Facebook Entry Signals End of the Road

Saw this status update on Michelle's Facebook on November 25th:


Michelle is frosting birthday cupcakes for Nathan's class and trying desperately not to be angry with my mother for canceling her CA trip two days before our departure!


That's a big part of why I wanted to take this trip with Mom: because of the level of dysfunction in my family! I called Mom several days ago and she hasn't returned my call, and the next thing I know, the trip is cancelled. No one has the decency to call me and tell me...I have to read it on my sister's Facebook page!

Oh well. Maybe I'll do a "fiction" book then. Research the places we'll go, and "create" the "perfect ending," just like I saw in "Atonement" today. I just bought the movie on sale at Best Buy, and BOY! am I glad I bought it! What a fantastic movie, especially for us writers!

I'm too tired to go into detail about what I'm feeling right now, so I'll come back to it. I told Michelle that if Mom changed her mind, I could drive her out there but I don't think they're going to accept the offer.

Darn bipolar disorder!



Sometimes this is what I want to do to my family's heads: whack 'em!

Turned Down the Job

I got offered the cake decorating job at King Soopers on Monday but had to turn it down. The pay wasn't anywhere near what I was expecting, I'd have to work Sundays, and I wasn't willing to "sell out" on my budding writing career (I just won two Journalist of the Year awards), even if the new job was only part time. Plus, it would put a huge cramp in my writing schedule, and I wasn't ready to sacrifice that much yet. Greg encouraged me to decline the position and wait things out, especially after his first paycheck showed up in our checking account. So keep your fingers crossed that I can continue to stay home and write full time. Which also means I'll be able to drive Mom and Grandmaw home in May without any problems since I won't be working.

Michelle is supposed to be leaving on the 26th to take Mom and Grandmaw from MD to CA, but now Shelby, her mother-in-law, is in the hospital and does not have a good prognosis. I volunteered to step in if Michelle isn't able to drive them out next week, so I'll keep you posted. It's not looking good, so please keep all of them in your prayers.

I called Mom like Michelle suggested but she hasn't called me back yet. I wonder if she's in a "valley" with her bipolar disorder? If that's the case, I might not hear from her for weeks, but I'll keep trying.

New Job May Prevent Road Trip

So much has been going on the last few days that I don't know where to start, but I did want to mention that I might not be able to go on the Road Trip with Mee Maw (Mom) after all! I really need to get a job and have an interview next week. During my interview, I'll need to make it a condition of employment that I have 3 weeks off next May (just to be on the safe side I'll ask for 3, but I might need only 2) so they'll have a heads up. But depending on our financial situation and my book status, I might not be able to drive Mom and Grandmaw home at all! Bummer! I guess Michelle can always make the trip a second time if necessary.

As an aside, I'm applying for a job as a cake decorator in the bakery at King Soopers at Hancock Plaza. I designed a "Cake Artist Resume" to bring to the interview on Monday, so keep your fingers crossed that I get hired. Matt's friend's mother works there and he found out they need a decorator to start in a couple of weeks because one of the ladies is going on maternity leave. Is that perfect timing or what?

The camera cake is a sample of my work. Wish me luck!

Hitch in the Road Trip Plans

Here's an e-mail I received today via Facebook from my sister Michelle regarding traveling plans on my Road Trip with Mee Maw:

Hey, just thought I'd let you know before you plan anything further, that mom was not planning on a long trip home. Her rent is [high], so she's looking to stay as late into May as possible, like up until the last week. She thought the plan was just to do some sightseeing along the way and be home within a week's time (or less). She was supposed to call you and talk to you about it, but it appears as though she hasn't yet! You might want to give her a buzz . . .

What a total drag! I mean, when Mom and I talked the other day, I knew what her rent was going to be for the time she's staying in CA, but for her to stay that late into May will be a problem for me getting back to MD in time for Shaina's graduation. I'm really hoping it's scheduled for the last week in May! So I guess if we only have a week to travel (maybe less), then we probably can't go down to the Florida area to see Matthew.

I'm trying to keep the trips short so that Mom and Grandmaw don't get too road-weary, and if I'm that close to Las Vegas, I definitely want to see the Hoover Dam and Grand Canyon, so one day will HAVE to be to Las Vegas.

From Burbank to LV, that's just over 4 hours, so if we leave early enough in the morning, we can make a day of the Dam and Canyon, then hopefully stay with Uncle Jerry and Aunt Patty. Then Las Vegas to Albuquerque is under 9 hours, so that will be one more day and hopefully we'll have family to stay with that night. If we can't do sightseeing the next day, then it's straight to Tulsa, OK, just under 10 hours, and an evening with Bridget Lavish Byrd and her family.

From Tulsa to Nanjemoy is over 20 hours, with Nashville, TN, being a good halfway point, so maybe I can pick classmate John Luskey's brain on an affordable place to stay. Maybe a day of sightseeing in Nashville, then on home after that.

So, I'm bummed, but at least we'll get to see a bit of the countryside even though our 2-1/2 week trip has now been trimmed down to about 5-6 days. BUT! it'll be easier on the pocketbook!

Credit photo: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Large_pot_hole_on_2nd_Avenue_in_New_York_City.JPG