Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to my American friends. Hope your holiday was as enjoyable as mine.

Married Son let me borrow the work van so I had a ride to the Country Club for our Thanksgiving dinner.


Yes, country club ... only the second time in my life I've ever been to one! While the first one I'd been to was extremely stuffy, this C.C. was anything but stuffy. Except if you were one of the dozens of stuffed and mounted animal heads on the walls.

My folks, Brother Deere, Aunt Silly and Uncle Pain were there. As were about two hundred other diners, I could barely hear Aunt Silly at the other end of the table. She's so soft spoken normally, making it harder to hear her over the noise.

Very enjoyable evening. I ordered their "Wild Thang Appetizer platter". According to their website,

"An adventurous sampling of spicy venison sausage, rabbit ravioli, duck tenders, whitefish pate and BBQ buffalo balls".

And to clarify (Em!!) that's buffalo meat balls!!I also enjoyed their house salad, topped with walnuts and goat cheese. Dessert was topped of with a chocolate mousse.


The view I had, on the wall just above our table was a stuffed buffalo head. This sort of stuff doesn't bother me in the least, until my mom pointed out "you're eating buffalo balls, and he's staring down at you". LOL, thanks Mom .... carry out container please!!!

 And the best part ... totally drama free!!!

Hoping ya'll had a wonderful Thanksgiving.

I like me ...

and I like being the MIL from hell.

Okay, not really, but they leave me no choice.And since I have no choice in this ... I may as well be the best textbook example of MIL from Hell that I can be!!

*****

Gizmo and I were talking just a little while ago. I reminded him of a Skype meeting we have tonight at 8 PM. Out of no where Gadget barks "we're going to bed early". WTF does that have to do with the 8 PM meeting? So, I snapped. Said exactly that. "What does that have to do with the meeting starting at 8?" Now she's all mad at me because I snapped at her. To the point her bottom lip was quivering the last fifteen minutes of Gizmo's and my conversation.

And, I really could care less.

Does that make me heartless? Or just fed up with it all?

*****

Before her lip started quivering we were talking about things that still need to be done around the house. Gadget goes so far as to say "that's not mine, it's DILs and I'm not touching it. I'm not doing anything that someone else should be responsible for".

So much for family helping each other out. Not around here. But then, DIL has been practicing that policy for how long now?

*****

 She has no idea the sacrifices *I* make for their sake ... the giving without expecting jacksquat in return. Okay, I do expect certain things ... one being to be responsible for yourself, your possessions and to contribute to the smooth running of this FAMILY unit.

Do I get it? NO. We all know what I get in return. You only have to read back a few blog entries to know what I get in return!!

*****

And not a twinkie to be found to help me cope!! ;)

Rocks aren't as dense ...

as the gray matter in Gadget's brain!! I swear!

I had to ask Gizmo something tonight. Of course, his shadow was present. She goes off on a totally unrelated topic (centering around her of course) concerning DIL being mad at her.

Now, I haven't told DIL about the lawsuit, that was said in confidentiality ... it's not my place to be the bearer of such news ... and I think Gadget was accusing me of saying something to DIL. Oh well ... but then Gadget starts some really cryptic conversation about "family emergency" and "stress I'm dealing with right now". Drama ... just more drama and I told her I didn't want to hear anything about anything. That I don't get the cryptic crap and I'm not going to waste my time listening to self inflicted drama - no matter how cryptic it is.

All Gizmo had to say was "I took care of all that yesterday, let it go, will you?"

And on she went. Even though EVERY word out of my mouth was "It's drama that I don't want to hear. Do you understand? I don't know what you're saying ... and honestly I don't give a damn".

Will she ever understand that I honestly don't care to hear her cryptic conversations? Or will I have to get more and more rude until she finally gets it? 

*****

At least I won't have to deal with it on Thanksgiving. My folks, brother and a few cousins are going out to dinner. At a restaurant. No dealing with cooking, setting tables, clearing up or anything. Sounds like the perfect holiday meal to me. I have no idea yet where we're going, but I do know it'll be pretty much drama free!! Yay!!!

The kids are all going to their in-laws houses for dinner. Gizmo is stuck going to Gadgets parents house. Poor thing! Oh well ... he wants to date her, he can deal with the Clampets while I enjoy our meal in a fine restaurant.

*****

Ya'll know I'm a pinterest junky. I had to laugh the other day while reading someones board. He put a comment in his descriptions to head over to MY boards to see an impressive collection of Titanic pins. That would probably explain the sudden increase in my followers on that board. I thought it was pretty cool that other pinners are recommending MY boards as being impressive.

Gawd, I need a life!!

*****

Not a lot else going on here today. I bought a bunch of bankers boxes (ten pack) and am going to spend the rest of the weekend packing up and organizing some of the clutter in my bedroom. My sanctuary is getting a little crowded. Time to pack some stuff up. Of course, no space to store the stuff, so the bankers boxes will be neatly placed back on the very shelves that the crap came off of. My sanctuary will resemble a storage room more than anything else, but I can live with neatly stacked (and organized) stuff. It'll be a huge improvement over the chaos on the shelves now. LOL.


Yard sale come spring ... so that'll make it easier to figure out what stays and what goes, too.

Empty nest!! I NEED an empty nest!! No one elses crap to displace where my stuff should be.

Ah, dream ... dream ... dream ....

Same ol', same ol'

And I don't see it changing soon enough.

I ran into Gadget's son at the store tonight. We got to talking. I found out he's got no use for his own mother. Sad. But I can understand. I really can.

Through our conversation, though, he said that he'd love to be able to call me "grandma", since he likes me so much. I told him no problem, but if anyone asks he's my nephew, NOT my grandson (or soon to be grandson IF Gadget and Gizmo ever marry). LOL. No ... seriously, I'd be honored if he calls me Grandma. He's a good kid, and anyone would be proud to call him Grandson!!

Too bad his mother treats him like crap.

Sad thing is, Gadget has family. They're totally dysfunctional. I think I mentioned it in a past blog.

There's been developments here in the last two weeks ... let me set this up for you ... Gadget went to work at the same Arby's that DIL is a shift manager at. All went well for, oh, about the first day or two according to DIL. Apparently Gadget doesn't want to work for her paycheck and the managers pretty much had to babysit her. Skip ahead a few weeks (to last week) ... Gadget is working a four hour shift (no breaks for a four hour work day), and asks the manager on duty if she can go have a quick ciggie. I must add here that Michigan is one of many states that has strict public smoking laws. No smoking in any establishment that sells food or beverages. Anyway ... The manager says no ciggie break, they're preparing for a rush and need her at her station. Gadget asks of she can at least go to the bathroom then ... manager says sure, just be quick about it. After a few minutes, Manager herself heads to bathroom only to bust Gadget hiding in a corner, propping open the rear lobby door for ventilation and SMOKING in the building!! And there were customers in the lobby who could easily see her doing this!!! A quick clearing of the throat to inform Gadget she's been busted and she immediately denies that she was smoking!! Hello? Busted dead to rights, and you're still gonna LIE about it?

Oh, it gets better. She quits that job via a text the day after that ... didn't even have the maturity to show up at work to hand in her uniform and say she quit!! She texts it to the same manager who busted her. Now, I'm sure they're all doing the happy dance at her quitting, but that's beside the point.

One of the first things she's done since quitting is to talk to a lawyer. Seems she's suing both Arby's and DIL for "tarnishing her image" (her words) ... excuse me? DIL wasn't involved in this at all, except for being on clock at the time it happened!! She was NOT the manager in charge that day!! I won't even get into that whole "tarnishing" thing ... you reap what you sow ... oy vey!!

Now, we know I'm not DILs biggest fan, but geesh. This is madness. And it's causing so much tension in the house.

And where did she get the money to hire a lawyer? Oh yeah ... Gizmo!!

Talking to Gadget's son ... it doesn't surprise him. "Easy money, Grandma, that's all she wants is easy money. Too bad Gizmo will be screwed in the process."

And she wonders why her family doesn't get along? I guess they're all the same way (according to my adult "grandson") ... they'd sue their own mothers for no reason. Heaven knows this one doesn't think twice about suing her own sister-in-law-to-be. In-law ... yipes, we can only hope that never happens!!

***** STAR TREK CONTENT *****

We had our monthly meeting last week. Logan's Roadhouse. Five and a half of us attended. Yes, half ... one of the members, my "XO", his two year old daughter. So ... we all order at the same time.

The youngsters (Gadget, Gizmo, XO and the Cadette) get their food and start eating without us. Mine came a few minutes after theirs did, and "F"s didn't come at all!!

Now, "F" is a grown man ... speaks very loudly ... but won't complain about his meal not showing up!! After about fifteen minutes I flagged down our waitress and brought to her attention that we were still missing one meal. "I'm sorry, I'll bring it right out" and disappeared. Five minutes later she's waiting on the table next to us, "F"s plate still missing. I went into action. Yes, me. I have to watch out for my crew - besides, I am not shy about complaining about bad service, and this service was BAD! I get the same thing from the floor manager "I'll bring it right out".

Fifteen minutes later still no plate for "F" and now my food has grown cold!!

Hey, my mom raised me to eat only after everyone has been served!! And I did exactly that. Sad thing is I raised Gizmo that way, too, but he rushed right into his food. Bad boy!!

Now, hunting down the store manager was a difficult task. Finally, there she is. I explained once again how "F" had not received his meal, and mine was growing cold thanks to so much inaction over the matter. She says to me "I'll deliver it immediately" HOLD IT!! I've heard those words before and I told her so!! I also asked for an explanation ... they dropped "F"s plate on the floor!! They had to wait for more to come out of the oven (thanks for telling us that from the start!!) - and here it is, the dinner rush and they're out of that item? Talk about bad planning!! So, she keeps good to her word and has his dinner plate right out to the table. He's got a nice hot plate and mine is cold!! The manager offered to warm it up, but I declined. I hate mashed potatoes that have been nuked.

Oh, and the dish we waited on?? Meatloaf, mashed potatoes and mac and cheese. That's what we both ordered. At least she had the sense to comp our dinners, mine and "F"s both (since I was eating cold food now).

And no, we'll not be eating at that Logan's Roadhouse again. The service has gone downhill slowly over the year we'd been going there. The meatloaf was the icing on that cake.

We're not sure where next year's meetings will be, but we have time to scope out new meeting/dinner places. Winter is coming and our next four monthly meetings will all be on Skype. We do that so no one will have to worry about missing a meeting in the event it's snowing out.

Now it's worrying about planning the Christmas party, then we'll worry about meeting locations.

***** end of STAR TREK content *****

So, that's it in a nutshell ... same ol' crap, just a different day.

Beam me outta here!!

Halloween

Halloween went pretty good.

No one thought to buy candy, so I had to make a mad last minute run up to the store for at least a bag of candy for the little ghosts and goblins who would within an hour be pounding down the door. I only bought one large bag of candy. I ran out half way through the two hours of trick or treating. Oops!!

Which brings me to wonder, why am I the only one to even care about this stuff? And ... I make a mere fraction of what these clowns pull in yet I'm the ONLY one who had money for candy? Or much of anything else. WTF do they spend their paychecks on? Sure isn't things that are needed for the house.

Grrrrrrr ...

So anyway ...

My mom bought costumes for Alien's boys. A cute skeleton costume for Butterball and a bee costume for JR. We had problems connecting to get the costumes to the boys, so at noon on Halloween we all met up here at my house. Alien had the day off, so we surprised my mom with her being here with the boys.

And what a hoot the boys were!! JR jumped in my mom's van like he'd been doing it all of his life (he'd never been in it before, and barely recognized my mother at first, LOL). But he was all about that van!! He climbed in the back and planted his fanny in one of the seats. I think he thought he was going for a ride with his "Gigi". He actually had to be pulled out of the van when "Gigi" was ready to leave, he sure wasn't going to leave otherwise!!

I had given Butterball a tin of Altoids with only about a dozen of the candies in it. They sure love their (my) Altoids, and will actually go in my purse to where they know I keep the tin. But I was way ahead of them this day!! I handed a nearly empty tin to Butterball and he proceeded to open it and give one not only to his brother, but to Gigi, too. He sure loves to share.

*****

Alien's job is going well. She's loving it, and will be working full time as soon as a slot for a full timer opens up (expected to happen within the next week or so). Until then, her manager has her working full shifts anyway.

*****

Around here, there are certain people that get upset if I don't immediately do something I promise to do (which I don't do often, for obvious reasons), but if I ask "the next time you go to the store can I come along", or "can you pick me up this or that, here's enough money to cover the cost" ... I GET NO RESULTS.

I really wanted (needed) to go to the thrift store for a new pair of pants earlier in the week, and somehow was forgotten when Gadget ran to the same thrift store that only the day before she had promised to take me with her.

And this isn't the first time she's done this to me, either. In fact, every time I ask to tag along, she's forgotten!! Or so she claims.

I also don't understand how someone who needs to be in control as much as Gadget does, seeks my approval so often. "Mom, I did the dishes", "Mom I took the trash out".

You don't know how bad I want to give her a gold star every time she says "Mom, I did ... "

I just don't understand the extremes this one displays.

***** STAR TREK CONTENT *****

It's been about six months since I took over being "Captain" of our "ship" ... six months of planning and reorganizing things. Six busy months, and I'm enjoying every minute of it for the most part. I do delegate a lot to other members, so I'm not overwhelmed ... and it's getting more members involved in the club. I still need more involvement, but it's slowly happening. My goal is to be the best chapter in our region. It's not that far-reaching of a goal either, our region isn't the most active within STARFLEET, so being number one is just a matter of more member involvement. We're only "competing" against one other chapter ... a Canadian chapter, one that has a lot of activities and member activity. It's a friendly competition, since this is the chapter not only one of our closest friends, the of the Commander of STARFLEET, but a few others of our best Trekkie buddies!!

The chapter that Gizmo helped start up in Escanaba may be breaking up already. Politics, nothing more than politics. Their captain is a young kid, a dyed in the wool trekkie ... but he's not happy with the way the chapter is going. Nor are his chapter members happy with the way he runs things with his over-bearing often childish fits if he doesn't get his way, so there's another mutiny in the works with a vote of no confidence upcoming.

This young lad doesn't want someone else running his chapter, so he's pushing for disbanding. He even called me and asked if I would have a problem with him recommending his members join our chapter way down here in the Lower Peninsula!! Hello? We're eight or more hours away and you want them in MY chapter? Sure why not. I need more correy (correspondence) members. NOT. I need people who can actually attend meetings. Oh well, what's a dozen more members who live too far away to attend much of anything? We've already got members in Wyoming, Indiana, and Canada ... what's a few yuppers (residents of Michigan's Upper Peninsula) gonna hurt?

Actually, now that I think about it, they have a few members that, although far away, would be a great asset to our chapter. Their enthusiasm and willingness to get involved would be welcomed, even if only online or on Skype!!

So, now we wait to see if they'll disband and join our chapter, or if they decide to try to work out the problems they're having with an over-enthusiastic often overbearing "captain".

***** END OF STAR TREK *****

Not a whole lot else going on here tonight. Quiet. Gadget and Gizmo are sleeping, DIL is still at work, Grandson is at his other grandmother's house, and Married Son just left this morning after a much needed week at home.

I'm enjoying the quiet, even if it's 1 AM!! Gonna go watch some Adventures of Sherlock Holmes on Netflix now ...

Yay Alien!!

So, Alien got the job at the Salvation Army store.

After the initial interview she was hired, but would have to attend the orientation in Detroit. I thought for sure she'd say she couldn't make it, it was too far for her car to make it (which is true). But ... and I'm sooo proud of her for this ... she called my ex father in law, her grandfather, and explained the situation to him. He volunteered to take her all the way down to Detroit. Bless his heart!

So ... she starts tomorrow. First day on the sales floor. Should be interesting. She's never worked in a service job before, but I'm sure she'll be okay. After all, she IS outgoing, friendly and helpful (she's MY kid, what can I say?). I believe she'll be a natural at it. And she does pick up on things quickly, so I'm sure she'll be fast to learn all the departments they have. Oh, they guarantee her 30 hours a week! Cool!!

I did notice, though, that on facebook she made a request for a babysitter, saying she didn't want the boys to be exposed to the crap at home alone with their father (or something to that effect). She has offered to pay a small wage to whomever takes her up on sitting.

I have NOT offered to watch them. Nor will I. If she asks, that's different, but dammit, I'm not offering. And IF she should ask, there'll be stipulations ... like the boys must arrive bathed and in clean clothes (they often look like "mud-babies" when they come over) ... and she's to pack a meal for them (or provide ingredients so Gramma can make lunch or dinner) ... and if I have use of a vehicle for the day she's to leave their car seats in case I decide we need to go out for the day.

So, we'll see where the sitting ends up. Personally I'd prefer to do it rather than see their impatient and somewhat rough (and abusive) step father watch them.

I know, I know ... I said I wouldn't help her out. But, this IS for my grandsons health and well being, and I'm not contributing financially - she'll have to pay ME (even a few dollars a week) ... nor will they be living here, lol ...

So long as she asks .... I AM NOT OFFERING!!

Puh-leeze!

It's been a rough week here. Nothing much really, just a lot of Gadget drama.

It started with her grandmother dying on October 15th.

Knowing the way she reacted when they thought her son's gf might be pregnant (five weeks of crying, of locking herself in the bedroom, of secrecy - I had to guess after five weeks what the "problem" was - ... and the saying he's still a baby himself, and turns out no pregnancy afterall), well, knowing she overreacts to situations, I feared that she'd be in for a long, hard time with her grandmother's passing.

October 15th was also Alien's 21st birthday. I took her and her family out to dinner (nothing fancy, McDonald's for the kids to play on the playland while we adults talked). To my surprise, at the last minute, Gizmo decided to come along, leaving Gadget at home.

We had a good time with Alien (more on that below), got home after an hour or so, and I thought I best go talk to Gadget, give her my condolences.

She was anything but depressed. "She was old" and "she was an evil woman" were but a few of the things I heard. And then I was treated to a long and detailed family history worthy of a soap opera of it's own. Imagine Days of Our Life meets the Beverly Hillbillies (only without the striking it rich part).and you've got pretty much what I had the privilege of hearing. All the while, Gizmo, his back to her as he sat at his computer desk, rolled his eyes and made funny faces.

But then the drama began ... Gadget was supposed to watch Grandson whilst DILs parents (who usually babysit him when DIL works the afternoon/evening shift) were in Kentucky on family business. I made myself available to watch Grandson so that Gadget could go to the funeral home for visitation on Thursday and the funeral on Friday.

You'd have thought she was getting ready for a mission to the moon!! Detailed "directions" as to when and HOW to watch Grandson.

Excuse me? I've had over three decades of raising kids ... you just need to tell me the when part. I got soooo tired of saying things like "I have it under control", "I've raised kids, I'm sure I can figure out how to watch a seven year old" and once again finally "STFU will you? I'm not a moron."

Thursday rolled around. She was at the funeral home for most of the day (yay, she's outta MY hair!), not coming home until well after 9pm. Grandson and I had a ball!! As soon as he got home from school the first thing he did was to bear hug me and ask "are you ready to hang out Grandma?" We watched a bit of tv, had a picky eater friendly dinner (and he cleaned his plate, too), then played a game on my computer. All the time snuggling and cuddling. That boy sure loves his cuddles!! He even went to bed without any arguments.

The next day, Friday, was Gadget's grandmother's funeral. Gadget was home before noon. No brunch, no wake. Just plant poor grandma in the ground and call it a day. Then again, if my cousins were as horrible as she makes hers out to be, I'd have ran for my car immediately afterwards, too!!

So, she's home in time to get Grandson off the bus and watch him for the rest of the day. Poor kid comes up to me and asks "can I hang out with you instead? Aunt Gadget is just so boring next to you, Grandma". Bless his little heart.

*****

October 15 ... Alien's birthday "lunch" at McDonald's ... being as broke as I am McD's works good (and the kiddies can play while the adults talk), but no one complained!! Even the Knight in Rusty Armor was almost tolerable. Well, not to Gizmo anyway ("Mom, I wish he could be removed from the gene pool" he says afterwards), but that's a different story.

It did start to rain, and thus cut our visit short. How would rain do that, you ask? Rusty Armor started to freak "it's raining!! My car doesn't run in the rain, and I have no windshield wipers" ... so they rushed off before the rain got any harder.

That, however, cancelled the rest of our plans for the afternoon. Going shopping for Alien's birthday gift. I usually pre-shop, but since she needs clothes, I told her we'd go together so she could try them on before I bought them. And those plans were cancelled thanks to a short sprinkle. Yeah, it only rained lightly for just a few minutes. Long enough for Rusty Armor to panic and drive the three miles home.

The day after Alien's birthday a card arrived in the mail for her (at my house) from my mother. It contained a check and Mom didn't want Rusty Armor to know she sent a check so she sent it here (good thinking, Mom!!). She wanted Alien to be able to spend it ALL on herself, all one hundred dollars. Mom also sent an early birthday check for me in the same amount.

Today Alien and I went shopping. Alone. Rusty Armor actually volunteered to watch the boys so we could have some mother/daughter time. Okay, who are you and what did he do with my idiot SIL?

Anyway ... for three hours we had fun. Shopped, bought, and sat in the van talking afterwards (hey, why hurry home if we don't need to!). It was her first time without the boys or Rusty Armor in almost three years. Let her enjoy it!! Oh, and Alien got a job application from one of the places we went (The Salvation Army Store). She filled it out in the van, and turned it back in to the hiring manager. She has a job interview tomorrow. Wish her luck!!

We did have fun until we went back to her house. Seems there was some drama with my ex father in law trying to find her (he even came to my house I found out later) ... and thankfully my ex FIL isn't MY problem anymore. But, you could tell that Pa put an end to what had been an enjoyable day for the Alien. And by the time we got back, Rusty Armor was his old self again.

I couldn't stay long. I just can't deal with the stupidity that comes out of Rusty Armor's mouth. I did stay long enough to visit with Butterball and JR, and for them to empty the Altoids tin of about a dozen Altoids that they know I keep in my purse . Yes, my grandsons love Altoids!! I don't dare have more than a dozen on me or they'd eat a whole tin.

*****

Alien bought a few pairs of much needed blue jeans, and a Halloween costume for Butterball. I bought a few things; a pink short sleeve top, an adorable embroidered denim shirt, a few shirts for all three of my grandsons, and a few other things.

One of the "few other things" was a doll. Walking the aisles of the Salvation Army Store, I spot a life-sized doll that actually stops me in my tracks!! It looks just like Butterball!! At two dollars, I just couldn't leave the doll sitting there looking so sad. It'll be cleaned up (lots of restoration for this good quality doll), get it new outfit and start a new life as a much loved boy doll. I sure can't have a Butterball look-alike going through it's life as a little girl!!

It'll stay in my collection, but this doll was obviously made to be played with. It's a good quality doll, vinyl head, legs and arms, and a soft sculpted body that was made for cuddling (it's so soft and thick). "He" looks to fit into real baby clothes, I'm guessing either a 9mo or 12mo size. I'll take it with me when I'm ready to buy it a wardrobe at the resale shops.

And heaven help Rusty Armor if he says "boys don't play with dolls".

Beam Me Up Scotty!!

There's no intelligent life around here.

Really.

*****

We had a power failure last night. It lasted about seven and a half hours - starting around 2:30 am. The first ten minutes of it, Gadget comes practically barging into my bedroom "OMG, are you alright?" Hello?!?! This isn't my first power failure baby, won't be my last either. We have power failures. Lots of them. Last night's was the third in three weeks. Really. I can handle it. I don't need someone hovering over me "do you need a flashlight", "don't move until I get a light in here" ... and on and on.

STFU!! I've lived here 18 years, I can find my way in the dark, really. Well, I could IF you'd get out of my way. Oy!! Let me get the candle off the shelf across the room. I can do this myself. TYVM.

*****

At least the power failure was a nice reprieve from the STARFLEET drama I'd been dealing with up until the lights (and internet) went out.

Oh, I should probably insert here ...

STAR TREK CONTENT

Our ship ... chapter ... club ... whatever ... has about 25 active members, about as many inactive members, but the inactives aren't the drama. Seems we have one member, who happens to live in Wyoming (yes, WYOMING, not even in our "region") and loves to cause drama. When Gizmo was the Commander he appointed this man, whom I'll call SS (his initials, lol), to the position of "Marine OIC (Officer in Charge). Although he happens to hold other STARFLEET positions, including "Office of Recognition" of the STARFLEET Academy. I should probably also mention that SS has never attended a meeting, I've never met this man face to face. He's been pestering me for months that we need to make ALL meeting Skype meetings for those who live too far away to attend. It does sound like a good idea, only ... don't talk the topic to death. I heard you, I responded (we're looking into it) now be patient.

My XO sent an email reminding all senior officers that their "reports" were due by 5 pm the day of the meeting. FN, our Science Officer who usually attends meeting couldn't make it so he emailed his report to me, the XO and the rest of the senior officers. Here's where the drama starts ... the Science Officer sent in Academy results for every member who had Academy activity this month. Technically that should have been SS's job, only SS never reports anything to me or my XO!!

AND SS didn't like that!! A series of emails (six all told, CCed to me and Gizmo) between my XO and SS ... bitching up a storm saying that this is his "job" not FNs to report. But he's "not jealous" ... bullpucky. The way he's carrying on reminds me of a spoiled child who isn't getting his way. And the name calling he did in his emails towards FN was not called for!!

I must commend XO for handling it for me, he did superb in telling SS to basically stuff it without actually saying stuff it. After pointing out where SS has never turned in a senior officer report, nor awarded certificates and recognition awards from STARFLEET he stood firm in "my original orders to FN stand, he will be submitting the Academy reports".

SS's response was nothing but a series of excuses as to why he's accomplished nothing. Oh, and each one still managed to bring up the Skype topic, too. Oy!

Senior Officers are APPOINTED by the Captain ... and I'm seriously contemplating removing him from Marine OIC. You can't play nice and get along with your little friends (and be grateful someone else is doing a very labor intensive report), then you can sit by yourself at recess ...

This isn't what I expected when I ran for XO back in 2011. But then, I didn't expect the crew to mutiny to have the Captain removed, and I'd be the new Captain.

I can't wait to see what 2013 brings!!

Back to normal ...

whatever normal is around here anyway.

Married Son left two days ago, headed towards Iowa with a delivery. How he does it in the little cargo van is beyond me. There's no bed, like in the semi truck ... and he sleeps in the vehicle. He seems fine with it, though.

But the day he left, I haven't been out of the house since. Not that I haven't tried!! Gizmo is leaving his van at work, says that he can't afford gas this week (and his boss will let him bring the fedex truck home) ... so no van for me to drive. Forget my offer to pay for the gas I use, it's fallen on deaf ears.

And there's no way in hell I'm driving that death trap that Gadget drives!! Last time I did drive it - about three months ago - one of the tires blew up on me!! Thankfully it was fifteen feet from the driveway on my way back home after running my errands. However, I'll walk somewhere before I use that death trap again!!

And ... Married Son's last trip home, a vehicle appears on my driveway. Out of nowhere, no clue as to where it came from. Turns out he bought it for DIL ... only it's not road ready yet (lots of things to fix, plus plate and insure it) and when I asked today to borrow the truck she usually drives I get the same ol' out of gas crap that Gizmo says.

However, I DID manage to talk DIL into a little side trip for me in the "illegal" vehicle, since she was taking it to her father's house anyway to have him start repairs on it.

DIL helped me out ... and it only cost me a buck and change (plus the money I gave her to get my needed items from the store). Change that went into Grandson's piggy bank even.

And I made sure to let her know how much I appreciated her help.

*****

I've been asked by Son to start looking for a used vehicle that I want. Whatever I choose, it's going to have to be something that'll embarrass Gizmo so badly he'll never ever consider asking to borrow it. And borrowing whatever my vehicle will be is out of the question. Not only my decision, but Son's decision, too ... he knows how rough his brother is on vehicles. In fact, Son is the one who suggested I get a pink vehicle ... or something equally embarrassing for a male to drive ... lol!! But no matter what I end up with, there's no way Gizmo will ever sit in the driver's seat!!

*****

So, I mentioned something about those nutri-systems meals my mother gave me. Some of the meals I've tried are good. Like the prepared dinners such as the flat-bread pizza, pasta meals, and a few of the soups. Some are just okay, like the "chocolate" snacks and some of the soups. Avoid the breakfast foods at all costs, I've learned!! Their version of Cherrios lack sadly, although I have to admit the squirrels loved when I emptied all of the cherrio and whole grain cereal packets into the squirrel feeder.

Two blog entries in a week??

Wow, what's the world coming to? Actually, I think I'm just tired of keeping crap to myself.

*****

Talking to Married Son last night on the phone, complaining how hard it is to get anyone here to cooperate, even so much as to borrow a vehicle to get my prescription refills he interrupts me with "calm down Mom, I'll be pulling into our driveway around noon tomorrow, I'll get you where you need to go". And he did!! Four days on the road and then four hours running around with me doing MY errands.

What's wrong with this picture? Why does he need to spent yet MORE time on the road when there's three other adults and three vehicles here that should be at my disposal.

And I do appreciate it.

Our first stop was the quickest stop I've ever made at the grocery store. In and out in fifteen minutes! Second stop, my folks house, took a lot longer. But we enjoyed the visit ... and I know my folks enjoyed seeing Married Son.

Mom had a few bags and boxes of goodies that needed to be picked up. A goodie bag for Alien and the boys, and two boxes of food for me. Funny thing about the food ... Mom's always trying one diet or the other, this time it was Nutrisystems, and she absolutely hated the food. So ... waste not, want not her mother used to say. I haven't tried any of the foods yet, so we'll see how I like it or not.

It's not often I question my father ... but WTH? He has this new 5 in 1 printer ... and absolutely insists that the FAX machine stay connected. However, anyone that calls into the house gets that nasty computer tone whenever the phone is picked up!! No getting around it. I actually started an argument with Daddy about how it's NOT necessary to keep the freaking fax plugged in all the time!! What makes this sadder, he never gets any faxes!! Just a lot of pissed off people when they try to call.

Married Son unplugged it at my Mom's request. We'll see how long that lasts.

*****
So, the food is all put up in the cupboards. I had to pretty much rearrange the entire cupboard, and I still ran out of room for all the food! Ended up cleaning that little drawer under the oven. It's cram packed with packages of food.

Since I usually store my griddle (GRIDDLE, not girdle, Amy) in that drawer, I had to reorganize another cupboard to HIDE my griddle in. And why hide it? When I opened the drawer it was obvious someone had used my griddle without my consent ... there were scratches on the non-stick surface that weren't there when I used it last and there was pancake batter caked in the crevices of the griddle.

There's a certain person that did ask once, a few months back, if she could use the griddle. I told her yes, but use the black nylon spatula on it. I got distracted (as I often do) and when I turned back around she's just about to put a black handled metal spatula to it!! Practically ripping it from her hands, and telling her "you don't listen, do you?" I put the proper spatula in her hand and stood over her like a mommy stands over their kid the first time they cook.

So ... it doesn't take Sherlock to figure out who helped themselves to something that doesn't belong to them (and misused it) ...

And the gods help her if she even so much as touches any of that food I just put away.

*****

Had a great time with Married Son, even if it was running around doing errands. Had time to talk uninterrupted. Well, when that phone of his wasn't beeping some incoming text or call. Every two minutes!

He had a novel idea on how to handle Gadget next year (gawd forbid she's still under my roof and skin next year) ... as I'm getting my small container vegetable garden together, to take her by the hand, lead her to the backyard and say to her "if you want any produce, grow your own. Pick a corner, any corner ... and have at it".

Think it'd work?

Me neither.

*****

Well crap ... there was something else I wanted to say. Can't for the life of me think what it could have been.

*****

Oh ... question ... I'm wondering about all the pictures I have linked in my multiply blogs. When I exported them to blogger, they still work. Will that end, will those links be broken once multiply goes through "the change"? I'm sure not looking forward to re-adding all those pictures if that's the case.

Just curious.

Long time coming ...

And I have a lot to bitch about. And as usual, it's about the people I live with.

Only this time it's NOT the Wrecking Crew. Can you believe it? DIL seems much more tolerable in comparison to Gadget. Crazy, right?

Even putting aside the fact I feel as if I actually lose IQ points after a conversation with Gadget, she's past getting on my last nerve.

The more I get to know her, the more I realize she's not playing with a full deck. Far from it ...

*****

Last Sunday we had a small company "emergency" ... had to get the cargo van from my driveway out to North Carolina, but then we'd have to worry about getting the driver back. Gizmo volunteered to drive the van, and fly back. Enter Gadget ... I had been in communication with Gizmo the entire time he was gone. Yet, she had to tell me no less than a dozen times "he's flying in on Delta Flight (such and so). We need to ... " After the first six or so times I was fed up. "We're in communications. I know what's going on" ... that led to "SHUT UP already!! I have it under control".

I have things under control has become my anthem around her. Doesn't matter what's going on, she feels the need to take control (whether it involves her or not). And her in charge isn't pretty. I've never seen anyone screw shit up as much as this one does. And yes, she even tries to take control of every STARFLEET thing that's going on. To the point I've told her that I'm in charge and IF I should need her input I will ask her directly. Otherwise, STFU!!

Anyway ... the drive to the airport should have been me going alone. She was supposed to work, but ended up getting the day off. Damn. So of course she just has to accompany me. The entire fifty minute drive was her talking (non-stop) about the things that Gizmo does that she doesn't understand - or worse wants to change. Hello? Try to change someone?? Any mature adult knows that you can't change anyone to what YOU want them to be ... adapt, ignore or leave. And I told her so!! I think I began that little lecture with "you're in idiot if you think you can change someone". Of course, it fell on deaf ears ... a subject change or two later she's right back to "he needs to change". Oy!

*****

Today's bitch may seem rather piddly ... it has to do with a bottle of cold medication. Nyquil to be exact. I had a big unopened bottle that I had stored away. Enter the latest cooties that struck here about a week ago. MY big bottle ends up being snagged by Gadget and Gizmo. As much as I needed it, I only got two and a half doses out of the entire bottle. I told her she needed to replace MY Nyquil (she's working, she's got a car AND money dammit) ... and instead she comes home with a medium size store brand bottle that if I need a dose, I have to hunt down the freaking bottle.

And never so much as a thank you for the original bottle of cold remedy.

And after nine months of this, I'm done with sharing with her ... food, medicine, cherry tomatoes (yes, MY crop of cherry tomatoes!!), you name it ... she feels entitled to whatever is around the house. At least DIL realizes that if it's not something she's purchased, she's to leave her hands off it. Not Gadget ... nope. And telling her about ownership or what's off limits doesn't matter one bit to her.

In one ear and out the other. And I swear it builds up speed along the way.

*****

And that's only ONE of her more endearing qualities. Over-bearing, domineering, paranoid, worry-wart, smothering drama queen. Sad thing is, she knows it, too!! I alone have had many conversations with her about letting her 20 year old son GROW UP (he moved out when he was 17 because of her smothering - and he IS a good "kid", someone any other mother would be damned proud of), about letting go of those things she cannot control, and of learning to adapt herself to the situation instead of forcing change because she cannot cope.

*****

I know ... I should be pleased as punch that Gizmo has found someone to love and care for ... but damn, he could have really done sooooo much better. And I'm NOT saying anything. It's his decision who he wants in his life. But he's got a bad habit of "picking up strays" ... you know, those little critters that someone abandons (usually for a reason), and tries to nurse back to health. Yup.

*****

Well, this bronchitis is kicking my butt again ... time to go hunt down the nyquil.

(gonna be cross posting until multiply shuts off the power, lol, so look for me here or on blogger at http://lcm1219.blogspot.com/ )

I've moved!!

No, not the empty nest, but I've moved my blog over to blogger. I thought I better do it now, before multiply closes it's blogging doors on us in December. Yeah, I know, I have time, but as long as it was on my mind ... besides, it gives me a good excuse to get off my duff and actually make a long over due blog entry.

I can't say nothing has gone on since my last entry months ago. It has ... most of it the same ol' Wrecking Crew drama. Some Star Trek stuff ... but nothing unusual.

Which is a good thing, I guess. I do remember when I used to long for boring. Now it's here, and for the most part I can't complain.

Now to just lose the Wrecking Crew drama, and life will be truly boring.

I can't wait!!

I'll finish with a proper blog entry once I figure out how to set privacy settings. Obviously I don't want just anyone to read my blog ...

Happy Fourth of July!!

I know, I know ... it's been a while. And all these promises to be a better blogger. It's not that I don't try ... but personally, I get sick of blogging about the same ol' Wrecking Crew drama all the time. I can't imagine how ya'll must tire of the same ol' complaints all the time!!

And yes, it's same ol', same ol' where the Wrecking Crew is concerned.

*****

In other news, Alien, The Knight in Rusty Armor, the boys, Gadget and I went to the annual fireworks a few days ago. Hotter than heck that day, and poor Gizmo had to work it.

Surprise of surprises, The Knight was actually tolerable!! In fact, he was actually enjoyable to be around.

However, Gadget was less enjoyable to be around. This was her first time at the Lake Orion fireworks. You'd have thought she'd never been to any fireworks show by the way she acted. She just couldn't seem to understand that the fireworks didn't start until after dark (really ??), that glow sticks can't be seen real well in the daylight ... and kept asking me (ten times at least, no kidding) where we parked. Worse than a toddler ... bugging me "when do the fireworks start?" ... or getting all excited when someone lit off fireworks, and she'd yell "oh, here we go. They started". No they didn't ... that's private parties lighting them off ... the REAL fireworks start over there" (as I'd point to where they'd be coming from. And not just once, but every freaking time someone lit a firework off). Oy ... she should have watched two toddlers to see how to behave!! It was crazy!

Anyway ... here's a pic of Alien and The Knight.

No, that's not a baby bump ... as Alien said "I'm not fat, I'm just easy to see". Yup, she's my kid ... down to being "huggable" in size. Hehehe ....

The boys got really excited when they saw the Dragon Boat. Yes, it looks like a dragon ... and it actually breaths fire!!

Short history ... according to wikipedia (disclaimer, I really don't like to quote wikipedia, but the fact theirs was the only site with history that i could find) ... and I quote ...

The story of the Lake Orion Dragon says that sometime in the 1800s a group of local kids played a prank by building a fake dragon and launching it out in the lake. A number of people saw it and soon Lake Orion was known for its dragon. There are a number of stories around about who made it and how they built it but it is widely agreed that it was a prank.

"That same year [1894] the Lake Orion 'dragon' made its entrance into Orion history. First seen by two ladies near the present Robert’s Rondevoo cove, the animal grew in length as the story grew in listeners. What had started out as an average-sized lake monster was claimed by some to be at least eighty feet long. Detroit and other newspapers joshingly suggested, upon hearing of the behemoth, that Orion residents should 'drink more well water in the future.'' The nickname of Lake Orion High School's sports teams (the Dragons) is derived from this.

Here's the link if you want to read all about Lake Orion. 

*****STAR TREK ALERT*****

Shhhhhh, don't tell anyone ... we had a credit on our electric bill this month (we're on the monthly budget plan), so instead of telling Gizmo about it, I decided to say nothing and pocket the extra money for myself. Hey, seems only fair, as it is where else can one live for just the cost of utilities? This is my "pay" for putting up with a not so empty nest. 

So, where does Star Trek come into this?? I bought a Star Trek uniform shirt with the money!! The Next Generation style shirt. I'm sooooo ready now for the International Convention (I.C). next month. Or I will be when the shirt arrives next week! And I'm definitely gonna need it since the CS (Commander of STARFLEET) has personally asked me to participate in the Honor Guard Ceremony!!

I still need to take pictures of the crafts I've done. Especially now that they're going to be donated to the "Ferengi Flea Market" at the I.C. I'm hearing all proceeds go to the American Diabetes Association. Of course I'm gonna donate!! 

*****End Star Trek*****

Not a lot else going on here today. I need to get ready ... we're going to Brother Deere's house for Daddy's birthday celebration a little later today. They will be meeting Gadget for the first time today. I sure hope she is over whatever got into her at the fireworks. Or this could be a birthday Daddy won't soon forget!!

*****

Enjoy your Fourth!!

2012 Fireworks

STAR TREK CONTENT!!

Did I say at one point that boring was good? Been anything but boring lately!! But it's all good!

Since I took over as "Commander" (CO) of our "ship" it's been busy!! I'm sure things will calm down a bit once I know wtf I'm doing!! Until then ... well, lots to do. Lots of questions, and thankfully lots of helpers to get me through it!

*****

My first week as Commander ...

My email inbox went from half a dozen emails a day to somewhere around 100 a day!!

To be the CO I had to be promoted to the rank of Captain. Don't worry, ya'll don't have to stand at attention and salute when you see me. I promise!!

Appointed my XO (Executive Officer ... think the Spock to my Kirk, LOL). I've just put through for a promotion for him to the rank of Commander.

I've already handed out another much needed promotion that our former CO ignored. More like on a power trip and withheld it from the member he didn't get along with.

Okayed the formation of TWO new departments; ROTC (for the kids in the group), and Ship's Counselor.

Revived plans for the newsletter that Gizmo used to print out a few years back. Gadget will take charge of that once she's officially a member of STARFLEET. Ha!! I love that she volunteered before her membership has even been processed!!

Gained two new members, and three who came back after the drama ended.

Filled all but one vacancy on our Senior Officer's List (last one filled after the member completes certain STARFLEET requirements). That's ten departments!! Twelve if you count the two new departments listed above. And I had more volunteers than I had positions to fill!

Determined that we need someone as "Ship Historian", a photographer who can be at all the functions and take pictures for us. May end up having a whole team of photogs, since not every member can make every function. Amy, too bad you're so far away ... I'd work on recruiting you and Bob. Your photog skills would definitely be a plus!! LOL! And of course, Bob's Trekkiness doesn't hurt either!!

Started looking for a new meeting place, and place to hold our annual Christmas Party. Thanks to my XO, I think we've found that place!!

Revived plans with my XO for a Poker fund-raiser event. Formed a committee of two to take charge of all details.

Requested and was approved for a demotion in rank for the former CO. I think I read somewhere that he's going to be leaving STARFLEET, so the demotion may be a moot point.

and more ... not gonna pull out my notebook to refresh my memory, just too lazy at the moment. But it's been a crazy week!! And it wouldn't have been so successful without all the help from a lot of people. Gawd, I love nerds!!

*****

I never knew that a fan based association could be so complicated!! Forms for "promotions", forms for demotions, forms to submit the chapter's monthly meeting minutes, forms! forms! forms!!

"STARFLEET Academy" (and a ton of emails every time a member completes an Academy course.

Forms for this ... forms for that... forms for every thing!!

STARFLEET Marine Corps has a totally different set of forms to get familiar with.

From what I've seen this week, this association could serve as an example for big business the world over - and probably government, too. From finances (non-profit status, every dollar spent is well thought out and well documented), to social programs (real life college tuition assistance, counseling for those in need, charity causes and more) and beyond. Not only does STARFLEET run smoothly, but the left hand seems to know what the right hand is doing! The more I get to know about STARFLEET, the prouder I am to be a member. And not just because we're a organization for SciFi nerds, but a group that really cares about the community.

And everyone, from the CS (Commander of STARFLEET) down to chapter COs all over the country have been so welcoming and helpful after all the drama of the last two weeks.

And of course, there's my awesome "crew". Stepping up to volunteer for positions the former CO couldn't twist their arms to do ... ideas and communications flowing freely. They really are awesome!

Just a bunch of helpful, caring, concerned nerds! I tell ya!!

*****

I deserve a day off. I'm even taking the day off from all things Star Trek.

Tonight, I'll chill while the kids are celebrating Father's Day at their dad's place by watching Star Wars!!

Uninterrupted.

(I really need to find some "spock hands" or other nerd icon ... this heart just ain't nerdy enough)

Little of this, little of that ...

I think I've blogged before that I threw out my scale. Years ago. Just after I booted Bubba to the curb. Figured I was a slave to the damned thing. Weighing myself almost daily was setting me up for disappointment. You gals know how that is, those monthly weight fluctuations and all. The only solution I felt was to throw the thing away!! And it works, too!!

I only weigh myself at the doctor's office or occasionally when at my parents place.

And I know I've blogged about the need to buy smaller clothes lately.

So ... put two and two together, and you've got a slimmer LCM!!

And yes, I'm tooting my own horn here.

I weighed myself at the folks the last time I was there ... 207 pounds. Now before you gasp and think "that's a lot of lady" ... I'm down from 286! Yes ... 286 pounds. Can we say heifer.

And last night at the store I bought the first pair of shorts I've had in years. Real shorts ... not an old pair of worn out jeans cut off! Shorts! Granted my legs aren't ready for public display yet, all the weight I've lost I need to tone 'em up!! But this is the first step. Second step will be loosing that jiggle jiggle. Then it'll be taking care of that ghostly pallor ... Casper the Ghost legs. That's me.

I just need to motivate myself to take walks!!

*****

I'm in the process of setting up my pledge page for the Suicide Prevention Walk in September. I'm going to be asking ya'll here and on facebook for a small donation of only five dollars each. My goal is $150 (their website is secure for online donations). Each and everyone of you who have been effected by suicide please consider a donation. I will be adding "sponsors" to the back of my event shirt in recognition of your donation - or in honor of the person(s) you've lost to suicide.

*****

STAR TREK CONTENT

So the crew have been busy little beavers. They've already contacted the IG's Office (Inspector General), the people that make sure we're behaving by STARFLEET rules and regulations. Seems thar be discourse amongst the ranks concerning our Captain's behavior. The Senior Officers of our Club (appointed by the Captain, not elected) held a vote to see if they thought a Vote of Confidence (VoC) was in order. It passed by a vote of 6 to 2.

As I was typing this, the Captain called me. "WTF is going on". Talk about being glad I wasn't in the loop on this one!! "I don't know, Captain. I saw the email from the IG's Office. That's all I know about anything. I'm as in the dark as you are". And now he wants me to spy on my own people to find out what the scuttlebutt is! Hell no!! I know enough but I'm not telling him ... besides, members quitting, being talked to numerous times by Gizmo about how he conducts himself, DT storming out of a meeting, and so many more things that I've previously blogged about should be his first clues.

Captain has already stated that if he wins this VoC everyone who voted against him will be fired. If he loses he and his wife will both be leaving STARFLEET. He even went so far as to say the Star Trek shirt his wife gave me will need to be returned if he loses the vote. Fine, feel that way the shirt goes back to him the next meeting we have regardless of the outcome of the votes! I don't need "fair weather" friends with conditions on their gifts.

I know ... you're thinking "this is silly. It's a fun club for nerds. Ya'll need to get over it". I'd love to! But I see the club my son started ten years ago falling to an ugly death ... there's no fun anymore. There's only stress and discourse. Long time members quitting because of it. And more members threatening to quit every day.

Time to make it fun again. Time to remove the stresses. See if we can repair the damages with the members who quit, and move forward. To bigger and better places.

You've Been Warned ...

STAR TREK BLOG ENTRY ...

XO's log ... stardate .... oh hell I haven't figured out how to calculate the stardate ...
Earth Date June 8, 2012 ...

Today's meeting went alright. If you could ignore the general Me, Me, Me noises coming from the Captain. Every darned thing was about him ... his "heroics" with getting recognition from STARFLEET ... or about how we can turn every event into a recruiting event. How he wants to spend money we don't have on a banner (think high school marching band banners in a parade), or an expensive display board for recruiting purposes, or even pooling our money for bidding on a shuttle prop that has come up on auction and was used in one of the series (and is in horrible condition). In other words, not a damned thing that benefits us as a chapter, but only acts as another few feathers in his cap (and on his journey - delusion - to eventually be the head of STARFLEET).

Yes, I brought up the Community Walk ... and yes, he still had his fit about how we could turn it into a recruiting event, if only "on the downlow" so "they" would never know about it. Or even boldly suggesting we openly walk with a banner to let people know we're proudly supporting the Suicide Prevention walk.

Okay!! Enough playing nice gal here. I pretty much blew up (or thought I was using a tone that would get my message across). I explained to him, once again, how it is their event, not ours ... and I will not tolerate someone breaking their rules or stealing center stage from their cause. PERIOD. That he sure wouldn't like it if someone "invaded" one of our events to distribute their message. And I will not tolerate it from anyone in our group.

And he still tried to argue the point with me!!

Just when I thought I was going to have to go postal on him (and something I didn't want to do with a one year old in the room) one of my "shipmates" speaks up ... "Look, we are a non-profit group. We are active in community and charity events. Why do you need to turn everything into STARFLEET? I love Star Trek and STARFLEET as much as the next guy, but there's a time and a place for it. This is neither. I for one will happily support this event in any way possible, including wearing one of their officially sanctioned event shirts or my every day street clothes. But I will not wear STARFLEET as this is NOT a STARFLEET event. And I recommend anyone who wishes to turn it from the charity and into their own little selfish gains needs to 1) grow the F up ... and 2) stay home the day of the walk (or something very close to these words).

Well said!! We think it actually may have sunk into the Captains gray matter, too!!

After the meeting was adjourned, every single person there (except for Captain and his wife) came up to me SUPPORTING not only the Community walk (and pledging at least a small donation) but volunteered to walk with TMACK and her team!! Six volunteers!!

The real action was after the meeting when Captain and his wife left ... as well as our two newest members who haven't yet seen the Captain at his finest (they had a good taste today, though) ... My buddy who chewed Captain out, as well as another member, Gizmo and I stayed to discuss the current situation and a growing discourse running through the ranks.

So bad we're talking mutiny here. A real mutiny. And I have to stay OUT of it (drats) ... wouldn't look good if Spock tried to oust Kirk (and I'm the same position as Spock as the XO, LOL) ... too politically charged ... but they did promise to keep me in the loop as far as how it's going. And it's going straight to STARFLEET (via Gizmo who has first hand knowledge of the situation) for a full investigation. And probable removal of office for Captain.

Which would make me the Captain ... OY!!! Not a job I really wanted ... but I have some grand ideas suggested by fellow shipmates that I've tried to suggest for a general vote several times, only to be shot down by Captain. Ideas that benefit ALL the members - like more family friendly activities, fun days, games and/or movie nights, etc. Not just official meetings and one event every four  months.

Gizmo estimates a good 85% of the members want Captain out of office today based on complaints he's received. Heck, we've had THREE great members quit because of him. There's no one that he hasn't pissed off at least twice in the first six months of his term.

It's supposed to be a FUN group. I hate that it's come to this, but hey, if it's causing this much stress on members it's time to look at making changes to make it fun again.

Beam me out of here Scotty ... Don't care where. Just beam me back when this drama is over!!

Really?

I'm surrounded by idiots!!

*****

Case in point ... I drink diet soda. Have for years. Gizmo and Gadget run up to the store last night, I asked them to bring home some pop (soda to most of you, LOL). Gizmo actually calls me from the store, "diet or regular, Mt. Dew or store brand?". Hello!?!? Where have you been for the last decade?

Just for giggles, I asked 7 y/o Grandson "what kind of pop does Gramma drink?" He looks at me sort of funny ... "Gramma, you drink Diet Mt Dew. Did you forget that?" Too funny.

It's sad when a 7 y/o knows and a cop (who should be paying attention to details) doesn't.

*****

Next example ... Alien finally had a child support hearing with the court. Seems the sperm donor feels he shouldn't have to pay if he isn't seeing his own kids Partly his fault, but mostly the restraining order that he has against him. Loser is over $10,000 in arrearage and refuses to pay a cent. He did however, ask to see the boys (finally). Supervised visitation is all he gets, an hour a month. Too much time if you ask me ... he's a flight risk with the boys so at least visitation is supervised. The IDIOT moment comes from the drama Alien created whilst looking for a sitter so she could go to the hearing. It was obvious, leave the hubby at home with the kids and go alone. But no ... she turned it into a three ring circus complete with the troop of clowns falling over each other. Ends up she did go alone, left hubby home with the boys. Damn, I could have saved a week of drama if she'd listened to me in the first place.

*****

*****STAR TREK CONTENT*****

And the icing on the IDIOT cake ...

I told you about the Community Walk that my cousin TMACK is organizing a team for, right? Well, I brought it up to Captain of our chapter as a great opportunity to give back to the community. He decides it's the perfect recruiting event for OUR chapter.

NO!! Absolutely not! There's a time to recruit geeks and nerds to our world and there's a time to support charity ... this is a charity event. One that happens to be very close to my heart.

Keep the uniforms, STARFLEET flags, and Star Trek accessories AT HOME. This is THEIR event ... you want to recruit for STARFLEET go to the mall ... the movie theatre ... a comic book store ... or elsewhere. 

Just frosts my arse that he thinks EVERY event is a fully uniformed, recruiting event. I mean ... come on!! He's almost 60 years old ... if he wants to run around town in his uniform, FINE. Just don't show up to an event that isn't about Star Trek or about him in uniform. And ... believe me Captain, there are non-Trekkie events out there. Really.

And after a previous "confidential" conversation we've had ... how his running for Captain of our ship is just a stepping stone, and when his term is up in 2015 he wants to run for Regional Coordinator (RC) and eventually Commander of STARFLEET (CS). That in the meantime he is going to build our membership from the 30+ members we have now into (an unrealistic goal of) 100+ members ... it seems his only intentions are politically motivated and NOT community-involved. After all, we are a non-profit organization that is heavily involved in helping our local communities (and many of those events are NOT uniformed events out of respect for the charities we volunteer for). Oy.

And no ... he'll never get my vote for RC ... or CS, or anything outside of Jefferies Tube Cleaner!

I mentioned this to Gizmo ... after all he is the Chief of Operations of STARFLEET ... and he only chuckled. "Welcome to my nightmare" he says. Thanks for nothing. Actually he did say he'd pull Captain off to the side and explain to him that we're to stay low-key for certain events, this being one that requires we not stand out in the crowd. That it's not always about us ... the event dictates how we act, what we wear, and WHO we support!

He's ticked off more people in his six months of being Captain than Gizmo ever did in his ten years as our Captain. To the point there's talk behind his back about having him removed not only as our Captain but from STARFLEET entirely.

And if he's going to be a spoiled little brat about it ... I'll just forget asking for the support of my ship and do this on my own.

Catch up ...

Time to play catch up ...

I'm finally feeling better. Six weeks total of acute bronchitis. Been a slow heal.

*****

Dad was in the hospital a few weeks ago. Another episode of congestive heart failure. He spent a week in the hospital. He's home and getting stronger every day.

*****

My BFF Loula Belle was in town the other day with her mother, Mom K. We had a short visit. Great to see Lou again, and her mom.

*****

Looks like I'm getting a vehicle sooner than we all thought. Married Son hired a new driver for the cargo van he just purchased ... and now that new driver is going to sell his private vehicle. Married Son asked him to wait so we could talk about the possibility of buying it for me. He wasn't sure if I would want to drive a full sized pick up truck. Hell yeah!!! I want it!! And we're talking about contracting through another brokerage so that I can do local deliveries (host of reasons for it, including more income for me). Stay tuned for further details, LOL.

*****

Since my cousin's suicide last fall her daughter has been active in suicide prevention. TMack has even gone so far as to help organize a local "Out of the Darkness Community Walk", a fund raising walk for suicide support for later this fall. I told TMack I'll walk in memory of her mother and my brother. Watch for "pledge" information either here or on facebook (or both). All pledge donations go to American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. www.truthdispelsdarkness.org is TMacks website.

*****

The vacant house next door (previously Barky Dog's house) has sold!! Seven months vacant. I haven't met the new people yet, but DIL and Gadget have. Guess they're good ol' rednecks (yay) ... I can deal with rednecks!! A mom (my age) and daughter (DILs age). No pets, and probably no kids (since we've yet to see kids hanging around). They've been here for almost a week and I've yet to hear a sound from them. Quiet people. I like what I'm hearing (or not hearing) so far!!!!

*****

Believe it or not, not a lot else going on this past month. Same ol' stuff with the Wrecking Crew and with Gadget and Gizmo. And of course, Alien is nothing but drama.

Although, we've started a Wednesday at Gramma's with Alien and the boys. I told her I NEED time with her and the boys!! I miss the little turds.

And ... Grandson and I have been doing more fun things together lately. Nothing special ... but just time together every night, even if it's only for a half hour or so. He's enjoying the Gramma time, as so am I. That boy is a hoot ... and a budding space nerd.

Cooties ...

Will someone please take these cooties off my hands? I've been sick since last Tuesday, and I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired!! And while you're at it, could you please move this semi truck off my chest? I can't breath.

Oh, it's not a truck!! It's these cooties. The truck is parked in my driveway, not on my chest.

Yes, a semi-truck parked on my tiny city-lot sized driveway. It takes up most of the driveway ... that's a sidewalk you see at the front of the truck. If a mid-sized car parks over the sidewalk, we can still actually fit a vehicle there. Barely. Guess it's a good thing I am vehicle-less for the time being? I had to stand in the neighbor's yard to get this photo. City-sized lot is no exaggeration!

She sure is purty, isn't she?

So now, meet the addition to the "family" ... our newest truck ...

Married Son's best side ... hahaha

I may be sick, but the sense of humor is still intact. But seriously, this is the newest vehicle in OTE's fleet ... a cargo van. Local deliveries. Married Son is in the process of interviewing drivers for the semi, after which he will take over driving the cargo van allowing him to be home more.

Sure, once he hires a new driver, he'll be home more, but with the purchase of the cargo van, he's now a few steps closer to his goals of moving out, AND divorcing DIL.

I hope so. You know how badly I want ... need ... an empty nest.

***** STAR TREK ALERT *****

After all of my planning for the big bowling event I didn't even attend it, thanks to being sick. Probably a good thing, really as with all the headaches and hassles of planning this event I would have gone crazy on the first person that said anything the wrong way. This event was supposed to cover our entire region, so I planned a location central for all members. Only to find out after it was too late to change the location that the people west of the location would not be attending!! That left the east siders driving an hour or more out of their way! For nothing!! Hey, NOT my fault they didn't come ... even after six months of them saying they'd be there!! So ... the east siders are upset with me. First one who would have said anything I would have appointed as the Bowling Event Coordinator on the spot!! I can do that as the "Number 1" of the ship (chapter). I still may do it ... no ... I will do it!!

***** END STAR TREK *****

Nothing else going on here. Boring is good ... very good. Healthy and boring is better, but hey, one day at a time!

Checking in ... LOL.

I really really really am trying to blog more. Problem is, not a lot goes on 'round here (besides the usual Wrecking Crew drama) to blog about.

I'm not a big book reader any more, nor do I travel, cook, mountain climb, or doer of much else that might be blog-worthy for that matter.

I'm a nerd ... so, ya'll are stuck with Star Trek and the occasional musings of a good mother in law on a bad day blogs.

Aren't you lucky?

*****

The highlight of my week seems to be the crafts I've been working on. I finished a purse the other day. It's made from a plastic canvas purse form I found on sale at the craft and sewing store just a half mile from me. They're moving to a new location and most everything is marked down by at least fifty percent. At least the things I tend to buy, lol. So that's good news on my budget. Bad news is they're moving to a new location about ten miles away. No more quick stops on the way to the grocery store.

I know I still owe pictures of some of the stuff I've made. I'm trying to gather a few more completed crafts before I dig out the digital camera.

*****

I just switched my cell phone plan over to an unlimited service. It's nice to not have to worry about how many minutes I'm using on calls or texts now. So, if you have my cell phone number, feel free to text (or call) to your heart's content.

But it figures that as soon as I switched over, Married Son informs me that within a few months he'll be adding me to the company cell phone service. Another tax deduction as his company grows, lol.

I use Net10, so there's no monthly contract to be stuck with ... but it'll mean switching phone numbers (and phone) again. And his contracted service has so many limitations. I also don't get those dead-zones he does with his cell. Heck, he can't get a strong signal when he's here at the house.

While I appreciate his providing me a phone, I'd rather just keep my service with its all around better service!

*****

Well, that's about it. Boring ... boring ... boring. And I'm loving the break from the drama and stress.

WARNING ... STAR TREK CONTENT!

So, Amy ... I've done a bit more research. LOL. Had to, Gizmo asked me to figure out our budget for the International Convention (IC). I have a correction to make .. it's in Memphis, not Nashville!

With that in mind, we'll have to figure out our route, and if we'll be close at all to Indiana in any way. If not, I'll have to steal the van from Gizmo and do a day trip to Indiana! Soon. Very soon!

Let's start with the official website, where I gathered most of my information ... LOL ... You may want to show this to Bob. Or not ... he may want to go if he's that big of a Trekkie.

http://www.ic2012.com/

So, there'll be a lot going on in Memphis. Meetings, lectures, food, and shopping ... the last two being those I'm looking forward to the most. I know, ME like shopping, who knew? Actually ... this is shopping at Quarks for Trek items ... what girl doesn't want to shop at Quarks?

Of course, I'll have to do some shopping first. There's a formal Marine dinner. Not the long sequined gowns of the USMC Marine Dinner but STARFLEET Marines (SFMC) dress attire (uniforms). This is a definite case of "I don't have a thing to wear". My old TOS uniform shirt ain't gonna cut it.

*****

I did manage to make a few Star Trek themed things lately. Photos to follow. One is a cell phone case that looks like a TOS communicator, the other is a card/cash case with the ST Command insignia. I've already got three orders from shipmates (chapter members, lol) for a cell phone case, a card case ... and can I make a passport case (easy peasy). All made of plastic canvas.

I was having trouble designing a purse that'll look like a TOS tricorder. I think I finally figured it out.

I was showing Gizmo the drawing I have for the purse (bag for the guys, LOL) when he came up with a great idea. Make the instructions up for them and sell them for a buck or two each at the IC. And include patterns for the cell phone case and card/cash and passport cases. Damn good idea!!

Judging the responses I've had so far just from my own shipmates, they will be a huge hit.

Hey, any way to make a buck, right?? I'll need all the money I can get for Quarks anyway.

*****

Oh oh, gotta scoot. Gadget just knocked on my door ... "Chows on, Mom" ... BBQ chicken here I come!!!

April 15 ...

So, now that I'm finally back to being a tax payer after so many years of unemployment, I'm happy to say my taxes have finally been filed. I'll be getting a big fat nothing back from the feds, and a whopping four bucks back from the state.

I know ... don't spend it all in one place!!

*****

Got a call from my friend Chicken yesterday. What's with him? Telling me how I should feel, or worse, what I should be doing. There sure as hell ain't no ring from him on my finger (and even if there was ... ) and I don't remember asking for his opinion.

It started off with some idle chit-chat that turned into him asking if I'd grown out my hair yet. That "short hair on an overweight woman is unbecoming. I don't like it, grow it out." Jackass ... ah well, I'll just make sure that my hair is freshly trimmed just before our next Trekkie event!!

I had mentioned my ever present dream of the empty nest only to be told I'll hate it when it happens. That I'll hate living alone, it's miserable to be alone. Excuse me? First of all, living alone isn't being alone ... and besides, just because he hates living alone doesn't mean I won't enjoy the hell out of it. Grrrrr.

Then he starts bitching that our Star Trek meetings are just too far away for him to attend, and that I, as the XO of the Chapter, need to move the meeting to where it's closer to him. Hell no! Our meeting places were calculated for the central most location to ALL of the members. That he moves frequently AND so far away isn't MY problem.

I won't even get into him asking if Gizmo would have room in the van for him for our trip down to Tennessee for the Trekkie Convention in August. No way in hell that'll happen. Gizmo can't handle him for a two hour meeting, let alone a nine hour drive one way ... and four days in Tennessee!! Oh, and he wanted to bunk with us at the hotel (free of charge, of course). Ummmm, nope!! I haven't warned Gizmo yet of this part of the conversation. I'm sure Chicken will be calling Gizmo to beg for a ride down.

Forty something year old men are not pretty when they throw childish temper tantrums when not getting their way.

Thankfully I shared the "code" with Gadget ... the make-an-excuse-to-get-me-off-the-phone code. As a family we've used it since I was a little kid and I'm happy to keep this one tradition going. She "performed" well and I was off the phone with Chicken before I could say something stupid - like grow up, the world doesn't revolve around you Mister.

The older I get the more intolerant I am of fools.

*****

Ah well, such is the life of a person who doesn't get out of the house much. LOL.

Time to go take a quick shower, gather up the crafts I want to do tonight and go watch the conclusion of ABCs "Titanic" mini-series.

Friday the 13th.

And here I am again, swearing my ears are bleeding. It's Gadget (formerly known  as DIL2, lol) ... she's been here for two days now and hasn't shut up once.

I knew she was coming over on Wednesday so I shut myself in my room to work on some craft projects in the hopes of at least a few hours of quiet. Nope. She knocks on my door not fifteen minutes after she gets here with a box in her hand. "Mom can you help me figure this out?" It's a freaking ovulation prediction kit and she's asking ME? There's things I just don't wanna know about their relationship ... this being one of them. But no ... she doesn't know what topics to avoid or when to shut up.

The motor-mouthing might not be so bad but she's told me some things a dozen or more times. Twice was bad enough, but a dozen times (and that is no exaggeration folks).

Add that she's making herself a little too much "at home" and I'm ready for a padded cell. It's bad enough my sons knock on the door when I'm showering so they can make a quick pit stop ... she's doing it now, too. ONLY .. she doesn't close the bathroom door (letting out my precious warmth from the shower) and she talks the entire freaking time she's piddling.

It's enough to wish the drain monster would come and take me away.

Gawd knows Calgon ain't doing it.

Right now she's in bugging DIL. I'm loving the few minutes of silence.

The real sad thing is, as much as I do like her, I'd like her a whole lot more if she'd just STFU on occasion. Oh, and that ovulation kit ... that's just TMI ...

*****

So, DIL2 will forever be known as Gadget. I've also come up with a new name for Single Son, since he won't be single for too much longer. His new nickname is Gizmo. Perfect ... he's a gizmo geek (on top of being a Star Trek Nerd), and it was a nickname he had back in elementary school thanks to the Gizmo backpack he carried daily. So ... Gadget and Gizmo. Cute, eh?

*****

As I mentioned in my last blog entry, the car is dead ... and gone. I had to go out to the mechanics to clean 'er out on Monday. I did get a little emotional over parting ways, but not so much that I actually cried or anything. Like I've done with other cars I've had to part with.

Married Son was home for Easter. We went over to my mom's to pick up the title of the car to turn it over to Volunteers of America. He tells Mom that he and Gizmo are going to buy me a car for Christmas. Nothing fancy, but a good reliable car. Until then, it's borrow a vehicle until Gizmo decides what sort of car he wants. And he's taking his time figuring it out. Grrrrr.

I told the boys that if they buy me a car for Christmas, then they're exempt from all gift giving occasions for the next five years. Married Son laughed "but Mom, you know how I love to give you gag gifts so don't expect me to follow that request to the letter".

Great! I already have a cane (florescent orange), a jumbo remote, jumbo playing cards, over the hill cane ... what more can he give me? Don't ask ... I don't have a jumbo calculator yet.

*****

I talked to my Mom today. She's saying that Daddy is very unsteady on his feet anymore. That and he needs to stop every few feet to rest. She has to hold onto him for even a trip to the bathroom. Trips out of the house (expect for doctors appointments) just don't happen anymore, she's too afraid he's going to fall on the four short steps that lead from the house into the garage.

And that's always a good possibility. He's fallen getting into bed, getting out of the shower, walking to the kitchen ... and more. She can't lift him, so she has to call 911. They're on a first name basis now.

Mom and Aunt Silly are going next week to check out the nursing home nearby. Mom really doesn't want to consider this, but she knows that he's just way too much for her anymore. I asked if my moving in would help, she said no ... he's way too much for me to handle if he falls.

*****

No news on the Alien front. I only hear from her when the Loser is out of the house. When she kicks him out, or he moves out, is the only time I hear from her. Usually for "can I borrow twenty bucks" or "can you sit for the day" ... otherwise ... he really doesn't want her talking to her family. Isolation ... and she doesn't see that he's isolating her from us. Jerk wonders WHY no one in the family likes him ... got an hour, bud, I'll tell you!!

Not much I can do about it. She's an adult and made her choices.

*****

Well, time to go get ready for my monthly Star Trek meeting tonight. We're meeting at a new location. Logan's Roadhouse. I'm armed with coupons and hungry ...

She's Dead, Jim ...

Sorry, couldn't resist (ya know, resistance really is futile) ...

It's my car, my beloved Sable. Dead. Can't be revived ... well, technically can be revived, but at a cost of just over twice what she's worth. Not something I care to invest in.

I'll miss her.

We have decided to donate her to "Volunteers of America", where they'll work miracles on her, and sell her afterwards. They say the donation of a car, on average, can feed and house a family of three for a few months.

Makes losing her so much easier to bear when I know she'll help someone else.

*****

So ... now what? What will Lisa drive? After lengthy discussions with Single Son we've decided that instead of buying me a new car we'll buy him the new car, I'll use his van. It makes sense. I don't drive that often anymore, where he drives at least thirty-five miles a day, at least six days a week. Get him the new vehicle, something economic on gas. I'll use the van, a gas hog, until such time I find a little car I like and can afford. If he needs the van for anything, then I will use his car.

Now, I know you may be thinking "but that was YOUR car, you need to have your own car, girl" ... I agree. However, as I'm undecided as to what type of car I really want next it makes sense this way until I am fully employed and able to make payments (or save for a used car).

*****

I haven't been able to come up with a cute nickname for Single Son's girlfriend, so I'll just be calling her DIL2. Real imaginative, eh? But it works.

I thought she was going to come home with Single Son tonight (that's usually how it works - here on certain days, at her sisters house where she lives on others) ... so I decided I had better eat early. It's not that I wouldn't cook for them both on occasion, but I am on a tight budget and if I cook one meal for two extra people that's two less meals for me. I might not mind if I had more money, but dammit, I'm not cooking for you if you don't bring some groceries with you to replace what you've removed from MY pantry.

It's not Single Son, it's DIL2 in this case. "Hey Mom, what do you want for dinner?" should be an offer to BRING and cook the meal. Not go through my cupboard to see what we can "scratch up" for dinner. It's happened a few times now, enough for me to bring it up to Single Son.

It may say McDonald on my driver's license ... but I sure don't see the Golden Arches sitting outside my front window!

*****

Speaking of food ... at a garage sale a few weeks ago I bought this:

It's an Xpress Redi, Set, Go grill.  I paid a whole three bucks for it. I love it!!!! I seldom use the stove or oven anymore. It's so easy when cooking for one.

Tonight I made some odd concoction. It tasted great, BUT it was a tad on the hot side. Who am I kidding?? Three hours later my tongue still is numb from the jalapenos! Three alarm cuisine at it's finest. LOL!

I took 2 soft tortilla shell, spread a heaping spoonful of Hellagood "buffalo wing" spread on each, placed both bologna and pepperoni slices, onion AND a bit too generous helping of jalapeno (at least ten slices on each) and rolled 'em up. Then I popped the two roll-ups into the Xpress. Four minutes later,  the best grilled bologna sandwiches ever. Hotter than hell, but ohhhhhh so good!!

I've made everything from pancakes to Chicken Cordon Bleu, pizza, grilled tuna and more on this thing.

About the only time I need the stove or oven is to heat up soups, or when I bake biscuits. Although, I'm sure I could actually cook biscuits in it, too.

What I really really like is that the one tray in the picture, the double tray ... it's big enough for a serving sized meal, but not too big that I make (and eat) too much food!! Portion control at it's easiest.

*****

Not a lot else going on 'round here, other than some crafting I've been doing. I won't post pics just yet, I'll save that for a later date when I have a few of my projects done. All I will say, at this point, it's all Star Trek crafts I've been working on. Hehehe ...

I know, I'm such a geek!

She's baaaaack ...

And I'm not talking about blogging ... I'm talking the MIL from HELL!!

I'm fed up. I'm not gonna sit silently anymore. And I haven't this week!!

Started the other day when Single Son's GF and I were talking. I told her I missed sitting in my living room, chatting with visitors or watching movies with the family. She mentioned it to Single Son. The few things that were his were moved to his room. And ... lo! and behold... miracle of miracles ... HALF the crap that belongs to the Wrecking Crew has disappeared, too.

Of course, the fact I told DIL to move it or lose it (literally) may have something to do with that.

Then on Wednesday I'm informed by Single Son at 5 am that the dryer has died. I figured it was on it's last legs only because *someone* overloads both the washer and dryer ... and NEVER empties the lint trap. Do I really need to name names? So ... I leave DIL a note saying "the dryer died a slow and painful death yesterday. She'll be missed". The bitch has the audacity to wake me up at 7:30 am to ask if it's safe to use it. Hello? What about dead are we not understanding? I told her no. She cusses out Single Son, blaming him for the dryer dying. No ... he's the one who emptied the freaking lint trap each time she left the laundry room! I don't understand how one person can be so rough on everything. I had the old washer and dryer for twenty years before the Wrecking Crew moved in. Since then, we go through a washer and dryer every other year!!!

I'm tired of her blaming everyone else.

On Thursday Single Son's girlfriend and I walked down to a neighbor's garage sale. I knew it would be a good one since the couple had lived there for about fifty years. I was hoping they were selling  their washer and dryer!! Nope. But they still had some good stuff anyway!! I bought enough that Girlfriend had walk back to the house to get her car!! Even then, we couldn't fit it all in her car!! I bought a bread maker for two bucks, a Xpress Redi Set Go (hot plate sort of thing) for three bucks, leather yarn (yes, leather yarn) for a few bucks and some costume jewelry for a quarter. Oh ... and my great find ... a Singer sewing machine. 1963, in perfect condition ... works well. Even has a cabinet and stool (that I will refinish one of these days). Fifteen bucks.

We couldn't get the sewing machine in  the back of the car. I was hoping to wait for Single Son to get home from work so I could use his van, While we waited, Girlfriend helped me clean some of the living room - including about two dozen pairs of shoes belonging to the Wrecking Crew that had been abandoned behind a chair. BUT ... DIL got home first so I asked her if she'd help me go pick it up, but not before "mentioning" that the shoes had to be taken care of ASAP. After a short burst of bad attitude we did go get it. Just in time, too ... some pretty nasty storms looked like they were blowing in. Actually, that was the night of the big tornado over in Dexter. We had barely ten minutes of light rain.

So, got the sewing machine to it's new home. I haven't had a chance to use it other than to test it and play with the tension (that still needs further adjusting). And at least the living room is slowly being reclaimed.

Then on Friday, Singe Son and I went to Home Depot and got some much needed stove burner replacements and new drip pans. The large drip pans are too big, so until I have a car to take them back, I can't use the large burners ... and one of the small burners had so much gunk caked under it from people allowing their pots to over-boil (or not cleaning up spills as soon as they happen) that I've literally been cleaning it for the last two days. Not continuously scrubbing, mind you ... but placing my de-gunking solution and letting it sit for an hour then steel wool scrub until my fingers cramp and start the process all over again. And I refuse to put the burner and pan in until it looks brand new. So ... let her cook with one tiny burner. And she better not make a mess. Or MIL will snap.

*****

Okay, bitching aside. Looks like my car could be repaired soon. Mom's offered to finance repairs. Single Son had been saving for the repairs, but this way we can get it repaired sooner but have to make monthly payments to Mom for a while. Beats having it sit there wasting away.

*****

So ... the empty nest is coming fairly soon. Only it's the wrong person moving out!!! Single Son is leaving the nest to move in with ... are you ready for this ... his fiancee! Yes,  he and Girlfriend are engaged!

Now you understand why the need to find her a nickname!!! Motor Mouth seems to come to mind. She talks nonstop and fast!! And she's a pro at topic hopping. It's hard to keep up with her conversations most days!! But, bleeding ears or not ... I do like her!!

*****

Speaking of Empty Nest ... I was talking to Married Son yesterday. Seems DIL called him complaining about the Wicked MIL. He told her to shut up and clean up ... or move out!! I did ask him when he expects to have enough for an apartment for them to move to and was told "screw her. I'm done. The crap I've found out about her while I'm on the road she can move in with her parents.I am not going to pay for HER housing. But don't worry Mom, the way she's talking she won't be there long anyway. She doesn't like your bitching".

Seems Plan B is working!!