| Tillie | Posted: 26 December 2017 - 11:52 PM |
For all of you posting on phones and other small devices... | |
Replies (1045)
| Anonymoniker | Posted: 01 May 2018 - 03:57 PM |
~Hello, to all!~ | |
| Tillie | Posted: 01 May 2018 - 10:24 AM |
May 1st. already! Hi Subclinical ๐ Hi Tatoulia ๐ Hi Anonymoniker ๐ Weather report says 20% chance of rain but the skies are all cloudless and clear blue. | |
| Anonymoniker | Posted: 01 May 2018 - 10:09 AM |
~Happy May Day & coffee clinks!~ | |
| Tatoulia | Posted: 01 May 2018 - 07:05 AM |
SubC! You had many victories yesterday! Your husband was so sweet and so loving and so supportive. I'm happy for you. He turned an unpleasant encounter into a very positive moment for you! Tillie I do hope to find two summer skirts to wear. I've lost weight and don't have anything right now. My weight loss is stalled but I start seeing a nutritionist the first week of June so I'm pretty excited. That's something I'm doing for myself. We have five appointments set up to really work on this. Anony keep us posted on kitty! Right now my little friend is in the bathtub. Yesterday was hard st the office, both due to going in on a Monday (I sound like a spoiled brat) and from being tired from worry and from being upset. Yet I got a lot done and my assistant booked me a conference room for the afternoon. I need to get dressed, dry my hair, etc and get ready to do it all over again. Feeling a bit better today. BF is helping me to put it out of my mind. We grabbed a quick bite to eat last night--he had picked me up at office and on way home there was a parking spot by s little place so we parked. We talked about anything and everything but not brother, so my stomach wasn't upset. | |
| Subclinical | Posted: 01 May 2018 - 05:04 AM |
I forgot to list yesterday's small victories. I remembered to ask for no straw in my drink at the work thing, and I gave a teacher/artist at the commercial studio four big pieces of styrofoam to use for a mold project. I carried them in a slightly tattered big plastic trash bag that I had brought home food bank bread in, and she can use that to cover projects in process. | |
| Subclinical | Posted: 30 April 2018 - 09:34 PM |
Anony, It isn't that hoard to put a screen over your vent. I bet you could do it. The thing was not too bad. The 5 hours I stole for myself at the pottery studio was lovely. I got home just in time to spend 40 minutes with my brother in law. He managed to fit in negative comments on my house, my housekeeping, my stuff, my parenting, and my dinner (the one I was eating - dh cooked for him) I actually like my bil, I don't think he realizes how he comes across to me. He suggested that I just get a dumpster and clear everything out. (actually, he said "you need to just get a dumpster and throw everything out." And I said "No. I don't.") dh defended me mildly - he said things like "we have a different lifestyle" and "we have plenty of storage." After bil left, I looked at dh and said "I cleaned up for you." And he kissed me on the forehead and said "I know. I appreciate it. It must have taken you hours." | |
| Tillie | Posted: 30 April 2018 - 12:24 PM |
Good Morning ๐ Subclinical ๐ Hi Anonymoniker ๐ Hi Tatoulia ๐ Cold, cold, cold day today with a slight chance of rain. Very anxious for all the snakes to come out of hibernation. | |
| Tatoulia | Posted: 30 April 2018 - 07:20 AM |
Quick coffee clink! Already late for work. SubC sending you strength. Just come here when things get hairy. Anony i too forget Maya Angelou's words, when someone tells you who they are, believe them. I'm glad kitty is doing better. Tillie thank you for your support and strength. I am picturing your garden and how hard you worked to reclaim the patch of earth. | |
| Anonymoniker | Posted: 30 April 2018 - 06:20 AM |
~โ~Good morning!~โ~ (more like the middle of the night?!) | |
| Subclinical | Posted: 30 April 2018 - 05:09 AM |
Tatoulia, emotional work is often harder and more exhausting than physical work. I am bracing myself for this thing today. I think if I can manage a load of laundry and a load of dishes every day (for the next four days) the house will be ok. The great room, where dh and his brother will basically hang out, is picked up. | |
| Tatoulia | Posted: 29 April 2018 - 10:11 PM |
Hello everyone. I fell asleep and am just waking up now. Stress sleeping, I guess. I only got to see Bf for a few minutes today. I wanted to take him to birthday dinner and he wants to do during the week. He worked a lot this weekend and he just wanted to nap. I understood immediately! So we will find a night this week. I don't push him on the birthday. He has, however, been really enjoying a cake that his nephew sent him. So that's been fun. I left him a card before my trip and I bit him the same theatre tickets every year. It's a series of 7 so that's great fun for us. I'm stressed over brother. But I'm going back to sleep. Tillie okay that is my idea of casual clothes too. I am working on it. I need new summer skirts. Even just two to get me through the weekends. I haven't seen anything yet. Thank you everyone for helping me go beyond just using the recycling bin. I do use cloth napkins at home. | |
| Tillie | Posted: 29 April 2018 - 08:57 PM |
Hi Everybody ๐ Hi Tatoulia ๐ Hi Anonymoniker ๐ Hi Subclinical ๐ For many years (since 1968) I have been keeping track of my disposable waste (carbon footprint). Been cold dark cloudy & drizzly all day. | |
| Subclinical | Posted: 29 April 2018 - 07:21 PM |
Tatoulia, i'm Glad you had a good day with your mom. Did you get to see BF? Thank you for thinking about the planet. It is hard to make changes. Even one small thing at a time helps. I feel very happy and grateful that you care. Tillie, I don't think I could have done that. I think I would have had to hear what he wanted to say. I would have always wondered. Anony, I hope your kitty keeps getting better. I've been thinking about her even though I keep forgetting to write. I got pottery done for my class today, turned over more overgrown strawberry bed (one is finally ready to plant) and disbudded the goat. It was bad, but not as bad as I thought it was going to be - so there's that. I also picked up a little, did one load of dishes and one load of laundry. Dh is cleaning the cooking sink (the cooking sink is in the new kitchen. We left the sink in the old kitchen, so now it is the "scullery" that sink is full of dirty dishes) Chores, set up coffee, shower, and maybe a little more laundry and dishes if I find the energy. | |
| Tatoulia | Posted: 29 April 2018 - 05:14 PM |
Hello everyone! 6 o'clock and I'm back from a nice afternoon with mom. I took her on a long drive to see the flowering trees then we went into an antiques store (bought nothing!) then she sat in the car while I did grocery shopping for her. She has not heard from brother today. I hope she can get some peace. Tillie I don't know if I will ever have your resolve and confidence but I will try. Anony, again your support and advice are valuable and appreciated. Mom said she'll try to help me stay strong. Enough of that--I am running my dishwasher and I'm going to read for a while. SubC you have opened my eyes re waste and the planet. I simply cannot believe how much i produce in recycling each week. I need to take a more aware and measured approach when buying things. I shouldn't be one person with so much going in a recycling bin. I am working more on my wardrobe. Getting stuff out, getting new pieces to blend in with my work clothes. I'm terrible at casual clothes. I don't know how to dress casually but I'm working on it. | |
| Anonymoniker | Posted: 29 April 2018 - 11:23 AM |
~โก~Good morning & coffee clinks!~โก~ | |
| Tillie | Posted: 29 April 2018 - 10:12 AM |
Hi Tatoulia ๐ | |
| Tillie | Posted: 29 April 2018 - 10:09 AM |
Good Morning Everybody ๐ Hi Anonymoniker ๐ Hi Subclinical ๐ Hi Tatoulia ๐ | |
| Tatoulia | Posted: 29 April 2018 - 09:48 AM |
Quick update--I'm working on my second load of laundry. Going to put clean sheets on my bed. I think we are finally at the point where I should wash my comforter and put away. I'll still have several layers on my bed. And I can add a thin layer too. If I eirkbfrom hime Wednesday I should be able to wash those things. I changed mom's sheets yesterday so today we can just do fun stuff and groceries. | |
| Tatoulia | Posted: 29 April 2018 - 08:28 AM |
Good morning--coffee clinks. Thank you all for your support and advice. I read every word and am taking it all seriously. Thank you. I have your words to look back on when I start to feel sad. I was only a little sad last night, and BF was good about it. I will stay strong and take the necessary steps if things continue. He has not called my house. And he's blocked on my cell phone. I have a few other things to write out for him regarding his medical care. I don't think he'll come over here--he has never done so in the past. But I am prepared to not answer the door and call BF for advice. SubC you have so much going on right now-- I find it terribly difficult to be that busy and be running from place to place. And to have houseguests! I'm glad your mother will be a comfort for you. I am having a busy time too but not like you. Congratulations on your youngest's college graduation. You must be very proud! I woke up to dirty dishes in the sink, which I haven't done in quite a while. It disgusted me--the dishes not me--and so I felt that was progress. They are now done! I have a small load of laundry going and I've stripped my bed. I'm taking mom out today and I'll hopefully get some time with BF today. We need to celebrate his birthday! He likes his birthdays very low key and I have learned to honor that. I get him theatre tickets every year so his gift is easy enough. So, what are you doing today? I'm having coffee on a rainy Sunday morning! | |
| Subclinical | Posted: 29 April 2018 - 07:18 AM |
Chiming in. For some reason I thought that your brother was not able to physically navigate the world without you. The information in the last few posts is very frightening. It is horrible that our country uses law enforcement to address mental health, but that is what there is, and I hope you will make use of it to keep yourself safe. Get a restraining order, or call the police next time there is a public altercation. If your brother is a decent person when he is on his meds, then he needs to be somewhere where someone can make sure he takes his meds! If you won't protect yourself for your own sake, do it for your mom. Can you imagine how she would feel to find out that he had harmed you? I'm going to change the subject now, but your safety is still the most important thing. My son and dil were here yesterday, but they ended up flying, so his stuff is still here. We will take it at the end of May when we go to visit them. Today I am going to plant some things and work on my pottery. I also have to disbud a baby goat (remove horns), which is very unpleasant, but necessary. I am behind on laundry and dishes and house cleaning, and my youngest child graduates from college on Saturday. I drive up straight from work Friday, so I have to be ready by bedtime Thursday night. My parents (and possibly my in laws? They don't communicate.) will be coming here afterwards. My parents are staying for two days, and I honestly can't wait to have mom around to help, but I am embarrassed by the house. I am even more embarrassed to have dad see the garden. Tomorrow I am not going to the food bank. There is a sort of work thing. It involves lunch, and discussion, and you had to be important at my job to get invited. I was not invited, but my heart daughter was. Then she found out that I was not invited and got very indignant on my behalf and said that I should have been invited. I told her I didn't care that I wasn't invited. Then I got an invitation. I asked her if she did that and she said yes, and I said "great, now I have to figure out how to get out of this." And she started arguing about why it was important to the organization that I be included, and I said "but I don't want to go." And she cried and said that when she accepted she was counting on me being there for support. So I am going. I am also missing most of my class. But dh says it is ok with him if I stay at the pottery studio afterward and miss the surprise visit from my brother in law, who will be coming by my disorderly house for dinner. "All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well."... Tillie, I loved reading about your garden. And I am excited about anony's Earthbag projects. I kind of want to find one and show up now, just because it sounds so cool! Anony, good for you for standing up for yourself! He has to want you for who you are, or to heck with him! | |
| Anonymoniker | Posted: 28 April 2018 - 11:41 PM |
Tatoulia, my God, please do 'think about it' enough to have an immediate plan for things to be safe right now & have an 'in case'plan'! I did restraning orders for domestic violence clinics for 4 years as a paralegal & it is seriously scary! Tillie is right!. I had no idea it was this bad with him! I also had a very scary guy terrorize me for 3 years. Please, go the extra steps to be extra safe, for you & your Mom~โก~Im sooo sorry about this happening?~โก~You have done as much as you could~โก~Be safe, sweetie!~โก~โก~โก~โก~โก~โก~โก~ | |
| Tatoulia | Posted: 28 April 2018 - 11:10 PM |
Tillie Thank you for that very good, sound advice. I've thought about that over the years. I was going over my will with my mother today, telling her about the changes I'm making to it, namely that I'm leaving my house to the BF. She was glad to hear that. I told her my work life insurance names BF as my beneficiary and that I plan to split my retirement funds between the two siblings (a few weeks ago mom had specifically asked that I leave money to my rotten sister and I would do anything for mom). I need to get these plans in place. I've been sorting it through in my mind for a few months now. Mom was very, very pleased that the bulk of my estate will go to BF, as she knows that irrespective of whether I leave him anything, he would still take care of her. I am concerned that brother will kill me, and this isn't the first time I have been scared. Actually, I had my alarm system put in many years ago when he was scaring me and threatening me. I used to save his phone messages to me on my dictaphone, because a criminal attorney friend had told me that I needed to keep the tapes so that if he were to harm me, the police should know he's disturbed and needs to be in a psychiatric hospital instead of jail. Oomph. I'm tired of this. Tonight I wrote out the directions for how to get his meds refilled (he's off his psych meds, but he still takes for blood pressure, etc) so that mom can give to him. When he was haranguing her today one of the things he kept asking for was dr's phone number and how to refill his meds. So I did that. I will gather up his paperwork for him too. Food stamps and the like. I keep it all here. I will need to figure out best way as he hasn't been bothering BF yet and I don't want brother to go to mom's. I guess I could mail everything. Well I will try to keep this out of my mind for now. I am going to office on Monday only because it will help me not think about it. | |
| Tillie | Posted: 28 April 2018 - 10:44 PM |
Happy you are out in public and having a good time too. ๐ I will do whatever I can to help you stay strong and firm in your convictions. To anyone reading... | |
| Tatoulia | Posted: 28 April 2018 - 08:04 PM |
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. After reading my new book, I decided to head downtown to return some clothes. I'm now in subway and it's hopping. Very good musician singing and playing guitar. I'm enjoying it I'll need your help. But I think I can stay away this time. It is escalating. Thank you Tillie. Much love, Tatoulia | |
| Tillie | Posted: 28 April 2018 - 06:18 PM |
((((HUG))) Oh Tatoulia ((((HUGS)))) | |
| Tatoulia | Posted: 28 April 2018 - 03:48 PM |
Hello All! Thank you for your support. Yes I needed to let go of the fleece. I picked it up off the bath room floor and then Just put on the garbage. I had to do it. Anony kitty is hopefully on the mend. I concur with Dr Tillie that it's a sprain and it will work itself out. I worry re swelling or a hot spot (infection). A limp here, a limp there --generally heal themselves. Disaster with brother. We got kicked out of restaurant because of his abusive behaviour toward me. A woman with young kids tried to rescue me. She had to leave restaurant because she didn't want her kids exposed to what brother was doing. I left, went to car and gave him his phone, then I went back into restaurant to pay for the woman's lunch as well as to pay for our uneaten, unserved lunch. The woman was really nice and didn't want me to pay for her meal but it was $50 so I really had to. I gave her $60 so I could cover the tip. I apologized to her and her children. She was very supportive of me and asked the waitress to please let me eat my food, that she thought I needed to eat. So they found me a private, hidden table and I ate my lunch. They wouldn't let me pay for my brother's uneaten lunch and they put security at the door to protect me. They also walked me to my car. I told them I could leave my car and take an Uber home/that I would get car tonight when BF free but they got me to the car. In some ways, it was good. Or okay. It's been escalating (I'm not sure if I told you that security was needed at Walmart last week). He was throwing stuff at me and I was in the check out lane. He was behind me with the cart pushed up against me and I couldn't escape because there was a person with a cart in front of me. And he was throwing his groceries at me. I'm sick of being abused. I'm sick of telling people, he's not my husband he's my brother. I've blocked him from cell phone. He's been giving my mother chest pains this afternoon. I've asked the people at her assisted living to say she's at hospital so he won't be able to go up. My mother is supportive. I want to put this out of my mind and shed him. It won't be easy to get rid of him but I must. I am not willing to get a restraining order at this point. I will if he starts coming by. I have an alarm system and i usually have it on anyway, even when I nap. My bedroom windows are not alarmed so I can sleep with them open. I have bars on them. I'm going to buy myself a new book on my kindle and I'm going to read. BF is obviously very supportive. | |
| Tillie | Posted: 28 April 2018 - 03:07 PM |
Hi Anonymoniker ๐ Yea, putting him in a cage would just cause him to use the limb in spite of it hurting just trying to get out. Well, so far I haven't really done anything much today. | |
| Anonymoniker | Posted: 28 April 2018 - 12:22 PM |
Tillie, i just tried to gently massage his leg, but he made it clear not to touch it. His appointment is in 10 days. I just hope if its a fractured bone that it doesnt start to heal wrong before then. Theres no way im keeping him in a cage or with a cone on his head. He will hurt himself worse with all that. Even just closing the door to the bedroom hes in creates a ridiculous panic! His leg doesnt look swollen or misaligned or anything? | |
| Tillie | Posted: 28 April 2018 - 11:43 AM |
Good morning Everyone ๐ Hi Tatoulia ๐ It amazes me that in this day & age there are so many people who don't ever seem to care about touching things that are obviously contaminated in some way with bacteria. Hi Anonymoniker ๐ The last few days the temperatures have reached up into the mid 80s but now they are going down again into highs of 50s. | |
| Anonymoniker | Posted: 28 April 2018 - 10:57 AM |
....and i want to add that yesterday on the phone my new guy made another comment about my eating in restaurants, and i very vehemently declared again that after my years as ~The Serial Shopper~ that i no longer buy stuff, only experiences, and that is an important path for me right now. And i didnt say this, tho i implied it, that he'd be wise to back off with his attitude towards that! ~โโกโ~ | |