Happy Birthday, Jessica! I'm posting this a day early, and even though you *swear* you read the blog, I know you really don't. It doesn't matter, although I'm going to harangue you about it especially after this post, because you're going to be dissapointed that I haven't sent a card or acknowledged your birthday aside from a call.
Suprise, this is your gift from me. It's not much, but it'll last longer than a card or any other gift I could send, and it's from the heart.
I want you to know just how much you mean to me - something I've probably hinted at, and you might have an idea of, but never fully realized.
As you know, I don't have any human children and won't. That's why you're so special to me. When your father and I met and I found out that he had a daughter, you weren't as much a part of my life as you've become over the years since - it's been over 16 years since we first met, and I've honestly never been happier to have you in my life. (Even though at that first meeting, you were far more interested in your gaming system than you were in dealing with me)
I know I've only been a peripheral fixture to the events of your life, however I know you've come to realize that my love for you is as real as your father's - you've accepted me as a psuedo Uncle, and allowed me the privileged indulgence of "adopting" your daughter as my grandchild.
That in and of itself means more to me than you will ever know, however that's not what this is about. This is about what you mean to me.
I've always thought of you as more than just a niece, you've always been something of a daughter to me too, although I haven't had to shoulder the responsibilities of parenthood that Don, Lisa and Joe have. I guess missing out on those responsibilities was for the best, as my tendency has always been to simply spoil you (and now Andrea) and the only thing my interference in any crisis would have done would have further screwed up whatever was happening, and probably not for the better.
Case in point, trying to get you down here to Atlanta. I'll be honest, that's still my selfish goal. I'd love to have you and Andrea and Chris down here so I could have more time with all of you.
But that's something that will remain my selfish wish, not something that I honestly forsee happening - however I can always hope, and will continue to wish for it, despite what in reality is best for you. (But let me hit the lottery and you're not going to have a choice in the matter!)
Anyway, I just want you to know that I love you and I miss you and Andrea, and Chris, and you forever have a place in my heart.
So, before I get even *more* maudlin, let me close by saying that I hope you have the best birthday ever, and that each subsequent one improves on the previous by light years.
I love you.
Uncle Aldy
(to Andrea - I'm still Grandpa Merlin to you)
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Monday, October 26, 2009
Observation
As you know, Andrea, I have 3 cats right now. B'sidhe, Polgara, and Cleopatra.
Well, in preparing for the roadtrip to see you, I had to figure out how to keep the cats fed and watered for about 4 days.
This shouldn't have been a problem, except that I needed to get what's known as a gravity feeder. Located one, and it held approximately 10 cups of food.
Which, properly rationed, is 10 days worth of food.
Please note, properly rationed.
I filled the thing before I left the house on Tuesday. I got home early Sunday morning, and found crumbs.
4 days. And honestly, I do believe I know who the culprit is. It's Cleopatra.
Her favorite position is a face plant on the food bowl.
Well, just wanted to rant.
Well, in preparing for the roadtrip to see you, I had to figure out how to keep the cats fed and watered for about 4 days.
This shouldn't have been a problem, except that I needed to get what's known as a gravity feeder. Located one, and it held approximately 10 cups of food.
Which, properly rationed, is 10 days worth of food.
Please note, properly rationed.
I filled the thing before I left the house on Tuesday. I got home early Sunday morning, and found crumbs.
4 days. And honestly, I do believe I know who the culprit is. It's Cleopatra.
Her favorite position is a face plant on the food bowl.
Well, just wanted to rant.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Road trip pictures Mission, Kansas 2009
Well, I'm currently trying to upload the road trip pictures - and not having much success unfortunately.
I do have an album set up on Facebook, here's a link: Kansas Road Trip.
It'll have to do until Blogger gets its shit together.
I do have an album set up on Facebook, here's a link: Kansas Road Trip.
It'll have to do until Blogger gets its shit together.
Friday, October 23, 2009
KC Road Trip Day 2 The day I cooked
'kay, Grandpa Don's bitching because he's trying to sleep and I want to get this down. So I'm going to make it quick.
Your biological father is a dickhead.
There. I said it. And I stand behind that statement. Despite the spin you're going to have applied to the situation by your mom, your dad, your biological father... don't care who.
Just check the police records for domestics during this time, October 2009.
Love you, darlin... but you need the unvarnished truth.
And this is it. Your biological father is unfortunately, one world class dickhead. While I have a lot to say about this situation, for once, I'm going to be relatively good and not say shit aside from what I already have.
Addendum: I'm back in Atlanta now and have reread what I posted. I still stand behind it.
Your biological father is a world class dickhead.
Your biological father is a dickhead.
There. I said it. And I stand behind that statement. Despite the spin you're going to have applied to the situation by your mom, your dad, your biological father... don't care who.
Just check the police records for domestics during this time, October 2009.
Love you, darlin... but you need the unvarnished truth.
And this is it. Your biological father is unfortunately, one world class dickhead. While I have a lot to say about this situation, for once, I'm going to be relatively good and not say shit aside from what I already have.
Addendum: I'm back in Atlanta now and have reread what I posted. I still stand behind it.
Your biological father is a world class dickhead.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Kansas road trip October 2009
Well, we're here. Your reaction when I introduced you to Theodore was everything and more I wanted.
And yes, of course I took pictures - however, like an idiot the one accessory I didn't bring was the camera to the laptop connection. So, as of right now, I have over a hundred pictures of you and can't upload a single one of them.
I also took pictures during the road trip which are in the same situation.
Can't upload the damn things. So this will have to serve as an interim solution to this conundrum.
You're napping right now, so I'm taking this quiet moment to post this.
As soon as I get a connection to the laptop, the pictures are getting uploaded and then I'll post them, I promise.
I'm probably also going to be sending them to Facebook, so they'll be in more than one place.
Anyway, Grandpa Don is currently sitting in front of your Mom's desktop trying to get it cleaned down so it'll run better. I'm going to sign off and watch. It should be entertaining.
And yes, of course I took pictures - however, like an idiot the one accessory I didn't bring was the camera to the laptop connection. So, as of right now, I have over a hundred pictures of you and can't upload a single one of them.
I also took pictures during the road trip which are in the same situation.
Can't upload the damn things. So this will have to serve as an interim solution to this conundrum.
You're napping right now, so I'm taking this quiet moment to post this.
As soon as I get a connection to the laptop, the pictures are getting uploaded and then I'll post them, I promise.
I'm probably also going to be sending them to Facebook, so they'll be in more than one place.
Anyway, Grandpa Don is currently sitting in front of your Mom's desktop trying to get it cleaned down so it'll run better. I'm going to sign off and watch. It should be entertaining.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Road Trip!
Yay! I'm sitting here waiting on Enterprise to call and say they're on their way to pick me up so I can get the car for the road trip.
Which means that in just a matter of hours, your Grandpa Don and I will be there - tired, stinky from the trip, but there to see you and your mom.
The plan is to leave early Wednesday morning from Grandpa Don's house and drive straight through til we get there.
I'm bringing my laptop, so I might blog from the road, or at least from your house.
I can't wait to see your face when I introduce you to Theodore... (that's the big bear) - he's about as big as you are!
I'm also bringing you a dragon ... since every Princess should have a dragon around. But don't worry, he's friendly.
I'm so excited! I hope you remember this in a couple of years - if not, this will serve as your memory jog. (Grin)
Okay, got to run - last minute details to deal with here.
I'll be seeing you soon, darling!
Which means that in just a matter of hours, your Grandpa Don and I will be there - tired, stinky from the trip, but there to see you and your mom.
The plan is to leave early Wednesday morning from Grandpa Don's house and drive straight through til we get there.
I'm bringing my laptop, so I might blog from the road, or at least from your house.
I can't wait to see your face when I introduce you to Theodore... (that's the big bear) - he's about as big as you are!
I'm also bringing you a dragon ... since every Princess should have a dragon around. But don't worry, he's friendly.
I'm so excited! I hope you remember this in a couple of years - if not, this will serve as your memory jog. (Grin)
Okay, got to run - last minute details to deal with here.
I'll be seeing you soon, darling!
Monday, October 12, 2009
Road trip pre-diary October 2009
Well, it's taken a few tries, but I've managed to secure the car for the trip. I started by using the various travel websites, and actually found what I thought was going to be a deal and reserved it. The only issue I had was that the pickup location was in Downtown Atlanta - and when I went to change it, I found that the car would be even cheaper out at the airport.
So, I cancelled the original and set it up for an airport pickup, which would have been easier because I could and would have taken the train to the airport instead of driving.
Well, because I don't use credit cards, I only use what's known (or was known) as a "debit card", I had to call the car company to find out what rules were in place for using it instead of a credit card. There wasn't an issue there, however the person at the car company and I got to talking, and I mentioned that I had set my reservation to pick the car up at the airport - when she asked me what time my flight got in, I said I wasn't flying in, I was picking the car up to do a road trip - at which point she said that to rent out of the airport and get the rate I was seeing, I was going to have to show my round trip ticket at the counter.
So that killed that reservation. We got to talking further, and she did some further checking, and found a relatively comparable rate at a location around a mile to a mile and a half away from here - which in and of itself is a win win.
Then it turns out that the location is closed on Sundays (our expected return date) and I'll have to drop the car off on Monday instead. For no additional cost.
Anyway, the car is now secured. I talked your Grandpa Don into going with a full size car rather than an economy for a couple of reasons - first and foremost, I don't want to drive or ride with my knees in my chest - and that, unfortunately tends to be the case with 99.9% of "economy" cars.
Second, I wanted room in the car to bring you some friends.
Before you were born, I made a promise to your mother that I wouldn't send up any big bears until you were walking, and at that point, all bets were off regarding you and stuffed animals.
Well, you're walking now.
Just you wait until you see what Grandpa Merlin is bringing for you.
Your mother is gonna wanna kill me.
But I don't care - you're my sunshine and I have every intention of spoiling you rotten and having the time of my life doing it.
So, I cancelled the original and set it up for an airport pickup, which would have been easier because I could and would have taken the train to the airport instead of driving.
Well, because I don't use credit cards, I only use what's known (or was known) as a "debit card", I had to call the car company to find out what rules were in place for using it instead of a credit card. There wasn't an issue there, however the person at the car company and I got to talking, and I mentioned that I had set my reservation to pick the car up at the airport - when she asked me what time my flight got in, I said I wasn't flying in, I was picking the car up to do a road trip - at which point she said that to rent out of the airport and get the rate I was seeing, I was going to have to show my round trip ticket at the counter.
So that killed that reservation. We got to talking further, and she did some further checking, and found a relatively comparable rate at a location around a mile to a mile and a half away from here - which in and of itself is a win win.
Then it turns out that the location is closed on Sundays (our expected return date) and I'll have to drop the car off on Monday instead. For no additional cost.
Anyway, the car is now secured. I talked your Grandpa Don into going with a full size car rather than an economy for a couple of reasons - first and foremost, I don't want to drive or ride with my knees in my chest - and that, unfortunately tends to be the case with 99.9% of "economy" cars.
Second, I wanted room in the car to bring you some friends.
Before you were born, I made a promise to your mother that I wouldn't send up any big bears until you were walking, and at that point, all bets were off regarding you and stuffed animals.
Well, you're walking now.
Just you wait until you see what Grandpa Merlin is bringing for you.
Your mother is gonna wanna kill me.
But I don't care - you're my sunshine and I have every intention of spoiling you rotten and having the time of my life doing it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
