I must've been a very good boy last year as Charlie brought us some expensive and highbrow vittles. This truly is one of my favorite "fast food" meals.
"Come on and go to the movies with us after you eat your lunch," Charlie told me as he stepped inside to see Maggie. "I've gotta go change clothes and we can leave when I get back."
Charlie asks me that every single Saturday and every time I decline. One of these days, I am going to take him up on his offer and completely surprise him. Popcorn and Coke, please!
"I ran by McDonald's on the way here to get you a diet Coke and the drive-thru lady told me they were out of diet Coke!" Charlie said with a huff. "How in the hell does a fast food place run out of diet Coke? It pissed me off."
The Brunswick stew is hiding underneath the Texas toast.
The phone rang twice about noon and I called my father back.
"Don't go anywhere before 3:30 PM," my father said. "Charlie is bringing you and Maggie some lunch before he takes Horsefly to the cinema."
Well, this just thrilled me to death. What a welcomed surprise! It was also fortuitous that I haven't eaten lunch yet. I am quite hungry and will be ready for Charlie's arrival.
"What are you up to dad?" I then asked very inquisitively.
"I am about to drive to your sister's house in Alexander City," he told me. "Your sister's in-laws are here and I want to see them."
What my father said sounded so foreign and odd to me. Why would anyone want to drive two hours and visit with their child's in-laws? It struck fear in my heart just thinking about it.
Charlie finally closed on the West Point house and his rental property as well and got what he was asking for them. He was ecstatic. The house had been on the market for years and years. Possibly 10 years. The phone rang thrice, our code, and I called him back. Dad rings twice.
"I would invite you to the party tonight, but I know you wouldn't want to be around all that alcohol," Charlie told me over the phone.
Actually, my social phobias and having to mingle amidst all those people would be my biggest obstacle and fear. I wouldn't worry at all about the alcohol and free-flowing champagne. If I wanted a beer, I could just walk next door and ask George for a few to my father's consternation and not have to deal with the crowd. It is my father's biggest fear about my former alcoholic self. I always have enjoyed drinking alone. Put me in front of a computer and let the beer flow and the music sing.
"What are you going to do with all that money?" I boldly asked the very fiscally secretive Charlie.
"I am going to Walmart and buying the biggest damn TV they have," Charlie replied laughing.
I laughed in turn and told Charlie I would be glad to hook it up for him. He said he was counting on it. That sounded like something I would do! I would also put aside $10,000 to $20,000 and build one helluva kick-ass computer!
You got some good looking plates from her..and lots of vegetables! Lot better then those frozen meals. Does your father cook everyday for himself?
Andrew Replies...
Glittermom, I think he mainly eats sandwiches. He cooked breakfast for supper last night I do know because he gave me some yeast rolls and lots of sausages to carry home with me. He keeps saying he is going to start cooking two nights a week to give me and him some homecooked meals to eat. I welcome our vegetable beef soup cooking overlords! lol
Last night was the first time in many weeks I was able to sleep through the night without being awoken by something crashing in the kitchen or the pitter patter of little feet running by me on the bedroom floor. I finally have peace. You wouldn't believe how loud and boisterous those animals were. Yes, killing the rats was a dirty and bloody business, but as I said this is war. It was me or them and I wasn't about to let them run me out of my own house.
They first came in through the dog door eating Maggie's food and drinking her water. They soon moved in and made themselves at home thus spurring me into action. I don't take much satisfaction for what I did. I have a conscience and it worried me deeply. I asked my father several times if what I was doing was right and he spurred me on saying it was a dirty business but must be done. It was more humane killing them than just dropping the rat and the glue trap into the trash and forgetting them (as it advised on the packaging). That would be true suffering to just die of thirst and lack of food -- suffering from a lack of mobility.
I think I got the last rat last night just before bed and that will be the end of that. I won't be writing about it anymore. Those of you with heightened sensitivities can also rest in peace.
Editor's Note: Rats and fleas contributed to the spread of the bubonic plague in the medieval ages or dark ages as they are also known. Tens of millions of people died during the plague. The fleas would bite the host which were the rats and then bite humans thus transferring the pathogen. I always worried fleas from the rats infesting my home would bite Maggie and myself giving us some similar or lesser ailment. I know it sounds like paranoia, but that's just my schizophrenic nature making its presence known.
Hi Andrew. What would make my laptop fan run when I am on the internet? It doesn't do it when it's idle, just when I go onto the internet. I ran a scan and found no issues.
Andrew Replies...
Summer, it usually just means the CPU or processor is running a little warm processing data while you are browsing and the fan comes on to cool it down. At idle, the processor is idle as well and doesn't need to be cooled.
The Pig just didn't stay open late enough for us. By the time dad gets home from work, changes clothes, and eats some supper it can be nine or nine thirty before we leave to go grocery shopping. He insists on shopping Monday nights for some reason. I hated always hitting the Pig with a big purchase just before they were going to close. Krogers stays open until 1 AM. I miss the Piggly Wiggly. I really enjoyed shopping there. Mrs. Camille treated us like royalty.
Well, I got four rats with the glue traps last night. They were a resounding success! Every time I was almost back asleep I would catch another one, a very loud racket would ensue and I would have to get up and attend to the business at hand. I would have had five, but one wiggled out of the traps. I was catching them all behind the refrigerator -- one of their major thoroughfares. I feel like I haven't had a lick of sleep this morning -- all bleary eyed and tired. I kept wondering just how many are there? We're now set to get all the devious little bastards. I am hoping we are down to one -- the one that got away. I fear he/she is going to be gunshy of the traps from now on, though. They are quite intelligent and social little creatures. EDIT: I got the fifth one around noon. These glue traps really work!
As soon as my father and I stepped into Kroger tonight, I sent him on a mission.
"Dad, get me some paper bowls and a small jar of peanut butter," I told him.
He said he was on the job and moments later caught me looking at applesauce and handed me the items. I swear by paper bowls both for snacks and meals and the peanut butter was for my rattraps. It is very quiet rodent wise tonight which gets my hopes up. Maybe they've moved out? There is nothing to eat within their reach. I bought some sticky glue traps tonight and we will see how they work as well.
I was on a mission myself for healthy foods to eat that don't have a lot of calories and that are filling. I bought all natural apple sauce, no sugar added fruit cups, cottage cheese, tuna creations, ready rice for the tuna, etc. Dad then proceeded to put a more modest amount of Lean Cuisine meals in my cart this time. He got sticker shock last week with the amount we spent.
I did really well on my diet this week. I actually surprised myself. I am still afraid to step on my scales for what I may see, though. I haven't weighed since this all began.
"I moved shit all day yesterday and I am sore as hell today," Charlie told me over Maggie's furtive whinings.
"Well, you are 73 years old and no spring chicken," I replied with a laugh.
"Here's you and Maggie some breakfast," Charlie said, handing me a drink and a sack of food.
It was more Burger King croissants and a Diet Coke from McDonald's. It will make a fine lunch since I had already cooked my and Maggie's four eggs and two strips of bacon.
"Janice was thrilled to death to be back online and to get her computer fixed," Charlie said. "Thank you so much. She spent hours on her iPad last night and swore you did something to make it faster."
"Well, I appreciate the TV as it makes my old one pale in comparison," I replied to Charlie.
"I'm headed to Dadeville," Charlie said of work. "I'll see you two again tonight or tomorrow. Love you."
I told Charlie I loved him as well and he was on his way. Maggie let loose a flurry of "don't go" barks as he walked across my front yard to his car.
I went and got back on my computer when there was another knock on the door. I looked outside and a plumber's truck was sitting at the curb. I walked into the den to open the door.
"You're obviously not a Shanika," the plumber said. "I must have the wrong address."
We both burst out in laughter and he was on his way again. Boy, did it get Maggie's knickers in a twist, though. She barked for a good thirty minutes after he left.
Well, I got Janice's computer situated and running like a well-oiled machine. It had multiple problems. The speakers weren't working, her wifi wasn't connecting to her iPad and iPhone, and the printer wasn't working.
"Simplest things first," I said as I got started troubleshooting which is my motto when working with computers.
The speaker's power cord was unplugged and then the speakers weren't turned on. The printers USB cable wasn't attached to the back of the printer. The wireless router's ethernet connection wasn't inserted into the back of the cable internet modem. Janice was overjoyed at what I got accomplished. I made sure her phone and iPad where online along with the computer and then headed to Papa's house for a rest and some conversation.
Yesterday, Charlie called me and told me to meet him at his house in West Point. He wanted me to remove the television he was giving me off the den wall. It only took about ten minutes to remove the mount and the television was ready to go. I successfully installed the convoluted stand as well. Charlie then wanted me to wait on getting the Television as he wanted an extra TV if they needed one installing the cable at his new house yesterday. The logic of this escaped me, but I said okay.
Sunday, A Day Later...
"I need you to hook up Janice's computer printer, then we will get your new TV and bring it back to your house," Charlie told me during the Sunday morning biscuit ritual. "Janice will be home from church after noon and she needs to show you what she wants to be done."
Charlie left and I began to fret about the time. I am much like my mother in those regards. I want to know a set time and not all this nebulous waiting for a phone call. I called him back on his cellphone after he left my house.
"Somewhere between noon and two," Charlie told me. "Janice might go out to lunch with the church ladies."
I was in the middle of talking and Charlie says, "thank you Andrew" and hangs up on me. Well, that hurt my feelings deeply and also pissed me off. I am such a sensitive soul. Too sensitive!
Why can't things be simple like I come over and install the printer and drive home with my new TV on the back seat of my car? It will take me 5 minutes tops to install the printer. I can carry the television myself. I'd rather do without the television than have to go through all this rigamarole. I don't watch much television as it is. All of this just triggers my mental illness!
I live in my very own version of the Department of Motor Vehicles -- the often maligned DMV and rightly so. I just called Charlie about those televisions and he stalled and balked.
"They are hooking up the cable at my new house today," Charlie said. "So my hands are tied. I might need you today to help me get that flatscreen TV off the wall, though. Plan for tomorrow."
I just wish they wouldn't tell me this stuff and get my hopes up only to be let down harshly.
Crank up your high definition as things are about to get highly defined around here. Charlie called me this morning saying he had a nice flat screen TV he wants to give to me. I am having trouble getting my current television to come on and had told Charlie the other night to work on dad about getting me a new TV.
"I've got it hanging on the wall, but I still have the stand," Charlie told me.
Well, this excited me to no end. I don't watch much television, but would welcome a nice TV to watch movies on with my Blu-Ray player. I only get like 20 channels as it is. I am getting basic, basic cable.
"I am also closing on my house in West Point," Charlie told me with much excitement in his voice.
I fawned all over Charlie on the phone about this. He has been trying to sell it for years but was asking too high of a price. Someone must have finally taken the bait. It is a beautiful house.
"I'll be by with the television after I arrive home from work," Charlie said.
I hung up the phone and grew very excited. It is not everyday someone gives you a large flat screen high definition TV and I love gadgets and electronics of any kind.
Well that makes sense..didn’t your father say he was going to retire soon?
Andrew Replies...
He's on the gradual retirement plan. They keep cutting his hours over time. Right now he only works 15 hours a week. He was working 20 hours. He loves the current arrangement of working a half day Monday and all day Tuesday.
Why did your dad want you to change the day of injection? Just curious.
Andrew Replies...
Glittermom, he is off on Thursdays and works all day on Tuesdays. It would just simplify things as far as acquiring my actual injection package is concerned. It is on the way to Kamath Medical as well -- just down the street to be exact. I wouldn't have to make an extra trip to my father's house to deliver the next appointment card to boot. I could just drop it off at the pharmacy and head home without delay.
"Don't tell that other nurse, Kathy, this, but I am so glad to have you back," I told Rebecca this morning.
She laughed and told me thank you.
"Kathy is a good nurse," Rebecca said in her defense. "It is just that this injection can seem a little overwhelming."
"They always try to use the little needle and they are shocked when I insist on the big one. We've got to get it deep into the gluteal muscle I will explain," I told Rebecca.
Rebecca and I then talked about dieting. She has always had a tendency to be overweight, and she told me her secrets of staying slim. I explained to her that I am on dad's Lean Cuisine slim down plan.
"Lots of vegetables for snacks and meals," she told me. "I personally prefer some steamed broccoli with just a little bit of butter and salt and pepper."
She made broccoli sound delicious.
"I just can't handle cottage cheese," she said with a laugh and a blech! "I also eat a lot of tuna."
The injection went smoothly despite all the odds that seem to be stacked against me for this to happen. I hurried back up through the Valley to give my father the next appointment card. I was ready to get home.
"I got my appointments changed to Tuesdays," I told him. "Just the way you wanted."
Dad thanked me profusely and gave me a hug.
"And I didn't have to tell you or nag you, either!" my father exclaimed.
"You amaze me these days," he told me. "I used to couldn't trust you with doing all this, but you get it done and make it seem easy."
I just blushed and told him thank you as well. I couldn't leave without grabbing a diet Coke out of dad's fridge and then I was on my way back to my Maggie and my computers.
A little video I shot a few years ago of what it is like to get my injection.
It is a cold blustery day here in the Southland. The wind has been just howling around my windows making this old house creak and moan. I needed a caffeine fix and drove over to my father's house to get two more Diet Cokes and I about froze to death. It took my car forever to warm up. It was getting warm as soon as I was pulling in my father's driveway.
We have frost warnings for the morning. Every time my lawn starts to get green, we get another frost and it kills it back. Things are looking up, though. Temperatures should be back into the seventies this weekend accompanied by more rain and storms.
Did I tell you about our storms the other night? I was feeling my nocturnal roots and stayed up to 2 AM to witness them arrive. They put on quite a light show with lots of thunder. Crash, bang, boom!
Just a few more days to my birthday and this will be mine. Oddly enough, I am more fascinated with this microSDXC (micro secure digital extended capacity) flash memory than I am with the tablet computer I am getting. How do they pack 128GB of storage in that tiny little unit? And it only cost $36.99 as well.
"These are mine! You've already eaten yours," I told Maggie as she licked her chops at my two scrambled eggs and bacon this morning.
She wolfs her's down so quickly it is a wonder she even tastes it.
I am managing to stick to my diet so far, but I feel hungry all the time. I had the Lean Cuisine spaghetti and meat sauce meal for supper and I was ravishingly hungry by the time bedtime rolled around. I went to sleep hungry. I am trying to forego the honey bun and glass of milk. I put the honey buns in the freezer.
My father stopped by to see me last night after work. Maggie was overjoyed as always to see him. I was quite smitten myself to see him as well. We've had a change in our routines where my father leaves my two Cokes and my cigarettes in a chair on his porch at night. I pick them up in the morning.
"I've got one more dosage of medicine in my blister pack and then I am out," I warned him.
"Let's get in my car and go get another pack I have at the house," my father told me.
"Only if I can drive," I replied.
My father's driving makes me car sick.
It was so good to see Sam my feline buddy. Sam has been under the weather and has been at the veterinarian for a week. She had the kitty version of the flu. Dad knew something was wrong when she quit eating for several days. I had to have a Diet Coke and some caffeine so dad and I sat in the den and talked awhile.
"I deactivated my Facebook account," I told my father.
"What brought this about?" he asked, looking at me wide-eyed.
"I just have trouble seeing the ramifications of my writings and it is such a public place to air your dirty laundry. I worried I would write something about you or Charlie and it would get back to y'all and hurt your feelings."
"Well, it is good you can recognize that," my father replied.
I caught another rat this morning. The SNAP! stirred me from a deep slumber. The trap landed on its hind leg and it was still alive and screeching in pain. I keep having to remind myself that I am waging a war on these animals -- the interlopers they are.
"What do I do?" I asked my father on the phone about this dirty and violent affair.
"Whack its head on the edge of your kitchen counter until it is dead," he told me. "You don't want it to suffer. Carry it out to the edge of the yard and throw it over the fence where Maggie can't get it."
It took three good violent whacks to kill it. I felt so terrible as if I had just committed murder. Then I remembered all the nights these rats have kept me up and kept me from sleeping. They have shit and pissed all under my sink. All is fair in love and war, right?
I did terribly on my diet last week. I ate pretty much everything in sight.
"Let's try this," my father said as we were walking into Kroger. "Cook you two eggs and a strip of bacon for breakfast and then eat a lean cuisine meal for lunch and supper."
"Alright," I said moping. "I'll give it a try."
Dad was running way late tonight and the Pig was about to close so we went to Kroger.
All my extra weight resides in my waist and my cheeks are looking full giving me a puffy faced and pot-bellied look. My late grandmother would say I looked healthy. Of course, she grew up during the Great Depression.
We immediately headed to the frozen food aisle and I let my father pick out enough meals to last till next Monday. He seemed to be enjoying himself. I also had to get a big bag of Maggie's hifalutin dog food. That was $15 out of my budget. They also had six packs of diet 7-UP in the bottles for four for $10 dollars and I stocked up on them as well.
I allowed myself one splurge and that is my Little Debbie honey buns and a gallon of milk.
"You can have one honey bun heated and consumed with a glass of milk before bed," my father said. "That way you won't feel so deprived."
The total came out to be well over $100 dollars with all those expensive Lean Cuisine meals and we bought quite a few. My freezer is full.
My father was right. The Mags and I were laying in the bed about to drift off to sleep when we heard a very loud SNAP! Maggie got up to investigate and I followed her into the kitchen.
"Got one!" I said, pumping my fists into the air after opening the under sink kitchen cabinet and peering in with a flashlight. "Yes!!!"
This is war! (war cry!)
I reset the trap after wiping off the blood. (This is dirty business.) Maggie and I got back in the bed when moments later we heard another SNAP! Yes, we got one more. I reset the trap with some fresh peanut butter and it was quiet for the rest of the night. The rats look like some kind of mouse/rat hybrid at close glance.
Ye Olde Rattle and Grind...
You know you are getting pretty good at fixing computers when an exhaust fan in your computer starts to loudly rattle and grind in the night (the fan's bearings were going out) and you change the fan in just under 20 minutes and you are back in the bed. Yes, I had a fan go out and I replaced it with a spare I had on hand. It was a busy night last night. I am feeling it this afternoon.
"Here's three rattraps and some peanut butter," my father said upon arriving with our Sunday night supper. "I expect you will hear those traps SNAP! in the middle of the night tonight."
I thanked my father profusely as Charlie put my two pot pies and three cookies on top of my entertainment center. It was then time for Charlie to lavish attention upon our Maggie. Maggie will "talk" to Charlie she gets so excited.
"Don't joke around with Charlie," dad then told me cautiously. "He's in a terrible mood tonight and has bitched about everything under the sun."
"Oh, hush John," Charlie then said laughing as he sat on the couch with the Magster.
I immediately got in the kitchen and set the rattraps as my father supervised. Those loud SNAPS! can't come soon enough. I am tired of being awoken by crashes in the kitchen. The SNAPS! will be music to my ears.
Things quieted down around here after the dynamic duo left and I gave Maggie her pot pie which she relished. She will eat the whole thing and not leave a crumb. It makes me feel good for her to get and enjoy such a thing.
"Shit!" Charlie said. "They messed up the order this morning. You and Horsefly are getting bacon, egg, and cheese biscuits."
Charlie told me goodbye and I shut the door. I then hollered out, "YES!" and pumped my fists in the air. Maggie had a bacon, egg, and cheese biscuit herself which she relished.
It was time to savor my Diet Coke while I browsed my favorite internet websites. It tasted so good this morning. I cued up some Zero 7 in Groove and got to browsing.
As I sit here, I see the carpenter bees are busy working on and fighting over choice spots on my roof awning. The azaleas are also blooming giving them a food source.
Papa also called to see what I am up to.
"Andrew things," I replied. "Computer centric."
He sounded so glad to be home. He said he was fixing to get in the shower and start his day.
Charlie stopped by the house this morning with a Burger King breakfast. Maggie and I each had a bacon, egg, and cheese croissant. I also got a large McDonald's Diet Coke which I absolutely relished. The reason Charlie buys the large Coke from McDonald's is it is only .99 cents.
"Your father is in Biloxi, Mississippi on the Gulf Coast," Charlie said. "He should be home tonight. They were just pulling into a gas station when I called. He also asked me to look at your medication blister pack."
The long arm of Old Fuss and Feathers.
"Hurricane Katrina about got Biloxi," I told Charlie. "I am glad to hear it is still on the map."
I then got on my kitchen computer while Charlie was gathering my trash in the same room.
"They are 309 miles from home. Almost 4 hours and 17 minutes," I told him. "They've still got quite a ways to go."
Charlie stopped for a minute to look at the map on the computer screen and remarked how close to the ocean they are.
"Right on the ocean," I replied. "I bet they can see the Gulf from the gas station."
Boy, Charlie really surprised the Magster and me yesterday afternoon. He showed up at 5:30 PM which just thrilled me for his first act. I was expecting him around 7:30 to 8:00 PM.
"TGIF!" was the first thing a smiling Charlie said as he got out of his car.
I walked out to look at the big dent Charlie put in his driver's side door hitting the drive thru pole at Chick-fil-A earlier in the week.
"I drive just like your poor dear mother," Charlie told me laughing heartily.
Charlie looked much better yesterday with his hair combed and nice clothes on. You could tell he was just coming from work.
"I hope you can fit two Chick-Fil-A sandwiches into your diet," Charlie said as we walked across my front yard. "I got you lots of Polynesian sauce."
Charlie is a "feeder". He takes great satisfaction out of feeding his friends and family, and making them feel good in turn. It is terrible if you are on a diet which I have about given up on.
"Here's your smokes and a giant Diet Coke from McDonald's," Charlie also said.
"I think the Mags and I can handle two Chick-Fil-A sandwiches in between the cheese eggs for breakfast and the ham sandwiches for lunch," I replied to him.
After Charlie left, I gave the Magster her sandwich sans pickles. She was one happy dog and let me know it feeling quite playful afterwards. Yes, she was feeling her oats.
I wouldn't be surprised if Old Fuss and Feathers was in his bed right now. He said he was getting back Saturday, but I bet they got back last night. It will be good to see him.
I looked up from this computer and saw the meter reader in my neighbor's yard reading their water meter. I quickly jumped up, walked briskly into the kitchen, and locked the dog door in the laundry room. Maggie almost immediately knew something was up and started barking. I've got the house opened up today as it is so warm and beautiful so Maggie got out on the porch and went apeshit bananas as he opened up the fence to her yard. I noticed the meter reader was carrying an axe handle today. I am always worried Maggie will try to nip at his heels and he will hit her in the head or hurt her in some way.
Oh, Charlie? Why Dost Thou Forsake Me?
Charlie didn't show up until 9:30 last night. I had almost given up on him. I had the nods as I sat at this computer looking out the window for his arrival. It was way past my bedtime. Maggie had given up her vigil as well and gone to sleep on the bed. She gave Charlie one helluva show when he finally arrived, though.
"I lost track of the time moving furniture," Charlie told me sheepishly over the phone about 9:20. "I am headed your way."
At least I no longer have to wait for my medications when Charlie and my father are late. I had smoked my last cigarette 2 hours earlier, though, and was jonesing for my next fix.
Bed? This Weekend Maybe?
Charlie and I have to move the old bed and then move in the new bed. I am hoping we will get this done this weekend. Charlie has already given me a footstool hoping Maggie will use it to jump onto the bed.
Phantogram has quickly become my current favorite band. I call this video the "jiggly boobie" video as there is quite a lot of that going on which amuses me. You might want to fullscreen it to get the full effect! :-)
I just got off the phone with the exterminators which is amazing considering my phone phobias. Tough times call for tough measures. I told the fellow that I needed some help with some completely unruly rats. He has been putting bait bags under the basement, but apparently, these rats use the dog door and don't go under the house.
"I'll be out there tomorrow afternoon," he told me. "We will put some bait bags under your kitchen counters."
I said a big thank you and we got off the phone.
Last night got off to an auspicious start. I was sitting in my recliner when I leaned back and a rat came shooting out from under the chair and scurried into the kitchen. Then they kept me up all last night with crashing noises in the kitchen, den, and bathroom. I feel bleary-eyed this afternoon. Maggie just ignores them which miffs me. If she saw a cat in the yard, then she would go nuts. I don't understand this ambivalence she has for these rats who are invading her home. Last night, there was a huge crash of pots and pans under the stove and Maggie just looked up and then went back to sleep.
"Now Andrew, I know you are on a diet so I didn't bring you something to eat," Charlie said. "But I did bring Maggie a small McDonald's cheeseburger."
I smiled the biggest smile as Charlie unwrapped the cheeseburger and gave it to Maggie. Maggie then hurriedly carried it into the computer room to eat it. Soon, she was back on the couch with Charlie looking very calm and complacent -- eating up the attention Charlie was giving her.
It was so good to see Charlie tonight. He brought me my two Diet Cokes and a pack of smokes. I don't want to sound maudlin, but Charlie just looked old and haggard to me this evening. His hair has finally turned grey and was all awry. He also looked like he has lost a lot of weight.
"Don't hesitate to call me for anything," Charlie said as he was leaving and carrying out my trash. "I love you and I am going to take care of you while your daddy's gone."
