@ALL: Thank you for taking the time to congratulate me. I appreciate it.
@BeingMe: I am very much looking forward to meeting the new little one. She’ll likely be about 6 months old before I have a chance. Her Mother and Father have asked us not to visit. It is a dynamic caused as a by-product of this sitch. I will respect their wishes and wait for their visit over the summer.
@Gunny: The Keystone Cougar 318SAB, 2008 is on the block as part of the D settlement. I am looking at 5th wheel toyhaulers. I hope to pick up something gently used in about 3 yrs. We camped all over. Memorable trips included Grand and Bryce Canyons, Rocky Mtn Nat Park, Door County WI, UP MI, Col Williamsburg, DC, and of course Gettysburg. Not all of them in the last RV or with STBX. When my Son graduated P. I. We picked him up with the RV and slowly drove home camping along the way. This gave him a chance to decompress a little and us a chance to reconnect.
@Val: I very much want to cuddle that little one and watch her grow.
If we do not plan for a brighter future we often fail to move forward. There is an old Japanese proverb that I interpret to mean make a plan and execute it: Vision without action is a daydream…..Action without vision is a nightmare I find if I do not have a plan for the future I dwell on the past. While reviewing past actions seeking improvements is a good thing, dwelling on past actions causes me to ruminate and adds to my depression.
I would add it doesn’t have to be a perfectly planned solution. It actually should not be planned as a perfect solution. I was taught to plan a 70% solution and adjust as the plan executes, easier said than done, but doable. Here in the private sector an 80% planned solution is the goal.
I have also been taught to use fact based analysis to determine root causes to problems, applying countermeasures only to those root causes under my control. Amazing how DB that is.
@MyKarma & LITB: I am keeping it together, stronger now than when we first began this journey last year.
Journaling: While reorganizing the freezer (kinda like the sock drawer) I came across the pork roast STBX and I purchased for New Years day 2011. It is a family tradition to host a family meal on New Years Day, and pork was considered a good luck food in STBX‘s family. Needless to say the meal never came off last year.
Sooooo, this New Years I prepped the meal and divided it out between mom and me. The original plan had been to hold the dinner as if last year did not happen. Other factors intruded to prevent that from happening, I adjusted. Long story short Mom and I are just finishing the roast, with a 15 bean soup using the bone and left over pork as flavoring. I am rather happy with the way it turned out. To explain once or twice a month I make up containers of meals, so when mom doesn’t want to deal with meal prep she has something to fall back upon.
Family takes care of family, we are a bit clannish in that respect. Yes, this has become a better week. Friday promises to be a bit of a challenge. I do know I will at the very least maintain bearing throughout the proceedings. And Saturday will find me snaking a septic line, this time at mom’s house. Not exactly GAL, but necessary.
BITS Me 55, ACK, when did that happen? Doesn't feel like 55 D 30 S 27
You create your own universe as you go along - Winston Churchill
stunned, Sounds like you did some great trips. I've always wanted to get up the UPMI, this spring I am looking to do a tour of some revolutionary war battlefields, thinking Saratoga, Ticonderoga, , then Monmouth, Valley Forge. Would eventually like to get down to Cowpens and Camden in the Carolinas.
Great idea camping coming back from P.I., some lifetime memories there I bet!
m 54 XW 48 m 12 t 14 bomb 6-11 s 10-11 wife moved to other state 10-21-11 d 9-12
O GOD THY SEA IS SO GREAT AND MY BOAT IS SO SMALL!
@Gunny: Yes, Gunny good memories. Dinner as a family the first night, a PT run on the beach of TopSail the next morning, a short hike in the VA woods, and batting cages at one of the RV parks on the second day.
Journaling: Our first hearing was postponed to the 23’rd. It has been difficult not to hope it was postponed b/c she was having second thoughts.
Saturday was my B-day. I met my daughter, SIL2, one of the nephews and SIL1’s boyfriend for dinner at a local chain seafood restaurant. SIL2 tried to pick up my check. I gave her the gift card I was planning to use to pay my check with. I probably should have just let her pick it up. It would have been a 180.
Sunday I took the dog for a walk in the park. We needed the exercise and I wanted to check the snow pack on the trails. The snow will all melt in the next couple of days, but the next time we get 4 to 6 inches I’ll know I can break out the CC skis. It would not be prudent to walk the dog and ski at the same time though.
The dog and I went to the pet store after the park and he behaved himself admirably.
BITS Me 55, ACK, when did that happen? Doesn't feel like 55 D 30 S 27
You create your own universe as you go along - Winston Churchill
As Val said, we are all guilty of hope. Nothing wrong with it, as long as it doesn't interfere with us moving forward. I know you keep it in the right perspective.
Me:45 ExW:48 M:04/97 3 Bombs & 2 ReCons 1st BD 11/10 D Finalized 4/20 D-16 S-14 Going in one more round when you don't think you can. That's what makes all the difference in life.~Rocky Balboa
Ditto on the belated birthday wishes. Hope you had a good time.
Me:57 H:52 M:28 Got another lawyer last year and filed. D35,S/D twins28,D22 EA4/04 End? Who knows? "Life is like a mirror. Smile at it and it smiles back at you." — Peace Pilgrim
Hope you had a good time.