Missed Manners

It finally happened. That thing I had heard about for years but never experienced until now.
Teens with bad manners.
My house is a little different than most. My children were always treated as human beings, just smaller versions. Never talked down to, always allowed an opinion. We never did the baby talk thing or acted as if they were somehow intellectually deficient just because they were children. They were given choices and treated with respect. In return they were expected to treat others the same way. Even people they may not like are respected. My Mother-in-law and I (miss you Muriel!), got into many a fight over things I did when my girls were little. She didn't think it was right to expose them to the things I sometimes did. We got into one really big war the time I took them at the ages of 3 and 4 to the remains of a house fire. I wanted them to see first hand what happened when you played with matches. It worked, they never did. Anyway, whether it was by our actions and deeds or I was just lucky, I have two of the nicest, socially adept daughters on the planet. Yes, they have opinions. Yes, they may say rude things. But they keep them to themselves or at least say them quietly! Other peoples' feelings are always taken into consideration. We joke and carry on and say things to each other, but, always in fun and never, ever, hurtful.
I have heard that teenagers are horrible people. Yet, every time I go shopping by myself, cane in tow, I get nothing but help from, YES, teenage boys! They go out of their way to open doors for me. Chivalry appears to be alive and well. I find the boys are nicer and more polite than the girls and most so called grown-ups! It's really appreciated guys!
Anyway.
So lately things have changed. And not for the better, sadly. I am somewhat overwhelmed by events in my own world. I have met the teenagers others refer to. Sigh. I spend a lot of my free time and most of my spare cash being taxi driver. I don't mind doing this, really I don't. But, would it kill the passengers to say hello?, how are you today? thanks for the ride? kiss my ass? something, anything to acknowledge my presence? I used to get more recognition when I did actually drive a cab! When staying for dinner, a thanks or some comment on the food would be nice! ( I am somewhat conceited about my cooking and like to hear dinner was good). When going home at the end of your visit, maybe a good-bye would be appropriate?
I guess the point is I don't like feeling like I am invisible. Or that I should write welcome on my forehead. I don't want a constant pat on the back or to be told that I am awesome ( I already know that), just to feel like I am not your personal chauffeur, cook and atm machine!

happy/sad

We are fast approaching a momentous occasion in my family. Monday marks my parents 55th wedding anniversary. After the loss of both of my in-laws within just a few months of each other last year, I am finding this even more precious and amazing. It hasn't been an easy life for either of them, lots of lumps and bumps in the road. But, just the fact that they have made it this far is a testimonial to something most of us will never experience.
Sadly, this is also going to be a very difficult time for us as well. Five years ago at this time we all lost someone very important to us. He didn't pass away, he just left.
It is one of those family disagreements that quickly escalated into something we don't seem to be able to get past.
My parents have lost a son. My siblings, a brother. His children, a father.
Me? I lost my best friend.
I miss him.

Sleepless in Ontario

They say what you do will come back and bite you in the behind. I must have been horrible in a past life. Sleep has become something more precious to me than gold. It's not so much that I can't get to sleep. It's the various aches and pains that have me awake after only a few hours.
I have tried everything. The nightly bedtime routine is somewhat similar to a circus act.
Lotions and potions applied to every joint and muscle. Over the counter pain relievers to help from the inside. An adjustable bed. A fan keeping the air moving 365 days of the year. A television with a timer to help me get to sleep. You name it, I've tried it.
My doctor gave me a new prescription awhile back. I thought it was for my blood pressure. Turns out it is supposed to be a mild sleeping aid. Guess what? It don't work.
So here I am at four am. Awake again. Amazing the thoughts that cross your mind when you are up at the crack of stupid and all alone.
What do you do at this time of day? You can't do loud housework, others are actually lucky enough to be sleeping. Never mind the pain is what woke you in the first place so any overly physical activity is not too likely to happen. You can't phone a friend. There are only so many trips you can make to a 24 hour grocery store in a week before the staff starts to look at you funny. Nothing much on television. You can make lists of things to do at a more human hour, but, by then you are too tired to do those very things.
Can anyone teach me how to levitate?

Appliances @#*&%^

Every life has its challenges. Mine seems to be appliances. Big or small, I kill them all. You are familiar with the stove saga. Many of you know about the years we had the ancient upright freezer and the laundry pair from the 60's. The avacado green stove, the constant parade of used fridges.....
I used to think it was because we bought older, well used appliances that I had all of these dead things going out my back door. I have since been informed that the new ones come with a planned, yes PLANNED obsolescence.
I am at it again. My just over 8 year old washing machine has decided to retire. The bearings are gone. It doesn't spin anymore. Soaking wet (dripping actually) clothing is all you get from it. The bearings are in a sealed unit so you couldn't grease them. Have to replace the whole darned thing.
The dishwasher quit months ago. It makes a great place to hide things from other people. The Easter Bunny found it quite handy.
They know me by name at XS Cargo, I have to replace my rice cooker every six months. I stopped purchasing electric kettles eons ago. Coffee makers used to be at least an annual event until we found one that drips into a thermal carafe. No burner to quit!
My sister buys me some kind of small appliance for Christmas every year. Seriously! I always need something.
Last night I was preparing dinner when the can opener spit pieces at me and just stopped working.
This morning I thought I would test out the new (used) party-sized coffee maker my Dad found for me. Plugged it in and it let out a screech that set the dog to growling and running around the house looking for the dying animal....
I am not careless with these things. I do not abuse them. I make sure they get spoken to with kindness. They get all the love, care and attention any thing could want.
Anyone know of a support group for the appliance challenged? I could use some therapy.
The good news for now is, screech or not, the coffee is ready and smells pretty good.

cars, cars, cars

Henry Ford has a lot to answer for. The last few months (years) have been a journey of frustration and financial agony around here. First the wagon developed issues and then while it was sitting up on blocks in the driveway, (where it still is, sigh) the van decided to just quit. So there we were, Friday night and two undriveable vehicles. What to do? After much discussion and hair pulling we decided to leave the wagon as is for later repairs and ditch the van. It just needed too much work to get it going again and was still going to be a ten year old vehicle with high mileage and rust starting to spring up everywhere. And I hated it. Had since, oh, about the second week we owned it. No real reason, I just didn't like it. Was never comfortable in it. It was pokey, ate a lot, didn't like to haul the trailer and just generally didn't thrill me. I missed my red dwarf I guess.
So a shopping we go. UGH. Kijiji wasn't much help this time. We found an ad from the same curbsider we had bought the Caravan from, yikes, not going there again. Borrowed vehicles from just about every relative we have to get around to look at cars. We had several requirements. It has to pull the trailer. It has to be big enough to transport five for those rare occasions when all are here. It has to be high enough off of the ground for me to be able to get in and out. It has to be another minivan, sigh. It has to be cheap, real cheap. It has to be certified and I needed it three days ago. On the Monday I took two of the kids and my father for a tour of used car lots in the Hammer. After a very long morning I found him. OD (olive drab). Another Windstar, yay! I was happy. It looked good for a twelve year old. It had speed! It was certified and in my price range. I could have it on Wednesday. Yahoo! This may have been an emotional purchase....but I was instantly at home.
So call us paranoid. We picked the vehicle up on Wednesday and took it to our own mechanic on Thursday. Just to make sure ya know? Good thing. It was not properly certified. Emergency brake cables seized, tie rods needed replacing, a few other minor little problems. Not happy. So we gave the dealer a chance to fix the issues and for the most part he did. Begrudgingly, but done. Amazing what veiled reverences to the MTO will do. Back to our mechanic to confirm the repairs and off we go. Even after returning it we ended up paying for the front end to be aligned ourselves and have discovered the front springs need replacing. But, did I mention it had to be cheap?
OD isn't perfect. He is after all 12! But we are working on the things we aren't yet thrilled with and it is getting better. The gas mileage has been improved by over five to the gallon in only a month! And over all I am happier. This could be the next dwarf for me. I am comfortable. It moves when I step on the gas. And once I get a hitch it should haul the trailer with no trouble.
Think I can get eight years out of this one?