1/28/2007

I can't even think of a great title...other than I'm still whining

My icky week continued thru the weekend. Saturday morning (8:00 am)we went to Alec's game and it was good. He even kinda paid attention and only did 3 karate moves on the court the whole game!!!! They don't keep score on the little ones, but I think it was pretty close.

I got home and my pellet stove was making this horrible squeaking noise. I went to take the back off of it to see what it was and all the threads on it were cross-threaded and stuck so it took me forever. Finally got that done and wrote down the auger motor numbers and headed to "Raindrops" which is a stove and spa place. Talked to one guy who looked at me like I was from Mars and then another guy came up an knew what I was talking about. But they don't service that brand of stoves. I did take in my manual and showed him the layout of the stove. He said that "Englands Stoves" could only be repaired in the factory and I would have to mail it to Canada. LIKE HELL!!! I could buy a new stove cheaper than doing all of that. So, I am researching their website now to look for an auger motor. While I was there I asked him about cleaning the chimney on it. Since the people I bought this house from told me nothing, I'm a total worm when it comes to the pellet stove. We found the brush and the stick to clean it out and then he told me how the chimney pipe should have a clean out and he showed me how it worked. I got home and it did have a cleanout. I took the bottom off and a ton of crap came out. Then I looked at the top vent dealie and it look just flat out nasty. Pellet stove have some gross residue. I got it all cleaned up and then I headed for the shower cause I still had to coach Ashton's game. About half way thru my shower the bathroom door opened and I heard

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" in a rather snotty voice--It was my mom.
"I'm taking a shower. I will be out in a minute." I said in a rather irritated voice.

She shut the door and I finished rinsing out the conditioner from my hair. I get to take one non-rushed shower a week and she totally ruined it. Oh well.

Now as I have a towel on my head and one wrapped around me I walk out into my room, thinking my mother would be in the living room with the boys.....WRONG. She was standing right outside the bathroom door holding a Target bag. She held it out too me and asked "Did I get the right tea kettle?" While trying to keep my towel around my body I looked in the bag and inspected the bottom of the boxed tea kettle and told her yes. She said okay and left. As she walked down the hall she mummered "I don't know why anyone would want to take a shower in the middle of the day." Must of been one of her not so good or nice days.

The game went well, they don't keep score on them either but the teen said it was 18 to 20...we lost but it was a really good game!!!!! We go by my parents to pick up Alec (impossible to watch that beastie and keep him out of trouble and coach a game) my dad answers the door and said my mom has fallen to pieces cause the checks she ordered haven't come in yet. He is not very sympathetic to her moods. So I go find her and she is crying and said that everything she touches goes bad.....I just looked at her and said "Mom, it's been doing that to me for over 3 years....you'll get used to it" She just looked at me weird and I helped her hang up the clothes.

Then my dad came up and said they had no groceries in the house and wanted to know if I could take her to wal-mart cause his back was hurting....this was at 3:45 pm. We drive to wal-mart while the little boys stay with my dad. She got lost 3 times in wal-mart mainly due to all the people and them getting between us. She stood in front of the eggs and just stared. I got my purse and went over there and started talking to her and opening cartons finally found one that didn't have any broken ones and asked her if she thought they looked okay. She just shrugged her shoulders and took them. Did you know that wal-mart carries Grade A eggs and the grocery store carries Grade AA eggs?...... Finally get her home at 6:33 pm and groceries unloaded and then I get to go home and unload my groceries.

This morning my mom called around 10:30 am and said my dad can't get out of bed. Thursday he was having muscle spasms in his neck and went to the chiropractor. Seem to be getting better but this morning it was on the other side of his neck. I got over there, cleared out everything from around his side of the bed and got him to his feet. He could walk but very very slow. He got in the shower and stuff and seemed to be doing better, so I left. About 4 pm ish Alec and I walked over there to take them some cheese cake made from the filling mentioned in the previous post. He was in his recliner and I had to help him up to get him to the table. I honestly think he needs to be moving more instead of just laying there, but he wouldn't listen to me when I tried to tell him. Then I went to take their trash cans to the curb because tomorrow is trash day and I just about killed myself on all the ice in there side yard. So when I went in I told them I was going to get some rock salt at the store and would be right back. Salted the walk way and then my dad's oxygen was on empty so I changed it out and headed home.

As I type Ashton is talking to meth-head on the phone.......I hate it when Ashton is excited to talk to his dad. I know I shouldn't feel that way, but I still don't understand why he is so excited to talk to this man that has done what he has done. I of course never say anything to the boys about that.

However, about a week ago Alec said "Can I call the Replacements (cartoon network cartoon) and get a new dad?" I kind of giggled "Cause my dad is far away and that lady he lives with is weird." I literally had to bite my tongue. Ashton didn't say anything he just rolled his eyes....

I'm actually looking forward to the calmness of work!!

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1/25/2007

What a Freakin' Week

I've been a bad blogger......I've also been a busy bugg...

It all started last Monday.....biker chick threw a fit at work because someone answered her "direct line" which she called her "personal line" HELLO!!!! It's a work phone.....nothing personal about it. Anyway she made a huge drama scene in front of her boss then went on a 2.5 hour "walk". Then she clocked out for lunch and took about a 2 hour lunch. Upon her return, her boss sent her home for 2 days without pay. Then she did the crying thing. Harley chicks everywhere should be ashamed of her behavior.

Anyway, Thursday she came in and turned in her resignation. She spent like 45 minutes in the president's office doing the crying, whining BS stuff and then came down to get her stuff. And our redneck HR guy (aka her boss) let her clean out her own desk....And she took about $300.00 worth of company stuff.

Then the previous post "bead nose" thing happened.



Even though work is way more happy and I actually don't dread going there, it's a lot more work on me. We are just finishing up remodeling our office and I got the great project of organizing the office supplies that biker chick used to be in charge with. Let me tell you, we could supply every person in the US with a pen, pencil and ink jet ink. CHEESE AND RICE!!!

But the extra work is way worth the happy atmosphere.

I was so tired on Friday night, couldn't wait to get to sleep...yet I didn't sleep at all and this is why......


Yes, beasties took over my bed around mid-night and I slept none. But the morning brought this.....



About 2" of snow. Basketball games were cancelled.



The teen took the little boys sledding and no one got hurt!!! I was shocked.

My mother is being overly controlling and tried to demand that I tell her everywhere I go and what I will be doing. Needless to say, her demands have not been met. I do talk to her, but I told her that I have my own house for a reason and it's so I will have my own life. She still isn't very pleased with me, but she ate the dinner I took over Tuesday night.



Do to this creature....



Ashton has decided to either be a NBA player or a fry cook!! What diversity!!

However, the most wonderful and spirit lifting words I am dwelling on

"loving, learning and living"

have kept me going.

I am striving to get by every body's place tonight....so don't give up on me or blog friends.

How's YOUR week going?

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12/27/2006

Eye Rolling Day (actually tear filled eyes day)

(I do have Christmas pictures...
but I'm at work and they are at home and the computer isn't fixed yet.......
but I will get them posted)
My mom called around 10 am and she was back from her dermatologist appointment. Right before Christmas she had a "oil sack" removed from her forehead and had to get the stitches out today. Good news, it is healing great...bad news....it's skin cancer not an oil sack. She had two more removed today around her nose.
Then as I was getting off the phone with her, my other line rang. It was my dad and he was crying. I can't even remember the last time I actually heard my dad cry and I knew he was crying. He asked if I knew about mom and I said yes. Then he asked me to teach him how to run the washer and dryer. I, of course, asked why and he said cause he had to wear dirty clothes to work today because she just can't do it anymore. I told him I would start going by at lunch and starting a load and putting one in the dryer and stopping by after work to do another. Then he told me that they've been going thru the bill together to pay them, but she hasn't been paying them like they discuss when they go thru them--she keeps getting confused. They almost got their life insurance cancelled. So I need to devise a system to do that too.
While I was at their house during lunch I checked out their freezer...it's all Schwan's stuff. I guess she doesn't or can't cook anymore. So I am now surfing for freezable meals that I can make for them that is more than just one food group. I'm also thinking that if I rearrange my work schedule, I can get off at 4pm and get dinner fixed for all of us and taken over to their house so it will be ready by 530pm ish when they normally eat. Except Mondays, when we have basketball practice then they can frozen dinner it. Which wouldn't be bad cause that's what we do... I looked in their hall closet there must be 20 tubes of toothpaste...I think I need to take over the shopping too. Need to talk to dad about those things.
I did call my brother on my way at lunch and actually got to talk to him. I told him what was going on and he actually seemed concerned. I told him about dad and the crying thing and told him he needed to call dad at work. I really hope he did.
Now before I have a tear fest at work......I guess I am done for now......

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11/06/2006

One Long Ass Post

I've have build up....and as you all know this blog is my release valve.....

so without further delay.......Here I spew or whine or whatever you want to call it

I was asked to coach Ashton's Upward Basketball team. (I had played basketball in Jr. high and I actually understand and enjoy the sport) I gladly accepted. Ashton was so happy he gave me a huge hug and said "Thanks Mom" The teen and his friends, that I feed often, have volunteered to help coach and teach all the little boys. I told my mom that I was going to coach, really got no reaction till Sunday. In the car while I was taking her grocery shopping....

"You, never played basketball"
"Yes Mom I did, in Jr. High"
"I never saw you play."
"No, you never did"
"Why didn't you tell me about your games, you didn't want me there because I would embarrass you"
"No Mom, it's tough to compete with the Olympic Training Center" (my brother was there training for silhouette shooting)

Then dead silence. I don't know why she is being so hateful. I don't even think she knows she doing it, but it still hurts. Neither one of my parents ever went to any of my functions. Not basketball, band, swimming....NOTHING. They did drag me to all of my brother's ...I guess they had burn out by the time it became my turn.

I've accepted that my brother is the "golden child" (that doesn't mean I like it) and can do no wrong in their eyes. I am still dealing with the ghosts of the different parenting techniques used in raising me and my brother and the ghosts of my brother himself. You know when the older sibling says "you were an accident" I think I really was. There was a tremendous lack of physical contact when I was younger. As in hugs, kisses, back rubs or even kissing of boo-boo's. So now as an adult, I really have to struggle to enjoy some of these simple life pleasures. I strive with my children to make all them know they are always loved and that I am here for them.

My brother and his family are coming up for Thanksgiving. I am pretty sure this will be the last holiday that we are all together and most likely the next time we are all together will be due to the passing of one of my parents. If it wasn't this situation, I would take the boys and go somewhere for the Holiday just so I don't have to deal with the crap. It's can't be like a "Norman Rockwell" holiday (thank you O'Gherkin), no it has to be more like "Home for the Holidays". It is already starting with my parents saying how "wonderful your brother is" to "....you didn't want me there because I would embarrass you" bullshit digs coming from the people that spend more time cleaning and fixing their house and messes than I do my own. People that are supposed to love me unconditionally. At times, I wish I would have taken the job offer to transfer to Wyoming. But, I know I have a responsibility as their child to help them they have always been there when I needed help. I don't know what my problem is. We, me and the boys, need to be there over the holiday so I can take lots of pictures for their scrapbook I am making for 2006 for my mom.

Speaking of scrapbooks, their 49th anniversary is tomorrow. So I stole her old album and did a "together" album for them starting with their wedding and I got thru the bridal shower and honeymoon. I gave it to them yesterday, thinking they would at least look at it or something. But she flipped thru about 2 pages and put it down. My heart sunk. I've been planning on doing this for a very long time. Buying bits and pieces everywhere and then I finally got it all put together and it seemed irrelevant.

I so hate that word, but it so seems to describe me.

I know my parents love me and I love them. I just don't see how it can be such a different situation between your own two children. I have a special connection with each of my boys, but I don't love them differently or one more than the other.

I think I'm done whining....

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