Welcome to my world!

My life's been crazy since my Daddy moved in with me immediately after my mother's death in October 2010. My one and only kiddo headed to college at Carolina at the end of August. So...I lived on my own, for the first time in my life, for a total of a blissful six weeks. Then, I started the parenting gig with my dad. He's a combination of a grouchy old man, a surly teenager and a temperamental toddler. Needless to say, I get very close to the brink of insanity sometimes. I get through life by finding the humor in difficult circumstances. And for some reason, I wind up in the weirdest situations. I couldn't make this stuff up. So I wind up having lots and lots crazy adventures which make great stories to share with my friends. Writing about my life is so therapeutic. My ramblings range from funny to sad to angry (full of cuss words) to sweet. While my focus is dealing with the trials and tribulations of being a parent to my Daddy, I have lots of random, totally unrelated posts. Whatever's on my mind. I love to make people laugh, and I'm happy to think my readers will get my strange sense of humor. And maybe, people who are in my situation will be encouraged. That's all I can hope for...

Monday, December 31, 2012

Happy New Year!

Here's hoping that 2013 is a better year!  I've noticed a pattern in my life.  My odd years are better than my even years.  Maybe that's because I was born in an odd year.  Or maybe just because I'm odd.

Highlights of odd years include Kiddo's birth, and, ummm...  Can't think of any more right now, but maybe the odd years just aren't bad.  As for the even ones, 2010 was a year from hell, and not just because I lost my mother.  I can think of several other major misfortunes, but I don't want to talk about them.

Maybe it's a self-fulfilling prophecy.  Probably is.  I should count my blessings for 2012.  I'm sure there were many.  I'll think about that today.  Maybe I'll have time to blog about them later.

Either way, I think I'll hold on to my superstition for another year, in spite violating my perpetual New Year's resolution.  To stop procrastinating.

Later...

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Boxing Day

I wonder if this is what it's like at the mall today.  Maybe the snow has tempered the mania.  One can only hope. 
 
I won't be joining the melee.  In fact, I'm in good shape.  Regifting is a wonderful thing.  Except when it's reciprocated.  I've lost count of how many chapsticks and picture frames I've received.  Not to mention body lotion and bubble bath.
 
Better run.  My skin and lips are dry.  Good thing I'm well equipped with the solutions!!



Sunday, December 23, 2012

Merry Christmas to Me!

Wow!  I've already had a great Christmas!  As in, lots and lots of great gifts!  Including silver earrings and bracelet, a fluffy pink bathrobe, lots of baked goods, and some great smelling potions for my body/bath/hands.

As usual, I'll shop until the 11th hour.  But I must admit, my gift closet is well stocked.  I bought a mixed case of wine and lots of great smelling things from Claire Burke.  Their Original scent is my favorite.  They have great gift sets, and all my friends seem to love them.  Now, using a gift closet might seem impersonal, but I refuse to regift - so that counts for something!  And I make plenty of handmade gifts (like the best chocolate-chip cookies in the world.)  I found the cutest Christmas cards with a sparkly Dachsund (like Lovely Lucy,) but of course, I haven't managed to get them in the mail.  Maybe next year...

I've been celebrating non-stop.  I started with a huge Christmas dinner a week ago.  Turkey and the works.  Cornbread dressing from scratch.  Orange-cranberry relish.  China and crystal.  Presents under the tree.  Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens...

Since then, I've had wonderful meals at Erling Jensen's,  The Pancake House, and Slider Inn.  Don't ask...

Unfortunately, Kiddo is his usual, ummm, obnoxious self.  Which is why I don't feel the slightest bit guilty about never being home.  His dad has, in keeping with the typical non-custodial parent, assumed the Buddy Role.  Why am I surprised?

The Daddler is happy as a clam.  He enjoys the role of patriarch.  What does that make me?

Oh.  That reminds me.  The other day, a big styrofoam box arrived on our doorstep.  Full of inferior animal flesh from Omaha Steaks.  I took the high road, and dialed her number, thrust the phone into The D's hand, and stepped back to hear his haltering attempt at leaving a voice mail message.  It pissed me off to hear him say, "I love you" before hanging up.  WTF doesn't he ever tell me that?  Even though I know it's natural to take a caregiver for granted, it still makes me cry.  And it makes me want to throw the cheap meat on the floor for Lucy to devour.  I really should regift it, to avoid any reminder of The EV.

Oh, well.  It's time to do a little laundry and wrap a few presents, and get ready for the next installment in my social whirl.

So, if I don't post before the big day, Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night...

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

My Latest Project

I think I've exhausted The Daddler topic for now.  So I'm branching out.  I have a new blog - Necessity is a Mother.  Here's the link: http://necessityisamother.blogspot.com/

Here's a picture from my first post - Free Christmas Wreaths:

The point of this is to share some of my brilliant ideas for making crazy-cool creative crap on the cheap.  Because these days I seem to have more money than time.

My girl JoJo is gonna help, too.

Our next project is to learn how to monetize our little venture.  Any ideas?  Actually, that sounds like a job for Lundy...

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

It's beginning...

...to look a lot like Christmas.  For the first time in forever, I'm in the holiday spirit.  I've actually enjoyed decorating, shopping, baking and all the rest.  This is the third Christmas since Mother died, and the 14th year since my brother died. 

And the 744th day since I've set eyes on the Emotional Vampire.  Or at least since she assaulted and battered me.  That doesn't count the accidental encounter this summer.  Or the nightmares or flashbacks.  I hate that I hate her, but I do.  They say the opposite of love isn't hate - it's apathy.  Maybe one of these days I won't care any more.  Won't fantasize about hiring a hitman, or imagine the joy of hearing the news about assorted other violent ends for the Beyotch from Hell.

I wonder if there's a Christmas version of Death Wish.

O...M...G...  I just googled that.  And I happened across this on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=In3i39CwUpo&playnext=1&list=PLCD00952BFA1BB143&feature=results_video

It is THE funniest thing I have ever seen in my entire life.  Seriously.  I cannot believe that it's only had 1,223 views.  I have a feeling I'm going to view it at least that many times before the week is out.

Because I abso-bloody-lutely detest those songs.  And they DO, indeed, get stuck in my head like a popcorn hull under my gum.  And I spend half my life swinging around on similarly frustrating phone-trees.  Wow.  I'd better stop here and go listen to my sound machine and visit my happy place.

So much for simply having a wonderful Christmas time...

P.S.  The only thing worse than that song is Last Christmas by Wham!.  The worst song in the history of the world...  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8gmARGvPlI

P.P.S.  So sorry to inflict this on you.  But you know what they say:  Misery loves company