Mana From Heaven....

Ah, it is always nice when Papa brings homemade soup. He surprised me tonight and I had to go check and make sure I had enough Lousiana hot sauce for this meal. If not, then I was on a foray up to Kroger. Oddly enough, the Kroger brand is the best brand out of all those expensive hot sauces. Some are even too hot for me like Tabasco sauce.
A Call to Charlie...
I just called Charlie and told him many thanks for all he did for me when my father was gone. He was elated at my call. It is always nice when someone appreciates what you do for them.

"Horsefly would've never learned to talk or play like a normal child if it were not for you," he told me. "I owe you as much as you owe me."

Let it Rain! Let it Rain! And it Rained!

We are having some very torrential rains today. It is raining harder right now since our last hurricane blew through. Hopefully, this will officially get Central Alabama out of drought status. I enjoy the comforting sound of the rain and it makes me sleepy as well. The Magster needs no prompt to get her curled up and sleeping on the back of the couch.

I might have a dinner date (very preliminary). A very cute freckled red headed (ginger) lady keeps poking me on Facebook so I sent her my phone number and asked for hers. We went to high school together and she recently lost her companion of twenty years. This means I will have to answer the phone for a few days at least.  This does wonders for my phone phobias (sarcasm). This will also get Johnny Otis in a stir (smiles). She might like and suggest a mixed drink with her dinner meal. Don't you get all liquored up and having sex. He will sigh, but he will give me the money and let me go, though.

My circadian rhythms are still not back to normal. I am sleeping too much the past few days. It could be a number of things including getting my injection yesterday as it makes me very drowsy. I am trying to stay awake today, but it is hard. The bed and my covers are calling me. Horsefly always used to say he loved his covers and he would say it very affectionately in a high toned voice. I concur, Horsefly. I concur.

It's Good to See Your Smiling Face...

That's what I told my nurse, Rebecca, this morning. I got a man hug for my efforts.

"Why thank you, sweetie!" she replied and showed me the examination room we would be using today.

Sometimes my injection can burn like being struck in the ass with a red hot poker. I didn't even feel it this morning,  I knew I needed it, though, as I have been feeling awful strange these past few days. I kept trying to put a finger on what's wrong when I realized my injection was due.

My dear Dee Dee already had my next appointment made as I walked into the reception area.

I was also in a race for time to get home before it started raining. I checked the radar before I left and there was a large mass of rain coming in off the Gulf of Mexico. It poured cats and dogs on the drive back to my house.  Lucy? I'm home!

Let Us Do the Time Warp!

I awoke around 7 AM this early morning. I was hoping my circadian rhythms were starting to normalize. Maggie and I had a breakfast of scrambled eggs, yeast biscuits, and bacon. I decided I would take a quick snooze in my recliner and didn't wake up until 7 PM tonight. It was definitely a time warp moment. I can't believe Maggie didn't bark or wake me up for that matter in all that time. She will get lonely and wake me up -- just a nuzzle of cold wet dog nose in my palm will wake me up.

Nobody called me, but I realized Charlie wasn't bringing my medications when it got after 10 PM. I put 2 and 2 together. Charlie is more likely to be early rather than late. My father showed up and surprised Maggie and I both at 10:30 tonight. I was right in my summation of what was going on.

"Papa's Here!" he said loudly as he walked across my yard with my medications.

This spurred Maggie into a furiously loud spit of barking. He gave me a big bear hug and told Maggie and me how much he had missed us.

The Rigors of a Dog Door...

I was reclined in my recliner reading a book when I heard Maggie come inside through the dog door. Something was wiggling in her mouth when I suddenly realized she had caught a snake in the backyard. Luckily, Maggie had chewed the head off or the business end of the snake. Outdoors, went the rest of it.

Because Pradaxa is Progress...

It is going on 6 AM. I am feeling as strong as an ox and as fit as a fiddle. I woke up and got a big pot of spaghetti sauce simmering after browning 2 lbs of ground chuck and sauteing some minced onions in butter. I put the meat in the words meat sauce.

The Magster has decided this is a good day to sleep in. She didn't stir when I got out of the bed to take a shower.  I am making great strides and progress with my cycling and circadian rhythms. I slept until 4 AM this morning. (gosh, that spaghetti sauce smells wonderfully delicious).


If You Love Them Set Them Free...

Glittermom, dad arrives home late Thursday night.

My father loves and immensely enjoys travelling, but couldn't do this kind of stuff when my mother was alive. Mom's failing health problems wouldn't allow it. He toiled away in that pharmacy for 47 long years so I think he should travel to his heart's content and to entirely enjoy his retirement.

Head Towards the Sun and Take a Left Turn at Venus...

"You didn't get much," Charlie admonished me tonight.

My grand total was exactly $69.99.

"I got everything on my list and then some," I replied to Mein Charlie. "I am cooking more this week since my father is gone."

I then told Charlie I was cooking enough spaghetti and meat sauce to feed an army. I can't wait to get in the kitchen, brown some ground chuck, and get a pot of spaghetti sauce bubbling away on the stove.

"Dammit! I forgot my parmesan cheese!" as it dawned on me in the parking lot.

"Do you want me to go back in and get it?" Charlie asked. "I see you got your three journal writing sodas."

"Don't worry about the cheese," I told Charlie, "I am swiftly headed to the house, unloading these groceries, and going to bed."

When I got home, Maggie was nowhere to be seen or found. I panicked. She is usually waiting at the door for me when I arrive home with groceries. She loves the cornucopia of smells that waft in off my grocery bags. She has to see if such groceries pass muster.

Well, dinghead was just nonchalantly sitting on the back deck enjoying the cool night air. I sighed a thousand relieved sighs knowing she was okay.

The Barbecue Sandwiches Have Been Served...

Well, I've made it almost to 2:30 PM and I am still up. I also just had a whirlwind of a visit from Charlie. He made me a homemade gallon of sweet tea for which I am enjoying at this moment.  He even brought me a big bag of ice from the Circle K down the street. The two barbecue sandwiches were almost more than I could ask for as well. Janice used my father's special recipe barbecue sauce. Don''t come chasing after me with all those sickly sweet barbecue sauces. We like it vinegary and tangy sauces in this corner of the South.

Zero Hour...

So, here's the deal. This sleeping all day routine is making me depressed. My circadian rhythms are all screwed up. I am going to do my darnedest to stay awake all day and sleep tonight. It's a tall order, but it needs attempting.

Charlie will be here around 10 AM with Maggie's and my Sunday morning breakfast so that puts me off to a good start. I also have to remember Charlie is bringing me several barbecue sandwiches for lunch -- another impetus for staying awake. I couldn't dare miss those with my affinity for barbecue.

A Good Deed Done...

I noticed my nosy and goodhearted neighbor, George, was looking out his window to see what I was doing. I was pulling out of my driveway at 2 AM. It made me chuckle a bit. I wondered what stage of inebriation he was in at the moment? I could see the television on.

"Do you work here?" a very short, gray-haired, and elderly lady asked me after I had arrived at my destination.

It so reminded me of my mother, Martha, it was uncanny. She wouldn't hesitate to ask any old person if they worked there.

"No ma'am, but I bet I can help you," I told her. "It is a long walk from here, though."

I showed her the pharmaceutical section which housed what she needed which was allergy relief. She thanked me profusely. I was surprised to see someone her age up so late.

I was just looking tonight. I got lonesome at home despite having the Masgter for company and headed to Walmart. I only saw one employee tonight and he was standing in customer service. I guess he was manning a register as well.

My last stop was out by the interstate. I took a page from George's book when I pulled into the Waffle House to inhale a ham and cheese omelet. Dad will just have to deal and get over the charge on my debit card. The Waffle House was not lacking aswell for business this early in the morning and it took ny waitress quite awhile to bring me my platter.

That Darn Charlie...What Would We Do Without Him?

I was half asleep at my computer desk when the phone rang loudly a moment ago. I am still sleeping all day and don't get up until about 8 PM. That's got to change I'm afraid. It is seriously depressing me in the late and early hours of the night. It is also thundering very loudly outside which I do so very enjoy the sound of.

"Do you want something to eat?" Charlie asked me in a very pleasant sounding mood and voice.

"Yes Charlie please," I replied. "Is that okay? I haven't had anything to eat all day. I am out of food."

It helped that I slept all day so I didn't feel hungry. I certainly feel hungry tonight, though.

"I'll be there in just a short bit," Charlie told me.

I wrung my hands in anticipation of his arrival. I could already taste that burger or fish plate that he would bring me.

********************************

Charlie finally arrived at almost 10 PM to Maggie's elation. She had sat in the window for about an hour when I had mentioned Charlie 's name. There was much bouncing off and on the couch by Maggie. My life could be summed up very succinctly as hurry up and wait. Just like the Army.

"I am running late!" he told me. "I've still got to get Horsefly to the bowling alley."

He had just gotten back from Auburn and Horsefly's Saturday Matinee. Horsefly watched the new Transformers "The Last Knight" movie Charlie said.

What my favorite film critic has to say about the movie...  An orgy of incoherence, a sensory assault that suffocates the viewer in a cavalcade of special effects incontinence.

Horsefly also had to eat his chicken tenders meal at KFC in Auburn.

Charlie brought me two big Cokes without ice and two Big Macs and two french fries. We just do not do things small around here as far as Charlie is concerned.

"Now, let's take your crazy meds as you call them and I am going to get your trash to the road," Charlie told me.

Charlie reminded me that breakfast is being served in the morning and that Janice, Charlie's wife, is making barbecue sandwiches and Charlies is bringing me a couple for lunch.

Just Like Gypsies...

I am going to Destin, Florida with your brother, Jennifer, and the grandkids," my father broke home

last night before he left. "I don't want you to feel left out."

"I couldn't go if I tried so don't worry about me," I told my father. "I would be a nervous wreck before all was said and done."

"Charlie will take good care of you while I am gone," Dad told me. "I gave him some money to get you something to eat every night."

The thought of Charlie taking care of me was solace inducing. Charlie will treat me like royalty.

Charlie has to take Horsefly to the matinee this afternoon. I sure do hope he stops by here first. He usually calls and gives me the option. 

And He Slept Until He Couldn't Sleep Anymore...

It was another day I went to sleep before dawn and woke up at dusk. Dad says I am depressed. I told him the rigors of life have just put me to bed.

"Dad?" I asked my father over the phone tonight. "Bring Maggie's flea medications tonight and we will just keep them over here."

"I am leaving the house now," my father told me.

Maggie took her medications and balked quite fussily I might add. I had to shove them down her throat as she wouldn't chew it up.

"She looks shellshocked," my father said with a hearty chuckle.

"I did that Martha style," I told my father.

Maggie still looked shell shocked at the speed I shoved her medications down her throat.

Another Rip Van Winkle Moment...

This morning I was going about my business. I scrambled Maggie and I some eggs and made some buttery toast.  It was about eight in the morning and I was going downhill after staying up all night.

"I am just going to lie down for a bit after breakfast," I told myself.

There was a knock on the door when I was fast asleep. The house was growing dark and I hurried to the door after pulling on a shirt and pants.

"Papa's here!" my father said on the other side of the door.

Maggie was going nuts by now. I had managed to sleep from eight in the morning till nine tonight. I guess I needed the rest.

Who's On Third?

"We haven't left home yet!" the umpire said.

"I forgot your Cokes," my father told me dourly tonight from his car. "They were sitting on the kitchen counter all ready to go."

Maggie and I were standing on the other side of the screen door -- both ready for his late arrival.

"That's okay," I disappointingly replied not wanting to put my father out.

"Come on and get in the car," he said. "We are going back to my house to get them. I know they are part of your cherished nightly routine."

Dad had spent the day taking the grandkids to see Franklin Delano Roosevelt's Little White House in Warm Springs Georgia and then he took them swimming. He was flustered and very tired. The weather was pretty deplorable as well.

Dad gave me an ice cold Coke out of the fridge. We were going to take my medications in the car.

"You've just got to come in and see Maggie!" I exclaimed to my father.

Maggie got her greatest wish fulfilled -- to see my father for yet another day.

Armageddon in the Southland...

Hurricane Jane

Maggie gave my father another royal welcome and greeting as my father walked into my house. It was raining at a pretty good clip about a half hour or so ago when he arrived.

"It smells good in here! What are you cooking?" my father asked.

"Just a large Marie's turkey pot pie and some apple turnover pastries," I told him. "Those apple turnovers take forever to cook."

"So?" my father asked as he plopped down on my couch a mere moment ago. "How much rain do you think we will get?"

He began to dole out the crazy meds.

My father was very, very late tonight arriving well past 10 PM and I was kind of miffed by his tardiness. Things could be a lot worse I told myself to soften the blow. What if he didn't come at all?

The TV was tuned to the Weather Channel for my father's sake. You would think from the meteorologists on the scene that the world was about to end. I love it when there is just a breeze blowing and they act like they about to be blown down swaying in the wind.

"I think my neighbor is building an ark in his backyard," I replied to Dad with a good-natured smile and smirk.

"Seriously though," I told my father. "They are saying we will get 3 to 5 inches of rain. Alabama's governor has already declared a state of emergency."

Time for Shits and Giggles...

Jermaine caught my father tonight in produce as soon as we walked into Kroger. I grabbed two big bunches of bananas and headed in the other direction by the vegetarian and vegan rabbit food. I was not in the mood idle chit-chat tonight. Sorry Jermaine. I've actually been giving Jermaine a big hug when I usually see him lately and you can tell he relishes it immensely.

"I am looking for ginseng root," Jermaine told my father from his Hov-a-round. "It is supposed to help you lose weight."

I laughed and laughed when father caught me in the cereal aisle.

"I told him he needed to go to Walmart for ginseng root and that there is no magical cure for being obese."

Back to What's at Hand...

My only real impulse buy was a pack of six cold Sunkist strawberry sodas. I enjoy those drinks very much -- my journal writing sodas as my father calls them. And any extraneous sodas I buy. He is usually right. I am nursing a Sunkist right now as I write this and it tastes totally divine.

One nice thing about tonight was that Kroger gallons of milk were on sale for $1.99. I hurriedly put six gallons in my cart. Yes, I will drink them all.

"You must really like milk," the cashier snidely told me.

"They are on sale," my father said, stepping in to defend me.

Feed Me Seymour...

I wouldn't have thought in a million years that Charlie and my father were going to perform our Sunday night fried chicken ritual tonight after a busy Father's Day grilling. Charlie immediately got in the kitchen and got busy cleaning.

I then heard a loud clang as Charlie started my clothes dryer. He said my clothes would sour over time kept wet in the washer.

"You didn't leave me much to do," Charlie said loudly from the kitchen.

Sweet words to my ears. Charlie started to wipe clean my counter tops -- his final task. I want all my visits from friends and family members to be hassle free.

My father wanted me to pull up various videos on YouTube with my laptop. They were all dealing with the royal family celebrating the queens 91st birthday which I enjoy as well.

I just looked in my KFC box and I got three chicken strips and an extra large mashed potatoes.

Earlier, Charlie brought me two hamburgers all the way, cole slaw, mac (penne pasta substituted) and cheese, baked beans, two grilled hot-dog wieners, and potato chips.

The Changing of the Guard...

Charlie just has brought our Sunday morning breakfast biscuits. I was overjoyed to find three bacon, egg, and cheese biscuits in the McDonald's sack. What a nice change of pace. Charlie must've been reading my mind. Charlie also brought me a gigantic Coke with no ice as he usually does which I savor.

"Your father and I are grilling hamburgers down at the river house at lunch," Charlie told me. "I'll fix you a plate and bring it over this afternoon. Do you want one burger or two?"

"Two please," I replied with a god please help me smile.

Maggie then started to beg for her biscuit after Charlie left. Maggie knows the routines very well. She ate the bacon, egg, and cheese components of the biscuit and then buried the biscuit in the backyard. She is a very happy dog at the moment.

He's Back in the Saddle...

Move Over Longhorn, Papa's in the Kitchen...

Papa treated himself and I to filet mignons last night. He also prepared blanched asparagus and baked potatoes. He prepared a little lemon juice and mayonnaise emulsion sauce to spoon over the asparagus. It was mighty tasty and delicious. Bonus points in that my delicious filet mignon didn't moo. Dad cooked mine quite a bit longer than his.

I watched as he salted and peppered each side of the two filet mignons. He then coated them in extra virgin olive oil giving them a good rub and massage.  He seared them quickly in a cast iron pan for a few minutes and then finished them in the oven. You could cut those steaks with a butter knife. I would make all the purists scream in horror in that I ate my steak with A-1 sauce.

Homecoming...

You should have seen Maggie last night -- the poor deprived soul. It was the first time she'd seen my father since before he left for San Francisco.

"Can it be?" Maggie looked at me bright eyed and bushy tailed as she then turned to look out the window. "Oh man, I can't believe he is here!"

She erupted into a fit of barking like I've ever seen Maggie bark, and boy did she whine and whimper.

"He's here! He's here! Papa is here!"

Wally World Bound...

I just drove down to Walmart at 4 AM looking for some RCA audio patch cords for my home theater. Specifically, my minidisc player. The warm sound of analog music trumps digital to analog converters any day. They had what I needed, but I didn't see a soul, not one, in the place. I could've walked out with a cart full of groceries and they wouldn't have known. Finally, a squat little black lady was exclaiming "I'm sorry! I'm sorry. I hope you didn't have to wait long" and rushed over to her register.

I also got a 8 pack of universal Energizer rechargeable batteries. I am hoping they will work in my cordless computer mice and my digital camera.

Happy Father's Day Papa!

What's Going On At Your House at 5 AM in the Morning?

You are most likely sleep at the moment I surmise. Earlier, I fell asleep in my Lazy-E-Boy and must have slept 2 hours. I woke up in the dark disoriented,

I will probably mosey on to bed around 10 AM so I will sleep until 6 or 7 PM. Right now I am playing Super Mario RPG (role playing game) which originally came out for the Super Nintendo Entertainment system. I haven't been able to concentrate on my video games for the longest time and some switch in my brain clicked last night and now I am able to play and concentrate again. I have so many games from my early twenties and my teens that I want to play.

The police had someone pulled over at the end of the street a moment ago -- such a bad feeling. The blacks have it the toughest trying to keep themselves in a reliable car and keeping things legal as well. Sometimes, the police come across as harassing these people when they are doing the best they can.

Maggie's snoozing on the bed in the bedroom -- the darkest room in the house. I just turned on the light catching her taking a big stretch of her limbs. She sighed like only a dog can sigh and went back to sleep again. "Sleep tight!" I said and I turned off the lights.

Come in From the Cold...

Well, I just got off the phone with the Grand Papa. I called as soon as I got up hoping to hear his wonderful voice on the other end. He said he had a grand time in San Francisco.

"My cousin Johnny is a wonderful cook and host."

"I'll come and get my medications if it is easier on you," I told my father over the phone.

Charlie and my father were at the river house planning their next course of action.

"I might take you up on that," my father said. "Maggie will want to see me as well."

"I know it is a Catch-22," I replied.

"I'll call you when I get back to the house," my father said.

Addendum...

My father was eating a banana and mayo sandwich when I walked through his back door. Samantha followed me in and headed straight to her "nibbles" as dad calls them. Dad handed me my medications and I gulped them down with a swing of Diet Coke. Dad's cousin had also made oatmeal cookies and they were wonderful.

He Has Come and Gone...

My poor dearest Maggie! She sat in the den window tonight for two hours holding a constant vigil waiting for Charlie to arrive. Charlie was running late as he was trying to coordinate my medication regimen and Horsefly's bowling regimen.

"I am coming!" Charlie said in a hasty phone call. "I will be there as soon as I can."

Maggie embodies jubilant when she saw Charlie pull up to the curb.

"You're off duty now," I told Charlie after he arrived.

We took my medications and I patted him on the back and profusely thanked him for all he did for me this past week.

"Johnny Otis will be here tomorrow night, but I am still going to miss you."

"His flight is supposed to land at 2:30 AM tonight," Charlie told me. "Your brother is driving up to Atlanta to pick him up."

Charlie didn't leave without bringing treats, though. I got a six pack of ice cold regular "leaded" Cokes for the evening. This just thrilled this dear soul to death. Janice had also cooked some homemade corned beef hash and I got a big Tupperware container of it with it still being quite warm. There was also some still warm cornbread to eat it with wrapped in tinfoil.

Nine 'o' Clock Sharp...

We've got some super humongous storms on the way. Let's see if I can write this before the power goes out. 

This morning, I said I was just going to lie down for a minute and rest my eyes. It was 7 AM. Well, I went sound asleep. I didn't wake up again until Charlie called me at 8:30 AM. Thank bejeebus that he called me.

"Rise and shine sweetheart!" Charlie said laughing.

I told him I would meet him at Kamath Medical at 9 AM.

"If things go as usual," I told Charlie. "This won't take but fifteen minutes."

I hurried to quickly shower and put on some fresh smelling clothes.

Thankfully, it was another smooth and fast visit. It was one of my more painful injections, but I grinned and bared it.

"It is good to see you," I told my nurse, Rebecca, when she called me back to an examining room.

Dee Dee already had my next appointment card ready when I stepped back into the reception area.

"You all spoil me," I said with a smile.

I walked out and gave Charlie my next appointment card so he could give it to my father -- my father's insurance that I actually got the injection.

"Let's go get you some breakfast," Charlie told me.

I hated to tell Charlie this, but I am about tired of McDonald's sausage biscuits. Charlie has brought three of them to me every day of the past week. (I should evoke my Auschwitz mantra)

"Don't worry about it," I told Charlie. "I just want to go home and get in the bed."

"You sure?" Charlie asked me.

"Yeah, I am fine," I told Charlie. "Be safe driving to work."

Well, when that shot hit me around 10 AM, I was out like a light. It is now 6:30 PM and I am just getting up. Of course, my Magster loved it. She loves when we all pile up in the bed and sleep our days away.

Busy House, Busy Minds...

"Now, I am gong to call your at eight in the morning to make sure you are up," Charlie told me while I was taking my numerous and hard to swallow crazy meds.

Tomorrow is my much vaunted shot in the derriere as you, the reader, may already know. I hope and pray things go smoothly.

"I won't go to sleep all night," I told Charlie. "I'll be probably calling you at eight in the morning to see if you are up!"

Charlie let out a burst of hearty laughter.

All the while we were talking, Horsefly was pacing the floor heavily as Maggie bravely followed him on his forays. He also flushed my toilet a few times as well for good measure. Horsefly was also turning the lights on and off in the vacant rooms.

When I was a kid, Horsefly showed affection for and a fixation for public urinals. Charlie said he was damn glad that fixation was long gone. He also got fixated on Vitalis hair oil (hair tonic). Horsefly's hair looked constantly greasy and dripping with the stuff. Charlie said he was exasperated about what to do with that fixation.

Charlie brought me two Chic-Fil-A sandwiches for supper tonight and they were delicious. I tried the Charlie recommended Polynesian sauce on mine and they were really good if but a little sweet. Charlie also made sure Maggie wasn't left out.

Comment Replies...

Blogger glittermom said...
What would happened if you missed an injection? Good thing you remembered. Shame on your dad.


Andrew Replies...

Usually, I have severe withdrawal symptoms in a day or two, misjudgment, a skewed view and idealization about things, and paranoia. I also usually have severe insomnia as  well. I am just not a pleasant person to be around.

Prickly Bums...

"My injection of Risperdal is tomorrow," I meekly told Charlie as he stopped by with breakfast before work this morning.

It just dawned on me as I was laying in bed listening to Maggie loudly grooming herself. There was a lot of sniffling and snorting going on at the foot of my bed.

I know Charlie didn't need one more hassle when it concerns me. Keeping up with me is a full-time job it seems.

"Your daddy didn't say anything about an injection," Charlie told me almost in disbelief.

"Believe me when I say it is due. I can feel it in my bones. Dad's about as bad as me about forgetting it. He had San Francisco on his mind."

"Here is what we will do," Charlie told me after getting over the initial shock."I'll run by and get your injection and I will meet you at Kamath Medical at 9 AM."

"Sounds like a good plan to me," I told Charlie. "Sorry about the sudden surprise."

Charlie immediately got on his cellphone and called Angie at the pharmacy so the injection would be ready to go in the morning.

"It won't take but 15 to 20 minutes," I very assuredly told Charlie.

Comment Replies...

Blogger glittermom said...
I know you'll do the right thing. Also, your father doesn't need to know everything.


Andrew Replies...

Glittermom, you have been such a good friend and I wanted to thank you for always supporting me through the good and the bad. I really appreciate the comments as well.

You too, Rita, thanks for taking time out of your life and spending it with me. I value your opinion very much. Thanks for commenting as well.

Trust: It's a Beautiful Thing...

Trust Begats Trust!

Charlie showed up mere moments ago with a jumbo fish platter from Captain D's. He thought I would like something different for a change.

"Do you mind eating Captain D's tonight?" Charlie asked me over his cellphone.

"Sounds great to me," I replied to Charlie. "You know I love the jumbo fish platter."

Four big filets of  fried Alaskan Pollock...

Maggie let me know when Charlie arrived. I walked out to his car to help him bring everything inside.

"Your father doesn't want you taking your meds too early so I will put them on top of your entertainment center," Charlie said. "That way you can take them at nine or whenever you need them.

My father would be absolutely aghast at what Charlie did today. He trusted me with my medications and it made me feel all warm and fuzzy on the inside. I felt as if I had finally and truly arrived on the scene.

I counted the pills a moment ago and I take 11 different forms of medications every night -- quite a cocktail of crazy meds..

The Dog is Safe. We Can All Go Home Now...

I was abruptly and rudely awoken this afternoon by the sound of commercial grade lawn mowers circling my house. "Oh shit!" I said to myself as I scrambled to get the dog door locked. Maggie wanted to know what all the hoopla was about. Lopez does an awesome job manicuring my yard,, but they always forget about Maggie and will leave the gates open absentmindedly. The last thing I wanted to be doing was chasing Maggie around the neighborhood with a fistful of shaved turkey breast -- the only thing that would get her back in the fence. .

The Sausage Biscuit Express...

Charlie brought sausage biscuits once again this morning. The man never stops. It is go, go, go without relent! Did you know Charlie is 71 years old? He doesn't act his age at all, does he?

"Come in for a second and give Maggie some loving," I hopefully told Charlie.

Maggie was about beside herself to see Charlie. She ate up the attention.

"I am headed to work," Charlie said. "I will be back at 9 tonight to give you your medications. What do you want to eat tonight?"

"A sack full of Krystal's burgers would be nice," I told him realizing it was fruitless to argue with him.

I was going to tell him to take a break from getting me all that food. I've got plenty of food right now since last night was grocery night.

And the Day Culminates with the Word Good...

As usual, Charlie was a bad influence on me with regards to grocery shopping. The total came to over a whopping and outrageous $90 dollars. I usually average around $60. I will pay the piper later. I have a few more days until my father's return and then I will escape into silence and hiding.

"Into exile, we shall go, yes?"

"Whoops!" Charlie said with a goodhearted laugh and an astonished look on his face. "John will just have to get over it."

Earlier in our Shopping Trip...

"Your daddy wanted me to make sure you got some frozen meals," Charlie said as he began filling my cart with enough meals to feed an army. Not just Marie Callendars, but all kinds of different meals. Variety is the spice of life as they say.

I didn't have room in my freezer for them all once got home. I had to put some in the fridge and will eat them first when they defrost overnight. I will just shorten the cooking times.

My current fixation is canned roast beef and A-1 sauce sopped up with some loaf bread. I've thought about it and ruminated upon it all day. I got the Kroger brand ($3.19 a can) on a gamble (I am a riverboat gambler) and I am praying it's at least par. My first hope was for the Hormel roast beef, but it was sold out. My lemon meringue pie was sold out as well so I got the chocolate cream pie.

I Had a Shadow and it Certainly Wasn't Cast By Me...

I was on one of my many after midnight journeys to Walmart tonight. I still had 2 more hours until I go to bed and I wasn't sleepy at all. The police were really out tonight in force. I don't live far from Walmart and I counted six different police cruisers on my way to Wally World. We've gotta fill up those drunk tanks!

I also noticed tonight that they had a security guard at Walmart in full regalia -- uniform, badge, and all. That was new.  He smiled and said "welcome to Walmart" as I passed him, but I also had a swift shadow. Someone was following me. I believe it was loss prevention in plain clothes garb as I have read about on the web. I was dressed very nicely and didn't look like a shoplifter. I guess those guys just get bored shitless -- especially at 2 AM in the morning.

I grabbed the computer keyboard I wanted from electronics and headed to go pay for it up front. My shadow disappeared as soon as I got in the express line to check out. I figured dad wouldn't be back for a week and I had some "free" time from the abrasive grasp of my penny-pinching Papa to get a much-needed keyboard for my kitchen computer. This was the same Microsoft keyboard that I got Matt at the Pharmacy to order for me from the always frugal appealing and cost cutting NewEgg. It was $10 cheaper at Walmart at $29.98 and I was certainly impressed. I guess that shipping wasn't free after all.

Move Over! The Chuck-wagon is Coming Through...

Charlie has to get Horsefly a sausage biscuit everyday before work. Charlie told me yesterday that he was bringing me three as well every morning. Two for me and one for the Magster.

"You don't have to do that Charlie," I said flabbergasted and kind of aggravated with him. "You always try to do too much and run yourself ragged in the process."

I finally had to acquiesce and give in to Charlie's wily ways.

The Cavalry is Getting Regular...

I was just about to call Charlie and tell him I needed my medications early today when the phone rang. It was Charlie. It was like he had read my mind.

"I woke up on the wrong side of the bed," I told him.

"Everybody bowls a gutter ball sometimes," Charlie said echoing Horsefly's very astute saying.

"Do you want your usual KFC Sunday night meal?" Charlie asked. "Now, I will go get you anything you want and you know that."

"The three chicken strips meal will be fine," I told Charlie knowing it would make it much easier on him.

Charlie pulled up in front of my house almost exactly 30 minutes later. I hurried out to help him get everything inside. His hands were completely full. It was so good to see him.

Comment Reply...

Blogger Amelia said...
Does Charlie ever sleep? If he picked you up at ten and then had to go bowling with Horsefly, when is there time for sleep assuming he works during the day?


Blogger Dragon Master Andrew said...
He doesn't sleep much. I worried about the bowling alley being closed, but he says it stays open until midnight. Saturday nights are disco nights with a myriad of swirling lights and a disco ball as you bowl that Horsefly really enjoys.

I asked him one time when did he go to bed and he said midnight. My father doesn't go to bed until 1 AM and still works, but he does a lot of cat napping in his leather recliner. Me? I sleep 12 hours most nights and days lately and always feel like I could have slept an hour or two longer.

Note About Charlie's Work -- Charlie is on Eastern time at home in West Point, GA. His work is on Central time in Dadeville so this gives Charlie an extra hour in the morning to sleep and to get to work.

Big Car Wreck on the Interstate Overpass between Valley and Lanett

"Let's go get you a hot burger and fries," Charlie said after arriving tonight around 10 PM. "He knows I love the Big Mac combo meal."

The Magster went absolutely nuts at his arrival bouncing on and off the couch.

"He's here! He's here!" Maggie seemed to be imparting.

He had also brought some KFC which had grown tepid. Charlie spoils me rotten. He had also brought 9 sodas and my medications.

I hesitantly climbed into Charlie's Caprica knowing he drives like a drunk bat out of hell.

"What are all these blue police cruiser lights?" Charlie asked as we got closer to the interstate.

"Car accident," I replied. "And quite a bad one."

We managed to pass by the wreck before the police had shut off the road. One compact car was crumpled, but the big Chevrolet truck involved had little damage except to the bumper.

"I've still got to go get Horsefly and to go bowling," Charlie said worriedly.

I told Charlie to take the next interstate overpass down by Huguley on his way to the bowling alley.

Charlie and I exchanged love you's upon arriving at my house. I was hungry and ready to get inside and eat the copious amounts of food amassed on my entertainment center.

The Legend of the Sleeping Man...

It was 5 PM when the phone rang. I was sound asleep and awoke bumfuzzled. Maggie was sleeping beside me and immediately and alertly ran to the phone when it rang.

"Have you made it?" I asked thinking it was my father when I picked up the phone.

"It is your Uncle Charlie you ding head!" Charlie exclaimed laughing.

I laughed in turn and told Charlie I was sound asleep.

Charlie apologized profusely about waking me up. I assured him it was fine and that I needed to get up anyway.

"I will be there in a few hours," Charlie told me. "Horsefly is still watching his movie. What do you want to eat?"

"Just get the chicken tenders meal at KFC when you go to get Horsefly's supper."

I wanted to make it easy on Charlie. Charlie told me he loved me and he would be here soon as soon as he could. I had told him I was a little shaky this afternoon.

A Delicious Supper and This Morning's Agenda...

Dad called me last night and said he had some supper cooked. He wanted me to come over and eat with him.

The kitchen smelled wonderful when I walked through the back door. Dad had cooked hobos or what is often called hobo stew in some circles. It is just a large foil packet of ground beef or stew beef, potatoes, carrots, onions, and celery -- seasoned and steamed to perfection. Dad makes a sauce of ketchup, mustard, and Worcestershire and spoons it over the mixture.

I walked down to the pantry to get some more Cokes because the coat closet had run dry and I saw a can of Hormel roast beef and I also spied a bottle of A-1 steak sauce. I asked dad if I could have them and he said sure. That was going to be my after midnight snack (if I could wait that long and I couldn't).

Let's Get This Guy on a Plane...

As I was leaving last night, dad said for me to call him at 3 AM and make sure he is up. That's an hour before my usual bedtime lately but I will be up quite a bit longer than that this morning. The plane leaves for San Francisco at 7 AM and dad wants to be at the airport plenty early.

"I will pick you up at 4 AM and that will get us to Atlanta's airport at 5 AM," I told my father. "That will give you two hours to get checked in and to make it through security."

Mom Arrives With Our Weekly Mexican Meal...

Speaking of Jet-Setting...

Dad flies out to San Francisco on Saturday. It is his cousin Johnny's birthday and dad promised him he would come. He broke the news to me tonight during the much-needed medication ritual.

"Now, I am going to leave Charlie $150 of your money for you to have fast food meals every night," Dad told me. "Charlie will treat you well and take good care of you. I will be back next Friday."

Charlie will take damn good care of me...  was what I was thinking and musing in my thoughts.

I am going to miss my father, but I grew very excited about the prospect of having Charlie administering my medications. You can bet your bottom dollar that Charlie will be here at 9 PM sharp every night with medications, food, drinks and lots of love. The Magster will be elated to see him every night for a week as well. He is the beta dog after all.

Boo! Where is the Ectoplasm?

I don't believe in the metaphysical or supernatural but found this ad intriguing...

Comment Replies...

Blogger Sharyn Bellah said...

Your dad could bring one of those Diazapam injectors. They seem to work well on the Intervention patients. How have you been doing since Miss Martha's been gone? What about your dad?

Andrew Replied...

I would just adore some Diazapam injectors. We could fly around the world then. lol

A lot of dad's time was spent keeping my mother going with all her health issues. Now, he has a very quiet house with not much going on except the drone of the television. He seems to be doing okay, though. Time heals old wounds as they say.

I miss mom everyday. We were very close and I now don't have a buddy to go get chocolate shakes at Sonic or trips to Auburn to hit up the bookstore or watch movies at the multiplex. Not a day went by when my mother wouldn't call me 2 or 3 times a day. My phone has rarely rang since my mother's death and it is uncanny feeling.

This is me today!!!! LOL

The Royal Princess of Egypt...

Dad was being totally silly, witty, and sarcastic tonight. He sat on the couch giving me my crazy meds as I sat in the recliner next to him. I couldn't discern whether he had been drinking or not. He was acting awful happy tonight. He's a happy, silly drunk. I was a tear in your beer type of drunk. Alcohol depressed my already depressed brain to even deeper lows and deeper depths of despair.

Dad finally gave Samantha (his cat) her royal titles tonight as dad does with all our pets. We brainstormed together for her name. It took him long enough. She is Empress of India and a Royal Princess of Egypt.

Don't Let the Last Chance Get Lost...

"I want to see the Great Pyramids of Giza before I die," my father told me as he was daydreaming.

"GO!" I adamantly exclaimed. "Go while you still have your health and your money."

"I am seriously going to think about it," my father said. "Would you go with me?"

"Can you imagine me having an anxiety attack on the plane and then us forgetting to bring my crazy meds?"

We both laughed. It was a very plausible situation, though.

"Get your jet-setting cousin, Jean, to go with you," I told him. "She would jump at the chance."

The Quest for Crazy Meds...

"I would never in a million years thought I would outlive your mother," my father solemnly said as we drove in mom's car to dad's house. Dad's CR-V has another headlight out and dad didn't want another ticket for the same reason. He's already gotten one.

"I can't believe I almost forgot your medications as well," he also said. "I am bumfuzzled tonight."

My father is a jerky, swervy, snatchy driver and it was making me carsick something terrible. I felt I was about ready to blow chunks like Horsefly does. Thankfully, we arrived at my parent's house soon enough. I had just eaten a Marie's three meat and four cheese lasagna meal and it was sitting very heavy on my stomach.

The reason for all this trouble was that Dad had left my medications in his CR-V so we drove over to get them. My ever social father needed a copilot to jib jab with.

"I'll drive us home," I sternly told my father aggressively as he walked back to mom's car after securely locking his Honda.

Needless to say, I was glad to get back to my house as the urge to vomit left as quickly as it came.

Breakfast Anyone?

Today's Word is Rain...

We were just caught in what can best be described as a gulley washer and it looks like it isn't going to let up any soon if you are looking at the radar. Man, did it rain hard for about 30 minutes. This type of weather curtails going out of the house when you have a roof over your head and air conditioning. It also helps to have some food in your fridge as well. You don't want to make run for the border (Taco Bell) in this kind of weather.

Computer Bliss...

At the moment, I am "playing" with all my new "toys" from last night that were delivered. I can now use Google Chrome with my laptop and watch videos on YouTube with it as well. I can even run quite a few game emulators. Before, they were a choppy memory hungry mess. I didn't get to bed until almost 6:30 AM this morning I was so enthralled and fixated.

She's Such a Neglected Dog...

Maggie has learned that by whining and whimpering she gets an instant reaction from me. I am always worried she is in some kind of pain or duress. She was mewling this morning when I realized I hadn't got breakfast started. She was fine and very quiet after our cheese eggs and grits. She got back on the bed and went to sleep -- her belly full at that moment. Now she is whining because she has to go potty and it is pouring down rain.

"Sweetheart, I can't control or change the weather," I said to her.

She finally flew out the dog door like a bat out of hell. It took a record 2 minutes for her to tinkle. What do dogs do when they get wet? They shake all the water off. I'm glad Maggie was in the laundry room when she did that.

Two For One...

After we went grocery shopping last night, my father asked me to come out to the car when he parked at the curb. Whoopee, I realized some of my computer parts were here.

"I was worried you wouldn't go get your groceries if you knew your parts had arrived," my father told me.

I have pulled an all-nighter playing with my new toys. Dad loved how excited I got. Christmas in June is what I told him. We went back inside so my father could see what I ordered. It was my ergonomic keyboard for my PC gaming computer and SODIMMs for my laptop. I still have some parts arriving for the computer I am building for my father.

"I wish you would get this excited about cleaning your house," my father told me snarkily.

"That's what my uncle Charlie is for," I replied with a Cheshire grin. "He cleans and then I keep it clean. There's a method to our madness."

Charlie had run out of stuff to do when he traditionally cleaned last Sunday night. He bragged on me to my father as they were walking out my front door to leave. Sometimes, all I need is just a little help and encouragement. No derision please.

They messed up my parts order but it wasn't a show stopper. It was to my benefit. They sent me 4 gigs of laptop memory when I only ordered 2 gigs. The price wasn't doubled as well much to my relief. I got a two for one deal.