I'm Baaaaaccckkk!!

No, I didn't run away (yet), just working...

Atlanta Gift Mart
Did you know that even existed??!! I was there once during the Olympics, just in the lobby. This is an amazing place, 3 buildings, at least 14 stories high, all stocked for trade shows. The building I worked in housed 18 floors of Gift Merchandise. You know, votive candle holders, garden gnomes, lamps, just gifts. It was cool. I was basically just taking orders on a hand-held IR device (a PalmPilot). I learned a lot as a developer of Order Entry apps as well as Merchandiser-think. I also learned that my wardrobe and taste in clothes and accessories is way out of fashion. I guess that's what happens in almost 10 years of working in a warehouse environment...

And So It Starts...
Last Saturday I got a call from my Mom that my Dad had been admitted to the hospital. He was dizzy and a bit light-headed, so they took him to the doctor, who admitted him to the hospital. From what I can gather, no one really knows what's wrong with him, but Mom said he was bitching and complaining about being in the hospital, so I guess he's OK. He was in for over-night observation, but this incident underlined a lot of Issues to Come. Mom couldn't / wouldn't drive the 2 miles to the hospital to visit him. She's never been much of a driver, and I can't remember the last time she was behind the wheel. So I can't really fault her, living in DC is scary enough. But my sister had to take some time to go pick up my mom and take her to the hospital. My sister lives out by Dulles Airport, not a short drive to my Mom's. What if this had happened during the week, when my sister had to be at work??
When I was home recently I observed (and my Mom said) that my dad can't make any decisions without her. They have been married 60 years, but my Mom made sure my Dad 'needed' her and proceeded to do everything for him. So now she has to live with this. He can't make his own lunch, do his own laundry, or just go to the store without her. So here is was in the hospital, and couldn't call my mom (he didn't know you had to dial '9'. He's never had an office job, just a workman) He wouldn't ask his 'roommate' where the bathroom was, couldn't ask a nurse for a blanket. OMG.
I've been talking to them about Retirement Communities, but they have friends who are much older and in much worse shape still living in their own homes. One couple doesn't have any kids, and neither one of them can make decisions. My mom says she wants to be able to walk around her house, unlike living in a condo. The basic problem is my mom doesn't like to be around people and my dad is just a PIA. (Pain In The Ass) The last few years of my Grandmother's life, they carted her around among her 8 kids so no one had to keep her too long. My uncle wanted her to live with him as that was part of his divorce decree so he could retain custody of his son. In our case, there is NO WAY I could live with either of these people. I'm a product of my environment, and they brought me up this way. I would get tired of my mom not wanting to go anywhere, and I couldn't live with my Dad. I had problems living with my dad when I was a kid, so I couldn't put up with someone who can't take care of himself.
Having said all this, maybe now is the time for me to start looking for a job in the DC Area...

Voting
Did you get out and vote yesterday??? I did. I was all ready to vote Cynthia McKinney out of office. I go to the polls, and get my Democratic ballot. No Cynthia McKinney. No District 4. Somehow, I've moved to District 5. How did that happen? When did that happen? Every place I've looked online states I'm in District 4. I have to get to the bottom of this. I wasn't the only one confused, a poll worker was explaining the same thing to another woman. Hhuummmm....

Job Hunt
Nothing to report on, I didn't do too much last week as I was so tired when I got home, I didn't want to deal with it.

More to come...
As things happen, I'll be posting. Thanks for taking the time to read. You're opinions are welcome but if you have to start calling me names, don't bother, I won't read them. As my Dad says 'Opinions are like a**holes, everyone has one.'