Where in the world is...?

My mother left a message for me the other evening. Apparently, my father has been relocated back to his board and care. My stepfather found out when he went to drop off a box for my dad. I have no idea how or why this happened, but hooray!

Poignant Memories

Thanks to an injury, I spent several weeks at the beginning of the year lying on my sofa with my feet elevated above my heart. To alleviate the sheer boredom that came from lying around doing nothing, I decided to invite my mother over so we could finally tackle the task of sorting through the photos in the 70+ albums my grandparents left behind when they died.

I saw some old photos I don’t think I’ve seen before like the maternal grandmother of my maternal grandmother and a picture of my mother with her long-time bestfriend that was taken when they were both in junior high.

There were also, perhaps, a couple of hundred photos of me with my family at the pool at my grandparents old home. That house was sold when I was in college, and I had forgotten how many memories were associated with the pool.

My maternal grandparents had an old home with a huge backyard that included a large pool and an “old school” pool house. It had a large play area along with a tiny, tiny bathroom. There was a storage shed in the back with our toys and flotation devices.

My mother, father, brother and I would pile into the car practically every weekend to spend the day outside by the pool. When I was younger, I was no fan of the water. I would have to be carried to the water where I would cling to my mother like a barnacle to a ship.

As I became older and less timid, I swam on my own. My brother and I would run around and scream and laugh.

Every once in a while, godparents and aunts and uncles and cousins would join us. There would be barbeque and games and swimming contests and lots of laughter.

I learned to skate in the backyard, using the concrete around the pool as the smooth, flat surface that was best for learning on those old metal skates.

My childhood bestfriend and I exchanged friendship bracelets after she came over one afternoon early into our friendship.

It’s interesting because today many parents would throw up their hands in horror at the thought of young children wearing floaties or skating on the concrete around a pool while wearing heavy metal skates.

However, these memories are among some of my post poignant memories from my childhood and I would not change them for anything in the world.

Love Lines

I’ve not heard from Peter since our conversation at the end of November. This feels like a chapter from He’s Just Not That Into You.

I have, on the other hand, reconnected with George on Facebook. He responds promptly to my messages and, in our one phone conversation, seems like a genuinely nice guy who is interested in what I have to say.

I wish there was some way to issue Peter an un-vitation so that I could have George come down for my birthday bash instead.

Weight Check - December 5, 2009

Current Weight: 297 pounds
This Week’s Weight Gain or Loss: 0 pounds
Goal Weight: 140 pounds
Goal for Next Week: 5 pounds

My Favorite Holiday

My favorite holiday is New Year’s Day. For me, the New Year is not just a chance to start over anew but also a time to celebrate my life since my birthday falls around this time.

Love Lines

I spoke with Peter this morning. He is flying in for my birthday.

Daddy Drama

If there is one thing I have become tired of in the few years since I have taken over as power of attorney for my father, it is the daily drama factor. Like many people on his side of the family, my father does not embrace the notion that, ‘the shortest distance between two points is a straight line.’ Anytime my father can take the most circuitous and time-consuming route, he will.

The opinion of anyone with a penis always overrides what I think. It takes forever to finish the simplest of tasks, and I literally have some errand/task to perform for him everyday in addition to managing my own life.

Right now, his home is in escrow. One mortgage company has agreed to the short sale. The other mortgage company is trying to put him in foreclosure.

In addition to that, I recently found out my father was diagnosed with cancer. His radiation treatments have already started. Since multiple breaks from work to deal with my own health problems and his issues has depleted my savings, I really cannot take anymore time off. He attends the treatments on his own. He has a shuttle service that takes him to the hospital.

It is a shuttle service he already uses, and they are highly unreliable. Fortunately, the American Cancer Society has a low-cost shuttle that is available to senior citizens. They will pick my dad up from his board and care and take him to the hospital. Unsurprisingly, my father has decided on another option.

He plans to relocate for 5 weeks to a furnished apartment near the hospital. This might work for someone that is independent. I cannot figure out how my dad plans to bath and feed himself. He cannot do this task on his own, and I am not moving with him.
I found out about this yesterday. The move happens this weekend. I think I am just going to turn my phone off.

Tales from the Bus

Someone once posted on one of my message boards that it's considered rude in the UK to hold conversations on pulbic transportation above a whisper. I wish the same were true here.

I generally spend the bus ride with my head buried in a book. It helps me avoid the crazies and provides the added bonus of allowing me to more quickly working through the 90+ unread books on my shelves. Last night, a loud noise gradually intruded on my peace. It was the sound of someone singing Christmas songs out loud. I am all for a little holiday cheer, but I am not interesting in hearing Joy to the World in off-key.