Day 32

Day 32

Monday, April 28, 2014

I got home yesterday (Monday) about a little past noon.  My DIL brought me home, rested awhile and helped with a few “last minute” things, and went on back home.  I am here alone again, but have not been here long enough to be Alone yet.  My cats were SO glad to see me, as I was them.

On Saturday we left early to go to DGS13’s soccer game.  He had to be there at 9:15, a town an hour away.  It was an interesting experience .. I could tell when the whole mass of players moved together in one direction or another; but mostly had to be told what was going on.  They won, 2-0.  In the afternoon everyone pitched in and got the house cleaned up.  I got to use a steam mop – how I wish I had “hard” floors! LOL!  That evening DGD (16 today) had her birthday party.  3 friends came over and they played Trivia.  A few more were able to come later, and DS grilled ‘burgers and ‘dogs.  Then we all watched Frozen (well, I use the term “watched” loosely, as there were 6 little teen girls chattering through the whole thing.  It was quite funny – the way the girls were discussing the movie, you’d have thought it was a documentary, with *real* people! LOL!).  Half way through the movie they stopped for cupcakes and gifts.  After the movie, the girls played a video game that involves “playing” instruments and singing along with rock songs.  When all but the last girl had left, they (we?) started watching Holy Grail.  The last girl left shortly into the movie (was picked up); I have no idea who stayed up to watch it all – I couldn’t stay awake.  It was a Long day!

On Sunday everyone slept last.  DGS had another game (play offs) at 5:00 (had to be there by 4:15).  After the game the team and parents went out fo pizza.  We joined them, but late because one of the moms had locked her keys in her car.  After multiple efforts to open it (all defeated by her anti-theft system), she gave in and called a locksmith.  DS did not want to leave her alone – growing dark -  so we waited.  It was very late getting home again!

So, after a busy weekend, DS and the kids managed – barely – to get off to work and school on Monday morning.  DIL and I got our stuff together and came on back here.

I slept very well.  Was it just because I am home?  Because I was warm enough (their house always feels very cool to me)?  Because my own chair is SO much more comfortable than theirs?  Because Both cats slept with me (actually very unusual)?    It doesn’t matter.

It’s also nice (but not “I-never-want-to-go-anywhere” nice) to get up when I feel like it, turn on the TV (and yest, I missed “real” TV even though I enjoyed all the shows and movies I watched with DIL), make my own coffee, do my own laundry, sit here at my desk, etc.

I appreciate that TGF came by and looked after the cats.  They also came over on Sunday and cut the grass.  I didn’t ask her to water my plants – but I did water well before leaving.  Most of them are used to sporadic watering.  Two looked very unhappy.  This morning one has revived nicely, but one very small one does not seem to be reviving.  It is replaceable!

I am annoyed over small things .. and I wonder if I’m *really* annoyed or if I’m transferring my feelings?  It’s a lot easier to be annoyed at TGF (apparently the boys sat at the kitchen table to eat at some point .. the clean tablecloth had multiple *spots* of unknown origin, and a marble rolling pin was off it’s holder and was sticky).  It doesn’t appear there was any concern about the tablecloth .. just left dirty, no treatments.  (it is now stain-treated, washed, and replaced). 

The cat-in-the-bedroom problem is turning out to be a major issue that I’m not sure how to deal with.  I can’t even remember if I wrote about it or not; but the “stray” cat that had sneaked into the house was trapped in the bedroom when I left.  We had set a trap for it . but when TGF and DSS came by (the same night we left), they discovered the cat had escaped by actually digging a hole in the wall!  Well, DH had always said the room was very poorly constructed. Anyway, they put a board and heavy box in front of the opening, and tht was fine all week.  But by Sunday, some animal (and I think possibly from the outside) had moved the board and ALL the outside cats were inside the house!  They all scrambled out as soon as people got here, and TGF and DSS put the covering back.

When I got home and went in the room, we saw cats scramble out … once they discovered the opening, the clearly were using it to come and go at will.  Not MY will!! 

Later in the evening I went into the room just in time to see (hear) a cat in the process of moving the board to come in.  It changed it’s mind fast!  But I realized I needed something much heavier to block the hole.  I found a bigger (heavier) box, but the other one on top, and then added a big pile of books.  I don’t actually know if all that is going to be heavy enough, but it is for now.  But in the process of trying to block the hole, I discovered that the window frame is coming apart!  That is very scary .. I don’t think if would take much of a wind storm to do some serious damage!  I know I really have no choice but tell the landlord … and even though they’ve always been good to us, it terrifies me.  What if they say that because of the damage I have to leave?  In any case, I don’t want to say anything until I’m caught up with rent (this month is paid, but next month will be late because I have to wait for an additional SS payment I’m due). 

I am obsessing over a lot of superficial things.  I have a list of things I need to get done.  I know it is good for me to keep busy; and I know my house really needs a good cleaning.  It’s very frustrating to *know* it needs to be cleaned but not be able to see what I’m doing beyond a blur.

I came back home with the best of intentions to NOT just sit around and mope, but get busy and DO things.   But it’s a gray morning (though tankfully not cold), and my determination is wavering.  I did rescue my “summer rug” from the porch floor; and will bring it in before storms get here in the afternoon.  I hope to have enough energy and ambition (motivation?) by this afternoon to change out the living room rugs (which involves a LOT of vacuuming, which I hate) and to also get the kitchen floor cleaned.  It does feel a bit odd to know I have no time constraints .. no worry about when I can do floors without worrying about someone walking on them!

I also have more phone calls to make.  I wish I knew why I hate doing that so much.  I get tongue-tied, not sure what to say; and always afraid they’ll ask for information I don’t have.  Actually, most of the calls I need to make don’t even involve “information!  I have to make arrangements for someone to pick up a huge pile of donations; and I have to cancel a pest control contract that I can no longer afford.  Easy .. why do I put it off?? 

I also need to call my SIL to let her know I’m home.  But I’m afraid she’ll want to come over .. and I want to clean first.  I’m afraid she’ll want to help me … and I don’t care how stupid it sounds, I hate giving the impression I’m so incompetent that I need *help* cleaning my house when I’m the only one even here!  I’m having a bit of a hard time switching gears from caregiver to having no one to take care of and nothing to do.

So far the only things I have accomplished are to unpack, and to get several loads of laundry done.  None of it has been put up yet; and I need (want anyway) to do at least 2 more to feel like I’m caught up. 

I made up my mind I should fix breakfast and start the day “healthy”.  Well, I didn’t think about getting eggs when DIL stopped by the grocery store on our way home.  And I’m not sure how old the few left in the fridge are … so I settled for toast (bread in freezer).  Not off to a great start; but I’ll figure it out eventually.