Waking up is hard to do.

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A rough, slow, and late start. I had hoped to leave by noon. Well, I was UP by noon. I then planned on leaving by 13:00. Well, 13:30 saw me on my way, which is the exact time I would need to arrive at the airport at exactly 15:00. Then I realized my travel time calculation was based on... when I lived in Logan... a half hour closer to the airport. No! So, rather than whine, I do what I can with pedal, steering wheel, serious risk taking, and the luck of a survivor. As I pulled into the park and wait area, I just pull into a parking spot and begin scanning the flight board. Right then she called and asked where I was. Timing, my friends, timing and little luck.

I ended up waiting for her as the wheelchair attendant was trying to push her and another woman and the other woman had to use the facilities. She has "stolen" the chair and gone on before, but did not today for some reason. It is always good to see my mom. We have, a bit, already been sparring. That is just how it goes. I have to learn to catch and release on those. I can do that with almost any other woman I know, but not with my mom. So far. We will see.

The drive home was good. I warned her not to be too upset by what she is to see when we get there. On the way, we discuss short and long term goals. Grocery shopping is on the list, though while discussing it the list got so long we decided to put it off a day or two. Yet driving through Utah's fruit corridor, we saw a sign for fresh fruit and vegetables. She wanted to stop but I was too far past to slow down and turning around was not in the cards. I was sure there would be another, and there was. Apricots, peaches, tomatoes, cucumbers, and two types of squash were in the offing. Happy with our load, we headed on down the road. We both were in better spirits about the tasks, so we put Wal-Mart and the butcher shop back on the list. We did get to Wal-Mart, she picking up some of her essentials (she packed very light) and more food, and me picking up a couple of fans. I had no cash, oddly. She has purchased the food so far, and thinks she will get away with it. Ha! Boy does she forget her son when away for a while! Women!

Before parking at my house, I decided to show her the local dam. She approved and is looking forward to going there once or twice for a splash and cooling down time. She really cannot swim, sinks to the bottom like a rock. But she can wade and enjoy a little lake time, and does. I am also hoping to find time to take her to the Great Salt Lake. I have yet to go myself, a wonderful excuse to see one's own country is by having guests you know. Plus, I have it that even she cannot sink in this salty body of water. We will, carefully, investigate that claim. Anyway, after reviewing the dam and lake with it, we return to my home.

She took a few things in, more than I had wanted her to handle, but so it goes. I asked if she would figure out where to put things so that she would not try to carry more. She obliged. I showed her around, talked about some of my plans, and she put things where she wanted things. All good by me, really and truly anymore. She was actually a bit pleased. From my history, she knows what bad... really bad... can be. This was not it. Rough, sure. But no stink from 'ripe' dishes, no dirt (never really that even in my past), clutter but an organized form of it. I think she was a bit surprised, to the good. Maybe a lot surprised. She can be hard to read.

No rest for the wicked. She started in on things this evening. I did not tell her I had only slept a few hours last night nor that I have been working for days beyond myself, I just tried to be helpful. We got a few things done, sorted, and the kitchen neatened to her standards. She was hungry, so I fired up the grill. We had a nice chat outside. While I was cooking, Sam caught a mouse right by the driveway. We both like mousers, and it is fun to watch, so it was a bit of a treat. My mom thought the inside was cool enough, but I thought it was blazing hot. It was, too, comparatively. I had forgotten to close the kitchen windows and the heat of the day had invaded the house. Ugh!

She, finally exhausted herself, decided to go to bed. A few pillows and a blanket were procured, a fan was set up in her room, and it was good night. Though tired, I could not quite crawl into bed. I need time, quiet, alone, time to reset and unwind. And, blogging and news needed to be checked. The world is still out there, oh well. She knows I am, or was more so, a night owl. She said she will not wake me, but I realize I will have to get up early. The water softener and r.o. water treatment will be installed tomorrow, and I do not have the cash on hand to pay for it. I will have to go in before my appointment tomorrow and bring some cash back. Then go in for my appointment, then pick up the television and weed eater if they have arrived. I sure hope they are in.

This will be a busy two weeks. My mom is ready to tear into everything and all of it. Thankfully, though, she is not a night owl! I will have some breather time. Even her boyfriend, after hearing what she had said about this visit, exclaimed "Poor Doom!". (names have been changed to protect the guilty) Oh yes, poor poor Doom. But darn it, this place will be 10 times as homey as it is now. Yes it will.

In any case, I think I will be throwing the towel in and getting in a pillow fight with myself that I cannot win shortly. A few more braindead readings and maybe a comment or two if it does not hurt too much, then crash time.

Good night, Philip. I guess being Catholic is not all bad at all. I hope you still have the faith I saw in you then.