Family photos
My mom sent me some photos I've asked for. I love old family photos. The first is my Granpa's family, my Granpa is the youngest boy. This was so odd to me to see him as a little boy and great to see the whole family, especially my great grandparents. The photo is about 85 years old. It's a little surreal, his stories of his childhood are of a much different world than we live in today.


The next photo is of my grandparents wedding. It must have been winter because other photos show everyone in fur coats. You can't quite tell but Granpa's pants are pinstripes and we all know how much I love pinstripes. Again, a very different world. I asked Granpa this summer when he was married, he couldn't remember if it was '47 or '48 which I think is hilarious. It was just so long ago.


This photo has long been one of my favorites. It's me and Granpa teaching my brother to ride his tricycle. Adorable!

Labels: family, photos

- posted by meg @ 3:41 PM

 
Memorial service planned
My mom and aunt will be up Feb 4-18 with a memorial service Feb 8 and private burial Feb 9. I'll be taking some time off work to help clean out Granpa's house.

Thank you everyone, I still miss Granpa but I'm feeling much better.

Labels: family

- posted by meg @ 8:18 PM

 
My granpa died today. My mom and aunt will come up after Christmas to have a small ceremony up here. I'm going to miss him but I'm glad he went peacefully.

Labels: family

- posted by meg @ 7:41 PM

 
bad day
This morning I found out that I have mild osteoporosis. Before I went on the gluten-free diet my body was so nutrient deprived my bones started losing mass. I have to take a calcium plus vitamin D pill every day for the rest of my life. The nurse told me most women should consider it so it's probably not a huge deal. Still, I'm 28.

Then this afternoon I found out my Granpa fell and broke his hip last night. He needs surgery ASAP. He's 92 so we don't even know if he'll make it through the surgery. I'm glad he's living with my Mom now, I was afraid this would happen when he was living alone. Granpa has always been there for me and I love him so I'm pretty sad right now. I hope he recovers ok but I know the odds are against it.

Labels: bad times, family, health

- posted by meg @ 7:11 PM

 
Disappointing relief
I basically broke off my relationship with my father today. Our relationship had been deteriorating and his recent actions hastened this. I won't go into detail here but I think as much as it sucks to not have a father and to know mine could be so cold it's going to be better for me without him in my life. I had a long conversation with my mom, I hadn't told her anything until today not wanting to involve her if he and I would work things out. She told me some things that cement my theory he just can't love anyone but himself. He does things for you that make him feel good, so there's the illusion of caring but when the chips are down for his loved ones he's no where to be found. Actually, he's right there wanting pity from you.

I'm doing a lot better than it sounds like I should. I think he'd done his damage long ago and as much as recent events hurt I'm not hurt by him any more.

Labels: family

- posted by meg @ 10:06 PM

 
Moving is a disease, part DMV
Before I talk about how awful the DMV is I want to mention that my Grandfather's funeral was very nice. The American Legion said a prayer at his wake, the funeral sermon was very comforting and the Naval Honor Guard ceremony was very moving. My feelings are still confused, on the one hand he was good to me when I was a child, on the other I barely knew him. And on top of that there are issues with my Dad. He's behaving exactly the way his father behaved, which he hated him for, and on top of that goes on and on about how generous and loving he is to us. And more that I don't want to get in to now. Family.

I did get to see my other Granpa yesterday, which was really nice. I don't get to see him a lot but now that I'm in state hopefully I will. I love hearing his stories from his childhood and working at Pratt and Whitney. He's 91 so they really are stories from a different world at times.

I now have my CT license, registration, and car insurance. It took two trips to the DMV totaling 3 hours, a trip to get the emissions testing done, and $262. The $20 for emissions testing had to be cash, which I didn't know at the time. I also needed to have a lien release for my car because even though I paid it off in September the title still had the lien on it. I had to call Fifth Third Bank and ask them to send the lien release. First they told me they mailed that to me on October 30, which I never got. (Either it's in today's mail or they sent it to the address I was at when I bought the car, which would only make sense in a bureaucracy.) Then she said it could take 3 business days to FAX. Thankfully it faxed immediately and I got my plates and registration this morning. Let's just say lame.

Unpacking is moving along. I need to get rid of empty boxes and move things to storage (not too much) when my landlord finishes that room in the attic. Half the remaining boxes are books, the rest being hanging pictures and other random things. The closet space here is less than at my last place so the random things will be a little more random as I'm putting them away. I have no linen closet but tons of space in the kitchen, for example, so the cupboard in the kitchen has towels and stuff in it. But all my furniture is inside and the essentials are unpacked.

I have the renter's insurance agent coming soon to do an inspection, then I may call a few doctor's offices to get new doctors and a dentist. Then I'm calling it a day. It's my birthday so I'm going to relax. I mean, I'll probably do some unpacking or something because the mess is driving me nuts, but also relax. Maybe I'll set up my Wii or keep going on Guitar Hero III.

Labels: birthday, DMV, family

- posted by meg @ 12:43 PM