We visited Brother yesterday afternoon, and took him a lunch of PB&J, kosher dill pickles, chocolate milk, and no-bake cookies. I'd intended to grab a bag of chips on our way to him, but I forgot and so there were no chips. I don't think he liked the no-bakes (pretty sure I should've gone with only 2.5 cups of oats rather than 3), but he politely ate one and declared them delicious before claiming to be too full to eat the other. He looks good, he speaks well, and seems to have his eye on the prize, despite various situational frustrations (like when they had no water or AC for 48 hours last week - in a dorm of 60 men. Can you fucking imagine the smell?). He's taking classes to get his GED, and should be finished by the end of August. He's scheduled to be home by Thanksgiving, and I've got my fingers crossed that there won't be any setbacks or delays - it would be nice to have our family whole and together for the holidays.
I was furious with him when he screwed up back in March - I just couldn't believe his ignorance. But now I'm grateful for that back-slide; if he'd gotten away with it, he would've been back on the shit and back to the same old games within a week of being home. He would've further destroyed himself and my family. Now, though - now, I think for the first time in his life he fully understands that there really are consequences for his actions. I think he gets it - I think he knows that he's an addict and that things that roll off of other people take over his mind and control him. He wouldn't be in this wiser state had he not been so fucking stupid back then. Funny how life works that way, isn't it?
We finished our visit and rode out to the Mall - Stacy and I had a date so I could buy her a knock-off BellaBand (I ended up getting her a black one and a white one, plus a super-cute maternity shirt). I don't go to the Mall - to me, it represents everything wrong with the world - something about the combination of the shallow desperate need for things, the stink of too much perfume and greasy food-court food and chlorine-treated wishing-well water, and the teenage girls in bra tops and short-shorts and the boys with their Justin Bieber hair - it makes me feel anxious. But that's where they sell BellaBand knock-offs, so that's where we went. Jimi was content wandering around Dick's, looking at shoes and camping equipment, and I must admit I enjoyed window-shopping at Teavana (a new store they're opening that sells teas and teapots and tea accessories).
After shopping, we scooped up our friend Ashley and came back to the house to hang out and be social for a few hours. She broke up with her boyfriend Friday night and needed to not sit alone in her apartment, poor girl. (For the record, her boyfriend was a complete and total bag of roosters (cockbag) and I'd happily punch him in the dick if I had the opportunity.) While she caught us up on the story, I drank aforementioned bottle of wine and beer, and by the time we were driving her home, I was on a total sugar-high and had a good buzz going, so I cranked up the 80's tunes on my mixed CD and we drove through town singing to "King of Wishful Thinking" and "It Must've Been Love" and "Eternal Flame". And then we dropped her off and it's like she was my energy source; I suddenly was tired and my belly was feeling funny and I just wanted to go to sleep.
Jimi and I had plans to see the last Potter movie today, but my slow start led me to ask if we can do it after work tomorrow instead - I do this crap to him all the time but he's forgiving and kind and hardly ever bitches about it. He's going to see Captain America with Steve - I think I'm going to take a shower and spend my day making homemade tomato sauce for a lasagna tonight and watching documentaries on Netflix. And reading blogs. Because I'm just that fucking talented at multitasking.
I hope you have had a lovely weekend, and that the coming week brings you sunshine and rainbows and unicorns. Happy Sunday!
ETA: I can't believe I forgot to mention the random penis sighting yesterday! We were leaving from visiting my brother and Jimi says, "That's man's peeing over there." I turned quickly and sure enough, there was an old man peeing on the concrete pylon that holds up the train overpass. I kept watching him pee, and Jimi says, "Natalie, quit watching that man pee!" "But I NEVER see random penis!" I mean, it's true - how often do you see random penises? Not very often, right?
ETA: I can't believe I forgot to mention the random penis sighting yesterday! We were leaving from visiting my brother and Jimi says, "That's man's peeing over there." I turned quickly and sure enough, there was an old man peeing on the concrete pylon that holds up the train overpass. I kept watching him pee, and Jimi says, "Natalie, quit watching that man pee!" "But I NEVER see random penis!" I mean, it's true - how often do you see random penises? Not very often, right?
There's a Teavana opening iN louisville? That's GREAT news! I usually pick up all the tea I need when we go down to Nashville... it'll be nice having one in Louisville.
ReplyDeleteWow, sounds like you had a full day yesterday.
ReplyDeleteHomemade sauce? I need the recipe!
Sounds like a fantastical visit with the bro. You're such a wonderful sister!
ReplyDeleteAnd I LOVE TEAVANA. Well, I love their German Rock Sugar. So does Emma. She always wants to go inside so she can get a piece even though we have 4 pounds of it at home. I think I even did a blog post about them. I don't like how snobby their tea snob employees are (here in CA) and how expensive they are, but I'm a sucker for the sugar!