Post Injection Drowsiness and Lethargy…

My Risperdal injection was early this morning and has left me feeling drowsy and lethargic all day.  I took a long nap late this afternoon and that helped some.  I woke up to loud thunder and you all know how much that excites me.  We have more on the way I hope with a line of storms forming to our northwest.

Mom stopped by tonight to give Maggie her heartworm and flea medications.  Those pill pockets are a godsend.  Mom also had Maggie 6 Vienna sausages to eat which are her prize for being a good girl and taking her medications without a fuss.  I locked Dixie out the back door so their wouldn’t be any squabbles over the treats.  Maggie is still firmly the boss despite our new much, much larger canine addition.   Maggie just barely tolerates Dixie mostly ignoring her unless Dixie gets too close, and that big dog can be the proverbial bull in the china shop.

It is a quarter past seven now so that means the pharmacy has closed.  Dad comes earlier when he works all day and I should see him around 8:30 or 8:45pm.  That will be nice.  I am going to wait for my medications to take affect and will be in the bed after that short hour. I hope they knock my socks off like they can do some nights.  You know me.  I love and live to feel abnormal in a good way.

I had a short online chat with Laura tonight.  She told me she was starting her period and was already feeling cramps and feeling bitchy.  “Don’t bite the hand that feeds ya,” I told her with regards to Wayne.  She is completely dependent upon that man for everything as she doesn’t work. I bet she doesn’t have $20 to her name. She does get $200 dollars in food stamps, though, every month.

Dixie coming through Maggie's dog door...

Dixie Doggy Darlin’ You’re Doing It Right…

One nice thing about Dixie is when she gets out of the fence she will stay in the yard.  I opened the front door after Lopez Landscaping left yesterday and there was Dixie laying on the front stoop. She must've gotten out when they mowed the backyard.  When dad arrived last night, I let her out the front door into the front yard to go greet my father at the road.  She doesn’t stray far from home and came right back inside when I called her.

Over Rainy Hill and Rainy Dale…

Just as I and my father were leaving my house last night for the grocery store after the medication ritual, the heavens opened up upon us.  I can’t see well to drive at night and I’m sure you can guess how a torrential downpour affected my already feeble eyesight. I looked like a little old lady scrunched over the steering wheel. It was a white knuckle drive to get gas and then to the grocery store.

Well, we made it to Kroger and the rain abated some. It had settled into a soft drizzle.  Last night was soup night and I got all kinds of Progresso soups and some Boston Market heat and serve meals.  The meals were a concession to my father.  They also finally had my Milo’s famous sweet tea in stock so I got 5 gallons while the getting was good. I also got some soft baked apple cinnamon cookies from the bakery that are just scrumptious.

Last night’s total was $63 dollars.  I can never judge how much I am spending and have to guess.  I should be buying at least $80 bucks of groceries.  My theoretical limit is $85 dollars.

photo credit:   http://www.brandeating.com/2013/08/review-boston-market-meatloaf-frozen-dinner.html

Succulent Ribs Doused in Papa’s Secret Barbecue Sauce…

The cavalry arrived very late last night.  We were about to be outflanked by that nemesis called hunger.  Charlie immediately began to clean my kitchen as dad administered my medications.  Charlie and my father also brought me a treat as in some delicious   smoky tasting barbecued ribs and some barbecue bread to sop up the extra barbecue sauce with. The dogs also went bananas over the bones.

Dad forgot about grocery night so we will go tonight instead. I didn’t press the issue and played dumb even though I was starving at the time. You damn well better bet I bought some fast food today with my debit card, and for once in my life my father didn’t bitch and moan about it.   I also want one of those store bought birthday cakes tonight and my birthday is in April. I wonder how much one of those would cost? Cravings much?

photo credit:  http://www.westsuburbancatering.com/Menus.html

Holiday? What Holiday? Oh, That Holiday…

Sometimes it feels as if I live in a big encapsulated vacuum.  It just dawned on me that it is Labor Day.  I got to thinking it was awful strange that nobody in my family has called all day. They were also not answering their phones.  The family unit must be at my sister’s house in Alexander City grilling out by the lake.  All I can realistically hope for is a nice big plate of good food on my father’s return and then we will go and get my groceries. 

Photo credit:   http://www.4th-of-july-2015.com/happy-labor-day-2015-images-pictures-wallpapers.html

Maybe She’s Going to be Happy…

I hope so, even though my father and I made a bet that she would be home within a month.  Dad says two weeks tops.

“And don’t you go and get her as well,” he told me sternly with an angry looking stare. “She’ll find a way home without you.”

Laura called me for a chat yesterday.  She seemed chipper and upbeat. I was glad she was okay and sounded well.  I finally figured out what kind of vibe all of this was giving me, though.  They are all like 40ish teenagers in high school dating and breaking up. It is like some teen drama I got roped into participating in.

Ah, Monday Mornings…

I jumped out of the bed running this morning. It is now 4:03am on this start of another Monday, but I feel very rested, relaxed and ready to take on my day.

I knew Dixie probably had to pee pretty badly. She shot out that backdoor about as fast as I could open it.   I want to get her a dog door installed, but it would have to be so big that a person could crawl through.

My internet service is down so I am piggybacking wirelessly off my neighbors next door who have Charter internet (I have WOW! internet). I need to write them an anonymous thank you note and put it in their mailbox, but that would probably freak them out, though. lol

I craftily renamed my wireless connection to “FBI Surveillance Van #2”. Let the hilarity ensue. I don’t think anyone is going to piggyback off of me.  I also have my wireless internet password protected. 

Today, as you may already know, is grocery day.  I have no idea of what I am going to get. Dad said if they don’t have my Milo’s tea one more time as in tonight, then we are complaining to the manager.  Dad wants to complain about the bread he loves as they never have that either in the evenings. “Piss poor management!” were his words about it last night.

It’s Deluxe So That Must Mean It’s Better…

Yep, another round of Sunday night feedings will soon begin.  Dad called and asked me if I wanted Captain D’s one more time.  I told him I wanted the deluxe seafood platter.  I love those stuffed crabs on those plates.  The crab stuffing comes in their very own crab carapace.  If you look closely, you can still see its deep fried eyeballs. Yum!

Photo credit:    http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/captain-ds-seafood-restaurants-fort-worth?select=mLBAKS0PBzkaxanGSTB3Ww

The Canine Disciplinarian…

Dixie still has some new tricks to learn.  For one thing, you don’t jump up on guests and their crotches aren’t flowers for the sniffing.  One good thing, though, we haven’t had any accidents inside the house so far. Not one.

Last night, Dixie wanted to get on the bed with me and Mags so badly.  I made her sleep on the area rug by the bed. Two is company and three is a crowd as that old saying goes.  I’ve got to get her an extra large sized dog bed.

Thanks to Summer–Nala is Now Dixie…

Thanks sincerely for all the suggestions.  I really do appreciate you all taking time to do that.

photo credit:   http://longmountaingeneralstore.com/CSA.aspx

A Little Note of Encouragement from Tamara…

Hello Andrew...I've missed some of your postings lately on Facebook. I'm just checking on you. Hope you are doing well. Don't ever give up on your writing, you have a beautiful mind. Take Care! Love you! Tamara.

Well, this just made my very own day – for a good friend such as Tamara to write and send me that heartfelt message via messenger.  She truly is a sweetheart.

Time for a Name Change…

I hate the name Nala (Nay-lah). I have trouble pronouncing it.  I am trying to think of a better name for this dog. I am leaning on, Misty or Missy (a traditional female pet name in the family) and I hope Nala takes to the change. Feel free to add your own suggestions as well. Let’s groupthink!

She’s Found Her Forever Home…

We Solemnly Mourn the Loss of Today’s Soul Food Friday…

Helen’s husband got really sick early this morning so she couldn’t cook today. *sobs* Dad’s taking it upon himself to go ahead and cook a soul food meal anyway.  We are certainly all in very capable culinary hands I must attest.  I heard him say macaroni and cheese and my eyes lit up in anticipation. I told mom to be sure and put extra mac and cheese on my plate. We are also having what my father called Swiss steak which is just a glorified name for cube steak and gravy cooked until it is fork tender.

Photo credit:   http://kirbiecravings.com/2014/08/one-pot-macaroni-and-cheese.html

Nala Soon Arrives…

Jason, Nala’s human and the brother of an extra special friend from high school, is bringing her by this afternoon sometime.  He is going to call me when he gets underway with Nala in his truck.  This is a favor for that very good friend of mine.  I gave Jason decent directions so let’s hope he doesn’t have any trouble finding my house. 

Update: Nala is finally here and Maggie is acting really cool about it all.  I am already in love with our new canine addition. They are both now asleep on the floor of my computer room where it is nice and cool on that hardwood floor.

Back From Slumber Land…

Well, I finally got some good sleep and it couldn’t have come at a more fortuitous time.  I slept all yesterday afternoon until my father arrived around 10pm for the medication ritual.  He had to take Horsefly bowling and to Kentucky Flailed Chicken.  Then I went back to bed about 10:30pm and slept until about 4:30am this morning. I feel so much more rested.

“Doesn’t it worry Charlie about Horsefly’s nutrition by eating those chicken fingers and reconstituted mashed potaters every night?” I asked my father last night.

“Horsefly has to drink two chocolate Ensures a day,” my father replied.  “He’d waste away if he didn’t”

Photo credit: http://www.walgreens.com/store/c/ensure-plus-shake-6-pack-milk-chocolate6-pk/ID=prod396471-product

May Nala Come and Live With Us?

If everything works out we may have a new dog to add to the family.  I will keep y’all informed. She’s a soldier’s dog and he has to relocate to Fort Bragg and can’t take her with him.  I am just waiting to hear from a good friend of mine about the details and where I need to go to pick her up. I think I will be driving back to Columbus and Ft. Benning again. 

Update:

It’s in the works.  The guy has my phone number and is going to call me today.  We’ll give her a good bath when she gets home and I hope she’s house trained.

How Do You Sleep?

It’s a simple question, right? But, oh so hard to answer.  I was up for most of the night. My sleep patterns are just wildly erratic these days.  Luckily, I don’t have to work and can sleep when needed.

I’d say I woke up about 2am this morning.  I finally got in bed and fell asleep again around 6am.  7am arrived with me sound asleep and my father was calling on the phone wanting to go to Columbus.  I gathered myself, wiped the sleep from my eyes, and drove over.  Well, now I can’t go back to sleep no matter how hard I try and I am one miserable little pitiful soul feeling like Atlas holding up the weight of the whole world upon his shoulders.   How did “The Homeless Guy” ever go over eighty hours without sleep recently and not lose his mind?

Caravan to Columbus…

Well, we dropped dad’s Beemer off at the dealership in Columbus. I followed in dad’s Honda.  My father was extremely grateful for the help.  He’s getting four new tires put on and the 60,000 mile scheduled service.

Now, if I can just get him to change my internet speed to 110 Mbps then I will be happy.  He said he would do it next week much to my chagrin.

“It’s just a 15 minute phone call!” I pleaded fruitlessly.

I would do it, but I don’t have the last four digits of dad’s social security number and he wasn’t forthcoming with it either.

“Oh, I debited $61 from my inheritance account to Newegg,” I told him and then I told him what for.

He seemed okay about it. “You and that Newegg,” is all he said. I nonchalantly said I probably would have spent that much taking Laura to China Moon and dessert last week.

We stopped at McDonald’s for breakfast biscuits and coffee before leaving Columbus.  Dad ordered at the drive-thru, but then realized he left his wallet at home when we got to the window.  This is a person with social anxieties worst nightmare.  I slumped down in my seat and covered my face as all we could say was sorry and we went about our merry way. My anxieties started welling up again because dad’s Honda was running low on gas, but we made it home safe and sound.

Photo credit:    http://brusimm.com/ever-wonder-what-coffee-brand-mcdonalds-uses/

Welcome to Planet Earth, Andrew…

Dad told me last night he needs me to drive to Columbus, GA with him to pick up the BMW which got serviced yesterday.

“This is going to cost a fortune, but it needed to be done,” he told me as he sat on my couch.  “Will you be awake?”

“Hit or miss,” I told him. “Call me an hour before we leave to let me have a chance to get awake.”

“We are going to get your car serviced next,” he told me to grateful ears.

“I just need an oil and oil filter change, engine air filter, and some much nicer and sturdier windshield wipers,” I replied to him.

We both agreed to take my car to West Point Tire and Auto tomorrow and pick it up later in the afternoon. 

Let’s Get Our Game On…

I am so into retro gaming at the moment. It has given me great joy. I was overjoyed tonight when I found out USB game controllers were available for my computer for all my favorite retro gaming consoles. These are the controllers off of Newegg’s website.  It was just $61 dollars for all of them.  I don’t think old fuss and feathers will get onto me for such a paltry order. 

Nintendo N64 USB Controller - Green - by Mars Devices

 

 

 

 

Retro-Link Wired USB Controller For PC And Mac For Sega Saturn System

 

 

 

 

GameCube USB Controller GameCube PC Wired Gamepad Retro-Link Black

 

 

 

 

RETROLINK USB SUPER NINTENDO SNES CLASSIC CONTROLLER

Awoken From My Sweet Dreams…

I am still in a dizzying daze from a very, very deep sleep.  I fell asleep this early afternoon and didn’t wake up until Maggie was putting up a big hullabaloo about my father, old fuss and feathers, being here.   All the house lights were off and it was after dark fall – about fifteen minutes after nine.  Dad remarked that it was extremely strange for me to do that.  He couldn’t remember a time when I wasn’t up, lights on, and waiting on him to arrive eager to take my crazy meds.

“Your depressed,” my father told me. “It’s about that girl.”

I shrugged enigmatically.

“I don’t think so,” I finally told my father stalwartly. “I’ve been consistently sleeping a lot for the past two weeks. Besides, we are just friends.”

“Your dating days are over and you miss her. Don’t you?”

“Don’t argue with me when I have only half my wits about me,” I told my father brazenly with an air of aggravation.

“She’ll be back. You mark my very words,” my father told me with a chuckle. “And you can spend your money on her if you like. You’d be a fool to do so, though.”

Chuckles…

Mom is a voracious reader on top of being a public school teacher for over 20 years.  I called her to tell her Laura had left. She eloquently summed up the situation.

“This is what you should call inevitable withdrawal,” she told me. “Consider yourself lucky she didn’t choose you, and you would be smart to distance yourself from all that cheap and tawdry mess.”

Don’t Leave and Not Say Goodbye…

Well, Laura is in her sister’s car on the way to see “her man” as she puts it. She posted it on Facebook this morning. They should’ve left at noon and are well on their way now. It is about a three hour drive from Lagrange.  I’m mainly worried and concerned for her well being.  I’ve lived on the seedier side of life for awhile and can attest to it not being a picnic or cakewalk. That’s the life she will greet when she goes to live with felonious Wayne in that camper trailer.  Godspeed. She’s out of my hands now unless she calls for help and then I will be there.  Hey, we all make mistakes.  We just need to learn from them.

A text message a moment ago…

• Laura -- Hey I left early
• Andrew -- Hey, I thought I read that earlier. Are you on the way?
• Laura -- yeah I'm in Montezuma right now with my sister
• Andrew -- Will you still have your phone in Statesboro?
• Laura – yeah I ain't going anywhere without this faithful sidekick
• Andrew -- good
• Andrew -- I’m coming to get you if this doesn't work out.
• Laura -- okay

Zero Prestige Points with Me…

I had just crawled into my wonderfully comfortable bed. It was still warm as Maggie had been in my spot near the window for hours overnight.   I got myself situated under the covers after turning the air conditioning down to 76° degrees – my perfect sleep temperature. I sleep with one hand under my face and my other hand in a fist under my neck.   I could feel sleep’s horizon slipping towards me when Maggie began to growl at the foot of the bed. I was in the middle of a wonderful daydream – a dream that I grew up with what I now know about life and how different my life would then be.

The growling intensified until Maggie was outright barking loudly and violently.  Someone was at the front door and it wasn’t friendly visitors.  There was a loud knock and then someone said “Hello” really loudly.  I covered my head with my covers hoping they would go away and they finally did.  Maggie let loose her final vicious bark 20 minutes after this rigmarole began.   The whole process left me sleepless, though.  Pumping with adrenaline, I sat back down in front of this computer bleary eyed and half asleep.

The Earl of Sandwich…

There really is an Earl of Sandwich, you know? 

Every week we have the same routine for grocery night.  Dad gives me most of my medications before leaving to shop (to steady my nerves) other than my really hard hitting antipsychotic and my multitude of Klonopins which can make me feel kind of drunk and unsteady.  We take those after shopping when I arrive back home.  The Klonopin tends to subdue me some, but I am back up and running in two hours time slurred voice and all. One of my biggest fears for awhile was that Laura would call me after midnight and I would sound drunk.  I warned her my medications have a pretty pronounced effect on me, though.

Let’s Get to the Nitty Gritty…

---

Well, this grocery trip I stuck to my guns or my previous game plan and got sandwich fixing's.  I had a toasted turkey and muenster with lettuce ad tomato on a white rye bread before bed last night. It sure hit the spot, but gave me weird dreams – dreams of fruitlessly chasing Maggie through waist high fields of corn and wheat as Maggie barked mockingly back at me.  There was a busy highway looming before us.

The total tally last night was a whopping $92 dollars mainly because I had to buy laundry detergent and fabric softener. That stuff is expensive.  It was $5 for the Gain fabric softener alone.   I also bought a little $4.99 bottle of Gain laundry enhancer granules that are supposed to enhance and lengthen the good scents and softness of my laundry. I will let you all know how they work and if they are worth the money.

My first stop was to see if those chocolate cupcakes I saw the other day were still in the bakery cooler and they were.  I quickly added them to my cart.  4 for $3.99 was kind of expensive but they are delicious. 

Dad was just walking around the store as I shopped.  He caught up with me and looked inside my cart and frowned.  He so wanted to see those Marie Callendar meals.

“They’ve quit carrying the Marie Callender meals for the most part,” I told my father and they honestly had.

Dad went and looked anyway.  He came back and suggested the Stouffer’s meals until I told him to check prices with regards to portion sizes.  One meal and I would still be starving, and we would be broke.  

“And why do you have all that regular coke in your buggy?” he then asked suspiciously.

Dad says I can get high off of caffeine.  Ah, dealings with the “feel good police” as I like to call them.  I wanted to tell him that Milo’s tea has a lot of caffeine as well.

“They were out of my Milo’s Famous sweet tea,” I replied. “And these 2-liter cokes were 2 for $1.50.”

Dad grumbled something about Kroger not being managed properly as they are consistently out of Milo’s, bread, and many other things by late in the evening.  

My last act last night in the grocery store was to get Maggie some dog treats.  I got her some of those Pupperoni dog treats.  She literally devoured a stick once I was home and I had gotten my groceries squared away. 

Let Me Tell You About Paige…

---

Every week, consistently, we get Paige as our cashier. She is always smiling and very glad to see us – giving us tips on certain groceries that are on sale.  We have built up a repoire between us.  She works days as a paralegal at the courthouse and works at Kroger second shift.  I asked her why she worked two jobs and she said she is trying to send her son off to a good college.  I thought that was very noble of her and a sacrifice I hope her son appreciates.   It gave me a new found respect for Paige.  

Photo Credit:  http://www.recipes100.com/recipe+roasted+turkey+sandwich

Hot Weather Over Much of the U.S.

Tuesday may be the first day of September, but it will feel more like July in much of the country. Highs in the low to mid 90s will be common from the central and southern Plains across the southeast and into the mid-Atlantic. Highs over 100 will be common in the desert southwest. The hot weather is expected to continue in many areas through the Labor Day weekend.

Food and Drink–There is Plenty…

My preferred drug of choice in these later years is food.  Well, I was feeling terrible and miserable mentally this morning and called my father. I knew not to ask for pills for what ailed me.  I didn’t have anything to drink, but ice water, and there was little food left in the house as well. Maggie had more food than I with her muffins and Purina One. Traditionally, this would be prime drinking time years ago.  Give me a 12 pack of beer and call me in the morning and I would be fine if I didn’t get a DUI in the process driving to get more.

“Dad? Do you all have any food left from the reunion this weekend?” I timidly asked my father. “I need some tender loving care pretty badly this morning.”

I never know how my father will react in these kinds of situations.  He said all that Laura stuff had gotten me off kilter. 

“Come over and I will fix you up a care package,” he replied surprisingly warmly.

It was misting slightly as I drove. The skies were overcast and dreary. Would the sun make its appearance known?

Dad had several plastic grocery bags filled with goodies when I arrived.  It soothed this old ailing soul and heart when I sat back down in my den and savored a couple of oatmeal cookies with a cold regular or what we call a cold leaded Coca-Cola.  I was in blissful heaven!  Oatmeal is my favorite cookie by far.

Dad had given me my regular allotment of 6 diet Sunkist, 2 turkey sandwiches, a box of oatmeal cookies, 2 slices of chocolate pound cake, and 4 regular Coca-Colas he knew I would enjoy.  It completely lifted my spirits and I feel fine now and upbeat. I’ve had my fix for the day.

Photo credit:  http://cookingontheside.com/chocolate-chip-oatmeal-cookies/

http://jensfavoritecookies.com/2013/04/19/chocolate-pound-cake/

Time to Feed the Hungry Among Us…

That’s exactly how I want supper to look tonight except with potato chips and not fries-------------------->

Yes, it is another grocery day where Andrew pontificates about what he is going to buy.  It is going to be sandwich week here at Andrew’s Casa again.  My favorite wheat bread is Roman Meal, but our Kroger can be hit or miss about carrying it.  Let’s hope they have it tonight.

I am going to make tuna fish salad and egg salad for the fillings.  I am also going to buy plenty of Carving Board cold cuts and cheeses like pepper jack, sharp cheddar, muenster and Swiss.

Should I buy my usual 5 gallons of Milo’s sweet tea?  I did without this week.  I will let you know tonight. I’ve been drinking ice water all week and it gets old. I would welcome my old friend Milo back into my life. The diet sodas I get only last about two hours as I compulsively drink them one after another.

On a positive and interesting note, I told mom I was tired of Sprite Zero so she got me plenty of diet Coke and diet Sunkist last week.  I just adore the diet Sunkist.  It is truly delicious for a diet drink and it also has caffeine as well – 45 mg per can. Diet Coke also has 45mg of caffeine per can.

I Can Be Rip Van Winkle as Well…

I’ve been sleeping all the time lately.  I sleep more times than I am up.  Dad says it is depression, but I don’t feel depressed.  Just sleepy.  I can stay up for about 4 or 5 hours and then I am back to sleep.

photo credit:    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egg_salad

Captain Dave Commands this Ship…

Charlie and Papa will be here any minute with medications and Captain D’s.  Mom has also just been over to give Maggie her heartworm medications.  Mom brought Maggie a can of Vienna sausages – her favorite treat. Maggie took her medications like the big girl she is. Mom and I really bragged on her.

“Your daddy wants to know if you will eat Captain D’s?” my mother asked about an hour ago on the phone.

“Sure!” I replied excitedly. “Get me the jumbo fish platter and please don’t forget the malt vinegar!”

Mom called dad on his cellphone to tell him yes. It is going to be a nice change from our usual fried chicken.

Laura called me two hours ago and we talked for about 30 minutes.  It was as if nothing had ever happened.  I felt caught in some strange wormhole or miasma about the whole affair.

“Wayne’s trying to call me,” she said abruptly ending the call. “I will call you right back.”

Well, I guess that was short and sweet, but she never called back.  Mom quickly called me to ask me what Laura said.

“Just stuff I guess,” I told my mother. “It was much ado about nothing. She acted like nothing ever happened, though. Mom, something's not quite right about her and I can’t put my finger on it.”

Mr. Super Mario to You…

I am having fun with Super Mario RPG.  Like any roleplaying game, there is some of the dreaded grinding (leveling) to make it to the next level or Escalon. I’m weird and kind of find grinding cathartic and rewarding.  Right now, Mallow, my companion, is woefully under leveled and we are working to get him up to speed.  He’s supposed to be a frog, but looks like a little white turd to me.  

The unique and fascinating thing about this game cartridge was that there was a coprocessor inside working in conjunction with the processor inside the gaming console: The Super Nintendo Entertainment system. 

Photo credit:   http://firsthour.net/first-hour-review/super-mario-rpg

Waiting For Full Bellies…

4:03am --  As usual, I didn’t buy enough groceries for yet another week. I am running very low on most my items. I was in the grocery store yesterday getting the ingredients for Maggie’s muffins and everything looked and smelled so good. I saw some chocolate cupcakes in the deli/bakery I am getting tomorrow if they haven’t sold yet.

Charlie should be here in about 5 hours. He usually arrives around 9am. I am starving and especially keen on that gigantic Coca-Cola Charlie brings me every Sunday.  I hope he brings an orange juice as well as that has been our modus operandi along with two bacon, egg, and cheese biscuits and a hash brown, for the longest time.

I made some homemade crunchy peanut butter, banana, and honey dog muffins yesterday for Maggie.  She will get two muffins this morning as I eat my breakfast. (An Aside: With wanton abandon, I ate one of the muffins yesterday myself and they do taste delicious.  Maggie better watch out before I eat all her treats!)

Photo Credit:   http://veronicascornucopia.com/tag/dog-muffins/

You Don’t Know What You’ve Got ‘Til it is Gone…

Laura’s completely ignoring me online now and she no longer calls at all.  She can see when I sign into Facebook chat.  She’s burning all her bridges and there is going to be nobody to come and get her when she realizes the colossal blunder and mistake she has made.  You don’t put all your eggs into one basket as the old saying goes. Even poor Richard, her hapless, goofy, last boyfriend she lived with for months, is being ignored.

Me?  I’m not a very good friend because I am kind of glad it is all over now.  It was expensive taking her out to eat every week, and I don’t think she appreciated it.  It was amazing my father paid for all that without even a grumble or a flinch.  Also, it will give me time to lick my wounds are far as my social anxieties are concerned. I have to admit that it does hurt being scorned like that, though.

My parents are very glad this has happened as my father says I am naïve about such womanly things and “that lady” was taking advantage of my soft hearted nature.

“You don’t need to be with a lady that’s been married three times,” my mother also told me over the phone last night. “That’s a surefire warning sign!”

The Ultimate of Suckage Bestowed Upon Me…

I changed the comments to allow only registered users which I should’ve done a long time ago.  Nothing sucks more than pouring out your heart and soul into a blog post and you only just get one snarky anonymous comment in return. Well, that changes as of now.

The sad thing is that it is always someone you know – a regular reader of the blog as they know lots of details about your life. Is anyone able to explain this phenomenon? It’s akin to kicking a homeless person sleeping on the corner with no way to defend himself.  It happens on a lot of blogs I read.  Nobody caught more hell than “The Homeless Guy”.  He hasn’t had comments on his blog for years now.  It’s akin to the schoolyard bullying I experienced as a child, but I had a tangible way to fight back.  It is hard to believe that adults are leaving these kinds of posts – soulless adults without hearts I might add. People will hate you and yet they still read.

Class of 1964 Reunion Time…

Today is my parent’s informal gathering of their annual class reunion.  They are going to eat at Milano’s, a local Italian restaurant, and then come back to my parent’s house to mingle, converse, and eat dessert and drink spirited drinks.  This has kept my parent’s busy preparing all week – my father mostly.  Mom has been too sick to really help. Charlie has helped some as well doing some touchup painting around the interior of the house like the banisters on the stairs. 

Things to Look Forward to Today…

6:39am -- As soon as 9am rolls around, I am driving over to get my Helen to-go plates.  Helen’s creamed potaters were most excellent this week.  I also adored the yellow summer squash with Vidalia onions. I am also going to call Charlie and see if he will let me take Horsefly to the movies down in Auburn.  I will watch whatever movie Horsefly watches. This will be a big load off Charlie’s back if he accepts.

The (Sometimes) Long Wait for Medications…

It’s that time of the night folks – time to rally Papa and send him my way with those pills that keep me a decent sane citizen of this absolutely crazy country.

“He’s asleep and snoring in his recliner,” mom quietly told me a moment ago when I called after 9pm to get the skinny on the situation.

Mom has been really sick with a bad cold and sounded so much better today.

“Has he had a few glasses of wine?” I asked my mother trepiditiously.

“Yes,” she said. “It makes him very sleepy when he’s had a few glasses.”

“Well shit,” I replied as my hopes plummeted. “Wake him up, but make it seem like you are doing him a favor.”

My mother chuckled nervously with a hushed voice. “I don’t know how to do that!” 

photo credit:   http://charoylee.com/Unit_5.html

Helen’s Soul Food Friday’s…

This afternoon we had baked ham, fried okra, creamed potatoes, green beans, summer squash, and cornbread. 

The Ill Among Us–We Comfort Them…

Charlie’s oldest son is very, very sick after the surgery on his pancreas.   He says he is still in a lot of pain.  He still has drainage tubes running out of his chest.  My brother, the esteemed doctor within the family, went over to see him today and assess the situation.  He wrote a couple of prescriptions and told the home health care nurse to get a morphine drip going so we could reduce the pain.

“Would you like to get on the internet?” I asked Alan this afternoon as I had tagged along and he excitedly said yes squeezing my hand firmly.

I called Charlie at work and he said the house is already hooked to the internet, but Alan couldn’t get to a computer with him being bed ridden.

“I’ve got a handle on the situation,” I told Charlie and then hung up.

I got my extra wireless router covered with dust and languishing in my computer room, an extra Ethernet cable, and my iPad with a clean install of iOS (the hardest part) and installed them to where Alan could get on the internet. You’ve never seen a happier fellow.  Al has been a good friend to me and deserves no less. Alan got me the job working at the University all those many years ago and the hefty taxes on all those years working there got me a decent disability allotment when I got too ill to work.

“That’s the first time I’ve seen him smile in days,” Janice, Charlie’s wife, told me as I was leaving. 

photo credit:   http://www.chanhvuong.com/720/purchasing-a-wireless-router-for-real-people/

Loss for Words…

I guess I am just generally sad and my feelings are hurt.  I cancelled Laura’s and my “date” this evening to China Moon. I looked at a menu and the entrees were running around $16 and $17 dollars and I just don’t have the heart to ask my father for that much money.  I did it a cheap way via text as well. Yeah, I copped out.  She will see the text around 10am when when she awakes. I was beginning to feel used and abused. Unlike me, I am at a loss for words for the most part. We have quickly drifted apart as her union with Wayne approaches next Wednesday. I guess I had grown more attached to Laura than I realized.  I firmly believe in and around a month she will be calling me or another friend to come and get her.

Things that Have Drastically Changed Very Quickly…

• She used to call me 3 or 4 times a day and that has dwindled to a 10 minute phone call once a day or even skipping a day.
• She would always call me “sweetie” and “darlin’” in our text messages and that quit.  She will start each message to me with just a general “hey” now.
• She is now calling herself by his last name as if they were married. I told her that was mighty presumptuous of her.

Damn, She’s Fine…

The beautiful Ms. Adia gave me my shot this morning.  Her smile is contagious and I caught myself smiling the whole time of this tedious task – the task of getting my injection. 

“What do you think of my Auburn scrunchy?” she asked with a girlish giggle.

“Where’s Rebecca?” I asked her after giving her a compliment.

“She’s running late,” Adia said. “So I decided to go ahead and give you your injection.”

“Well, that is just awesome,” I said ecstatically and also relieved. 

“I knew you wouldn’t want to wait until she got here.”

“Which side?” she asked, meaning what butt cheek.

“We did the left side last time,” I said. “So let’s do the right side this time.”

I got another lease on two weeks and headed to the pharmacy to give my father the new appointment card.

Fun Gluteal and Intravenously…

Yes, this morning is my injection.  It is a wonder my butt cheeks don't look like the crater pocked surface of the moon.  The intervals between my injections just seem to fly by as well.  Dad told me last night during the medication ritual to be ready at 8am for a 9am appointment this morning. Well, it is 4:14am and I am definitely ahead of the game.  I’m not sure if it is my waning medications or just plain tiredness, but I’ve been terribly groggy for the past few days getting my fair share of sleep. I also keep the strangest of hours as well. I woke up at 4am and feel well rested.

Super Mario Madness…

My brother asked me last night what my current obsession in gaming is.

“I’ve gone retro,” I told him. “I am playing all the games of our youth that we didn’t get to play because we couldn’t afford them as kids.  I am playing Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars at the moment.”

My brother told me that newer consoles and computer games have just gotten far too complex for the average gamer and I agreed with him wholeheartedly. Awesome graphics do not make a fun game.

“You have to be hardcore to get into those run and gun genre of games,” I replied to my brother.

Those games are all the rage at the moment much to my chagrin. My idea of fun is not running around and shooting things.