I was supposed to get divorced tomorrow...!

[1853dave]

We had a great day today! I took the day off and had both girls for the day. I even employed a recommendation from our chaplain that I have D9 invite a friend to go with us. I wasn't sure how W would feel about that, as well as W's friends... (due to allegations that were made in the past - which were TOTALLY false and cleared by a CFI (after a few thousand dollars!)) - ANYWAY, it worked out great!!! D9 and friend had the "best play-date ever!" and D4 had fun with two bigger girls to play with also. This feedback will get back to W eventually.... We also by chance met up with a neighbor and her daughter at one of the playgrounds we visited. This neighbor has recently become my W's running partner (they go once or twice a week together). She was very friendly to me, and I was playing with D4 and her 5 yr old daughter. She even stayed longer than they intended because the kids were having so much fun. I haven't had a chance to interact with this neighbor before (I met her briefly once) but today she was pretty chatty, and watched me play with the kids. I didn't mention our sitch to her at all, even though I know she is aware. I think they go running together on Thurs when D4 is in preschool... I'm sure they'll be talking then. It might amount to nothing, but at least these encounters were positive interactions, which *might* put me in a better light in the eyes of the W. Well, who knows where this is all going anyway...

Regardless, we all had a really fun day! That's what counts!

When I dropped the kids off at home, W was pleasant as usual... I hung around for about 15 minutes to unpack the cooler, sort out clothing, help D4 go potty one last time, pet the dog for a minute, and that was it. D4 kept opening the front door for me, expecting me to leave right away, and W kept telling her to close it, "until it was time for Daddy to leave..." W was sitting on the couch with the kids, somewhat relaxed, and was obviously in no hurry to get rid of me, despite it being a school night. Normally she'd be talking about getting the kids ready for bed right away, etc, practically shooing me out the door. However, she was somewhat talkative, and I probably could have milked out the stay. However, I kept the visit friendly but short - only long enough to take care of business, but not sit around and chat. My DB counselor says I need to be less available, and of course initiate the exit. "Leave her wanting more..." she said. I think I did ok.

I don't believe in jinxing myself, but I might knock on wood anyway - as of today she still has not contacted the counselor or mediator in an effort to speed up the D. My DB counselor still thinks she's ambivalent about the whole thing, and by stalling she is putting off what she might not really be ready to face. The old "actions speak louder than words" routine.

W asked me if I was planning on rejoining my fire department (I was a volunteer FF for many years) - I told her I had been thinking about it, as I recertified my CPR yesterday, and was getting ready to recert my wildland FF card next month, and was thinking of recerting the EMT soon, but the EMT would take more time and $$...which I wasn't sure I was quite ready to do just yet. She mentioned "Well, I know you had been thinking about doing that for some time...."

She sounded interested in my future. Don't know if it means anything, but she has never inquired before.

Just something I noted.