better manners,

I get a really

Perverse Enjoyment

torturing telemarketers.

My Mother,  between her declining hearing and difficulty communicating & understanding what's said, never answers the phone.

Due to her (and my Father's) age, she gets a huge number of marketing calls.  (Trust me, the number is on the Do Not Call list.)  Most are the particularly annoying-- computers, but occasionally I get a live someone who asks for . . .

Mr. So and So

I thoroughly enjoy bluntly responding . . .

He's Dead.

You can't say "passed away," they don't necessarily notice what you have said as they launch into their spiel.

But, 

DEAD,

that gets their attention!

sometimes it's . . .

Ahhh, ummm, so sorry.  click

Oh, I'll take him right off the list. click

We do steam cleannnn . . . ahhh, oh click

or my favorite . . .

click

Lately I've been putting it on speaker for Mom to enjoy too.  Even the Republicans are starting to get on her life long Republican nerves!

five times as cold

Tomorrow is the official start of Autumn

That's a problem.

Mind you  . . . I love Fall,

but you must remember

 I arrived in Michigan

July 16th

with A suitcase!

If that were not bad enough . . .

this afternoon, 

Mom rolled in with the window washing stuff.

I know this means me, outside with a squeegee, hose, paper towels, and . . .

cold water spraying!

It's 66 degrees with a light breeze

and the rest of the week

the temperature 

just continues going down hill.

D

Some day very soon, 

I have to get Home 

and 

get some more 

of my clothes.

game of play

I love my Sister-in-law dearly, (really), however I have "caught" her in many compromising positions.

1. There was that time with a GUN and an old boyfriend!
2. I've seen her play the Hussy!
3. She was video taped in BED with another Man!

And these are just the things I have witnessed . . . Others have seen MORE!

You too can witness her scandelous behavior . . . 
in Eastpointe, Michigan

at 

Broadway on Stage

in

God of Carnage.

courtesy of Broadway on Stage

PS
see, I DO love her!

1. The Brick Playhouse, Philadelphia, Pa.
2. Much Ado About Nothing, Germantown, Philadelphia, Pa.
3. Breathe Right Nasal/Vapor Strips -Commercial, Nationwide.

rambling about

Choices . . .

I've had friends question what I've done.

They seem to find it a very hard thing.

It wasn't easy, and it was a very scary thing to do,

both times.

The first time, I teetered this side of panic,

most of the time.

Bills, money, insurance, nursing license, job, sleep, find a doctor, find a dentist, find my sanity, will the pipes freeze, what if my home loses power for 2 weeks during the winter again?

This time I don't have to worry about money,

(okay, we haven't actually worked out the details, but it has been discussed, and there will still be choices to be made.)

My house is being fixed and my FANTASTIC neighbor is acting as project manager, and mowing my lawn,  and keeps my Home looking lived in.  Since I never changed my address, (I really did think this was going to be a temporary gig), his wife has been keeping up on my bills.  (I do send them money to cover for the month!)

I still feel this was something I had to do

period

It is the soup that makes up my DNA, it is who I am.

My older Brother told me once

"You are the Heart of this Family,

without you there is no Family."

I don't know about that.  I know I was born a nurse, (I did many other things before I entered nursing school, but I always nursed) . . . maybe that's what this family needed.

I was brought up short when during our initial interview process with home care, the Social Worker, after many questions about Mother's needs, home, status, etc., asked . . .

"How do you feel?"

blink

blink 

blink

huh?

My Sister-in-law, who had sat in for this, saw my abject confusion and inability to articulate,  answered . . .

" . . . they see something needs to be done and they just do it"

Admittedly she started off with something about  . . . they are not the most huggy/kissy/feely sort of family . . . 

who us?!

I do realize that most of the people here in the Condos, think I am the most wonderful, marvelous daughter ever.

I also realize most of them are around my mother's age.  They wonder what will happen to them.

My mother's friends, all take me aside and rave about how much better she looks since I am around now.  

I think they want to make sure I stay.

Several people made comments about how much they like my hair NOW that I'm letting it grow out.

I reminded them that it WAS longer when I came out the first time.

Then why did you cut it ALL off???

So my Father had nothing to pull.

Oh.

Mom and I,

we do laugh and have a good time,

but it's not all sunshine and roses.

. . . and I am still not a Saint no matter what they say.