The Median Sib

I finished up my dental work this morning.  Fun fun!  I had the nitrous oxide thing on my nose and made sure to breath deeply throughout. If I’m going to go the drug route, I want to make sure I get maximum benefits.  I’m not sure what the N.O. does except perhaps make me a little more relaxed. I was aware of the shots and drilling and file-poking, but it didn’t seem like a major deal at the time - which is a major improvement over my former attitude at the dentist. The dentist finished the root canal from last time - what DO they do with those files?  I have no clue what the procedure is, but I see those files and it just sends shivers through my spine.  Then he drilled and filled two cavities on the other side of my mouth.  That resulted in my walking out with both sides of my mouth numb.  I had difficulty talking clearly, and my smile looked more like a grimace. 

I took care of a couple errands on my way home, and then took a three-hour nap!  I’m sure going to miss summer vacation when school starts next week!  I woke up with the numbness gone but the soreness will probably last a few more days. 

Resolution:  I WILL brush and floss my teeth religiously multiple times each day so I won’t have to go through this experience again for a long time.

RT and I are babysitting Sunshine and Sweet Stuff this weekend.  I’m very tired right now.  However, that’s not the topic of this post.

The other day I wrote about an email my daughter sent me telling me about a bedtime battle she had with Sweet Stuff.  Sweet Stuff wanted to sleep in the play room, and my daughter was determined to stick to the rules that the girls sleep in their own rooms on school nights. 

Last night Sweet Stuff decided it was time to spill the beans and tell on her mommy.

We (RT, me, Sweet Stuff and Sunshine) had just started home from Kroger, and her little voice came from the back seat, “Grandma Carol, your baby was mean to me.”

“My baby?”  I asked.  I had no babies that I knew of.

“Yes.  Your child - your daughter - my mommy.”

“Your mommy was mean to you?”

“Yes!  She made me very angry.  She hurt my feelings.”

Sweet Stuff went on to “tell on” her mommy - giving me exactly the same story I had received in the email.  Her feelings were hurt because she didn’t get her way.  It was obvious that she wanted me and RT to do something about this grave injustice.  How should I handle this ?

“Sweet Stuff, you know your mommy loves you very much and she just wanted you to get a good night’s sleep.”

“I could sleep good in the play room,” she replied.

“Well, if your mommy made you angry and hurt your feelings, you need to talk to her about it.  She’ll understand and she’ll talk with you about it,” I said.

“Oh!”  Long pause as she thought that over for a few minutes, and then she started telling me about how her friend, Connor, at school had hurt her feelings (Can you tell she’s five years old when “hurt feelings” are the main topic of converstion - for girls anyway?)  Then she stopped and said, “But I will talk to him about that.”

Now if ONLY she can remember that lesson and talk to people when she feels wronged and express her feelings.  Wow!  Here I am at 56 and I’m still working on that skill.

Beth at Blue Star Chronicles tagged me with the THREES meme.  So. . . here goes:

Here are Three–

1. –things that scare me:
a. violence
b. anger
c.  liberals (because many of them seriously believe the things they say)

2. –people who make me laugh:
a. RT
b. my two children
c. my group of teacher friends

3. –things I hate the most:
a. clutter
b. dirty kitchens
c. roaches

4. –things I don’t understand:
a. child abuse
b. terrorism
c. most technology

5. –things I’m doing right now:
a.  listening to crickets outside
b.  sitting here hoping my granddaughters in the bed behind me will both go to sleep (one down, one to go)
c. thinking about all I SHOULD do tomorrow that I won’t do

6. –things I want to do before I die:
a. visit Italy
b. finish the house RT and I are building - move in and live happily ever after
c. get skinny

7. –things I can do:
a. teach children to read
b. cook a good meal
c. ride a bike

8. –ways to describe my personality:
a. everyone thinks I’m introverted, but I don’t think I really am. I’m just selective about who I’m extroverted with.
b. introspective
c. funny

9. –things I can’t do:
a. stay in the sun very long
b. get away with anything
c. get caught up with paperwork

10. –things I think you should listen to:
a. gospel music
b. nature
c. the wisdom of people older than yourself

11. –things you should never listen to:
a. negativity
b. liberals
c. most rap and rock music

12. –absolute favorite foods
a. Blue Bell Banana Split ice cream
b. pizza
c. Snickers

13. –things I’d like to learn:
a. how to dance splendidly
b. how to be organized all the time
c. how to stick to a diet without giving in to cravings

14. –beverages I drink regularly:
a. Water
b. diet coke
c. coffee

15. –shows I watched as a kid:
a. The Howdie Doody Show
b. Roy Rogers
c. Bonanza

16. People I’m tagging.
No one because if you want to participate all you have to do is copy the meme and add your own answers. 

My two granddaughters will be spending the weekend with RT (no more PawPaw - I’ll call him RT) and me.  It’ll be exhausting, but we’re looking forward to it.  My daughter and her husband are taking off for a much-needed weekend of being together with no friends and no children.

Last night I got an email from my daughter.  Here it is:

Hi Mom,

You will get a kick out of this.  Sweet Stuff was really mad at me earlier because I wouldn’t let them sleep in the playroom.   The rule is on a school night they can’t because they have to get up early.   Anyway she was going on and on and on about it.   At one point I said, “Sweet Stuff, it is my job to make sure that you get a good night’s sleep and aren’t tired the next day - and you will get a better night’s sleep in your room. ”

Sweet Stuff says,  ”No! Your job is to make me happy.” 

I said, “No, my job is to make sure you are healthy and you grow up into a responsible adult.  Part of that is knowing that when someone tells you “No” you don’t keep on and on.”  Probably a little deep but hey.

Then she says, “I can’t wait till tomorrow when Pa Pa and Grandma Carol are the boss of me and you aren’t!  Because they LOVE to make me happy!” 

Mind you after another 30 minutes or so of “you’re so mean to me”  “You don’t ever want me to be happy” “you make me so sad” and even “I’m so over you right now”  (don’t know where she got that one, but it was a little funny).

Anyway, she cried in her room for 30 minutes or so and then emerged wanting me.  Steve was upset because she wouldn’t even talk with him.  He kept saying, “How is it you make her mad and then she still wants you”.  Needless to say she was exhausted and is now asleep in HER Room. 

He he!  She sure has MY number, doesn’t she? 

Forty-two of the last 100 visitors to THE MEDIAN SIB have one thing in common.  Any guesses?

Here it is:  They arrived here as a result of an internet search for information about the Winkler murder case. 

“Listen!” I hushed the talking as soon as I heard the sound.  It was gone so quickly I wasn’t sure I had even heard it - a fleeting, almost-mewing sound.  Holding my finger to my lips, I motioned the others to listen.  Despite the bustle of people in the corridor, we shamelessly pressed our ears to the door.  There it was again!  We looked at each other.  Was it what we thought it was?  Suddenly it came again.  This time sustained and strong.  There was no doubt - it was a baby’s cry.  We looked at each other, tears filled our eyes, and grins spread across our faces.  A new life had just entered the world on the other side of the door.  My first grandchild was born.

Note:  I’m attending a 4-day writing workshop (how to teach writing), and this was one of the things I wrote on the first day.  We had to try different leads.  This was my “dialogue” lead.

PawPaw and I went deep-sea fishing last week.  We were in Florida at a convention of one of PawPaw’s biggest clients.  Those folks know how to convene!  Our deep-sea fishing trip was on the owner’s private yacht with four other guests - three bedrooms, air-conditioned kitchen and sitting area, bathroom with shower.  There was a captain who used sonar to find the fish and a first mate who baited our hooks and took the fish off - and later they cleaned the fish and packaged them for us to take home. 

Just about every time we dropped our hook in the water, we caught a fish - lots of red snapper.  We had to wear those belts with the fishing rod holder in front.  I caught a HUGE king mackerel (huge for me anyway - about 30-35 inches long) - and a large bonita (bait fish).  It was so difficult to reel them in that I had to stop and rest several times during the process.  It was so much fun.  And when I tired of fishing, I napped in the air-conditioned sitting area and snacked on items from the fully stocked refrigerator.  Ahhhhhhh the good life….

I hear the beach beckoning me, and in response I will be gone to Destin the next few days.  I’ll be back next Wednesday or Thursday (July 19 or 20), and I’ll resume posting them.  In the meantime, I’ll be sunning and walking along the beach and reading and relaxing.

I bought my new digital camera a little while ago, and one of my goals during this trip is to learn to use it and to take some good pictures.  Oops! I didn’t mean that!  There will be NO goals on this trip.  No agenda.  Nothing I HAVE to do.  So I’ll re-phrase.  One of my pastimes - if I feel like it - will be to learn to use the camera and take some good pictures.  I feel more relaxed already.

My Plan:  Have everything unpacked and the cabin looking wonderful by this afternoon.

My Reality: There are still boxes all over the place and the bar for hanging clothes is still broken in the closet.  I need a day with about 100 hours and an unlimited supply of energy in order to finish this before I leave for Destin Saturday  morning.

Thirteen Things About Carol

I figured I’d go back to the original Thursday Thirteen topic.

1. I like to be organized although I don’t always manage it.

2. I adore my two granddaughters.

3. I’m sorry that summer vacation goes by so quickly.

4. I’m looking forward to going to Destin next week but I’m nervous about wearing a swimsuit.

5. I can’t stop looking at my engagement ring. It’s so gorgeous.

6. A wild turkey flew across the road right in front of me this afternoon. I almost hit it - but didn’t.

7. When I asked my son and daughter to help me for awhile on Saturday - they both, along with their spouses and the two granddaughters came over immediately and helped me.

8. I hate going to the dentist but a couple weeks ago I asked for nitrous oxide, and it really did make a difference. I will now ask for it every time I go so I won’t cancel any more appointments.

9. With all the work involved in moving, I haven’t been to Curves in almost two weeks (3 days of that time is when they were closed the Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday of the 4th of July week)! I will start going back tomorrow.

10. I love pretty and feminine clothes - especially pastels like pink and green and blue.

11. I talk to my daughter on the phone every single day. I talk to my son on the phone about twice a week. I think it would annoy my son if I called him every day.

12. I love photography and want to continue to work on taking better pictures.

13. I love writing, too. I had some short pieces published years ago. I want to get back into writing for publication.

I’ve moved in with PawPaw, and I am in the midst of trying to organize a house that a man has lived in alone for six years.  I had to totally empty the pantry that was filled with everything from Christmas wrapping paper, an ice cream freezer, tools, insect spray, a gift box of Hickory Farms cheese/sausage (unopened with an expiration date two years old), paper cups to a bicycle helmet box (empty).  Then I took the canned and boxed food that filled the cabinets where dishes should go and put them in the pantry.  Now I can put dishes in the cabinets. 

When I put my clothes in the closet, the whole shelf assembly fell - totally ruined.  Luckily, I jumped back and it didn’t fall on my head.  It was not made to hold very much.  So I went to WalMart and bought a closet organization kit, and I’ll put that together and install it later tonight - I hope.  My one goal is that by the time PawPaw gets home tomorrow night from his business trip, I’ll have the house at least visibly clean and organized.  Right now all the boxes from my house are stacked on the tables and beds. 

Today is PawPaw’s 59th birthday.  He was 21 when we married in 1969.  My how time flies.  I have no way to post photos of PawPaw since my computere isn’t set up, and he probably wouldn’t like that anyway.  So I’ll have to settle for a no-photograph tribute.

In 1967 I was sitting at the college grill with some friends.  PawPaw walked up to the table and started talking - mostly to me.  We hit it off immediately, and he soon asked me out.  On that Valentine’s Day, I woke up and hiked down the dormitory hall to the bathroom.  When I returned there was a big heart-shaped box of chocolates on my pillow and a lovely valentine.  He’d gotten one of my friends to place them there as soon as she heard me leave my room.  PawPaw has always been really good at surprises and picking out gifts.  I remember being overwhelmed with joy at such a sweet expression of caring.

He’s a strong man.  Our son tells him he has “old man strength.”  Our son is a tall and strong man himself, and yet he still is amazed at how strong PawPaw is.  I don’t think there is any physical task he won’t at least attempt.  Last year we were looking at some land and had to cross a small creek.  He had on waterproof boots.  I didn’t.  He just picked me up and carried me across - and I’m definitely NOT a waif.  He’s a successful businessman, and yet he still drives a bulldozer to build the road to our new house.  A couple weeks ago he was clearing some trees for an electricity cable and a tree he’d cut started falling toward a fence.  He literally held the tree up by himself until I could move the truck and get a chain around the trees and pull the tree in the other direction.  Incredible!  His hands are large and strong.  Since my hands are small, it’s nice to have his hands available for opening jars, too.

However, PawPaw’s strength isn’t just physical. He’s the rock of our family.  Family and church are important to him, and I know he’ll be there if I need him.  He has incredible determination - starting his own business after years in the corporate world.  Our daughter is a vice president in his company, and our son’s business is a subsidiary of his company.

I call him PawPaw here at TMS because that’s what our two granddaughters call him.  There is nothing sweeter than hearing their little voices saying “PawPaw.”  He is an outstanding father and grandfather.  And he has the funniest sense of humor.  We do a lot of laughing when we’re together.

One of the things I love about PawPaw is his consistency.  Whenever he has to travel on business - from the day we married, I could always count on his calling me every single day - sometimes more than just once.   

I’m glad we’re back together, and I’m looking forward to being married to him again.  Happy Birthday, PawPaw!

My nephew, Josh, is a birthday buddy with PawPaw.  Josh turns 26 (I think) today.  He’s a soldier, waiting to be deployed to Iraq.  His mom has a tribute to him on her blog and a photo that brought tears to my eyes. 

Last week I wrote about my nephew, Andrew.  There’s a Caringbridge website where you can find more information.  He is still on a respirator, but he is making significant progress.   If you can, visit the website and say a little prayer for his continued recovery.  Thanks.

I had the house closing today and immediately deposited the check in my bank account.  The closing took about 20 minutes - I signed my name about a zillion times and then got my “proceeds” check.  It is such a freeing feeling to have that 100% behind me.  The couple who bought my townhouse are sweet - they just celebrated their 50th anniversary and are downsizing from a big house and yard.  They are so excited about living there.

Now I can turn my attention to the cabin and to the new house. And, better yet, I can stop writing about all my packing and moving woes!

As of 10:30 tonight, I am FINISHED with my townhouse.  It is totally emptied and cleaned and ready for the new occupants to do a walk-through tomorrow morning and then close.  By lunch, it will be a done deal!  Whew!  That’s a lot of work.  Today I’ve made numerous trips between the townhouse and the cabin.  I’ve made trips to Goodwill and the recycling place.  And I have another load in the van to take to Goodwill and the recycling place tomorrow.  And I have the aching back and aching feet to attest to how much I’ve worked and lifted today.  After tomorrow’s closing, I have to start unpacking all the stuff I moved to the cabin.  Sigh!  I think I need to go back to work so I can relax a little.

(Cheers!  Applause!)  I made it through my first night alone at the cabin (which is what I’ve decided to call it instead of “PawPaw’s house.”  It was a two-room log cabin when PawPaw bought it about 7 years ago, and he has added three bedrooms, two baths and a dining room to it.  So it’s a good size and very nice.  I will get a locksmith out here this week to fix the deadbolts.

I was so tired last night, I went right to sleep around 11:00 and hardly budged until around 6:15 this  morning.  So I’m off to finish up the last of the packing.  I WILL get it all done this morning- or at least I’ll work until around 9:30 when I leave to take my daughter to the airport.  Afterwards, I should be able to finish up everything.  Oh, you just don’t know the absolute joy and relief I will experience when I can drive away from that townhouse and know that I am completely finished with it.  Then I just have to unpack and get things settled here at the cabin.  Sigh!

One good prospect is that PawPaw has to go to Florida next week on business, and I’m going with him.  That’ll be fun - Destin, the beach, deep-sea fishing.  I can’t wait.