happy cats

I was gone for a week before my boyfriend brought me back to where I'm staying with my kitties. The first night there, Magnum refused to let me get a moments rest by howling constantly. He mellowed the second night, and Adira made her fluffy self known with snuggles and cuddles from both of us.

Then we up and left again a couple days later. But boyfriend dropped me off after a couple of days. When boyfriend did so, the munchkin/nephew/toddler terror was there. So I started to unpack to start laundry.

Much to my surprise, I saw the furr monster first. Adira followed shortly afterwards. Normally they stay under the bed cowering in terror from the kid.

They came in the kitchen when I was having lunch. And after the toddler terror left, they settled on my bed for naps in the sun.

As it should be.

geek time

Not too shabby. It's about what I was thinking.

the black suit

So I have a black suit that I bought in Prescott.

Wish I could say it was for looking smashing for job interviews.

This guy I knew back when I was in high school working at the hardware store. He was a WW II veteran, and I kind of looked up to him as a surrogate father. He was always nice to me. He also got along with my parents, and they stayed in touch frequently for dinners and such after I moved on.

He finally retired from the hardware store about seven years ago. It wasn't the same without him at the service counter. I don't know what he did in his retirement years.

But around the beginning of the year, I heard from my folks that he had pancreatic cancer. I know that is not a good cancer to get. Then the beginning of the summer it had spread to his bones.

A couple weeks ago, I had heard that his wife was beginning to make arrangements with the funeral services here in Fountain Hills. He was in hospice, but was in so much pain nobody could touch him.

Saturday morning during the yard sale, my mom mentioned that she had heard that all his kids were in town, and Friday afternoon they took him out of hospice to "go home".

When the yard sale was over with, we learned that he had died around 5 Friday night. He was only home for just a couple hours before dying. But he was home with his wife and children nearby. I suppose that isn't too terrible of a way to go.

Since we knew his widow had been making arrangements for a couple weeks in advance and their children all in town, boyfriend helped me take dad's suit to the dry cleaners. I made sure my best friend could take me shopping for a black suit.

Turns out the service isn't until Thursday. I haven't been to a funeral since I was 18, so I suppose it had to happen sooner or later.

what went on

So what have I been doing with boyfriend? I won't say everything, just leave the bedroom details out.

Arrived the Monday evening before Thanksgiving. Very late - we just watched the end of the Suns game and went to bed. Then we got to spend a couple days with my folks. He helped me out arranging the parade giveaway baskets and making a gluten free pumpkin pie.

Was here for Thanksgiving. Only 16 showed up. Most haven't seen boyfriend since LAST Thanksgiving, and couldn't help but comment that he looked a lot more gray. Deceptive since he's growing the beard out, but the gray hair on the head is still the same.

Friday late afternoon, we went to Wickenburg to meet up with his aunt, uncle, matchmakers and their baby. I haven't seen him since he was six months old, and he's still cute as a bug. Did some quad riding/trying to keep up with Mr. Matchmaker. Explored old copper mines and shafts. He rescued a desert tortise that had fallen into a shaft. Then worried that it was going to kill him anyway being out so late in the season.

Sunday we went to San Diego. Got there fairly late. He touched base with his job several times, and I did a little looking for work.

Friday, we headed for Fountain Hills. Spent a few relaxing nights with my folks and grandmother. Had a yard sale Saturday, and I make $170 from my stuff.

Sunday morning we headed up to see matchmakers in Prescott Valley. Thought it was a one night stay, but stayed for two. She took me shopping for a black suit. The two of us did some quad shopping, heater shopping, etc. It was painfully cold in Prescott Valley, getting down below 20 at night.

sad day

It's over (for now). My cowboy had been taking me away from it all.

Or was here with my parents hanging out in the hot tub having cocktails.

Or helping me do laundry at his dad's place.

Or visiting our matchmakers playing babysitters to their baby.

He got called yesterday from his boss. Silly head left his phone in the truck so it was three hours later when we were quad shopping that he saw there was a message. Boss said "Don't know if you saw the manning sheet Saturday, but you're supposed to be on a job today until Christmas."

"Uhh, no I never got the manning sheet."

The worst was that he tried several times to call the lead on this project to see what's going on. When he finally got the manning sheet, he sees that he's one of three high paid managers on this job which doesn't make sense.

Since the lead never called him back, he had to run back to San Diego. I offered to make arrangements to have matchmakers drop me off or have family come pick me up. But he was still a gentleman, drove me home. Picked up the dirty laundry we left, and headed off to San Diego.

I had gotten very spoiled with him here by my side every day for about two weeks.