Fifty bucks and a refilled brake line is all we needed. It was clouded up & causing our stick shift to stick.
Thanks to the local mom & pop mechanic outfit 2 miles from here, Osteen Automotive Repair, that helped us out immensely.
Well, here I am, Wednesday morning. I am supposed to be at work. BUT the clutch just died on the Jeep. Nothing says Christmas like a huge car repair bill. *sigh*
We knew this was coming. The clutch started acting up a month ago. Sometimes we just could not get it into first gear and would start in second. Other times, it worked perfectly. This morning, I could not get it in reverse. David managed to do it for me while it was shut off, but by the time I got to the end of the street, no amount of shoving or cajoling would get that car into any gear. NO WAY I am driving 20+ miles to work on a hope and a prayer. So, I turned off the Jeep, put it in reverse and got back to my driveway.
I am waiting for a coworker to come get me and then I will probably spend most of the day getting the Jeep towed, renting a car, and bracing myself for the estimate to get the clutch fixed.
"Mom," Jake says. "Today, David asked me if I wanted to see if I could figure out what's in our stockings. I told him no way, it's cheating.......then we did it anyway."
This, dear friends, is my husband's wise influence yesterday. He & my son proceeded to touch, shake and manhandle all the gifts in their stockings!
Today, the phone rings at work.
Me: Thank you for calling blah blah blah, can I help you?
David: I can't believe you used industrial packing tape on the presents.
Me: Why are you touching the presents?
David: You taped them all over the place with this stuff!
Me: CAUSE YOU'RE A CHEATER WHO OPENS PRESENTS AND THEN PUTS THEM BACK!
He does. He peels them open and looks at them. WHY? Why do this? Why ruin the surprise? It made me SO mad!
I get home this evening.
Jake: Mom, David was shaking his present all around trying to figure out what it is.
I don't get this. Someone please explain this to me.
We're sad. The cool neighbors moved one month early. They were leaving in December. These are the neighbors that gave us their lawn mower and whose daughter is Isabel's first *real* non-family friend. *sigh*
Mr Neighbor came over Saturday to say they moved up their move...to Thursday! WHAT? Huh? No!
I planned on making a scrap book of all the cool times Isabel and their daughter spent together; Isabel's birthday, her birthday, 4th of July, random days where we watched her or she came over to play, the football game her dad officiated and we went to see. I printed pictures, bought a mini-scrap book and went to town. I finished it last Friday. He told us they were moving the next day. Talk about timing. (and "chip-missing" David turns to me in front of him and says "Hey, did you finish that thing you were making for them?" My reply, "Yes, you moron." Anyone have a sensitivity-chip available?)
I invited them over to dinner on Wednesday. In the meantime, random things kept appearing in our garage. Three gallons of unused bleach. A bike. Car mats. Yesterday, they came over for dinner and asked to borrow Isabel's wagon. They emptied their fridge and freezer and brought it over. Holy cow. And all their cleaning supplies (the moving company won't transport chemicals). We had fajitas (steak, shrimp & chicken) with all the fixings, including rice and refried beans.
Mrs. Neighbor loved the scrapbook.
The moving van just left. Mr. Neighbor came by to bring more cleaning supplies, give me a hug, and drop off a $100 Visa gift card (he said for mowing their grass while their house stays on the market, but that was what the lawnmower was for). There they go.
My son tried to use his shower last night. Our tubs & showers only have one handle. They turn in an arc, the top of the arc being the hottest you can get. He got the handle mid-way....and it stuck. He called me, I tried, and could not get it to move. Afraid to yank too hard and break something, I had him use my shower and told myself I would check it out in the morning. I SO did not want to have to pay a plumber $90 an hour or so for something stupid.
This afternoon, I took a small led light and pulled off the handle. There's a....long metal stick? that is moved by the handle. It would not budge. There is also a black plastic piece, and behind it, I see white paper. Looks like the paper is stuck. I grab my tweezers and my hair-cutting scissors and I attempt to get at this piece of paper. As I am hacking away, I realize the plastic black piece comes out. I pull it out with the tweezers, remove the paper behind it (some plastic-coated paper with serial numbers and blah blah. I put the black plastic piece in and ...voila! I can turn the water al the way to hot! I take it off again, just to make sure this plastic paper is not vital to its inner workings, put the black piece in...and VOILA....It's STUCK AGAIN. What?
Turns out, the black piece is a guard of sorts. Depending on how you place it on the metal rod, you can get the knob to stop at certain points, thus ensuring your toddler won't accidentally turn the handle all the way to hot and scald themselves. I don't know how it got turned around, but I got it on correctly and we now have a working faucet.
I walk out of the bathroom and say loudly "Who's the man?!?!"
....which reminded me of my wedding and a funny back story.
My husband's uncle performed the ceremony. He gave a beautiful speech. At one point, he tells my husband "David...you're....THE MAN," and goes on to say how he will be the head of the household. Meanwhile, my sister the bridesmaid and one of my other bridesmaids are trying not to look at each other for fear of cracking up. Waaaaaay in the back of the courtyard, some of my co-worker friends who flew in from Boston, DC, Seattle & New Orleans are hanging out listening. The chick from Boston hears "David, you're the man," turns to the other girls and says "Has he MET Kaaren?"
Last Friday evening, I set a completely-full load of dishes to wash in the dishwasher. About 5 minutes later, Jacob comes down and says "What's burning?"
The dishwasher wasn't washing. Water was barely trickling out of it and the washer thingy that spins wasn't spinning. Great. The smell was the burners inside that make the water super hot heating up. A dishwasher full of crusty, grimey dishes. FULL. It was late Friday night and I was NOT cleaning dishes at 10 p.m. on Friday night.
Saturday morning, after breakfast which David missed because he was still sleeping, I called Jacob over. I filled the sink with hot soapy water and proceeded to wash and wash and wash and wash, while Jake dried and put away. Our dish drainer was way too small to hold an entire dishwasher full o' grossness. *sigh* He's a good kid, that Jake. It took us a good half hour to 45 minutes to get them washed, dried and put away.
We've been washing dishes by hand since Saturday, which is not a bad thing. I'm used to it. Up until "Blue House" I always washed dishes by hand. Why bother putting dishes in a dishwasher for just me & Jake, right? David hates hand-washing dishes and so does a horrid job of it. Horrid!
Tonight, I'm washing yet another cup and I'm thinking, I hate Volusia County's Tax Assessor. Remember when you were a kid or a teen and you'd hear the "old folks" (i.e. your parents who were only like in their 30's and were totally NOT old) talk about property taxes and boy-howdy I am voting Joe Candidate because he said he'd lower taxes? Yea, me neither. I was too busy teasing my bangs to new heights and bumming rides to the BK Lounge to care. Now I know what they were all talking about. These stupid property taxes make your mortgage go up if you have an escrow account. These taxes that just made our mortgage go up another $300 a month, AND depleted our savings by another $800 with a one-time bill to get us caught up on the deficit in our mortgage.Yea, hate property taxes and Volusia county, methinks, as I wash another cup, because there is no way in HADES we can afford to fix the dishwasher, which by the way, is out of warranty as of June.
I sigh. I decide to give it (the dishwasher) another try because I am a glutton for punishment and enjoy mentally beating tax assessors with frying pans that I just happen to be washing. I flip the switch and wait for the nothingness that is a whining motor. WHOOOSH! Water is spraying, the spinning thingy is spinning. What? I open it up quickly. Water is everywhere inside. I give a cheer, close it back up to run the load empty to clean out the gunk that was there from last week, thank God aloud and make a mental note to make sure I vote for the other guy.
Reading "The Color of Water" really got me thinking about my own life and where I came from. A few weeks ago, I took a box of paperwork to work to shred. Papers from at least 12 years ago or more. Receipts, accounts, my past life. As I am shredding these papers, I feel myself tensing & I could understand why. No disrespect to my ex and especially my ex's family; I am not here to ex-bash. This is about me (isn't is always?) :) I was shredding bad debts, bankruptcy, my old life that I cannot even recognize, and was remembering. It was such a weird feeling.
I wish I could impart my knowledge to some younger people I know. Don't marry young. (They do). Don't have kids until you get your degree (they do anyway and drop school). Don't charge things and live beyond your means (they do). And they're drowning. I wish I could help...but we all have to make our own mistakes and grow from them. I married young, at 21, thinking someone would take care of me, and years later, I realized I was doing all the taking care of. I had nothing financially other than the hand-to-mouth paychecks I was getting. I left. I got a small apartment for my son & I. We lived on mac and cheese and sandwiches for a while (I never learned to cook and never had to during my marriage; he's still a superb cook). Poor Jacob and the tasteless meals he endured. We lived without cable for 2 years. We had no cell phone. I made my rent, my car and always made the payments for Jacob's prepaid college plan. Who needs cable anyway?
I had a good job, though, and a boss who believed in my talents. He promoted me and gave me excellent raises. Then in 2000, I bought my first home, by myself. I was 29, a single mom and a homeowner. I was ecstatic. I was SO proud of me. Some time last year, when looking at the new home we purchased, David's mom and grandma asked me if my new larger home was like a dream come true. I honestly replied "No. Buying my little blue house was my dream come true. This is on a whole different level."
I spent 6 happy years in the "blue house." My car was paid for, my son's college was paid for, I had investments. What? True. Me. Investments. I learned to cook just a little, met David, we married, had Isabel, and little blue house got very crowded.
Here I am now in my "beyond-dream" home. I remember being told by my ex "One day we'll have a house," and I waited and waited for it to happen. It never did; it wasn't given to me. I had to work my butt off to get it for myself. Now, I've owned two, sharing this one with my goofy husband.
As I shred those papers, my chest constricted, remembering the past. But this past and God made me stronger than I could ever imagine.
Let's recap our Fabulous Spring Break Oh Seven, in pictures.
Friday: Jacob gets braces. Bank account severely reduced.
Sunday: We went to the library a half hour early, so we drove around Cassadega, a "Spiritualist City." Back to the library so I could renew "Walden" and check out "The Memory Keeper's Daughter."
This is exciting stuff people!
.JPG)
Tuesday: Sears delivers the washer. I am spastically excited, hug my new washer (I did) and do 7 loads that day. Seriously..JPG)
Meanwhile, Jacob helps the neighbor mulch his yard.
Thursday: Picture day for Isabel & Jacob. Isabel complains about her pretty itchy dress, won't sit still for pictures, I forget the coupon, bank account reduced
Friday: Wow, I can't even remember Friday. It was that exciting. Ummmmmmmmmmm. Nope, can't remember.
Saturday: Dine at Joe's Crab Shack. Yum. Sister Brenda & hubby drive up to spend the night, as they have an early a.m. appointment in Putnam county to view some property. Brenda gives me her old pink Razor phone, which I love love love. Brenda delivers presents to us from our other sister Vicky. Our Christmas presents. Isabel got a baby doll, a stroller for the baby and some baby clothes. .JPG)
Jacob gets a combined birthday/Christmas Present: Guitar Hero 2 for the PS2.
.JPG)
David got a strategy guide for a video game, and I got a Bed Bath & Beyond gift card and coupons.
Sunday: My sister & her hubby left before we even awoke. We went to Bed Bath & Beyond to spend my gift card - hee hee. Got a large mirror for the wall when you first enter the house. Ate Mickey D's for lunch and then home for dinner & 2 movies. Oddly enough, both movies were about magicians;
Our washing machine won't "final spin." It won't spiral. We've had it about a year. We bought it used, from a local mom & pop joint in the city we used to live in. Now before you complain, "why did you buy it used," let me explain. Back when I was first separated and living with my son, we moved into an apartment. I barely had 2 nickles to rub together. If, after getting paid and paying all my bills, I had $50 for two weeks, I was ecstatic. The first year in the apartment, we did our laundry at the laundromat. What an experience. I would pile the car up with a week or so's worth of our clothes, load myself and my son in the tiny car and go do laundry. I'd try not to go early; it was always packed. Then, we'd just....sit there waiting. We'd start to see the same people over & over. When the workers nod to you as you walk in, you know you've been there a while. I'm not going to expound on the people there, nor will I denigrate or degrade anyone for going there; I had to. I am no better than anyone else.
Then, my company gave us all surprise bonuses. Out of the blue. A co-worker had bought his appliances at this local mom & pop place and recommended it to me. It was a bonus, but a small one and I did not want to spend it all on appliances. I went there, and purchased a washer & dryer for $300.
This washer & dryer lasted through 1 year at my apartment and 5 years at my home. Six years, two appliances, $150 a piece. I was happy with that investment. So when the washer needed $175 worth of work, I figured I could probably buy a newer used model, which is what we did. Washer AND dryer - $500.
It is over a year, and we moved to a new city. The final spin won't spin. I am not overloading it; I even tried running the final spin empty, with two items, with 5 items. Nothing. The mom & pop company won't come out to our new city, 22-25 miles away. We bribed with $$. No go. Now we have to decide whether we get a service call from some G.E. Authorized company, or just buy another one. I am going to see what a service call will cost first. It's pretty much the labor charge I am concerned with.
It's killing me not to do laundry.
"Spiral", Buffy Season 5, episode 20
I'm getting her picture made next week, so what I do? I cut her bangs...crookedly. Crookedly cut bangs. She moved! She flinched, I say! She whined and kicked and flailed!!!
LIES! Lies to deflect!! She was perfectly still and not scared at all. I stink. I was able to do a little fix up though and now you can only tell if you stare. I promise!
"Supersymmetry," Angel Season 4, Episode 5
What a weird day.
1) A friend of a friend died this weekend. I sort-of knew him. Funny thing...I "married" him & his ex-wife - I officiated the ceremony back in 2001 (I can do that you know - perform marriage ceremonies). In late 2001, I officiated "K" and his now ex-wife's wedding. I knew him by association. His daughter had claimed Jacob as her one true love back in kindergarten. His mom lives in the same neighborhood as my friend Julie who originally set me up to perform the ceremony, and his mom is the immediate next door neighbor to that Home Depot/Boy Scout/Cub Scout friend I saw last week. He & the lady I married got divorced, and he started dating another acquaintance of mine - one of my 'dancing buddies', "A." K & A eventually married, moved to my city with his 2 daughters from a previous marriage and her son from a previous marriage.
My friend Julie calls me to say that "A" called her today. "K" was in a motorcycle accident that cost him his life this weekend. Man. I have not thought about them in 2 or 3 years. I feel so bad for "A." Last I saw them, she was so happy with him. *sigh*
2) My in-laws are coming to town for Isabel's party! WOO HOO! Each leg of the trip, $39 ea!! Thirty Nine! How awesome is that? AND they will be flying into the smaller airport that is MUCH closer to our house. I decide to call my mom then to see when exactly they would be flying in from Puerto Rico. My mom & David's parents would be flying in the same day, at different airports. I got a hold of my mom.....only to have her say that she has decided to not come to visit until after Isabel's party. The party I scheduled around her schedule. Why? WHY? Because my dad , my step-mom and several other members of my family on my dad's side will be here too. She must have been talking with one of my sisters, because this was NEVER brought up before. Apparently, WE ARE IN HIGH SCHOOL. Twenty two years after the divorce and she doesn't want to be here when they are?! This is not about that. It is about Isabel and the fact that half my family has never been to one of her parties, nor one of Jake's parties since he was 4 years old. I said to my mom "Mom! We're adults!" She sort-of shushed or negated me and said no, she doesn't want to come if they come.
I was telling some co-workers about this. I told them earlier on that this was my "Forget It" year. This is the year that I will *not* make the effort to appease everyone. I won't be bending over backwards sending birthday cards to others, or family pictures to anyone who never bothers to call me or mine on our birthdays or send us pictures, or even acknowledge they received anything from us. "Forget It." It's my personal pledge. I told David he could do what he wanted, but I feel tired of it all. I feel too much and no longer want to feel so much about the little things. Don't sweat the small stuff, so I won't.
Isabel's party is coming up. The date is not changing, no one is getting uninvited. Sorry that you can't make it. Maybe next decade.
The fact that my mom and others won't come because my dad, step-mom and half-sisters on dad's side, plus a couple of second cousins are coming will not make me change anything about this party. The fact that one half of my family won't be in the same location as the other is sad. Whatever happened in the past, it is not the fault of either of my half-sisters. Why should I ignore them when they did nothing wrong? The (literal and figurative) "sins of the father" do not pass down to the children.
I'm told by my kin that I'm too nice . Imagine that. Too nice. When did being nice become a flaw? It is, you know. It's seen as a weakness; it's archaic. I am weak & archaic. Nice is old-fashioned. When did this become "out?" I need to move to Iowa or something. They have nice people there, right?
"Peace Out," Angel Season 4, episode 21
Gentlemen & Children of all ages, did you know there are fairies in your home? Did you? Yes.
First, there's the "Replacement Towel" Fairy. This lovely Fairy is soft as cotton. She flits around the house, replacing all the lovely home-dwellers' towels. If Replacement Towel Fairy doesn't do this, then everyone in your home would be using the same towel for 2 weeks and never once even think about the fact that ...that's kind-of gross. Thanks, RTF for all you do.
Next up, there's TPF. Toilet Paper Fairy. This wonderfully happy Fairy makes sure that each and every bathroom is fully stocked with toilet paper. Go ahead! Leave those 2 single sheets on the cardboard roll! Never Fear, TP Fairy is near! The next person using the bathroom will never even know you only left two sheets. Thanks TP Fairy. We love you! You're swell!
Not to be confused with TPT, is her cousin Toilet Fairy. TF LOVES to clean toilets. LOVES LOVES LOVES IT!! Notice how those toilets are so SPARKLY CLEAN and then you mess them up in one sitting (pun intended), only to have them SPARKLY CLEAN again? Thanks Toilet Fairy.
This beauty is unique. She's the Lightbulb Fairy. There is absolutely no need for you, after living in the same old blue house for four years, or in some cases of new home-ownership, 7 months, to know where the light bulbs are stored. Ignore that burned-out bulb for weeks, because Lightbulb Fairy is on the job. One minute it doesn't work, the next week, there she is! That is, if you even noticed it was out in the first place -she's that good.
Ahhh, the Pantry Fairy. Favorite among the teen demographic. PF makes sure that those empty cereal boxes and those empty Pop Tart boxes miraculously disappear, only to be restocked with yummy goodness. She also refills chip bags that previously contained less than an inch of crumbs yet somehow managed to make their way back to the pantry. Those pesky chip bags!
This Fairy is so helpful around the house. She is especially good with families that have little toddlers who have no concept of where things go. The Clean-Up Fairy makes sure that things are nice and tidy. Why is this size 7 shoe in the hallway? Where is its partner? Never you mind! The Clean-Up Fairy not only knows where its partner is, she will collect them and put them back in your closet. What? You say you left your underwear behind the bathroom door 3 days ago, squished into a ball but they are not there anymore? Clean-Up Fairy. Love her.
Make sure you give thanks to all the Fairies in your Home. Especially come Valentine's Day. Don't make me sick the Salmonella Fairy on you.
I hate to mop. Because I have mop issues. Can someone PLEASE tell me that they have a mop they love? I HATE MOPS! Hate, hate, hate. I have yet to find a mop that does the job. At my old house, I would end up on my hands and knees, with a bucket and a scrubby brush, hand scrubbing and hand wiping the floor, because no mop could get it clean enough for my liking. Now that I have more floor to mop, this is no longer an option for me.
I had a regular sponge mop. Those are horrible. They do nothing to actually clean stains off the floor.
I bought a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Mop. Don't bother. Biggest waste of $15 or so ever. This thing does nothing for stains, nothing. And it tends to just move dirty water around. I will rinse the mop under hot, clean water in the empty side of the sink, before dipping it into the side of the sink with the water & cleaner. Still, it pushes the dirt around rather that absorbing it.
I bought a Swiffer Wet jet. It's kind of cool. You spray this liquid thing out of it, and then just dry-wipe it with the papery thing underneath. My problem with this is...you're just spraying this chemical and wiping it up and...is it building up? Where is the follow-up wet wiping of this chemical off the floor? I'm finding it weird that there is not water wiping it up. It smells weird too. Too sweet. I have been using the Swiffer to spot clean in between moppings, which is great.
I still need a regular mop. David thinks I am weird. I have had mop issues for YEARS. Years. Anyone have any ideas? If so, PLEASE let me know.
Howdy. I know, I said I'd "write tomorrow" a few days ago. Can you believe I have not GOTTEN ON LINE until now. I mean, other than for work. SO busy. It may have something to do with a certain fruit of my looms...loins...that has a certain project of the science fair nature that this certain fruit has known for months and yet I only find out about it a day or so before vacation. I digress but I am explaining why we're all with the "busy."
Thursday - Turkey Day. 16 people to feed. David's parents (with a little help from me & Grandma) kicked patootie in feeding 16 people. I helped make this casserole, where almost everything was a slight substitution off the original receipe. It was funny...and delicious. We should have made 2, it was gone in a flash. The only down-side? No leftovers!! Gasp! I loves me some leftovers. I think the only things left were an assortment of stuffings and a little bit of turkey. Good eats = no leftovers I suppose.
I think we played a board game that night, or was that the following night? I know we played Pictionary one night (Team Kaaren/Tricia/Jacob came from behind to victory!) and another night we played Apples to Apples.
After the Bar Mitzvah, we came home and I took a NAP! A Much needed, rather disjointed, unfulfilling nap. Isabel was down for all of a half an hour. We got ready at 10 till 6. Dinner's at 6, but they are all of our yard the street and their yard away from us. This was the first time we were meeting the wife. We've talked to Litrell several times. He's a good looking man. Even David said "Is Litrell good-looking? I think he'd be considered good looking to women." To which I said "Uh HUH," and to which he rolled his eyes. I had seen Stayce from afar (skinny little thing) but had never met her. We walked over, cake & flowers in hand. They greeted us at the door and led us in.
Their house is a two-story by the same builder, but a slightly different floor plan. And also, it looked like a model home and made me feel like "Kaaren & David", the Puerto Rican/White trashy decorators". LOL It was GORGEOUS. They had neutral colors on their walls (unlike K&D,PRWTD), all sorts of pretty pictures, painting, decor. It was nice. The family room? Hello! Looked like a single's pad. Beautiful glass entertainment center, leather couches, just beautiful. They have a KID! A four year old! My family room looks like The Toys R Us giraffe threw up in it. They have a smaller upstairs loft area, but they had a foosball & air hockey table. Jake was in love. 4 bedrooms (one was made into his office). Hey, don't worry. I LOVE MY HOUSE. Love, love, love, love. I love all the wacky colors. I think it is awesome, in a lived-in sort of way.
Some other friends were invited for dinner too. Their daughter plays soccer (SO cute) with the daughter of this couple that came over. And for the record, everyone was so so pretty. And I'm not saying that in a catty way, cause, hello? I'm including myself in there. *snort* They were, though. Stayce is very pretty & sweet, the other couple, Brad & Angela, were very attractive and their daughter was gorgeous as well. Reminded me of a brunette version of David's oldest niece.
The 3 little girls ate first, in the breakfast nook table; hot dogs & Mac & Cheese. Can't go wrong with that. Then the 3 girls went upstairs to play while the adults ate dinner. Dinner was held in the formal dining room. You know, like the purple formal dining room we have....only with furniture. Our formal dining room is currently home to Dora's Talking Kitchen, a basket full of toys and a K'Nex Roller Coaster David and Jake are building. We had steak, baked potato, salad & bread. It was really great.
By about 8:30, Isabel was pretty much done. She had had only a half hour nap. Jake had gone home to get Cranium Turbo Edition so we could all play. David said he'd take Isabel home and we could play the game. That was 8:30. At midnight, Jake & I stroll through the front door. LOL The game was fun, but took forever, because of pauses for more refresments, cake eating, chasing after two little girls who completely trashed the upstairs loft, etc. Fun conversation & fun time. They even asked about grandma, as they had seen the ambulence at 2:30 in the morning that day, and Litrell had asked David about it later on.
All in all, we had a great time.
(Life of the Party, Angel Season 5, Episode 5)
Holy shnikes, I'm tired. Tuck me in, please?
Grandma's back in the hospital, in Puerto Rico. :( The fluid is around her lung again. Her daughter and husband are there, so they will take good care of her, if the hospitals can't.
Um....oh, tomorrow night we're invited to dinner at the neighbor across the street's house. Dang it, I meant to bake something and I forgot. What should I bring?!? Wine (ew)? A pie from Publix?
Speaking of Publix....I GIVE ALREADY!! Gaaahh! I give. I have to shop there. Their bakery, deli, produce and meat departments cancel out the fact that they overcharge for the dry goods. I give UP driving further to a store that doesn't carry snap peas or runs out of celery. Celery! *shrugs shoulders*
Saturday night, we're going to a Barmitzvah for one of the boys in Jake's old Cub Scout group (1st-5th grade). Yay Ben! I am very excited to go. Everyone has something nice to wear, but me. Cause of the fatty fatness & all. I have something to wear, just nothing to write home/blog about. I have never been to a Barmitzvah. I've been to a Bat- but not a Bar.
We're working on The Amityville Window. Wait till you see what we did. We should be done soon. I'd say this weekend, but we have too much to do already.
Veronica Mars season 3 is shaping up to be Buffy Season 4. As in, the season that must not be mentioned. I can't even say that. Buffy season 4 was VERY disjointed as far as the arc went (The Initiative? Spike with a chip? Werewolf chic? Riley with Buffy? Please.), but at least it had some terrific stand-alone episodes. (Something Blue, Emmy-nominated Hush, Who are You, Superstar, Restless). Veronica? Not so much this year. Please let it get better.
Off to finish yesterday's episode of Lost.
I forgot to mention this about our night out trick or treating.
We're about 2 streets away at a house giving out candy. David turns and mentions that he can see our house from here. The guy (a VERY hyper man who needed to either lay off the caffeine, or quite possibly the speed, not sure which) asks "The two-story one?" David answers yes. The guy then says something like "Oh yea, we see you guys walking by The Amityville Window all the time. Just tonight we saw a guy with a HUGE afro." That would be Jake in his costume wig.
They see our window. They named our window (The Amityville Window), two blocks away. As we walked away, David finally admitted that I was right, we do need some kind of cover over the HUGE window in our house. It is so far up, we're not sure how we'll get to it, but it MUST be done. I have been saying that I feel like the world is watching us. It has.
My grandparents should have just arrived in Puerto Rico. I booked them a flight for Saturday morning, 8:30 a.m. This meant getting up at 4:30 a.m. They were already up & dressed. I went down in my pj's & started coffee for all of us. I also packed them lunch, consisting of a sandwich each, two fruit cups, some Chex Mix, sugar-free cookies for grandma and regular cookies for grandpa, some spoons and napkins. Grandpa helped grandma down the stairs. I gave them some coffee, and a bowl of cereal each, with some cut-up bananas in it. Jake made himself some oatmeal. Jake came with me to the airport to help. Grandma secretly hands Jake what I think is $20.00 I hear him say "No grandma, it's too much." She shushes him and shoos him away. I later find out it was not $20, it was $40! Then Grandpa slips him a $10. Anyone needing a loan, please see Jake.
I brought the luggage down and loaded the car. David came out to say goodbye to us in the garage. David, who worked late, was staying home with Isabel. We left early, so I drove without any rush or stress. We got to the passenger unloading zone. I searched (and searched) and found a wheelchair. We placed grandma in it. I asked Jake to stand in line at the outside check-in, with grandpa, while I went to the short-term parking lot. I parked and got back to them by the time they called them up.
Tickets in hand, I was about to go in when the Skycap guy yells to me in Spanish to make sure I get a wheelchair pass inside. No clue what that was, but now we had to wait at the INSIDE line. It actually went by fast. I'm thinking they are going to give me...a pass to allow her to be in the wheelchair? No clue. The Delta agent asks me for ID. I hand them my grandparents' id's. She said no, she needed mine. I was confused. She said the pass was for me to be able to go with them all the way to the plane. How cool was that? With all the regulations and restrictions, I thought for sure I would have to drop them off at security and then just watch as my grandpa struggled with a wheelchair, and a large duffel bag. We went through a special security gate for wheelchairs. They scanned the lunch I prepared and had to take out the fruit cups. The fruit cups. They had liquid in them. *sigh* They also took away the toothpaste tube because it was too large. I told grandpa to put all the liquids in the checked in luggage, but forgot to mention the toothpaste.
The 4 of us get in, Jake carrying the duffel bag and I pushing the wheelchair. Quick stop at Starbucks for me and Nathans for Jake (french fries at 7:10 a.m.). We waited right at the gate with them for about an hour. I went to get the grandparents some coffee. They are very picky coffee drinkers. They don't like American. I bought a grande cappuccino (coffee & steamed milk), and a side shot of espresso. I poured the espresso into the cappuccino, added artificial sweetener, and divided it into two cups. "Great Coffee, Kaaren" was their reply.
When they called the flight, we went straight to the front of the line and they immediately started taking grandma down. I had to jump to grab a goodbye kiss from both before they were taken to their seats.
I think about families that have elderly people living with them. I know a couple who have taken care of or still do take care of an elderly relative. Then I read of people with young kids like me, also taking care of their elderly parents or grandparents. My hats off to you. Kudos. Really. From the bottom of my heart, know that I have the deepest respect and admiration for what you do, each & every day.
Grandma got out of the hospital this afternoon. My second (or it it third? Second once removed?) cousin Marisol happened to be there. She is my grandma's niece (the size 2). Marisol stayed with them while they checked out and then drove them to my house. My cell phone was grand central station. When are they leaving the hospital? I don't know, I'm at work. When are they flying home? I don't KNOW, I'm at WORK. My boss let me go home early. He was probably as tired of my phone ringing as I was.
I got home and Marisol was feeding them chicken noodle soup, God bless her. I cleaned the kitchen, as it was a wreck. The floor was covered in cookie crumbs. Isabel and my grandparents have about the same coordination, and all 3 were eating cookies, hence the crumbs. I started cooking dinner for Jake & I. Not the same food for my grandparents because they can't eat the same things. I got my grandma changed and into her pj's. I made coffee. I changed Isabel's diaper. I made rice for my grandpa and soup for Isabel. I did more dishes. I swept the floor again. Grandpa asked if I had gone on the internet yet to look at flights. David called & asked me to tape Smallville, oh and had I gone grocery shopping yet.
I went upstairs to put some of Isabel's toys away. In her room, her bed sheets had tons of chocolate spots on it...like she went to bed with a cookie. I changed her sheets. I noticed not one but two days worth of clothes on her dresser. The hamper is 5 feet away, the closet, one. The tags from her new outfit she wore yesterday were still sitting on the dresser. The garbage can, one foot away.
I put my hands to my face and started bawling.
I asked Jake to please start Isabel's bath. He must have heard something in my voice, because not one word, or one huff did I hear. He jumped up and started her bath. Now, I'm off to run downstairs and see if Isabel is done so that I can plunk her in the bath. And tape Smallville. And then put her to bed. And then look at flights on the internet. I might even get a bath. If I can stop crying.
Just a VERY quick note. I have not updated because we had an emergency. My grandmother visiting from Puerto Rico was hospitalized Saturday early a.m. (3 a.m.) after our having to call 911 from my house. We're all STILL exhausted and she's still in the hospital.
UPDATE:
It's 11:23 p.m. as I start typing on Sunday night.
My sister Brenda and her son Jonathan were driving up Friday to bring my grandparents for a visit. My grandparents are visiting from Puerto Rico & have been in Florida for a little over a week. They were supposed to come up Thursday night, I was going to take all Friday off work to spend the day with them, hanging out. Then, on Saturday, I was to drive them to Tampa for a birthday party, where my dad would be. He would then take them to his house for a few days.
Plans got changed a bit due to their not being back from visiting my aunt in Miami until Thursday. I went to work on Friday and left at noon. I drove home and they arrived shortly thereafter. The grandparents were tired!! The had just driven from Miami to West Palm the day before, and now drove 3 hours up to my house. That may not seem like a lot to you, but for two 83-year-old people, it's exhausting.
My grandma is this little short lady who can't hear well. She walks really slow and is always laughing. She hugs me and says "My Negrita! (dark girl), you look good. You're fat." *sigh* Yep. I'm fat. Later, my sister Brenda, who had not heard my grandma's comment, came up to me and told me I looked good. I pouted and said that Grandma said I was fat. Brenda starts cracking up and said, "Listen to what she told me. She said 'Brenda! You're so fat!! No wonder your husband bought that new trailer out front. So he can haul your big butt in it'." Brenda proceeds to crack up and told me not to feel bad. Everyone's fat.
I cooked dinner for all of us (my sister Brenda & nephew were spending the night as well) and we all relaxed and hung out. Grandpa asked Brenda to send his daughter (our aunt) a "computer telegraph." Hee hee. An e-mail. He doesn't know what it's called. He was very adament that Brenda send the telegraph now! because Aunt Carmen was leaving the office soon. Brenda tried to explain (again) that e-mails don't go anywhere, and Aunt Carmen can check them from home or work anytime. But he insisted, so Brenda sent the computer telegraph.
Grandma wanted to visit her grandkids (7 of us) and her great-grandkids (5). She just decided out of the blue 3 weeks ago, so they came. That day, Friday, Grandma did not make it upstairs until it was time for bed. She's had fluid in her left lung for at least 2 months now. The medical system in Puerto Rico is horrible. They've asked for the lung to be drained, but they said no, not until we run a CT scan. They went for a CT scan and have been awaiting the results....for 4 weeks. Four weeks of being out of breath and tired. They call & no one will tell them anything.
David & I gave my grandparents our bedroom. The guest room right now consists of a mattress on the floor, and there's no way they are getting up & down off the floor. J's bed is WAY too high for grandma to get on. Even my bed was a little difficult for her. She showered and Brenda helped her to bed. Last I remember, the boys, J & Jonathan, were playing DDR, Brenda was on the computer, and the grandparents were in bed as was Mrs. Squeaklefritz, who happilly went to bed at 8:30 p.m. after being serenaded by her great-grandpa playing guitar. I went to sleep in the guest room at around midnight.
At 2:00 a.m., Brenda wakes me to say that we need to take my grandma to the hospital. She was downstairs (?) and was having chest & back pain. Her face hurt too. It was not a stroke though; she was speaking clearly and had full motor function on both sides (Yay, CPR/First Aid Class). Also, Brenda's been studying for...6 months (?) for Medical Assistant and starts her externship on Monday. I head downstairs and grandma's on the couch. Her heart was beating erratically, her pulse was through the roof, and she said her chest hurt. I call David to see where he was - I did not want to leave the kids alone. He said he was just pulling in the driveway. I called 911 and proceeded to give them the wrong street - I told them we lived on "Avenue" rather than "Drive." David heard me & corrected me. I was nervous. As I'm calling 911, Grandma throws up. Brenda's tending to her and I'm running upstairs to get dressed. The Fire/Rescue team arrived first, in 5 minutes. Very nicely done Oh County of Mine. They were followed by the EMT's about 4 minutes after they arrived. The EMT's put her on a gurney and we (Brenda, Gramps and I) followed them to the Hospital. Florida Hospital Fish Memorial is about 9 miles away from my house in Orange City. They admitted her to the ER. I sat in the empty waiting room while Grandpa, with Brenda translating and helping calm him, went to give them her information. Grandpa was nervous and when he gets nervous he ... overreacts? No, that's not what I am trying to say. He gives too much detail, too much information that boggs things down. Brenda & I were trying to be quick & concise back at the house so we can get her the heck out of the house and to the hospital. They would ask a question about her medical history. No one knows her better than grandpa, but he would want to go into everything that happened with her, when all that was required was a "yes" or "no." Poor guy, I can't blame him, but we just wanted to hurry up. They asked what kind of medication she was on and he pulls out this HUGE make-up style bag FULL of medicine. Everything from stool softener, heartburn medicine, aspirin, to the real meds. Way too many. I tried looking through it briefly, but had no clue and just handed the huge bag to one of the EMT's, after removing the stool softener. :)
So, back to the hospital. We got there at 3 a.m. At 5 a.m. Brenda came out & told me to take gramps home for a nap and breakfast and then come back. She would stay with grandma. We came home at 5:15-5:20 and slept until 8:30 a.m., when Isabel woke me up. Breakfast made, kids fed, I woke David up at 10:30-ish to tell him we were leaving soon, as visiting hours started at 11:00 a.m. Brenda had since called to tell us that grandma was stabilized and in a room. We left at 10:45 and were in the hospital room from 11:15 or so until 7:30 p.m. MAN, hospitals are draining.
It's 11:59 on Sunday and I am SO tired. There's more to tell, but it'll have to wait. I am taking off tomorrow from work to take care of grandma at the hospital.
(Helpless, Buffy Season 3, Episode 12)
