So, I spent last week in Ohio visiting my dad and step-mom.  She was having surgery and wanted someone to be around with my dad who doesn't really get around very well anymore.

I guess the big problem is that when they have all these little chores and things to do around the yard and such, my dad feels he has to be there directing the action because as far as he's concerned, if you don't do it his way, you're doing it wrong.  Oh, he doesn't say that, but that's how he acts.  He treats me like I'm still 17 and don't know how to do anything.  It's SO annoying - I had to bite my tongue a few times a day because he's so condescending, intentional or not. 

I love him and definitely gotta respect him.  He was a surgeon at the Cleveland Clinic for 35 years and was one of the first surgeon there to use staples in surgery.  But sometimes, like all parents, he can be really frustrating.  : )
He wanted me to trim this umbrella tree in the patio area, so I was fine with that.  But I soon found there were yellow jackets (I just verified- not hornets) flying around it and it was obviously a nest.  My dad, of course, says "Oh, they won't bother you if you don't bother them".  Yeeaahh, well isn't that what I'm actually doing by chopping off these branches a couple feet away?  So, I get stung once and damn, those fuckers hurt.  And keep in mind, I've managed to go this long in life without getting stung.  Ever.  So I had no idea if I was allergic or not.  So, then I try to be even more careful after my dad says to just trim away from "that area" of the tree.  Damn tree is only about 5-6 feet across; I can't get that far away!  So, in about 5 minutes I get stung again.  Great.  That was it.  I was done. 

And you know, yellow jackets don't loose their stingers like honey bees do.  They can sting and sting to their little hearts content.  The little fuckers.

Otherwise, it was hot and humid all friggin' week and rained every day after 3 PM.  I only got to get out one night the whole time I was there so I was going kinda nuts. 

Every time I go back there I can't help but feel how small town it is.  L.A. has spoiled me.  Gotta love living near a major city.  There's just so much to do.  I could never go back to Cleveland, or Ohio, I don't think.