Amy has been with the VA for 4 weeks now and it has been absolutely glorious. She is on days, 5 days a week, fromm 0800-1600, mon-fri, weekends off. I'm on nights, 1800-0600 on a rotating matrix, with every other weekend off. We see each other when I am off and briefly coming in or leaving for work.
I love the peace and quiet and solitude. As soon as she leaves work for the morning, I turn off the TV and curl up with a cup of hot strong coffee and the paper or do things around the house without interruption. Sometimes it's running errands or honey do's. Whatever it is, it's great. Most mornings, I'll soak in the hottub in the back yard. especially when I get home from work. One evening off, Amy even joined me ;).
This is the way I was hoping for when I first left Dana and the divorce proceedings were getting started. Peace and quiet and solitude. I didn't have the money to live as I do now then, still do not. Still have a lot of issues and concerns on my plate, My daughters, money, work, Amy, me, the list goes on. All told life has improved significantly these last 4 weeks.
Some of the things I have been doing, soaking in the hottub, stretching, enjoying a dvd or cd, praying, working out a bit, seeing my children, helping out my mother around her house, catching up with old friends and aquaintances. One day even playing tourist in the museum district up in Houston.
Can't wait for the days to turn comfortably warm and pretty. Am looking forward to some fishing, cycling, yard work, the nude beach, and any number of outdoor activities. We have a barbacue pit bought last summer we still havn't fired up yet!
It's been glorious and then some. I feel so much better these last few weeks and am looking forward to a brighter tomorrow. More to follow later.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Hottub Love!
Each time Amy and I hop into the hottub, we wind up making love. Fitting, as this hottub was the first place Amy and I made love in any capacity in October 2008. A month an a half later, I was moving out of my house in with her and inquiring about a divorce. Powerful stuff, that hottub love!
Our bodies entwined together. I enter her. She sucks me off. We experiment with a couple of positions - doggy style, seated, her riding me, balancing on the edge. Only our inaginations limit the possibilities. Our love making over flows to the indoors.
We are oblivious to the neighbors and what they may see. Hope they enjoy the show. I'm always nude in the backyard anyway unless I hear children in their back yard. I will have to invest in a privacy fence completely around the back. Currently, the privacy fence encompasses most of the backyard, not all of it. A small section has only open chainlink between the yards. If only to cover that small section. Oh the joys then!
When the housemates were here, they only fucked in it once which I am aware of. I watched for a bit. Sue and I were in the tub together that first night in October 2008. I made love with Amy only, Sue retreated to the front porch to read a book. Oh well. They never maintained it though, that task always fell to me. I was the one who drained it, disinfected it, filled it, shocked it, etc, etc.
Now with Amy in Houston at the VA working days, I make it a point to occasionally fire it up before I go to work so it will be hot enough when I come home in the morning. Unfortunate for me, I am alone when I do soak unless Amy is here. I enjoy a beer or two, shower, get some sleep. The wonders of the heat and water and the outdoors, nude. Yeah absolutely no clothes allowed in the hottub. No exceptions. I'm sure they foul up the filtration system or chemical balance of the water or something or another.
I soaked for a few minutes today, about 15 or so. Twice. I'm about to go back for another dip. More to follow later.
Our bodies entwined together. I enter her. She sucks me off. We experiment with a couple of positions - doggy style, seated, her riding me, balancing on the edge. Only our inaginations limit the possibilities. Our love making over flows to the indoors.
We are oblivious to the neighbors and what they may see. Hope they enjoy the show. I'm always nude in the backyard anyway unless I hear children in their back yard. I will have to invest in a privacy fence completely around the back. Currently, the privacy fence encompasses most of the backyard, not all of it. A small section has only open chainlink between the yards. If only to cover that small section. Oh the joys then!
When the housemates were here, they only fucked in it once which I am aware of. I watched for a bit. Sue and I were in the tub together that first night in October 2008. I made love with Amy only, Sue retreated to the front porch to read a book. Oh well. They never maintained it though, that task always fell to me. I was the one who drained it, disinfected it, filled it, shocked it, etc, etc.
Now with Amy in Houston at the VA working days, I make it a point to occasionally fire it up before I go to work so it will be hot enough when I come home in the morning. Unfortunate for me, I am alone when I do soak unless Amy is here. I enjoy a beer or two, shower, get some sleep. The wonders of the heat and water and the outdoors, nude. Yeah absolutely no clothes allowed in the hottub. No exceptions. I'm sure they foul up the filtration system or chemical balance of the water or something or another.
I soaked for a few minutes today, about 15 or so. Twice. I'm about to go back for another dip. More to follow later.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Looking Forward To 2011
Come on 2011! Let's get this year over with. 2010 was OK, nothing to really get excited about. Am eagerly awaiting for the new year and hoping. Always hoping. If it weren't for hope I wouldn't have anything. I havn't closed the doors entirely. but I am looking for new ones to open. Slowly I'm getting myself out of my rut. Some days are better than others. Am perpetually searching for that ultimate balance with everything - liffe, love, God, the world, my self, my children, family, friends, Amy, the list goes on. I look forward to the future with a postive attitude and maybe I learned something from my past. I don't know. Just trying to be here now and look forward and hope.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Oh well!
Here it is near the end of november and about to become december. 2010 was supposed to be the year I get my shit together. It was better after tthe housemates moved out and I thought it was going to be better after the ACTS retreat I participated in last month. Was not to be.
2010 has been the year I did catch up on bills and started to work some overtime and am almost "over" my first marriage. Although I am healthy, thanks to God, I do not always feel such. I am contending with my weight, 240lbs as of this morning. My laziness. I hope and pray I'm not getting depressed.
Now I can talk about problems with Amy, I think. I don't know. When it comes to Amy I don't know how much is menopause, how much is stress, how much could be depression, and how mush is simply me. Living with me and loving me isn't easy.
I have my personal issues. I am a divorced father of three daughters, two of them teens and one about to become 11 february next. I feel alone as if I have noone to talk to or maybe it's the responses of the people I do speak with. I feel like I have to get out more, meet new people.
Am coming to see a lot of similarities between Amy and Dana. Both will rot in front of the tv. Both can get lazy. Both have childhood abuse issues. At least Amy works and lives clean. Both can act out like immature little girls and pout and throw fits like a child. I think both are a little crazy, maybe manic depressive. Just hope and pray I'm not.
This has been a bad weekend. Had Stephanie over and Amy was a perfect horse's ass. Stephanie and I ran errands yesterday, mostly we watched dvd's, framed some posters I've had in storage for awhile. Bottom line, Amy and I not seeing eye to eye on my children. I wonder how my grandfather did it? How did those guys manage?
When I get into the shit, I think about my grandfathers. They were the real father figures in my life. More to follow later, december is just around the corner.
2010 has been the year I did catch up on bills and started to work some overtime and am almost "over" my first marriage. Although I am healthy, thanks to God, I do not always feel such. I am contending with my weight, 240lbs as of this morning. My laziness. I hope and pray I'm not getting depressed.
Now I can talk about problems with Amy, I think. I don't know. When it comes to Amy I don't know how much is menopause, how much is stress, how much could be depression, and how mush is simply me. Living with me and loving me isn't easy.
I have my personal issues. I am a divorced father of three daughters, two of them teens and one about to become 11 february next. I feel alone as if I have noone to talk to or maybe it's the responses of the people I do speak with. I feel like I have to get out more, meet new people.
Am coming to see a lot of similarities between Amy and Dana. Both will rot in front of the tv. Both can get lazy. Both have childhood abuse issues. At least Amy works and lives clean. Both can act out like immature little girls and pout and throw fits like a child. I think both are a little crazy, maybe manic depressive. Just hope and pray I'm not.
This has been a bad weekend. Had Stephanie over and Amy was a perfect horse's ass. Stephanie and I ran errands yesterday, mostly we watched dvd's, framed some posters I've had in storage for awhile. Bottom line, Amy and I not seeing eye to eye on my children. I wonder how my grandfather did it? How did those guys manage?
When I get into the shit, I think about my grandfathers. They were the real father figures in my life. More to follow later, december is just around the corner.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Hottub Anniversary, Religious Retreat, etc. etc.
Have been keeping this monthly blog now for almost 5 years, since august 2005. Sometimes I have trouble with coming up with something to write about and I'll a miss a month. Then I just have to take a look around me and mine and SOMETHING will come up. Sometimes it's a quick look at my appointment calender and something will pop up.
I keep a journal, a handwritten bound volume, for more than 20 years now and a pocket memo book I jot ideas down into. I save all these, calenders, journals, memo books, and sometimes go back over them. Usually i'm looking for something specific like when I changed the oil in the car last or such. Mostly it's the pack rat in me which keeps these things organized and locked away. Noone else may read them, ever. Maybe, after I'm dead and gone, someone will. They just might chunk them out as junk or read every word and figure out what was in my heart, mind, and soul. I seriously doubt if anyone reads this blog. Noone leaves any comments of importance.
Today, tonight, is the 21st of october. This was the night I came over to Amy, my girlfriend/fiancee/common law wife/ spouse/ live in lover/ however we're identifying ourselves this week, Amy's house and jumped into the hottub with her and the night we first made love or had sex or however you want to look at it. She has totally forgotten about the significance of this date, of course. Amy doesn't keep track of stuff like that. When she was married, I'll bet she forgot her own wedding anniversary. Anyway, tonight was the night and I wanted it to be special, of course it isn't.
We've been fighting for about a week. It all started when I took part in a church retreat, the A.C.T.S. retreat over this weekend past.
Now for the record, I've been wanting to do this retreat for some years, since I was still married and at Our Lady of Lourdes church in Hitchcock. I just made all sorts of excuses, too busy, no time, no money. Well, the no money was actually true. All the guys I spoke with who had been on the retreat said it was a lifechanging event for them. Since my divorce, I've been going back to church regularly and one sunday at mass I was up in the balcony looking down at these guys who were coming off retreat and one of them was so moved and emotional as to be sobbing during the service. The other retreatants just gathered around him and supported him, hugging him like a brother does and let's him know it's all going to be alright, nothing but love and such. as I looked down upon this scene I knew then and there that that was the experience I wanted, needed in my life for me.
So I spoke to a couple of guys who had gone on one and they got me the application. The retreat wasn't for a few months off, plenty of time to get time off from work and money together. So for the record, no arm twisting or any bullshit like that for me I WANTED TO GO AND I DID. I don't give a damn what Amy says.
I won't go into the details about the retreat here and now because that would be way too much. I will write that it WAS lifechanging. I came out of this weekend past spiritually recharged and with new tools to build with and new weapons to fight with. I feel like a new man. Now I realize I am still the same son of a bitch who left that thursday evening, but I'm not. Things are the same, but different. I am the same but different. If such contradictory statements are or can be true. I am certain they are.
Now, I don't know what Amy thought or had in mind as far as my coming out of this. I am not the holy roller type, waving my hands to heaven. Sorry to disappoint her in that department. I am a changed man. For many years, I have been unable to listen to or enjoy contemporary christian music. Amy loves it, Dana, my ex loves it too. The reason I had been so turned off to it is because Dana would listen to that stuff the entire 17 years we were married and not live it. I will go so far as to say I abhored the stuff. Don't go preaching to me one thing and then not live it. Amy understands this and she's observed, over the two years since I've left Dana, that I am just now able to "get into" the contemporary music at mass. Kind of like an Iraqi POW who was subjected to the barney song as a form of psychological torture. Put that guy through therapy and he might be able to listen to the barney song and not freak out.
For the first time in my life, I can now appreciate contemporary christian music to a degree. I'm getting better. But that was just the tip of the iceberg, there's more, lot's more. Have made plans to go back to bible study, something I did partake in once when I was at Our Lady of Lourdes, and thoroughly enjoyed. Have also made an appointment with a deacon about getting my marriage annulment. I identify my self as a roman catholic, but I'm a divorced catholic. That's a major sin, a mortal one. I havn't received the sacraments in good standing in over two years. It's a sin to receive communion when divorced and living in sin with another.
But I digress, there were all sorts of us men there, some fathers with their sons and vice versa. For some men, this was their second, third, or MORE return trip. THAT'S incredible. I can see why now. I can't wait to go back. I should have done this years ago, not that it may or may not have saved my marriage. Just that for my spirit and self, it was the most moving, emotional, spiritually recharging, lifechanging event I have experienced in a long time or to date. Everyone should go at least once. I want Amy to go, my mother, my sister, my daughters, my father, my brother, I want EVERYONE to go and experience what I had. Now I sound like a new born again christian or like a new christian all together. A new convert. I certainly feel like such.
I've always had a relationship with God, everyone does. But sometimes, I separate myself from God and His love. Call it life, work, ourselves, living, whatever. Now I'm not labelling good or bad, it's not all so cut and dry, black and white. There is a huge gray area there. I do feel as a result of this retreat experience I am closer to God. Father Frank once told me that I am so busy looking for God in the roar of a burning bush that I have forgotten or was unable to listen for God in a whisper.
I've read some about the how's and why's of the Mass and prayer and I still pray the rosary daily. I've even read the Holy Bible from cover to cover once over a year and a reading plan. From this retreat, I have a new hunger for it all inside of me. Sometimes it's a roaring fire and sometimes it's a glowing ember. But you throw gasaline on a glowing ember and see what happens. That's how I feel inside. I've always had a good foundation, now I'm building on it. I also realize that I'll be building on it and tearing it down and starting all over again sometimes and at other times I'll just be adding on and remodeling. Spiritual life is very much like building a house. I thank God for my grandparents and my mother for my spiritual foundation. Now I'm building on it.
I'll get back to the hottub sex thing another day.
I keep a journal, a handwritten bound volume, for more than 20 years now and a pocket memo book I jot ideas down into. I save all these, calenders, journals, memo books, and sometimes go back over them. Usually i'm looking for something specific like when I changed the oil in the car last or such. Mostly it's the pack rat in me which keeps these things organized and locked away. Noone else may read them, ever. Maybe, after I'm dead and gone, someone will. They just might chunk them out as junk or read every word and figure out what was in my heart, mind, and soul. I seriously doubt if anyone reads this blog. Noone leaves any comments of importance.
Today, tonight, is the 21st of october. This was the night I came over to Amy, my girlfriend/fiancee/common law wife/ spouse/ live in lover/ however we're identifying ourselves this week, Amy's house and jumped into the hottub with her and the night we first made love or had sex or however you want to look at it. She has totally forgotten about the significance of this date, of course. Amy doesn't keep track of stuff like that. When she was married, I'll bet she forgot her own wedding anniversary. Anyway, tonight was the night and I wanted it to be special, of course it isn't.
We've been fighting for about a week. It all started when I took part in a church retreat, the A.C.T.S. retreat over this weekend past.
Now for the record, I've been wanting to do this retreat for some years, since I was still married and at Our Lady of Lourdes church in Hitchcock. I just made all sorts of excuses, too busy, no time, no money. Well, the no money was actually true. All the guys I spoke with who had been on the retreat said it was a lifechanging event for them. Since my divorce, I've been going back to church regularly and one sunday at mass I was up in the balcony looking down at these guys who were coming off retreat and one of them was so moved and emotional as to be sobbing during the service. The other retreatants just gathered around him and supported him, hugging him like a brother does and let's him know it's all going to be alright, nothing but love and such. as I looked down upon this scene I knew then and there that that was the experience I wanted, needed in my life for me.
So I spoke to a couple of guys who had gone on one and they got me the application. The retreat wasn't for a few months off, plenty of time to get time off from work and money together. So for the record, no arm twisting or any bullshit like that for me I WANTED TO GO AND I DID. I don't give a damn what Amy says.
I won't go into the details about the retreat here and now because that would be way too much. I will write that it WAS lifechanging. I came out of this weekend past spiritually recharged and with new tools to build with and new weapons to fight with. I feel like a new man. Now I realize I am still the same son of a bitch who left that thursday evening, but I'm not. Things are the same, but different. I am the same but different. If such contradictory statements are or can be true. I am certain they are.
Now, I don't know what Amy thought or had in mind as far as my coming out of this. I am not the holy roller type, waving my hands to heaven. Sorry to disappoint her in that department. I am a changed man. For many years, I have been unable to listen to or enjoy contemporary christian music. Amy loves it, Dana, my ex loves it too. The reason I had been so turned off to it is because Dana would listen to that stuff the entire 17 years we were married and not live it. I will go so far as to say I abhored the stuff. Don't go preaching to me one thing and then not live it. Amy understands this and she's observed, over the two years since I've left Dana, that I am just now able to "get into" the contemporary music at mass. Kind of like an Iraqi POW who was subjected to the barney song as a form of psychological torture. Put that guy through therapy and he might be able to listen to the barney song and not freak out.
For the first time in my life, I can now appreciate contemporary christian music to a degree. I'm getting better. But that was just the tip of the iceberg, there's more, lot's more. Have made plans to go back to bible study, something I did partake in once when I was at Our Lady of Lourdes, and thoroughly enjoyed. Have also made an appointment with a deacon about getting my marriage annulment. I identify my self as a roman catholic, but I'm a divorced catholic. That's a major sin, a mortal one. I havn't received the sacraments in good standing in over two years. It's a sin to receive communion when divorced and living in sin with another.
But I digress, there were all sorts of us men there, some fathers with their sons and vice versa. For some men, this was their second, third, or MORE return trip. THAT'S incredible. I can see why now. I can't wait to go back. I should have done this years ago, not that it may or may not have saved my marriage. Just that for my spirit and self, it was the most moving, emotional, spiritually recharging, lifechanging event I have experienced in a long time or to date. Everyone should go at least once. I want Amy to go, my mother, my sister, my daughters, my father, my brother, I want EVERYONE to go and experience what I had. Now I sound like a new born again christian or like a new christian all together. A new convert. I certainly feel like such.
I've always had a relationship with God, everyone does. But sometimes, I separate myself from God and His love. Call it life, work, ourselves, living, whatever. Now I'm not labelling good or bad, it's not all so cut and dry, black and white. There is a huge gray area there. I do feel as a result of this retreat experience I am closer to God. Father Frank once told me that I am so busy looking for God in the roar of a burning bush that I have forgotten or was unable to listen for God in a whisper.
I've read some about the how's and why's of the Mass and prayer and I still pray the rosary daily. I've even read the Holy Bible from cover to cover once over a year and a reading plan. From this retreat, I have a new hunger for it all inside of me. Sometimes it's a roaring fire and sometimes it's a glowing ember. But you throw gasaline on a glowing ember and see what happens. That's how I feel inside. I've always had a good foundation, now I'm building on it. I also realize that I'll be building on it and tearing it down and starting all over again sometimes and at other times I'll just be adding on and remodeling. Spiritual life is very much like building a house. I thank God for my grandparents and my mother for my spiritual foundation. Now I'm building on it.
I'll get back to the hottub sex thing another day.
Friday, September 17, 2010
Victoria turns 18
Last sunday, 12sep10, was my daughter's 18th birthday. As any father would be, I am proud. As any parent of their child could be , when their child legally progresses from underage to adult; I am understandably concerned. If fatherhood has taught me anything at all, it's that our children grow at different rates. Victoria may have the body of a woman and the legal written documentation to prove her legal age, she still lacks a certain self discipline and maturity. I'm sure I was much the same way and caused my parents similair concern. I hope and pray for each of my daughters, daily, sometimes more than twice daily. I love Victoria but not neccessarily like how she is living. There is a time when fathers must step just a little bit back and let there daughters take their own lumps, within reason. I have taught, am teaching my daughters, and they'll have to fall flat on their faces for some lessons to sink in. They'll find out own day with their own children. Then, maybe, they'll understand.
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Housemates Have Moved Out!!
The housemates have moved out!! Sorry it didn't work out. I wasn't the best of housemates and i certainly havn't been very supportive or caring or loving or whatever you want to call it. Now it's just Amy and myself in this big three bedroom, two bath, two large family rooms, with hottub in the backyard, privacy fence, and detatched garage.
What did I think I was getting myself into in the first place on that dark and snowy night in dec '08 anyway? I was fairly certain my marriage was in the shit. The rest of it I was just playing by ear. In hind sight, oh, that ever crystal clear, 20/20, undeniable hindsight - I should have listened to my sea-mom, Pam; and found a place of my own. The proverbial shoulda, coulda, wouldas. Maybe, maybe not, would have saved myself a lot of trouble and drama? Oh, if only I knew then what I know now!
Must not fall into the woulda, couldas, shouldas, or into any other sort of negative mindset. Must learn from it all, be better for the experience and move forward, ever forward. Where ever forward may be. Some days may be better than others with Amy and my children and today has been a not so good one.
Have spent the better part of the day cleaning up the other bedroom, bathroom, vacuming, listening to Amy rant and rave about my lack of poor fathering skills. I've nearly had my fill. Have not ever claimed to be the perfect father. So I take it day by day.
We'll see what tomorrow brings. If I have to, I'll suggest to Amy that I pay her half the mortgage and utilities for two bedrooms, one bathroom, kitchen, yard, and half a garage privilages. I'll still cut the grass and do as I am able to around this property. Truth is, I like it here. I like this house and I don't feel like moving again.
If I can salvage a relationship with Amy, that would be great. That has yet to be seen. I am unable to afford a comparable place out on my own. Still under the child and spousal support bullshit. If only Dana would move out and then I could put my own place back together and maybe move back in. I like it here and am comfortable here. More comfortable now that the housemates have moved into their own place.
I'm not easy to live with and probably more difficult to love. Pam said I should have spent time by myself after I left Dana. Maybe I should have listened to her, there are a lot of thos maybes in my life. I look forward to tomorrow, an ever hopeful and brighter tomorrow. It's up to me to make it happen. So here I sit typing, broke, but not broken. One day at a time, always praying the rosary, and hoping. More to follow later.
What did I think I was getting myself into in the first place on that dark and snowy night in dec '08 anyway? I was fairly certain my marriage was in the shit. The rest of it I was just playing by ear. In hind sight, oh, that ever crystal clear, 20/20, undeniable hindsight - I should have listened to my sea-mom, Pam; and found a place of my own. The proverbial shoulda, coulda, wouldas. Maybe, maybe not, would have saved myself a lot of trouble and drama? Oh, if only I knew then what I know now!
Must not fall into the woulda, couldas, shouldas, or into any other sort of negative mindset. Must learn from it all, be better for the experience and move forward, ever forward. Where ever forward may be. Some days may be better than others with Amy and my children and today has been a not so good one.
Have spent the better part of the day cleaning up the other bedroom, bathroom, vacuming, listening to Amy rant and rave about my lack of poor fathering skills. I've nearly had my fill. Have not ever claimed to be the perfect father. So I take it day by day.
We'll see what tomorrow brings. If I have to, I'll suggest to Amy that I pay her half the mortgage and utilities for two bedrooms, one bathroom, kitchen, yard, and half a garage privilages. I'll still cut the grass and do as I am able to around this property. Truth is, I like it here. I like this house and I don't feel like moving again.
If I can salvage a relationship with Amy, that would be great. That has yet to be seen. I am unable to afford a comparable place out on my own. Still under the child and spousal support bullshit. If only Dana would move out and then I could put my own place back together and maybe move back in. I like it here and am comfortable here. More comfortable now that the housemates have moved into their own place.
I'm not easy to live with and probably more difficult to love. Pam said I should have spent time by myself after I left Dana. Maybe I should have listened to her, there are a lot of thos maybes in my life. I look forward to tomorrow, an ever hopeful and brighter tomorrow. It's up to me to make it happen. So here I sit typing, broke, but not broken. One day at a time, always praying the rosary, and hoping. More to follow later.
Saturday, July 31, 2010
My Dietary Rules (yeah, right!)
Here are a few notes on dietary rules I SHOULD keep, but truthfully do not. If I could commit myself to keeping these rules, I'm certain to drop some pounds, live healthier, look better, and perhaps even live longer.
The first rule is commitment, commit oneself to good, positive, healthy diet habits. Commitment, REAL commitment is paramount to almost all endeavors in our lives.
The second rule is to not be so hard on oneself and to set realistic, short term goals. In my case, that means staying away from the scale on a daily basis and to "forgive" myself in a dietary way of speaking. The short term goals are easier to keep and pay off in spades later.
The third rule is to eat that first meal of ones day, breakfast, like a king. In other words, this should be my main meal of the day. My mid day meal should not be quite so large. My final end of my day meal should be small, perhaps half of the breakfast sized meal. All meals in my day should, with healthy snacks equal out to 5-6 small meals a day or this 3 meal with perhaps 1-2 healthy snacks in between meals. I'm still working on this rule. I work nights, so my sleep cycles flip flop. Some days I will sleep almost all the day away and my breakfast will be at 4pm, lunch at 1 am, and dinner at 5 or 6 am. Some days I'll actually stay up to get things done and actually be awake for almost 24 hours straight through.
The fourth rule is portion size. This means fist sized portions and no going back for seconds. An addendum to this rule is to load up a plate with only half of what one would normally load on ones plate. Am still working on this rule also.
The fifth rule is nothing in excess, this is clear and across the board. Moderation in everything.
The sixth rule is 2-3liters of water a day, everyday. No more than 4 cups of coffee and/or tea in a 24 hour period. No carbonated drinks, Juices in small amounts, still working on that amount part. Limited alcohol intake to an absolute minimum.
The seventh rule my "white rule" no or almost no "white" in my diet. This means salt, sugar, flour, bread, etc. I have not added salt to my food for many years now, I opt for herbs, spices, garlic powder and such. Should I use salt, it is coarse sea salt in a grinder, the same goes for my pepper. Brown rice instead of white rice if possible. wheat or whole grain bread instead of white bread.
The eighth rule is the "keep it fresh rule", this means little if any refined, processed, canned foods. Difficult to keep this rule but substitute frozen or fresh vegetables and fruits for the canned processed stuff. You will notice a significant improvement in the flavor of your food.
The ninth rule is stay away from salad dressings, mayo, yellow mustard, and such. Try to keep it to vinagaretes, olive oil with herbs, honey, dijoun mustard. Easy once you start, once again, the flavor of your foods will improve dramatically.
The tenth rule is balance, low amounts of fatty foods, more fruits and vegetables and grains, moderate protein and dairy intake, common sense stuff.
Apply these rule to anything that goes near your mouth and see what happens. I'm still a work in progress regarding these rules. One of these days I'll get my shit together.
The first rule is commitment, commit oneself to good, positive, healthy diet habits. Commitment, REAL commitment is paramount to almost all endeavors in our lives.
The second rule is to not be so hard on oneself and to set realistic, short term goals. In my case, that means staying away from the scale on a daily basis and to "forgive" myself in a dietary way of speaking. The short term goals are easier to keep and pay off in spades later.
The third rule is to eat that first meal of ones day, breakfast, like a king. In other words, this should be my main meal of the day. My mid day meal should not be quite so large. My final end of my day meal should be small, perhaps half of the breakfast sized meal. All meals in my day should, with healthy snacks equal out to 5-6 small meals a day or this 3 meal with perhaps 1-2 healthy snacks in between meals. I'm still working on this rule. I work nights, so my sleep cycles flip flop. Some days I will sleep almost all the day away and my breakfast will be at 4pm, lunch at 1 am, and dinner at 5 or 6 am. Some days I'll actually stay up to get things done and actually be awake for almost 24 hours straight through.
The fourth rule is portion size. This means fist sized portions and no going back for seconds. An addendum to this rule is to load up a plate with only half of what one would normally load on ones plate. Am still working on this rule also.
The fifth rule is nothing in excess, this is clear and across the board. Moderation in everything.
The sixth rule is 2-3liters of water a day, everyday. No more than 4 cups of coffee and/or tea in a 24 hour period. No carbonated drinks, Juices in small amounts, still working on that amount part. Limited alcohol intake to an absolute minimum.
The seventh rule my "white rule" no or almost no "white" in my diet. This means salt, sugar, flour, bread, etc. I have not added salt to my food for many years now, I opt for herbs, spices, garlic powder and such. Should I use salt, it is coarse sea salt in a grinder, the same goes for my pepper. Brown rice instead of white rice if possible. wheat or whole grain bread instead of white bread.
The eighth rule is the "keep it fresh rule", this means little if any refined, processed, canned foods. Difficult to keep this rule but substitute frozen or fresh vegetables and fruits for the canned processed stuff. You will notice a significant improvement in the flavor of your food.
The ninth rule is stay away from salad dressings, mayo, yellow mustard, and such. Try to keep it to vinagaretes, olive oil with herbs, honey, dijoun mustard. Easy once you start, once again, the flavor of your foods will improve dramatically.
The tenth rule is balance, low amounts of fatty foods, more fruits and vegetables and grains, moderate protein and dairy intake, common sense stuff.
Apply these rule to anything that goes near your mouth and see what happens. I'm still a work in progress regarding these rules. One of these days I'll get my shit together.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Real Bad Case Of Writer's Block
Have been suffering from a real bad case of writer's block for some months now and am unable to shake it. Not motivated to write poetry or a journal entry or anything. I pack around these notes for poems in my pocket and they just sit there. Some poetry I've written had been packed around for months like this before they ever materialized. even some of my best ones. I whip them out, go over the tattered sheets of paper, fold them back up with disgust, and stuff them back into my pocket. Now how am I to make something of this? What am I to do?
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Getting On With Life
Hoping and praying and getting off my ass, more easier said than done. Some days are easier than others. Trying not to sleep all day on my first day off. Working 12hr night shifts from 1800-0600 can be an ass kicker sometimes. Simply don't feel as energetic as I used too. Staying away from the tv is a major help, limiting computer work or internet time to 1hr or less also helps. Keeping a schedule does and does not always work, something always pops up or some other circumstance throws a monkey wrench into the best laid of plans. I call it the fuck up factor. Perhaps a visit from the fuck up fairy is more appropriate? The spontaneous just get up and do it moments seem the best. One night last week, unable to sleep, I hopped onto my bicycle, went down to the taekwondo school for an imprompto howdy, bought a six pack of beer, went star gazing out on the dike, and grabbed a burger on the way home in a mild state of damn good buzz. I did get some yard work done at my mothers house yesterday and I did go to mass this morning. Even managed to do some yard work around here this morning before it grew too hot outside. Must pace myself and not over do things. Tonight, after dropping off Amy at work and my daughter back with her mother, I'm picking up another six pack of cheap beer or wine, load my telescope up on my bike rack and head off to the dike again. This may be a summetime ritual with me, who knows? I do know I enjoy getting out of the house like this, get some exercise, a good buzz, and gaze at the stars with my 20 year old telescope.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Female Problems
In a world of shit with the most important females in my life. I just am unable to satisfy any woman in my life right now. My daughters, my girlfriend/fiancee/domestic partner, my sister, my mother, female co-workers; name any important woman in my life and she'll find some beef with me.
My two older daughters are teenagers, so that says a lot right there. They do not get along with Amy, my girlfriend/fiancee/domestic partner. amy does not get along with them. That's a big source of my grief there. I am unble to please any of them lately.
Amy is all aggrevated with me for any number of reasons, just pick something and it's my fault. Job, house, family, me, sex, handling bills, my old truck, watching a movie on TV/DVD, computer time spent,dealing with the housemates, anything. I don't know about that one. Complains about all sorts of stuff.
My sister is just now talking to me since my divorce. I call her, leave a message when I am unable to reach her. She rarely returns my calls or calls me at all. Havn't heard from my brother in law in months.
My mother still loves me, but even she stands back and lets me deal with my own bullshit. As a parent I can see her point there, am doing the same with my own daughters. Just hope they survive it and aren't scarred by it for life.
Have to get out of bed now and start moving around, get another cup of coffee, water the garden, weed the garden, etc, etc.
My two older daughters are teenagers, so that says a lot right there. They do not get along with Amy, my girlfriend/fiancee/domestic partner. amy does not get along with them. That's a big source of my grief there. I am unble to please any of them lately.
Amy is all aggrevated with me for any number of reasons, just pick something and it's my fault. Job, house, family, me, sex, handling bills, my old truck, watching a movie on TV/DVD, computer time spent,dealing with the housemates, anything. I don't know about that one. Complains about all sorts of stuff.
My sister is just now talking to me since my divorce. I call her, leave a message when I am unable to reach her. She rarely returns my calls or calls me at all. Havn't heard from my brother in law in months.
My mother still loves me, but even she stands back and lets me deal with my own bullshit. As a parent I can see her point there, am doing the same with my own daughters. Just hope they survive it and aren't scarred by it for life.
Have to get out of bed now and start moving around, get another cup of coffee, water the garden, weed the garden, etc, etc.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
The Therapy Blues
Some therapy days, days which I have a therapy appointment, I just have to wonder why. Why do I pay $30.00 a pop , why do I show up, why do I schedule things around these appointments and drive out so far? After all I have a lot of other shit to do and other uses for $30.00 american of my hard earned money.
But I do show up. I pay $30.00 a pop. I drive out across to the other county. I even take my daughters, they're in therapy too. We're all in therapy. It all started with my youngest daughter and her treatment for her ADHD in 2008. By the end of that year, my marriage was shit, I had left my wife of 17 years, and I was getting divorced. By early 2009, I was a client.
I was trying to unfuck my life. When I really fuck up, when I really need help. I go to a catholic priest. Preferably Fr. Frank, but he's in another parish and it's hell to try to get time with him. So I settle for my parish priest and that's a so so relationship for more so so results. After all, one is talking to a Roman Catholic priest.
A priest is far better a therapist, no matter how bad I fuck up, than any professionally trained, experienced, disciplined, therapuetic therapist. That still didn't save my marriage. So now I see my daughter's therapist. With her, some visits are better than others.
This therapist is a social worker by training, she's married with teenage children of her own. She's Roman Catholic. We were initially refered to her by our daughter's child psychiatrist, the one who prescribed and manages my girl with the strattera. I thought she could help. She did, my daughter anyway. She couldn't do shit for my then wife and myself.
No, that kind of help has to come from within. One has to want help. On has to help ones self. My then wife didn't want that help. She never did, not in the entire 17 years we were married. Neither did I for that matter.
I'm not perfect. I have my issues. We had our issues. I can be difficult to live with and difficult to love. Had I known then what I know now - I would have not married her in the first place. Of course, with marriage, no one really knows then. One just does it. We did.
The only good to come out of that marriage are our daughters. The rest of it, the way we treated ourselves as a husband and wife was all shit. The sex was good, great sometimes. But one shouldn't base their marriage on sex alone. Not good, I should know because I tried.
On the flip side of that coin, one should go into a marriage with a littler more better preparation than just knowing each other for barely 3 months before standing in front of a JP saying "I do".
Don't ask me, I don't know. I do know that I do love my children. I even love my ex-wife still in a sort of weird way. I must, I still put up with her shit to the tune of $557.00 every other friday. Or is that just my love affair with my personal freedoms and not wanting to go jail for not paying court ordered child support?
I don't know. I don't know shit. Now if I could just quit smoking.
But I do show up. I pay $30.00 a pop. I drive out across to the other county. I even take my daughters, they're in therapy too. We're all in therapy. It all started with my youngest daughter and her treatment for her ADHD in 2008. By the end of that year, my marriage was shit, I had left my wife of 17 years, and I was getting divorced. By early 2009, I was a client.
I was trying to unfuck my life. When I really fuck up, when I really need help. I go to a catholic priest. Preferably Fr. Frank, but he's in another parish and it's hell to try to get time with him. So I settle for my parish priest and that's a so so relationship for more so so results. After all, one is talking to a Roman Catholic priest.
A priest is far better a therapist, no matter how bad I fuck up, than any professionally trained, experienced, disciplined, therapuetic therapist. That still didn't save my marriage. So now I see my daughter's therapist. With her, some visits are better than others.
This therapist is a social worker by training, she's married with teenage children of her own. She's Roman Catholic. We were initially refered to her by our daughter's child psychiatrist, the one who prescribed and manages my girl with the strattera. I thought she could help. She did, my daughter anyway. She couldn't do shit for my then wife and myself.
No, that kind of help has to come from within. One has to want help. On has to help ones self. My then wife didn't want that help. She never did, not in the entire 17 years we were married. Neither did I for that matter.
I'm not perfect. I have my issues. We had our issues. I can be difficult to live with and difficult to love. Had I known then what I know now - I would have not married her in the first place. Of course, with marriage, no one really knows then. One just does it. We did.
The only good to come out of that marriage are our daughters. The rest of it, the way we treated ourselves as a husband and wife was all shit. The sex was good, great sometimes. But one shouldn't base their marriage on sex alone. Not good, I should know because I tried.
On the flip side of that coin, one should go into a marriage with a littler more better preparation than just knowing each other for barely 3 months before standing in front of a JP saying "I do".
Don't ask me, I don't know. I do know that I do love my children. I even love my ex-wife still in a sort of weird way. I must, I still put up with her shit to the tune of $557.00 every other friday. Or is that just my love affair with my personal freedoms and not wanting to go jail for not paying court ordered child support?
I don't know. I don't know shit. Now if I could just quit smoking.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Pre-Meeting Troy Jitters
Have been with Amy for little over a year now and am to meet her brother in law, Troy, tomorrow. Am feeling just a bit jittery, like a teenager about to meet his girlfriend's family for the first time. Swept and mopped all the floors, foyer, kitchen, bathroom, shook out and/or washed out the carpets and such Even washed and dryed all the laundry and changed out the bed and bathroom linens. Want to make a good first time impression.
I shouldn't be jittery. Have met her sister, Denise, and nephew, Mickey, some months ago and they come and visit. Mickey even stayed for a month or so. Still I can not help but to be as jittery as a schoolboy!
Guess this relationship is getting serious, real serious. I love Amy and am committed to her. I'm not afraid of committment. I am afraid of marriage in any sense of the word. But it wouldn't be right to not marry her. That would be the good and right thing to do. I shouldn't be afraid of marriage, but after being married to dana for 17 years, I suppose I am a case of once botten, twice shy.
Domestic partner wouldn't be right for Amy, she's better than that. Way better. I'm still fucked in the head and traumatized from being married to Dana and dealing with my children. Don't want to just run off and get married but don't want to lose a good thing either.
Friend of mine emailed me about finding myself, another says I need alone time before I jump off into another relationship. That I should not have hooked up so quickly with Amy. That I need time to heal and all that. I don't know.
I don't know anything. Amy and my daughters do not get along. The housemate thing works and then doesn't work. Truth is I've never had it so good before, no matter the bullshit. Another truth is, it's not a destination but a journey. I am enjoying the journey more now with Amy. I do enjoy my alone time, even though I miss my children just as much. It's all about finding a balnce and letting go and love and all that.
Love is a many faceted word. I love my daughters, but they will have to make their choices and take their own lumps. They are my first priority, just how to make them aware of that as they continue to grow. I love Amy and want to live with her, but I'm not the easiest to love or live with, neither is she at times. I still love Dana, just refuse to live with her or share any thing else with her. I've already given her enough. Perhaps too much. The sex was good, I really do miss that. Sex with Amy is good also. Am unable to go around basing by relationships on sex alone though, that's not healthy.
The big question is, do I love myself?, Do I love me? How do I love me? That sounds like a poem in the works. Will have to write that down to work on it later, along with all the other projects I have on perpetual hold.
Am now off to polish off the bookshelves my grandfather made and to pick up around the house some more. Am supposed to meet Troy tomorrow at noon at the taqueria. At least I'm not drinking excessively.
I shouldn't be jittery. Have met her sister, Denise, and nephew, Mickey, some months ago and they come and visit. Mickey even stayed for a month or so. Still I can not help but to be as jittery as a schoolboy!
Guess this relationship is getting serious, real serious. I love Amy and am committed to her. I'm not afraid of committment. I am afraid of marriage in any sense of the word. But it wouldn't be right to not marry her. That would be the good and right thing to do. I shouldn't be afraid of marriage, but after being married to dana for 17 years, I suppose I am a case of once botten, twice shy.
Domestic partner wouldn't be right for Amy, she's better than that. Way better. I'm still fucked in the head and traumatized from being married to Dana and dealing with my children. Don't want to just run off and get married but don't want to lose a good thing either.
Friend of mine emailed me about finding myself, another says I need alone time before I jump off into another relationship. That I should not have hooked up so quickly with Amy. That I need time to heal and all that. I don't know.
I don't know anything. Amy and my daughters do not get along. The housemate thing works and then doesn't work. Truth is I've never had it so good before, no matter the bullshit. Another truth is, it's not a destination but a journey. I am enjoying the journey more now with Amy. I do enjoy my alone time, even though I miss my children just as much. It's all about finding a balnce and letting go and love and all that.
Love is a many faceted word. I love my daughters, but they will have to make their choices and take their own lumps. They are my first priority, just how to make them aware of that as they continue to grow. I love Amy and want to live with her, but I'm not the easiest to love or live with, neither is she at times. I still love Dana, just refuse to live with her or share any thing else with her. I've already given her enough. Perhaps too much. The sex was good, I really do miss that. Sex with Amy is good also. Am unable to go around basing by relationships on sex alone though, that's not healthy.
The big question is, do I love myself?, Do I love me? How do I love me? That sounds like a poem in the works. Will have to write that down to work on it later, along with all the other projects I have on perpetual hold.
Am now off to polish off the bookshelves my grandfather made and to pick up around the house some more. Am supposed to meet Troy tomorrow at noon at the taqueria. At least I'm not drinking excessively.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
End Of 2009 Message
Here it is nearing the end of 2009 and I want to comment on the year/ years past events. 2009 was one of those combo years, good and bad. Bad in that I was divorced but good in that I started the healing process. That first step is the most difficult to take and I wouldn't wish anyone going through the divorce process.
All the changes started in 2008; cruise with the family, getting bifocals, first dental work in 20 years, hurricane Ike, leaving a marriage of 17 years, etc, etc. Both a good and rough year. The changes spilled over into the following 2009.
My divorce was finalized in august, sometime in the spring before the finalization I started to slowly pick myself up and put myself together. I credit God for getting me through all this and for Amy, my girlfriend to keep me in all of this. If not for Amy, I don't know what would have happened. i also gaine 20 lbs and now weigh 240lbs and holding. I was 215-220 lbs when I left Dana, my now ex-wife.
Sorry it didn't work out. Am still in therapy about all this. Some days are better than others. Am still in the shit. Wil take some years to get out of this. I count my blessings. That's a good thing, count your blessings, always.
All the changes started in 2008; cruise with the family, getting bifocals, first dental work in 20 years, hurricane Ike, leaving a marriage of 17 years, etc, etc. Both a good and rough year. The changes spilled over into the following 2009.
My divorce was finalized in august, sometime in the spring before the finalization I started to slowly pick myself up and put myself together. I credit God for getting me through all this and for Amy, my girlfriend to keep me in all of this. If not for Amy, I don't know what would have happened. i also gaine 20 lbs and now weigh 240lbs and holding. I was 215-220 lbs when I left Dana, my now ex-wife.
Sorry it didn't work out. Am still in therapy about all this. Some days are better than others. Am still in the shit. Wil take some years to get out of this. I count my blessings. That's a good thing, count your blessings, always.
Friday, November 27, 2009
The Day After Thanksgiving 2009
Am suffering from writer's block, big time. Have for some months now carried around ideas for poetry in my pocket, lines, ideas, words. Nothing comes of it. Where is my muse?
Last year this time, I was practically shitting out poetry, and about to go through a divorce. Saw my in-laws at ryans buffet for thanksgiving 2008. I remember my father-in-law asking how things were and I lied,"Just fine, Dad." Two weeks or so later I had left.
Leaving and divorcing has been hell, wouldn't wish it upon anyone. Truly an awful experience. So is jumping from one relationship to another. Was not wise for me to jump from one heart to the next or from one bed to the next. Wiser to have spent some time alone, Pam warned me about this this time last year and I blew her off. Next time I'll listen to Pam.
Am not afraid of committment, but am surley afraid of the "M" word, or at least more cautious of it. Marriage is something I want no part of , at least not for now. Hope Amy understands. I was proud of my marriage and it was the sin of pride that brought it down among other reasons.
Gave it a lot, my marriage, and then some. was even able to live with my adultry, but my pride was the death knell. Perhaps my marriage was doomed from the start?
We certainly didn't learn enough about each other, we had known each other barely 3 months, were pregnant with Victoria a month after we were married. A little after a year we had met, Victoria was born, 14 months later, Judith was born. Truth is we weren"t ready for marriage in any way, shape, or form. I don't give a damn what Dana, my former wife, says. The first wife.
2008 was not a good year, neithr was 2009. That was the year of being in limbo and the beginning of recovery and healing. Now 2010 is around the corner, and want the recovery and healing to continue and we'll just see what happens. God help me.
Last year this time, I was practically shitting out poetry, and about to go through a divorce. Saw my in-laws at ryans buffet for thanksgiving 2008. I remember my father-in-law asking how things were and I lied,"Just fine, Dad." Two weeks or so later I had left.
Leaving and divorcing has been hell, wouldn't wish it upon anyone. Truly an awful experience. So is jumping from one relationship to another. Was not wise for me to jump from one heart to the next or from one bed to the next. Wiser to have spent some time alone, Pam warned me about this this time last year and I blew her off. Next time I'll listen to Pam.
Am not afraid of committment, but am surley afraid of the "M" word, or at least more cautious of it. Marriage is something I want no part of , at least not for now. Hope Amy understands. I was proud of my marriage and it was the sin of pride that brought it down among other reasons.
Gave it a lot, my marriage, and then some. was even able to live with my adultry, but my pride was the death knell. Perhaps my marriage was doomed from the start?
We certainly didn't learn enough about each other, we had known each other barely 3 months, were pregnant with Victoria a month after we were married. A little after a year we had met, Victoria was born, 14 months later, Judith was born. Truth is we weren"t ready for marriage in any way, shape, or form. I don't give a damn what Dana, my former wife, says. The first wife.
2008 was not a good year, neithr was 2009. That was the year of being in limbo and the beginning of recovery and healing. Now 2010 is around the corner, and want the recovery and healing to continue and we'll just see what happens. God help me.
Friday, October 30, 2009
No Absolution
Some two and a halve months now post divorce as I write this and am still trying to get my life together. Still havn't gone back to taekwondo, new school owners, new staff, different crew all around. Am still not working out regularly or reading or doing anything I had really planned. Not writing poetry. Nothing's going according to plan.
Made an appointment with my local parish priest, Fr. Tom Ponzini, in an effort to right myself with the church. No real go there, not yet. His idea is for me to either reconcile myself with Dana or to move out of this house into a place of my own and then to start over with Amy. That is perhaps how I should do it. That's is perhaps how I would do it had I the funds. When I explained this to him, he suggested one of us sleep on the couch or in another room. Amy sleeps on the reclining love seat in the blue room up front a lot. She looks awfully uncomfortable there asleep, but she says she sleeps well. I sleep in the bedroom. Alone, the way Fr. Tom has prescribed. That's one small victory.
Am supposed to be pursuing an annulment. I truly do not know where to start. It's the only way if I am to get myself right with the church. according to Fr. Tom and the roman Catholic church, I am still married to Dana despite a civil divorce. That is true if I am going to keep calling my self a Roman Catholic, even a poor one. So Amy and I live in a state of mortal sin and we are unable to receive Holy Communion. Unfortunate for me the church was not married to Dana, I was, and the church did not live in our house, no one religion did. Not even the first united methodist church.
Am still in therapy with Malone, so are the girls although somewhat stingily. Victoria immerses herself in work, school, extracuricullar activities, and her social circle. She is the most angry of the three. Judith is similairly keeping herself busy. She is most loyal to her mother and she keeps her emotions inward. I only see Judith and Stephanie over every other weekend. Stephanie is the most resilient and seems to have adapted the easiest. Victoria and Judith are not on the best of terms with Amy, but Stephanie does love Amy dearly and shows it the most. So I do not see much of Victoria. I do call the girls almost every other day and I email them. Mostly I leave messages on there voice mail as they do not answer their cell phones always. Sometimes they call, but only if they want or need something.
But life goes on. I relish the peace and quiet, am a lousy house mate to my fellow house mates, and still I go to mass and I pray the rosary daily. Sometimes I make it down to the gym or the public library. I do the yard work and I pray and I plan. Trying to act a little more and sit around less. Some days are better than others and I continue to seek an absolution.
Made an appointment with my local parish priest, Fr. Tom Ponzini, in an effort to right myself with the church. No real go there, not yet. His idea is for me to either reconcile myself with Dana or to move out of this house into a place of my own and then to start over with Amy. That is perhaps how I should do it. That's is perhaps how I would do it had I the funds. When I explained this to him, he suggested one of us sleep on the couch or in another room. Amy sleeps on the reclining love seat in the blue room up front a lot. She looks awfully uncomfortable there asleep, but she says she sleeps well. I sleep in the bedroom. Alone, the way Fr. Tom has prescribed. That's one small victory.
Am supposed to be pursuing an annulment. I truly do not know where to start. It's the only way if I am to get myself right with the church. according to Fr. Tom and the roman Catholic church, I am still married to Dana despite a civil divorce. That is true if I am going to keep calling my self a Roman Catholic, even a poor one. So Amy and I live in a state of mortal sin and we are unable to receive Holy Communion. Unfortunate for me the church was not married to Dana, I was, and the church did not live in our house, no one religion did. Not even the first united methodist church.
Am still in therapy with Malone, so are the girls although somewhat stingily. Victoria immerses herself in work, school, extracuricullar activities, and her social circle. She is the most angry of the three. Judith is similairly keeping herself busy. She is most loyal to her mother and she keeps her emotions inward. I only see Judith and Stephanie over every other weekend. Stephanie is the most resilient and seems to have adapted the easiest. Victoria and Judith are not on the best of terms with Amy, but Stephanie does love Amy dearly and shows it the most. So I do not see much of Victoria. I do call the girls almost every other day and I email them. Mostly I leave messages on there voice mail as they do not answer their cell phones always. Sometimes they call, but only if they want or need something.
But life goes on. I relish the peace and quiet, am a lousy house mate to my fellow house mates, and still I go to mass and I pray the rosary daily. Sometimes I make it down to the gym or the public library. I do the yard work and I pray and I plan. Trying to act a little more and sit around less. Some days are better than others and I continue to seek an absolution.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Post Divorce Month No.1
My first month post divorce nad the shit has really hit the fan. My two older daughters are having difficulty adjusting and my youngest daughter is adjusting slowly but surely but just fine. My girlfriend loves me, she must because she perceives herself as a punching bag. She really has bitten off the big one with me.
I knew is was going to be like this, just didn't know how bad. Things were actually better when I was just separated. Anyway, one day at a time and a lot of prayer. Now if I can just get some exercise and drop 20-30lbs, I'll be happy.
My situation sucks big time. I'm broke, but not broken. Am not losing weight and am not getting any real exercise either. I did quit smoking though, that's the good news. I'm sure my daughters love me, they're just going through their own shit.
My now ex-wife is being a royal bitch and she looks awful. She's not taking care of herself or my house. She's not working a real job or taking care of the girls. I don't know what to do. Am battle weary but when it comes to my girls, I wish they would move in with me. It's almost as if i still have to do everything and I'm not even living there. god help me, I'm in a world of shit.
I knew is was going to be like this, just didn't know how bad. Things were actually better when I was just separated. Anyway, one day at a time and a lot of prayer. Now if I can just get some exercise and drop 20-30lbs, I'll be happy.
My situation sucks big time. I'm broke, but not broken. Am not losing weight and am not getting any real exercise either. I did quit smoking though, that's the good news. I'm sure my daughters love me, they're just going through their own shit.
My now ex-wife is being a royal bitch and she looks awful. She's not taking care of herself or my house. She's not working a real job or taking care of the girls. I don't know what to do. Am battle weary but when it comes to my girls, I wish they would move in with me. It's almost as if i still have to do everything and I'm not even living there. god help me, I'm in a world of shit.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Finally Divorced!
Here it is the end of august and I'm just now getting my ass up to blog something. Found out, on 11aug, that my divorce finally went through. Still have to go down to the courthouse in Galveston and get the actual decree but my attorney's office has assured me that the paperwork has gone through, signed by the judge, myself, and now my ex-wife, and now I am legally divorced.
Like any good mexican, I went and got drunk, then went to the cemetery and visited my dead loved ones. I don't know why I did that, it's a bit of a blur still, but that's what I did. My mother and brother came to check on me.
Shouldn't have come as a shock, but it did. I left in december of 2008, it's august 2009 and now I'm actually divorced. Kind of feels different. Eight months to the day I left my now ex-wife and it's all legal now. Why should I feel so odd, out of place? It's not as if I left yesterday or last week. It's a full eight months. I feel I should have been prepared for the actual finalization.
I suppose the combination of eight months, going on living, waiting for the legal bullshit, then capping it off with the inevitable, well it was a bit of a shock. Am I happy? Happiness is relative to a lot of different things. Is this what I wanted? Now that I'm actually divorced, I don't know what I want-never did.
It's not easy to say or answer some questions. My world isn't so black and white, there's a big gray area in some parts of it. Maybe I'm all fucked up? I am in therapy. Maybe I've been traumatized by my marriage and I don't even know it? Maybe I need more help than I think?
Life goes on, I'm living. I'm rolling with the punches. It's not what happens to one in life, but how we deal with it. More to follow later.
Like any good mexican, I went and got drunk, then went to the cemetery and visited my dead loved ones. I don't know why I did that, it's a bit of a blur still, but that's what I did. My mother and brother came to check on me.
Shouldn't have come as a shock, but it did. I left in december of 2008, it's august 2009 and now I'm actually divorced. Kind of feels different. Eight months to the day I left my now ex-wife and it's all legal now. Why should I feel so odd, out of place? It's not as if I left yesterday or last week. It's a full eight months. I feel I should have been prepared for the actual finalization.
I suppose the combination of eight months, going on living, waiting for the legal bullshit, then capping it off with the inevitable, well it was a bit of a shock. Am I happy? Happiness is relative to a lot of different things. Is this what I wanted? Now that I'm actually divorced, I don't know what I want-never did.
It's not easy to say or answer some questions. My world isn't so black and white, there's a big gray area in some parts of it. Maybe I'm all fucked up? I am in therapy. Maybe I've been traumatized by my marriage and I don't even know it? Maybe I need more help than I think?
Life goes on, I'm living. I'm rolling with the punches. It's not what happens to one in life, but how we deal with it. More to follow later.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Most Recent Rants and Ravings
Here it is the middle of July and still no resolution in my divorce. It's been seven months and still no end, this is riduculous! How long does it take? What's the legal bill going to look like? What about my personal state of mind and spirit? What do I have to do to get a little fire under lawyer's ass?
The homefront sucks too with litlle if any money, I'm giving away almost half my check in child support and spousal support. Thank God my pleasures are simple. Wish I had a place of my own to take care of my daughters and myself but that's one of the reasons I stayed mearried for so long; because I couldn't have a place of my own with my girls.
Living with housemates sucks big time. Living with Amy is easy. Her way and mine are very much alike. My housemates are another story. Fortunately for them I love everyone. I just don't like rotting in front of a tv all the time ( like my soon to be ex wife), griping (like my soon to be ex), stress eating ( must change my eating habits!). I live with the people I work with and I keep telling Amy we have to get out and meet new people. Living like a hermit is fine and dandy, I've been doing it for years, but we must get out more.
Started up the taekwondo thing late last month again, it's almost as if I had not ever left. They're good people. The first few return sessions are the hardest. I'm out of practice, but my attitude is good and healthy. Lots of changes on that front also, new people, instructor changes and such. Change is good.
Am trying to get around on the bicycle more and trying to stretch out more and reconnect with family and church. Some days I don't know where to start. Some days seem like way to much to deal with except for just going to work and such. My eating habits suck, my sleep cycles are all off, I'm just a perpetual work in progress. havn't written poetry for a while either. Have the itch but am just scratching it. Must scratch harder!
The homefront sucks too with litlle if any money, I'm giving away almost half my check in child support and spousal support. Thank God my pleasures are simple. Wish I had a place of my own to take care of my daughters and myself but that's one of the reasons I stayed mearried for so long; because I couldn't have a place of my own with my girls.
Living with housemates sucks big time. Living with Amy is easy. Her way and mine are very much alike. My housemates are another story. Fortunately for them I love everyone. I just don't like rotting in front of a tv all the time ( like my soon to be ex wife), griping (like my soon to be ex), stress eating ( must change my eating habits!). I live with the people I work with and I keep telling Amy we have to get out and meet new people. Living like a hermit is fine and dandy, I've been doing it for years, but we must get out more.
Started up the taekwondo thing late last month again, it's almost as if I had not ever left. They're good people. The first few return sessions are the hardest. I'm out of practice, but my attitude is good and healthy. Lots of changes on that front also, new people, instructor changes and such. Change is good.
Am trying to get around on the bicycle more and trying to stretch out more and reconnect with family and church. Some days I don't know where to start. Some days seem like way to much to deal with except for just going to work and such. My eating habits suck, my sleep cycles are all off, I'm just a perpetual work in progress. havn't written poetry for a while either. Have the itch but am just scratching it. Must scratch harder!
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Almost At An Agreement
Has been months since I've made any sort of an entry. The divorce drama goes on. I would not wish this experience upon anyone, not my worse enemy. This is by far the most painful and emotionally, mentally, spiritually, physically draining experience I have ever gone through. It is a cruel exercise in endurance and character and whatever else makes one up. It tears ones life apart and upside down and inside out. It's a pure hell on earth and invades every fiber of ones being.
The attornies banter back and forth and don't move quick enough. It seems that this should be a cut and dry affair. I am not a financially wealthy man. I do not have great tracts of land or mansions or new vehicles or any such. I have a lot of bills, debt, my personal possessions, and the trauma of my 17 year marriage. I feel like an abused pet which has just been let in from the wet and cold.
For the first time in many years I am being treated well. Too bad I had to leave my home, tear apart my family, and break my heart and hers. Too bad, but one does have to go through the desert before reaching the promised land. I am sorry for staying married for so long. I am sorry for being the man who I was at times. I am no angel, I am not the best of men, I can be difficult to love and more difficult to live with.
I admit my shortcomings and accept them as mine and mine alone. But it's not all my fault. far from it. Marriage should be a partnership and the love and labors and wealth shared. I feel that, in my marriage, it was me who bore the brunt of the load. Sure she did the dishes and laundry and put up with my shit, but she rarely lifted a finger to help bring in the bacon. Sure she chauffered the girls around, but didn't support us as a family unit. No, I did that, I went the extra mile and then some.
I did the yard, took care of the house, the vehicles, paid the bills took the family on vacations, worked full time and sometimes two jobs, and was both mom and dad to our daughters. I was the one who made sure Victoria went to physical therapy and that Judith went to speech therapy. I was the one who made sure all three girls were registered in school and even had them in catholic school for a while. Try doing that on a single paycheck.
Sure I'm indebted and grateful to my parents and in-laws and grandparents, there's no way I would have done it on my own. Sure didn't get a lot of help from my then wife. It's almost as if I had four girls at home, three of them my own daughters.
I didn't ever press her to convert to catholicism. I would go to church at the United Methodist church for a while. Sometimes she would go to the Our Lady of Lourdes where we are registered as parishioners. I didn't press the religious issue too much, now I wish I had.
People change, we all do, we just didn't grow and change together. No we grew and we changed, but we grew and changed apart. Our children didn't remain little girls forever. Victoria nad Judith are teenagers and Judith has a part time job now. Stephanie is nine years old but she sure acts like her older sisters and thinks she's a teenager. She's only a nine year old, for now anyway.
I feel as if I'm offering her a sweet enough deal. She can live in the house rent free until the youngest one moves out or she remarries. Just so long as she pays her own bills and doesn't touch my retirement. I'll eat the taxes and insurance and upkeep and such. She's going to have get a job, a real one with benefits, full time hours, and grow up some. As it she's gettin $403.00 and $200.00 every payday in child and spousal support respectively. That's almost half my paycheck and doesn't leave me much to live on. I get all the bills too.
I do get some peace and quiet. I miss my daughters terribly so and the adjustment process hasn't always been easy. It will all be good on the end for each ofus. Just have to get through this and get the divorce finalized.
The attornies banter back and forth and don't move quick enough. It seems that this should be a cut and dry affair. I am not a financially wealthy man. I do not have great tracts of land or mansions or new vehicles or any such. I have a lot of bills, debt, my personal possessions, and the trauma of my 17 year marriage. I feel like an abused pet which has just been let in from the wet and cold.
For the first time in many years I am being treated well. Too bad I had to leave my home, tear apart my family, and break my heart and hers. Too bad, but one does have to go through the desert before reaching the promised land. I am sorry for staying married for so long. I am sorry for being the man who I was at times. I am no angel, I am not the best of men, I can be difficult to love and more difficult to live with.
I admit my shortcomings and accept them as mine and mine alone. But it's not all my fault. far from it. Marriage should be a partnership and the love and labors and wealth shared. I feel that, in my marriage, it was me who bore the brunt of the load. Sure she did the dishes and laundry and put up with my shit, but she rarely lifted a finger to help bring in the bacon. Sure she chauffered the girls around, but didn't support us as a family unit. No, I did that, I went the extra mile and then some.
I did the yard, took care of the house, the vehicles, paid the bills took the family on vacations, worked full time and sometimes two jobs, and was both mom and dad to our daughters. I was the one who made sure Victoria went to physical therapy and that Judith went to speech therapy. I was the one who made sure all three girls were registered in school and even had them in catholic school for a while. Try doing that on a single paycheck.
Sure I'm indebted and grateful to my parents and in-laws and grandparents, there's no way I would have done it on my own. Sure didn't get a lot of help from my then wife. It's almost as if I had four girls at home, three of them my own daughters.
I didn't ever press her to convert to catholicism. I would go to church at the United Methodist church for a while. Sometimes she would go to the Our Lady of Lourdes where we are registered as parishioners. I didn't press the religious issue too much, now I wish I had.
People change, we all do, we just didn't grow and change together. No we grew and we changed, but we grew and changed apart. Our children didn't remain little girls forever. Victoria nad Judith are teenagers and Judith has a part time job now. Stephanie is nine years old but she sure acts like her older sisters and thinks she's a teenager. She's only a nine year old, for now anyway.
I feel as if I'm offering her a sweet enough deal. She can live in the house rent free until the youngest one moves out or she remarries. Just so long as she pays her own bills and doesn't touch my retirement. I'll eat the taxes and insurance and upkeep and such. She's going to have get a job, a real one with benefits, full time hours, and grow up some. As it she's gettin $403.00 and $200.00 every payday in child and spousal support respectively. That's almost half my paycheck and doesn't leave me much to live on. I get all the bills too.
I do get some peace and quiet. I miss my daughters terribly so and the adjustment process hasn't always been easy. It will all be good on the end for each ofus. Just have to get through this and get the divorce finalized.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
