Warped Gratitude Blog

Today I am thankful that I know wonderful people who are far too much like me and that know how to deal with those who aren't. I don't know exactly how much I can share. I really don't. Just know......at least one of my associates has gone to incredibly crazy lengths to get me into a classroom with a gorgeous, tall, single, man who, apparently, worked with me for over two years at my previous job. He's a little bit older than I. I don't remember him. The first time I noticed him was when he smiled at me when I first entered the room.... on Monday. My associates arranged for me to be in the same class as him and had me sit next to him.  I wound up switching seats with someone who needed to be closer to the front of the class.  Now, I sit on the other side of the room. I don't want to give too much about the circumstances of this class away. My former employer sold my division to another company.  My former trainer and the woman who...

Today I am both thankful for signs yet confused about what is going on.  Can't my local government behave itself?  Ugh!!!! I'd hate to think the only thing I'm known for is being Sue Happy. Over the past eight weeks, I have received one mail and one text message from two different city employees looking to sue their employer. One man wrote to me on my hypnosis website stating that he received a right to sue letter from the EEOC and wanted my time.  The EEOC only allows people to sue if the complaints are valid. Someone must have done something epic-ly wrong. Another woman, somehow, found my personal top-secret telephone number and left me a message today. She seemed sincere, so I'll give her the names of a few lawyers I know. As a result of these messages, I thumbed through the 18" stack of legal papers I have left over from my ex's lawsuit against the city. That was funny.  The City Attorney asked my ex to sign a statement that Mrs. [his ...

Today I am thankful for insightful friends and the belief that eclipses reveal the truth about people.   My ex trying to zero out his child support, not that he's ever paid a penny.  He is claiming to be unemployed.  He took a job for a few weeks at $12 an hour and is claiming that this is all he can make. He's an accountant. I helped him get a degree. ******* I've been researching Google and I think this is the variant of the scam he's running: http://au.askmen.com/answers/general/32039-can-you-beat-child-support-yes-you-can-this-wor.html Basically, the scam is to take a low paying job and then submit that as proof of income to the court. ****** I am in the process of hiring a family law attorney. I took some time to talk to a friend of mine who is a lawyer.  He prefers to spend his time helping defendants he feels are being railroaded by the system.  He's a defense attorney. He's been divorced and knows the games people play. This is...

Today I am thankful for superstition.   A couple of weeks ago, I went to a street on Broadway that I used to frequent when I was a child. The thrift shop I used to visit is still there.  In fact, the Saturday volunteer remembers me from long, long ago.  One of my activist buddies runs the prepper store next door.  Down the street is a Native American bead shop that used to buy cow hides from the saddlery in which I worked as a salesperson back in the early 90's. I used to go to this town every Saturday until I got a job as a salesperson.  I found that I made more money on Saturday than any other day of the week. I chose to work on the weekends. I decided that I needed more tea.  I like the teas and herbs at the bead shop, so I made the trip.  My step-father was Cherokee.  In my adult life, I find myself taking on some of the Pagan traditions. I bought bilberry, oris root, sage, sweetgrass, linden flowers and several other herbs. I s...

Today I am thankful that I realize that I take on too much due to the irresponsibility of others. I also realized that I need to stop helping asshats.  Last week I wrote something about paying my ex-husband's bills if I find a good job.  His bill collectors are calling me.  I think one of his bills hit my credit.  I don't know how that happened but I was going to pay it off...... until I got a packet from my former attorney today. My ex did something so egregious that I cannot help him anymore.  I can't pay any more of his bills.  I can't give him any more money.  I will not give him any more of my assets. In the past I did those things because he promised it would help him stay employed and pay child support. Of course, he's never paid a dime.  Even when I gave him my car, paid for his gas and auto insurance, it didn't help him keep a job. He slinked out of alimony.  That bothers me only a little bit.  My intention was ...

Today I am thankful for the joyful sound of a purring cat. Over the past few days, I've noticed a small gray tabby cat hanging out on my windowsill peering into the house. It's very small.....almost a kitten. I think it likes me because I drink Japanese catnip to help me relax.  Yes, I have to order it from Japan.  Shhh......let me tell you a secret.  It's the primary ingredient in an expensive supplement (sero-vital) and I'm too cheap to pay $99 a month to get a supply of catnip and amino acids. Now, as Pagans, we believe that visits from cats are signs from the Goddess....be it Bast (daughter of Diana)....or Isis.  They should be honored guests. Cats (as well as other animals) are to be respected and revered.  A good Pagan does rituals with fish for Isis and puts it at the crossroads to feed her sacred cats. The problem, though, is that I don't trust that the fish we buy at the store won't kill the cats.  I haven't been very good with the ri...

Today I am somewhat thankful for the child support office. My bachelor's degree is in social work.  I specialized in child development.  When I interned with the county I was shocked at the sheer number of professionals who didn't understand that an individual's mental illness could impact the functioning of a family.  I left to pursue my graduate degree. My master's degree is in psychology.  I wanted my doctorate but Michael's sister harassed and stalked me on campus.  They offered me the chance to teach but I was so afraid of her, I declined the associate professorship. Crazy people can influence other people in not so positive ways.  In sum, the person with the most flexibility tends to control the system; be it political, be it familial, be it business....people who can bend and sway with the wind tend to come out strong. No one can be as flexible as a person three fries short of a happy meal.   They can threaten you, beat you ...