Poor niece

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.

Frodo's vet visit

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 health at 13.1 lbs. Good, same as last year. Pay our bill and go home. Cats hide for about an hour and then come out to eat their treats I laid out for them. Back to normal until next year's vet visit.

WoooooHooooo

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

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 lights, then quietly played niece's Leapster. When I was in the bathrom he began drinking from my soda pop bottle. I had to wrestle it from him with niece helping me. Niece definately has Youtube addiction. She explores videos and watches them nonstop. I played her favorite movie and she paid no attention to it. Tonight was ballet recitals and girls playing with new toys.

Bad Drano

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.

Adventures in Laundry

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 from home). She freaks out and yells at her Daddy to get off HER computer. Sister scolds her for yelling at her father and not allowed anymore computer tonight since she had been on it for 4 hours during the day. Sister gets out flashcards for niece and nephew and Daddy continues whatever he was doing. I get my laundry folded and ready to go. Sister asks if I'm trying to Disney-fy her son. Of course, Disney is everywhere in clothing and toys so better off knowing what the pictures are from. Kids will think he is an alien from outer space.



Came home. Walked the cat. Now off to bed.

Drip, drip, nothing

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.

What a day

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?

Pool time

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 cooler and now it is starting to rain again. Time for bed.

Adventures in babysitting

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 on myself.

Birthday party

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.

Activity today

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 brother are there too. TV stand set up and pizza eaten, it is time to hang pictures. This is an overwhelming task for Mom to decide where 10 picture frames go. Aunt offers suggestions. I pound the nails. Ask if she is bringing up the large picture frame Dad had made with our childhood portraits in it. Oh no, it is too heavy to carry. Not if someone else is doing the carrying. OK, we can get it next time we go to her house. Remind Mom when doing her dishes to use dishwasher soap in her washer after the England incident (Mom put in regular dish soap in the resort kitchenette's dishwasher and suds leaked out onto the floor b/c she didn't know there was a difference).



Off to home to walk Precious. Frodo sneaked out when I came in the door. I shut the door and reopened it to encourage his fear to come back in. He is slowly brave enough to walk passed the threshold, but when I shut the door he wants back in. Poor Frodo. Off to bed.

School shopping

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 would be nice if sister did not organize her list by On Sale, Coupon, and Not On Sale. I like Health, School, Bath, Toys sections on a list when hunting for these things. We dropped off prescription for sister and aunt had to question the number of bottles. The 2nd bottle was if they didn't have the 1st med, we are not getting both. Then had to upset niece b/c coupon picture didn't match what she picked out. We have to get the item on the coupon to use it.



School was easier than health and cleaning sections. Niece picked out a backpack for herself and brother. I selected the crayons and glue sticks. I wonder if my sister is also buying for herself, she is a school librarian. Had trouble with markers and scissors. Markers were to be Bold colored. There are no Bold markers, they have Bright and Classic. Scissors were not the right size. 6 inch is on the list, but can only find 5 inch and 7 inch. There no pencil boxes my niece liked, she wanted a glitter pencil pouch. I don't know if that is what the teacher had in mind.



Then pick up prescription and worried aunt is going to give the clerk a clue I'm not the person on the bottle and using sister's credit card. She can't stop talking while clerk is explaining the important info on the med. We luck out until the 10% reward coupon doesn't scan. Aunt is impatient b/c we need to go. She even bagged the supplies in my sister's canvas bags we brought to speed things up. Explain the pharmacy person did something to get it through so clerk had to call them to find out what they did. Problem solved, carried supplies to sister's house and I went home to await my phone interview. Aunt was worried I wasn't going to make it.



Phone interview done, return to sister's to finish the shopping. I'm jobless so have nothing better to do. Aunt went with brother-in-law to do the grocery store shopping. Niece wanted to watch TV instead of hanging out with me. I try to return the wrong items, but sister forgot to put the receipt with it so can't return items w/out an ID. Ok, put items back in the car so I don't get accused of shoplifting. Finish shopping and call sister to double check what I'm suppose to get. Visit another store for items 1st store didn't have. Back to sister's.



Aunt and brother-in-law are there. Aunt said she wanted to see my apartment, but my sister calls it a culture shock b/c aunt is a neat freak. I'm the opposite. Now aunt doesn't want to come. So sister's family will drive Aunt back to Mom's, return items after sister found receipt in the wrong bag, and get silverware for Mom I forgot to get for her. Sister's list was too long to remember things not written. So now Aunt and Mom get to meet nephew. I went home, took Precious for a walk, and got ready for bed.



Tomorrow Aunt insisted I put Mom's photo frames b/c she will never get around to it.

Busy week

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 phone interview for yet another job. Crossing my fingers. I just wonder if I have to be living in a cardboard box down by the river with no hope at all before an employer feels sorry enough for me to give me a job. I'm broke, I will take any job I am capable of doing no matter what it pays. I just want it before I'm homeless.