I heard from Mom this morning, and boy howdy, are things fucked up w/ the family dynamics. My uncle John (described by Mom as being insane and unstable), who made life hell for my mom at my grandmother's funeral, is stirring up shit, this time w/ my aunt Pat. She was the primary caregiver for my grandfather (John, the professional mooch, lives in the house and did not a damned thing). Apparently, my grandfather died while Pat was helping him to change position, and John is making a big hue and cry about this. Mom is staying way the hell away. She has, at times, been actively afraid of John.

John owns guns. Lots of them.

Pardon me while I sit over here, freaking out.

She's going to the funeral, but not the gravesite part of things, and then she and my stepdad are going up to Maine for a couple of weeks. My uncle Bud is going up there, and if he and Mom are there together, Bud will wind up only associating with her. Without her there, Bud will be forced to interact with his brothers, and not ignore them and shut them out. My mom's youngest brother, Joe, will probably really need Bud's support. He's the baby of the family, a great guy, and was very close to his dad.

Anyone know a home-for-pets list? Because our friend's Lab is here, but we can't keep him and we love him too much to leave him to the Schindler's List at the humane society. Phoenix Craiglist says no pet postings. No, Fay, you're not.

Oh, Anne - I'm so sorry about your loss, and even more sorry that John exists.

You could find out if there is a local breed rescue for Labs, Erika.

I was just walking the dog, realized we'd gone quite a ways and went ahead and made it a mile.

Then came home and, even though she is not the boss of me, told her about the mile and that I wasn't going to the gym.

Fay, I didn't take offense.

I did go to the gym. I went to Meijer instead of Target. However, I then had to go find iTunes gift cards elsewhere, as they only had Meijer cards at Meijer, and there is no Meijer in Evansville.

Now I am torn between sewing and cleaning. I think I shall sew, then clean.

After I eat.

Anne, I wish we could take the asshats out of everyone's families, and put them into their own families, which shall in no way connect to any non-asshat families. No, I do not have a fix on the children issue, but I still like my plan.

Trudes, I have also been known to be the boss of you (albeit in limited time/topic capacity) on other topics. Not that I'm trying to slowly increase my "boss of you" reach. Nope. t whistles innocently

Erika, here is your local Lab Rescue Society (Trudy is wise).

Anne, that's really terrifying. I wish I had advice. {{{Anne and Anne's mom}}}

I think I'm getting a cold. Feh.

Oh, Anne. Because your mom needed more drama!

We just got home from apple picking. It was SUCH fun! And yummy! You can eat the apples right after you pick them! BEST APPLES EVER! And next weekend I'm going to make apple sauce and an apple pie or crisp or maybe both. Maybe I better have people over to eat these fine goodies.

thinks about the state of her apartment

Maybe I'll just eat them myself.

I just made an apple pie! And now I am full to bursting. I didn't get to pick the apples though, so it's way less special.

I have 80 tests to grade tonight. I think I shall pick up some nice tea and have a thousand cuppas whilst grading.

Okay, am I the only bitch whose hotcakes-of-love aren't getting buttered?

Not only are they unbuttered, I suspect they are getting all dried up and crumbly in the middle. Feh.

EDIT: Er, MY hotcakes-of-love. I'm sure Fay's hotcakes are still moist and delicious. Erm.

What Erin said. Except about the grading. And for tea, substitute beer.