Couch 203: The Spam and Cool Whip Couch!

I read all of this thinking you were talking about a boyfriend. I was like.... oooookaaaaay.
Then I saw it was your chihuahua.
It makes a difference.

Well, I've now had a dream about painting, so apparently I need to do that again soon. It was quite a good painting, too! But they said I had to attach it to the ceiling and stand on a ladder to paint the sky part, which freaked me out.

I should be working on my research today but I’m not. The stupid thing is that I’m not even having a nice time instead—I’m just killing time and dreading going back to work.

Oof.

I don’t want to start my job on Monday. I’ve been trying to book some interviews for this coming week but I didn’t land any. I don’t think it’s going to be helpful anyway. I just don’t want to this anymore. I went into the local community college website and there is a sort of business informations class that starts mid-semester. It’s accelerated so it is only 8 weeks long and online. I might just give it a go..it doesn’t cost a lot. I just have to check back on my records from my 2 year stint in college back in 1998-2000 to make sure I didn’t already take it.

I also thought maybe I’ll become a paramedic but apparently you have to be an EMT first. After 6 months of being an EMT you can then enroll in a program to become a paramedic. I don’t know where I got that idea by the way..it just popped in my head.

Seems like taking the class is a good idea. And taking on a few interviews won't hurt. What's the difference between an EMT and paramedic? I thought they were the same thing?

I thought they were the same too until I looked it up. But apparently an EMT just has very basic training and their certificate does not allow them to do anything that would puncture the skin...so they are only limited to using oxygen, those epi pens and performing CPR. Apparently a paramedic is allowed to use needles and do more invasive stuff.

Oh, I see. I've learned something!

I learned it yesterday!

Tomorrow, I need to call my lawyer and pay their $4500 retainer. Ouch. That's more than I paid for the "wedding". This is so not fair. I shouldn't have to split my assets with my abuser. And I say my because he contributed almost nothing to them. His only contribution was to help pay off the mobile home we bought which allowed me to go back to school because we had no housing expenses. He got a lot of that money through dishonesty or outright theft unfortunately. Then he quit working and hasn't since then even though he promised he would so I wouldn't have to take out so many student loans. (This was in 2002.)

I’m so sorry NP. That is SO unfair.

Oh and it's his 50th birthday today. Wonder how it is to spend a milestone birthday in prison.

When I went back to school, it was to better both of our lives, and I did that. I have an actual career with a good salary. We had a house and actual money in retirement accounts. He was just kind of along for the ride. I probably sound like an asshole right now.

I think anyone who abuses should get nothing—zip, zero, nada—in a divorce.

It’s completely unfair, NP. But make sure, since it looks like you have to give him something, it comes with a stipulation that that is it. And then he will be gone from your life.

My lawyer gave me some good advice—if 2ex asked for anything reasonable and to which he had a legal claim, give it to him. He said otherwise all that happens is that the whole thing gets prolonged and the only person who benefits is the lawyer because he gets more fees.

Np...you don’t sound like an asshole.

I'm spending my long weekend reading essays. Woohoo! Graded a set of my own plus scoring SAT, so reading essays is my life right now.

Everyone in my family is dealing with their own stresses right now. My mommy instincts want to fix it all, but the reality is that these things will just have to work themselves out in time:

My oldest son and his wife have been surviving on his income alone for several months because she incurred a work injury and workman's comp has been dragging its heels. Son finally got a lawyer and doctor has confirmed the injury, so they should be getting a rather larg backpay amount and then disability pay should kick back in, but in the meantime, they are just squeaking by. Just to add to their stress, son was t-boned Friday and the car is totaled. Of course, it was fully paid for and only liability insurance, so now they are down to one vehicle for awhile.

Hubby is have a really bad pain cycle right now (neurological disorder) and is just struggling through each day. Walking, even with his walker, is very difficult. Still working full time though. That many is amazingly strong. He has a morphine pump refill this week which should help; they'll be able to up the dosage a bit.

Youngest son is working his butt off at college. He's a teaching assistant (as a junior) for two music education courses, an officer for two different music organizations, doing observations at schools, and working his job. He's tired and stressed (although that is his normal state). Hopefully as he gets into the routine things will settle in -- first of the semester craziness right now.

As a positive, our mtf transgender daughter has found a very supportive mtf transgender friend. She came to visit this last week and we are really impressed by her openness, kindness, and graciousness to our daughter and to us. We look forward to more time getting to know her. Our daughter is rather on cloud 9 right now to have someone who she so directly relates to.

My dad is rather depressed these days. He's about to turn 89 and he's lonely and seems to just be waiting for the end. Our nephew took him to his doctor appointment, and his doctor (who we love) picked up on the depression immediately and gave him a talking to about needing to stay active or he might need to be on an antidepressant. THAT lit a fire under Dad; he already hates the meds he absolutely has to take for his circulation and a rare autoimmune disorder. When I talked to him yesterday, he did sound perkier and and his voice was crisper. He didn't launch into his usual "Woe is me" routine. We'll see.

I have to keep reminding myself I can't fix anyone but myself. Mommy instincts are strong. LOL.

That's good you know not to try to fix things. My dad is a "fixer". He means well but it is often not what I need.

Grading essays is your comeuppance for assigning them.

Sorry to hear your husband is having such a rough time.

Still having a rough time Couchies. I let some IRL people know I’m not doing well but still no relief. When my Dad gets home we are going to play a game. Looking forward to some distraction. Hugs if anyone wants one. Kit

LOL! Well, the SAT essays are for the actual College Board. It's a side job.

I am sick of hurricanes. Classes have been cancelled this week. Last year Florence caused them to be canceled for more than a month. Causes all sorts of problems. I bet they're going to cancel Fall Break now.