Trouble in Paradise…

9:00 pm rolled around and Charlie and Papa still hadn’t arrived with my and Maggie’s meals. I tried calling my father but it dumped me into his voicemail. 9:30 pm came and soon they pulled up to the curb. That's the latest arrival of them all. Maggie had been looking out the window for over two hours. She just went nuts and never gave up hope that they would arrive. I told her they were coming too early.

“We were caught in the drive-thru from hell,” Charlie told me.

“I got to thinking y’all had a car accident,” I replied.

I had ordered Wendy’s (a double/w cheese) tonight and thought that might have been the hang up, but it wasn’t. It was that dastardly KFC who always gets orders wrong and has a slow drive-thru. I’ve deemed them the screwiest KFC in the South. Horsefly has to have their chicken tenders thus the reason Charlie and Papa put themselves through that every week. They consistently cause problems.

Maggie was really “talking” to Charlie and Papa tonight. It always warms my heart when she does that. She was so excited she was almost beside herself. She doesn’t get to see them nearly enough as she wants to.

It has been a quiet day other than tonight’s little SNAFU. Charlie brought breakfast about 9 am – three sausage biscuits and a diet Coke. I drove over to my father’s house after finishing breakfast. He had his Christmas tree up and lit and I helped him decorate it. It really looked beautiful. Dad inherited mom’s beautiful ornaments and decorations. I always get a live tree so I have to wait until mid December to get my Christmas tree as they dry out so easily. I am hoping Kroger sells Christmas lights so I can decorate my shrubbery and step railing tomorrow night after we buy groceries. My neighbors across the street are putting on a grand show with lights and Christmas icons that are projected on the side of their house.

Inundated With Goodness...

I decided to treat myself at lunch today. No more bologna and PB and J sandwiches which I am tired of. I am running low on groceries this late in the game.

"Dad? I am headed to Roger's for lunch. Do you want me to bring you something to eat?" I asked my father at noon.

I was surprised he didn't put up a fuss as Roger's Barbecue is expensive. He then surprised me again and said he would love a barbecue plate with a baked potato instead of fries.

I sat down to a barbecue sandwich, fries, and slaw. It really hit the spot. The barbecue sandwich was delicious. I ordered dad's food when I was about finished with my meal.

Dad was in a stellar mood today when I delivered his barbecue plate. There was lots of banter, joking and laughing going on. He was so glad to be off of work. He had nothing to do today and he said it was a good feeling. He also said, "Now Martha! Don't you get me up something to do today as well!"

"I've got to work tomorrow, though," he told me with a frown. "I never have to work on Saturdays."

It's not too bad, though, as the pharmacy closes at noon on Saturday.  I had mentioned I wanted more ornaments for my Christmas tree and dad told me to meet him at the drug store at noon and we would run up to Walmart (the evil empire as he calls it) and buy some more.

The Christmas Tree is Up and Lit...

It is Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas...

The outside Christmas lights are up and lit. I'll put up a photo after dark. It is amateurish at best unlike my father's refined and frou frou Christmas decor that I've got to help him put up this weekend. Putting up his Christmas decorations is meticulous and tiresome. We need to breathe some fun into like pass out cocktails to an audience who can cajole and heckle us.

I am going to override my father and buy my Christmas tree Saturday. I can't wait to put it up. I will have to get some of that Christmas tree preserver and keep it well watered. I have a very nice stand to put in on with a large water reservoir.

When I was a kid, my mother began taking down the Christmas decorations Christmas night. We would get in the biggest fights over that. I will leave them up to New Year's Day.

"Martha, let them enjoy Christmas," I can hear my father say in my mind's eye.

Mom wasn't having any of that. She wanted it done and over with.

That Meddling Mental Illness...

The cycling continues. A few weeks ago, I couldn't sleep at all and now I sleep all night.  And? The Magster and I took a 5-hour nap this afternoon. I hope I sleep tonight, though. The Magster loved us piling up in the bed and sleeping like that. I was just going to take a quick nap as I got up at 7 am and that is early for me.

Call Me Mr. Clean...

A past Christmas tree at Andrew's

Last night was the deadline for getting my whole house sparkling clean. I've been working on it all week in spurts. I was a flurry of busy activity all day yesterday. Charlie and my father were dazzled and more so bedazzled when they saw my house last night as they brought my Sunday evening supper. Of course, Charlie found something to clean as well and worked on my bathroom sink for a good while. The bathroom was the hardest room to tackle for me. It looked like a bunch of homeless people took a bath in my sink.

"I'm ready to go home and eat my fried chicken before it gets too cold," my father told me grumbling as we sat in the den watching the Weather Channel.

He said that last week as well as Charlie cleaned my kitchen and took out the trash.

Charlie was doing his thing. He is the master of cleaning. I will never forget when my dishwasher leaked and Charlie had the water cleaned up in a matter of minutes. Boy, did he come in the nick of time.

Today, I am putting up my Christmas decorations in the front yard and on the front of the house. I started last night, but I got cold and came inside. I have to wait awhile for my Christmas tree as I like live trees and it would get too dry by Christmas if I get one now. Dad just told me to wait two more weeks.

"Let me know when is a good time for you to give me my medications," I just told my father very delicately.

"Let's make it 2 pm," he told me which thrilled me to death.

It will make for a nice relaxed afternoon and a good primer for getting my groceries tonight. As part of the conditions of cleaning my house, my father is supposed to go out to WOW!'s office to see what is taking them so long today, but I didn't push the issue. He's content watching that ballgame all day on YouTube and I will let him be. #6 Auburn beat #1 Alabama and it was like Christmas come early for my father and brother.

I Wake Up and the First Thing I Do Is Blog...

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Quite a refreshing and impressive looking nap you had there! It is 4:30 AM and you are going strong!

"When do you take your Christmas tree down?" was the question I posed for Charlie last night.

 Charlie said it was bad luck to leave it up after New Year's Day.

"At least, turn off the lights on New Year's Day," Charlie told me.

"But the lights look so pretty!" I exclaimed as I don't believe in all the pretentious nonsense about bad luck (claptrap). I am a prime example of shit just happens from time to time.

When I was a kid my mother would start taking down the Christmas tree on Christmas night and put away the ornaments. This quite stressed me greatly -- to the point my mother and I would argue vehemently about it. My father would have to come in and breakup the fight.

"New Year's Day Janice is cooking a pork loin, potato salad, black eyed peas, cornbread, and turnip greens," Charlie then told me. "I will bring you a plate."

Merry Christmas to All My Dear Blog Friends and My Dear Blog Denizens...

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I was just invited to the grand soiree tonight -- the hyperkinetic Christmas party at my parent's house. They throw this party every year.  I declined but acted very, very appreciative. My own special introverted version of Christmas is to be quiet, no stress whatsoever, no socialization, and plenty of time in front of my computer listening to really good music and perusing Wikipedia and my usual internet haunts.

"I'll fix you a big plate and bring some food when I come back to give you your medications tonight," my father told me.

I can say a lot of things about my father, but his most grandest feature is that he is a wonderful cook in the old South tradition. I didn't ask him what he was cooking and will leave that to be a surprise.

Some routines go on rain, shine, or snow regarding my medications. I'm not expecting too much, though. My father will probably be here around about midnight when he finally arrives. Maybe he will bring my Christmas Newegg order. Then I bill be up all night installing that video card and getting my computers situated. Sounds fun? Yes, it does!

Woo Hoo! I Got an Accolade!

"I was getting my hair done today," mom said over the phone this afternoon. "Rhonda (mom's hairstylist) said your outside lights are beautiful."

Rhonda lives just down the street from me. I blushed a little bit when mom said that. Rhonda's not one to give credit when credit is not due. She is a very stoic and stern lady.

"Tell her I said a very appreciative thank you when you go back Wednesday," I replied to my mother.

"She also said she could see your Christmas tree out from the road."

I had secretly hoped in a vain moment that you could see that tree from the road.

I'm Very Cheap But I Drive a Very Fast Car...

I parked at Fred's this afternoon when a brand new Porsche pulled up beside me and parked as well. I love the deep, throaty exhaust note of those cars. I followed the very frumpy looking fellow into the store.

"Sir?" I quickly informed the man before he opened the door. "Your headlights are still on."

"They will automatically turn off in a few moments," the man replied almost haughtily.

"Do you sell earrings?" the fellow loudly asked the cashier on duty when he stepped inside.

"No," the Farah Faucet look alike said. "But there is a nice jewelry store downtown."

The Christmas Spirit Embodied.,.

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"I got you some more ornaments for your Christmas tree," Charlie told me as he stepped inside last night and handed me a big Arby's bag of food. "I also got you a Reuben sandwich from Arby's and some curly fries."

"Dad told me you were on the way tonight," I replied. "I was hoping to see you and Horsefly!"

"Horsefly is being unsociable until we go to the bowling alley. We've yet to go bowling tonight."

"I ate a few of your curly fries," Charlie then said. "Those things are extremely addictive."

I just smiled broadly and then laughed. Maggie was about to go nuts until Charlie acknowledged her, though.

"You're going to have to greet and pet the lady of the house," I told Charlie about Maggie. "Then we may proceed."

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"How's my Maggie Lou doing?" Charlie told my Maggie with a big back scratch all the while talking in babytalk.

The Magster looked in pure ecstasy and her dream was fulfilled for yet another day.

"Look at this!" Charlie said as he then pulled a stark white crocheted angel out of a bag. "That goes on the top of your tree."

"Thank you Charlie," I replied. "We always had one of those angels on the Christmas trees of my youth.

We'll Soon Have Christmas After a Long Nap...

Dad is putting the final touches on his very pretty Christmas tree this afternoon. Dad had colored lights this year which I wholeheartedly approved of and the grandkids will like it too. White lights are so passé it seems to me.

Dad and I are going later to get Charlie's Christmas tree up and rolling. Janice, Charlie's wife, is going to cook all of  us a southern style supper. Dad also said she had some spiced tea on the stove simmering when he was over there.

"The whole house smelled of cloves, cinnamon, and citrus," my father said.

"Where is Santa's little helper?" I then asked my father of my mother noticing my mother was nowhere to be seen.

"We're having a little too much Christmas today and she had to go lay down," my father said laughing.

I had to smile as well.

Welcome to a Xanax Sponsored Christmas...

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Well, mom did it -- the colossal task. My father and I thought it couldn't be done. She got her old dosage of Xanax reinstated after her doctor had cut the dosages in half. Dad said she called and raised hell with Dr. Backshi -- that her panic attacks were making her miserable and that they were coming back in full force.

"I almost didn't believe it at first, but she is back to taking 3mg per day," my father told me.

That's the secretary. Me? I wouldn't have the chutzpah to do what my mother did yesterday. Especially doing it over the phone.

Once in a Blue Moon...

On Christmas Eve 2015, we had our first (that I know of) Christmas snow in my lifetime. Maggie and I were so elated. The odds were astronomical and stacked against us, but it happened. There was snow covering the ground on Christmas day and you know it had to be magical for all the kids in the South and Alabama specifically. Maggie couldn't quite figure out what this what stuff was. I would've made a snow angel,  but it would have messed up my hair.

No snow here this Christmas, but the pervading cold is creeping in from the great northern and frozen wastelands (Canada). It is supposed to get down to 24° degrees tonight. It is already uncomfortably cold outside. I am fixing to drive down to for a few 79 cent drinks, get on the internet while I drink them, and then soon I will be headed for bed.

Settle Down Now! Settle Down!

It is getting close to my bedtime and everything seems frenetic and full of energy this evening. Charlie bought by some Christmas tree preserver to pour in the Christmas tree's water bowl to make it last longer. He also brought a Mickey D's Big Mac combo meal.

"Your father was complaining about your Christmas tree being a fire hazard and drying out before Christmas so this could help," Charlie told me after a man hug.

My father was hot on the heels of Charlie. Dad brought me some more leftovers to eat tomorrow. We also took my crazy meds or behavioural modification medicines as I like to call them.

Retail Therapy...

Mom was calling me early today wondering if she should get back to visiting her soft tissue therapist (sports medicine).  It has been about 3 years since she last went to see Connie. Just another road traveled on my mother's hypochondria fueled highway. My father will roll his eyes when she talks about it.

"What if they don't call me back?" my mother fretted something fierce as she asked me over the phone.

She had just called them and left a message. They seem to be closed on Thursdays.

"Will you drive me to Auburn?" mom then asked me.

"They will be glad to get the business," I replied to my mother putting out a worrisome wildfire of hers that soon would escalate and spread. "And yes, I will be glad to drive you to Auburn. We will eat lunch at Chick-fil-A or Jim Bob's."

I put the phone back in its cradle and then it rung again.

"I just put your Cokes and some cigars out on the porch," mom then said. "I had to make up a batch, but they are out there."

"Thank you so much," I very appreciatively told my mother.

Fred's and Piggly Wiggly were next on my journey to get my sodas this morning. Our Piggly Wiggly is spotless compared to Kroger I noticed today. It is as neat as a pen. I got a large family sized box of frosted flakes, 2 jars of pickled sausages, and a 6 pack of Vienna sausages at the Piggly Wiggly. I then got some more ornaments for my Christmas tree at Fred's.

Fred's had yet another new cashier this morning. She must've been flexible. She was a slim motherly looking lady with bleached blonde hair.

What? Dusk Was Hours Ago...

I can't express how much this suckage sucks with the time change. It got dark at 5 PM this afternoon!

Maggie knows after dark fall is when things around here can get pretty interesting. She had slept all day on the computer room bed and was primed for some action tonight. Firstly, Charlie, Beta dog, stopped by with a big bag of Arby's roast beef sandwiches. Does Charlie ever get tired? He worked all day and then spent some time with the Mags and I.

"I got you lots of Arby's sauce," Charlie told me much to my appreciation. "You will need to warm the sanwiches up in a little while before you eat them."

"That's what microwaves are for," I told Charlie with a smile and a pat on his back.

Charlie loved my tree and the way it made my house smell like cedar or spruce.

Maggie and I then both settled into our favorite places on the couch to wait for Papa after Charlie was on his way home -- no doubt to get Horsefly out of the bed, situated, and fed. Horsefly will say, "I love my covers."

"Your daddy is on the way," mom told me after one ring and I called her back.

"I love it when you do that!" I told my mother very appreciatively.

No more nebulous waiting without knowing what's up. Papa, Gamma dog, arrived to much fanfare from the Magster as always. We then took my medications.

"What computer parts do you want for this Christmas?" my father asked as if he could read my mind as we sat on my couch.

I was very disappointed with my expensive coffee maker last year so I decided to get something that was more failsafe great and amenial for me.

"It is $219 and consists of speakers and a sound card for one of my computers," I told my father.

"Email Matt at the pharmacy your items and we will get that ordered tomorrow," my father replied.

My Den in the Dark...Shine On!

Charlie is Beginning to Feel Christmassy As Well...

Derelict Computer Parts Wreath!

"Your daddy said you got your Christmas tree up today," Charlie said driving home from work in Dadeville this evening. "I might need you to help me get mine up this weekend."

Charlie also has a gigantic 100lb frou-frou artificial Christmas tree in his basement. Inside his house at Christmas would look magical to a kid.

"I sure did," I replied quite boastfully to Charlie. "I will be glad to help you this weekend. My tree looks mighty pretty lit up if I do so say myself."

"Dad is outside putting up the Christmas lights on the front of their house right now."

"Dammit! I told him to wait for me to help him!" Charlie exclaimed. "Oh well!"

"What do you want for supper?" Charlie then asked me. "I have to always get Horsefly his KFC chicken tender meal every night as you may well know."

"Dad gave me more chicken and dumplings an hour ago when I went to get my sodas for the day," I told Charlie.

"I will be right over to look at your tree when I get back in town," Charlie said. "I might just get you some Arby's and you can eat it later."

In the Christmas Spirit...

Maggie is supervising (sleeping on the couch) and I am slowly getting my Christmas tree up and decorated this morning. I am so very excited about Christmas this year.  The glass ornaments I bought at Fred's today are going up next. We will finish the tree off with some tinsel ala Fred's as well.

"I dread getting all the ornaments on our tree," my mother dourly said this morning with a very loud sigh. "I dread even more having to take them off and put them back in storage in the basement for another year."

"Mom! That is a terrible way to think about Christmas!" I replied trying to choke back a laugh. "It is supposed to be a labor of love."

Grinch anyone?

This was a collaboration of my father' s and mine. I would help him get up his gaudy 100 pound artificial tree from the basement and then we would drive and get my Christmas tree. I only needed a small tree for my den. The attendant at Ponder's didn't think we could get my tree in the back of my car, but we did as we do every year.

Heal These Broken Wings So That I May Fly Again...

I just called my father without realizing how early it was. It was 8:30 AM in the morning.

"Don't forget my injection is in the morning tomorrow," I told him anxiously.

"I was thinking the same thing," my father replied. "Good for you to remember that! I will be at the pharmacy at 9 AM."

"How are you feeling?" my father asked.

When he asks those kinds of questions and quite often, I then often respond that I am fine. I told him today that I was feeling lots of anxiety and feeling very sorry for myself for the time being.".

"That's not like you. It's just your medications petering out," he told me. "You will feel far better tomorrow afternoon."

I told him that I hoped so.

Christmas Tree Etiquette...

What time do you normally put up your Christmas tree? I told my father I was getting mine right after Thanksgiving.

"It is going to dry out and become a fire hazard he told me in warning.

Ponder's Nursery will likely find me in their parking lot picking out a Christmas tree this weekend.

"I usually put my tree up two weeks before Christmas," my father replied.