GRANDPA'S STATS

Until things get all sorted out and Mom finds the password to your stat counter, you can still see it this way.

Click on the link in the upper right hand corner of this page where it says "Grandpa's Stats".  You should be able to see all the people all over the world who are looking at your paper just like you used to.

[Update]  Mom found the password.  No need to give it to her technologically advanced brothers anymore, though, since she let me put it on my blog as a direct link.

Love,

Mary-Margaret

RPT

RPT means "Rancho Physical Therapy". Mom had an appointment there yesterday. We used to go there last year but quit until yesterday. Everyone remembered ME and my name. Only one person remembered Mom and he had forgotten her name. I am very useful in validating my Mom's existence, don't you think??

She got some "traction", think that's what it's called. But she was so out of whack they didn't do anything else to her and her whole back hurt this morning. I napped. She gasped for air a lot and they put a thing on her finger that measures pulse and oxygen levels.

When we got back to the car she started wheezing again. Her asthma is pretty bad. The doctor came out to the parking lot to talk to her (and probably to make sure she wasn't going to pass out on his property), and they kept on yakking while ignoring ME. I can only stand that for so long, so I started talking, too. The more I got ignored, the louder and chattier I got. Finally Mom barks at me, like "HOW RUDE, Mary-Margaret. Be quiet!". The doctor jumped back a little and I sat down fast. She gets scary when she gets aggravated.

I got picked up out of my car seat and I sat on my mom's lap. At least I was face to face with the doctor so we could communicate with each other. Mom was quiet this time and me and Dr. Holman finished up our conversation. He said "See you next week, Mary-Margaret!" and I'm pretty sure he said good-bye to Mom, but not certain.

She drove us home and we had hamburgers for dinner. Tonight I get left-overs and she'll probably have a chicken pie or something. Today is our day of rest. I will nap and she'll do bank statements.

Love,

Mary-Margaret

Dear Grandpa....

First off, let me say that me and Mom really love you. You're our family and there isn't anything we wouldn't do for you.

That being said, Mom's pretty upset about your conversation last night. When Grandma died, it was my mom and me that came to your house and helped you figure out your credit cards, your bills, your bank account and all the paper work. We cleaned, did laundry and took valuable time away from our own business responsibilities. We didn't ask you for anything. We did it because we care about you.

When you wanted to get your report out to the world, it was my Mom that acquired your web site (called a domain), designed your website Photon-Nonphoton Universe and put your information together so everyone could see your theory. You get a lot of pleasure from looking at your statistics, thanks to your daughter, Michele.

We drove you to the market, to the bank, and wherever you wanted to go and we never expected anything from you. We still don't.

Your apartment is in desperate need of cleaning. It's a health hazard to most living creatures except maybe cockroaches, and it's stinky poo to high heaven. But you don't even let anyone into your apartment any more. You could have help. Even if you just had someone clean your bathroom and wash your towels, it would make a difference. But you say you're happy in your stinkiness and you won't even consider having anyone help. And you act like it's a big joke.

Your driver's license is expired and Mike suggested that Mom try to help get you a California identification card, which is an absolute necessity if you want to cash checks, or have anything notarized, and sometimes if you want to use a credit card. An expired driver's license is not acceptable or legal. And you yelled at Mom. You pretty much accused her of wanting you to die. You really hurt her feelings. All she's ever tried to do was be kind to you and take care of you. I bet my Grandma wouldn't be very happy with how you are treating my mom.

You know me. I hate to get in the middle of human stuff and I will love you forever, and you can't say anything much that will hurt my feelings. On the other hand, my mom is a sensitive, loving, caring, giving person who truly appreciates her family, what's left of it. She would like nothing more than for you to take responsibility for your own business, for you to make and secure your own plans for your future, and for you to take care of your own personal hygiene.

Once you're gone, that's it. You don't get to make choices any more. Whatever happens, happens. Death comes without warning...without invitation. And your final expenses probably won't get paid because you haven't assigned a beneficiary to any of your bank accounts and you don't want to think about it. You have no signed will, so how does anyone know what you want? And who you trust to follow your wishes? Or who could legally do it? Five years ago, Mom spent days with you typing exactly what you told her you wanted and it's still there, on the buffet, unsigned. What was the point?

Good luck, Grandpa. I personally hope you outlive all of us.

Mary-Margaret

April 2013 - Yorkie Times

THE YORKIE TIMES

Be the first in your neighborhood to read this new issue. Happy April, everyone!!

Your very good friend.....

Mary-Margaret

A return visitor!

Candy the Morkie came to visit me again today. She just hopped into my back yard and walked right into the house, helped herself to water and then walked over to Mom. "Oh, HI, Candy!", Mom said. "Are you hungry?". So Candy had some supper, too. Then Mom gets out the comb and brush and.....OHHHHH...I am SOOOO jealous. Here's a picture of Candy from the last time she dropped in.

After a bit Mom got into the car with Candy and left ME home. She chauffered Candy home and stuck her back in her back yard. When Candy's dad called about her he was very thankful. Mom says Candy is welcome here any time. I guess that's almost as good as getting a sister, isn't it??

Later Mom got all snuggled in bed maybe about 7:30 or so the phone rang and it was Candy's dad saying that they had come by our house to bring my mom some treats for being so nice. I said "Hello" to them out the window when they were here but I guess Mom thought it was someone delivering more flyers to our front door because she just kept saying "Shush" to me. She absolutely refuses to get her doorbell fixed and even if she does hear someone at the door she usually doesn't answer it unless she's expecting someone. Anyhow, Mom said "thank you" but she'd already gone to bed and really Candy is welcome here any time and no need to for them to bring her anything. Awwww...ain't she sweet?

I don't suppose it even occurred to her that there might be someone else in our house that would appreciate treats?

Your friend...

Miss Mary-Margaret O'Brien

Spring forward, Fall back!

This is why dogs don't wear watches. Too confewbulating.

Mary-Margaret

March 2013 YORKIE TIMES

It's HERE! Hot off the presses! Extra. Extra!! Read all about it.

The Yorkie Times

Mary-Margaret

Dear Grandpa....

It was so nice to see you last night.   We've really missed seeing our family.  It was a very good surprise to see Greg and Marshall, too.  And Peter, Janet and Mike AND especially YOUUUUUU!

I just wish we had more time together.   At least I got to give you schlurpy kisses on your hand and your face.  And I think I even got one on your mouth, too.   It's ok, Grandpa.  My mouth only goes on places that are clean, like kibble and steak and water.   I'm not allowed to lick places that other dogs lick.  Mom says it's rude.  Also, I can't reach those places because I'm a little bit chubby around the middle, but I wouldn't lick them anyway.  Really, I wouldn't.

I am all tuckered out from our visit.  I got to say "Hi" to Zooey the Cat.  He hissed at me, but he hissed politely, sort of like the possum did.  Enough so I know he's not in the mood to play but he wasn't mean about it.

I don't know exactly what Aunt Janet feeds Zooey.  It's sort of mushy, reddish brown and in a custard cup.   Whatever it is, it is YUMMY!   Mom kept saying "Get out of there, Mary-Margaret!".   Zooey licked some of my dinner that I left in the bowl for him so I figure we're even.

I love you, Grandpa.

Your faithful Grand Dogger...

Mary-Margaret

Peaches and Me

Dear Grandpa - This is me and my new best friend, Peaches.  She's a Guinea Pig.  She's not really a pig and she probably doesn't know where Guinea is, but still...that's what they call her.

We like to hang out and nuzzle.  I get to kiss her sometimes if I'm really fast.  I even squiggle into her carrier and snuggle in her blankie, too.  I think you would really like my good friend, Peaches.

Love and kisses...

Mary-Margaret

Jennifer's bionic leg

Did I mention that my very good friend and co-worker, Jennifer, coaches college softball?  No, she didn't get hurt doing that, but you gotta watch out for the invisible eebie-neebies in the parking lot - they'll get you every time.

Mom says she must have bumped into C3P0 (the robot?) at a Star Wars convention.  She's getting very good at hopping on one foot when she's not using her crutches.  Seriously, me and Mom feel really bad about her "owie" and we try to help her out when we can.

We are praying for her speedy reovery.

Love,

Mary-Margaret

My Hidey Hole

Dear Grandpa - Mom's at it with the camera again.   I hunt all over for a nice quiet place to have my "after breakfast before morning snack" nap and she still finds me.  Oh well.  It's ok.  Since it's YOU, Grandpa.   You're always welcome in my world.  I love you SOOOO much.

Kisses and schnoozles....

Mary-Margaret

Peaches and Cream

Meet my new friend, Miss Peaches and Cream, or "Peaches" for short.  She's a full grown girl Guinea Pig and very nice.  We hit it off right away.  I know I have to be sort of quiet for her so I sit down and we talk in our own special way.

Keri says that Peaches can come back and play with me again on Friday.  Oh, I can't wait.  I just LOVE my new friend.  I think every pup should have their own Guinea Pig.

Love and kisses.

PS:  I have something really sad to tell you.   When I went to Miss Marilyn's last Friday I looked everywhere for my best friend, Madison.  Mom asked where she was and Miss Marilyn said that she had to go to the Rainbow Bridge and that Sophie, the Maltese, went too.  My heart is broken and I gave Miss Marilyn a lot of loving.  I know I helped comfort her.  I love her so much that it hurts my heart to see her cry.  Don't tell her but I cried a little bit, too.  God bless Madison and Sophie.  I miss them.

Mary-Margaret

A "Hissy" Encounter

I told mom I had to go out.  I just didn't tell  her everything, though.  I had a friend waiting for me in the back yard.  I raced out the door and started to play, but I got hissed at instead.  Huh? (I said)  That is NO way to talk to a friend, so I told it off.  "Arf arf arf", I said, over and over.  Mom comes out to see and starts yelling "NO NONONONONONO, Mary Margaret.  You come in.  NOW.  COME.  NOW."  Man, I thought she was going to faint or something she was so insistent.

"Fine", I said.  "Whatever!" and I walked back in the house.  As soon as I get inside, Mom grabs the camera, takes the picture and then slams the door.  Hello? It's not like I'm having him over for dinner or anything, but still she says "NO POSSUM".   I get it.  Really, I do.  No possum.   It wasn't all that friendly anyway, not like the gophers or feral cats or the rat that ate our plums, or anything.

Mom, on the other hand, after all that yelling, keeps thinking "What if the possum was hungry?  Or cold? Or it had babies to feed?  Now I KNOW I won't get any sleep tonight.  She's such a softie.

Love,

Mary-Margaret O'Brien

Lt. Chaplain - Yorkie Brigade Chapel"Yorkie prayers are Angel's wishes!"

"Pups for PPL"
"A dog has lots of friends because he wags his tail and not his tongue." Anonymous

Chilly 'round the Belly Button

Had to share.  This morning it at 6:15AM it was 23 degrees here in Temecula.  Brrrrrrr!!!

That's all.   Just saying'.....!  COLDER here than in Pennsylvania which is like in the low 40's.

Weird.

Mary-Margaret

Happy Birthday, Grandma

Happy Birthday, Grandma!!

January 8, 1922 - November 27, 2005.

Hope all is well where you are. Have you met Elvis yet? His birthday is today, too. Say hello to all your brothers and sisters and your Mom and Dad. We're taking good care of Grandpa for you. We talk to him every night except Sunday and his hearing is really good now....unless it's about something he doesn't want to talk about and then he can't hear squat even if Mom spells it out for him.

Mom says sometimes when she passes a mirror she catches a glimpse of you in the reflection. I guess that means you're keeping an eye on her. Or maybe that she's getting more like you as she gets older?? Funny how those things go.

I'm keeping up my diary so you can see what's going on in my life....and Mom's life, too, I guess, because we're always together. I think you'd be very proud of your Granddaughters Melissa and Colleen, and your GrandKids Randy, Cade, Carter, Cailin and Clancy. C, C, C, and C are all doing well in school and they have so many options ahead of them that they are sure to make a great contribution to the world. R is out of school and he seems to be pretty much meeting his personal goals for the moment so he's ok, too. You have to respect anyone who is true to themselves.

We should talk like this more often.  Humans get so caught up in their lives that they don't make the time they should to visit with their family and other loved ones.  At the end of it all, I wonder if they'll wish they had re-arranged their priorities?  Only then it will be too late and all the stuff they thought was so important won't matter any more, will it?

Love, hugs and schlurps....
Mary-Margaret

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

It's a BIRD...It's a Plane...It's ....!

Mom's looking out the back door and goes "Uh oh!!". Naturally, I get up to go see what's stressing her out now. I see a pile of something black that looks like a dead crow. "Kewl!", I say. "Let me OUT!!". She just stares at whatever and doesn't move. "LET ME OUT..OUT...OUT!!", I say.

"OK...but you stay away from that dead bird!", she warns me. "Yeah, sure! Whatever!", and I immediately race lickety-split across the back yard to "the bird". I'm like totally cracking up now that I'm standing by the object of her distress and she's hollering "NO NO NO!!". I'm just enjoying the moment. I reach out and touch "the bird" with my paw and it flops over. "Arrrggghhhhh!", she says and goes inside to get her shoes. Personally, I thought it looked less like a dead crow after I flipped it but some people need convincing.

She grabs the cell phone camera and notices that the battery is dead, so she plugs it in to charge it. She looks outside and I'm not by "the body" anymore. This is way too much fun to clue her in right now, so I saunter over to the fence and twiddle around over there and then I amble into the house, soggy feet and all.

About a half-hour later she checks her cell phone and it's got a 50% charge, so she goes out to inspect the "body". I might add that it's raining and the back yard is like a swamp in some places, but still she goes out. She seems to want to document this event for posterity.

I'm standing in the kitchen watching all this and trying really hard not to laugh out loud. Mom takes her picture and wades back into the house, glaring at me the whole time. "Funny, Mary-Margaret!", she says. "REAL FUNNY!". Well, I think so but then some people don't share my sense of humor.

Amazing what shape a twig with a few wet moldy dead leaves can take in some people's imagination.

I find my entertainment wherever I can.

Happy New Year, everyone!!

Mary-Margaret

Mary-Margaret's Mail

Dear Grandpa - Mom says you can mail me stuff at her office:

Mary-Margaret O'Brien
c/o Rancho Attorney Service
28465 Old Town Front Street
Suite 318
Temecula, Ca 92590

PS - you can send Mom's stuff there too!

Merry Christmas, one and all

Dear Grandpa - I went to Miss Marilyn's yesterday. Charlie the poodle was there. He barked and howled when he saw me. Silly poodle. I think he has a crush on me. Unrequited though. I think of him as a friend. No more than that. I have my career to concentrate on. I'm just not ready to settle down yet.

We went to Miss Cathleen's place on Thursday. Mom got her toes done. I got my monthly special walk around Old Town. It's so pretty in the winter. There's lights everywhere and the ice skating rink is set up. Everybody is so happy. I met a really nice young man and stopped dead in my tracks. I started talking to him and he was very impressed. We conversed for a while and then Miss Cathleen said we had to go back before Mom thought we were kidnapped or something.

Today is Saturday and we're just hanging around the house. Mom's still coughing so I guess she still needs to rest up from that awful flu she had. I am taking good care of her.

Love,

Mary-Margaret

Christmas Issue - The Yorkie Times

It's out and it's great. Cheerful holiday reading. Check out The Yorkie Times

Merry Christmas, Everyone!

Mary-Margaret