Your Weekly Antics, All Aboard the Crazy Train Edition... 11-9-2023

Well kids, you never know what you may come home with when you leave the Woo - for those of you who continue to have your train hitched to mine, welcome aboard, happy to have you. Here’s what I’ve got…

1. There was a rare Billy Parenteau sighting in the 02 this week kids, and once you know why, you’re all going to be jealous. Anyone who knows anything knows, that the Parenteau’s are always spreading cheer, and on this occasion the Kap house was on the receiving end of that cheer in food form. More specifically, Polish food, it was like Al hit the lottery. Billy delivered authentic homemade polish stuffed cabbage, a delicacy that I do not have the skills to make, nor does my husband who is the official Polack of the house. I don’t think Helen can even pull this meal off. When Al has attempted to make such a feast it was the equivalent to a giant meatball wrapped in soggy cabbage. Mary Parenteau is the real deal. Not only is she always trying to find new and interesting ways to do the work of the people, she feeds them too.

2. Made chocolate chip cookies this week to share with my friends and they never made it off the baking rack. Gibson who continues to grow tall and large, helped himself without the aid of the step stool, to every last one of them, hot off the counter. Exhibit 1, this is the face of no remorse. Regarding the chocolate, he was fine, no worse for the wear. #castironstomach

3. Pay back Part 2. It’s all fun and games when you’re messing with Grammy until she messes with you back. The youngest Kap kid having not learned her lesson last week decided to mess with her again. When being sent to Grammy’s closet to retrieve some paper towels from her secret stash, she came upon a fall/Halloween painting that was painted during a paint night. She asked Grammy why she didn’t have it out on display, and why not display it now, it’s still got the fall theme going on. Grammy said thanks, but no thanks. Meri reminded her Grandmother that her favorite daughter painted that painting and Sue Miller’s response was, yeah, so? I told Meri to take a look around. Is there one picture of her Uncle or I anywhere in that house? No. But Jake Messiers picture is still pulled out twice a year….and let’s not forget that Deb has her photo placed right on the mantle in Sue Miller’s line of sight. 🙄 The painting was put out anyway for Sue Miller to discover when she was going to bed that night. Heads up Meri, Grammy's coming for you...

4. You hear all sorts of things when you work with the public, specifically when you go out to the homes of that public. I have it on good authority that there is a cow – you read that right – a cow, as in livestock, living inside a home in one of our neighborhoods. I’m not talking out in Barre or Oakham or Braintree or Gilbertville, the more rural towns in our service area. I’m talking right here in the Woo. And no, I don't have picture proof, and I'm not revealing my sources. I'm no yellow bellied rat fink and I'm not going to be responsible for sending some cow to the clink.

Nothing to see here...

5. Thought I’d have a quick snack today before dinner, and was perusing the snack items in our cabinets. Pickings were thin, our Wegmans grocery getter has been slacking this week. I’m generally a Wheat Thins kind of girl, but alas, we were all out. The next cracker of choice were Triscuits. Triscuits aren’t generally in our snack supply and are certainly not my go to, but figured I’d give it a gander to take the edge off. Should’ve stayed in my lane and avoided this straw - like cracker because first bite in, I was choking. Home alone I thought to myself, great, this is how I’m going to die. Not saving someone from a moving train. Not doing something good for someone, but while eating this poor excuse for a cracker that I don't even like. Obviously I survived this near death experience because here I sit writing about it. No longer having any use for this Brillo pad like cracker, the remainder of the box was unceremoniously tossed in the trash where any and all racoons are cordially invited to help themselves. ✌ Peace out Triscuits. Please note…I’ve never choked on or almost died from a peanut m&m, just saying.

6. I should’ve known better than to partake in the snack named in #5, because now that I think of it, we have not had a Triscuit in this house in over 20 years. Picture this – Hampton Beach, 2001 with a 2 year old Sam sitting on the porch of Sandy and Bob Kirkorian’s rental on J Street with Sue Miller, Ginna, Bob and Sandy Kirkorian and a few others. The kid gets a hold of a Triscuit and like his Mother, one bite in, he starts choking. Bob Kirkorian with the training of any good and loyal Verizon employee, jumps into action, does the Heimlich and saves the kid from choking right there in front of us. That would have been sure to spoil what was up to that point a lovely family vacation. Maybe Al has finally come to his senses and has plans for me, he us the grocery getter after all…#deathbytriscuit

7. Another fun fact and tid bit that I learned from Bob Kirkorian and still practice to this day…keep Lysol disinfectant spray in your car and spray it on the bottom of your shoes after leaving some of the more unsavory homes we go to. This will assist you in not transporting any unwanted creepy crawly critters that may be attempting to hitch a ride home with you via the bottom of your shoes. We can take a lot home with us from working in social services, but bringing bugs home is not preferred, I'd much prefer a crocheted pot holder. #learnsomethingneweveryday

8. Exhibit 3, my winnings from our road trip to Bangor Maine. This is the much sought after light up Christmas rabbit. And before you ask, there is a whole facebook group, Show Me The Bunny! dedicated to the lucky holders of this particular Christmas décor. He’s not just for Christmas people, he's for all seasons and all holidays and will be decorated and dressed accordingly. He’s been named Hare – Y – Styles, please take note of the play on words - the nod to the fashion sense of musical artist Harry Styles, as our Hare - Y - Styles will also be dressed to the nines for all occasions, and Hare as in rabbit. Keep a look out, my new bunny friend who does not require food or water may be making cameo appearances during my weekly Supervision with Robyn Foley as we take to the streets spreading glitter and cheer.

9. Reason one billion why there’s no need for me to dress for work. Cats. Everywhere I go, cats. On this particular visit, much to my surprise I met not one, but two cats, that mustn’t have gotten the memo from Worcester Street cats everywhere that I am the devil. These cats were clean, nice, friendly and we became fast friends. Alas, there’s always a catch. The owner of said cats, the elder who initially wanted nothing to do with me, reluctantly let me in to her home, and was now holding me hostage. Visits such as this one, you know will never end until you make it end, by starting to make your way towards the exit. Once at that exit, you have to open that door, say your goodbyes again, and again and again and often vacate while the person is still talking. Did I feel bad? Not really...had I not done that I'd be writing this weeks Antics from this womans stairwell. I think I’m finally out of there and in the clear when the elder opens the door again and continues to talk to me, letting one of her cats out – that little bastard shot out her back door like a cannon with the elder wailing on and on about how I let him out. Listen lady, I don’t know what you’re talking about, I was halfway down the stairs when you opened that door talking to me about the wide variety of cat litters that are available for purchase down at the local Shaw’s Supermarket. Maybe your cat found this conversation so informative he figured he’d beat feet and get himself down to Shaw’s to find out for himself. Naturally these thoughts were kept inside my head and not spoken out loud, and in pursuit of this cat I went, up and down the stairs. I get back to the first floor, and he shot back up the stairs. Off I went to the second floor just for the little bastard to go back down. I get back down to the first floor and up he went to the second and then the third floor, and like a dumbass, I followed. By the time I got to the third floor, we were at a stand off, me at the top of the stairs, him in the corner. We took that opportunity to have a little conversation of our own right there at the top of the stairs. This little adventure could end several different ways I told him... A, I could grab the broom in the stairwell and attempt to herd him back to his apartment. B, We could continue this charade and I’d eventually have a heart attack, C, I could start throwing things at him or attempt to beat him with the broom mentioned in A, or D, we could end this nicely, him cooperating and getting his ass back in to his apartment. As I contemplated getting the broom to herd him back home, he came to his senses and sauntered right down the stairs in to the open door and arms of his owner who was still yelling at me for letting her cat out. Had I been wearing jeans, a sweatshirt and sneakers, he wouldn't have left his apartment in the first place. That’s right pal, tell your friends - I won.

10. Rest assured, this particular building is managed

by a management company, therefore there are camera's everywhere. #9 will probably end up on social media somewhere. Go ahead, laugh it up.

And last but not least, do what keeps you entertained and happy as long as it is not at the expense of others. If this means getting yourself a giant plastic rabbit to drive around the city with, do it - you'd be amazed at the looks you'll get.

Have a great weekend!