Ok, I got bit by a snake 3 times today-in front of one of the great snake guru's of all time-Bob Clark. It was his snake (a piebald beauty) and it was a baby-but I was really proud that I didn't flinch or act preturbed. I felt like I was way cool not to show fear in front of the master......
Ok, I doesn't take much to boost my self esteem these days.
Friday, July 6, 2007
Thursday, July 5, 2007
Progress
Daddy actually said I had a good idea about a building project (snake rack on modular shelves). AND-he admitted he didn't know what a fair price was for building demolition. I am paying 200 bucks for building demo, and he said immediately "that's too much" so I asked him what he thought I should do and he said "I don't know".
It really is just a life long habit for him to criticize me because building things is NOT my forte. However, ordering people around and hiring people to do things for me-I have vast experience in that arena. I know it bothers Daddy that he can't do more (he spent all day breaking down boxes for me) but shit, it bothers me that I can't do more.
The day to day closeness is causing each of us to realize how much we have hidden from the other in terms of physical limitations. We are all a little bit slower than we've led people to believe. But today, Mom unpacked the kitchen, Daddy broke down boxes and unloaded the cubicle and I cleaned out the camping supplies and unpacked boxes. We all had a water break and really just enjoyed doing things together.
I'm beginning to realize that comments like "we really need to get the roses finished" isn't criticism, but just excitement at having a project. The neighbors are happy to see us coming and going-this has really been one of my better ideas, although a week ago I was questioning my own sanity.
Daddy's going to buy a new computer tomorrow (he hates his laptop) and is talking about driving to Louisiana for a little gamble. I may go too, although I haven't yet been invited.
It really is just a life long habit for him to criticize me because building things is NOT my forte. However, ordering people around and hiring people to do things for me-I have vast experience in that arena. I know it bothers Daddy that he can't do more (he spent all day breaking down boxes for me) but shit, it bothers me that I can't do more.
The day to day closeness is causing each of us to realize how much we have hidden from the other in terms of physical limitations. We are all a little bit slower than we've led people to believe. But today, Mom unpacked the kitchen, Daddy broke down boxes and unloaded the cubicle and I cleaned out the camping supplies and unpacked boxes. We all had a water break and really just enjoyed doing things together.
I'm beginning to realize that comments like "we really need to get the roses finished" isn't criticism, but just excitement at having a project. The neighbors are happy to see us coming and going-this has really been one of my better ideas, although a week ago I was questioning my own sanity.
Daddy's going to buy a new computer tomorrow (he hates his laptop) and is talking about driving to Louisiana for a little gamble. I may go too, although I haven't yet been invited.
Fourth
Mom, Dad, Uncle John and myself were together for the first time on the 4th of July in oh, about 30 years. This was Mom an Dad's 55th anniversary.
We wound up eating my food at their house-my house was just not ready for guests-my last chair is arriving today. But, we all enjoyed being together, eating hot dogs and fried chicken. Mom is letting me bring take out over-I can't cook, but I can order with the best of them.
I'm still tired-STILL. That's getting a little frustrating and old, but I'm trying to do the old "do what you can rest when you need to thing." We are working out boundaries-I will accept help, but only when I can work alongside. I am not an invalid, and if the cardboard boxes stay on the patio for an extra day, the WORLD WILL NOT END. However, if I let myself be pushed beyond what I can do, the world will definitely slow back down for awhile.
I am sure the newness is just as delightful and frustrating for my parents-who are really trying to adapt as well.
We wound up eating my food at their house-my house was just not ready for guests-my last chair is arriving today. But, we all enjoyed being together, eating hot dogs and fried chicken. Mom is letting me bring take out over-I can't cook, but I can order with the best of them.
I'm still tired-STILL. That's getting a little frustrating and old, but I'm trying to do the old "do what you can rest when you need to thing." We are working out boundaries-I will accept help, but only when I can work alongside. I am not an invalid, and if the cardboard boxes stay on the patio for an extra day, the WORLD WILL NOT END. However, if I let myself be pushed beyond what I can do, the world will definitely slow back down for awhile.
I am sure the newness is just as delightful and frustrating for my parents-who are really trying to adapt as well.
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
Adventures in the Electric Chair
I still have to use the electric chair for big shopping trips-today I was able to go to Target AND Walmart grocery. At Walmart, I unloaded my cart and wheeled up to the credit cart machine and waited while the clerk did his thing.
A lady pushed up behind me and said "would you move so I can get through?" so I moved up to let her and her cartload pass. Then she said "I'm sorry, I need to get over there," indicating another line, "would you mind going out to the front of the store?"
I kept calm and said "actually, yes I would. You DO realize I am in line checking out at the moment and this is not an aisle?" and she got soooooooo flustered. She said "Oh, I'm sorry, I thought you were with her," and pointed to the stranger behind me who had her own cart of groceries. "I didn't realize you bought groceries."
I should have kept my mouth shut, but I couldn't. I said "well, how the hell do you think I'm suppposed to eat?"
Now, the electric chair alone is concession enough for me-I can load that sucker down and shop with the best of them. But being asked to move out of line while being checked out is just a bit much.
A lady pushed up behind me and said "would you move so I can get through?" so I moved up to let her and her cartload pass. Then she said "I'm sorry, I need to get over there," indicating another line, "would you mind going out to the front of the store?"
I kept calm and said "actually, yes I would. You DO realize I am in line checking out at the moment and this is not an aisle?" and she got soooooooo flustered. She said "Oh, I'm sorry, I thought you were with her," and pointed to the stranger behind me who had her own cart of groceries. "I didn't realize you bought groceries."
I should have kept my mouth shut, but I couldn't. I said "well, how the hell do you think I'm suppposed to eat?"
Now, the electric chair alone is concession enough for me-I can load that sucker down and shop with the best of them. But being asked to move out of line while being checked out is just a bit much.
What would the neighbors say?
I got my first "what would the neighbors think" today....I took my new snake down to Mom's to show him off.
Mom was a bit rattled because there was a 3 foot SNAKE sitting in her recliner-I thought the experience would be good for her. But, as for the neighbors..."what would the neighbors think if they saw you carrying that thing down the street....." I said they'd probably think I was taking my snake out for some air.
When I was a renter-I sort of cared what they thought because a complaint to the landlord would be bad....but now, as long as I am responsible and safe, I don't really care.
Oh the irony! This morning a loose rottweiler was running down the street, and no one was worried about what the neighbors would think.
Monday, July 2, 2007
Think it's going to rain
I don't see how the folks in Seattle stand this stuff. Rain rain clouds mud rain....BAH.
Mondays are hard, rainy mondays are harder....but what's hard? I have to do some unpacking, go visit Uncle John, have lunch with my parents.....Oh yes, and find a job and figure out what I'm going to do for the rest of my life.
I ordered pizza for dinner and the cinnamon dessert tht even MOm admitted was good. I am opening new vistas of fast food for the folks. Every meal does not have to be five minutes, NOR does it have to be a 12 course banquet-Mom and I have a lot to learn from each other in that respect.
Daddy is coming to hook up my dryer-I really need to do laundry on slow starting days because at least I feel like I've accomplished something. And, I am really running out of clean clothes.
Work clothes are a problem too, but since I don't know what I'll be doing I don't know what to buy. Which comes first, the clothes or the job?
We have a routine in this no mans land of no job. Mornings I spend at the house, I go have lunch with Mom and Dad, work chores we do together are afternoons. Dinner is kind of up in the air. Basically, all schedules revolve around Mom's 3 meals a day. Hell, it's as good as anything else I guess.
Sometimes I have to bite my tongue. Mom does a class A job of keeping and running a house-truly. I don't. But I have a Master's degree, I've had plenty of travel, etc....In some circles that counts for more than a clean house.
It's almost as if Mom and Dad have locked themselves away in this little insulated world-well almost, it's exactly that. And I have to remind myself that I am being judged according to the world according to Betty and Claude standards and let it go at that.
Fortunately, my time spent in the cesspit of corporate America has served me well. I can now accept the harshest criticism without bleeding. And my parents love me-that's an added bonus.
Mondays are hard, rainy mondays are harder....but what's hard? I have to do some unpacking, go visit Uncle John, have lunch with my parents.....Oh yes, and find a job and figure out what I'm going to do for the rest of my life.
I ordered pizza for dinner and the cinnamon dessert tht even MOm admitted was good. I am opening new vistas of fast food for the folks. Every meal does not have to be five minutes, NOR does it have to be a 12 course banquet-Mom and I have a lot to learn from each other in that respect.
Daddy is coming to hook up my dryer-I really need to do laundry on slow starting days because at least I feel like I've accomplished something. And, I am really running out of clean clothes.
Work clothes are a problem too, but since I don't know what I'll be doing I don't know what to buy. Which comes first, the clothes or the job?
We have a routine in this no mans land of no job. Mornings I spend at the house, I go have lunch with Mom and Dad, work chores we do together are afternoons. Dinner is kind of up in the air. Basically, all schedules revolve around Mom's 3 meals a day. Hell, it's as good as anything else I guess.
Sometimes I have to bite my tongue. Mom does a class A job of keeping and running a house-truly. I don't. But I have a Master's degree, I've had plenty of travel, etc....In some circles that counts for more than a clean house.
It's almost as if Mom and Dad have locked themselves away in this little insulated world-well almost, it's exactly that. And I have to remind myself that I am being judged according to the world according to Betty and Claude standards and let it go at that.
Fortunately, my time spent in the cesspit of corporate America has served me well. I can now accept the harshest criticism without bleeding. And my parents love me-that's an added bonus.
Sunday, July 1, 2007
Hanging Out
We are going to dig in an unpack today-many hands make light work. It's been an adjustment to have people who want to help me-I'm just not used to it. I'm beginning to understand how overwhelmed Uncle John must have been-he was far more isolated than I.
I displayed inherited hoarding behavior. Went to the grocery store and they had slightly out of date carmel/chocolate swirled Hershey's chips for (big pause and raised eyebrows) A QUARTER. So, I bought a dollars worth.
Then I got to the car and remembered I don't cook, I don't hoard and I don't need 4 bags of chocolate waiting for just the right crisis-so I took them to Mom. I also gave her my 4 tomatoes-pennance for giving her unhealthy things.
Memories keep plopping into my head. I've been back to OKC lots since leaving-but usually just straight to Mom and Dad's. Now I'm snooping off the beaten path again and memories just appear. It's really weird to come back home and find out home has changed.
I am 5 blocks from the house I grew up in (first 18 years of my life), 2 blocks from my grade school 1/2 a mile from the first boyfriend I ever had, 2 blocks from my former best friends house....Now my life wasn't all sunshine and roses, but it wasn't thundershowers either, and the good times are what pop up most often.
And, my old friends age and experience are on my side too-when the bad things pop up, I know that they are over. It's done, past and resolved. The boogy man doesn't live here any more.
I displayed inherited hoarding behavior. Went to the grocery store and they had slightly out of date carmel/chocolate swirled Hershey's chips for (big pause and raised eyebrows) A QUARTER. So, I bought a dollars worth.
Then I got to the car and remembered I don't cook, I don't hoard and I don't need 4 bags of chocolate waiting for just the right crisis-so I took them to Mom. I also gave her my 4 tomatoes-pennance for giving her unhealthy things.
Memories keep plopping into my head. I've been back to OKC lots since leaving-but usually just straight to Mom and Dad's. Now I'm snooping off the beaten path again and memories just appear. It's really weird to come back home and find out home has changed.
I am 5 blocks from the house I grew up in (first 18 years of my life), 2 blocks from my grade school 1/2 a mile from the first boyfriend I ever had, 2 blocks from my former best friends house....Now my life wasn't all sunshine and roses, but it wasn't thundershowers either, and the good times are what pop up most often.
And, my old friends age and experience are on my side too-when the bad things pop up, I know that they are over. It's done, past and resolved. The boogy man doesn't live here any more.
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