Thanksgiving

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

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


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

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

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

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

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


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

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

Hoping ya'll had a wonderful Thanksgiving.

I like me ...

and I like being the MIL from hell.

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

*****

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

And, I really could care less.

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

*****

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

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

*****

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

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

*****

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

Rocks aren't as dense ...

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

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

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

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

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

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

*****

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

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

*****

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

Gawd, I need a life!!

*****

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


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

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

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

Same ol', same ol'

And I don't see it changing soon enough.

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

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

Too bad his mother treats him like crap.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Beam me outta here!!

Halloween

Halloween went pretty good.

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

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

Grrrrrrr ...

So anyway ...

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

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

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

*****

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

*****

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Yay Alien!!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Puh-leeze!

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

It started with her grandmother dying on October 15th.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

*****

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

*****

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

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

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

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