I apologize for my lack of updates to this journal.
My boss is out of town this week, hiking the wilderness - during the opening of the Olympics. Must be nice... my job is complicated by the Olympiad, Rick however can send himself into a sports black-out.

While the cat's away...
…the mice are staying on task. Rick left me a list, and I really need to have a good "homecoming" next Monday when my boss returns. I have a list of things I'm trying to accomplish at home as well, and the list is getting longer.

My co-worker Todd informed me that my brake lights don't work.
Add it too the "car list"...along with the oil change... and brakes.

I still don't have an opperable Washer and Dryer. (Thanks to my miserable father in-law)
Add it too the "neccesities list", along side Dental work and new glasses and contactsfor Monica.

I think I'm kinda bummed out because I am in "Survival mode" again.
Getting re-indoctrinated into the lifestyle I thought I was trying to break out of. Doing the minimum - not making waves. Agreeing to things I'll regret. Not wanting to disappoint anybody... inevitably disappointing myself, and kicking myself in the butt for not holding my ground.

M is out of control on the meds...
Filling my perscription several times in the past 2 months. She had an appointment with her doctor that was supposed to resolve some of the issues... but resulted in even more medication than before...
Add it to the personal happiness list.

The kids are back in school
My Niece -Shelby (who has officially lived with us for one year) has really started acting up again... arguing about everything, informing us that she hates us... for hours on end. I don't know why it's happening again, but it deffinately adds to the stress.
Monica is in a strange mood too.
Sort of a mixture of panic, and guilt.... so she is pretty much apologizing for things not even remotely her fault. But not unapologetically begging me to come home earl today because she is "too sick to take care of the kids...".
I held my ground: I stayed at work. I'll try to build off of that.

"checking it twice..."