Wow ... I can't believe I'm about to say this ...

Thank the goddesses for the Wrecking Crew.

No, I didn't have too much green beer, really. I didn't have ANY green beer as a matter of fact.

I have an Alien ...

I don't know which is worse - Aliens or Wrecking Crews. Oh wait, I *do* know which is worse.

And I'm pretty sure you know, too.

*****

Because The Alien's power is still out, I offered to let them use my stove for dinner and the use of the bathtub to bathe the babies. That's the extent of what I'll offer as help. Period.

She knows that she's forever screwed her chances of moving back in here. I've told her that myself more than a few times.

Last night while they're here using my stove to cook their dinner - all the while being bitched at for wasting the day when they could have been resolving their electricity issues with her idiot father - the BF has the audacity to ask if they can spend the night here!

Absolutely freaking not!

They cooked dinner, hung around (didn't do their dishes either) and talked to me or Single Son until I had to kick them out because they were way too loud while Grandson was trying to fall asleep. Little boys need their sleep so they can learn important things in Kindergarten.

No sooner had they left and DIL says "Mom, we need to talk". Oh great ... I know that tone. She's pissed off.

I figured it was because they left after Grandson's bedtime. Boy was I wrong!!

"You know Alien asked me on the phone this morning when we're moving out so she, the BF and the babies can move in. I told her there's no way you'd allow that ... and she said 'well, she won't have a choice. She'll have to deal with it'. "

Deal with what?

It's sure not them moving in here, cause even if I had the room, that just ain't gonna happen. No sirree. Although having the excuse that there's no room with the Wrecking Crew here actually works to my advantage right now.

How sad is that?

It gives Alien time to get settled somewhere, anywhere ... and frees me the stress of having to fight over the whole matter. Now for her to get off her arse and start doing something besides making excuses for why she's not contacted her case worker or anyone else that can help for that matter.

*****

I used to resent the fact that I'd soon be old enough for Senior Housing ... now I'm actually thinking four years is too long of a wait until I'm OLD enough to qualify.

It's Been A While ...

And I apologize. It took Amy with a private fb message to get me here ... and even then that took a few days to get me to check in.

I've been going through my seasonal slouch. I hate spring ... well, I love the warmer weather we're having lately (or at least the lack of snow, LOL), and that everything will soon be blooming and growing ... it's the emotions that get to me. From Valentine's Day to sometime around Easter, no matter how hard I fight it, those ol' emotions just take a dive.

I guess it doesn't matter that my brother's been gone for almost 18 years now. I have to learn to live with the fact that his death has forever "ruined" certain times of the year for me. I'll survive. I always do ... I just need to quit being so hard on myself when the emotions come.

*****

So ... what's been going on? I've been keeping up with ya'll ... gotta love those email updates.

It had been rather slow here until just a week ago.

It started with my friend Chicken having a mild stroke ... he's *only* 42. Scarier when you consider he's a health food and exercise nut. He's doing good ... and he's got a great medical team that is teaching him stress management (something I'd been after him for a long time to utilize).

He's bugging me even more now to move in with him - to take care of him. Hell no!! I can think of a thousand reasons to NOT move in, not a single reason why I'd say yes to his pestering.

Men, can't live with 'em, can't shoot 'em ... love him as I do as a friend that "live with 'em" ain't gonna happen.

*****

Speaking of men that deserve to be shot ... Bubba. Yup, that moron. Alien is without power at the house Bubba owns because he hasn't paid the bill. Thank heavens it's been warmer weather lately ... those babies don't need to be in a house without electricity.

It happened today that the power has been disconnected. Alien called to ask if she could use my stove to cook dinner. They'll be over shortly to eat, and to get their baths. They are NOT staying. I just don't have the room!! Besides, I'm getting out of the *homeless shelter* business once and for all. She made sure that she'll never get a bed here two years ago. She'll just have to bundle up the kids, or go to her Papa's house. Let him know what a loser his kid is that he forced his own daughter to have the power cut.

It's complicated - Papa owns the house ... Bubba is supposed to be paying the bills while Alien lives there. I'm pretty much figuring Brunhilda (Bubba's new wife - and Alien's evil step mother) has a hand in this.

Not my problem (as hard as that is to say).

I'm pretty sure Bubba won't be getting a Father's Day card this year.

*****

The same day that Chicken was released from the hospital I got a call from Alien ... seems that Butterball's doctor's appointment that day didn't go too well. The doctor seems to think that he may have water on the brain. According to the doc, his head has grown a full inch since his appointment last month. But she's obviously not too concerned if she's waiting a full month for a new measurement - or to even investigate further.

In the meantime, Alien is terrified.

If I can ask those of you who pray to please add Butterball to your prayers ... those who meditate or think good thoughts to do so ... we need all the help we can get right now for Butterball. Thanks!!

*****

I've been watching now six week old JR on Tuesdays while Alien, the BF and Butterball go to a DHS (Department of Human Services) supervised play date and parent classes. The parents learn all sorts of things about the World of Toddlers and how to handle them (think patience, anger management, guidance, potty training, menu planning, etc) while Butterball develops the social interaction skills that he lacks.

I can't believe the state is paying me to spend time with my own grandson. Granted it's not much (a few bucks a week) ...but even a few bucks with my employment situation is welcomed right now!! We just finished week two of fourteen weeks of this program.

I'm loving the time I get with JR. He's so easy to take care of. Feed, change, and then he sleeps. For about 2 hours and 45 minutes of our three hours a week he sleeps!!

And Gramma watches him sleep the entire time!!

*****

Better wrap this up. Alien should be here any minute to make their late dinner. I'll help with baths, only because I miss being splashed by little ones!!

*****

P.S. Single Son and the Wrecking Crew are still around. Same ol', same ol' with them. It's like a broken record - so I'll spare ya'll the blog (at least right now!).

LOL ...

*****

I promise I'll try to do better with the blogging ... maybe not daily, but at least once a week so ya'll know I'm still around.

What a difference a day makes ...

Feeling much better today, thanks for your hugs Em and Amy.

Something therapeutic about reclaiming ones territory ... even if it's only some cupboard and fridge space.

Baby steps. It's all baby steps.

Then again, some marathon NCIS watching after I got back from grocery shopping didn't hurt either.

Gasp!! Not a Star Trek marathon?

What's this world coming to?

I just happen to find Mark Harmon absolutely delicious!!

*****

I promised Alien I'd help her run an errand with the boys this afternoon - an appointment with her social worker. It's one of those bring the kiddies appointments .. and the BF is busy with remodeling their bathroom so I volunteered to go with her. Besides, it gives me the excuse to see Butterball and JJ.

Today's also Valentine's Day, my brother's birthday. A day I really want to be over. Too many memories of my deceased brother today. It's been almost 18 years since he passed, but his birthday has since been one of those days that just bring those emotions back to the surface.

But life goes on ... for the rest of us anyway.

And Goddess knows that my life is far from dull, thanks to the antics of the Wrecking Crew. Granted, I'd prefer excitement of a totally different nature, but you have to admit ... the Diary of a Mad MIL can at times be very entertaining!

*****

On that, I'm outta here. Alien should be here soon with the boys. Still need to finish getting ready.

Sunday

I really need to change the name of my blog from "LCM's Blog" to "The Diary of a Mad MIL".

I'm burning out ... I'm tired of the crap ... I'm tired of the messes ... or the silent treatment when things aren't going her way.

Seems what little privacy I have has been further invaded this winter with the question "where are you going" comes up whenever I put on my shoes and coat.

I lost it this morning. The three adults were leaving (Grandson was gone for the weekend)  ... almost sneaking out of the house (except my front door has a tattle tale squeak). So, I asked "where ya going?" only to be met with a "don't worry, we'll be back" by one of the Wrecking Crew and rather rudely at that. No, that's not what I asked. You ask me where I'm going, it's only fair I ask YOU, too! And get an answer, dammit. Especially if you're taking MY car without asking! Never did get an answer until Single Son called me on the phone after he left "I didn't want to say it in front of Married Son or DIL, but we're going out to breakfast. I didn't say anything in front of them, because they're paying for it." What's that got to do with the whole display of disrespect earlier? I don't give a flying rats arse who's paying or who's not ... I just wanted to know where everyone was sneaking off to before 9 AM.

Single Son came home alone (he'd taken my car alright), and The Wrecking Crew didn't show up until about a half hour ago (six hours after Single Son returned home). Not so much as a "hi Mom", or anything. Fine. I really don't give a crap anymore. Just that the whole disrespect thing really irks me.

The only thing I've said to them since their return was "the kitchen is clean. I expect that DIL will clean up after dinner."

I'm thinking that maybe I should have been a little more specific. One really needs to do that when one's dealing with those with a limited mental capacity.

*****

I always tried to raise my children as I'd been raised - treat others how you want to be treated.
The Golden Rule.

And they wonder why I've turned into the textbook MIL from Hades?

Hullo????? Hullo????? Earth to Dipshit ...

*****

Employment can't come quick enough. And you best believe that I've been applying like a mad woman. Online, offline ... networking through the limited contacts I have (but that list is growing, Em). Still searching. I've had a few "hits" on my online resume, but have turned them down for a number of reasons (travel too far daily for wages that are too low to justify the distance, strictly commission work, or other things that have raised my suspicions).

*****

One of the things I did today was clean the fridge. Threw out a bunch of food she had in there, that was starting to smell (anyone need a science experiment for school?) ... and organized their crap ... managed to "recover" more than half of the fridge shelves by doing so. Then the freezer ... Organized that too (Organize is a foreign word to her). Managed to gain half the space back. Sooooo ... after a relaxing shower I'm off for some late Sunday evening grocery shopping ... and filling the space with food for me. This having one crisper and the butter compartment as my only real space in MY fridge is done.

I'm on the warpath, can you tell? Taking back my space, one shelf at a time.

K ... time to hit the shower.

And yes, Em and Amy ... once they're gone should I ever mention anything remotely resembling "they need to move back home" ... you both have my permission to SHOOT ME!

Momma's Wish List ...

It's been one of those days. So to survive it, I spent a lot of time this evening dreaming of the things I really want. We're not talking fancy cars, diamond bracelets or Prince Charming sweeping me off my feet and carrying me away.

Okay, let me re-think the Prince Charming thing.

So ... what are the Dreams that Keep LCM going?

An empty nest goes without saying. Alien's moved out, the Wrecking Crew has to go, too. Don't care so much if Single Son stays or not ... he's little, if any, bother. But, I'm tired of it all ... the dirty dishes, the turning my living space into storage, the destructiveness, and the total lack of respect by certain persons who are going to remain nameless (but I think you know her name, LOL). The only saving factor is that right now Married Son is paying the bills I just can't afford to pay until I'm employed once again. Talk about being stuck between a rock and a hard place!

Just tonight, going to turn off the night light in Grandson's room because he's not home, and we know we don't need lights in rooms that aren't being used I find that *someone* has used thumbtacks to put up a poster (and it wasn't the resident small person either). Well, poster was then removed, thumbtacks stuck half-assed wherever in the ONLY room in the house that does not need remodeling. We're NOT going to turn any walls in MY house into tack-boards, dammit. Nor is she going to hang pictures. This is supposed to be temporary housing ... they don't need to personalize it.

Bitch session tomorrow. Time for a refresher on "this is MY home, respect it" ... I wonder if she even knows that word ... respect. I've seen the room she grew up in. I've seen the writing on the walls (literally) ... her daddy let them put graffiti on the walls ... with magic markers ... he called it "decorating".

Was I taught wrong? All these years I thought paint, pretty wallpapers, framed artwork hung with the proper hangers, and a room that "comes together" with the proper furnishings and accessories was decorating.

I'm so upset to find out that my mother had no clue. The home I grew up in looked like a picture out of Better Homes and Gardens. We were even the featured home once in the local newspapers "Featured Home" decorating section.

And then she suppressed my creativity by insisting I use the drawing paper and art pencils she so generously and lovingly provided.

*****

Next on my wish list is a job, of course ... this chronic unemployment sucks. I don't want one of those jobs that would pay me so well to allow me buy anything and everything I want ... no, I'm being realistic here ... and besides, I've learned that less is better. What I want is enough of a paycheck that I actually have money left at the end of the pay period to put in a savings account for a much needed vacation! Once a year would be nice. Nowhere fancy or expensive ... even a weekend up in Alpena during the Lighthouse Festival would be a welcome treat!

I figured it out recently, I don't need but $1200-1500 a month to "survive", depending on rent, LOL. And that's including all the utilities, gasoline, insurance, food, cell, internet, and entertainment budgeted in!

Oh, and to get back my smartphone service. I miss it soooo much!

*****

And a new home ... a small place that won't allow room-mates. Oh, I'd like a second bedroom that I can use as my hobby room. It could double as a guest room for the INVITED guest!

I know where I want to move (down to two or three apartment complexes I'd love to call home) ... and I'm sure you've got a good idea of where that is. I even know people in the area (Port Huron in case you hadn't figured it out yet) who are more than happy to have someone to recommend for job openings in their workplaces. I just need to have a job here first so I can finance a move!

Ah dreams ... they provide the escape needed to keep from choking the living shit out of those who deserve it soooooo much.

Oops, a few days late ...

but I have an excuse, really. No, the power didn't go out, I've been a bit too pissed off to write a proper blog. Not gonna take it out on ya'll ... so I waited until I simmered down enough.

Let's start with the blizzard that never really happened here. Oh, they're calling it a blizzard, but I think the weathermen are too embarrassed to call it what it really was - a bad snow storm. Eight inches of snow, occasional gusts up to 50 miles an hour, and that's about it, except for a lot of blowing, drifting snow.

I realize how lucky we were when I hear about everyone else's experiences.

However, that blowing, drifting snow left us pretty much hostage in our own homes until the plows came through - which happened to be earlier today - after I had to go out in eight to ten inches of now somewhat packed down (from other vehicles) snow on my street. What's weird is that the roads were better with the loosely packed snow (ruts and all) than they were after the plows came and exposed sheet ice under the protective snowy layer. I got stuck half-way in the street, half-way in my own driveway coming back from the pharmacy - with the plow drivers watching me. You should have seen the nasty glare they gave me when I was finally safely on my own driveway and they were able to once again continue with their plowing!

But ... being hostage in my own home is what got me so ticked off. No school, and DIL only worked a few hours since the storm passed ... too close quarters for my liking ... and the Wrecking Crew had to live up to their name these past few days. Not one thing in particular, but a whole bunch of little things that really got on my nerves.

Well, part of the Wrecking Crew, really. Married Son works at FedEx, he had no days off. He did slide in a ditch or two though. Funny stuff (if it's not happening to you anyway). And ... bless his little heart ... he started up the snow-blower as soon as he got home from work on the worst day of the storm!!

But ... two days of snow days at school, and I refused to watch Grandson. He's too picky of an eater, and won't eat anything I make for him, so why bother? She only worked four hours today and took him to her mother's house. I think I ticked 'em all off when I watched Butterball for a few hours yesterday so Alien could get her surgical tapes removed.

Although the biggest disagreement with DIL was over the thermostat of all things. I *knew* someone (and I know who) was resetting it from 68 to 72 every chance he got (damned Gremlin) and when I mentioned *thermostat wars* to DIL (not the guilty party), she says no, mom, it's broken. Ummm, no ... it's someone resetting it but she just won't take that someone else could be right (she's NEVER wrong!), she even went so far as to accuse me of losing my mind and imaging things. She then calls her father asking him if he's got an extra thermostat laying around that he could venture out in the storm to install. I blew up!! It's not broken ... period. And don't you dare call and arrange for repairs unless you are instructed to do so, this is not your house. Dammit.

Remember, this is on top of her going against my wishes (and behind my back) and dumping all those storage tubs in my family room and living room.

I give up!! I really give up. I can't do the flylady stuff with her around. She's worse than having sextuplets following Momma around and undoing everything Momma just did!

She had the nerve today to put on facebook that she needs to find something to do this weekend. I didn't, but I am sooooooo tempted to tell her "Clean up your shit, that's what you can do this weekend. Stupid."

But no ... that's not something to do, in her book ... she wants to be entertained. She'll drop Grandson off at her parents for the weekend, then go looking for ways to avoid what she really needs to do. And she best do the sink full of dishes she's once again left BEFORE she does anything else. Or her non-stick two dollar walmart skillet may meet with a steel wool pad yet.

Don't think I won't do it!!

Me, I'll stay locked up in my room pretty much this weekend ... got some papers and such I want to organize anyway. Good excuse to just stay out of the way when she's around. Not like she's out of her room or off her computer (or wii) much when she is home.

What I should be doing is sorting through it all when she's not home, I think that might be the secret ... making it look like nothing's been done (or she'll bitch about her stuff disappearing).

Hey, you leave it in the public areas of the house, it's fair game (home-owner or head of household exempt from this rule since it's my furniture, my nick-knacks, etc).

Don't piss off the head of household.

K, I'm fine now ... or until the next DIL moment at least.

Back to your regularly scheduled activities.

Let It Snow!!

So, up to two feet in some areas, eh? Don't know if I really believe our weathermen or not ... they say my area isn't going to get more than about ten inches of the white stuff. We'll see ... lol. We'll see.

I'm prepared for this. Gas tank in car filled up, cell phone charging as we speak. Tomorrow I'll cook up the meats in the fridge in case we lose power for any length of time. I'd rather eat cold (cooked) chicken or bratwurst than eat uncooked! LOL. I'll also be making side dishes that can be either heated up (if power stays on) or can be eaten cold (if power goes out). There's also plenty of lunch meats and bread just in case. I've even picked out my reading material should I find myself internet-less.

And with my history (and luck) I've learned better safe than sorry.

Lots of snow + aging trees = possibility of another tree falling. Which means in all likelihood that the power lines suffer, too.

If nothing happens, I get the week off from cooking. Just heat and eat!!! LOL. I'll be able to sit and watch the snow and enjoy it.

Let's just hope it's uneventful - for me - and for ya'll, too!! Stay safe and warm this week.