It Doesn't Happen Often...

I love these things...

"Would you have thought mom would have gone before all of us?" my brother asked me over my father's cell phone.

"Never!" I exclaimed. "I would've thought I would be long dead before mom passed away."

"Mom spent thousands in healthcare for this not to happen."

It was strange to talk to my brother on the cell phone.  They thought I was off, but I was still listening as they talked.

"Has Andrew had any episodes lately?" my brother asked my father.

"He had an episode earlier in the week and there was a strange call late the other night about being lonely," my father replied.

"I'll talk to you all later," I then said not wanting to hear more.

"Come to the pond with us in God's country to hide eggs," dad then said.

"Y'all have a good time," I told my father reeling with what was said. "Happy Easter to the kids."

Case Management y Menagerie...

"What happened to that Antec case Matt ordered you a few months ago? It was $165 dollars, wasn't it?" my father asked on his drive back from Alexander City and the fish fry tonight. "Is it being used?"

"No, it's all too complicated. I didn't research it enough," I replied honestly. "Frankly, it is a pain in the ass to add or take out computer components from it."

I was wanting that new Rosewill Challenger case I wrote about earlier thus my call.

"I'll try to put this new computer in it," I told my father. "I'll keep you apprised."

Shot down in flames as the old saying goes...

Two Convicts Cavorting!

http://www.autoblog.com

Maggie and I looked out the den front window like two convicts through the bars of their jail cells. I had the phone on the side table just in case someone called. The phone rang and Maggie looked at me like, "Holy Shit! Could it be Papa?"

Papa, it was and he was heading over for medications, and soda time. Maggie also gets her customary bowl of fresh venison and turkey kibble which is supposed to boost her "primal instincts". I hope she doesn't start to shit on the floor.

"Papa's coming!" I exclaimed to Maggie as she vigilantly watched out the den window.

http://www.weisradio.com

My father had a fish fry at my sister's house with her husband's parents to attend and didn't know when he would arrive back in the Valley. I really appreciate him thinking of me as he might not get back in the Valley until late tonight and I would probably be beside myself with agitation and worry.

We watched as my father quickly drove the X5 down the main drag to my street. Maggie was almost beside herself. It really is endearing.

"There's is my Duchess!" my father said as he walked across my front yard.

George, Casseroles, and Shortcake...

Janice cooked a beef and macaroni casserole last night. It was really cheesy on top. You know me and casseroles, right? I was in absolute heaven. It was accompanied by a big cast iron pan of Janice's pork cracklin' cornbread.

Finally, we could savor my father's fruits of his labor. He worked all afternoon slicing strawberries. The strawberry shortcakes were delicious. I went back for an extra helping of casserole and dessert and felt overly stuffed -- that kind of uncomfortable fullness.

"You sprinkled sugar all over these strawberries like you mother would do," I told my father who was smiling.

Late Calls Before Bedtime...

"Dad? Do you ever get lonely?" I asked my father last night late on the phone feeling maudlin.

"It is quiet now that your mother is gone, but I don't ever get lonely," he told me. "This phone rings constantly."

I was missing my old friend George last night. I could call him and he would be right over in his Dodge Diplomat with a case of beer, pizza, and lots of debauchery.

"Are you okay?" my father asked me sincerely. "I will come over and sit for awhile if you want me to."

"I'm fine," I told my gracious father in reply. "You go to bed and I am headed that way myself."

Rosewill Challenger Case...

I used to associate NewEgg's house brand, Rosewill, with a bunch of cheap junk. After buying a few of their items out of financial necessity, I realized they are pretty good stuff for the money spent.

This is the case I want for $49.99 and for the computer I built that is sitting on a towel. I have to be careful in that I ask for some of my disability money and not my father's money.

I am also buying two extra blue cooling fans for the top of the case.

Strawberry Shortcake...

"Where have you been!?" I asked my father when he called me to come over for my medications. "I called you 3 hours ago!"

I had already crawled into the bed for an afternoon nap when he called me back. I threw off the covers and happily answered the ringing phone expecting it to be him. I was just the tiniest bit peeved as well. Grrrr!

"Andrew, come over and get your meds!"

I arrived at my father's house and climbed the long stairs to his deck and kitchen to greet him. The door was open for me. I was having some spatial and situational awareness problems driving over so I knew then it was not all made up in my head -- no perceived illness here.

"Here is you a Diet Coke and here are your medications," he told me as he put them in my open palms.

"Well, I've been to La Fayette picking strawberries all afternoon and now I am slicing them," my father said as he stuffed a sugary sweet strawberry in my mouth.

It certainly was sweet and delicious.

"Charlie, Janice, and I are making homemade strawberry shortcakes for dessert tonight and we want you to come as well," my father told me.

Dad had enough strawberries to fix strawberry shortcakes for a whole army battalion and was ploddingly slicing more as I headed to my car.

Tit For Tat...

The Wiley Ways of Mental Illness...

I told my father I had one of my best days mentally in years last night. I felt like Superman, the man of steel, as we drove to my parent's house to get my sodas. I puffed up my chest in bravado.

"I am going to get punished for it, too," I then told Pops with a chuckle. "Tomorrow will be the shittiest day mentally of my life."

We both nervously chuckled again.

"Don't say that!" dad told me sounding nervous himself.

I hate it when I am right. I am not having the shittiest day of my life but I feel pretty uncomfortable. I woke up at 2 PM with precursor butterflies in my stomach. I immediately called my father.

"Can we take my medications early today?" I asked my father.

"I am out running errands and will call you when I get home," he told me kindly after asking me many questions.

"Well, Shit!" My Father Said Loudly Upon Arriving Tonight...

He was rummaging through his car jostling things about.

"It seems I forgot your Cokes!"

"Come on! Let's go get your Cokes then we will take your medications," my father said after arriving at my house. "I believe I left them in the kitchen and we can have a good talk while we drive. You can get to say hello to my pussy."

"Thank You!" I wanted to get on my humble knees and say.

I insisted on driving myself and getting them, but my father wanted some time for us alone.

"We don't hardly ever have mono y mono time together," he told me. "Let's get in my mobile office and roll!"

A Day's End and Cooks and Friends...

http://janetishungry.blogspot.com

"I need to get back to cooking every other night on my days off," my father said as he walked out of the front door of the pharmacy tonight. "You would appreciate that, too!"

He was talking to me on his cellphone.

"I always did the cooking because you mother couldn't. She'd burn down the house trying to get a meal on the table."

"Well, you've turned into a mighty fine cook," I told my father who needed the applause and accolades.

"You remind me of your mother in your ability to put a fine meal on the table," I told him.

"Charlie told me last night that I needed to find a good way to mass-market my pork chops and rice and we would be rich beyond belief," dad replied laughing.

When I was growing up, mom taught all the time and had a black lady named Rene do most of the cooking. My mother cooked on the weekends for her three kid brood. On the way home from school, we would run by Rene's house and pick up the meal du jour. Mom cooked mainly Sunday dinner. I remember my mother's mushroom chicken and tangy chicken extremely fondly.

Mom caught the house on fire frying french fries one night and my father never did let her cook again. I remember I was at Boy Scouts when my uncle drove over and picked me up to take me home. I knew something terrible had happened when my uncle Steve had arrived to pick me up.

"Somethings bad has happened," he told me stoically.

He drove us to my parent's house with the both of us in a somber mood.

Things to Get Excited About...

Birthday Spoils! Game Controllers Galore!

The computer I built the other day. All it needs is a case and fans to call home. 

3.8 Ghz Core i7 extreme processor

16 Gigabyte Corsair Vengeance ram

X79 Asus Sabertooth "TUF" motherboard

Nvidia Geforce 260 GTX video card

Bronze rated 750-watt Corsair power supply

I Am Beginning to Like These Men Bearing Gifts...

I had such a wonderful and pleasant birthday tonight. Nobody, and I mean nobody could steal my thunder on this beautiful night.

My father promptly arrived at 8 PM with an ample serving of a garden salad, garlic bread, and cheesy lasagna courtesy of Johnny's New York Style Pizzeria downtown. He had also worked and toiled all day and coordinated this all tonight which was pretty amazing. I know he was tired and ready to head home. My father is no spring chicken (but could probably run rings around sedentary me).

"I thought you would like lasagna even more than a birthday cake," he told me.

"You know me well," I replied to my father. "Thank you!"

Somethings are omnipresent and that is my Medication ritual and Maggie's ritual. I gulped down a handful of Crazy Meds while Maggie got fresh water and kibble moments later.

Dad wanted me to check my presents and rightly so. Two parts were missing and the was my GameCube controller and my MayFlash adapter to hook my Sega Saturn controller to the computer. They are both coming from China so I am giving them another week before I contact NewEgg.

My bother and my sister also called me while my father and I were sitting on Maggie's couch. That is something that hasn't happened in decades. It was really good to speak to them both. It was a little awkward, but nothing we couldn't handle.

"Your father still should have gotten you a cake," Charlie said to me when he arrived at my house tonight. "We are going to have apple pie and vanilla bean ice cream tomorrow night."

Who's Crashing My Party?

There was loud banging and knocking on my front door this morning. It jolted me awake and sounded like the police, but it was just our dear Charlie thank goodness. I was deeply and soundly asleep after staying up after 3 AM dicking around with my computers and some computer parts.

"I brought you and Maggie some breakfast," Charlie said loudly as I hurriedly pulled on some sweatpants.

"Coming! I'm coming!" I said as I nervously fidgeted with my clothes.

Maggie was barking very loudly and jubilantly in the den by now getting in on the act -- our opus of Charlie and the birthday.

"No, Maggie, they are not Jehovah's Witnesses!"

"I've got you and Maggie some bacon, egg, and cheese biscuits," Charlie said when I opened my front door. "Happy birthday and I am off to work."

That was super, super nice of Charlie. Charlie can get more things done before work than any man I have ever met.

In the mail today was a Birthday card with a $50 iTunes gift card. That was from my brother and his family. I will have to send them a Thank You card. I had another birthday card with three $10 cards in iTunes bucks as well.

Who's This Guy Named Jack?

The phone loudly rang and woke me from this trance I was experiencing sitting in front of this computer. Maggie and I just had a long and fitful nap and I think I left the better half of me in dreamland. I was also listening to Enya's first album which exacerbated my trance like state.

"I am fixing to head through La Fayette on my way home from work. Do you want a Jack's burger?" Charlie asked after I answered the phone with great trepidation.

"Sure, I would love one. I appreciate it," I excitedly and kindly replied to Charlie. "Could you get me some of their French fries as well?"

Charlie chuckled. They have some of the best french fries.

"I just called your daddy and he said he about can't wait to get off of work in thirty minutes. He should be there shortly," Charlie told me. "He says he has you a treat as well soon to be birthday boy. You will be 44 in just a few short hours."

"Charlie, we are all getting to be so old!" I said. "Don't remind me."

"Horsefly will be 45 next July!" Charlie told me as if he couldn't believe it. "As soon as I get home, I have to take him bowling. Janice has woke him and is giving him a bath now as we speak."

"What are you getting for your birthday?" Charlie then asked me.

"100 bucks of game controllers for all my retro gaming emulators," I told Charlie. "They were shipped from China a few weeks ago. I hope they made it here in time."

If Only Birthdays Came More Often...

"You can put them in my cart and I will certainly eat them," I told my father walking down the frozen food aisle. "But beware in that it's going to raise my tally to over $100"

I also needed 8 rechargeable batteries for all the doo-dads and electrical devices in my house and they are very expensive as well.

Dad began to load my cart with Marie Callender's meals like 3 cheese tortellini, meatloaf with gravy and mashed potatoes, chunky chicken and noodles, turkey and dressing, and Swedish meatballs. I grabbed some parmesan "stinky" cheese which was in a very planned and fortuitous place by the tortellini. That grated cheese was my only impulse buy tonight.

Dad looked very constrained about the price as he stared for a moment there. He then told me it would be a part of my birthday on Wednesday.

I then went one way and my father went the other direction in search of exlarge plastic cups for me and I went searching for paper bowls for the Magster. We met back at an open register.

"Don't forget your three journal writing drinks," he reminded me so very awesomely and I thanked him sincerely.

More $100 RGB Madness -- I Love this Stuff...

More RGB Madness! G.Skill is a great computer parts manufacturer as well. 

G.SKILL RIPJAWS KM780 RGB Mechanical Gaming Keyboard - Cherry MX Brown with Gaming Keycaps

Let's Get Some RGB...

RGB or "Red, Green, Blue" is all the rage in computer building circles these days. It seemed to have happened so suddenly like clothes and hair fads in a high school, but mainly with the younger or first person shooter type game fanatics.

My Sound Blaster Z sound card lights up a bright red color. The Sapphire video card I also got from Christmas lights up a deep fluorescent purple.

"It all seems so gay to me," a video game playing friend wrote to me today to which I chuckled.

"It is growing on me," I responded kindly. "I am starting to like it. I want some more RAM that lights up as well. I found four sticks that will work and oscillate between colors as to what color they are while you are playing."

While We Are Speaking of Bananas! Or Were We?

I finally made it to Kroger today to get my much belated and beloved allotment of bananas. I kept saying I was going last week and then something would come up. I sighed in relief when I walked into the freshly stocked produce section. I grabbed two big ripening bunches and headed to the nearest cashier. When I arrived home, I completely relished and savored two bananas while I sat in the den and watched Forensic Files.

When I worked in produce at the Piggly Wiggly in town, it was paramount that I get fresh bananas out first. Then I could start on packaging the ever popular grapes which were always a big hit.

The Rescue Wagon Has Arrived...

"I don't know what's wrong and going on with me today," I told my father this afternoon over the phone. "I just feel out of sorts -- a very nervous, excitable, and miserable type of fellow. I have this disconcerting lump in my throat and stomach that just won't go away."

"You've done so well lately. It could take a day or two for your Risperdal to get to working real good," my father told me in layman's vernacular.

I was about to hang up the phone when my father said he would be over in 30 minutes.

"Do you want something to eat?" he then asked me planning to run down to McDonald's for a Big Mac value meal.

"I am okay on food, but would love to get my six sodas and some pungent smokes," I told him.

"I will be sure to bring them with me," he told me.

I was trying to read a Model Railroader with little success due to little concentration when Maggie yelped in excitement as my father pulled up in front of the house in thirty minutes just like he said he would. Let the games begin...

"I owe you two hugs for remembering to bring my sodas," I told my father as he walked across my front yard,

"Come on and let's get Maggie situated before I leave," my father told me.

The Magster got her cup of super chunky dog food and a big bowl of fresh cool water. Maggie was contentedly eating her kibble as my father slipped out the front door until tomorrow.

River is Up and it is Making My Father Nervous...

My father's river house is just a few hundred yards upriver beyond this railroad trestle. 

"The river is up and it is making me nervous..."

That's what my father told me when I arrived at his house for supper this afternoon. He's very worried and rightly so. Dad earlier walked down to the river house and back for exercise and absolution before vittles time. He's is like a doting hen over her baby chicks.

"They've got every flood gate open tonight at West Point dam for all the rain we've been getting lately," my father told me ominously.

My father is carefully checking the river water level ever hour or so.

"But it's not on the flood plane," I heard my father often saying as it echoed through my mind in alarm.

Let's hope so very much that he is right.

Dad cooked his famous pork chops and rice and a big pan of those Pillsbury crescent rolls for supper tonight..We also had cottage cheese infused lime congealed salad for the dessert.which I made a big fuss over. I just love that stuff. .

"I like this meal more than I do your filet mignon," I told my father much to his surprise..

More Gracious Extra Miles and Beyond...

Leigh Anne, the nurse practitioner at Kamath Medical, called me late yesterday afternoon around five. It surprised and scared me at first. Was something wrong? I almost didn't answer the phone due to my damnable phone phobias. I was relieved when it was Leigh Anne's svelte voice on the other end of the line.

"How are you feeling?" she asked me very inquisitively and sympathetically.

"I am fine, except for some pretty hefty drowsiness," I told Leigh Anne. "But my injection always does that."

"I just wanted to check on you and hoped to find things okay," She said. "That has to be the biggest needle I've encountered in my medical career."

"Thank you so much for calling Leigh Anne," I told her very sincerely. "You just made me smile!"

Now With 75% More Meat...

In my mind's eye, I can conjure up images of vegetarians and vegans cringing in sheer disgust and protest. 

That's what it said on the bag of Purina One Pure Instinct...It wasn't a very big bag, but it cost $14.99.

"Let's try a bag and mix things up a bit," I told myself. "I hope Maggie will eat venison and turkey. Maggie's been eating the lamb and rice formula for years."

Well, Maggie scarfed down a bowl of the stuff like she was starving and just loves the change.

The Most Grand Poo-bah Has Left the Premises...

"I really, really appreciate what you did this morning -- showing up on time for your injection," my father told me. "I forgot all about it and you could've slept all day before I noticed."

My father was running extremely early tonight for the medication ritual. He usually arrives around 9 PM to 9:30 PM and tonight he arrived at the almost unheard of 8:00 PM. Maggie and I were both rejoicing with much celebration and exaltation. "Let's put this man on a pedestal." 

Maggie didn't believe me that Papa had arrived until dad was walking across the front yard saying, "You're the Duchess." She squealed with joy!

"Come on in and sit awhile," Maggie seemed to say to my father tonight. "Did you notice the new beautiful hole in the cushion on the couch? Yeah, that was me. They call me Maestro."

L-E-I-G-H A-N-N-E

My first stop was the pharmacy to get my injection. My father looked wild eyed as I entered.

"Son, I forgot all about your injection!" my father said fervently.

"Rebecca's on vacation so I am administering your injection the morning," an unfamiliar and never before seen nurse said.

She was mighty cute, but totally unfamiliar and I gulped hard at her revelation.

Oh Dearest God! Have Mercy On My Soul!

Did I tell you I had no tolerance for ineptitude or shenanigans this morning?

I slumped deeply into my leather backed chair about the inevitable forthcoming disaster. Then Leigh Anne, the nurse practitioner, entered the examining room. I immediately perked up and my dour mood and demeanor brightened. It was so good to see her beaming and smiling face as she is about one of the most pleasant and kindest nurses I've ever encountered. Rebecca notwithstanding mind you. Leigh Anne also has boundless energy and a knack for making mountains into molehills.

So relief must be on the way? I hope so. I was so out of it this morning that I could barely speak and enunciate any words. I also had one of my more acute cotton mouths I've ever experienced as well.

"Sweetie," Pat said as I walked out of the examining room. "I've got your next appointment all set up and ready."

I told the girls that I would see them again in two weeks.

Visits of the Elder Kind...

"Your injection is in the morning," my father reiterated as he stepped through the threshold of the door to my house for tonight's medication ritual.

"Call me 8 AM to make sure I am up and going," I told my father as we sat down in my den. "I also need to get a load of laundry going tonight as well."

"Try to curtail the homeless look," my father said carefully so as to not hurt my feelings.

"I was over at your house a few hours ago," I then told my father. "But I couldn't get anyone to the door. All three cars were there, though."

"I was probably taking a nap or pulling a Martha," my father smiled warmly as he spoke to me. "I didn't mean to miss you."

"I wanted some more of those absolutely delicious Minute Maid lemonades in the icebox downstairs,"

"Oh!" my father abruptly said standing up quickly while handing me my pill pack. "I've got you a big ass Tupperware container of my pork-chops and rice in the car. I better go get it before I forget it."

Ah Bless!

I was so outstandingly glad and relieved when I saw my father arrive with my six colas for the day. I am going to completely savor them in another half  hour of chilling in the freezer.

Of Little Pills and Pint Sized Pups....

"Shhh..." I told my father as he quietly walked across my front yard -- not the usual pleasantries we portray and display. I was standing on the other side of my screened in door waiting for zero hour.

"We are going to surprise Maggie tonight." I said quietly.

Dad had arrived for our nightly crazy med/medication ritual quite early. It was still dusk outside. He had also worked all day and you could tell it by the dark bags under his eyes. It's not like Maggie to miss a visit as well. We had caught her unaware.

"MAGGIE!!! Papas here!!!!"

Maggie came flying through the dog door from outside, thru the kitchen, sliding around the corner, and finally landing in the den. Her tail was wagging a hundred miles a minute. Dad loves it when she does that.

"That's my Duchess..." my father said to Maggie rubbing her vigorously when she had arrived. "The Princess of Mauritania and Maratouse.

"Pops? That dog is best thing that you've ever done for me!" and I was very serious and sincere in saying that.

"Severe weather tonight," I then told my father. "It should roll through here about 4 AM in morning. If you hear any freight trains outside your window then you need to head to the basement.

Gracious Extra Miles and Beyond...

My father has been so kind to make sure I have my Coca-Colas and cigarillos every night. It really is a marvel to be seen. I reciprocate by there having no extraneous "surprise" charges on my debit card. These kind of rituals can stymie my father and I -- we forget to bring them or on an erratic schedule. Traditionally, mom would take car of that task with due diligence. It was so nice to have some sodas to nurse before going to bed. Tonight's batch is getting chilled in the freezer as I write this.

You Never Know What's Going to Happen Around Here...

required for grocery night

Classic Kroger mayhem...

"Do you want something to eat or drink?" I asked the scraggly looking black fellow after he very aggressively accosted me for money. I was trying to be kind. I was standing in front of the desserts freezer also trying to decide what two pies I wanted this week. I got a triple coconut creme pie and a Hershey's creme pie.

It was amazing this fellow was still walking that he was so drunk. His eyes had that jaundiced yellow look from drinking too much or a possible failing liver.

"Bud?" I said. "I haven't got a dollar to give in my name (I stretched the truth a little bit). Sorry, I have to finish my shopping."

I honestly didn't have much money to throw away. I did spend only $70 dollars tonight for which I was very pleased. It always intrigues my father how many groceries I can get for such a little amount of money. I got a cart full and it took a few minutes to load it all up in the back of my Honda.

Chiquita Bonita...

"I'm damn mad at you!" I told my father seriously after we had checked out and were heading to our cars.

"What got me in trouble?" my father asked incredulously.

"You got me hooked on those damnable bananas and they were out once again tonight," I replied. "I eat two bananas every afternoon for my snack."

We both burst out in laughter. Seriously, though, I want my bananas and will be headed to the Piggly Wiggly in the morning.

Beware! For He Might Organize Your Freezer As Well...

"It sounds like a construction crew is at work in your kitchen," my father said jokingly as Charlie went about his way.

Yes, Charlie cleaned my freezer tonight on this -- our Sunday April 2nd gathering of the clans. Good food and cold drinks abounded. Charlie brought me two burrito supremes tonight and they were uncharacteristically delicious. More beef than beans was my guess. Yeah, that's the ticket! Maggie wanted a burrito something terrible, but they have onions in them. I had to endure much mewling and whining noises from Maggie for a good 30 minutes. She can be very persistent. She can be such an irascible little soul as well.

"Do you want to save these?" Charlie asked me of two older loaves of freezer burned Jewish rye. "No, but don't throw out my emergency bologna."

Dad rolled his eyes at me as I walked back into the Den. I had turned on the television to The Weather Channel and he was transfixed to the television for the whole visit. Maggie was whining as well as if something was wrong.

May Your Breakfast Be a Very Big Breakfast...

"Did you realize you just peppered one sentence with over six profane words?" I asked Charlie this morning giving him a hard time and a good ribbing.  "And it's a Sunday as well. How profane can you get?"

Charlie smiled and told me to get eat my damn biscuits before they got cold. I think Charlie almost made the Magster blush at well. I was still smiling as I shut the door. Charlie cranked his car and headed off for other deliveries.

I grew up with my father and Charlie bickering like siblings and constantly cussing like sailors. I have learned that a well placed and opportune profane word is a good salve for the soul.

Can I Have Some More Grease With My Biscuit?

Today's fare which was two sausage biscuits which can be aptly described as greasy but it wasn't terrible or a showstopper. The orange juice and hash-browns Charlie brought this morning made up for it though. They were delicious. I once again made some toast and utilized the rest of my meal eating sausage toasters.

Have Mercy! Bring Sodas!

And the sodas arrived at nine...

The "Flash" meaning my esteemed father has come and gone. He was quiet and contemplative tonight -- very introspective for him. He was having a moment of retrospection he told me as we sat on our Maggie's couch.

I was talking a mile a minute and I asked him if I was being very aggravating? Next time he visits, I guess I should turn on the TV since he loves it so much. I, personally, was just anxious and hungry for any friends, family or any humankind of all to visit. Anybody! My father left too soon for my tastes.

"It is amazing that you can do that," my father said referring to the working computer spread across my kitchen table in parts.

We were walking through the kitchen to complete Maggie's nightly ritual.

My next project is to get that wired and jumbled mess all neatly into a computer case. I will rejoice if that last screw goes in without incident. I have big hands and even bigger fingers so those little screws aggravate and confound me.

Stay On Target...Stay On Target...

...Lock X-foils in attack position...

"What did you do today?" I asked my dumbstruck looking father as he sank into the misshapen cushions on Maggie's couch.

Shell-shocked was another word that came to mind about the poor fellow. My compadre...  My father... My father and I have come a long way these past few years. Much of our strides have come lately as well.

"Well, I managed to fill almost 290 prescriptions today," he replied. "Do I seem a little tired and ill? I am just ready to get home and get in my pajamas. I mean no harm."

"We also had a female customer say we shorted her on her Oxycontin pain pills to no avail before closing. We count pain pills and class scheduled drugs three times before putting them in the bottle and filling the prescription. I count them and the two pharmacy techs count them so we know there are no discrepancy's."

"What do you do in turn?" my father asked me.

"I spent many, many hours troubleshooting a troublesome computer today," I said exhausted sounding. "I thought I would never get things running kosher. It turned out to be the motherboard and by some miracle I had the same exact motherboard as the broken one on my computer room shelves."

Johnny Otis Returns to the Fray...

There were many pleasantries to be had at the return of our esteemed patriarch, Johnny Otis. My father quickly walked across my yard in a blinding rain storm as lightning lit up the rest of the neighborhood.

"I've got to work tomorrow," my father told me with a tired looking frown as he was giving me my medications tonight. "Can you believe that?"

As usual, a Klonopin escaped our clutches and rolled across the floor.provoking some profanity from my father as I lunged to grab it.

"Tomorrow?" I asked in complete disbelief. "You tend to need some down time after a busy vacation to recuperate."

Dad then gave me one of the biggest hugs he has ever given to me.

"Good to see you son. We going to get you in a shape so you can go next time," my father told me. "A little spit and polish if you will."

I smiled. That Christian choir hymn Take Me As I Am came to the forefront of my mind.

The Hamster is in His Wheel...

This is how I want my front facia to look. The other two photo with the darkened valences are nice as well.

He's An Excitable and a Strange Little Man...

I can't wait for my father to get home to us tonight. It has been a very long week without him. He is the core of my social group and my family. He tends to bolster my spirits and demeanor as well.

Charlie told me this morning that my father would be administering my crazy meds during the medication ritual this evening and not him. I expect him to put on his pajamas and sleep several hours after arriving home, then we will see him. I also want to see how Maggie reacts when it has been a week since she last saw my father. Will she put on a big and grand show? Will she be excited as well? I do hope so!

Foul Play? No, Just Foul Weather...

The National Weather service is expecting inclement weather for us tonight. Another thing to be excited about. If it comes after midnight then I will possibly sleep through it like I always do. It always marvels my father that I can do that. I also take solace in the fact that there is a tornado warming siren just down the street which sounds like we are being bombed in an air raid by the German Luftwaffe.

Sometimes it is the Little Things...

...toot, toot, toot your own little horn...

I finally got Charlie's Blu-Ray player working yesterday. I hooked it up to my television at home and things were working fine which stymied me. Why wasn't it working when it is connected to Charlie's television?

If you've known me for a long time then you know I often harp about trying the simplest things first when it comes to computers and electronics. Is it plugged in? Did you push play? Is the LED light red when it should be green meaning is it turned on? I realized last night that Charlie and I weren't turning the Blu-Ray player on when it was hooked up at Charlie's house. Duh!

...these things come with a manual for a purpose...

Charlie was so excited that I fixed it that he brought the Magster and I breakfast this morning which which was three bacon, egg, and cheese biscuits. I would've been just fine getting a couple of Coca-Colas as I did last night. He has just left and is headed for work in Dadeville. Maggie has had her biscuit and is down for the count -- beginning the sleep of ages.

Johnny Otis Returns From Vacation...

My father just called me this morning and said he would be home a little after lunch. It is about a 5 hour drive to the Gulf of Mexico and Fort Walton from here. He said they had a grand time and for that I was thankful. Dad toiled away in that pharmacy for 47 years (about the time mom and dad were married) and it is now his turn to play and have some fun.

Engrish!

I came across this paragraph looking for Sega Saturn controllers. I love Engrish and this made me smile.

To my valued customerIf you have any problem when you received the item, please feel free to contact us first. We are responsible seller. We will try our best to help and fix your problem for sure. Your feedback is very important to our store. They are always the valuable suggestions to improve our service better and better. Wish you shopping pleasure!

Grocery Shopping Charlie Style...

"I've already got horsefly at the bowling alley," Charlie told me hurriedly over the phone. "I want you to hook my Blu-Ray player to my television and then we are then headed to Kroger to do a little grocery shopping."

As I had surmised, Charlie took me on a wild grocery cart ride as we traversed Kroger plying their wares. The grand total was $94 dollars for which I winced.

"If your daddy bitches about what you spent then tell him it was my fault." Charlie reassuringly told me.

We then left Kroger to go get Horsefly at the bowling alley.

"Do you mind?" Charlie asked me about getting Horsefly. "We can kill two birds with one stone."

Horsefly was drenched with sweat for which Charlie had a towel ready. I sat inside the Caprica marveling at all the patrons of the bowling alley. They must being doing good business. It was always kind of rundown when I was growing up.

"Now, you stand at the screen door and I will bring your groceries to you," Charlie told me rummaging around in the back of his Caprica.

This was all for making sure the Magster didn't escape out into the wild wilderness that is my neighborhood.

"Shit!'' Charlie said. "The last thing we need tonight is to be chasing Maggie around the neighborhood.

Hello! My name is Andrew and I am a worry wart...

I am kicking myself in the arse for not buying groceries last night. I just didn't feel up to it -- my malfunctioning brain strikes again. My skin was crawling and I felt feverish with an equal dose of severe anxiety.

My main worry today is that Charlie can't go until 10 pm after Horsefly bowls and 10 pm is the time Kroger has only self-service open until 1 AM. Can Charlie and I get all my groceries on one of the self-service lanes? It is bugging the hell out of me.

A Well Choreographed Occurrence...

Charlie just called me driving home from work and assuaged my worries. We are going to get Horsefly bowling and then we are quickly heading to Kroger. We are going shopping at 9 PM. Charlie didn't like the idea of self-service as well. I promised Charlie it would only take me twenty minutes to shop.