The Adventures of Being Me

Heard from my niece that she received her insurance card last Friday to go with her first teaching job. Today she received a letter from the insurance company refusing any coverage until August of next year b/c of her preexisting condition. What? She has diabetes needing insulin shots 3 times a day and blood sugar testing strips used 3 times a day, she can't go without coverage for a full year. What if she ended up in a hospital?, she can't afford that on what she gets paid. I swear insurance is the worse curse bestowed on mankind. She concludes she will speak to her people tomorrow about it. I hope everything works out for her.

Chased Frodo all over the apartment once he saw the cat carrier. Moved the couch, end table, climbed under 2 beds to discover cat vomit under the guest bed, and finally when he crawled under the cat hamock, I picked it up and grabbed him. Held him in the middle with both arms with his legs hanging down so he can't grab my shirt for leverage to jump off. He bit me under the guest bed and after my harsh "Frodo" next time he pawed at me instead of scratching. We had a magic moment of petting as I tried to brush off the cobwebs off his whiskers. Then it was back grabbing and hissing. Into the carrier and now Precious is hiding from me behind a chair. Clean up the cat vomit from under the guest bed and put my shoes on. Vet office is under construction from their expansion (at least somebody in this economy is expanding). Little girl asks what is wrong with my cat panting like crazy. He is terrified cause he knows what is about to happen. Pet inspection says he is in good h...

Hooray!!! After years of trying and finally giving up, Snap!, my cousin's wfe is pregnant and due in Feb. Not the one who had a baby last spring, a different cousin's wife. I wish I could Snap! and get a job. They say the Lord works in mysterious ways.

Interview done for a job helping adults with disabilities live independently. I can do that. Got a note on the door from the apartment that the guy who unclogged my sink said the problem was kitty litter. That probably explains why the Drano didn't work. It is the sink I was my hands after scooping the poop out. And if it happens again I will be charged for the service. OK, will be using Wet Wipes to clean my hands. Last night while walking Precious outside, 2 Mormons approach and petted my kitty. Then they want to talk about their beliefs. I was polite and declined. They gave a pamphet and I tossed it in the garbage when I got back inside. Today is babysitting while sister does somethng at her school. Kids met their teacher the other day and all excited to go to school. Ah youth, in a few years they will hate school. Update: Got reject email from interview person saying they wanted more experience. Had adventures in babysitting with nephew running around turning on...

Had to call maintence for a clogged sink. I poured in Drano the night before and night before that, and day before that, and yet it is still clogged. Lady said she hates it when renters use Drano cause it ruins the pipes and burns the maintence crews. Sorry, the bottles say safe on pipes. So anyway, guy shows up to inspect the Drano still in the sink and will call Rotor Reuter people to vacuum the pipe. Another guy shows and runs his machine, cute too. Unclogged for now. We shall see how long it stays that way.

Go to sister's house for laundry as usual. Hugs and kisses for the kids. Niece wants to watch a movie loan I brought over, but can't separate from the computer's YouTube of a lady making cakes in different shapes. Nephew wants to watch last week's loan he likes. He needs exposure to other movies. So watch niece's choice and nephew goes back and forth helping husk corn and watching the movie. Time for dinner and niece's cries she wasn't done with her YouTube program. She can pause and watch it later. I sense an addiction to YouTube programs. Pork Chops and corn on the cob eaten on the picnic table since it was beautiful day. I hear all about their visit to State Fair yesterday and all things they did. Strawberry Shortcake for dessert and I introduced nephew to a milkshake I made. Niece wants some but I explain she knows what milkshakes taste like. Niece wants back on the computer, but Daddy is on it for work (newspaper man who often writes articles fr...

Had my water turned off in the middle of my shower while rinsing my hiar. Dripped all over the bathroom with shampoo burning my eyes. Used the water in the toliet tank to finish my hair.

Stupid question: Is it just me or is Mom getting ash trays for coasters weird? Worse yet, she can't figure out that they are ash trays. I thought the rim with places for cigarettes would be a clue. I bought her real coasters after her protest she doesn't need to buy coasters, but needs new coasters to set her drinks on. Drove Mom to her house, finished sister project, helped fill dumpster, made a charity run, checked all turned off, and drove Mom to her apartment. Then waited looking at old photos until time to eat a free supper at a bar and grill. Then went home to walk cat, pulled him off a tree limb cubby hole, carried him home, and now ready for bed. How was your day?

Spent about 3 hours in the pool. The snack jello I packed melted and nephew drank it like juice. Niece eventually got all the way into the pool (once I refused any requests like singing the Jaws theme or do a somersault). The water reached her chest so she was assured she will not drown. She clung to the edge in fear and eventually let go. She wished Mom who left for a massage was there, this was her first time standing in the pool instead of sitting on the steps in fear. We took a picture. Nephew enjoyed tossing the beach ball and niece mastered hitting it back like a volleyball (like I was doing). Then I checked the watch and thought we better leave. Sister took us out for dinner as a thank you for babysitting (and nephew tearing my apartment to pieces which I had to put back). We had a good time. Sister liked my hair. I bet she really hates it b/c I cut it myself, but learned to tell any woman her hair looks nice or she will get upset. Anyway, walked Precious in the dark when it got...

Babysat niece and nephew so their parents could enjoy an Anniversary dinner. 12 years. Wore the kids out outside playing baseball, tennis, soccer, and frisbee. Then watched TV and played with new toys from birthday party. Then it was time for bed. Kids did good job dressing themselves and running around naked. They brushed their teeth without fuss. Storytime was more difficult. Nephew had to test niece's boundaries in her room (spitting on her and hitting her with an electrical cord) leading me to do a timeout. Next parents came home so they took it from there. No tiger toy in bed, no Mommy laying by him, and no good-bye hug from Auntie as his punishment. Next walked Precious until it started raining. Poor kitty. Today I chopped 7 inches off my hair. I got tired of a ponytail. Then sister wants to take the kids swimming in my apartment pool so she can see what I did. I think I'll go to a hairdresser later on to give my hair layers I like so much, that I have trouble doing o...

Went grocery shopping today and pick up a gift and card for my Mom to give for new nephew's birthday party. Mom didn't know if she should bring a gift and didn't know how to sign the card. I think the summer heat fried her brain: You sign the card as Grandma since your daughter's son is your grandson. All the grocery store toys were movie themed and I didn't know if he had seen all these movies, so got bath toys for Mom to give. I had gotten books for him earlier in the week. Got home, wrapped gift, gathered a selection of cards for Mom to choose from, and enjoyed the begginning of a Julia Roberts marathon on TV. Drove over to pick her up, dropped off copies of photos I had ordered for her, and she picked a card. Went to sister's house for dinner, cake, and all the kids opened gifts. Then it was bedtime for the little ones. Tried to navigate the construction to Mom's place and then home. It was a good day.

Went over sister's to do laundry. Nephew was playing with Play-doh and Niece was watching TV. Brother-in-law signed a bill from the plumber and Sister was at an appointment. Ate my lunch and grabbed a piece of Nephew's birthday cake. Niece can't find her daddy to ask permission to eat cake too. I tell her to yell his name real loud, it always worked for me. He says no so nephew tries to swipe the frosting to have me pull it away. My cake. Play with Nephew so Niece has to be involved. So play with both and stop to fold laundry. Nephew starts handing me my clothes out of the basket and then starts tossing them all over the couch. I call my niece and ask her to play with him so I can get my clothes folded and put in the basket. Back to Play-doh. Laundry done, it's time for me to leave. Off to hang up pictures my aunt insisted I do at Mom's apartment. Aunt neglected to inform Mom I was coming. She just got back with groceries and her new TV stand. Uncle, aunt, and b...

Took niece school shopping. My aunt bored at my Mom's apartment wanted to come along and meet nephew. I was expecting a teacher school supply list to go shopping. What I got was 2 envelopes of coupons with her lists written on all four sides for a discount store and grocery store. I said School Shopping, not Everything in the House Shopping. Even better I got a phone interview scheduled for this afternoon that I made last night. We are pressed for time. Aunt thought we were clothes shopping and recommended the cheapest kids clothes she ever found store, but have to go to the sales rack. I think the sales rack in any stores are fairly equal in price, but we are not clothes shopping. Aunt was confused what we were going to do. School supplies, notebooks, pencils, glue, etc. Oh, now she gets it. Sister says my niece and nephew have clothes for school. She buys clothes as needed not only when school starts. I said most of clothes come from garage sales anyway. So off we go and it ...

Saw cousin's baby and wife yesterday with my nieces, sister, Mom, and aunt. I remembered to take pictures this time. Showed nephew pictures on my camera. Ordered graduation and confirmation pcitures from last year for Mom and aunt. Today I celebrated my nephew's appointed birthday today at the zoo (his birthday is unknown so it was appointed based on the estimation of age when dropped off at the orphanage). Sister paid my way to say thank you for all my help. Nephew is camera shy while niece is a born model. He liked to get in my lap and hold my hold my hand. At the bird show I donated $1 bills to give birds that place them in a slot for Condor Conservation. We had a good day. My aunt had to call to complain about dragging her feet at every step she must do. That's Mom, won't do anything until the last minute and then has a panic attack making the smallest decision. She has to be pushed to get anything done. Tomorrow is school shopping with niece and later a ph...