Puss, I'm so sorry about your Mom. That must be incredibly difficult for your family, and especially stressful for you. It's incredible how you've managed to lose weight through all the challenges you've had lately--way to go!!
Willow, what's up with those kids?? Reminds me of my aunts who kept insisting my grandmother was senile. Made me so mad! She had the last laugh by dying well after they did, and staying in her own home by herself until she was 101. If I had done some of the stuff your grandkids have done, I would have had a very sore bottom. I know you love 'em to death, but put your foot down and take a well-deserved break from them. Would like to see their faces when they try to unlock your door! Maybe limiting them to a couple of kids every once in a while instead of all at once is the thing to do? Something to think about. . .
Angel-lover, I have two sons--the good son and the bad son. Now, I never call them that to their faces, of course. My oldest son has worked hard, made mistakes that he's corrected by himself, and is doing okay. My youngest son quit school when he was 16, finally got his GED this year (he's 24), but along the way he's had so many jobs that he's been fired from, so many apartments he's been evicted from, and he can't even get a bank account anymore so he has trouble cashing a check. He wanted me to co-sign on an apartment for him, and I said, very bluntly, "No way!" I'm really hoping he grows up soon--getting the GED was a start. Don't think he's into drugs, thank goodness.
My poor old dog has to wear an Elizabethan collar for a while. She has a "hot spot," a place where she's licked all the fur off and her skin is raw. We couldn't stop her licking with medicine, and she's too old (almost 17) for steroids so she's getting antibiotics and wearing the collar to help her stop licking so the sore can heal. I think it's allergies to her food, but she's on a special diet for her kidneys and if I change food, then her kidneys could start getting bad again. I might consult a doggie dermatologist to see if there's something we can do differently. It was inevitable--haven't been to the vet in a month so we were due! Love my old animals, but they don't have insurance and vet visits aren't cheap.
It's been so hot that we've been watering every day. Went right after dinner tonight, leaving my dad sitting there reading his mail. That was a mistake! I came back in and he said he'd fallen getting up (he'd complained of dizziness when he sat down--I thought it was from his room being so hot and he won't open a window or turn on a fan). Luckily, he was able to get himself up, and I didn't see any blood. I think I'll wait to water until after he's safely in his room!
Hope everyone had a great evening! We're going to be cooler tomorrow, thank goodness. Oh, and I got the window A/C fixed so I have a nice cool room to go to.