Advent, Day 5

A bit of a spin on the Currier & Ives Christmas card. (The Ozzies already know this one, inside and out. It's summer there at Christmastime, after all.)

Consider a lifetime without a White Christmas. Ever. *raises hand*



No snow.



You do things a little differently.



More than a little outside the box.


(Geriatric Surf Drill Team and Gidget Patrol. Gotta love 'em.)

See you tomorrow!

Advent, Day 5

A bit of a spin on the Currier & Ives Christmas card. (The Ozzies already know this one, inside and out. It's summer there at Christmastime, after all.)

Consider a lifetime without a White Christmas. Ever. *raises hand*



No snow.



You do things a little differently.



More than a little outside the box.


(Geriatric Surf Drill Team and Gidget Patrol. Gotta love 'em.)

See you tomorrow!

Advent, Day 5

A bit of a spin on the Currier & Ives Christmas card. (The Ozzies already know this one, inside and out. It's summer there at Christmastime, after all.)

Consider a lifetime without a White Christmas. Ever. *raises hand*



No snow.



You do things a little differently.



More than a little outside the box.


(Geriatric Surf Drill Team and Gidget Patrol. Gotta love 'em.)

See you tomorrow!

Too much bread, not enough butter -

divalea? Represent, please.

It's happened to someone else.

Do I need to mention house fires are more common this time of year? I don't? Okay.

Watch the old cords, don't leave candles burning unattended - don't leave the Christmas lights on when you leave the house, and put the outdoor lights on a timer. Don't sleep with them on. Okay? We clear on that?

Troops, I need some help with a ticklish subject. And I don't mean ticklish in a good way.

One of my oldest, most conservative friends - has approached me in dire financial straits. I've already committed to what help I can provide, and it won't save him. Not even close.

Past that - there's the rub.

It's by his own hand. No other place to put the blame - and I was quite pointed (and you know how sharp I can get) some time ago in warning him about working for people who Don't Pay You. He has five children, a wife compromised by CP - and is diabetic himself. And older than me.

And I told him I would be very angry with him if he didn't take some steps to protect himself against just this very day.

*gulp*

I'm willing to listen to opinions on this one. I can't kill him, tie him to a tree - or really, do anything useful.

Anything I can say, I'm certain he already knows. It's been a long time, and he and his family were intimately involved with Cliff's care since 1992. We're family, by choice. He knows.

And as the sole provider, he's taken five children and his wife with him. I haven't wanted to hit someone like this in so long...and the worst part, I was just thinking about them the other day (that 'you've been on my mind thing' - never good) - and found myself misting up over it. I knew, too. I do know who I'm dealing with.

Angry was a long, long time ago. Long gone.

Would it surprise anyone that this is one of my most conservative friends? I often use him as a touchstone - because while he's a Rushie, a devout Catholic and as red as the day is long - he's also one of the most consistent, loving, giving presences in my life. Not to mention smarter than the average bear. If he had it, and I needed it - I got it. But not money - this is the first time it's gotten to this point.

It's the years worth of days he's made the decision not to protect himself and provide for himself and his family. I don't understand it at all. It must have been a whole lot of fun and ego-boo, that's all I can say.

I want to sit him down and make him find a job that makes him money every single day. He's so certain working for himself is going to be the answer, and in all the years I've known him, it hasn't been. He isn't playing to strengths. And time is out. It's gooooone.

This is my oldest of twenty. Gods, he knows better. He knows what's happening.

What is my saying anything going to do? This isn't something I'd ever have done, or consider doing. It wasn't safe.

I'm going to give him a call and see if they need shoes, too. What else can I do? *throws up hands*

If I were him, I'd be deaf right now from all the scolding. Adding my voice to the chorus just doesn't make sense.

So here's the question, troops. Say something? Say nothing -

I'm open to suggestions.

Too much bread, not enough butter -

divalea? Represent, please.

It's happened to someone else.

Do I need to mention house fires are more common this time of year? I don't? Okay.

Watch the old cords, don't leave candles burning unattended - don't leave the Christmas lights on when you leave the house, and put the outdoor lights on a timer. Don't sleep with them on. Okay? We clear on that?

Troops, I need some help with a ticklish subject. And I don't mean ticklish in a good way.

One of my oldest, most conservative friends - has approached me in dire financial straits. I've already committed to what help I can provide, and it won't save him. Not even close.

Past that - there's the rub.

It's by his own hand. No other place to put the blame - and I was quite pointed (and you know how sharp I can get) some time ago in warning him about working for people who Don't Pay You. He has five children, a wife compromised by CP - and is diabetic himself. And older than me.

And I told him I would be very angry with him if he didn't take some steps to protect himself against just this very day.

*gulp*

I'm willing to listen to opinions on this one. I can't kill him, tie him to a tree - or really, do anything useful.

Anything I can say, I'm certain he already knows. It's been a long time, and he and his family were intimately involved with Cliff's care since 1992. We're family, by choice. He knows.

And as the sole provider, he's taken five children and his wife with him. I haven't wanted to hit someone like this in so long...and the worst part, I was just thinking about them the other day (that 'you've been on my mind thing' - never good) - and found myself misting up over it. I knew, too. I do know who I'm dealing with.

Angry was a long, long time ago. Long gone.

Would it surprise anyone that this is one of my most conservative friends? I often use him as a touchstone - because while he's a Rushie, a devout Catholic and as red as the day is long - he's also one of the most consistent, loving, giving presences in my life. Not to mention smarter than the average bear. If he had it, and I needed it - I got it. But not money - this is the first time it's gotten to this point.

It's the years worth of days he's made the decision not to protect himself and provide for himself and his family. I don't understand it at all. It must have been a whole lot of fun and ego-boo, that's all I can say.

I want to sit him down and make him find a job that makes him money every single day. He's so certain working for himself is going to be the answer, and in all the years I've known him, it hasn't been. He isn't playing to strengths. And time is out. It's gooooone.

This is my oldest of twenty. Gods, he knows better. He knows what's happening.

What is my saying anything going to do? This isn't something I'd ever have done, or consider doing. It wasn't safe.

I'm going to give him a call and see if they need shoes, too. What else can I do? *throws up hands*

If I were him, I'd be deaf right now from all the scolding. Adding my voice to the chorus just doesn't make sense.

So here's the question, troops. Say something? Say nothing -

I'm open to suggestions.

Too much bread, not enough butter -

divalea? Represent, please.

It's happened to someone else.

Do I need to mention house fires are more common this time of year? I don't? Okay.

Watch the old cords, don't leave candles burning unattended - don't leave the Christmas lights on when you leave the house, and put the outdoor lights on a timer. Don't sleep with them on. Okay? We clear on that?

Troops, I need some help with a ticklish subject. And I don't mean ticklish in a good way.

One of my oldest, most conservative friends - has approached me in dire financial straits. I've already committed to what help I can provide, and it won't save him. Not even close.

Past that - there's the rub.

It's by his own hand. No other place to put the blame - and I was quite pointed (and you know how sharp I can get) some time ago in warning him about working for people who Don't Pay You. He has five children, a wife compromised by CP - and is diabetic himself. And older than me.

And I told him I would be very angry with him if he didn't take some steps to protect himself against just this very day.

*gulp*

I'm willing to listen to opinions on this one. I can't kill him, tie him to a tree - or really, do anything useful.

Anything I can say, I'm certain he already knows. It's been a long time, and he and his family were intimately involved with Cliff's care since 1992. We're family, by choice. He knows.

And as the sole provider, he's taken five children and his wife with him. I haven't wanted to hit someone like this in so long...and the worst part, I was just thinking about them the other day (that 'you've been on my mind thing' - never good) - and found myself misting up over it. I knew, too. I do know who I'm dealing with.

Angry was a long, long time ago. Long gone.

Would it surprise anyone that this is one of my most conservative friends? I often use him as a touchstone - because while he's a Rushie, a devout Catholic and as red as the day is long - he's also one of the most consistent, loving, giving presences in my life. Not to mention smarter than the average bear. If he had it, and I needed it - I got it. But not money - this is the first time it's gotten to this point.

It's the years worth of days he's made the decision not to protect himself and provide for himself and his family. I don't understand it at all. It must have been a whole lot of fun and ego-boo, that's all I can say.

I want to sit him down and make him find a job that makes him money every single day. He's so certain working for himself is going to be the answer, and in all the years I've known him, it hasn't been. He isn't playing to strengths. And time is out. It's gooooone.

This is my oldest of twenty. Gods, he knows better. He knows what's happening.

What is my saying anything going to do? This isn't something I'd ever have done, or consider doing. It wasn't safe.

I'm going to give him a call and see if they need shoes, too. What else can I do? *throws up hands*

If I were him, I'd be deaf right now from all the scolding. Adding my voice to the chorus just doesn't make sense.

So here's the question, troops. Say something? Say nothing -

I'm open to suggestions.