The Winter Rant that Went South

Oh my God! I’m about to lose my mind! Actually, I’m sure I’ve already lost it. Why, you might ask? Winter is insanity! It needs to be renamed something special because this is beyond winter. It’s EXTREME winter. The winter from hell, if there’s such a thing since snow and ice would melt and then boil in hell. But, I digress. This particular winter has stolen my sanity. I’m so tired of having to juggle things, reschedule appointments, entertain my cabin fevered kids and finally deal with my crazy ass Father. There, I said it! Crazy ass Father. He’s honestly the thing that drives me most insane. Beyond insane. I’m actually going to start a blog dedicated to him and my mom. See, they live next door to us. And not just any old next door, but 2 family house next door. Trust me, it’s worse. I love my parents. I really do. I don’t know why I feel I have to stress that but I do. Maybe it’s because I feel so guilty about the way I feel. And don’t judge unless you’ve been in my shoes. I don’t think many could live this close to their parents or in-laws without some type of WWIII occurring occasionally. As they, are our parents, tend to think they know more about how we should live our life and perhaps raise our kids. I guess I should count myself lucky that the in-laws don’t live closer. Dad insanity today started last night. I got the “back your van down to the bottom of the driveway” lecture. I didn’t want to because A) I still had errands to run and B) I’m tired of being the one to back my big ass van down the narrow driveway that’s on a hill. We can’t pull in and turn around anymore because we didn’t shovel everything out after the first storm and it’s now frozen solid. My hubby always is at the top because he leaves for work by 4 a.m. or earlier during bad weather. Hubby decided to park on the street last night because he almost got stuck on an icy spot on the driveway. Dear Father, after hearing Hubby spinning his wheels in the driveway, decided to go and park there without putting ice melt down. I get up this morning at 5 and see that there’s way more snow outside then we were supposed to get. I need to get off the street so the plows can get by and I don’t get towed. I have to call the Father and ask him to finish pulling down because I need to get into the driveway. We do have a municipal lot nearby but it’s always full from overnight parking. Can you even imagine the lecture I got about not putting my van down there yesterday evening? Oh my goodness, you would think that I asked him to dance naked outside in the snow. Like a 2 year old he yells at me over the phone. I can hear him on the other side of the wall stomping down the stairs. He slams out of his house and pounds his fist on my front door. Amazingly, the kids don’t wake up. I’m thankful for this. He spins his tires on the ice trying to pull out so he can back in. I guess he should’ve taken his own advice. Pissed, he finally just pulls all the way down the driveway and slams back into his house. I get a call minutes later that I let go to voicemail And what do you think it said? I’ll let your imagination run wild….I can say the words “fuck” and “bitch” were used. Breaks my heart that my father can not be a rational human being and thinks it’s okay to talk to people that way. Especially his own flesh and blood.


Sorry for the rant. This post was really supposed to be on how much I hate this winter. Dear Dad’s grumpiness and poor attitude doesn’t help. This weather brings out the worst in him. He’s going to be really pissy when he has to snow blow/shovel. I’m not supposed to do it because of my neck/shoulder injury. I’m never going to hear the end on what a bad daughter I am. Can we move now because this has gotten old in the last two and a half years. BTW….we carry 65-70% of the mortgage but he acts as though he’s doing us a favor. We need to get out of this craziness. Wish us luck and sanity!

Dish Disaster

Does your significant other ever offer to help you clear the table after you eat?  It's a rare treat in my house.  I like to grab the opportunity when its presented.  However, this is what I usually see when I return to the kitchen.  Most of the dishes are not rinsed off and just thrown haphazardly into a pile or into the sink.  This particular time I was told to leave the pots and pans and he'd take care of them.  Usually I clean them up before I sit down to eat.  This way they're done and I don't have to look at them afterwards.

 I came back into the kitchen and seen the above right before I was going to bed.  I couldn't sleep with it looking that way and I didn't have the energy to wash them.  Our dishwasher has been broke since May of 2009.  So, I spent 10 minutes rinsing and stacking them.  Look at how much nicer they look.  I still wasn't happy to see them the next morning but at least I didn't cry at the sight of them.

Laundry Mayhem....What will I find today?

Like most people, I'm not a fan of laundry.  Honestly, I try to avoid it as long as I can.  I usually do it once the laundry bins in our rooms are full.  Hubby tries to be helpful and does it some Sundays when he's off.  Warning the term "helpful" is somewhat deceiving.  As I have neck problems he will carry the basket from upstairs to the basement.  Only our(mineand his) laundry most of the time.  I guess he feels that the kids dirty clothes either don't exist in his world or they're not his territory.  I've given up trying to figure his "reasoning" out. Anyways, he'll bring the overflowing basket down and cram as much as he can into the washer.  It usually ends up being 2 or 3 loads.  After it's sat for a good few hours in the wash he'll wander downstairs and move it to the dryer.  Then he'll toss it willy nilly into the basket and bring it to the living room.  He does not empty the lint filter.  EVER.  And there his job is done.  In his mind he has "done" the laundry.  He doesn't fold it or put it away.  I am lucky that if I ask him (numerous times) to bring the heavy basket upstairs he'll do it.  At this point it is bedtime.  Are most husbands wired to "do the laundry" this way?  I do remind myself to be grateful that he does even part of it.  Something is always better than nothing.
He's been sick since Saturday night and our laundry basket is overflowing.  All the pants I like to wear are dirty.  Almost all my socks are gone.  I very carefully dragged the basket across the floor and banged it down the stairs to the first floor.  Then I proceed to separate my clothes from his since I refuse to wear anymore of the pants I hate.  Maybe I'll willing wear them once I drop 10 lbs, but that's another story. 
It's so much fun sorting the laundry because his clothes are always tucked inside themselves and balled up. I actually found two sets of socks that were doubled up.  All waded up.  That would have been a nasty undried mess coming out of the dryer.  Also, I have to check all his pockets because there's always something in them.  I could be rich with all the coin he leaves behind in them. Today I found money and lip balm. This isn't bad.  I've found a whole pocketful of coins before, chapstick, receipts, paperwork, business cards, pens, a parking ticket, candy bar.  You get the picture...
When does it stop...the looking in other peoples clothes before you wash them?  I understand the kids, but why an adult?  But after the crayon incident, I try to check them.  Most of the time I just pat them down orquickly and send a quick prayer.
I carried my clothes down to the basement and now they are happily washing away.  Most of our bedding is in the dryer.  I am trying to de-germ it.  Hubby is curled up in the center of our bed with a comforter that I will wash once he gets up and I put the fresh sheets and blankets back on the bed.  Once he's fully better I will repeat the process.  Since I'm a wonderful wife, I'll wash, dry and fold his clothes next.