Major Influence?

While my nephew is living with me, I'm trying to expose him to another way of life. His mother has used video games, and Disney to be a babysitter. Since, there really isn't much he can do here, I'm getting him to try different things while he is here. He wanted to make a gift for his Dad so I searched on-line for a craft project. Of course my nephew wanted to make a t-shirt but I talked him into a simply decorated cross that would be a gift to his Dad and step-mom. He loved doing the project and it was easy enough to do completely on his own.

Ricky knows all sorts of recent movies (most of which he SHOULD NOT know) but has never heard of Alfred Hitchcock, Jimmy Stewart, Frank Sinatra, Bette Davis, Grace Kelly..... A couple of nights ago, I switched the TV to TCM and we watched Jezebel with Bette Davis. The only movie he had seen, about the Civil War period, was The Patriot. He LOVED the movie and kept asking about the actors/actresses. He had never watched a b&w movie before. Last night we watched Rear Window. The movie captured his attention to a point where he was asking about different camera effects. Maybe tonight I'll introduce him to "classic" horror movies -- Frankenstein, Dracula.... or we could watch African Queen, Gone With The Wind, Singing In The Rain.....

Something else that has captured Ricky's attention is Slam Poetry. Ricky writes Rap songs (ok so he doesn't have the beats down) and I pointed out that it's quite similar to slam poetry. While at the book store last weekend, I picked up the book "Idiots Guide To Slam Poetry". He has read a little of the book but I would like to find an open mic where he can listen to Slam Poetry. I think he would get more out of listening to the performances than reading a book. If anyone knows an open mic venue, in the Manchester area, let me know. The only one I know about is The Buttonwood Tree and they stop during the summer months.

1. What is your Full Name? Bernadette Marie Cartland
2. What color pants are you wearing right now? Ummm do my jammies count? Blue plaid
3. What are you listening to right now? The rain falling outside and the echoes in my head
4. Missing? Someone to curl up to and listen to the rain fall
5. What was the last thing you ate? PB & J sandwick
6. If you were a crayon what color would you be? Oooh tough choice - grass green
7. Last person you talked to on the phone? Wig
8. The first thing you notice about the opposite sex? Eyes
9. Do you like the person who sent you this? Yep, she's one of my bestest friends
10. How are you today? Tired - very tired!
11. Favorite drink? COFFEE!!
12. Favorite alcoholic drink? Margarita
13. Favorite sport? Sports -- YELCH!!!
14. Hair color? I'm not sure anymore. It could be brown or gray.
15. Eye color? Green
16. Do you wear contacts? No
17. Siblings? Three - 2 brothers and 1 sister
18. Favorite month? May
19. Favorite foods? Pot Roast - anything chocolate that doesn't have
almonds
20. Last movie you watched? Jezebel with Bette Davis and Henry Fonda
21. Favorite day of the year? My birthday, of course, May 17th.
22. Are you too shy to ask someone out? Yes, but you would never know it the way I act.
23. Summer or winter? Summer
24. Hugs or kisses? It depends on who the other person is.
25. Chocolate or vanilla? Chocolate
26. Do you want your friends to write back? Yes
27. Who is most likely to respond? ???
28. Who is least likely to respond? ???
29. Living arrangements? Rent a duplex, currently living with me is my nephew (temporarily)
and the newest addition, a kitty named Shadow
30. What books are you reading? Harry Potter -- Flight Of The Phoenix
31. Favorite Board Game? Scrabble
32. What are you doing tonight? Probably just watching TV
33. Buttered, plain, or salted popcorn? Buttered -- extra butter please
34. Favorite car? Rolls Royce Phantom II
35. Favorite flower? Lilac
36. How many keys on your key ring? Ummm which key ring? 3 on the one with my car/house
keys, 4 on my desk keys and 3 on my office key ring
37. Can you juggle? Books, workloads - yes. Now if your talking about items like pins, eggs,
knives -- no way
38. Favorite day of the week? Saturday
39. Red or white wine? White
40. What did you do for your last birthday? Went to J&G's?
41. Do you carry a donor card? I don't need to, it's stated on my driver's licenses
42. Lifetime goals? To enjoy life
43. What is the first thing you think of when you wake up in the morning? It's morning already?

Worth Every Minute

After a busy and stressful day, I arrived home with an armload of work, to find two red roses with the following note attached:

"Hey Aunt Bernie you may not know this but I love you. If you didn't take me, I don't know what I would do. Thanks alot for this Auntie, at lease you care. It's like somebody else at lease my mom don't want me ... I love you. Your nephew Rick"

Of course after reading the note, the tears started to fall. How do I explain to a child, everyone loves and cares about him when he's not allowed to be around these same people?

Kitty

We have a name for the newest addition to the household -- Shadow! It earned the name by following Ricky and I where ever we go in the house. Shadow has been sleeping with Ricky and keeping him company.

Stressful!

That's the only way to describe the last few weeks with my nephew. It's been 14 years since I have shared my home with another person - nevermind a pre-teen. I had become set in my way of doing things and needed to make major adjustments in my life. My laundry pile is more than double. Why do kids think just because you've worn something, for just a few hours, it's dirty? The food bill has more than doubled as well. Staples such as bread, milk and eggs I would buy every other week. I now run to the store twice a week for these items. He drinks a gallon of Kool-aid daily.

Last week Ricky had his first (better be ONLY!) run in with Manchester PD. He and a girl in the neighborhood were fighting. Although she started the fight, Ricky started the punching and left her with a black eye and several welts. The girl's grandmother opted to not press charges because BOTH kids would have been arrested - the girl for disturbing the peace and Ricky for assault. Yes, Ricky has a temper with a short fuse. One of my goals is to get him to understand why he needs to walk away before the fuse is lit. I know, it's a milestone goal for such a short period of time.

The DCF Supervisor was here Thursday evening and informed me of horrific, to say the least, news. I won't go into detail here because it is personal. Sometime within the next two weeks, Ricky will be moved to a juvenile residential facility. He needs help and it's more than any one person can give him. At this facility, he will receive intense therapy and still be able to continue with his schooling.

Work has been getting better. There is still a lot to do and because I can't work OT, I've been working through my lunch breaks. Rumor has it a new HR person will be starting tomorrow. That will take a huge amount of work off my desk and a co-worker. She has been handling the hourly new hires and I do salary new hires. I also process the paperwork for the hourly new hires. My work has become an escape for the stress I have at home and vice-versa. This stress, I believe was also reflected in a recent doctor's visit when they took my blood pressure. I have never had a BP higher than 120/80 until last week. While it's still not high by medical standards, 134/80 is high for me.

Yesterday, I did something I said I wouldn't do again - adopted a kitty. My neighbor, Debbie, came home with a stray that found her. While visiting a friend, a few blocks away, this kitty was next to her car crying away. Her friend stated the cat had been hanging around crying for several days, so Debbie brought the cat home with her. The cat is very thin and has a cold so it will go off to the vet this week for a thorough check up and shots. It would also be nice to find out if the cat is male/female and if it has been neutered/spayed.

I haven't come up with a name yet but the possiblities are: Chloe, Sweet Pea and Smudge. The name will be decided after I get a better feel for the cat's personality. Ricky and I went to Pet Supplies Plus yesterday for kitty necessities and toys. Just to give Ricky something to occupy his time, I will travel to Home Depot for items to build a scratching post and possibly a window perch for the cat. The kitty has taken a major liking to Ricky and followed him all around yesterday. While the cat went to bed with Ricky, it woke up in my bed. It's very affectionate but not very playful. It could be that it is still getting used to us or just not feeling well at this time.

Today we're off to Wig's for a day at the pool. I could use a day of doing nothing and Ricky will enjoy the swimming time. I should do laundry but that will wait for another day. Today will be a day for relaxing and enjoying the beautiful day.