TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

Today was my appointment with the retina doctor to check out my eye after it had healed totally.  The nurse took the pictures of the inside of my eye so he could compare it with the original ones taken when I first visited him.  End result?  No further surgery needed....NOW.  However, if my vision changes at all in that eye, I am to call the doctor immediately.  Trust me, I will.

While waiting for my eye to dilate for the pictures of the inside of it, I met a very nice man who had gone totally blind in one eye.  He had the same problem I did but......before he could have the laser surgery done, he lost his sight.  He snapped his fingers and said, *It was THAT fast.  One second I could see, the next I was blind in that eye.*  Scary, huh?

However, the doctor had put some kind of special oil inside the eye to replace the normal fluid.  It had to stay in for a month, I believe he said...or it might have been ANOTHER month.  I was just shocked at the idea of an oil in the eye so I could have misunderstood.  Then, after the time has elapsed and the doctor can see if it's done it's job, he will have a surgery to remove the oil and then another doctor is going to fix the implant (lens) because it has moved since his cataract surgery.  I guess they have to reopen the cornea and insert a different lens in the proper place.  Then, it's wait to see if he gets his sight back, I guess.

After hearing that, I figured out all by myself, mind you, that ANY change in the vision in that eye and I am sitting in the doctor's lap within an hour.  I never want to lose my vision.  My vision and my hearing are both precious to me.  I would miss so many things that I love....the flowers, the sweet little face of my great granddaughter, Chewlee, the glory of spring, the sight of the mountains (I love the mountains)....so much more.  Too numerous to mention. 

I should have posted earlier but....and this is where the *old-timers* comes in......I took my phone with me to the doctor's office and it's my Hot Spot that powers the internet on my computer.  Well, when I got home, I put my purse down on the floor next to my desk, turned on my computer and proceeded to read my email and the news.  I forgot all about taking my phone out of my purse and plugging it in so the charge on my battery wouldn't be drained.  It was right about 9:30pm when I was going to do my blog that I lost my internet.  I always check my phone's connection FIRST because the plug comes out of the power strip easily and I've had my phone's battery drop to Zero a time or two because I didn't notice that had happened.  I went to grab the charge line and.....no phone connected.  Dammit!  I didn't even need to check it; I knew my batter was dead as a doornail. 

I had been talking to Bratfink and my son, Mustachio and suddenly.....I was gone.  Bratfink would probably guess what happened (she was talking with me another time when I lost my internet because my battery was drained).  Sure enough, that's what she told Sheldon had more than likely happened to me.  What my son thought, I have no idea.  He had gone to bed before my battery had enough of a charge to get back online.  I did leave him a message that he should see in the morning before he goes to work.

I think this is the third time I've forgotten to plug my phone in.  It usually is after a doctor's appointment.  I always take my phone with me.  If we take the dog with us, there are times the Beast will take him to the dog park and let him run around with any other of the large dogs.  IF there are any there.  When that happens, if I get out of the doctor's office and he's not around, I can call him and let him know I'm waiting.  The dog park is only about 5 minutes away from either of our eye doctor's offices so I don't have to wait long.

It was a nice day today.  Not too cold.  I think it reached about 62.  The Beast and I stopped at one of the many fast food places and had Chicago style hot dogs, onion rings and coffee (it wasn't warm, warm so we got it even if it was just to warm our hands by wrapping them around the cup).  The hot dog filled a hole but....no one knows how to make a Chicago hot dog anywhere but in Chicago.  Trust me, I know.  We actually had to ASK for onions.  That was a crime.  A Chicago hot dog without onions?  Sheesh.  That's like a New York hot dog without sauerkraut. 

Oh, that reminds me.  Here in the South, they have lots of places that sell pulled pork barbeque sandwiches.  I was shocked when I was asked if I wanted cole slaw on mine the first time we ate one after moving here.  The whole idea shocked me and I thought, *Ewww*.  However, last week I decided I shouldn't condemn anything without at least trying it once.  I have to tell you this....the taste is amazing!  I found I really like the combination.  If you ever get a chance, go ahead.  Be brave and try it.  I may never eat another pulled pork barbeque without cole slaw in the future.

Love you all.  Have a great day tomorrow (Hump Day!  Hurrah!)  The week is halfway done. 

TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

I spent a lot of today attempting to heal faster by sleeping as much as I could.  Truth be told, I almost couldn't help myself.  I was sure it was this damn chest cold that's come down with me but even the Beast came in to complain that HE has felt sleepy most of the day and he doesn't seem to have a cold at all.  **Frown**

I DID get some good sleep thanks to the Beast having bought me this liquid cold medication that has a decongestant in it, too.  He bought some and didn't tell me.  If I hadn't gone into my medicine cabinet to check for something else, I might not have even found it.  It's not like him not to tell me about how good he is because he thought of me while he was shopping.  He must have bought it when he went to pick up our pills at the pharmacy.  Otherwise, he tries to avoid that area like the plague.    But, I really AM grateful.  The sinus drip down my throat does NOT make sleeping easy.  If I can get rid of that, I can sleep without constantly coughing.

The retina doctor's office called today to remind me about my appointment tomorrow morning.  The Beast went to bed at 9:30pm our time (either the football game ended early, wasn't interesting or it was two teams he doesn't like) and he set the alarm so we will be sure to get up.  Since I slept so much of my day away today, I need to jump in the shower in a bit.  I was tempted to take a bath but I never really feel clean sitting in a bathtub.  You wash yourself and then sit in the dried skin and soap film.  Yuk!  I can't use bubble bath because I end up with an infection from it.  Guess my *down under* is sensitive. 

I had to laugh at the Beast.  He actually bought us an energy drink.  Not that five hour stuff they advertise so much on TV but one that Ocean Spray is making.  Cranberry flavor, of course.  I have no idea if it's any good but I may use it tomorrow if I wake up feeling groggy.  I'll let you know.

Someone asked me if I missed Chewlee today and I told them that I didn't normally watch her on Monday so, no, I haven't missed her being around yet.  I DO miss her if I go more than a day or two without her.  Since the Princess wasn't sure just how long they would be gone, I'm not sure if I will miss the little stinker or not.

I think the Beast had some kind of plans for tomorrow because he was a bit put out over my doctor's appointment.  I told him I was perfectly capable of driving myself but he still acts like I can't be trusted to drive further than our Walmart.  I think he really believes that my missing my big toe on my driving foot makes me a cripple.  It affected me a lot at first but now I've learned how to compensate in my balance and it's not a problem to ME.  The whole rest of my foot works just fine for me whether I am walking OR driving.  Jerk!

This cooler weather makes for good sleeping when I CAN sleep.  I just have to remember to take the medicine with the decongestant about a half hour before I lay down.  Then I'm not constantly having to sit up to blow my nose every other minute.  I double the quilts I am sleeping under so I can keep my heat down low and have nice, fresh air while I stay comfy cozy all night.  At least, until I have to get up to pee.  For tonight, I pulled out my insulated pj's (actually long underwear) so I won't get all chilled or have to feel around for my robe.  I refuse to turn on a light because that's guaranteed to wake me up fully.  I'm glad we have gotten into the habit of putting down the lid on the toilets (because of Baron drinking out of them) because it means I don't have any of those toilet *accidents* because men don't put the toilet seat down.  The Beast not only puts it down but he also puts the lid down.  I just have to lift that and I'm safe.  **Grin**  I put the lid down before I flush because it's quieter and doesn't disturb either of the boys.

Love you all.  Have a great week.  Drive carefully.  Pretty soon we will be dealing with that nasty black ice and snow on our streets. 

TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

In a way, holidays are a nightmare for couples, especially those with kids.  There are two sets of parents (or grandparents) and it means trying to keep both sides happy on a holiday so there's getting one to plan an early dinner and the other to have theirs later.  Actually, most parents or grandparents realize this and plan accordingly. 

So, the kids are either eating TWO dinners on the same day or, if they are lucky like OURS are this year, they are getting to celebrate it on different days.  Hopefully, they won't get too tired of the menu which will probably be very much alike, with just a slight variation in side dishes and/or taste. 

It seems that the Princess and family are making the trip to Nashville along with my other granddaughter that lives here in Alabama now that she's married (Aimee and husband).  Chewlee is all excited because she said she is *going to have a sleepover at her aunt and uncle's house with her cousins!*  My DIL, Raven, is having an early Thanksgiving for the family.  I gather they are leaving early which will more than likely allow the girls to help Raven with the meal.  That's a fun time while the guys do whatever keeps them entertained and out from underfoot.  That will allow them to have a regular Thanksgiving dinner with the hubby's family.  In the Princess's case, they will be having it with Johnnycake's grandmother (and that will probably be the same with Aimee's hubby's family.  I think the grandmother is the real matriarch there.  She's a sweetheart.)  Then it is MY turn.  I agreed to have a late holiday dinner.  The Princess says it would need to be early because Johnnycakes works on both weekend days.  **Sigh**  Tara has decided she is going to take the four-day weekend and have no schedules at all.  She just wants to lock her doors and spend it with her two boys, alone, just cooking things they all like to eat and it may not even include a turkey.  Tara told me she is going up to Ohio at Christmas to spend it with the kids relatives there (and some good friends) and have Christmas with her daughter and son that live with their grandparents and father. 

Since the Beast won't be celebrating Christmas this year, I will be setting up my little tree in my computer room and will decorate it for the Holiday.  But, if you've read this blog for any length of time, you already know he's always been *bah! humbug!* for pretty much any holiday but especially Christmas.  Of course, he's never happy when it comes to giving a gift for any reason.  He loves buying things for himself and, if we both need something (like new desks, chairs, anything..) HE comes first and always gets the BEST.  Me?  I get cheap...always, always.  It's one of the reasons my kids INSIST I have to outlive him.  That way, I win. 

My needs are relatively simple.  I don't need the latest and the best of everything like HE does.  In fact, I've been that way my whole life.  When you are the oldest of seven kids, you learn that a $$ can only stretch SOOO far.  When we first married, I was always shopping at sales and/or resale shops.  There's just something about spending recklessly that makes my skin crawl.  It hasn't endeared the Beast to me over the years, especially when it came to our kids.  But that's another story entirely.  We're married 48 years now so I'm used to his excesses when it comes to him.

I DO have plans that will probably make the Beast's teeth vibrate.  I will be decorating the fir tree under our bedroom window with solar powered Christmas tree lights.    He will HATE that.  The tree is such a beautiful shape.  It's actually the perfect Christmas tree.  We planted it when we first bought the house six years ago and it's kept its shape during all the years.  It's only needed the occasional snip here and there.   I bought the solar lights for it last year and they were so pretty.  I just wanted to kick myself for not buying one or two more of the strands because they only have 25 lights on each strand.  That way the solar *panel* needed isn't large and really obvious.  Oh well.

Love you all.  Hope you all had a great weekend and an even better week.  Remember to be careful driving. 

TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

I don't think I mentioned that I felt a cold coming on a couple days ago.  I doubled up on my vitamins and was using lozenges because the coughing (mostly from sinus drainage) was really irritating my throat.  I really think it only got worse on me because of a lack of good sleep.  The minute I laid down, my sinuses would start draining down my throat and the coughing would start.  I didn't have a decent decongestant in the house and kept forgetting to put it on the list for the Beast.  I kept thinking I was losing it because how could I forget to tell him I needed one when it was keeping me from sleeping well?  Must be *old timers*, right?   

Since I wasn't sleeping well, I was finding myself falling asleep on my feet almost literally.  I would be talking to Bratfink on an IM and have to tell her that I was zoning out at my desk and HAD to go nap.  I would blow my nose until it was feeling sore on the outside and then grab an hour or two of sleep that left me feeling groggy and my cold felt like it was growing in my chest.  The last thing I wanted was a cold right at the start of winter type weather.  Those colds seem to last a looooooong time.

But, here I am.  I definitely have a cold now and not (as I hoped) just sinus congestion due to allergies.  I KNOW my lack of sleep had to be the most major contributor to that.  But, I have to tell you about today.  Last night I had a couple drinks (my favorite, vodka **Grin**) before I went to bed.  I covered up, nice and warm and actually fell asleep fairly fast.  (Gee, I wonder why?  Ha ha ha!)  I slept for around four hours, got up to pee and went right back to sleep.  I did that once more and stayed up, turned on my computer and checked my email and a few other things before I checked out Pogo.

I stayed up for about 8 or 9 hours and then told Bratfink I had to lay down for a while.  I had eaten because the Princess brought over some homemade lasagna (very tasty, too).  While she chatted with the Beast, I laid down thinking it would only be for an hour or two and I crashed for about four hours.  I never heard her leave after Chewlee got dropped off by Birdie, never heard the Beast at all and I usually wake up the minute he opens my door in my computer room.  My cold seems slightly better and I'm wondering just how much the reverse of *not enough sleep* to *sleeping a lot* has to do with that.  Sleep as a healing agent.  Hmm. 

Love you all.  Get lots of sleep and avoid crowds.  Take your vitamins.  Cover your mouth when you sneeze or cough...be considerate. 

TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

Well, Chewlee's week ended on a sour note.  It's not bad enough that she was actually accused of sexual harrassment due to her kissing and hugging this one little boy but she also got all her cards pulled yesterday because HE made her mad.  He kept talking to her and calling her names so she decided she was going to kiss him because someone else had tried to kiss him once and he reacted badly enough that it caught her attention.  Chewlee told me that she did it because he HATED it and she didn't like him.  I gather that someone somewhere decided that even five year olds who have no idea what the hell sex is and think all boys are annoying, are actually capable of sexual harrassment.  I gather there is no age limitation on that law and some asshole has stressed that it applies even to kids in diapers.  What the hell has happened to common sense?????? 

No happy face once again today but....the Princess talked to her teacher (let's call her Ms. Ogre) this afternoon to check and found out that pretty much the whole class wasn't very good due to having a lot of extra kids today.  It was a very disorganized day for all of them.  I think the other kindergarten teacher was out sick so they ended up having to put the two classes together.

Chewlee then got into trouble with the Beast because she was mean to Baron.  He's never hurt her but he's just the size to be able to push her around and annoy her when all he wants to do is lick her or play with her.  But his 110 lbs against her 43 lbs. is just not a good match.  She gets upset because he will block her way or he licks her face (and she hates that).  I really don't blame her on that one.  His tongue is darn near 1/3 the size of her face.    But her hitting him on the face with a pencil she was pretending was a wand was just not cool.  Especially because she gets too close to his eyes.

Chewlee looked at me at one point today and said in such a sad tone of voice, *It looks like I don't get my Leap Pad back yet.*  I told her that she knew what she had to do to get it back and there's always next week.  All she has to do is really try hard to be good.  She was sitting in my lap, nice and comfy, and said, *But that's only if no one tries to get me in trouble.*  When I asked her how someone else could get her in trouble, she told me that they would call her names and it made her mad.  I told her the trick was to pretend she didn't hear them.  She said they would just say it louder.  That's when I laughed and told her, *That's when you can really make THEM mad.  If you keep pretending you didn't hear them, they'll get mad and then they will probably talk louder and the teacher will know that THEY are the problem and THEY will get in trouble.  Not you.

I could see her imagining that in her mind.  She loves to pretend so my telling her to pretend she doesn't hear them would appeal to her.  I hope it works.  I'm crossing my fingers on that one.

The Princess says she is going to give up another one of her working days so that she is with Chewlee more than she is now.  We were talking about her choices (get a day job, change her classes to night ones and it adds another year maybe more to her time to graduate).  If she can manage her bills without taking out a student loan, that would be ideal but she is going to have to sit down and figure things out.  She just wants to be able to be with Chewlee, help her with her homework and work on teaching her to listen AND to be quiet.  She said right now, we spend more time with Chewlee than she does.  I told her that Chewlee really misses being with her and will tell me that at times.  I tell Chewlee that Mommy has to pay bills and be able to buy her things, too, but will be able to spend a lot of time with her once she becomes a teacher.  Chewlee then says, *But it's taking SOOOOO long!*  Of course, she says the same thing if she has to wait two days for anything. 

If you ask Chewlee how old she is, she will tell you she is 6.  I keep telling her, *No you are not.  You are 5-1/2 if you want to be closer to 6 but you are NOT 6 yet.*  She will clasp her arms tightly around herself and, in a mean face, say, *But I WANT to be 6 and it's taking TOO LONG!*  Close enough to her usual *soooo long* refrain.  I really think she's more interested in her 6th birthday party than she is just being 6. 

Chewlee was tired when she got here after school.  You can always tell with her because she gets a bit whiny and cranky about some things.  I just make sure she gets to sit in my recliner because she will lay down while she's watching TV and she will get very quiet for her.  I swear she has inherited the hyperkinetic gene from the Beast's family.  Her biological grandmother was hyperkinetic at birth and it took me six months to get her pediatrician to finally agree with me.  I managed without medicating her but I often wonder if perhaps I should have.  Hindsight isn't always 20/20 but I know my only grandson was afflicted that way and his mother ended up stopping the medication because of both his complaints and it's affects.  Most medications for kids with what they now call ADD (attention deficit disorder) really don't treat the problem.  They often medicate the kids into a sleepwalking mode to make it easier for the parents to survive but doesn't do a damn bit of good for the kids.  They are usually exceptionally bright kids but the medications make them zombies who neither learn nor respond so you wouldn't know it from their ability to react.

Well, time to get this posted.  I'm tired out tonight.  And I haven't even had one drink....yet.  That can change in a heart beat.    Have fun!

TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

I didn't put a title on this blog on purpose today because I didn't know how to tell this story.  It was so sad to those of us that love our Chewlee.  She not only DIDN'T get a smiley face, she was actually on an overnight suspension.  A note was sent home with her for her mother and she must bring Chewlee in tomorrow (today) morning for a serious conference.  Chewlee seems to find new things that she does that are wrong.  She's a real practicing example of the saying, *Never make the same mistake twice.  There are always new ones you can make.*

First of all, she was *inappropriately kissing and hugging* a boy in her class which is considered sexual harrassment.  That kind of upset me since she is only 5 years old and hasn't a clue what is meant by that.  We are huggers and kissers in our family but pretty much ONLY with family members.  This wasn't even a boy she considers her *boyfriend* so we have no clue what was on her mind at the time.  I feel bad for the Princess having to deal with that.

But the worst thing was that she saw a bracelet on her teacher's desk that she liked.  She took it because she wanted it.  Yep, she stole it.  I told her that any time she takes something without permission, that's stealing.  What did she say to that?  *But I liked it and I wanted it!*  I was so horrified and I told her that just because she LIKES it doesn't mean it is hers to take.  I brought up that there are a lot of things *I* like and her mommy likes but we don't just take them.  If we see things in the store, we have to buy them if we want them.  If it's at school (her mom is in school so that works twice as well), we may like something but we can't even touch it without asking whoever it belongs to if we CAN touch it.

So Chewlee has lost out on a couple things she was on her way to earning.  One was a play date with the Child Whisperer (I mentioned her a week ago).  Birdie and her two kids will be disappointed this Saturday because they really like Chewlee.  When Chewlee was told this by her mother, she wept like her heart was broken.  She was really looking forward to that because, other than in school, she doesn't get to spend time with kids much.  She's pretty much with adults most of the time.  I'm hoping the new neighbors we will be getting next to us will have kids she can play with.  She's with the Beast and I five days out of seven.  I would really love for her to have someone besides us (rather ME mostly) to play with.  You have no idea how tired I am of our picnics, playing school, etc.  It's just one thing after another with her and I am automatically appointed to be whomever she decides she needs to play a part in her imaginary scenarios.

The other thing she will now not get is her Leap Pad back.  It was taken away from her a couple weeks ago.  I don't know why, I didn't ask.  Probably because she didn't do what she was told and was playing with it instead.   She does things like that pretty consistently.  Everything is *in a minute!* with her but she has no idea what a minute is.  Or, even worse, she just flat out doesn't do it even AFTER a minute.  She will go do something else and *forget* what she was supposed to do *in a minute*.  Been there, been frustrated by that.

Well, that's about it for today.  Bad day at Black Rock for Chewlee and a big disappointment and upset for us.  I'll have to wait and see what happens when I see the Princess tomorrow (later today).  Love you all.  Hope you have a great Friday and an even better weekend.  Keep warm. 

TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

We got some really bad news today.  The breeder that we bought Baron from was arrested for animal abuse and several other things.  It seems she had a dead doberman in her backyard.  It had died of heartworm and neglect.  Her kids didn't feel it was a big deal and that was startling in itself.  The kids had brought a friend over to show him the dead dog and the friend told his parents who reported it to the police department.  A sad day to learn that some gear had gone loose in her mind and life.  She bred some great doberman's once upon a time.  It had to have been her divorce that started the skid downhill.  Can't think of another reason she would have allowed it to happen (the heartworm, I mean).  Her female that she bred was a great red and she had won some championships that I recall.  That part didn't matter to us.  We were just looking for a companion dog and a watchdog.  Baron is definitely a companion to the Beast and has turned into a great watchdog this past year or so. 

Chewlee got a sad face today.  She told me that it was for playing during work time.  She also said that it was a boy in her class that started it but the teacher knew it and HE got a sad face, too.  I guess they expect her to be able to ignore it like she was an adult but kids are kids and, to Chewlee, the work isn't a challenge.  She knows the majority of it already that the kids are just learning.  So it's easy for her to be distracted.  I wish they had some more challenging type classes for kids like her at her age.  I don't want her to get discouraged.  That's why we try to keep her learning new things at home.  Her mother works with her and so do I.  It's tough to have a kid as smart as she is and keep her interested in learning but we have to try at least.  So far, so good.

Her teacher said that if she only has one bad day a week, it's still a good week.  At least she IS learning what good behavior in school is and she should eventually have ALL good days.  I hope so.

The Beast spent the day with Baron, taking him to Pet Depot for his month's supply of dog food (the canned we use).  We have enough of his dry dog food for the next month already.  We supplement it all with veggies and chicken that we cook and mix with it.  We also add some brown rice several times a week.  He seems to like that better than white rice and it is more nutritious (for people anyway.  I'm not sure about dogs.)  It took me a while to get the Beast to thoroughly cook the veggies we give him because dogs can't digest uncooked veggies.  They don't have the enzymes needed.  He was just barely defrosting the frozen veggies we use and sometimes I found the broccoli and cauliflower were still icy.  I tried them and found them raw and had a fit.  If he can't digest what is being fed to him, that's a waste of money.  So now the Beast is making sure they are both defrosted AND cooked.  I told him *IF you wouldn't eat them, don't feed them to him!*.

My feet were better today and I'm trying to learn just what amount of activity they can take without rebelling on me.  I was able to take just my normal prescribed amount of neuropathy medication and it was just fine.  It also means I should be able to sleep soundly tonight and not have phantom toe pains either.  I really thought I would be over that part but it seems to happen when my feet get very sensitive and hurt like hell.  I always forget to mention that to the doctor but I've written it down now so I can find out if that's normal or I am just weird.  It'll probably turn out that I'm weird but, oh well!  C'est la vie!

Love you all.  Have a great rest-of-the-week.  Drive carefully and don't forget those people still suffering from H. Sandy.  They still need your prayers that their lives get back to normal A.S.A.P. 

TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

I was actually just playing solitaire on Pogo when Bratfink brought my attention to the fact that it was late.  Not that she told me the time or anything but she had posted on her blog and I glanced over to my clock on the computer and almost had a heart attack.   Of course, there are just a few of you that look for it after midnight (Eastern time), but I really shouldn't be so forgetful or unaware of the time.  Sorry 'bout that!

It's not like it was an exciting day or anything.  It was cold out so we had the little heaters on to keep the chill out of the air.  They did a great job, which always surprises me.  We only have four of them but we've learned the best way to place them over the past couple years.  When the weather drops down regularly, we'll use the baseboard heaters more.  Last winter we used the fireplace in the morning to get the major chill out (because the Beast doesn't run the heaters in the living/dining/kitchen areas) and that's also when we turn on the baseboard heaters.  Me?  I will use the little heater in my room because, if I close the door, it works just fine for me.  In fact, I can sometimes overdo it by being lazy and not turning the heat down once I am comfortable.

The Beast decided to make sloppy joe after he had made Baron a hamburger as a treat.  He does things like that at times.  The sloppy joe was really good but he messed up on the buns he bought.  I don't know why he has to do things like that.  He usually buys buns that taste good with sloppy joe.  But he will get these weird ideas that he's a gourmet chef or something and he tries to get fancy.  The buns got a bit mushy, which is normal with sloppy joe, but these buns actually tasted like dough once they did.  That took away from the good taste.  I ended up putting some in a dish and scooping it with rippled potato chips.  It was really tasty that way, too. 

Today was a bad day with my neuropathy in my feet.  I have no idea why they get so painful at times unless it's because I was on them more than normally yesterday.  I did much more walking back and forth from the utility area and back to my room (where I fold the clothes since I have a table in here) then I put things where they belong (except for the Beast's underwear and sox).  I'll have to add that question to my list for when I see my regular doctor. 

I ended up taking an extra pill for the neuropathy although my doctor said I could actually double the amount if I needed it.   All I wanted was for it to be a bit less painful.  I'm kind of used to the numbness I normally feel.  It's like when your hand or arm falls asleep.  That's like the pain I feel all the time in my feet normally.  I actually only felt it in one foot lightly until I fell last year.  After that fall, it was in both feet.  **Sigh**  It's not bad enough that I lost my toe over that fall but to end up with the pain in BOTH feet seems like a heavy price to pay.

It also did help in a different way.  Because of that fall, I ended up finding out about the blockage in my legs that resulted in those surgeries.  I do kind of feel like I need roto-rooting from head to toe these days.....just to be certain everything is working like it should. 

Time to get this posted.  Love you all.  Have a great Hump Day (Wednesday).  Drive carefully. 

TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

The Beast and I both woke up early.  I was up about an hour before the Beast.  I woke up suddenly and, feeling very disoriented, was trying to figure out just why or what woke me up.  Then I heard a big *boom* and knew it was thunder that woke me.  The Beast never heard it.  He just got up to pee and stayed up....for a while.  I got online to check out my daily comics and email while I had my first cup of coffee.  The Beast drank his at the table in the kitchen in his new, colorful BVD's.    That always makes me laugh when I see him in them because he refused to wear some I had bought him for Christmas one year when he was younger...much younger.    He acted like I insulted him or his manhood.  MEN!!!

We both ended up going back to bed because A) we were still tired, and B) the weather was really dismal and WET!  Even Baron did something he had never done before.....after trying to go out in the rain (he really had to pee!), he went to the end of the garage foundation and pee'd for the first time.  He still got a bit wet but he was partially protected by the roof overhang.  He's such a wuss.

We decided to change our linens on the beds today.   The Beast did one side, I did the other.  He's finally learned how to correctly put the bottom and top sheets on.  He drove me nuts for a while because he would just stuff the bottom section and it looked awful.  He's finally learned how to correctly make the corner.  I had to keep making Baron move because he sleeps on my side and he was battling with me while I was trying to make up the bed.  I threw both his bed pillows (they are both just wide pillows with more durable tops on them) together and Baron discovered he likes it like that.  I was glad because it's down towards the foot of the bed and I won't have to crawl over him at night when I wake up to pee.

Then, lo and behold!  the Beast announces to me that our washing machine is broken.  I couldn't believe it.  He said it wasn't spinning.  He could hear the motor running but the clothes were just sitting there, at the bottom, and were soaked.  He said he even put it on spin only and it didn't do a thing.  However, about 10 minutes later, he was dumbfounded because the machine started to spin once again.  He had figured that the machines belt had separated and told me our hoses needed to be changed, too, but that was something HE could do. 

When it started spinning, it occurred to me that the Beast doesn't really pay attention to many things.  Our machine is a front loader and, because I was kind of fascinated with it when we got it, I actually watched to see how it washed, how it spun the clothes and how long each of the cycles took.  One of the things I noticed was that the machine actually drains the water and seems to take a long time before it actually starts the spin cycle.  When the Beast thought the machine was broken, I should have asked him how much time was left on the cycle he was using.  I suspect he heard the pump going and thought it was supposed to be spinning.  The spin cycle light goes on but it pumps that water out first, then spins.   When I asked him more questions about the spin cycle, it was on the second spin of the cycle when the Beast noticed it was working.  He's just an idiot about the machines.

I was walking through the living room and glanced over at the Beast's recliner.  I stopped dead because I swore it was broken.  It leaned over to the right (sitting down).  I had the Beast check and, sure enough, that side IS broken.  I know why.  It's because of Baron and his constant crawling into the Beast's lap.  Most of the time, his big butt is on that side.  Between the two of them, that's a lot of weight for a recliner to take.  So, the Beast went out and looked at various recliners at several of the local furniture stores.  He finally found one he liked and bought it.  It will be delivered next Monday.  It's a wine colored leather, the kind that looks overstuffed.  The leather is very soft (Italian leather) and he was happy because it reminded him of the set we had in Florida that his brother ended up taking because they were too big for this house.  I told him I hoped it was well-built and he said it was designed to take up to 300 lbs so it should do.  I guess.  I hope. 

I managed to get most of the craft table in here cleared off before I ran out of steam.  I may finish it before the night is done but I am so tired for some reason, I may just go to bed early.  I know it's partly getting adjusted to the time change and it getting dark so early.  I have only been waking up once during the night because my bladder gets so full.  It used to be two or three times a night.  I'm not sure if that's good or bad.

I still have one more small load of clothes to fold or at least I hope so.  I need to take a walk through all the rooms and double check.  The Beast is such a slob, I even have to look UNDER the bed.  He drops clothes on the floor and ends up kicking them under the bed.  He thinks, *I'll get that later.*  Unfortunately, his short term memory loss kicks in and he forgets all about them.  Once I was shocked at how many pairs of socks, underwear, shirts and jeans I found there.  Oh, and let's not forget his sleep pants!  It must be a MAN THING.

The Beast will go to great lengths to get and keep the living room and kitchen clean.  But the Bedroom?  Other than his desk, not at all.  It drives me nuts because he has a clothes hamper that's only two or three steps away from the bed.  I've considered putting it at the foot of the bed for him but I doubt it would change much.

Love you all.  Hope you had a great Holiday weekend and you didn't leave our vets and men on active duty out of your prayers.  Have a great week. 

TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

I've mentioned that the Beast sometimes takes Chewlee to church with him on Sunday.  You have no idea how brave that is of him because it's tough to A) make her keep her voice down and B) not talk.  She just doesn't seem to be able to shut up for any length of time.  However, she IS starting to learn and behave herself.  Oh, she doesn't do anything actually BAD.  But it can be disruptive to those sitting around them.

In the church there is a family with a mother that has this incredible way with kids.  Chewlee adores her.  I will call her Birdie.  She went home with Birdie and her kids today for a kind of play date and they had a family Bible study of sorts.  She uses this book of Bible stories for the kids (which is who it's for anyway).  Chewlee has a copy of it that the Beast bought for her and she brought it over so she had her own copy.  Birdie has two kids; a boy we'll call Austin and a girl we'll call Caroline.  Caroline is about 7 and Austin is 4 or 5.  It's hard to tell for me.

Anyway, when they brought Chewlee home after dinner, they told us that Chewlee was very polite.  Everything was *Yes, ma'am, No ma'am, Yes, sir, No Sir, Please, Thank You, Excuse me, etc.*  I knew immediately who was responsible for that.  It was Birdie who is a *child whisperer*.  She has the most incredible way with kids and you have to see it to believe it.  If the Beast sits by the family, Chewlee will sit next to Birdie if she can.  She becomes the most perfect child you could ever meet. 

She sits quietly.  She doesn't talk.  She is tickled if Birdie pats her hand or even holds it at times.  Definitely a child whisperer.  Unruly kids quiet down the minute Birdie comes around.  She will often whisk off with the child who instantly becomes quiet and happy.  Not just babies either.  The Beast said he envied her that talent and even kids older than her children will become like different kids when she is around.  I think she must emit some kind of special pheromone or something.  When I called her the Child Whisperer, she laughed.

When Chewlee got here, she was very happy.  She kept trying to get the family to come into the house in the hope that they would stay.  They had to get home, however and Chewlee was very disappointed.  But we had a *desk* picnic and she gathered up snacks for us.  I was in charge of the milk and the coffee.   She gathered up the Ritz crackers, some cheese, an orange, some potato chips and salsa then got two cherry lozenges for our *dessert*. 

After that, I was treated to her performing ballet and then rock and roll as different personas.   She sang to provide the music.  It was really cute to watch.  I remember doing much the same thing when I was young.  I even dragged sisters Bee and Cee into those.  But we had fun, just as Chewlee was having with me.  I hope those are some of the memories she keeps of being with me when I am gone *over the rainbow bridge*.  I hope my wonderful dog, Domina, greets me there. 

Chewlee talked about Birdie like she was a special fairy or an angel.  She certainly has a touch with kids that is almost unearthly.  She's also very charming and sweet.  Yep, a real, dyed in the wool Child Whisperer.  I wish I had her touch.  I'm good with little ones, especially babies.  I adore them and the way they are so full of love and sweetness.  They accept you as you are...young, old, ugly, beautiful, handsome or homely.  Babies are innocents with no preconceptions.  I think they sense what is in a person's heart.  I think that's why there are special angels for them.   They can be so easily hurt.

I am drifting.....gotta go.  Things to do before I sleep and all.  Love you all.