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.

WARNING ... STAR TREK CONTENT!

So, Amy ... I've done a bit more research. LOL. Had to, Gizmo asked me to figure out our budget for the International Convention (IC). I have a correction to make .. it's in Memphis, not Nashville!

With that in mind, we'll have to figure out our route, and if we'll be close at all to Indiana in any way. If not, I'll have to steal the van from Gizmo and do a day trip to Indiana! Soon. Very soon!

Let's start with the official website, where I gathered most of my information ... LOL ... You may want to show this to Bob. Or not ... he may want to go if he's that big of a Trekkie.

http://www.ic2012.com/

So, there'll be a lot going on in Memphis. Meetings, lectures, food, and shopping ... the last two being those I'm looking forward to the most. I know, ME like shopping, who knew? Actually ... this is shopping at Quarks for Trek items ... what girl doesn't want to shop at Quarks?

Of course, I'll have to do some shopping first. There's a formal Marine dinner. Not the long sequined gowns of the USMC Marine Dinner but STARFLEET Marines (SFMC) dress attire (uniforms). This is a definite case of "I don't have a thing to wear". My old TOS uniform shirt ain't gonna cut it.

*****

I did manage to make a few Star Trek themed things lately. Photos to follow. One is a cell phone case that looks like a TOS communicator, the other is a card/cash case with the ST Command insignia. I've already got three orders from shipmates (chapter members, lol) for a cell phone case, a card case ... and can I make a passport case (easy peasy). All made of plastic canvas.

I was having trouble designing a purse that'll look like a TOS tricorder. I think I finally figured it out.

I was showing Gizmo the drawing I have for the purse (bag for the guys, LOL) when he came up with a great idea. Make the instructions up for them and sell them for a buck or two each at the IC. And include patterns for the cell phone case and card/cash and passport cases. Damn good idea!!

Judging the responses I've had so far just from my own shipmates, they will be a huge hit.

Hey, any way to make a buck, right?? I'll need all the money I can get for Quarks anyway.

*****

Oh oh, gotta scoot. Gadget just knocked on my door ... "Chows on, Mom" ... BBQ chicken here I come!!!

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!!