Blazing Bobbins, Batman!

I have been a crazed woman today--more than normal, at least.

I have a Trek Training meeting tomorrow afternoon and we have been asked to wear our "pioneer trek outfits" to this training. So I spent my Saturday sewing today. I have made four pair of "bloomers" to wear under the skirts, three aprons, finished two skirts and hemmed another.

I realize that these are not "authentic" or historically correct costume pieces, but I would like to feel like I am playing the part, even if I am still stashing a 6 pack of diet coke in the magic cooler with the food guys. Looking like a pioneer is part of the fun, right?

My poor little machine has gotten a workout today. I am still sewing on the machine I got as a graduation present from my parents twenty-two years ago. No frills, steady as she goes kind of machine. Kind of like me.

I will model my pioneer creations and have The Girl take some photos later so you can see what I have been busily working on today. Look for those in a coming post.

Dance Festival

Wednesday, prior to the court hearing, our elementary school had their annual Dance Festival. You know, each grade does a little dance, all the parents come to see, the teachers look relieved when it is over and the kids know that summer is coming closer.

I love the Dance Festival. When my kids first started school, I had never seen anything like it and wondered what this crazy event was, but it has grown on me each year. Now I see the fun and tradition of it and really love it.

This year as I was sitting waiting for the kids to be ready to perform, I was looking around at all the parents that were there. Lined up on blankets, strollers incarcerating smaller siblings, in folding soccer chairs, or standing using up their thirty minute break from work.

My eyes passed over so many families that I have been watching Dance Festival with for nine years. So many have been right along side that whole time. I was struck by the women I have worked with in PTA or as regular volunteers or room mothers during that time.

I have made some of the dearest friends during my service to my kids' school. These are not women I see every day, but when I do, I know they are my friends and we have similar goals and values. We hope the same things for the kids at the school and in our town.

They are women who have a smattering of personalities and gifts. They come high strung or laid back. They are each committed to seeing their kids have the best possible experience.

And when I see them at an event like Dance Festival, I sense again that they are living the same kind of reality I am day in and day out. None of them have a charmed or perfect life. Each has struggles and worries and problems. But they address those and then go about doing good.

The funny thing is that many of these women, who have served our elementary school so well, are also serving in the church and the community. They have other children at other schools and they serve there too. They remind me of the scripture that tells us " But ye, brethren, be not a weary in well doing."

I admire all of them, and love so many as dear, dear friends. I will miss them especially as I graduate from the elementary school with The Boy this year. But I am sure I will see them at the Junior High or the High School as we all grow up. And I know I am leaving my place of service at the elementary in loving and very capable hands. And that is a very good feeling.

Where's Perry Mason When You Need Him?

Our visit to court yesterday was not the regular diarrhea inducing event it usually is but it wasn't a reason to party yet either.

I believe if everything goes as outlined by the court representatives before the commissioner yesterday, the summer will continue with the boys in shared custody--one week with dad, one week with mom--and 13 year old nephew J has been prescribed madatory weekly, you-will-not-miss-it counseling all summer! Hallelujah for that. He has needed it for almost 3 years now and has not been meeting with a counselor on his own at all.

At the end of the summer the Guardian Ad Litem will make a ruling at to how the custody will be settled, once and for all. Both parents agreed before the commissioner--twice int eh case of my sister's ex--that they understand the ruling will be a final, court-ordered, you-must-live-by-this decision. By both agreeing to live by the GAL's decision, no trial will need to be held, no extra twelve months of hearings, no more open artery of money going out to pay for this circus. It will be done.

So long as the Guardian Ad Litem sticks to his guns.

When Sister talked to him, she told him that she cannot do this any more: physically, her health has deteriorated over the past 3 years and mentally, she is wiped out. Financially, this has been more than a drain as well and she worries about that too.

In response to that, the GAL told her that HE can't stand to do this case any more and wants it done too. I don't think he believed, when he first took this case, that this situation was a messed up as it really has been. There are a lot of issues--manipulation, abuse, immaturity, coercion, narcissism--that are not exposed at first glance. I think it is tiring for him to deal with as well.

So, he has told her that the only way he would not recommend her having full custody--remember, that is what his motion before the court was originally yesterday--would be if counselling for nephew J, forced co-parenting counseling for the ex-BIL, and the shared custody were all "working". He told Sister that the chance of that happening in this screwed up family is next to none.

So, baby steps forward are still forward steps, I figure. But I was sure hoping that the commissioner would just throw the book at this dad who hasn't held a job for almost 8 years and makes some of the lamest and craziest excuses I have ever heard--with a straight face, believing he is winning. What a nut job.

Hey, maybe this is more Night Court than Perry Mason. That would definitely fit the situation.

Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho....

It's off to court I go....today....again.

This system, I know, is the best in the world. But the process can be tedious and glacier-slow. This will be the third scheduled date for this hearing. The two previous were postponed. In April, it was postponed due to a change in my ex-BIL's representation (read: his attorney dropped him for not paying his bill.) At the beginning of this month, it was postponed because a new motion was being filed that would ask the court to change the physical and legal custody of the children to be fully my sister's. We will see what we get today.

I don't know how any reasonably sane person would choose to go into law and then specialize in family law when the drama is so high and the progress is so slow. I would be either anorexic or weigh 500 pounds just from the stress.

I guess, today is as good as any other day. I am still feeling the lingering illness that comes with the flu, so no difference than any other day in court. Upset stomach, aching joints and muscles, cloudy thoughts. Yeah. The flu is just like going to court. Same physical manifestations.

Boy, I love my life. You are jealous, aren't you?!

Life Lesson

If you ever have a chance to have a day off from your life, please remember this lesson and use it in your life. Do not mention the fact that you have the day off from your life and are mulling over what you might get to do or what you would like to do with the said day off. The forces of evil will hear you and swoop in with not-quite-the-swine-flu for you.

I have been in bed for 2 and a half days--torturous for me. I don't think I moved Sunday except to pee and nearly puke. I hate being sick. Genius Golfer played in a two-day tourney this weekend so he was gone Saturday and Monday. The kids had to keep track of me Monday as I was self medicating and should not have been driving them anywhere. But we did go see a matinee of Night at the Museum: The Smithsonian along with half of the county. I did fairly well through the movie but I haven't really eaten much in almost three days. Not my idea of a healthy diet option.

I am still fighting a sore throat and a bit of a cough. The aching joints flair up at night and I am keeping GG awake when I finally do fall asleep since my head is stuffed up--I am a snoring machine! The tummy trouble is at least gone. Had some trouble there Sunday but never actually puked; just felt like I should have.

So, this can be filed now under "Too Much Information". But the life lesson is still applicable. Don't let the fates know you have the day off, or they will harass you with illness or disaster of some kind or another. Next time I will just let you know in person and then meet you for lunch someplace discreet.

Memorial Day