I'm Going to Say It

I don't use my blog for venting very often. I would rather talk about happy things and good times, but there are times when things that are heavy on my heart must be shared. This is one of those times...

We've known for months that Bob's parents were coming this month. (They live in Arizona, and we have not seen them in TWO years!!) We had been asking them the exact dates for months so we could plan accordingly and Bob take some time off and/or not schedule things for when they are in town. They said don't worry about it; we'll work visits in around your schedule.

Then when he talked to them in late July his dad finally told them when they were going to be here, but had the whole three weeks planned out except for three days. They flew into MKE yesterday and left this morning for Bob's brother's (about an hour north of us) because he has a week of vacation. A couple other overnight stops to see friends. Then they are back in MKE from 15th until they leave. However, the only days they are "free" to do anything with us are the 15, 16 & 17. Well, the 15th is our anniversary, and we already made plans to stay at at downtown hotel. We are not changing our plans. Bob has a case going to trial soon and couldn't hold off on scheduling depositions any longer & as luck would have it, one of those depositions is scheduled for the 17th.

When Bob spoke to them on Monday, he said he would just work a half day Tues so we could see them before they head up by his brother today. They didn't give us the time the flight came in, but a flight number that turned out to be incorrect (or a lie). I checked the arrivals & there were four flights through out the day that could have been theirs. We didn't hear from them until 8:40 last night -- AFTER they were at their hotel. Turns out SIL & the kids met them & the airport and they went out to dinner. The SIL & kids they will be seeing for the next seven days.

When Bob talked to his Dad, his dad wanted to know which of those days they told us before was going to work for us. Bob was very non-committal, and he could tell his dad was getting angry because he wouldn't just pick one. Bob wanted to confront him about the whole thing then, but said he was too angry & would have said something he regretted. He's better about that kind of thing that I!

My in-laws are frustrating! I am tired of trying to justify their actions and making excuses for the differences in the ways they treat their sons! It's always been clear they have a favorite!!

I've read, re-read, and counted to ten twice. I still feel the need to pubish so here it goes out into cyberspace where I can never take it back. ;)

Who Would You Call?

Warning: this could did get long!!

On Monday, December 22, 2008, my dear friend & fellow quote lover, Carolynn, posted a quote in her blog that hit me HARD! That quote: "If you were going to die soon and had only one phone call to make, who would you call and what would you say? And why are you waiting?"

Since early September, my dad & step-mom are not talking to one of my brothers and I because we would not give them a substantial amount of money to bring their mortgage current so they could avoid going into foreclosure.

Some of you know how my dad & step-mom have struggled financially since my dad had a heart attack in July 2007. He applied for and was approved to receive Social Security. There was a short period where they had no income because SS had not kicked in yet & his pay from his employer had run out. My brothers & I loaned them some money until they could sell the second car they no longer needed. The car sold quickly, and we were paid back.

My step-mom does not work either and hasn't since before dad's heart attack. Obviously, the SSI is significantly less income than they were earning prior to the heart attack, but they still have done nothing to change their lifestyle. They have cable with premium channels, high speed internet, two cell phones, a land line, etc. He purchases pay-per-view movies. They go out to lunch and/or dinner as much as, if not more than, they did before. She shops like they don't have any bills & their income is what it was if not more than before. So, basically, they do nothing to help themselves.

It broke my heart to say no to my dad, but I knew I had to! Giving them the money would have only made a bad situation worse. (They did end up getting money from my uncle, but it turned out they did not need as much as he was saying.)

I have called him numerous times (two since reading the quote) and left messages. He will not return my calls. I know in my heart I did the right thing by telling them no, but it still breaks my heart to be on my dad's "list". He comes from a family with a long history of holding grudges. I would have thought that losing parents & your oldest brother while they are on "that list" would change break that cycle.

So, "If you were going to die soon and had only one phone call to make, who would you call and what would you say? And why are you waiting?"

Another Snow Storm

We have been hit by a major snow storm every weekend in the month of December, and this weekend is no exception. Snow is falling pretty heavily right now. We are supposed to get 6-8 inches of the wet, heavy stuff again. The trees are coated in a fresh coat of white, I don't have to leave the house, and I am loving it!

The first storm back in early December the City of Milwaukee did a horrible job of clearing the streets. Now with every major storm we have had since the news stations air a news conference with either the head of the DPW or a spokesman who tells the plan to clear the streets. Something tells me they didn't have these conferences before and they just went without airing.

The city where I live just stinks when it comes to clearing the streets. There have been times there probably wasn't even a plow down our streets. I bet the streets in front of the Mayor's house are clear. Remind me again why we pay sky high property taxes. I thought part of our tax dollars went to garbage pick up & snow plowing.