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Back to summer sunshine from winter cold! (photos added)

PostPosted: Wed May 04, 2011 12:12 pm
by BarbaraRose
I'm back from MN! Very glad to be home! It was cold, windy, rainy and even a few snow showers there. Monday's highs never got out of the 30's! That is very unusual for May! The grass was all green but there were no leaves on the trees yet and even the tulips weren't open yet.

It was a good trip in a lot of ways. One thing I realized is why I left there in the first place (besides the crappy weather!). My brother drove my dad to the airport to pick me up. I have never been very close to my brothers. I have tried to have a better relationship with them but they never responded to my attempts. When they picked me up, it was like I wasn't even in the car. My brother never even said "hi" to me. Nothing. Not one word from him the whole way back to my dad's house. The two of them talked all the way back. I was really disappointed. Even when I tried to say something, he talked right over me.
When I got to my dad's, he was his usual self and talked non-stop the whole time I was there. He was very glad I was back. He was also his controlling, smothering self. He wouldn't let me drive his car and had to drive me everywhere I wanted to go. There were places I would have liked to have gone by myself (to visit some more friends and visit my mom's grave) without him tagging along. So I felt kind of held captive while I was there. I did get to go out to dinner with my friend Steve for a few hours (my dad drove me to the restaurant to meet him there :roll: ).

Anyways, enough complaining... on Friday, we went to visit my friend who took my ferret, Moxy. It was great to see him again! He remembered me and gave me lots of kisses! He is doing great! He has 4 other ferret friends to play with there so he is happy. I talked to some neighbor friends of mine for awhile and got caught up with them. By Sunday, my dad was wondering why my brothers hadn't called or stopped by to see me so he insisted on driving to their homes to visit them. It was friendly but mostly they talked to my dad. So I just played with their dogs. Then we stopped at the first Great Clips I worked at and had a wonderful reception from the girls there, so that was nice! I would have liked to have gone to the other GC's I worked at, but my dad didn't want to drive that far.

On Monday, we went to visit my daughter, Naomi! We always meet at an indoor park and playground that has a two story jungle gym type thing (like at McD's). Her mom didn't come since she was sick that day. My dad kept her dad busy talking so I got to talk to her. She is so cute and sweet! She has a great positive attitude and sense of humor. They really have done a wonderful job of raising her! She does know who I am and seems very glad to see me and tell me all about what she is into. We celebrate her birthday and bring a couple of gifts for her each time. I gave her a collection of books all about animals and of course she wants to read the one about horses first! She loves horses and is planning to take riding lessons again this summer which makes me very happy since I was taking riding lessons when I was her age and loved it! We were there for about 3 hours. I will post photos later.

Yesterday, my dad and I stopped at Steve's place so I could say good-bye. I had to ask my dad to stay outside since he was gonna come in with me. I wanted a little bit of privacy! Geez! So Steve and I said our good-byes and he gave me some money to help me with my bills this month. He is planning to come out to San Diego soon so I will get to see him then. (Nothing romantic, just good friends).

I worry about my dad. He is getting old and forgetful. When we pulled out of my brother's driveway, he was wondering why his car wasn't moving forward as he was pumping his foot. I looked down and saw he had his foot on the brake instead of the gas peddle. I hope he doesn't get that mixed up too often, especially the other way around! He is a really bad driver and I am on pins and needles when riding with him (and am probably a very annoying back-seat driver!).

The flight home was uneventful and Lola was a very happy kitty when Mom came home!

So basically, I was reminded of all the reasons I left MN in the first place and am glad to be back out here! I just hope things start falling into place here now for me.

I haven't gotten caught up on the post here yet, so am hoping everyone here was safe from all those horrible tornadoes that swept thru the southern states. Was thinking about you over the weekend! What a terrible mess and feel so bad for the survivors who lost everything including family members.

Oh yeah, we had an earthquake on Friday in Minnesota!!! Only a 2.5 but it sure hit the news! Very, very unusual there!

Re: Back to summer sunshine from winter cold!

PostPosted: Wed May 04, 2011 1:43 pm
by Carolinagal
Barbie, so nice to have you back, and I am so glad you had a really nice visit with your daughter. I was thinking about you this morning, and thinking this was Wed. and you should be home sometime today, but i didn't know when. Nice surprise to find this post from you.

So BIG WELCOME back and I'll be looking for the pix.

Missed you
CArol :)

Re: Back to summer sunshine from winter cold!

PostPosted: Wed May 04, 2011 2:29 pm
by OutandAbout
Welcome back Barbie. It sounds like you had a lovely visit with your daughter. Things will look up for you this year (my prediction) and next year you will be able to get a hotel room and rent a car, thus be able to be on your schedule. Linda

Re: Back to summer sunshine from winter cold!

PostPosted: Wed May 04, 2011 2:34 pm
by khenrie
I can totally relate to your post. Glad you are home safe and sound and received validation of your choices. Sounds like a wonderful visit with your daughter - would love to see the photos.

Re: Back to summer sunshine from winter cold!

PostPosted: Wed May 04, 2011 2:46 pm
by mitch5252
..

Yeah - Dewfus is back! Yeah Yeah Yeah. Do you want a day or so to recoup, or can we start picking on your right off?
Just askin'...

Glad you had a nice visit with your daughter.


..

Re: Back to summer sunshine from winter cold!

PostPosted: Wed May 04, 2011 4:28 pm
by Travelinana
All in all I think you found the trip back was a good one, especially seeing your daughter. It is so wonderful that she has such a good life. The ache in your heart will always be there but the good part of this is very good. When families get together it's always a mixed bag and of course your dad is lonely and struggling with losing his independence. Glad you're back where you love to be with your kitty. Things will start falling into place, it seemed work was beginning to get better. As much as you love animals, what are the possibilities of being a sitter for critters. My daughter uses a lady in WA who does this to supplement her income. Can't wait for the pictures...you take great ones and of course we want to see that little girl

Re: Back to summer sunshine from winter cold!

PostPosted: Wed May 04, 2011 5:19 pm
by AlmostThere
Barbie,
Glad you are back home again in CA and that you realized that the move there was a good choice.
I'm also happy you got to love on your daughter as you celebrate another birthday with her.
Any word on a roommate?

Re: Back to summer sunshine from winter cold!

PostPosted: Wed May 04, 2011 6:32 pm
by BirdbyBird
Welcome back :) Glad that you made it back and forth in one piece... A question regarding your Dad's driving.....will your brothers approach him regarding safety? It is a scary thing to watch the reflexes go on elder drivers. Sounds as if they do talk with him a lot so I am wondering what they may be/have noticed......

Re: Back to summer sunshine from winter cold!

PostPosted: Wed May 04, 2011 7:41 pm
by Redetotry
Glad you are back Barbie and that you had a good visit with your daughter. Sorry about your brothers and the fact you were escorted everywhere but maybe all of those experiences was to validate that the move you have made is right.

Re: Back to summer sunshine from winter cold!

PostPosted: Wed May 04, 2011 7:46 pm
by Nasoosie
WELCOME HOME, BARBIE!

Sometimes we have to get away to remind ourselves how lucky we are where we are! Such fun to see your daughter and your old friends, both 4-footed and 2-footed. It will be fun to see some pics of your daughter, when you get ready to post them. And glad Lola greeted you with open paws!

Like Tina, I hope your dad will get some help being convinced he should not be driving sooner rather than later.

Get some rest and bake yourself some cookies!

Re: Back to summer sunshine from winter cold!

PostPosted: Wed May 04, 2011 10:17 pm
by cpatinjones
Happy your are back!

Re: Back to summer sunshine from winter cold!

PostPosted: Wed May 04, 2011 10:54 pm
by snowball
Was glad to see your post...and that now you are home safe and sound with a clearer understanding of why! It's hard when you your heart tells you this is the way it's suppose to be and yet it isn't. I know that I have friends that I'm closer to than some of my siblings..so totally understand...And what fun to visit with the daughter what a special day that must be...we take it for granted and shouldn't....
looking forward to the pictures
sheila

Re: Back to summer sunshine from winter cold! (photos added)

PostPosted: Thu May 05, 2011 1:29 am
by BarbaraRose
Well, I got my photos all into Photobucket and cropped, etc and was all set to transfer them here earlier to day, when the phone rang and I got called into work early because they were busy, so I will try again...

Here is Naomi, my dad and I...

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Naomi wearing the sun visor I gave her (with horses on it) and the set of books about animals...

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Me and my daughter...

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My dad's cat Rosie...

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Rosie's food dish (in the middle) and treat dishes (the rest of them). She's not spoiled :roll:

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One of the squirrels my dad feeds...

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My dad's house...

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My dad's back yard...

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The dock almost under water (about 1 foot higher than normal)...

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OK, before I lose this, I better copy and send it!

Re: Back to summer sunshine from winter cold! (photos added)

PostPosted: Thu May 05, 2011 1:49 am
by BarbaraRose
Mitch, since when did you start asking permission to be mean? :roll:

No responses to the roommate/renter ads yet...

I thought about pet sitting but can't really do it here with Lola, and my hours are so mixed up at work that I am not sure how I could do that on a regular basis anyways. (My hours for next week have been upped to 28 from 18! Yay!)

I have talked to my brothers about my dad's driving so I hope they have been watching out for him. I was glad to see that one of them drove my dad out to the airport to pick me up. He has never been a good driver and he is just getting worse all the time. It will be a difficult thing to get him to stop driving.

Next time I go back there, I think I will stay with my friend Steve and use one of his cars to drive around.

(I just smacked a mosquito on my arm!! I didn't know they have those out here! :roll: Unless it followed me back from MN!)

Re: Back to summer sunshine from winter cold! (photos added)

PostPosted: Thu May 05, 2011 5:41 am
by Irmi
Welcome back, Barbie! It's good having you back here! I'm so glad you were able to see Naomi. She's adorable! I hope you find a room mate real soon and that you keep getting more hours at GC.