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!!

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.

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.

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!!

Got that sinking feeling ...

Literally.

My kitchen sink faucet sprung a major leak. One minute it was fine, the next it was showering me while giving me a foot bath.

Not exactly what I had wanted!!

Single Son had fixed the kitchen sink at his gf's sister's house last week. He felt up to the challenge (now remember he'd just been hit by a car last week). After an hour and a half of fighting with the pipes to release the faucet - and a sore back and aching hip later - it finally came off!!

It probably would have been easier had Brother Deere not monkeyed up the original plumbing job when he remodeled my kitchen some ten years ago. A real Rube Goldberg job from what Single Son experienced tonight!

I forgot how many swear words my son knows!! Granted he's 32, not like I'm hearing those words out of oh ... say Grandson's mouth. But still ... he'd have made a sailor blush for the entire time he was laying (mostly) in the cupboard.

And we're not done yet. In the process of removing the stupid faucet he damaged some connector or the other, so I have to run up to Home Depot tomorrow while he's at work to get new connectors (better replace them both, right?).

*****

Single Son ended up feeling a lot of pain the day or two after his accident. He still went to work, but I guess the pain was so bad he ended up going back to his doctors office for a pain shot. With no designated driver either. He said the drive back was scary, being stoned on pain shots and all. I called him an idiot ... the very type of person he loves to bust when he's working his cop job.

His gf was so mad at him that she's insisting she go with him to the next doctor's appointment. He won't say no to her, she's the type that will bitch and bitch about it for months to come (you go, girl).

*****

Speaking of Single Son and the gf. They were turned down for a loan for a mobile home near her sister's place (something about not enough recent credit activity). Now it's on to apartment hunting. Not sure when he'll be moving for sure, but I'm sure he'll tell me as he's headed out the door to his new place. Yeah, he's like that ... "See you later, Mom. Here's my new address".

*****

Yeah!! I finally get a paycheck next week. He owes me three weeks of pay. So as to not have more taxes taken out with the larger checks, he'll be taking three weeks to repay me. Believe me, when you make as little as I do, every extra dollar helps!!

*****

I just realized I haven't blogged anything StarFleet in about two months. Gotta fix that. Maybe next month, since there's not a lot happening that I could even blog about. Oh ... there's one thing ... we're planning on a trip to the Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO) Hall for a Star Trek vs. Star Wars concert. We are required to wear our uniforms (per the DSO). We do get free entry to the concert, free parking ... and invitations to meet George Takei (Sulu on the Original Series!) ... to say we're geeked is an understatement. I love George!! We have such an interest in this event that the four Michigan chapters of StarFleet will all be coming - in uniform. Human, Klingon and I hear a Romulan or two even!! And we'll all greet the concert-goers as they enter the Hall.

Gawd, I'm such a geek!!!

Knock Knock ...

Ya, it's me ... appearing at your doorstep. I know, amazing right?

Been running the same for the most part. With a few exceptions.

Single Son has been staying away for three or four days a week lately. Weekends, really. Yup ... he's got a gf. I really shouldn't be surprised, they've known each other for more than ten years while she was married to one of his closest friends (yes, they're still friends). Now they're dating. I guess the soon to be ex has actually given them his blessing ... or more like a "good luck, you're going to need it". He comes home from her house last week telling me he's going to get my car back on the road soon (only fair since it died under his using it). And that he's looking to buy a house near her. A nice little foreclosure he found, a steal of a deal. She called him the other day (many times a day, but that's a different story) ... I was nearby and noticed that her name as it appears in his cell phone directory has her first name and HIS last name (not her last name). Great ... what a way to find out they've got plans to marry. Shouldn't her divorce go through first? Oy!!

*****

One step closer to the empty nest? We'll see ...

*****

Married Son's plans are still to divorce DIL. He had a minor setback with the company, but it looks like that won't push back his plans for getting the Wrecking Crew out of the house by much.

In the meantime, half of the week is only me and the Wrecking Crew here. And believe it or not, DIL and I haven't choked each other yet. Actually, she's being pretty reasonable - doing her chores without me even having to ask, driving me where I need to go (Single Son, of course has the only vehicle between us when he's gone) and has on occasion even said to me "Mom, come eat, I made more than enough for all of us".

Maybe she's on to Married Son's plans? I doubt it ... besides, she keeps making comments to Married Son about "you can have this kid when we divorce", "when we divorce you better make sure I have a working vehicle", or "don't worry about alimony after we divorce" (considering she can't get it until after 11 years of marriage here in Michigan anyway) ... but it makes me wonder what her motivation for "playing nice" is all about.

*****

So, Married Son's small business setback? Remember I said he had bought two trucks and hired a driver? Well, the company OTE contracts through, ASE was supposed to have done the interviewing, back ground checks and everything else (after all, drivers contract through ASE). Well, their Human Resources department failed miserably. "S" should not have been hired. He LIED on his application. A major lie, too. One that if he had told the truth about he never would have been hired as a driver. But he was. Now we are STUCK with an extra truck (ASE froze that asset for 45 days while this is all being sorted out), which means that OTE is stuck with truck payment, insurance payment and charges for storage. Not to mention all the money we're losing by it being idle. At least ASE will unfreeze it soon, and actually will take over our payments (of course, then it becomes their truck, but at least they're working to keep Son driving and keeping us from going under). In the meantime, it's meant payless paydays for me. I'll get paid for the lost paydays eventually ... but this sucks. All because some arse lied big time on his application ... and ASE didn't catch it in their back ground check!! Son is taking on expedite contracts like a madman trying to make up the difference. Looks like it's working, too ... he's had runs literally every day for the last two weeks (not an idle day yet). The books are finally coming out of the red!

*****

Life goes on ...

*****

But, I've been in a funk lately. A lot of it has to do with OTE and the problems we've had. Doesn't help that my checks are way behind and I've had to borrow money from my mom for the basics, like food and meds, again Grrrrrrr. I've really been napping a lot more lately because of the funk ... hey I guess it beats over eating, right? So ... yesterday I was napping in the afternoon. Single Son woke me up when he got home from work ... I'm about to panic, thinking I had slept for far too long when he explains to me he's home early. Whew ... half asleep still, I notice he's walking a bit funny and asked if he fell off the Fed Ex truck (again). "No, Mom. I was at the clinic, that's why I'm home early. I got hit by a car today." "Oh no, are you okay? How's the truck? Or did the accident happen with the van?" "No Mom, I was delivering a package to a Fed Ex customer and while trying to cross the street a car hit ME."

What pisses me off, the driver of the car never even slowed down to see if he was okay. And of course, he was laying on the ground and unable to get a license plate number to hand over to the police (and it happened within the village he's a cop for). He's fine ... only slight bruising. Nothing broken.

His Guardian Angel works overtime! Either that or his Guardian Angel is somewhat a practical joker, and possibly a tad sadistic. We aren't sure.

*****

About the only time I hear from the Alien is when she needs something. Usually money for gas to get to the Knight in Rusty Armor's parents house. No ... let him figure out how to get money to go socialize with his family. Heaven knows they won't give him a penny.

Or she calls to ask really stupid questions. I'm not upset, at least she's calling. We do end up talking to each other for a bit. Nice to catch up with what's going on in her life from time to time.

And no, they won't be moving in once Single Son and the entire Wrecking Crew move out. I've got plans to turn the spare rooms into rooms for ME ... an office and a craft room. Ahhhh, being able to use my whole house just for me ... there's no way in hell that she'll ruin that!!

And the first person that suspects I may bend has my permission to crack me a good one upside the head!!

Thirteen Days Later ...

And here I am blogging again. Finally, eh?

So, work is going okay. I'd say it was great, but I still haven't found all of the errors I inherited from when Alien kept records. Sure, I found more of them, but not ALL of them. I'm about ready to pull my hair out!!

In brighter news, Married Son bought not one, but two new rigs (he turned his old rig, a lease truck back to the leasing company).

Pretty isn't she? Here she's in the shop in North Carolina (or did he say South Carolina?), getting her DOT numbers and One Time Express lettered on. So exciting!! I can't wait to see her!

And the other truck is a twin of this one. And yes, he had to hire a driver for the second rig.

We're growing in leaps and bounds!! So is my work load! Now I'll have two trucks to keep records for. We're still trying to figure out the best way to organize the added paperwork. I'm thinking simple. Two trucks, two sets of records. Combine only certain fields of data for a third over-all company report. Seems like the best way, but of course Married Son is trying to over think this (a fault I fear he gets from me).

*****

Butterball and JJ had a combined birthday party last Saturday. Fun! Fun!! Butterball turned two, JJ turned one!!

It was a small party, family only. Aunt Silly, Cousin Dear, GM and her hubby, and her Princess (daughter) and the Little Prince were there. My folks, me, Alien, the Knight in Rusty Armor and the boys.

I've attempted to add photos to multiply, but for some reason it's farting on me. I'll have to upload them later. You'll love 'em. I do!!

And I promise I won't wait until the boys next birthday before they're uploaded.

Fifty lashes ...

It's been almost a month since my last blog!! Oy! Unacceptable! I really *must* do better!!

*****

Let's see ... my birthday. Single Son, my folks and I went to Red Lobster for dinner. Yum!! My folks gave me the traditional birthday gift - my Christmas outfit. It was a pretty fuchsia top with a scarf. You'll see it below in the pic of me and my grandsons. And sadly it's the ONLY picture from Christmas (DIL took it and she's not big on taking more than a few pics). I forgot to bring my camera with me on Christmas!! How horrible is that?

Me with JJ, Butterball and Grandson.

*****

Christmas. Hmmm, it was alright. Dinner at Brother Deere's house again. He says this is the last year he's going to do it (but he's been saying that for three years now). He just stresses way too much about a lot of things. His house is always spotless. Always. Yet he spent two weeks prior to the holiday washing curtains and area rugs, shampooing the wall to wall carpeting, washed every wall in the house, and goodness knows what else. Why? Because he's like that. Mom and I agree that with so many little kids invading his spotless home he should not be bothering. That he needs to wait until we've all left. Oh! the messes the little ones made!! Someone gave my two small grandsons crackers to eat - in the carpeted family room no less!! Can we say smooshed cracker crumbs? Sippy cup drips. And the worse ... one of my cousins gave JJ (11 month old grandson) a chocolate candy! White walls, chocolate-covered fingers and an 11 month old. Too much stress for my Brother Deere.

Santa was good to me, as usual. A nice toasty warm blankie for the winter months, a new night shirt, a sweatshirt, a griddle, eating utensils, drinking glasses with the Beatles on them, a couple of checks ... and an aluminum walking cane from Married Son. Now I have something to hit him over the head with the next ol' lady crack he makes to me!!

*****

I had a good chuckle. Single Son is the hardest person to shop for. He buys what he wants or needs but forgets that in doing so, no one has gift ideas for him for the holiday. We were coming back from my birthday dinner and had stopped at the gas station. The station had a stack of remote controlled toy helicopters (police helicopters, no less) and he really took an interest in them. Remember, he's 32 years old!! Sooooo ... I waited for him to go back to the van, and bought him one!! Carried it out to the van and told him "don't peak" but I know he knew what it was. He acted surprised when he opened it on Christmas. He's been having a blast playing with that thing ever since. It's radio controlled, so there's no wires between the helicopter and remote controller ... it's totally free flying. He's getting good at flying that thing around the house. And buzzing ME with it, too. Nothing like sitting at the wireless printer in the living room waiting for my daily reports to come spitting out of the machine and dodging that "flying machine". I really need to move the printer to the safety of my desk!!

*****

Work ... work is going well. Haven't found the entire error, but I am slowly chipping away at making progress.

I've been told by Single Son that my hours will be quadrupling by the end of January. I don't mind as long as my paycheck reflects the change in hours (it will). LOL. I have no idea what the work will include, but as I told him "bring it". I'm ready ... or will be once I find the rest of this blasted error.

I pretty much spent this evening wanting to wrap my hands around Alien's throat. Not that that's an unusual feeling with all the errors I'm finding in her secretarial skills (or lack thereof).

No, tonight it started with a text.
Alien: Mom, I need my w-2 so that I can renew my state benefits (w-2 to my non-US friends is a United States federal tax form issued by employers and stating how much an employee was paid in a year).
Me: w-2s are not mailed out until the end of January.
Alien: But I need it!
Me: I can't help you. They'll have to take your last two pay stubs as proof of income.
Alien: Well, can you at least get me 2011s w-2?
Me: I already told you, they are not mailed out until the end of January. There's nothing I can do!!

She ended up calling me on the phone. Started the whole request thing all over again. Needing her w-2 statement from last year. "Well, can you get me the 2011 w-2 instead". HELLO? Last year WAS 2011.

What is she not understanding about this whole thing? I can't get her a statement that's mailed directly to her ... nor can I get her a paper that's not even printed up yet!! OY!!!!!

And she wonders why she ended up getting fired? How about not being able to comprehend what's being said (besides not knowing how to do the paperwork involved).

Oh and It's taken me three weeks to reorganize the countless stacks of paperwork she had "filed". And I'm not done yet!! 

One folder was even labeled "WTF" ... now, I ask you ... how's THAT for professionalism?

*****

Things on the Wrecking Crew end are normal. DIL barely spends any time here ... only long enough to abandon her undergarments in the bathroom ... fill (but not empty) the garbage ... dirty (but not clean) dishes ... and on and on. The fridge and freezer are filled with food she bought a month ago, but hasn't eaten. I wouldn't care, expect that there's NO room for the food I buy!!

Hearing me venting about her lack of consideration for anyone but herself Single Son opens the freezer and tells me "don't worry about my dinner tonight, Mom, I'm having this" ... as he holds up two frozen dinners that she bought. "If she complains tell her to see me" he says.

I figure a week of him eating her food I'll have room for MY groceries!! Well, our groceries ... Single Son and mine.

*****

That bottle of Michigan wine in my fridge is calling my name.

*****

Star Trek Alert!!

I've been fairly busy with Star Trek stuff, too. Making our meeting schedule for the year, coordinating it with other chapters for some of our activities ... like the Federation Bowl-a-thon ... or the Detroit Symphony Orchestra Star Wars vs. Star Trek event (with George Takei aka Sulu) ... and a few other events that should prove to be quite fun!!

Paperwork!! Lots of Paperwork!!

So much paperwork I can't see the top of my desk right now!!

I still haven't found Alien's errors in the company records. Not that I'm not trying. I am!! It's there ... somewhere ... and I hope it makes itself visible to me before I lose my sanity.

Oh wait, too late!! Sanity isn't something I am familiar with any more.

That's okay ... I'm comfy with being nuts.

Really.

*****STAR TREK*****

How else could you explain the fact I occasionally run around in public in a Star Trek uniform? Or that I associate with people that do the same? And not only in an officially licensed uniform, but with all the gadgets that go with it (tricorders, communicators, phaser weapons).

Crazy bunch ... and I love 'em to death.

On to the Christmas Party and Change of Command (COC) Ceremony.

As soon as I arrived at the party location, LD pulls me aside and says she has a gift for me. It's my very own red shirt! My first! It's a TOS (The Original Series) shirt, so I'm thinking I need to get the TOS phaser, communicator and tricorder to go with it!! Can't be a Trekkie without the proper accessories, ya know?

Single Son's "retirement" speech went well. He really is a comedian. He got a little teary eyed stepping down from his ten years as our chapter's Commander. I did, too. Silly, eh? But when you consider, not only did his love of Star Trek create the group, but ten plus years of hard work and enthusiasm has made the USS Sinclair one of the top clubs in our region. And ... as close as I am to my children, this has been an activity we can all participate in together.

After RD was sworn in as our new Commander his first official act was to promote me to the rank of Commander, then swear me in as his Executive Officer (XO).

After the COC we had dinner (yum!) and then did our gift exchange. We have some different rules for our exchange. We draw numbers to decide who gets go in what order. Once you open the gift you picked, it's fair game for the next person to steal from you. If your gift is stolen, you get to go pick another gift from under the tree. Again, that gift can be stolen, too. Each gift can be stolen up to three times, but you cannot steal a gift back. And if that's not bad enough, once all the gifts are opened, there's a three minute free for all (so that the people that opened a gift before you have a chance to steal the gifts that were opened later). Sucks. Especially if you get a great gift the first time. Like I did ... a scale model of the USS Enterprise. It was stolen by The Canadian, our Commander of STARFLEET ... the big boss. The next gift I opened was a dvd pack for The Matrix movies. Only problem being, we already own them!! And of course, no one stole that from me, I opted out from trying for a better present (I'll regift the movies to Married Son), because I was too chicken to get involved in the mayhem of the free for all.

After that we had a meeting with the previous Command Staff and the new Command Staff. Exchange of ideas, and a briefing as far as what is involved with our new positions ... and yes, the position of XO has a ton and a half of paperwork with it. We may be a fan association, but "headquarters" wants lots of papers, forms and other things submitted once a month. Six hours or so worth of paperwork a month, I've been told. And that doesn't include the time to keep up with the website, the facebook page, or planning different activities.

I'm gonna be busy for the next three years!!

Here's a few Trekkie photos ... enjoy!!

Single Son, RD and The Canadian ... Being pinned with his new rank pips.



Single Son with his award for Ten Years of Service



Me in my new Red Shirt holding my promotion certificate (Promoted to Commander)



Me with the first gift I opened, the scale model of the USS Enterprise.



The Canadian showing off the gift he stole from ME!

Well ... It's Official ...

My days of unemployment officially end on Monday, December 5th at 9 am!! Yay!!

I can't say the least five years of unemployment have been a joy entirely. Yes, spending time with the family, as disFUNctional as we can be, has been a joy for the most part. It's the poverty I won't miss!!

Granted, I'm not being paid a lot, but any money is better than none!! Besides, it's a start until I get on the road as a delivery driver and make the "real bucks".

Speaking of which, I may be on the road sooner than even Married Son anticipated. There's talk of a cargo van that's for sale as we speak. It's owned by Single Son's boss (at FedEx) and is being held as a personal favor until Married Son has a chance to look it over. Since he's home this weekend, he'll be making the time to go check it out. After that, IF he decides to buy it, it'll be a matter of weeks before I'm delivering stuff locally. It'll only need his mechanic to go over it with a fine tooth comb, a new paint job (can't have FedEx painted all over it!) and the little matter of me getting my chauffeur's license.

I'm a little apprehensive about starting a driving job in the winter - in a large vehicle I'm not familiar with!! I've voiced this to Married Son, who assures me that if weather conditions are such, I do not have to take a delivery run. Since I'll be contracted to a local trucking brokerage, it's not like they wouldn't be able to find someone who could deliver whatever. I just have to be careful to not refuse too many deliveries, LOL.

On top of that, I'll still be doing office work (via internet if I'm on a "run"). Alien finds out tomorrow her employment with the company is being terminated. She's made just too many severe data entry mistakes ... thousands of dollars are missing on paper. Honestly, mistakes like these in any other work place would have resulted in termination a long time ago.

I feel bad, in a way, that I am her replacement. But at the same time, if she can't handle the work, and she definitely couldn't, she needs to find another line of work. She is a huge liability to the company. She was way over her head by even agreeing to do the job (a case of what was Married Son thinking when he hired her for data entry?). She gets enough state aid (medical, cash and food assistance) that losing the income will not hurt her (her paychecks went to that idiot of a husband of hers car).

*****

Star Trek ... be warned!!

Still no word on who won the elections! Maybe they're waiting to make the announcement for the December meeting? Grrrrrr ... the suspense is killing me.

What's going to be interesting, IF I win the election, how I'm going to handle work AND Star Trek stuff. There's a huge possibility I could be sent all over states east of the Mississippi and into Canada.

We'll see how this develops.

*****

I can't believe that tomorrow is Butterball's second birthday!! Where does the time go? Alien will have a party for both boys in mid-January.

It'll be nice to really FINALLY afford to buy them a few gifts for their birthdays!!

Weird Day Here ...

Starts with a text from Married Son early this morning, who is stuck in Laredo, TX awaiting a shipment that will hopefully have him back home for his birthday on Wednesday, and Thanksgiving on Thursday. So far, no luck. He's sitting "stranded" in a truck stop in Texas. Such is the life of a trucker.

Anyway, his first request is for me to come up with a slogan for his company, "One Time Express" (O.T.E.). Easy enough request. My slogan? "One Time. Every Time." He loves it!! Since I'm not officially on the payroll yet, I persuaded him into buying me a nice dinner (no chinese buffet this time) in "trade" for my brilliant slogan. The second request is to come up with a logo. DIL was supposed to have designed one THREE months ago, and has yet to come up with even a thought, let alone a rough sketch. So he has asked me to design that, too. All I can think of so far is an analog clock (hands showing 1 o'clock), with "One Time." over it, and "Every Time." under it. For the life of me, I can't come up with where the business name "One Time Express" will play into this!!

Later in the day, after Married Son called Single Son about some business stuff, Single Son comes into my room to tell me Married Son will be calling me shortly, and he's not happy!!

Oh great! What'd I do now?

Only it wasn't me!!

He's furious with Alien. She's been doing data entry - entering his receipts into a spread sheet, and then forwarding it via email to Single Son so he can do the books and file taxes for O.T.E. Except, there's an eight thousand dollar mistake in her records somewhere. And she has no idea where. Son had looked over her spread sheet and can't locate the error either. So it'll take a full "investigation" of her work to find it. And I've been asked to be the one to locate it.

Can we say she's no longer working for O.T.E.?

Single Son is supposed to pick up her computer (O.T.E. property) and all of her files within the next day or two and hand them over to me to find the large error. And take over as secretary for O.T.E.

Which we all saw coming. First her screw up with Butterball dismantling the computer, then a few minor errors and a lot of misfiling receipts into the wrong categories. It's made for more work for Single Son, work he shouldn't have to be doing (and with his many other jobs, damn near impossible to find the time to search for her mistakes).

So I have about a month to find the money that's missing (missing on paper anyway), and correct it. All this while starting Married Son's training for drivers (including basic vehicle mechanics), learning the Dept of Transportation regulations, certifying for my chauffeurs license, kicking DILs ego wherever I can, all my Star Trek "responsibilities" and the daily crap that needs to be done around the house. LOL ... it's gonna be learning to use MY time constructively again.

That, and I'll have to figure out how to be the office secretary while I'm on the road as a delivery driver. Think I can figure that one out? As long as I have a cell phone and internet connection it should be possible. No, not while I'm actually driving down the road ... but when I'm stopped for the night or back home.

So this is my last week of unemployment. Finally. Five loooong years finally behind me! Yay!! And sort of in a field that my degree is in ... business management. Only, according to Married Son it'll be a while before I (or any other employee besides Single Son who already is management) work our way up to management. Nice to know there's no favoritism here, LOL.

I feel bad that Alien got fired, but in all honesty, with her lack of knowledge in even simple book keeping (she's never so much as had a checking account even), and data entry ... I'm somewhat surprised she lasted this long.

*****

My afternoon at the folks condo was productive. Climb a ladder to put some of Mom's prized antique stuff on a display shelf. Climb ladder again to take white lace curtains down so she can wash them. Pull dead flowers out of garden. Ohhed and ahhed over Dad's new computer ... it's a pretty machine. New monitor (he's not adjusting well to a flat screen monitor he says), and a sleek new keyboard. Pretty, pretty!!

I'm not the greatest with heights, so the climb to get the curtains down was a little nerve wracking. Looking out the window I got a little weak kneed, the view of the lake they live on was spectacular, however, that ground being a full two stories under me was what got to me. Especially when I see my jokester of a mother's reflection in the window making like she's going to push me out of said window! Damn near fell backwards off the ladder whist telling her "not funny, Mom"!!

I have to return next week to put curtains back up (yipes!!), get Christmas stuff moved from the basement to their den, and heaven knows what other jobs she'll create for me.

Not that I mind. I don't. As long as she doesn't succeed in pushing me off that blasted ladder anyway!!

When MIL ain't happy ...

ain't nooooooobody happy!!

I used to have a t-shirt that said just that ... with one very pissed off bunny on it. Oh where is it when I need it?

So what exactly started the tirade I'm about to relate to you?

I went to get something out of *my crisper drawer* in the fridge (yes, I keep stuff in there, stuff she knows NOT to touch - mayo, lunch meats, ,whatever) and the damned thing was STUCK shut. On further investigation, someone had spilled a sticky liquid (probably one of many drink boxes) all over the fridge and LEFT IT for someone else to clean up.

After an hour of cleaning, tossing out, and organizing the fridge has been reclaimed. Gone are her two dozen eggs with the sell-by date on the cartons of May 2011 and December 2010! Gone are six bread heels that got shoved to the back - behind her large inventory of drink boxes - and left to mold. Gone are three opened and GREEN packages of bologna left in their crisper drawer. Nasty shit, nasty. I've never seen so much waste in my life as what DIL creates. Sad ... so sad.

I'm sure she'll be furious once she discovers that I cleaned out her crap, too. Oh freaking well. My fridge, she's lucky she gets as much space as she does for six cases of drink boxes (two cases were actually empty and sitting in the fridge still) ... dozens of fruit cups and snack packs of puddings that I have collected and put in her drawer ... it was in my way, dammit. Now it's not!

Then I decided that since I was there, I'd tackle organizing the freezer, too. I don't have a shelf in the freezer, so stuff gets piled up and fast. I adapted a shelf from an old wire rack I had saved for some reason from my old freezer. Organized "hers" and "mine" - of course being the bitch I am, I gave her the smallest area (the ice bucket and trays take up a third of the space) and made a sign saying "Mom's food" and "DILs food" with another sign saying "any food placed in MY section I WILL EAT". I'm tired of her thinking she is going to move our (Single Sons and mine) stuff if it's in her way. It's my house ... my stuff ... your shit is in my way, then watch out. I'm FED UP!

And as long as I'm bitching ... what is it that she moved a large pot from the drying rack (in her way obviously) and put it on the counter - the cupboard for the pots is directly under where the pot sat on the counter. She's been half-assed putting dishes away ... cups in the dish cupboard, dishes on the counter, pans on the stove, strainer in the oven (plastic strainer - luckily I checked the oven BEFORE I turned it on or the house would have stunk to high heaven with the melting plastic) ... I could go on and on.

There's more left to do in the kitchen - like reclaiming my cupboards and counter tops (she can keep the largest pantry ONLY because it stores Grandsons food) ... and just too freaking bad if she's unhappy!

*****

Deciding I had earned a shower as my reward, I set my way to the bathroom. It's a nice chilly day outside, and a hot shower seems in order after my time in the kitchen.

What's this? HER laundry piled up, covering the heat vent? Hello? I grab it all, throw it on her bed ... oh, oops, there's clean clothes there, too! mybad ... I hope she figures out the clean from dirty ... if not, not my problem if she goes around smelling like stinky socks!!

Finally, I'm in the shower. I actually sit down in the tub and just let the shower water take my stress away. Well, for a few minutes anyway. DIL came home as I'm showering, so I didn't hear her come in. I lost most of the water pressure in the shower and could hear the washing machine below the bathroom fill with water. I'm pissed. Not even turning the shower water off, still wet I put on my robe, storm downstairs to the laundry room where I practically scream at her "Did you NOT hear the shower running?" "Yeah" ... "And you can't wait until the shower is off to start your damned laundry? How inconsiderate!!"  as I turn the washing machine off. "What are you doing? You're out of the shower I can do my laundry now" ... "NO YOU CAN'T ... I am not done with my shower" ... and I went back to my shower.

She's since stormed off. Don't know where she is. Don't care. She's probably called Married Son by now, complaining about what a bitch I'm being. He's already told me next time she does call him, he's going to tell her "you probably deserve it". He's fed up, too. And he can't stand his peace on the road being interupted by the selfish, inconsiderate, childish "it's not my job" brat he married.

And when she gets back I'm going to finish this argument with a review of the rules of the house. Starting with not abandoning her laundry for Single Son to finish, leaving utensils in the sink (she'll wash only the dishes, leaves utensils, cups and pots for me), not tossing MY stuff around if it's in her way and many many more bitches I have that have yet to be resolved after weeks and weeks of being the Mother In Law from Hell.

If it kills HER I will have total control of this house by the end of the month.

And I have begun to end every argument with "My house, not yours. My rules, not yours. Don't like it? You know where the door is. Feel free to use it".

I'm Still Here ...

Bet ya'll were thinking I'd fallen off the face of the earth? Or been catapulted into space?

Been busy ... let's see ... Single Son's van is finally back on the road! I should be happy right? Well, I am. Sort of. It's back on the road only because my car died (head gasket) and it was the cheapest of the two to fix. The car will be fixed, as soon as we can come up with the two grand needed to rebuild the engine. So, it's still only one vehicle around here for the two of us. Grrrrrr.

*****

Married Son's been home a couple of times recently, and will be home again in less than a week for the Thanksgiving holiday. He's grateful to be out on the road, seems DIL is getting on his final nerve. Suddenly he's sympathetic to what WE go through here in his absence. He's talking about divorce again, but will wait until spring after he's able to reach certain goals with his company (like hiring drivers) and can be home to operate the business full time so he can fight for custody of Grandson. I'll still work for him doing local deliveries. Added bonus for me: a company vehicle. At least I'll have something to drive back and forth to work (if repairs to my car aren't made by spring), lol.

*****

Same ol' garbage with DIL, too. Laundry, dishes, clutter ... nothing changes. We've had many more altercations since I've stopped bottling things up inside. Why should I be the one to suffer? It's my house dammit. And I'm reminding her of this a few times a day anymore.

To the point I told her if she doesn't like it, she knows where the door is. Use it.

Please!

*****

Let's see ... oh ... Star Trek stuff ... Laurie, you can skip to the next topic if you want ... but it'll be a fun read you miss, lol.

K ... is she gone? LOL.

Our "away mission" to Escanaba was ... oh, interesting to say the least. We had fun, that's for sure, but I don't think I'll soon forget the drive up to Escanaba - or back, or the fact we made the trip there AND back in under 24 hours.

K, so exactly WHERE is Escanaba anyway? Well, let's get out our trusty map ... here ya go ... see it up there in the Upper Peninsula, on the lower end of the pinky finger? I'm located between Detroit and Flint in the Lower Peninsula, about half way. Just about a four hundred mile drive (eight hours for you "clock drivers").

Don't you love our map? Every Michigander has at one point used the palm of their right hand to point to where they live!! Really.

Because of the vehicle situation (the van had only been repaired the week before) we felt it best that our companion, RD, drive. His vehicle uses a lot less gas than the van does, besides, the van hasn't been on such a long trek in years and hadn't yet been proven to be once again worthy of the long drive.

Can we say ... big mistake? Very big mistake. There were reports of snow "up north" and RD being a native Texan (who hates/fears snow) ... well, can you see the recipe for disaster?

On the above map, refer to the place just below the middle finger of the lower hand, I mean peninsula ...

Yup, that would be his HHR stuck in the middle of the median. RD was changing lanes, hit a pile of slush. The rest as they say is history. Luckily both Single Son and I had both dozed off so we didn't have time to tense up and risk possible injury. Son was awakened by RD saying a few choice cuss words as we went into the slide ... I didn't wake up until we were actually IN the ditch, going sideways ... as trees could be seen out of the front windshield. Luckily no one was seriously injured. And it's a miracle the vehicle didn't roll! The vehicle didn't even suffer so much as a scratch. The only "pain" felt was RDs wallet for the hundred dollar tow out of there (although my knee slammed hard into the back of Son's seat, and still hurts days later). And it cost an hour sitting there as drivers on I-75 "rubber necked" to see the fools in the ditch!

I had Trek jokes like you wouldn't believe while we were stuck there ... including "To boldly go where no one has gone before" and once the tow truck showed up "Beam us up Scotty".

Once we were about thirty miles further north, there was no snow, and the sun was out. Relief for the passengers at least!!

We finally arrived in Escanaba at about 2 pm (over an hour later than we should have). Our visit with our Trekkie friends was great. Totally uneventful. They were presented with their Commissioning certificate, making all their hard work finally official. Dinner was good, too, and much welcomed after our eventful drive up.

We didn't stay too long and where back on the road before 7 PM.

I make a lousy passenger, I doze off a lot. But I was already tired as we'd left home at 4:30 that morning anyway. May I say here that the HHR is one of the most uncomfortable vehicles for cat naps!! Of course, having a driver that unintentionally swerves in and out of the lane doesn't help a bit. But dammit, I was exhausted. One such cat nap on the way back home (less than two hours from home at that), I am awakened by a loud THUD. "What the hell was that" I asked RD. "Not a dead body I hope". "Wasn't dead before you hit it anyway. Damn, I'm not closing my eyes any more". And I didn't!! Never did figure out what he ran over. either.

We pulled into RDs driveway at 4 am, and were home by 5 am (after a stop for breakfast). A full 24 hours on the road, with only a few cat naps along the way (and lots of stress).

After we'd picked up the van, the first thing out of Single Son's mouth was "and you have the nerve to say I'm a bad driver?" No, he's just fast. But at least he keeps the vehicle ON the road.

Next time Single Son drives. Or I'm not going!!

*****

Oops, I lied! No more topics!!

Hope ya'll are doing well. I'm still keeping up with your blog entries through email. I really need to work on being a better blog buddy!!

What's that I hear??

Absolutely NOTHING!! It's quiet here. Peacefully quiet. And I'm loving it!!

Why is it so quiet around here, you ask? Because the Wrecking Crew is gone ... for only a week. A teaser really of what things could be like if they were forever gone. But a week is a week. And I'm going to enjoy it!

So, where did they go? To Exie Poo's house to house sit for a week while he and wifey number three are out of state. Bless them for actually trusting DIL and Grandson with their home (and their car, which DIL happened to talk them into using in their absence). I just hope it's in the condition they left it in when they return. We know how lazy DIL is ... but of course, I'm sure Exie Poo is paying her, too - which means she's probably doing dishes, cleaning the stove top and taking out her own garbage (and NO I am not going to pay her for shit she should be doing here because I'm providing a roof over their freaking heads).

*****

So I was talking to Single Son the other day. He was going nuts over the stuff DIL ignores around here, warning me that he's probably going to go ballistic on her very soon. He's past fed up. I told him to go for it ... she won't listen to me ... let's see if his fits help. I mentioned something about how I couldn't wait for them to move, and Single Son says "Married Son says the same thing, Mom". Wait? As in getting their own place ... or filing for divorce. Yup, the second one. Only ... who knows when that'll be. I've heard that talk for the last six years!!

*****

Alien has been working for Married Son's trucking company as his secretary. She wasn't able to do a lot of the work since she had no computer at home to work on. Son fixed that last week by buying a netbook for her to use. It's company property, but she can set it up to use for her personal stuff, too. She received the computer on her birthday. Not a week later, she claims she only turned her back for a minute when Butterball totally destroyed the new netbook. Screen broken, keys popped off (and some still missing). She called Married Son (who is on the road) to tell him (and send a pic of the damaged machine). Needless to say, he's NOT replacing it. He will have Single Son (his chief of operations) repair it. She will be docked the repair costs. And yes, she was too scared to contact Single Son first (the one she should have reported it to in the first place) ... he's got a way of reducing her to tears by just looking at her! One more screw up like that, and she's out of a job, too.

*****

So, I've been doing more research on tiny homes. Problem ... in most counties here in Michigan they have strict building codes, nothing less than 1.000 square feet can be built on a property. Most areas don't permit a "recreational vehicle" to be lived in permanently on property either (tiny houses like that in the last blog are considered RVs). At least in all the areas I'd consider moving to. Grrrrrrr.

It's still a long term dream, but geesh ... it may take me ages to find a place I'd want to move that would allow small or tiny homes! And I get the feeling it may be out of Michigan! I'm not prepared to leave Michigan yet (if ever, I LOVE my home state).

I'll keep planning, and designing my "dream home", my tiny dream home ... hoping that one day it'll happen. Half the fun is in the planning and design, riiiight?

*****
STAR TREK STUFF
(consider yourselves warned)

We're headed back to Escanaba for another "away mission" in November. This will be for the official Commissioning into Star Fleet. I thought that was the reason for our first trip there, only to find out it was to attend a meeting and get to know the Crew of the USS Ludington. We've all grown close in this short time, I can't wait to get back up there for the Commissioning! These guys are fun! Their enthusiasm is contagious. Their Commander, Arie, reminds me of Single Son when he was that age (20).

In other Star Trek news, LOL ... I'm running for the XO (Assistant Commander) of our ship (chapter). I'm up against one other member ... and I'm feeling pretty confident I'll get elected to the position. He's out of state, so he's unable to personally attend our meetings, plus there's a few other issues (he rubs a lot of people the wrong way) ... but I'm trying not to be overly confident ... don't wanna jinx anything, ya know? We vote next month for new officers. Single Son is so busy with the work he does with Star Fleet (he's third in command of StarFleet, International Fan Association) that after ten years he's stepping down as commander of our ship. Only one candidate for that position. But it's been a heated campaign for the position of XO.

*****

Oh, and I forgot to tell ya ... Barky Dog and family have moved out!! Yes!! They're gone. For Sale sign up in their front yard. But not one single serious looker yet. Could that be the six or so trees that are growing but inches from their foundation? I see problems with that in the future. I told them about it, but apparently they're not taking my observation seriously. But as a potential buyer, that'd be the last place I'd make an offer on ... serious root damage to that foundation if those trees aren't taken care of NOW!! And what other hidden issues could be there since they're not even addressing the obvious issues! Ah well, not my problem!! But I have to wonder how good of a real estate agent they have if she isn't seeing those trees as a problem that needs to be addressed BEFORE the house can be sold. I know who I'll never have list my home (if I ever own one, LOL).

Anyway ... it's been three fantastic weeks of not hearing that damned dog bark until 4 am and then again at 7 am!! Even the squirrels seem to be happy about it - judging the fact there's much more squirrely activity going on in the back yard lately. I swear they're even singing now!!

And no, I haven't lost my mind.

Not yet anyway.