TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

We have all noticed that some products are getting a little bit smaller in size in order to remain the same price we are used to paying for them but this new ad for Hershey's Kisses really pisses me off.  Now their *air bliss* kisses, the ones with bubbles of air in them, is supposed to make us believe this is a new treat/delight just because of the air blown into them.  What it really is, if you just think about it, is just another making of a product smaller (in the amount of chocolate used for each kiss) without it seeming smaller.  The air bubbles allows the kisses to be the same size without containing the same amount of chocolate so the company can increase their profit margin.

The ads annoy me to no end.  The women in the ad throw one in their mouths and look like it's the most amazing taste they have experienced and that is so wrong.  It is an insult to our intelligence, especially if you are a chocoholic like my hubby, the Beast.  Me?  I could care less.  I'm not all that fond of chocolate.  My favorite is a caramel even if it IS covered with chocolate, although I think it ruins the taste, but that's just me.  I'm just finding out that such things as these Hershey ads really annoy me more than they probably should.

I am also pissed off at the Angie's List ads because they are a lie.  Companies CAN pay to have their names put on the list.  How do I know this?  Several people I am acquainted with have revealed that they were approached by them and, for a monthly fee, they could be added to the list.  The fee is not a light one, just cheaper than most yellow page ads are for a company.  I know...shocking, isn't it? 

What's bad is that I know I shouldn't let it get to me except that it's happening all over the place.  Politicians talk to us like we are all idiots.  Our Senators and Representatives lie about what they supported until someone exposes how they voted (or didn't vote).  If you listen to the various people attempting to be nominated to run for President, their views and their agendas change as they change audiences in the different parts of the country.  Everyone says they know how to make this country recover from the recession and unemployment but...if they really did know, don't you think they would be spouting how to do it NOW just to prove they really know what they are talking about?

Most of the possible nominees don't have any real business experience and, trust me, to run a country, they should.  Running a successful business is tough and requires foresight and planning.  It requires knowing when you must make sacrifices (mostly personal ones) and what steps must be taken to achieve your goals.  If you make a misstep, you step back, take a deep breath and think it through then regroup and forge ahead.  It's never easy.  When you reach one goal, you then start towards the next one.  You should always have a goal to reach and one that is reachable.  It's like baby steps.  Little goals that lead to the big ones.

But, our leaders would have us believe that they can wave a magic wand IF THEY ARE ELECTED...and, inside of a few months or possibly a year or so, all our problems will be solved.  DUH!  I'm not that damn dumb.  I don't trust our future in the hands of Obama and so far none of the other candidates have passed muster.  The ones that might have, have backed off so what are we left with?  Kids in a sandbox, calling each other names and none of them really winners.  It makes me shudder to think what our forefathers would think if they were to return to life and be able to see what's become of the Constitution they put together (and all the whiners that have weakened it with their *politically correctness*)  I think they would be horrified at the books that have been both banned and censored because they portray times in our history that we might not be proud of but are times that were experienced and we learned from them.  We grew as people and as a nation.  But what has been happening these past forty years or so is a weakening of our rights as Americans. 

Slowly but surely our rights as individuals has been eroded.  Little freedoms were taken away and we just sat back and shook our heads at them.  But little freedoms lead to bigger freedoms being taken away...for the good of *the children* or *the Latinos* or *poorer nations*.  We've spent BILLIONS on aid to countries that don't even like us when we should have been using those funds to help our own people.  Who said that was wrong?  Who decided that we HAD to help our countries that were poorer than we were?  First and foremost, I believe we take care of our own.  Then we help out those countries that aren't going to have the leaders take the food/medical supplies/whatever and resell them to other countries to fill their coffers.  We don't send more aid to the countries that are caught doing that, either.  Not unless WE are in charge of distributing them to the people that need them.

I don't think we would be in this crappy situation except for all the aid we've given to other countries without a thought of our own people here FIRST.  Greed sent businesses to other countries due to the taxes they were charged.  Individuals may have been given breaks but corporations were not and now we pay with fewer jobs available for our families, friends, children and grandchildren.  It's a sad state of affairs, don't you agree?

Well, now that I've ranted and raved, I will say goodnight and I love you all.  I wish you a HAPPY NEW YEAR 2012! 

TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

I knew the Beast was feeling better when he pulled a couple of the black powder guns out of the gun safe and made plans with Buttmunch to go to the gun range.  Off they went because the weather was really quite nice.  Then Sheepie left to have lunch with the future mother-in-law and sister-in-law.  That left me with Chewlee who was here for the couple hours her mother, the Princess, had to work before they could leave for Tennessee.

She was so cute with her little grey strap top that was just like the one Sheepie had on.  That's what she had on under her sweater since girls don't wear t-shirts.  At least that is the view of the Princess and, I will admit it, I don't like t-shirts on girls for just warmth.  We had taken off her sweater since it was so warm in the house.  She then peeled off her boots and socks and she was all set.

We had mac and cheese for lunch and then I peeled an orange for her and we shared some strawberries for dessert.  She really liked our sharing although she had wanted to control the fork at first.  But I knew better because, when it comes to strawberries, she is a little oinker.

We watched her cartoons on NickJr.  I really love that channel.  There are no commercials so you don't get that *Oh!  I want that!*   That's the bad part about watching Sponge Bob.  It's on Nick, too, but that one has commercials for everything from cereal to toys of all kinds.  And, of course, Chewlee is a kid.  She wants it ALL! 

I gave her a cute little shopping bag so we could put everything she brought with her (along with two Sesame Street activity books I gave her).  She loved it.  Her blankie, her tile game, the books, the pen for doing the activities, and I didn't check what else she put in but she was happy.  When her mother came to pick her up after work, she had already changed into her traveling clothes.  She looked adorable.  Chewlee looked at her and said, *Mommy, you look BEAUTIFUL!*  After she got her sweater, socks and boots on, she grabbed the shopping bag and asked, *Are we going to Tennessee now, Mommy?*  Her mother told her *yes* and Chewlee said, *Oh, good!  There's a little one I can play with.*  I think the Princess's friend has a little boy about the same age as Chance.  Chewlee is good with little ones and she should be happy as long as he doesn't take her blankie. 

When Buttmunch and the Beast got back from the range, all I could smell was black powder.  That means they are going back tomorrow to shoot the regular guns.  Buttmunch wants to try out the AK-15 the Beast has.  It's a Russian gun and the Beast had such a hard time finding ammunition that was decent for it that I am amazed he agreed to let her shoot it.  They were laughing about the gun Buttmunch used today.  The scope on it was wayyyyyyy off and she said they couldn't have hit a buffalo right in front of them with it.  The deer had nothing to fear.  At one point, she actually hit the Beast's target that was next to her with that gun.  No one was more startled than they were when the Beast realized the scope had gone wacko while in the gun safe.

I guess they do that....or at least they do that for the Beast.    I'm hoping the weather tomorrow is as good as it was today.  It's been a warmer than usual winter for us so far.  That pleases the Beast because it means our electric bill is smaller than it was last year.  Of course, I think the new water heater is responsible for some of that but there's no way to tell really.

I'm feeling better today too.  I made the mac and cheese although Sheepie helped at the end by mixing the cheese into the shells.  My feet had taken all the standing I could by then.  I have to change my bandages after I clean the *wounds* in a little bit.  After that, I have to sit for a while until my feet settle down.

I am shocked that both the Beast and Buttmunch have gone to bed already.  I guess the fresh air got to them.    Sheepie and BF are watching TV in the living room and all's well in my world.  Just two more days and both the girls go home.  I will miss them.  I told Buttmunch that, if the world ends next year before Christmas, at least we had this Christmas together.  That made her sad but I made a joke out of it, gave her a hug and told her I loved her.  She gave me a hug and told me she loved me, too.  I know my kids love me but it's nice to hear once in a while.

Love you all.  Thanks for stopping by.  I hope you have a nice plan for celebrating New Year's.  We will be here, watching our TV with a few drinks and then bed.  No driving while drinking.  No fireworks.  No shooting of guns illegally.  That's VERY dangerous because the bullets can kill when coming DOWN.  I can live with just watching the apple come down in NY.  I can call those I love and wish them a happy new year or talk to them online.  Just be safe, okay? 

TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

I started feeling better later yesterday evening so I decided to take a much needed shower and change my clothes.  I had been running a fever and then had the chills.  You just might be able to imagine how I felt I smelled.  My hair needed washing, too.  I got that done while my daughter was attending to her Starfleet ships (don't ask).  Afterward, my daughter (Buttmunch) got to see the *wounds* I was attending to and was horrified.  I told her she should have seen them at their worst.  She questioned some of my tactics but then realized that I was doing what was required to optimum healing of the different wounds.

When she saw my right foot, she immediately said, *Mom, you've got something broken there.  You can tell by the black and blue circle there*, as she pointed to it.  I told her that I was pretty sure I had SEVERAL broken or fractured bones in my foot just by the way it feels when I walk on it.  Then she wanted to know when I was scheduled to see my doctor.  I told her my plan and also told her if I died suddenly from a blood clot or something like it, she was to make sure my doctor was sued.  When she asked why, I told her the problem with trusting a doctor is you don't usually question things they do.  However, he never....NEVER...x-rayed my feet and he should have.  Just my age dictated he should have done that as a protection for both of us.  I'm sure he will say I need to go see the orthopedic doctor as soon as he sees the x-rays I am going to insist on having.

So, she takes care of her game thing and gets her ships back home and then we start to talk.  A commercial about crack cocaine comes on and I think about the Golden Child and what a waste that was.  She starts to cry because she tried several times to get her sister to come live with her and go to rehab to get away from it.  But, no, she couldn't give up the crack...not for any person or any reason.  She preferred her crappy life of hooking for money to feed her habit.

The sad part is that we are talking about someone who was truly a natural beauty.  Fantastic eyes.  Clear skin (when she wasn't heavy into crack).  Gorgeous long hair.  Chewlee's hair reminds me of the Golden Child.  She has missed out on that fantastic little person and the Princess, too.  WE raised the Princess and then adopted her.  She is the one that told her mother she would NEVER know her granddaughter.  The Princess detests drugs.  She saw what it did to her mother.

I watched Buttmunch crying over the loss of her sister and told her, *You saved YOURSELF and that's the most important thing.  You cannot make someone want to clean up their life and reconcile with family, Sweetheart.  You are crying because A) she wouldn't do it or B) you failed to make her want to do it.  She looked at me and said, *I must be upset because I couldn't make her want to do it.  *I* failed.*  I hugged her and told her she hadn't failed.  It just means that the Golden Child has several more lives to live before she finally becomes a good person.  That made her laugh.

Then we decided to listen to music on YouTube.  First was Adele, who is a favorite of Buttmunch.  Then it was Roger Whittaker, whom we both adore.  She finally (and vodka may have played a part in this) decided it was time for her to go to bed and off she went.  We don't often have these serious conversations but we had even discussed the need to make sure that Sheepie and BF were using an effective form of birth control.  There is nothing worse than an unexpected and unplanned baby to gum up the works.  Oh well.

Love you all.  Have a fantastic Friday. 

TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

Today both the Beast and I were ill most of the day.  Thank goodness Buttmunch and Sheepie were here to keep tabs on Chewlee and keep her entertained.  I was burning up then freezing then...well, you know the routine.  What really got me was the upset stomach (same with the Beast).  I'm hoping since we both took it easy today, that we will feel better tomorrow.

I also discovered a huge blood blister on the underside of my big toe on my left foot.  Talk about a shock!  I must have injured it without realizing it and it slowly filled up with blood.  I drained that off early this AM, bandaged it and then tried going back to sleep.  I HAVE to feel better tomorrow or I won't make it into the doctors office.  But, I will try my best to let you know a couple funny things that went on today that I can't deal with now.

Love you all.  **Air kiss**  **Air kiss** 

TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

It's become pretty obvious who the truly popular one around here is since Buttmunch and Sheepie came to stay for the Holidays.  It's Sheepie.  All we hear when she's NOT here with us but Chewlee is ...is this!  *Sheepie is my favorite cousin!*  Truth be told, Sheepie is the cousin she's actually spent the most time with is what is really going on.  But Sheepie is good with her and does love her.

Today Sheepie wasn't here when Chewlee got dropped off and didn't get back home until about 20 minutes before her mother picked her up.  If it had been the other way around, OMG!  We would have heard some really crying going on.  She would not have wanted to leave before she got to see Sheepie. 

Okay....the *bad* news.  Tomorrow the Princess has to work all day long.  HER good news is that she will get Friday off and that means an early start up to her girlfriend's house in TN and can avoid that mad-dash traffic for people traveling for the New Year's festivities.  The *bad* news was meant primarily for me (us) because it means we will have Chewlee for about 12 hours.  BUT....the truly bad news will be Sheepie and Buttmunch having to say their goodbye's to Chewlee when she leaves because they will have returned home to KY by the time Chewlee and the Princess return home.

The good part for me will be that I won't have to watch Chewlee again until Wednesday next week.  We tried making that crock pot quiche today (the crustless one) and, although it wasn't bad, it is mainly to make life easier when you are cooking for a crowd, I think.  I would put fewer ingredients in it and maybe add some sun-dried tomatoes.  It really doesn't require so much crumbled sausage or mushrooms and I think swiss cheese would be better than feta cheese.  But that's just MY opinion.

Tomorrow I make the cabbage and noodles.  Buttmunch tried to second guess me on my grocery list and now it means going back to the store for the # of fresh mushrooms she DIDN'T get but we have the cabbage and other ingredients.  Lots of people believe you need to start the new year off with cabbage but we don't have that superstition in our family.  Still others believe you must have beans on New Year's Day.  Me?  Hey, give me strawberries and I am in heaven.  *Grin*

I will miss having Buttmunch and Sheepie here.  They have been a lot of help to both the Beast and I.  It's helped me to nurse my cold more than I could have and seems to be helping shorten it.  My feet, however, are not getting any better.  My doctor's appt. isn't until Friday so I just have to suffer through this and hope for the best.  My stomach is upset from taking ibu and aspirin.  I try to alternate but it doesn't seem to make much difference.  It all bothers my stomach.  **Sigh**

Well, I need to change my bandages (the heel seems to be healing quite a bit) and the top of the big toe on the right foot looks much, much better.  I'm just concerned about the underside of it but I packed that with an antibacterial soaked gauze ball to see how that will help. 

Love you all.  Have a great day. 

TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

I'm sure I'm not alone in this.  Picture yourself in pain.  A LOT of pain.  Pain that aspirin (even with a vodka kicker), isn't TOUCHING.  Pain that brings you to the brink of tears.  THAT kind of pain.  That's what I had last night.  It does several things to me all at the same time.  It makes it almost impossible for me to sit or lay still.  I cannot get the painful part comfortable. 

I had tried soaking the foot (it screamed at me! ).  I ended up just patting it dry and getting it rebandaged.  Here's the weird part.  Where the most pain was wasn't even close to where the wound is located.  It wasn't even where there was tape but it sure FELT like I had tight tape stressing the skin.  I couldn't put my sock on so that it was touching anything except my toes. 

I tried laying down on my bed.  My recliner.  Even the love seat.  I twisted.  I turned.  I put a pillow under my heel.  I removed it.  I put it off the cushion with nothing touching it; nope.  On top of my opposite ankle with nothing else touching.  Nope.  I was so exhausted by morning that I could have cried. 

The Beast ran up to the store with Buttmunch to get a few things I needed (topical antiseptic; gauze).  When they got home, I got busy.  I cleaned my feet, antiseptic sprayed them well and then bandaged them up.   And there was PEACE all through the feet.    So I grabbed a blanket and quickly took advantage.  I slept, ladies and gentlemen.  I slept.  I did wake up to grope my way to the bathroom twice but I really slept.  I was so very happy.  I told the Beast I was glad I hadn't planned on making the cabbage and noodles today which was okay because the Beast didn't do the shopping for it because of the long lines.  He was able to get the other stuff paid for in the pharmacy area (which amazingly wasn't busy....LOL) and then he got the heck out of there.  He figures tomorrow will be soon enough for my *short list* of stuff.

I am so pissed at my doctor (and there are many others these days) that are so terrified of lawsuits that they have stopped remembering that there are many of us that truly DO need pain medication.  Of course, they would prefer that one pill could be given and then forgotten about but most of it requires that you THINK and even PLAN on when to change the meds and even when and IF it can be stopped.  So, instead of renewing the pain meds for another 30 days until he gets a chance to see and re-evaluate my needs, he just ignores the pharmacy's requests.  Of course, he's also ignoring the fact that the meds he has me on are supposed to be slowly decreased, not stopped suddenly.  Other than the fact that I still need pain medication, I wouldn't care.  I don't want to take medication that I don't need.  That's not a healthy way to live.

I know the pain shall return.  I can already feel it building up pain buddies here and there.  But it occurred to me that as bad as MY pain is to ME, it's all relative.  We all have different levels of pain we can tolerated and how we handle it once that is exceeded is probably the *pain in the ass factor* that your family either rolls their eyes over or shuts the door on their way out.    So, I am going to close this for now and just try to stay calm and as quiet as possible so that I might actually get to sleep later for a few hours.  I'm afraid to take any more aspirin for fear of upsetting my stomach.  In the meantime, you all have some nice, calm, quiet times.  New Years will be here soon enough.  Love you all.  Be good.  Stay healthy and happy. 

TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

Maybe I am getting cranky in my old age but it's really starting to annoy me when I find a blog I really like to read and the blogger doesn't keep at it on a daily basis.  Hey, if they can only do it weekly, fine.  Then I won't waste my time going there every day and finding.....old stuff.  I know I may not get mine posted at the same time every day but I DO get it posted.  If I can't for some reason, I let Bratfink know so she can put a note up for the readers I DO have.  But I'm beginning to think maybe it's a sickness with me since it seems like *I* am the abnormal one.  I don't stand in a corner all day so there's always SOMETHING to talk about or remember or be excited about something upcoming.  You know what I mean.  It doesn't have to be earth-shattering although it was kind of fun trying to get it done when the tornadoes hit Alabama in April and we didn't have electricity around here for almost two weeks.  That was shortly after the Beast had put in the solar panels for us...just in case....and it was like he was psycho, err, psychic or something.  We helped keep our neighbors with the baby supplied for some lighting at night and to keep their fridge going.

I was glad when it ended but....we had some good times, too.  But, of course, we didn't lose our homes like hundreds of others had.  It's why I wouldn't bug the electric company.  Take care of those that really need it (hospitals, clinics, police stations,emergency centers, etc.).  We will manage.  And we did.  We also had enough food stored except for fresh milk but, after a few days, we were able to get even that locally.

You just never know what might interest people, do you?  I know *I* have been surprised a time or three at what seemed to interest people on my blog.  Chewlee's school is still *off* for the Holidays like all the regular schools are.  So, we had her here for when the Princess had to work.  She was so good today that she was almost amazing.  She just wanted a few things and seemed to want me to just relax and rest.  I know for sure she will miss her Aunt Buttmunch and cousin Sheepie when they go home.  They love her and laugh at her antics.  When they are around, they take care of her needs and let me relax.  *I* am SOOOOO going to miss them myself. 

I told you Chewlee loved her pillow pet (I got her the rabbit, which is one of the bigger ones).  Well, I haven't heard how Chance reacted to his but, since he was always begging his mother for one, I suspect he loved his, too.  It was the unicorn one and Sheepie was having a FIT over that.  She still is although even Tara told her that a two-year-old isn't going to think, *Oh...a unicorn is for girls!*  Nor is the purple color going to offend him.  He's a baby and he loves all things soft and cuddly.  After all, that's what THEY are, too.  **GRIN**  And Chance is so damn CUTE when he plays with Chewlee.  Chewlee acts like he is HER living doll at times and Chance loves it.  They will play hide-and-seek and make Baron crazy because THEY hide and he has to find them.    I love Chance's giggle and laugh.  It's just so darn adorable.

When the Princess got here tonight, there were plans on playing cards but I hadn't told Chewlee.  After she found out from her mother (no school, no work for her tomorrow) about the cards, Chewlee came running in here to tell me the GOOD NEWS!  Since she had been curled up on the love seat with Sheepie and the BF, watching a movie, that was very happy news for her.  The Princess stopped and picked me up a bottle of vodka (no mudslide at that liquor store).  She had been willing to get me anything I wanted...Bailey's, Kahlua, rum, brandy, etc. but I stuck with vodka since I haven't had any around for a while.  I'm still going to make the BF pick me up some mudslide when ABC liquors opens up again tomorrow.  I really want some here for New Year's Eve.  The Beast will be in bed early but, hopefully, Bratfink and I will be up to toast each other a Happy New Year (and also it may be our last..LOL).  My daughter may not make it but I know Sheepie will since Midnight is the BF's curfew here. 

Love you all.  Hope your Holiday was wonderful and that you have made careful New Year's Eve plans with a designated driver.  We haven't gone out in years and consider it *amateur night*.  Better to stay at home and watch the festivities on TV with a few drinks than take any chances out on the roads.  But that's just OUR way of thinking. 

TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

I gave Tara a cute little set of bowls that are for serving small portions of things (like cranberry sauces, chutneys ... that kind of stuff).  We always have the larger bowls but sometimes that's just too much bowl for what you want to put in it.  These bowls (lids included) cover that forgotten area.  I also gave her a Buxton handbag.  You know the one....it will expand if you need it, you can carry it like a bandolero so it's safer from muggings or any kind of theft.  There's special spots for your cell phone, bottles of water, all kinds of neat things.  She was so tickled because she said she really needs a new purse.  I told her I just wanted her to be organized. 

I gave Buttmunch a nice jewelry set that is a necklace, earrings and a matching ring.  I've given my granddaughters rings but not my daughter.  I figured it was about time.  She said she loved it and her voice sounded like she really did.  She put the ring on immediately but....she wants to use it on a different finger.  That may require hand exercises or outright dieting.  We shall see. 

I gave the BF a movie.  They watch a lot of them and I like this one.  I know they will watch it since it's a gift.  It's Don Juan DeMarco with Johnny Depp and Marlin Brando.  If you have never seen it, do please.  It's very, very cute.

Both Sheepie and the Princess got jewelry, too.  Necklaces and matching earrings.  I couldn't find one I was crazy about for the Princess (and in the same price range) so she also got a nice sweater for this winter.

The Beast got foods and candies (salamis, cheeses, etc. plus chocolate covered cherries) plus I got him a pair of sleep pants in camo that match his camo robe.  When he opened that, he laughed.  He knew exactly why I bought it for him.  I give him such a hard time about all his *unused* camo outfit pieces.

Chewlee made out like a bandit.  She got a couple Golden Books, she got a new pair of jammies plus a blankie that matches her coverlet on her bed.  She got a big activity learning pack that was money well-spent.  She got several pairs of boots including one pair that is a match to her mother's.  She got another fun *chip* for her Leap Frog pad.  She got her own small purse with makeup that is just for her and it includes some nail polish, too (it washes off with soap).  She loves the lip gloss and could use up one in little more than two or three hours, I kid you not.  I think the Princess is hoping it will help keep Chewlee out of HER makeup.  I gave her a cute little baby doll that is just that.  It looks and feels like a soft, cuddly baby.  It doesn't eat, drink, pee or poop.  It's in a gown with a string tie on the bottom (remember those?).  She found it in her *bag* and came running over to thank me for her baby doll and give me a hug, too.

Love you all but it's that time once again.  Another night I am having issues with my satellite connection due to weather.  **Sigh**   Christmas may be over but may the wonderful feelings linger.  Coming soon......2012.  What do you think?  Are the Mayan's correct?  Will our world end at the end of this upcoming year?  Or, will a new era begin?  Interesting thought and I wonder how people will react as the day gets closer and closer?  But, in the meantime, life goes on.  Happy and Healthy New Year's to all of you. 

TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

It was a nice day although we did run into a couple problems due to my lack of thinking ahead that far.  We didn't have enough plates.  I am so used to having paper plates here that I really and truly didn't notice that they were finally all gone.  Also, Buttmunch broke a plate so that added to the problem.  I have two partitioned plates that I bought for Chewlee a couple years ago and Tara's boys grabbed those up.  We all made do but no one was the worse for wear.  No one went hungry.

The girls did so much of the work and kept telling me to go sit down, it was handled, etc. so I did.  After I ate, I was tired and fell asleep for a couple hours.  The girls had cleaned up, put things away and were busy playing cards and enjoying a glass of wine.

Chewlee was so excited when she and the Princess first got to the house.  She had to tell me that it was *okay* for me to open my presents.  She ran to get them and drag them over to me and stood there waiting to watch me open it.  I finally did (I did it slowly so she was just a touch tortured).  I got a really nice, warm pair of sleep pants, a matching sleep top, a pair of extra soft black slippers and a hooded, zip-up robe (blue).  No comments, Bratfink!! 

Chewlee could hardly wait to open up her gifts here.  Once Tara and her boys got here and we got the food they brought with them taken care of, Sheepie and BF started giving out the presents.  Chewlee, much experienced by this time, ripped through everything in a heartbeat and was so tickled at her Pillow Pet.  Little Chance's nap time is at 1:30pm every day and today was no different.  He stayed with his daddy (and the two of them napped together) so he wouldn't be opening up his gifts here.  I know he will love his pillow pet.  Sheepie was all upset that it was a unicorn and purple, too.  Like Unicorns are sexist or some such thing.  He's a two year old.  He is clueless.

Romulus and Remus each got half of the Harry Potter Deathly Hallows Game.  I told them they had best remember to SHARE.  I gave it to them because you don't need a special game console to play them.  I wouldn't do that to Tara (or her family).  They don't need a Wii or Playstation 3.  Those are extremely distracting and the boys need to be thinking *college*, not *GAME*. 

I have more to tell but I am so totally tired that I need to get my poor feet up for a while.  I will be back later with more tales. 

TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

Chewlee was playing with her Leap Frog pad that had a Dora the Explorer game/learning card in it.  One of the games has Dora putting pyramid blocks in their proper place.  The blocks could be touched and their number would be given in Spanish.  You then had to *lift* the block onto the properly numbered spot on the pyramid.  It was a cute interaction of English and Spanish and one that Chewlee enjoyed.  She kind of mangles the pronunciation a bit but she's getting better.  She did ask me how to say Merry Christmas in Spanish and I told her.  She repeated it several times but never told me if there was another reason for wanting to know except curiosity.

It's very late and I am, once again, awake.  I have no idea why but the minute I lay down, no matter what position my left foot is in, it starts to hurt like hell.  I have an open wound on my heel that is taking it's time healing (partly because I keep hitting it where it's most sensitive and the bandage doesn't help).  It's so black and blue from that, I can't even begin to tell you.  If I sit up and keep that foot on the floor, almost no pain at all.  My doctor, the wimp (and I think he's also a bit of an idiot), just doesn't want to renew my pain pills.  I've been on them for quite some time but for different problems.  The reason I think he's an idiot is that it says, specifically, on ALL sites regarding medications that you do NOT stop them suddenly.  You are supposed to be weaned off of them so there are no adverse side effects.  I"m lucky.  I don't seem to be addicted to them and haven't had any bad reactions except that I AM in pain and could scream at times, especially when I hit that damn heel.  When I have the pills, I try to take them before bedtime rather than during the day so that I can get to sleep.  That's what I miss right now.  I will be running on damn little sleep tomorrow.  In fact, all week it's been an hour or two here and there every day.  No really good sleep at all.  I swear, when I see my doctor next week, I have quite a few things to say to him about the quality of his *care*.  He's just too damn young to take care of older patients.  I mean it.  He has no idea how fragile we can be at times.

Balls to the wall in the morning getting everything ready to go so we can eat at the proper time.  Poor Sheepie was saying she had to go the BF's family dinner (now that they are engaged, I guess you have to consider it *required* eating....LOL) but at least it's not until later in the day (around 6pm or so).  At least Chewlee will eat *pig chicken* (pork) even though she prefers hers more like *the other white meat* than pink.  She won't touch the mashed potatoes but will love the green bean casserole and eat that.  I am pretty sure I have some cranberry sauce that I will pull out and have available.  I happen to like it with my ham.  Sweet potato casserole is also on the agenda by popular demand.  I can't blame them.  It's good.  We will have baked corn casserole.  Cottage cheese/fruit salad.  Coconut cream pie and blueberry pie.  We have some rolls I will crisp for those that want to make a small sandwich of the ham as well as some nice seeded rye bread.  There won't be a shortage of food, that's for sure.  Then it will be a matter of sending some of it home with my niece, Tara, and her kids as well as making a plate up for one of our *orphans* that will be working at a convenience store on her way home.  We always send him a nice plate for all the *eating* holidays.

I found out this evening that we lost another of our aunts.  This one was my father's youngest sister.  She's had a bad heart and a semi-sad last few years.  She and her husband lost their oldest son a few years ago.  Very tragic and the news was delayed due to the fact that his identification was apparently *lifted* by one of the onlookers before emergency personnel got there so he was a *John Doe* for a couple weeks.  I suppose that's what is bad about families no longer living closeby each other in this day and age.  Weeks can go by with no contact and it doesn't seem all that odd to us.

What is scary about all this is that my siblings and I are now those *aunts and uncles* that will be showing their mortality WAY TOO SOON in my book.  There are still a couple loose cannons left (uncles and aunts of MINE) and it makes me want to clutch them to my bosom and close to my heart so that I don't lose them too soon.  It's bad enough we lost our mother and father sooner than we were ready to.  Especially mom.  I still miss her.  I watch the little ones and know how they would make her heart so full of joy and happiness.  I even miss that look on her face she would get.  I love you, Mom.  I miss you and love you, too, Dad.  Hope to see you in the light one day....just not too soon, please. 

Love you all and I wish you a most Joyous Day with family, friends and neighbors.  Eat well.  Don't drink and drive and keep the joy and happiness of this season close to your hearts.