Respect begets Respect

Am I the only person left in this world who feels that to get respect you should treat people with respect? What ever happened to that little thing called "the golden rule"?
Our neighbor since the day we moved in has not treated us with respect, in fact she has gone out of her way to be disrespectful at every turn as has her family members.
Now, she has been diagnosed with cancer and it seems she is dying. I do feel for her, but I do not think that gives her family some blanket right to think the own the driveway at every minute of the day and night, which is something clearly written in our lease. We have tried to be patient and polite and that has not worked... So we as anyone would got irritated and now they have become downright dirty, rotten, stinking demon spawn from the depths of hell. They have brought the landlord into it who thinks it is becoming a petty feud and now has started to threaten that if we cannot work things out one of us is going to be evicted. Who do you think that will be?
Them who have rented here for 18 plus years or us who have rented for 14 months? I can take a guess and I have a feeling it will be us.
And it all goes back to...a little thing called respect. We never once did anything disrespectful to her or her family, we even tried to reach and be friendly. She wanted nothing to do with that.
I feel for her, sympathize with them. Yet, you would think they could find an inch to give too, right?
Or am I just a total bitch?

Things that slip through the cracks...

...sort of like this blog I'd have to say. I've been living in a haze of my own making, and one of the things that wasn't part of the picture for this time has been the computer. I have not been signing online at all. My email has suffered, my blogs, everything....and you know something I really didn't care.
I needed time to detox, to try living for me and just me. Not sure it worked, not sure I even know how to do such a thing but I just need time away.
I think I am ready to step back into the online world but I'm going to do it at my pace and for me again. So it may not be a daily thing, it may not always be witty, not that I think I was ever the clever gal on the block. I hope some of you are still hanging in the fringe and see this and will give me another go at this whole thing though.

Life updates...
We are coping with all of the the changes the past months have brought for us health wise. Still some more tests ahead for Papa Bear, and more for me to contend with back wise. This is my last week as a cashier and then I am moving to the Fabrics and Crafts department. Kids are still growing. Nikolaus should be driving on his own by summer's end, needs a little more required practice time before he can take his test. Papa, Nikolaus and I still all have jobs, and Zak cannot wait until summer comes to and end and he can have one too. Look for changes on my book review blog coming soon, a return to the old reviews....just me, a book, and my opinion.

Stay happy, healthy, and you!

Wandering the abyss

...of life and looking for a door to some sanity.
Papa Bear is back to work now, but not fully healthy, in fact he may never be fully healthy again as his pancreas may be permanently damaged from this dance with pancreatitis. It hit him really hard both physically and emotionally.
I am struggling to function still which has caused some major tension around the cave here. Hopefully within the next month when I am finally taken off a certain medication that they have been using for my back I will be able to become a functioning humanoid again.
Kids are growing like weeds still, got to love them.
Miss you all.

Where the Spouse Doth Go

Life has a way of sending you on some wicked journeys when you are least prepared for them.
Last Wednesday night I headed off to work thinking all was well with my home and family, a mere half hour into my shift I received a frantic phone call from Zak saying that I needed to come home as there was something very wrong with daddy. I rushed home, and I do mean rushed and sure enough Papa Bear was in seriously bad shape. Off to the emergency room we rushed...
Papa Bear has been taken down once again by pancreatitis, something he had over 5 years ago but we thought was well under control. He remains hospitalized and in pain. Of course, he was asked how much alcohol he drinks because alcoholics most frequently present with this illness, but we do not drink. The culprit is the diabetes and cholesterol for Papa Bear, specifically the triglycerides. This time we found out that one of his medications, Byetta, may have also been the cause as while it can help diabetes it can also cause the pancreas to misfunction and so there is no definitive cause this time.
I have gone through the gamut of emotions as I spend my days and nights at the hospital and driving around to get the kids to places and check in with them frequently. I am exhausted physically and mentally right now.
We are not financially prepared enough for emergencies like this and in this economy it is not easy to make do on much less than we do already, but we will survive.

I can almost TWIST without a SHOUT

Yes, ladies and gentleman, I have had those ever handy dandy shots put in my spine and I am feeling much better. I can almost twist without shouting in pain. I pray that they will last for awhile and I can get off the gabapentin which makes me so sleepy.

Feeling better and the warm weather has hung around the idea of spring cleaning is starting to dance around in my head...only dance though, I haven't started doing anything but soon.

Still working, but have experienced a sudden decrease in hours which my supervisor claims was not intentional so we shall see what happens. Went from working 4-6 days a week, to barely working 2 days a week.

Nick will finish Driver's Education next week so it will be up to us to finish with his required practice hours and then he can go take his test to get his license. Would be nice to have another driver around the house. Hopefully we can teach him to be gentler on the brakes.

Zak has been working super hard on his Citizenship in the Nation merit badge for Boy Scouts this week. Learning all about the government which has made for some interesting conversations. Nick advanced to Life Scout rank last week, and if all goes well Zak will advance next week when he has his Board of Review. Papa Bear accomplished and completed his Wood Badge projects and will be presented with his beads on 3/29 at a District dinner. My big scouting event, the need to find a swimsuit before summer camp in July. We went shopping around for a new tent and other camp gear last weekend and in April will be buying a new tent from Scheels and other gear. We are getting sturdier gear that will hold up to the amount of use Scouting gives us. A Walmart grade tent just does not cut it when you can be camping in all types of weather. Definitely will be laying out some money for these things but it is time to do so.

Slowly but surely I am starting to feel more like myself and am starting to want to do things like write letters and read books. I am hoping part of that is the antidepressant switch too. I am completely off the Effexor XR and solely on the Cymbalta and doing well.

Papa Bear is off for a special Scouting event tonight so once Nick gets home from work I promised to play a board game with the kids and we are ordering pizza. Maybe tomorrow night we will rent a movie as I have a day shift versus a night one for once.

Have a great weekend.

Music Monday ~ Heat Wave The Who

For Wisconsin it is incredibly warm at this time of year so this song has been running through my head the past few days, what better way to share...

Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. One simple rule, leave ONLY the actual post link here. You can grab this code at LJL Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted without prejudice.

Things You Do Not Want to Hear...

from your son after he returns home from "behind the wheel" for Driver's Education...
"Did you know the brakes on the passenger's side of the car can completely override the driver even if he is flooring it?"
or...
"There is no more class until they get the car fixed."

Yep, my smart ass son Nick thought these would be good comments to make about his first time driving with the instructor. Add a couple more grey hairs to my head.