blkdragon

grounded
2008-03-10 05:08:28 (UTC)

Old friends and new issues

3/9--9:30AM--Charlotte just called, I needed to see how I
felt talking with her, she wanted to make tentative plans to
go to Charles' party; I didn't respond. She began telling me
all the things she'd need to do, how I'd probably have to
drive to Springfield to pick her up, the party is in a
child's (her Second Cousin) honor; they live on a military
base. Her Mother is taking her with her Daughter, she'd need
to find someone to take look after her Daughter, the party
would probably end in the early evening and it should only
take an hour and a half to get to Springfield. She began
talking about Carianne, how she'd been in a foul mood
yesterday and that's why I hadn't heard from her, she didn't
want to run the risk of taking her anger out on me; I'd
imagined that she'd gone out, hadn't given it much thought
because I needed to concentrate on myself.
She told me that she'd gone to work for a while, when she
returned home the place was a mess, she didn't appreciate
it; then Carianne got testy with her. Now she's feeling that
Carianne is trying to exert some control in her home, she's
not trying to have that, she began telling me all the things
Carianne doesn't do; things I've heard countless times. She
hates the fact that someone is living in her living room, I
could never stand for that, they'd had words because
Carianne asked her to turn off her music; she had a
headache. Charlotte mentioned Carianne having the television
on and if her headache was so bad why didn't she turn it off?
She chose to turn the music down, began seething, there's
only one solution to the growing problem; Carianne needs to
get a place of her own. They managed to stay civil, Carianne
mentioned the fact that Charlotte was the only person in her
Family that never lived in Carianne's Parents home, I guess
that was her way of telling Charlotte that she had respect
for her; never mind the fact that Carianne has lived in all
of their homes.
It was now going on 11, I'd planned to soak and massage my
muscles before hitting the rink, I wanted to be there early
enough to beat the crowd; didn't happen. Charlotte would go
on to mention the men that were constantly hitting on her,
the fact that she wasn't thinking about them, her plan to
spend time with me was (I guess) her way of telling me
something; we'll see! She said that she had things she
wanted to get done, that everyone downstairs was now awake
and she was hungry, I told her that I'd talk to her later
and we ended the call.
I got into the tub, I didn't have as much time as I wanted
to get ready to go, the call had eaten up my prep schedule;
no matter. I massaged my muscles, got out and melted the
polish buildup on my skates, rotated the wheels; brushed
them and put them in the bag. I was under-dressed when I
headed out, I didn't know it was snowing and I was only
wearing exercise gear and a sweater, I drove to get gas and
headed to the rink. It was crowded, as I went to boot up, I
saw Cheetah; I meant to ask her about her best friend and
forgot. She began talking about Mouse, she's the only girl
in her flag football league, we talked about her job search;
she's been out of work for quite a while. She told me that
she's yet to tell Mouse that she's not working, she doesn't
want to stress her out, she wanted Mouse to show me how much
she's improved her skating skills; Mouse got angry and began
crying when she couldn't show me what she'd been able to
accomplish, too many people. I told her not to worry, I'd
see what she could do during the course of the day, Cheetah
told me that they were waiting for one of Mouse's friends to
arrive.
Cheetah told me to go ahead and skate, she knew that I'd
been stressed lately, Mouse and her friend would find me in
the baby practice rink; they wanted to play tag. I told her
that playing tag wasn't a good idea, too many people and too
much of a risk for injury to inexperienced skaters like
themselves, they left me to my own designs and went on their
way; before the end of the day she'd be clever enough to
engage me in a semi-chase. I'd eventually grab her hand and
we did a series of impromptu turns and partial spins, she's
really getting good at maintaining her balance, she'd even
make a point to try keeping up with me on the main floor and
I was impressed. Cheetah tries to keep Mouse's morale high,
she's been through a lot and I have to applaud Cheetah's
efforts.
A guy came to me and asked "what's up old man," I responded
off-handedly, "what's up man" and kept rolling; I didn't
recognize that I knew him. He'd stop to talk to me in the
practice rink, he introduced his girl to me, it was Vanir;
we'd worked together at Coach and Car over 10 years ago.
He's now managing at an Insurance Company, they do Workman's
Comp. cases, how ironic, it was his Son's birthday and they
were having a party at Guptil's. We'd talk and he mentioned
that I must have a big award pending for the Insurance
Company to suggest conciliation, I told him that I have a
lawyer, that I'm not accepting any amount of money without
ensuring continued medical coverage; we exchanged numbers at
the end of the day. His girl went on to tell me that she
enjoyed watching me skate, Vanir said that after watching me
he had to remove his skates, Monifah (his girl) said that
she shouldn't have taken her skates off; she'd have come and
asked me for help, I told her maybe another time. It was
good to see Vanir, good to know that he's doing much better
than he was back then, I told him that I'd give him a call
sometime; we could get together for a drink or something.
I went to my car to exchange numbers with Vanir, I said
goodbye to Cheetah and after the exchange I noticed I'd
gotten a call from my Sister Fret, our Mother is in the
hospital again; acute renal failure. She tells me that our
Mother has gotten much better, before the failure she'd been
mobile and communicative, I think she wanted to assure me
that although the situation is serious; the Doctors don't
see that we should be too worried about their management of
the crisis.
We'd talk about Donna, Charles and Charlotte, Fret told me
that she doesn't want to meet Charlotte; she doesn't like
what she's heard or how she's seen me react! More to the
point, she doesn't like believing Charlotte's using me, what
my beautiful Sister fails to understand is that no one can
do anything we don't want them to do; it wouldn't be a good
idea to introduce the two of them though. My Sister is
tough, she was showing me how I've always felt about her, if
there was the hint of someone threatening her; they'd have
to deal with me! I couldn't get her to relax, no matter what
I said to her, her mind is set, until she sees that
Charlotte is treating me as she believes I should be
treated; there'd be no concessions!
We also touched on her relationship with her Husband, I told
her to tell Abe I said hello, he returned my greeting; we
talked about how they're exact opposites. She told me that
he gets on her nerves, I know that she gets on his nerves as
well, they love that; that's why they've been married for 35
years I think. I've always liked Abe, I think he may have
been the reason I chose to go into the Air Force, other's
have shown me how much respect Abe has for me; he's been a
very good Husband to my Sister, he's Family!
I finished talking with her when I parked in front of my
apartment, I had 15 minutes to wolf something down and head
to see Luv, I ate peanut butter; straight. I figured that
would give me enough energy for the next hour, I drove to
make sure I wasn't late, as I signed in, I noticed the man
in front of me; he began asking questions about the
protocols. I answered him and we went in, we were seated in
separate stalls, when the inmates arrived; Luv looked
confused. He pointed to the man I'd spoken with and
mentioned that he was his Father, we then realized why we
were familiar with each other, we all visited together; he
was trying to get Luv to understand that he needed not to
stress over things beyond his control. I realize why I
didn't recognize Luv's Father, when we met he was sporting
dreadlocks, now he was rather his hair was cut very short.
I mentioned talking with Colleen, the snafu that was
unfolding, he told me that he'd had "Crazy" contact Sarah to
have her send commissary; he said he'd gotten long letters
from Colleen about Sarah and their love for one another.
How during their calls she'd only want to cry to him, he
couldn't handle that and would hang up on her, that only
bothered her all the more.
It's Luv's impression that the business with Sarah was the
fault of "Crazy", we got a laugh when I asked why he'd have
"Crazy" do anything that sensitive for him, his Father would
point out that there's a reason they call Miguel "Crazy."
I'd gotten a call from Colleen as I was parking at the rink,
she began crying immediately, I'd told her yesterday that
Luv had told me that he was in love with her, I believe him;
she wanted me to know that she didn't want to feel used and
I understood her. I told her that she'd have to take all
that up with him, I didn't want to be in the middle of it,
even though I was.
I told Luv that I'd spoken to Colleen earlier today, his
Father told him that he'd spoken to Colleen last night, Luv
mentioned the problems he's having with some of the guys
inside; I told him that if he got busy they wouldn't be able
to bother him. I told him that few people interrupt anyone
that is writing, if someone attempts to interrupt, the
writer merely needs to look (impatiently) up from his page;
the disturbance is noted and the person should go away. His
Father and I would leave together, he was heading to an NA
meeting, he'd violated parole and had to do 22 months in
lock-up; he just got out in November. Previously, Luv's
Father did 15 years; he was released just after Luv
graduated from Union College.
I drove his Father to his NA meeting, he asked if I wanted
to attend, I said no thanks; I don't need Narcotics
Anonymous or any anonymous. I got his number and told him
that I'd call him tomorrow, I have no idea why, but we'll
see what we see.
I just thought about Charlotte, she reestablished the
contact between us, has been the one maintaining that
contact; regardless of the reason. I generally call in
response to a call she's made to me, seldom initiating
contact with her, then she makes a point to tell me of the
men that are interested in her; as if trying to convince me
and herself that she has options. It would be easy to make
her pay for whatever slight I might have felt, I'm not
vengeful by nature; admitting that pain was painful enough.
She's more than welcome to pursue whatever she pleases, I'm
not putting my life on hold for her.
Never got around to doing the sketch, the materials are laid
out on the table, I can see the layout in my mind; I'll have
to do a profile and an aerial view. From the house to the
flat garden, to the tea house, the surrounding gardens and
ending at the pool garden; where things go from there are a
mystery to me. I think I'll set an alarm and start first
thing in the morning, I should have a few hours work done
before I need to start making my phone calls, to Taxation,
the lawyer and UIC. I think I'll walk for an hour
afterwards, I'll stop at Center City and make an appointment
with the career counselor and then head back home, to try
and make heads or tales of what I have of "Adventures..." so
far!
Colleen called, I was supposed to spend some time with her
tonight, I asked if we could do that tomorrow; she's having
a gf over for dinner. I'm not sure what I had in mind,
perhaps trying to convince her that Luv really loves her.
I did get Pharaoh his mouse, he barely allowed it to hit the
floor of his enclosure before he was on it!




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