Kept My Mouth Shut -

Friday I moved my youngest out of this dorm.  I have moved my oldest out of the same dorm twice.  Each time you move out there is an inspection that you must pass in order to check out. 

My oldest went through the checks.  Both times one of the RAs or PAs would show up, look over his contract, and glance around to make sure all his obligations on the contract were met.  No big deal. The oldest sailed through the inspections without a problem. 

When I arrived at my youngest's room Friday, he warned me that his inspector was a pain.  I read the letter he had sent and thought to myself  "okay this guy might be a jerk."  Inspection time came, and the youngest and his roommate were present as required, even though only my youngest was moving out that day.  The inspector was right on time, which I appreciated.  He walked in wearing a suit, which I thought was odd, but okay.  He asked the youngest if he was prepared and we said "yes."  I'm thinking maybe this won't be so bad. The inspector started looking around and then he pulled out a white glove.  I wanted to laugh, but didn't.  The next thing he pulls out is a very powerful flashlight, now I am getting irritated.  My youngest's side of the room is actually cleaner than when we moved in and this guy has a white glove and flashight!  My youngest is giving me the "keep your mouth shut look."  I know he does not want me to make trouble, so  I sit back in my chair and watch.  

The inspector keeps finding "small issues."  Small issues I know do not exist because I had just checked those areas, but I am biting my lip.  Then he opens the drawers.  The drawers are lined with shelf paper.  He looks at the youngest and informs him that the paper is not "State issued."  Excuse me!  I could not be quiet a moment longer.  I informed him that the paper was there when we moved in and that I would never spend the time shelf papering a dorm room.  We tore out the paper and went on.  

I finally had to ask him if he had a meeting that afternoon where a suit was needed.  He informed me that he likes to wear a suit when doing check outs because he finds that as the day wears on and parents are getting tired they tend to not yell at him because his suit shows authority.  I have to say that was not what I was thinking, but to each his own.  

The youngest passed the inspection but once the inspector left the room I had a few things to say.  The youngest and the oldest were glad I kept my tongue that long.

Tonight my tongue was challenged in another way.  The oldest had a very disappointing evening and I so wanted to say something about the person that made it disappointing, but I kept my mouth shut.  I am really trying to let him work out his relationship issues by himself and not say anything about someone that might be around for a very long time, but it is very hard. 

Truffle Fury (Title by M)

When M came back from California Friday she brought us all chocolate truffles. I am keeping BFF's since she is away, and I chose to eat one of mine Saturday, and save the second one for tonight. 

 

This morning I got up with just enough time to shower, dress, and get to church to lead the Hot Topics class we started this week.  I did not have time for breakfast or my meds, in fact I never went into the kitchen before leaving.  After church I headed to Kroger's to buy gas and pick up a couple of items before heading home.  In all I was out of the house for almost two hours.

When I entered the house I went directly into the kitchen to put the groceries away and then entered the laundry room to throw away a couple of pieces of trash.  When I put my trash in the can the first thing I noticed was an empty truffle box. I went crazy.  I stood there yelling some not so nice words and screaming about who could have possibly come into the house to eat my truffle.  I knew the boys would not have eaten my truffle because it is way to fancy for their tastes.  I ranted at the can for about 30 seconds before going into the kitchen to stomp around and scream a little more.  It was several minutes before I calmed down enough to realize that if someone came into the house and ate my truffle they might still be in the house, or more things might be missing.  That gave me pause long enough to think that I should really go into the living room to check things out, including looking to see if my truffle box was missing.  

When I entered the living room, there was my truffle box with my truffle.  I then remembered that M had eaten her truffles here and that was her box in the trash.  

I probably should have eaten something before I left the house this morning. 

Over 72 Hours

I have not stepped outside my house for over 72 hours and it has been wonderful. I love being in my home.

I came home from work Friday around noon and worked on laundry.  Friday night my BFF came over for a sleepover and we quilted all evening and watched movies.  

Saturday it was a full house with BFF, L and M.  We each did our own thing while watching the Olympics.  

Sunday I spent the day quilting.

Today it was quilting, napping and talking to a friend that gave me a call.

Of course there has been lots of reading each evening once I am in bed. 

Tomorrow it is back to work and I will have to leave but it has been a wonderful three days. I really think I could be a hermit.

I am Me

I am Me.

I am an accumulation of all that I have learned through my family, teachers, books, relatives, friends, Raymond, the boys, etc.  I am finally old enough and wise enough to know I won't change. 

It drove Raymond crazy that my family yelled through the house.  If it was dinner time the person serving would just yell from the kitchen "dinner."  Raymond always walked to the rooms where others were and told them it was dinner, later he would roll his wheelchair to them.  

Because I came from a loud house, I am naturally loud. Raymond spoke in a quiet manner.  I don't think he ever appreciated my loudness until he lost most of his hearing and needed me to be loud.

For years I dressed in very nice clothes, shoes, accessories etc.  Even in college I would drive into the "big" city to buy things that could not be found in our KY town.  When I started working in a very nice part of TX, I bought all my clothes at a local boutique.  I hated being so dressed up all the time.  I hated hose, I hated shoes with heels, hated dresses, and I hated keeping all those nice things dry cleaned, or pressed.  It wasn't until I became a stay-at-home mom and could finally wear flats, jeans, and pullovers that I was truly comfortable and felt like I was being my true self.  My clothes are still always clean, fit, and match, they are just me.  I can rummage through the storage area, or climb into the attic at work and not worry about what I am messing up.  If I find a shirt I really like, I can buy it in all the colors because I don't need to look different every day, just professional and put together.  I have very nice outfits for special meetings at work, etc, but they are not the bulk of my closet. 

I am abrupt and sometimes sound harsh.  That is me.  Maybe it is the "Yankee" in me.  I did spend the first 13 1/2 years or so of my life in OH.  My mother was a get to the point type of person, as is my brother.  Raymond was not that way, but I knew that when I married him, and he knew just what I was, I have the letters to prove it.  

I am not a wealthy person, but I go out of my way to try to do little things for my friends, as they are always doing nice things for me.  It may be something as small as doing some research for an item they mentioned on the internet, or  maybe a dinner out for their birthday, but I always try to show them that I appreciate the fact that they put up with me and are my friend.  

I was recently told by a dear friend of having a very rude response during a very specific conversation.  A response that I have absolutely no memory, in fact I have no memory of the conversation.  I have been going through my memory banks trying to remember but it is not there. I am not saying it didn't happen, I am just saying I don't remember it, but I find that is true of a lot of things these days. I am devastated that I hurt my dear friend, there is no excuse.  I fear I have lost her as a friend, it is a loss I will never recover from, ever. 

My boss calls me authentic.

My BFF calls me eccentric.  

Right now, I am calling myself an ass, but I am Me.

Blessed

That is what I am. Truly blessed.