You can't have everything, where would you put it?

[ClingingToHope]

We managed a pretty good day. We picked up the friend who was going to go with us to Great America and first went to the Angel Museum in Beloit, Wis. Oprah fans may have heard of it.

That killed an hour.

Then we got lunch at a Burger King playland. That killed an hour.

Then we played laser tag -- getting that off our list. That killed an hour.

Then we went swimming at my uncle's house for nearly three hours -- the weather cleared.

Down note or positive note -- depends on your perspective. Letter from the L. STBXW and her L want to go to court about the house. They don't appear to want to go back on what's already been decided.

The house is sinking her and I'm guessing she wants me to kick in on the mortgage. But I'll have to see. The hearing is Aug. 4. I haven't enjoyed the court experience, but I don't fear it as much anymore. I didn't file for divorce. She did. I'm willing to go back to counseling and work on things. She's not. I'm not ashamed to be there. This wasn't my choice.

Plus, everyone tells me I picked the best L in town and hers is a joke. So I guess it's time to see what my guy can do.

Another note. Our insurance guy called. I went to high school with his wife. He's a good guy. STBXW was in to see him last month to split our car insurance. He was calling to tell me my life insurance lapsed.

I told him that I get free life insurance through work and couldn't afford any more than that.

He said that's fine and asked what's going on. I filled him in on where we are at and he had an interesting thing to say. He said when STBXW came in to see him she didn't seem very happy about the process and the impression he got from her is that I was pushing this.

I told him that's definitely not the case.

In a way, I'm not surprised. Her mom is a martyr and STBXW I think wants that role -- the aggrieved spouse. Instead, I always came home, never cheated, never hit her, always made a play for her, was devoted to the home and kids.

I may have been a disappointment in other ways -- not letting her help me, condescending when she tried to offer advice and not fully accepting her family.

But those aren't issues to break up a solid family and plunge her children into near bankruptcy.

So she has to live with her daughters' struggles and financial ruin -- and she's not strong enough for others to know that. I'm betting she's telling people I abandoned her.

In the end, it doesn't matter though, does it?