I love the creative ideas to attach. They are brilliant.

Scotland, aren't you still recovering from the last olive branch?

(just curious)

I am over recovering from the last Operation:Olive branch. I found my strength again. What it was was the timing thing. My friend brought it up yesterday and I was thinking about it. If I am going to do another one, I will need to be ready for it. It was only 1 month and 5 days ago. I just want to prepare myself.

I don't think it was just the Olive Branch. I found myself thinking about WH too much again. That was bugging me. I also think it was a part of the grieving process again. I did feel down but lately I have been feeling pretty good. I just like to be prepared.

I could go with doing it at the beginning of MAY instead. That way I have 5 more weeks instead of 1. I just wanted to make sure I had a plan.

I am rambling. Okay, this is why I brought it up today. I didn't realize, until my friend brought it up, that many of our special dates happen about 8 weeks from eachother. Since I have to do it on a day when WH comes to get the boys, there is an even amount of weeks to that.

I started Plan B on Dec18. 8 weeks later was our dating anniversary. Then 8 weeks after that is WH's bday. 8 weeks after that is DS9 bday. My friend asked me if I was trying to do these things on important dates. I didn't think that would be a good idea. I was only asking which dates I should think about doing it. I know I will do it again. Just want to be prepared.

May is probably better.

That's what I was thinking too. Whew, no more thinking about this for a few weeks.

Loved what you wrote Neak.

Getting on with life.

It did rain today and is COLD. DS9 has a sleep over tomorrow night so DS7 is having a sleepover in my room(with all of his cabbage patch kids and stuffed animals and his pillow he calls, "Baby".) I am going to take them to see "how to train a dragon." on saturday afternoon. Fun times ahead. WOOOHOOOO

Oh I forgot to mention. DS7 has had a MARVELOUS time at school this week(I hope I don't jinx it now since we have one more day for this week). I talked to his teacher this morning and she said that she has implemented some of my suggestions and he is doing GREAT. He is less frustrated with homework. It is great to hear.

DS9 was just on the phone with WH. WH asked to speak to DS7, who still refuses(has talked to him on the phone about 5 times in 3 months). DS9 said, "DS7, were you good at school?" DS7 said, "NOPE. I WAS BAD." Well, that wasn't true and I had to hide a laugh. Then DS9 got mad at WH and actually raised his voice when talking to him. He said, "I can't hear you. Talk LOUDER." Then DS9 mentioned that he was bored because he couldn't play his DS while talking to WH so WH told him he would let him get back to his game and they hung up. Heartbreaking. Consequences suck.

The new job hunt and puppy hunt are still on.

Hi Scotland-

I loved reading this because my OS (now 21) had a small pillow he called "Snugglebug". He still has it...although it's more of a lumbar support now.

Such great memories!

Puppy hunt? I may be breaking down and getting DD a puppy, too. Just a big commitment. We already have one dog -- who's really just like another kid.

Puppies bring smiles. And giggles. And distractions. I can understand why we do it.

Good luck with both of your hunts. Dogs are such a great source of unconditional love. I know mine has been there for me through this whole ordeal.

Puppies are a great commitment and when we had to put our dog to sleep 2 years ago, we talked about getting another dog. We wanted to give ourselves enough time to grieve. DSx2 and I wanted to get a puppy, WH wanted a dog that was about 6mos-1year old. He didn't want to house break it. I know why the boys want a puppy though, they have never experienced that. I want a puppy so I can train it from the beginning. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE the idea of adopting dogs from a shelter(my mom has done it twice and a friend is a foster parent for dogs). When our wonderful dog had her only litter of puppies(15), DS9 was 1.5. He doesn't really remember them. I just figure since the one obstacle for us getting a PUPPY was WH and he isn't here, then we would just go for it. I wanted to get passed the winter first so it would be easier to house break the puppy and get it used to walking outside.

Well, when you adopt an older dog that has already been housebroken, you often have to housebreak the dog again. Not sure why, except that it has to do with disruption of the dog's living conditions/routines.

I think it's MUCH better to adopt a puppy because the puppy can be taught desirable behaviors from the beginning and it won't have undesirable behaviors to unlearn.

I got my best and favorite dog when he was only 5 weeks old, and he was a true joy and my best friend who loved me no matter what. I had him for over 13 years, and it broke my heart to have to put him to sleep when cancer made him so sick.

LS- I AGREE that is why I want to get a puppy. I too got my dog at 5 weeks old. She was 11 when we had to put her to sleep because she had throat cancer and could no longer swallow. This was May/08. We are definitely READY for a new friend in our life. It is nice not having to confer with someone else on this, I get to make BIG GIRL decisions all on my own.

Lol bigirl..

Hey guys I am not ont the scheming board but just a question to scotty and you all. Would it yank at WH heartstrings if he was somehow consulted on the doggy? Is this possible to incorporate into the olive branch/plan A spirit of the plan B? Just wondering how the new pup would make WH feel and of course I just love to stress out OW with more of WH wishing he was home.

Since I am in Plan B and no thinking of WH allowed, I don't really give a whoopity hoot what WH would think about the puppy. I only care that I would make myself and my 2 boys happy with a puppy.

There will be no consulting with WH about the puppy. WH will know about it because DS9 tells him EVERYTHING, but I don't want his input at all. Sorry, this sounds a little cranky but it really isn't.

It will also give him the message that, while he is still WANTED, as long as he is committing adultery, he has NO SAY-SO in your life.

I was thinking about TST and SMB last night, and I think that the first inkling that he might come back (even though we didn't realize it at the time) was when some people from their church came over to finish the drywall of their kitchen renovation (which was started before he moved out). Well, TNT apparently couln't stand having other people taking care of HIS family, and he came over and started redoing their work. I can remember SMB posting about how her kids watched him working on the walls like he had gone plumb, totally out of what little mind he had left!

Got anything around the house that needs taking care of...and which would totally bum him out if somebody else did it? Just an idea...

There are a few things around the house that WH said he would fix after he moved out(of course this was before he knew about my marvelous Plan B0 The porch roof needs fixing. My BIL has told me that he would be willing to help me out with that. It is the front of the house so it will be noticeable. I am also going to redo the bathroom and fix the leaking roof. Man, this house is falling apart HAHAHAHAHA. I am just getting the money saved up. I don't think it would have an effect on WH but it needs to be fixed anyways. He let the house slide while he was committing adultery. I am gonna pick up the pieces.

Well, you never know!

In the meantime, maybe you could make some changes in the house. You can bet that the boys will tell him all about it.

Take down any pictures with him in them (but leave one or two in teh boys' rooms). Rearrange the furniture. Paint walls, or maybe even some furniture that you're tired of. Slipcover some pillows (easy to do, even if you're not all that handy with sewing). Just change things up a little.

I did paint the hallway coming in the house. I haven't finished it yet but it is in the works. I have thought about changing the rooms around. Flipping the living room and dining room. Now that it is warmer out, I am going to get scrapping the wallpaper and painting. The only pic we have of WH is our family pic in the living room. I could move it in to the boys room. We got a table lamp in the dining room and DS9 told WH right away. I think it is hilarious when he tells WH things like that because it seems like a 9 year old wouldn't care about things like that and he makes it sound like he is so excited. He was excited about the new fridge too.

See thats why im not on the team...

Hey scotty sounds like you are gonna have fun in the house. yay!!

We're all on the team.

Oh goody, household repairs! Start with the porch roof just as soon as you possibly can. Tomorrow??? I know you can't afford everything at once, though it would be hilarious if you could ("Dad, Mom just re-did EVERYTHING!!!!!!"). And I know he'll hear about everything you do.

Still, something right in his face that he will have to look at every time he pulls up to pick up or drop off the boys...that looks like Point A to me.

Without wasting a lot of time trying to figure out his reactions, there are things you can do strategically even in PB that may be helpful. Just toss them out there to happen, and then don't waste another thought on whether they did what you hoped.