Hi SS!

Yes, I am doing fine.

Purchased my wedding dress last week while on vacation, and GB sent P's dad money to purchase her outfit. (wasn't that nice of him?)

GB shut down his business in Green Bay. He is in the process of working with an atty to get it all cleaned up. It was a contracting partnership with his brother who he found out was stealing large amounts of money from the business to support his affair <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />. (and I think, though it is just a theory, a drug and gambling problem).

I think we will eventually move (this spring I hope) to Savannah, GA. After much research and discussion, we decided it is growing very rapidly and destined to become a "hot" market opportunity, so will be good for us business wise, as well as for our souls).

P's dad was ready to go to court with me to allow P to stay with him during the school year, and I was ready to go, but P called and begged me to let her stay. I still haven't given him my final answer, but told him I am now willing to consider it.

So that and the wedding is causing me some stress.

Weaver said:
So that and the wedding is causing me some stress.

Glad it's not just Graycloud and I that have stress. (grin)

No, really, it sounds a lot like normal life. Or that life is normal.

I often wonder what things I should write, and what I should be quiet about.

For instance -

SLH is quiet about her relationship with Ti.

That could mean things are really good, or it could mean she is repressing her feelings, and they will come out one day and bite her. I think about it, but I haven't said much. I realize my musings about it bring it out - but I am not asking, jut thinking.

I think a lot about gray that I don't comment on either, and you, and faithful, and 2long, and everyone. (yes, you too kimmy, you know I do.)

Just J could use a good campfire these days too, but she doesn't feel safe, and that is a big thing for her.

Thanks for the little smapshot. I did really want to know. I am so sorry that GB has to cope with his own brother doing these things to him. That's so sad. However I am glad he has you to think of. Sometimes I wonder if you gals know how much you mean to us. I mean, we are often so poor at communicating our feelings - but knowing you are there at home, taking care of things means a lot to us when we are away. I know he is often away.

You can be sure he thinks of you often. I think you realize it.

Thanks again.

SS

(((Weaver))) It has to be very difficult to hear P beg to stay with her dad. Perhaps it will be good for your new upcoming marriage though. Such a hard thing to ponder. I want to see your dress, btw!

Hi SS. Doing ok, not great but ok.

Thanks faithful.

Do you have time to tell me how the kids are doing?

SS

Kids are well, SS. DD is a typical 14 y/o with all the hormones <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" /> and DS is growing and healthy as can be.

Our twins are 14 too. It is an interesting time in their lives to be sure. I bet your daughter will get through it Ok though. After all, she has you to help her.

I am glad DS is doing well.

To be honest, part of the reason I asked was to see if your answer would reveal what the stress of raising two children was doing to your overall health and condition.

It didn't tell me as much as I wanted, but it did show that your attitude is good. I am happy for that. (grin)

Sweet dreams everyone.

SS

LOL, ss you are sly <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Right now I am just trying to enjoy where there are in their lives. Having a near 24 y/o at home still teaches me that time passes much too quickly in the lives of children. DD is wonderful but a handful as well. I am the safe parent so the primary target for her anger and frustrations. DS, well I am enjoying his good moods, his good health and his beautiful smile. Despite his challenges, he is still a 9 yo boy and likes the same things other boys his age does. We are in the middle of reading "Captain Underpants" books to him. Honestly with him, I try not to look backward or forward as their is too much pain associated with doing that. It helps to learn to live in the moment.

I cannot imagine having two 14 y/o in the house at once! Wow, you must be challenged at times LOL.

and I'm doing great, not okay, but great.

>Wow, you must be challenged at times LOL

You just described him to a "t" I think.

SS = challenged at times.

KIDDING!

It was just too dern easy to allow that one slide by un-commented about.

Kimmy, I am so glad you are doing GREAT.
I bet you used your "Tony the tiger" voice when you said it too.

SS = challenged at times.

I'm only challenged on week days, and week ends.

The twins have been a wonderful blessing for me. For many years I read to them nearly every night. (we never did get to "Captain Underpants" though.) They trust me, and they know I expect a lot out of them, and that I only ask for things that will be good for them in the long run.

So far, so good. We love each other a lot, and it helps.


Thanks for the additional info Faithful. It did help. I'll tell you what I got from it.

I believe you are doing quite well over all. Your faith in God sustains you, even though things are often difficult. You tend to look on the bright side these days, even though you don't know what will happen long term.

It looks like you love your husband, but still struggle with trust at times. That trust must be there to go from doing OK to doing GREAT. I believe you have a good enough attitude that if you KNEW your H was on board 200% you could go through almost anything and still say you were GREAT.
I see your H won't be at the Big Boy with you this weekend. Well, I assume the three is you and the children. If he is not going, that could mean you don't want him, but more likely is that it's not something you see as a good fit. Meaning...... you may not have even asked him, because you couldn't see him doing it. If memory serves me, he works a lot of weekends, and time off is hard to come by. It would be easier to save it for something you see as more important. I wonder if you have a desire deep down inside somewhere for him to know it's important to you, and have him move heaven and earth to be there with you. When he got there, he would say " I know you are all so important to Faithful, so I wanted to meet you too."
I'm still up in the air about that one. I have not seen you talk much about how things are going with him lately to have a really good feel for it. (besides that, it's a weekday today, and I'm challanged.)

There are other unknowns -

I don't know how your job or his job are. Financial problems can overshadow almost any thing else in our lives and keep us awake at night. Job stress can also affect how we feel about the other parts of our lives.

So........

DD is a challenge. Most 14 year olds are. You may worry more than some moms, because of things you have been through personally. I think you have enough faith to believe she will be OK in the end.

DS is a joy some days, and a lot of work others. A mothers love covers a lot of ground though. You have that love - and you wouldn't give him up for anything.

Taking things as they come is what we do when we don't have a clear view of the future. Sometimes we can plan for the future, and expect those plans to come about. Usually that takes a H, and a W on the same page. I would guess you don't have that in place yet in all areas of your married life. The future is still cloudy to you, but you try not to worry about it. Faith if a wonderful thing. I commend you for it. My personal belief is that you are on the right track.

There are a lot of other things I would ask if I thought it was fair-

However, this is enough, and I won't worry about you. (Well, only a little.)

Have fun Saturday. I have more then once thought of showing up just for fun. A line from a poem comes to mind though, and I know I won't be there.
"For I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep. Miles to go before I sleep."

I should probably say something to get you to smile now. I read back through this and it sounds so serious. (grin)

Night all. Or afternoon? Evening? Life can be such a challenge.

SS

Later edit -

I could have brought your mom into the mix, but remember, I'm challenged.

Hiya Weaver....I'm still around....barely....as much as I like all the folks here...I seem to have tied a string around that portion of my life and packed it away.

The quick blurb from SS is accurate but could use some expansion if you're so interested. I need some well earned sleep right now, but will soon make the time in my frantic life to let you know some of the details.

You really wanna hear this stuff?

Binder! Good to see you. Yes, we would love to hear more. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Yeah, we all want to know what you have been to. The new love, the wild adventures, the chitlins.

I think it's good you have put a string on the past and wrapped 'er up. I'm about ready to do the same, but I still come here to talk. I don't know why cuz these people are all half nutz. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Faith, thank you for understanding. It's hard, but she needs to be where she can thrive and for some reason she just really needs her dad's attention right now. Also she is allowed to babysit her 2 yo half sister and gets paid $3.00/hr...so she loves that.

I'm really sorry about your mom, Faith. I hope she lasts a very long time before she declines. I think I heard they have medicine now that helps slow the progression down.

SS, Yes it has really got GB down to have to close down this business and what his brother has done to him (as well as the employees and his wife is just about killing GB). He told me he can' stand to go to his office where they operated out of, said it makes him sick to his stomach and it's almost more than he can make himself do.

On another subject, I don't understand why JJ got so upset. I kept reading that thread and I just don't understand. She is in a tradional R now...well I think I must have missed something. Someone must have said something to her that really upset her. She is usually the one with the level head over these types of things.

JJ, if you ever read, I hope you are doing really great!

Binder:

Hey! Good 2 hear from you. And, of course we want 2 hear what's up these days - even us guy units!

Weaver: I don't understand what happened with JJ entirely either. I remember the threads I think she was referring 2, but thought that they were pretty even-handed as far as I could see. I haven't seen her post much on SYMC either, but I don't go there all that often.

Looks like my friend and I will be driving from Vermont 2 Oregon through the midsection of the country around the 13th or 14th. I'm leaning toward heading over Huron and under Superior, as we'll be going 2 Vermont under Michigan, and I don't want 2 cover the same tracks again if I don't have 2. Small possibility we might stay in Canada over Superior, but I won't know for a week or so (friend is getting 2gether the AAA route stuff next week).

But it sounds like you and GB will be pretty busy around then! If you're not, though, and can recommend a good greasy spoon for us 2 stop in on the way, it might be fun 2 say "yo"!

-ol' 2long

Well 2long, if you're taking 94 across our Great Lakes and Plains you oughta let me know. I had the impression you'd be well south of me.

Ditto for me, weaver & binder. I still take peeks at GQII because I like lots of posters, but I don't get involved much.

Those of us who were spit out the other end get better as we turn away from the thing that modified our lives.

Said the man posting on the infidelity forum...

GC

hiya GC, hope you are well my friend.

2long, we will be very busy then. Both of us are trying to liquidate everything we own except some antique furniture I have that I will haul with us when we go to Savannah. It's a sea port so I can transfer with my company, which was one of the reasons we settled on it. Plus the real estate thing, and I refuse to live inland.

Oh and that reminds me, did you see my post about the gov grants available for restoration of historical buildings and homes, regarding the property your wife is interested in?

Also, I wanted to let you know that I learned in a seminar outlining 1031 exchange rules that you only have to rent out the "like" property for a year, and actually you only have to show a good attempt to rent if you are absolutely unable to get it rented that first year. After that you can live in it if you so desire. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> And you would be surprised at all the different options that can be considered "like" property. But an old historical Hotel would be fun to own. I stayed at the old Hotel in the French Quarter in New Orleans that GB has helped out with on occasion and it was just so neat. (partying is not my thing so I wouldn't live down in that district but still) The help was excentric as all get out, and I can so picture myself working at or owning one. So I think what the two of you are looking at is very exciting, for the whole family probably. (you probably know all this stuff, but I am learning all about real estate, and I really find it interesting)

Gray, good to see you. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

weaver:

Okay, understand busy!

We're going 2 make sure we look in2 the options available before buying that hotel. It'll also likely be owned mostly by my W's non-profit, though, so it's not going 2 be a big chunk of our cap gains rollover - which means we gotta by more [censored]!

GC, I forgot you're up that way. I'd love 2 swing by and say hello. My friend is retired from working on Voyager for almost 30 years. He can tell stories...

I'll keep you posted when I know our itinerary better.

-ol' 2long

Right back atchya weaver and FF!

Weaver - first Green Bay, now Savannah. Geez louise.

Two weeks later I still want to move to the Northeast and become a card-carrying Yankee. I love it out there.

Too many competing (and all good) alternatives. It's rough.

Daydreaming! Back to work.

I don't want to move at all. I probably won't.
The only bad thing -
"The times, they are a changaaa....aaaaaa...nnn."

What was Binder working on until 1 in the morning?

SS

Weaver, my mom seems to be progressing faster than I had hoped. It is very difficult to watch and I know it very stressful for her H. Thank you for asking.