Blow-hard or good neighbor?

Time will tell I suspect if this giant of a man who is 6’6” and 300 pounds; if he is a blow-hard or a really nice good neighbor.

Mom’s neighbor seems to feel the necessity to let my Hubby know that he has this or that materialistic thing and that if my Hubby’s Mom needs anything he can get it for her at a rock bottom price or give his spares to her for free. Example he took a picture of Hubby in their snow shower and emailed it stating that it was taken with his iPhone, huh, so what?
I don’t think I have once mentioned my Cannon camera when emailing PICS.

You all know the expression: “if it sounds too good to be true than it probably is?”
I know. I know this is her neighbor that Hubby never ever met before three days ago, but Mom has known him for twelve years.
It’s just unfortunately in my adult nature to be skeptical when people try too hard, you know what I mean?
And yes I suppose you can say I am jaded, but not without reason.
I have been too trusting over the years and ended up in very bad hurtful situations.

Another expression comes to mind, “all that glitters is not gold.”
Why does he live in a small condo and have his daughter and son-in-law living with him?
He is sixty-five years old and has not yet retired, if he is so wealthy, what’s with that?
I don’t know here’s another expression: “if it walks like a duck then perhaps it is a duck?” that one I’m not exactly clear on.

Any-who he has offered his financial advisor for Mom, his lawyers for Mom etc, etc, etc…, I suppose that is also very nice of him.
But what’s in it for him I wonder?
Could he truly be such a nice guy?
I know my own Dad was the kind of man that would go out of his way for people and expect nothing in return, then why I am I not getting this one’s intent?

I have no right to interfere in what is happening up there I suppose, except for the fact that I have known my mother-in-law for 42 years and have been married to her son nearly 39 of those. Other than that I guess I should keep my big mouth shut, and leave well enough alone.

Besides with my phone insistence and coaching Hubby has kept Mom on track to throw things out! He says many boxes have been tossed into the recycling which comes this Tuesday!

I guess it must be the fact that I am so far away from the action and that I seem to not be able to get the blow by blow as it occurs; I have always been such a hands on type of woman, a ‘Type A’, even in this condition.

That’s it for tonight and so I will wish you all a good night and count those blessings and I will too!

Full Disclosure

My own personal excitement for today was that as I used the computer today I noticed that we lost another of our Goldfish from our pond since he/she was lying on her side.
This all was during a tremendous downpour that was pretty much the theme of most of today, the dry season of the south!
There was a short window of opportunity of non rain for a short while and so I chose that time to go out and verify that the Goldie had come to the end of his life cycle, and with my walker I maneuvered myself to the side yard to retrieve the net for just such occasions and I was able to pull back the protective netting over the pond and capture the dead fishy on top of it. As I balanced the net with the fish on top of it I made my way towards the canal to place him gently amongst his comrades. I slowly got the netting into position and tossed him towards the water, but he only made it onto the shoreline and so I decided to go closer to make his body go into the drink, but alas I lost hold of my walker, and it too fell into the canal or mud would be a better explanation since the tide was out.
My wonderful neighbors across the canal yelled don’t move and they drove around the block and came to my rescue!
How embarrassing, but I am very thankful they were there!

Now onto more important information…
To be fair I am no doctor, and Hubby’s Mom has always been somewhat of a packrat.
But the reports from Hubby’s visual of what he has been experiencing over the last two days would indicate to anybody that his Mom has gone over the top with saving things.
Hallways, bathrooms, basement and garage as well as the guest bedroom as well as her own, all this finds Hubby having to maneuver around the boxes and he can only access his bed from one of the two sides; the whole home is full of boxes! Of papers of things she hasn’t had a chance to get to; some were nine years old by the dates he read. Only one of the two bathrooms are accessible and that one had a bad toilet that Hubby I suspect has already fixed since I do know they were picking up the appropriate parts at the discount store where they also were picking up groceries, since Mom neglected to get those. All she had in the frig was some eggs, milk and frozen chicken in her freezer compartment.
Now some might think that this might be because of unforeseen financial difficulties, but it is definitely NOT the case. Mom is quite solvent with pensions, stocks, bonds, real-estate, investments and a fully paid for condo that is worth a few hundred thousand.
So what gives you ask? She is not well and apparently from all logical information she is suffering from OCD or Obsessive Compulsive disorder, which manifests itself in hoarding, which is treatable; if she is willing to go the route with anti-depressants and major counseling.
Today I spoke with eldercare (www.eldercare.gov) in her area; somehow she was already in their system.
Apparently, someone from her senior center happened to mention that she was having difficulty feeding herself.
Not true, she can feed herself fine she just doesn’t feel grocery shopping is necessary.
She wants freebies like today, a free lecture and lunch was how my Hubby got something to eat, and the only transportation was a friend and her husband from her senior group who also took them to the discount store after, since Mom still hasn’t found her registration or insurance card for her car in her garage!

Hubby is quite upset with his Mom’s situation, but he and I are not giving up on her yet!
She wants to live on her own, and by all means we want what she wants for herself…independence, but realistically she needs some help.
And she has to decide that is what she will have to do in order to keep that independence.
It is evident that no one but Hubby and his sister have entered her home in quite some time, she visits her friends, or like to today she waited for their car in front of her home and went outside to hop in their car!
I at least think that no one else is aware of what she is going through or something would have been done to help her, and I don’t mean how her daughter was trying to by putting her away, besides that was helping Sissy more than Mom, that’s way too over the top for what should be done!
What’s needed more than anything is medication and counseling and an in house intervention.
She only seems to save papers not garbage and pets, but still in overwhelming amounts and also I would think a fire hazard. They must be removed.

I can only hope that the case worker that was supposed to meet with Mom last month and apparently didn’t will contact Hubby before he leaves next week! I have her number for Hubby to call her and he will most likely have to on Monday!

Good night to all and to all count your blessings and I will too!

You don't realize how much you miss someone until they are gone...

I know it has only been since this morning but I miss Hubby!
There I’ve said it.
Silly I do know, but since he’s been retired these last three years we have not been apart except when I was in the hospital for three nights, but he was there daily for hours at a time.
You all are either not surprised or laughing uncontrollably since you may have never had a relationship that was this way I suspect; the laughers that is.
It’s not like he has been incommunicado or anything; he has called me on his cell phone at least five times already today!

Maybe it’s the fact that poor little Skipper has been lying on the back of the couch most of the day staring out the window waiting for him to come home…It’s hard to explain to a dog that Daddy won’t be back for a week.

Skipper did his usual voraciously eating display of his food at the moment that Hubby went to say goodbye, but he (Skipper) suffers terribly from separation anxiety, always has; he hates us to say goodbye, even to go to the store.

I blame his hurricane experience that he went through as a young pup, screwing his emotions up. He’s still not thrilled with thunder storms either, but he was just five and half months old when Hurricane Charley hit us here with all its devastation.
After all I still have issues too!

Hopefully, Skipper will come down from his perch long enough to go out and do his euphemistic ‘business’, you know what I mean, oh darn, poop and wee!
Now that was very grown up of me, but you get the point.

Anybody have any ideas how to handle this strange situation with Skipper?
Hubby said that he was just as bad when I had been hospitalized last April, and said that he had kept looking for me in our bed and elsewhere throughout the house and outside too! But that was only three days that Hubby had to deal with it; I have a week… He just came to me to huddle behind me on this computer chair; he does that on the dining chair too. I guess he is taking a break from his watch out the window.

Today I also adjusted my eating to those boxed meals I mentioned, so far I had a Weight watcher’s Enchilada for lunch, and a Lean Cuisine steak tips Dijon for dinner, not bad, I know.
I suppose while grocery shopping I decided that I might as well try all the professionals in the field of dietary restrictive menus. I have eight more left from a few others.

Skipper has returned to his window watch…

On that worrisome note I will bid you all a good night and to all count those blessings and I will too!

A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step... and transgressions

Confucius said that, “a journey of a thousand miles begins with one step”; but was he being literal or metaphoric?
Interpretation is either or I would say.
But in my Hubby’s case it is literal and he has succumbed to a very slight apprehension, which I really wish that I could waylay, and make it all OK for him not to have concern.
But that is a normal reaction when anybody is flying after several years of not.

And as for Tiger Woods… he has decided to become cryptic in his explanation of his car crash incident’s causes. He has said that he has apologized to his family for his transgressions?

“Main Entry: transgression
Function: noun
Date: 14th century
Results
infringement or violation of a law, command, or duty b. the spread of the sea over land areas and the consequent unconformable deposit of sediments on older rocks.”

Thanks to Merriam Webster’s dictionary definition that is as clear as mud.

The media once again has exploited his true confession with so-called proof, by incrimination of a young woman’s affair with the young golf pro by playing his voice mail indicating that there was a relationship over and over again. How awful for Tiger’s wife and two young children. And shame on you Tiger for doing that if it is true, but you are no more perfect than any other human being, and we should all remember that and not be so judgmental.

The main thing is that you manned up and confessed and are now in a healing process with your own family. My only hope for you is that you will never ever do it again and that your wife will look past this and that she will try to forgive you. And I do know if you are sincere she will if true love prevails for you both, and don’t forget those adorable two children that need you!

Earlier this week I suggested to you to do what your Dad would do in this horrendous situation, well I think he is smiling down on you now for being truthful in the end. Of course he is more than likely shaking his head in disgust about what you did, but we all know that if we can learn from our mistakes, and never repeat those mistakes, then we are very decent people and there is hope for you, since you do come from good people and you do know that! So behave young man like you were taught, and use that self control, which not only works in your sports field, but in life too! And practice makes perfect, but look who I am telling that to.

On that motherly advice I will bid you all a good night and to all count your blessings and I will too!

The process of preparation has begun...

The first of all that it takes to make me be able to hunker down for the week’s time Hubby will be away has begun today.
We went to the grocery and got me some easy to prepare dietetic types of frozen meals for one. As well as stocking up on fresh fruit and veggies that also will be helpful while he is on his mission. Perhaps without Hubby around I will now be able to lose some weight, ha!
Tomorrow Skipper and Hubby will both be getting their haircuts; not that, that has anything to do with the parental well being operation ability to proceed in any way shape or form, but they both look a little bit shabby or shaggy in that area. You know what I mean; and it creates a more relaxing day the day before the journey.
The packing has been well underway and had basically been completed with two small carryon cases. This way Hubby won’t have to wait for his luggage on that darn carousel. Believe me for a short trip like he’s going on it’s the best way to travel.
I did misspeak slightly…
Although, I have never lived alone I did travel alone while a district manager and had to stay occasionally in farther away locations overnight, and then as a college student I did have the pleasure of getting to study for a while in Europe. And most recently I have been on over night or a few days trips in state and to Tennessee for the arthritis foundation not to mention the few times I flew back to go to NJ for my parent’s business back in the 1980’s and to one of my aunts funerals around then; other than that …accept when Hubby was gone for two weeks with his Explorer Scouts to the competitions in Arizona a few years ago. So I guess I have been alone before when I really think about it, but I was actually pretty healthy then, between things since I do have the relapsing and remitting type of MS.

Being alone is not something that I fear.
After all I don’t live in a backwoods away from the world environment; I live in a suburban area that all I have to do in case of an emergency is to dial 911 for assistance.
Our neighbors across the canal were made aware of Hubby going soon and also will be there for me by checking on me or to call if need be which is really very nice of them.
Hopefully that won’t be anything I will need to do.

Good night to all and to all count those blessings and we will too!

Dear Tiger Woods:

Hello Mr. Woods, you don't know me but I have been somewhat of a fan of your sport’s abilities since you began your career at that very young age.

As a mother of two young adult men, one older than you and the other one not much younger than you, just about two months; I have always been impressed with your love of family, and your natural ability to play golf with perfection and to choose wisely in all that you have accomplished professionally.

That is why your recent automobile crash, unfortunately in the public’s view made me terribly surprised that you felt it necessary to allow the stupidity of tongues to wag relentlessly when with one short interview with you that could all be put to rest.
You see, most everyone believes that you are a public figure, which is true, you do know that.

Coming forward to explain and waylay any foolishness could very easily be rectified with you just telling everyone what actually happened, not all are curious with an agenda; I truly believe many just care about you and your welfare, as I do as a fan.
I’m sure that once you and your family have discussed it that is what you will do, but the longer you wait the more than likely more speculation will be causing you more grief.

I think that your honesty is expected as you have proved to always speak your mind.

I lost my Dad at the age of 35, and he to me was also a great man like your Dad was to you, and so whenever I have a dilemma I wonder what he would do in the situation, and I try for that. Maybe that could help you now with your decisions? Let’s put it this way; it couldn’t hurt.

That is all I want to say, as a mother I wish you a speedy recovery and as a fan too!


Take care be well,
Sincerely,
T

SHUT UP!

You heard right, I said “SHUT UP!”
Now in the old days if I said that to anyone especially a parent I would be in way big trouble; to them it was like using expletives and showing strong disrespect!
But today people use it conversationally to express they're emotion in not truly believing what you may have just said; as simple as that.
In the old days those two simplistic words expressed disgust in someone speaking about something extraordinarily too long or with too much unnecessary information and telling them to stop, but in a very rude way.

The reason I used those two words in my title was to perhaps shock you a little and get your attention; did it work?
If you are reading this I suppose it did!
Any-who excuse all the mistakes that I have been making lately, there have been a wee bit more than in even my recent past, you see my eyes are slightly worse, vision wise and that’s my story and I’m sticking to it.
“Pity the fool” that’s how that ridiculous saying goes, but I am no one’s fool and I want no one’s pity, you betcha that is true, true, true!

Now on with other matters of the today’s day it was pretty quiet as you probably have figured out from all this filler nonsense that I have written. But I did accomplish a few loads of wash while goofing off and playing an online game.

Hubby even made the turkey marathon of eating disappear temporarily by offering to pick up burgers from the golden arches; am I a queen or what? LOL

When he left on his mission I turned to say goodbye, but rolled this computer chair over my left tootsie’s big toe, and got it caught under it, and I could hear that Hubby was already electronically putting the garage door down from within the car! I took a deep breath and said to myself I can do this, and I stood up while holding onto the desk, and jostled my unglamorously injured big toe from its entrapment. I waited for the pain and blood to ooze and it came soon, and did not disappoint at all.
Once over the initial miniscule shock I hobble into the bathroom, found the peroxide, antibiotic cream, and the band aid box and began to issue emergency aide to myself.
See, I am still capable! No pity here.
So long as no one moves my stuff from where I originally put it I will be doing just fine; you betcha!

New topic our lovely neighbors loaned Hubby some books written by an author that we both enjoy, but guess what the topic in the one Hubby chose to read first is, it starts out with a plane crash, not too good a choice for someone who will be flying this week and was never that fond of the idea! Oh well, he laughed after telling me.
Let us all (pray, hope wish or whatever you do in these cases, and thanks upfront), that all will go smoothly for him and his Mom on his short trip up and back from cold country!

Good night to all and to all count those blessings and we will too!