One holiday down;

Well Thanks Giving is over and done with but the indigestion. It’s great to have family around but even better to watch them roll down the street on their way to their respective places. Now comes the fun of Christmas shopping and I haven’t even started. Something very different for me because usually I start around in July so I don’t get in this very predicament.
I’m grateful that school doesn’t start until after the first of the year for me, Jacks is taking a micro-mester, something like a mini-mester but more compact and longer class hours in the day. I don’t think pulling off that would be an option to me this year, nor does my school offer it. He seems to be oriented in his new home life; saying goodbye to a few friends here and online seemed to have put him in low mood. However, he’s run into someone new that keeps him smiling again, its nice to see him happy. He was telling me about the small town that he now lives in and how he found the local Wal-Mart and Target close to home. A friend of mine lives about 30 minutes or so away from him, she in fact told me about this blog site and informed me she could keep him entertained if need be. Shay, no, “Your” kind of entertainment will end him up in jail his first month there.
Not that it gets very cold here I’m welcoming the cooler weather for a change. Just to settle the bug population down hopefully for next year. Also I need to start planning on building on my lot; the last phase is quickly approaching my area. This means I will have a paved road for me to drive up to see the land and determine the house I want. One nice thing about buying in the last phase of a new subdivision is to see the scope of houses that are being built. This way I don’t over build nor do I under build in the area. Also gives me ample time to work on other projects until it is time to work on my own home.
Lori is none the happier about me moving out; I assured her that just riding Pokie to the back part of Gs house will bring her to my back yard, that doesn’t seem to give her any comfort. I think when Luke moved out she was too small to appreciate his departure, now that Jacks has moved out to school she’s isn’t very happy about it and this summer will be my time to hit the road as well. It’s probably hard for her to have 3 older brothers there for her own petting and personal entertainment, now for us all to abandon her.

Sundays ….

This whole weekend has been interesting and fun, tiring and not quite long enough for me. Friday, Luke and I sat around and watched Kyle play with his little sister who’s trying her best to walk before she can crawl well. I love watching them roll around and giggle and have the best of fun then slowly run down to nap on the floor just as their father and I did. Times like this always brings me back to my own childhood of rambling in creeks and having what ever fun in the fields of my grandparents farm.
I can remember school functions in the barn there, the time we made the senior float so the juniors couldn’t see what we might be making. The all night guarding of the barn and what fun was had in the loft… now those are some memories to reminisce about. Luke and I sat there and laughed and guffawed the whole night about the past, some thing I didn’t remember or he decided to share.
That was all of Friday night, Saturday I did totally nothing, lazing around the house. Pilfering around trying my best to stay out of trouble, not an easy task when you have an older brother that wants to cause trouble. We went out that night and met some old friends out, I tried to call Jacks but he never answered the phone for me. He is moved in his house now and things should be rocking along for him. I think it looks like it might, he seems more happier than I’ve seen him in a long, long while. I don’t get the “Blah, Mark I do nothing right” response from him.
Lori wasn’t the happiest little camper when he left on Friday morning to make it home, she and Mom however have been making plans for the holidays. She is set and has informed me on the days that I need to take off to spend it time with her and the mall. Oh, joy!!!
Sunday I spent the whole day with the grandparents putting up Christmas trees and other decorations for the season. It was great fun but I was so tired after all the work Luke and his clan loaded up and made their way home.
I was alone again, I miss my little brother and of course my older one. At times I wish the days of us rolling around on the floor and fields and in the creek were back again but alas they aren’t and never will be.

The Phone the Phone!

Yesterday the phone should have been welded to my ear. I think everyone that had a finger and my phone number called me. That’s nice and all but whoa come on, by the time I walked out of my truck and into the house, the phone was on zero bars/dead. I debated if I wanted to recharge it for the holiday. Amy knows family is in, work won’t need me, the Big Lot lady is gone for the weekend, the City is on holiday as well. So there shouldn’t be any need to use it.
Early yesterday afternoon Luke and the mob rolled in all giggles and smiles and wiggles. Camen is going to be the next big model, her huge blue eyes will make any stone heart melt and that drool, oh man that drool. Kyle came bouncing in screaming for “Uta Dacks” Jacks seems to have charmed this little guy in a big way, Kyle had a huge box of crayons wrapped up in his tiny hands. Luke says Jacks was supposed to draw him some farm animals to color in. I guess Jacks is now into the coloring book business when it comes to that little guy.
Luke is beaming with pride on those two and hinting about another to come soon, my Moms eye bulged out with tears to know they wanted another one. G gasped when she heard the news, I just hope they don’t “Try” to create one here, if you know what I mean. Julie looks as beautiful as ever watching over her own two little bunnies.
PG is organizing the barn lot for Lori for tonight, she insists that the very back part of the lot is the coolest area because its surrounded by trees and you cant see the house lights from there. Jacks and Lori have a date to go camping and watch movies and check for shooting stars. That will be an interesting night, I predict that she will come running in the house around 10 p.m. claiming to have heard a bear.
In a few Kyle and I are going to gear up to walk on the beach a while to get ready for a ton of food coming our way. Luke wanted to go check out some spots to find some mistletoe on the farm as well, for Christmas. The house smells of spices and sauces and seems to have this happy glow about it. I pray it stays that way…….

It’s going our way…

Well the weekend blasted so fast for me, Friday night out with the guys. I laughed so hard my ribs hurt the next day. Saturday, total nothingness, Saturday night out once more with the guys goofing around and being an idiot per usual.
I’m happy to report Jacks didn’t make it in on the weekend; SOMEONE talked him into staying at the condo at least for the weekend, I’m eternally grateful for that. Jacks still looks through those rose colored glasses in Life being so dandy to him. I don’t see Pops and he getting along well -- just as of yet. Especially since Pops was ranting on about wanting to throttle his youngest son this weekend. I never heard the full details on what Jacks may have done or not, what ever it may have been, Pops was very angry about it.
Lori and I did a little Christmas shopping on Sunday, then hit it over to Gs for a huge meal. G is so wired up about Thanks Giving this year. I’ve never seen her plan so much and she keeps telling me she’s inviting people from her church – ever the match maker she is -- I know who the girls are she’s invited. Two words “Oh boy”….
Last night Mom was sent home from the hospital, the transfusions and copious amounts of vitamins they shot into her must have been helping after all. I was more than happy to have her sitting in the living room laughing at Lori and the TV. They plan on making a ginger bread house tomorrow, I hate those things. They are messy, they don’t taste good, when I was 8, Jacks and I ate a whole one in one night and both of us became so sick. The smell of them will bring back very bad memories. Punishment for gluttony I guess?
Yesterday at work was semi slow; the lady with the huge yard is out until after this holiday which frees me up for other jobs here and office work. The Greenhouse has been calling my name for the last two weeks but I’ve never made it up there. Bee is going to lay into me being so negligent about helping around there. Maybe next spring we could hire a gopher to do whatever jobs that she might require. That means one less day of being scolded from her.Tomorrow Luke and the gang drive down, maybe Jacks, I’m not sure. If I don’t get to post until later this weekend, have a safe and happy Thanks Giving.

Fridays’

Well the weekend is upon us once more, I am in awe how fast the days have flown by. Possibly because after work, I come home, have dinner, rush and do what ever errands are required of me, study and then bomb out for a long slumber.
Mom is still in the hospital; her energy levels are not increasing as expected, so the doctors delve a little deeper into her condition. She’s severe anemia and a case of chronic infection very close to staff infection.
My G called me earlier this morning and requested I come up for the afternoon, of course my worse nightmare flashed into my head and they were to tell me her cancer had returned. Not to be thank God, just my G being the master of drama. I know this is her youngest daughter and it’s frightening to her but I have a feeling we can lick this with a little patience and following the doctors orders. Bed rest, no stress, eat properly and taking her medications. She will resume her blood transfusions in for a while just to kick things off on a good start.
My Pops has not left her side, but then again its not surprising to me that he wouldn’t. The fact that he hasn’t also shocks me that he’s not been in his typical hateful mood. There have been no condescending remarks from him on how the house has been run. He’s very courteous to the doctors ever the gentleman to G and PG and trying his best to communicate with Lori. Who still is on her guard with him and cries for Jacks to be home every night.
We are all hoping that she will be out this weekend Jacks has made extreme efforts to come home by Saturday requesting to take his tests today so that he can bolt home to be here for the weekend and the holidays. I personally do not think it’s a good idea but it makes him feel better. Lori jumped up and down and squealed in delight to find out he might be home for more than one or two days.
Tonight I plan on going out with the guys and just letting go for a couple of hours, also no work for me this weekend. Since the boy will be home I think he and I can spend some time together.

100! Thought I’d never make it.

Its been a long few days since my last post, finals are coming up for me and work is kicking me in the rear and Mom is still in the hospital. I‘ve been taking care of odds and ends around the house, with Lori. She’s not adjusting this time so well with Mom being away and Pops being home so much. I can see why, so I hang out with her as much as possible or send her off to spend the night with Julie.
Julie is my best friends Trace little sister, she is a riot at times, so boy crazy for a 12 year old. My God she’s 12 and about to become a teen in a month or so. I can remember when they moved in the house down from us she was so hyper and chatty. Trace only wanted to be cool and stay in the ocean to surf, looking back we all were so tiny.
At first and still Jacks and Trace were buds, they couldn’t be separated at times. Doing some of the craziest things. The flying on motorcycles at midnight to shoot fireworks at each other, all night surf sit outs on the second sand bar, jumping off the pier. Oh man and the internet antics they pulled. My brother was a little DJ man on the internet for a while, Trace would get on with him around 3 am and do the craziest things.
My sister and Julie now are the two crazies with the boys in school and on the beach. Trace and I swore neither would marry until they reached the age of 40 and could possibly date around 35. Oh, I know I’m exaggerating but it’s a funny thought and very reassuring to me.
Yesterday my Ex came in with child in tow, I swear, even though his Mom is a total nutcase, he is pretty darn cute, for a little bald guy. He’s semi starting to stand, she plopped him on my office floor and I stuck my fingers out to him and he naturally grabbed both and pulled up. I sat there amazed as he bounced up and down cooing at me with two tiny tiny teeth on his bottom jaw. I think either my hand were sweaty or his just lotioned , I just knew he would slip off my fingers so in an surprising instant I grabbed him up and stood him on my legs. He roared in laughter at me and swung his arms around as if he were to fly off.
I saw the look of shock in her face as I held him --since I swore to myself I never would-. It felt good to hang on to the little guy as he drooled all over my jeans and commenced to bob up and down.
Diane and Cari walked in my office, their jaws hit the floor, Diane gave off a scowl and dropped her papers on my desk and walked out. Cari wanted to see if I needed lunch -- in reality they were trying to give me an out to get rid of my visitors-.
After they left I just sat there thinking of the days…. Maybe tomorrow 101 can be something along those lines.

(TY mystery poster for pointing out its 100)

Thursdays …..

I guess the worry with the old man has made things come to a boil around here and he sees it. Mom still is not feeling well, I wanted to lie to Jacks and tell him things are going some what better but I won’t. I don’t like the idea of him racing home to sit here and worry when there isn’t anything for him to do. I also don’t want him and Pop clashing into each other; both their emotions are running super high.
The other night Pops and I had a nice sit down talk; we even focused on why he is being a selfish idiot for the last year or so. I guess if you don’t walk in the other person’s shoes you really don’t see what might be going on in their life. I didn’t know that he had a new boss and the company he worked for did a massive change over. That he almost lost his job and position and refused to tell anyone about it. Teaching us our whole lives, how to do things right in our careers to demand respect with our employers -- while he wasn’t doing was not a good example. However, I think maybe that I am beyond the “I told you so” stage in my life; he could have expressed himself to us or at least me. I don’t excuse or condone what he had been doing to Jacks in the last year. There is no excuse for that and he at least admitted it and has been getting help.
Lori still won’t be in a room alone with him, he knows it and she cringes when he tries to be close to her. Can you imagine? Your own 8 year old daughter flinching every time you come near, try to talk to her? He walks in a room, she shrinks in the chair she’s sitting and keeps an watchful eye on him the whole time, never making a peep. What a heart breaking thought that must be. There again he needs to make the repairs on that situation not I. All Lori wants is Jacks home, she cries when she’s on the phone with him and hanging up after, wanting him to come home, I know this kills him to hear it.
Mom and G keep things to themselves; I know there is more to this than just an iron deficiency, you don’t stay in the hospital this long for just that. If I have to go through what we just did with my aunt I want to know now, maybe tonight I might have my own little sit down talk with Mom.
PG is all in a thither to visit Jacks, who will be coming home for the holidays soon and then moving for the last time. PG is worried that Jacks won’t like his new condo, I love it, it’s much bigger than the one he has now. Pops doesn’t know where the new one is, nor has the key to it, so that mean no disasters while moving in and soon won’t have the cell phone to contact him. Not that I’m worried about that issue any longer.
Maybe the topper on the whole thing is my Pops admits he’s having trouble and is at least getting some help for it. For him to at least try is a great effort, I wont be punishing him by trying to make life any harder. Who will that help to do that anyways?
Man I need to get back to my school posts and job rants.

Weekend, what weekend?

Well it’s over, Halloween, my birthday, the weekend and Monday almost. Let’s start off with Halloween; picture this: me, in my PJs, all the lights off, at the inside house, the door gets a bang “Grrr, I have my lights off -- no Trick or Treaters!” It was Chris, so we walked down the street to the nearest bar and chilled a while.
My Birthday, well I wanted to go out the day of my birthday but the lady I’m currently working for is wearing me down, so we decided to wait until Friday night. Friday, the ladies in the office cooked, oh man, did I ever eat. Everything that was my favorite food they made. It’s like someone opened up my head grabbed recipes and knew what to bring, I ate till I couldn’t anymore. Then out with the guys that night to whoop it up and play some pool and darts, my latest past time.
The weekend, well I worked on Saturday for the Lady of Much Demands the majority of the day. Sweating whatever concoction I may have ingested the night before, Chris paid dearly for it, thinking that it might be fun to mix his drinks. He came into work green and left a nice shade of a pale white at the end of the day. However he was ready to venture out again that night without hesitation. Telling me hair of the dog was the only cure.
Mom for the last week or so has not felt well; I know this because she snapped at me on Thursday because she felt I wasn’t taking care of myself. Her energy levels are not up to where they need to be and now cold and flu season is upon us. Not a good combination to have a weak immune system and germs flying about. Sunday rolled up and she was admitted to the hospital late that night after nearly passing out at the mall and once at Gs. Today they are doing tests on her to see where the problem is.
I had to give the joyous phone call to Jacks, who naturally flipped out and insisted on coming home that very minute to be with her. I could hear him pacing around the empty room of his thinking of the things he needed to grab. I assured him that it was a small case of the “Not feel goods” and not to worry just yet, that I would keep him posted. Luke, ever more like my Pops every day just sat on the phone quiet and asked what needed to be done.
Speaking of my Pops, he’s been in a very secretive/reflective mood as of late. He came back home to be with Mom to help her along with this latest bout of illness. Odd, it’s as if another alien has invaded his body, this time the alien has feelings and emotions -- other than anger. I know this because last night I caught him with his head down talking to himself over his own attitude. I tried to quietly step back to let him continue with his devotion but he motioned me to come sit with him. I sat beside him feeling like a boob until he spoke to me “So, how was that birthday of yours?”……….

Ahhh and thank you!

For all the birthday wishes...Story at 10