So, last night I come home. Tired as heck from work, picking kids up & getting them situated, and play rehearsal. I just want to do nothing but go to a bed and sleep. So on the way before I even turn the corner from rehearsal the phone rings.

me: hello

na-na: your son has found something

me: what is it

na-na: it's just a boy thing

me: what is it

na-na: he just brought it home

me: could you please just get to the point and stop the game of charades. (edged with I am freaking tired and don't wanna play)

na-na: he found a kitten that's half starved and didn't even have enough energy to move when he went to pick it up.

me: we'll feed it tonight and take it to the shelter tomorrow (as I pass Walmart pull in and get out to buy orphan kitty milk)

na-na: let (insert son's name here) tell you.

son: hey mom, I found a cat. He could move but he is skinny and you can see his tail bone.

me: sweetie, we can take care of the kitty tonight but tomorrow we have to take him to the shelter

son: mom can't we keep it.

me: no we already have 2 dogs I take to the vet and we just can't have another animal. You have to consider vet bills and upkeep and we just can't do that right now.

son: mommmmmmmm

me: No sweetie we can take care of the kitty tonight but tomorrow we have to take him to the shelter

The phone hangs up. I purchase the orphan kitty milk and then return to my mothers house where we have been sleeping for a week while the water pipes at our house are fixed. As I pull in I see the na-na and my 2 boys 13 and 9 getting out of the car. No cat

me: Where's the cat?

9 year old son: at our house in the bathroom9.

13 yr. old son: Nana bought it kitty litter, food, and a kitty litter box. We're keeping it.

So mad now because not only have I said no repeatedly but now the Nana deliberately tells them they can keep it and puts it in MY HOUSE! So I let her know I am furious. She continues...not sure what it all sounded like blah, blah, blah.
I tell her I am not speaking to her at the moment because I will say something hurtful because I am very upset. I would just rather not say anything to her at that moment.

I turn the car back on and head to my house.(while taking the kitty milk to help the kitty out)
I go inside and what do I find???

A very stray, big eyed, half feral kitten. Scrawny, but scrawny as most strays are. Not starved. Not dying. Not in trouble. Just in fear at the moment being caught and stuck in a bathroom with the door close thinking "you want me to do WHAT in that box?"

so following after comes the na-na and the 2 boys. She says she is going to keep the cat; which she and I both know is bullshit she just can't say no in front of the boys. I have to be the bad guy and she does everything she can to look like the friend and rescuer!

I tell her 'Mom I really don't know what to say to you right now. I feel like saying (in my best mommy voice to a child I can muster) 'sit down now so we can talk about what's going on"
I mean really. It's like a 3rd child at the moment.

Anyways she takes the cat and they get all the stuff and treat me like I am the big Meany heavy and take the cat to her car. As they are exiting out the door, I raise my hand, feeling the heaviness of I'm the ogre and the only one who has to make the hard correct choices, I hand the oldest son the orphan kitty milk.

They beat me back to the na-na's house and set up the cat a spot in her bathroom.
As I round the corner a group of strays, who look just like the 'orphaned kitty' are looking for there little companion. So...not only is this not an orphaned kitty but it was catnapped from it's family.
So...I explain to the boys how this kitty has a home and a family who love it and are outside right now looking for it. They understand and they release the cat to it's family.

Ahhh...I may now get some rest. It is now 11:30pm. Nope not gonna happen. The Nana refuses to let me lay down...following as I go and we have to discuss the ...'National health care system".
Yes, right then at that very moment I had to discuss the National Health care system. She's for. I'm against. I'm against getting the government involved in it. What needs to happen is a revamp of the insurance system. There in lies the problem. Too many hands into the money pot and this is what has caused such a ruckus.
I almost plead...look I have got to get sleep. There are real people in the audience tomorrow. Real paying patrons. I need SLEEP! This conversation CAN WAIT TILL TOMORROW. She sees it differently. Now she must try to make her Republican daughter a democrat. It's not gonna happen. Sorry.
So...no sleep until 12:15. I am EXHAUSTED!!!

And here I sit. Not enough sleep and outrageously tired working, or should I say blogging, and having a play in 3 hours. And that's a true story.