TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

The Princess had to run to the store after work so she was late...very late...getting here to pick Chewlee up.  Chewlee got to play regular mahjong with me so she wasn't the least bit upset.  She is always wanting to learn more of the games on Pogo.  There are a few that she needs to learn how to read in order to play and she's really unhappy about that.  I let her sit in my lap and tell her what we are looking for (it's those games where you have to find the hidden items in the picture).  She's getting kind of good at it except there are things she doesn't have a clue as to what they are.  For example, how many 5 year old's would know what a C-clamp is?  She's learning the difference between a blimp and a hot air balloon. She's also learned that a necklace can take many different forms.  She had no idea that pearls could be a necklace.  Heck, she didn't know what a pearl was!    But she's a quick study.  Aren't most kids?  They can be truly amazing.

The Princess finally got here around 11 o'clock and we talked for about 20 minutes about different things going on.  The poor kids are being forced to move once again because the modular home they are renting is owned by a man with kids that live in other modulars and trailers on his property.  One of his sons wants to build a home and the spot that's perfect for it is where the kids are living.  The landlord gave them a free month but they have to move out by the end of August.  They will be doing it sooner than that but the Princess isn't looking forward to this, that's for sure.  The only thing that makes Chewlee happy is that she will be living next door to a couple other little girls for her to play with.

She's excited about going to a *big kid's* school in August.  The nice part of the school she will be attending is that they are so flexible as far as the kids that take the bus.  On those days that the Princess will be at school too late to be home for Chewlee, they will actually drop her off right here at the house since we are always home by the time she gets off school.  The Princess knows her schedule for the fall semester already so she will let the school know what days Chewlee needs to come here instead of her own home.  I think that's rather neat, don't you?

Poor Chewlee was fading fast while the Princess and I talked about the above.  She laid down in her mother's arms and was yawning.  She was really glad when they finally left for home.  I'll bet she was damn near sound asleep by the time they got home....and they don't live all that far from us.  When they move, they will be even closer.

I had to relax for a bit before I started this and take stock of the day.  We ate BLT's for dinner (Chewlee ate some bacon but had a salami sandwich for her dinner).  The Beast had to go out to the garden for a tomato to use.  And, yes, you're right.  We didn't get out there to pick tomatoes today.  The Beast is still suffering from the effects of the staph infection.  He has a tough time walking and even wearing clothes that might rub in the area of distress.

One of my girlfriend's from high school called me today to try to find out for sure if I had a date that I would be up in Chicago.  She says she needs that as soon as *I* know so she can let the other girls know for our get-together.  We always spend a day together when I am up there so we can all catch up and have a few laughs.  If someone had asked me if I thought all of us would remain friends this long, I probably would have said *No* just because we all live such different lives.  One of my friends owns a horse ranch, which takes a lot of her time.  My best friend for all these years has family that lives all over hell and gone and she travels a lot.  She also has a husband that is an uncontrolled diabetic with complications so, when she's gone, she has to make sure she's gotten a home health aide or nurse to come every day for him.  That's just to keep track of his sugar and insulin shots and to make sure he's still alive and well.

The friend that called me today just finished up her radiation therapy after having a lumpectomy.  Her comment to me after I brought her up to speed about my medical problems these last 8 months was, *Boy, it's hell to get old, isn't it?*  Her other observation was, *Hell, if we had known what getting old was really like, we would have done a lot more while we were young.*  I had to agree with her and we had a good laugh over that.  She was always the wild child of the bunch of us that hung out together.  I can't even imagine what it would have been like if she had gotten even wilder. 

With having Chewlee so often, I found out that I know all the darn songs that are pretty much the regular ones sung for each of her cartoon shows.  It's kind of embarrassing to be able to sing along with her.  Sometimes, she will come over and cover my mouth while she says to me, *Grandma...those are songs for KIDS!*  Too funny.

It's late.  Time to get this posted.  Love you all.  Have a great week and keep smiling.  It's good for your teeth and helps spread some good will. 

TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

Chewlee got here early this morning and was still half asleep but she stayed quiet once she got her toast, apple and milk that comprised her breakfast since (as she put it...) her mommy didn't feed her any breakfast.    I think Chewlee getting that extra sleep was more important since Grandma is always here to feed the *poor, starving baby* something.

I swear that kid goes through a LOT of growth spurts and an unending appetite is the big clue.  She's like a bottomless pit at times.  I can tell that she's going through one now just by the amount of food she ate.  She had:  2 pieces of toast, three apples, four glasses of milk, an orangsicle, six pieces of salami, some Fritos, some Doritos, some tortilla chips with salsa and an orange.  It's like pulling teeth to get Chewlee to eat bread except as toast.  I can sometimes coax her into letting me put peanut butter on one slice but she will lick off the peanut butter and then eat the bread.  Strange child.

I was going to make her some chicken nuggets for lunch but Johnnycakes came to pick her up.  Chewlee looked at him and said, *But Mommy was supposed to come and get me!*  Johnnycakes laughed and said, *Well, she's at home so I came to get you.*  She grabbed her blanket, turned and gave me a smile and a goodbye (at a little prompting from Johnnycakes) and she said goodbye to the Beast as she left.

It was much earlier when she left than I thought it would be so I turned off the cartoons and looked for something good to watch.  Duh!  What was I thinking?  It's Saturday and TV sucks.  BUT...ABCFamily channel is having a Harry Potter weekend so for the next day or two, I can always tune into that.  I'm just bummed that they aren't showing the episodes in order.  They didn't show the first one (Sorcerer's Stone) and they skipped right over the Prisoner of Azkaban.  They also are stopping at the Half Blood Prince and not showing the two final episodes (sob,sob) so it doesn't wake any enthusiasm in me to stick with it and means I will keep looking for other programs to watch.  It just seems kind of criminal not to show them all in order and call it a *Harry Potter Weekend*.  BS!  You need to show it all or it's not a *weekend marathon* to me!

The Beast finally gave in and admitted that we need two things for our table on the deck.  A new umbrella and new cushions.  Off he went with his tape measure and he actually found four nice cushions.  Very comfortable and not an atrocious pattern either.  He didn't find an umbrella but he'll hit Lowe's and see what they have.  He was hoping to find an umbrella in the same pattern.  Now he'll have to look for one with one of the colors from the cushions but I like a solid color better anyway.

We ate some steamed sausages that you can put on a hot dog bun.  They are a little spicy but delicious with mustard, onion and sliced tomatoes.  The only problem I have with them is they are very filling.  Later, for my dinner, I'll probably just have some cottage cheese with either pineapple chunks or peach slices.  I ate some with blueberries the other day (also really good) but I'm not in the mood for that taste today. 

The Beast has gotten really good at making smoothies and he makes us one every night.  Since he uses yogurt and fresh fruit, it's a nice, healthy and refreshing drink.  I keep thinking, *I wonder what a bit of vodka would do in it?* but I haven't tried it....yet! 

All-in-all, it's been a nice, albeit HOT, day.  No disruptions.  The Beast got mad at Chewlee once but I told him that his yelling at her like he did was *not very Christian* and he got very quiet because he knew it was true.  I loved being able to use a zinger on him for once.  He makes a big deal over his *conversion*, so-to-speak, but it hasn't gotten down to his heart yet.  I told him a while back that he might fool other people but God can read his heart.  I still think he's afraid of dying and finding out that there really IS a god because he hasn't really believed it in a long time.  Me?  I've never had any doubts and I have tried hard to be as good a person and as forgiving a person as I can be.  I try not to judge people harshly or treat them badly.  But the Beast?  After 53 years with him, I can tell you that he is not a nice person much of the time unless it suits him for some reason.  He is quick to judge; fast to anger and totally selfish.  When he was young, he hid much of those traits but he's dropped his facade over the years.

Now that he's getting older and has to admit it, he's become fearful of dying and trying to put a mask of Christianity back on....just in case.  If truth be told, he's going to have to answer for much I think.  But that's in His hands and not mine.  I'm just thankful for another day on THIS side of the grass. 

Tomorrow the Beast and I have to get outside and pick tomatoes.  We have a shitload of ripe tomatoes that need picking.  I told the Beast that if we can't give some away, I MUST can them as quickly as possible.  Either that or make salsa out of them.  I have all the right ingredients so I can do either.  We'll take out a couple of the reusable shopping bags from Walmart and just keep filling them up until we've damn near stripped the plants, including the cherry tomato plant.  I'm glad I only got one.  Do you have any clue how many cherry tomatoes grow on a 7 ft. tall plant?  A LOT!!!

Well, time to get this posted before my wireless starts acting up and I won't be able to post it until late.  Love you all.  Have a great Sunday.  Keep cool and drink lots of (non-alcoholic) liquids.  Of course, if you are indoors, liquor in moderation is acceptable. 

TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

It was hot today but not nearly as hot as most places in the Midwest.  My poor sons, one in Louisville, the other in Nashville, both suffered temperatures around the 115 F area.  I hope they kept cool and well hydrated.  Especiallly Mustachio, who does a lot of suffering in people's attics as he is chasing down problems with their telephone and/or internet connections.  He's been going through an incredible amount of ice and Gatorade while his area has been in the grip of triple digit weather.  But at least I know he's keeping enough liquid in his system as well as some of the necessary electrolytes to keep him from cramping up or suffering from heat stroke.

I've been hearing on the news about many of the cities giving away free cold bottled water to people in areas suffering from lack of air conditioning or no electricity.  Some cities also have been providing cooling off sites that the people can come and stay in during the worst of the heat.   I've also heard of deaths related to the heat.  It's so sad to think that people could die from heat in this day and age.  Of course, it's mostly older people who can't get around well.  While this is going on, please be kind and check on your neighbors.  You just never know and you might save a life.

Today, Johnnycakes mother was laid to rest.  I watched Chewlee for the couple hours involved and then the Princess came and picked her up for whatever took place afterward.  I will be getting her early tomorrow because the Princess has to go to traffic school (?...there must be a story to go along with this but I don't know it...yet!).  I gather I will watch Chewlee until Johnnycakes gets home from work and he is going to watch her while the Princess is doing her shift.  Yes, all too soon, the world requires that life must go on.

My life has been one glass of water after another today.  Between that and the bathroom, I haven't done much of anything except folding some clothes and napping during the worst of the heat.  We waited to eat until it was almost dark because it was just too much effort.  Now that the temperature has dropped down to 79 F, it should provide fairly decent sleeping.  I'm going to head that way shortly and will, hopefully, sleep thru the night until Chewlee gets here at 7:30am.  Yuk!  I may just give her some toast, milk and turn on her cartoons while I catch a few more zzzz's. 

Love you all.  Have a great weekend but keep cool and drink lots of liquids.  Don't become a statistic. 

TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

I don't know about you, but extreme heat makes me tired...and a bit cranky sometimes.  I was taking a nap when Chewlee was dropped  off so I wasn't cranky.  I had gotten two hours of rest and that makes a difference.  Especially in this heat.  I let her go take a bath and washed her hair both to cool her off and to get off any sweat.  She was going to go to Bible study with the Beast and he wouldn't have to worry about her smelling sweaty or being dirty. 

I found out the Beast still isn't 100%.  He said he got very dizzy during Bible study and almost had to excuse himself except that he didn't think he could drive just then.  He had Chewlee with him and wouldn't even have made the attempt.  He's told me several times now that he's kind of sorry we only have the one car.  I told him that could easily be rectified.  We could get a nice used car to use for around town or in an emergency and save the new car (2012 model) for travel.  He just gave me *THAT* look.  I thought it was a good idea.

Once Chewlee and the Beast left, I jumped under the shower and just enjoyed the heck out of a nice, leisurely shower.  I don't usually get a chance to do that because I have so much I need to get done and little good time (no pain) to do it in.    I mean that sometimes the neuropathy makes standing and walking on my feet difficult because my feet are so painful.  It's not the heel wound that is almost healed; it's the bottom of my feet.  Sometimes, it's my damn ankles that are painful, too.

Right now, it's 11:12pm (Central Time) and I am actually falling asleep here trying to write this blog.  But....it rained tonight and the temperature  dropped to a very comfortable 70 degrees.  That made me even MORE tired because I know I will be very, very comfy and cozy without the help of any AC.  I really hate AC because that makes me too cool; then it's too uncomfortable for me because I hate the cold, too. 

I don't have any real news (other than the fact we finally got rain) so I am going to close this by saying *Love you all* and hoping you are doing well even with all this heat.  Be good and stay safe. 

TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

I swear this site will drive me nuts with some of the little things that just don't go right when I am trying to blog.  I may, like Bratfink, have to find another blog site.  But for now, it'll do.  I've figured out how to get around the things that make me crazy.

I was watching a program on National Geographic about the settlement that Christopher Columbus started.  I didn't last four years but the fact that he did it at all was a big surprise to me.  I truly don't remember hearing about that.  Do you think they didn't include it because the settlers didn't live and prosper?  It's amazing how much of history is rewritten depending on just who is in power.

But what it really did was make me think about how brave those sailors and settlers were.  There was no food except for what they brought with them and what they hoped to find and to raise.  They had so much they needed to bring with them, including people with necessary skills and really a limited amount of space to bring anything at all.  It had to be scary as much as it must have been exciting.  So many of them came to escape the system of government they lived under.  They could have their own land!    There was little hope of that if you were born a peasant in the *old country*.  That alone must have been a big factor.  They weren't farming for the benefit of a landowner that they owed even the house they lived in to.  That was the promise and how it must have seemed like a dream to them. 

The food they grew would be all theirs.  They could sell or barter the excess for things that others made that they needed.  The animals they tended would be their own.  That would have made them feel rich indeed.  They would face dangers...new ones.  The Indian tribes that lived in the area they settled would be one.  Wild animals they weren't familiar with like grizzly bears, moose, cougars...all animals they were unfamiliar with and they would have to be prepared to deal with.  There would be no other people around except the indian tribes, which were an unknown commodity and those they traveled with.  A small community indeed.

They would have to invent their own society.  Deal with how and where they would meet to buy and trade things they grew, made or killed.  They brought a friar with them so there would be someone to teach the children what was usual, probably mostly their catechism since few peasants knew how to read.  I don't think it was even encouraged.  But they might have changed that in their new society.  Or, did they revert to what they were used to minus the land owners that they were subject to in the *old country*?  Who would enforce what laws they felt were needed?  What punishments would they choose?  It wasn't just an easy thing to make a settlement that worked.  It was more than build your home and start tilling your land and planting your crops.  There was much that went into forming a working settlement than that. 

This group of archeologists are at the settlement area trying to find out why the settlement failed.  Was it disease?  Was it the Indians attacking them?  Was it men running off to dig for the gold the Indians told them was in the mountains?  Was it the fact that the supply ships sunk before they got back to them?  One group is looking for the sunken ships (they sunk off the coast near the settlement) and the other digging up the buried settlers they could find to look for clues as to what killed them.  All in the name of curiosity.  We humans are a curious bunch because there's no real reason for finding all this out other than WE WANT TO KNOW!

Oh well.  I really must get some sleep now.  It's late and the Beast and I have some errands to run that we want to get done early.  Love you all.  Be good and drive carefully. 

TALES FROM THE BRAT FARMI found some liquid allergy medication and took it but, as soon as it was in my mouth, I remembered how much I hated the taste of it.  How come they make kids meds in neat flavors but not most of ours?  Ick!  But it works so I really shouldn't complain.  I think it was the neighbors mowing their lawn (long overdue) and there's all sorts of wild stuff that grows in all our lawns around here.  It was probably something trying to profligate itself that caused my allergic reaction.

Sheepie and Teach came bearing gifts.  Chewlee got a huge bottle of bubbles that she was excited about but wasn't in a hurry to use.  She loved the towel they bought for her to use when she used her Slip N Slide so then she wanted to go out and use it right away.  Teach helped the Beast lay it out and hook it up while Sheepie blew up her *belly board*.  That got used all of once but Chewlee likes to slide on her knees best of all.

Sheepie blew bubbles to annoy Teach since he was sitting on a lower step than she was.  It was funny to watch.  Chewlee kept inviting him to *get his feet wet* but he told her not this time.  She kept telling him how nice the water was and Sheepie said it was good that she's so easily amused.  True.  She really didn't want to come in but the sun was brutal.  Sheepie told her that she had to leave anyway so Chewlee came in and got dressed in dry clothes.  She's become very modest the past year and she announced to the Beast that he couldn't come into my room because she was going to be naked and getting dressed.  That caused a big smile on the Beast's face while he promised he wouldn't come in.  She was almost totally dressed when Sheepie came in and even SHE made Chewlee grab for her shorts to pull them up quickly so Sheepie wouldn't see her in her underwear.

When Sheepie and Teach said their goodbyes, Chewlee came in and told me that she *loved Sheepie*.  I told her I knew that and it was good that she loved her family.  She then started to tell me all her family that she loved, name by name.  High on her memory list was Auntie Bratfink.  She's never met her but knows her because I talk to her online all the time AND she's sent Chewlee a couple packages of things.  Regardless of what is in them, she always gets so excited and just is mystified that an aunt she's never met would send her such neat things.  They are all *make a kids day* things like markers, paper, kid DVD's....you can just imagine. 

When the Princess picked her up, I had to inform her that Chewlee is a bit confused about something she was told about Johnnycakes mother.  She knows that everyone is going out to eat at a *fancy restaurant* tonight but she thinks Daddy's mother is meeting them there.  I told her, *I don't think she is going to be there, sweetheart.*  She just looked at me and said, *But they said she was going to be waiting for us!*  I know someone probably tried to explain to her that she was no longer with us (meaning in the flesh) but was waiting for us all in heaven.  Chewlee didn't *get it* fully.  I just wanted the Princess to be prepared for any questions Chewlee might have when they go to the restaurant and no one is waiting there for them. 

We were told the Wake is tomorrow at 6 for friends (family at 5pm) and the funeral is at 11 on Friday.  Sheepie said she can't make the funeral because she has her CNA classes and can't miss those.  She's going to be a Certified Nursing Assistant and has classes almost every day.  So far, she seems to enjoy them.  I meant to ask her how long the course is but I keep forgetting because it seems like she always is talking about something or other and I get distracted.    I was warned she talks a lot about everything and nothing by Mustachio (who tells me he misses it since she's gone). 

Now that Chewlee is gone and the Beast made us some strawberry smoothies with fresh strawberries and yogurt, I think I am going to lay back and just relax for a while.  We spent the day doing some wash (he puts on the wash, I do the folding when it's dried).  I think I can relax now.  We talked about going down to the lake to see the fireworks but....we've seen so many in our lifetime.  After a while, the thrill is gone.  It would be different if we were going to see it with Chewlee, for example.  It's always wonderful to see the joy in their eyes and on their faces while seeing new things.  I do miss that.  I'm kind of shocked that we've heard very few fireworks so far but it's not dark yet as I write this.  That may change.

I hope you all had a great day with family and/or friends.  I hope you didn't drink too much or forget that alcohol dehydrates you so you should drink a glass of water between every couple of drinks.  Hope you used a good sun screen if you were outdoors.  Be careful if you are handling any fireworks.  And remember....tell those you love that you do....often.  We only have today...tomorrow is not promised. 

TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

I woke up today not feeling too bad and the Beast had the screens open to the fresh air for a bit.  It wasn't long before it started getting a bit warm so he closed up the house and turned on the AC.  But it was too late for me.  Something out in that fresh air brought on all the symptoms of my allergies.  It's usually pollen but what in the world could be pollinating at this point in time?  I have no real clue but my stuffy nose and the sneezing tells me that there's SOMETHING OUT THERE. 

So I am doomed to spend the day blowing my nose and sneezing.  I don't have any meds for this, but I might have some OTC medication for it.  I just need to go check out the medicine cabinet.  I'll do that when I finish this.  The Princess dropped off Chewlee so she could slip and slide for a while.  She, Johnnycakes and his sister are going to Huntsville or Gadsden to buy a dress for their mother.  However, as Chewlee told me, she tried to tell her mother I didn't have a bathing suit for her (She took it to her babysitter's house on Monday) so SHE SAYS her mother told her she could do it in the clothes she has on.  But, guess what? She doesn't seem very anxious to go out in the heat at all, regardless. 

Right now she's drawing pictures for her mommy.  All her pictures seem to be divided up into either for me or her mommy.  Sometimes, she decides a picture she did for me really should be for her mommy.  I don't care who she makes them for as long as she enjoys herself.  Her mother and I both fuss over them.  It's our job and we do it well....LOL.

I have a bit of a tummy ache so I am going to go look for the allergy medication I hope I may still have in the bathroom and then lay back in the recliner for a bit.  Love you all.  Stay safe. 

TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

As you know, everywhere in the US of A, we are suffering from heat with almost no hint of rain.  The Beast is suddenly worried about the food crops.  It's almost 9pm and my Weatherbug tells me that it's still 88 degrees outside with only 25% humidity.  That's damn near desert dry (the desert DOES have humidity but only around 5-10%).  I'm speaking of OUR deserts here in the States.  I have no idea what other deserts in countries like Africa and Asia might have.  I never thought about it before so I never researched it.

I find myself using a lot of crushed ice during all this heat.  It's almost like I'm addicted to it, if there is such a thing.  When the weather is more normal or during the winter, I don't have the same desire for it.  Chewlee will share it with me.  She says she doesn't like water but she will eat a lot of crushed ice so I keep a large glass filled with it all the time.  She WILL drink the water that accumulates in the glass so she doesn't dislike water, just water that isn't really cold.

The Beast thinks it's funny and laughs every time I fill up a glass but I know I am keeping myself hydrated.  It's easy to become dehydrated when you are diabetic.  Hell, even if you are *normal*, you need a lot more fluids on days like this.  Our high was 100 so that makes a week of weather 100 or over.  Before that it was *just* in the 90's.   

The Beast bought a small pressure cooker last week and has been trying out different things in it because of all the hot weather.  He decided to cook Baron's chicken in it today.  He put three huge legs and thighs in it with four cups of water.  When it finished cooking 40 minutes later, you will never believe how many cups of liquid were in it.  12 cups.  He was floored and said to me...*Can you believe they are injecting that much water into CHICKEN?*  I said, *Well, that explains why the Tyson chicken is so damn big.  It's not really from BIG chickens.  It's been injected into giant sizes.*  But to get an additional 8 cups?  That's downright theft because we pay by the pound.

I told him the next time he cooks some, don't add any water to it and lets see how consistent this is.  He says he will.  I'll let you know what we find out.

Sheepie and Teach are supposed to drop by tomorrow for a bit.  It's July 4th and America's birthday.  I'm luckier than Bratfink because the fireworks won't start here until tomorrow and they will end tomorrow too.  We have a fireworks trailer just down the road, near Walmart and there's been a steady stream of people there the Beast tells me.  Thankfully, the Beast has never shown much of a need to *celebrate* except once that I remember.  We had stopped in Tennessee once and he spent a small fortune on some fireworks of various types.  He set off a bunch of them at his aunt's house including this one that *bounced*.  It damn near bounced her roof on fire except his cousin got to the hose and put it out (the fireworks, not the roof).  The boys had a lot of bottle rockets that they and their friends set off in a field near the house but no problems there.  But that was the one and only time I ever saw the Beast use fireworks of any kind.

Not sure if I will have Chewlee at all.  I told the Princess to drop her off for a while and let her do her *Slip N Slide* for a bit but Chewlee might not want to leave her mother if everyone is grieving.  She gets kind of *clingy* and I know her paternal grandfather is coming to town to see her.  He really wants to take her for a couple weeks before school starts in August but, with my plans still in the air a bit about going to Chicago, the Princess really doesn't want to let her go with him.  Besides, every time she comes back from his house, she is such a little monster.  He spoils her rotten and then WE (the family) have to retrain her when she gets home.

OMG.....Bratfink just told me she now is on Twitter.  I can hardly believe that any sister of mine would TWITTER!  **THUD**  If you don't believe me, you can catch her twitter @planetbratfink.  Just don't tell anyone, okay?  I mean, even Doonesbury makes fun of twitterers. 

Well, that's all for today.  Love you all.  Stay cool and hydrated.  Have some fun tomorrow (the 4th) but please leave the fireworks to the experts.  With all the accidents and loss of life and limb, you would think people would be smarter.  *sigh*  If you are living in a dry area, please remember they can start fires that destroy homes.  Don't be responsible for such a disaster. 

TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

The mother of our dear Johnnycakes passed over the Rainbow Bridge this morning.  She was much too young but she was called home into the arms of her Lord and Savior so who are we to question.  We send our love and condolences to the whole family who will miss her greatly.  No arrangements have been finalized yet.

TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

I've mentioned that I have a couple issues with using a wireless internet connection, like it's going on and off for no reason.  The connection is what is called a Wi-Fi hot spot that is on my Droid (cell phone).  Yes, I run my PC off my cell phone with the help of this little router and I mean that literally.  Compared to most routers used with other services, this is downright miniscule. 

I normally keep my charger plugged into my cell phone all the time when I am online.  Yesterday, however, I was getting so many calls that I unplugged it rather than end up on my knees because the charger wire isn't very long.  The*hot spot* still works so it's not like it's evident when it's been unplugged so I can talk comfortably on my phone.  Since much of this happened while Chewlee was sad and wanted her mommy, I was distracted and forgot to replug it in.

What happened next was the phone battery wore down to nothing.  Zero.  Nada.  I had never seen that on this phone since it came with a small charge on it when I got it.  WARNING:  Never let your cell phone (especially one with a Wi-Fi hot spot on it) run down to Zero.  It took several hours to charge it to 100%.  It wouldn't let me get to any of my apps during the charging either.  It's like it had it's own agenda and was punishing me for letting that happen!  Scary.

The Princess had promised that she was going to come to get Chewlee early or else the babysitter would come for her.  It all depended on what was going on with Johnnycakes mother.  Well, Chewlee asked me when she was going to get to see her mother and I told her what the Princess had told me.  When it hit around 2pm, Chewlee got anxious.  I was mad at her at the time for losing one of her shoes so I told her that she couldn't go outside at all and that her mother was going to be VERY upset with her if she didn't find it.  She started to tell me that she had looked EVERYWHERE and started to list the places she had looked. 

I went with her to check and make sure she had looked under the sofa, the recliner, the beds in both bedrooms, the kitchen, the laundry area, the table...and, sure enough, it was like the shoe had disappeared.  Chewlee started crying because she thought she wasn't even going to be able to go outside to her mother's car so she would never see ANYONE else.  She was crying and telling me she had lots of other shoes in her bedroom at home that she could wear.  I was at a loss because this house just isn't that big that a little shoe could totally disappear.  Well, it turns out that SOMEONE had put her shoe on the kitchen counter-top and, when Chewlee spotted it, she came running into my computer room ecstatic, yelling, *I FOUND IT, I FOUND IT!*  She sat down on the floor and put both shoes on and didn't take them off again so they wouldn't get lost.  I told her, *Now you know why Grandma tells you that you should put them in one spot whenever you take them off so you can find them when you need them.*

The Beast took her for a ride on the *Mooter Scooter* as Chewlee refers to it when they dropped off some tomatoes to one of the neighbors homes.  When I finally got a call from the Princess, she told me the babysitter was on her way to get Chewlee and she hung up before I could get any answers about Johnnycakes mother.  I found out I am not the only one.  Poor Tara said she had been trying to get hold of the Princess, too, and she hadn't heard from her.  She made me promise to keep her informed and said she was praying hard for the whole family.  Lord knows, Tara understands what it's like to lose someone so very close to you.  *I* understand the pain of losing a mother so my heart truly bleeds for their pain.  Right now, they are in a limbo of sorts since she's not awake nor aware and there's literally no hope of recovery.  She's breathing on her own at last report but that won't last long.  That brought me back to my own mother's last hours before she finally passed over the Rainbow Bridge.  It's not a good place to be and your only consolation is that there's no suffering for the loved one.  YOU suffer, however.

Chewlee's sleepover was kind of funny.  She wanted to sleep with me and she knows I have been sleeping on my recliner.  I ended up making her a *sleeping bag* (her name for it) next to the recliner.  She got her Olivia doll and this bird thing that I call her Angry Bird but she doesn't and got them settled down next to her.  She covered herself with her blankey and settled down for sleep.  So did I since I was tired.  Around 2am, she tapped me and woke me up because she wanted to lay down with me.  I turned on my side and made room for her.  She settled in and went back to sleep with me.  When I woke up about an hour later, she had her head on my chest with her arm slung across me.  Since I had to get up to go to the bathroom (it sucks to get old!), I sat up, picked her up and put her back on the *sleeping bag*.  She never woke up but she was kind of mad when she woke up much later and found herself there.  That made me laugh

I'm going to try to get hold of the Princess today and get an update on what's what with Johnnycakes mother.  I will let you all know what I find out.  Love you all and I wish you a great week.  Remember to tell those you love that you do whenever you have a chance or make the time to do it.  Today is all you have that is assured.  Tomorrow isn't promised to anyone.  You never know what may happen.