Graduation Day

Holy Moly!

This..... was once.

His pre-K graduation was this morning

Mr. Monkeyhead is now officially a kindergartener.

We met with the Kindergarten teachers at his school when we went on a tour. All K-2 teachers smell exactly alike. A sweet cotton candy scent that I remembered from my childhood the moment I walked into the classroom.

All the little desks, cubbies, chairs, water fountains. The promise of a new and exciting adventures. He can't wait to learn to read. He spends an hour each day writing his alphabet, address and phone number. I'm waiting for the magical moment when he reads, really reads his first sentence. See spot chase the ball. That was the first sentence I ever read. I looked at the words on the page and thought..."See spot chase the ball" WOW...I can read! I can READ! Everyone who entered my house for the next week was greeted at the door and excitedly read to, where they wished to hear about Spot and Jane or not.

I can't wait for this big milestone to be experienced by him. I remember that sudden surge of joy and the almost instant knowledge that life as I knew it was forever changed... for the better.

Look ma!! No stitches!

Robins stitches are out. The surgery site looks fairly well. The soft cast was removed and a hard cast replaced it. They must have positioned the cast incorrectly because after an agonizing night she swung by my house and it was off to battle rush hour traffic to Saint Joseph's for an emergency reset.
Yes, she's back with him, long story, but one anyone who has dealt with alcoholics knows well. "Come back, we will go to counseling, I'll slow down on drinking, blah blah blah." It was great for a few days, now it's back to crappy The clock is ticking, the stage is set, we are just waiting for the actors to take their places.

Donuts with Dad

Last Friday it was "Muffins with Mom" Perched in tiny chairs we feasted on muffins and milk while oohing and ahing over their homemade Mothers Day gifts.
This week was "Donuts with Dad" and the school had a man from Home Depot come down and all the children built a planter box. They even provided them with the bright orange apron. No one hammered, sawed or glued anything they weren't supposed to, and now, we have....for grandma's upmost bragging rights, possibly the most beautiful planter box I have ever seen.

Round 3?? 4?? 5??

She's here. They argued over her not wanting to make the 3 hour round trip to pick up daughter Shelby. Hmmmm. Two days post op, major pain (from a person who breezed through her hysterectomy with a minimum of pain relief) huge half cast and bandages from upper arm to fingers. riding with a man who keeps a cooler of beer iced down in the back seat. He left angry and when he came back, they argued, which escalated into a shoving match. Now she sports a busted lip and possible bruising. I love digital cameras for I have instant documentation.
She drove the car down for once he didn't fight her on that. I think he realized he had crossed the line, for if she had called the police, it was off to jail he would go. She did call the police when she made it to my house, but then found out that she would have to go back to the county she lived in to file a report. She had documentation, but declined to press charges. I know the reasons, and valid or not, they are her reasons and I will respect her wishes.
She 's done with him, she's finished. She will take the car back Monday or so and I will follow her up there...again.
I left my ex husband 8 times in 2 years. I am only realizing now what my friends and family lived through each time. It's heartbreakingly sad, mixed with anger, stress, and aggravation.
For safety's sake, she puts her phone on speaker, I put my phone on mute, and I tape their arguments. The best thing she said to him was, "You have taken my car, my house, my self esteem, my dignity but know this, when I leave, at least I will have ME, and that is the one thing that you cannot ever take away." I almost cheered when we played that back!

Robin in Surgery

Today is Robin's 2nd surgery. Ligaments and tendons, carpal tunnel, etc... at least this time is it the left hand instead of the right.
Rick will not be there for the surgery. He had court for a DUI. We are almost certain he will be going to jail, for violating his probation but then, the rules really don't apply to him.
I'm driving her home, Drew is following us, and we are staying until the last possible moment before he has to leave for work.
I was to attend a class at the unemployment center but have moved it to the 21st. Apparently you are allowed 4 changes, one for each class. I've never had such a hard time finding a job.

Happy Birthday Kyle

Today, we are celebrating Kyle's 5th birthday.
He wanted to go to Chuck E Cheese, but that was so out of the question.
I sometimes feel badly about not being able to spend 300 dollars on a party venue for a 5 year old, but then again.....no I don't.
Times are rough, money is tight. I would rather get him one really good present and a few small inexpensive ones than blow it all on animated cartoon characters and really bad pizza.
His classmate Noah invited him to Monkey Joes, they share the same birthday May 12. He ran, slid, jumped and hopped for 3 hours, had cake and went home happy, but tired.

Now it's clear

Robin has no days off. Rick plans them with errands and chores to fill the entire day.
Do this, return this, call about this, etc
Yesterday he began drinking, what a suprise, and it got progressively uglier as the day went on.
We now know why.
He's on probation for this 3rd DUI in another county. Last month he had a hearing to determine if he could be released from probation early. He stood before the judge and told him he had not been in any trouble and had not been drinking (one of the terms of his probation) but never thought he would actually verify this. How dare him, doesn't he know that rules only apply to mere mortals? The pending DUI he has in the county he lives in violated his probation.
He may:
go to jail for 6 months
have to wear a monitoring ankle bracelet
or (more than likely)
scrape through this without a scratch.
I'll be so glad when she can rid herself of this situation.

Cinco De Mayo

My neighbors are all roaring drunk.
3 pitchers or Margaritas and shots of tequila will do that. :)
Normally sober and upstanding citizens, they were the victims of an impromptu parking lot party after work.
I swear my very reserved neighbor was doing the Pee Wee Herman Tequila dance.
I'm curious how Tuesday morning will find them.
Hurting, i'm sure.
The very reserved neighbor will fare the worst, he works outside in the bright, hot sunshine.

Goodbye to Spike and Shadow

Robin couldn't stand it any longer.
She's tired of living without Spike and Shadow.
Today after work she stopped by and wisked them away.
I'm having a bit of empty nest syndrome.
He's the first dog we've had in the house in 6 years.
Soon, I will invade her house and bring him chicken nuggets.
Maybe try to slip him in the car without her noticing.
Highly unlikely.