ho ho ho

I had a nice Christmas. I tried not to let the bastards get me down, as they say. They succeeded, but not completely.

I called my Aunt (I'll call her "Bernice") yesterday. The conversation went like so:

Mary (me): (cheerfully) Hi Aunt Bernice! It's Mary. How r u?

Bernice: (laughs) Could be better. Having trouble walking.

Mary: (sympathetically) I know. We were hoping to stop over today about 4:30. Is that ok?

Bernice: Where are you going?

Mary: Rockville Centre

Bernice: You're not going to see your father?

Mary: No, Bea is going today. DH went yesterday and we're going tomorrow.

Bernice: Are you sure you're going tomorrow?

Mary: Yes, we're planning on it.

Bernice then went into a tirade about my not seeing my father, etc. My father had requested that we not come in on Christmas Day since DH and DS had gone there Christmas Eve, that Bea was coming Christmas Day. It would be too many visitors for him. Did I think to explain this to Bernice? No, I caved.

I don't know what it is about Bernice. She always gets me rattled. She never has anything nice to say. Whatever happened to pleasantries such as these?:

- Merry Christmas to you too!
- So nice to hear from you.
- Did you have a good Christmas?
- How are the children?
- Of course, I would love to see you. That would be wonderful.
- How is your father?

Bea and Bernice are two peas in a pod. I thought that Bernice - unlike my father and me - was too smart to fall for Bea's tricks. I was wrong. Bea has been manipulating Bernice, lying to her about what is going on with my Dad. She has Bernice thinking that DH and I are horrible.

patrick.net » WOODMERE REHAB AND HEALTH CARE

patrick.net » WOODMERE REHAB AND HEALTH CARE

fatso 1.docx

fatso 1.docx

fatso 1.docx

fatso 1.docx

FALL FOLIAGE @2009 BY MARY PECK

Newlyweds KIM and STEVE are celebrating with family and friends at their swank "destination wedding"

in Aruba.

CHARACTERS:

KIM: the blushing bride, with a taste for the finer things, loves being the center of attention

STEVE: the groom, easygoing, gregarious, fun-loving

DIANE: Kim's mother

MAYA: Kim's friend and bridesmaid

LUPE: a kind, unassuming waitress

SANDI: a pretty young barmaid

CHELSEA: friend of Steve and Kim

LUKE: Chelsea's estranged husband

ERIC: friend of Steve and Kim

SCOTT: friend of Diane's family

HEATHER: friend of Steve and Kim

JARED: Heather's wise-cracking husband, a guy with a middle-class upbringing who has worked his way up the ladder

The guys are at the bar. The gals are exchanging pleasantries with Kim, Kim's mother Diane, and the bridesmaids.

LUKE: (to barmaid, putting two bucks down) Hey beautiful! Vodka tonic.

SANDI: You got it

ERIC: You got Molson?

SANDI: For you – anything.

CHELSEA: Kim, you look gorgeous. I love the details.

SCOTT: Indeed. Is that Vera Wang?

CHELSEA: Oh, Mrs. Mullin, you look beautiful. So good to see you.

SCOTT: That color is absolutely stunning on you… stunning! I love it.

DIANE: (putting arm around Chelsea) You too, sweetie. Please, call me "Auntie Diane".

CHELSEA: Oh

SCOTT: (picking up a poinsettia) Oh, my, I just adore these centerpieces! I just love a Christmas-y wedding.

DIANE: You look lovely as always. How are the children?

CHELSEA: Good, thanks.

DIANE: And the little guy? Is he trained yet?

CHELSEA: (glancing over at Luke at the bar) Umm…

KIM: Mom? He's not even two years old yet!

CHELSEA: (realizing Diane is referring to the baby) Oh, we're working on it

DIANE: Well, you were all trained by six months.

KIM: Oh, c'mon… we were not.

DIANE: Oh, yes. (to Chelsea) Sweetie, if you ever need anything, you know I'm just a phone call away.

CHELSEA: Yes, thanks.

LUKE: another vodka tonic

A group of waitresses is staring and pointing at Luke. They push one of the women forward.

LUPE: Excuse me, I don't want to bother you, but it's not for me, it's for my grandson Keith. He's 7. You're his favorite player.

LUKE rolls eyes, wordlessly scribbles his initials on a napkin and hands it to Lupe.

LUPE: (a little disappointed) Oh, thank you. (she walks back to show the other waitresses)

JARED, HEATHER and MAYA walk over to the bar.

JARED: Hey, hey, hey!

ERIC: Whassup man?

LUKE: (checking out Heather and Maya) Hey

ERIC: (to Jared) Heard you got a promotion. Congrats!

JARED: Thanks, man. That extra money comes in handy with the kiddies, I tell ya. Especially with the economy the way it is.

ERIC: I hear you, man.

LUKE: (to Heather) Whassup, doll?

HEATHER: Same old. Nice to get a break. Seventh graders, I tell ya. Then it's home to my three. But I wouldn't trade it for anything.

JARED: Oh, Heather's gonna be in a pageant.

LUKE: Well, you should slay 'em.

JARED: Yeah, it's for "over 40" chicks.

HEATHER: (bristling at the "over 40" part) Well, it's a "Mrs. Long Island" pageant.

ERIC: You'll be great.

SANDI: (agitated) What's your talent? Baton twirling?

HEATHER: Actually, I tap dance.

LUKE: Care to give us a sampling?

HEATHER: Here? I don't think so. Maybe after a few more of these (she hoists her wine glass). Um, I understand Chelsea used to compete in pageants.

LUKE: (agitated) Yeah, back in the day.

HEATHER: Oh, remember my cousin MJ? She says hi.

LUKE: MJ? What does she look like?

JARED: Like a human bowling ball. (Jared waddles. Heather playfully smacks Jared.)

You'd never know those two were related.

LUKE: Yeah, if she looked like you I woulda remembered her. She here?

JARED: No, they didn't make the cut

LUKE laughs

STEVE comes over to the bar.

ALL: Steverino!

To be continued…

Bishop's Memorial Mass - November 8, 2009

Bishop's Memorial Mass - November 8, 2009

Fat woman walkin'

Went walking today, unfortunately it was cut short b/c my dirtbag neighbor is out of jail again. Nice, huh. See, some folks, including the dirtbag himself, have objected to my calling him that word. He was on his bike, did a wheelie like he was a little kid, and glared at me. I made it home ok, called the cops and social services again.

social services has done nothing. cops say they'll "check it out".

this "kid" has been nothing but a menace since he moved in here. he's broken into houses, cars, smashed windows in his house when intoxicated, and I could go on and on.

the father has defended him

after stealing things from us he continued to loiter in my driveway on his cell phone, while his parents were in la la land, when I couldn't take it anymore one day, called him a "dirtbag" and told him to get out of my driveway. Now some people think I antagonized him by doing so. So the next time he saw me he stared me down and screamed "get out of my driveway".

I basically am ok w/most of my other neighbors, but I am puzzled by their reactions. One says he does work for the kid's mother and she's "very nice". I don't know how nice she is if she lets him go around and break into houses. I've seen other parents let their kids hang out with him, the same neighbors that shunned my son with LD who doesn't bother anyone.

I don't get it. The parents were never held accountable for not keeping a closer eye on their kid. I have sympathy for a lot of people, but not this family.

good morning

There is much to be thankful for.

Good friends, family, just being alive even if it is a little too chilly for my liking...

My fear is that some folks will read this blog and go "gosh, what a complainer..."

Yeah, I am one. But I feel better already just having b*tched.

Ok, I'll try to find the positives and talk about those for a change. That would be liberating.

Meanwhile, I hope you all have a great day. Later...