Letting off some steam...

When I was young and planning my retirement, I always imagined spending my golden years in a tranquil setting free of stress, problems and obligations.  I worked in the oil patch for 25 years in Houston, Texas. Three of those years were for a major oil conglomerate and twenty-two for another.

When I say I worked...I mean I WORKED!  I have never known what it is like to work a 40 hour workweek. That is because in those 25 years, my average week ranged from 60 to 80 plus hours. NO...I am not complaining, as I was young, mentally tough and could handle it. The overtime was great and I was able to pay off my mortgage early and retire at a relative young age.

What I never knew was how hard retirement was going to be. I am not really retired, as I work 24 hours a day, seven days a week taking care of my mother  The month of October is super busy for me to begin with but with both of us being sick, it was a duzzy.  Now add to that three strays and that the female stray just had five puppies!!!!

It was bad enough having three grown dogs jumping at me as soon as I got off the car...now I have five puppies biting at my pant leg as soon as we get in from wherever at whatever time we get home...talk about stress!

I have pictures and the complete story on Walter's blog...click on the header picture if you care to read about it.

Last Thursday we went to see the Uvalde doctor.  Appointment time was 2:00 p.m. we got to see the doctor at 5:35 p.m. which is about average.  For a while I thought perhaps he had forgotten about us and gone home, as I could not hear any noise...Mom is usually his last patient.

I had all this scenarios in my head as to whom I was going to call to open up the door and let us out. Surprise!  When we left at 6:00 p.m. he still had a waiting room full of patients. I have poor night vision and it took me close to two hours to drive back to Del Rio when it is only 70 miles away.  I think next time, we will be spending the night in Uvalde!

If things could not get anymore stressful, last week I saw something dart in front of me in the kitchen. Instinctively I knew what it was, even though I was really hoping it was a roach  No such luck,,,it was a baby mouse.  I grabbed my mixture of clorox and water (remember I was trying to kill the mold in my tent) a few months ago...please don't ask about my tent :(

We had another doctor's appointment today, then mother wanted to go to Walmart before the holiday crowds make it impossible.  I was DEAD after we got home but managed to heat up some leftovers for dinner and went to try to catch the Spurs game.

DISH is a POS...I did not contract with them until the end of the Spurs season last year, when they were in the playoffs. Seems that if I want to catch a game, I am going to have to purchase an NBA League Pass...this is not what I had in mind.....grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!

Sad to have to admit that TWC was a better provider than DISH...but I am stuck in a two year commitment ,,,Darn, how I HATE commitments!!!

DISH gives you a free one month preview of some of their elite channels and this month I get to preview the NBA channel.  Wow, I watched announcer Rick Fox last night...and though I deeply dislike the Lakers...this ex-player is like fine wine...hummm...delicious and better with age :D

Good night.  May you all have Terlingua Dreams.