No Sidekick Tonight...

I was so very glad to see my dear Charles Meister tonight, but my father had other obligations. That didn't stop Maggie going apeshit bananas at Charlie's arrival, though.

I was deeply disappointed as I missed him very much. My father arriving is a moment of bliss for Maggie and I. Charlie and dad are always so covert and secretive when things happen like my father being gone tonight.

"Your father will be back to give you your medications tomorrow," Charlie told me as he handed me my plethora and handful of crazy meds.

I noticed Charlie had brought me two very large Cokes from McDonald's. Ah, Bless! He also brought my allotment of 6 diet Cokes for the day as well. Double Dog Bless!

I woke up about 7 PM and immediately got to work cleaning my bathroom. All of this commotion sent Maggie out the dog door and she sat on my back deck for the longest time. Maggie is terribly skittish when it comes to brooms or any disturbance in her environment. I didn't want Charlie to do all that and the bathroom needed some serious cleaning and polishing. It looked like a public toilet ( a bit of hyperbole).

"Your house looks so good," Charlie applauded me. "I don't have anything to do!"

"You've done all the work," I told Charlie. "Sometimes, I just need a helping hand and an incentive to get me started cleaning. I don't want to undo all the cleaning you've done along the way these past few weeks."

Charlie also brought me Big Mac value meal and I have about 40 more minutes to go until time to eat.

Where Go'est Thou the Sausage Biscuit Fairy Man?

I was beginning to have lost all hope in Charlie's arrival this morning. Maggie lost her zest of looking out the window and curled up on the couch in defeat to sleep.

9:00 PM came and went and he still hadn't visited us. I was ready to go to bed -- my eyelids feeling as if they were made of heavy lead. The Magster's ever watchful eye would have to alert me to Charlie's visit -- natures alarm system.

Soon as my head hit my pillow, I was fast and deeply asleep. I was abruptly woken in what seemed like hours later by the Duchess and the festivities going on in the den. Only an hour had passed and my eyes were burning from lack of sleep.

"We are going to clean your bathroom tonight," Charlie told me enthusiastically. "I won't take but 10 minutes.

"Oh joy!" I said very sarcastically.

Really though, if Charlie keeps this up I am going to a clean and spot free house in a few weeks -- little by little during our Sunday night feeding ritual. Dad gets all antsy about Charlie's cleaning until you turn on the television and he is placated -- another zombie watching the boob tube.

"What do want to eat tonight?" Charlie asked me before he left to finish all his other deliveries.

"Get me a Grand Big Mac combo meal with an extra large coke,"

Charlie said it was a done deal and he would see me again tonight. We told each other we loved each other and Charlie was on his way.

Ribeyes -- That's What's For Supper...

I am looking at the clock displayed by my computer. It is 11:25 PM. Charlie and my father have just left. A courtesy call would be nice, though, but the days of getting angry have long gone. I was just worried about them, but I dare not call my father's cellphone and bringing forth his ire. He would snap at me and say I was hurrying them along.

"Andrew we're running late. We'll get there as soon as we can." See? That was simple enough, wasn't it?

My father grilled ribeyes for supper and I am anxiously waiting to dig in. I have to wait until after an hour of taking my medications to eat. If I eat something so soon, it will take several excruciating hours for my medications to take effect and delaying bedtime. They will not have that buzzy brain kick as they normally do when I wait only an hour on an empty stomach. Oh, my sweet euphoria.

Normally, I would be irate and would be pouting with such an extremely late arrival. I just evoked my coveted Auschwitz Mantra. I am lucky for a family who cares and who brings nourishing food and lonesome curing company. Charlie, Papa, and I are a pretty cohesive bunch of folks these days.

Dad and I walked into the kitchen to get Maggie's ritual completed. My medication ritual was over and it was Maggie's turn.

"I've already fed and watered Maggie," Charlie told us both beating us to the punch.

That Voice -- that Voice of a Thousand Memories...

I couldn't get my father on his cell phone so I called dad's landline at his house this morning. It rang and rang until it dumped me into my parent's voicemail. Mom's voice on the message service said she couldn't come to the phone at that time and to please leave a message.

The sound of my mother's voice sent me reeling and made me very melancholy. A tear erupted from my eye. I miss my mother very much. We were two peas in a pod. Dad says I got the worst of the both of them with regards to my faulty genes. I told him it just makes me eccentric to use a kinder word. "That Andrew certainly is an interesting fellow!"

"I've been meaning to change that," my rather technophobe father said at lunch today. "I am probably going to recruit you into doing that. The security code is taped on the side of the fridge."

It is the only recording of my mother's voice so I told my father to get a recording of that message if he could.

"Tell them to burn it to a compact disc or email it to you!" I told my father.

"I always said that your mother would outlive me for decades," he said. "But I was wrong."

In the Land of Milk and Honey...

Dad dropped by the afternoon with a catfish plate from Roger's barbecue. I love surprises like that.

"I thought you may be running low on groceries," my father said.

"You are correct in that assessment, Sir!" I replied.

Those fried catfish plates are pretty expensive as well. In a few moments, my whole house smelled of fried catfish. It was driving Maggie nuts. It was a 3 piece filet plate so I gave Maggie one filet. What did she do? She took such a morsel outside and buried it in the backyard. I had a face-palm moment for a minute there.

"I am heading home," my father said. "Enjoy your plate and I hope mine is not yet cold."

Anybody Need A Home? Down Payments Welcome

"Come on!" Charlie said impatiently with an excited tone to his voice. "I've got something I want to show you."

Charlie scurried over to his Caprica with me hot on his heels.

Charlie's and my father's driving gets me carsick so I was very hesitant to go and I braced myself for the worse. I had just drank a large glass of milk and eaten a couple of ham and cheese Hot Pockets before Charlie arrived.  I hoped I wouldn't "blow chunks" like Charlie alluded to about Horsefly.

"I am a landlord now," Charlie smugly said as he showed me a row of six nice apartments he had bought a few days ago.

The apartments looked rather nice to me. They all had two bedrooms and two bathrooms. They also had a very spacious and modern kitchen.

"I am going to tear out the fireplaces and refinish all the hardwood floors."

"Please don't tear out the fireplaces," I told Charlie pleadingly. "The fireplaces will make a big difference if someone is deciding on whether or not to rent."

Charlie mulled over what I said for a few moments and he told me the idea maybe a good one.

A Conniption Fit Thwarted...

"Did you hear that line of thunderstorms this morning? It was a humdinger," my father asked me a moment ago. "It sounded like a war zone outside."

"I slept all the way through it," I replied aggravatedly.

I hate to miss a good storm and I cursed under my breath that I didn't get to experience it. Especially because of the way my father described it. There are only a few things that wake me up and one is someone knocking on the door and two is Maggie's having another barking conniption fit in the backyard at three in the morning.

There is a Time for Everything and Tonight was Certainly One of Those Times for Maggie...

It was absolutely amazing that my father remembered to bring Maggie's heartworm and flea medications tonight. Thoughts of The Secretary came flooding back in a wave of nostalgia.

"Is she going to eat it?" my father asked with much trepidation.

Maggie wouldn't eat it so I just thrust that beef flavored pill down her throat like my mother would always do to all our pets.

"She looks like she is in shock you did that so fast," my father said heartily laughing.

Maggie certainly did look shellshocked. Maggie also got a can of Vienna sausages for the most of her cooperation in the matter.

Taking the High Road...

I just got a welcomed email from Matt, the pharmacy computer guru, to email him what exact keyboards I want to get. I got so excited. Maybe this is not going to be as arduous as I expected it to be. The price of $34.99 and free shipping was just too enticing for my father to pass up. Can you get excited about a lowly two keyboards? I sure can. Bring it on!

Every now and then, NewEgg will throw a freebie in with your order. The last time Matt ordered some parts for me, I got a free SD card reader. Let's hope they send me something really neat with this order as well.

Some Thunder and Rain Moving in this Morning...

Walmart After Hours...

I have a broken keyboard on my PC gaming computer. It went out right in the middle of some fierce Skyrim battle action earlier tonight. Grrr... I saved my game with my mouse and was very perturbed. I have a tendency to wear out keyboards and mice pretty quickly. Oh hell, I don't know what I am talking about. Most of my mice and keyboards are over five years old.

It was 2:00 AM and there was just a very sparse skeleton crew working at Walmart tonight. I only saw four employees and two of those were at checkout lanes. I saw two other delightfully pleasant looking ladies stocking items in the personal hygiene aisle and in pharmaceuticals.

They had some Microsoft ergonomic keyboards for $39.98 (NewEgg has them in stock for $34.99 with free shipping). I almost bought one but I spent so much on groceries the other night that I decided to ask my father first. I was just glad they had some and we don't have to order them from NewEgg and the rigamarole that entails. Let's save Matt at the pharmacy some trouble.

I want to get two keyboards as the keyboard to my blogging and browsing computer is getting older and I've worn all the letters off. Dad will call me Martha when I tell him that I can assure you. All right now Martha...

Chicken Scratchin' For My Medications...

Oh, joy! Medication time! The head honcho has just left the premises. Papa was in a very talkative and excitable mood tonight. He said they had every screwball imaginable come in the pharmacy today. Pill counters, crazy Lortab partakers, methadone minions, etc.

Dad likes old Christian hymns despite being an atheist. He loves to play them on the baby grand in the front room of his house. I found a choir/vocal version of May the Circle Be Unbroken and we both loved it. I played it to him on my home theater in the den with my iPod.

"Can you burn me a copy?" he asked thinking he had asked for a long shot.

"Give me just a minute," I told him and I stepped into the computer room and burned it in Redbook audio so it would play in his car.

Dad was also watching A and E's Intervention when he left his house to come over here.

"Talking to them is not going to work. Treatment centers are not going to work," he told me. "You have to take draconian measures to stop the addiction. You start by getting power of attorney and taking away the money!"

"I like social visits, but aren't you forgetting something?" I asked him as he got up to leave after his little speech.

"Oh shit!" my father exclaimed. "I didn't give you your medications!"

Dad and I both walked out to his Honda so I could make sure the compact disc would play on his stereo. Soon, we were hearing sweet tunes. I am very pleased he liked that.

A Quote By Andrew...

"It sure takes you a long time to do your hair and put on your makeup."

                                              Andrew to his then wife trying to get to his favorite seafood restaurant.
                                                                                                                 

Possibly Immaturity...

Someone today on the web asked me why I changed my blog name to Dragon Master Andrew. Well, I was in my early twenties working third shift at the Circle K down the street. Dawn would encroach as all the police were beginning to fill up their cars. I would quickly mop the floors and wait for the first shift to arrive so I could hand over the reigns.  I would reconcile my register and ride my bike home to play Lunar: The Silver Star on my coveted Sega CD. The protagonist of that game was Dragon Master Alex. I have some of the best memories playing that game until time to hit the bed again to be ready for work that night. Oh, and there was some beer involved as well. *blushes*

I Smell A Rat...

I posted that Lincoln quote yesterday, but something seems a little fishy to me about it. Firstly, it just doesn't sound like the vernacular of the Civil War era. Secondly, after Lincoln's son Thaddeus died as a child, Mary Todd Lincoln went bat shat crazy in grief. She would hold seances trying to speak to her deceased son. That just makes me think Lincoln wouldn't say something like that.

We Are in Love by Harry Connick Jr.

Where's the Beef? The Beef is on the Stove...

After a couple of phone calls to my father at the pharmacy, I now have beef chuck patties simmering in gravy and onions on the stove or what is often called hamburger steak.

"Let them simmer for a couple of hours," my father told me over his phone. "And add water or milk if it cooks down. You don't want to scorch the gravy or the patties."

I chose milk for added richness, but I don't know if I can wait 2 hours. We might just let them cook for one hour as I am hungry. The beef patties will be eaten with steak sauce and some very, very fresh Sunbeam loaf bread. Sorry to all you vegetable lovers, but this is carnivore city tonight.

What's This Antec You May Ask?

I got Matt at the pharmacy to order me this expensive $165 Antec "unbeatable" computer case a couple of months ago. I just had to have it and basically begged my father for it. I never used as it is completely convoluted to get components in and out of the thing. To its merit, the thing does light up blue like a Christmas tree and I am into the colorized component and case trend in computers as well.

I am about to attempt to install the ghetto computer into that spare Antec computer case. Anytime you do things like this to computers there is a margin for error. So wish me luck in a couple of hours and let's hope these big fingers can get all those little screws into their little holes.

You Go Somewhere Else Insomnia...

I've cycled to staying up all night again. I went to bed at 5:00 AM this morning and woke at 5:00 PM this afternoon. That's sleeping a full twelve hours and I needed the rest. My eyes were burning yesterday from lack of sleep.

I could've slept longer, but I was awoken by a little Wren that keeps letting itself into the house through the dog door. She will fly around a little bit and then get a morsel of Maggie's dog food and a draught of water and head back out. Maggie completely ignores her for some reason.

Cadbury Creme Eggs 0.29 Cents!

You can bet I stocked up on some candy creme eggs. I probably grabbed a dozen as Zach grabbed a Kroger bag to put them in as he rung them up.

"You must really like those eggs..." Zach asked facetiously as he was ringing me up.

"I do have a certain fine fondness for them," I replied to Zach in stilted English language feeling frisky.

Other than the eggs, I stayed true to my plan B tonight. No impulse buys this evening. I got lots of things to make tasty sandwiches. My sweet items were some Little Debbie honey buns and my two pies. Tonight's pies were an Edwards Key lime pie and an Edwards Hershey's creme pie. (Yay! They finally had my Edwards pies back in stock!)

My big ticket items were Blue Plate mayonnaise (why does this stuff have to be so expensive?). I also got a large pack of ground chuck for $8.99 and the accompanying Kroger steak sauce.

"We're going to buy your meat at Givorn's next time," my father told me. "I don't know why Kroger has such expensive beef."

"Givorn's has an actual butcher and does not outsource," I replied to my father.

"You're going to be eating a lot of pepperoni," my father then said facetiously about my two big 12ct. boxes of Hot Pockets.

Instead of 4 gallons of milk tonight, I got a 12 pack of Kroger ginger ale, and a 12 pack of Minute Maid lemonade.

The total tally tonight was a little more expensive than I wanted it to be, but I was in uncharted territory. My father didn't say a word as he swiped the debit card.

About As Right As Rain...

Grocery Day Musings - Possible Big Shakeup!

Look at all the colorful products vying for your attention!

I am mulling over getting two big multi-packs of pepperoni pizza Hot Pockets instead of the Marie Callendar's meals tonight. I am also tired of Frosted Flakes and milk after eating them for months and months (years?). We might have a big shakeup on hand during grocery night tonight. I don't want any bananas as well. I do want a 12 pack of Canada Dry ginger ale and Minute Maid lemonade. I also need TUMs for when I drink the lemonade.

A treat I might try is to get some ground chuck and Kroger steak sauce and eat it with loaf bread. Also, the idea of buying some unfrosted strawberry Pop-tarts is growing in my mind. My two pies are mandatory, though.

"Make you some beef patties and gravy and let them simmer for several hours," my father just told me over the phone after I mentioned ground chuck. "They will get good and tender. Almost like eating steak!"

"Are you getting A-1 sauce?" dad then asked me. "You know it is quite pricey."

"I am getting Kroger's steak sauce," I told my father.

It tastes almost exactly like A-1 at half of the price.

Aw, Man! Those Confederates!

Lincoln At Gettysburg

I was in the land of very deep REM sleep when someone knocked on the door very, very early this morning. Maggie flew off the bed in a hurry to see who it was. She was growling as she ran. It caught the both of us off guard.

"Who is it?" I asked loudly as I walked into the den.

Maggie was now wagging her tail standing behind the front door.

"Happy Confederate Holiday!" a loud voice said on the other side of the door. It was Charlie and he had the day off. He had brought Maggie and me a sack of sausage biscuits. The Duchess just squealed with joy at the sound of Charlie's voice!

"Do you know why we went to war?" Charlie asked as he handed me the sack.

Charlie's great with antiques and not so much with history.

"States rights," I replied. "Lincoln later tacked on emancipation to bolster the war effort."

"I was going to say slavery," Charlie told me.

"Do you know where the war started?" I asked Charlie. "The first shots were fired at Fort Sumter South Carolina."

I used to love to sit in the bowels of Montevallo's huge library and read books about the Civil War.

I liked to have never gone back to sleep this morning.  I had stayed up to around 4:00 AM. I woke up at 4:00 PM after drifting back off again sometime around 10:00 AM. My eyes were burning I was so tired early this morning.

By the way, I just evoked the Auschwitz Mantra about all the sausage biscuits the Duchess and I have been getting lately. I would be quite happy to have it if I were eating gruel with boiled maggots in it.

Hazel? Is That You?

Disclaimer: My house stays pretty clean most days. I had already taken all the trash out before Charlie arrived and he still found more to bag up. You have to watch Charlie or he will throw something out that isn't trash thinking it was trash. Charlie just feels this extreme compulsion to make my living environs cleaner. Fish gotta swim and birds gotta fly as the old saying goes. Charlie was born to clean. He can clean in 10 minutes what would take me an hour.

-------------------------------

To set the stage, Dad was Mr. B and Charlie was Hazel.

"What do you want to eat?" my father asked and he then went on a tangent and said Charlie was flying down HWY 29 like a madman. He told me he was grabbing the "Oh! Shit!" handle.

"Just get me the number one at Taco Hell," I told my father which consists of a taco supreme and a burrito supreme.

Just enough to fill me up.

I was laying on the computer room bed with Maggie then I heard a car door shut. Maggie bolted off the bed and headed for the front door. Ah, yes, it was the dynamic duo and Maggie was beside herself.

Charlie got to cleaning after our usual pleasantries. He cleaned behind my entertainment center and then washed out my freezer and got it sparkling bright white. Next, came trash disposal and the gathering of the detritus that seems to come and live with me. He also mopped my hall by the bathroom.

Dad was getting very impatient and rolled his eyes at me. He was ready to head home and eat his now cold supper.

"That's it!" Dad said standing up in absolution. "We're headed home. You have cleaned enough. We thank you but I want to go home and eat."

Charlie looked like a kid being torn from a candy store.

"I've got to take out Andrew's trash and then we will go," Charlie told my father with a sneer.

As dad turned to walk back into the den, Charlie stuck his tongue out at my father. I had to choke back a hearty laugh.

Home and Glory Country Rides...

I took mom's car for a long ride in the country out on Spring Road this afternoon. I looked at the odometer and it showed 28,800 miles. A Honda isn't broken in till it reaches 100,000 miles. I am very blessed and extremely lucky that I have a wealthy parent who can allow me such things. I could never afford a car or driving for that matter if it wasn't for the help of my father. I can report that mom's car was ticking like a well-oiled clock.

"We're going to get four new tires put on and get the bumper fixed," my father told me when I arrived back home. "Your mother hit the garage wall just before she passed away."

Dad also said he wanted to get it washed and waxed before he handed me the keys.

Bless mom's dear heart. She certainly was hell on wheels and rough on a car. At one time, both mirrors were knocked off with my mother trying to get into the garage.

Such Pleasant Pleasantries...

It began to rain heavily this morning. It was supposed to get stormy but that is why I call meteorologists the weather guessers. I ran across the yard to get Maggie's and my biscuits so Charlie wouldn't have to get wet. It was the least I could do since Charlie was bringing us breakfast.

"I love you, Andrew," Charlie said affectionately and sincerely as he handed me my sack of sausage biscuits.

"I love you, too," I replied to Charlie. "You are very special to me."

Charlie is the epitome of altruism and kindness.

The Ghetto Computer is Holding Its Own...

A Ghetto Computer's Tale

I had that Sabertooth motherboard and intel core i7 processor languishing on the shelves in my computer room. They had probably sat there for 2 years. I didn't think they worked or they were gimped. Well, on a whim, I put a little computer together and the ghetto computer was born. To top of all this, the creme de la creme, was that the processor is one hell of an overclocker. I have it running at 4.7 GHz and the normal speed is 3.6 GHz. It also has 4 sticks of Corsair RAM running at 2800 MHz

From the Collector of Fine Mice and Keyboards Everywhere...

Of all the many nice and technologically advanced mice and keyboards I own, I mostly just use my trusty little humble marathon mouse.

LOGITECH MARATHON MOUSE M705
Extremely Impressive 3-year battery life
Wireless and with Unifying Receiver
$ 49.99

I will probably wear the dear thing out before I need a fresh pair of batteries. It is smooth as butter gliding on my desktop as well.



Let Us Catch Some Zzz's...

I should have gone to bed many hours ago, but I was having so much fun with my computers and the internet, in general, this fine evening. It is now 4:48 AM right now. That means Charlie will be here in five hours with McDonald's biscuits and breakfast. I am hoping for some orange juice as well.

More Arrivals and Departures...

barbecued pork, Brunswick stew, cole slaw, and bread

Well, my father just showed up at my house which surprised me very much. It was good to see him as we gave each other a big ole bear hug.

Maggie was also very glad to see our head honcho as well. She let it be known that an evening with Charlie and Papa is a special thing indeed.

"I just had to see how my eldest was doing," my father told me. "I brought you a Fredonia Road barbecue plate and your sodas for the day."

"You should've seen the speaker at continuing education tonight," my father told me laughing. "One of the more frumpy and bumbling fellows I've ever seen."

Dad was in an inquisitive mood tonight. He asked me all about what I thought of my mother's mental illness and he also wanted me to give him the skinny on what Scientology was about. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientology.

"Some real dullard and duped high profile people are members," I told my father. "Celebrities like Kirstie Ally, John Travolta, and Tom Cruise."

Surprises of the Charlie Kind...

The Duchess

The Duchess went nuts and I looked out past this computer to the street to see who had arrived. I was smiling as well. It was Charlie and he looked like he had his hands full. I was standing at the screen door corralling Maggie when Charlie beckoned for me to give him a hand.

"Your daddy had continuing education for pharmacists tonight," Charlie told me as we walked across my yard. "I am your Papa tonight."

I was smiling broadly at all the treats Charlie had brought me. He really does spoil me to death on his visits.

"I've got you two Taco Bell burrito supremes no beans with lots of hot sauce," Charlie told me. "Here are also two drinks. You get a second drink because Horsefly can't drink soda. It makes him blow chunks every time and always in the car."

I shouldn't have chuckled at the "blow chunks" remark but I did. Charlie also reached into his pocket and handed me two of my favorite candy bars. King size Snickers.

"Now, let's take your medications," Charlie told me as he handed me my handful of crazy meds.

"Now Maggie-loo I haven't forgotten about you," Charlie told the Duchess after he had administered my crazy meds.

Charlie got on the couch with the Magster and gave her lavishing tons of affection and attention. Maggie was still pining for Charlie while she looked out the window as Charlie departed. 

A Rendezvous with the Pig...

Before you think I am bringing forth the ire of Johnny Otis, I only bought two Sunkist sodas and a bottle of Penrose pickled sausages. It was a preapproved purchase. A man can't live on diet Coke and Marie Callendar's meals alone.

"Remember, we go grocery shopping Monday night," my father told me over his cell phone. "So don't buy too much!"

I guess my father felt a little pity for me after what happened yesterday mental illness wise. I appreciated it and I told him so.

The Piggly Wiggly was also mired in a state of confusion and mismanagement which is very unlike them. The automated exit door was stuck open and cold air was just pouring out into this hot Southern afternoon. They also had only one register open and the clerk had this confused and overwhelmed look on her face. The store was busy with shoppers and they were lining up to check out. I quickly got my items before the line could get too long. I should have stayed and helped her bag groceries which I was adept at when I worked there, but hindsight is always 20/20 as they say.

Edward and Marie, Together Again...

Do you remember me buying that Edward's strawberry creme pie last week? It was actually pretty good despite seeming to sell very sparsly. The Marie's satin chocolate pie was creamy and superb as well.

Midnight Arrives and the Roads Are Almost Clear...

Late at night, I like to sit in the Laz-E-Boy recliner in my quiet den before bed and look out the front window. There is this certain sense of sublime solace in it for me -- watching the rhythmic traffic come and go. Sometimes, I get paranoid thinking my neighbors will think I am watching them, but I am sure they have long gone to bed. You can see my dark silhouette out the window from the lamp behind me.

The traffic is busy before midnight as people arrive home from their jobs, tom-catting around, and meanderings. I often hear a catbird furiously calling his mating call as well. When do they ever sleep?

Look! We have another car. I wonder where they are going and what their lives are like? As the male peacock would display his finest and most colorful feathers, they have boomin' bass playing loudly -- loud enough to vibrate the water in the cup on my computer desk.

Right now, I am listening to the quiet calm of my mind after a most turbulent yesterday. My shaking hands are still and steady. The doom and gloom of my demise are gone as well. I am at peace for the moment and will soon turn the air down low and head to bed with the Duchess on my tail.

Charlie's Wall Hangings...

Charlie brought me this framed picture the other night. We are all trying to figure it out. I think it is a moving Ferris wheel. 

It's Okay. It's Alright. Cause There is Beauty in the Breakdown...

Maybe I shouldn't write about this.

This is probably schizoaffective related (paranoia) but that last call was the second call to my father in an hour. He didn't answer the phone on either call. I might be paranoid, but I believe my father is playing cat and mouse with me and avoiding my phone calls. He never parts from his cellphone. He also knows I will ask for my medications early which I will. I woke up in a mental fog and the mental illness doldrums. It is not that bad, but I would feel 10 times better with my meds in my belly. It is a long stretch until 9 PM tonight.

Walk Towards the Light...

"Come over here and get your medications," my father said urgently and sympathetically over the phone. "I was out working in the yard and missed your calls. For god's sake, let's not get mired in the emergency room."

By this time, I was sobbing as the symptoms had escalated.

"Get you a drink out of the fridge and I have your medications in my hand," my father said when I arrived. "I should've driven to you but I wasn't thinking on my feet. I would never want you to suffer like that."

I gulped the myriad of psychiatric medications down with a swig of ice cold diet Coke. I know it is psychosomatic but I immediately felt better in my father's presence and after taking my medications. It is scary, you know? Not having control of your mental faculties.

Home Bound...

Traffic was very light as I drove home which was appreciated. I immediately put my six diet Cokes in the freezer upon entering my house. I wanted them cold pronto. They are such a pleasure. Maggie was in tune to that something was wrong. She got on the couch with me and pleaded for me to scratch her neck and belly which I obliged. Maggie's needs are much more simple than mine.

The phone then loudly and abruptly rang...

"Are you okay?" my father asked with a frantic sound to his voice. "Sirens are blasting down the street. I should have come to your house with your medications."

"I am fine!" I assured my father. "Maggie and I are safe and sound."

Fill Er Up!

http://www.doctorofcredit.com

"We're headed to Kroger, right?" my father asked me tonight.

"Roger that, Tango, Alpha, Six!" I militarily and kiddingly replied to my father.

"You look like a Tango Alpha," my father said to me as he chuckled and we walked to our cars.

"Well, I had written on my blog about accidentally mobilizing the troops tonight! Let's get this done!"

The entourage took their respective places at Kroger's gas pumps.

"Let's take your medications in the car and then we can both head home," my father said as I pumped gas into my Honda.

Ah, Bless! Dad even remembered to bring me another lemonade from the pharmacy to take my medications with.

On another note...   Dad was dressed very smartly tonight. Charlie dresses him and buys all his clothes. I remarked to him about it and he really appreciated it as he puffed up his chest in bravado and with a brazen boast.

Putting Things into Motion or How the Simple Can Grow Very Complicated...

http://www.yourenergyblog.com

I had slept all day with the Magster in the bed with me. My injection has a tendency to induce deep sleep. I awoke all bright eyed and bushy tailed as my grandmother would say to us as kids.

"There is going to be a small charge on my debit card this afternoon," I told my father over his cellphone. "I want two more of those Minute Maid lemonades like I got this morning. They were absolutely delicious!"

My father told me with a warning that they were going to give me heartburn and he is most likely right. My father was also still at work and chomping at the bit to head home he said. He wanted to recline with his "pussy" in his lap and drink an ice cold cola. I think they are also showing reruns of Bates Motel. His all time favorite A and E drama.

"Come down here to the pharmacy and get them and I will just pay for them out of my pocket," my father replied to me.

Grrrr...

I was halfway to the pharmacy when my low fuel warning light came on. I am not good at keeping up with such things as I rarely drive much. It has been weeks since I last filled up with a tank of gas.

"Can you get home?" my father asked me after I arrived at the pharmacy.

"I am pretty sure I can," I told my father. "The light means I have 30 more miles to drive before I am completely out of gas."

"We'll fill up tonight," he told me scheming. "I need some gas as well. We'll put it on my debit card. I have some saved up fuel points we can use at Kroger."

I was kind of disgruntled by all the complication. I just wanted my drinks and it was a short 1-mile drive to the Circle K and back. I also just wanted to take my medications and chill this evening after my father arrived. I didn't mean to mobilize the troops.

A Furball Trying to Sleep...

F

Zip, Zam, Zoom...

I sat down in my recliner this morning for a moment of composure after waking for the day. It was about 8:30 AM. Dad had called earlier at 8 AM to make sure I was up. I had to be at Kamath Medical at 9:00 AM. I closed my eyes and when I opened them the clock showed 8:55 AM. "Oh shit!" I said, "It is time to mobilize." I walked into the pharmacy at 9:05 PM and my father already had my prescription filled. I made record time down busy HWY 29 driving like a madman jockeying for pole position.

"I was glad to see you pull up into the parking lot," my father said. "I was beginning to worry about you."

Matt asked me how my game controllers were working and I told him they were working great. That really intrigued him. Matt handles all my father's and my computer parts orders. He knew exactly what an emulator was. I took a moment to tell him of my new ghetto computer.

Rebecca was as cordial as ever. Her kids are amidst peewee softball and she was telling all their latest exploits. She gave me my injection and a hug and I was on my way back to the pharmacy to turn in my proof of prickliness which was my next appointment card.

I get two drinks out of the cooler every two weeks and this week I got two Minute Maid lemonades out of the pharmacy's drink cooler and they were delicious. 

Maggie Meets Marie's Meatloaf...

Marie Callender's has a new fan tonight and her name is the Duchess, her highness, the Magster.

I warmed two Marie Callender's meatloaf meals up in the microwave. I like to make them into sandwiches with a little added ketchup and mayo. Maggie was begging for a nibble or a bite. She just went crazy for more. So crazy that I had to give her my other sandwich. She even ate the corn and potatoes that came with it and that surprised me.

"Just what are you feeding this dog?" I can hear my father ask.

I am pretty sure Maggie will be passing some noxious wind come around midnight.


Comings and Goings...

It was medication time a moment ago. Usually, Papa is a pretty dapper fellow but he was very frumpy and disheveled tonight and pretty late. I think he might have had a little white Zinfandel. God, I'd drink a bottle of the stuff right now if I had it as well.

"We've got to find Maggie's flea and heart-worm medications," He said to me tonight which was the pressing issue of the evening. "I don't have any idea were Martha kept them, though."

Dad was scratching his head in thought when he asked me to ride down to Walmart and buy some. He was going to fund it.

"No thanks," I told my father., "You're not getting me in Walmart this time of night. I will go tomorrow as soon as I get up and get going."

Oh, I Adore You Dear Friend Sherlock!

One game I recommend that is abandonware (no copyright issues) is Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective. I just adored this game and had a lot of fun playing it. The games can be found searching for sherlock holmes consulting detective and ICOM who developed the game.

Beware! This game is information intensive and you will need a pen and pad to write down clues.

You will also have to find a DOS emulator such as DOSBox and a corresponding DOS game front end like D-Fend Reloaded and the games as well of course.

Note: versions one and two also came out for the Sega CD. A Sega CD emulator and the games can be found at Emuparadise.

Can There Be A World Without Want?

I hadn't been in Fred's for ages until this afternoon. I was almost out of my favorite Irish Spring deodorant. I've been getting it at Kroger but forgot this week and Fred's has a much better price as well.

"How have you been honey?" the white-maned cashier asked me.

"Fair to middling I guess," I told her with a warm smile.

I was surprised to see her still working there. Their employee turnover rate is like mucho crazy.

"If you still want a job, we can put you to work."

I thanked her profusely.

"Someday, I may take you up on that offer," I told her grinning warmly.

It is nice to be wanted, you know?

I know I would have to work for it but wouldn't it be nice not having Johnny Otis looking over my shoulder with everything I spend? To buy a computer part without the Spanish Inquisition after me?

As I walked out the door of Fred's, I saw a scratch off lottery ticket on the pavement in the parking lot. Of course, I had to go pick it up and look. I understand the allure of the things. They almost won $20 dollars. That's one thing I have no inclination to do and that is to play the lottery. My father callously says the lottery is a tax on stupid people.

Whew! Happy Birthday After All!

I was so worried all these game controllers wouldn't work with my computer and their corresponding emulators. That would be $95 dollars flushed deftly down the toilet. My worries were for naught thankfully. I have almost all of my ghetto computer's USB ports brimming with game controllers and tuned to my favorite emulators. Earlier, I was playing Breath of Fire on an SNES emulator. A game I've been wanting to play for years.

George? Don't Leave Us So Soon!

George has a very strong New England accent when you talk to him. I can't quite put my finger on what region, though. I also gave him my wrought iron rocking chair and he just loves it.

"Come over here, have a beer, and we will talk for awhile," he will say to me when he catches me outside.

Well, I haven't seen George for days. I've been tempted to knock on the door but I worried what I may find. He hasn't driven to the Waffle House for his usual breakfast and his home has been so dark at night. Imagine my elation when I just saw him drive to the Circle K down the street for some more beer!

And Now With Added Red Lights From a Sound Blaster Z Sound Card...

I've Got the Buzzy Post Medication Blues...

My medications give me a certain kick mentally about an hour after taking them. It is a buzzy feeling in my head that is rather mellow but welcomed. It lets me know my medications are working. 11:45 PM rolled around after shopping and I didn't feel my kick. I waited until midnight and still no kick. I was so discouraged and worried that something happened to make my medications not "soak" in. A previous medication less Easter Sunday was forever in my mind.

Well, I feel okay today and I guess that should be what matters. I panicked for a moment there thinking I was going to have to go another day without my medications. Oh hell, I don't know what I am saying. Maybe it is just a good day to shut up and read what everybody else is writing today. I don't mean to sound so maudlinly lately. Sometimes in life that's how the life's ball bounces.

A Completely Divergent Tangent...

My last two birthday items arrived from China last night. Dad made me open them so he could see what they are.

"Get your scissors in the laundry room," he urged me on anxiously.

The scissors are what we use to open Maggie's dog food bags which are rather convoluted.

It was my MayFlash Sega Saturn USB adapter and my GameCube controller. The GameCube controller was very solidly built. It felt hefty in your hands. It also had the cutest little miniature CD with the controller. I used it on my new Ghetto computer and the driver installed without problems.

"It is amazing," dad said. "That you can order things like that overseas and they get here in just a few weeks. You got a lot of bang for your buck this birthday!"

My Atlas Marker...

This is how I want my model railroad to look. Especially, the weathering on the locomotives. I also want to use some more realistic, greener and brighter scenery effects. 

Prostitutes? Kroger?

"Hey, sweetie! What's your name?" A sandy blonde lady over by the Redbox said.

"Are they prostitutes?" my father asked as he turned to me. "That's the same black guy who was soliciting money in the store last week!"

"They are wearing what looks like 80s clothing," I replied. "A miniskirt and a halter top."

"Quit looking. Let's go do our shopping," my father said as we entered the front mechanical door.

I was still looking as the door closed behind me and almost hit me.

"You prude!" I said to my father as I laughed. "We could've got hooked up with some hot action."

Jesting, I poked him with my elbow and grinned a Cheshire grin.

Ho Hum grocery shopping tonight that went as planned other than the front door adornments. I didn't deviate from my usual shopping and the checkout price mirrored this. At least they had my coveted bananas. Pitifully sounding, they never have my pies anymore. It is hit or miss. I went out on a limb and got an Edwards strawberry cream pie and a satin chocolate pie by Marie Callendar herself.

My only impulse buy was six king sized Reese's cups for $1.29 each. (past Easter prizes)

I got my standard fare Marie Callender's meals. I've got one in the microwave and will curl up in my lazy boy while I watch the boob tube and partake.

The grand total was $68 for which my father was very proud and complimented me on my thriftiness.

"Let's get back to normal," is what he said to me.

Wrestling Control...

It is hard to believe I am 45, right? So much of my life is handled and controlled.

Yesterday was almost the hardest day in my life with a mental illness that I had ever experienced -- going thirty hours from my last dosage of Crazy Meds. I was in sheer agony and misery to put it lightly. I vowed to work on getting my medications back in my hands. I am going to ask my father if I can keep my medications and he can check every night to see if I have taken them. It is a long shot, but I am going to put this plan into motion in the next few days or so when I can catch my father in a good mood.

Brainstorm...  I do have control of my Medicare parts A, B, and D cards. Maybe I could get my own doctor, pharmacist, etc. Those would be fighting words with my father. though. Let's hope we can handle this with a little more panache and diplomacy.

Lounging With Papa...

I just took a short drive across the greater valley to see my father. He was sitting in his recliner listening to NPR on a clock radio with his "Pussy" in his lap. Such a salacious word and it always makes me smile when he says it.

"Do you want to pet my pussy?" dad asked

"Shit dad!" I said as I laughed and chuckled.

"Can I get a diet Coke?" I asked standing in the kitchen.

"Sure!" my father replied. "You can drink two if you want to."

Dad needed my help with his computer.

"This browser toolbar thingy is driving me crazy with popups," he said. "I keep uninstalling it and it comes back!"

I booted the computer in safe mode and removed the little noxious code of software deleting it out of existance.

"Read your terms of agreement completely before installing programs," I told my father. "And also check for any suspicious check boxes as you are installing."

"Your sister in law sent me some photos but they are zipped," my father then said. "How do I open them?"

"Search for Winrar," I told my father as I wrote it down on the notepad by his computer. "It is free but they will ask you to donate and you don't have to unless you feel generous."

"What time are we going to the grocery store?" I asked my father as I stood up to finish my diet Coke and leave.

"Will 9 PM be okay?" dad asked.

"I will see you then," I said. "The Magster will be beside herself to see you as well."

Ghetto Goodness...

Logitech Z313 25 W 2.1 Speaker System $43.99

Speakers for my newly built ghetto computer.

And Let There Be Bachelor Food...

Yes, it is grocery Monday and my hamster is spinning swiftly in his wheel...

An easy meal for me is to thaw a big frozen box of 12 pepperoni pizza Hot Pockets in the fridge and then warm two of them in the microwave for 2 minutes on a paper plate. It is a filling and tasty meal for this pizza lover. I don't even crisp them in the supplied crispers.  I like the softer texture of the non-crisped dough. The crispers are also aggravating as you try to get each crisper on your pocket.

You Rang?

My father has also called and is harping about those Marie Callendar meals. Groundhog day anyone?

"Get on their website and check out some meals that look tasty and you haven't tried yet," my father told me a moment ago. "Let's keep things fresh so you will keep eating them!"

I keep seeing these commercials on TV about the Devour brand of frozen meals and about how good they are, Well, I tried the lasagna a few weeks back and was not impressed. It tasted just like Stouffer's which I do not like. Marie's is much better with her 3 meat and 4 cheese lasagna.

Has anyone tried this yet?

I think it has Stevia as the sweetener with some cane sugar added as well. I might try a six pack tonight. There seems to be this adversity to high fructose corn syrup which is fueling these drink experiments. 

Christmas Already?

I so love these cards that I've got to get another. The performance versus price is absolutely amazing.

SAPPHIRE NITRO+ Radeon RX 480   $254.99

Quake 5 Closed Beta...

The Quake 5 closed beta is underway. Go to ID software or Bethesda software and sign up. You might just get accepted. I've got my fingers crossed and am actually checking my email. lol

Happy Easter!

To all my Christian friends!

Help is on the way. My medications were taken over 20 minutes ago so they will soon be in my bloodstream in another 40 minutes (about 11 PM). It was 10 PM before my father arrived and I had just broken out in tears. Stiff upper lip as the British say as I acted like everything was fine.

"Your glasses are fogged up," my father told me.

"Oh, it is nothing," I replied as I wiped them on my sleeve.

I got a big plate of Easter fixing's and my father also brought a Big Mac value meal and my six diet sodas for the day.

"Eat your Big Mac and be sure to put your Easter meal in the fridge for tomorrow. Janice made her deviled eggs and I know how you feel about those."

Jesus is Listening...

"Aunt Sarah said last night that Easter is originally based off a Pagan fertility ritual," the little kid said in front of me as we walked towards the entrance of Kroger. "The eggs and bunnies prove it!"

"You hush all that now!" the mother said. "I am going to have to have a talk with your aunt!"

I got this big grin on my face as I grabbed a basket to go buy some Papa approved Kroger candy this afternoon. I was trying to get my mind off my current mental predicament.

I got a big bag of Hershey's kisses for a dollar off and several bags of Hershey's miniatures. I didn't make it back to my car before I was already popping a Hershey's kiss in my mouth. Ah, heaven!

Don't Pass Go and Don't Collect $200...

Today has been a tough and arduous day for me. They craftily made the word mental illness for how I have felt today. It has been way past 24 hours since I took yesterday's medications and I believe that is the culprit. I have really felt it as well -- feeling a nervous state of mental agitation, some confusion, and general unwellness. I just called my father at 7 PM and he was still at the pond with the kids in Waverly. I think I lost all hope then that things will get better anytime soon.

Something to Look Foward To...

I can't play it until tonight and my medications take effect, but I am ready to play Final Fantasy IV with an emulator and my new birthday SNES game controller. It will be its maiden voyage. Yes, something to get excited about!