Welcome to My Insanity
hi!
this is dita
gg an tamtam an th others ar all still sleepin an me an taddie re keeping them seleepin till gmas in bed so she won make gg shake or tamtam cry or anythin again
but i know that they been worrying bout not having been talkin to you an not being able to write anything here so you all know whats goin on
so im coping what they wrote already over here so youll know bout our week an they can finish it all up later when theyre better
=========
A week of extremes: extremely frustrating and extremely satisfying... extremely bad and extremely good….
One of the frustrating parts has been trying to post *anything* to Journal! Seems every time would start to, *something* happened - so decided to write all up offline then post … but things kept happening to interrupt *that* too! So this has ended up being recap of entire friggin’ week…. And *damnably* long, too, since most of it got written in bits and pieces whenever had chance - and mostly when was tired so includes much rambling, explanations, side comments, random thoughts, and etc …
SUNDAY -
11 Sep 2005
BAD -
=Sighs=
Too many not good memories tied up with date now… But that is true of many in this country these days. Know that in time it will ease, not feel so *immediate* - but for me, 4 yrs is not long enough for that yet
GOOD -
Actually got sleep! **Eight** hours of good, deep, solid *sleep!*
=does Sacred HappyDance of Sleep=
EXTREME FRUSTRATION -
even tho able to get online - or so the computer clamed - was impossible to *do* anything online. AIM wouldn't let us in, and kept saying to check the internet connection ... No matter *what* site we tried to go to, we kept getting that "Page Not Found - DNS Error" message.
EXTREME SATISFACTION -
since doing anything online was impossible, that time was spent in hooking up and installing our New Printer!
=really big grin=
Always before, Roberta ((the local Professional Computer Tech Type Person - & so far as I know, the *only* one within 50 miles)) had come over and done all the hooking up and installing and everything. The thing is, her schedule is normally so full that am lucky if she can get to us within two weeks - and while her fees are reasonable, there are other things that I’d rather spend money on …
Instructions that came with New Computer seemed clear … =grins= … even had nice pics of every part and step and plug and outlet so that was pretty near impossible to get confuddled by it - even for TechChallenged me! … so decided to Be Brave and make attempt at doing it on own.
=grins=
Even figured out how to get around fact that injured leg makes crawling around on floor under desk difficult & painful at best - and physical impossibility at worst.
So … even tho it took me 4 times as long as it would’ve taken any of y’all, am *very* proud of accomplishment!
MONDAY -
12 Sep 2005
EXTREME FRUSTRATION -
Although *I* was Most Pleased With Self for hooking up printer on own, seems that Gma was less so… Apparently, she’d had her mind set on Roberta doing the work [[“She’s a *professional* so she would know *exactly* how to do it without any mistakes.”]] …
=pauses to wonder how getting paid $50 - $60 / hr makes one mistake-proof= …
… so spent More Time Then Wanted listening to gma worryfret about possibility of my having done it wrong, the cost of repairing broken printer ((based on assumption that since I am *not* Professional ComputerTech Person I would’ve made mistakes)) & inability to pay for same, lack of new computer, etcetcetc …
Also, it seems that part of problem ((and maybe *major* part of problem)) Gma had with me hooking up printer on own was that she’d planned on munificently paying Roberta herself …
=grins=
… a whopping **$25.00!**
((No - gma has no idea as to what labour costs actually are. She based that on what I have paid Roberta to come out and clean my computer of dust and all - which is about $25. Gma had figured that “hooking up printer” would cost the same as “cleaning computer”))
But that leads into ….
EXTREME SATISFACTION -
Later, gma decided that since I had done the work, she would give *me* the $25.00 “Hooking Up Printer Fee” …
So not only saved money by figuring out how to hook up printer ourselves, I ended up getting paid for doing so!
=grins=
And $25 comes to ‘bout $10 / hr - not bad for TechChallenged old cat ….
GOOD -
Seven hrs or so of good sleep - not as much sleep as yesterday, but in my “Normal Good Sleep Range” … and a couple of hells of a lot better then the “Four Hours or Less” that I *been* getting far too often lately
BAD -
kk … some of you know background, some don’t …
Is lady out here name of Betty Mika - she helped out with gpa last year he was with us … helped get him dressed and changed and all most mornings. Made it a lot easier then it *might’ve* been for me since time to get gpa up was end of my “12-hr shift” ((which actually tended to be more like 14 hrs most days, and often 16 - 20 hrs.)) I was always pretty zonked by then … and gma was *not* good at dealing with such right at the beginning of *her* day. Having Betty come in most mornings made what took me ‘bout an hour alone only take about 20 min with her help.
So … gpa died - not need Betty to help with him anymore … but gma still had her come in once a week. =grins= *Official* reason was so that “we could help Betty out” since gpa’s death meant sudden loss of income for her - *real* reason was because gma would accept help from Betty that she *wouldn’t* accept from anyone else - not even us … and not even when she badly needed it.
Betty would come out for an hour or so each week… Take gma to doctors’ appts, do some of the heavy work around here that I have trouble with, do things ((like climbing up on chair to change lightbulbs in ceiling or pull things down from back of top shelf in cupboard)) that I *can’t* do …
All of this is Very Good Thing - and me paying at least half of Betty’s fees ((whether or not she’d done anything for me that month)) meant that gma had no excuse for *not* going to doctors when she needed to.
=sighs=
Only seems that gma started assuming that Betty would *always* be available whenever she ((gma)) needed her ((Betty)) …
Gma has appt with dentist to have bad tooth pulled on 03 Oct at 1330 local - and dentist is booked up solid enough that appts tend to be scheduled 6+ wks in advance. Gma had *assumed* Betty would be available to take her … and so did *not* bother mentioning it to her - there was time for that later …
Only thing is … Betty *wont’* be available that afternoon …
=sighs=
Which only got found out because *I* had called Betty this evening - have several errands to run this week and while can do them on HandiBus it would be easier and faster to have Person With Car drive me around.
See, local HandiBus runs “on demand” like taxi, *not* on schedule like regular bus ((of which we don’t have any out here… Don’t have any taxis either... Only got one, lonely HandiBus that runs 0800 - 1600 Mon - Fri, except on Federal, State, or Local Holidays, or during Severe Weather, or when driver has to be at meeting… =grins= No, is not greatest Public Transport System - but is *lots* better then not having it at all.))
Anyway … When use HandiBus, need to call hour in advance for pickup … get picked up in order that call was placed … get dropped off at destination … call when finished … get picked up whenever bus is able to get back in that part of town … get taken to *next* destination …. etcetcetc. First pickup is seldom any problem - I try to get appts scheduled for first thing in morning so not have to wait long. But getting picked up *after* that … average wait for bus to pick me back up is 30 min - and waiting an hour or more is not uncommon. While many places out here have place for people to sit while waiting for bus, most do *not* - and even public benches outside are not common, except in center of downtown.
((Yes, we *do* have a downtown out here - it’s small, but it’s there. We even got “Rush Hour” three times a day! =grins= Of course, our Rush Hours are only about 15 or 20 min long each… but we got ‘em! ))
Having 3 or more errands to do means either spending 4 or more hours doing them - and generally includes rather more standing waiting then bum leg likes … or it means doing one errand each morning all week …. or it means I find Nice Person With Car …
=grins=
Which is why I called Betty tonight …
*I* got things set up with her with not any trouble at all … But in casual conversation, Betty mentioned something that *she* thought was Very Good News …
She’d applied for position as Substitute Kitchen Helper for the Sidney School System … gotten accepted … and already gotten first assignment ….
On 03 Oct, from 1000 - 1330 ….
which means that she will *not* be available to take gma to dentist… I congratulated Betty on her good fortune ((and it *is* Good Thing for her)) and said that I’d let gma know - which is when found out that gma had *not* yet bothered to mention appt to Betty… And since Betty *likes* gma and likes helping out, she is now upset to find out that she *can’t* help out …
And gma …
=much rolling of eyes=
Gma is all worryfret bout however will she be able to cope, whatever will she do, etcetcetc …
=grins at sudden random mental image of gma in Scarlet O’Hara costume=
Gma flat out *refuses* to use HandiBus - refuses to have me go with her... And seems that for gma getting ride is some sort of complicated matter of negotiations ((*she* used that word!)) ... and gma don't want me to find ride for her - such as me asking Mary if she's available and willing - because .... =sighs and rolls eyes= .... Never in all her life has she ever had anyone enter into business negotiations on her behalf ... and those are *her* words ... =rolls eyes=
now ... just how asking friend if she's available and willing to provide transport to doctor’s appt becomes "business negotiations" of such complexity that can not have someone ask on her behalf .... =rolls eyes again and sighs= ...
Sometimes I wonder if gma understands meaning of “Real Friendship” ….
TUESDAY -
13 Sep 2005
GOOD -
Went to local foot doc and got Deadly ToeTalons of Doom chopped off … =grins= … which *should’ve* had done back beginning of summer, but Things Kept Happening. By this time, they qualified as Concealed Weapons every time put shoes on! … =Grins= … and that is not *too* much of exaggeration - they were long and *sharp* enough to have sliced thru heavy flannel sheet when stretched legs out last week.
BAD -
Because of appt this morning - and gma needing to talktalk when I got home - am back on the SleepShort List
GOOD … I think -
Tonight, Almy showed CeeCee how to do a couple things on the computer - one of which was the Paint Program … which we hadn’t known we had … =grins= … This is Very Fun Thing - and kept Dita amused for couple three hours … =grins= … Which might not be a Totally Good Thing, since Dita now wants to play with Paint *lots* - even when we’re needing to do something else…
WEDNESDAY -
14 Sep 2005
GOOD -
Betty took me around town to get errands done - bank, pharmacy, grocery store - which included a couple errands for gma too … Got everything done and back home in only an hour! Yay!!!
BAD -
Got home, put stuff away, started to head down to bed … and gma Has to Talk … and talk … and *talk* …. Which meant that rather then getting into bed at half past 9 this morning, I didn’t get into bed until half past 11 … which means am sleepshort…
GOOD -
am not *badly* sleepshort - got 6 hrs which is 2 hrs more then Minimum Functionality Level
BAD -
Was more talktalk tonight - and gma’s badly upset … and this time *we* agree she’s got reason to be upset …
Roberta - local Computer Tech Person - is also personal friend of gma's ... Few days ago, Roberta'd told gma that she wanted to bring a couple friends over to meet gma - wanted them to hear some of gma's stories bout moving here and all ...
Well, visit was set up for yesterday afternoon, no problem ... but Roberta wanted to record what gma said. She'd asked when date / time for visit was set up, and gma said *most* emphatically *No!* ... =grins= Gma taking *very* strong exception to anyone ever recording anything she says - *esp* any of her stories ....
which is quite understandable to us since *we* are kinda “recorderphobic” ourselves ....
thing is, when Roberta and friends got here yesterday, Roberta attempted to record what gma said *anyway* ... she set up a small recorder in the rocker next to where gma sits. Gma caught her and - in spite of gma's tendency to go out of way to avoid "making a fuss" ... =grins= ... least ways, to avoid making fuss in front of *company* - she makes fussfuss to *me* often and often ...
Anyway, gma protested and told Roberta again *No!* .... 'cording to gma, Roberta tried to talk her into letting "just a small portion" of her stories be recorded, but gma kept refusing.
which is all well and good - am not blaming gma, and am actually kinda proud of her for sticking to guns instead of keeping quiet because of company then bitching bout it later ...
thing is, when visit was over and Roberta & Friends were leaving, gma says she noticed Roberta reaching down behind the recliner as if she was unplugging something ... So gma is convinced that Roberta recorded what she said in *spite* of her stated wishes.
so gma's been pretty upset by that since it happened ... =rolls eyes and grins= ... thing is, she didn' bother to say anything bout it until *today* ... kept us up after got back from Errand Running telling 'bout it in *great* detail ... Then tonight, going over entire thing *again* - in great detail.
And *we* are feeling paranoid bout it ourselves…
Roberta is not only Local Computer Tech Person, she is reporter for local newspaper - among other things. while Computer stuff is full time - and then some - for her, she is a regular freelance reporter for the paper ... as well as taping on video the City Council meetings, selling Nutritional Supplements, and a few other things ....
gma kept saying ((and I quote)): "It's *my* story, so what does Roberta want with it?"
=rolls eyes=
which, Roberta being freelance reporter, is kinda *obvious* to the us - thing is, recording someone like that - unless is for official type reasons, like cops or court or something - isn't legal so far’s we know, *esp* when person has said specifically and flat out that they are not *willing* to be recorded ... is why when you make catalogue order over phone, or call a cust service department or something, you get recording saying that "call may be monitored or recorded" ...
so if Roberta *does* use it, gma could take her to court or something I think ... of course, gma wouldn't do *that* ... =rolls eyes= ... she'd be too scared of "retribution" - and so she's said before ...
Thing that concerns *us* is Paranoid Possibility that Roberta may've wanted to record for some *other* reason ... and the worry bout what gma actually said, since she is *not* known for choosing words carefully
So … we're feeling a bit edgy bout it - as well as fighting off Paranoia Attack ...... and gma's understandably upset by it ...
MIXED -
Is now mid-Sep, so temps are more in our Comfort Zone … But while cooler temps = Good Thing, and rain = Good Thing … aches *caused* by cooler temps and rain does *NOT* = Good Thing ...
THURSDAY -
15 Sep 2005
BAD -
badly sleepshort - gma had appt with medico this morning, so I couldn’t go to bed till she was back and finished talking and all … and no matter what time I get bod into bed, *still* wake up by about 1700 local - often by 1600, sometimes even earlier. And then can *not* get back to sleep, no matter *how* tired am feeling.
=sighs=
At least she *did* go to medico … Of course, would be better if she told medico the *truth* bout things, or at least told him some of what he *should* know - like all the non-prescription supplements she takes …
Also, must *again* listen to gma’s Tale of Roberta - in great detail - as well as what she’s decided to do about it …
=sighs, closes eyes, and prays for patience=
And what she has decided to do seems to be the *worst* possible thing …
Gma is *not* going to put it in the past …
Gma is *not* going to call Roberta and ask her ‘bout it …
((And either of those is what *we’d* do - depending on how much we trusted Roberta. Since gma only *thought* that it “looked like Roberta unplugged something” to us that indicates possibility that assumption of being recorded was mistaken - which means that is *not* a proven fact … which to *us* means time to ask questions …))
=sighs=
No … gma has decided that since she *thinks* Roberta recorded her is automatically true that Roberta *did* record her. And rather then call Roberta up and talk ‘bout it, gma is Writing a Letter to send to her …
=sighs=
And *that* always means trouble…
Letter gma wrote to one of my cousins caused *big* trouble in family …
A letter gma wrote to my *brother* - giving him her opinion of certain aspects of his behavior and what she thought he should do for me and a few dozen etcs - caused Jim to get ticked off enough that he didn’t speak to her … =sighs= … or me … for nearly a year. Jim didn’t know at that point that when gma Writes Letter and Speaks Her Mind, she’s doing it all on her ownsome - *not* because someone’s asked her to or told her to or anything. At that point, because of how gma worded things, Jim thought that gma was speaking *for* me …
Letters gma’s written to other relatives has made some of them think I’m Mercenary Slug Person …
=sighs again and rolls eyes=
Gma does *not* bother to consider effect of her words on others … nor does she bother to even check what the words she uses *mean* … To gma, whatever way she uses word is automatically the right way, and if any dare to question what she means by statement ((tho seems that we are *first* to ever in all her life dare to question her meaning on *anything*)) then they are putting her down, insulting her intelligence, etcetcetc ….
=does *serious* battle with Rampant Paranoia Attack=
And Roberta is only Computer Tech Person in town … and is Reporter for Paper … and is Former Girlfriend of Handyman Jim - who is *not* friend of mine …
=sends forth prayers=
FRIDAY -
16 Sep 2005
BAD -
=I sigh and fight back sudden tears ... and try to find the words=
this is dita
gg an tamtam an th others ar all still sleepin an me an taddie re keeping them seleepin till gmas in bed so she won make gg shake or tamtam cry or anythin again
but i know that they been worrying bout not having been talkin to you an not being able to write anything here so you all know whats goin on
so im coping what they wrote already over here so youll know bout our week an they can finish it all up later when theyre better
=========
A week of extremes: extremely frustrating and extremely satisfying... extremely bad and extremely good….
One of the frustrating parts has been trying to post *anything* to Journal! Seems every time would start to, *something* happened - so decided to write all up offline then post … but things kept happening to interrupt *that* too! So this has ended up being recap of entire friggin’ week…. And *damnably* long, too, since most of it got written in bits and pieces whenever had chance - and mostly when was tired so includes much rambling, explanations, side comments, random thoughts, and etc …
SUNDAY -
11 Sep 2005
BAD -
=Sighs=
Too many not good memories tied up with date now… But that is true of many in this country these days. Know that in time it will ease, not feel so *immediate* - but for me, 4 yrs is not long enough for that yet
GOOD -
Actually got sleep! **Eight** hours of good, deep, solid *sleep!*
=does Sacred HappyDance of Sleep=
EXTREME FRUSTRATION -
even tho able to get online - or so the computer clamed - was impossible to *do* anything online. AIM wouldn't let us in, and kept saying to check the internet connection ... No matter *what* site we tried to go to, we kept getting that "Page Not Found - DNS Error" message.
EXTREME SATISFACTION -
since doing anything online was impossible, that time was spent in hooking up and installing our New Printer!
=really big grin=
Always before, Roberta ((the local Professional Computer Tech Type Person - & so far as I know, the *only* one within 50 miles)) had come over and done all the hooking up and installing and everything. The thing is, her schedule is normally so full that am lucky if she can get to us within two weeks - and while her fees are reasonable, there are other things that I’d rather spend money on …
Instructions that came with New Computer seemed clear … =grins= … even had nice pics of every part and step and plug and outlet so that was pretty near impossible to get confuddled by it - even for TechChallenged me! … so decided to Be Brave and make attempt at doing it on own.
=grins=
Even figured out how to get around fact that injured leg makes crawling around on floor under desk difficult & painful at best - and physical impossibility at worst.
So … even tho it took me 4 times as long as it would’ve taken any of y’all, am *very* proud of accomplishment!
MONDAY -
12 Sep 2005
EXTREME FRUSTRATION -
Although *I* was Most Pleased With Self for hooking up printer on own, seems that Gma was less so… Apparently, she’d had her mind set on Roberta doing the work [[“She’s a *professional* so she would know *exactly* how to do it without any mistakes.”]] …
=pauses to wonder how getting paid $50 - $60 / hr makes one mistake-proof= …
… so spent More Time Then Wanted listening to gma worryfret about possibility of my having done it wrong, the cost of repairing broken printer ((based on assumption that since I am *not* Professional ComputerTech Person I would’ve made mistakes)) & inability to pay for same, lack of new computer, etcetcetc …
Also, it seems that part of problem ((and maybe *major* part of problem)) Gma had with me hooking up printer on own was that she’d planned on munificently paying Roberta herself …
=grins=
… a whopping **$25.00!**
((No - gma has no idea as to what labour costs actually are. She based that on what I have paid Roberta to come out and clean my computer of dust and all - which is about $25. Gma had figured that “hooking up printer” would cost the same as “cleaning computer”))
But that leads into ….
EXTREME SATISFACTION -
Later, gma decided that since I had done the work, she would give *me* the $25.00 “Hooking Up Printer Fee” …
So not only saved money by figuring out how to hook up printer ourselves, I ended up getting paid for doing so!
=grins=
And $25 comes to ‘bout $10 / hr - not bad for TechChallenged old cat ….
GOOD -
Seven hrs or so of good sleep - not as much sleep as yesterday, but in my “Normal Good Sleep Range” … and a couple of hells of a lot better then the “Four Hours or Less” that I *been* getting far too often lately
BAD -
kk … some of you know background, some don’t …
Is lady out here name of Betty Mika - she helped out with gpa last year he was with us … helped get him dressed and changed and all most mornings. Made it a lot easier then it *might’ve* been for me since time to get gpa up was end of my “12-hr shift” ((which actually tended to be more like 14 hrs most days, and often 16 - 20 hrs.)) I was always pretty zonked by then … and gma was *not* good at dealing with such right at the beginning of *her* day. Having Betty come in most mornings made what took me ‘bout an hour alone only take about 20 min with her help.
So … gpa died - not need Betty to help with him anymore … but gma still had her come in once a week. =grins= *Official* reason was so that “we could help Betty out” since gpa’s death meant sudden loss of income for her - *real* reason was because gma would accept help from Betty that she *wouldn’t* accept from anyone else - not even us … and not even when she badly needed it.
Betty would come out for an hour or so each week… Take gma to doctors’ appts, do some of the heavy work around here that I have trouble with, do things ((like climbing up on chair to change lightbulbs in ceiling or pull things down from back of top shelf in cupboard)) that I *can’t* do …
All of this is Very Good Thing - and me paying at least half of Betty’s fees ((whether or not she’d done anything for me that month)) meant that gma had no excuse for *not* going to doctors when she needed to.
=sighs=
Only seems that gma started assuming that Betty would *always* be available whenever she ((gma)) needed her ((Betty)) …
Gma has appt with dentist to have bad tooth pulled on 03 Oct at 1330 local - and dentist is booked up solid enough that appts tend to be scheduled 6+ wks in advance. Gma had *assumed* Betty would be available to take her … and so did *not* bother mentioning it to her - there was time for that later …
Only thing is … Betty *wont’* be available that afternoon …
=sighs=
Which only got found out because *I* had called Betty this evening - have several errands to run this week and while can do them on HandiBus it would be easier and faster to have Person With Car drive me around.
See, local HandiBus runs “on demand” like taxi, *not* on schedule like regular bus ((of which we don’t have any out here… Don’t have any taxis either... Only got one, lonely HandiBus that runs 0800 - 1600 Mon - Fri, except on Federal, State, or Local Holidays, or during Severe Weather, or when driver has to be at meeting… =grins= No, is not greatest Public Transport System - but is *lots* better then not having it at all.))
Anyway … When use HandiBus, need to call hour in advance for pickup … get picked up in order that call was placed … get dropped off at destination … call when finished … get picked up whenever bus is able to get back in that part of town … get taken to *next* destination …. etcetcetc. First pickup is seldom any problem - I try to get appts scheduled for first thing in morning so not have to wait long. But getting picked up *after* that … average wait for bus to pick me back up is 30 min - and waiting an hour or more is not uncommon. While many places out here have place for people to sit while waiting for bus, most do *not* - and even public benches outside are not common, except in center of downtown.
((Yes, we *do* have a downtown out here - it’s small, but it’s there. We even got “Rush Hour” three times a day! =grins= Of course, our Rush Hours are only about 15 or 20 min long each… but we got ‘em! ))
Having 3 or more errands to do means either spending 4 or more hours doing them - and generally includes rather more standing waiting then bum leg likes … or it means doing one errand each morning all week …. or it means I find Nice Person With Car …
=grins=
Which is why I called Betty tonight …
*I* got things set up with her with not any trouble at all … But in casual conversation, Betty mentioned something that *she* thought was Very Good News …
She’d applied for position as Substitute Kitchen Helper for the Sidney School System … gotten accepted … and already gotten first assignment ….
On 03 Oct, from 1000 - 1330 ….
which means that she will *not* be available to take gma to dentist… I congratulated Betty on her good fortune ((and it *is* Good Thing for her)) and said that I’d let gma know - which is when found out that gma had *not* yet bothered to mention appt to Betty… And since Betty *likes* gma and likes helping out, she is now upset to find out that she *can’t* help out …
And gma …
=much rolling of eyes=
Gma is all worryfret bout however will she be able to cope, whatever will she do, etcetcetc …
=grins at sudden random mental image of gma in Scarlet O’Hara costume=
Gma flat out *refuses* to use HandiBus - refuses to have me go with her... And seems that for gma getting ride is some sort of complicated matter of negotiations ((*she* used that word!)) ... and gma don't want me to find ride for her - such as me asking Mary if she's available and willing - because .... =sighs and rolls eyes= .... Never in all her life has she ever had anyone enter into business negotiations on her behalf ... and those are *her* words ... =rolls eyes=
now ... just how asking friend if she's available and willing to provide transport to doctor’s appt becomes "business negotiations" of such complexity that can not have someone ask on her behalf .... =rolls eyes again and sighs= ...
Sometimes I wonder if gma understands meaning of “Real Friendship” ….
TUESDAY -
13 Sep 2005
GOOD -
Went to local foot doc and got Deadly ToeTalons of Doom chopped off … =grins= … which *should’ve* had done back beginning of summer, but Things Kept Happening. By this time, they qualified as Concealed Weapons every time put shoes on! … =Grins= … and that is not *too* much of exaggeration - they were long and *sharp* enough to have sliced thru heavy flannel sheet when stretched legs out last week.
BAD -
Because of appt this morning - and gma needing to talktalk when I got home - am back on the SleepShort List
GOOD … I think -
Tonight, Almy showed CeeCee how to do a couple things on the computer - one of which was the Paint Program … which we hadn’t known we had … =grins= … This is Very Fun Thing - and kept Dita amused for couple three hours … =grins= … Which might not be a Totally Good Thing, since Dita now wants to play with Paint *lots* - even when we’re needing to do something else…
WEDNESDAY -
14 Sep 2005
GOOD -
Betty took me around town to get errands done - bank, pharmacy, grocery store - which included a couple errands for gma too … Got everything done and back home in only an hour! Yay!!!
BAD -
Got home, put stuff away, started to head down to bed … and gma Has to Talk … and talk … and *talk* …. Which meant that rather then getting into bed at half past 9 this morning, I didn’t get into bed until half past 11 … which means am sleepshort…
GOOD -
am not *badly* sleepshort - got 6 hrs which is 2 hrs more then Minimum Functionality Level
BAD -
Was more talktalk tonight - and gma’s badly upset … and this time *we* agree she’s got reason to be upset …
Roberta - local Computer Tech Person - is also personal friend of gma's ... Few days ago, Roberta'd told gma that she wanted to bring a couple friends over to meet gma - wanted them to hear some of gma's stories bout moving here and all ...
Well, visit was set up for yesterday afternoon, no problem ... but Roberta wanted to record what gma said. She'd asked when date / time for visit was set up, and gma said *most* emphatically *No!* ... =grins= Gma taking *very* strong exception to anyone ever recording anything she says - *esp* any of her stories ....
which is quite understandable to us since *we* are kinda “recorderphobic” ourselves ....
thing is, when Roberta and friends got here yesterday, Roberta attempted to record what gma said *anyway* ... she set up a small recorder in the rocker next to where gma sits. Gma caught her and - in spite of gma's tendency to go out of way to avoid "making a fuss" ... =grins= ... least ways, to avoid making fuss in front of *company* - she makes fussfuss to *me* often and often ...
Anyway, gma protested and told Roberta again *No!* .... 'cording to gma, Roberta tried to talk her into letting "just a small portion" of her stories be recorded, but gma kept refusing.
which is all well and good - am not blaming gma, and am actually kinda proud of her for sticking to guns instead of keeping quiet because of company then bitching bout it later ...
thing is, when visit was over and Roberta & Friends were leaving, gma says she noticed Roberta reaching down behind the recliner as if she was unplugging something ... So gma is convinced that Roberta recorded what she said in *spite* of her stated wishes.
so gma's been pretty upset by that since it happened ... =rolls eyes and grins= ... thing is, she didn' bother to say anything bout it until *today* ... kept us up after got back from Errand Running telling 'bout it in *great* detail ... Then tonight, going over entire thing *again* - in great detail.
And *we* are feeling paranoid bout it ourselves…
Roberta is not only Local Computer Tech Person, she is reporter for local newspaper - among other things. while Computer stuff is full time - and then some - for her, she is a regular freelance reporter for the paper ... as well as taping on video the City Council meetings, selling Nutritional Supplements, and a few other things ....
gma kept saying ((and I quote)): "It's *my* story, so what does Roberta want with it?"
=rolls eyes=
which, Roberta being freelance reporter, is kinda *obvious* to the us - thing is, recording someone like that - unless is for official type reasons, like cops or court or something - isn't legal so far’s we know, *esp* when person has said specifically and flat out that they are not *willing* to be recorded ... is why when you make catalogue order over phone, or call a cust service department or something, you get recording saying that "call may be monitored or recorded" ...
so if Roberta *does* use it, gma could take her to court or something I think ... of course, gma wouldn't do *that* ... =rolls eyes= ... she'd be too scared of "retribution" - and so she's said before ...
Thing that concerns *us* is Paranoid Possibility that Roberta may've wanted to record for some *other* reason ... and the worry bout what gma actually said, since she is *not* known for choosing words carefully
So … we're feeling a bit edgy bout it - as well as fighting off Paranoia Attack ...... and gma's understandably upset by it ...
MIXED -
Is now mid-Sep, so temps are more in our Comfort Zone … But while cooler temps = Good Thing, and rain = Good Thing … aches *caused* by cooler temps and rain does *NOT* = Good Thing ...
THURSDAY -
15 Sep 2005
BAD -
badly sleepshort - gma had appt with medico this morning, so I couldn’t go to bed till she was back and finished talking and all … and no matter what time I get bod into bed, *still* wake up by about 1700 local - often by 1600, sometimes even earlier. And then can *not* get back to sleep, no matter *how* tired am feeling.
=sighs=
At least she *did* go to medico … Of course, would be better if she told medico the *truth* bout things, or at least told him some of what he *should* know - like all the non-prescription supplements she takes …
Also, must *again* listen to gma’s Tale of Roberta - in great detail - as well as what she’s decided to do about it …
=sighs, closes eyes, and prays for patience=
And what she has decided to do seems to be the *worst* possible thing …
Gma is *not* going to put it in the past …
Gma is *not* going to call Roberta and ask her ‘bout it …
((And either of those is what *we’d* do - depending on how much we trusted Roberta. Since gma only *thought* that it “looked like Roberta unplugged something” to us that indicates possibility that assumption of being recorded was mistaken - which means that is *not* a proven fact … which to *us* means time to ask questions …))
=sighs=
No … gma has decided that since she *thinks* Roberta recorded her is automatically true that Roberta *did* record her. And rather then call Roberta up and talk ‘bout it, gma is Writing a Letter to send to her …
=sighs=
And *that* always means trouble…
Letter gma wrote to one of my cousins caused *big* trouble in family …
A letter gma wrote to my *brother* - giving him her opinion of certain aspects of his behavior and what she thought he should do for me and a few dozen etcs - caused Jim to get ticked off enough that he didn’t speak to her … =sighs= … or me … for nearly a year. Jim didn’t know at that point that when gma Writes Letter and Speaks Her Mind, she’s doing it all on her ownsome - *not* because someone’s asked her to or told her to or anything. At that point, because of how gma worded things, Jim thought that gma was speaking *for* me …
Letters gma’s written to other relatives has made some of them think I’m Mercenary Slug Person …
=sighs again and rolls eyes=
Gma does *not* bother to consider effect of her words on others … nor does she bother to even check what the words she uses *mean* … To gma, whatever way she uses word is automatically the right way, and if any dare to question what she means by statement ((tho seems that we are *first* to ever in all her life dare to question her meaning on *anything*)) then they are putting her down, insulting her intelligence, etcetcetc ….
=does *serious* battle with Rampant Paranoia Attack=
And Roberta is only Computer Tech Person in town … and is Reporter for Paper … and is Former Girlfriend of Handyman Jim - who is *not* friend of mine …
=sends forth prayers=
FRIDAY -
16 Sep 2005
BAD -
=I sigh and fight back sudden tears ... and try to find the words=