This weekend was more stressful than last. I had no plans to go back to my parents house this past weekend, but when I called mid-week my Dad said it would be nice if I could come, and coming from him that means “Please come, we really need your help”. This weekend only felt like a weekend in the sense that I did ZERO work for school.
Friday night my boyfriend left from work to meet some old friends in DC, go out and spend the night with them. He had a good time, I had a headache from 1:30 when I got home until 5:30 when i picked up my son from daycare, so we went to the mall to try and get out and distract me from the pain. It was fun, we ate chick-fil-a and walked around window shopping. I bought him a book he really liked and we had a good time, he’s fun to be with and apparently thinks I am a ‘cool mom’, he thinks he’ll hang out with me when he’s a teenager more than other kids will hang out with their moms. That made me happy, not that I expect it to happen, but it’s nice that he said it. :-)
So didn’t see my boyfriend until saturday morning, we walked around the neighborhood together, watched TV for an hour or so, then I was off to my parents house.
My dad is not doing as well as he wishes he was. He is only comfortable when he’s laying down and is really getting cabin fever not being able to go outside to the garden. My parents were both sort of cranky with each other and started to bicker, so I took my mom to the grocery store. They needed a lot of stuff, and after she told me that they’d just paid $950 to have her car repaired (even though she can’t drive now, and probably shouldn’t drive even when her arm is better) I decided to pay for the groceries, before I realized the bill was $270. Then we went to the liquor store to get the standard giant bottle of whiskey with which to make the Old Fashioned’s that she drinks every night. I usually don’t take her shopping every week, so this was when it dawned on me that she buys a carton of cigarrettes and a giant bottle of whiskey every week, that’s $90 worth of vice. So I felt a little guilty but I told her that I would not pay for the cigs and liquor, she agreed that was ok but she only had $40 in her wallet and got worried because it was sunday and she couldn’t go to the bank for cash. I reminded her that I showed her last week how to use the ATM to get cash, so we drove over to the bank and I showed her again, she got cash and paid me $80 (the ATM at her bank is ancient, like green type on black screen, only gives cash in 20’s, but whatever)
Everything else was fine at home, I cleaned, changed light bulbs, gathered trash, moved plants inside and started cooking dinner. Mom was sort of a pain in my ass while i was cooking, spaghetti, easy right? no. The sauce has to be made by 5pm, so it can simmer for exactly 1.5 hours or else it won’t be good, I wasn’t adding the ingredients fast enough - it was going to be disasterous! But it got made and it was very good. As we sat down to eat I noticed that the grated parmesan looked a little darker than normal and after they were already eating it i look at the expiration, October 2006! She found that so funny that she had to get up and go to the bathroom, my mom has always had a weak bladder, making her laugh has done that too her since I can remember, of course now it’s more of a problem since she can’t just run to the bathroom. She got to the top of the stairs and yelled “dammit” so apparently didn’t quiet make it. Then as my dad and I ate, assuming she’d be ok she starts yelling. I didn’t hear what she said but apparently she was yelling for me to come help her, but my dad went instead, so when he got up there she freaked out and a nice little fight ensued. Shortly they came back down and she said “don’t be fooled honey, even old married couples fight sometimes, but we’re ok now.” I was thinking “sure YOU are ok, you’ve been drinking for two hours and you’re smashed.” Anyway, the rest of the meal was fine, they went to bed early and I watched TV until I got tired. In the morning I cleaned the kitchen, vacuumed the house, did two loads of laundry, changed two more light bulbs and talked to some guys who came to the door asking about the neighbor across the street who appears to have abandoned they’re house. Sunday was uneventful, but I feel bad for my dad, he doesn’t want to get up and do things but it really took me the whole two days just to get the house back in order so they could get through this week. I also felt bad because my mom told him I paid for the groceries and I know that hurts his pride, I wish she hadn’t said anything. Anyway, I went to a meeting at school and then back home, i’m getting really sick of wasting three hours of every day commuting, but only another year and a half and keeping my fingers crossed I won’t have to work in the city when i’m done.
SUnday night was good, halloween gathering at a neighbors then walking around for candy, I was a cowgirl, wore my boots and western skirt, and did my hair in braids since I don’t have a hat. Think my son had fun and boyfriend enjoyed handing out candy. So a stressful but successful weekend in most respects. Ended sunday with a fight with the boyfriend, but that would be a whole other blog. Gotta love relationships, so fun and comforting, but high maintenance at times.
