Christmas panic... I need another 3- 4 days tops.

It started last night - I am walking home, briskly as the weather could also be described with the same work with a great number of four letter words to go along with "brisk"

I turn the corner and see my garage door going down... Bubba is home at 5PM.  The world has not ended but close -- he's home and I quote "I don't feel so good"  Insert the scene from A Christmas Story when Ralphie tells his parents "it was - soap poisoning"  OHHHH the horror!!!

I drugged him, sent him to bed.  He slept all night.  It was peaceful for me. I screwed up the icing for the caramel cookies - I will hear about it at Christmas.. ah well. 

So, cookies are done, they were boxed up and sent out Thursday - so that was good.  I have yet to wrap a gift, the cards were out early - I have been behind the Christmas ball since. 

Now we have Bubba at half speed, he did sound better this morning - but not moving too quickly.. Heaven help me

This morning was a an exercise in - oh-so--not-prepared!!  Had to get the dog to the sitter as she's staying with them this weekend.  We are headed to WVU to see the adopted nephew graduate.  He doesn't have a great deal of family -it's important that we are there.  It's been on our books since last December! I could use this weekend for 1000's of other things.. but I will be in West-By-God-Virginia.  Because family especially those you choose is important.

If there was a camera on me this morning the caption would have been "Holy Crap lady - disorganized much?"

I got the dog where she needed to go, with extra treats, for dogs and humans.  And then I got home, couldn't find my gloves, grabbed another pair (later found the first pair in my bag) walked outside, remembered I needed breakfast - went in got that, then realized my lunch containers were still in my bag from yesterday - back inside, 3rd time was the charm. 

Made it to work without much fuss - which is nice.

I have work to get done before I can get home, and I have to make swing to the library, and pick up my new SEI shirt!  Merry Christmas to me!


So, I am off to get things done, work and personal and the 6000 other things that must be done before 24th.. the 25th and then it's nothing - nada - a whole lotta nuttin' until 1/2.

Sounds nice doesn't it? 

Back in the Saddle again...

December 18, 2019.

It's been 6 months since last we posted.  Angel dog is doing fine and has settled into her routine, we have had to upgrade the crate she occupies during the day - I call it doggie jail with a chain link lock.  She busted out of the old one - twice in one day.  We know this because she set off the alarm.

Summer was warm and wonderful and we enjoyed our time walking and playing at the park.  Now it is cold and dark and muddy at the park and we don't go.  Angel is bummed I'm sure.

I hosted Thanksgiving for the first time; I  think it went well, lessons learned do not let Bob carve the turkey, do not make Alton Brown's Green Bean Casserole - I know I screwed up something there.  And do not invite your niece's Baby Daddy's family 2 days before hand.  That was also on me, I read text that I thought said Sister - and included 3 more teenagers.   Joy. They were fine - just nothing for them to do while at my home.

Niece #1 A and her brood did not make an appearance.  I am an awful person and can say I didn't miss that mess one bit.
I say that now - having said brood at my home last Saturday for Gingerbread Makings... yes, even the boys.  Who had .001% interest in doing gingerbread making and then proceeded to attempt to annoy the dog, and destroy my basement.  Thankfully there isn't much down there they could destroy I did lock open the dog crate and take the key and threaten them within an inch of their lives if they got near the bar... I guess I was scary enough.

Bubba has been Bubba - we had a MAJOR blow up in July then I left for 3 days for a conference and then he figured out I wasn't kidding and was nearly livable for several months.  Then fall and holidays hit and it's back to Grumpy Bubba... even after a trip to Vegas this past weekend - homeboy is still a miserable human to live with. 

He is complaining about doing things - plans for weekend etc., so I have told him and I intend to stick to it - he's not even going to get asked anymore.  I will make my plans and inform him when I will and will not be home.  sit your grumpy A$$ home and don't complain about things being planned for you.  Now you would think I just put stuff on his calendar and he never had any information on said plans.... it doesn't matter that I ask, check, double check and verify before committing to any date or event - then days before said event - there is generally bitching and moaning about said event and making my life miserable in the process. 

Which really brings me to the reason I'm back on the blog.  The chant of "I don't like small spaces and showering with others" isn't working as well as it used to.  Bubba has got to figure out how to balance life, something he's never been good at.   But I am reaching a tipping point, I am seriously tired of being the one person he can vent all his frustration and unhappiness all over - he said last night that I don;t get it.  He's right, I don't.  I cannot understand, and I do.  He wants to go and do but at work is busy and he can't micromanage the way he wants to - oh I know that is 80% of the issue. He is seriously detailed in every part of his life and he doesn't have enough time to deal with it all... the boy needs some way to learn how.  He's sucked away my Christmas spirit.  I have busted my hump for weeks with the final push tonight, then again on Sunday to get everything wrapped and ready... and his contribution is bitching moaning and make me more crazy that I already am.

I will finish the cookies tonight, I will box them up and enjoy the comments tomorrow at work.  I will lug on this crap onto the bus and make it work because that is what I do.  I will endure a Christmas day at a freaking Casino - (will document later) and I will go and do what I want when I want and Bubba can stay his butt at home or work, I don't care anymore.

all right off to go find something constructive to do with my time.

How is this not more work for me??

I said it when we were traveling to meet the pup - I said it on the way home - I said it again and yet not to my surprise -- having a dog increases my home responsibilities...

Now I will say hanging out at the dog park isn't such a hardship; but saying you'd be home to meet with the possible dog walker then literally phone it in... yeah not so much.  THEN I have to run to the store, cook dinner, clean up... the only thing extra is dog walk/ park/ walker.

I am making him walk her before we go to bed.  I am willing to share the morning/ evening responsibilities but that last one of the night - all yours buddy.    Week two and it's already I have to work late, you have to get home early.

She is a sweet pup and she's my buddy - very used to women but she is warming up to Bubba.  He plays more than I do - I have stuff to do when I get home besides sit and play with the dog.  You know, dinner, clean up, pack a lunch, laundry whatever...

She is here and no reason to send her back we made the commitment.

In other news I am having a BBQ at the house as I have said as much to family members.  This should be interesting.  I am 98% sure that most of my husband's family will find a reason not to be there... if I'm lucky.

I'm usually not.  I better make sure the insurance is paid up.

So stay tuned for Captain Crankypants in full blown grump... we will have people, in our home, where he cannot hide, including members of his family, which is always a note for a good time.

We'll keep it low key, burgers, dogs, salads, beer cake and go home... 

Minor grumps today... off to look more productive.

One week down...

Today marks one week with the new four-legged family member...

It has been a long week, where one day I leave early the next I am shoving dog but into her crate when she doesn't want to go into... fun.  At least the previous mutts would go in when you bribe them with cookies.  This one - not so much.

This morning she decided since I was still in bed, she wanted to join me.  We are still working this.  but we are at a weekend so a bit easier.   Next week should be fun... but this is new for her in a series of new things - so time.  Patience and not plotting your husband's murder well that is a daily occurrence.

I was ticked yesterday I couldn't really put my finger on it - most likely is I walked in the door - he got home first and he starts, mostly dog updates, but as soon as I move to the second floor - per usual - he needs to talk to me about 401K's and how he's been asking for months for me to handle things... yeah I forgot all about it.

so I will call today give his royal butthead what he needs and deal with the rest - and now digging out my paperwork it appears that I will have to do this Monday or Saturday if possible.

I think it's just - as I said when we went to look at this dog, my work load increases when a new member of the family is introduced.  And this is no exception.  I guess when I changed, did a load of laundry, then went downstairs and dealt with a messy kitchen and started to get dinner ready while he sat there looking at me -- I was feeling cranky.

I don't know why - nothing changed, I didn't have dog duty - I will tonight.  Along with everything else...

*sigh*

All right-y I think I am going to try and be productive this afternoon, then see where life takes us this weekend.  Dinner with my husband's family... oh joy.   Of course I could stir the pot, we get two to three versions of every story and I could ask questions... but I won't.  Why?  Because it will all come raining down on me - I know this for a fact.

So I will smile, chat, piss off my husband in some manner because he is OH so patient and tolerant when dealing with his own family.  And I will have at least one glass of wine with dinner.  Two if he's really a flaming butthead!!!

They all can't be stuck in traffic hell of my own making stories now can they??

A good idea - backfired big time...

Oh boys and girls what I night Aunt Ing had last night.  And not in the "here hold my beer" kinda way oh no...

I needed groceries - did I just pop up the road and get what I needed?  No I'm a dork, ordered on line at Wal-Mart 25 minutes up the road and went to pick it up in the middle of rush hour. 

Mistake 1.  Rush hour traffic, and it was raining.  So double fun.  Add in it's been raining for days, roads were closed, trees down - what in my idiot brain decided this was a good idea?  We may never know.

Pick up was the easy part of the night, phone, deliver, go.

Mistake 2.  Talking to Bubba... that started before I got caught in rush hour traffic as he announced he was on his way home 90 minutes earlier than previously stated, and thereby screwing up my well planned slip in and out and done.

There was also the standard whining about spending money on food.  Yes, you read that right.  My darling husband on a regular basis complains about the amount and cost of the food purchased for our in home consumption.  Apparently he's still working on the magic fairies theory of food gathering, prep and clean up.  This is the same man who gets cranky when he has to feed himself... like nuking leftovers... nope - still not kidding.  

I am counting on living with Bubba and his 'proclivities' is off setting all the other not-so-virtuous  aspects of my personality.  Yeah - let's go with that. 

SO--- I am headed back down the highway opposite of the out of the city traffic thinking - all good.  also know as Mistake 3.  Traffic came to a crawl... I saw a sign up ahead, after seeing several emergency type vehicles going by the sign said... "Road closed use ALT route"

Yes words were said - and yes, they were football words in a non-football setting.  The mistakes at this point were racking up at such a rate I frankly stopped counting.  So, got off blocked highway and starting winding my way through back roads that kept leading me back to the same highway.  So I want one stop north which was the first smart thing I did, then of course I screwed that up, thinking I could zip around a couple of blocks - which ended up with me heading BACK to the same blasted closed highway  - turned around, back on the slow crawl road home that if I had STAYED on in the first place would have probably shaved off 45 minutes but we'll keep that between us bytes.

Of course I call Bubba at on-set of directional/ traffic/ going no where in a hurry mess.  Is he helpful?  Is he concerned?  No I get yelled about my dumb idea (beat him to the punch there) and then asked, so I guess I should eat something?  No dumb ass sit and starve.  Yes, eat.  He said since I was going shopping he thought I was cooking.   Get Real.   No, the plan was leftovers - eat it and shut it.

So 2.5 hours after I left my humble abode.. I returned.   Bubba is still breathing, and I found out why my 25 minute ride home when so very very wrong.  Apparently there was a flood on the road, to such a degree that one car had to have a water rescue - FROM THE HIGHWAY -- the water was up to the jersey wall... so at least I wasn't the one having to be plucked from the great PGH highway of 2019.

Tonight will be much less dramatic... I hope.  I'm not driving. :-)

Another week - new family member

All of Facebook friends and others know we adopted another dog...

While she is cute, needed a good home, this was NOT my idea.  As I told darling Bubba when we were "visiting" my work load increases when we introduce another family member...

Nothing has changed.  I knew it - I told myself this would be his dog... right....

We are still working out schedules... I was out the door at 6:30 AM in the morning.  I haven't seen these hours of the AM in a very long time.  :-/

Bubba had an appointment  and of course he will be working late... sounding familiar boys and girls.  He wants a pup to play with - and not all the other 6000 things that go along with all this.  Yeah.

But she is here, and I am stuck, it's nice to have the face happy to see you.  I will be honest and say that I did enjoy the 'single' life.  I could go and do as I saw fit - now we can't.

Thankfully she travels well, noises don't bother her as she can't hear them, she isn't much of a barker.

Let's take yesterday; first work day with new pup, I handled the AM schedule, out, feed, walk, crate.  Things went well.  Bubba was home first, out, walk, dog park, things went well.

My medical appointment was another kettle of fish - 3:45 appointment - they ask you arrive at 3:15, I did.  I got my MRI about 2 hours later... so I got home way later.  Yes, I let Bubba know and mentioned he could unload the clean dishes from the dishwasher since he was home...

We ALL know where that went.  I got home, he's sitting on the lawn furniture without cushions so when the webbing breaks I will lose my cool --- and of course nothing besides the dog has been tended.  He's on the computer.  I bite my tongue and move one with my night.

Today I get home early, I am PM pup patrol, but I am also trying Wally-World grocery pick up so I don't have to leave pup again; I will take her with me, they will load things up and away I go.  I think I will come to like this process.  Problem is the one closer to me doesn't have drive up and go, so I'm heading closer to Nana's.  Next time I will work in a visit.

All right I have actually have work to complete so quick hit today.  Trying to get more into the groove...

Stay cool... having trouble with the office A/C.. cool isn't quite the option these days. 

Thoughts on a long week, and haven't posted in a while.

So if you read the previous post - you will note that the year 2018 was a doozy in our household...

We have survived!  We are now almost mid-way through 2019, I have changed jobs, and figured out how to get from point A to point B via Pittsburgh public transport in all it's various forms...

Just don't dump me off someplace I haven't been before... clueless thy name is Aunt Ing.

SO now we are on to more mundane pursuits... we are adopting a dog this weekend.  I have mixed emotions about the whole thing - but then again I had mixed emotions the last time we did this.  In the end you fall in love and that is that.

New wrinkle is this pup is deaf.  More training for Bubba and Aunt Ing than the dog... she already knows the hand signals we have to remember them.

I mentioned this to my sister from another mother than when it's something that darling Bubba wants - it gets done.  Let me 'splain.  As mentioned a new member of our household will be arriving tonight.  There are supplies said new family member needs, and Bubba went shopping and actually bought something... bed, food, treat, toy... great.

Bonus - I didn't have to go while he stood there debating the fabric and cost per square yard of said new bed, and I just imagine how long it took to pick out dog food and treats... our poor pup has allergies.  And will eat better than us from now on - as have all previous ones in our house.

Fast forward to last night - I wanted to go grocery shopping for the weekend so things were done, and we could enjoy being at home with pup tonight, and I won't have to leave her tomorrow either.  We get rolling to the grocery store/ dinner/ gas up about 7:45 last night...

Crisis 1 - I was directing husband toward grocery store I knew had the particular hot dogs he wanted to take to Camp.  He wanted to hit gas first - as the warehouse store is cheaper but more restrictive hours.  I had forgotten said gas run, he melts, I grump - we head to get gas... we get gas... for the car...

We go to get dinner, he misses the turn in, it was a giant CF as there was apparently one way in and out and getting back to that was a major Pain in the nether regions!  We finally got back to Point A, enjoyed our gourmet Taco Bell dinner then headed to the 24 hour (thankfully) food store not named Wally World.

Now Bubba doesn't grocery shop much, there is only so much patience in this world, and my was on very thin ice last night.  We are in the yuppie grocery store south of the new PGH homestead... it has everything and I think I saw a kitchen sink - so there you go.  To Bubba this is a source of unbelievable fascination.   To me, this was the beginning of --- oh sweet Lord where is he NOW??

He fusses due to cost of said groceries, when I buy them, stock up on certain things (that keep and we'll use) bla, de bla bla... last night... oh look at this - oh - yeah let's get one of those.  Do you see this?   Along with the usual - kid you  not --- 5 minute decision tree on which baked beans to get.... I don't eat them I don't care.  As I walked away looking for something else, I imagine the process was something like this, size of can, on sale?  Flavor, cost per ounce, brand? and what other tirade of criteria wandered through said brain.  It was pushing 10 PM - pick one and let's move on with our lives.... not so much.  Every aisle we went down... there was a reason to stop shop and say "do we --" No it's not on the list - moving on. 

Did I also mention the 5 minute register receipt review in the car - ensuring that all sale items were indeed marked as such - and if not I can promise you we would have gone back inside.  There was angel looking on and said - it's all good - go home.  We did, we made it in the house before the rains came and we fell into bed... almost ready to face another day.

Stay tuned for adventures will new family, a trip to the cabin and why you can't murder him in summer, but you need to dig the hole before the ground freezes.  

The 2018 Christmas Letter

I decided while shopping with the husband today I needed to start blogging again.  So to catch everyone up - I'm posting the Christmas letter I sent to family and friends.... some enjoyed, some think I am a drunk.  The truth is somewhere in between... you decide.

Dear Family and Friends;

2018 has been such a busy, busy year I decided to update you all in a year-end review letter in full tongue
 in cheek style.  So sit back, grab your favorite adult beverage or kiddie beverage, your choice – 
although friends of ours not drinking, especially around the holidays… I digress.

January saw the announcement to family that we were moving back to the ‘burgh, Pittsburgh, PA – 
home of all our favorite sports teams.  Bob was still living with his in-laws working in Pittsburgh’s Strip 
district (not what you think you dirty minded non-yinzers) it’s the new hip area of the city,
 that been there for eons. Angela began the process of translating Federal Government job skills for the 
past 25 years into something job recruiters would understand.  There was drinking.

February saw talks begin for putting the Case Maryland Homestead on the market.  Agents were 
interviewed, closets were cleaned out, the trash men received an early holiday tip due to increased 
volumes of random ‘stuff’. Angela was updating her resume into non-government words mostly 
involving hidden messages of hire her!  She’s trainable!  Seriously she’s needs a job. Bob was still 
living with his in-laws working in the ‘burgh.  There was drinking.

March saw the usual business with Angela’s volunteer organizations.  The Case Maryland Homestead was
under seize in terms of clean out, clean up and Real Estate Agent lady saying things had to be 
“updated”.   The Case Maryland Homestead went on the market on the 15th… it sold 10 days later.  
Good heavens - there was drinking.

April saw panic -- panic in Maryland, panic on the PA Turnpike, panic in downtown Pittsburgh while
trying to find parking before an interview and general panic in various geographic and transportation 
locales.  Angela started her new PA job in an Autism to Work Program where she mentors young IT 
professionals. There were car loads of random boxes being hauled from MD to PA weekly, and finally 
on April 23rd, the Case Maryland Homestead was boxed up and shipped out by professionals headed
 to Western PA.  There was crying, and there was drinking.

May saw the Case Pennsylvania Homestead Part 1 settled in, our lovely apartment in the heart of 
Pittsburgh’s Strip district, shops, restaurants, and a nice walk into downtown Pittsburgh, where in the
summer things were happening!  Bob and Angela were actually living, not only in the same state again,
 but under the same roof. There were adjustments, and there was drinking.

June saw a routine set in, bus routes, and working schedules, and Bob having the awful commute of 
having to walk across the street…literally. The Case family settled in, enjoyed being able to pop into 
weeknight family events, freak out family members when you did “pop in” and generally enjoying not
 to have to pack, unpack or be interviewed by random strangers. We began our hunt for Case PA 
Homestead Part 2 (hunt for a house) in June, there were lists of must haves… 
And of course… There was drinking.

July saw the house hunt kick into high gear as apparently Pittsburgh PA was the hottest housing market
 in Western PA.  We finally found our home, it checked every box on the Case PA Homestead list
 (Part 2), we bought on Mt. Washington, the not so hip but high up area of the City.  The end of July 
Angela got to treat her Hogwarts obsessed niece to their first trip to Heinz Hall where the Symphony 
played the music to the first Harry Potter movie – while the movie played! Packing began again for 
the move to the Big Hill across the River for Case PA Homestead Part 2.  Yes, there was drinking, 
we packed the glasses last.

August saw Angela and Bob managing to get PA Driver’s licenses and put PA plates on their cars, 
which all summer were driven once a week. Ah city living and the parking is pricey.  Packing of Case
 PA Homestead Part 1 was in earnest; begging all family members began for a “Help the Cases” move
 date. Thankfully promises of baked goods, coffee and lots of begging saw family members arrive with
 large vehicles, and a willingness (to a point) to move heavy things from point A (apartment) and point 
B (storage unit) to Point C (new house).  New house boasted lots of good things and lots of stairs; 
family members mostly forgave us for having to move the heaviest things to the top of the house – 
about Thanksgiving? And of course – there was drinking, when we found the glasses again.

September saw the first full month in the Case PA Homestead, Part 2.  There were boxes everywhere, 
there were a few mornings where unmentionables were hunted for on all 4 floors.  Slowly but surely 
new commutes were figured out, said unmentionables and other life necessities found a new space, 
and boxes slowly made their way out of Case PA Homestead Part 2 and Angela vowed never to move 
again, or order from Amazon – too many boxes. Amazon promise lasted about 2 weeks.  There was 
drinking, because it wasn’t in a box, and we had finally found the glasses.

October saw ITALY!!!  Bob and Angela spent a WONDERFUL two-week vacation in Italy, we stayed 
with new friends and old neighbors in a villa near Lake Como for the first week, then saw Venice and
Rome in week two.  It was a trip of a lifetime and YES – we found the Pittsburgh Steeler bar in ROME!
Angela has the t-shirt to prove it. The last two weeks of October were a blur of time zone changes, 
returning to work, and wondering why we couldn’t drink wine at lunch anymore.  OH yes, there was 
international drinking.

November saw finally Angela and Bob’s clocks returned to normal, and the beginnings of our “new” 
normal, which up until this point in 2018 was a far, fleeting thing.  We invited families to come find our
urban homestead on the big hill, some got lost; others had flashbacks to moving day, stairs and heavy
objects… still working on being forgiven.  And yes, there was drinking.

December we will see – our first Christmas in the ‘burgh, and an open invitation to all to come and 
visit, both near and far.  We are working on getting the bar equipped with places to sit, things to do and
things to watch. We miss the Maryland folks we left behind, we are making our way with new faces 
and places and next year you can expect our usual card with a quick note and signature.  And yes, 
there will be drinking.

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and may your and our 2019 be WAY less interesting.