Chillaxing...

chill·ax

ˈCHilaks/

verb

informal

gerund or present participle: chillaxing

1. calm down and relax.

   "you can dance to your favorite tune, chillax, or have friends over"

That is what I am doing now that my father has left. My medications will take effect at 9:45 pm. Yes, he was actually very early tonight as I had hoped. He left at 8:45 pm to head home before more storms arrive which are moving through Montgomery as we speak and headed this a way.

Dad was so tired tonight that he didn't have much to say. I felt sorry for him, but he makes good money every day he works.

"I couldn't have the same lifestyle I enjoy now if I didn't work," he told me a few weeks ago.

I feel guilty during these times as I am unable to work and I feel like a third wheel. Dad wouldn't let me work anyway though so I shouldn't be worried too much. He's happy as long as I am mentally stable and taking my medications. I don't dare approach the subject with him.

The Dog Days of Maggie...

They call them the dog days of summer because Sirius, the dog star, and brightest star rises above the horizon. Maggie's dog days of spring are spent in the bed while I feel envious of her existence. She doesn't have a care in the world other than when Papa arrives and she won't worry about that until the sun has set awhile and I ask her where Papa is.

I certainly could go to bed right now, but I have two more hours to wait until my father, or the cavalry gets here. I also don't want to mess up this delicate balance with me sleeping nights again. No engrossing video games after nine my son. Let's wish for the best and hope he arrives early tonight.

image credit: http://earthsky.org/brightest-stars/sirius-the-brightest-star

Milquetoast Morning...

Mom followed me to West Point Tire and Auto this morning to get my oil changed. I used to change it myself, but I am far too lazy these days and let West Point Tire and Auto do it. Mom asked me this morning why I always insist on synthetic oil. It is like buying insurance I told her in layman's terms.

"It has a much higher viscosity than regular conventional oil," I then told my mother to further satisfy her curiosity.

We then drove to AutoZone and ordered me a new motor for my windshield wipers. I've watched several videos on the internet and think I know how to do it myself now. I will just have to muster up some elbow grease and pull out my lucky wrench.

My neighbor had just been on a beer and lunch run when I arrived home. Ironies of all ironies, his name is George as well. He offered me a few beers, but I waved him off. I thanked him profusely, though, so as not to seem ungrateful.

"You've got people coming and going all the time to your house," George told me with his strong New England accent.

"It's just mainly my parents and my father's best friend," I replied to George.

"How old are you?" he then asked me.

"I will be 44 come this April 12th," I told him.

George grinned and said he had me beat by quite a few years.

It is going to be raining heavily here in the next hour so no driving for me. I noticed George had a case of Miller High Life. That used to be my favorite non-ice beer when I was drinking. You could get 18 Miller High Lifes for $8.99 down at Fat Albert's convenience store before Circle K bought it and closed it.

Let Sleeping Babes Lie...

I'm in the computer room -- the only room in the house with lights on. Maggie is on the back of the couch snoozing in the den in the dark. As soon as I turn off this lamp by my computer, she will follow me to bed when she hears the peculiar sound it makes when you lie down. It is so nice, quiet, and serene in my home tonight. I do try to count my blessings these days. The caveat is that I don't have to be drunk to enjoy it in my latter years.

Dad also called me earlier in the day and wanted me to drive over and take my medications. I happily obliged, but I am now missing his visit tonight. I know Maggie wonders if he will ever get here. I am going to regret taking those medications so early come afternoon tomorrow. The main side-effect of my medications today was drowsiness.  I came home and slept all afternoon.  You've heard me talk about my mother cycling with her mental illness. Well, I am cycling at the moment as well to a phase of sleepiness. I am going to take this bull by the horns and ride it as long as I can. Sleeping too much is much more preferable than insomnia and the misery it instills.

By Boat or By Plane...

Well, two of my purchased items have been shipped and processed through Shenzen, China. I hope they get here for my birthday on April 12. I used my own Visa card to purchase these items. The grand total was only like $10 and that included shipping. One package is an order of thumb screws and the other package was a 2.5 inch to 3.5 drive adapter for my solid state drive. I am going to need that part in order to mount that wonderfully spacious SSD inside my new toolless case.

I also ordered a set of refurbished Logitech Z523 speakers that retail around $95 dollars.  I got them for $35. I hope I didn't just buy a box full of junk. I noticed the price on those speakers just dropped another $5 dollars to $30. Gulp!

image credit: https://www.orbitz.com/China-Airlines-Flights.cCI.Travel-Guide-Airlines

And the Jury is Adjourned...

My father's first words tonight upon entering my house tonight was, "It smells so clean in here." You almost could catch me blushing. I did bust my ass to get this far. I earned that $150 dollars.

"It is going to stay this way as well," I told Papa. "I have been cleaning up behind myself all day."

Tonight's medication ritual is complete and the Mag Dawg has been fed (she was hungry and ate all her food tonight once I moved it into the computer room with me). It is time to settle down and get ready to hit the hay. Mom brought chicken fajitas tonight, but I think I will save them for tomorrow. My medications will take effect at 10:30 pm almost like clockwork.

Dad was asking me a lot of questions about how mom and I conceive money.

"It took me years to realize you had to work two or three days to pay for my birthday and I appreciate it now," I told my father.

"You didn't see it as making a living?" my father asked.

"Mom and I saw it as a necessary evil to keep up with the Joneses," I replied. "We never saw it as making a living."

image credit:  https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2013/10/08/the-new-100-bill-hits-the-streets-today-here-are-5-ways-to-tell-theyre-real/

More Cheese Please!

http://www.centralmarket.com/Blog/Posts/October-2015/Grill-Up-The-Goodness

There is nothing better to me than a couple of grilled cheese sandwiches, spicy and zesty dill pickle spears, and a mound full of Ruffles potato chips on your plate. Get you an icy cold glass of Coke and you're set for a great, late lunch.

A Six Egg Breakfast...

"Maggie! Breakfast is ready!" I hollered until I looked down and Maggie was at my feet looking up at me and wildly wagging her tail.

"Oh, there you are," I said smiling.

I scrambled six eggs this morning and put about half on a paper plate for the Magster. I had to let them sit and cool down some before I set them on the floor. We also had fried hot sausage and some delicious buttery toast. I like my toast Waffle House style which is buttery, browned, and soft.

I just have called my father before he left for work.

"We make a pretty good grocery buying team," I told him and he agreed.

Doctoring My Dog...

Maggie is like a greased pig at the county fair as far as these matters are concerned. She instinctively knows I am about to put her antibiotic drops in her eye. The first thing I do is to go lock her dog door. She realizes that she is at the point of no return when she reaches the laundry room. She'll stick her tail between her legs in defeat and I go to work making sure several drops get in her eye.

image credit: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/22/scrambled-egg-recipe_n_4137683.html

The Great Jermaine Debacle...

I got caught by Jermaine tonight and I am too polite for my own good. I listened and listened until I finally just started to walk away with my buggy until I was out of earshot.

"Gotta run, Jermaine," I politely said, "My father will be looking for me."

I've come to the conclusion that grocery shopping is Jermaine's social outlet. He just happens to shop on Monday nights like Pops and me.

"Jermaine was driving me nuts," my father told me exasperated as he got caught as well.

I did spend $92 dollars tonight, but $14.99 was the cost of Maggie's bag of dog food so my father didn't complain or balk. Dad insisted on me getting those frozen meals and they are expensive as well.

"Your kitchen is so clean now and you don't want to mess it up by cooking," he told me.

I was getting ready for a berating because of cost from my father when the cashier rang up my last item -- a four pack of AAA alkaline batteries for my flashlight. I am going to need that little but brilliantly bright flashlight to help me build my new computer come April.

Oh, I am relishing one of my two Mountain Dews as I write this. I also remembered my Blue Plate mayonnaise as we are having salami and bologna sandwiches this week. I just took a loaf of Merita bread out of the freezer to defrost.

They Call Them "Smithfield"

I was over at my parent's house a moment ago getting my sodas for the day. Dad was busy in the kitchen trying to put some supper on the table.  He was making carrot salad which I am not too crazy about but I will eat it. He was also fixing what we call here as Smithfield pork chops. They are extremely smoky and taste more like ham than pork chops.

"I'll bring you a plate when I come tonight to give you your medications," my father told me.

I gladly accepted. Whom am I to pass up a decent Southern style meal? I played the Auschwitz Mantra card at an opportune moment.

I told my father to please help me remember mayonnaise and Mountain Dews tonight at the grocery store. I seem to have this mental block about both those items and always forget them. The Mountain Dews are my favorite item on grocery night and I still forget them.

Smells Like Lavender at Charlie's House...

Sweet as the Honey in Your Hive...

Yes, it is a sweet, sweet day -- a gorgeous day in Dixieland. I just ordered my birthday computer parts and the grand total was $351.99. I got all the parts I wanted before they could sell out as they often do when I shop with Newegg. I can't wait for them to get here. One item, thumb screws, is being shipped from Asia and I pray that it doesn't take weeks to get here. It will put the brakes on this computer build until they arrive. I got 25 thumb screws for $7.99. Believe me. They are worth the wait.

Nocturnal No More...

I am finally ensconced and settled into a normal daytime existence. I pray my circadian clock doesn't go haywire again. It creeps up on me and then I go awry. I go to bed around 10 pm and wake up around 8 am. I feel better for doing this. When you "work" 3rd shift, you feel tired all the time. It's as if you can never get enough sleep.

Expounding Upon Grocery Day...

I know I sound like a broken record as I am making spaghetti and meat sauce once again tonight. It is such a comfort food for me. One thing I missed the most this past week was that International Delight hazelnut coffee creamer. I like to pour it into my glasses of milk. It is delicious. I will be sure to get some tonight after a week hiatus, and you know I have to have my Kroger frosted flakes and 3 gallons of milk.

image credit: http://www.samsung.com/semiconductor/about-us/news/12993

Barking Up the Vanity Tree...

I was sitting at this humble computer when Charlie pulled up to the curb with breakfast around 9:30 am. A big grin formed on my face. I was starving.

"Charlie's here!" I hollered loudly as Maggie came flying off the bed to go greet him.

"Hows my hair look?" Charlie vainly asked as he walked across my front yard.

The wind was blowing it all about his head -- what little of hair he has.

"You need a nice combover like Donald Trump," I replied trying not to crack up with a smile. "I've got some hairspray in the bathroom that will get you all fixed up."

"Shutup!" Charlie said as he was laughing.

Yeah, those were some mighty fine bacon, egg, and cheese biscuits from Mickey D's this morning. Maggie relished hers as well. The giant Coke with no ice was the creme de la creme.

image credit: https://notionscapital.wordpress.com/tag/ted-cruz/

Wha? Easter?

I didn't even know it was easter until Charlie told me. I am pretty content to sit out this holiday.
My revelry will probably be driving to Fred's and buying some half-off Easter candy on sale today.

Dandelions Are Underrated...

Treats Are on the Way!

Dad just called me and told me he would be here at around 3:00 pm with my medications to my surprise.

"Are you hungry?" he asked me sounding chipper.

"I certainly am," I told my father.

"How does Captain D's sound?" he then asked.

"Sounds delicious," I said over my suddenly grumbling stomach. "I love their jumbo fish platter."

Today is my nieces birthday so Papa and crew are headed to Alexander City. My father wanted to take care of my needs before he left town.

"I am getting my oldest situated," were his words as he was leaving.

Johnny Otis Just Gave the Green Light to Go!

I woke up at 5:00 am this morning and was very disoriented. I called mom and dad and told my father to not forget my sodas when he arrives with medications. I was thinking it was still last night.

"Son?" he asked. "It is 5 am in the morning."

I apologized profusely when I realized the err of my ways.

"Oh, I hope I didn't wake up the grandkids!"

I then waited a few hours and called my father a moment ago and asked hin a very simple question.

"Will you let me use $100 of my inheritance money to give me $350 of computer part purchasing power?"

I about fainted when Mr. Tight Wad agreed. I guess it helped that he was still half asleep. "Could it really be that easy?" I was thinking to myself as we got off the phone.

The money for my birthday is coming from a variety of sources. $100 is what I get for my birthday every year. $150 dollars is for doing such a good job at getting my house in ship shape condition. Now, I have $100 more to spend and the little computer I am building is going to be awesome. Shopping for parts is almost as fun as buying them. I am just giddy with excitement!

In Other News...Birthdays Galore...

My mother turned 70 last Thursday. I got her a sweet card and a $20 gift card for Longhorn Steakhouse. I called mom to tell her happy birthday and she said, "I didn't even remember it was my birthday." I am very lucky that my parents don't act or feel their age. Mom's only problem is that she tuckers out after walking a short distance.

My Parent's Azaleas...

My Neighbor's Red Bud Tree...

The Princess of Maratouse and Mauritania is Pooped Out...

A Pooped Pups!

My dearest Magster had to spend the night at the veterinarian's kennels last night. Dr. Thomas wanted to keep an eye on her overnight to see if the eye drops were starting to work. Her left eye is has a slight bacterial infection.

I liked to have never gotten to sleep without her and breakfast for one is just not fun without my little buddy.

Well, Maggie is certainly outdone with me. She has been pouting since lunchtime when I brought her home. I don't think she slept one iota last night and she is crashed on the bed at the moment.

Some things never change, though. As soon as Maggie heard the crinkly sound of a Pop-Tarts wrapper, she came running into the den from the bedroom for her share. Maggie has been known to think with her stomach at times.

Move Along Little Doggies...

I love it when the staff of Kamath Medical are ticking like a fine clock. They were right on time today. No sooner had I sat down in the lobby -- my nurse, Rebecca, called me back to an examining room. The injection of that scary needle was also painless as well. Soon, I was driving back up to the pharmacy to drop off my next appointment card to my father. That's his insurance that I actually got the injection.

In an hour or two, I will feel this very pleasant bout of euphoria and then I will get very drowsy as that high dosage of medication enters my blood stream.

When I get up and get going again this afternoon, I have to take the Magster out to see Dr. Jerry at the small animal clinic for an eye infection. It's not bad, but I don't want it to worsen due to lack of action. Maggie sure has some impressive eye boogers these days.

Thwarted Again...

http://www.threadgills.com/weekend-brunch/

I fell asleep about 10 pm and slept until 3 am this morning giving me about 5 hours of sleep. I laid there for the longest time listening to Maggie's rhythmic breathing. It was freezing in here so I immediately ran to the thermostat and turned it up some. In a matter of moments, warm air was flowing out of my vents. Maggie most astutely got in my warm spot I left in my bed. I quickly dressed and pulled on a warm jacket.

I wasn't very adventurous with breakfast this morning.  Maggie and I had cheese grits and two biscuits for each of us. I thought the biscuits would never finish cooking. Maggie and I were both very impetuous today.

This morning is my Risperdal Consta injection. Amazingly, I am not experiencing any withdrawal this morning which is usually not the case. My father had forgotten about it last night until I reminded him. He left my house after the medication ritual to drive back down to the pharmacy and fill my prescription so I would be ready to go in the morning.

The Rose Colored Dogwoods Are the Best...

My neighbor next door to the right of me was talking to someone in a car at the curb. I took a picture of this dogwood bloom in her yard. 

"What is he taking pictures of?" I heard the driver say with a touch of paranoia thrown in.

"I don't know," my neighbor replied. "But it is making me nervous."

"Oh, I am not stealing souls today. I am just taking pictures of flowers," I told both of them.

They didn't get my joke. 

This Little Beauty Pops Up By My Mailbox Every Year...

The Dogwoods are Blooming...

Shoo Insomnia...

A really good looking Southern breakfast.

I slept the whole night through and feel so rested this morning and with much mental clarity to boot. I am going to endeavor to stay up all day so I will have a repeat performance tonight.

Breakfast With My Furry Princess...

"The kitchen is closed," I told the begging Magster after breakfast.

Maggie gets more vocal as she grows older and I have a hard time resisting her. She actually playfully barked at me several times this morning. I had just put today's tableware in the dishwasher. Maggie stayed under foot the whole time hoping there was more to eat.

By the way, Maggie and I had a great breakfast of poached eggs on toast and cheddar cheese. I fried some sausage patties as well. Dad taught me how to poach eggs, but I often find myself getting them too done.

Helen is Back!

Dad gave Helen my grandmother's old 1992 Buick LaSabre. My grandmother never drove anywhere so the car only has a little over 38,000 miles on the odometer. It has been sitting in the garage for years down at the pharmacy. My father had a hard time letting go of that car as it held such sentimental value. He said he was just loaning Helen the car. The only problem with the car is the antilock brakes aren't working causing a little orange light to glow in the instrument cluster.

We'll I'll Be Danged...

It was a sandwich-themed grocery trip tonight. I got all kinds of cold cuts and cheeses. You know? It is hard to find a good tasting package of cold cuts with all the chemicals they put in these meats these days. Many smell like sulfur when you open the package or just taste terrible.

I also got two loaves of my favorite bread made by Merita tonight. You'd be hard pressed to find a softer and more fresh sandwich bread. Buying sandwich fixins' left me plenty of money for breakfast foods. I got two packages of my favorite Black Label bacon, a pallet of jumbo eggs, butter, frozen biscuits, regular grits (instant grits are an abomination), cheddar cheese, etc.

"Don't forget your Mountain Dews," my father told me standing in the greeting card aisle as I passed him.

I thanked my father profusely. Those drinks are my favorite part of grocery night.

When I arrived home, Charlie had let himself in and was replacing all my incandescent light bulbs with fluorescent bulbs. All those light bulbs must've cost Charlie a fortune. Horsefly was furiously and unnervingly pacing the floor of my house. Of course, I got roped into helping. Charlie and mom are the only two people I trust with my house key. Until my ultimate dreamy woman comes along of course. She will get a key, too. The key to my home and to my heart.

Surge Protectors and a Somewhat Organized Den...

Nope! Nada! Never Again!

I was in over my head taking my mother to Walmart this afternoon -- way overhead for this introverted person. After what happened today, I vowed I would never go again.

I got mom out of the car into a wheelchair and headed for the pharmaceutical section to look for brush heads for her mechanical toothbrush. We looked at every brush until we found the right one.

Next, was shampoo shopping a few aisles over.

"I want an apple scented shampoo and conditioner," my mother told me happily.

We smelled about twenty bottles until we were content with one selection. Shampoo was all squirting up out of the bottles as mom squeezed them to smell them. In a just world, we would have to pay for all that shampoo, but we don't live in a just world.

I mainly wanted a simple surge protector for my new computer I am building, and for which I immediately knew where to go and get it in the electronics department.  We immediately found one and headed to checkout thankfully. The disparity between male shopping and female shopping couldn't have ever been more prescient.

Just by sheer fate, the first girl I ever kissed was manning the speedy checkout line.

"Hey Nikki," I said shyly. "Parlez-vous français?"

She speaks fluent French. Her eyes lit up as she acknowledged me. We also know each other from Facebook and I followed her adventures when she lived in France for a few months. We had a regular repartee going until her then boyfriend grew jealous.

Bright, Sunshiny Day Ahead...

It is cold tonight for so late in spring, but the day is supposed to be beautiful. My wireless weather station is reporting 39° degrees at 3:36 am. We have patchy frost advisories out for our neck of the woods. I hope it doesn't freeze the tender new grass I have begun growing on my lawn. My yard has transformed from a drab brown to an emerald green in just a week. I know all the yard services are rejoicing after a long winter. It is time to go make some money.

Some of the stuff I had going on tonight or the early morning I should say...

1. Fixed an ailing fan in my emulation/retro computer.
2. Ate me some fried chicken while Maggie begged for more and more. I am saving the mashed potatoes and gravy and the slaw for a snack later in the morning.
3. Dicked around for about an hour trying to get the Samsung Magician application to work with my emulation computer with no luck.
4. Played a few hours of the original Phantasy Star.
5. Got my emulation computer hooked up to a surge protector finally.
6. Organized all the wiring around my main gaming rig computer in the den which was a bird's nest.  

I am excited about going to get another surge protector for another computer today at Walmart. I told my mother I would call her late in the afternoon after I have slept for the day. I will probably have to get mom in a wheelchair as she needs a few things as well.

This Always Makes Me Crack Up Laughing...

Machinations Coordinations...

http://lifehacker.com/five-best-surge-protectors-1444106854

Shall Sunday night fried chicken ever get here? Mom called and said Charlie and my father are delivering a couch to Charlie's granddaughter, Erin, in Auburn before our usual Sunday night ritual.

"How long do you think it will take them?" my mother asked me on the phone impetuously.

"At least two hours," I replied apprehensively.

Mom sounded so crestfallen on the phone. She said she was so very hungry.

"Now's a good time to eat a bologna sandwich," I told her. "It'll hold you over till they get here."

I am in need of a new surge protector for my new computer I am building for my birthday. I took this moment in time to ask mom if she would buy me one for my birthday.

"We'll go tomorrow after my hair appointment," she said. "Try to keep it under $40. I'll run by the bank and get some cash out."

A broad grin formed on my face. Mom was very hyper tonight. Almost manic. She could barely get her words out fast enough to convey their meaning.

"Walmart's website says the one I want is $24 dollars," I replied. "The in-store price may vary, though."

"That sounds fine," my mother said.

As soon as I hung up the phone, my father called.

"What do you want for supper?" my father asked. "We are leaving Auburn right now."

"Just get me the KFC 3pc. original meal," I told my father tired of Wendy's hamburgers.

The Magical Hour...

http://digital-photography-school.com/dawn-weekly-photography-challenge/

I used to talk about this more often when I was more in tune with nature after my bout with homelessness and living in the woods.

The Magical Hour is a time of the morning when all the birds begin their calls and all of nature's flora and fauna begin to awake and stir. This morning's Magical Hour cacophony is courtesy of all the neighborhood catbirds seeking mates.

When I was homeless, the Magical Hour also heralded the return of warmth and the sun after a cold night in a sleeping bag.

The Magical Hour is also a time for winding down for me.  I turn the air conditioning down and pull back the covers on my bed in anticipation.  Maggie jumps up on the bed and starts to get herself groomed for a day's sleep.

This morning is complicated as Charlie is bringing breakfast. By no means am I complaining. I am hungry this morning and I welcome a hearty breakfast. Charlie's been a godsend at times and has been as early as 8 am. Most mornings he is here between 9 and 10 am. I will eat and then retire for the day.

Nice and Tidy Shelves -- Mostly Software and Magazines...

A Warm Heart. A Comforted Mind...

Dad walked inside my house and the first thing he said was, "It smells so clean in here! It doesn't smell like wet dog and stale cigarette smoke!"

I had the subsequent whole house review and my father was just ecstatic about how clean and tidy things were. I got many accolades from him.

"It wasn't this clean when you moved in," my father told me excitably.

"I haven't seen that room in years," he also said of my computer room or junk room.

We took my medications and fed and watered Maggie. Dad was soon on his way back home. He waited until late to arrive and I was getting agitated and anxious about him seeing my house. I went to so much trouble cleaning that I hoped he was chomping at the bit to see it.

Dad also brought me a plate of two hot dogs with homemade chili and melted cheddar cheese on top and a veritable mound of french fries on a separate plate. All's well that ends well.

Retro-Gaming Goodness...

Phantasy Star (ファンタシースター Fantashī Sutā^?) is the first installment in Sega's renowned series of the same title. It was released for the Sega Master System, in Japan on December 20, 1987, and then in North America and Europe in 1988. It is considered one of the pioneers amongst role-playing video games, both for its advanced graphics technology, and for being one of the first story-driven games released in the West. It is also notable for being one of the first games featuring a female protagonist.

This week I am playing the original Phantasy Star that was released to the U.S. public in 1988. Yeah the sounds and graphics are a little rudimentary but I am having fun.  The game is much more difficult that I imagined it being. There were four games in the series and I am going to play them all in the correct order. The other three were released for the Sega Genesis video game console.

From the Bahamas Back to the Little Burg in Alabama...

http://the-bahamas.net/bahama-beach-club/

Dad said just two short days ago he was sitting on a white sandy beach in the Bahamas and now he is back in the little burg in the Valley.

"It is a rude awakening," my father told me a moment ago as I gathered my Cokes for the day. "No sooner than I had walked in the door your mother was telling me all that was wrong and what needed to be corrected."

"Well, she's been passing out cigars like candy to kids on Halloween," I replied.

Dad got a big laugh out of that.

"Johnny, Andrew needs some more cigars..." my mother most undoubtedly said when my father walked in the door.

We are all delighted he is home, though.  He's even back to cooking. Tonight, we are having chili dogs and french fries.

"I'll bring you a plate tonight when I bring your medications," my father told me as I was stepping out of the back door to head home.

I can't wait for my father to see the inside of my house even though he will probably lolly-gag around until 9 pm this evening until the medication ritual. I pray that Downton Abbey has run its course or does it come on the television Sunday night?

Got Cereal? No Milk? Headed to the Pig...

Maggie made me do it. Yes, she did! She whispered in my ear that she wanted some Vienna sausages. How could I resist my pups? Yes, I just made a journey to the Piggly Wiggly to buy whole milk and a six-pack of Vienna sausages. It was $8 dollars and some change. I smartly paid cash. That's the fifth gallon of milk I have had this week. Too much maybe? Excessive is my middle name and so is the new gut forming on the middle part of my personage.

Next, on the agenda is to wake mom up for her hair appointment at 1:00 pm. I am going to call her about $12:30 pm. Let's pray she is not drunk again on those damn pain pills. Her voice was slurred several calls later on the phone, but she promised me she was fine.

"Now put on some makeup before you go," I told her on the phone earlier.

Mom's about makeup kinda like I am about shaving. We tend to be lax concerning these matters.

The Cleaning Continues...

Today, I am focusing on the kitchen and getting all my laundry done. I had several bags of clothes in the computer room closet that I had forgotten about -- nice clothes that I can wear. I also mopped all my hardwood floors and mopped the kitchen while I was at it. I hope my father resides over the medication ritual tonight. He is going to be so surprised.

My Azaleas Are Blooming Early This Year...

Lucid...

http://smandola.com/wp/?attachment_id=961

Mom just called me and asked me to wake her up for her hair stylist appointment. Lord knows, we don't want to miss the day of the do.  It was good to hear her so lucid and back to her old self. She was talking coherently.

"I ran out of pain pills, but I have another bottle from last time that I can take," my mother told me.

"Don't you think you've had enough?" I asked. "You can give the other bottle to me!"

Mom started laughing.

"Yeah, you look like a pain pill," my mother snarkily replied as she began to laugh more.

See? Nobody takes me seriously around here.

My father will be home tonight, so hopefully things will get back to normal around the house. Mom won't take all those pills while he is at home.

I told mom I needed a morphine drip like the photo to the right with a turbo button for when I need an extra dosage. I'd probably turbo myself into oblivion knowing me.

Nature's Birth Control...

I just had a flashback memory of my father when I was a child. Dad was always straight forward with his kids about life matters and when they grew into teenagers as well.

"A man's hand is your best friend," my father always told me in high school about dating and birth control. I would cringe when he said it and it would embarrass me, but he was pretty much right about the subject.

Play Dirty Pool...

Dad always taught me to fight dirty when confronted with a bully. He called it a preemptive strike. "Kick him in the nads and I bet he won't bother you again. There are plenty of fishes in the sea for him to bully". Mom would be aghast as she was a teacher in the same school system when I would get in trouble. She said it would make her look like a terrible parent and faculty member.

image credit: http://www.keepcalm-o-matic.co.uk/p/keep-calm-and-kick-em-in-the-nuts/

Well, Bad...

I drove over to get my sodas and mom looked, well, bad. She's been hitting the Xanax hard while my father has been away. I thought she would never answer the phone this afternoon.

"Are you okay?" I asked her as she stood at the back door.

"The steps to the basement get me every time," she told me out of breath.

"Have you been eating regular meals?" I then asked. "You can come and eat spaghetti with me tonight."

Mom said she was hungry and that my spaghetti sounded delicious. She said she ate a Bobby burger last night and pizza with Mrs. Sandra.

"Come over and eat with me! I'll even be your taxi service!"

I just have gotten back from taking mom home. She ate two plates of my spaghetti and wanted my recipe. Mom was just starving to death figuratively speaking that is. It turns out she's been taking pain pills for a "sore" tooth. She said they just knock her out. I bet they do. Mom's like me. We can't take just two.

Edit: Charlie is involved now. He is going to go get her a Big Mac Value Meal and a couple of those Mickey D's apple pies for when she gets the munchies tonight around 2 or 3 am. He is going to go check on her as well. Charlie has a heart of gold and soft spot for my mother after all she's done for Horsefly over the years.

The Deer Graveyard...

https://meetmythamerica.wordpress.com/page/5/

I saw three dead deer on my travels down the tracks this afternoon. Are they drawn to the lights of a passing locomotive and jump? There are lots of videos on YouTube of deer getting hit by a train when I looked a moment ago much to my surprise. It's a macabre subject. It seems they just completely ignore the train and WHAM! Often swallowed under the cowcatcher on the front of a locomotive.

I was ever cognizant of Bulls today which is the trains rider's and Hobo's word for railroad police. I had seen one rail truck pass earlier. There is a lot of activity behind that old cotton mill and I also saw another railfan taking photos of the action. He waved at me when he saw me take a photo. He wasn't as adventurous as I, though, preferring to stay on the road by the water treatment plant. He was worried about Bulls, no doubt, as well. They will write you a ticket and take you to jail for trespassing on railroad property. I can't imagine my mother driving to Atlanta to pick me up.

"Uh, Charlie?" LOL "I was taking pictures of dead deer and got arrested."

I can only imagine Charlie's reaction to those words.

An Aside: I never get comments these days so 3 comments on one post must mean trouble.

Groggily I Sit...

I crawled into bed at 4 am after turning the air conditioning down low. I spent most of the night sitting in my Lazy-E-Boy recliner reading Model Railroader magazines as the television droned on. I am fixated on Peter Thomas' voice on Forensic Files. I also have the model railroading bug bad at the moment.

It took Maggie quite a long time to settle down this morning. She finally curled up snugly against my chest after vanquishing many cooties on the field of battle and went to sleep almost instantly. Her rhythmic breathing lulled me to sleep as well.

I opened my eyes in what seemed like a night's worth of sleep. I was disorientated. I looked at the clock and emitted a nice and nasty cuss word. F--K! The clock said 7 am. I had only been asleep 3 hours and was now wide awake again. Maggie was like, "don't go!" when I crawled back out of the bed, "we have much sleep left in us!". Maggie can enviably sleep at the drop of a hat.

Well, I got up, caught my second wind, and got a big pot of meat sauce going. I put it on simmer in case I need to fall back to sleep again and it needs to cook longer. My house smells wonderful at the moment. I fixed myself a bowl and am waiting on it to cool down some before I taste test it. I once again tried a new recipe -- variations on a theme. I added an extra pound of lean ground chuck and left out a can of tomato sauce. I do believe this one is going to be the winner.

image credit: http://dogtime.com/dog-health/dog-behavior/29375-how-daylight-saving-time-affects-your-dog