Melting Away

I took a long lunch today. 

 I have a plan...  but I can't reveal what it is just yet.  Maybe spring.  But I had to brave the downtown Cumberland Mall in mid 90 degree temperatures to get to my destination and retrieve the information I need to move forward with my plan.

It was hot! Ick! I wasn't dressed for the heat.  I thought I'd have a meltdown.   

Obviously Mr. Scarecrow was quite out of his element and had a meltdown of his own.  Autumn shouldn't blast scorching temperatures like today's.  Isn't it against the rules?  

But who was Mr. Scarecrow to complain?

But God sent a shower soon after....

... and then a rainbow.

I'm looking forward to sweater weather.

Pillow Talk

My popularity has diminished somewhat in the past few days and I'm pretty sure I know why.

It's the pillows.

Kohl's 30% off sale plus the KOHL'S CASH offer was more than I could resist.   I love pillows.   Gary likes one pillow to put his head on at night.  Anything additional is in the way and gets pitched to the floor. 

Gracie's had her old couch pillows since I can remember.  I got her attention when I removed them from the sofa.  If looks could kill...  well... you know. 

 I replaced them with the new and improved pillows.  These pillows have a button-closed cover that I can remove and wash.  I'm excited. 

I tried to console my angry/sad/disguested/discouraged dog... and then thinking that I could make a positive out of a negative, I took Gracie's old pillows and placed them on her doggie bed, the one she never uses, hoping to generate an interest so that me and the mister could sleep better at night with her absent from the middle of the bed. She'd be snuggled in her comfy and familiar doggie bed complete with smelly pillows. 

I realized my plan had failed when I heard her plop herself down on the new pillow and give a sarcastic 'hmph!'

  I guess she's adjusting.

For This We Pay Big Bucks?

 

Since we married in 2002, Gary and I have put aside THIS WEEK as our time together.  Alone.  No worries. No kids. No dogs. No family or friends.  No evil ex's or disgruntled customers.   No laundry or dishes.  No conferences or meetings.  No deadlines or phone calls.  

 Just Amish strangers in Ohio, Dorothy and Toto in Indiana, the sun setting on Lake Michigan, countless things to do, and an entire seven days with not a care in the world. 

Unfortunatly this year has not been profitable. 

 In addition to sales being way down, Gary's ex keeps wanting more and more money for their soon-to-be 18 year old daughter's child support + psychology bills + private Christian school tuition .... 

 This whole child custody/support thing has made Gary pretty sick with his Crohn's and the family courts refuse to acknowledge that he's no longer able to work full time. 

The X keeps taking him back to court for more and more money, and he now owes tens of thousands of dollars on charge cards, trying to keep his obligation up to date. 

 I seriously think the X enjoys seeing us struggle. 

 The alienated, hateful child will be 18 this week, but still has a year of Christian school left and that equals an average of $700 a month child support for us to pay. 

 Don't get me wrong.  Every parent should pay for the support of their children...  But this is a unique and unfair case.  I've researched the family court messes, and I've yet to see one as inhumane and crooked as what this one has been.   Gary hasn't been allowed to see his daughter for four years now.  He's taken back to court every few months for increases in his support though.  *shake's head*   

And so... we've broken the yearly tradition of finding peace in a loud and busy world.  Maybe next year.   

Click on the Title- link and find the daughter's latest youtube video, added yesterday. 

  This bothers me for some reason.

Ok.  I'm done.  Just had to vent.  Thanks for listening.