Moving Out and Moving In

My upstairs neighbors are changing AGAIN.

Roberta moved out and is moving somewhere...Some say back with the ex...others say back to Chicago..Whatever, she is gone.

So the new lady was by today. She is a single mom with 3 daughters. At least I was told she was single. Today she had some guy with her.

Anyway, we live in an old house (circa 1900) that has been turned into a duplex. In true European style, there are no closets in my house. So storage space is at a premium.

We all use the back doors to get into the apartments because that is where the driveway is located. In the two years I have lived here, no one has ever used the front door as a primary entrance. If you come through the front door, my bedroom door is the first door you see. So if someone knocks on the front door (no doorbell), I will be the one awakened by the pounding.

So we have never used it. Instead, we have used the front entry hall as a place to store stuff I don't want in the basement getting all mildewy and moldy.

Today, she (the new neighbor) asked me if that was our "garbage" in the front entry. I said, "No, but we do have stuff we store out there."

She seemed a little miffed that our stuff was RIGHT OUTSIDE MY BEDROOM DOOR!!!!

I don't know about this...She was looking down her nose at us the entire time. True, I didn't look my most beautiful because I had just gotten out of bed, but that was no reason to act like I was the scum of the Earth.

And the kicker....she has a dog. Now anyone that knows me knows I cannot stand dogs. Plus, I have 3 cats in my house. But I will handle it like an adult as long as she uses the pooper scooper in our yard. And I don't have to listen to the damn thing bark all day and all night.

Otherwise, I am going to have to start looking for a new place to live. For less money, I could find a new place with central air and a dishwasher! I have stayed here because of Meg's friends and we like our landlord.

But I won't deal with this well. I just know it.

Dad

Okay, everyone has done a Father's Day post except me. So here it is.

This is a pic of my mom and dad at Anthony's boot camp graduation in San Diego.

I tell everyone that I have the World's Greatest Parents and I honestly believe that. My parents are soooo cool!!

They got married in 1959 and have had 4 kids. We've caused them a lot of stress, but through it all, they have kept their sense of humor about everything.

My dad grew up in a small town in Idaho working on the family farm and playing football. He probably would have been given a scholarship for football except he blew out his knee. So much for that career.

He went to college at the University of Puget Sound in Washington. While going home for holidays, he bumped into a woman in the Portland bus depot (literally bumped into her...dumped her purse all over the floor!). Four months later they were married.

My dad had several jobs in his young life, but at some point, he received a higher calling...He became a minister.

He was a minister all through my school years. At one point, he even went back to school and got his Doctorate in Theology. That really impressed me. I was in junior high then. It had a big impact on what I thought he wanted from me.

When I was 16, I got pregnant. I didn't want to tell my parents, but I did. And instead of blowing a gasket and calling me a loser of all kinds, they looked sad and then said they would support whatever decision I made. It was a real shock. Then I realized that is what they had always done...guided, but not criticized. (btw, I released her for adoption...she has become a beautiful young woman, but that is another story!)

After I graduated high school, I went to college for one semester and flunked out (it was more fun to drink). I then moved back to my hometown in Oregon and played at being a disc jockey. Dad came to see me one day (they lived in New York then) and started asking what I was going to do with my life. It is the only time I can remember him pushing me about anything.

I finally got sick of it and the next time he asked, I explained I had just joined the Navy and I was leaving the next morning for boot camp. He just sat there - stunned, I think.

He wouldn't let me take the train or bus to Portland for processing, he drove me himself. I think he was quite proud of me at that point. When I graduated from boot camp, I can still remember the pride on their faces.

My dad eventually left the ministry. He wasn't burned out on being a minister, nor was he disgruntled with God...He simply couldn't stand the politics in the church anymore.

So he learned to program computers. Then he discovered a way to travel from place to place all over the country helping smaller churches get organized. I think that was his true calling. He has helped churches all over the US get organized and get started.

Now my dad is very sick. He had his first bypass when he was 49. He is now 66. He has had several bypasses and at least 24 angioplasties. He also has borderline Diabetes including neuropathy. And lots of problems with his back and neck probably from football.

I am very proud to call this man my dad. He has been a true hero to me and to my kids.

Happy Father's Day, Dad.

Another day...

I'm bored today...Not really sure what's up with that...Hormones are raging...All I want to do is cry and kill people.

I spent all day on Friday missing Anthony. I know he is safe and sound in Virginia right now, but he is not here. I miss his laughter and sense of humor. And I miss having someone to gossip with!! He is such an awesome kid. I don't know anyone that doesn't like Anthony.

It was pretty rough during basic training, but he seemed to enjoy it. He said it was hard listening to the DI's at first, and he was very homesick to start with.

After the Crucible things seemed to get much better. His letters were more positive and he was much happier on the phone.

When he came home for his ten days of fun after basic, he also got 7 days of "Recruiter's Assistance". For the RA, he had to work for the local recruiter. The recruiter turned into a total ass. He had Anthony at the office from 7am until 7 or 8 in the evening. And all they did was sit around and bullshit 90% of the day. Plus, he would treat Anthony like he was still in boot camp...They kept on him all day long about how to look and stand and talk and he had to have inspections all the time. He had almost decided it was all a mistake by the time he went back to Camp Pendleton for Combat Training.

Then when he got to Pendleton, he found 3 more weeks of grunt work...lots of hikes, stuff like that, but he did get every Sunday off. So he felt a little better.

Now he is at his MOS school. He is on an Army base for training. He spent ten days at the base before starting training and he really enjoyed that time...They had physical training every morning, but each day, they got to do something different. One day, they even got to leave the base to help some officer move. He was having the time of his life!

Now that training has started, he says he spends all day in a classroom. He says the Army instructors don't show up sometimes until Noon. So the Marines sit around and BS until the instructors show up.

He will be home the end of July. At that time we will know where he is going next. He is really hoping for Okinawa. He loves the Japanese culture. And already knows some Japanese.

Wherever he goes, I know he will make me even prouder. He is a good Marine and an awesome son.