Part 175 ~ The Adventures of King Ben & Zeus Big Dumb Dog

~ King Ben's Grandma

If you missed the start of this series, you can find it here. A lot of things will be the same or very similar.

Ben went out to his dirt hole again last night, like the previous night. Good choice for him. Daughter was cooking his chicken breasts and everything was still groovy. He ate, had a bath and off to bed.

I was taking pictures during this time for my Science Project. September 22 is Autumnal Equinox, so my post for September 23 will have the comparison of Summer Solstice to Autumnal Equinox. Then we move on to Winter Solstice. The comparison between the two solstices is what I really want to see. Anyway, pictures…(it was nice to see blue sky above the smoke line, also clouds coming in from the west meant the Santa Ana winds had weakened)

Younger Daughter stopped by on her way home from work for some benadryl. I think she wanted some Mama love too. She told me the full story of how she ripped her pants at work. It was in the butt, of course and it happened fifteen minutes into her shift. Such a waste of gas to drive all the way back home and all the way back to work. We talked about finances and how we’re all doing pretty well considering she’s basically been out of work since March, and Ben being home all day has cost us more money, plus helping her out. All of our bills are paid, we have food… we’re doing better than a lot of other people. She stayed at work an extra hour to make up what she lost, so she was tired. She didn’t stay long.

I did my Night Stuff, nuked some Amy’s enchiladas, and relaxed. I hadn’t realized I bought different enchiladas, I usually get cheese, but these were black bean and veggie. Of course I put a grip of extra sharp cheddar on top and some sour cream, but YUM! Happy accident. I love when that happens. At 11:45 I took my pill and fell asleep pretty quickly.

Ben came to my room at 6am. He stood in the door and said “I want Gramma come living room, please.” Zeus was sniffing me at the time. I told Ben I was coming… and so began another day… at Casa Cuckoo (cue Soap Opera type music)

Morning Stuff… Sven was all kinds of grumpy when I uncovered him. I held him for a while, got him fresh food to scatter, and put him back under the lights.

Then I went to take pictures of sunrise. It was really pretty this morning. There was a seagull circling around too. They occasionally come this far inland. They’re scavengers and hang out at the dump. A flock of birds flew past as I was taking pictures. They weren’t squawking so I don’t know if it was the parrots. I havent seen them since the fire started. I miss them.

Then it was time for Ben’s meds and Couch Sittin. He was watching that blasted Peppa Pig and was showing me a phone in the cartoon. Then he wanted my tablet, to look up the phone in the shopping area I guess. He found one and they accepted PayPal credit, so I ordered the dang thing, not realizing it was shipping from UK. Jiminey Cricket On A Motorscooter! The shipping cost more than the dang toy.

Then I had a thought about the Batman costume that he asks about daily. I went to the company’s site directly to see if I could use PayPal credit there… sure enough. Hallelujah! I ordered the Batman costume and even spent $10 extra for it to come Monday. Ben cost me close to $200 this morning. But how much is peace and the end of obsessions worth? He is seriously stuck on that costume and he’s been stuck on Peppa Pig for a while. (I really, REALLY detest Peppa, et al!)

Daughter got up at 7:30 and took over Couch Sittin. I gave my report and went to get Horizontal. It was actually a little chilly this morning. I was shivering, but decided to enjoy the sensation while I could.

I woke from a doze at 9:30 to the sound of Daughter trying to get Ben to Zoom. Today they were writing. Ben took about ten minutes to get settled in the chair, then he didn’t want to write the requested sentence. Daughter told him to write “I want to play with chalk.” since that’s what he kept saying. I guess he eventually did, cuz Daughter told him to hold the paper up to the camera and I heard Ben say “Look what I did.” Daughter got him through the end of the session by having him write “The end.” I’m surprised he didn’t write “A Walt Disney Production” also. All in all, a successful Zoom. Some roaring and Angry Words after but not the hour of last time. He had another session scheduled for 11:30.

I continued my Horizontal Time and went through my WP reader. The weather was comfortable and the vibe was relaxed. The stinky air was still burning my nose, but that’s minor.

Daughter got Ben into the chair for the 11:30 Zoom. It only took ten minutes of concentrated effort. Getting him to sit through a story and talk about NFL Football was a waste of time. It sounded like it was going bad but Ben hung in there and sat for twenty-three minutes. Good enough. And WELL DONE, BEN! Two Zoom sessions completed. Minimal learning, but he’s trying.

Daughter ordered McDonald’s to be delivered. A Happy Meal always puts a smile on Ben’s face. I got fries. I’m not a huge fast food eater, but I can’t resist McDonald’s fries. Ben was hanging out in my room after the Zoom, so he stayed in my room to eat. Zeus stared at the food. He always gets the leftovers, he can wait.

Around 2pm I got an email alert of another fire near us. This one is in a city northwest of us. It’s in the area of a regional park with hiking trails and a lot of wild, open area. Homes in the area were being evacuated. I guess the stinky skies are going to be with us a while longer. There is a recreational lake in the area of the new fire, and helicopters were already making water drops when the alert came in. The fire was contained and didn’t spread or burn any homes, which is awesome. It just put more smoke into the air, which is not so awesome.

Nothing much going on until bath and bedtime. Daughter got twenty nuggets to go with the four that came in Ben’s Happy Meal. He eats when he’s hungry… he grazes. The main reason Daughter fixes a meal in the evening is for routine, and to make sure he eats something with nutritional value. Anyway, no “dinnertime” tonight because he still has nuggets. He’s having me do Arts and Crafts at the moment… taping dominoes together in shapes that make sense to him. I just do as I’m told.

Another fire and my mind pops up with this song. Twisted mind. I love this song even though I have some angsty teenage memories attached to it.

BOC – Burning For You

Thank you for hanging out! Another mellow day. Tomorrow night Daughter goes back to work, so things are bound to pick up. I’ll probably be running errands too, so it was nice to do a whole lot of nothing. Good for my injury too, which is still sore. Come by tomorrow, we’ll see what kind of adventures we have. ¡Hasta mañana!

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HUGS!

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44 thoughts on “Part 175 ~ The Adventures of King Ben & Zeus Big Dumb Dog”

  1. I’m so guilty of ordering expensive things online that make my kids happy. EJ had a peppa pig phase. Although he has very limited speech a few years back he decided to memorize a peppa pig dialogue and say it repeatedly. I still remember it to this day. Peppa says “George wake up! Santa’s been!” after pouncing onto his bed. He also copied the pouncing on me in bed part at ungodly hours of the morning. My thoughts are with you, lol.

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    1. Ben is all about “Jumping up and down in muddy puddles” and calling Miss Rabbit for rescue.🙄 I’ve never watched it, but I know too much Peppa already. Ben is semi-verbal. A lot of what he does is scripting things from shows or movies, or phrases he’s been taught. “I need help” or “I want_____, please”. I don’t think most people would understand what he was saying or wanting.
      He’s a major sensory seeker so he’s always throwing his body into/onto things and, yes people. He’s landed on me or the dog so many times. 🤷🏼‍♀️ He keeps me on my toes and I’m never bored.😆

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      1. He sounds very much like my boys – they are also extreme sensory seekers. It has gotten so much harder as they’ve gotten bigger. EJ is entering puberty (he’s 12) and GJ just turned 10. Does Ben have really white blonde hair by any chance? Strange question I know but I keep seeing this group of kids with these particular traits.

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        1. Ben has ginger red hair. He’s also 12. He’s over 5 feet tall and weighs over 100 pounds. He’s a big kid and he’s very strong. When he loses control he hurts us. It can be very very difficult at times. I cant imagine having 2 of him. That would definitely require lots of help.

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          1. Yes, help which I currently don’t have. I fear they are becoming traumatized not understanding why I am not there. My ex-husband is horrible and enjoys it when I fail. He and his new wife sweep in and tell everyone I’m incompetent. My guys are also huge. They don’t mean harm but my youngest has almost broken my arm when he gets overwhelmed. It’s strange, my mom has plaque psoriasis and fibromyalgia too. So many similarities. I would so appreciate it if you get the chance to follow my blog. No pressure as I know you are probably maxed out with all you have to do most of the time.

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            1. When I click on your name it takes me to a site that says it’s been deleted. I tried to look already😉 send me a link, I’d love to add you.
              I’m sorry about you ex. Mine was abusive and thank goodness he’s out of my life. Ben’s dad hasn’t been involved since Ben was about 18 months old and it’s for the best. My daughters and I are raising Ben without his help or interference. My Younger Daughter moved out last year, but she still helps out a lot.

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                    1. I found it. Interesting that you’re commenting from a blog that’s deleted. An old blog? I’m not sure how you would go about making sure you’re connected to the “beauty” one instead of the “good” one.🤔 I’m not that technical either

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                    2. Lol a friend has been setting it up for me. I have to respect that it’s an ungodly hour in Canada right now and check what went wrong tomorrow. Glad you found the visible one.

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                    5. I had to look up where London is. My ex has family in Ontario, but not close to you, they’re in Sault St Marie area. I visited with him once.
                      So, are you a Red Wings fan or Maple Leafs?? 😂

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                    6. I am so not a hockey fan, lol. But if I had to pick I guess I’d go with Maple Leafs. Was your ex Canadian? I’m so sorry. My ex is American, lol. They have them everywhere apparently.

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                    7. I’m a Red Wings fan. Hockey is the only sport I really like.

                      My ex is American. His family is from Sault St Marie, Michigan. His extended family was on both sides of the border. I doubt it was much of a border in the early 1900s. He lives in Indiana now. 2000 miles away. Good place for him.

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                    8. 🙂 hockey is a religion here in Canada. Any town of decent size has a hockey arena that is the community centre. I’m definitely strange for not being a fan.

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                    9. I should add that I really struggle with being terrible at conforming to the status quo which is probably my only reason for not being a hockey fan in Canada, lol. It’s totally acceptable if you’re living in California ;). I was raised in a very religious family and community – Mennonite. Even the idea of going to church makes me break out in hives. I was a major failure as a Mennonite, lol. I am more of a hear the voice of God in nature and see Him in the beautiful little things kind of person.

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                    10. I was raised without any religion at all. I have my own mish-mash of beliefs which includes everyone’s right to their own beliefs. As long as someone isn’t trying to convert me, I have no problem with them discussing their beliefs. Or not.🤷🏼‍♀️😄

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                    11. Glad to hear it. I have beliefs that keep me sane that my family consider heresy. I’ve learned from the whole experience that we all just need to give people space to figure out stuff on their own and say what they think without judgement. We will get along just fine. 😉

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  2. The blue sky above the line is so pretty. I love your science project! I’m looking forward to the comparison photos. I’m thinking of middles school science fairs 🧐. McDonald’s fries – 🥰 Have a super evening. 🎶💃✨💞

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    1. Thank you! I keep thinking of those Science Projects too… I’m kinda making fun of myself with the whole science thing, but it IS kinda cool to see how the Sun seems to move with the seasons. We know it’s the Earth that is really moving, but it makes me think of ancient shamans watching the sun, watching the seasons, watching the stars… I feel more connected to… well, everything 😂😂
      Sweet Dreams!🍪💫🌊🦄🌠💃🏼✨💕

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  3. Oh, I have a grazer too! I get so “what do I do?” when it comes to his beloved Dominoes. Two pizzas are $16.94. One is $12.99. But I know if order the second he will eat the whole thing in a day, walking by, heating up a slice. He just grazes on whatever is around him, so I TRY to keep it healthy. But that is quite a deal, and if any are left, another family member would jump in and eat a slice.
    Great job to Ben on two zooms! They are so not easy. I am so bored sitting there I find myself thinking about food when all the non-learning things are taking place – kids telling randomly about a movie they saw, a weekend trip they did when they were 5, while my thoughts are in the kitchen and what leftovers or snacks we might have….Zooms are tough. I applaud Ben for his success!
    Yikes, another fire! I hope you guys stay safe and get through all that the fire brings to you and your area. Stay safe and have a happy day tomorrow!

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    1. The 2nd fire was the type more common in fire season. A spark or a sun glare of metal or glass… dry grass and brush, low humidity… sometimes static electricity can start a fire. Anyway, it burns a smallish area and it gets put out. Those happen several times every year in the fall. The big fire, the Valley Fire at almost 18,000 acres isnt uncommon either. We get a big one once a year, or every other year. The fires up by San Francisco are what we went through in 2003 with the Cedar Fire. That one was BAD with the Orange skies and ash raining down. We just have stinky air. And No Sunset tonight… clouds and smoke hid the sun☹
      At least it wont be blazing hot, so I won’t complain too much.
      Hope you have a fantastic Friday!💕

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    1. I am very much safe. From the fires at least😉 As I’ve shown, I’m not safe from my own clumsiness.🙄😂 The 2nd fire was out in a few hours. Lucky it was near a lake and the helicopters could do water drops. The big Valley Fire was 32% contained the last I read, so they’re getting control of it. It looked a lot closer than it actually was. We live in the middle of a city. No brush and weeds near here, except my back yard🙄😂 Thank you!🤗🥰
      I hope I sleep well too… I never know how the nights are going to be. Insomnia 🤷🏼‍♀️
      Have a Fantastic Friday!💕

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  5. Definite yay about the zoom! Maybe like a strange food, it takes a few tries to tolerate and then even enjoy. Great pics too!

    I had another bad eye day, plus poor sleep, so today was pretty useless. I’m still thankful for Benadryl!

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    1. Younger came and got benadryl last night. She’s all nasally, poor thing. No sunset tonight. I dont know if it clouds, smoke or both but we lost the sun completely around 3:30pm. Before that it was gross fire sky. The blue sky was nice while it lasted! A half inch of rain would just about be perfect.
      Hope you get some better sleep. Stupid 2020!💕

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    1. I am very far from San Francisco area. 9 hours driving. I’m in San Diego County, right next to Mexico. My house isn’t right next to Mexico, but you get the idea😂 Our big fire is called the “Valley” fire. What San Francisco area is going through, we went through in 2003, not quite as bad, but the worst fire at that time.
      We are safe, just breathing stinky air.🤭💌💌

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  8. Aye, we’re getting smoked out with fires, too. The wind knocked out a power line. Right by a lake, but no helicopters, so it’s just been going the last couple days. Didn’t even see the sun yesterday. Eerie! But, at least home schooling is going well. So nice of Ben to wake you up with a please. Little big changes. 😊

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    1. I’ve never seen it burn up north the way it is. I’ve been in SoCal my entire 52 years and I remember some fires every year, but not in the north. It’s usually SoCal that burns. Or maybe I haven’t been paying attention 🙄🤦🏼‍♀️🤷🏼‍♀️
      Yes, “please” and “thank you” go a long way. We’ve been pounding that into his head forever, and every once in a while he remembers 😂
      Good to see that homeschool is going well. That’s a battle I’m sure you’re glad to be done with. For the most part anyway😉 I’m sure there will be skirmishes… I’d be surprised if there wasnt.

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      1. Between Colorado and Cali, I’ve seen enough fires. The problem here is that it’s usually too wet for anything to light, so the fuels accumulate for years until just the right conditions.
        We are still full of skirmishes. The attitude hasn’t eased up much, but the output has improved significantly. She’s well into the upper percentiles on her standardized tests, which is like a whole different kid compared to last year. The outbursts are this year’s agenda to minimize.

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          1. Yeah, but is it several per day over things like having to bathe? Really, my issue is that I’m singled out as the only one she won’t do that to. Mom doesn’t get respect. I can see all too clearly why, but how to make it better, I’ve no idea.

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            1. That is way too complicated an issue. Mothers and Daughters… it took concentrated effort on my part and lots of talking to them like the people they were. Not just issuing orders. Consistency and trust are key foundations to the relationship.
              That’s my 2 cents, free of charge😉

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    1. I’ve never seen them. Don’t know how I missed them. I love that song but it does bring back memories… 🙄🤦🏼‍♀️ Next October should be doable for Superdad & Hawklad to rock out!🤘 I’m looking forward to Hella Mega next July!💃🏼
      💌💌💌

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  10. Yay on the two Zooms and the slight lessening of the fires.

    Now, that video. Holy cow, that’s some mess up in there. I’m not sure if you’ve read any of my “Backup Dancers From Hell” video reviews, but this clip is just screaming for my warped attention. I’m already composing comments in my head about the female extras and their lackluster, unfocuse “dancing”. I’ll keep you posted… 😉

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    1. Yay! Fun!!💃🏼🎶 I think I might’ve seen a video review post… Dude, I can’t remember nuffink! My memory is awful, except for stuff that happened like 40 years ago🙄🤦🏼‍♀️ (and how awful to be able to say “40 years ago” in reference to my life.😫 It doesnt seem possible)

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