Life goes on, eh?
Alex came over yesterday and decided the place needed
cleaned up and proceeded to do just that, clean it up!
Of course, I didnt even think it was that messy, just a bit cluttered.
She did a great job, then, just when youd think she would be done, she
locks herself in the bedroom this eve and completely rearranges it!
That kid is one in a million I tell ya!
Talked to Jakes teacher the other day, she had good stuff to report!
Jake seems to her at least, to be making a fairly decent adjustment
to the new living conditions that have been imposed. (I use the word
imposed because the kids had no say in what has happened, and to them
its imposing on their lives as they always knew it.)Apparently,
He shared, in class what had happened, and very matter-of-fact-ly (?)
told the class how he had two places that he lived now, one with Mom, and one with Dad. She has talked to him , the councelor has talked with him, and they both think he's doing great, all things considered. Im so relieved,I know its not over by far, but Im still hoping that the worst part is over.

Bachelor Cuisine!

When I was just a young lad growing up in the Miami Valley of Ohio, we were rather poor. Not as poor as some, but poorer than most. Unfortunatley, we were reminded of it often by our peers, and by an alcoholic mother, who also suffered from co-dependency, meaning of course that we all suffered from co-dependency, by default, see? Anyways, whenever we would start moping around and feeling sorry for ourselves, Mother would tell us, "You had just better count your blessings" followed by some example of either how much worse off she had it, or how much worse our situation could be. Needless to say, I really resented her for that. How dare she preach to me about blessings when the water/electricity/gas or whetever, was being turned off, or when I would have to run interference with the landlord when they came looking for the rent that they knew wasnt coming, or go to the neighbors to ask for ciggarettes, a ride, or worse yet, money! Oh, the embarrassment, the humiliation of it. It was sometimes too much for a kid of 8, 10, or whatever age I happened to be at the time, to bear. I probably dont have to tell you that as soon as I was old enough to run, I did. from the age of about 13 on, I was more or less on my own. Oh sure, I lived at home sometimes, but mostly you could find me at relatives homes or crashing at friends houses. I was the epitomy of a rolling stone. Well, as you can tell from reading this, I must've survived. And at this point in time, I have a whole lot to be thankful for.

I hate working 58 hrs a week, but I've had the same job for 9 years, that has allowed me to travel to 5 countries on 3 continents. January Im going to Turkey! Istanbul was Constantinople, now its Istanbul, not Constantinople, why they changed it I cant say, people just like it better that way!

Im so far in debt I cant afford to pay attention, but I have credit/money enough to buy glasses/shoes/food for my kids when they need them, and sometimes when they dont.

Im 40 pounds overweight, but when I go to the store, I buy my food with cash or check, not food stamps.

Im taking meds like chicklets, but at least its temporary, and I'm alot better off than I mightve been.

I dont sing in a band anymore, but I sound incredible in my car on the way to work at 5 am, singing along to Audioslave

Ive lost touch with most of my old friends, but Ive made alot of new ones, and one of them is my Mother.

Im a drunk, but I havent found a good enough reason to have a drink in nearly 5 years.

I've nearly ruined my lungs with cigarettes, but I havent found a good enough reason to have a smoke in over 2 years.

I have to at least act like Im a respectable citizen,*cough cough* but Ive got the two most gorgeous kids in the world, that love me and dont want for anything. Not that they couldnt do with a little lesson in economics, lol.

I just spent 9 grand on windows and doors for the house, but I dont have to move 3 times a year due to angry landlords, Im a homeowner.

Im 35 Years old!My hair is very quickly turning grey! But I have a wonderful life and a wonderful wife to show for it!

Living life a little rougher when I was young has made me a surviver. It takes quite a bit to rattle my cage. Ill eat your lunch if you insist on being in the way of what I need. I can be a bad M*** Fu**** when the need arises, lol

 Way back in early 1994, my wife and I were struggling to get by. With me laid off, or working low paying labor jobs, and drinking continuesly, her trying to go to college, and keep a halfway decent job, and raising our daughter, who was less than a year old at the time. Times were tough. One night, while driving home from lord knows where, our crappy Dodge van blew a tire, and I hadnt gotten the spare replaced from the last blow out. These things happen when you have to decide between a decent tire and a six pack, or a bad tire and a case. I always chose the case. Anyways, there we were, literally, in the middle of no where, no cell phone, no money to speak of,middle of the night,with our daughter, my wife was on the verge of tears, and a divorce. The only thing I could think to say to her was, that maybe we should "count our blessings," and I proceeded to do so for the both of us. For the life of me, I cant remember what I said to my wife that night, but whatever it was, it was the truth, and it was enough. She has told me on several occasions that what i said to her that night saved our marriage. Thanks Mom.