Ah Papa!

I drove over to my parent's house a moment ago to get my diet Cokes and my cigarettes. Yes, I've gone back to smoking the highly addictive little cancer sticks. I blame it on my neighbor George and our carport communication and smoking sessions. George makes his own cigarettes with a cigarette machine and loose tobacco.

Dad also read a peer-reviewed journal entry that most mentally ill people smoke and that it is cathartic for them so he is very sympathetic about the whole affair.

I knocked on the door and no one answered so I let myself in with my key. Dad was deeply asleep in his recliner with his "pussy" between his legs. Samantha awoke first and greeted me with a meow which awoke my father.

"What are you doing, bud?" he asked rubbing his eyes.

"I was trying not to wake you, but I am getting my sodas and cigarettes," I told him.

"That reminds me," he said. "I need to get you some more cigarettes tonight."

"I just took the last pack," I said as I stood up after pilfering the coat closet. "Go back to sleep."

"No, let's take your medications while you are here," he said. "Go get the medications out of my Honda."

Dad sleepily doled out my pills as I took them with a swig of a sparkling grapefruit juice drink that was in the fridge. The grapefruit drink was odd, but equally delicious as well.

Shots in the Dark...

Just Call Me Chuck...

I called my father this afternoon just as he was about to lie down for a nap. He is really resting this weekend as my mother would call taking long naps. He actually answered the phone with me calling which startled me.

"What are you doing, Chuck?" he asked.

"I just woke up and panicked thinking I had missed yesterday's eclipse," I told him.

"The eclipse is in August and we are going to do our darndest to go see it," my father then said. "We're taking a road trip. We are also going by Falling Creek."

"That movie Dunkirk got stellar reviews," I told my father. "Christopher Nolan directed it."

Are you familiar with the incident called Dunkirk? The Germans had forced the British Army all the way back to the English Channel with nowhere to turn. The whole British nation mobilized to get them home before they were killed or captured by the Germans. Even the smallest rowboat was used to bring the troops home across the English Channel.

"We'll watch it when it comes out on Netflix," my father told me.

Dad was sounding awful sleepy so I decided I better let him go. I asked him the question that makes him not want to answer the phone when I call. I am just a pest it seems.

"Can we take my medications in an hour or two after you've had your nap?" I asked.

"Sure, Chuck. I'll call you when I wake up," my father surprisingly replied. "You can get your Cokes as well."

Is it so awful to ask? Is it that terrible? I know I shouldn't take them so early, but it sure does make my afternoon more pleasant. All dad has to do is walk out to his car to get my medications and bring them inside. The hardest part is making up my plastic sack of six colas for the day.

Blessed...

Papa's been by and administered my medications. Maggie has a full belly and is contently laying on the floor licking her front paws. I still have three more diet Cokes to drink. I am enjoying reading things on the internet and writing as well. The caveat? Big storms are on the way. This is an Andrew evening made in heaven.

Across Town We Go -- A Mission of Mercy...

"Oh shit! I forgot your cokes!"

Not something you want to hear when you are craving your daily caffeine fix. The cokes are a true treat for me at the end of the day. I will drink my last one about midnight and go to bed.

"Come on," my father said. "Let's get in the car and go get them. It won't take but a minute."

I sighed.

"I promise you I will be okay if we don't go get them," I told my father not wanting to take the trip.

My night time lethargy and laziness had set in. I just wanted to take my crazy meds and get on the computer.

"No," dad said. "It is going to worry the shit out of me until we get your cokes. Your mother would never let that happen."

He was right on the money about my mother. She would never forget an obligation like that.

We arrived back at my house and Maggie was stymied about what was going on. She seemed befuddled. She thought we had left her alone for the night. She yelped with joy when we walked back into the house.

I had some hires pictures of Queen Victoria I wanted to show my father which enthralled him. We then looked at the weather radar and my father headed home.

Vegetable Beef Soup and Cornbread...

I have to wait until my medications soak in, but I am going to be chowing down in about an hour. I will crumble up the cornbread in the soup and add some hot sauce. Dad said he was giving me a whole "pone" of cornbread and I hadn't heard that word in years and it intrigued me. 

Let it Rain! Let it Rain!

"Can I come and get my cokes?" I asked big Papa a moment ago.

He was at the grocery store and told me would call me when he got home. It is the dawning of pork chops and rice which we will be having for supper tonight.

Last night, I walked right out the door and forgot them. That means I get 12 today! Woo Hoo! Good things come to those that wait.

"Come back and get them," my father said on the phone very insistently once I had arrived home.

Lazily, I told him I would get them tomorrow. I didn't want to drove all the way back to my father's house just for 6 diet Cokes. I sure missed them later last night, though. He was right. They are a treat to be relished while I am goofing off on my computers and listening to music.

Weather Geeks Unite!

Storms are already starting to bubble up around us in the summer heat. I get so excited about the weather and days like this. I expect to hear thunder pretty soon around these parts.

"Step outside and you can check on the weather," Charlie will chuckle and tell my father and me.

We could have hurricane Cassandra blowing through and Charlie would still be taking Horsefly to the bowling alley.

Glittermom...

It felt very empowering to take my medications on my own volition. The only bad thing last night was I took them on a very full stomach and that negates the big kick I get from them about an hour after taking them.

Kitchen Computer is Ready for Service...

I installed Windows 10 on my kitchen computer as it shall be known. Things are working fine and it is a great browsing the web type of computer. I've got it connected wirelessly to the Internet and the connection is super fast. It's got a lowly Core i5 3.6 GHz processor, but it seems pretty fast to me.

"Well, Shit!" My Father Said Loudly Upon Arriving Tonight...

He was rummaging through his car jostling things about.

"It seems I forgot your Cokes!"

"Come on! Let's go get your Cokes then we will take your medications," my father said after arriving at my house. "I believe I left them in the kitchen and we can have a good talk while we drive. You can get to say hello to my pussy."

"Thank You!" I wanted to get on my humble knees and say.

I insisted on driving myself and getting them, but my father wanted some time for us alone.

"We don't hardly ever have mono y mono time together," he told me. "Let's get in my mobile office and roll!"

Taco Hell is in the House...

"What do you want for supper and we will go get it." Charlie asked me during the medication ritual tonight.

Charlie had a heavy handful of stuff and I walked out to his car to help him bring it all in while Maggie barked on the other side of the screened door. He also brought my six daily sodas and a pack of cigarillos.

Precariously perched within his hands were also two "leaded" regular Coca-Colas as well which just thrilled me to death. I only drink regular Coke on special occasions -- shying away from all the calories involved on a normal day.

"Let me get two burrito supremes," I told Charlie excitedly with a hungrily grumbling belly. "I feel a run for the border welling up within me."

Charlie laughed at my run for the border sentiment.

"I don't eat pizza and I don't eat Mexican food," Charlie told me.

"Oh, and I don't eat Chinese food as well. It looks like something the cat threw-up."

Charlie said he loves a roast with potatoes, carrots, and caramelized onions -- down home kind of food or country cooking. Charlie also said he loves turnip greens and cornbread. Fortunately, his wife Janice, is an exemplary soul food Old South kind of cook.

She should have had so many more days ahead...

Tomorrow would have been my mother's 72nd birthday. I thought about her all day being forefront in my memory and I hope to get over to the cemetery tomorrow to put some flowers on her grave.

He Shoots! He Scores!

I rolled the dice and up came snake eyes this afternoon. It was my cue to get on the move and get out of the house. Spring has sprung and there is a whole wide world out there. I had dawdled around in my pajamas for long enough mostly reading old railroading magazines.

I grabbed a shower, dressed in a decent t-shirt and shorts and then headed out the front door. Yes, we were on a trip for provisions and sustenance. I am down to eating mayonnaise and Parmesan (stinky) cheese sandwiches. I showed up on my father's back-steps hungry and acting all painfully pitiful for good measure.

"Let's go get you some beefaroni and your Cokes," my father said with a smile as we walked down in the dungeon also affectionately known as the pantry, laundry room, and basement.

I was just astounded when my father was at home -- both cars in the garage and dad's Honda was parked out back. I didn't want to bungle or endure another phone call for the day. I rang the back doorbell and my father came to the door.

"Get yourself ready around nine and we will go get your groceries," my father told me. "What are you going to get tonight?"

"An Edwards lemon meringue pie and an Edwards Hershey's creme pie," I replied. "Gotta literally fill my pie hole!"

This is How Life Unfolds Sometimes...

First off, have you been outside in the Southland today? The wind is just howling something fierce. A cold front must've blown through overnight. It is overcast and very dreary.

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

"Where are y'all?" I asked my father over his cellphone after unsuccessfully trying to get him on the home phone.

It was 2 PM in the afternoon.

"Charlie and I have driven to Columbus to get your sister-in-law some antique furniture. Charlie's in my truck with Horsefly and I am following in his Caprica with Jen."

"What do you need Chuck?" dad then asked with a very pleasant tone to his voice.

"I was just wanting my medications and my sodas," I told my father. "I am feeling some withdrawal today. We have been taking them around lunch every day lately and I have gotten spoiled."

An aside, my father has been very lenient with my medications lately and I wonder when it is going to end.

"I put your Cokes and cigars on the chair outside the back door," my father told me. "I hope that helps. I will give you your medications when I get back in town."

Ah, yes! My cigars! How could I forget you? I got in my car and the yellow light signalling I am about empty on gas was glowing. I headed to the Circle K to fill it up with gasoline making sure to get a receipt.

I pulled into my parent's driveway and could hear Samantha crying loudly. I walked up the steps to find her crying and cold in her cat bed on the back porch.

"Are you cold?" I asked the poor cat as I rubbed the nape of her neck. "I can't open the door as I may set off the alarm and I do not know the new code."

I came home and called my father to tell him his pussy was cold. My father chuckled. I also had ulterior motives as I wanted to know their progress. The prognosis was dismal.

A Softer, Gentler, and More Benign Father...

https://www.pinterest.com

Dad's cell phone was out of service today so I took a gamble and called the landline. That's mom's territory. He immediately picked up the phone to my relief.

"I don't know what the hell is wrong with my phone today!" he said sounding frustrated and agitated.

He was like a babe lost in the woods.

"Can I come and get my Cokes?"  I asked my father rather timidly with lots of hope,

"Sure! Come on over," he said, sounding very congenial. "We'll take your medications as well."

"Could it be that easy? That was easy!" I thought to myself gobsmacked.

Dad was fixing to leave to go talk to his lawyer about my mother's legal matters. This didn't stop us from having a good and lengthy conversation beforehand. Dad was talking about sex today and wanted to know the first girl I slept with and how old I was.

"It was Denise," I told my father rather embarrassingly. "And I thought she hung the moon. I must have been 17 years old."

What Rock Did You Climb Out From Under?

"Are you kidding me?" I asked myself as I stood on my front steps gathering my wits about me. "It is about to get dark!"

And lord knows, I certainly don't need to be driving after dark today with my eyesight the way it is. I rolled the dice, gathered myself, and headed for my parent's house at breakneck speeds as it was almost after dusk. I was on a mission and I needed my sodas something fierce. A cigarillo would be very nice as well. You could still see the last light of day (twilight) to the west as I was walking to my car.

I was expecting it to be cold outside, but it was very warm -- over 70° degrees! I took off my jacket and away we went. Honda's heaven's to Betsy!

Samantha was on the back porch to greet me. There was not a light on in the house. Samantha was like, "Let me in! I am Hungry!" I sat on the cement bench outside my parent's house to give Samantha more attention. I was secretly hoping my parents would show up any moment now. I would let Samantha in, but my mother changed the alarm codes last week as she often does and I didn't know how to deactivate it.

The Dark Silky Veil of Night Envelops Us This Evening...

Mom called me asked me if she could bring me my drinks and something to smoke.

"Oh no!" I said alarmed and sounding rushed. "You stay at y'all's house. I will be right over to get them."

Maggie ran out into the yard to help prepare and pave the way for my journey and the drive. She was barking up a storm. I know the Magster must wonder what I do on these little short trips.

I've been lax about procuring the drinks and smokes for the past few days and this worries my mother and bothers her obsessive compulsive tendencies. We had to nip that problem in the bud quickly, or my mother would be driving over to my house at dusk. The most dangerous time to drive.

Well hell, I am no better than my mother. I about can't see well enough at night to drive the short jaunt to my mother's house as well. The road going by the police station is terribly lit and needs new traffic lines and lanes painted.

The next few tips are provided by No Shit Sherlock, inc.

Avoid nighttime glare.

1. Try not to look at oncoming headlights. ...
2. Reduce glare by using the day-night feature on your rearview mirror (it's the little flipper tab beneath it).
3. Keep your windshield squeaky clean and have plenty of windshield spray in the tank.

Night Driving | Esurance

https://www.esurance.com/info/car/driving-at-night

The Doctor and Mr. Hyde...

https://www.expresspublishing.co.uk

Last night, I was sitting in what has to be one of the most comfortable recliners in the world (a little hyperbole for you). It is the blue Laz-E-Boy chair my father bought for me many moons ago for my dorm room when I went off to college. It has held up well over the years with just a few beer spill stains.

Well, I fell asleep for about 3 hours to the soft drone of the television and Maggie's rhythmic breathing and snoring -- long enough for my father to get here, then things went from 0 to 60 mph when I looked at the clock and it read 9:06 pm.

Maggie and I were slow in response and equally slow to get to the font door. Maggie only managed a few lackluster barks of joy.

"You two must have really been sleeping!" my father exclaimed at my poor Maggie's response. "The duchess needs her beauty rest!"

Dad was in a pretty good frame of mind last night himself. We can have a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde love/hate relationship between us for the most part some days. He was very kind last night during the medication ritual despite feeling fatigued. He was also overjoyed that he has today off but he will have to work 3 hours on Saturday.

"At least, it is not going to be a normal 10 hour day," he told me last night relieved.

Some People Call it All Coke and Some People Call it Pop or Soda...

https://www.pinterest.com

It is 3:00 am and I just have gotten back from my parent's house. Mom had put my sodas on the back porch and she was true to her words. I was careful not to make much noise as my parent's must surely be in the bed by then. Mom knew that I was coming, though. I told her to put them out and I would be over sooner or later to pick up my sodas.

Samantha's Blockade...

"Mom? Can I come and get some Cokes?" I asked my mother over the phone.

Johnny Otis has long left for the ballgame. I knew this would be a hit or miss affair. The phone must have rung 10 times before she answered it. She was sound asleep and it was noon. Mom's going to have a very rude awakening when she runs out of Xanax in a few days. Her reserve supply is running out as well so she says.

"I will put them out on the porch," my mother half mumbled.

I had two choices for drinks this afternoon. Two large Sobe Citrus energy drinks are $1.51 with tax at the Circle K down the street, or I could rouse my mother and get my 6 allowed diet Cokes for the day. I chose the cheaper or less costly option even though the Sobe drinks are the much tastier of the two.

As I was leaving my parent's house, mom and dad's cat, Samantha, decided to take a nap in the middle of the driveway. She wouldn't get out of the way until I loudly honked the horn. It scared her so much that she went flying up into the woods and bramble on the far side of my parent's house.

The Charlie 4 pm Special...

The phone was once again ringing when I walked into my house a moment ago. Maggie knew something was up as she got excited and started to bark. It was our much revered Charlie.

"What do you want for supper?" Charlie asked. "I am bringing you something to eat and your medications before I take Horsefly to the Movies."

"Can I get the jumbo fish platter from Captain D's?" I bashfully asked Charlie going out on a limb.

"You sure can and you want the packets of malt vinegar as well?"

"Yes, thank you Charlie,"

Clandestine Operations...

http://mp3.faptunes.site/

Doctor Bacshi halving my mother's Xanax dosage was a good thing. We all know she has an addiction and we all chose to avoid it or ignore it. I was very surprised the doctor would do that, but she felt my mother falling all the time and sleeping for days on end to be symptoms of an addiction to Xanax or some similar medication. It has sent my mother reeling, though.

"What will I do if I have a terrible anxiety attack?" mom's asked me over these past few weeks.

I told her she would become acclimated to the new dosage and would and should be fine.

Sleeping Beauty...

I knew that if I called my mother and woke her up there would be hell to pay regarding my father and his day off today. He certainly would be sullen to me. I gambled and called anyway. I couldn't get my father to answer his iPhone for that matter and. I was dying to get a hold of my sodas to quell a great thirst. I didn't want to use my last $5 to buy drinks at the Circle K. I was also very lonely and wanted to get out of the house for awhile. The Magster has spent her whole day on the computer room bed asleep so she hasn't been a very good companion this Monday.

"Did I wake you up?" I asked my mother carefully with great trepidation.

It took her forever to answer the phone.

"I was just dozing off," my mother replied with a weak laugh saying she needs to get up or she will not sleep well tonight.

"Where is my father right now?" I asked out of great curiosity.

"He said he was going to the river house to see the newly installed windows and then for his daily walk out at the lake," my mother replied.

Whew, I dodged a bullet on that one.

"Did you know we might be moving into the river house?" mom decreed enthusiastically. "Your daddy is talking about selling this house at the right price."

"That's very interesting," is all I said and we got off the phone with my mother telling me she would put out my sodas in just a minute.

Oh, the logistics of moving my parents into the river house from their former house was just mind boggling.

Mom and Dad's Little New Found Feline...

http://www.glogirly.com/

Mom and dad have a new addition to the family. She has been over at the river house for well over a week and dad finally relented and just decided to bring her home. She is still just a kitten. Dad left my house to go get a litter box and food last night. He had vowed a few years ago that he would never get another cat when Macy was put to sleep. Never say never I have learned over the years.

I was petting her a moment ago getting my sodas and cigars and she purred so loudly and was very affectionate. She will be a good companion to my mother as my father stays gone so much. It is a tradition that Mom names all our pets including Maggie so it will be neat to share this tabbies new name over the next few days.

Did Someone Say Filet?

http://www.primesteakhouses.com/

Dad is grilling filet mignons tonight and I certainly look forward to that. It is the only cut of meat that I will eat that seems to get under cooked and still very pink in the center. Usually, I like my steaks medium well.

"Save room for supper," my mother told me as I made up one of my Coke care packages in the coat closet.

In childlike innocence, my mother asked me if she wanted me to cut up my steak so I could chew it better.

Busy Around Here...

http://www.no1chinesesouthorange.com/

Mom and I are playing phone tag this afternoon. She's got a million things to tell me and can't fit it all in one simple phone call.

Tomorrow is the last part of her cataract surgery -- her right eye. She sounded excited about it when I called her last hour to come and get my Cokes. The Secretary lives for this kind of stuff. I have told my father often that mom is a health insurance companies worst nightmare and I am saying it again for emphasis.

"I am giving you two days of sodas and we are going to the Zen House Chinese reastaurant to eat supper this week if the surgery goes okay," my mother told me.

Mom called me right back to ask how many Swisher Sweet cigarillos I wanted. I told her just to put two packs of cigarillos  in the bag with my Cokes.

Dad called me earlier from work and told me to get ready to get my groceries tonight.

"It is the only chance we have to get them this week," he told me. "Don't have an anxiety or panic attack!!!"

He sounded happy and chipper which was fine  by me. At least we won't have a grouchy and grumpy Papa for grocery night and he might put a few extra groceries in my cart. He heads to the beach with his cousins, Jean and Johnny, in a few days.

Carryout? Or Dine In?

http://creativelyclassy.blogspot.com/

"I am whispering because I don't want to wake your mother," my father told me upon answering the phone.

I know the routine well. Never call the landline phone on the days my father isn't working as the phone by my mother's bed will wake her up. This supremely aggravates my father. Mom usually doesn't stir until around late evening if she isn't disturbed.

"How are you Chuck?" my father then asked still whispering.

"I am fine," I replied feeling the need to whisper as well. "All I need is for your to put my Cokes on the back porch."

"I will set them out there," my father replied.

Is my mother that terrible of a person to be around? I have always found her a kind and pleasant person. Dad says she will burden him with problems and "honey do" projects.

Careful Where You Tread Andrew...

http://triadstrategies.typepad.com/

I called my father around lunch for him to put my Cokes out on the porch. I had gone back to bed and woke up this afternoon.

"I'll be over in about five minutes," I told my father and we got off the phone.

The bridge to mom and dad's house is still out since Christmas and I have to drive through downtown past the police station to reach my parent's house. This always reminds me to buckle up.

Dad had the back door open signifying mom and him were receiving visitors. I casually asked my father if we could take my medications sometime this afternoon as I am feeling shaky. He said that would be fine. I have to be careful when I do this or I might get my feelings hurt. We didn't set a certain time, though, and it is worrying the crap outta me. I've am a lot like my mother on these regards and we deal in absolutes, not nebulous promises. I love my father, but he can be so hard on me at times -- always thinking the worst things about my motivations. I just simply want to feel better and will after taking my medications.

Grocery Day Ruminations...

https://ideasmelimelo.wordpress.com

I've learned to be careful what I tell my mother. It gets back to my father and what he says gets back to me as well. My father made the comment to my mother that he didn't understand how I can drink 4 gallons of milk a week. I think I might just get Milo's sweet tea tonight.

It is going to be a status quo kind of grocery shopping night. No surprises. We will round out tonight's shopping with a lot of Asian themed frozen meals. I am also going to try some of those powdered drink mixes like Crystal Light. I normally drink gallons of water every week, but the water is getting old and it needs some oomph.

Mama! I Don't Want to Play Grownup Anymore...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/

Mom called me this morning and asked me if I wanted my Cokes.

"I need your help, though," she told me kind of clandestinely not wanting to completely reveal her disability.

"I will be over there in 5 minutes tops," I replied to her as I donned a jacket and headed for my car.

The skies were threatening rain something fierce.

I arrived at their house and mom had left the back door open. Mom couldn't bend over to get the Cokes in a bag and needed my help.

"Get you some of those cigars while you're at it," my mother told me. "Your daddy bought a whole bag of them across the river last night."

I was telling her how I told my father this morning I needed to debit another gallon of milk and he balked telling me I was drinking too much milk. Mom escaped back to her bedroom and got me $5 dollars out of her purse to go buy milk with at the Piggly Wiggly.

Mom also got busy making me two pimento cheese sandwiches for lunch. The pimento cheese was from that same deli downtown where my father had gotten that delicious chicken salad. The sandwiches were delicious as soon as they got creamy upon reaching room temperature.