WoW

Where does the time go?
Last night Julie said I hadn't posted a blog since the 1st and I guess she was right.
It went from Dullsville to Crazytown around here.

Wyatt was home from school for most of last week.
He had a bad cough, headache and fever.
That was a real drag, let me tell you.
I was also worried that he would infect GK, so it was quite a time keeping them away from each other.
Wyatt had to stay at one end of the house or upstairs, like he was in quarintine.

We made it through the week without GK getting sick, but now I have quite a cough.
Oh well.

We put our tree up last week and all the decorations.
It's like a christmas wonderland around this place.
The tree is silver and blue.
No white trash tree this year, it's very pretty.
Mike drove me around to EVERY Goodwill in the county on a Santa search.
We had so much fun finding all kinds of different santas to put throughout the house.

Mind you, Mike had ALL kinds of time to drive me around, because he hasn't worked for a week.
He got out of his 1/2 way house recovery room for the walking wounded job last Tuesday.
The day after the big rains and hasn't worked a day since.
It's dumb and I don't understand and I can't think about it without getting mad so I'm not talking about it anymore.

GK has been feeling really good.
He fell asleep in his chair this morning and when he woke up, he looked RIGHT at me and asked if Marilyn likes that new big screen t.v she got for Christmas.
WOW.
I looked right back at him and told him she LOVED it!


I got a call on Friday from the company I work with for GK.
They asked if I could do a fill in job yesterday.
I said yes.
Big mistake.
I spent four (was supposed to be three) hours with the RUDEST old women in Clackamas county.
She wore a bad wig and had a bad dog and left me sitting in her car with the bad dog in parking lots all over town while she walked at snail speeds throughout the stores.
At one point she came back to the car and asked if I had left her car running the entire time she had been in the store.
I looked at her and pointed out it was only 35 degrees.
She observed that I musn't be to cold because I had the window down.
I told her it was because the car stunk like dog.
It was probably at that minute she decided she didn't like me.
When I first got to her house she had me walk the dog with a double leash because the dog was prone to running away.
(I didn't blame him)
When we returned she told me I was to brush and comb the dog, straight part down the middle.
I tried.
The whole time the dog was trying to attack me and escape.
She just bellered at me and told me to hold onto him and get the job done.
Quit messing around she said.
Bitch.
When the dog would get away, she told me to go after him and catch him.
Bitch.
After I was done and the dog had nearly had me for lunch, she told me I had to drive her to the vet so the dog could have his rabbies shot.
Bitch.
They had to muzzle the dog at the vet.
She criticized me the entire way there and the entire way back for my driving.
She said I drove to slow.
Bitch.
She would tell me to stick my foot in it and make the lights.
Bitch.
She had me an hour longer than she was scheduled.
When we turned into her driveway she said I was to run inside and call to end my billing hours and then I could unload the car and put her groceries away.
Bitch.
I didn't.
She told me to clean out her car.
I didn't.
She told me she was putting the bad dog in the back yard.
She didn't.
The bad dog ran outside while I was bringing in the groceries.
The bad dog ran away out the front door fast.
The bad dog ran onto the main street and cars were swerving and hitting their brakes.
That crazy woman was bellering from her house after the bad dog.
The crazy woman was also yelling at me to catch the bad dog.
I didn't like the woman or the dog.
The bad dog eventually ran home with me chasing behind.
I looked at the rude woman with the bad wig and the bad dog and kindly wished her a merry Christmas and walked away.


I decided yesterday that I do not like old people.
I like Gk and I liked Grammy.
I liked my Dad.
I don't think I want to risk it with any other old people.

That's all for today.

Welcome to Dullsville

Nothing doing today.

GK went to town to buy pants again today but they dont have any in his size.
So he bought cookies and pie instead.
He forgot his cane at Fred Meyer so tomorrow he or I will go pick it up.
Theres a big plan to look forward to.

Wyatt and I watched Pirates 2.
I'm still not sure if I like that movie or not.
It TOTALLY freaks me out all the gross guys in it but it sure is action packed.
I think we need to rent P3 and see what it's like.
Has anyone seen it yet?

GK has been watching the Oregon Civil War this afternoon.
Oregon vs Oregon State.
We lost him when he went and kicked back on the couch.
He's a chair guy normally so it came as a surprise to see him laid out on the couch.
So far it's a tie game, but I don't think he cares who wins anyway.

I'm making fried chicken and mashed potatoes for dinner.
I figured that would go good with the cherry pie GK bought in town.
It smells REALLY good.

Last night I was talking to Olin and told he we had chicken fried steak for dinner and he called me an r-tard.
He thought I was gooning him and making up chicken fried steak.
Duh, he's so sheltered.
Like he's never even been to denny's.

Wyatt is hollering from the tub, I guess I better go check things out.

Hellloo

Not much going on today...well maybe so.
We started off with snow this morning and it has been snowing off and on throughout the day.
Nothing sticks, but it's pretty to watch.

John came to clean the pellet stove.
Next time, Mike or I will do it.
GK and John made it out to be comparable to brain surgery, but actually it was pretty simple.
All you need is a screwdriver and a vacuum.


Mike left for Skagit Valley today to see the family.
I'm sure Maddy is counting the hours till he picks her up : )
He stopped by to have lunch with Wendy at the Conway and say's she is doing well.
He also said they had good chowder.

I took the gastly grey poodle in to have her insides ripped out today.
I asked if they could throw in a larynx removal as a BoGo, but I don't think they will go for it : (
Gk will go pick her up around 4:30.
At least she will be drugged up good and quiet for the night.


Our first box of Christmas presents arrived today.
It seems to early to be hiding gifts in the closet, but I guess time really flies when your having fun.
I just have on more thing to get for Wendy and we are still looking for the pink game boy for Maddy.
Other than that were done.

I got a new bra from Sears today.
I swear, is there anything better than a new bra?
Delivered right to my front door and fits like a dream.
I feel like Jane Russel in a cross your heart comercial.
It lifts AND seperates.

At GK's request, we are going for chinese tonight.
Wish us luck with that.

Procrastination

I should be doing dishes, but I really don't want to.

I went to the dentist this morning and started the teeth cleaning process. UGH.
I have two more appointments each an hour and a half.
It's called "scaling". They pull my gums back and get ten years of oog off the roots of my teeth.
Wyatt said, "well Mom, maybe you should have had your teeth cleaned more often and this wouldn't of happened"
Smart ass.

Gk is doing good today.
He went to town this morning to get some new pants, but they didn't have his size.
I just bought him pants a month or so ago, but he is doing a good job of putting weight on.
He seems to be very quiet in the mornings, but then as the day goes on he gets to feeling better.
He has been in a great mood all evening but told me his legs really hurt.
I think it's because of his shot, but who knows.
He want's to take Advil for the pain but his doc put the kibosh on that because of his kidneys.
GK says it isn't his kidneys that hurt ; )

Mike goes in for a doctors appointment tomorrow.
Get on your knees and pray they release him back to work.

The grey poodle quit puking.
She is still dragging her ass on the carpet and this morning I woke up to a room full of poodle puddles and packages.
I swear, if GK did not love those dogs as much as he does... I would offer them to some lab for testing purposes.

Listen to this...
I was at Fred Meyer today and I went to look at purses.
I saw the purse my Mom just bought and then took in to the shoe fix-it store to have the strap adjusted.
So that would be what? Ten dollars?
Anyway, do you know how much that purse cost?
Guess.
$92.99.
Can you believe that.
Thanksgiving she was out here crying the stock market I'm losing all my money blues, but two weeks ago she spent almost $100.00 on a FRED MEYER purse.
Who does that?
She is so dumb.

I have to go do dishes.
Ciao

Get Over It

Thats what I have decided to do.
I am just going to get over the fact that I read all the garbage my Mother wrote.
It was who she was and to a point who she still is.
Fact of the matter is, what she say's, does or writes has nothing to do with me.

I am hoping that my stories will be back on today.
I don't know if it's because of the writers strike or the Holidays, but my stories were re-runs the last part of last week.
OLD re-runs.

I went to the doctor today.
Everything looks good except my blood pressure and cholesteral.
Nothing a little medication can't fix.

I talked to Wendy this morning.
Her kitten is peeing on everythng : (
Febreeze may be a good gift idea if she happens to be on your list this year.

Everything is good here.
Good enough anyway.
GK is very quiet again today. Not much action from the big green chair
Wyatt is bored and ready to go back to school tomorrow.
Mike goes to the doctor Wednesday and with any luck will be released to go back to driving.
I go to the dentist tomorrow and I'm not even scared.
Ashley the grey poodle goes to the Vet friday to have her girl guts ripped out.
So far, that's it for our social schedule this week.
It's 1:05, gotta go.

Thanksgiving

Have you ever snooped through something you know you shouldn't but thought you'd be really smart if you did?
I did that yesterday.
I found some of my Moms old Journals from when we first moved to the Island.
I wish I would have never read them, because let me tell you what has happened.
I have realized it is not only me thinking that she is a whack job just because she is my mother anymore.
Now it is that she is a confirmed horrid whack job by her own written admission.
What do you do with this kind of information?
Do you tell people?
I don't think so.
I think I will just try to stuff it in a corner of my mind that I don't often visit.

So, how was your Thanksgiving?
Ours was good, although now on reflection and having the knowledge I had some freak sitting at our table, my feelings are a little different, but all in all it was nice.

GK had a big dinner and the rest of us were filled to capacity as well.

Wendy had to leave Friday mid-morning and the Carlson Family arrived later in the afternoon.
It was a really fun family weekend.

We were able to talk to the Gerber "Tribe" in Montana saturday morning and I think there is a pretty good chance of ALL of us us spending an afternoon together closer to Christmas.
Mike Sr's Mom has a Christmas party for all her grandkids and this year Montana and Oregon non-families were invited as well : )
Fun huh!

GK is feeling pretty good, but has been pretty quiet the last few days.
He has had neck pain two nights in a row, but tylenol seems to be helping it.
He was happy to see all the Carlson kids and shocked how much they had grown. He must have commented twenty times what nice kids they were and how well mannered and smart they were.
Kudos to Mrs. C and her husband

Just a little post.
GK had his thousand dollor shot on Friday and things have been kinda goofy.
Saturday and Sunday he was very still, quiet and tired.
Today was more energy but almost in a manic way.
Tonight everything seems to be ok.
Will have to see what tomorrow brings.

More later.

Ode to Mike Carlson

There once was a man from an island
He worked in the valleys and Highlands
He met a fine girl
And gave her a whirl
And now has a smile that's been brightened!

There once was a man with a shiny round head
He worked so hard his cheeks turned red
At the end of the day
He would come home and say
Whats for dinner I'm going to bed!

I know a man named Mike
He drives a truck not a bike
His belling is growing
His bald spot is showing
It's a good thing he's easy to like!

My sister has a fine man
He can fry up a fish in a pan
When the dinner is done
You've had lot's of fun
And of his you are truely a fan!

Hi Julie

I start a part time job tomorrow.
Working for the home care service that I worked for when I took care of Grammy.
It's only part time, but a little cash in the pocket is always nice.
My wagon took a crap so this will make the payments on my NEW 1998 EXPLORER.
I applied at Joanne fabric too, but Rescare called first with a shift tomorrow and they can be more flexable with the hours I can work,
Someday I want to make soap in the little house.
Bubbles.
Thats what I would call my business.
OR, I could turn the little house into an ice cream parlor.
I would tie a cow out in the yard and call it Beavercreek Creamery.
Mike says I would eat up a the proffits though.

Not off to such a good start today.
GK got mad at John Saturday because he wouldn't go on the ladder to do the roofing for the deck.
That's Johns one thing.
No ladders.
GK got mad, they had words, John went home, we went to the coast.
GK stayed mad all weekend, and when John showed up this morning, GK told him to pack his tools and go home.
I felt so bad.
Bad for GK and bad for John
GK is very strong in his opinions and how things should be done, but John is a seventy year old man who can't always do the things GK wants him too.
The whole thing is just a messed up deal that maybe should have never even been started.

So when the heat got to hot in the kitchen for us on Saturday, we went to the coast and had the BEST time ever.
It was the perfect day, sunny and cool.
When we got there the wind was really blowing and it was the BEST!!
We went to a little candy store in Newport and bought fresh crab off the dock.
I cant wait to go back.
Next time we will stop and see Betty at the coast.
She has been one of GK and Grammy's best frinds for a little over a hundred years or so ; )
We tried to get GK to go with us, but he was still blowin steam and wanted to stay home with his dogs.
Anyway, I cant wait to go back. I would love to someday go and spend a few days. During the winter.

Gk has gone to town, and I hope he is in a better mood when he gets home.
I hope he didn't go to Molalla to poke the bear (John) and I hope time works all this out. Gk can hire someone to finish the deck and he and John can just go back to being friends.

Wyatt is on a field trip to the Oregon Gardens today. He was really excited.
He had a great time at the beach, and I think brought half of it home in the crack of his ass ; )

Mike is good and busy working, still enjoying his job and LOVING his truck.

Wendy worked the Oyster Run this weekend, and I guess made a fistfull of dollars.
I hope she marries a rich man.
I hope she marries.
If I had a wish I would wish for her to move here and get married and live in the little house and work at Bi-Mart and have two babies.
That would be cool.
I would also wish that she would have a boy and a girl baby and let me name them.
I would name them Howard and Amy Ann.

Have a good day : )

A Day At The Beach

A Day At The Beach

Lazy Blog

Ok, so yesterday I went to pick Wy up from school and decided to follow all the other cars instead of going the way I knew to get to town.
Big mistake.
We were lost for almost an hour : (
After turning around and going back the way we came, we did find our way to town.
Don't ask where we were, because I couldn't tell you.
We didn't get home till after 5:00 so I started dinner right away.
Fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy with corn on the cob and a green salad.
Half way through dinner Wy stood straight up, looked at me and said "OPEN HOUSE"!.
We got up from the tabble, put on our shoes and headed back to school and caught the last 15 minutes of open house.
I was really glad we went because I found out that Wyatt is really quite well liked contrary to what he had me believing.
All kinds of kids were coming up to him and saying hello and even telling thier parents what a great artist he was, and a bunch of kids told me he has the best cursive in the class.
Quite an honor if you ask me. : )

We came back home cleaned the kitchen, washed the dishes and Wyatt just started his reading when Mike came home.
I got everything back out for Mike to eat dinner and we all had a nice evening together.

Nothing to exciting going on today.
Mike left for work at about 10:00, I made a batch of cookies and the geriatrics got two pieces of plastic roofing up.
Now I need to go fold laundry and make some beds before my programs come on.
GK is boiling old chicken eggs for the dogs and then he will probably take a rest too.

Have a good day!

So Far So Good

The day is off to a good start.
GK had his doctors apt this morning and got an A+ from the doc!
Feeling good and looking good.

We got home and I took Sassy the white wonder humper in to see the vet...just in time.
She's coming into heat.
Blech.
She goes in Friday morning for her gut removal and they will take some more teeth out while she's under.
She had to have an anitbiotic shot because she has an oogy cough pressumambly caused by the nasty teeth.

I got home from the vet and there was a message from Wyatt saying it's picture day at school and he forgot his money.
I ran a check in and listened as he begged to be picked up this afternoon.
I caved, so I will go back for him at 3:30 and then head to town for some groceries.

The geriatrics are busy slowly working on the deck.
About two boards a day is what they usually get done.
Trust me, there are too many stories to be told and to much coffee to be consumed to leave time for much more than that.

One Life will be on in a few and I still need to get something to eat.
Chow!

Late Edition

Not much shook today.
The morning started out with Gizmo getting mad because I didn't stay outside with him, so he ran up behind the barn and hid from me.
After calling him for ten minutes I got in the car and drove up and down the road squinting out my dewy windshield calling for him out of the one window that rolls down.
I got home almost in tears and called for him one last time before I went to wake up Mike and he came running down the pasture like his ass was on fire.
I was happy to see him.

We finally have the bus schedule all fugured out now that Wyatt has had two weeks of successful transports to and from school.
He seems to be a master of the big yellow bus and the time it keeps.
Today was his day at school to bring and brag, and he chose to bring Gizmo and brag about everything that makes Gizmo one of the three best dogs in our house.
He (Gizmo) was in all his glory taking center stage in front of a room full of eight year olds sitting criss cross applesauce on the floor at perfect face licking level.
He made his way around smelling faces and licking leftover breakfast off of everyones hands.
He was a BIG hit!
Wyatt was a BIG hit!
It was a good day at Clarkes Elementary.

Mike and I came home from school just in time for the first coffee break of the geriatric gang.
I'm really not qiute sure if they had even started yet, but we let it pass as a break.
Not to much got done today because the 20 year old "wiggle board" Gk had was the wrong size.
Who knew they made more than one size of "wiggle board".

Mike and I watched "Lifetime" until noon when he had to leave for work.
I'm sure he had a hard time dragging himself away, wondering all day if Delta Burke was able to kick her compulsive gambling habbit.

Well, that's about it.
We just finished dinner an hour or so ago and I have everything cleaned up and ready for tomorrow.
GK has a doctors apt at 8:40 and then we come home and take the white wonder humper to the vet for a pre-op to her girly guts removal scheduled for Friday morning.
I'll be sure and let you know how it all comes out.

Get it...."all comes out"
Her guts..."all come out"
Get it????

Good night : )

It may seem as though I am having a hard time keeping up around here.
I am.
Between construction on the deck, five dogs, a stubborn Grandfather, a Husband with shift changes and an eight year old, I just can't seem to keep up with it all.
Things have been going smoothly, but honest to Gawd, I think this whole "deck adventure" will drive me insane.
It has been three months now and it's not even half way finished.
It's not John fault, although if he worked on it more than three or four hours a day it might go a little faster.
The problem is, John is seventy and has health issues of his own.

"Geriatric Construction.....we'll try to finish before we die".
That's kinda funny and kinda true.

Can you hand me a hammer.
A what?
A hammer.
Some jam....what the hell you want with jam?
I said a hammer!
It's not even lunch time.
Can't ya hear me, I said a hammer!
OH! A hammer.... why didn't ya just say you wanted a hammer.
Here's your GD hammer.
What'd ya hand me this hammer for...I thought it was lunch time?

That's the way things go around here : )

I woke up yesterday to see GK wearing a pair of brown pants I bought him two Fathers days ago.
I was shocked.
My whole life I have only seen him in his working man green pants.
Not only were these pants brown, but they fit him.
It was a real shock to my system.
He said he liked them so much he wanted a few more pair.
Wyatt and I went to K-Mart and bought him two more pair, but the new ones we bought were working man green.
He really looks good.
I think he has been feeling better too.
We went to the Bomber last night for dinner.
That was fun, and they had good food.



My Mom got another new dog.
Did I tell you this already?
Anyway, it's her 6th new dog in just a little over two years.
That doesn't mean she has 6 dogs, it's her 6th NEW dog.
I don't plan on getting to attached.
It's a nice dog, a pomeranian.
He had three names by the second day she had him.
I think I'll just call him temporary.
She seems very happy to have him though and he's happy enough to be there.
For now.

My new favorite snack is Cheese Curds from A&W.
If your out and about today go try some.
They taste even better with a large A&W root beer.

Have a good one : )

Tuesday

Sorry I missed you yesterday.
It was soooo hot here. You wouldn't believe it.
John and Chucky were here working on the deck and I got a killer headache at about 10:30.
The guy's only worked until about 11:00 and then it was just too hot.
GK sat in his chair with the fans on all afternoon and still it was too hot for him.
Of course he didn't tell me he didn't feel well until late in the evening. I worry about him.

He took the farm truck (manual transmission) in to get new tires this morning.
His legs are so week he has problems walking most of the time and I wouldn't drive with him in the suburban on a good day, so you can imagine my concern that he's driving the pick-up.
I'll just sit here and chew my nails till he gets home and then think to myself what my Dad used to always say....
"Cheated death and won again"
I wish there was some way to convince him to slow down a little, but he just keeps on a goin'.

Mike is still really liking his new job.
He said it was pretty hot in the sun yesterday, but other than that, he doesn't complain much.
I am still getting used to having him around in the mornings and gone at dinner, but it is so much better than him having to get up at 2 or 3:00am to go to work.

Wyatt is liking school this year.
He has the same teacher and all the same kids in his class, so there wasn't much adjusting.
Sometimes I wish he fit in more with the other kids, but you know Wy, always one to make his own way.
I'm going to try and get him in to Cub Scouts and see if that helps with him making some friends that are boys instead of playing with only the girls.
He did tell me that he and Jesse (a girl) had a fight yesterday because he was going to play with Tristan (a boy).
Jesse got mad and Wyatt had to explain to her that sometimes boys just need their own time together.
I swear, that kid.



I'm going to town to see my Mother today.
She got another new dog.
That's all I'm going to say about that.

So far, thats all the news I have for today.

Hellllo.......

Ok, so yesterday was a great day.
We went to the doctor and got a good report. The doctor could NOT believe how well GK revovered from his "episode" last week.
Gk has been worried about eating too much and watching his weight and the doc said not to worry, eat what he want's, just watch the salt.
So, on that note the whole family, including the neighbor kid, are going to Hooters for dinner tonight.
GK is so excited.
It's all you can eat shrimp week ; )

Ummmmm, let's see, last night we made everclear apple pie.
I guess it's really good, I haven't tried any.
Mike brought some home last time he went North and everone liked it. The kid next door bought the stuff and we cooked it up in our kitchen after dinner.
It sure smelled good.
The kid and GK had a shot of everclear in some Kool-Aid. Both their cheeks turned pink and they just whistled and shook their heads.
Good thing the hooch we made has more apple juice than everclear!

Mike has the day off today, so we've been putzin around all day.
We went to look for used chickens, but didn't find any.
Maybe next week. I think we went to 3 or 4 thrift stores and couldn't find any.
Bummer
Last week we found a REALLY good one.
I'll take a picture of it.


We found a good sword for Wy though. They have all the Halloween stuff in already, so there was ample supply of toy weaponry.
Captain Y.



The poodles and Pooter are at the Beauty Barn today. They should look and smell fresh as a daisy when they get home.
GK's white poodle is going in to be "fixed" next week. Praise the Doggy God's!
I hope he fixes the grey one too.
Nothing would thrill me more than never having to watch poodle porn in the front room again.

Lloyd, Kelly's husband surprised everyone and came home from Afgahnastan a week early!
You can imagine how excited they all were to see each other : )
Hi Lloyd!

I think that's all
Have a good afternoon

Summer Slides

[slideshow id=144115188086941468&w=400&h=320]

Wow

I guess it's been a while.

This may not be to long because I have to get Wy up for school in a few and Mike is home until 1:00 today.
John and Chucky the neighbor will here around nine to "work" for GK on the deck.
GK has a doctors appoitment at 2:30.

Heres the quick version.

Gk was in and out of the hospital last week.
Critical heart failure and they didn't expect him to live till' lunchtime.
He was home for dinner the next night : ).

He was in the hospital for a week in July.
That was for dehydration, confusion and delerium.
They probably should have found me a comfortable room with padded walls by the time that stay was over with.
The doctor had him on WAYYYYYYYYYYYYYY to much medication and it really took it's toll in a bad way.
We have another new doctor now.

Mike has a new job.
Yes, another one.
He was driving log truck, and the company he was driving for also contracted to haul overflow groceries for United Grocerers.
United liked him so much they offered him a job.
Union bennifits, retirement, blah, blah, blah.
Of course he took it.

He really likes it and he works good hours.
He's been there a little over a month.
Just long enough to buy a nice new truck ; )

Wy is back in school.
Third grade.
He loves it.
He has the same teacher as last year, so everything was comfortable starting this year.
Just like an old pair of shoes.
He had a fun summer spending a week at Camp Carlson, visiting with Maddy, and his Cousins Drew and Quinn were here for ten days.
Aunt Julie was here for a visit and so was Aunt Kelly.
The rest of the time was divided between swimming at the river, spending evenings at the pool, running after small farm animals and poking sticks at bugs.

We have a new neighbor.
One of Mikes, friend's, kid, (23) moved in next door while he's working a job for Snelson.
His name is Nick and he is THE best.
Guess who else likes him?????

Let's just say we see Wendy ALOT more now.

I think he's kind of sweet on her too.
They would make the perfect couple.
They are both funny and loud, and he's really smart.

Oky, gotta go.
Later!

Warm Up

Guest Host for the first blog back is Mike Carlson.
Thank you Mr.Carlson.

Tomorrow will be a regular blog catching everbody up on whats been going on : )


NEW RULES


New Rule: Stop giving me that pop-up ad for classmates.com! There's a reason you don't talk to people for 25 years. Because you don't particularly like them!? Besides, I already know what the captain of the football team is doing these days--mowing my lawn.

New Rule: Don't eat anything that's served to you out a window unless you're a seagull. People are acting all shocked that a human finger was found in a bowl of Wendy's chili. Hey, it cost less than a dollar. What did you expect it to contain?? Trout?


New Rule:? Ladies, leave your eyebrows alone. Here's how much men care about your eyebrows: do you have two of them? Okay, we're done.

New Rule : There's no such thing as flavored water. There's a whole aisle of this crap at the supermarket, water, but without that watery taste. Sorry, but flavored water is called a soft drink. You want flavored water? Pour some scotch over ice and let it melt. That's your flavored water.

New Rule: Stop screwing with old people. Target is introducing a redesigned pill bottle that's square, with a bigger label. And the top is now the bottom. And by the time grandpa figures out how to open it, his ass will be in the morgue. Congratulations, Target, you just solved the Social Security crisis.

New Rule: The more complicated the Starbucks order, the bigger the asshole. If you walk into a Starbucks and order a "decaf grande half-soy, half-low fat, iced vanilla, double-shot, gingerbread cappuccino, extra dry, light ice, with one sweet-n'-Low, and one NutraSweet," ooh, you're a huge asshole.

New Rule: I'm not the cashier! By the time I look up from sliding my card, entering my PIN number, pressing "Enter," verifying the amount, deciding no, I don't want cash back, and pressing "Enter" again, the kid who is supposed to be ringing me up is standing there eating my Almond Joy.

New Rule: Just because your tattoo has Chinese characters in it doesn't make you spiritual. It's right above the crack of your ass. And it translates to "beef with broccoli." The last time you did anything spiritual, you were praying to God you weren't pregnant. You're not spiritual. You're just high.

New Rule: Competitive eating isn't a sport. It's one of the seven deadly sins. ESPN recently televised the U.S. Open of Competitive Eating, because watching those athletes at the poker table was just too damned exciting. What's next, competitive farting??? Oh wait!? They're already doing that. It's called "The Howard Stern Show."

New Rule : I don't need a bigger mega M&Ms. If I'm extra hungry for M&Ms, I'll go nuts and eat two.


New Rule: No more gift registries. You know, it used to be just for weddings. Now it's for babies and new homes and graduations from rehab. Picking out the stuff you want and having other people buy it for you isn't gift giving, it's the white people version of looting.


New Rule: When I ask how old your toddler is, I don't need to know in months. "27 Months." "He's two," will do just fine. He's not a cheese. And I didn't really care in the first place.

New Rule: If you ever hope to be a credible adult and want a job that pays better than minimum wage, then for God's sake don't pierce or tattoo every available piece of flesh. If so, then plan your future around saying, "Do you want fries with that?"

HAPPY BIRTHDAY INGRID!!!!!!!

Checking In

Wyatts home, Gk is good except for some hip pain now and again, and I am writing the next series of books to take the world by storm.
Someone has to pick up where J.K left off.
I'll be back if anything big happens.

The Good Book

Wyatt is away at Camp Carlson this week!
He is having a BLAST!
Check out his blog for pictures and updates from Friday Harbor.
www.wyattparks.blogspot.com.
It may even be in my favorites over there on the right. I'll check.

I decided to write a book while Wyatt's gone, so if my blogging is sporatic, please forgive me.

GK took us for chinese and ice cream tonight : )
He and I are working as a team on the "novel", he is my proof reader. So far so good he says.
He waits for the chapters to come off the printer......

Ciao"

Guest Host Betty Franz With handy Hints

CURES
Keep This Handy On The Fridge



Did You Know that drinking two glasses of Gatorade can relieve headache pain almost immediately-- without the unpleasant side effects caused by traditional "pain relievers."

Did you know that Colgate toothpaste makes an excellent salve for burns.

Before you head to the drugstore for a high-priced inhaler filled with mysterious chemicals, try chewing on a couple of curiously strong Altoids peppermints. They'll clear up your stuffed nose.

Achy muscles from a bout of the flu? Mix 1 Tablespoon of horseradish in 1 cup of olive oil. Let the mixture sit for 30 minutes, then apply it as a massage oil, for instant relief for aching muscles.

"Sore throat? Just mix 1/4 cup of vinegar with 1/4 cup of honey and take 1 tablespoon six times a day. The vinegar kills the bacteria.

Cure urinary tract infections with Alka-Seltzer.
Just dissolve two tablets in a glass of water and drink it at the onset of the symptoms. Alka-Seltzer begins eliminating urinary tract infections almost instantly-- even though the product was never been advertised for this use.

"Honey remedy for skin blemishes .
Cover the blemish with a dab of honey and place a Band-Aid over it. Honey kills the bacteria, keeps the skin sterile, and speeds healing. Works overnight.

Listerine therapy for toenail fungus. Get rid of unsightly toenail fungus by soaking your toes in Listerine mouthwash. The powerful antiseptic leaves your toenails looking healthy again.

Easy eyeglass protection... To prevent the screws in eyeglasses from loosening, apply a small drop of Maybelline Crystal Clear nail polish to the threads of the screws before tightening them.

Cleaning liquid that doubles as bug killer ... If menacing bees, wasps, hornets, or yellow jackets get in your home and you can't find the insecticide, try a spray of Formula 409.
Insects drop to the ground instantly.

Smart splinter remover .just pour a drop of Elmer's Glue-All over the splinter, let dry, and peel the dried glue off the skin. The splinter sticks to the dried glue.

Hunt's tomato paste boil cure .cover the boil with Hunt's tomato paste as a compress. The acids from the tomatoes soothe the pain and bring the boil to a head.

Balm for broken blisters... To disinfect a broken blister, dab on a few drops of Listerine ...a powerful antiseptic.

Vinegar to heal bruises ... Soak a cotton ball in white vinegar and apply it to the bruise for 1 hour. The vinegar reduces the blueness and speeds up the healing process.
Kills fleas instantly...Dawn dish washing liquid does the trick. Add a few drops to your dog's bath and shampoo the animal thoroughly.. Rinse well to avoid skin irritations. Good-bye fleas.





Rainy day cure for dog odor .Next time your dog comes in from the rain, simply wipe down the animal
with Bounce or any dryer sheet, instantly making your dog smell springtime fresh.

Eliminate ear mites ...All it takes is a few drops of Wesson corn oil in your cat's ear...Massage it in, then clean with a cotton ball. Repeat daily for 3 days. The oil soothes the cat's skin, smothers the mites, and accelerates healing.

Quaker Oats for fast pain relief... It's not for breakfast any more! Mix 2 cups of Quaker Oats and 1 cup of water in a bowl and warm in the microwave for 1 minute, cool slightly,
and apply the mixture to your hands for soothing relief from arthritis pain.

If you send this to 10 people and only one of them
doesn't know about this, then it was worth it.

The Sandman Cometh

Whew.
My Sisters kept telling me talke it one hour at a time. One minute if you have too.
So I did. After some very long hours and at time minutes and even seconds, I think we have reached the other side of insanity.
Gk has been acting different for some time now, and it changes all the time so it's hard to say just what the changes are.
I will tell you though, Sunday the changes were obvious and without doubt for the worse.
Yesterday was the first full day on the antibiotics and Tuesday was his first night with sleep medication. The sleeping stuff was so strong that I was to moniter him through the night.
He didn't sleep.
Neither did we.
He paced and wandered all night. If he could remember, he could give you a complete inventory of every drawer, cupboard, shelf and corner of the entire house.
I'm not even kidding.
I started calling the doctor at about 7:30 yesterday morning. By noon I had called three times.
He called me back around lunchtime.
It is my opinion he just chewed my ass for lunch.
He let me have it for calling his office SO many times and asked me just what I wanted him to do about GK.
I told him something, anything would be good.
He told me it was a UTI, just like he told me it was the day before in the hospital, and I would just have to wait it out.
If I wanted I could bring GK in and sit in his office and he would tell me the same thing again. If not, he would see me for his scheduled apt on Friday..
Ok.
EF'n -EM'r -EF'r.
So, I got off the phone and cried and decided to just start making it through minutes.
Gk did wind down. The "manic" part of his behavior started to get better as the afternoon went on, but he still wasn't with it.
I think the sleeping pills did work last night.
He took them at about 7:30 and by 10:30 or so he was out. He was still laying in the bed when I got up at about 6:30. He was awake, but still in bed.
He isn't with it today, but it is a kind of a quiet absence.
He is quiet in his chair, watching t.v and talking about the weather.

One minute at a time.

Thank you Family.

We Went For A Donkey And It Rained Gumdrops

Sometimes I think I'm going to hit the wall, and then I do, and then we just keep going.
Faster.
I was reading the gossip rags online this morning when GK got up to go to the bathroom.
I said, "are ya doing ok GK?"
He said, "yep".
He went to the bathroom.
He didn't come back.
I waited.
I thought maybe he was doing big business.
He didn't come back.
I went to check on him.
He wasn't there.
He wasn't there.
He wasn't there.
I started looking all over the house.
He wasn't here.
He was gone.
I looked outside and it took a minute to sink in that the Goatwagon was gone.
He wasn't just not here, he was gone.
I called Julie. I called Mike. I didn't know what to do or why I was calling or what I wanted them to do.
It was about a half an hour later when he rolled in.
I almost passed out I was so relieved.
I asked him where he had been.
He said he had gone to town to talk to Dr. Barth about the food and water that had been poisened.
I told him to stay right there. Do not go in the house. get in the Cadilac, we are going to town.
He asked why and I told him to see a doctor about the poisened water. He thought that was a great idea.
We spent the next six hours in the E.R and found out he has a bladder infection.
If you have been reading this blog for any amount of time, you will remember the days of Grammy's bladder infections.
Get down on your knee's RIGHT now and start praying for us.
ALL of us.
I'm not kidding.
Thank you.

Doctor Doctor

Well, I'm not sure what to say.
Yesterday turned out to be a pretty big flop.
GK went in for his new blood and that was fine. Until he asked the nurse when I would be back to pick him up. She told him I would be there in about 15 min. With that she walked out of the room only to be surprised by the sound of an alarm going off in GK's room. He had pulled the I.V out so he would be ready when I got there. They didn't bother putting it back in because he was nearly finished anyway. He doesn't remember doing it though, that's what worries me.
While he was having his blood, I came home to call the doctor. That was at 11:30. At 1:30 I called back. At 2:00 the nurse returned my call. I said I was leaviving at 2:30 and needed to know what to do about how he has been feeling and his lack of sleep. She said there was no way I could be contacted by 2:30. I said, well after that I will be gone, and then, it's kind of hard to talk about GK in front of GK and thats why I gave you three and a half hours notice, so I could talk to someone about it.
She said......sorry.
Whatever.
Things got worse after we got home. He wanted to go out to dinner and that was all there was to say about that.
Chinese.
He was confused and his legs and ankles were KILLING him, but he really wanted to go for dinner. (If I ever have a choice, I don't think I would ever go out for dinner again). So we went.
Mike got pulled over by a State Trooper on the way there. No tabs. Gk got them, but never put them on. Gk and Mike were not wearing seat belts. GK didn't have an insurance card in the car or in his wallet. While the trooper was running Mikes information, I thought Mike was going to cry. Just one of those how much more moments. You know, we've all had them. Then the Trooper came back with warnings and that helped.
He did give Mike a seat belt ticket though.
Off to the restaurant.
Gk's pain gets so bad that he can barely walk out of the building. I am not kidding. I gave him two pain pills. The drive home is about 20+ minutes. It's all he can do to get out of the car when we get home. Mike has to help him to sit down.
Then the confusion and halucinations start.
It was 10:00 by the time He got into bed. He wasn't upset or nervous, just out of it.
This morning he is quiet in his chair.
Out of it.
I'm calling the doctor.
Get ready for day two, round two.

Brand New Blood

Gk goes in for new blood today. I hope that will turn things around, he hasn't been doing so well. He is starting to really have some confusion, and the days are staring to get a little tougher for him. My fear is that when we go in to the hospital for blood they are going to want to keep him.
Last night after Mike and I had gone to bed, we heard this "thump, thump, thump.." Mike jumped up and it was GK at our door. He had been thumping his cane down the hall. He was pretty upset, and asked where I was. He said he had been looking for me and couldn't find me. He had talked to the man that lived upstairs (Wyatt) and he didn't know where I was either. He said he had been calling, but no one was answering their phone. Mike said, well she's right here kenny, and he looked over and saw me and was ok. He just wanted to know what time the people were going to be here to pick us up in the morning. I told him I would just go ahead and drive and he was ok with that.
We were up at 4:00 this morning. He was dressed and ready to go. Some one from the Gleaners was coming to pick him up and take him to the warehouse. I think he had already been up awhile, so I said I would sit with him and wait awhile. He took his medicine, ate some breakfast and drank some coffee and seemed to come around a bit.
He took a shower and got dressed in his going to town clothes and is now sitting in his chair with his dogs listening to Kelly Clarkson blaring on the Morning Show. Life is strange

Mike is back to work after FIVE days off. All the mills were closed last week for the holiday. I got pretty used to having him around all day, I think I might kinda miss him. He has been busy working outside, but also a big help in the house with all that's been going on.

John called this morning. We haven't heard anything from them since we had dinner last Wednesday. They used to talk every day and we would see John a couple times a week. I guess John has been busy with his own family stuff.
He said his sister was going to be here for a few days, I hope they have a nice visit and find a way to stay cool.

Wyatt's been busy stuying the planets and mermaids.
What can I say.
He gets his mind on something and it's full out. He is sooooo serious in his "studies". I guess it's time to do another video blog so he can share his knowledge with you.
I think he is going to The Carlsons for VBS in a week or so.
I hope it's not to intense on the "B". Can you imagine him coming home reciting the Bible and telling me stories of Jesus and how the earth was created in seven days by Jesus' Dad.
I can hear it now.................
Jesus and Planets and Mermaids OH MY!

DONE!

All the blogs are together again!
I feel better : )

Doesn't Fit

Ok, so ever since I moved the Blog, something just doesn't fit.
Does it seem new?
No.
I can't quite put my finger on it.
I change the color, I change the pictures, I just can't seem to get it right.
Sometimes I think, maybe I'll just go back to The Park.
No.
Then it hit me this morning.
What if I call this one the Park like I called the last one the Park.
Will it feel like the Park?
I don't know.
Maybe it's because I feel like theres a whole bunch of stuff that just got left behind.
I think that's it.
I'll work on this and let you know.

It's going to be hot today.
GK is feeling pretty bad. He had his Lupron shot on Friday, so it's going to be a rough few weeks. : (

Later.

Blah blah blah........................

Ok, lets see.
Gk and I went to the doctor yesterday. Things are all going well, but the head scratcher is the pain and swelling in his legs.
More diuretic.
I'm sure it has something to do with his heart, but it's to bad he has to feel like this. His lungs and heart sounded good though, so that's a good thing.
He goes in for a transfussion on Monday and back to the doc on Friday.
He had his thousand dollar shot yesterday and I was glad to hear they won't be giving him another one until November. It runs him down soooo much. It seems like he just recovers from the last when he get's the next.
This cancer business effin sucks.

Mike has been home from work since Wednesday.
That totally messes me up. I think it's Saturday, then Sunday, then Saturday, then Sunday, and now I just feel like he will never go back to work. Like it will always be this way
That's not to say he doesn't keep busy. Are you kidding? He can't sit still.
That would be a good reason to be happy when he goes back to work. Do, do, do do allllllll the time.
It could be worse. I know. I've had worse. I'm not really complaining. Not really, just a little.

We went swimming last night. I love to go swimming : )
We are pretty much the only parents in the pool, so it's wierd to look up and see all the Moms watching. You feel a lttile like their watching you and I always want to shout up and tell them to watch me do a flip or to time me when I have a tea party on the bottom. We just play with Wyatt and ALL the other kids. It's fun. I like it.

Ok, I have to go get a cup of coffee. I'm the only one awake. GK got up and came out to the living room, but he's asleep in his chair. Mike is sleeping in today and Wyatt is sawing logs in the big bed in the big room in the big house with the sun streaming in the big windows.
Every dog is quiet.


I think I will take a moment and appriciate my life.
We are very lucky to have each other and the wacky life we share ; )

Swum Out

Wow. Two hours of swimming.
Tired.
Late.
Blog tomorrow.

Swim In

Had a HOT busy day today and now were on our way to the POOL!
Blog later : )

Post 4

Well, rack it up to another fabulous Oregon 4th of July! We had a great time doing sparklers and stink bombs in the driveway. Even though we didn't go anyplace or watch any big show, we all still had a really good time.
Wyatt was having fun in the watered down driveway until you couldn't breathe the smokey air anymore. The weather cooled down and it was nice to sit outside and watch. I was on fire patrol and watered the driveway before and after every match was struck.
The dogs didn't enjoy the evening as much as we did. Sassy hid in GK's bedroom, Pooter laid and watched, Gizmo cruised the perimeter and George had a nervous breakdown. At one point George got out the door and ran to the back yard. Mike caught him and hoisted him onto the deck. As we were walking away, Mike heard a "thump". He turned back to see George had careened himself off the deck. We were so affraid he had hurt himself, but I think his adrenalin was so high he just bounced and was ready to run for the hills. He's a little sore this morning, but happy the noise is over with.

We went to dinner with Dohn and Jonna yesterday. GK wanted to go for chinese, but the place we go to was closed, so we went to Izzy's.
Wyatt and I love Izzy's so that was ok with us : )
GK wasn't feeling to well yesterday, and the later it got the worse he felt.
He REALLY wanted to go for dinner though.
So we did.
Izzy's is just a glorified slop and trough. Whatever you want and however much of it you can eat, topped off with a soft serve machine.
What could be better!
We left hot and full and ready for a night of fun filled festivities.
Dohn and Jonna drove GK because they have air in their Taurus and we don't. So after dinner, they brought GK home, but didn't stay long. They needed to get home to take care of their dogs. That was ok though, because GK was fading. His ankles had begun to really swell and the pain was getting bad.
He was up until midnightish because he just couldn't shake the pain.
Same story today, except his blood pressure is running higher than it should and that makes him kind of dizzy.
He has been soaking his feet in cool water and drinking lot's of water and that seems to help more than anything else.

K, thats all

Happy Fourth

Well, it looks like another hot fourth! Last year was a scorcher, this year, not so bad, but still a cooker. I think we will stay home and watch the works on t.v. Better that way to not have to fight traffic and if you fall asleep half way through, nobody spills a drink on you.
Mike and Wyatt and I went swimming last night. Fun, fun, fun! I'm telling you, if you haven't gone swimming for a while, go. Even if your fat. It feels so good, and honest to gawd, you forget your fat as soon as you get in the water. Just do it. I think I might start the fat lady swim class. The ladies are really really nice. I know this because I see the same ladies in the changing room every Tuesday.
There is a really oogy loud Mom that's there every week too. Gross. I think she is some how impaired. She screams at her kids and spits alot.
Wyatt has turned into SUPER SWIMMER. Off the diving board, down the slide swimming back from side to side. I love watching him.
Everything is going pretty good for GK.
Yesterday, not such a good day. More tired, leg and ankle pain and some swelling coming back. I hope he does ok in the heat today. Plenty of water. I know.
He just got up, and he seems to be having a hard time getting around this morning : (
His spirits are good though, he has been in a great mood since we got home on Sunday.
Last night when we drove in the driveway after swimming, he was waiting at the door for us : )

Ok, thats all

Whirlwind Weekend

Well the big surprise this weekend was we went North to the Valley!
What a weekend it turned out to be.
The best. So fun to see every one and to hard to say goodbye. So I didn't.
We rolled in to town about 9:30 Friday night and first stop was the Conway Tavern to see Wen. She had just got off shift and was sitting at the bar when I slipped in behind her and put my arms around her. She was a little creeped out and so was everyone sitting around her. She didn't know who it was and I wasn't saying anything. When she turned around and saw it was me, we both started crying and couldn't find a word to say. Then everyone around us was REALLY creeped out. Both of us crying and hugging and still not saying anything. It was pretty good and everyone was relieved to find I was her long lost Mother as opposed to some wierdo ; )
Wyatt and Pooter went home with Wen, and our next stop was Mikes Mom's to drop off two more dogs and Maddy.
We got in there by about 10:30, got Maddy setteled in and the dogs figured out and then.....it was off to Shelley and Joe's.
We tip-toed in the back door at about 11:00. All the lights were out but the t.v was on. They were watching a movie with Old Neighbor Tom. Mike and I stood quietly where the kitchen meets the living room.
Joe looked up and stared at us.
Nothing registered.
He said.."Hun, someones in our kitchen".
Nobody moved.
Joe kind of ratteled his head and said....OH F#%*# Hun!
Repeated that a bunch of times, and then Shelley got up to see who it was.
It was a good look on her face. I surprised her.
I REALLY surprised her. That was fun.
We didn't get to see everyone, because time was short. We left Early Sunday and I didn't say good-bye to anyone.
I wanted to just have the memory of a great weekend without the sad part of leaving. So, we breezed in and breezed out.
Thank you to everyone who graciously took our late night calls and evryone who was able to show up on such short notice Saturday to make a wonderful evening.
I wish we could have seen everyone (Becky), but I also understand it's hard to do without notice.

GK did well while we were gone. I think he enjoyed the quiet. I also think he was happy to see us when we got home.
I know I missed him, and was happy to have our coffee talk this morning.
We took the Poodles and George in to the Beauty Barn this morning and will be looking forward to the "before and afters" of that this afternoon.

Ok, that's all for now.

I just went out to get my camera so I could post a picture.
I DIDN"T take any.
What a retard.
Here is a picture of a rainbow we saw on the way up.

Imagine....
Our 1993 Ford Taurus wagon.
Two kids.
Three dogs.
Packed full.
On the road.

That my friends, is how I like to think of my life.
Like a well packed taurus wagon.

SURPRISE!

Gotcha!!!
I had the best weekend EVER!

Details tomorrow : )

Rainy Thursday

Didja find Justin Wilson? Maybe only I think stuff like that is funny, but I thought it was really funny.
Nothing going on today. GK and the neighbor drone worked up in the barn today. I doubt much got done, but it's good for GK to be out doing things. It makes him happy. The physical therapy guy came for his last visit and is AMAZED, as is everyone else how old the old guy is doing. Nobody understands how he makes such incredible comebacks.
The kids are upstairs cleaning. Maddy goes home this weekend, and I think Wyatt wants to go along for the ride. Kind of a bummer trip to leave here so early in the a.m and turn around and come right back. He wants to go though, so whatever.
The rain is really coming down today. Makes everything smell so good. I need to go feed the chickens and let our dogs out. The poodles are still in heat and wearing out each others backs. I told GK if they charged each other a nickel for every ride, they could buy their own dog treats for a year. It scares my dogs to death when the poodles back them in a corner and shove their ass in their face, so the boys are in protective custody at the little house. Trust me, they are happy to be there.

See Ya

Right Now

Go to an online t.v guide and find out when "Justin Wilson Lookin' Back" is on. Once you find it, TiVo it, favorite it, remind it, call in sick to work to stay home and watch it if you have to.
Whatever.
FIND IT AND WATCH IT.

On The Road Again

I'm back, and I don't even know where to begin.
The Gerbers arrived last Tuesday and it was like a whirlwind until Sunday. Five adults four kids and five dogs. The poodles went into heat pretty much as soon as the Gerbers got here. I don't know if it's something in Kelly's perfume or Lloyds aftershave, but it happened right away. You have never seen anything like it. Two female dogs stinkin and humpin and humpin and stinkin. I took our boys to the little house. Their fixed and had no idea what the hell was going on and started getting a little scared. They are still camped out next door because the poodeles are still going at it every now and again. Disgusting. GK loves his dogs though and say's that's just nature and their just doing their little thing. Nasty.
So things were kind of crazy during the Gerber stay. Different families do things different ways, and for GK who isn't used to being around ANY kind of kids or kaos, it was a real stretch for him. We all surrvived and enjoyed the visit though, and they were on their way home by Sunday afternoon.



Then came Monday.

Gk woke up.
I mean that. GK woke up. Sunday night he was sitting in his chair where he had been for the last three weeks, and using his walker to cautiously manuver every careful step he took.
Monday morning he walked out of his bedroom, standing straight, no walker, no cane. Strong and direct. He was walking around with fast and dilberate steps, bright eyed, clear headed. He put his contacts in, got dressed and told me he was going to town. He would be driving himself. In the Goatwagon.
Panick swept over me.
Here is a man who spent three weeks in the hospital, a week in a nursing home and the last three weeks in the chair fighting pain and high blood pressure.
He was going to town.
There was no stopping him.
He started out slow. A few trips to the neighbors and a spin around the pasture. Then he came in and told me to follow him to town. He was going to have a tire repaired. I loaded the kids up in the wagon. Maddy, who has only been here a little over a week said..."Marilyn, is Grampy supposed to drive"? No I told her, he isn't but he's to big to stop. Have you ever hoped to see a Sherrif? I did. I prayed that maybe a Sherrif would get between us and notice his months expired tabs. No luck.
All we needed was some background music, and it could of been a scene out of a movie. Me and the kids following the old guy to town to make sure he made it alive (and what was I supposed to do if he didn't? Be called as a witness? Yes your Honor, I knew he was driving. No he shouldn't have been driving, but it was ok because I was FOLLOWING him) So we make it to the tire store and he tells me he's fine and to go on home. I did. I didn't want to be a witness. I called Kelly and told her I was panicked and didn't know what to do. She told me not to act like Mom. That was the end of that conversation.
I called Julie and she said there wasn't much I could do. I was able to talk it out and realize there was nothing I could do.
I was worried sick. I was panicked. I was confused. I didn't know what to do. I didn't do anything.
Since then, GK has been driving ALL over. As much as he can, wherever he can, whenever he can. He was out the door by 8:30 this morning. Driving.
Who turned his switch on? What woke him up? Remember that movie with Robert DeNiro Awakenings? That's just what it's like.

Mike got the grey lawn mower that he had fixed up for me going yesterday. It needed a new battery. GK picked one up at Bi-Mart yesterday when he was in town.
You should have seen it...GK mowing the pasture on that old grey rider with the purple butterfly mounted on the grill and the orange farm caution sign on the back. He mowed for hours. We were happy to see him on the rider instead of on the road. Sheep can run faster than pedestrians.



Mike and I took the kids swimming last night. We had soo much fun. I looked pretty dang hot in my new K-Mart clearance blue skirted swim suit. It was great. Not only was I one of the thinnest girls in the pool, I was no doubt one of the prettiest.
I love Oregon City.
Wyatt goes off the diving board now. He got past the Life Guards one time and that was all it took. Now he just acts like he has always been going off the diving board. Duh.
Trust me, he is something to see.
Maddy has been the greatest, and despite our crazy living conditions is having a pretty good time. Between dogs barking their heads off every time they hear a child breathe and all the family being here she has just rolled with it.
A real trooper : )

Busy

Kelly, Lloyd and the Boys are here.
The poodles are in heat. Gross.
To busy to blog.
See ya in a few days.

Doggy Day of Beauty

I just took Gizmo (the one in the diaper who had a hemorhoid) in to the groomer. His hind end recovered well, although he was a little nerve wracked about being left at the beauty barn alone. He thought the car ride with just the two of us was fun...untill I left him. Then he cried and shook alot. I will post a picture of the new and improved Gizmo as soon as I get him back.

Well, what a weekend.
Mike and Wyatt went North to get Maddy at 4:00a on Saturday morning. Wyatt was so excited to see her, and the fact they were able to stop and see Wendy made it a golden day all around.
Poor Mike, that makes for a long day. When they got home, I couldn't believe how tall Maddy was. Unreal. She is tall and lean and very mature.
Then theres Wyatt.
A cross between a Butter-ball and a Goon-ball.
I guess it's just the difference between boys and girls. As I remember though, Wendy was the same cross as Wyatt. Maybe it's in the genes, and I am just a producer of wierdos.
Yesterday was Fathers day. I know that now. Yesterday was a different story. So was the week leading up to Fathers Day when I would have bought a gift and thoughtful card.
It was kind of ugly, because even when I did remeber it was Fathers Day, Mike didn't hear me say "Happy Fathers Day" and swears to this moment that I didn't. I did.
The kids also had the same lack of etiquette and memory. I'm still not sure who suffered more. Us, or Mike. He did take the kids to the park and fed the ducks and geese and was able to spend some fun time with the KIDS. Isn't that what it's all about? I know, I'm sounding insensitive.
I think I should have been born a man or a Jehova's Witness. Holidays, Birthdays, anniversarys, blah blah blah....they just aren't a big deal to me.
I know what your thinking. Marilyn, aren't you the one who throws YOURSELF parties and posts flyers around town for YOUR OWN party????
Well yes, I do, but I am doing it for myself. That's different. I like planning my own surprise partys, but if it were left up to me I would forget to plan someone elses surprise party, because it wasn't about me. Ask my children, I am NOT a good other people party or event person.
Now listen. I think it takes a VERY big person to admit this about themselves. I am aware of my own self-involvement and am the first to admit it. On the other hand, I also feel like I am a very appreciative person and will be the first to call just to say I'm thinking about you. For no reason at all. I prefer to tell people how I feel about them when the mood strikes and the time is right as opposed to when the Hallmark people say I should. See?
It may also have something to do with the fact that I am HORRIBLE about remembering dates.
Anywho, it doesn't matter. I blew Fathers Day and I feel really bad about it. But it's like I told Mike, he will remember this Fathers Day above all others because I forgot it. Isn't that the whole point? To have a memorable day? I thought so.

GK has been feeling pretty good. No more foot or knee pain : ) Either the prednisone kicked in or the lasix is working. Either way, he feels better. Still having some blood pressure problems, but the doctor is working on it. He is getting his exercise by having to go to the bathroom so often, but the doesn't seem to mind.
So that's the weekend wrap-up.
See ya.

Dr. Day

I'm kind of tired. We were up at 3:ish this morning. Gk got up and didn't want to hang out alone so we watched some t.v and dozed until the sun came up : )
He had a doctor apt at 12:40. That went really well except for the point when the Doctor asked him why he didn't go into the Hospital for his high blood pressure yesterday. Gk pointed at me and said, "well doc, you know I don't drive much any more, she must have forgot". Ya, sure I did. He wouldn't go. Lucky for me the doctor knew better and just gave GK the stink eye I know your lyin' look and moved on. So, he put him on a diuretic to reduce the swelling in his ankles and feet and bring down his blood pressure.

Then we came home and I got to watch General Hospital and see how the lawn mower Mike fixed up for me (I'll take a picture) turned out.
Then it was time to go back to town for his x-ray and MRI.
Gk has to take "prescription relaxation" to deal with the "tube".
To say the least he is entertaining when medicated.
On the way home in the car, he found a half eaten package of cotton candy pop rocks. He finished off the whole package and was left wanting more. Pretty funny to see your doped up Grampy chomping on pop rocks smelling of cotton candy saying..."say, these are pretty good. Think we can get some more of these somewhere"?
So right now, he's heading farther out into left field. The medication takes six to eight hours to wear off. He just sent Mike to town to pick up a half carton of cigerettes. He hasn't smoked in over twenty years ; )
I think Mike will more than likley just come home with some burgers and fries.

See Ya!

Hemorhoid

Today has been one of those days.
Kind of stressed..
It has been one of those days that when you think everything is fianally ok you find out that your dog has a hemorhoid and his ass is bleeding a little bit and you have to give him a bath and a Preperation H suppository and make a diaper out of your sons old underpants, a cut up maxi-pad and some packaging tape.

One of those days..

Teeth

I bet you thought this was going to be about me and my teeth huh? Well, you were wrong.
Yesterday I made GK and Wyatt corn dogs for lunch (deep fried, not baked, mmmmm) and GK forgot there was a stick in the dog. He bit down and loosend his bottom front tooth. : ( He said it didn't hurt and he could wiggle it with his tongue or really get a good back and forth with his finger. I told him to be careful, no blood on the rug. It was decided that the best thing to do was go to the dentist. I called and they were able to get him in right after general Hospital. Perfect timing.
We got there and he went back in the room and just a few minutes later Dr Doug came out and said it needed to be pulled.
It needed to be pulled, but he couldn't do it. He needed to see an Oral Surgeon. Ok, call one. He did. So up the street we went to have his tooth yarded out. Easy sneezy. GK said it didn't bother him a bit. Me, I would of been a blubbering puddle on the floor.
Gk says it's not so bad because now he has a good spot for a straw when he drinks a soda : )

I went in this morning to have my tooth done. With valium and gas, the expierence wasn't so bad. I had to lie about taking the valium, because Dr. Doug said I couldn't have both. I decided what he doesn't know can't hurt him, and obviously it didn't hurt me either. I have to go BACK in two weeks to have the real tooth put on. That's what I thought I was going in for today. Wrong.
Today I just got another temp tooth while the lab makes the "real" tooth. Whatever.





Want to hear somethng gross?

Yesterday Mike trimmed back a big hawthorne bush and got a "thorn" in his knee. He kept working and cutting for another hour or so and just ignored the thorn utill he came inside. He sat down with a pair of tweezers to pull it out........it was shoved in all the way to the fat end of the thorn and when the tweezers slipped off it sounded like pulling on a chicken bone.
Gross. It was about an inch long and pointy and GROSS. When he got it out, it bled like a mother for a long time. He put a bunch of Bactine on it so it won't get infected. If it does get infected, I'll for sure take a picture.

Bye

Soap

Heres my idea.
I'm going to make soap.
I'm going to learn how to make it and then give it to everyone I know and then they will tell everyone they know how great the soap is and then they will want some too.
I'm going to make it in the little house because I have a big stove over there and I can smell the place up and it won't bother anyone.
I'm not going to make stinky hippy soap, I'm going to make cool soap. I think I'll make soap that smells like food.
Or at least soap that smells fun. I think I'll make soap with stuff inside too. Surprise soap. So say your my friend and you like cats. I would put a little cat inside your soap. Good idea huh.
If I'm good at making soap and ever go into business I will call my business "Bubbles".
Enough about me.

Gk is still having a bad time. Yesterday we went to pick up a new prescription for pain. It isn't working. I think it's pretty heavy duty stuff, but it just isn't working. Friday he goes in for an MRI, but what about until then? He has been in constant pain for almost two weeks. I just don't understand why it has to be that way.
The physical therapist was here today, and even he said he can't come back until the pain is controlled and they find out what is causing it.
I think I will call the Doctor again.

I'm not sick anymore.
Tomorrow my tooth will be fixed.

Say Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Great.
My temp filling just fell out.
I'm going to the dentist at 8:00am Wednesday.


Here's a picture of the piece that fell out.



Here's a picture of where it used to be.

Oogy Deux

I don't understand. I am still feeling like crap. Anyone have any ideas? Advil seems to be the only thing that helps, and I have pretty much given up the idea of ever eating again. Last night I was feeling better and thought I could handle some baked chicken and green salad. Wrong. I was in HORRIBLE pain untill about 1:30 this morning. Remember last Tuesday I thought it was nerves because I had the dentist apt. Wrong.
So it seemed as though I had just gone to sleep when I hear GK's walker rollin down the hall. For a minute I thought I was dreaming, but then I remembered this happening last week. He got to my door, peered his head around and said..."hey Marilyn, you awake"? I roll over and he say's..."I just didn't know but if maybe you wanted to wake up". I look over and say..."oh my gosh, yes, I'm really glad you checked on me. Oh look, it's almost 5:00, I might have slept all day". He say's, "well that's why I thought I would check on you, I didn't know if you wanted to get up or not, I just thought I'd check. But say listen, since your up, you want some coffee"? So we begin our day.
It sounds like I'm complaining, but I'm not. I love the time with him, and think I'm blessed with every minute of it. I just wish the minutes would start a little later in the morning : )

GK has been in terrible pain for the last two weeks. His ankles and right knee hurt him so bad he can hardly stand, let alone walk. The Doc put him on prednisone, but as of yet, no results. His ankles swell so bad that his skin get's shiny like turtle wax on a hot day. The vicodin barely seems to help unless he takes two every three hours. He can't take anything else, because he has really bad side effects from so many things. We try ice, elevation, and nothing seems to help.
I feel so bad for him : (

Ok, the doctors office just called. They are going to call back again later. The Doctor thinks maybe GK should go in for an MRI. That involves a little "Mothers Little Helper". GK has issues with the "tube"
Why is there an "an" before MRI? I thought there was only an "an" before words that started with an "a" or an "e" or an "i".
I'm sure I'm wrong. Or dumb, could be either one.
Think about it...you would be "an" idiot, not "an" moron. You would be "a" moron.
Great, now my mind has wandered to a place that's hard to back out of. No "you" turns. Do not pass.

Dogs are barking, gotta go

Happy Anniversary

Today is the second anniversary of my sixth marriage to the fifth man.
It's hard to believe. It seems like our tenth or more anniversary, and like I was never married to anyone else. Wierd.

Kind of a quiet day around here. GK has been in his bed resting most of the morning. Wyatt is cleaning his room, and Mike went to run some errends in town.
GK's legs and knee's are really hurting him. Pain pills and prednisone don't seem to help much. I feel so bad for him. I am going to call the doctor first thing in the morning and tell him they need to come up with something better. I can't imagine there isn't something else that will relieve the pain.

Kelly made it to Bellingham with the boys. They are going to Log Show today, and Lloyd will be in late tonight or early morning tomorrow. From Bellingham I think they will go to the Island to see the Carlsons, and then down here for a visit and then home. I bet Lloyd will be happy to be home.
GK's up.
Gotta go.

Happy Anniversary Mike ; )

Ooogy

Bad Tooth

I should be doing dishes. I think I'll do this instead. If I sit here and look intent on something, maybe everyone will think I'm doing banking or something. I'll be sure to let out a heavy sigh every now and again.

I had a crappy day today.
I had a dentist apt at 12:00. I woke up sick and it just got worse. It was so bad, I had "back sweat". I don't know if that's something only fat people get or if it happens to everyone who's losing their mind. As it got closer to the time to leave, the sicker I got. My Mom showed up at about 11:00 to drive me to town. They told me I would need a driver. We got half way there and had to turn around and come home so I could swallow some more stomache medicine. I was hoping she would just tell me to call and cancel. Everyone knows my Mother doesn't have a lot of tolerance. I think maybe she was getting some sick satisfaction from my misery....you know, like maybe she considered it payback for when I was a pain in the ass in 1983. Anywho, lucky for me I had written down the apt time wrong and I was already to late. Bummer.
Ok, so I have to go pick up another round of anti-biotics (the third) and go back in on the 18th. They also prescribed Valium. Quite a bit of it. I am to start taking it the night before my apt.
Whatever.

Gk is doing pretty good today. He is still having really bad swelling in his ankles and pain in his feet and knees. He is on his third day of prednisone and not noticing much of a difference yet. A physical therapist came to the house yesterday and will be back tomorrow. I don't know how PT will help with the swelling, he needs to just put his feet up. Try telling him that. I mean he knows, it's just getting him to do it.
Tomorrow afternoon we go in for his Lupron shot. That's the hormone shot for his cancer. It cost's a thousand dollars, so after he gets it we all joke around about GK and his "Golden Ass".
I made him and Wyatt sack lunches today to have while I was gone. Wyatt ended up going with us and GK ate most of his before I left. He is steadily gaining, when he got home his weight was downt to 171, now he's at 187. Still my goal weight, but great for him. He still has ten or so to go, but he's getting there.

Wyatt had his first day of summer vacation today. He cleaned his room. Did you see it on his blog yesterday? It looked like my room before I married Mike : )
He spent quite a bit of time in the pasture tonight looking at the dead sheep. It's been dead for almost a month now, so it looks more like a sheep skin rug with a skull that stinks. He thinks it's pretty cool.

I really need to go do the dishes now.
See Ya

New Blood

Wow. Busy two days.
Yesterday we got Wyatt off to school and took the dogs (poodles) in to the groomer. When we got home, GK's ankles were swollen and KILLING him. We called the doctor and made an apointment. We had to go all the way across town to get to his Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday office. We had to use a wheelchair to get in the buuilding and up to his office. The doctor got a look at him and thinks it may have to do with his heart problems, the swelling anyway. He can't take a diuretic to take the fluid off though because his kidneys are still to dehydrated from the last round. Then there's the pain....it is so bad, it hurts just to stand .
So, Prednisone.
It has it's oogy side effects, but I guess it's better than the alternative.
So we head home, stop in the pharmacy only to find out nothing has been called in yet.
Go get the dogs.
Thats way the other way out.
We get the dogs and the groomer tells us the little one has a bad eye and needs to go to the vet.
We get home, call the vet and they say eye problems are bad news and we need to come in asap. We go in to the vet's office and sit and wait for an HOUR with half the dogs in the county. Stinky.
The vet looks at her eye and thinks she may been poked by grass or something outside. By this time the smell was gagging me and when I mentioned it, she said she should maybe check Ashley's anal glands. Sweet JESUS! Not the anal glands. Don't even SAY anal glands when I'm already so close to gagging. But not only did she say it, she did it. Gross.
Lucky for me, Ashley was not having any anal gland malfunctions.
Ok, so now we head to town to pick up GK's medicine and then home for dinner. I bbq'd burgers and they turned out really good. I was tired and GK was still hurting really bad and Mike had to get up at butt:crack o'clock to haul groceries to the coast today, so we all went to bed early.

We went in for a blood transfusion today. GK's legs and feet still killing him. He started the prednisone this morning, but it will take a day or two to kick in. We had to go to the lab first and then into day surgery where they have nice chairs and tv's set up. The transfusion takes between four to six hours. Once they got the blood going, I went to get the tabs for my car.
The DMV looks like Ellis Island.
Give us your poor, your tired and your taco's.
Good Lord.
I was there forever.
Then I went to Mom's to drop off her doggy playpen she forgot here last week. I got to see her new furniture and all her new landscaping.
She made me a little something to eat as I was suffering from low blood sugar.
Then I came home to get GK's med list that no one told me I would need. That's when I got the e.mail from Kate telling me the Texas Jackass was losing his house. My day suddenly got better. : )
As I started back to town I drove past a flat cat on the road. It was ours. I got kinda sick.
By the time I got back to the hospital with some Oreos (by the way, that was the name of our newly flattened cat)
and a coke for GK, General Hospital was on.
We sat there in the hospital, eating cookies, drinking coke-a-cola watching GH.
Life is good when your spending time with a friend.
By the time we got home, the flat cat had been removed from the road. That's a good thing.
It turns out, Wyatt got home from school early today, but "enjoyed the time to himself".
I asked how the kittens were and he said fine, Oreo and the kittens were upstairs sleeping.
I said "what"
He said..."Oreo and the kittens are upstairs sleeping"
I said...."No, Oreo got hit by a car"
He gave me the retard look and told me to go upstairs and see for myself.
Oreo and the kittens were upstairs sleeping.

I'm going to go start dinner.
Maybe later I'll go upstairs and play with the kittens and their Mother.

Sunday Evening

Well, another weekend on the Ranch winds to an end. The weather has cooled and the wind is starting to blow.
We had another busy day today, with John over finishing the floor this morning, Mike cleaning the garage and I cleaned the little house. Mike also took the old screen in the door in to be fixed and did some finish up grocery shopping in town. The little house is a nightmare. So much stuff and nowhere to put it. GK really wants to rent it out, but first we have to empty it and have the roof repaired. We showed it to two couples today. The top two. I didn't care for either of them. The first couple was really pushy. More like they were buying the farm instead of renting the house. Nope.
The other couple was young, and she has a roomate with two kids and he has a kid from another woman that he has on weekends.
Nope.
I think I will try and talk GK into waiting until the roof is finished to pursue renters.
We had bbq porkchops with a fresh green salad (spun dry), scalloped spuds and corn for dinner. Yum.
I need to get GK's ice cream ready and Wyatt out of the tub.
Soprano's tonight, school in the morning.

Later

Some Like it Hot

I am so flippin hot, I don't know how I'm going to make it through the summer. I think I need to buy a bikini at K-Mart tomorrow. I could just walk around the house in a bikini top and a sarong. Not a thong...sarong. Maybe not. GK is still recovering from a heart episode, I don't want to throw him into another. Could you imagine....what seemed to be the cause of Mr.Fahrenholz's stress? Well you see Doc, it was hot outside so I decided to put my bikini on. My Grampy got one look, threw up a little in his mouth, and that was it. The big one. I can't carry that kind of bikini burden.

We had a very busy day today. It started early when John came to finish the floor. I was making waffles, GK was eating waffles and John was contemplating the state of the floor. Molding. The floor has been finished for quite a while, GK has just been waiting for John to "finish" the finish work. Things were looking good, like it may just get done. There was a problem with the liquid nails. They didn't hold. So maybe tomorrow he will "finish" the finish work. Mike went and bought a differt kind of liquid nails for him. Cross your fingers.
Mike went to license the wagon. He passed DEQ and raced to DMV, but couldn't get the tabs because I had to sign for them. Dumb huh? I will go get them Monday.
While he was gone I cleaned 84 chicken eggs to take to my Mother to sell in her apartment complex. She already has buyers lined up, and for a couple bucks a dozen that will buy our feed.
Then we went to K-Mart and bought a salad spinner because Julie said EVERYONE needs a salad spinner. Now I have one.
Then we went to Costco and stocked up like Mormans. No offense Lindy, Mormans are prepared for anything.
Then we went to Target to buy bags for the seal a meal to save everything we bought.
Then we went to Home Depot and bought a tomatoe plant.
Then we went to Albertsons and got GK's medicine and some salad dressing to put atop ournewly soon to be dried salad.
Then we went to Blockbuster and got The Good Shepard and some Wallace and Gromit.
Then we came home.
Then we went to the Pink Feather for prime rib, Gk's treat.
Pretty nice.
I think the 80 year old waitress had her eye on GK.
Then Wyatt and I played ball in the yard and did his video blog.

Such a nice day.....only to end with a call from Jackass in Texas.
I think were done with him. I ended the call by telling him that from now on I only wish to speak with his attorney.
Since he hasn't worked for over three months and leads us to believe he wipes his ass with pages from the sears catolog because he's to broke to buy toilet paper, it may be awhile before we make contact.

Wyatt has business on the computer and I have a reservation in the smoking section on the deck.

See ya tomorrow

Good Morning

Another beautiful day, maybe not so hot though. That would be a good thing. I am to fat for hot : (
Everyone is feeling good today, except maybe for Wyatt who did NOT want to go to school today. You can see the exchange on his new blog. Never the less he got out the door and on the bus. Shannon is usually a good bargaining tool. No school, no Shannon. He seems to be adjusting well to the new digs upstairs. He plays outside more too. I'm not sure why, but things feel more comfortable now than ever.
Gk is still so happy to be home. He is always commenting on how good the air feels and smells. He loves looking out at the green pastures and thinks of all the things he can do again now that he's home.
He had a nice phone visit with Betty from the Coast last night. I think it put the lid on his normal life. Talking to old friends while sitting in your favorite chair. It doesn't get much better than that.
Kelly called to say she bought her new computer. YEAY! We are all Mac'er's now (Thanks J) and that means when Kelly gets good internet we can all three video chat (prison talk). I can't wait

Gk is getting ready to get in the shower. Doctor day. I'm sure we will be in for another glowing report. I still can't believe how great is doing compared to how bad he was. Unbelievable. Then we'll stop by the eye doctor and have his new glasses adjusted and then swing in to BK for a flame broiled burger. He's been thinking about that since he opened his eyes this morning.
Mom is coming out for dinner tonight, I think she is bringing a bucket of KFC. She has been planning a visit since he came home, but things kept coming up, so tonight's the night.

A lady just called about the little house. Gk wants to fix the roof and rent it starting in July. He wanted me to list it right away so we could have a good spread of people to choose from. I have recieved almost a hundred responses, about twelve good ones and one really really really good one. They will be out tomorrow to check things out. GK is pretty excited.
So, things are moving forward here on the ranch.
Life is good.

Wyatt

Wyatt is the new blog

www.wyattparks.blogspot.com

Home

Wow, it's been a long month, but my neighbor/new roomate is home.
Gk went into the hospital May 7th. There were many days we wondered if he would ever be able to come home again. He is one of the strongest men I have ever met. Kind of like a cat with nine lives. When I told him we had called a chaplain in to bless him because we didn't think he would make it through the night, he just looked at me and smiled. Maybe he just wanted to pull through so he could live with me, my Husband, eight year old son and three dogs. Whatever the reasons, he is sooo happy to finally be home and seems to be feeling really well. I love being in this house with him, and Mike say's he feels more comfortable now than he has in the last year. I think it's better to be here in the house with him because you don't worry about something happening when your gone. With Grammy, I always felt like Gk could call if they needed me, but when he is here alone, it's different.
We had a big welcome home dinner last night with Birthday cake and ice cream for dessert. We all sat around and talked and laughed and later it was like going to sleep on Walton's Mountain. Good-nights echoing through the house.
We have all five dogs in the house, and let me tell you....you have never seen a fatter, lazier bunch of dogs in your life. If their not eating, their sleeping.


Julie was here to help us move, and I have to say, if she hadn't come we never would have been able to do it. The woman is a machine. If she's not doing, she's thinking of doing, and always thinking of better ways to do what needs to be done. Everything went so smoothly and we had a fun time together.
Thanks J : )


So, I have laundry to do and lunch to make.
I also need to start really cleaning the little house, GK wants to fix the roof and rent it out. Soon.

C ya

Wyatt

video

I'm Back!

I'm online again!!!
I'm on my way to get GK so I will fill in the blanks this afternoon : )
The Neighbor is coming HOME!......except now he's my roomate!! : )

See Ya

Moving Day : )