Aftermath of babysitting

   The day before yesterday (two yesterdays ago?), my nephew's girlfriend called to see if I could watch her son, tomorrow (now yesterday) while they (she and my nephew) went to a party I said yes.

   Yesterday, she called to see if it would be alright for her son to spend the night, in the roundabout way of asking "If he falls asleep while he is over there, could we just pick him up in the morning." which everyone knows almost always means "We will be drinking and come home both drunk and tired, so watch the kid overnight, for his safety and the betterment of mankind." I said yes to that, as well.

  Last night, they dropped the boy off, along with a movie, the X-Men First Class thing. Which is good, because, at first they were worried about having to pay an extra $1 if they turned it in late, but, they rethought what they were doing, presumably, and realized it is extremely chintzy to begrudge a free babysitter $1's worth of entertainment.

  As soon as the boy was dropped off, I told him we were going to go get some candy. At first it was a joke, but, my daughter heard and was onboard with it. The thing is, the boy is never allowed candy or soda pop, because his mother says it makes him overactive. Well, as I found out last night, she was right. However, it was okay, as no one was particularly grumpy about it or expecting him to sit still. So, we watched the movie, while he cavorted. Sometimes he watched it on one chair, sometimes another, sometimes he climbed up to sit between my son and his friend, sometimes he put his arms in my hands so I could grab hold of him and he could struggle and pretend to break free.

  There was a little defiance during his visit, a little punishment needed for threats to "kick my head off", and, oh yes, snatching my son's tobacco tray out of his hands and scattering things to the four winds. Nothing too bad, though, for an overactive boy in a house fairly strange to him.

  They picked him up this morning, eventually, and I sent a box of Reese's Puff cereal with him. I had boughten several boxes, when I saw it on sale, under the mistaken belief that my son still likes it. He doesn't. My daughter does, but, she is leaving in about a week.  I like it, okay, but, it is more like in place of candy than as food. So, I definitely need to do something with it.

  On to my son's friend. He was a surprise. I had been hoping to talk to my son about him, yesterday, after I had been asked about the possibility of the guy spending the night, sometimes, the night before. Instead, my son disappeared all day, then, came home late, with his friend in tow.

  Well, his friend spent the night, he didn't kill us in our sleep, and was, in fact, fairly polite. So, the deal as I understand it, which is that he would pay $10 per day to spend the night, whenever he comes to spend the night, is acceptable to me. That would pay for his food and water usage, while he is here. It's a good way to help him out, and, also to help us out. Plus, maybe a little bit of pleasant company.

  Maybe I could even use the money as a down payment on those couches, if they are still around. Did I tell you about the couches?
 
  When me and my son walked to cash my check, I discovered a great restaurant with cheap hamburgers and a beautiful set of couches, plus a coffee table that is lovely but which I could do without, in a nearby thrift store. I want them, but, they are $350 and even with their 90-day layaway policy, I couldn't afford them on my wages.

  I don't know what I'd do, though. I mean, as far as my decorating ideas, I don't know what I'd do, because, the things I have will not go with the couches, so I will need different everything else, eventually, too, if I get those. lol

   I am now watching "Hoarders", having finished with the one season, each, of "Dress My Nest" and "Clean House" that are on instant watch on Netflix. They are inspirational shows for me, giving me good ideas and also helping me feel more ready for action. It's the seeing how hard it is for the people who want to hold on to things because they want to use them someday, but, the some day never comes. That's me! I do that, so bad. I plan for the future, and I live in those dreams, too much; rather than living in the present and dealing with it, while looking toward the future.

   I want to live in the present, but, I spent all my life waiting. "For this too shall pass." could be my motto. Some things, though, you don't just wait out. You can't. You have to  make things happen and see where your life revolves too, once the ball is rolling.