TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

Tomorrow Chewlee leaves for her *vacation* with her bald-head grandpa (don't tell her I called him that!).  He's driving up from Destin since the Princess has both school and work.  Chewlee is excited because he promised her a day at the beach the first warm day they have AND he always, always takes her shopping.  Spending more than a day or two with her after being done for a year is going to be a major shock for him, wait and see.  She's grown up so much.  That happens and you notice it more when you haven't seen them in a while.

He told her he bought a new, big house.  Much bigger than his old house.  He said it has so many rooms in it, he feels like it's a museum.  I wish you could have heard her struggling to say that correctly.  It was just so funny as she kept repeating it since she knew she wasn't saying it right. I finally asked her if that was what she was trying to say and she repeated it correctly and then was satisfied she had done it right.

The poor Princess is coming down with an ear infection I think.  She's going to the doctor's tomorrow so it doesn't get any worse.  It's already causing her to lose some sleep if she turns wrong on it and the pounding starts up, followed by sharp pain.  I told her mine always seemed to start with loss of air in the inner earway from blowing my nose too hard when it was clogged.

I'm going to miss the little stinker while she's gone but I'm willing to risk that.  **Grin**  Grandma needs a break, too.   It will also give the Princess a chance to catch up on her clothes pile and clear up that bedroom finally before the Beast has another stroke.  He goes berserk every time he walks in there but he has to realize that it's not MY place to clean it up for her and SHE works 46 hours a week plus is attending school full-time.  There's not much time for her to get things done like she might want to.  She does, however, have time off school next week.  She wasn't up to *hiring* me to help her out so I'm not volunteering.  I'm in too much pain most of the time to just force myself to get HER stuff done when I have problems getting my own done.  I can be BOUGHT, but not FORCED. 

The Beast has really been out of sync with his usual schedule.  Especially since he had his scan and his flu shot.  He's gone to bed at 9pm three days in a row.  He even is pale like when he is overtired.  He'll get over it in a day or two more, I'm sure.  It's his usual recuperation time.

Today was a bad day for both of us.  We couldn't seem to get warm even though the temperature here in the house showed it was warm enough.  I had to put my warm robe on and the Beast had his lined hunters flannel shirt on and was still chilly.  I turned the heat up in my room and was still cold.  It had to be humidity is all we could figure although how it got as high as it was without having rained is beyond me.  The outside temperature was in the 60's so go figure.

Well, I'm going to go put my feet up and watch a Harry Potter DVD.  Tonight I am playing the third one.  It's really kind of dumb of me because the Family Channel will have it on tomorrow evening and I will probably watch it (again) but I do love the movies.  There will probably never be another set of movies made like it.  I mean with the same actors in it for all the sequels.  It's really an amazing period to have lived to see happen.

Love you all.  Have a great Friday and a wonderful weekend.   Stay warm and be happy.  Life is too short for us to let things get us down. 

TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

I swear the Beast loves to go to our local hospital for tests.   The reason?  First of all, they get tickled as hell with the Beast's stupid puns and jokes.  Secondly, a lot of them flirt with him.  That's enough reason for any man who looks in the mirror and only sees how OLD they have gotten.  He comes home with a smile on his face and a good attitude.  I'd send him there daily if I could. 

His CT scan was today and he's never had one before.  Hell, he's never been this old before.  But, he said it felt like they gave him straight bourbon in his IV.  It was cold as it inched up his arm but when it hit the core of his body, he said he got hot as hell.  It left him feeling light-headed but there are a lot of things that do that to him nowadays. 

There is no way in hell that ANYONE could possibly think the Beast is Southern but one nurse today asked him just where in the south did he hail from.  He told them from Florida (can you get any more south than that?).  She shook her head and just said, *Well, that explains it.* and she didn't elaborate any further.  He also didn't ask her why she wanted to know.  She did inquire if he had anyone waiting to drive him home.  He told her, *No.  Why?  Do I need someone?  No one told me that.*  She shook her head and told him that it wasn't necessary but a lot of men like to have their wives there...in case.  He told her he left me home and her face fell.  He said he figured she must have been a widow and looking.  That cracked me up.

The Beast spent the rest of the day running back and forth between Sears, Ace and Lowe's trying to locate a new blade for his favorite little electric saw.  He bought it at Sears but they actually didn't have the right size.  Not even if you ordered it!    He hoped he might find one at Lowe's or Ace but no dice.  He ended up having to buy a new one but not the same.  It broke his heart because it's one of his favorites.

Other than that, my day has been pretty mundane.  Chewlee was very calm and just spent her time watching TV or playing with her one doll and her little stuffed kitty.  She's still so happy that I fixed it and kept giving me hugs for that.  She did surprise me once, however.  I hadn't planned on putting her to bed until after this one program of hers that she loves to watch.  But, she came to me and said...*Grandma, I am ready to go to bed now.*  I was so surprised, I said, *Are you sure?*  Like I should have even thought it! 

She didn't go to sleep, however, because she was determined to stay up so she could give her mother a kiss, a hug and tell her goodnight.  She managed to get that done but her mother was a little annoyed because she kept making excuses to get up and then give hugs and kisses again....even to me.

Love you all.  That's the end of my exciting day.  Hope yours was better. 

TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

Every Tuesday, the Princess tutors a very spoiled 7th grade boy in math.  She says he knows the information but he's just lazy.  He's an only child of parents who are successful.  He owns pretty much every game and gadget on the market including a PlayStation 3 and a Wii.  He also has an iPhone that most people would give their right arm to own and use.  She doesn't mind doing it and she earns a little extra money doing it.

Next semester, she will also start earning an extra $20. per day when she substitutes.  She will also probably be picking up more of those opportunities.  They will all make life much easier for her when she finally gets her degree and certification because she will have become known in the area.  If you are going to be a math teacher, you definitely prefer having the various schools know you are available.  Cuts down on the time you are unemployed.  I wonder, however, about the pay scale.  There are a lot of teachers that have second jobs to make ends meet.  With all they have to put up with, I think they must be seriously underpaid.

Baron has this *thing* for stuffed animals.  Even though he's out of the puppy stage, there's something about them that makes him want to chew and disembowel the stuffing in them.  Chewlee isn't good about putting her stuffed animals out of his reach or in her toy box.  However, I discovered that Baron will root in her toy box if he knows a stuffed animal is in it.  That's how he got ahold of her bear for the second time and just destroyed it.  He had chewed off a piece of his nose about a year ago but I managed to repair it.  What he did the other day was beyond repair and the bear WAS in the toy box.  He had been very sneaky about going into her room, getting it out of the toy box and then taking it on the other side of her bed where he couldn't be seen if you checked the room casually. 

When I called him, he happened to have a small piece of the fiberfill on his mouth and that sent me instantly to my feet and into the room to check.  Sure enough!  Destroyed!  I gathered it all up and threw it in the trash before Chewlee could see it and get hysterical about it.

She has this little cat stuffed toy.  It has little beads in it, not fiberfill but....until Baron put a hole in it, he didn't know.  That was the extent of his interest but that meant a hole that needed repairing.  I admit I procrastinated but I finally picked up a needle and thread and got down to business.  Chewlee was ecstatic.  So what happened then?  She carried it off and promptly lost it somewhere in the house.  My fear is that Baron will find it and, not remembering it isn't stuffed with his favorite filling, will chew another hole in it.  **Sigh**

I finally remembered to ask about the field trip (Hurrah!) and it was to Gadsden's Imaginarium.  It's set up like a little town...store, bank, a kitchen...I forget what all there was....but the kids are allowed to just go and play and are encouraged to use their imaginations in play.  It made me laugh because Chewlee has imagination in abundance and can draw other kids into her play.  She played for three hours and was reluctant to leave, I gather.  But she sure wasn't tired out when she got here.  She was just cranky from being stopped but she was fine after just a short time back at home.  She sat in my recliner, asked if she could see her programs and waited for me to put them on.  Not impatient at all.   

She was sitting in my lap playing one of her games online and I was brushing her hair.  I took part of it (a top section) and put a twist in it at the back of her head.  I grabbed this small claw-type hair clip and was going to secure it to keep the hair out of her face when Chewlee had a fit!  She kept saying, *No, no!  That's Mommy's clip*  I told her that her mommy had told me those were Chewlee's and I clipped it in her hair.  She was going to pull it out when I said, *Oh my goodness!  You look like Mommy now!*  She stopped dead, got a big smile on her face and I told her to go look in the mirror.  She did and, tilting her head back, she must have felt she really DID look like Mommy.  She couldn't wait for her mother to get home from tutoring to show her.  Sure enough, it was the first thing she did when she heard her mother come in the house.  I heard her yell, *Mommy, look!  I look just like YOU!*  The Princess went right along with it and told her how beautiful she was and that made her day.

She's starting to settle into a routine regarding her bedtime and accepting it without any argument now.  She's told which program she will be watching and after it's over, it's bedtime.  I just have to remember to turn off her channel right away and put one of my programs on so that *I* am not watching the kids programs without her.    She then goes to bed and, after settling her various stuff animals and her doll down beside her, she snuggles up under the covers and settles down for sleep.  That's IF she doesn't have to go potty at some time within the half hour after she's put in bed.

She's down for the night now and even the Princess has headed off to bed early.  The Beast will be going soon since he has to be at the hospital before 9am for his CT scan.  The time change has really screwed up our internal clocks and even I find myself yawning hours earlier than normal for me.  Oh well.  We all will adjust eventually.

Love you all.  Have a great *hump day*.  Half a week gone.  So soon?  Oh my! 

TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

I heard Chewlee getting ready for school this morning and she seemed chipper and happy.  I smiled and went back to sleep.  The Beast got up early for no apparent reason although I heard two different alarms go off.  I knew he didn't have to go for blood tests at the doctor's office so it made me wonder but not enough to get up.  Later on, after I was awake and aware, I found out the Beast did, indeed, have to go for tests....at the hospital.  His urologist ordered a CT scan with contrast I guess so he had to have a couple different tests performed.  The CT scan is scheduled for Wednesday unless they find another heart anomaly again and he has to see the cardiologist for clearance.  I doubt the CT scan will require it.  They don't have to put him under for any reason so it should be an easy procedure.

His urologist will be monitoring him closely with the type of cancer they found this last surgery.  I've talked to others who have gone through the same thing and they all average a surgery every six months or so.  They all have resisted the only option available to them to prevent the repeated surgeries....total removal of the bladder.  The Beast will never allow that.  I really think he would rather die than walk around with a bottle strapped to his leg and no control over when and where it fills itself up.  He's seen other men that have had that and he has said it would never be something he would have.  Of course, that was before he had his first tumor..  He's had two surgeries now and who knows how he will feel after a few more?

People are much more flexible than they think they might be.  We women seem to be able to roll with the punches much better than men.  I guess that's why WE are the ones that have children and nurture them.  We take care of their boo-boo's and emotional ups and downs.  Since each child is different, we have to be flexible in order to meet their different needs....and those of ourselves and our husbands.  It's quite a burden when you really think about it but I believe the good Lord equipped us with that ability.  We just need to know where it's stored so we can access it when we forget. 

Today the Princess came home just long enough to grab some clothes and other needs for her and Chewlee.  They are going on a field trip of some sort and I forgot AGAIN to ask where it was.  They have to be at the school early so they are spending the night at a friend's house who lives close to the school and is going, too.  I kind of lost track of time because Chewlee wasn't here and we weren't watching her programs.

The Beast did his marinade thing again today with pork chops.  This one, however, turned out better than the steaks.  He only marinated them for about two hours.  The steaks had been marinated overnight so had more time to absorb the taste of the teriyaki.  It did have an interesting taste on the pork chops.  I wouldn't mind it once in a while.  I'm a bit on the old fashioned side, however.  I like my pork chops fried up naked or else breaded and fried up with country gravy and mashed potatoes.  I told him I would make pork chops in a couple days with some country gravy on the side.  That's one thing he hasn't mastered yet...country gravy.  And I learned how to make it from his father....LOL.

I have an appointment with the podiatrist on Thursday.  I was disappointed at first but now that I know about what is going on with the Beast, I'm kind of glad because he will have to drive me.  He has an office in Huntsville and the one in Boaz and I chose to go to Boaz because it's much closer.  So there wasn't much of a choice as far as dates to see him.  I'll live.  I've gone this long so ...c'est la vie! 

Love you all.  Hope you had a good Monday and an even better Tuesday.  The Princess doesn't work tomorrow, she only has school in the morning so she will probably come home and work on her wash.  She told the Beast she would remind him about something when she was here tomorrow so I think I know that much for certain.  It also means my Chewlee will be here after school.  Even though it's my *day off*, I always seem to have her under my feet so-to-speak.  I let her watch her programs so that puts me high on her list of favorites.   

Be happy.  Love without fear or apology.  Dance if the mood hits you and sing like you are a star. 

TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

Although today was a bit hectic this morning, I did manage to go back to sleep for a while since I had gotten to bed a bit on the late side.  Chewlee, however, felt *I* was the one to waken even though her mother had walked into the house.  It's her turn to watch Chewlee and take care of her needs on Sunday until it's time for her to go to work in the afternoon.  So I went into my computer room, plopped down on my recliner and reclined for a couple more hours.

I ended up turning on Chewlee's cartoons for her so the Princess could take her online test in peace.  It was funny to see her with notes spread out all over around her laptop.  She had hastily come into my computer room and asked me not to download any movies or watch any so that there was no lagging or loss of connection for her.  I NEVER download movies or watch them on my computer.  I know a lot of people do but a satellite connection is just not smooth enough.  I find it's constant loading nerve-wracking. 

After the Princess left with no whining from Chewlee about it (in fact, she was actually funny and made jokes about it), Chewlee spent most of the daylight remaining trying to concoct a way to raise her Dora chair to the level of my desk chair.  That meant she gathered up some of the empty boxes we have here to take over to Tara's for disposal, stacked them up, put her Dora chair on top and then proceeded to get into it and get comfortable.  The only way she could, she had to lay her head on the arm of my desk chair and she didn't like that angle at all.  Too much like a *sleep mode* angle.  She couldn't lay back in it or she would have fallen about 3 feet to the floor.  She finally gave the stacked boxes up and selected just one and sat on it in her chair.  It wasn't what she wanted but she settled for it for a while.

She was very cute and loving today.  I suspect her acting out like she did yesterday was her confusion about just WHERE she lives and WHO loves her.  I say this because, although Assholecakes is being nice to her, kids are naturally suspicious after they have been hurt.  He IS the only father figure she's had and every kid wants their daddy to love them.  It has to be very confusing to her about what is going on.  The Princess may find the sex and separation okay with her but it doesn't make sense to a 4-year-old.  All we can do is let her know that WE love her all the time.  I know eventually Assholecakes will slip back into old patterns.  I'm hoping the Princess will wake up and smell the coffee before Chewlee is a total emotional basket case.

When it got dark (and it sure got dark EARLY, didn't it?), Chewlee got in the tub for her bath.  She played for a while then washed herself.  That's a real treat to see.  She really soaps herself up good so there's no worry about cleanliness, trust me.  I washed her hair and used creme rinse on it.  After she finally got out of the tub, I got her dressed in her pj's and brushed her hair so that all the gnarls were out of it.  I then braided it in a single braid down the back of her head like she wanted me to do.  After that, she just wanted to watch two more of her programs that she really likes and it was bedtime.  I was shocked.  It was only 8pm.  She brushed her teeth, gave me a hug and a kiss after I read her bedtime story to her and she settled down to go to sleep.  By 8:30pm, she was sound asleep.

Like I said, a peaceful day.  The Beast went to bed by 9am.  He didn't even last through the second football game.    Me?  I'm just going to go put my feet up now and watch my DVD of choice.  I should be ready for bed myself when it's over and that will be early for me.  That's really arbitrary because if we hadn't turned the clocks BACK, it would probably be close to the time I usually go to bed.    I sure hate this changing the clocks back and forth.  Too confusing to the senses.

Oh well.  Hope you had a great weekend.  Have a wonderful week. Keep warm and safe. 

TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

When the Princess came home last night, Chewlee got so excited and ran out yelling happily, *Mommy!  Mommy!*  (She really does love her mommy), the Princess yelled at her and told her to get back into bed that she didn't want to talk to her.  Well, Chewlee cried like her heart was broken.  It wasn't what she really expected to hear.  After her mother had put away the few things she picked up from the store, she then went in to talk to her about her behavior.  Chewlee was very unhappy.  I don't think she got a kiss or a hug from mommy.

Quite a while later, as I went past her bedroom door, I looked in at her and she was laying quietly on her pillow with one arm over her head.  She whispered, *I love you, Grandma*.  What could I do?  I whispered to her that I loved her, too.  A few minutes later, she asked to go to the bathroom and I told her, of course, go ahead.  When she was done, she came into my room and said, *I just came in for a kiss, a hug and an *I love you*.  So I gave her a hug, a kiss or two and told her I loved her.  She smiled at me and told me she loved me, too.  She then grabbed up her little stuffed doll that was in here and went to bed.  When I checked on her about 5 minutes later, she was laying on her side (that's her sleep position) and was sound asleep.  Why do they all look like such angels when asleep?

So, my right foot was having a problem with the arch on it throbbing like it was having some kind of attack.  It hurt me too much to go to bed because I knew I wouldn't be able to lay still and would wake up the Beast.  So, I sat up, took half a pain pill and am waiting for the foot to calm down so I can go to bed and get some rest.  I really don't want to end up curled up in my recliner again.  I will if I have to but my bed is so much more comfortable.  The Beast and I curl up close together and share the warmth. 

I put on a DVD that I can listen to and know what is going on without having to watch every moment of it.  It happens that I selected *2012* for my listening pleasure.  While it was on, it reminded my why my one girlfriend doesn't like it.  When she saw it at the show, she said it was scary as hell because she could actually imagine it happening.  I told her that is what makes for a good movie.  It's believable.  And that is why she said she never wanted to see it again because she had nightmares for a week over seeing it the first time.  I laughed and told her it's the reason I don't go to the show to see certain movies.  It's a whole lot LESS scary watching it on a TV screen than one that is larger than life!  I'll wait the extra month or two until the DVD comes out to see it.  No nightmares for me!

The Beast has gone into a marinade mode with meals he's been preparing.  He did it with some cubed steaks the other day and those turned out well.  He only marinated them for about a half hour or so but it added just a bit of taste and a lot of tenderness.  Today, he totally ruined what should have been a wonderful (and pricey!) T-bone.  He had marinated it in a teriyaki marinade overnight so the taste was totally off the wall for me.  Ever eaten a sweet steak?  Well, you should have been here for it.  His face fell when I told him it was too sweet for me.  It was cooked perfectly but it would have been perfect with just some salt and pepper for me.  I had to tell him or I would be eating everything from chicken, pork chops and other steaks in a teriyaki haze.  I don't care if he tries other marinades but I don't want any more like today.  Do all men do things like that?  I really haven't a clue.

I found out over the past few weeks that there are a lot of people that are really concerned about the possibility of a collapse of our economy.  They are stockpiling food and keep cash in their homes....just in case.  One husband told me, *You hope for the best but prepare for the worst*.  At least I know it's not just the Beast.

Has anyone started buying Christmas gifts yet?  Believe it or not, I've been buying some for the past several months.  Mostly because I got some good prices on things I liked that I wanted for my daughter and granddaughters.  I'm not done by any means but I do have a start.  Bratfink called me an *overachiever* but I happen to know that SHE has a couple of things she's gotten for someone or two for Christmas so she should smack HERSELF with a wet noodle.  By her own definition she, too, is an overachiever. 

My poor son, Marcus Aurelius, has something wrong with his lip, jaw and ear.  From the sound of it, I told him he should get into a doctor because it does NOT sound good.  He says his lip looks like Mike Tyson smacked him a good one and, although his fever is gone, the pain is not.  Just what he needs on the eve (almost) of his wife's hysterectomy.

The Beast is happy that I am becoming more active but I know he wishes it were more regular.  Some days, when I first get on my feet, I know it's going to be a good day.  Others are not.  There's just no way to know ahead of time.  But he has been extraordinarily good about both doing things around the house and even making meals.  All without complaint.  For an impatient man, that almost deserves a medal.  I try to let him know how grateful I am and have been during this terrible time with my feet.  If I see signs of him getting impatient, I make sure he sees my toes when I have to clean, debride and rebandage them.  Quiets him right down.

They are healing, slowly but surely.  They had me scared for a while but are doing okay now.  I told the Beast about going to the podiatrist and he told me to go ahead and make an appointment and he'll get me there.  Monday I'll call and see who I can get in to see first.  *I* think they are doing well but it would be nice to have the doctor say so, too.

Have I ever told you my favorite movies?  At least currently.  Besides the Harry Potter ones, I love these and watch them OFTEN:  The Stand....Independence Day....Tremors....Godzilla (with Matthew Broderick)....all the X-Men movies, including the one about Wolverine's beginnings.  I adore the original Godzilla moves that Japan made and that includes the *other* monsters like Mothra, Gamera and a few others.  2012 is joining the often watched DVD's.  I seem to like those disaster-type movies but I like the ones where *we* win, don't you?  Not that I remember ever seeing one where we DON'T win.    There are a few others but I don't want to totally bore you to death.  I was just thinking that some of my favorites sure start out very depressing.  Strange. 

Well, I think the pain pill is working.  Going to walk on it a bit to see if it is or not.  Then I am heading for bed.  Love you all and have a wonderful Sunday. 

TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

The day started off fine.  Chewlee woke me up when it was time for her mother to go to work for her usual Saturday double shift.  The cartoons went on and I nodded off a time or two for a few minutes because it was *that* kind of a day.  THEN...some strange noise made me look for Chewlee and there she was, opening up the box of educational things that I had bought for her but I didn't want her to have it yet.  I had put it under my desk where she spotted it and snuck it out.  She had even gotten scissors to help take off the cellophane wrap that sealed it.  She was just about to open the box to expose what was in it when I heard her and discovered what she was doing.  I took it away from her and told her that it was MINE (which is pretty much true since I will be using it to instruct her) and she was NOT to touch it.

She ignored it afterward but she wasn't really fooling me.  Where I made my mistake was not putting it up on a shelf in the closet right away.  Later, when she woke up from her nap, she snuck into the room (my back was to the door), got behind my recliner and grabbed the box and opened it.  She was so overjoyed at what she saw, she forgot herself and jumped up shouting, *Grandma...there are CARDS and MARKERS in here!*  Then it dawned on her what she had done.  I said, very quietly but emphatically, *Chewlee, I TOLD you not to touch that, didn't I?*  She looked me straight in the eye and said, *But I wanted to see it!*  I told her that was really too bad because I might have shown it to her if she hadn't been so sneaky but now it was going up on the shelf.  I made her close it and bring it to me and then I put it up on the top shelf in the closet and closed the door.  She was disappointed, for sure, but she didn't say another word about it except...*but I only wanted to SEE it.*

Later on, she started complaining about her pants being too big on her and falling down.  It was after dark so I told her I would get her some pajamas to put on.  She sped off towards the bedroom with *I'll get it* thrown over her shoulder while I yelled, *NO...you do NOT go in those drawers, Chewlee.  Do you hear me?*  She came back and said, *But, why?*   Chewlee has this habit of going into the drawers and just LOOKING for something that strikes her fancy.  However, as she is going through the drawers, everything just gets thrown on the floor.  The last time she did that she emptied three or four different FULL drawers of both hers and her mothers things on the floor and then walked all over them.  It wasn't discovered until later and, of course, it was a disaster

I was in the midst of folding clothes and told Chewlee I would get her pajamas when I was done but she has no patience.  When she saw I was distracted, she went into her room, found herself a SKIRT and then came in to show it to me.  Well, I had a fit.  I told her it was not time for skirts but pajamas and she would have to take it off.  She refused.  FLAT OUT REFUSED.  Told me *No*.  Well, I gave her three chances.  Gave her the pajama bottoms and told her to put them on and give me the skirt and she said, *NO* three times, even grabbing the waist and helding it tightly.   I grabbed her shoulder and directed her towards the bedroom because I suddenly had visions of the now neatened and fuller drawers being ransacked.  She, in turn, dropped to the floor, screaming *NO!  NO!  NO!* and kicking her feet.  I grabbed one and continued towards the bedroom, put her on her feet (she was crying, of course) and showed her the clothes she had thrown on the floor and told her she had to put them back in the drawers, right now. 

Again, I got a *NO*.  I told her she either picked them up and put on her bottoms or she would get spanked.  She told me NO again.  So, I put her on my lap, smacked her bottom three times for good measure, stripped the skirt off her, put the pajama bottoms on her and put her to bed.  There were just a few things she had thrown on the floor this time so I put them back as I explained to her just WHY she was going to bed.  The whole time she was now crying for Mommy.  Well, after I closed the door on her, I texted her mother who then called me to find out what happened.  I told her and she told me what to tell Chewlee.  When I did, then Chewlee just cried for about 3-4 minutes and got very quiet.  She wasn't getting any sympathy from me and now she was in trouble with mommy, too.  She started thinking she had better mend some fences here.

Within 10 minutes, it was a very different Chewlee that was calling me.  She asked if she could go potty.  Then she wanted something to drink (when she saw me looking at the clock, she said it was still early so she could still have it....and she was right!  ).  Later, she called me to tell me there was a noise under her bed (she still believes in those monsters under the bed) but I told her it was just the sound of the heat coming on.  Then...she almost made me laugh...she told me she was being good and staying in bed.  Like I hadn't noticed.

Her mother hasn't been home yet as I write this because she still has an hour more to work and then she is stopping at the store.  Chewlee will more than likely be sound asleep by then so there will be no outcome to this until tomorrow, I'm sure.  Me?  I'm just dumbfounded by her stubbornness tonight.  I know she loves a skirt...any skirt that has a little flare at the bottom.  She would rather wear a skirt than anything else.  But to be THIS stubborn and to ME was a big shock.  I'm hoping this was her big test of what she might be able to get Grandma to back down about and it's over now.  When *I* know, *you* will know.  Because I will blog about it and be looking for suggestions on handling it.  The Princess and I will be discussing this tonight and make sure we agree on what is done if it ever happens again.  I already know that she agrees that we do not accept Chewlee telling either of us *NO* about anything she is told to do.  We back each other up so she can't go from one of us to another.  Not that she hasn't tried it....  She IS a kid, after all.

So, now I am exhausted and I am going to lay back in my recliner for a bit and just watch TV until the Princess gets home.  Love you all.  Have a wonderful Sunday and don't forget that the clocks were to be put back an hour last night (or, rather, early this morning).  You sure don't want to show up at work earlier than you need to be there. 

TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

....the inside of the cottage/shed.  I was shocked.  It's really neater than I imagined.  I went out to give the Beast a hand with one piece of the paneling that just wouldn't go up right.  He kept saying he didn't know why it wouldn't go up correctly and I just laughed.  I told him that when you buy cheap, you get problems and he bought cheap, cheap, cheap.

BUT...I got to see the work that he and the Brother had done and it was impressive to me. Even with the cheap paneling, it's going to be really nice when it's all done.  I was just surprised that the Princess's bed was at the back rather than the front of the cottage/shed but her bed is so big that is where it fits best.  Plus there are fewer windows so she feels a bit more private there.  I like the way the Beast put up the clothes rod that he has up already.  At least now I can envision how things are going in there.

I had a nice talk with my son Mustachio yesterday evening.  He felt great because he had passed all his exams for his new job so that meant he was going to be able to keep the job.  He was returning to Louisville today for a week and then back to Nashville for two more weeks of training.  He should be getting a company cell phone when he gets back in Louisville plus his company truck.  He's going to be looking for an efficiency for himself while he's home since he needs to get out of the place he's been staying.  He also wants to see if he can find himself another personal truck or car.  He's just partial to a truck being a male, single and it's what he's driven for so long, I don't think he'd be happy with a regular car.  He sounds happier than he has for a long time so *I* was happy, being his mother.

My daughter-in-law goes in for her hysterectomy next week and Mustachio said he feels sorry for both her and his brother.   For her because it means she will go into instant menopause and his brother because he will have to live with her.    I told him that there are a lot of options for her depending on what her symptoms are so I hope she has a good doctor advising her.  In the meantime, say a prayer or two for her that things go smoothly and all of the cancer goes with it.  Thank you for any prayers in advance.

Poor Princess can't make her trip to Port Charlotte as she had wanted.  She will miss too many tests in her classes.  Chewlee won't be going to her paternal grandfather's until next week Thursday or Friday due to a field trip and some kind of special meeting that requires both her and the Princess to attend.  She will, however, spend 10 days there unless she gets homesick I guess.  But, with the way HE spoils her, she probably won't.  She will just be ready when it's time for her to come home.  I do feel bad for the Princess though.  She was really looking forward to seeing her friends.  She hasn't seen most of them for well over a year.  AND she was hoping to spend some time in the sun renewing her tan.  I wish I tanned as easily as she does.  *Sigh*

I think I will tell the Princess she can hire me to catch up on her washing.  I almost fainted when I realized this pile in the corner of the room was ALL laundry that needs doing.  I really thought Mount Stinky had become smelly hill but that was just a tiny part of it.  She had jammed a shitload of clothes into one of her clothes hampers and then thrown a bunch more around and atop it.  The bad part of that was she picked the area in front of the Beast's gun safe and that was a big NO-NO.  He would have pitched a shit-fit if he needed something out of it and had to move all that from in front of it.  My fee for doing her washing?  A big bottle of vodka and one of Mudslide.  **Grin**  Cheap at twice the price and it will help stock me up for quite a while unless the Beast becomes unbearable. It usually lasts me a long time regardless.  As I get older, I just don't drink much.  I hear that from a lot of people so it's not just me.  I don't have the need for it or the taste for it, either, truth be told.  I just like to have it available.

Tomorrow I need to wet mop my floors again.  I have no idea where a lot of the marks on the floor come from.  Oh, not THOSE kind of marks like from shoes but strange marks from droplets of something liquid.  I swear that some of them are from Baron slobbering.  They are just not in regular paths that the Beast, Chewlee or I use and Chewlee has to drink all her milk or juice at the table now so it's not her.  Oh well, mine not to reason why.  Mine just to mop and dry.

The feet are still painful as all get-out but I can manage most of the pain without the need for strong pain pills.  I can stay *on my feet* longer every week and I'm not having the muscle pains when I am trying to sleep.  I always thought charlie horses were painful.  They are a treat compared to some of muscles that have tortured me because of not being used much the past couple of months.  I can't even imagine what it is like for someone that has been hospitalized for a long stretch of time.  I've heard of people that needed to learn how to walk again and, believe me, I have a lot more sympathy for them these days.  I'm still having a balance problem.  I will never, ever take walking for granted in the future.  I can understand why they need physical therapy.  I feel like I could use some. 

Time to get this posted before I put you to sleep.  Love you all and I wish you a wonderful, wonderful weekend.  Be happy.  Love without worry or regret. 

TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

Have you noticed all the hoopla going on the past few months?  It's like the country has been trying to establish new political parties but OMG...what a nightmare!  The party that claims to represent the majority of Americans is acting like a mindless mob and that's not how *I* feel like reacting.  The other party has a slue of comic representatives that cause me so much alarm because the idea of them becoming a power of ANY sort is like slitting my own throat.  It's a truly scary time, not just strange.

Today was just another day of washing clothes and folding them.  Mostly ones that belong to the Princess and Chewlee.  Plus, since she has started *dating* (or whatever the hell it is she calls it)  Assholecakes, I never know when and if I am going to get Chewlee.  Today should have been on of the days I watched her while the Princess worked.  BUT....no Chewlee.  I'm not even sure if the Princess worked today.  They should be home within a half hour or so, however.  I put all the clothes I folded into my clothes basket for her to put away or hang up once she goes through them.

I believe that next week is the week that Chewlee will be spending with her paternal grandfather.  Today the Beast, for wont of something to do constructive, decided to clean up the bathroom that the Princess and Chewlee use.  He kept mumbling something like *I promise I'll keep things clean, Grampa.*  Then he looked at me and said, *Well, HER idea of keeping things clean and MINE are very different.*  I have to admit that there should be a clothes hamper for them to use when they take their baths/showers but that bathroom is too small for one.  The Princess has one but she had it filled with clean clothes to begin with (that's moving for you....LOL) and then it DID have dirty clothes that I worked on to empty it.  I'm hoping now that they can keep things neat so the Beast won't make MY life miserable like it's all MY fault.  That's how he is.

The day started out so nice, bright and sunny that it lifted your spirits right up.  My feet, however,were telling me that the day wasn't going to stay that way.  Sure enough, by noon it was windy and overcast.  There was no rain but it sure was miserable weather.

The Beast FINALLY set up bill paying online.  It's through the bank and they actually make out checks and send them to the various companies.  He set it up right now for the electric and water bills but he will add Dish when we get that bill and whatever else he has plans on doing.  I doubt he will add HIS Visa to it because then I would get to see it.  What he doesn't understand is that his paying it online like he has been doing still shows up on our statement.  What a maroon!    What's so funny about this is that I tried to get him to let me set it up several years back and he had a fit about my even THINKING of doing that.  He never did let me explain and he's the type that MUST understand it or he's against it.  Add the fact that he treats me like an idiot and always tells me I am stupid and a few other choice adjectives (don't worry....I am immune to that because I do have a healthy amount of self-respect).  In all the years that I have known him (we met in January, 1960) he has never.....NEVER....apologized to me nor has he given me any credit for anything.  He always hated the fact that I did well wherever I worked and was always being promoted.  It didn't help his need to control me.  **GRIN**  

Oh well, c'est la vie!  Time to get this posted before the really bad weather moves in and I lose my internet.  Love you all and thanks for dropping by.  Keep smiling and be happy. 

TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

It was just one of those ho-hum, boring days today.  Nothing exciting going on, weather sunny but cold, almost all junk mail in the mailbox and just folding some clothes to look forward to for me.  The Beast, at least, got to do a few things away from the house.  Our car mats came in today so he ran up to the car dealer to get them, he went to Walmart for a new ball for the trailer hitch.  He couldn't get the old one off without causing himself some serious harm and he said for $10. he would rather just replace it.    He wouldn't have had to replace it except the new trailer hitch is a different size.  Beggars can't be choosers when it comes to that.  You take the hitch that fits on your vehicle and make adjustments where you must.

The Beast will find himself things to do around the house when he's trying to avoid something he's not really enthused about doing for one reason or another.  Today he just didn't feel like putting up paneling so he cleaned out under our bed and his dresser.  I guess it really needed it.  Those damn dust bunnies were big enough to put up a fight.  Any bigger and they might have been able to handle his rifle and be a serious risk.    It really is pathetic how dusty this house gets.  He filled up two or three dustpans with assorted dust bunnies, feathers and dog hair.  It's especially disturbing because it was just a couple months ago that he had actually gone all under the furniture and along the edges of the room with the vacuum cleaner.   He had also made the mistake of shaking out the rug we had underneath the dogs bed and I thought he was going to choke to death.  I yelled at him and told him you only shake rugs outside, never in the house.  MEN!!!

That was pretty much the excitement of the day.  Oh, except for our electric bill.  When the Beast opened it up, it was with a lot of trepidation.  It's been a full month with both the Princess and Chewlee here so that meant a lot more hot water being used plus the added electrical use out in the cottage/shed, which included using heat.  What a shock!  It was 13% CHEAPER than at the same time last year.    I kid you not.  In fact, I believe it was the lowest bill we ever received since we moved in here full-time almost six years ago.

The difference.....the ONLY difference.....is the new hot water heater that was put in a couple months back if you remember.  It's one of those high end ones with super insulation and high efficiency.  Plus, the Beast used to only have the hot water tank on twice a day for about 3-4 hours each (for the purpose of baths and/or showers).  He's had it on all day long since the Princess and Chewlee moved in with us.  It only turns off at 10pm at night and the water is hot enough when the Princess gets up at 5:30 or so in the morning for even HER showers.  They are much longer than ours are by far.  It's just like having a teenager again.    And,of course, Chewlee takes a bath almost every day.  But that will be reflected more in our water bill, I'm sure.  We haven't gotten a full months bill yet on that yet so it's hard to tell if it really makes a big difference.  BUT....if we get another low bill next month, I will be truly stunned that a hot water heater, even if it IS one of the more expensive ones offered, would make that big a difference.  Like the Beast commented, if it makes that big a difference then the higher price is well worth it because it pays for itself.

Chewlee was just Chewlee today.  She wasn't demanding or exceedingly active.  She just ate her snacks, then her dinner while she went from coloring in her coloring book, drawing pictures on her paper (all while watching her cartoons on my TV) and conniving ways to keep from going to bed at her *normal* time.  The Princess and I are attempting to get her used to a normal bedtime.  So far, she's pretty good at resisting it.  She has all kinds of ways to play quietly instead of trying to sleep.  Her complaint?  *But I'm not tired yet!!!*  Haven't we all heard that one often?

It's time to get her into bed now which means a story and then her kisses and hugs.  Since Mommy is working, I know she will find some way to be up when her mother walks in the door.  Love you all and have a great day.  Remember, lots of smiles for everyone.  Rattles the heck out of them because they never can figure out what's really on your mind.