Parents @ MindSay 
school
Yesterday and today I witnessed my dad in the throes of what we consider Alzheimer's, or else memory loss as a result of age/inactivity/alcohol. A light burnt out in the lower bathroom, it's a 4' flourescent bulb light. My dad determined that the ballast had gone after 20+ years of faithful service. So it sounds simple, replace the ballast. My mom goes out to get a new one from Home Depot, and the little guy who helped her gave her the wrong one. Of course, she doesn't know this, because the people at Home Depot are supposed to be knowledgeable in their area.
So she gets it home, dad wires it up, and nothing happens. Now, dad's already in a state of frustration at having to fix something, not that he doesn't want to fix it, but that it has to be fixed. It's one more thing that needs to be done in his mind. So many things need to be done. So many things to take care of. And not one of them is being done. The list stagnates, and festers, in his mind, and it drives him to drink - literally.
(Ok, the blog just did an autosave, and it came up with suggested tags for this one. I decided to click on the one that made the least sense to what I was writing. See if you can guess which one it is.)
Mom calls me over to help out, being an engineer and all. Now mind you, my degree is mechanical, not electrical. But I know enough to be dangerous (usually to myself). Dad shows me the progress so far. I take a look at everything, and slowly determine that the ballast isn't the right one. The ballast says what type of lights it's supposed to be used for, and the numbers on there don't match the numbers on the lights. Therefore, wrong ballast. I tell my dad though, that maybe it needs a different bulb - why the old ones don't work, I don't know, but the numbers don't line up. Who knows after so many years? Things change.
Dad says to get some new bulbs. Mom and I go to get said bulbs, ones that match the numbers on the ballast, but they only come in 3' lengths. Aha! Wrong ballast theory is making sense now! So we go to check out ballasts, and I find one that uses the same type of bulb that my parents have, and has all the proper number and color of wires and everything. Problem solved!
Sort of.
You see, I didn't look at all of the numbers. I neglected to see the one that said '277 V', meaning that it was for a system that ran on, oh, say, commercial voltage. I needed one that said '120 V', regular household voltage.
So today, my dad's frustration is in high gear. Why doesn't this work? What else is wrong? He's ready to *gasp* call an electrician.
In all of my years of living there, there has NEVER been an electrician, plumber, carpenter, or any tradesman in the house. Dad did it all. And to this day, I wish I had half of the experience and knowledge that he had. That same knowledge and experience that's slipping away, day by day.
So now my mom goes out, gets a new ballast, one with the proper voltage now, and it's waiting to be installed. But my dad wants to check the bulbs that came out, to see if they're still good. So we check them in another light. They're good. But he asks 3 times afterwards, whether or not we need to check the lights in another fixture to see if they're still good. And after dinner, he asks where the two lights go that are sitting out, waiting to be put into the fixture go, and are they still good? Do they need to be checked? And do we need to get a new ballast for the light?
Granted, he had a few between the time I was there after mowing the lawn for them and dinner time (approx. 4 hours) so he was two ships' worth of sheets to the wind. Yet alcohol is a poor excuse for this. This is the onset of age and possibly something else. My mom and sister have front row seats to this slow decline. I get to hear their frustration, and wonder, will I ever be this bad when I'm older? And what can I do now to at least alleviate my dad's mental state?
My personal site Life’s Ultimate Test and profile has received the attention of the Presidential 2008 Obama campaign for striving to bring about change in an area of education that has been overlooked and left on the back burner. The result was excepting the honor of being an Ambassador of the state of Maine for the 2007-2008 Presidential Obama campaign yearbook.
<BR>
<BR>
In the year 2000 I was honored for my unselfish attitude as a self appointed community advocate. For my dedication and inspirational work, Adelphia Communications and Romance classics, a network from the American Movie Channel, had selected me to receive the "Cool Women of America Award" Only two were chosen from Maine, and I was one.
<BR>
<BR>
I have volunteered in three different school doing craft projects with the students on all holidays. Done special projects, along with sewing customs for plays. Volunteered in the head start program. Been a member of the parent-teacher group, doing many fund raisers for classroom needs , and school playground equipment.
<BR>
<BR>
I have also served as vice president of both the People's Action Committee and the Maine Association of Independent Neighborhoods, which deals with low income issues. Held office as Treasurer for Task force on Human needs, as well as second vice president of the American Legion Auxiliary. I was certified by Pine Tree Legal as a community advocate. Volunteered helping the elderly, and handicapped along with anyone in need of help that has crossed my path as I go through life. Started a group for young children in the community called "Tiny Tots" doing fund raisers for t-shirts, parties and a float for the parade to enrich the lives of young children. I also hold many certificates in different fields.
<BR>
<BR>
I went on to publish books:
Thank you,
http://www.LifesUltimateTest.com
Three weeks into the kids school year and Mamma Bitch had to go up to the school. NEW RECORD!
Randy gave me a new name to go with Mamma Bitch though. He says there are no bear totems in either one of our families and he is correct. So according to Randy I can't call myself a Mamma Bear I have to be Mamma Wolf cause his name means wolf and his last name in german means son of wolf.
Anyway, let the games begin. The blonde hair and blue eyes singled Mz Diva DeLaney out today and she got called a few names. Nothing as major as last year. But still racial motivated.
When i picked the kids up, DeLaney informed me of the first incidetn happening at recess and she informed the teacher and nothing was done. Strick one. The second incident happened at PE. PE teacher I went to school with and he is 4 years older then me and I was good friends with his sister in school. Needless to say Mr. M KNEW if he didn't do something about it, I would have his ass along with the recess teacher's ass when DeLaney told me about the name calling. Mr. M pulled the lil girl who was doing the name calling out of play and sat her down and also sat DeLaney down. Strick two. My girl didn't do shit wrong you dont' punish her. Mr. M failed to report the incident to the Counselor, their girls' teacher, or to the Administraor. Strick three.
I promptly turned my car around. Administrator was busy and counselor wasn't to be found, so i went to the teacher. Mr. M hightailed his ass into the Church basement when he saw me pull into the parking lot and walk to the school. Smart move Mr. M. I'll be at mass on Sunday so you and I can have a lil talk:D
DeLaney's teacher did take action when DeLaney informed her of what happened in PE. The school counselor was called in and she removed the lil girl who was calling DeLaney names to her office to have a chit chat about discrimination (doesn't matter if her lil butt is indian), name calling and respecting other ppl. Especially when the other person you are calling names to, has been nothing but nice to you, let you ride to a bday party with her, and asked her mom to give her a ride down to their mom's place of work after school! While the school counselor was addressing the lil girl, the teacher was addressing DeLaney and the rest of the class about respecting other ppl and how discrimination is discrimination and she will NOT tolerate it from anyone in the class.
I informed the teacher that is good because this mamma won't put up with it and she best make sure she documents the incident. If it happens again I will be requesting a meeting with the lil girl's parents and it won't be pretty. Teacher agrees that something will be done if it happens again. Administrator still no where to be found and Mr. M is still hiding out in the basement of the church.
As the kids and I were leaving the school after my chit chat with the teacher, Mr. M decieded it was safe to walk up from the church to school.................he must have forgetton how I am. I did a u turn in the middle of the road and went back into the school parking lot. Mr. M had no where to go. I advised him to write up an incident report and I would be checking tomorrow. If he didn't have it written up, it wouldn't matter if I like his parents or sister or even him, I would have his balls in the palm of my hand. Mr. M agreed to get the incident report documented before he left school tonight. I dont' have to go to Mass on Sunday now. Thank GODS!
Randy is not a happy camper that the bull crap of racial discrimination from the indian kids towards the stand out white kids is starting early. It did make him feel better that the two main instigators from last year got their asses beat by their parents/guardians when I raised enough hell last year, that DeLaney and the two girls are now very much friends and okay with each other. DeLaney and Coltin are even going to one lil girl's bday party tomorrow night after TKD.
Why I said stand out white kids, is first the majority of the indian kids in the school are either half to 3/4 white but are considered "indian" because they ahve that 1/4 blood line to be registered in one of teh federal regoniized tribes. Second out of the four full white kids (two of them are mine) DeLaney and a lil first grade catch the most hell from the indian kids who aren't being taught to treat ppl the same. They have bright blonde hair and bright blue eyes and fair skin. Where Coltin and the other lil white girl are brunettes. Colt has darker blue eyes that hint at green or grey and darker skin then the majority of his class. And the lil white girl has fair skin but brown eyes and her mom thinks they are indian. Basically wannabe. In other words they blend in and the majority of the kids and substitute teachers or visiting missionaries think they are indian. I even had one of the visiting nuns ask me last week why I was picking up the lil white girl when I picked the kids up. I said she was mine that is why and she goes well her dad must be the white one in the family.
I have gotten use to it all my life having indian and none indian alike think I am indian so i just let the nun think that. I am getting real tired of various ppl in a minority groups thinking they can scream racial discrimination and teach their kdis that but it is okay for them to call other ppl of other races derogatory names. Discrimination is discrimination no matter who is doing it. I won't bow down because I happen to be white. Don't screw with my kids and I won't make your life hell.
We will see how this plays out. I meet mom and dad of the lil girl who started the shit today when I took her to the bday party last week with us. Mamma is half white and half indian and Daddy is half white and half indian. So tech lil girl who starting the shit is half white and half indian! I know Daddy will flip his lid when he finds out, simply because I know who the family is and they have every race in the book intermarried into their family. Mamma is from a different tribe and even though she has lived here a while I don't know her or her family.
I am hoping we can work this out because DeLaney is devestated about this lil girl saying something like that to her. She thought they were friends. My poor girl has been learning since kindergarden that some ppl including kids are just hurtful to others and they like to pick on those that stand out. Thankfully it hasn't prevented her from donig her own thing still!
::Ask? I have to ask for a raggedy piece of shit that could conk out on me at any minute that you're only giving me because the oldest "in wedlock" child does't want it? Ask, when you already promised that I could have a brand new car when I got a job, but when I got it, deny that you even said that?::
I'm desparate, I suppose, so I said that I would the next day, because my mom was going to be gone (with the car I'd use to get there) by the time my step-mom got home from drill (her rank is 2nd Lieutenant in the Navy). So, I went when he told me to 6-7 that night. As usual, I went to my grandmother's house first...because it has a looped driveway so I won't have to back out into the road, and because, well, to but it blatantly, I love her more and I know she loves me more. So, I'm not there for a good five minutes when my cousin comes over and says that my dad just left (with his family) to get something to eat. I decide I'll wait, thinking that they're just going to get something and come back. Then, while waiting I get a text from my youngest sister telling me that they are at O'Charleys and she invited me to come. I kindly declined and then went home. Haven't talked to my dad, who not only left in the time frame that he told me to be there, but left when I got there (he lives right next door to my grandmother and I seriously doubt he missed a big-ass red Explorer).
So, anyway, I went home. My brother had my wild little cousin from Williston (ugh, Williston) there so I went into my mom's room to tell her what happened. My mom, as usual when I tell her something, first supports the other person, then supports me a little, and finally supports me wholly. I'll elaborate...I walk in and she asks what happened and I tell her. She then asks first and foremost where I went first. So I tell her that I went to my grandma's and she goes on to say that I should have went to my Dad's house first because he told me to be there and so on. (supporting the other person) So, I tell her that I didn't do anything wrong and that she wasn't going to make me feel like I did, and walked into my room. My brother and cousin were playing hide and seek so I gave a little warning before I turned on my bedroom light. Soon after my mom alerts my cousin that his mom is outside, after that she comes into my room. "They just want you to beg for that piece of shit. I know you didn't do anything wrong, I was just letting you know what they were gonna say." (supporting me a little) A little after that, we all went out to get Chinese food. On the way back, she said "They just want you to bed for that raggedy shit, they know they're doing you wrong. He was supposed to have already bought you a new car. I don't know why outside children always get treated wrong...(goes onto talking about her husband not wanting to buy his other son a car, etc)...Don't worry about it...(goes onto saying how she can get a car for me, which is debatable)." (supporting me wholly)
I guess the whole children getting treated bad really gave my mom an itch because she had a little discussion with my great-grandmother about how she treats her uncle (my great-grandmother's son). I don't have time to tell the whole thing (I've tried typing it twice, it just doesn't relay).
Anyway, I'm home now. No Jeep, but, oh well, who's to say that's a bad thing. I missed you all. Couldn't get online there because my brother broke the broadband!
Showing 1 - 5. [ Next ]