Thanks, my trusted advisor...

I will say that both Lisa and I are really looking forward to this weekend. We're both pretty emotionally drained right now..and she's had to deal with the issue I told you about yesterday. Actually, she is at her home RIGHT NOW helping the young lady / babies move out.

She's warned me to not expect much "pep" from her this weekend. We've agreed to make it a total lazy and relaxation trip.

To you...enjoy your weekend. At one time you would have never thought this trip would have been possible...congratulations.

Suggestion....go to one of those tacky all night wedding chapels to renew your vows...and have your picture made with Elvis.

Oops...sorry...I shouldn't offer non-solicited advice.

Have fun, my friend...

THE SAME TO YOU!!!

<img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Georgia,

I trust you are having a good trip.

I wanted to back up and correct my grumblings about my pastor. It is an extremely busy time in our church - with the recent decision to go ahead with the building project, the retirement of one staff member and the impending hiring of his replacement, and the pastor's mother has been quite ill and is scheduled for surgery next week. And it's a LARGE church, so, I was unfair to him to complain that he didn't seem to have time to talk to me - especially since I explicitly asked him for an entire hour.

I'm glad your pastor really works the entire flock. Maybe I was being cynical after all.


I meant only that there is, apparently, space for only one significant woman in your life, whether you call her "friend" or "girlfriend".

With respect,
-AD

[edited to be somewhat less meddlesome]

Hi formerly GG, you don't know me as I started posting on emotional needs & now on the after divorce board.

How I got to your thread I'm not really sure but what I saw was how you loved pottery. I'm a potter & I teach it to adults for our local community center & for the adult ed. in my town. I love it.

I think you posted about it in '05. Are you still doing it? I'd love to hear about your pottery experiences. In the 3 years I've been teaching I've had only 2 men take my class. I'd love to have more, just don't know how to get them there. Any ideas?

Bump. I've not been here before the other day. I didn't know this was such a busy board! When you're looking for a quick reply this is the place to come.

Morning folks...

Back at work...and boy do I have a lot to do.

We had a wonderful trip and had lots of time to just talk about important things in our life. It is SO nice to be able to have such conversation with the agreement that time is on our side and neither of us are in any rush to make any life changing decisions at this point.

AD...I understand what you're saying about your pastor. It is easy to forget they are human too and stretched in many directions. Have you and he formed a relationship..or are you expecting a one-on-one dialog in a question / answer sort of format? I talked to my pastor yesterday evening when I got home. He is going to be out of town today and tomorrow so we're going to have lunch early in the week.

nams..nice to meet you. Yes, I am still doing pottery (when I'm in town, that is). I must very humbly point out that I am absolutely terrible at it and have hardly passed the kindergarten pencil holder phase, but I enjoy it immensely.

I've never really thought about "men factor". Now that you point it out, there is only myself and one other guy (a doctor about my age). He is absolutely wonderful and makes some beautiful stuff (he takes it much more seriously than I do).

I've often thought about doing some kind of "efficiency" study as to weight of product made vs. quantity of raw material at inception. In other words...I am the class slip provider. Our instructor says he likes it when I'm there because there is plenty of slip manufactured. (I throw almost exclusively, it's what I like the best).

Next Tuesday is the end of another session (8 weeks) so it'll be raku night. Everyone brings munchies and drinks and we make a party out of it. We're usually there until about 11:00 rakuing stuff. I've got several pieces ready to fire. If they turn out half way decently I may post some photos here. However, that would put you on the spot to make some positive comment...and that might be VERY difficult!!

Hum...affirmation action plan for your pottery class?? I'm afraid I can't help much there. I know it is kind of an unusual thing for men to like.

Okay, work to get done...

Mornin' Mimi...

Georgia

Interesting how much this sounds just like OUR TRIP. Makes sense given that we are building a NEW RELATIONSHIP..A NEW MARRIAGE...in this "NEW LIFE"..as my H says...

I'm happy that you had such a great time, Georgia !!

<img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

I know how to make a room look better!!

Latest photos of my bedroom before / during / present..

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/mb_georgiaguy/album?.dir=/e593re2&.src=ph

Very nice!

Showoff!
<img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />

Hi F.G.G.,

I'd love to see your work, especially the raku. I rarely get the opportunity to do raku, the last time was about 3 years ago at something called the Raku Rodeo. It was a weekend filled with raku firings, demonstrations, alternative firings, fire dancers...Fabulous stuff. Up until then it had been a yearly event for about 10 or more years. However no one wanted to take over the event when the previous organizers stepped down.

I mostly fire in my electric kiln to cone 6 but will on occassion hire a gas kiln for reduction firings. I do about half wheel work half hand built. Here's my hint for getting better: Spend several days a week at the studio working for hours. I find many of my students want the one magic technique that will work for everything.

I'd be happy to post some of my work if I knew how to do it. Maybe you have some interesting glaze recipes? <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Nams...I can't stress enough...I am PITIFUL at this. I use whatever glaze is around. And..we can only use the studio during class on Tuesday nights. The instructor teaches at a public school during the week. I would be humiliated to post pix of my stuff...but I'll think about it (if you...and everyone else here...promises not to laugh!!).

Thank you cc and AD. I am SOOO happy with my bedroom. And...I'm typing this from my desk which is now in the new "study" overlooking the deck / pond. A moment ago I sat here and watched a hummingbird at the feeder. So nice...I am sooooo happy today. Life is good.

EXCEPT......

Another stinkin' letter from xW's rabid attorney today threatening, again, to take me back to court. I have absolutely...positively done EVERYTHING that I was decreed to do. I am so confused....and stressed.

Okay...I'm soliciting input and opinions. (Mimi...get ready).

One of the things the judge clearly said was that if she gained employment where she could get on another medical insurance plan, then she MUST do that regardless of cost or which plan is better. Until that happens, I am to pay for the COBRA coverage for her (about $400/month) which she is available to get for up to 3 years.

Now...here is the thing. I remember that years ago the school where she works (and has worked forever) made medical coverage available even to part time employees, but it WAS NOT attractive. Very expensive...poor benefits.

The point is...I think she could get that coverage RIGHT now. If so..I can just stop making COBRA payments. I know that she needs good insurance, and she can't possibly afford the other (without getting another job) so I've just not even entertained forcing the issue.

But now it appears as though she and md-a (mad dog attorney) are going to hound me into eternity.

What about it...should I check and if she CAN get insurance drop COBRA like a hot 'tater?

There's a dove sitting on my deck...

I'll never get anything done now.

Why not?

I can think of a lot of FUN THINGS to do with $400...

Georgia,

Lawyer's (except our own Mr. W and BB etc.) specialize in writing threatening letters. Throw it away and wait for a summons. And enjoy the thought that she probably paid the lawyer $400 to write it.

-AD

The chairman of the board of the school is a local attorney (a very prominent one). I think I will make an appointment with him and inquire about the insurance question. If I ask xW, I will get nowhere. If I call the school and talk to the headmaster it will really stir up a hornets nest and possibly get her fired.

Yes....I see no reason that I should continue to coddle her. It doesn't seem to do much good, does it?

And...I can have a MB contest to help Georiga decide how best spend his extra $400 month (which, by the way, I could sorely use right now).

Pix of my desk at the window (right now) along with the bedroom with my bed back in it. Still lots of work to do on French doors joining rooms together.

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/mb_georgiaguy/album?.dir=/e774re2&.src=ph

Another hummingbird....

I once thought I would never be happy again.

There's a lesson in there somewhere for all you BS's right in the midst of it all...life can get better.

cc...I've been looking for an update from you and I've not seen one in a while.

You doing okay?

Hi FGG. I'm doing OK, I sometimes update on t&l's thread since there isn;t THAT much to tell, or I'm too lazy to write <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

A week ago I taveled to Guatemala for work reasons and there I bought "the road less traveled" by Scott Peck. I'm fascinated. I read it all in a couple of days and I'm now rereading it. I think I'm going to concentrate on "growing spiritually". I love the idea.

A couple of days ago I had to spend some time with WH while our youngest had her passport made. Not much conversation went on, I guess there isn't much to say <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" />

But it was very civilized: I congrataulated him on his new car and he immediately gave me a check for $1000 which is what was left for him to pay of DDs tickets for our trip.

So it's still plan B. WH is a weird WS: he's completely financially responsible, pays for everything.

This friday I leave for USA. It will be a relief to get away. People are starting t wonder why I don't get divorced and it's sort of hard to explain that despite the fact that despite my being numb towards WH and hating what he's doing, you guys and Dr. Harley say recovery is still possible!

And the fact that because of my being catholic, I don't see any advantage to getting divorced.

Job is boring but that can change anytime. It could get better or much worse. I don't care much. It doesn't seem important.

Anyway, that's about how things are. Quiet plan B. But I'm feeling better. I'm extremely calm which is surprising, even to me. I feel a lot of peace. So my motto is: God's will be done, and I have to be patient.

Thanks for asking.

Nice to hear from you, cc...

I'm glad that you seem to have found some contentment in your life. I know that I don't completely understand your whoel sitch with your WH, but it sounds like you are at peace with your Plan B decision. I still tend to think that one of the biggest advantages to Plan B is to regain some peace and sanity in your life, and of that you have succeeded.

I remember your going to Virginia, Richmond I think it was. I hope you enjoy your stay in the U.S. It is currently sweltering hot in Georgia, and I assume similarly so in VA.

I consider VA to be a great spot for "old" (by US ages) historic sites, but recalling the time I looked at your hometown you may be a bit disappointed.

I will be seeing xW next Friday night at the graduation dinner for #1S. He is getting his Master's and DIL is having a surprise get together at a local restaurant for him. Right now she doesn't rank too high on my list of favorite people with this continued badgering from her attorney, which of course xW has to be orchestrating as the attorney wouldn't take it upon herself (for free) to be writing to me.

Congrats on maintaining your cool with WH. I had hoped that xW could form some sort of amicable friendship (if that's the right word), but that isn't possible right now.

Anyway, enough of that.

Last week I finished C.S. Lewis' "A Grief Observed". Today I started "1776" which was loaned to me by #1S. A bit of a change in my routine reading patterns, but I'm ready for that. But...I would certainly encourage you in your quest for spiritual growth.

Georgia