Starting to Look Nasty in the South...

Blessed Be the Charlies of the World...

Charlie was kind of like my knight in shining armor tonight.  I kept expecting my father to show up for the medication ritual any moment, but he never came. He gets angry when I call him during times like this as he says I am trying to hurry him up.

So there I was pacing the floor in agitation.  I was also suffering from angst, impatience, and a little bit of the nervous jitters -- acute withdrawal was just around the corner. Soon, as it grew ever later, Maggie started whining and barking so I walked over and looked out the window hoping to see a car out front.   It was Charlie bearing medications, Arby's roast beef sandwiches, curly fries, and a giant Coca-Cola. He ran across my yard to the front door in a downpour.

"Thank goodness!" I muttered under my breath.

"Thank you so very much!" I told Charlie fawning all over him with lavish praise. "I was beginning to think I had been forgotten about tonight."

Charlie gave me a hug.

"Your father is having a dinner party at his house," Charlie replied. "So I took matters into my own hands."

We gave the Magster clean water and fresh food. Charlie quickly cleaned up my kitchen in a flash.  I then helped him get all my trash out into the trash can by the road as the rain fell upon us.

"Love you!" Charlie told me as he was leaving and I reciprocated.

"Love you too and thank you so much!" I replied back.

Lord, I do love and adore that man and Maggie certainly does as well.

Soon, Put Out Your Cookies and Your Milk...

Two more days and Santa will arrive.  I hope you all were good and won't get any lumps of coal. I might get a few lumps myself. That overspending at the grocery store can get you in lots of trouble.

When I was a child, the Christmas Holidays were an extremely cherished two-week respite from that hell hole called public education.  At least, I didn't get picked on too much despite being a strange little fellow.  I had a reputation of cockpunching or kicking you in the balls if you pushed me too hard or slighted me. Yeah, I unabashedly played dirty pool.

Dad told me just to buy gifts for my nephew and three nieces and not for the whole family.  I got them all some cool stuff I hope they will enjoy.  I got them the kind of things I would want as a kid at Christmas.  Grant is going to love the four "action packed" Star Wars figures I got him. Lily loves soccer so she got a new soccer ball. Olivia got two Barbies. Kathleen got Star Wars Legos.

Dad's mom and her sisters always gave us socks and underwear for Christmas which can depress a little 8-year-old kid. I still have emotional scars from childhood when one Christmas I got a knitted scarf.

image credit:  http://www.kotaku.com.au/2012/12/how-to-instantly-own-the-worlds-coolest-star-wars-action-figure-collection/

The Hard Sell...

About an hour ago, I was putting gas in my car when this rangy and soaking wet black fellow walked up to me and asked if I could get him a hamburger. One of his most notable characteristics was that he had an extremely lazy eye. He was also completely invading my personal boundaries.

"My mother died last week and I am completely homeless," the guy said loudly. "I need your help!"

"Walk inside and I will buy you a couple of hot dogs and a Coke," I replied as I finished pumping fuel into my car.

"Can I have the cash?  Come on man. I am homeless, I need the money," he exclaimed.

He was extremely agitated and pushy with a wild look in his eyes.  He had to be one of the most diligent, desperate, and driven panhandlers I have ever come across.  I was beginning to feel threatened by him.

"I am not giving you any cash," I said growing irritated wondering what his next move was going to be.

A car pulled up to a pump nearby and they were the "homeless" guy's new victims. I guess he wasn't that hungry after all.  He was jonesing for his next fix.

Don't get me wrong.  I have a lot of sympathy and empathy for the homeless and the poor.  It's these kinds of guys that make it hard on the rest of the homeless community. They give the homeless a bad reputation.

image credit:  http://reesenews.org/2011/01/12/panhandler-for-a-day/7982/
image credit:  http://komonews.com/news/local/city-tries-to-curb-aggressive-panhandlers-with-sign-campaign

"Johnny Otis, He Forgot His Pudding."

I just realized not only did I forget my Mountain Dews. I also forgot my Snack Pak chocolate puddings as well last night. Crap! I will probably make another grocery store run in a few hours. Papa sanctioned of course.

Maggie woke me up very early at 6 am barking very viciously at the back of the fence just mere feet from my neighbor's house.

"Shit!" I muttered to myself as I climbed out of my bed and got dressed.

"Maggie, get your little ass back inside!" I angrily hollered out the back door to no avail after turning on all the outside flood lights.

It was certainly a rude awakening -- enough to wake the dead. Maggie had tree'd or a should say fenced a possum. It was hissing like a cat perched on top of the fence at the very back of my yard.

"Maggie? Are you hungry?" I loudly asked with subversion.

Maggie came flying back inside at the mention of food and I got us some breakfast started after locking the dog door.  I talk to Maggie like she understands me.

"You can't bark like that as it will wake the neighbors," I told her scoldingly.

Image credit:  http://www.badpossum.com/

Braving the Elements for a Good Cause...

I wasn't going to get groceries tonight as the weather is just terribly deplorable.

"Come on," my father said after the medication ritual. "You'll be glad to have it done and you can buy some extra food tonight since it is Christmas."

I begrudgingly and reluctantly stood up, pulled on a jacket, and headed to my car in the rain.

"I'll see you at Kroger," my father said as the heavens opened up upon us.

He drove off and I hurriedly caught up to him in my car. We were the Kroger caravan and we were Kroger bound.

My total came to be $89 dollars and that is including Maggie's $12.99 bag of Purina One and some treats for her Christmas as well. She's getting a big smoked ribeye bone Christmas morning. She will chew and gnaw on it for days and then most likely will bury it. That is usually Maggie's modus operandi.

I got the ingredients to fix mom's sour cream and mushroom chicken.  It is absolutely sinfully delicious.  I will have to get the recipe onto the blog. I will be also making mom's beef lo mien once again. Thankfully, I managed not to forget soy sauce and white rice.

For drinks, I got two quarts of non-alcoholic vanilla eggnog and two gallons of sweet milk. I forgot to get my two allotted Mountain Dews for the week and it left me quite perturbed.

I talked to Jermaine for a good bit.  He wanted to know all about Charlie's Horsefly. They used to have special education classes together. In other words, Jermaine rode the shortbus to school.  I love him, though, and always give him some time out of my day.  I almost gave him a Christmas hug tonight. If there were ever a candidate for man bras then Jermaine would be first in line.

Image Credit:   http://www.carriesexperimentalkitchen.com/chicken-parisienne/

We, Maggie and I, Bring You Tidings of Great Joy...

Maggie and I slept until 10 am this morning after going to bed at 10 pm last night.  That got us a solid 12 hours of sleep and Maggie and I were both very pleased.   Maggie is already back in the bed, by the way.  It is so nice getting some good sleep and rest these days.  Dad says I've been like a different person lately.  I am less agitated and nervous all the time.

I stepped outside to get the mail and my neighbor was putting a sack of empty Corona bottles in the trashcan.

"Merry Christmas!" he  told me jovially.

"Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you, too, sir!" I replied.

He told me he was going to get himself and I a fruitcake for Christmas.  I love the stuff.  Fruitcake gets an undeserved bad reputation.  Now, I've got to think of something to bring my neighbor when I go to the grocery store tonight.  I was thinking of some bags of assorted Chex mix to eat while he drinks his beer. That's what Joyce brought me when I first moved into this house as a house warming gift and I appreciated it.

image credit:  http://www.catholicvote.org/24-reasons-you-should-stop-hating-fruitcake/

image credit:  http://www.kitchenfrau.com/a-canadian-christmas-gumdrop-fruitcake-an-old-prairie-recipe-gluten-free-version-too/

Smiles Abound About a Fantastic Film...

I called mom after lunch and asked her if she wanted to drive down with me to Auburn and see the new Star Wars film.

"Star Wars is not my cup of tea," mom told me kindly, but she thanked me for inviting her.

She did go see The Hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies with me and actually sat through the whole film even though she said the film bored her to death.  She was a real sport about the whole affair. I guess she didn't want a repeat of that ordeal.

Mom added she wasn't feeling good today mentally and was going back to sleep. I had woken her up when I called.

"Well, I am headed down now to the afternoon matinee showing," I told her.

"Have fun!" mom replied.

I remember seeing the original film with my uncle and brother in 1977.  I was not disappointed at all with this latest film and had a grand time even if I had to go alone.  I splurged and got the big popcorn and ginormous Coke, and I had a great seat in front of the screen.  I also got some Goobers which are chocolate coated peanuts. I love those things.

Don't ask for any spoilers as there are a ton of surprises so go see it for yourselves.  It was awesome seeing Han Solo aka Harrison Ford take on such a strong leading role in the film.  Han Solo rocks! One of my biggest worries was Carrie Fisher and how she would portray the now General and Queen Leia Organa.   She looked beautiful and did a fine job of acting.

Sunday Night Fried Chicken...

Charlie called me tonight and asked me what I wanted to eat and I told him the usual.  A 3pc original recipe KFC meal deal.  An hour later Charlie showed up alone with the food around 8 pm.  .

"Where's Dad?" I asked Charlie a little befuddled.

I was sorely missing the old codger tonight. I hadn't seen him all day.

"He's at some frou frou Christmas dinner party," Charlie said. "And I wasn't invited."

"Whew!" I replied innocently and very seriously. "I am glad it is not me having to do that."

It struck Charlie as funny about what I said and he was still laughing when he left.

How in this Huge Old Galaxy Did We Happen to Meet?

Too bad they never look that tidy and delicious in real life -------------------------------->

I woke up at a very late for me 9:30 am and realized Charlie was coming this morning with breakfast.  I hurriedly dressed and put on a baseball cap to hide my Medusa-like hair.  I checked my front stoop to see if I missed Charlie and if he had put the food by the front door.

Charlie pulled up in front of my house at 10 am sharp as Maggie went nuts at his arrival.  He was running very late this morning. Now dressed, I hurried out to his car so he wouldn't have to walk all the way across my yard to my front door. Maggie barked excitedly from the other side of my screen door.

"Merry Damn Christmas," Charlie said sarcastically as he rolled down the window of his car. .

I started to choke back a laugh.

"How in this hell hole of a town did we happen to meet?" I replied sarcastically trying not to laugh so much.

I said it very, very sarcastically.

"Hell, I don't know," Charlie said with further sarcasm. "Here are your damn biscuits and a coke!"

"Love you and thank you!" I told Charlie now seriously and he pulled away from the curb after telling me he loved me back.

I was still smiling as I walked back into my house.  I am sure Charlie was smiling as well as he drove down my street to Mainstreet. Charlie had brought two bacon, egg, and cheese biscuits, a hashbrown, and an ex-large Coke.

Browser Mishaps?

PipeTobacco said...

Sir:
I do not know if you changed your blog or my browser update changed your blog.... but now it only shows one line of a story and it requires you to tap on the line to read the story.
If YOU changed your blog to read like this... I URGE YOU to please change it back because to me it is annoying as he'll to have to navigate around. And the comments box has grown very small too.
PipeTobacco

Andrew Says,

I am not sure if the rest of you are having this problem.  Write in the comments if you are and I will change the template.  The blog template looks fine on all three of my computers including my ancient retro-gaming computer.  I just checked my iPad and it looks fine on it as well except the snowflakes are gone because it will not run Java Script. 

Put the Old Geezer to Work...

Papa had to work at the pharmacy this morning which is unusual.  He worked from 9 am to 12 pm.  He called me on the way home up highway 29 and asked if it would okay to go ahead and take my medications.

"Yes!" I said excitably. "It will make for a much more pleasant evening!"

"I will be there in just a minute," he told me. "I just passed Kroger."

My very interesting neighbor's hot water heater busted last night and there were some plumbers putting in a new one. All these strange people near Maggie's backyard is driving her crazy.  She has been barking for hours and almost missed Papa's arrival.  She came flying through the dog door into the den when it dawned upon her that my father's car was parked out front. She heard him shut his car door which is a distinctive sound.

"There she is!" my father exclaimed as Maggie put on a fine and grand show of affection.

Bless Maggie's heart, she certainly does love my father and Charlie. I can get jealous as she never fawns over me the way she does those two.  My mother included -- Maggie knows my mother always brings treats and her arrival is a very special occasion.  .

image credit:  http://plutokneeum.com/tankless-hot-water-heater-installation/

And Let There Be Warmth...

My favorite bacon of them all. It was my grandmother's favorite as well.

It was 29°F when I woke up this chilly morning.  My clock read 6:00 am and it was still dark outside with dawn fast on the way.  I stayed in bed for the longest time listening to Maggie breathe softly.  She was cold and was right up against my chest partially beneath my covers. I hated to wake her up.  I love it when she does that as she is not an overly affectionate dog. Bedtime is an important bonding focal point for us.

The thermostat for my heating and cooling seemed to be a 100 miles away even though it is just down the hall.  I finally quickly got dressed, put on some socks and shoes, and had the heat on 78°F in a few minutes. It didn't take long for my little house to warm up from 68°F. Maggie slowly moved from the bed to her perch on the back of  the couch.  In was time for our daily sentry duty.

I was hungry and fried my last 5 slices of Black Label bacon.  Maggie and I had some scrambled eggs and some cheese grits as well accompanied with some White Lily frozen biscuits.  The pot of coffee I made hit the spot as well on this cold morning.  I am running low on breakfast foods, but Charlie will be here tomorrow with breakfast biscuits. That will get me by until Monday aka grocery day.

White Lily Frozen Biscuits that need some butter pronto!

image credit:  http://bacon-labels.blogspot.com/2008_07_01_archive.html
image credit:  http://www.deepsouthdish.com/2008/10/perfect-buttermilk-biscuits.html

Fire Over the Skies of Georgia...

A big 150-pound meteor entered the atmosphere 50 miles over McDonough, Georgia tonight.  They said it lit up the skies as bright as day and it caused a stupendous sonic boom which rattled the surrounding houses for miles.

Just Another Medicinally Oriented Night at Andrew's Casa...

Well, the medication ritual is done and over with.  Dad was in a great mood both jovial and happy. He spent most of his day off Christmas shopping for the family.  He called me from Auburn to find out my size in pants earlier this afternoon.

I am still kicking my own butt for agreeing to get clothes and a coffee maker for Christmas instead of computer parts.  I would have loved a M.2 SSD, or in other words a M.2 interface solid state drive. It boasts a 2500 MB/sec sequential read time which is just astronomically incredibly fast. That's in contrast to my SATA SSD which reads only about 500 MB/sec.sequential read times.

Dad also brought me a big and heavy plate of Helen's meatloaf and macaroni and cheese.  I can't wait until my hour of fasting is over allowing my medications to soak in, then I can dig in as they say. In is going to be grand end for a great day.

Lunar Views...

The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter recently captured a unique view of Earth from the spacecraft's vantage point in orbit around the moon. 

The Situation is Normal Around Here...

The Days of Meatloaf's Past...

"Would you mind if we have meatloaf again tomorrow?" dad asked me last night.

"You know me," I said. "I could eat it every week. I can't get enough of the stuff."

Mom will call me about 3pm and tell me to come and pick up my plate.  I wonder if we are having macaroni and cheese -- with meatloaf it is Helen's holy grail of all of her meals.

Epoch of the Sad Clown...

Dad was especially quiet last night and I am like my mother and I tend to project or internalize feelings on ourselves and others.

"I'm just tired after working 10 hours," he told me saying that I was just like The Secretary. "Nothing is wrong."

I asked dad if he was ready to retire as Maggie eagerly vied for his attention and affection.

"I'd have to drastically change my lifestyle," he told me as he scratched Maggie's back. "I'm not ready to do that just yet."

"This may come as a surprise to some, but Pharmacist income is higher than what is expected. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the average Pharmacist salary is $106,410 annually. The highest-paidPharmacists earn more than $131,440 per year, and even the lowest-paid Pharmacists are paid $77,390."

So that explains why he is still working.  Dad did tell me last night that he would never get bored if he retired.

"You can always find something to do around the house," he told me sounding just like his mother.

"But I don't want to have to vacuum!" I said with a laugh.

Star Wars The Force Awakens is Coming to a Computer Near You...

Any hour now, someone is going to upload a bootlegged copy of the new Star Wars film. It will permeate the internet like wildfire. I just checked Kickass Torrents and it still hasn't shown up just yet. These are what is called "Cams" as the film is copied with a camcorder while someone sits in the movie theater.  They are always of terrible quality and only for the most diehard of Star Wars fans..  

The Christmas Tree is Up and Decorated...

Dad was being lackadaisical about me getting a Christmas tree.  I took matters in my own hands, withdrew $50 out of my account at the teller, and drove to Ponder's Plant Nursery to get my tree.  It barely fit in the back of my car, but I got her home and decorated.  I got a good deal as well.  Mike at Ponder's let me have the tree for $30.  

Fare Thee Well, Elizabeth...

I recently heard through the grapevine that an internet friend passed away last week. I never even got to see her face. Her name was Liz Riggs and she read my blog during the George and the Gang era. Liz had a mental illness that resulted in her having multiple personalities and it would come out in her writings as well.  I never knew what to expect during our correspondence.  She was also one of the few people I managed to email for any length of time. She would write long, flowing emails about her day rivaling anything I could ever muster.

image credit:  http://marshallcountylibrary.org/?attachment_id=5196

I Just Saw Noah's Ark Float By My House...

It is fully deplorable weather outside this morning. It is chilly and has been raining all night and there doesn't seem to be a break in the deluge so far for the day. In a few hours, I will be traveling to Valley for my injection. I am low on gas and my windshield wipers are giving out so this should be fun (sarcasm).  It is a good day to sleep in, but my flaky circadian clock decided to wake me at 5:30am.  Maggie was like, "you can get up, but I am staying in this warm bed".  She'll get up and be underfoot as soon as she smells bacon frying in a few minutes.The coffee brewing right now also brings a strong sense of nostalgia.

Mom called me before bed last night.  She was wanting to know what size clothes I wear.  I am getting a really nice Cuisinart coffee maker and new dress shirts and khaki pants in these upcoming holidays.  I am severely kicking myself in the butt for not getting any computer parts, but I wanted to make this Christmas easier on my father.  He has this certain aversion to shopping on the internet.  I had my eyes set on a blazing fast Samsung M.2 interface solid state drive pictured above.  I just happen to have an M.2 interface on my motherboard which was a nice surprise. I also have two 10 Gb/s SATA ports as well which was another neat surprise.

image credit:  http://www.anandtech.com/show/9702/samsung-950-pro-ssd-review-256gb-512gb

Rainy Winter Wednesday...

Maggie got a great and awesome surprise tonight when her favorite pack member arrived with food and medications.  Yes, it was Charlie and he was in fine form tonight. I have no idea where my father is this evening.

Charlie had Horsefly at the bowling alley so he couldn't stay too long. I always cringe when Charlie does that -- keeps Horsefly by himself at the bowling alley. He could throw one of his epic temper tantrums after bowling multiple gutter balls. .

Charlie also brought a Whopper and fries and the biggest Coca-Cola I've seen in a long time. Sadly, they will be cold by the time my one hour wait for my medications to be absorbed is over.

It was especially nice that Charlie brought my medications so early.  This means I can go to bed early if I want to. ZZZzzz. Maggie would just adore that to no end. The ever worldly wise Horsefly will tell you he loves his covers as Charlie puts him to bed and I feel the same way.

Tomorrow morning is my every two-week injection and the logistics are already starting to boggle my brain; I will have to be sure to set my alarm clock for 7am in the morning with the way I have been sleeping lately.  I am also doing a load of laundry so I will have decent clothes to wear tomorrow. My car is almost on empty as well so I will drive down to the Circle K and get some gas when this rain lets up some. Could there be a SoBe citrus energy drink in my future? Or two?

image credit:  http://www.forbes.com/forbes/welcome/

Just Do the Right Thing and Reap the Rewards...

I am so proud of myself how I handled last night and the forgotten medications.  I can't believe I passed up a Klonopin party! lol   I could've been high as a kite by midnight. Things like that go a long way to instilling trust in me from my father. Dad just called me a moment ago telling me once again how proud of me he was.

"You've come a long way, son," he told me.

Dad asked me what I had for breakfast and I told him coffee, cheese toast, and grits. He said he had a couple of apple danishes warmed in the microwave and a diet coke.  Dad always marvels at how many eggs I buy a week.  I usually buy four cartons of ex-large or jumbo eggs to last Maggie and I a week. A typical breakfast calls for four scrambled eggs for me and two scrambled eggs for Maggie.

I can get used to this.  Well, my circadian clock is almost back to normal.  I went to bed at 11pm and woke up at 8am.  It's nice not to feel tired all the time.  I love staying up way too late and goofing off on the computer, but there is a heavy price to pay for doing so the next day.

I also think my computer is fixed.  It ran all night while I was in the bed and it didn't crash once. I wasn't greeted by the infamous blue screen of death when I wiggled my mouse to wake the computer after breakfast. I am going to stress test it in a moment to see how it fares.

image credit:  http://chickensintheroad.com/cooking/cooking-with-grits/

Kudos Abound...

After dad and I completed the medication ritual, we stepped into the kitchen so my father could see what I was cooking.  He surprised me tonight by being so early at 8 pm.   I had water boiling on the stove for spaghetti noodles. Dad watched as I added the noodles, added some salt, and set the kitchen timer on my microwave for 11 minutes.

"It smells delicious in here," my father told me after taking the lid off my pot to peer at my meat sauce.

Dad left for the grocery store a few minutes later and I noticed he forgot my medication blister packet sitting on my surround speaker by the couch.  The old addict in me would have taken every Klonopin in that blister pack without any regards to the consequences.  It would be tomorrow night before my father realized my medications were missing.  I immediately called my father and he swung back by my house to get the medications. I wanted no temptations tonight.

"I am so proud of you, son," he said. "For being so honest and calling me."

I got many more accolades before my father left for Kroger.

"I'm not the same person I was years ago when I was drinking," I told my father. "You can trust me now."

image credit:  http://www.crocusmed.com/pill-pak.html

A Tear Down and Rebuild...

The Manwiches were much better than expected.  The only thing I would change is to make the sauce more vinegary like Southern barbecue sauce and to make the sauce much less sweet.  They were good, though, and the house smells so good as well after cooking.  I ate my two lunch sandwiches on a hamburger bun with mustard and a couple of dill pickle slices.  It really hit the spot on this chilly day. Maggie wanted some so badly, but that dish is just too spicy for her.

Deft Hands Make for Stable Computers...

I spent most of the morning rebuilding my main browsing, music, and gaming computer. It kept crashing despite me trying numerous options.  I tore it down to its base components and carefully put them all back together.  I paid special attention to cable management and keeping the interior of my computer case tidy.  I grinned when I pushed the power button and the computer whirred back to life. It was a really big gamble on my part to do that. It has been running for hours now with no problems. In fact, I am writing this blog post with it.  Most computer problems don't call for solutions that drastic, though, thank goodness.  I was sweating when I went to hit that power button, especially after all that tedious work.  I am going to let it run a few days without turning it off and we'll see what happens.

Sleep! Blissful Sleep!

I am certainly catching up on my sleep.  I went to bed around midnight and slept until 9 AM this morning.  I didn't wake once and I don't think Maggie stirred as well. We both totally crashed last night when I gave up on trying to fix this computer. I started to turn off all the lights and Maggie headed straight for the bed.

image credit:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6HiFdevWsE
image credit:  http://www.mccormick.com/Recipes/Main-Dishes/McCormick-Sloppy-Joes

Sloppy Joe Time! Anybody Up For Some Eggnog and Mingling?

Well, I got everything on my shopping list and still came in less than $70. I was very proud as I got a helluva lot of food for my money.  It was one of my fastest grocery visits ever as well. I left the house with a Paula Cole album playing and the album still hadn't finished by the time I arrived home. I thought that was pretty neat.

I sent dad off on a search for Manwich sauce as I couldn't find it. He found me in the dairy department with 4 cans of the bold variety in his hands.  We stuck them in my buggy as my father wandered off coughing and I went in search of Kroger brand chocolate pudding which was 2 packs for $4 dollars.

I was a little obsessive in getting 3 large 12ct boxes of Pop-Tarts as I wanted to try the chocolate fudge variety as well. That was an impulse buy and the only thing that wasn't on my list.  I was hoping to find the apple cinnamon Pop-Tarts, but apparently they don't sell them anymore. At the very least, my Kroger didn't have them.

I allow myself two sugary and caffeine infused Mountain Dews a week and I am sitting here thoroughly enjoying a bottle as I write this.  As soon as my medications soak in at 11:10 pm, I am going to drink a big glass of non-John Barleycorn vanilla eggnog.

image credit:  http://www.mommyenterprises.com/moms-blog/32155/stuffed-bell-peppers-with-manwich-recipe/

Hello Dearest Mother the Secretary...

The phone rang in the hall and Maggie went clamoring to it like she normally does.  I think her hearing is keen enough where she can tell if a family member or pack member is on the other end.

"What are you doing?" my mother asked upon my saying hello.

Maggie was standing beside me wildly wagging her tail when she heard The Secretary's voice.

"I am biding my time till dad gets here and we can do some grocery shopping," I replied. "I am dying for something sweet to eat. I am also about beside myself for a freezing cold glass of sweet milk as well."

"Your daddy cooked chicken and noodles for supper and it was delicious," mom said. "He is bringing you the leftovers."

I exclaimed how awesome that was.  This night is starting to look up from a dismal beginning full of anxiety and self-loathing.  Mom went on to ask me what I was getting at the grocery store.

"Get what you need and don't worry about making your father wait," mom told me. "He says you try to hurry too much and don't get what you need."

"I've got it all planned out and I know exactly what I want and where it is inside Kroger. The only variable I don't know is Manwich sauce.  I am going to have to hunt for it. It should be near the canned chili."

image credit:  https://cozycaravan.wordpress.com/2014/03/04/lets-get-crazy-pop-tart-addition/
image credit:  https://www.reddit.com/r/funny/comments/2lvodm/poptarts_anyone_gallon_of_milk_for_size_comparison/

A Day Late and a Dollar Short...

Is anybody else's Windows Live Writer not working?  Mine says not supported when I try to upload a blog post to blogger.  Frustrating as that is an awesome program to author a blog with.

"Merry Christmas!" He Says With a Sigh...

Dad postponed Christmas Tree procurement until Wednesday. Charlie has their truck in Dadeville. I told my father it will fit in my car with the rear seats folded down, but he said he didn't want to mess up my car with pine needles. He really just wants to relax today since it is his day off.  I know what is going on. I don't blame him. He has to work ten hours tomorrow.  He wants to drink wine and listen to NPR.

"Be patient," he told me over the phone. "You are going to get a Christmas tree."

He also grilled me on how I am doing today.

"You've already called me three times today," he said. "Are you okay?"

I know what he was thinking.  Shades of my mother, Martha.  Mom can call you five times in an hour is something pressing is on her mind.

"I just feel really anxious and impatient today," I replied. "Impetuous is a better word."

I used all my Christmas lights on hand to decorate inside and out and needed to buy some more for my tree.  I ran over to Fred's Super Dollar a moment ago and their Christmas aisle looked like a wasteland with an odd duckling ornament scattered about. It also looked like a tornado went through and took everything with it.  I am going to check Family Dollar and Dollar General to see if they have Christmas lights.  My last resort will be to go to Wal-Mart which looks more and more likely as the day progresses.  I really don't want to go all the way down to Wal-Mart if I can help it. I bet it is extremely crowded due to Christmas revelers shopping.

I am feeling really anxious and nervous today for some reason. I have a long wait until 9pm and grocery shopping time and that has a lot to do with my feeling such a way. It seems as if I am always waiting on someone else to get something done.  I do have a lot to look forward tonight I keep telling myself.  I can't wait to get more eggnog, Pop-Tarts, milk, and a Manwich with crispy crinkle cut fries is calling my name. I need comfort foods today.  I've also decided I am going to make mom's lasagna this week.

image credit:  http://seankerrigan.com/five-months-after-hurricane-sandy/

Maggie Will Not Be Getting Any of These This Christmas...

image credit:  https://twitter.com/_just_jojo_/statwus/414723677658152960

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree...

Fry those patties, baby!

I had another very fitful night of sleep.  Maggie woke me just once when she was trying to get closer to me for warmth. I pulled her close to me and soon was fast asleep again. It was 68° when I woke up this morning in my house. I set the heat on a frugal 74° degrees and started my day after pulling on some warm clothes.

1-800-BAD-DRUG

I am beginning to think my father could be right in that Straterra did a number on my brain chemistry. I was in the bed just before 10pm last night. He said insomnia is a very common side-effect of that drug. It kind of miffed me, though, that my father would take away from me the medications my doctor prescribed. Out of curiosity, I asked my father yesterday if we could give it another try and he said no. I knew not to argue with him as when he makes a decision like that he sticks to it. I don't have a battle of the wills inside me today. Too bad we didn't give it a chance.  I am pretty sure insomnia would have gone away in a few days.

Pig Ears for Maggie...

Sausage patties take so very long to cook. My stomach was grumbling in protest and anticipation as I stood in front of the stove this morning. I guess it is because I like mine very well done and crispy around the edges.  I cooked four frozen biscuits in my toaster oven and that was what I had -- sausage and biscuits.  I am out of eggs so Maggie got left out this morning. I didn't want to feed her sausage biscuits -- fearful of the spiciness of the sausage. I have just about gotten her well healthwise and didn't want to take chances with people food.  I will get her some dried pig's ears at the grocery store tonight.  Maggie loves those things. I know that sounds gross, but Maggie will crunch away and chew on one for hours.

Let's Spruce Things Up Around Here...

Hopefully, I will get my Christmas tree today weather permitting.  It wouldn't be Christmas without it.  I spent some time last night getting everything out of my computer room closet -- stuff like lights, garlands and ornaments.   I love the way a real tree makes your house smell. Dad tried to discourage me from getting a tree this year as he said my current decorations look plenty nice.  I drove around the block last night just to see what it looked like from the street as I was passing by and my house did look Christmasy.  Dad didn't want me to be lax about taking the tree down after Christmas was his main concern. He said it was a fire hazard and that I wouldn't take it seriously.

My Sweet Tooth Beckons...

Ah, grocery day. The weeks just fly by so fast. My blog wouldn't be complete without me ruminating on what I am getting at the grocery store tonight. I am certainly getting more eggnog as that stuff is rich, creamy, and delicious.  I just wish it came in a much larger size.  Dad will carefully check the carton to make sure it is nonalcoholic which will make me smile.  The feel good police in action. I never got around to making bobby burgers last week so that will be the meal du jour for several nights. For my sweets, I am going to get another two large boxes of unfrosted strawberry Pop-Tarts and two gallons of milk to accompany it.  And we mustn't forget breakfast foods -- my favorite meal of the day.

The Weather Gods Must Be Angry...

It looks like it is going to get stormy here in the next hour.  The wind is blowing something crazy. It looks like a little squall line is forming.

image credit:  http://www.dishmaps.com/simple-homemade-sausage-patties/20452
image credit:  http://www.cdtreefarm.com/

The Beginning and Then the End...

I can see myself going to bed early tonight. Yessirree! Every time I yawn, Maggie will yawn as well. It has been the never ending day, but a good one none-the-less. I washed all my comforters and sheets and the bed is still going to still be warm from the dryer when I decide to retire.  Maggie knows the routines well -- as soon as I start turning off computers and lights she heads straight for the bed to get her favorite spot.  Maggie will turn circles around and around on top of the covers until she until she can get situated and will lay down -- a vestige handed down from her wolf ancestors.

Charlie and Papa have just left after a whirlwind of a visit. They have to hurry so the food for their other deliveries doesn't get cold.  Mom never called me about what I wanted to eat so my father got me the default 3pc original Kentucky Fried Chicken meal.  You won't hear me complain, though.  I am so blessed to get it.  I am also blessed to have Charlie and Papa (even if he is an old curmudgeon) in my life.  A supportive family can make such a big difference in the life of a mentally ill person.  If I have a little help, then I can muddle through life for the most part.

As dad was handing my medications, he noticed my hands were trembling and shaking. My medications do that to me.  Mom's hands will do the same thing. Dad was worried about Tardive Dyskinesia -- somewhat rare among people who are taking heavy-duty antipsychotics. It causes involuntary muscle spasms and limb movement.

May the Force Be With You...

Anybody else super excited about the new Star Wars film? I am rife with giddy excitement.  It comes out on the 18th of December, but I will wait until things settle down and the crowds dissipate before I get some tickets. Newest Star Wars Teaser Trailer.

image credit:  https://kfc.com.au/menu/boxed-meals/3-piece-box/

Ain't This the Truth! LOL

"Charlie's Here!"

Traditional Fried Alaskan Pollack and Pommes Frites.

"Charlie's here!"  That's what I hollered when Charlie pulled his car to a halt at my curb.  Maggie came flying off the bed like a bat out of hell.  As soon as she looked out the window to confirm it was really Charlie's car, she started to bark loudly and jubilantly.  Charlie is her favorite pack member.

This morning Charlie brought me two bacon, egg, and cheese biscuits, a hashbrown, and a large orange juice.  I was starving and I wolfed both biscuits down without giving Maggie a bite.  Maggie defeatedly put her tail between her legs and slowly headed back to the bedroom when she saw me eat the last bite of biscuit.  I felt so terrible as Maggie looked so dejected that I got in the kitchen and cooked Maggie two more plain eggs in the microwave. Everything was good as gold then.

If you know the routine, then you know tonight is Sunday night fried chicken.  Mom will call me this afternoon and ask me what I want tonight.  I would love another 3pc fried fish platter from Captain D's. I am going to cross my fingers and hold my breath that Charlie and my father don't mind me getting Captain D's again. I love to eat my fish and chips with the British tradition of malt vinegar. Captain D's is the closest thing to fish and chips this side of the great divide or just across the pond as the British say.

Image Credit:  http://thefoodosaurus.blogspot.com/2015/06/history-behind-fish-chips.html

We Certainly Can't Have Cats Procreating in the Backyard...

Wow! I can't believe I slept until 8am like a normal person.  I was really snoozing last night when Maggie woke me around midnight viciously barking and clamoring to get out through the dog door. Some cats were having very loud amorous affairs outside.  Maggie can't take all that shit going on in her backyard. Luckily, I went back to sleep pretty easily. I awoke one more time when Maggie jumped back on the bed and got situated under the covers with her back against mine.

I had a very unorthodox breakfast this morning consisting of two meatloaf sandwiches.  Meatloaf is one of those interesting foods that taste better the next morning than when they were first cooked -- kind of like next days leftover pizza. I scrambled two eggs plain in the microwave so Maggie wouldn't feel left out.

Image Credit: http://vegas.eater.com/maps/eat-your-way-through-these-30-iconic-sandwiches

Wild Tangental Obsessions...

Do any of you who have read a long time see this pattern in me and my writings? I haven't partaken in coffee in probably years and now I am obsessed about it.  Remember the time I just had to play World of Warcraft and the game ultimately sucked?  I was obsessed. I also grew bored with retro gaming even when having to go to great lengths to build a retro gaming computer. -- another tangent. I also have an obsession about food and writing about it.  I seem to bounce around to different obsessive tangents over the months and sometimes weeks. 

Andrew: The Original Bottomless Pit Since 1972...

The dough dad uses in his chicken and dumplings is biscuit dough!

Well, the medication ritual is over for another evening. Maggie was in fine form and put on a great show of affection for my father tonight. She is finally just about healed from all her various ailments.

"She's just like a puppy!" my father exclaimed marveling at the way she was acting. .

"It does my heart so very good," I replied as my father scratched Maggie's back and Maggie wiggled in ecstasy. "I have diligently doctored on her for two weeks now."

Maggie's had a steady dose of antibiotics for her ear and eye infections and Neosporin with a pain killer for her skin yeast infection flare ups. There is just one little spot on her chest and it has a hard time healing because she scratches it so. It looks red and inflamed.

Dad had warned me earlier during the day not to eat too much meatloaf as he was cooking supper as well. The grandkids are over and they hadn't eaten since McDonald's at noon. Dad cooked one of his signature dishes chicken and dumplings.

"The kids just love it," dad told me tonight as we sat on my couch.

"I love it, too!" I told my father with great anticipation.

As usual, it is either feast or famine around here.

Image Credit:  http://www.dishmaps.com/southern-chicken-and-dumplings/28248

Sunset this Evening...

Tasty Savory Helen Friday Treats...

You all know how I feel about Helen's meatloaf.  I love it! I absolutely adore it! Well, when mom told me Helen had cooked meatloaf, I told her to put a lot of meatloaf on my plate. I got the two for one meal deal.  Mom sent me two plates hoping I had enough to eat! lol  I am going to eat well today.

Meatloaf, creamed potatoes, butterbeans, and english peas with carrots and mushrooms