The Death and Destruction Channel. A Rant…

I used to love The Weather Channel.  I could watch for hours.  Those days are long gone with it’s acquisition by NBC.  I was talking to dad last night about my frequently calling it the death and destruction channel these days.  It is increasingly becoming a news channel and not a weather channel.

“Death and destruction draws viewers and sells advertisement slots,” dad said in response. 

“I know,” I replied miffed. “But I want a detailed forecast and the radar.  Not wall to wall destruction in Haiti.  It seems The Weather Channel’s parent company, NBC, has a better infrastructure in Haiti than the whole of that nation’s government these days.”

Dad laughed.

It’s true, though.  Last night’s Weather Center only had a smidgen of instances of forecasts or local weather.  They concentrated on panning out to Mike Sidel in California who was on mudslide watch; just waiting for houses to slide off the hillside.   And the gross hyperbole?  Don’t get me started.  Alexandra Steele you should be ashamed.  

Well, I will quit this rant.  I feel better now.  At least channel 12 out of Montgomery has a 24 hour radar with NOAA weather radio playing in the background.  It has been my saving grace these days as far as my weather news consumption is concerned.  I also wouldn’t know what to do without Internet weather these days as well.    

Off to See Connie…

Maggie has frayed and worn out her new harness.  That’s Wal-Mart made in China for you.  Well, mom has soft tissue therapy this morning and I am going with her.  We are swinging by Pet Smart on the way home to get a sturdier harness.  Mom called me this morning to remind me.

“Have you measured Maggie’s neck and girth?” mom asked me.

“Every time I go to measure her, she acts all funny, runs outside, and sits in the rain,” I replied. “She thinks I am going to do something weird to her.”

Mom chuckled and then I bet you could see a frown on her face.  The devils in the details for her as I have often said.

“What are we going to do?” mom asked sounding frustrated.

“Next time she comes in, I am going to shut the laundry room door so she can’t escape out the dog door.  Then I will get the measurements.”

“Call me back when you do,” mom replied. “I can’t go back to sleep unless I know you have them.”

This is serious business folks for mom.  Going to Connie is serious business and getting Maggie a FITTING harness is serious business as well.  Mom worries that Maggie is not wearing her rabies tags with the old harness off.  She thinks Maggie will be captured and put to sleep.  

Well, let me get some breakfast started.  I am going to scramble two eggs, fry two pieces of bacon, and have some buttered toast.  I might even get wild and eat a banana or an apple or two! lol

A Beautiful Game. Me Playing Oblivion…

A Clean Fridge and Freezer. I’ve Been a Busy Bee…

Maggie LOVES Dead Things…

My neighbors directly across the street intrigue me.  Charlie says the father made a fortune in his early days writing and selling children’s books.  He always wears a flannel shirt and khaki pants, and has the handsomest silver grey hair.  You would never know they have money by the cars they drive though.  Every car they own is missing a hubcap and this pushes some button within me.   They recently bought a new to them car and it has extensive wreck damage.  They must have gotten a good deal.  They must also be into the frugality lifestyle.  They’re the ones with the chickens within city limits.  

Maggie and I got our six mile walk in before the rain started.  There was a dead armadillo in the road at one point and Maggie went wild.  I let her walk out in the road with the hopes that she would sniff it and be satiated.  She bit the tail and pulled it completely in half.  I reeled in disgust!!!  At least she got half of the monstrosity off the road.  I had to pop her to let go of what was left. 

I’ve been busy today.  I’ve been a cleaning fool.  I have this big library case in my computer room.  I organized all my Model Railroader and Wired! magazines and made it look neat and tidy.  It took several hours.  Mom said I could come get books out of the garage to fill the empty cubby holes.  It will look so nice when I am finished and I will get a photo up.

I am currently waiting on dad to arrive.  I had to ration my cigarettes today to make it this far.  Dad is bringing a carton.  I will probably see him around 9:30 when he leaves the pharmacy for the night.  Well, I am off to play Oblivion.  I am trying to get back into computer gaming to pass the time.  Mom also said she would buy me one new game every month thus the incentive to play and get interested again.  I will post a video of me playing Oblivion in a few short ones.  Good night good friends and I hope you’ve all had a wonderful day.   

The Gift of the Gab…

My nurse, Rebecca, is so gregarious.  As soon as we enter the examining room to administer my shot, she is small talking a hundred miles an hour.  To my sensitive nature about such things, it can be an onslaught. I’ve learned to watch and listen though; to learn something that just doesn’t come natural to me.  My father is the master of small talk.  I’ve never met a more able bodied individual with regards to that subject.  I get better as time goes by and it is less painful.  Still, I can be awkward. 

This morning as I was waiting on dad to fill my prescription for my injection, his employee, Judy, came up to me. 

“I ordered your caffeine free diet Cokes,” she said. “I couldn’t get them in the case, but did get them in the six pack.  I will get Tim to load them into your car.”

Dad was listening as he stood behind the counter at the computer.

“No!” he said laughing to Judy. “Andrew is like Barney Fife.  He’s only allowed one bullet for his gun.  He can only have six cokes at a time.”

Judy had this confused look on her face.  I can only imagine what she thought.  A 37 year old man having the amount of caffeine free diet cokes limited in his diet.  It embarrassed me to a point.

As I was leaving, dad wanted me to step on the pay scales in his store to weigh.  He is keenly interested in my bulimia and the weight loss and gain.  When I saw my psychiatrist two weeks ago, I weighed 167 pounds.  Dad put a penny in the scales and we watched as the dial spinned upwards.  I weighed 175.

“Our goal weight is 185,” dad said relieved I had gained weight.  That was a very, very good indicator that I’ve been on the straight and narrow with regards to practicing my bulimia.   I’ve just learned not to eat big meals.  I can’t feel too full or it will trigger it something immensely.  I eat small meals all throughout the day.

Ole!

Every Tuesday night, mom eats dinner with an old friend, Sandra, at the Mexican restaurant.  They’ve been doing it for years and years; probably as long as that restaurant has been in existence.  Mom always brings me by a to-go order and I tell her to surprise me.  Tonight, she brought chicken fajitas.  It was the most food I have ever seen.  There were chips and salsa.  Chicken fajitas and tortillas.   Refried beans and cheese.  Mexican rice. And guacamole salad.  Wednesday is grocery day and my cupboards are always bare about this time so it is so welcomed. 

I am going with mom to get groceries today.  I already have what I need planned out in my mind.  You better bet I am going to spend the whole $85 dollars I am allotted.  I am getting…

• Windex window cleaner
• One 200 watt light bulb
• A pack of four Bic cigarette lighters.
• Two loaves of Sunbeam bread.
• Two packs of sliced roasted chicken
• Two packs of sliced American cheese
• Ten Lean Cuisine frozen meals.
• One large box of unfrosted strawberry toaster Poptarts.
• A bunch of bananas.
• Four granny smith apples.  
• A dozen eggs.
• Two packages of Black Label bacon.
• Blue Bonnet margarine.

You rang?

Mom was at a doctor’s appointment yesterday morning when I called the house.  Helen answered the phone.  

“What you need, baby?” she asked. “Your momma’s at the doctors.”

“I’ll call back later when mom gets home,” I replied.

“While I have you on the phone,” Helen said. “What do you want for supper Friday evening?  I have to get the groceries Thursday.”

“Meatloaf, meatloaf, meatloaf,” I started to chant. “And some of your delicious biscuits, creamed potatoes, and English peas.”

It was my favorite meal after all.  Helen laughed and said dad would like that meal as well. 

“I’ll put an extra piece of meatloaf on your plate when I prepare it,” Helen said.

“Thank you sweetheart,” I replied.

Helen hung up the phone.  I can’t wait until Friday. 

EUPHORIA!!!

About three hours after my injection, I got that familiar feeling of extreme euphoria.  It is like the most prolonged and intense orgasm.  I sat in my quiet house, in my lazy boy, as I smoked cigarette after cigarette all the while sipping on my preferred orange drink.  Before I knew it, six hours had passed.  For six short hours, I was lost in my thoughts.  Grinning.  Daydreaming about various topics and where my life could go in three or more years time.  

Maggie Says Good Morning…

It’s 4 AM. Is Your Dog Sleeping?

Redecorating...

God Bless Martin Luther King…

Today marks George’s first week of sobriety.  Honestly, I would have never thought he would make it this far.  George was such a heavy drinker; its tendrils entwined in every aspect of his life.

George brought a 12 pack of Coca-Colas this morning instead of a case.  We talked mainly about Martin Luther King and segregation in the South.

“I was too young to remember segregation,” George told me. “But momma remembers it well.”

“What does she say about it?” I asked, extremely interested.

“She’s always talking about how hard it was to find a negro bathroom when traveling in the South.  They always kept a roll of toilet paper in the car and would often have to go in the woods on the side of the road.  She said it would be around Kentucky before you started to see integrated bathrooms.”

“That must have been so demeaning,” I replied with a look of consternation on my face.

“She also says it took her years to trust white people,” George added.

“But she has just embraced me!” I replied emphatically.

“Momma says you’re different from most white people,” George said. “She says from what you’ve been through that you’re color blind and don’t judge people.”

“I wish I could be such a Saint,” I thought.  I am still extremely distrustful of the shady looking black people that walk by my house all day long.  My car getting stolen that Christmas three years ago forever altered my trusting and aloof nature. 

George had probably yawned five times in a row when I told him to head home and get some sleep.  I knew Mrs. Florene would have a big breakfast cooked and I envied him of that.   I bid George farewell and urged him to go to a meeting with me tonight.  He said he would think about it after some good sleep. 

Maggie is Feeling Her Oats This Morning…

Bright Lights From Welcoming Windows…

The sun was setting and it was drizzling.  Maggie was on her leash and we had just stopped at a stop sign to read the neighborhood canine news.  A few hundred more yards and we would be at Mrs. Florene’s house.  I walked down with my “wife” and could see Mrs. Florene in the brightly lit kitchen window most likely washing the dishes after supper.  I knocked on the door and she welcomed us both inside.

“I’m here to see my sober buddy,” I told her grinning feverishly and excitedly.

“He’s in the den watching TV.  Go on back and see him,” Mrs. Florene replied smiling, glad I had come.

George immediately stood up grinning upon seeing me walk in the room.  He shook my hand vigorously.

“How are you?” I asked eyeing him carefully.

His color looked so good and that yellowish pall his eyes always had when he was drinking heavy was gone.

“Great!” George replied convincingly.

Mrs. Florene walked in with left over bacon from breakfast for Maggie.  Maggie hungrily ate such a treat as her tail wagged wildly.  This was her family too, and she just adores George.  She was making herself at home.

I didn’t stay long.  I mainly wanted to see George face to face.  I knew I could tell if he was sober or not.  As I was walking out the door with Maggie, Mrs. Florene hugged me firmly saying, “Thank you! You made his night.”  George told me he would be over in the morning after work and was bringing a case of regular cokes.  We are going to watch terrible television and have a party of sorts; a sober party.  I can’t wait until the morning and to spend some time with my friend.

Maggie and I…

You should see Maggie and I cramped on that little twin bed in my computer room.  I like it though.  She will nestle against my bare chest and her rhythmic breathing puts me to sleep.  You can also feel her slowing heartbeat as she settles down and drifts off.  Dad calls her my wife.  Any room I am in and she is with me keeping up with me. 

My injection is this Tuesday.  I am now in that twilight zone where my medication levels are slowly fading and dropping.  This always makes for interesting times.  I experienced some numbness in my hands this morning shortly after awaking.  Thankfully, it went away after eating a breakfast of Chef Boyardee mini ravioli.  Dad, lately, has been more forgiving of giving me extra Risperdal when I get like this. I look forward to seeing my nurse, Rebecca, and resetting the clock so to speak. 

Mom was right that $38 dollars wasn’t enough groceries.  I didn’t tell her I am almost out so as not to panic her.  I told dad and he is getting me things to make sandwiches today.  We are also going to go get me gasoline for the first time in three weeks.  I did some calculations this morning and I have only put 4000 miles on my car in the five years I have owned it.  Pretty amazing, huh?  I just never drive except to go the mile to mom and dad’s.  

Of George…

I’m hesitant to write about George in that I might jinx things. I’m afraid I will write he is six days sober and he will run out tonight to a poker game and get drunk.  He’s back at work and I asked him over the phone this morning how he handled that.

“I kept reaching in my coat pocket for my flask of whiskey,” he replied. “Thankfully, it wasn’t there.”

I have yet to see him, but he sounds good.  Mrs. Florene says he is still shaky in his hands and doesn’t know what to do with himself.  He’s watching a lot of bad television.

“Urge him to go to a meeting,” I told her. “He will listen to you.  Tell him I will go with him.  We will go to a Narcotics Anonymous where there are other black people.”

Mrs. Florene thanked me and said she would try her best.  Now, it is time to just wait, help, and hope. 

Your Daily Obligatory Maggie Photo…

It confused Maggie at first with me sleeping in the computer room.  She’s adjusted though.  This is her a few minutes ago.  I’ve been up for an hour and she is still in the bed.  She didn’t even get up when I was munching on cheese and crackers in front of the computer.  This usually elicits a response and begging out of her.  Sleepyhead!!!

Helen Friday…

This week, Helen cooked fried cubed pork steak, sweet potato patties, English peas, rutabagas, and cornbread.  It was delicious!  See how high and fluffy Helen’s cornbread rises?  It’s yummy.  Like cake with the sugar she adds.  It is certainly different from the cornbread I am used to!

AA on the Mind…

When I first quit drinking, Alcoholics Anonymous was an immense help.  It was a safe place I could go every night to commune with people like me and to talk about my cravings and problems thus disarming them to some extent.  Well, last night I went to a meeting.  Many of the old familiar faces were still there which was comforting.  One old timer even came up to me to shake my hand and remembered my name. 

It was a twelve and twelve study where we read and discuss the twelve steps and twelve traditions.  The more I go to AA, the more I realize it is less about drinking and more about a complete reprogramming of your personality, mind, body, and spirit.  As you change spiritually, the urge to drink lessens.  Thankfully, I am long past those horrible cravings that hit you in the early days of sobriety – that empty hole in the pit of your stomach that needs to be filled with drink.

I enjoyed last night despite my social anxieties acting up to some extent.  The hour flew by and before you knew it, I was walking home – a feeling of peace surrounding me.

The Reading List…

I am well into book four of the Twilight Saga now. I am finding the last book much more quickly paced and enjoyable.  It was sort of incredulous though when Bella, a human, got pregnant by Edward, a vampire.  I thought the book was going to take a turn for the worse, but Stephanie Meyers surprised me.  It has been a page turner and the prose has improved. 

I’ve also started reading Interview with the Vampire which I picked up at the library.  What a depressing and morbid book!   My friend Karen said Louis was “angsty” and she was right!  Another disturbing point about the book are the strong undercurrents of homo-erotica and pedophilia.   It can be unnerving to say the least. 

Light Blogging Today…

I keep seeing the shadows moving.  I’ve turned on every light in the house and opened all the curtains and blinds to alleviate any shadows.  It has helped a lot.  Ah, the joys of living with schizophrenia.  I don’t feel badly as is usually the case.  Just strange.  Years ago this would have scared me to death!  Anyways, I am just going to be quiet today and rest.  I hope you all have a good day.

We Think He is Comfortable…

Mrs. Florene called me this afternoon asking if I had heard from George.

“I thought he would call you first!” I said.

“I’ve lost the pass-code to call him,” she replied stymied.

I guess no news is good news.  I bet they have him heavily sedated like they did to me when I went into detox.  Mrs. Florene went on to tell me she had scoured the house, the garage, and yard for liquor bottles.  She found three half empty bottles in his bedroom and George had even hidden one bottle in the reservoir of the toilet!!! 

“Sounds like something I would do when I was drinking,” I told her. “Par for the course.  When I was married, I hid a bottle of Southern Comfort in the Christmas Tree!”

Mrs. Florene couldn’t help but laugh at that last statement.    

Status Quo…

I was talking to mom yesterday about the coke ritual.  I told her there was no real reason to dole them out to me anymore now that I am drinking caffeine free cokes – caffeine being the one enemy that caused this ritual to begin with.

“I kinda like the ritual,” she told me.

“Okay,” I said. “I guess I do, too.  I like driving over every morning to get them.  It is something to look forward to.”

That settled, mom told me she has a cauterization on her heart this morning.  “I have shortness of breath all the time,” she said.  Dad says she’s just fat and needs to lose weight and to start exercising.  Isn’t that so callous? In dad’s defense, mom has been known to overdo it as far as health care goes.  She is seeing a new doctor (doctor shopping) who is ordering all these tests not knowing her penchant for such things.

Maggie got her walk yesterday.  We walked four miles.  She was really strutting her stuff – her little legs going a hundred miles an hour.  She walked so fast that I was out of breath when we got back to the house.  That little dog can scoot!

Mom and I went and bought my groceries late last night after eating at the local Mexican restaurant.  I only spent $36 dollars for the whole week and this worried mom.  I am allowed to spend $85 dollars a week.

“You sure you don’t want to go back and get some of those ham steaks you love and some sweets?” she asked. “You also didn’t get breakfast food.”

“I will be fine,” I assured her.  She was worried about having to make a second trip to the grocery store later in the week when and if I run out of food.

A Very Busy Bee…

“Charlie?  Just what are you doing in there?” I asked as Charlie was in my bathroom with the door closed.

You could hear the toilet flushing several times and and the shower running.  There was a lot of activity going on in there.  I walked back in the den to sit down with dad to take my medications.

“Just what in the hell is he doing?” dad asked me.

“I don’t know,” I replied. “But he sure sounds busy.  It sounds like he is doing a bathroom makeover.”

About thirty minutes later when dad was ready to leave, Charlie came walking out of the bathroom.

“Dammit!” he said. “I was cleaning your bathroom for you fixing Janice’s computer.”

We all started to laugh.

“That’s your uncle Charlie,” dad said. “It’s bad when your guest spends his whole time cleaning your house and not socializing.”

“I can’t help it!” Charlie replied. “I’m a little obsessive compulsive myself!”

After they left, I looked in my bathroom and it was sparkling clean.  That’s Charlie for ya. 

For Matthew…

I tried to email you back, but my emails keep bouncing back saying I need to solve some kind of puzzle to prevent spam.  Sorry!  About George, he is only going to be in the hospital for three more days (It was all his insurance would pay for). So a postcard would get there after he is already gone.  You even have to have a numeric pass code to call George on the phone security and privacy is so tight!  Take care and thanks for reading the blog so long and for looking out for George.  I do appreciate it and I am sure George does as well!

Sincerely,

Andrew

Dear Maggie, We Will Walk Soon. Love, Daddy.

Maggie’s got the funks.  For the past few days all she has done is sleep and eat.  Even the usual food treats I give her don’t seem to excite her.  It has been so cold here and we haven’t been going on our usual daily walk.  I think this is what is getting to Maggie.  She will sit at the base of the piano and look longingly at her leash.  Maggie’s walking drought is about to change though.  It is forecast to get up to 45 today, and will be in the 50’s by Wednesday.  It will seem like a heat wave and I hope the continuance of our walks will lift Maggie’s spirits.  I hate to see her so sulking all the time.

Mom just stopped by after one of her myriad of appointments.  As dad will often say, she’s the appointed one.  She brought me diet Sprites, razor blades, and toilet paper.  I don’t ask for these things, but mom has this intuitive sense that I am about to run out and she was right.  I had one razor blade and one roll of toilet paper left.  What would I do without mom with me having no money?

I don’t have much planned today.  I have a glut of email to respond to.  The blog has been very busy this weekend.  I am itching to start book four of the Twilight saga and also hope to get a chance to run by the library for more books.  This reading thing is so novel for me.  I feel like I’ve discovered a brand new world!  I also plan on going to a Narcotics Anonymous meeting tonight.  I find they are less stodgy and more welcoming than the local AA meeting hall and all their old timers. 

Well, let me get some lunch started.  I have incredible cravings for grilled cheddar cheese sandwiches, dill pickle spears, and french fries.  Let’s get to cooking!

Taking the Slow Train to Birmingham…

I was frying the bacon this morning as Mrs. Florene watched an egg timer that was timing the poached eggs that were steaming on the stove.

“Are they going to take George outside to smoke?” she whispered, speaking of the hospital.

George was sitting at the kitchen table across the room reading the morning newspaper. He couldn’t hear what we were discussing. 

“No,” I whispered back. “They will give him the nicotine patch though.”

“Well, don’t tell him that or he won’t go,” Mrs. Florene replied quietly. “He thinks he is going to be able to smoke.  He stuck four packs of cigars in his night bag last evening.”

A bed opened up overnight on the detox floor.  They called early this morning telling Mrs. Florene to bring George to be admitted as soon as possible.  Mrs. Florene and I are both so nervous.  Will he back out?  Will detox work?  Will all this set George on the course of a new life?  Only time will tell, and I tell you, I will be waiting anxiously to watch things unfold.  I love my friend and I hope he will be okay. 

Wal-Mart Cravings…

Those iTunes gift cards are calling my name! Wal-Mart’s electronics department draws me like a moth to a flame.

Let Sleeping Dogs Lie…

The phone rang four times and then my mother’s answering machine picked up.  I didn’t leave a message and just hung up.  Mom called back shortly.

“Did you call?” she asked almost Omni presciently.

“Did dad get my cigarettes last night? I have two left,” I asked and said anxiously.

“Your father is at work dear,” my mother replied very matter-of-factly.

“Mom! It is Sunday! Dad is probably in his bedroom!” I said, laughing.

“Oh! My! I am all mixed up this morning,” my mother replied sounding confused.  “Is it really Sunday?”

I laughed and laughed, and then mom got to laughing.

“Come over and get your cigarettes and cokes, hon,” she said. “I am so sorry.  I better lay off the Xanax today.”

I want to add that mom was making a joke about the Xanax before the medication police get all in a stir.  Wouldn’t want to give my anonymous commenter fodder. 

The World’s Laziest Dog…

Look For the Simplest Solution First!

Charlie’s wife called me last night panicked that her computer wouldn’t boot up.  I had visions of fried motherboards and sketchy RAM. 

“Charlie’s coming by to pick you up,” Janice said over the phone.

Charlie pulled up just as I was hanging up the phone.  I guess they realize I am a home body and am always home.

“Janice is about to drive me crazy about that computer!” Charlie hissed as I got in the car. “She wanted me to go to Wal-Mart and buy a new one.”

When we arrived at Charlie’s house, I went back to the office and pushed the power button.  Nothing.  I took off the cover of the case to look for any wires and cables unplugged, or anything shorted.  Nothing.  I was stumped.  I sat in the desk chair and thought for a very long minute.  Then I looked under the desk.  The computer was unplugged! lol  I plugged it in and it booted up into Vista fine.  Janice was so, so grateful and sent me home with half a left over pot roast.  Sandwiches anyone?

Windows Live Writer Now Supports Photo Uploading…

A new feature in the latest release of Windows Live Writer now allows you to upload photos to your Blogger blog via your Picasa account.  It is so simple.  You just pick the photo, format it, and click publish! Viola!  It is much easier than the cumbersome and clumsy Blogger interface and much, much quicker as well.   Almost as ten times as fast.

Windows Live Writer Download

Now This is What You Call Comfortable…

Will Pawn for Milo’s…

“You and your mother are something else,” dad said handing me my medications last night. “You two can get things complicated quick.  I still can’t believe your mother bought you six gallons of caffeinated tea.”

I smiled, gulping down my pills with a swig of Wal-Mart orange drink.

“You are going to go into withdrawal now,” dad said. “You are going to miss that caffeine.”

I was quiet last night still worried about George and whether he would go to detox or not. 

“Next thing I know you are going to be pawning stuff for tea and caffeine,” dad said laughing jovially.

I died laughing.  It was so funny.  Imagine that, but it wasn’t out of the realm of possibilities.  The thought of me pawning my Wii for a gallon of Milo’s sweet brewed iced tea was hilarious.

“You know it’s true though,” dad replied.

He was right.  I’ve been known to do screwy things in the throes of addiction.  It was still funny though.

Computer Stuff…

I haven’t had anti-virus protection on my computers in years.  I’ve just always been careful about what I download and what websites I visit.  Well, as luck would have it, after getting my new hard drive, I backed up my C: drive onto my new hard drive using Windows backup and restore.  The same day I got several Trojans downloading a program designed to help you back up your iPod.  I should have known a free program to do such a thing was too good to be true when all the others were going for $30 dollars.  Well, within minutes I had my computer back up and running using the restore DVD Windows 7 had made. Whew!

Now, I have anti-virus running.  I gave in and relented despite most anti-virus programs being resource hogs.  The program I downloaded was free and offered by Google.  So far, it has worked like a charm and surprisingly is not a resource hog.  Thank God for Google and their ever farther reaching hand when it regards computers, web apps, and software.  Now I have some peace of mind. 

A Brave New World Begins…

Mrs. Florene called me late last night excited.  She had worked all day on getting George into detox.  George is to go into detox at Carraway Medical Center in Birmingham, Alabama as soon as a bed is available. His insurance will only pay for four days though. 

The logistics of it all proved interesting.  Mrs. Florene wanted me to drive George to the hospital and offered to pay for gas and food for the trip.  I called dad to ask if I could and he said no – that it would be too much on me and that I was feeling shaky after my failed caffeine experiment.  I hated having to call Mrs. Florene back and telling her I couldn’t do it.  Well, as luck would have it, George’s cousin Monte offered to take him - getting involved. Mrs. Florene is having to pay him a hundred dollars though, plus the cost of gas.  Let’s just hope Monte’s dilapidated car can make it.  It’s a brave new world for George and I am so excited for him.  I want my good friend to be okay and to be sober.  

On Alert!

“Something’s wrong with you,” my dad said a moment ago on the phone. “What’s going on?”

“Why?” I asked, my ears pricking up. “I feel shaky today, but I am hanging in there.”

“Your mother said you haven’t come to get your cokes today.  You always get them in the morning.  I feared something was bad wrong with you.  You have been getting those cokes religiously for months now.”

I laughed, relieved that was all it was.  I have to be so hyper sensitive to my father’s perception of me.

“The caffeine made me sick yesterday,” I replied honestly. “I almost had an anxiety attack.  I had been drinking tea all day and the cokes sent me overboard.”

“I feared this would happen,” dad replied, sounding relieved.  “I am just glad you are okay.  I thought something bad had happened and you were dead or something.”

I laughed again.

Well, dad hung up and called mom.  Mom, worried I wouldn’t have my cokes, drove all the way to my father’s store to get a six pack of caffeine (I can’t for the life of me spell this word right!) free Diet Cokes. Bless her!  They were wonderful and didn’t make me sick.  No more caffeine for Andrew.  Yesterday scared me.  I am so obsessive compulsive.  Mom’s slowly gathering up all the tea she bought for me as well.  She took one jug home and will get the rest tomorrow.  I’ve already drank three gallons.   

Helen Friday…

Helen hasn’t cooked since before the Holidays.  Today, Helen cooked baked chicken fingers, field peas, green beans, and creamed corn.  I was dismayed there wasn’t any of her good biscuits or cornbread though.  Beggars can’t be choosers and I am so glad to have Helen back in action.