite and asking if she can do different things, like sitting in my lap instead of just coming over and jumping into it like she always did.  She will lean back into me while we watch TV together.

She's funny at times, too.  Like tonight when she knew one of my programs was having a marathon and it was mostly new ones for me.  Ones that I had missed out on.  When we got her all set up in Papa's chair with her snack and her milk, she looked at me and said, *Grandma....go...you are missing your program!*  Then she leaned back and I was dismissed. 

She told me...told me, mind you....that I had to lay down with her when it was bedtime for her.  She told me she would share her blanket with me and I just had to stay until she went to sleep.  Awww!  But then she said, *No...you don't have to.  I have my kitty with me.  And you will leave the light on in the closet, right?*  I told her of course I would.  I leave it on until she's asleep then I open her bedroom door and turn it off.  I leave the door open so if she wakes during the night, the light over the sink can be seen.  I also have a night light in the bathroom for her.  What she usually does is go to the bathroom, then come into my bedroom and get into bed with me.  She cuddles up with me, her blanket and her current stuffed animal and goes to sleep.  Once, she got up, took her blanket and stuffed animal and was going back to her own bed....I thought.  When I woke up later, she was on the love seat, sound asleep.  It was really funny and cute because Baron was curled up on the other end of the love seat with her.

Love you all.  Hope you had a great day if you are one of the Black Friday shoppers.  I've never gotten into that and couldn't this year if I wanted to.  But...if you are...I hope your bargains were fantastic and your feet survived it all.  Be good.  Be careful and watch out for the other guy when you drive. 

TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

I hope everyone had a happy Thanksgiving.  The Beast and I shared the preparation of our chicken dinner.  It was very much like a regular Thanksgiving dinner except we cooked a 7 lb. capon that turned out wonderful.  I stuffed it with our regular bread dressing and made a separate dish of oyster dressing.  The Beast had already started the sweet potatoes boiling when I woke up so we had real sweet potato casserole.  With one difference because.....the Beast forgot miniature marshmallows.  That set me off laughing because this is HIS favorite dish and he forgot the part he loves.  I made a crunchy topping for it that was made from oatmeal, brown sugar, nuts, butter and flour.  You add it at the end of the cooking time like you would the marshmallows and let it get nice and brown.  Delicious and it's actually less calories.  Not that anyone is really counting calories around here...LOL.

The bad thing that happened to me was I forgot to eat anything.  I was drinking coffee but it never occurred to me that I wasn't EATING because we were dealing with all sorts of foods.  You know, chopping celery and onions, nuts, making the stuffing, etc.  It seems like all you are doing is making food to eat and your stomach growling seems like it's just in anticipation.  So, when dinner was ready and I filled my plate, I suddenly got very sick and vomited.  I had to lay down and fell asleep.  When I woke up after about an hour, I was very leery about eating anything but I had a bite of this and a bite of that and it all stayed down.  Phew!  What a relief. 

Later on, my niece, Tara, came by to drop off some leftovers from her Thanksgiving dinner.  Real mashed potatoes (she made the boys peel the potatoes  ), a delicious gravy, some sliced turkey, chicken and noodles, baked corn casserole (the Beast loves it) and....a favorite of Tara's and mine....a *fruit salad* that is made with cottage cheese, mixed fruits, jello powder and cool whip.  Poor Tara has had a tough time with that since she fell in love with it at one of my dinners.  She's made it several times and it always came out watery.  This time she nailed it and it came out right.  I had sent her the recipe again and stated that all the fruits used had to be thoroughly drained as a reminder.  She was so proud of herself and I really enjoyed it.  She didn't bring over too much.  It's just enough for one meal for us.  Perfect! 

The Princess has promised us some leftovers which we will get tomorrow when she brings Chewlee, I'm sure.  I'm hoping she brings some of the squash dish since I love squash and some of the green bean casserole.  I didn't make any because the Beast didn't know it required the french fried onions and he can take it or leave it so it's not high on his list of things to remember. 

My son, Mustachio, called to wish us a Happy Thanksgiving.  He was at Buttmunch's house.  She prepared Thanksgiving dinner for herself, Circle, Sheepie and Mustachio.  She wanted to have a family dinner this year so we didn't bring Sheepie down for the Holiday.  As it is, it's a good thing since both the Beast and I were sick.  I found out that she and the Princess were having some sort of fight on Facebook and Sheepie was saying her boyfriend's family was wonderful and HER family sucked.  Funny but I helped get part of her graduation fees paid for her and I've paid several times a year for her to come visit with us (Spring Break, Summer vacations, Thanksgiving and Christmas) where she ends up spending most of her time with her boyfriend.  They DO watch movies here on the big screen TV so we get to see her.  I've never complained about that because she was kept apart from us for so many years before we found her and got her back in our lives.

She now lives with her mother in Louisville and will be graduating in May.  She WAS working but it was her first job and she didn't know that you don't tell your boss that you were offered another job at higher pay for when you turn 18 (she turns 18 at the tail end of January).  Result?  She got fired.  I don't know if she found another job but she liked being able to have pocket money and be putting money in the bank.  It enabled her to buy her own laptop and she still had money in the bank.  She had never worked before.  It was the reason we didn't get her this past summer.  She was making money instead.  It's not bad enough that the Princess and the Beast have bad blood going on (but it seems to be easing) but now the two cousins are fighting?  I'm too old for this shit.  It may just ruin my Christmas plans.

Oh well.  C'est la vie!  I will just take a deep breath and let things unfold as they will.  I can't make things better and I don't want to make things worse.  I love all my kids and grandkids and I sure don't like to see them fighting and saying mean things to each other.  Family is forever.  Friends (even boyfriends) come and go as we grow and experience life.  One thing is very true.  Life is not stagnant.  It is in a state of flux all the time.  We should remember to be careful of what we say because it can come back to bite you in the ass later on.  There's an old saying that's very true.....If you can't say anything good about someone, don't say anything at all.  That includes when you are angry or hurt.

Love you all.  Hope your day was as nice weather-wise as ours was.  It was like Indian Summer here today with lots of sunlight and gentle breezes.  Be good, be careful and drive carefully.  Watch out for the other guy.  Driving defensively is smarter than you might think. 

TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

Woke up around 3:30am in a cold sweat.  It was obvious in a short time that I was in the midst of a serious relapse.  I spent the rest of the night awake and then asleep as the fever came and went.  By morning, I knew there was no way I was going to manage a Thanksgiving get-together.  So, when I finally was able to get to my feet briefly, I texted Tara and told her what was up and to make sure to come get the turkey so she would have a meal for tomorrow.  I was hoping she and the Princess would get together to make up a dinner for them both but it figures that this year the Princess decided that she would try her hand at making one on her own.  (With shopping list provided by myself, tyvm...LOL).

I slept most of the day.  I made one feeble attempt at getting up and probably had Bratfink wondering what was up because I turned on my computer but never made it to my keyboard.  I ended up in the bathroom and then barely made it back to a horizontal position.  I couldn't even shut my computer back down.

I was almost feeling human...almost..when the Princess dropped off Chewlee.  Chewlee was glad to see me and had to give me a big hug.  I just squeezed her until she protested and then proceeded to tell me about her *vacation*.  She obviously loved her grandfather's tub which must be a Roman tub.  She said she could swim in it.  She said she has her own room, a Hello Kitty room and she came here with her *Hello Kitty* stuffed animal, which talks.  She said she got a kit to make necklaces and bracelets that are animals.

She was so cute today talking about having Turkey Day at *her* house with her mommy and daddy (yes, he's baaaaaack!) but Chewlee is happy and that's what matters most to me.  She is going to spend Friday night here so the Princess and Johnnycakes can go to a concert and that made her very happy.  We talked about my wallpaper (different birds and it changes every half hour).  She saw some pigmy parrots and had to learn how to say *pigmy*.  She would say, *Will you say that again?* and then she would repeat it after me.  She's decided that she would like some and she will feed them apples and nuts and water because they really like water and she will cover them up at night.  Of course, a few of those things she learned from me since we once owned a pigmy parrot (named Boris).  But she came up with the fact that she would need a cage for it all by herself.

I really DID miss having her around and she says she missed me.  She told me that she didn't miss Papa but she missed Baron.    I can understand her not missing him because he really doesn't interact with her much at all except to take pictures.  Not that he doesn't talk to her, he just doesn't encourage it, if you know what I mean.

The Beast for his own reason has decided he is going to make us a roast chicken tomorrow, complete with stuffing.  He's says it will be the first time we are having a dinner with just US there.  That's not true but, as far as his wounded memories are concerned, I just let it be.  It WILL be the first one where he is serving more than a one-dish meal since he got us some sweet potatoes as a side.  Of course, they are huge so we will be sharing one of them and saving the others for another day.

I hope your Turkey Day is a bit more festive than ours.  Tara just got here to pick up the turkey.  She waited because of an accident coming up the mountain towards our house from hers so that it could clear up.  Love you all and try to stay healthy and happy everyone.  The Princess and the Beast did exchange civilized words today so some of my anxiety is assuaged (but not all yet).  OH...HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!  FROM MY HEART TO YOURS 

TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

I have absolutely no idea what went on when the Beast went to go pick up the Princess this morning.  I was very worried about that part, let me tell you because the Beast makes up his mind and that is that.  It takes a lot of thought down the line (and after he's done much emotional damage) before he can be reasonable at all.  All I can tell you is this:  when he came home, he was alone.  She obviously went back to Johnnycake's rather than come home.  I'm just sick over it.  The Beast wouldn't tell me what happened.  He just waved me off and shook his head in a way that told me he didn't want to talk about it.  That's the part that nauseates me.  I can almost imagine how nasty and vicious he was to her.  I'm hoping I'm wrong but I don't think so.  I haven't heard from her at all so I am totally in the dark.

What really upsets me, too, is the fact that Chewlee is an innocent in all this upset.  I miss her.  I'm anxious to hear all about her vacation with her grandpa and see what all he bought for her.  Guess that's out.  Plus, I really DO enjoy the Princess helping me put together Thanksgiving dinner.  I'm guessing that may not happen since both she and the Beast don't really forgive easily.  I haven't done anything but I am trapped because I am helpless at the moment.  If I had any vodka in the house right now, I might be hitting it pretty hard. 

Talked to Tara today and she's going to make us a coconut cream pie for Thanksgiving.  It's a favorite of hers and mine.  Phooey on what anyone else thinks.    I have my list here of things the Beast will need to get from the grocery store for our dinner.  He hurt his back somehow and spent most of the day on a heating pad after soaking in the tub for a while.  If he doesn't feel better in the morning, he's not going to be a happy camper doing this shopping for me. 

My turkey is almost thawed now so it's in the fridge until I get it ready to roast tomorrow evening.  Not that I am going to start it then like we used to do years ago but I will have it ready in the fridge to go into the oven Thursday morning.  That's if I sleep.  I am always so excited (like a kid) when making a big dinner for family.  I love family and holidays most of the time.  I just wish we didn't have this drama going on right now.

Well, time to close.  We had some wild weather that blew through here today and I mean BLEW!.  It was wildly windy and has some really soaking rain with it but no tornadoes, thankfully.  At least not that I've heard about yet.  Wind damage, yes, but nothing that seemed like there was any tornado involved.  Thank goodness.  Love you all and I wish you a great Hump Day and an even better Thanksgiving.  Say a little prayer for me, would you?  I would like to see this breach healed...quickly. 

TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

If you haven't read the previous post, do it now so you know why I hate Mondays.  I kid you not, most of the trauma I experience happens on Mondays.  I hate when the Beast overreacts to a situation that just IS!  You don't start ranting and raving because that gets you nowhere.  It's a matter of what do we do FIRST, then second, etc.  You HANDLE it.  This seems to escape him for quite a while.  It's no wonder he had a stroke.  He's going to have another one if he doesn't learn that it's pointless to get so upset.  He's calm now but it won't last, I don't think.  He has to pick up the Princess in the morning and I am sure he will start up again.  I'm hoping not since we made a decision about turning over the car to the Princess even though she still owes us money on it.  It's been in our name and on our insurance which we are very worried about now.  We hope this helps US out.  She will have to get her own insurance in her name.  She can always call *The General*.  I hope you've seen the commercials so you recognize the reference.

As for other things....the Beast got me involved in trying out some *homeopathic* type things to aid my foot problems.  I've been taking cod liver oil, fish oil and Geritol now for several days.  I really didn't expect a whole lot from it although, if you look it up and read the comments from people, it is supposed to help.  Well, I have to tell you, I am amazed at some of what is happening in just a short time.

#1:  My feet are starting to look a normal size.  I kid you not.  The skin on my toes is wrinkled from being stretched out for such a long time but it's starting to retract and *fit* my toes again.

#2:  It's helped reduce the overall swelling of my legs.  I thought I needed a diuretic and was going in to the doctor about it.  But, lo and behold, the problem seems to be gone now.

#3:  I can flex my toes.  I wasn't able to do this except on my left foot but now my right foot is working.  I still can't *feel* them but I can see them working.  My left foot is beginning to get more feeling back and the left one is slightly less painful when I walk. 

That may not seem like much to most people but to a diabetic, it's amazing and gives me a lot of hope that I won't have to learn to *live with it*.  The saying is that diabetics die from the feet up so you might understand my worry.  Another thing is that I can walk more normal now.  I am amazed although there is a lot of testaments to the benefits of cod liver oil for diabetics.  Not fish oil.  It has to be cod liver oil for whatever reason.  I grimace every time I take it but it's not as bad as I remember it being as a kid.  It just tastes kind of oily.  I wash it down with the Geritol which should help me energy-wise within a few more days.  I sure hope so.  Thanksgiving is upon us and I will be busy with that.

My cold is still present but not as virulent.  I don't know why it's going away like it seems to be doing.  I'm just grateful.  I'm taking the daytime version of my favorite cold remedy and discovered they changed it a bit.  It now tastes like liquid Vaporub.    But it has kept the coughing controlled and that's what I wanted.

Love you all.  Have a great time preparing for YOUR Thanksgiving celebration.  Nothing is better than having a family gathering with good food.  Smile.  Life is short. 

TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

It was bound to happen but I still almost threw up when the Beast came into my room and was raving....*Well, the car is wrecked!  The Princess says it's not drivable.*  I asked the usual....*Is she okay?  What happened?  Where did this happen?*  All of which he only knew that SHE was okay.  Oh, and that the accident happened in Birmingham. 

Ordinarily,this wouldn't be a big deal,right?  Except this will be the fifth time something has happened to that car.  It's been hit by a Jaguar while it was in line at a fast food drive-up.  It was also hit by a police car when it was getting ready to pull out of the parking lot.  It was scoured by debris during a tornado.  The only thing you can count against the Princess before this is her hitting a telephone pole on black ice while she was driving too fast down a road nearby.  Now this.  The Beast feels like we are going to lose our insurance and not be able to get any from a decent company.  I don't know.  I just know it's a lot for a company to absorb although I know they probably got help on the tornado thing from the federal government and the first two were not HER fault.  The police department was very nice and very timely in getting the repairs done and would even have given her a rental car although she's not the required age 25.  She's going to have to look into that company because there is no way in hell the Beast is going to get her a rental. 

He feels she just doesn't appreciate this car or she would take better care of it.  I have to tell you, it's a really nice car.  I wanted to keep it for us when I saw it and drove it.  I told the Beast, give her the Toyota.  WE should keep this.  But, alas, it was not to be and it's sure gone through hell.  This time the driver of the other car hit her left front wheel area.  She sent me a picture of the damage and it definitely does not look good.  Perhaps this time they will total it because of the extent of the damage if the frame is involved.  How many times is enough for fixing a car?  I have no idea.  But I am sick to my stomach over it all.

I found out she had Chewlee with her already.  That bothers me a lot.  I sure don't want Chewlee to be afraid in a car.  She's okay or the Princess would have told us I'm sure.  Johnnycakes picked them both up and they will spend the night at his place since he will be late for work as it is and can't drop them off here.  The Beast will pick them up tomorrow on his way to the insurance office.  Until then, he will be in and out of here so let me post this.

Love you all.  DRIVE carefully, ya hear?