Just a note on my current MIA status

[tephra]

For the few people that might be wondering where I have run off to that I haven't spoken to about it: I'm at my parents' place.

The heat is killing me. The dumping of everyone's problems on me because I'm "the smart one" and a fresh ear is driving me to want to kill. The assorted medical issues and chauffeuring I'm doing is less than pleasant.

In the week I have been here I have:

• installed a (snail)mailbox


• straightened out a screw up with the ISP


• made the recovery disks for my brother's PC


• ripped Norton off it and put AVG on it (and boy, downloading that and the assorted Windows security patches that piled up over the last year over dial-up was just so much fun)


• had my Jeep inspected


• taken over cooking and shopping responsibilities


• ended up tending the arthritic, senile, and incontinent labrador


• become the cats' new slave


• been asked for legal advise (WTF? I'm a geologist and computer geek, not a lawyer)


• been asked for political advise (kill 'em all)


• served as the auxiliary memory device for the household (because no one can remember anything apparently, nor write it down)

Is it any wonder that I don't look forward to coming here?

And today there was an abortive attempt to guilt trip me over the fact that I live 1000 miles away.

I imagine I will be here at least another week, probably two, since Mom's surgery is Monday and she's taking 4 days off work (which with her schedule gives her two weeks off).