Comment Reply…

Sharyn Bellah said...

Do you find that your habit of doing things late affects your mental curiosities? After about 3pm, my anxiety really sets in and I'm a home body! Add night blindness and a new fear of driving (Since that last lady tried to kill us) and there's no going out for me!

Andrew Replies…

Sharyn, tell me about it. YES! Yes, it does affect my mental curiosities as you put it. I would fare far better doing this all around lunch about the time I take my main dosage of medications. I can’t see to drive well after dark either. Dad insists on going so late so he won’t get “caught” by people he knows and get entangled in lengthy conversations as is often the case when he goes in the day. It must be a small town thing. “Why don’t you talk while I shop,” is what I want to tell him. “Then you can use me as an excuse that you’ve gotta go when I show back up with a cart of groceries ready to check out.”

Injection in the Morning…

Let us hope this goes a long way to making me feel better. I feel as if my long acting injection ran out long ago last week. It will be good to see Rebecca’s rosy cheeks in the morning. I’ve already called Old Fuss and Feathers and got him to fill the prescription so I am ready to go. I just have to drive by the pharmacy, grab the shot, and head to Kamath Medical in the morning.

Glittermom, I got Old Fuss and Feathers all hooked up and he is watching that Auburn football disc incessantly. I am glad I don’t have to live with him or he would be driving me crazy right now.  He turns the volume up so loud it rattles your eardrums. He is already hard of hearing and he likes it loud anyway on top of that.

My dearest Maggie has been wild tonight. I like to see her feeling her oats. Something has unlocked her inner puppy. All her chew toys are scattered about the house and she keeps running outside to bark awhile and flies back inside to keep up with me and what I am doing. She’s on a down moment right now licking her paws as she lay on the rug next to me and this computer room computer. That means she is sublimely content. It will take the slightest noise outside (squirrel fart) and then she will be tearing out the dog door to go bark another thirty minutes. If I were to say, “Here Kitty, Kitty,” she would go absolutely nuts.

Comment Reply…

Beth said...

Social Security has way more things to do than troll blogs on the off-chance of ‘catching ‘ someone who could be violating the terms of their disability. In my town all they would need to do is go to Walmart and listen for a while. Don’t be paranoid. Write about your volunteer work...just watch names and places, which you do some anyway.

September 20, 2018 at 10:31 PM

Andrew Replies…

Beth, thanks for that. I appreciate your common sense in the matter. I have a tendency to be paranoid many times and dad can really get me going. I thought Soc Sec was just lurking around the corner to bust me! lol

Comment Replies…

glittermom said...

It isn’t a real attractive color. How old is that house? Have the grand kids been to the river House? I would love to see a picture of it ..

September 22, 2018 at 6:55 PM

Andrew replies…

The house was built in 1925. Yes, all the grandkids have been to the river house many times. It is a skeleton of itself at the moment. Dad is waiting on an electrician to rewire the house and then he will put up sheetrock. I will put up a picture when it looks more like a proper house.  

Anonymous said...

That house IS a tad bit on the bright side. lol It is a beautiful old house though. Did you grow up there?
Jennifer <3

September 22, 2018 at 8:14 PM

Andrew Replies…

Jennifer, we moved into that house when I was fifteen. I finally had my own room apart from my brother and it was wondrous. 

Comment Reply…

glittermom said...

Didn’t your dad say a while ago that he was selling that house?

Andrew Replies…

He wants to live in the river house, but the grandkids love the big house so he has a dilemma on his hands. He says he can’t afford to keep both of them up. I told him this morning he was going to have to get it repainted before someone will buy it – the manor on the hill. He didn’t like to hear that, but the house is painted in such an odd and quite frankly an ugly color. What possessed him to do that I do not know. It is like an orange baby diarrhea color.

Comment Replies…

glittermom said...

I have a Honda CR-V I don’t think I could get use to sitting down so low in reg. car. Ive been driving suvs for a long time..I like sitting up a little higher. Seems less dangerous. At least your new car will be more reliable. Did your father give your car to his computer genius at work? (That was meant to be sarcastic). Your the computer genius.

Andrew Replies…

CR-Vs are great cars. Dad’s CR-V has 275,000 miles on it and it just keeps going and going. I miss that about my CR-V as well – sitting up high and not having to climb out of it when I get somewhere. I wonder now how my mother ever got in that car and out again it is so low.

Yes, Matt got my car. I saw it this morning when I arrived at the pharmacy. He always gushes to me how nice that car is compared to his old 1991 Nissan Pathfinder. I wanted to keep my CR-V to save putting miles on my new car – mom’s car. My father does the same with his CR-V to keep from putting miles on his BMW X5. Dad said it would be too expensive for me to own two cars, though. A decision I deeply regret. It wouldn’t have been that expensive. 

Pipe Tobacco…

Thank you for caring. Still no news about George. You’ll be the first to know on here when I find out something.

Another One Under My Belt…

I am warming up some pork chops and rice for supper. I never got around to eating them last night. I just stuck them in the fridge for later. I am especially keen on the asparagus tonight which dad drizzles with a mayonnaise and lemon juice emulsion sauce. It is just delicious. There were four biscuits, but I am unsure how well they faired a tour of duty in the fridge overnight. I might slice them in half and toast them in my toaster oven with some butter. That’s what my grandmother, Sally Lou, would do. Leftover biscuits were a treat at her house.

Last night, I was so tired that I sat down in my recliner in the den and fell sound asleep instantly. Maggie woke me up about 3 AM barking loudly as if someone was in the yard. I checked to make sure my car alarm was on, I turned on the porch lights, and then double checked all the doors to see if they were locked. I then went and retired in a proper bed and slept soundly the rest of the night. 

Sharyna thought I liked Jermaine. Hah! Just kidding! I like Jermaine. He’s a good friend, but he can just talk your ear off for 20 minutes or more. Southern etiquette dictates that the person who started a conversation finishes it. The same goes for the phone. That’s why I was avoiding him last night. I was tired and ill and wanted to get in and out as fast as possible. I was one pooped puppy last night.

Skinny Minny, unfortunately our Kroger doesn’t have that service or I would certainly use it. I think Walmart does, though. I would never convince my father to try Walmart's service unfortunately. Kroger is just ten times more convenient as well as far as location and parking. 

Glittermom and Rita...

I sincerely appreciated your advice on my post from yesterday. You two are always so kind to post comments on my blog and I appreciate you very, very much. I was having a pity party yesterday and you two reached out to me and it helped immensely. If there is ever anything I can do for you then just ask. You have a stalwart friend in me.

Comment Replies...

Blogger glittermom said...

When’s your dad retiring ? Is he still talking of moving to the River house. I would love to see a picture of that house.

Andrew Replies...

Dad is gradually moving into retirement. He says he can't continue to live his current lifestyle without working, though. Yes, he is talking about moving into the river house and selling the manor. I will have to get a video or pictures of the river house up on the blog soon.

Comment Replies...

Blogger PipeTobacco said...
Sir:

Take a photo of you with your goatee!!!! I bet it looks good on you.

PipeTobacco

Andrew Replies...

Pipe, it is still in the birthing stages and sort of scraggly. I will post a picture when it fills out some more.

Comment Replies...

Blogger Sharyn Bellah said...
(And would it be possible for you to give me "read only" status on 4th Avenue Blues?)

Andrew Replied...
Most of those posts are incorporated into this blog. A few years after 2010 are missing as blogger gives me an error when I try to upload them. 

It is good to have you commenting again and it was even grander that you are alive and well. I am not ignoring your comments. Just a little overwhelmed that's all. You hit the ground running as far as commenting on my journal. 

Comment Replies...

Blogger glittermom said...

Did your dads WOW guy ever show up this past week?

Andrew Replies...

Glittermom, I haven't heard a peep out of Darrell the WOW! guy or my father. I've just given up all hopes of getting a faster internet service and have quit asking about it. I will just have to be content with 30 Mbps internet. I've had my hopes dashed so many times it is ridiculous. I wish Mom was alive and then I would have 500 Mbps internet back in November when all of this started.

Comment Replies...

Blogger glittermom said...

Anything special going on for New Years? Food?

Andrew Replies...

Glittermom, dad and my brother are at the Peach Bowl in Atlanta watching Auburn play the University of Central Florida.

For lunch, I ate with Charlie and family. We had the Southern new year's tradition of pork loin, turnip greens, and black-eyed peas to ring in the new year. Janice's cooking was absolutely delicious as always. Charlie is coming to the house later to bring my cigarettes and diet Cokes. He has to get them at my father's house and bring them over.

Weather-wise, it never got above freezing here today which is extremely odd weather for us to have. We're having a brutally cold start to the new year.

Comment Replies...

Blogger Jenni said...

The Crown was racy? Was it maybe Game of Thrones? I've heard that GoT is full of sex and nudity. The Crown is about the early days of Queen Elizabeth II.

Andrew Replies...

Jenni, it was indeed The Crown. I had to call my father to make sure. At least several scenes were racy and full of nudity while I was over there and watching for a few moments.

Comment Replies...

Blogger glittermom said...

Did you ever get your WOW visit for your update speed?

Andrew Replies...

No, Glittermom, I never did. Dad is corresponding with a fellow who comes in the pharmacy. They have a "deal" worked out that has never come to fruition. I believe that is the holdup. If he would just call a customer service representative then I would probably have 500 Mbps internet in just a few days. Dad says he hates calling "Colorado" for service -- would rather deal with a real person. I keep patiently waiting and hoping a WOW! van will pull up in front of my house any day now. I betcha ten bucks he would be calling "Colorado" if his cable went out for a day. 

Comment Replies...

Blogger glittermom said...

What happened to the plans for your train set up in the spare room?

Andrew Replied...

Jimmy James was going to tear out the closet to make it a square room, but it was going to be expensive. We were also going to have to tear out the windows. Dad axed the idea saying my house is too small and he also told me to wait for a more opportune time financially. I really had high hopes for a train room so I could build my Chattahoochee Valley Railway empire. Model Railroading is also an extremely expensive hobby and I am participating vicariously through the magazines I get every month. I will have to put up photos of some of the models I've painted and weathered sometime.

Comment Replies...

Blogger PipeTobacco said...

Sir:

So, did you vote today?

What are your thoughts on Moore? Even though I doubt it will happen, I sure as hell hope he loses the election.

PipeTobacco

Andrew Replies...

Pipe, I sure did. Thou shalt not vote for Moore. The polls are just a few streets away from me. I would be remiss not to vote on such an important issue. Moore getting elected would be like setting us back to the stone age as far as jurisprudence is concerned. Moore got his start putting the ten commandments on the courthouse grounds and thankfully they were taken down. It was his claim to fame and put him in the national spotlight. He is a religious bigot and should be treated as such.

Comment Replies...

Blogger glittermom said...

Won’t you miss the weather channel. I have the tv on just for background noise,otherwise too quiet.

Andrew replies...

I honestly won't miss it, Glittermom. I get most of my weather information from the internet anyways these days. For background noise, my computer is constantly playing music while I browse the internet or write a post for my blog.

Comment Replies...

Blogger Summer said...

Did you get any snow?

Andrew Replies...

Summer, we got about 5 inches -- the most I can ever remember getting. The counties to the north of us got up to 10 inches of snow. I woke up at 5:30 am and checked outside and it was a winter wonderland. When I went to bed about 11 pm there was no snow. It was just sleeting like crazy. The snow was just coming down and fast early this morning -- big, beautiful fluffy flakes of snow. The roads stayed clear, though, thank goodness. I noticed they sanded all the bridges when I was out and about earlier. It took me quite a few moments in the freezing cold to just get my car cleaned of snow and ready to drive. Something we are not used to in the South. I just got back from my father's house to get my cigarettes and diet Cokes. I also wanted to survey the lay of the land so to speak and drove about town for a bit. Needless to say, this all thrilled me to death.

Comment Replies...

Just some random thoughts...

1) I do not see a real issue with using your disability funds for any of your day-to-day expenses, including tobacco if it fits within your budget. Having your father buy tobacco with other funds is helpful for your pocketbook, granted, but I do not see the logic in saying YOUR disability income should not be used for "sinful" things (which I find odd to call tobacco). The same could be applied to any non-essential (soda, brand new clothes beyond what is needed, etc).

2) In terms of the car... the old one is yours, and you should do what you wish with it. But, donating or giving it to someone in need is a kind thing to do, if you feel so inclined. 

3) Your Mother's vehicle... do you really want it? Does it really matter if you have that one or your old one? Both are strong and run well and are able to be maintained to stay very functional. Will having your Mother's vehicle come at a cost in terms of your lifestyle or your freedoms? Could you Mother's vehicle be the one given to the friend in need? 

4) Do you really need to further upgrade your computer systems? Is there any inherent benefit for you to do so now? I know you love to tinker with them, but is a modest improvement over what you have worth all the money and cajoling and fussing between you and your Dad to do it? At some level the work you have to do to get your Dad to get you the myriad of parts and pieces seems like it would be more emotionally draining than it is worth. 

5) Of late it seems to me that you may have lost some of your vim and vitality to live life robustly. It sometimes seems like you may be feeling caged in and "squashed" as a person. You used to often write about ambitions and goals and aspirations, but lately it seems those thoughts have been quelled in your psyche. It seems that it would feel sad to not have those aspirations any longer. But, I cannot say for sure, because it really depends on how YOU are feeling about your current situation. But, I wonder and worry a bit that all the discussion about your cable system and computer parts may be a way to mask your inner thoughts and feelings, perhaps even from yourself? 

These are just some thoughts that have been percolating in my mind for a while. If I am way off base, then I apologize and ask you to disregard them. But, perhaps these ideas may be helpful for you. I do not really know.

PipeTobacco

Dear Pipe Tobacco,

!) I honestly see no real harm in spending disability funds on tobacco except in this anti-smoking environment we live in some taxpayers might revolt.  I have to be hyper-vigilant as far as Social Security goes, though. I couldn't work and if they audited my account and saw that I was spending $200 a month on tobacco worries me so I am inclined to go along with my father. It is a moot point, really, in that I couldn't afford to pay for it with my disability funds anyway and still be able to pay my bills, groceries, etc.

2) I really don't know what to say to this as I am getting the same kind of gift from my father, but my car is getting very old and it has been so long since we decided to do this that Mrs. Sandra may already have a newer car by now. I also feel she, knowing her well, will be offended by our "charity".

3)I do want my mother's car. It is a very nice car in terms of its style and reliability, It will be much more reliable than my much older Honda. It also has only 52,000 miles on the clock and is a much newer model year than my car as well.

4)Pipe, I am an enthusiast as regards to computers. It is my hobby much as pipe smoking is to you. Yes, it will probably be arduous as far as my father is concerned, but I am willing to tackle the challenge. It would thrill my soul to have a new and awesome Threadripper processer based computer sitting next to me on this desk. Quite frankly, my computers are my life as most of my idle time is spent on them. They are also my entertainment with regards to movies, TV, and music. 

5)Pipe, as you know, I suffer from a mental illness. My vim and vitality for life ebbs and flows at times. Lately, I just want to be as comfortable as possible as to avoid any mental anguish I experience quite often from moment to moment.  My medications can also blunt my zest for life -- the zombie effect as I tell my father and Charlie. They are a double edged sword. It has also been really hard these past few years living without alcohol and having a drink every now and then. I keep wanting some kind of escape from reality. My house of cards would come crumbling down if I started back drinking, though. I am just being honest about that last sentence. 

Andrew