Third time's the charm...

[eris esoteric]

So I'm on vacation right now. In a couple hours I'll be bustling to the airport to go visit the folks. This is that vacation I was supposed to take back in April. Then May.

I've got a killer headache right now from warping my sleep schedule around.

Everything's packed. I just need to write a note for the maintenance guy to remind him to fix my wall and caulk my shower while he's gone.

The cats are pretty sure something's going on. They're pretty sure they don't like whatever's going on.

The boyfriend's not coming. It's gonna be just me, my folks, the two love birds, the two dogs and the new cat, Alex.

My mom wants me to show her how to use her new computer. Well, hell, I've been interfacing deskclerks and computers for ten years. What's one little old woman with Alzheimer's gonna do? I think I'll do a checklist for her. I'm good at checklists.

I swear, I'm going anywhere with those two that's not paved. I see my dad heading toward a dirt road, I am OUT of the car.

[emeleel]

Have fun storming the castle!

[lynnzop[$]]

Have a great trip Eris. We'll miss you when you are gone (unless you can tear Mom away from the PC and post a bit about what's going on! )

[mtomm[$]]

Is there a reason you don't try to plan your visits when it is cooler? Going there in the summer just seems like torture.

[theworm[$]]

Have fun and stay clear of dirt roads!

[mtbat]

emeleel said

Have fun storming the castle!

what she said!

[eris esoteric]

mtomm said

Is there a reason you don't try to plan your visits when it is cooler? Going there in the summer just seems like torture.

Plan?

Actually, the answer to your question is "work." Remember that new coworker I got around January? Remember the old coworker? The one who was too sick to show up for three shifts out of five EVERY week?

Anyway, I've arrived, and they're squabbling about Alex. Who is ADORABLE, by the way. Feels like home. When's my ticket back for?

[hadassahchana[$]]

[conradd]

I don't know who has more fun when you go on vacation - you or us.

[eris esoteric]

Well, we're having an exciting morning. The mouse has gotten extremely bold, and has been dashing around the kitchen in plain sight. So we've contained Ferris, the dog who really does NOT like Alex, and brought Alex down from his room upstairs. There was a moment when it looked like Alex might get him, but my mom yelled at Alex to get the mouse, and my dad yelled at my mom for yelling. Alex didn't really know what to make of that.

I'll be reinforcing the "loud noises make cats nervous" lesson at a later point. I did consider locking my parents up in their room with Ferris to let Alex earn his keep, but I don't have enough water bowls for everyone.

So right now the mouse is under the stove, Alex is beside the stove, Ferris is beside himself, and I've convinced my parents to settle down. And I put some peanut butter in front of the stove to try to tempt the mouse.

Further updates as events warrant.

[mtomm[$]]

[eris esoteric]

Alex's day has turned ugly.

He's had his first claw clipping, which led to his first accident on the bed, which led to his first bath. And confirmation of my theory that his poop smells so bad because of the crud he's been eating. WHEW.

His first brushin's were a hit, though, and his first scratcher has been definately approved.

And considering the fact that I haven't actually given a cat a tub bath in almost a decade, I think I did pretty good with only getting away with one scratch.

[theworm[$]]

Oh Eris. Do try to have some fun!

[eris esoteric]

I've been forgiven. Truly, Alex is a sweet-natured little gentlman.

And as for fun, well, I brought bunches of books with me. And I'm not at work. I do miss the boyfriend, though.

[mtbat]

I'd send Meowlth to kill the mouse but I'm not 100% sure he's the one who got the mice here.

I'm also not sure who killed the fish.

No more fish.

Have a good *vacation*

[hadassahchana[$]]

eris esoteric said

I'll be reinforcing the "loud noises make cats nervous" lesson at a later point. I did consider locking my parents up in their room with Ferris to let Alex earn his keep, but I don't have enough water bowls for everyone.

OMG, I think I broke something. I am just cackling!

theworm said

Oh Eris. Do try to have some fun!

Eris, just you go ahead and ignore her. I like what you're doing right now. I havne't laughed this hard since....well, probably since the last post you made about work/kittens/BF. OMG you crack me up!

[eris esoteric]

eris esoteric said

My mom wants me to show her how to use her new computer. Well, hell, I've been interfacing deskclerks and computers for ten years. What's one little old woman with Alzheimer's gonna do? I think I'll do a checklist for her. I'm good at checklists.

*sigh*

This went about as well as it could. I did some screen shots, and had her write down instructions that I dictated on each page. I'm not sure how productive it was, but I did get her to email a friend of her succesfully.

Love means having to tell your mother how to spell "click" five times in as many minutes without breaking down crying. Or breaking anything else, either, really.

Computers never were her thing, but she had picked up a little in the last decade. Of course, that's one of the things the Alzheimer's stole from her first.

(Number of times I've wished Alzheimer's had a corporal body I could punch, 157 for the day)

[pippadaisy[$]]

I peed!

[Prepoia[$]]

I'm sorry, eris. It is a terrible disease that is frustrating at best for those that have it and those who love them. I applaud your patience and caring. Oftentimes, they are very hard to love because they aren't themselves and it is hard to maintain our levels of patience. I hope it is a great trip for you because our memories are the things that last longest.

[hadassahchana[$]]

eris said

(Number of times I've wished Alzheimer's had a corporal body I could punch, 157 for the day)

I'm so sorry. Alzheimer's sucks.

[eris esoteric]

Well, after spending ALL day sleeping yesterday, Alex got up at exactly 5 am and demanded food. We were all kind of worried about him, but whatever the issue was (new food, stress from the bath, Ferris, catness), he's recovered. I tried sneaking him downstairs, assuming that the parents and, more importantly, Ferris, would still be in my parents rooms, but no luck, Dad & Ferris had beaten us down there. And Alex did a really impressive vault off my should up the stairs when he figured that out.

We had thought we were making progress with the whole "Alex in the kitchen" idea, but Alex got traumatized early yesterday morning when he wandered down on his own and he and Ferris tusseled. Since then, he's wanted NOTHING to do with downstairs.

So, when Ferris is out of the way, whether on walks or sleeping with the parents, I've been carrying him downstairs and holding him. I think we regained some ground today, as he actually hung around with me down here until Ferris got back from his walk. And I've been doing stuff like putting the blanket Alex sleeps on near Ferris's bed, and brushing Ferris and putting the hair where Alex sleeps.

The other dog, Lady, just does not get why these two are so huffy. I'm guessing it's maybe a boy thing. It might get better once they get Alex fixed.

For those interested, Alex is still having some loose stools, but the diahrea seems to be drying up. There. Aren't you sorry you got curious and tried to read the stealth typing? I think the new food is helping.

I do think Alex is going to be OK here. My mom absolutely dotes on him, and my dad, while grumbling about him a lot, seems to be impressed with him. I'm going to make sure to leave instructions for my dad.

Practiced the email again with my mom. Yeah.

[eris esoteric]

Dear god. I'm 33 years old and my mother still hovers over me in the kitchen.

And it still drives me up the wall.

Yeah.