My morning started with my brother frantically texting me to call him ASAP. His very messy divorce is getting messier.
As soon as I got to work, my aunt called to give me a heads up that my mother's infection just won't go away and they are likely going to be sending her back here. An hour later she confirmed that was the plan. My mother will likely have to have her new knee replaced, which would involve a temporary antibiotic spacer for several weeks before the new one is installed. Or they could amputate.
Call me a selfish bitch, but the thought of my mother coming back here for several months again nearly made me cry at my desk at work. It was so, so hard adding her in to my already precarious balance last year. I don't want that stress again.
Then a friend who always manages to be in legal trouble called with more legal trouble. I just ignored her texts because I was busy, and I couldn't freaking deal with anyone else's problems by that point.
Got hung up at work a bit late. Met DH for dinner while the twins were at church (they asked to start going to church on Wednesday nights, who am I to say no?). I was bitching about my day to DH and he said, "you know what we need to do? Go to the batting cages!"
And so we went. And it was therapeutic. DH called out "This one's your brother! This one's your mom! This one's your surly teenage daughter!"
And then I hit one onto the top of my foot. Did I mention that I came straight from work? So I was still in heels. Yeah, there's a reason you don't play baseball in heels. And no, I don't know how I managed to hit a ball straight down onto my foot.
I immediately uttered a curse word and my foot immediately started to swell. You could see a perfect, white imprint of the ball on the top of my foot. It kept swelling and got a bit tingly, and my toes won't bend. I'm 95% certain its a hematoma, and WebMD agrees with me. I just don't know if I broke anything under the hematoma. I can kind of walk on it.
So I'm sitting here iced and elevated, sipping a cocktail (with whipped cream flavored vodka, which is so very yummy). I guess I'll see what it looks like in the morning and decide if I need to go to the doctor. Now I just need some damn chocolate.
8/25/12
Awesome Grannies
8/24/12
Today
I took off this last Friday of summer to hang with my girlies. Despite the fact that I have had to drag my tired ass out of bed every day this week, this morning I was wide awake at 6:00 am. WTF?
I let Bob out and impatiently waited for him to do his business so that I could let him back in. And then he started barking. I poked my head out of the door (because I was only wearing a tank top and undies), and could see that his hair was raised and he had something trapped, but it was just around the corner of the house where I couldn't see what. I ran inside to find pants and shoes, but DH volunteered to check it out. I wasn't going to argue, since the last time Bob cornered something it was a rat snake.
It turned out to be a plastic bag. I'm so glad to know that Bob is willing to protect us from those vicious plastic bags. Especially when he will let any human into the house without so much as a growl, and will love you forever if you scratch his ears.
We spent the rest of the days running back to school errands (and saw The Odd Life of Timothy Green. It was a bit boring and a bit sad.) It was a really nice girlie day.
Finally, we headed to the school for meet the teacher, which had been advertised in several places as being from 4-6 pm. And when we got there at 4:15 we were informed that we couldn't meet the teachers until 5. WTF? And then it came flooding back to me that they pulled this same crap last year. At least I didn't leave work early to be there at 4:00 (like last year).
So now we're killing time before we go back to school.
I let Bob out and impatiently waited for him to do his business so that I could let him back in. And then he started barking. I poked my head out of the door (because I was only wearing a tank top and undies), and could see that his hair was raised and he had something trapped, but it was just around the corner of the house where I couldn't see what. I ran inside to find pants and shoes, but DH volunteered to check it out. I wasn't going to argue, since the last time Bob cornered something it was a rat snake.
It turned out to be a plastic bag. I'm so glad to know that Bob is willing to protect us from those vicious plastic bags. Especially when he will let any human into the house without so much as a growl, and will love you forever if you scratch his ears.
We spent the rest of the days running back to school errands (and saw The Odd Life of Timothy Green. It was a bit boring and a bit sad.) It was a really nice girlie day.
Finally, we headed to the school for meet the teacher, which had been advertised in several places as being from 4-6 pm. And when we got there at 4:15 we were informed that we couldn't meet the teachers until 5. WTF? And then it came flooding back to me that they pulled this same crap last year. At least I didn't leave work early to be there at 4:00 (like last year).
So now we're killing time before we go back to school.
8/19/12
Food and Family
With only one week left until school starts, I spent my weekend cooking. I'm always happiest when my freezer is full. It was a perfect, rainy weekend for my cookathon, and everybody pitched in. PS pretty much hates cooking, but the twins like helping out. Especially when they get to use a big knife. I Tom Sawyered them into chopping up 5 pounds of cooked chicken breast.
Meanwhile, things are not going well with the extended family. My mother has been admitted to the hospital twice in the last week for infection. DH's grandmother broke her hip Friday and had surgery on Saturday. My brother, who is going through an ugly divorce, called to tell me that my grandparents' (on my dad's side) dementia was getting really bad. And my grandfather (on my mother's side) just found out that his cancer has spread to his lymph nodes and spleen and he is in kidney failure.
My poor aunt has been keeping me updated with the grandfather issues, in part because there have been legal issues that go along with it. A few months ago she discovered that my grandfather was engaging in behavior that was putting himself and my (step) grandmother in danger. There had been a couple of mysterious break-ins at their house and my grandfather had been beaten in the last one.
My grandmother's kids (who all live in other towns) came down, evaluated the situation, and decided to take her back home with them. Her dementia was becoming more advanced, and my grandfather wasn't able to take care of her. And the house was full of bedbugs.
Thankfully, I had them both execute powers of attorney a couple of years ago.* It was time to start using them. My grandfather was moved into a nursing home, but has been kicked out of two of them already for inappropriate behavior. Hopefully, number 3 will stick. My aunt was left to deal with him and close out the house--which has been no easy task. It all seemed to happen really fast, and now it appears that my grandfather has only a few months left.
I feel like I should be more upset, but I was never particularly close to this grandfather. These were not warm, fuzzy grandparents who ever cared much about hanging out with their grandchildren. The most quality time I ever spent with him was when he was in a halfway house in my college town after being released from federal prison. I was the only person he knew in that town, and I diligently went to visit every Thursday evening during the 3 month period that he was required to stay there.
After I graduated college and became a SAHM (before I went to law school), he informed me that I had wasted my education (not that he or anybody else on that side of the family had ever graduated from college). And he didn't have much use for lawyers, either, since his didn't manage to keep him out of the pen. I was pretentious for getting a graduate degree, when I hadn't even made use of my undergrad degree.
I actually haven't spoken to him at all since my MIL died and he tried to hit me up for money while we were camped out at hospice--that's been 2.5 years. My uncle wants to have a birthday party for him next month. I suppose we will go. There seem to be lots of things pulling us toward a trip to Hometown, but I will admit that I am not looking forward to it. My messed up family is why I moved so far away. I like my boring, quiet life in the suburbs.
*Please make sure you have general and medical powers of attorney. I just did a pro bono guardianship of an elderly woman, and it is expensive and involves a lot of ongoing paperwork. It could have been avoided if a power of attorney had been signed while she still had full capacity. You do not want to do that to your children! (Yes, I know I'm preaching to the choir!)
Meanwhile, things are not going well with the extended family. My mother has been admitted to the hospital twice in the last week for infection. DH's grandmother broke her hip Friday and had surgery on Saturday. My brother, who is going through an ugly divorce, called to tell me that my grandparents' (on my dad's side) dementia was getting really bad. And my grandfather (on my mother's side) just found out that his cancer has spread to his lymph nodes and spleen and he is in kidney failure.
My poor aunt has been keeping me updated with the grandfather issues, in part because there have been legal issues that go along with it. A few months ago she discovered that my grandfather was engaging in behavior that was putting himself and my (step) grandmother in danger. There had been a couple of mysterious break-ins at their house and my grandfather had been beaten in the last one.
My grandmother's kids (who all live in other towns) came down, evaluated the situation, and decided to take her back home with them. Her dementia was becoming more advanced, and my grandfather wasn't able to take care of her. And the house was full of bedbugs.
Thankfully, I had them both execute powers of attorney a couple of years ago.* It was time to start using them. My grandfather was moved into a nursing home, but has been kicked out of two of them already for inappropriate behavior. Hopefully, number 3 will stick. My aunt was left to deal with him and close out the house--which has been no easy task. It all seemed to happen really fast, and now it appears that my grandfather has only a few months left.
I feel like I should be more upset, but I was never particularly close to this grandfather. These were not warm, fuzzy grandparents who ever cared much about hanging out with their grandchildren. The most quality time I ever spent with him was when he was in a halfway house in my college town after being released from federal prison. I was the only person he knew in that town, and I diligently went to visit every Thursday evening during the 3 month period that he was required to stay there.
After I graduated college and became a SAHM (before I went to law school), he informed me that I had wasted my education (not that he or anybody else on that side of the family had ever graduated from college). And he didn't have much use for lawyers, either, since his didn't manage to keep him out of the pen. I was pretentious for getting a graduate degree, when I hadn't even made use of my undergrad degree.
I actually haven't spoken to him at all since my MIL died and he tried to hit me up for money while we were camped out at hospice--that's been 2.5 years. My uncle wants to have a birthday party for him next month. I suppose we will go. There seem to be lots of things pulling us toward a trip to Hometown, but I will admit that I am not looking forward to it. My messed up family is why I moved so far away. I like my boring, quiet life in the suburbs.
*Please make sure you have general and medical powers of attorney. I just did a pro bono guardianship of an elderly woman, and it is expensive and involves a lot of ongoing paperwork. It could have been avoided if a power of attorney had been signed while she still had full capacity. You do not want to do that to your children! (Yes, I know I'm preaching to the choir!)
8/17/12
I am a Jinx
Earlier this summer we were supposed to vacation in Colorado Springs. Our vacation was scheduled for the week after the fires started there. So we made it a staycation instead. It was fine, the downtime was nice, but I've been jonesing to get out of town. I'd still love to go to Colorado, but it's much too far for a weekend trip.
So I thought we'd do a little beach trip over Labor Day. And then this morning I heard on the radio that dead fish were washing up on the beach by the thousands. Gross.
I'm beginning to think that I am a magnet for natural disasters. Or that karma wants me to stay home.
We're trying to come up with an alternative solution--but by now most everything is booked up. Man, I need a lake house. But that seems unlikely with three college educations to pay for (not to mention my own JD). Man, I need to inherit a lake house from some unknown, elderly relative who lived a long and happy life.
So I thought we'd do a little beach trip over Labor Day. And then this morning I heard on the radio that dead fish were washing up on the beach by the thousands. Gross.
I'm beginning to think that I am a magnet for natural disasters. Or that karma wants me to stay home.
We're trying to come up with an alternative solution--but by now most everything is booked up. Man, I need a lake house. But that seems unlikely with three college educations to pay for (not to mention my own JD). Man, I need to inherit a lake house from some unknown, elderly relative who lived a long and happy life.
8/14/12
Senorita Fashionista
As I was walking through my parking garage at work today, a complete stranger came up to me and said, "Can I ask you something? Do I look tacky?"
"I'm sorry?" I asked confusedly.
"Is this outfit tacky?" she said.
"No, you look nice," I said.
"Are these purple shoes ok with this outfit?" she said.
"Yes, they are exactly the pop of color you needed for your outfit," I said. (She was wearing a black top and a black bias-cut skirt with a white stripe through it, and deep purple heels.)
Very strange. And yet, I was somewhat disappointed that she wasn't horribly dressed. Oh how many times have I wished strangers would ask me for fashion advice. There have been plenty of times I could have helped a girl out, but it just wasn't appropriate to do so. I definitely think more complete strangers should start asking me for fashion advice.
"I'm sorry?" I asked confusedly.
"Is this outfit tacky?" she said.
"No, you look nice," I said.
"Are these purple shoes ok with this outfit?" she said.
"Yes, they are exactly the pop of color you needed for your outfit," I said. (She was wearing a black top and a black bias-cut skirt with a white stripe through it, and deep purple heels.)
Very strange. And yet, I was somewhat disappointed that she wasn't horribly dressed. Oh how many times have I wished strangers would ask me for fashion advice. There have been plenty of times I could have helped a girl out, but it just wasn't appropriate to do so. I definitely think more complete strangers should start asking me for fashion advice.
8/12/12
Sunday Scrambling
I have a reply brief due on Monday. I thought I was done with it, and then at 5:15 this evening, Partner sends another section that he wants me to add. Which put me over my page limits. Argggghhhh! This is the same partner who gave me his revisions at 6:30 Friday night--including those for the client's supporting affidavit. Grumble.
I like Partner, but he is a major procrastinator. I HATE working under a deadline like this. Yes, I may be the only lawyer on the planet who gets stuff out ahead of time. Now I will be scrambling tomorrow to create my appendix and finalize my cites to the sequentially-numbered appendix. Double grumble. I guess the bright (or not) side is that the fed courts have a midnight filing deadline, unlike the 5:00 state court deadline.
P.S. In case you were wondering, SS's cardiologist appointment went great. We saw the father of TT's cardiologist, and I swear he was 90 years old, but still sharp as a tack. He said that TT has an "innocent murmur" and that her heart is perfectly normal. Apparently they just pop up sometimes in toddlers and adolescents, hang around for a year or two, and then disappear. She does not have the same condition as her twin.
I like Partner, but he is a major procrastinator. I HATE working under a deadline like this. Yes, I may be the only lawyer on the planet who gets stuff out ahead of time. Now I will be scrambling tomorrow to create my appendix and finalize my cites to the sequentially-numbered appendix. Double grumble. I guess the bright (or not) side is that the fed courts have a midnight filing deadline, unlike the 5:00 state court deadline.
P.S. In case you were wondering, SS's cardiologist appointment went great. We saw the father of TT's cardiologist, and I swear he was 90 years old, but still sharp as a tack. He said that TT has an "innocent murmur" and that her heart is perfectly normal. Apparently they just pop up sometimes in toddlers and adolescents, hang around for a year or two, and then disappear. She does not have the same condition as her twin.
8/8/12
Winding Down and Gearing Up
We have 2.5 weeks left of summer. Sigh. We did a road trip on Saturday, which TT declared "the best day ever." We toured caverns, swam in a natural spring-fed pool that was a perfect 68 degrees on a 101 degree day, and watched a colony of bats emerge from their habitat at dusk. (The trip was all about the bats--my kids are obsessed with them!) It was a nice little getaway and we crammed a lot into that day.
I'm really not ready for back-to-school craziness, but it's already begun. TT started summer band this week. I may be more excited than she is. I was a total band geek, and I'm psyched to have one of my three kids following in my footsteps.
PS has high school orientation next week. I am not excited about that. I am not adjusting well to the fact that I have a kid going into high school. I'm not that old. She's not that old. I'm not ready to give her up in 4 years. (Why did I grade-accelerate her? She'll go to college when she's 17!)
And SS has an orthodontist and a cardiologist appointment in the next week, as I try to squeeze everything in before school starts. The cardio appointment is in an abundance of caution by our GP. TT has very, very mild pulmonary valve stenosis and has been seeing a cardiologist since she was a toddler. The GP couldn't even hear TT's murmur, but thought she might have heard something in SS. And since they're identical, she thought it best to have it checked out. (Although I would swear we had asked the cardio about SS at some point, apparently there's no record of it.) So, anyway, I am surprisingly not worried about this appointment, even though pediatric and cardiologist are two words that should not go together.
Work has been concerningly slow for most of the summer, but has picked up this week. I'm sure it will all pick up just in time for the back-to-school madness.
I'm really not ready for back-to-school craziness, but it's already begun. TT started summer band this week. I may be more excited than she is. I was a total band geek, and I'm psyched to have one of my three kids following in my footsteps.
PS has high school orientation next week. I am not excited about that. I am not adjusting well to the fact that I have a kid going into high school. I'm not that old. She's not that old. I'm not ready to give her up in 4 years. (Why did I grade-accelerate her? She'll go to college when she's 17!)
And SS has an orthodontist and a cardiologist appointment in the next week, as I try to squeeze everything in before school starts. The cardio appointment is in an abundance of caution by our GP. TT has very, very mild pulmonary valve stenosis and has been seeing a cardiologist since she was a toddler. The GP couldn't even hear TT's murmur, but thought she might have heard something in SS. And since they're identical, she thought it best to have it checked out. (Although I would swear we had asked the cardio about SS at some point, apparently there's no record of it.) So, anyway, I am surprisingly not worried about this appointment, even though pediatric and cardiologist are two words that should not go together.
Work has been concerningly slow for most of the summer, but has picked up this week. I'm sure it will all pick up just in time for the back-to-school madness.
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