It's a very cold Saturday morning with about an inch of fresh snow on the ground. My finger tips are all cracked and split open from my "dry skin disease". Yes, I'm constantly putting creams and oils on my hands, but ..... I just live with it.

I don't think I ever mentioned that not only do I see my third daughter and grandson fairly frequently (because they live 45' away), I got to spend quality time with my oldest daughter from Honduras when she was home in Dec. Topping that, I spoke at length on the phone with both my middle daughter AND son in California recently!! Son Darin sounded great, though somewhat aggravated and bored at being unemployed. Otherwise, I got caught up on his life at soon to be 28 yrs. old. No scolding or berating from me. All positive words of encouragement. Good to hear his voice!

Spent an hour with my father a few days ago. He looked and felt good (93 soon). Still hapy to be removed from daughter Barb, living independently. He told me he chastised her for her devious methods, most likely intended, for taking over his house and virtually running him out. He insists on a formal "contract" detailing possession, rent, taxes, insurance, utilities, etc. All business. Now that he's been "pushed around", he's thought about what happened and is pushing back!

So Barb admitted Dad "laid into me". She didn't refute or deny his accusations, but that's because she said she didn't want to argue or fight with him over it. She was agreeable ("That's fine") with his demands. They can both be rather ascerbic--together, downright sulfuric acidic! We'll see what happens. I'm just the middle man.

Barb asked me to attend her little "soiree" (music party) last night. So I did. She invited 4 couples. She was in her element--the "hostess with the mostess". Hors d'oeuvres, wine, salad, lasagne, apple strudle. This was a musical crowd, so we had piano solos, duets, etc. (She has 3 grand pianos in the house!). I knew most of the guests, so I felt comfortable. But that's her thing--entertainment and fun. She likes and craves the attention and the plaudits.

I've mentioned it before in a post (Letter to my Father), that dad has never complimented us kids, or said he was proud of us, or encouraged us. We never did things right, mistakes or errors in judgment magnified. Consequently, over the years, we have needed to bring attention to ourselves, one way or another. We want to be appreciated. For Barb, this is how she does it. It works for her.

I appreciated that she gave me all her left-over food! Lots of lasagna! It had meat and cheese in it, and she's a vegan. I didn't protest. She could have given some to dad, but they're still in an anger stage. By the way, she didn't invite her twin sister to her party. "No way". (competition, but that's another story!)

Exercise after computer time, then football games! Go Colts!