Icky Poo

Being a grown up has its perks.  I can stay up late.  I can drive my own car which I paid for.    I can go to a bar and order a tasty Cosmo.  But it also has its cons. 

I am sick.  I have been sick for the past week.  This is when I wish I wasn't a grown up. I wish a was little girl again.  When I was a child if I became sick, I would go to my mom and she would touch my head and tell me I could stay home from school.  She would tell me  go back to bed.  My mom would bring me toast and chocolate milk in bed.  I would be able to watch tv and doze off, if I felt tired.  She would bring me an extra blanket, if I was still cold.

She would check in on me and give me my medicine.  I hated this part because back then the medicine tasted nasty.  Kids today have it made.  The medicine tastes like candy.  I never had trouble giving it to the kids when they were little.  Tylenol has cherry and grape flavors.  I could have used this when I was a kid.  The worst was the cough medicine.  Come to think of it Robitussin still tastes nasty.

Being a grown up, I have to give myself the cough medicine and I swear they are making the print smaller on the bottle. Which is not good when I can't read it on a good day.  My eyes hurt so trying to focus was a little tough. After throwing that bad boy back and wanting to gag, I got ready for work.  

No one to tell me "oh Hun, don't go in you should stay home from work."  Bill takes good care of me when he is around but he is working the night shift this past week.  We are like two ships in the night.  I leave before he comes home and I come home and he is ready to leave for work. It doesn't happen all the time but I needed some TLC earlier this week.  Even if he was around to say this to me, I would have still gone in to work.  I am a big girl.

All I need is good medicine and hot tea and I am good to go.  I am after all a grown up,  but times like this I miss my mommy.


Getting Better Abbie

Peruvian Invasion

With the little sleep I got the night before the party, I was dragging.   With my son and his family belongings, I had to clean my house all over again.  They left a trail of damage along the way.  It would not be a problem on a normal day but when I get additional guests whom I haven't seen or haven't seen in over 30 years its a dilemma.

Since the kids came so late and their internal clock off with the change of time zones, they went down for a nap.  All four of them.  It was a good  thing.  I was able to do more  without them being underfoot. 

Liam

I also got a blessing.  My dad called and said he wouldn't be in until 4 because they got a late start.  They were coming from New York.  Everyone else would get a good nap in, I can cook a little more, and straighten up the house.

Zoe

Bill got the drinks, ice, and helped get the bar ready.  Donna Marie showed up after her kids woke up from a nap. It worked out for everyone with the time change.

If things could go wrong, well, they kind of did.  The beer we got was not the best.  Instead of Corona, it was Corona light. Didn't know there was a different.  I am not a beer drinker.  I like vodka so if it is like that, yes there can be a difference. 

We ran out of chicken.  The only thing that my parents can eat.  We ran out of the other food as well.  I couldn't ask anyone to go for a run because either they were drinking or didn't know the area.  I had wished I hadn't had anything to drink because I would have run out. 

Then it started to rain and we sought shelter in my home.  A few stayed behind to help me bring everything inside and keep it from getting wet.

As much as I was looking forward to seeing them, it still felt weird.  I know they are family but there was a little disconnection.  I don't know why I held back.  I should have been a social butterfly and talk with each one like a proper host but I was trying to make sure every thing was tidy, beer in everyone hands and trash thrown out.  At least, that is what I keep telling myself.   I guess I could have put that to the side and let it go but it was different. 

I normally am able to talk to each one and go from room to room .  Keeping an eye on everyone and  laughing and carrying on. I did  this with my little family but I couldn't quite extend it to the others.

I wish I had enough food.  Wish I had enough liquor. I wish I had drank a few more glasses of my libation. Wish I socialize more.  Where's that genie with those wishes?

Bill and Uncle Juanito

I did talk with my uncle. It was great with him but I didn't do it with the rest of them.  I sure regret that.  I only hope I get another chance with the ones that live in New York.  I'll have to work on that. 

My mom and dad were very happy. It meant allot to me to see them content. 

There was one moment that everything was good.   I looked around and everyone was smiling and talking. 

Why do I always put myself in a bystander mode?  Why do I not participate? I want to be a part of it.  I want to feel like I belong.  I am so use to being an outsider that when an opportunity comes up where I am not, I don't know how to act. 

The liquor was starting to run out and I knew it was getting close to them leaving.  Funny how when the liquor dries up people see it as an end to the party.  Lol.

Bill made a few rounds of shots.  It sure livened the party and we heard lots of hoots and hollers. A parting shot so to speak. My parents even had one each.  That was the most hysterical thing I have ever seen. They do not drink outside of beer and with their medical conditions they should not have partaken but they had a good time.  I'll let it go for now.

We ended on a high note.  Shots are always a winner.  Bill, the perfect party partner, saved the day.

Dad, Danny, Donna Marie, Me, Sean

Bill on top and Denis on the bottom

We said our goodbyes and they went on their way. 

Not the perfect Hostess Abbie

My Achillie's heel

I wanted to put a disclaimer for this post.This is not my normal take on my kids or grandkids.  I wanted to vent.  Just say what I need to say and move from there. 

I found out that I will have relatives from out of the country (Peru) coming for a visit.  I am so excited. I haven't seen them since I was two.  Lets say it has been 40 years since I have seen them and sadly I do not have any recollection of them .  My uncle, on my fathers side, will be arriving with his wife and daughter. 


I am excited about planning a party.  I like to do the little details and now with a little more coin in my pocket I can really go for it.  The only bee in my bonnet is my mom.
  
There was a post I read from Maxabella's blog.  It was about having the house in perfect order when we expect visitors.  Why do we put up a facade, if it is not always that way? 


I tend to clean prior to family and friends for the occasional party.  I am guilty of this charade.  Now that I have any empty nest, my house is not that crazy all the time.  Though it did, when I was watching my grandchildren for two weeks straight. 

The illusions of a perfect home need to reappear.  Now why would a mid forty woman grandmother to five want to go the extra mile?  My mom!  She has a way to make me nuts without saying a word. 

My mom is a very formidable woman.  How can a woman in her mid 70's control from such a distance?  She live in New york.  It is hundreds of miles away.
 
They plan to only be here for one day but I know that she will be watching everything I do, say,  and wear.   Why do I still seek her approval?  Sshouldn't I already have it?  Do I think I will lose it, if I don't do, say, and wear everything I think she will approve .


I think what will drive me even more crazy is the next day.  I think what I am dreading is the phone call.  Most people will call and express to the host, they had a great time.  My mom will tell me the good, but most of time it is to critique.  If it is good, it sounds like she is surprised that I pulled it off.  I don't know how to take that sometimes. I want to say sometimes "good lord woman what will it take before you see that I am a grown woman who can and does take care of herself."

Soooo mature.  I know.

The bad, which is most of the time, why did  you do it this way?  Where was so and so?  Why did you have this? My, you have gained weight, but if you want to look like an elephant go ahead.  She used to be worse and would tell me that my husband would leave me if I kept this weight.  Her way of being supportive. 

She would respond with "I am not telling you what to do. I am just advising you.  I want to warn you that you might lose your husband, but if don't care about your looks I don't care either.

Its just that I never asked her for her advise!! I already knew what she thought.  My mom hasn't been on me about my weight for these last few years.  Now it is the gray hairs, she wishes I would dye it.


On one hand, I am looking very forward to meeting my relatives and on the other hand, I am anxious about the scrutiny I will be under.

 My husband built a bar in the family room.  It was a hit at many of our parties.  I plan to visit my bar regularly. 



Under the microscope Abbie