Well, never mind then

For reasons that I am unable to understand, my brother has pulled the plug on moving himself and our mom here. Something to do with the money, but it doesn’t make sense.

I will have to go retrieve the deposit check from the assisted living facility (where I work with four or five patients every week), go find another renter for the house we agreed to manage for our friend who lives in Africa just because brother was moving here and wanted to rent it, and will be explaining it to the dozens of friends and relatives who have been expecting them to arrive this weekend (today, in fact).

I have no idea how to respond and I have no control over the situation. Anyone else had a relative blow a cork over eldercare and do crazy stuff that is not in their best interest?

Well, it’s less work and worry for me in some ways, but I wanted to be helpful and it’s been years since the old biological family has been in one place.

Guess I’ll need to regroup and start focusing on myself, my wife and my writing again.

Mom update

Surprising development - I’ve just put down a deposit on an apartment in assisted living for my mom. That means it’s a regular apartment with help, three squares, bathing/dressing, schnauzer welcome. Posh place, better than anything she’s had in years, but still costs less than any nursing home. It’s five minutes from my house, and I’m in and out of the place all week anyway; my homecare agency sends me there frequently. Stress city getting her there though. Even with experience in the field it’s confusing. Wierd system we’ve got, that makes things so complicated it takes an entire family of motivated, well-educated people to figure out what the hell to do to make tolerable living arrangements for the disabled elderly.

I am completely amazed that she’s recovered enough to be accepted there. She’s worked really hard in rehab to get out of the nursing home and back home to her puppy.

I’ve had a complete shutdown on my fiction writing. There is too much reality in my life.

More later, must go attend to my insomnia.

Bigotrometer

Prejudiced? Bigoted? Intolerant? Carrying around benign but silly biases?

Take this simple test to find out: 

Fill in the blanks: 

1. I don’t mind ___________________, I just wouldn’t want one marrying my (brother/sister/child/etc). 

2. Some of my best friends are ______________________. Estimate how many and write the total here = _____. 

3. Everyone knows that ______________________ are _____________________. 

4. _____________________ can’t be trusted. 

5. _____________________ are lazy. 

6. _____________________ are always late. 

7. I frequently say something like “Well, what do you expect – all _____________ are liars?” 

8. I will not go to this activity or place if I expect _______________________ to be there. 

9. The world would be a safer place if ________________ would leave/disappear/convert/etc. 

Matching:

Recombine the words in the left two columns with the words in the two right columns that you associate with these groups. Mix and match as you like (Your person with mustache could be a tense power-hungry female - for example.)

White Black Hispanic Asian Republican Democrat Liberal Conservative Jewish French Gay Lesbian Christian Muslim Libertarian Teenager Atheist Immigrant

Female Male Elderly Politician Pop Star Talk Show Host Priest Minister Dentist Lawyer Southern Canadian Person w/mustache Athlete Person w/disability Nascar fan

Cheap Stupid Mean Violent Dangerous Educated Irrational Pretty Strong Dirty Rude Greedy Intelligent Selfish Wise Practical Pushy Weak

Generous Creative Smart Dishonest Polite Evil Power-hungry Tense Elite Stylish Arrogant Simplistic Drug-addled Insincere Promiscuous Foolish Damned

 Multiple choice: 

Most likely to start a war:

1. Americans
2. Arabs
3. Homosexuals
4. Homemakers

 Most likely to vote:

1. Women
2. Men
3. Rock stars
4. Convicted felons

 Most likely to help out in a natural disaster

1. Republicans
2. Democrats
3. Libertarians
4. Random strangers

 Most likely to share what they’ve got

1. French
2. Atheists
3. Artists
4. Programmers

 Most likely to pay taxes

1. Christians
2. Rich people
3. Poor people
4. Musicians

Please feel free to add an “other” line to any of the above multiple choice questions. 

How’d you do?

This is a score-it-yourself test. Remember those? On a scale of 1-5, with 1 being not at all and 5 being maximally bigoted: 

1. Full of love for all humankind – medicated and ready for world peace.
2. Some minor biases, but I try to see things with an open mind.
3. A little bigoted – I hadn’t really thought about it before.
4. Somewhat bigoted – that’s just how things are.
5. Absolutely bigoted, and proud of it.