I'm suggesting that the 10% KBG that you already planted will fill in the bare spots. As to the color variation, I'm guessing that you can account for that between the variety of grasses, the other crop, and the weeds. If that is okay with you then I think you are good to go. Just give the KBG time to fill in. Mulch mow it high and water infrequently and deeply as you can. Fertilize again on Memorial Day and the whole yard should green up. There will be color variation but perhaps less variation than you see now. You should see significant improvement in density by then, too. For others who are reading this, the photos are an example of what that quality of grass seed looks like after it comes in. It is very possible to buy pure seed with no other crop or weeds. For those considering buying cool season grass, here is a link for KBG seed selections that should work everywhere cool season grasses thrive.

I agree 100% with Luis. It would help to know where you live. The symptoms of the normal cold weather reaction and abnormal death by root rot are very similar, the droopy leaves. Root rot is almost always terminal (causes death). I also agree that the disturbed mulch next to the sick plant looks like it was caused by water standing which would surely kill most any rhododendron. There are three requirements for healthy rhododendrons, drainage, drainage, and drainage. Wet soil is the biggest no-no in raising rhododendrons. The plant will probably die if it is root rot. Before planting in the same area fix the drainage problem. Also, plant rhododendrons in raised beds and never deeper than they were originally. Here is a link that might be useful: How to grow rhododendrons and azaleas.

Sexual abuse, wife beating, inequality of women were always with us and no doubt always will be. Things were different back then, but "better" is open to debate. Nostalgic reminiscing is fun, though. It can depend a bit on your age - where in the old millenium you spent your childhood and formative years. After WWII when the vets came home, married, built or bought a house, started families just about anyone who wanted a job had one. (Not like today!) The future looked promising. Budgeting, saving, paying one's bills and meeting obligations was what people did even if it was difficult... and it often was. We kids played with toys that didn't do all the playing for us; spent a great deal of time outdoors both in the summer and winter. We used our imaginations and learned to amuse ourselves; learned to transport ourselves by opening a book. Hard to believe now that getting the old piece of furniture black & white TV was life changing! Kids today are a lot more cosmopolitan and worldly wise than we ever were, but many are going to be struggling to find a decent job - or a continuous string of decent jobs - and the money to move out of the folk's basement. Even with all the electronic toys, they're not going to have it easy by any stretch of the imagination. Although I had a very pleasant childhood and life, in general, was good, I have no desire to go back.

I have trouble motivating FDH to parent A__ too... And like you, I think that FDH is just totally unaware of his son. If I'm not home, FDH will have A__ all darn day without feeding him a proper meal. It's easier for him to let A__ play on the computer all day than to think up stuff to do with him. But I just do things my way, and he goes along with it because he realizes that he's sort of a slacker if left to his own devices. For example, right now, FDH wants to watch Trailer Park Boys, and A__ is right here in the room, so I pointed out that there is too much swearing in that show for a 9yo. He changed it back to the ball game. FDH would probably do the same thing with Meet the Teacher night as your DH did... He's the king of "Oh, and we're supposed to be at this place at 6:30" when supper is already on the stove and it drives me nuts. I think it's inconsiderate of him to spring last minute plans on me... But I think it's a Mars/Venus thing: I plan ahead, while he ignores my planning ahead - He makes last minute plans, while I get mad about it. I've found that most men are like that (with some exceptions of course) For things like chewing with his mouth open, it's quite probable that DH doesn't notice. A__ can have his face LITERALLY in his food and be poking it into his mouth with his fingers and FDH looks confused when I remind A__ of his table manners. When I was a kid and I chewed with me mouth open, it was always my mom or my older sister who reminded me to close it - I don't recall my dad or brothers ever reminding me. Maybe that's a Mars/Venus thing too? It puts you in a hard spot though. Either you say "DH, your son is chewing with his mouth open" or you remind SS of his table manners yourself. Option one makes it seem like you're purposefully avoiding interaction with SS and he'll probably react poorly to that. Option two is that you're doing the parenting for DH, which you seem tired of. I guess for me, it comes down to this: If I do the crappy stuff like wiping dirty handprints off the wall and telling A__ to use table manners, FDH gets much less frustrated with A__ and they have a better relationship. The difference between our situations is that A__ has improved from where he was last year (which is a lot like where your SS is now) while your SS is still in a rough patch. I know you're still frustrated and SS is still misbehaving, but it sounded like he was progressing a little... Is he still?