Another Week in the Books

So we have had a rather uneventful week. Still juggling finances, but getting better slowly but surely. Within a few weeks all should be better.

Kat's average in bowling is currently 131, which is 30 pins better than last season. She will transfer to Century High School just in time to be on Century's bowling team. She just adores Century's bowling coach. And, he's a good coach. I hope her move to Century is good for her.

Tori is doing very well at school and loves her classes. She has started a video blog, and I just love all of her updates. She has also started selling her crocheted items to earn extra money, and has people interested in learning to crochet, so she may start teaching for a fee. Maybe she isn't supposed to have a traditional job, but earn money doing what she loves. Still such a proud mama. Mom and dad are leaving on Monday for Portland for an antique show. They will check in on Tori while the are there and take her some stuff she needs.

Sammee closed ISU's Fall play last weekend. Right now she is helping with a Haunted Asylum put on by a local theatre. It's funny, she doesn't like scary stuff, but loves scaring others. And when the ISU Theatre department puts on a Haunted house for Halloween, it is some of the scariest stuff I have seen. And these kids love getting ugly and gory and being creepy. And drama geeks set a theme and make it as spooky as possible. And, all the money goes to scholarships. If you are local and want to go, hunt me down and I will give you directions to OTAS in Old Town.

Work is still going well. Nothing new on that front. Working 50 hours a week. Keeping busy. Still love the people I work with.

So that is the weekly update. I think these are starting to sound the same. Trying to decide if I should wait to post again only if something interesting happens. But, if I do that, there will be some sort of drama. I don't want drama.

Weekly update

So this week has been relatively uneventful. Getting back on track financially, Kat's slogging through school, and Tori is still jobless but doing well.

Tori and I had a nice, long telephone chat last night. She caught me up on the happenings in her life, how classes are going, etc. She has actually started selling her hats (YAY) and other crafty things. She is getting involved in student government, and even found a community choir that she can join in January.

She told me one thing that I am still processing. Her dad and stepmother have contacted her and even sent her a care package. They are Facebook friends, and communicate regularly. I am happy that my ex has finally realized what he has been missing all these years, but I hope Tori keeps her guard up also. There have been some mean things said about me in the past, and I just hope that they are trying to form a relationship with her honestly. I know, I should be happy, but I have no choice but to be skeptical and a bit wary. But, Tori has a good head on her shoulders, and I trust her to make the right decisions.

Today she is trying out a new church, which is right by her apartment. Hope she finds a church family soon.

Well, I'm gearing up for another busy week at work. Mom will be home from Nampa tomorrow, so transportation for Kat won't be an issue for a while. And, Mom and Dad will go to Portland at the end of the month. Gotta get some stuff together to send to Tori with them.

So that's my story for this week.

Quick Update

So there have been a couple of new things that happened since the trial on Wednesday. One thing I forgot to mention is that it was stated in the petition that if I fought the lawsuit I would have to pay all attorney fees and court costs. That worried me, but I figured if I had to pay it, it would be at $5.00 per month. Not gonna go into debt or get behind on bills just because of my ex's stupid attorney. Got all of the legal paperwork in the mail on Thursday, and, at the bottom, just above the judge's signature, was this sentence. "Each party will be responsible for their own fees and expenses related to this case." Which means, simply, that he has to pay his attorney, all court costs, and his airfare to come down here. I paid a total of $58 to file the answer. Any time I missed at work I made up by going in early and staying late. I may have lost my case, but I feel like a winner (not Charlie Sheen winning) in this matter.

And, I have reworked my budget, and I really don't need that money. This week will be rough because Tori needed money for her new apartment and now I am completely strapped until Friday. But, next week's budget is in the books, and Kat and I are getting set to tighten our belts a little and make it work. And the raise won't hurt. It will cover about half of what was lost in child support.

So I am doing better, with no hard feelings or bitterness. No more angst about money. Feeling a lot less stressed about life. Now to concentrate on getting Kat through high school. Oy!

It's Over!

I will start out by apologizing in advance. This post may ramble, jump around, and be generally babbling. But, i am just going to spew my feelings tonight.

My lawsuit is done. And, I lost. My Child Support case has been cancelled. But, it's over. I can get back to normal (whatever counts as normal in my household). Here's what happened.

First of all, my whole defense was that the State required a DNA test to contest paternity, so why hasn't he done that? I even had a letter from Child Support Enforcement stating that.

So we get into court and his attorney questioned me, then questioned him (yes, he was there). The attorney got a few things wrong though. He claimed that at one time I claimed that Kat was his child. I did rebut that. Then a couple more things, and the judge made his ruling strictly based on what we said. The one good thing is that the attorney wanted me to repay all child support paid since the petition was filed, which was May. The judge denied that motion. I am not liable for any child support he has paid for Kat over the last 12+ years. Whew. I am just glad that it is over. I no longer have to deal with him in any capacity.

My only worry right now is that my income just decreased by over $400 per month. I have 2 kids in college, and one in braces, which the child support was paying for. Luckily for me, I have a good job, and, got a raise today. Which had very little to do with court. I guess it had been in the works for a couple of weeks.

So I survived a trial, seeing my ex for the first time in 15 years, and a financial downfall. And I will be okay. Sammee will be okay. Tori will be okay. And even Kat will be okay.

I haven't even really cried today. I haven't really cried for a long time. Not because I'm tough, but because I won't let myself. Maybe this weekend I will rent one of my favorite crying movies and just let go. Yeah, an evening with Terms of Endearment or Steel Magnolias might be the best prescription for me. In the meantime, I shall be Super Mom, Super Time Nazi, and Super Andrea.

If you have any questions, either Facebook me or toss me an email. wortandr@gmail.com. I'm sure I left something out.

Until next time.

Court

So we go to trial on Wednesday, October 5. Not sure what to expect. I have only been to court once before, and that was my divorce hearing 15 years ago. No lawyers involved. And, my ex didn't even show up. So here's what I know.

I found lots of evidence to help my case. But, my ex's attorney is trying to sway it his way. Gotta work on that. I will have one more piece of evidence and hopefully it will help. Fingers crossed and prayers appreciated.

I guess Mom will be back in time for the trial. That will help my nerves a lot. Plus, I think my friend Karl will be there also. Simply moral support from both of them. Very much needed. I will post the outcome on Wednesday evening. I just hope the trial isn't too long. I hate being away from work.

Now on to Tori. She had a great first week of school. She seems to love her classes, and is meeting people. On Monday, she has 2 job interviews. Both on campus. One work study job and one job-job. Hopefully she can work both of them if offered the jobs. And, she found a different apartment closer to school. Hope she gets it and can get moved.

Okay, that's my story so far. The end of the law suit story on Wednesday.