OK, can't quite figure out resurrecting the SangoKids blog, so I'm starting over. I chose Noy's Family as a tribute to Snoopy, trying to conjure warm, fuzzy memories as we deal with vexing parental problems. We could even claim a motto: "What Would Snoopy/Noy Do?", and the obvious answers would be, bark, run around and lie down to be scratched. I'm sure this will guide us.
Most important note for all of us is that Dad looks great. He's down ~50 lbs and is eating a very low-carb diet, salads, pork, chicken?, etc. He's off insulin meds altogther, has reduced his hypoglycemic pills, reduced is high blood pressure meds. Hopes to get better cpk levels, which he thinks is responsible for aches and pains....Dr. Shanley? Anyway, he looks great. Andy, why didn't you tell us? Do you want us to keep believing that you're the only stud in the family?
So the bare bones of the visit are that he gave us an update on the rest of the Sango Family (also known as the Addams Family/Dysfunctional Family of the Decade/Who are those people that have my last name? I don't claim them.) (Those updates to follow.)
The status of dad is as follows: Rib and I laid out what could happen:
1. tell Sally she is legally bound to pay. (Note: she reduced the amount that she contributes once before; she pays ~$400/month to board Belle, does not ride her anymore, only cares for and exercises her.....)
2a. she could then say OK, I'll pay;
2b. she could then say, I'm not paying, which would lead to:
2.b.1. legal action by dad to have her pay as the mortgage goes into foreclosure,
2.b.2. she forces the issue by initiating divorce proceedings.
Conversation around this covered:
A. Dad saying he's determined to finish house; thinks he's very close to that point after
1. drain install
2. drywall install, mud, paint
3. tear out last horse-hair plaster (where?) and fix that
4. fix leak spot in famly room roof (remove furniture, tear down deiling, replace, paint, replace furniture)
(I have to say, he does say it in a compelling way that makes you want to believe he can do it.)
B. Dad gets a job. We urged him to check Craigslist and he asked some basic questions and said he should be able to figure it out.
My sense is that if we can keep up this kind of contact with him, it will make him feel accountable to us. I stopped short of saying we would help with the house (and even the downed branches in the yard--god, how easy would that be??).
More on the Sango extended family in another post. Must keep the dysfunctions separate.
