St. Elmo's Fire

[Underdog]

Welcome back, Wonka! And good to see everyone - GG, NG, BA (I'm thinking I need a 2 letter acronym now).

I've been MIA lately myself, because I have 3 full time jobs right now: parenting, work and managing the estate. I'm exhausted and stressed and I guess it's bad enough that D17's neurologist begged me to get back into IC yesterday. So I'm doing it.

So thanks to the post about hugging your demons. I'm gonna get intimate with mine now. And I expect it to hurt.

On top of all that, my cousin called yesterday to give me some info about my lawless, junkie brother that she got from her cop brother. Needless to say, it didn't make me happy, although it's finally good to actually know where things are legally out in VA. I can only hope that the Fairfax County circuit court judge comes down hard on him. It will his only chance at getting clean. He's used up all his free passes, and it's now time to do some hard time.

And I wonder why I'm not in a good place to date???

Anyway, the worst of the estate stuff is behind me. Yesterday, it didn't feel that way. The front door handle/locking mechanism broke, someone from the estate sale backed up on the lawn to load furniture and killed a bunch of grass (replacing today with sod) and one of the back sprinkler heads broke, providing the neighborhood with a free mini geyser. Who needs Yellowstone???

The house is on the market as of yesterday, and official showings will begin Friday. That gives me enough time to get the carpets stretched and cleaned - hopefully today. Once it sells, then almost all of my work will be done. I keep trying to get D20 to go over there with me, and she just won't. I guess she'll have to grieve in her own way on her own schedule. And I'll be there for her when the fit hits the shan.

I guess all the stress has me grinding my teeth. I now have a hideous case of TMJ. My dear dentist fit me for an apparatus last week, and I'm doing what he's prescribed to help diminish the pain. It's getting better. Thank goodness for muscle relaxers, ibuprofen and heat.

And if all that wasn't enough, I'm just starting the work necessary to be D17's guardian. It's kind of daunting, but I'm going to eat that elephant one bite at a time. Right now, I'm taking 6 weeks of classes at the ARC to learn all about the transition. Class is every Wednesday night for 2 hours, and tonight is #2. It's been helpful.

I guess it's a good thing that work hasn't been stressful. Thank God for small favors.

So now I'll wish everyone well and schedule an appointment with an IC. I've been wanting to clear my head for awhile now, so it's a good thing.

That's all the news fit for print here in Denver. Hope everyone is healthy and happy!

Betsey