Esassy.com in Beta Stage

What happens when two couples that are long time friends move away from each other? What do the husbands do when their wives still miss their shopping buddy? A new site is born on the web, what else? This site called http://www.esassy.com is a wish list site for those that love to shop.

What do you?
You sign up for an account. Next, you shop and then enter your favorite products into your http://www.esassy.com account. You can then create a widget you can place on your blog/web site or send your list to your loved ones to eliminate quesswork for your gifts. They are currently in the beta stage, so go to http://www.esassy.com and see for yourself.

Having a baby? Is your birthday approaching? Want to help your relatives shop for your kids? Go visit and see how easy it is to create your wish list!

I Told You So!!!

So, what do you all think of my new blog? It's so me. I can't wait for my sisters to see it because they are going to say it fits me. AHHhhhhhhh! This is home. I don't plan to change this template for a long, long time. Everything here is just perfect. From here, my next step will be my own domain and a paid web host. That will be in the future.

Another reason I changed my blog is because of the sponsors. I want them all to be happy with the appearance of my blog as well as with the content!

I spent most of the day and evening, it's now 1:54am revamping this blog and my personal finance blog GETTING OUT OF DEBT and I still haven't finished. I am going to link all the posts to each other by relevant content, so that anyone can find a specific topic they are searching for. Google sends me a lot of traffic and I don't want anyone to waste their time!

Well, I'm going to do some writing now. I hope you enjoy the new look. I'll be adding pictures to the template of me and the kids in the near future...

Not the Outdoors Type...

The outdoors isn't my cup of tea. People that know me are shocked that I even live in the middle of nowhere. This is why I am clueless when it comes to camping activites and oudoor recreational activities. Unfortunately, my kids are like their Dad. They want to do things that I would never do...like the Boy Scouts and JROTC. What happens when they need to do things that involve activities I've never done or EVER plan to? I turn to google.

Here's a perfect example of a great site for a mom like me. This site has the Best knot illustrations. To make it even easier for you to help your child tie those knots for their badge, they sell knot cards. These knot cards are waterproof plastic. They're the best selling knot references in the US. Take a look and see for yourself...

High School Ring Sophomore Year?

Like I haven't had enough with the long list of everything that broke in the last couple of weeks! Today, The Chatterbox (a sophomore) came home with the paperwork for her school ring?!?! I graduated from a private school in the Bronx. We got our rings towards the end of junior year. Oh and it was a huge drawn out ceremony too! It was a big deal. This school is obviously different. I guess it makes sense because at least they will actually wear it two years before putting it away..

Anyway, the deposit is $50.00 and the cost?!?! Close to $500.00! Oh well, just wanted to explain why I'll be blogging all night and many posts will be have a time stamp for the am hours. Busy, busy, busy I will be....writing the wee morning hours away!

See, NEVER A DULL MOMENT!

Mesothelioma and Autism

Sometimes I think about cases like those involved with the mesothelioma controversy. What is mesothelioma? Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that develops in the tissues of cells that line the lungs, heart and stomach. They become infected by inhaling particles of dust from asbestos fibers. Most of the victims were people that were being paid to construct buildings and under contracts for demolition. Some victims were working in mining, construction, shipbuilding and any other job that required a regular exposure to asbestos fibers. These were good, hard working people that were deliberately and silently exposed to a detrimental substance. Why? Well, because the powerful, rich comapnies that knew about the dangers kept it hush-hush. Profit was more important than a human life.

I wonder if years from now, there will be a similar situation with the rise of autism. What if there really is an environmental factor, a common substance that is being administered or exposed to children that is leading to autism. Is isn't so far fetched. What about ephedra and all the other recent drugs that were pulled after there were fatal outcomes.

I hope that it is never determined that this outbreak of autism was brought about by a big company wanting to make big profits at the sake of innocent children. I just hope not because my heart breaks everytime I see my son struggle to communicate his wants and needs. To think that this happened because of someone's or something's profit is just sad. Why? Well, because there is a heaven and hell and I know where people like that would go for an eternity...

My Parents Were Here!

Yes, they finally came to visit me. The kids were ecstatic. Actually, I was a bad mommy because I let them ALL skip school to spend the day with them. They were only here for one day. If the school doesn't understand that, then too bad. Family is more important to me anyway.

So, my Dad bought The Chatterbox a new link spring to fix her daybed. I wrote about it previously, the daybed caved in the middle. She hasn't been able to sleep on her daybed. They also bought her more clothing because one of her new jeans color bled in the wash. They ruined all her new school clothing. My Dad did some much needed yardwork! All in all, I was very grateful for their short visit.

Ohhh, the most exciting part was for The Diva. The Jonas Brothers (her fave band) was having a concert on Monday night in NYC. Well, I wasn't going to be able to take for her for two reasons:
1. funds
2. the drving to and from the city would be a killer
My Dad took her and she had a great time!!! I told her how she used to take me to all the Menudo concerts. He graciously did so for his granddaughter! See why I love my family sooo much. To make the trip even less harrowing, my sis let them stay at her place in the Bronx. They didn't have to drive back in the AM. Yay! Thanks sis!

My parents returned to the Bronx because they have a lot of doctor's appointments. I hope they will be able to come and visit again!

I'm Stressed..

With 7 kids, a million animals, this huge house and property...ya think I'd be stressed? Really, the personal finances are really doing a number on my peace factor and my health. I haven't changed anything in my daily routine, but I have gained weight. Big sign of STRESS!

Anyway, I tried this stress relief site. Their cliam to fame is to have the Best Self Help Book. They have a free demonstration of how the process works. You have to try it to understand my next statement. You are listening to audio instructions and are asked to follow the image of a ying/yang (two cats) in a side to side direction. The image that came to mind was hypnosis. I turned it off, hypnosis freaks me out a little bit. Check it out and tell me what you think. May be I'm being a little superstitious and rigid...

Have Barney and Sesame Street Burned Your Brain?

Barney, Sesame Street, The Wiggles and Dora have been playing in my home non stop for 15 years. I thought my brain was mush. Being a stay at home mom is great, but you can also take this opportunity to go back to school...online. Going back to school doesn't mean you have to miss all those special moments. It means that you will have your brain working on some real adult subject matter.

Capella University was founded in 1993. An accredited online university that seves 16000 students in 63 countries it is a national leader in online education. Visit their site and see if you their degree programs offer something you are interested in...

Home Improvements: If Money Were No Object

What home improvements would you do if money were no object? That's a good question isn't it? Seriously, feel free to leave your dream home improvement. Here's my answer.

If money were no object, these are the home improvement projects I would have done.

Kitchen
I would get an eat in country kitchen, complete with island, double sink and a bar style counter. I would also want a double oven, a huge refrigerator with ice and water dispenser and a stove with 6 burners. I want a hanging pot rack over the island.

Bathroom
One of the five bathrooms would have a jacuzzi, a separate shower with several jet shower heads, a sauna and a double sink.

Bedroom
I would like it to be slightly bigger, with a huge walk in closet.

Outdoors
I want an indoor ingorund heated pool, with a waterfall feature and a separate large jacuzzi. I would also love a basketball court for the kids. I have the room, but I lack the funds. LOL!

That's pretty much it. Think I watch MTV cribs just a little too often????

Why I Don't Post on the Weekends

Weekends are pretty busy for me. The kids are home and so there is little time for blogging. We usually watch movies all weekend, that is when we're not going to the city to visit my sister or going to a concert.

Two weekends ago, we went to a Radio Disney concert on Third Avenue in NYC. The kids had a great time, but The Little One enjoyed it the most. I have video footage of The Little One dancing next to The Jonas Brothers. He was standing next to the speaker while they were performing. Anyway, I'm going to have The Diva download it to YouTube. If it comes out right, I will post it. It was a great concert. Of course, now she wants to see them again..and again..and again. She might go this Monday night. I have to see.

As far as movies I've seen, I'm debating about giving summaries of them. Some of them were pretty good, but others...let's just say...you have better things to do.

I wanted to warn you that I will be changing the look of the blog. I get tired of things very quickly. I haven't changed this template because I didn't want to confuse anyone, but I'm bored and I have a few ideas. I hope to have the sites up with my own domain name as soon as some legal paperwork is done with the ex-husband. I still don't trust him. He was trying to convince the boys to go live with him. He tried bribing the Comedian. In the end,his father (through his actions)reminded him of how unreliable and irresponsible he is. Yes, I plan to reveal my name. It all depends how long the legal issues take with him.

I'll be back to post later. TheLittle One needs some attention...

Weddings and Unexpected Events

Ever been out with your girlfriend's and shared horror stories about wedding days. On the day of my cousin's wedding, the wedding dress was laid out on her bed. She lived with her family and a Doberman Pinscher. Guess what she found when she went to her bedroom to dress for her special day. Her dog had climbed on the bed and pooped on her gown. Have you ever seen Doberman poop? It's an enormous pile of hot, stinky messy poop! I was 7 when I heard this story and even then, I was traumatized!

My other cousin was getting married. She lived in Tarrytoen, but was getting some last minute arrangements taken care of in the Fordham area of the Bronx. Her wedding gown, shoes, headpiece and favors were in the trunk of the car. Guess what she found when she came back to the car? The car had been broken into and everything had been stolen. All this the day before the wedding! Think that's bad, the day of the wedding...her phtographer was a heavy set Hispanic man. It was a hot summer day. He stripped down to his undershirt-tank style that was too small-IN THE CHURCH! To top it all off, some crazy people decided to play BONGOS across the street of the Church. Til this day, you can hear the bongos in the background of the video of the wedding ceremony! Don't let this unfortunate accidents ruin your day. Have a plan for every possible thing that can go wrong!

Weddings can be very expensive, especially when you want to give your guests beautiful centerpieces, personalized wedding favors and transportation to and from the church and wedding reception. for this reason, you should seek websites that not only teach you how to cut corners, but they also give you sales and discounts. For all of this and more, folliw the link above.

Don't have the budget to hire a wedding planner, but want to have every base covered? This site offers advice on how to make your wedding a memorable day that runs smoothly, inspite of unexpected events. It's a great resource for anyone that is planning a wedding. Be sure to pass the info along...

Buying Your First Home?

Buying a home can sometimes be a long and arduous process. It is important to understand what you are doing through the process. The site http://www.personalhomeloanmortgages.com can help you get a better picture of what to expect. They offer articles to help you become an informed, confident buyer.

At http://www.personalhomeloanmortgages.com You can prequalify with their online mortgage loan application. You will receive the lowest quotes from no more than two lenders. They have mortgage calculators to help younestimate the amount of money you can afford to pay. But my absolute favorite part are the broker blogs where brokers, lenders & borrowers can share their experiences and information. Visit
http://www.personalhomeloanmortgages.com and see what they have to offer!

Come, Gawk With Me!

Most of you know, I am obsessed with accessories. I have written here before how I have leather coats, with matching leather boots and sunglasses with matching handbags. (It's the OCD). Now, I always buy leather coats and boots, but that's where I have to stop. Seriously, with 7 kids I can't afford the leather bags I want. I will some day, but in the meantime-I can dream and gawk. I have to be content with seeing them in the magazines and on the red carpet. Who knows may be The Diva will be able to realize her dreams and become a celeb...

Back to the gorgeous bags, look ...look....look: at Darby Scott's Designer Handbags! I know, I know..... they are beautiful.

Give A Smile, You Get A Smile

I love to make people smile. I really do. I also love when people bring me a smile. My favorite event is when I'm surfing the blogosphere and come across someone that says they enjoy my blog. I spend a lot of time blogging. I love to share my life, but I also try to weave in some work...if you know what I mean. So, I know some people get upset, but I have to do what I have to do. I wish I could just write without having to incorporate certain topics, but those of you that have been following my blog since it's birth...know I have to make money. Seven kids are expensive to care for. They're always outgrowing things and wearing things out or breaking things!

So, thanks to Brad at Blog.thisnext.com for putting a smile on my face and making my day!

Please, Do the Right Thing...

If you are thinking about getting any work done to eliminate sign of aging, don't go where Melanie Griffith went. I'm sorry, but everytime I see her on the red carpet...I get scared. I wonder if she realizes that she looks like a mannequin and I don't mean it in a good way. She could be in a wax museum horror flick and skip the makeup session. I wonder if that could be reversed? or repaired? It's obviously a mistake. She resembles Michael Jackson...that isn't good.

Please, before attempting any cosmetic surgery or rejuvenating procedure visit the following link for botox in Los Angeles. The link will take you to the website for Spalding Drive Cosmetic Surgery and Dermatology. The cosmetic surgeons surgeons Dr. Paul S. Nassif and Dr. David M. Amron are distinguished in their fields. the site gives all the information you may need and much more. Really research what procedure you are considering. Do we really want any more Melanie Griffiths or Michael Jacksons walking around? I think the answer is a resounding "NO!!!"

Learning About Log Homes

When I first moved to this rural community, I suffered from culture shock. I lived in the heart of the city. The trains, buses and cabs were outside my doorstep-literally. During summer nights, I could hear the train conductor say "Step away from the closing doors" as I laid in my bed. At the age of 25, I moved here. It was a totally different universe. I felt like I was living in the twilight zone.

During our first ride around the area, we drove down an unfamiliar rode and guess what I saw. A log home. I'm not kidding! This was a log home like the ones I saw in school textbooks. The tenant that lived next door told me that her daughter was friends with one of the log home owners. She explained how those homes took special care. The family had them specially built when they moved out here. I thought to myself, "I would never build something like that, I have enough work just mowing the acres of land and shoveling the snow!" (Yeah, then there's the constant demolition of wasp nests, bee hives and other pesky insects)! Anyway, she explianed it had been a dream of theirs, so they moved up here to build it and lived happily ever after...

I wonder if they know about this web site? Now there's a site that has informative articles on how to care for Log Homes. This site offers advice on the care of a log home, tips on saving money while constructing one and answers most questions anyone may have. It's a great resource for a log home owner.

You know, they actually are pretty quaint. I just wouldn't want to have to care for one. I think with 7 kids and the zoo I have here, I have enough on my plate...

2 Down and 4 To Go

This past Monday was The Princess' open house. I make it my business to go to the open house because I belive that if you don;t go it leaves a negative impression on the teacher. My ex-mother-in=law confirmed that (she's a school social worker). One day she told me how she was angered by the teacher's that were making assumptions about parents that hadn't gone to the open house. She explained that they didn't have transportation. The teachers said, the parents should've saved up for a CAB! Anyway, I'm glad that I went. The Princess has been raving about her teacher. I can see why. She seems really great. She happens to be married to The Entrepreneur's 5th grade teacher. That was a great experience for him, he was very happy with him. He is a great guy and he married a great woman. She's very friendly, good natured and funny. The perfect match for my Princess! Last year's wicked witch of the East was a nightmare for both of us. She didn;t hide her aversion for The Little One's condition (autism). I hope I never have to deal with er again...correction...I will MAKE sure I will never deal with her again.

Today I went to the Entrepreneur's opne house, but The Little One got sensory overload. I had to leave abruptly. I told the first teacher I saw that I would schedule an appointment with the team. I realy don;t need to. He is an excellent student. I realy only have problems with The Chatterbox and The Comedian. They lose motivation very quickly. So far, they are doing well. Let's hope they stay on that path...actually I'll be praying that they do.

Some Advice About Moving

My parents lived in the same building since I was two years old. They moved out about two years ago, and relocated in Puerto Rico. They were smart! Moving is awful. All the packing, and unpacking is tiresome. You're lucky if you're moving close by, but if you're moving internationally or as in my parents case across the ocean...it gets complicated! My youngest sister's husband was in the Navy. In less then two years, she lived in the Bronx, San Diego, Connecticutt and then back to San Diego. My parents got quotes from a few agencies and then they were charged more than they were quoted. Their furniture didn;t arrive when scheduled, so they were in Puerto Rico wihout most of their belongings. Some of their posessions were broken. My sister had a similar siutation. The most important thing is to get really good, reliable movers. Do some research. Check out the their fees and check out their history with the better business bureau. All of these precautions are time consuming. Fortunately, there is help.

There is a site that has everything you need in one place. At this site, you can search for storage by city, state, or zip code. They also have a Self Storage Directory - Moving.bz, packing supplies and movers. They can receive up to four storage quotes for you which means greater savings in your pocket! Best of all, their site is easy to navigate.

Different Paths

Have you ever started down a path with someone and then while you're talking turned and realized....you were ahead and the other person had been distracted and was way, way behind you. Not only that, they were oblivious that you had continued on. I'm talking about relationships. You know, you started middle school and you had your best friend with you all the time. Later during the year, you were assigned different classes. You pursued different interests and then by the time you started high school....that girl had blue hair and you were still a cheerleader. You think, "What happened"?

The same is true with marriages. Sometimes, you grow as an individual and you know it is a good thing. You start exercising, going to school, exceling at your job and you realize you want better and bigger things for your future. You realize that certain things are attainable and you try to reach those goals, but your mate is still back at the fork in the road. They have no interest in progressing because they love their hamster wheel. The rat race is where they think they belong. They are so narrow minded about running on the hamster wheel, that they haven't even realized you got off and are about to venture into the world. You try to coax them, you speak to them, but they continue their steady pace on that wheel.

Soon, it will be time to continue on. It's hard to let go, but sometimes it is necessary so that one can grow. I can't go into details at this point in time, but I will reveal some of the things I write in "code" ...one day in the near future. There are many, many things I want to share...but I really can't at this time. Suffice it to say that if you think my blog was incredible in the early stages, you will be riveted with waht I am going through now. I'm writing things down, I'm just not publishing them to the public. Believe me when I say, many people have told me they would have killed themselves already. I laugh because no matter what, I've been through much worse with my ex. That was a living hell. For now, I'll try to keep these cryptic depressing posts to a minimum. I imagine it must get frustrating to read something like this and not be able to know the whole story.

Just know that I will share the whole story with you in the future....

Surviving the Teen "Phone" Years Without Going Bankrupt!

If you have teens, then you understand this title. It seems that as soon as a child is in their tweens, they discover the phone. My advice to you, take a picture of your phone...so that you remember what it looks like for the rare times you have to answer it. You know, when you happen to be home and the kids are in school!

It used to be that the phone could be the death of a parent with teens. Not anymore. Thanks to the introduction of VoIP broadband phone service. Not familiar with this service? Well, if you have kids...follow the link! VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol. What's so great about this service? Well, you know how you get charged for each local call made (by your local phone servcie) and then you get charged for long distance? Well with this service, you get charged a monthly flat fee. In most cases, it's $24.99! That is a significant savings. you better believe it becauseif you have several teens using your phone and you're getting charged change for each call....it adds up to hundreds at the end of the month. Do I usethis service? Definitely! I have family in Puerto Rico and that is a free call with this service. Thank God! I used to get huge bills everytime I talked to my mom. We usually stay on the phone for hours at a time! I'm talking 4 -5 hours! My phone bills were outrageous! Then you add the phone calls the kids made, the calls to my sisters in NYC and CA and I was paying more than my car payment! Not any more!

Take it from me. This is a great service and it will save you a ton of money. Save that money! Winter is approaching the East Coast and the gas and electric bills will be unbelievable this year!

Want To Be Unique?

Who doesn't? Everyone wants to have a night that will be remembered by friends and family. This wedding site has some unusual suggestions that will make it a night to remember and an inexpensive event.

The site has many suggestions to pep up the boring dinner rehearsal. The wine tasting theme is my favorite. They suggest that you choose 6-8 wines of the same grape varietal. For exapmle, you buy 6-8 varities of Shiraz or all chardonnay. The purpose of this is to have the guests taste the difference between each winemaker as wel as the vineyards. Begin by presenting each wine with the cheeses they complement. You can also invite a local vinter to do the honors.

When decorating for the special night, use grapes. You can hang, stream and place bunches of fresh or artificial red and green grapes, vines and berries. You can fill vases with vines, grapes and berries to create beautiful centerpieces. What about cheap wedding favors? Think mini wine bottles.

For more great ideas, follow the link.

Lawyers I Respect

The law firm of simmons jannace & stagg are one of the few lawyers I respect. Sorry, but after all the court dates I've had with the ex-husband...can you blame me? I know that they have to defend the client, but I just don't know how some of them sleep at night. This team has had two cases that I praise them for.

The first case was the Nancy Burpee case. I wrote about that one not too long ago. The latest case is the one involving a widow. This widow lost her husband in the 9/11 attacks. She had an attorney represent her before the Victims Compensation Fund. The only thing was that contingency fees by attorneys representing families were disfavored. Nevertheless, this attorney decided to sue the widow for $2,000,000 as a contingency fee. (You read that right, I didnt make a mistake with the zeros).

After going before the federal courts, it was decided the case would be seen before the state's courts. Good job! I hope that the final income is in favor of the widow. I'll keep you posted to the outcome of this case.

Income Tax Season Equals Vacation!

This year I will be filing for my income taxes early. Since I have so many kids, I anticipate receiving a very large income tax refund, YAY! My plan is to use this money to book our family vacation. WHY? Well, my goal is to be out of debt before this year ends. Hopefully, that includes the car note. This year I had to decline the gift my parents offered, to pay for all of our airfare to PR. This because I didn't have money to rent a minivan or spending money. They have arrived in the Bronx this morning, so I will be taking the kids to Florida on vacation.

to make sure I get the most for my money, I will checking out these Cheap Vacation Packages. Their packages include airfare and hotels! Sounds god to me. I'll kep you guys posted and will be reading through all the autism blogs on tips for traveling with an autistic child.

What Was He Thinking?

So, there's this guy that started a web site called Rip-Off Report. This site gave consumers the ability to voice their opinion about companies that had ripped them off. Good intention....or was it/is it? It turns out, companies have complained that he was posting fradualent information. He would then inform the companies of the bad report and EXTORT them! For a fee, he would take off the fabricated complaint. If they didn't, a simple Google search would bring up the bad report.

What was this guy thinking? He actually thought he could get away with this? Now he is being sought for questioning regarding his shady business dealings. As if it would have led to another route? Hello? As if people weren't going to find out?

For those companies that have been damaged by the Rip-Off Report, they can hire USWeb to restore their Google page rank. Their services are affordable and it beats paying an extortionist.

I wonder if a person could do time for something like this?

Rainbow the Beta

In the past two weeks, Rainbow has survived two incredible accidents. Last week, the bowl was almost empty. I think the oldest cat drank her water....EEWWWW. I found the fish on it's side with a small amount of water left in the bowl. I filled it with water, because I had to. Then I added the special formula for the water. I was certain the fish wouldn't make. Rainbow was fine.

I moved the bowl to The Comedian's room. Yesterday, when I went to feed Rainbow, I found the bowl on the carpet...it was empty. I thought that the fish had been eaten by one of the three kittens. After searching with no results, I saw a shopping bag that was on the floor and saw something strange. The bag was a sturdy plastic and it was crumpled. The crumpled piece was formed a little bowl. The fish was in a few tablespoons of water, alive!!! I quickly picked up the bowl and scooped the fish up. I filled it with water and added the special water treatment. I was sure Rainbow would die, but this morning the fish was happily swimming about. Two miracles in one week! This is one special, beautiful beta!

Learn More At This Forum

If you are like me and like to save money every possible way, then you might want to look into Vonage. What is Vonage? It's phone service provided through your high speed internet service. They have great plans that are very affordable. You can make unlimited calls in the US, PR, Canada and Europe for $24.99 (plus service fees). Even better, if you follow the link to this Vonage forum, you can print a coupon to receive one free month of service for the $24.99 unlimited local and long distance plan. Have questions about the hardware you may need, the installation or want to read reviews? Follow the link and learn all about this great service. You can save a lot of money!

A Serious Situation

The Comedian was at his Dad's last week. I was supposed to pick him up last Thursday. I was so busy, that I wasn't able to. On Saturday morning, The Comedian called me. I immediately knew something was really wrong. My heart sank as I tried to make sense out of his sobs. He had come downstairs to find his great grandfather on the floor. His eyes were open, but he didn't respond. I asked if he was breathing...he answered , "YES". I immediately told him to put his hand on his chest and pray. We prayed together and then I asked if he had called 911. He had. Good boy, I taught him well. He couldn't get in touch with his father or the girlfriend. I was an hour and 45 minutes from my son and he was in a serious situation. I asked him if he had called his grandmother, he told me he had spoken to her. I asked him to try to see if his grandfather had one side that was paralyzed...he did. Being certified in first aid and infant CPR, I knew that he had experienced a stroke.

We hung up to keep the line open. I called every number I had to get in touch with his father...I was unsuccessful. I called again, the ambulance still hadn't arrived. They always take forever. Next, I spoke to my ex-mother-in-law. She was shaken up, but was in the process of making her way to the city. I asked her to take a friend with her, since she was nervous and upset. Shortly after, the ambulance arrived and took him to the hosital confirming my suspicions..he was a stroke victim.

Now, his Dad knew that his grandfather was not in good shape. Regardless, had no intentions of returning until Monday! Had my son not been there, his great grandfather would have been laying on the floor since Saturday morning! I always thought that he was neglectful, but his selfishness is one of the biggest reasons we're not together. It's horrible that my son had to experience this, but had he not been there...his great grandfather would have probably died.

Fast forward to Sunday, I go to pick up my son. His father left my son with a girl that his girlfriend brought to the home....to throw out ALL of his grandfather's belongings. All of it. My son questions her about his great grandfather's check. He knew that he had cashed it and was worried she was going to steal it. She was going through everything and was ranting about misplacing her cigarettes or something. I forgot to add that she looked like an addict. She was dissheveled, couldn't stand still and was scraching her arms. Typical signs. She also had a tongue ring and spoke English poorly, not for the reasons you think. It was obvious she was uneducated. Her primary language was ebonics. Now she was very rude and disrespectful to two of my kids. I don't tolerate this. I was going to tell his father, not that it would have made a difference. He's a moron. Then I found out, he had left my son alone...again. He went out with his girlfriend and left my son alone with this girl. What the? I confronted her, but realized it was futile.

Half an hour later, he calls my sister's house yelling. My kids had called their grandmother to complain about the fact that he was paying this addict to throw out all their grandfather's most prized posessions. This chick even threw out the home movies he had of my kids! I'm sure their grandmother called their father to question his actions and motives. Well, he tells me this girl was "mentally retarded" and I was wrong to assume she was an addict. Then he tells me I was wrong and so were the kids. Now you understand why I am not with him. They pick some girl up off the street to do some menial job and give her the right to mistreat my kids. Hello! I will not apologize for doing my job as their mother. He was completely irrational and out of control. Then he tells me that he would never put any of the kids in harm's way??? What the?? So I remind him...
1. He left my son (without any way of contacting an adult in the vicinity) with his elderly grandfather.
2. He left my son with a girl that is supposedly "metally retarded". Does that make any sense?

This is from a man that spent the summer trying to convince my sons to move with him. What did he use to try to convinve them? Hello! He doesn't have any structure, any rules or discipline. In the end, they came home. Kids know where they are better off. All the had to do was remember the trip he took them on this summer. I didn't tell you, I forgot. Anyway, he took them to PA to go to a water park-on a whim. Surprise, surprise..they drove around for over 5 hours because all the hotels were booked. They ended up sleeping in a WALMART PARKING LOT. Oh, he's a genius and his girlfriend...another winner. Did I mention they took her son, their daughter, some girl-no relation, my daughter and my two sons in a pickup truck? A pickup truck that seats 4 people. But he never puts my kids in harms' way. I have it all wrong and I am just so judgmental and rigid. I wish I had never become involved with him. The only good thing that came out of that relationship were my beautiful children.

Just wanted to share the raw truth of what I've been going through the past week. Hope your week is going better...