Things that go bump in the night ...

... tend to make me jump out of my skin. And this is the reason I'm up at 6:30 in the morning. I can't go back to sleep until my blood pressure and pulse are at a more reasonable level.

Don't know what went bump, but it got me leaving my room to investigate in a hurry ... along with Married Son and Single Son.

Never know if it could be a branch, a tree, a raccoon or a burglar 'round these parts. Which would explain why Single Son came dashing up the stairs armed and prepared.

Gawd, I love living with a cop.

We didn't figure out what it was. Might never discover the source either.

For someone who has relatively few fears in life ... I've developed a rather irrational fear of tall trees. Especially close to my house. Go figure.

*****

Other news ... since I seem to be wide awake and online anyway I may as well keep blogging.

My mom still insists the party for Alien's birthday will not happen. She did call to ask for Alien's address. She's sending her a card with a birthday check in it. She did say, though, that the word *happy* is anything but how she feels, can't celebrate when she's not feeling it.

I'm pretty much staying out of it. We know how teens are ... can't tell them jacksquat ... and doing so only makes the situation worse. And we don't want that.

I did talk to Alien yesterday, too. She did not drop Butterball off so she could go to night classes. I guess she's having to drop the classes for now ... the story goes that the court and Children's Protective Services are mandating a few parenting classes for her and Loser if she's to keep the kids. Anger management, parenting, and another course (I think she said household management - or something along those lines) ... and they're held the same nights as her present night courses are. I'm glad she's doing what she can to keep Butterball and the baby due in January. There may be hope for her yet.

Except for the fact that it looks like Loser is still around. So much for her calling me the other day asking for the police non emergency number ... I guess she's just not as fed up with that situation as she needs to be to finally sever all ties with him.

*****

Grandson's first school pictures are in!! Yes, kindergarten pictures ... isn't he adorable?

Not only does he look like his daddy, but he gets that same dopey smile for the school photographers. Oy!

Monday Musings ...

Did I say no drama lately? Why do I do this to myself ... you know ... say it's quiet and dull and then all hell breaks loose. Yup. I did it to myself again ... jinxed myself.

So last week the story was that my Mom was all for the Loser ... after all, he hasn't abandoned Alien or the baby. That I need to ease up on him and give him a little credit ... that maybe he'll get a job. After all, I of all people should know how hard it is to find a job 'round here. That he may not financially support his little family but he sure helps her with the house and the baby.

Then there's today ... Mom called Alien about Alien's birthday party coming up next Sunday. Alien tells Mom she's pregnant. Shit hit the fan. Mom spent a good fifteen minutes chewing Alien out. Big time. He's a loser. She's irresponsible. She'll never be anything with that Loser in her life, and two babies to care for. Who's going to support this baby when they can't afford one child, let alone two. Doesn't she worry he'll beat the baby (babies) the way she has been beaten?

Then Mom calls me. Needless to say the party has been cancelled. Mom said she just can't host anything right now, especially where Alien is concerned.

They live on a lake, and I'm sure she'd be pushing bodies into the water. Mine included. Yes, she's furious with me, too, because Alien is pregnant. Ummmmm ... I'm not too thrilled either, but I sure wasn't responsible for her pregnancy. Geesh.

So ... we'll see how the next few months go. Should prove to be interesting, especially with the holidays coming up. My gift list may shrink down to practically nothing at this rate. Well, besides my kids and grandkids anyway.

*****

On a funny note ... DIL ... always a source of entertainment around the house (and in my blog) posted today on facebook that today was a day of laundry and ironing.

Ironing? She knows how to iron??

Wait!! There's NO iron here ... hasn't been an iron in this house for three or four years. Not since the Gremlin *accidentally* melted some type of plastic to the iron, rendering it useless.

But then, we've long known her talents for *spinning a good yarn* or two ...

Where has the week gone?

I dunno, but I know it's almost a week since my last blog. No reason for not blogging, other than a three day wicked headache. Aspirin helps, but I hate popping pills for any reason.

Let's see ... this week didn't bring a whole lot of excitement. This is a good thing, right?

Wednesday I watched Butterball for only a few hours. He's really close to walking ... scary, scary!! Grandson was really a monster that day ... taking great pleasure in knocking Butterball down, or throwing the big bouncy ball at him. DIL was upstairs sleeping, so I disciplined Grandson. Sent him to their room until he could act properly. DIL got pissed that I sent him to their room, but oh well ... I had to protect Butterball from injury.

Thursday I got a call from Alien. She wanted the non-emergency phone number for the police department. Seems she's fed up with Loser and he won't leave, so she was going to have the police remove him. I don't know if she followed through and made the phone call, I haven't talked to her since.

Friday my best friend called me. She and her mother were in town and wanted to meet up with me and my folks. Last minute her mom decided to stay with her brother for the weekend. Drats, I love her mom, hopefully next trip down I'll get to see her. Or ... I'll have to figure a way to make the trip up to see them.

So, Saturday I got to meet up with Loula Belle (as my dad used to call her back in the old days) and another friend, Merd, whom I haven't seen in decades. Nice visit, but too short (two hours). My folks enjoyed seeing Lou, too ... oh, and Merd took pictures of Lou and me together. I'm waiting on the email from Merd ... then I can finally show off my new haircut, LOL.

After they left my folks condo Mom and I talked about the house. Yes, the house. We're going to start where we left off remodeling next spring. That gives me the winter to get it organized and clutter free. Us, really ... if I have to sort through anyone else's crap, I'm just going to toss it. So ... you snooze you lose so to speak.

Mom's talking again about selling. Not immediately, but within the next two to five years. Origionally she was going to give the house to me (per her accountants advice) but she realizes I am not a homeowner. She's right, I'm a renter ... I've owned my own home before and hated it. Lawns, snow removal, replacing appliances, even maintenance. I prefer someone else to have to do those things that I can't do!! Nope, the great American Dream of home ownership has never been one of my dreams. Some of us just aren't cut out to be homeowners, and I am one. Doesn't bother me a bit, either.

Besides, this neighborhood has been deteriorating for the last few years. The death of the local mall seems to have really taken it's toll on the neighborhood. It's still not too bad, yet. There are still some good people here ... but our property values are dropping faster (because of the dead mall and vacant businesses all up and down the corridor) than they are in other areas.

Mom asked where I'd move to when the time comes. I told her I wasn't sure, but there were a few apartment complexes locally that I'd be looking into. She shakes her head *no* a little to enthuasiastially ... and adds, "that's too close, how about something in Port Huron ... or ... Florida?" My mother loves to joke around, but this time I really think she was serious! Which is fine. There's a complex just south of Port Huron that I'd love to live in! Right on the river ... beautiful and affordable, too!

But that's down the road ... two years to five years away.

That gives the Wrecking Crew more than enough time to find a new place to live. Speaking of, now that Married Son is working for FedEx, with his territory being about thirty miles north of here, they've been whispering about moving to that area. After they pay off their debt to me, or so Married Son says.

Next Friday is Alien's 19th Birthday. We'll have her party at my folks condo on Sunday, when everyone can be there. She hasn't yet told my parents she's pregnant again ... so I imagine the party will be quite a memorable one.

Hopefully I'll blog before then. This really trying to get back into the swing of blogging is harder than I thought it'd be ...

Monday ...

Okay, technically it's Tuesday since it's after midnight ... but to me it's not tomorrow until I've been to bed for the night and wake up the next morning.

So ... Em ... there was NO meeting. None. I went downstairs to cook Single Son's and my dinner and talked to the Wrecking Crew while dinner was in the oven ... not a word was mentioned.

Ah, typical really ... say you're gonna do something and not follow through. But it's a first to do it with a family meeting. Oy.

It worked out good for me, though. The stress was reduced almost immediately. You know how I hate confrontation (even though I seem to be sooooo good at confronting others).

Every time I get stressed, I break out in a single shingle, maybe two. No, not roofing shingles ... chicken pox related shingles. Five years now ... five freaking years of minor outbreaks. It's to the point I want a major outbreak so hopefully it'll end once and for all!

Oh oh oh ... DIL and I talked while dinner was in the oven ... I think I found the reason for her cleaning binge lately. She's claiming there's fleas in the house. Hmmmm, my two sons, Butterball (who crawls all over the living areas) and I haven't so much as even had one mark on us, let alone hosted a flea luncheon ... and one son and I are definitely considered four stars on the flea cuisine. So, she's delusional about it (seems to happen every season) ... but we've proved to her in the past that it's from her parents house, and their three outside/inside dogs who are rarely bathed and don't wear flea prevention products ... why else would she and Grandson be the only victims ... as usual she won't listen ... she's right and the rest of us are just immune  ... she wants to flea bomb the house ... so I told her she could and I gave her the long list of what has to be done before and after a bomb that isn't necessary to begin with ... AND since I'm highly allergic to flea bombs I will need to be put up in a hotel for a few days (the Holiday Inn Express down the road will be fine) ... since this is her idea, she has to pay for my lodging and food ... and then scour the entire house before I can come back in.

Doesn't look like she'll be bombing the house after all. Doofus. She needs to be flea bombing her folks house.

*****

The job ... well, I went today to fill out the application and have a manager look it over. Only I'd been misinformed, applications are now done online. Story of my life ... online apps! I hate 'em ... you lose that human factor when applying online. And I seem to sell myself better when it's a person to person session, even if it's only handing an app to a manager.

But I did get to talk with an assistant manager briefly. That went well. I did have a copy of my resume with me ... yes, for a minimum wage job I bring a copy of my resume ... my experience impressed him to the point he took down my name, phone number and email address and scribbled a few notes on his note pad (but handed back my resume) and said he'd watch for my app in his inbox.

So it wasn't all bad.

Then I went next door to the resale shop ... they're looking for workers, too. I asked for an app, and got one!! Wow, the first paper app I've seen in ages! Yay!! I was told to bring it back tomorrow when a hiring manager is in.

I didn't stay around, but boy did I want to check out this place. Cleanest resale shop I've ever seen (and I've seen a lot of resale shops, LOL) ... but I'm sure working in a place like that would lighten my paycheck some. And jewelry ... I did quickly browse one of about ten jewelry cases, and boy the vintage jewelry they have. I love vintage jewelry!!

*****

Doih ... before the whole job thing today, I went and got my hair cut. And I do mean cut!! It's the shortest it's ever been, and I love it!! She kept some of the length in front ... bangs ... but it's not hanging in my eyes. I'm sooooo lovin' it!!

I seriously doubt I'll ever let my hair grow out ever again.

*****

I had to laugh at Cousin ... it's all over facebook yesterday and today that her daughter is expecting baby number two ... due next June. I'm happy for them, but she seems to love to tease me and remind me of the fact that I was the first to be a momma, then grandma, then grandma of two ... all while being six years younger than she is. What she doesn't know, no one in the family yet knows, is that I'm expecting grandchild number three in January. Let's see how they all react to that!

I called my mother to give her the news, all she said was "I thought so, so much secrecy this week ... " and now she's mad at her only sister, Aunt Silly, for not sharing that information.

Oy, you know how mad she's going to be with me when she finds out that Alien is six months pregnant and I haven't told her yet?

Hey, it's not my place ... I only spread the news once it's been put on facebook.

*****

Nothing else going on. Finished filling out that app for the resale shop. Early to bed so I can get up early (ya right, like I can sleep when I have to be up early the next morning), then off to turn in the application and hit a few more small shops in the area. I'm trying to stay local in the event I have to walk to or from work if my car's not availalbe to me. I don't mind, I could use the exercise anyway!

Sunday ...

So, no family meeting yet. I'm beginning to wonder if it'll happen - or if he's waiting for Single Son to wake up (he works third shift so he sleeps days) ... hard to tell with Married Son what's going on.

NEWSFLASH ... DIL has been cleaning all weekend long!! Yes, cleaning!! The bathroom shines, shampooed the entry carpet, even cleaned their kitchen cupboard and cleared the kitchen table of their clutter. What gives? She says it's because she's bored and has found that cleaning is a good way to break the boredom.

Who is this person and what did she do with my DIL?

Maybe I shouldn't question who this new person is. Just enjoy the fact she's taking responsibility for what DIL always ignored or made excuses for.

*****

In other news ...

My mom went to a new doctor. She likes this guy. Seems the original diagnosis of lupus may be wrong! Which would explain why she wasn't responding to treatments. This new doctor thinks it's gout. Mom's had problems with gout for years now, but she didn't think gout effected more than her feet ... what an eye opener for her, eh? It's in her hands, shoulders, and wrists. A shot of some med into her hands has help considerably!! Yay!! She sounds so much better now ... 'bout time!! I hated to see her suffering so.

She's a bit ticked off at Brother Deere, as am I. It's been how long since he did the repairs to my house? A month?? Well, he JUST told Mom the other day that the tool shop he went to when he was working on the house was hiring. Damn him! He asked a manager if they were hiring, and even asked her what experience was needed. Yes, they're always hiring. No, there's no experience needed.

He knows I'm unemployed, he knows I'm looking for a job ... and here he didn't say a word to me about they're hiring? He waits a month to even tell Mom? Jerk!

So, tomorrow .... early ... I head up to get my hair cut ... then go straight to the tool shop to apply for a job.

*****

Em, if this family meeting happens, I will blog about it ... I know you're waiting to hear what happened!!!

So much for a Friday Five ...

I tried, I really did! But the internet went down and there was no one here who knew how to reset it until Single Son got home from work at 5 AM.

I used to know how to reset it. But Single Son changed it. He had to by-pass a thingie-majig to make the thingie-mabob work. I don't pretend to understand the whole process, all I know is that the internet works. Sometimes. It still loves to go down. Of course, it's usually when I really want to use the internet.

Speaking of Single Son ... the practical joker ... comes into my bedroom (yes, I'm hiding out more in my sanctuary lately) and tells me he has to reset the whole network, so I best save what I'm working on. But the system will be back up and running shortly. After resetting it, he comes back into my room just to talk .... asks what time it is. I look ... he's programmed the clocks to say "fuckin late" or "fuckin early" instead of AM or PM ...

And of course he says he doesn't know how to put it back to normal.

*****

I had to laugh at DIL. According to her fb status today she's been slaving away cleaning the kitchen all day long. Okay, I admit she did their dishes, and did mop the floor, but slaving away? Oh please!!

Let's file that in the DIL BS file, along with her fb comments she's been working hard at cleaning the bedroom she's turned into a storage area ... she hasn't touched it in weeks!

Just too funny!

*****

I think I figured out the topic of this family meeting tomorrow. Again, according to DILs fb she's tired of being broke and whines there's no money for the things she wants to do. So, we can pretty much assume that's the topic that'll be discussed. But I'm preparing myself mentally for an array of topics, just to be prepared for any arguments I may need to present. Better to get control of the conversation if you're prepared!

Man, I can't wait until I'm gainfully employed again and can finally tell them "adios". Oh, I'll give them ample (legal) notice that they need to find another place to crash (trash?) ... and that's only because I'm not going to throw a five year old out into the streets (no matter how bad he gets on my nerves).

I'm about ready to just say forget the thousand bucks he owes me ... count my losses and move on!

Early Friday Morning ...

So much for going to bed early. I tried, I really did.

Got up after a few hours sleep to go to the bathroom - an all nighter to me is not waking up in the middle of the night for a potty stop - and I saw that the cell phone was blinking ... so I checked.

It's a borrowed phone until I can get my service back on ... so I'm not entirely familiar with the phone. Ha, who am I kidding? I'm so lost with this phone it's not funny. I figured out a while ago how to access texts but it's still a chore, not as easy as my smart phone for texting. And don't get me started on that text autofill technology. Oy!!

Anyway ... it's a text from Married Son "family meeting Sunday".

Here we go ... he's thinking he's head of household again? Or ... did DIL bitch about something and he feels he needs to set the record straight? Who knows?

I'm trying not to get worked up since the reason for this meeting is unknown to me as of now, but I can tell you ... history repeats itself around here a little too often, and the last two family meetings he called ended rather ugly. Delusions of being "in charge", or now he's the BIG bread winner in the house he feels entitled? I don't think so!!

I tried to go back to sleep. We see how well that worked. Every time I close my eyes, past family meetings run through my head.

Gonna be an interesting weekend.

*****

Guess I'm gonna try to get back to sleep. Lots of running around early tomorrow (today? whatever, LOL), and since Single Son has to work in the evening, that means I'm without a car. So, it's I snooze I lose with the car. Yes, we're still sharing my vehicle. It sucks, but hey, we do what we can to cut costs around here for now. LOL.

I'll be back ... I want to get back in the habit of Friday Fives.