Darker and Darker

First off, if you like chocolate chip cookies that spread, change the ratio of brown to white sugar 2 : 1. That would be one cup of brown to every half cup of white, and bake in a slower oven than recommended.

Second, as it is Sunday, I have papers to correct and also went over to Dad's, still grousing. Although today, things became much clearer, but I promised I wouldn't yell at him or approach my brother. All his life, my brother received payment for existing. Go to the store, get ten bucks. Mow the lawn, get twenty. This was extra besides getting an allowance, until he moved out in his thirties to get married. It kept him close to the folks, and I wonder if he regrets that.

Apparently not too much, because my father said he was broke and could not afford the woman who checks in on him three times a week. She gets $240 for the hour long visits, which really isn't bad, and she calls inbetween to check on him. Well, Dad, where is all your money going? He gets almost as much as I make a month from disability. Oh, I dunnnooo, I pay $40 for electric and $147 for gas and then there's groceries. That should leave him with about $800-900 left over for maintenance and clothing. Guess who I found still gets an allowance?

John's strapped for money, says Dad. Oh ho ho. He has a job with the county, a wife who doesn't currently work, a new van, a house, and they live nicer than a lot of people. My father pays him various amounts for mowing the lawn or going to the store. He pays the wife money to do his laundry, gas money, and extra for picking up his groceries. Well, some of that I can see, but twenty five bucks for getting groceries? Here is the one that made me see fire: he pays my brother $150 a month to call him every day. Is that insane? Who in their right mind would take that kind of money from an elderly parent to call everyday?!

The house needs taking care of and a sump pump to be dug, paint, landscaping, recaulking, tree care, a stove, carpeting, and it would be nice for a cleaning service to stop by once a month. It could be done without the horseshit my brother is pulling. I said it was between the two of them, that I wouldn't say anything to John. There are other ways of getting around this.

First thing, I'm calling the Veteran's Administration to see what Dad is eligible for regarding benefits. He told me he doesn't get anything from the government except the SSI. Dad is 83 and won't be here much longer, a few years at best. Not that I ever got along with him, but I don't take advantage of his insecurities.

Good Christmas. I couldn't believe it when he told me he paid my brother for calling. Jesus H.
Well, it will give me an impetus to set a few things straight in this nutcase family. I hope I can sleep tonight, I made decaf this morning, but still feel a caffeine buzz as I finished the carafe.
It will be cooler, this end of September night.

Peace to all, sleep cozy and sound.