Happy Halloween

Last day of October - Halloween! I did not decorate; I was doing well to get trick-or-treat candy. Maybe I will find the spirit to decorate next year.

New Orleans was fun but I have no desire to return. Been there, done that. Check it off my Bucket List and move on. Still thinking of hitting Disney in January but the cost might not work - not with Hawaii in October 2013. I'll have to see what happens with the telecommuting decision and if I will need to start covering the cost of gas to and from the office three times a week. That will put a huge dent in my budget and not only Disney but possibly Hawaii will have to be put on a back burner. We shall see.

Complicated Niece

So Andrea decided she didn't really want to spend the weekend with her family (since she can't stay here as we are leaving town and after last June, we do not feel good leaving her here). So she took too many pills, called the ambulance and went to the pych ward for a few days. Again. She's just returned home - not sure what she is planning for the weekend but we aren't changing our minds.

We are giving her one more chance at getting her act together and being a responsible person when it comes to managing her meds, her school and her life. If she decides to hide from reality with another 'respite' at a local medical institution, she will not be returning here. Although she is calm (for the most part) and polite and all while here, her drama is starting to wear on us. We avoid drama - she thrives on it. This is her final chance to get a grip on things and succeed. I get to talk to her about it tomorrow I guess. Fun.

I also find out tomorrow what the verdict is on the telecommuting program at work. There is a big meeting for the afternoon - if they've decided to do away with it and expect us all to report to the office, I will need to put together my resume and start job hunting for something closer. Driving to the office would be like taking a 10% pay cut (with gas and car wear-and-tear) and that's BEFORE taxes. In take-home pay, we're looking more at a 20% pay cut. And I just don't have that kind of money.

The house is still in limbo. Everytime we accomplish one demand from the lenders (remove the mold, replace the roof, paint the exterior) it seems they come up with another one. They've demanded two appraisals - tomorrow I guess George finds out if they were happy with this second appraisal and will OK the loan. I am just waiting to hear what they expect next. This is insane.

I miss my Tucker Martini.

Another Shattered Heart

I held him in my arms and sang to him. He died at 10:50 a.m., Thursday, September 20, 2012. He will be in my heart until I meet up with him again.


Tucker Martini Hunt-Weissenbach



End of Summer

We are heading to the Weissenbachs this afternoon for the Close-The-Pool Party. I can't believe another summer has come to an end. I didn't make it out to the pool nearly as often as I had planned - maybe half a dozen times. I'm not really sure why - maybe it's because when I go, I see all the little kids who are no more; either all grown up and gone or taken away from me.

Looks like George is going to be able to buy Dad's house - after a few stumbling blocks it all looks to be in step. That will be a huge relief off my back (and a big burden on George's). The inspector found mold (no kidding?) on the roof in the bigger basement bedroom. The Moldinator was suppose to go out yesterday to replace the paneling but I guess he never showed. It has to get done before the appraiser goes out and he's due maybe Tuesday. Heck, maybe if we have to we can spray paint over the spot for the appraiser and then see what is taking the Moldinator. I wonder if that would work???? In any case, the mold spots were the ONLY things the inspector found, which really kind of shocked me. Oh, I also have to get to City Hall to see if the house is on septic or sewer. Both George and I can remember Dad hooking the house to sewer back in 1980 or so (can't forget the huge hole in the backyard!) but the water department is saying we haven't been charged for sewer. So if we ARE on sewer and haven't been charged in over 30 years, can they come back and charge all that NOW? Gulp - that will put a dent in the inheritance.

Tucker Martini is still hanging in there, though he is staying behind the work computer. I have been walking around with a pit in my stomach - it's just a matter of time. I pray for him every night, first thought in the morning and all throughout the day. But God isn't going to grant me this one.

Happy Birthday To Me!

Had a really nice birthday. Shawn, Andrea and I picked up Charlie and headed to the KC Ethnic Food Festival at Swope Park where we proceeded to eat around the world. Sampled about a dozen or so different countries - and mostly just enjoyed hanging with Charlie. I hadn't seen him in a few months so it was nice to 'check in' on him!

In other news - George and I have agreed on a price for the house. It's low but not as low as his original offer. The house still has to go through appraisal and inspection but then it will be all his (and no longer my nightmare.) My only concern is he does to me what he's done to Shawn over the car he bought from Molle - every time something goes wrong with the car, he calls Shawn and expects Molle (aka Shawn) to take care of it. I am trying to make it clear that I will not put any more money in the house - the roof, drywall (which was his fault to begin with) and basement door is all he's getting out of us. He mentioned us possibly fixing the basement drain and I said no. I am afraid he's going to keep coming back to me asking that the trust fix this and that after the sale is final.

Andrea had an episode this week where she told her counselor via phone that she was thinking of hurting herself. The counselor called the cops, Andrea left the house, the cops hunted her down.... it was not good. That game is old - what is she going to do when she goes to college next year and doesn't have the support system around her? Is she really going to hurt herself or will her bluff be called when no one goes looking for her after a threat? Intellectually I get that there are folks that have emotional issues but I have a hard time dealing with them. I just want to slap them, tell them to snap out of it and to stop playing the pity "poor me" card. I'm not very sympathetic.

And They're Gone

Dan and the girls left this morning. I actually sobbed when they pulled out of the driveway. Dan finds out in a few days where the girls will live and it really doesn't look good for him. So he will be alone in life, no wife, no kids, no cat and no dog. My heart just breaks for him. I know it's wrong to ask God to take kids away from a parent, but I'm asking him all the same. The girls need to be with Dan and Dan needs to be with the girls.

I've been in a blue funk all day - tearing up at the slightest provocation. I hate being left behind and I get left behind and alone by myself all the time. People are living their lives around me while I sit day after day in a little bedroom office typing at a computer screen and staring out the window. It's common for me to not talk to anyone face-to-face until 9:00 in the evening. I may be nearing a nervous breakdown.

I miss Danny and the girls.

Family

So, Dan and the girls are bunking here for a few weeks. The house is packed but it's been fun spending time with Mykenzie and Lindsey. They are growing up too fast!

We took them to 'our museum', aka The Carroll House. They were very interested in it all, especially the Hunt items - and the little shop!

They have been spending a good deal of time with Tom and his kids, which is nice. Dan plans on driving them to Wichita to see John and them-thar youngins'. I hope he will also get in touch with Susanna so the girls can meet up with Emily and Krissy someplace (I suggested bowling as kids get two games free - just pay for the shoes.)

Not much else going on. Working - some overtime, too. I have a few days off in August - hooray! Then I hang on till mid-October. Work is not what it used to be - they have made it impossible to get a decent bonus. One error and your stats are shot for the quarter. I am thinking once the Cerner campus is finished near The Ledgends, that I might see about getting a job there. Maybe. Winning the lottery would be a plan, too!