Hot Damn! It's a Hot-Dog!

http://zenazone.net/

My mother called once and then immediately hung up the phone. That's our little signal for me to call her back and it assuages my phone phobias to a pretty good degree. I still jumped a little bit jarring me fully awake and my heart rate increased when the phone rang. 

"Are Sonic's foot long chili cheese dogs good?" my mother asked me over the phone.  "I am craving a hot-dog today."

"They are pretty good and the chili doesn't have beans which I like," I replied. "Do you want to go get a hot-dog?"

Mom told me yes and I replied that I would pick her up under their portico in 10 minutes. I slipped on some Nike tennis shoes and headed out the door. Maggie ran out into the backyard barking paving a way for our safe return.

"The tater tots are really good as well at Sonic," I told my mother making small-talk as I drove down busy Hwy 29.

We got a super carhop today. I tipped her four dollars. You basically have to eat these chili cheese dogs with a fork and knife.  Our server paid attention to that while she was preparing our meal and brought utensils with our meal as she walked out. She came out to our car again to make sure the meal was okay and asked us if we needed anything else. .

To drink with  my meal, I got a large cherry limeade. That's my favorite Sonic drink.

I told mom we needed to forego a chocolate shake as Papa and Charlie will be bringing our Sunday evening meal in a few hours. Mom and I were eating high on the hog today.

Two Peas In A Crowded Pod...

Are you an irregular pea or just an oblong pea? I have decided I am an obtuse pea.

"Did I put your cigarettes in your sack?" my mother asked me as I stood at their back door.

I looked in my sack and yes, there there was a package of Doral full flavor 100's cigarettes.

"Don''t do that to me -- it makes me very nervous," I replied to my mother with a very lukewarm smile. "I am easily tempted. I don't want to get them, and the cigars as well."

She was operating on  Johnny Otis's strict orders.

Mom was lonely this afternoon and I was as well. It was rather odd for her to be up and about this time of the day.

"Let's go to us a  large thick chocolate milkshake at Sonic!" I told my mother in a moment of inspiration. "And we will do some people watching as well."

"Let's wait untel 8pm when the shakes are all off half  price," my mother astutely told me.

Dad and I also had a minor scrape last night.

"You're beginning to get that homeless look again," he told me -- chastising me. "Charlie needs to cut your hair again and you need to vary your wardrobe and wear some different shirts."

Sonic, Books-A-Million, Petco...

"Can I have some extra chocolate syrup on my banana split?" I asked the carhop over the intercom. "I will pay extra for it."

"Sweetie," she said loudly with a background crackle. "Don't worry about the money. I will have your desserts out in a moment."

You never know what you're going to get at Sonic or what to expect I have learned over the years. I always tip well for prompt and good service, though.

"I should have gotten extra syrup as well," my mother lamented which made me chuckle.

My banana split was delicious and fast, and I tipped the carhop an extra $2 dollars.

Mom and I both have taste-buds like kids or teenagers. My father loves to tell us that as well.

Mom bought five more books at Books-A-Million this morning. She was worried about angering my father for spending all that money. Why do we live in fear of that tyrannical man? It is not just me. It is mom as well. She fretted about it the whole drive home.

"Have you ever read Crazy in Alabama?" mom asked me as we drove to the pet store.

"Oh, I love that book," I told my mother. "It was a real treat!"

"I was going to give you a copy if you've never read it," mom continued.

Next was Petco. We got some good advice from one of the employees and got Maggie a large bag of Blue Buffalo Chicken and Brown Rice dog food. Maggie's already had a half a bowl today and loves the stuff. She's been eating Purina One for years and years, and you know she has to be delighted at the change in her food.

_______________________________________________________________

http://www.jokeroo.com/

What is your opinion on my still feeding Maggie breakfast every morning? Do you think it will harm her in the long term? Tough love? It is such a cherished ritual around here. 

"They Come in Here Every Monday Night So Treat Them Right!"

That's what our clerk, Paige, told our aloof looking bag-boy tonight. It was so good to get and see her again. She is one hell of a gal. There is no dawdling with Paige. She gets you in and out. It is the god's honest truth that she is the epitome of customer service. She is always donning a brilliantly white smile as well.

On a tangent, I am drinking my first Mountain Dew as I write this and it is so awesomely, heavenly good! What a thirst quencher! I have the other bottle in the freezer to get it icy cold. Now, we shall commence with the rest of this blog post.

Kroger had some marked down/quick sale "Manager's Special" Hebrew National Franks so I will be having hot-dogs this week. I got two packs of franks and two bags of Kroger hot dog buns. I will be in hot dog heaven. This was my impulse buy and only deviation from what I talked about buying earlier in the day.

I sent dad on a quest to get me some tomato ketchup and he soon came ambling down the aisle with a bottle of Heinz ketchup in hand. He also had paper bowls with which we use to feed Maggie with. She gets a fresh bowl every night.

Surreptitious Dealings...

Tomorrow, mom and I are driving down to Petco in Auburn to get Maggie some quality dog food. Mom also wants banana splits from Sonic and a quick trip to the bookstore to see if anything strikes her fancy. I am going to research some dog food tonight before I go to bed. I want only the best for my Maggins.

You Can't Stop a Train...

Mom had called Books-A-Million the day before and they said they would be open Memorial Day.

"My books are here!" she excitedly told me in a call confirming all the details.

She then called Sonic in Auburn to make sure they were open as well. We shall leave no stones unturned.

Off to Auburn, we went at 9:30am (8:30am Auburn time) this morning to go buy books. Mom bought $190 dollars worth of books and we then ate at Sonic. I got my large chocolate shake and my Sonic bacon toaster sandwich. Mom lauded her sandwich saying how good it was. I agreed it was pretty tasty.

"That's better than a Hardee's steak biscuit!" mom exclaimed with much sacrilege.

We all know a Hardee's steak biscuit can't be beat.

Well, when I arrived back home, I curled up with the Magster on the computer room bed and we fell asleep for hours. Driving to the bookstore is hard work. LOL

Charlie said he would be by here around 5pm in a phone call. He is bringing me a grilled rib-eye steak, baked potato, and salad, and it is making me anxious. That steak is going to be so good and I hope Charlie brings scraps for Maggie as he will often do.

Would You Want Me Even if I am Not Myself?

http://www.foodspotting.com/

I was sitting in my parent's den this morning. Mom left the back door open signaling she was receiving visitors. The Secretary and I were both up early today and I was getting my sodas. Dad was at work I am sure busily filling prescriptions. Tuesdays and Thursdays are his days to work.

"Let's go get a Chocolate shake," my mother told me anxiously.

My father forbade my mother to ever drive on Hwy. 29 again.

"Go on downstairs to the portico and I will pick you up down there," I said, happy to oblige.

"I am really scatterbrained this morning," I told my mother as we had to wait on red light after red light in downtown West Point.

"Then we shouldn't have gone," my mother worrisomely told me apologetically. "I hate you're not feeling well."

"I don't feel that bad," I said in reiteration and clarification. "I just feel really weird to say the least. Sometimes weird can be a good thing for those of us who like to feel abnormal and out of the ordinary."

Mom offered me three Xanax, but I refused and we were soon at Sonic enjoying our chocolate shakes. The Xanax just would've just made me sleepy and out of it in a bad way. I have to be really careful what I say to my mother and do as well as it will surely get back to my father. Mom is like a leaky faucet on those regards.

Bookstore or Bust...

http://www.solomonbuilders.com/

I made a beeline for Books-A-Million and Auburn after mom picked me up. It is about a 30-minute drive depending on traffic. Of course, they were doing construction work on the interstate half way there that slowed us down considerably. The traffic crawled at a snail's pace for about 15 minutes until the left lane opened up again. Then we were off to the races like greyhounds out of the gate.

Mom went inside to get her books. I also love to go inside and look at all the gadgets they have like expensive headphones and writable media for DVD players and such. I am still looking for those elusive 24X speed recordable DVDs and have been for years.

"What do you mean you have only one book of my order?" mom said loudly with an alarmed tone to her voice. "We just drove 30 miles to get here."

That was my cue to walk over and get involved.

"It's no problem," I assured my mother. "I will drive us back down here when the other books come in."

Mom was under the assumption that the whole delivery had arrived.

If you don't already know, I hoard computer mice and keyboards. I have a fetish for computer peripherals. I was tempted to drive next door to Best Buy, but I knew my father would flip his lid if I bought any more computer parts. He says I am obsessed and rightly so. I asked mom if she would fund a new mouse and keyboard and her answer was that I was too rich for her blood.

We left there and got a couple of medium chocolate milkshakes at Sonic and then we headed home. It was smooth sailing up the interstate till we got back to the Valley.

Persistence Does Pay Off Sometimes…

Well, Wendy is giving me a second wind and a second chance after all that’s been said and done. She’s a true sweetheart.  I better get it right this time with little to no shenanigans.  I had to grovel to get this far. 

We are going to meet at Sonic in our respective cars and get a milkshake – an ice breaker of sorts.  I know she thinks I am the fruitiest of fruitcakes by now.  I guess persistence does pay off in the end.  I told you all I had a bulldog’s tenacity about this whole experience and this endeavor. 

I really and completely surprised myself about this ordeal as well.  I had to muddle through tons of social anxiety and phone phobias to make it this far. I was definitely out of my comfort zone. I sure hope that it was worth it in the end.

A Day of Plenty…

I just heard from a reliable source that the meatloaf and accompanying macaroni and cheese are in the oven at my parent's house. Helen, good buddy, don’t let me down now. Dad will bring my plate tonight during the medication ritual since I had Jim Bob’s chicken fingers for lunch.

Mom and I made it to Auburn and Books-a-Million safe and sound despite the world’s craziest drivers to contend with. I had to jockey for position all down the interstate as cars sped around me at breakneck speeds.  I pretty steadfastly go the speed limit these days now that my boy racer days are long over. It is a sign that I am getting old I do believe.  Mom then bought over $150 dollars in books!  I was flabbergasted.  There must’ve been a dozen books.  She had to come get me to help take all three bags to the car.

I then stopped at Petco so my mother could get more of those amazing pill pockets for dogs. I looked at some aquariums while we were there as I am thinking of getting a 30 or 50 gallon planted tank for Christmas or my birthday.

I then had a rendezvous with Jim Bob’s chicken fingers and ordered a fried chicken finger plate which didn't take very long to cook. We then headed to Sonic next door to get onion rings and chocolate shakes.  They were out of onion rings so they gave us a large chocolate shake for free. Mom and I both thought that was a nice touch.  Mom tipped our carhop $3 dollars in recompense.  

Photo Credit:   http://picsant.com/188418070-kids-chicken-fingers-and-fries.html

Photo Credit #2:   http://www.aquariumdesigngroup.com/index.php#mi=2&pt=1&pi=10000&s=15&p=2&a=0&at=0

Let the Heavens Pour Forth…

Saw that online and thought that was pretty neat and novel to cook the mac and cheese inside the meat loaf ------->

It is raining very heavily here now in the Southland and it is very nice.  You can hear the rain pattering heavily on my roof and gushing off my eaves.  It is also a chilly rain for the South at 69° degrees. Enough to catch the death of you my dad’s mother would say.  My neighbor sits on his carport tonight undeterred as a large puddle of water forms under his Dodge Caravan in the same port. 

My father went by Kroger on his way home from work to buy the ingredients for Helen’s meatloaf and mac and cheese.  I will certainly look forward to that meal tomorrow.  We are also having turnip greens seasoned with vinegary hot sauce and calorific fatback which will make for a classic Southern soul food meal. 

Dad was also really, really quiet tonight and it was unnerving for this socially sensitive fellow. 

“Oh, I am just tired,” he told me apologetically with an affectionate pat on my knee. “I worked from 9am this morning to 8pm tonight. That’s almost a twelve hour day.”

The Secretary Beckons…

Mom is getting us up much more stuff to do tomorrow on our trip to Auburn.  Now we’re going to Petco for pill pockets as well as the bookstore.  She also wants onion rings from Sonic.  I am just going to get a chocolate shake I think although I do love their cheddar stuffed jalapeños, breaded and fried. 

Photo Credit:  http://damnthatlooksgood.com/meatloaf-stuffed-with-macaroni-cheese/

To Have a Friend You Must First Be a Friend…

Wendy said…

I have just seen your message. Well I will not bite you. I am not beautiful or fancy I am a redheaded nut so come on I am ready. I had not even checked my phone today

It's ok I am not all that anyway and was nothing to be nervous about. I am on disability I don't have a career or anything. I used to be a train wreck now I live right. I don't smoke or use drugs. I am sorry you changed your mind.

My worst fears were realized when Wendy deleted her Facebook account yesterday.  It took me about an hour of fretting and pacing the floor until I finally got up the courage to call her to apologize for screwing up our date.  She really appreciated me doing that. 

Tomorrow afternoon I am going to call her and see if she wants to get a milkshake at Sonic – something simple and easily doable other than an elaborate meal. My intent is on us getting to know each other better and to get to feeling comfortable around each other as well.  

A Date of a Date…

I never revealed what happened on Laura’s and my date.   It was thundering very loudly with dark and ominous skies when I reached her house.  I warily watched the heavens worried about my windshield wipers which were on their last legs. 

I came inside for a moment to use the bathroom.  Laura’s parents have a beautiful new home in a ritzy subdivision that is immaculate inside and outside as far as cleanliness is concerned. Dad always tells me that they are “good folks” meaning Laura’s parents.

“I’m ready for some fajitas,” Laura told me excitedly as I opened her car door for her and let her climb inside.

Laura was clearly excited about our date.

It is about a 30 minute drive back to the Valley from Laura’s home.  We got on the interstate in my trusty CR-V and hauled ass.  I was hoping to steer clear of that thunderstorm.

We got the steak fajitas for two at El Rio Grande – my mother’s favorite Mexican restaurant.  They were very tasty.  Laura is a 100 pounds wet, but she sure can eat.  She is a tiny little thing belying the only pictures I’ve seen of her on the web which make her look obese.

“Can we go to Sonic for a chocolate shake?” Laura demurely asked me seductively batting her eye lashes.

We headed for Sonic which is just up the road from the Mexican restaurant.   I ordered us two medium chocolate shakes, tipped my server two dollars, and we sat in my running car as we talked and slurped.  She was regaling me about the time she hitchhiked from Pensacola, Florida to Las Vegas, Nevada.

I was glad to be headed back up the interstate to Lagrange afterwards.  The experience had left me exhausted – exhausted mainly by the social interaction and constant talking.  Laura is an extreme extrovert.  The whole date cost $35 dollars which I thought wasn’t really bad.   We are going to Longhorn Steakhouse next week and that will be a $50 meal easily.

photo credit:    http://maurysgaucho.com/?p=341

Wayward Bound…

Tomorrow, my father embarks on a journey from Atlanta to San Diego.  He will then help my brother drive his two cars back to Alabama.  I don’t envy him of that task.  That is one helluva long drive, although I did volunteer to help.  They are going to be gone for two weeks. They are making a pit stop in St. Louis to visit some relatives of my father.

“You’re going to have to keep an eye on your mother while I am gone,” my father told me while I was over at their house last hour getting my sodas.

Dad was diligently paying bills online in preparation for his departure.

I asked mom if there was anything she wanted to do and she started naming off things she would like for us to accomplish.  I laughed goodheartedly as the list grew and grew.

“I want to go eat Chic-fil-a one evening and Chinese the next week,” she told me as a few things she wanted to do.

Mom also wants to go to Books-a-Million once again. She has quite a few books on order to keep her preoccupied while my father is gone.

“Let’s get us a chocolate shake while we are down there!”

“Can you think of anything neat you want to buy at Best Buy?” she then asked me.

“I can think of dozens of neat things I would like from Best Buy,” I replied with a laugh as my mother then chuckled nervously biting off more than she could chew.

I will probably get me another mouse or keyboard as I collect the things.  No more wireless mice or keyboards, though.  The things eat batteries if you use your computer as much as I do.

Photo Credit:  https://www.flickr.com/photos/raymondyue/4212301977

The Well Traveled Andrew…

My injection of Risperdal Consta was at 9am this morning.  Dad woke me up at 1am last night with a phone call to remind me.  He had almost forgotten as well.  The injection went without a hitch and I feel better today – more of my old self. It was just a little painful.

My nurse, Adia, was super nice as always bless her sweet little heart.  She is such a very pretty lady.  She was telling me that my mother had taught her in school and that she had graduated high school with my sister. 

“I’m a Lanett girl born and bred,” she told me with a warm smile.

Mom was waiting on me when I arrived home. She had let herself in with her key. She was bragging on me about how clean my house was.  Especially the bathroom.   I had to take her to the Books-a-Million in Auburn.  It was fixing to get very stormy so I told her we had to hurry lest we get caught in a mess.  We also got me a game time card for Warcraft at Best Buy which now gives me 4 months of game play.  My first free month is almost over.

Our last stop was Sonic for chocolate shakes.  I threw caution to the wind and we both got two large chocolate shakes and sat in the parking lot drinking them. Mom and I are both supposed to be on a diet.  The shakes were completely divine.

I then heard thunder in the distance and we quickly got on the road aka the interstate.  We just narrowly escaped a big storm as we sped up the highway at a careless 80 mph.  Mom’s car may just be a lowly Honda Civic, but that car will scoot. It began to sprinkle as soon as I pulled up in front of my house and gave the reigns to my mother. 

My injection makes me very drowsy the day I get it and I crashed in the bed for many hours.  I woke up and it was 6:30pm tonight. Le sigh!  I hope I fall sleep at my usual 11pm time.

Now, we have to go buy groceries.  Dad will probably be here around 8:30pm for that endeavor.  It is going to be a Marie Callender’s and bologna sandwich themed night tonight. I’m tired of cooking and cleaning up after it to be honest.