Black Friday ...

And I'm not going anywhere near the "Maul" until 2011. No way, no how. No sir! You couldn't PAY me to hit the Maul ... okay, I may make an exception - IF I find a job in a store in a Maul. Otherwise, forget it!
So, Alien gave me a Thanksgiving gift ... she and Loser are done. Really done this time. She even called Single Son the night before Thanksgiving to come over as support because Loser had just got to her house to get some of his stuff and she didn't want to be alone.
Now that she's on her own, I did tell her I would help out where I can with the kids. She HAS to get back into school, and find at least a part time job ... that she doesn't NEED a man in her life (they only complicate things - or at least the types she and I attract do anyway) ... she has to think about herself and two babies first and foremost.
It was nice to have her with us for Thanksgiving instead of with his mom as was the original plan before the big break-up. Butterball is walking! And I mean walking ALL over the place. He loved running all around the house. He was a little shy around everyone for a bit, but he warmed up. He even went up to Brother Deere and had a baby-talk conversation with him (surprising when you consider most kids do not like Brother Deere - why I don't know, but it's always been that way).
I got pics, but I borrowed Single Son's camera yesterday. I couldn't find the spare batteries for my camera, I hate when that happens. But that's what I get for leaving the camera packing until the last minute, right? Now to get Single Son to get them off his camera and onto my computer. And he better not delete the pics I took of him (he's threatening to).
But all in all, it was a good day. No major arguments, no lectures or putting someone on the hot seat.
The turkey was good (a bit dry), as were the sides. Typical Thanksgiving fare - green bean casserole, waldorf salad, stuffing, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, gravy, and dinner rolls. Followed by pumpkin pie and some type of cake (I passed on both).
Alien had brought a table mount high chair for Butterball, but it didn't work with the table my folks have (besides, no space for it, the table for eight was full) so he was on my lap then Alien's lap for a bit until he decided he wanted down!! Butterball was a hoot going around to everyone at the table and begging for a spoonful of food. With his eight teeth he did well with the turkey (cut into small pieces), loved the mashed potatoes, and went totally ape over my mother's waldorf salad.
The eight diners included myself, Alien, my Folks, Single Son, Brother Deere, Aunt Silly and Uncle Pain. Notice the absence of the Wrecking Crew, who opted to dine with his father instead.
Definitely one of the lowest key Thanksgivings we've ever had, but a great feast all the same!
It was made better when you consider that Alien is done with the Loser. I realize she's said that in the past, but a detail I didn't say earlier was that Loser is now dating Alien's former best friend (former as of the day she found out they were seeing each other). He even had the nerve to bring her to Alien's house to gather his stuff! Single Son made her wait outside (in the cold).
Pictures will follow once Single Son gets them to me.
Hope ya'll had an enjoyable Turkey Day, too!

A Little Thanksgiving Humor

A young man named John received a parrot as a gift. The parrot had a bad attitude and an even worse vocabulary. 

Every word out of the bird's' mouth was rude, obnoxious and laced with profanity.  John tried and tried to change the bird's attitude by consistently saying only polite words, playing soft music and anything else he could think of to 'clean up' the bird's vocabulary. 

Finally, John was fed up and he yelled at the parrot. The  parrot yelled back. John shook the parrot and the parrot got angrier and even more rude. John, in desperation, threw up his hand, grabbed the bird and put him in the freezer. For a few minutes the parrot squawked and kicked and screamed.  

Then suddenly there was total quiet.  Not a peep was heard for over a minute. 
  
Fearing that he'd hurt the parrot, John quickly opened the door to the freezer.  The parrot calmly stepped out onto John's outstretched arms and said "I believe I may have offended you with my rude language and actions.  I'm sincerely remorseful for my inappropriate transgressions and I fully intend to do everything I can to correct my rude and unforgivable behavior." 

John was stunned at the change in the bird's attitude.  

As he was about to ask the parrot what had made such a dramatic change in his behavior, the bird spoke-up, very softly, "May I ask what the turkey did?" 

 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Sunday

So I finally made it to my parents house after a few days of either mom or I cancelling for whatever reason. Did a few chores for Mom (yes, I clipped her toenails, yuck) and helped Dad figure out an problem he had been having with his email account.

Mom wanted me to fix a shelf in her display cabinet, but had bought the wrong size shelf clips so that was put off until she can get the right size clips. She decided that we'd sort through some boxes in the storage room in the basement instead.

Mom's also on a big purge kick right now. They have a finished walk-out basement that contains all the spare furniture they really haven't used since they moved into the condo. Mom's been talking to an antiques dealer and he's tickled at the chance to get some of the antiques. Mom figures since she is pretty sure Brother Deere will sell everything after they pass she's going to sell most of it now and enjoy the profits! I can't blame her, I would too!!

The boxes she chose today were the family records boxes. You know those boxes, ancient receipts from the Depression era, birth announcements, newspaper clippings, graduation programs, death certificates ... the entire paper trail from your ancestors starting the day they first arrived at Ellis Island (or in my families case, Philadelphia).

Mom stumbled on a card my deceased brother had written to our grandmother almost a year to the day before she passed away. That got me started with the tears ... the envelope containing the clippings from his first hair cut did both Mom and me in.

After we had a good cry over my brother, Mom gave me some of his things to sell online. Some rock and roll buttons from the 80s, some college hockey felt pennants, some still in the box Hallmark ornaments from the 70s, and an autographed baseball, obviously a Detroit Tigers baseball. It took some research once I got home to determine it's from 1984. It's a machine autographed ball, so not as valuable as a hand signed ball would be, but I did promise her I'd sell it and not keep it for myself. She knows how sentimental I can be, especially when it comes to this particular brother. Good thing I really can't stand baseball, or it'd be a hard promise for me to keep.

The rock and roll buttons I gave to DIL ... she collects buttons and it just so happens she loves a few of the bands on the buttons ... J. Geils Band, Aerosmith, Rolling Stones and ... and ... geesh ... ummm ... oh yeah ... Led Zeppelin and Van Halen. She's already put them on her black vest with her other "antique" rock and roll buttons.

Wish I could say the same about the hockey pennants. I'm a hockey lover from way back, and a few of these pennants actually have a lot of sentimental value to me. I may keep one or two, but the other dozen or so I'll have to keep reminding myself that you'd not find felt hockey pennants in the pages of Better Homes And Gardens - unless it's in a boy's sports themed room, and since I'm not gonna decorate for little boys any more I don't need to keep them. Oy, I just had a thought ... I DO have two (and a half) grandsons who will have their own rooms to decorate. I wonder if they'd appreciate them, or distroy them ...

Getting ready to leave, Mom asked if I could unload the groceries from her van. Sure ... no problem. I wish she'd warned me about the full garbage bag of empty pop cans that were in there! I knocked them over and (no kidding) about fifty cans ended up all over the place. Mom laughed and told me she wasn't going to help me clean up my mess! After I got the groceries unloaded, and the cans cleaned up I was told that I could take the cans back to the store and keep the money from them ... they'd been in her van two weeks and she kept forgetting to take them in for refunding! In Michigan cans and bottles have a ten cent deposit ... I "earned" over $10 by taking them back to the store.

Not bad for a half day's work. Some small things to sell online (more to come as the storage area cleaning progresses), some laughs with Mom and Dad ... and even some tears ...

Sunday ...

So I finally made it to my parents house after a few days of either mom or I cancelling for whatever reason. Did a few chores for Mom (yes, I clipped her toenails, yuck) and helped Dad figure out an problem he had been having with his email account.

Mom wanted me to fix a shelf in her display cabinet, but had bought the wrong size shelf clips so that was put off until she can get the right size clips. She decided that we'd sort through some boxes in the storage room in the basement instead.

Mom's also on a big purge kick right now. They have a finished walk-out basement that contains all the spare furniture they really haven't used since they moved into the condo. Mom's been talking to an antiques dealer and he's tickled at the chance to get some of the antiques. Mom figures since she is pretty sure Brother Deere will sell everything after they pass she's going to sell most of it now and enjoy the profits! I can't blame her, I would too!!

The boxes she chose today were the family records boxes. You know those boxes, ancient receipts from the Depression era, birth announcements, newspaper clippings, graduation programs, death certificates ... the entire paper trail from your ancestors starting the day they first arrived at Ellis Island (or in my families case, Philadelphia).

Mom stumbled on a card my deceased brother had written to our grandmother almost a year to the day before she passed away. That got me started with the tears ... the envelope containing the clippings from his first hair cut did both Mom and me in.

After we had a good cry over my brother, Mom gave me some of his things to sell online. Some rock and roll buttons from the 80s, some college hockey felt pennants, some still in the box Hallmark ornaments from the 70s, and an autographed baseball, obviously a Detroit Tigers baseball. It took some research once I got home to determine it's from 1984. It's a machine autographed ball, so not as valuable as a hand signed ball would be, but I did promise her I'd sell it and not keep it for myself. She knows how sentimental I can be, especially when it comes to this particular brother. Good thing I really can't stand baseball, or it'd be a hard promise for me to keep.

The rock and roll buttons I gave to DIL ... she collects buttons and it just so happens she loves a few of the bands on the buttons ... J. Geils Band, Aerosmith, Rolling Stones and ... and ... geesh ... ummm ... oh yeah ... Led Zeppelin and Van Halen. She's already put them on her black vest with her other "antique" rock and roll buttons.

Wish I could say the same about the hockey pennants. I'm a hockey lover from way back, and a few of these pennants actually have a lot of sentimental value to me. I may keep one or two, but the other dozen or so I'll have to keep reminding myself that you'd not find felt hockey pennants in the pages of Better Homes And Gardens - unless it's in a boy's sports themed room, and since I'm not gonna decorate for little boys any more I don't need to keep them. Oy, I just had a thought ... I DO have two (and a half) grandsons who will have their own rooms to decorate. I wonder if they'd appreciate them, or destroy them ...

Getting ready to leave, Mom asked if I could unload the groceries from her van. Sure ... no problem. I wish she'd warned me about the full garbage bag of empty pop cans that were in there! I knocked them over and (no kidding) about fifty cans ended up all over the place. Mom laughed and told me she wasn't going to help me clean up my mess! After I got the groceries unloaded, and the cans cleaned up I was told that I could take the cans back to the store and keep the money from them ... they'd been in her van two weeks and she kept forgetting to take them in for refunding! In Michigan cans and bottles have a ten cent deposit ... I "earned" over $10 by taking them back to the store.

Not bad for a half day's work. Some small things to sell online (more to come as the storage area cleaning progresses), some laughs with Mom and Dad ... and even some tears ...

Thursday's Thoughts

Been a few days since my last blog entry. No reason, really, other than sheer laziness. What's sad is I've spent lots and lots of time on the computer, playing around - oh, and putting out a lot of online applications. So I guess it's not been total bone-idleness on my part.

I'm pleased to report that Grandson's mornings have been a little less stressful (on me). DIL finally figured out the boy needs more sleep ... and has been putting him to bed at 7 PM. Nice relaxing evenings, and melt-down free mornings for the most part. Nice.

And her discipline chart ... oh ... where do I start on her new discipline chart? She started it because of all of Grandson's fits lately. I hear it got so bad that Grandson actually kicked and tried to bite her father on a recent shopping trip (all because Papa said no he couldn't have something).

So ... her list? It's on a write-on wipe-off board ... Grandson's After School Punishment Chores she calls it. The punishment chores?

1. Homework
2. Laundry
3. Sweep Kitchen
4. Make Bed
5. Pick Up Toys

Um, is it me or are these totally inappropriate punishments? If this is how her parents raised her (chores as punishment) no wonder she doesn't clean! And homework as punishment ... now there's a way to instill a positive image of education if ever I saw one (insert sarcasm here)!

And I say nothing!

Instead I pray that their days here are numbered ... and from a conversation we had last night, there may be a date to move out. Of course, DIL wants Grandson to finish his school year at the school he's at now (which means they stay here).

And it looks like a moving date may be in their future. I won't need to evict them after all. Of course, that won't be until the school year ends in June. I think I can wait for June ... notice I say think ... I can't see moving Grandson to a whole new school district in the middle of the semester would benefit him a bit. Better to let him start a new school at the beginning of a new school year.

I just have to survive until then.

*****

Yesterday my mother called. That's not news in itself, really. What I thought was funny was that Mom asked me if I wanted to make twenty bucks, Hey, being unemployed I'll take it, no matter the chore - so I told Mom yes before I knew what the chore was. Come over and clip her talons, I mean toe nails. Damn! Now I'm committed because I said YES prematurely. I keep telling myself "money is money" ... and right now I need some cash. Damn, I think I'd rather scrub toilets or chase down cobwebs from the attic. But nooooooooo ...

*****

So now we have Thanksgiving covered, too. Mom and Aunt Silly decided that they'd go halfsies on a pre-cooked dinner for four from the local grocer. $49 gets you all the fixings, and they've decided two of these dinners should do it since The Wrecking Crew will not be there, and it's uncertain if Alien, Loser and Butterball will be there either.

I'm wondering how Brother Deere will take to this idea of pre-cooked grocery store food, as he's a retired chef and very picky when it comes to what foods pass his lips.

*****

Not a whole lot else going on here ...

How's your day been going?

Thursday's Thoughts ...

Been a few days since my last blog entry. No reason, really, other than sheer laziness. What's sad is I've spent lots and lots of time on the computer, playing around - oh, and putting out a lot of online applications. So I guess it's not been total bone-idleness on my part.

I'm pleased to report that Grandson's mornings have been a little less stressful (on me). DIL finally figured out the boy needs more sleep ... and has been putting him to bed at 7 PM. Nice relaxing evenings, and melt-down free mornings for the most part. Nice.

And her discipline chart ... oh ... where do I start on her new discipline chart? She started it because of all of Grandson's fits lately. I hear it got so bad that Grandson actually kicked and tried to bite her father on a recent shopping trip (all because Papa said no he couldn't have something).

So ... her list? It's on a write-on wipe-off board ... Grandson's After School Punishment Chores she calls it. The punishment chores?
1. Homework
2. Laundry
3. Sweep Kitchen
4. Make Bed
5. Pick Up Toys

Um, is it me or are these totally inappropriate punishments? If this is how her parents raised her (chores as punishment) no wonder she doesn't clean! And homework as punishment ... now there's a way to instill a positive image of education if ever I saw one (insert sarcasm here)!

And I say nothing!

Instead I pray that their days here are numbered ... and from a conversation we had last night, there may be a date to move out. Of course, DIL wants Grandson to finish his school year at the school he's at now (which means they stay here).

And it looks like a moving date may be in their future. I won't need to evict them after all. Of course, that won't be until the school year ends in June. I think I can wait for June ... notice I say think ... I can't see moving Grandson to a whole new school district in the middle of the semester would benefit him a bit. Better to let him start a new school at the beginning of a new school year.

I just have to survive until then.

*****

Yesterday my mother called. That's not news in itself, really. What I thought was funny was that Mom asked me if I wanted to make twenty bucks, Hey, being unemployed I'll take it, no matter the chore - so I told Mom yes before I knew what the chore was. Come over and clip her talons, I mean toe nails. Damn! Now I'm committed because I said YES prematurely. I keep telling myself "money is money" ... and right now I need some cash. Damn, I think I'd rather scrub toilets or chase down cobwebs from the attic. But nooooooooo ...

*****

So now we have Thanksgiving covered, too. Mom and Aunt Silly decided that they'd go halfsies on a pre-cooked dinner for four from the local grocer. $49 gets you all the fixings, and they've decided two of these dinners should do it since The Wrecking Crew will not be there, and it's uncertain if Alien, Loser and Butterball will be there either. 

I'm wondering how Brother Deere will take to this idea of pre-cooked grocery store food, as he's a retired chef and very picky when it comes to what foods pass his lips.

*****

Not a whole lot else going on here ...

How's your day been going?

To the Best DIL in the whole wide world ...

Dear DIL,
Thank you so much for thinking of me ... you're just too generous!

The dirty dishes in the sink were just what I wanted!! And I can't thank you enough for the stuff you left for me on the bathroom counter. I just love handling your hot hair straightener. How did you know?

And how did you know that I'd just love the laundry you left in the dryer - just for me to do.

I so love how you think of me all of the time.

Thank you so much for considering my feelings, and leaving these things behind.

How thoughtful of you ...

Now, Dear DIL if you'll excuse me ...

The men in the white coats are asking if I want to take a ride in their pretty padded van. They even brought me my own pretty white jacket to wear, you should see it, it's got lots of shiny buckles!