| The Incredible Shrinking Woman | |||
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Thursday, January 15, 2004 ( 12:16 PM ) Melody Distressed I am the worst granddaughter in the world. My grandmother had a stroke last weekend, and she's moving out of her own apartment and in with my Aunt Peggy. Of course I am concerned, but my grandmother and I have never been close. I'm more concerned about the emotional stress it's putting on my mother. Then my mom calls this afternoon and tells me that their miniature dachshund Augie, who they've had since I was a sophomore in college, has slipped a disk and might have to be put to sleep if treatments aren't successful. The vet gives him about a 75% chance. I am fighting back tears. Over a dog. Let's review: Grandma/Augie. Grandma: Leaves hair in the soap (eww), sleeps til noon and then demands to be served breakfast cereal even if other family members are ready to walk out the door for lunch, sometimes smells funny, tells me I'm destined to be an old maid. Augie: Humps legs (We prefer to call it "hugging"), always up and ready to go at 5 AM, not picky about his vittles, sometimes smells funny but that's not his fault, could care less about my marital status and loves anyone I bring home. Seriously, I will be crushed if something happens to poor little Augie. We had to put his predecessor Brandy, my childhood pet, to sleep while I was still in college, and I was a wreck. Augie and I only lived in the same household for a short time, but even when things are chilly with my folks, I can always count on him for a warm welcome there. # Wednesday, January 14, 2004 ( 9:29 AM ) Melody Still Alive Incredible Shrinking Woman readers, if any of you still exist, bear with me. I know it has been a month, but I'm dealing with serious life changes. Belinda has decided to give up the house. I'm going to be refinancing it or assuming the mortgage, and then I plan to put it back up on the market. Wish me luck that it doesn't take a lifetime to sell it. The holidays with mom and dad and Laura and Vanessa were good. I actually got to spend Christmas Eve night and part of Christmas day with Vanessa. I'm reclaiming my power over my life from my parents. Sad, but I've never asserted myself enough with them before to be able to spend a holiday like Christmas with a lover. This is a mistake I made when I was with Belinda, and I won't make it again. You do learn eventually. I seem to have to do it the hard way. V and I just got back from Las Vegas. Vegas was Vegas. It's a despicable town-- loud and drunk and gaudy-- not my kind of place. I enjoyed CES, though, and made some good contacts. V and I also got a chance to get over to the front of the Sands Conference Center, where the Adult Video show was going on. Made for some very interesting people watching. We opted not to try to get in only because we heard the line was terrible. We were privy to some very interesting conversation over lunch at the attached casino-- the Venetian. We were seated between two porn producers and a porn star and her husband. In the coming weeks, V is studying for the GRE, which she will take at the end of January. She's moving to an apartment in February, and we're both stressing about that a little. I'm working on getting refinanced and then getting the house ready to sell. We're also taking a trip to L.A. in February. Work is hectic, as it always is after the holidays. A lot is going on. I know I've fallen off the face of the earth. I know I haven't seen some of you in a while, but I promise it's going to get better when this house is off my plate-- or at least completely on my plate. Look for me in mid to late February. I'm still alive, and I still care about you guys. # |
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