Most Commented Family Blogs (545)

A few blogs ago, I told about my fathers death. The other day, my sister wrote me, saying the the tombstone was put in place. Immediately I felt some relief. Finally he is resting in peace! It is about time too.

Now I can visit him whenever I want to. No more empty grave site. This chapter of my life is now closed. Now I can get some closure.

I am taking it slowly. I do not want to rush it, because I fear I will not have the closure I need.

Taking one day at a time, at the moment. So far, it is working.

I'm winding down on the 'shopping list' of final documents needed before the closing date. One important paper gets me a reduced rate on the mandatory insurance for the structure (and contents) is called a Wind Mitigation Report.

The home inspector I hired 3 weeks ago is licensed to make the report and he sent over a copy last night that I forwarded to some insurance companies who are preparing quotes. That report along with photos shows the structure and condition of the roof from the inside. It's all done to building code and shows no signs of leaks.

Chasing around to a few people will be in my life now, I asked the company who handles the Home Owners Association (HOA) if they have a welcome wagon and will walk me through some important things... like mailbox, location of trash bins, ID badges for entry and most importantly, if there is a preferred list of licensed companies like plumber, electrician and air conditioning technicians.

The first thing on my list is to replace one of the toilets and I cannot risk an unlicensed handyman to do the work, especially since I'm on the 2nd floor!

They haven't replied about the welcome wagon request. Perhaps one doesn't exist. logically speaking with 300-400 residents in this community, they've got to have some orientation - start package I can review BEFORE I arrive. I know 40' long furniture moving trailers are banned entry and the small amount of things I'm moving can be done in a standard van.
Yeah... moving furniture, I'm not looking forward to that part!

Having a great family support system makes it fairly easy to deal with what my aging parents are going through. I'm glad I have no need to throw a pity party and can find things to be grateful for. What a jolt I got yesterday when my neighbor called to say one of our friends who hasn't been feeling well got some test results back showing she has Lukemia.

Lukemia? Crap with a captial C.

This is a very pretty woman in her sixties, very nice. I only met her two years ago, she walks her dog by my place twice a day. She lives about five homes down and walks to her 91 yr. old blind Mum's home everyday to fix food or give some care. The mom lives alone and does fairly well, not sure what is now in her future. I often send extra food I made with her to give Mum.

I don't know much about Lukemia nor do I know what to say. I asked my neighbor who has been friends with her for many years how she handled the news. The neighbor said that until she wraps her head around it, she doesn't much feel like talking about it.

I was thinking how awful her situation was until I heard the news of the shootings in New Zealand and how many families are going through agony. I was listening to a country music station when that news report went through. I almost wish I hadn't heard it because now I'm filled with sadness for so many.

I count my blessings and they are many.

My friend's mom flew in from Napal last week with a big luggage bag full only of native spices (most of them easily obtainable at any American International type supermarket, but of course those are inferior to the ones she buys back home, even when the labels are the same). She had only the clothes she was wearing and a few changes of under garment. This like totally pi ss ed my friend off because on her last visit my friend had bought her mom over $2,000 of clothes and shoes which her mom brought home to Nepal with her.

My friend asked her mom, where are the clothes I bought you? Her mom's reply infuriated her. Oh, your brother's wife and your older sister liked them so I gave them to them. They sold most of it for good prices in the market.

So yesterday my friend came by my place with her mom and after I got in her car we headed to the city. Even though it was Sunday several of the 2nd hand clothing stores were open. My friend learned her lesson. No more buying mom's clothes at Macy's. We found clothes in good condition her mom was okay with.

Later, feeling sorry and guilty we headed to the mall and JC Penny's. We found a pair of sandals which her mom liked ($99.99) and bought them for her. The reasoning is the women in Nepal may not like used shoes. By now my friend was down about $800 and mom had decent winter and spring clothing ensembles. Hopefully enough selection to last her to August when she flies home.

We hit the food court and had a decent lunch, then off to the Walmart supermarket for some groceries.

After that because it was still about 65F and sunny we returned to my home and I put some chairs on my deck for them. Then, because the lesson was overdue, I broke out my old side by side 12 gauge and some ear muffs. My friend is scared of shotguns because she has seen many YouTube videos of women shooting them falling on their a ss. Clearly made by men who dis liked their girl friends. Ignoring her reluctance and playing the bad step father I dragged her over and taught her how to swap barrels, how to open and load unload it, how the 2 trigger system works (her first time with something with 2 triggers), how to hold it, how to stand (some repositioning of her stance and posture was done by me, until it was correct), then I selected some targets for her and gave her some 12 gauge rounds. She loaded them then fired. With a big smile she then asked me for more shells which I provided. <A few years ago I did someone a favor and her dad was so grateful he gave me over 1,000 12 gauge cartridges still boxed as a way of saying thank you.> She ran through about 8 shells in the short 'stage coach' configuration then swapped the barrels to the hunting configuration, then did another 6 shots. Meanwhile her mom watched and beamed. Afterwards she broke the gun open and handed it back, telling me it wasn't nearly as bad as she had thought and that she got this. (Step) Father's pride. :)



We chatted awhile with her interpreting for her mom (who speaks only Nepali) as my Nepali is still poor, too poor to understand it fully when spoken quickly. Unfortunately at her home her doggie was waiting for someone to return to take her for a walk, so my friend had to leave unless she wanted a mess on her carpet which she didn't.

After they departed I fed my own 2 Flerkens, cleaned the shotgun barrels, then watched Walking Dead and went to sleep.

....should be a joy. Sure, the birds and bees advice some, but more and more, not all, of our folks gave us, mostly did the job. And speaking of parents, isn't that what they call Catholics follwing the rhythm contraceptive methods? But I digress. It's much more than a plumbing story, peebles. Yes, anatomy is important, but not everything---ask any barren couple or their consultant nurse or doc. Relaxation must be involved, for one. Those poor souls in IVF clinics are among the most anxious partners I've ever seen. The reason acupuncturists often get results, or why natural births often follow adoption?Women know. There are o*gasm, and then there are o*gasm!---with visits from the stork often following the latter. And lots more. We're much more than a bunch of tissues and chemicals---well, at least if we escape CFM, early in this life.

One by one, he's keeping them. China, jobs, economy, Korea, etc. Now he says he'll do something reasonable on guns in the wrong hands. Watch him. But his latest act is to begin reinforcing a law that has been part of immigration policy for decades, until partially reversed in 1999, mostly by dems. And by a few wussified others, so affraid of illogically being called racist. Now immigrants must not be on the dole too long, or it's back to the hell holes from whence they came. Just hope he would also reinstitute the effective Sponsor system. Our great President Trump. MARA. Make America reasonable again. Just watch the country hating---vote pandering moonbats piss and moan about it, and begin law suits. All go to the SCOTUS. Imagine that. Hardy har har har.

another opens. Old AA saying. And it's so often true. Was never as close to my 5 sibs as I admired in other families, such as many Irish ones. Even invited as non family guest to many of the bacchanalian large family reunions of the latter, and had fun watching the many fights, then the teary make ups, amid the profound signs of love. Always left a little envious. But now that both of our folks have left us, and left me managing their estate, have been sending updates of my progress on this job to all, and we are becoming closer, and more in touch. Odd how this works. Grateful.

I've had a few episodes helping my nephew moving his family to California. I'm pushing the issue to have them out of the rented house by the end of this month so they don't incur more expense. Currently, they are in a hotel (in California) awaiting a deal on an apartment next month.
I found a 5th TV around the corner of the master bedroom loft that no one told us about. The only reason for that was my search for the internet router. Sheesh. The container is filled, so it's got to go in the back seat of the car they will have transported. Any other things we can stuff in the car should happen tomorrow. I'm waiting to hear when the car will be moved. If they can't get the carrier in time, I've got to move it to a guest spot at my condo or (preferred) the back parking warehouse of my office.
Tomorrow, I'm returning the TV and internet equipment then meeting one of the local donation services to take any/all of the things in the garage. Tables, (ugly) art work, lamps, broken bicycle, plastic bins and children's toys.

The one really negative that stands out is the smell of the place.
Nearly every room had a 'Plug-in' scented device. The few times I was there, scented candles were burning in a house with 2 cats, I deemed the place toxic. I mentioned about the Plug-ins being an irritant and not a good idea for 2 young children. That warning didn't faze them at all. Because my sinuses swelled within a few minutes, my visits were always short.

On the pile of 'give away' was a small carpet mat that I though would be good in my home office. Thought... I couldn't stand the smell and moved it to my back porch. The next stop will be the dumpster. I'm planning a yard sale at my house in Miami and put a toaster with a few other things in the back of my car for this weekend. The chemical perfume smell is so strong that I have to open the window and get fresh air into the car!

I'll be happy when this is over...

Ruby...




I have a niece named Crystal and her daughter is Diamond.