Golly, wine sounds okay, but I've only got beer.

Time to head home. I'll check in in a bit.

GC

Me too!

I have my pre-trial in the morning, so wish me luck or better yet wish my lawyer luck. The max I can get is thirty days for first offense, but I don't know if that is decided tomorrow or not. The lawyer should be there early to explain things to me, said his secretary.

It is at 8am so now I am having this fear that my alarm won't go off. It always go off and I am usually up at 5am anyway, so it's crazy to have that fear.

I will NOT wish you luck..but I WILL pray for you. Get some good sleep tonight.

I was going to offer my bit of wine, but with Weaver headed to court and all, I think I'll just offer homemade brownies instead.

Y'all have a fantastic weekend. I'm off to find out what Amish country is like.

Well, okay. I'm off to visit HoFS and find out what his world is like. It just so happens that he lives in Amish country.

Weaver,

I'll pray God's blessings on you. May he bless you with lifelong sobriety. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

And peace, especially peace.

-AD

Weaver, try to have a good day tomorrow.

J, have a nice trip.

Sawdust. I am turning into sawdust.

GC

The other day I drove to Saint Paul for some floor-refinishing stuff. The store I visited is in the neighborhood sparrow and I lived in for three years, just before we bought this house.

Being there naturally made me think back on the time when I lived there. I visited the grocery store where we used to shop, the hardware store just down the street from the house we rented.

That was a happy time. Sparrow and I were getting established in our careers. She graduated college while we lived there. I remembered the party I had for her. I remembered having my family there for Xmas one year.

When we bought a house and moved, things began to change between us. The bottom fell out less than a year after we'd bought this house. Remembering some of the things she said, some of the looks she gave me during that time, I know she was doubtful and restless. My disagreeable, perfectionist, defensive nature was on full display much of the time.

Sparrow's best friend had this little self-help book, The Four Agreements I think it was called. She told sparrow she thought I should read it. When I heard this I was shocked. Why would she think I needed guidance? But I did. I just couldn't see it. Sparrow never learned to suggest such a thing in a gentle or loving way. She's too inarticulate. It always came across to me as cold criticism.

Anyway, this is just me, late at night, rambling away.

I wanted to take a walk to the lake when I finished working, but I'm too wiped. Sometimes at night I walk over there and sit on a bench in front of the water.

There's that old feeling again. Something I should be doing. Something different and scary. Something that working hard at my job and working hard on my house is keeping me from seeing. Something my legion distractions keep hidden. Too little time spent just quiet, resting. I am in constant motion.

That will continue a little while longer. But after I finish the refi, I'm going to take a week off and go somewhere quiet. I don't know if it will be much different from the trip I took during the middle of last year's sh*tstorm of grief. Too much has been supressed, and I expect to experience some serious sadness. But I look forward to it. A chance to stop everything else, take a little time, and figure out just where in the world I need to be headed. Let my compass stop rattling.

GC

Amen.

J, have a good time.

GC, I hope one day you can see in you what we see. You are a very special man. Now get those floors finished! LOL

Guys, wanted to let y'all know we are safe in Dallas. It took 25 hours for a normally 4.5-5 hour trip (at one point we had only gone 74 miles in 18+ hours), but we are here and safe. Most of the time we were on I-45 and let me tell you, that is a nightmare I will not soon forget. Heartwrenching. Thousands of people stranded on the side of the road in the searing heat; their cars overheated or simply out of gas, because they kept driving with the hope of finding some until they ran out. (There is no gas in that area, and refueling trucks can't get through the glut of cars to reach the gas stations to refuel them.) Exhausted women carrying limp babies that are too tired to cry, overwhelmed elderly people sitting beside their overheated cars in collapsed resignation, caravans of families with no gas and no hope of gas beyond the promises of fuel trucks being sent to the region. The thermometer in my car that measures the temp outside stood at 113 during the height of the day, but even after 4 and 5 PM it was still 100.

Eventually, many people--hundreds, in some places--just gave up and began parking along the shoulder of I-45, effectively setting up "tent cities" (there are no hotel rooms with vacancies within 500 miles, even if they could get there). In many places, traffic was at a total standstill and so these families felt they had nothing to lose by pulling over for rest or to "picnic" with whatever food and drinks they had. Many people just lurched into a ditch and slept however they could, limbs hanging haphazardly out of their cars. It was heartbreaking.

One radio personel said that he had spent 7 hours going only 1.7 miles (on 290 west, before he gave up and turned around to ride it out in Houston), and in that time period, he had seen over 90% of people with their windows down, either no air conditioning or their A/C turned off to prevent overheating of their vehicles. Kids rode in backs of pickup truck, families in mini-vans drove with their sliding doors and back-hatches open to increase air circulation and bring some semblance of a breeze. I guess since we were all going, at best, a periodic 3-4 miles an hour, they thought everyone was safe.

We were so fortunate, y'all -- We never once had to turn down or off our A/C, or stop for gas once we had filled up. I can't imagine what those people are suffering in this weather.

If you could, please do pray for those poor folks left on the side of the road today -- some of them have been there for 25-38 hours and have had no relief. Babies, moms, dads, elderly people. . . it is such a tragedy.

I'm going to go ahead and turn the news on today -- haven't done so since late yesterday evening and didn't realize so many other things are taking place re: Rita's change in course, the bus tragedy, etc. I almost can't bear to hear any more bad news but need to know where things stand for Louisiana, where my whole family lives (they still have evacuees living with them from NO).

slh

SLH,, so glad you are safe. Sorry about the dog poop incident but I guess in light of what other people are suffering you may laugh about one day.

Exactly. Praying for Mel's brother, on 59N.

How are you, Hon? Have you seen your lawyer and I missed that post? What is the latest?

Weaver, what is going on with you & court? I thought I saw something about that somewhere, and I am waiting to hear specs, babe. You okay?

Gray, you sound weary, hon. Mouse trap, indeed. This tourniquet you're improvising with isn't working, bay. Just please don't burn out before your well-deseerved break. Where are you thinking of going?


slh

SLH, did our telephone conference with the atty yesterday. Couple more weeks and he will have our paperwork finalized and then it gets to sit on a judges desk for about 3 weeks. WH and I actually spoke this morning about delaying the final filing a little longer. He needs his dental work done and I would like to file a joint tax return one more time. We are going to discuss and then discuss the possiblity with the atty.

Weaver had court this am. Weaver? prayed for you this morning...how'd it go?

FF, is this going to delay when he moves out too???? i personally advice against letting him delay moving out.

of course that is my opinion, your's is the one that counts. and in case you didn't notice, i did not say your's and your WH's opinion is the one that counts. just YOUR'S!!!

It may but this was my idea. We have not talked it through yet. Just one of the ideas I have tossed around. We'll see, thanks again for your concern I really do appreciate it.

<img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> i love ya FF.

but now i am gone until next monday, we are going to see my H's brother and family, about 5hrs away. hope your weekend is ok.

You too, be safe and have FUN!!!

Thank you for caring about how it went with me this morning everyone, and for your prayers.

The prosecuter dropped it to impaired driving, which is a lesser offense. I can only drive to and from work for 90 days, 90 days probation, 93 days suspended sentence, alcohol classes, $750 fine, 1000 to get my license back in Jan for two years.

I am not in a very good mood, but I guess it could have gone worse.

Just talked to DD's dad about our custody arrangement as I might not be able to get her back until Jan, as I cannot drive her to school or to any functions.

And that just isn't fair. Even the probation officer said that this state is too hard on first time offenders, like me who will never be back in there anyway.

But the state needs money I guess. It was nice that all the people I saw today and who have heard about it keep telling me that they can't believe it as I am the least likely person to be out drinking and driving.

Oh well I was guilty so can't complain too much, I just wish they wouldn't have restricted my license, because of my DD.

Sorry not good company tonight. Be back later.

Keep the fire burning!!!!!

Oh dear, I really hoped and prayed it wouldn't affect custody. I know you are a one time offender but those tough laws are for those that aren't. Darn! thanks for the update {{weaver}}

Weaver,

Give this some time before you make any decisions regarding DD's custody.

Can she ride the bus to school? And you have some friends I know who would be willing to help to take you and DD places you need to go.

I don't want you to get down about this.....take some time to grieve this, and give people a chance to help you so you can keep your original custody arrangement hopefully.

Prayers to you.

Thank you Faithful and Csue.

Talked to my ex again, and we will work something else. And yes I might have to make myself rely on others for help but it is going to to be so hard to do that Csue.

I am sure you guys know how hard it is to accept help. One of my shortcomings and it is so hard to get over.