Hmm, Unboxed at Last

[Dragonlady]

Harry said the same thing.

It's a unique (to me) situation. We are not a good match, but he has some wonderful qualities. We are family. He is like a screwed up kid, or sibling.

[Khampelf]

Originally Posted by Dragonlady

Sorry I'm late with the report, but I didn't home from driving the bride back into town until midnight.

But I digress.

At 2pm, Addict called and asked when I was coming to pick up Previous ExWife and Daughter. Uh... never? No one asked me to. I went down at 4. My job was to get ExWife, Daughter, one Stepson, wedding cake and "a little bit of small stuff". The small stuff filled the back of my car, and included a back pack I later found out contained the wedding dress. I crept the 30 miles up the hill so as not to muss the cake.
ExWife explains that they happy couple haven't spoken to each other for 3 days except to shout. At one point they left the apartment (Addict and Co went to get them on Saturday night, drove them 200 miles, and they have been staying with Addict Family, consisting of 2 large adults and 2 teenaged boys, a large pit bull and 2 kittens... in the smallest one bedroom apartment I have ever seen) just to get Daughter (13) away from it. Bride called, Addict had gone to the Casino on Friday night and lost about half of the remaining wedding budget, including money for the kids clothes, shoes and haircuts, because why would you have that done less than 3 days before the wedding?
Bride and groom were at the license bureau...at 2 pm Monday...for a 7pm wedding.
I get the yard done, what decorations I have installed, and wait. The Officient (a woman who looked strangely like Abby from NCIS) arrived a 6. Invites said everyone should arrive at 6:30 for a 7:00pm service. At 6:45, we were still alone. 2 ExWifes, one kid, and "Abby". The Bride showed up at 7, still in sweats, no hair done, no make up. The Addict is still trying to get a ride. At about 7:30 several cars pull up and about 3 dozen people pile out. 2 half grown boys are trying to set up tables, why, I am not sure.
It was well after dark when they finally managed to get things rolling and it started to rain. We moved cars in the driveway to get some light on the mercifully brief ceremony.
The the Addict moved everyone into my house ( the house that he said NO ONE would be going into - not sure for his bathroom plans..) for cake. THEN he asked me if ExWife and Daughter could stay the night with me and if I could drive some people back into town.
As long as you people leave - whatever. I like Exwife and the poor woman was at her wits end.

I somehow ended up with the Bride (who was in my kitchen making popcorn) and two teenaged boys. On the way into town she asked me if I could drop them off somewhere.

Which I did.

I got home around midnight.

I don't see anything missing. The mess isn't as large as I had feared, except the carpets. They will need a pro.

End Trans.

I hear by nominate you Queen of the Demolition Drama Derby, Dragon Dame.

And I mean that in the nicest possible way. You are the sweetest tough cookie I've run across on the internet.

[taters]

Yup, I don't think I would have done it. You have a big heart, DL.

[Solfy]

That's the sort of story that, if written up for fiction, people would claim was too far fetched to be believed. But I believe it. It takes all sorts of people to make the world go 'round. Much luck to the happy (?) couple, it sounds like they'll need it.

[Wolf Larsen]

Originally Posted by Dragonlady

Wedding insanity

Holy shit, Drags you have the patience of a saint.

[SmartAleq]

No kidding, that shitshow was beyond any PALATR value it might have generated! Dayum.

Slept like shit last night, been having HUGE anxiety issues due to not-so-handydude mebbe costing me a buttload (still haven't heard from the Frisky Dingo people and they haven't charged my card for the regular rental yet ) and this thing and that thing and the other thing and I was a panic attack mess at work today to the point where I said fuckit and took a goddamn xanax at 0830. It was that bad.

On the other hand, turns out my Trusted Handydude, the one who built my lovely shed, is a bit underemployed at the moment so he's available and I told him the Saga of the Dipshit and the Dingo and the Ditch and he's onboard to be my builder again, hooray! This has taken a huge load off my mind, you can't even imagine. He's coming over on Thursday to take a look at what needs done next and get our plans firmed up. I think I can breathe now.

[Carolia]

Drags, you have more patience than I could ever hope for.

Hubby is in Maine now. He got a call that his grandmother has been placed in hospice Saturday. She passed away early Sunday morning. Nana was 92; Grampie passed away two years ago after several years with Alzheimer's. When I married, they took me in like one of their own. I'm going to miss Nana. Hubby says that everyone up there is in good spirits--she lived well, died peacefully, and had just seen all her children in the past few weeks (my in-laws were only a few hours away when they got the news, so they just turned around). I would love to be there with him, but I'm glad we were able to send him.

In the meantime, the girl popped up at my door a few hours after she'd gone to bed to let me know she'd thrown up. Sigh. She's shown no signs of barfing again, and while her stomach hurts, she isn't nauseous anymore. I'm hoping she just ate something that didn't agree with her. We're sitting on the couch now, and she'll probably sleep out here tonight. Loft beds and barfing are not a good combo.

[Carolia]

And now she's fallen asleep in my lap. She's thirteen--I don't get this that often. She's also the most beautiful girl ever in the history of planet Earth. I may be awake for awhile because I don't want to wake her up to go to bed.

[Jaglavak]

Have you moved yet?

[Wolf Larsen]

She can't even reach the keyboard.

[JackieLikesVariety]

Originally Posted by Carolia

And now she's fallen asleep in my lap. She's thirteen--I don't get this that often. She's also the most beautiful girl ever in the history of planet Earth. I may be awake for awhile because I don't want to wake her up to go to bed.

that is sooooooo sweet at that age she thinks she is so grown up and she still really needs you.


Smartie - I'm sorry to hear about the anxiety (sucks the big one) and glad you have a Handy Dude to get the work done.

[Carolia]

I finally moved, just so I could turn out the light. Sweet girl is still asleep, but I figure she must really need it.

[maplekiwi]

Originally Posted by Carolia

Hubby is in Maine now. He got a call that his grandmother has been placed in hospice Saturday. She passed away early Sunday morning. Nana was 92; Grampie passed away two years ago after several years with Alzheimer's. When I married, they took me in like one of their own. I'm going to miss Nana. Hubby says that everyone up there is in good spirits--she lived well, died peacefully, and had just seen all her children in the past few weeks (my in-laws were only a few hours away when they got the news, so they just turned around). I would love to be there with him, but I'm glad we were able to send him.

My condolences, Carolia.

[taters]

I'm so sorry for you loss, Carolia.

Ugh, today was not a good day. We went to pick up the prepared taxes for 2012 and 2013. These were supposed to be for MiL's personal taxes. The accountant had gone to the IRS to see what was filed with them, so we could be sure to properly prepare the returns. Imagine our surprise when it turns out someone had very recently filed MiL's 2013 taxes. No one we know, but taxes were filed. We had our suspicions.

I contacted my niece-in-law to see if she had done anything with taxes (only because first names were similar), response was negatory. Not long after that, I got a very long text from nephew-in-law where the theft of everything in the house was confirmed. Meth head had admitted to stealing and selling everything in the house and was bragging about a very large tax return. DING!DING!DING!

After picking up the taxes, we sold her jewelry, went close out another of her accounts, deposited several checks in the estate account, and met with the lawyer. We can't close out the estate because we fear there is fraud afoot with regards to the 2013 taxes.

So, we contacted the police, who came out very quickly, explained the whole saga, filled out a statement, got a case number, and now have the unenviable task of contacting the IRS AND the FTC. I doubt we'll be able to do much about the theft, the the IRS thing worries me. What if this ass has opened accounts in MiL's name? The thing is, filing a fraudulent tax return is a federal offense. She done fucked up this time.

I cannot adequately express the depths of mine and my husband's frustration and anger right now. I hope to God something is really done, and this bitch ends up in jail.

Ugh, two steps forward; ten steps back. Such a freakin' Jerry Springer saga.

I sure hope tomorrow is a better day.

[eleanorigby]

Jeebus on a stick, taters.

I still have a job, thank god, but the whole thing is just so messed up. I'm starting to sympathize with upper management's insistence on consistent messaging and moving as a unit etc. Right now UM is playing the Hot Potato game while we peons just watch, slack-jawed. I sure hope someone mans up soon and hangs onto the HP.

I am off tomorrow and busier than <insert something really busy here>. Errands, cleaning, laundry--why go away when coming back is so much damned work?

[maplekiwi]

Originally Posted by taters

I'm so sorry for you loss, Carolia.

Ugh, today was not a good day. We went to pick up the prepared taxes for 2012 and 2013. These were supposed to be for MiL's personal taxes. The accountant had gone to the IRS to see what was filed with them, so we could be sure to properly prepare the returns. Imagine our surprise when it turns out someone had very recently filed MiL's 2013 taxes. No one we know, but taxes were filed. We had our suspicions.

I contacted my niece-in-law to see if she had done anything with taxes (only because first names were similar), response was negatory. Not long after that, I got a very long text from nephew-in-law where the theft of everything in the house was confirmed. Meth head had admitted to stealing and selling everything in the house and was bragging about a very large tax return. DING!DING!DING!

After picking up the taxes, we sold her jewelry, went close out another of her accounts, deposited several checks in the estate account, and met with the lawyer. We can't close out the estate because we fear there is fraud afoot with regards to the 2013 taxes.

So, we contacted the police, who came out very quickly, explained the whole saga, filled out a statement, got a case number, and now have the unenviable task of contacting the IRS AND the FTC. I doubt we'll be able to do much about the theft, the the IRS thing worries me. What if this ass has opened accounts in MiL's name? The thing is, filing a fraudulent tax return is a federal offense. She done fucked up this time.

I cannot adequately express the depths of mine and my husband's frustration and anger right now. I hope to God something is really done, and this bitch ends up in jail.

Ugh, two steps forward; ten steps back. Such a freakin' Jerry Springer saga.

I sure hope tomorrow is a better day.

taters!

I know nothing of US inheritance law. You & your husband won't be liable for anything will you?

[Wolf Larsen]

That really stinks, taters. I hope she gets jail time out of it.

maplekiwi, under US law the estate is the locus for all assets and liabilities. After all the liabilities have been satisfied, any remaining assets are divided per the will. If the estate has insufficient assets, there is a priority order that liabilities get satisfied in. After the assets run out, everyone else gets told "too bad, so sad" and they eat the loss. Taters and family will never be liable for the debts run up by the decedent. We had a form letter that we sent all my SiL's creditors telling them they were shit out of luck.

[SmartAleq]

Damages to Frisky Dingo are over $500. I'm gonna go sit quietly in a corner for a while.

Sorry to everyone who's having troubles, can we get a group hug all up in here?

[Khampelf]

Sympathy and hugs to all of us, it's been a rough week all around, it looks like.

But we're still here, and that's awesome.

[Khampelf]

People suck.

[Wolf Larsen]

Hugs to everyone. Today has not been a particularly pleasant day.

[taters]

That just sucks, Smartie. What really sucks is the guy who broke it isn't taking any responsibility for it. I'm so sorry.

A big group hug all around. I hope everyone has a better day today.

I'm still tired as shit, but woke up out of a quasi-nightmare where I and a bunch of people I knew were having a swim race in the ocean and sharks came up and killed or half ate everyone but me. It was creepy.

So, I've got some coffee and shall cruise the net for a bit.

[eleanorigby]

OMG. And Stupid Macho FixIt Guy isn't liable in any way? What recourse is there?

Sometimes I really hate people.



Handyman was here and my crawlspace is now secure, with a very solid padlock and hasp. Banana bread is out of the oven; laundry is folded and put away (finally). I also contacted AT&T and got them to stop billing my dead father--you'd think my having called a month ago to cancel the phone would have done this, but no…

[SmartAleq]

My major source of recourse is to hit Craigslist and A) flag every goddamned post he puts up and B) put up my own post detailing his fuckup and shortcomings. Like everything else in life, it's a tradeoff--if you want cheap labor you won't be covered if a clusterfuck happens. I've had good luck so far, too bad it ran out in such a spectacular fashion.

[Carolia]

Taters, Smartie, and everyone else who has it rough right now--hugs for all!

The girl is better today, but still a bit nauseous. I suspect that between the time the high dose of Strattera made her sick, and when she quit he lower dose cold turkey without actually informing us, she just made her stomach a bit more susceptible to things. I'm pretty sure it's not a virus; just something she ate.

Thank you for the sympathy, everyone. They're having the service this afternoon. Hubby has actually been having a good time with his family, and fortunately for him he's not one to feel guilty about finding enjoyment in the midst of grief (so etching he's managed to teach me over the years, at least a bit). I'm going to be glad when he's home, though.

[eleanorigby]

It's down to 2 dishwashers. I've been on Consumer Reports the past hour or so. I really hate shopping this way, but money is tight and features are overwhelming.

I have to go to HD and ask a few questions before I commit my hard-earned money. Handyman will install it. TH is paying for half of the dishwasher, hurrah!

Then this afternoon will be spent running errands. I can't stand running errands.

[Jaglavak]

Originally Posted by SmartAleq

My major source of recourse is to hit Craigslist and A) flag every goddamned post he puts up and B) put up my own post detailing his fuckup and shortcomings.

C) He knows where you live, and

D) He's an asshole

On the balance, I would post some negative feedback but not make a campaign out of it.

[Solfy]

Bad: I was at a meeting at Other Facility and completely forgot about today's group lunch out.
Good: Turns out it was just an anxiety dream - no meeting, lunch hadn't happened as it was 7:00 a.m.
Bad: As I was heading out the door at 8:30, I checked my phone only to see boss's boss asking if we were still meeting at 8:00?
I would have sworn on my first, second, and thirdborn that we were supposed to meet at 9:00.
Good: We still had time to discuss what we needed to discuss.
Bad: I am really really mentally fried.
Good: I achieved everything I needed to get done ahead of deadline.
Lunch was yummy, too.

[Dragonlady]

Smartie, can you take him to Small Claims Court?
As an independent contractor, you paying him cash shouldn't be an issue.

[eleanorigby]

Picked out and paid for my new dishwasher. Although the website said delivery as early as 8/9 (ver convenient for me), actual delivery will not be until 8/16 (not at all convenient for me). However, I got it for $50 off the sale price, so

I actually managed to cross off my entire list today AND make brownies. I am now going to do F-all, as a reward.

[Khampelf]

I have a 14 hour drive tomorrow, but I'm thinking of splitting it up again. Get a room somewhere before the 6 hour stretch of desert back to Phoenix from LA.

[SmartAleq]

Ermagerd, had an awesome day--BFF and I went out and paddled in the Willamette Narrows again, weather is perfect and warm and breezy and we found a perfect swimming hole with a sandy beach to park the kayaks and swim and have lunch. Check dis shit out! I caught a frog and watched crawdads and feesh doing their watery thing and synthesized vitamin D like a mofo.

Yeah, huge stress reliever and the paddle back was into the brisk afternoon upriver breeze with some chop, a good hard workout to end up the day. I think I'll sleep tonight!

[loshan]

YAY for new dishwashers, long drives and paddling. Boo for sick girls, shitty contractors and not particularly pleasant days.

I've had great days on one hand...lousy day on the left hand. Watering the okra in my small greenhouse this morning. Nice, normal kitty that's lived here for 3 years came in. Seemed fascinated by the water from the drip irrigation. I went to pick him up and put him out of greenhouse so I could close the door. He turned into a whirling dervish of claws and teeth. THIS is result. Hand and lower arm are about 3X times normal size and hurt badly. DO NOT STARTLE HAPPY FUN KITTY!


Yes, Dr. has been visited. Yes, shot of Augmentin and oral follow up. Orders are to report to ER if it gets worse. Unfortunately, it appears this will interfere with my Saturday canning/pickling/jam plans. At this point I can't move my left ring finger or wrist at all without significant pain.

I have swelling marked with Sharpie. I'll see what it is in the morning.

[maplekiwi]

Originally Posted by loshan

YAY for new dishwashers, long drives and paddling. Boo for sick girls, shitty contractors and not particularly pleasant days.

I've had great days on one hand...lousy day on the left hand. Watering the okra in my small greenhouse this morning. Nice, normal kitty that's lived here for 3 years came in. Seemed fascinated by the water from the drip irrigation. I went to pick him up and put him out of greenhouse so I could close the door. He turned into a whirling dervish of claws and teeth. THIS is result. Hand and lower arm are about 3X times normal size and hurt badly. DO NOT STARTLE HAPPY FUN KITTY!


Yes, Dr. has been visited. Yes, shot of Augmentin and oral follow up. Orders are to report to ER if it gets worse. Unfortunately, it appears this will interfere with my Saturday canning/pickling/jam plans. At this point I can't move my left ring finger or wrist at all without significant pain.

I have swelling marked with Sharpie. I'll see what it is in the morning.

Arrrggghh what a mess!

Busy day today. My husband & I went to the markets, then came home, woke our son up & got him organised with the ceiling scrubbing. (& he's done a good job)Then we got all new curtains for our house (half price sale) & picked Mum up from the home. She was very confused, the staff said she also didn't have a good day yesterday. Lots of phone cals, texts & Skype, means lots of company tomorrow. Cool! We like that.

[Jaglavak]

Yikes! May I suggest you use a broom next time. Aside from the minor maiming, I hope your Okanogan summer is going well. How's the new car running?

[SmartAleq]

Yowza, that's one fucked up hand--kitteh seems to be related to the Tasmanian Devil! Screw the broom, that's what hoses are for! Get beddah, you!

Wuuuurrrrrrkkkk.... blearghwhargarble. Here's hoping for a quiet day of nothing much, that would be so very nice.

[taters]

Geeze, loshan! I hope your hand heals quickly and that you don't require any extra trips to the doctor or ER.

I'm glad you had a pleasant day yesterday, Smartie! You needed a nice day like that.

Also, yay for new dishwashers! I'd love new appliances, but will have to wait until they become a necessity, not a want. Sure, the icemaker in my fridge stopped working, and it seems I have to wash my dishes completely before I load them in the dishwasher, but for now, both are mostly functional.

We went go kart racing yesterday evening, and after that, went to dinner. The racing was fun, even if my stupid kart didn't seem to steer right. You'd think that I would have been front of the pack since I'm a bit of a frustrated grand prix driver, but nope, I came in dead last. Still, I had fun.

Today, we're going to some friends' who live out in a little lake community. There shall be BBQing and good times. I'm looking forward to it!

[JackieLikesVariety]

ow!!!! Loshan, heal quick and leave that kitty be. *sign of the cross*

[Carolia]

Loshan, your poor hand! Heal quickly--glad you're watching it so carefully!

In an inadvertently related story, my cousin fell off his back porch recently and scraped his arm to shreds. He didn't go to the doctor, even when it started to swell. His eighteen year old daughter (parents divorced, only the two of them in the house) came home from work last week to find him semi-conscious, arm swollen three times its normal size. Once she got him to the hospital, with him protesting the whole time he didn't need to go, they discovered he had blood poisoning, and not much time left before he would have been a goner. Even with that, he's going to have to be released to a rehab center to recover. My mother's whole side of the family is like that--she only goes to the doctor regularly now because Parkinson's and arthritis leave her no choice. It's why I promised hubby long ago that if he said I needed to go to the doctor, I'd go, even if I didn't think I needed to. It's a card he's only pulled a few times, but he was right every time.

In good news, the girl is better and hubby comes home today. I'm glad he went to be with his family, but I've missed him.

[Wolf Larsen]

Ouch, loshan! Do not taunt happy fun kitty indeed.

Had dinner with old friends last night. The food was really good, J is an amazing cook. Got to hear the story for the first time of her and hubby L's first date. So cute.

Much to do this weekend. But, I'm done with that dratted class. (Got 22 out of 22 on the final.) So some energy freed up tackle stuff. One thing I have to do is go dump napalm cut back the volunteer trees, they are starting to crowd the apple tree.

[eleanorigby]

Jesus, loshan. Hope that heals quickly. Am up, but tired. Ended up texting HWMNBNed last night well after midnoc. Have a horrible headache this morning. Need to do some major cleaning here after I take #2 son to his haircut.

Gorgeous day today, but hot in the sun. I've dragged the big kitchen throw rug out onto the back deck to hose it down and let it dry. I figure it'll be cheaper than dry cleaning. No rain is forecast until Monday, so it can dry.

That's my sole ambition today. I figure it's enough, since I've already swept and mopped the kitchen floor. I really should do some gardening, but not unless I get more energy.

Yay for nice days out in a kayak and other good things.

[Wolf Larsen]

Well, I got it done. The blanket chest I started in 1996 is finally finished. I put the piano hinge onto the lid today and carefully screwed it all together. The inlay on the lid didn't come out quite as good as I hoped, but not too bad. To keep the lid from clunking on the frame, I put on some elastomer dots that were part of a sample package I got from 3M for a different project years and years ago. So only 18 years.

Looking at it, I think I did a much better job on it that I would have back then. I've learned a lot as an artificer and the frame in particular is much more artful than I would have done then.

[maplekiwi]

Originally Posted by Wolf Larsen

Well, I got it done. The blanket chest I started in 1996 is finally finished. I put the piano hinge onto the lid today and carefully screwed it all together. The inlay on the lid didn't come out quite as good as I hoped, but not too bad. To keep the lid from clunking on the frame, I put on some elastomer dots that were part of a sample package I got from 3M for a different project years and years ago. So only 18 years.

Looking at it, I think I did a much better job on it that I would have back then. I've learned a lot as an artificer and the frame in particular is much more artful than I would have done then.

Have you or can you put a photo up? Thats quite a labour of love.

[Wolf Larsen]

Well, almost all that 18 years it was sitting as a pile of glued up but not sanded panels.

[Khampelf]

I know how good it feels to finish a long term project like that. Can't wait to see pictures.

Speedy healing, Loshan!

Oh, and I got home alive. I did stop for the night near the Ontario Airport, East of LA. I nicked an ashtray and still got my deposit back.

[eleanorigby]

I apparently need help with limits…. 4 loads of laundry, 2 coneflower plants planted, some weeding done, brownies made, dinner made, and dishes done later, I am now going to hang out and relax.

At least I took my time and didn't feel pressured to finish all of chores.

Well done on the blanket chest, Wolf! We do want to see pics. I'm either going to watch rom-coms tonight or read a murder mystery or both. I also foresee Moose Tracks ice cream in my near future.

[loshan]

Originally Posted by Jaglavak

Yikes! May I suggest you use a broom next time. Aside from the minor maiming, I hope your Okanogan summer is going well. How's the new car running?

My Kootenay summer has been very hot and smoky. Even though the fires are 70-90 miles away as the crow flies, we could smell the smoke yesterday and the last few nights the moon has been a deep orange.


The car is awesome. Especially the part where the AC works reliably.

Although the pain is better this evening, the swelling is significantly worse. My knuckles have disappeared completely. I hope it is better tomorrow as I have heard numerous cat bite horror stories in the last 36 hours. Apparently serious infection is the default.

[taters]

I'd love to see pics of the chest, Wolfie.

I sure hope the swelling in your hand has gone down, loshan. If not, you should probably see the doc.

We had a great time at our friends' place out in the boonies yesterday. We left here around 1:00, got there at 2:00, and didn't leave until right around 11:00 pm. A long day, but fun. We hung out, chatted, played horseshoes, some other game I can't remember the name of, noshed on various snack, had a nice dinner, and played Cards Against Humanity. The weather was beautiful; not too hot, not too cold. Just perfect, really.

When we all came home, I sat up to watch a little TV and apparently fell asleep. It was another night of bad or weird dreams. I kept waking up, but finally gave up and got up for good around 7:00 this morning. I keep trying sleep in, but haven't managed to do so even once on this vacation.

I don't have any real plans for today. I think we'll just hang out around here, and maybe knock out some minor chores.

[Wolf Larsen]

In a reversal of the usual drill, I can find the charger for the camera battery, but I can't find the camera. The last time I remember seeing it was last year when Wolfette graduated. I doubt it is permanently lost, but the bookcase it was stored in got moved and emptied.

[eleanorigby]

I hate when that happens. I think the whole "black matte charger that is completely anonymous and therefore ridiculously easy to lose" thing is because male (yes, MALE) engineers are the ones who design the things, and then marketing, not wanting to bother with anything that doesn't feature the awesomeness of said product, ignores the chargers entirely. They would make millions if they would even just stamp their damned logo onto the "front" of the part that plugs in.


Woke up at 0600--horrors. Flopped around in bed, dozing, until 10. Must get school supplies for #2 son (starts on Wednesday) and some groceries in order to make dinner tonight. Then I really AM doing nothing today. I might even paint a bit. Kitchen rug looks good and feels fluffy underfoot. Hurrah!

Cat bite that does not improve needs to be medically evaluated--you may be on the wrong antibiotic! GET THEE TO THINE DOCTOR.