Slow day

As per my usual, the night after a weekend, I couldn't sleep. It takes me forever to fall asleep and when I do fall asleep, I don't generally sleep well. First of all, I stayed up to late.

That's when I went to bed, It was probably closer to 1:30-1:45 before I fell asleep. I woke up again when my wife came to bed which I normally don't do. Usually I'm out like a light. I got up at 4:45 for work like usual. I got dressed and went out to start the car, then came in to get my lunch together which is unusual. I rarely start the car before I'm ready to leave but being that it was negative 23 degrees, I figured it would be good to do that.

I took my normal route, which I debated on because I was afraid the temps would turn the roads to ice but if I go the main roads, it tacks on quite a big more mileage and I'd rather just drive slow then take the long way.

I get to work and find out that the boiler went down sometime over the long weekend so it was going to take a few hours to get the tanks heated up. A few hours later, we realized they still weren't heating up so maintenance had to fix it. It still wasn't fixed when we left, or I should say I left because they gave the option to leave early but I stayed my 8 hours.

I could see how my day was going to be within the first hour.

This is off a guy at works Snapchat. You can see me in my lab coat back behind him. I bent down thinking I needed to to get into the photo, now I wish I wouldn't have, I look really huge slouched over like that.

I came home to my son eating lunch at 2:40 in the afternoon because he tends to sleep in until after 11. Must be nice to have all those days off.

I haven't done much since. Showered and been chilling in the recliner watching TV and doing my internet thing. I fought sleep for awhile but I didn't really sleep so I should be good to go tonight. 

Cheri made taco's for supper which I always love for 2 reasons. 1. They're really good. 2. Tomorrow I will have a salad in a bowl with the lettuce, tomato and cheese left over and I will nuke some taco meat and put it on top for a taco salad lunch at work.

The photos above are all from my Snapchat. I really love that app but the problem I have is nobody really does it. There's a few people at work who do because they are in their 20's and I have some nieces and daughters, other than that, hardly anybody. So, now that Instagram and Facebook both have stories, every thing I post on Snapchat, I post on those 2 forums as well. Apparently I'm posting it here as well. One thing I did notice, it's a lot easier to post about my day with visual reminders.

I'm not sure when I get my stats post up, probably not until this weekend but we'll see.

New Year, New Post

Another new year has come and once again, I'm promising to post more. Not that that has worked the last few years, but there you go. You got 2 posts today so that's a good start, right?

2017 had some ups and downs. I had the thought to go to Facebook and go through the last year to post the ups and downs but to be honest, I don't put my stuff out there, which tends to be the problem with me posting on here. So I guess I'll try to figure it out by memory but I'm old so it isn't all going to be there either.

• My ex finally got arrested for something so she's been drug to court for her lack of child support. That was early last year and I still haven't seen hardly anything. The court hasn't done a damn thing for me and I'm the custodial parent. More proof that Father's have no rights when it comes to their children.
• We found out our youngest daughter has been self harming herself and may have some psychological issues. She is currently going to therapy but a psychiatrist takes a few months to get into because they're just isn't very many of them.
• Our youngest daughter is also 15 now which means she has been learning to drive and has her permit. Although with all the snow lately, she hasn't been able to get out to much but she won't turn 16 until July so she'll have plenty of time to catch up in the spring.
• I started a new job in September which has been going very well. Technically, it's a new position as it's the same company but at a different plant. It's the highest paid job I've ever had (which isn't saying much) and hopefully sometime this month, I should have my own lab.
• Our oldest daughter graduated from college and is now living in Indianapolis. She's still looking for a job in her field but is carving a nice life for herself down there.
• Our oldest son and his girlfriend have moved into their own place. She has 2 children so it's the closest we are to having grandchildren at this point. My wife communicates with them all the time.
• Our youngest son signed up for a academic team, we haven't seen yet what will become of it but I'm excited for him. He's only 13 and it would be great for him.
• I had to have my gall bladder removed in October after a painful trip to the emergency room. My first surgery since getting my knee scoped way back in high school.
• Cheri hasn't had a great year as far as her MS goes. She's had a few flair ups which has caused some numbing sensations and more pain.
• We just celebrated our 2nd year in our new home and are still in love with it. Love being out of the apartment. Love having a garage and we love our neighborhood.

As you can see, there's been some ups and downs. While it may seem like the downs are more significant, I think all in all, we're doing well. We're happy and that's all we can ask for.

2017 trip concludes

Before I get going on the New Year's post later day. I still have a post from last year but since I don't update the numbers until the day after, you get it today. What am I talking about? Well walking of course. Yes, I'm still keeping track, it was just a long trek of nothingness from Iowa to Nebraska.

Day 365, Lincoln, NE (1178.8 miles)

Last time I posted, I was only at 885 miles so as you can see, that would be why there wasn't to much posting until now. Almost 300 miles later, I made it to Lincoln, Nebraska. Home of the Nebraska Cornhuskers and my 5th Big Ten stadium.

This will be the last Big Ten stadium for awhile as I head out west to hit the MLB stadiums.

1. Guaranteed Rate Field (Chicago White Sox - MLB)
2. Soldier Field (Chicago Bears - NFL)
3. Ryan Field (Northwestern Wildcates - B1G)
4. Wrigley Field (Chicago Cubs - MLB)
5. Miller Park (Milwaukee Brewers - MLB)
6. Camp Randall (Wisconsin Badgers - B1G)
7. TCF Bank Stadium (Minnesota Golden Gophers - B1G)
8. Target Field (Minnesota Twins - MLB)
9. Kinnick Stadium (Iowa Hawkeyes - B1G)
10. Memorial Stadium (Nebraska Cornhuskers - B1G)

As you can see, this is the 10th Stadium visited.

The nice thing is, with my new job starting last September, I'm getting my step average on work days pretty consistently so I have a much better shot at hitting my 1500 miles goal that I set for this year. As you can see above I was 321 miles short this year. To much time sitting on a forklift which I don't hardly do at all with the new job.

What's to come

I know I haven't been around, stuff has happened, I just haven't blogged about it. Nothing serious or anything, just things I would have blogged about.

At this time of the year, I tend to start thinking, what other stats can I keep track of next year? If you followed me for over a year, then you know at the first of the year, I post a stats post on the things I've done this year. I haven't really thought of anything to add yet so we'll see.

I also think, should I start other blogs? If so, what would they consist of? Like I don't have enough of them to do now. I don't know why I do but I usually start a couple a year, some of them I keep up, some of them I delete after a few months or so. As of now, the only blog I'm thinking about adding is maybe a duplicate of one I already run, only on Tumblr. Again, we'll see.

I've also been thinking about making more of a commitment to this blog. Even if it's just a what I did today kind of posts. For one, they would go right along with another project that I started earlier this month. Do you know what Timehop is? It's basically that, only I've added all my stuff to it and put it on a spreadsheet.

Here's todays for example.

What you can't see is I also have a column for who I was with, where I was and city and state. I think eventually, I'll try to add photos and such with it. Even the ones back in the 80's were marked with the date. So as you see, even if I just post what I did that day, it'll go right along with that. 

I have a few more days before January 1st to figure it out so we'll see what I stick with and what I don't.

Big Ten Stadium #4

A long time ago, but not probably very many blog posts ago, you may remember that I'm tracking my steps on a map and I'm doing a stadium tour. I'm mainly hitting Big Ten schools and the MLB stadiums but I may hit others along the way. I'm out west on the map so posts are pretty far between each other but on a positive note, I get a couple of thousand more steps a day with the new job so maybe it'll go a little faster. Although, once again, I forgot to take my Fitbit off the charger this morning so I have to guess my steps again.

Day 277, Iowa City, IA (884.5 miles)

Well if you know your Big Ten stadiums, then you know where I'm at. I finally made it to the Iowa Hawkeyes stadium (Kinnick stadium.)

I'm already on to my next stadium as I actually got to this one yesterday and forgot to post it. The next stop is another Big Ten stadium further west. Can you guess it without looking?

While I'm definitely not getting the 1500 miles like I had wanted (Sundays still kick my ass) but I'm moving right along now. I average a couple of thousand more steps at my new job then the past, plus I work 2 out of every 3 weekends so my weekend steps are way better.

I was already up around Chicago when I started the stadium tour but this is still my 9th stadium so far.

1. Guaranteed Rate Field (Chicago White Sox - MLB)
2. Soldier Field (Chicago Bears - NFL)
3. Ryan Field (Northwestern Wildcates - B1G)
4. Wrigley Field (Chicago Cubs - MLB)
5. Miller Park (Milwaukee Brewers - MLB)
6. Camp Randall (Wisconsin Badgers - B1G)
7. TCF Bank Stadium (Minnesota Golden Gophers - B1G)
8. Target Field (Minnesota Twins - MLB)
9. Kinnick Stadium (Iowa Hawkeyes - B1G)

The above map is a general route. When I get to a new city, I add it and it maps the most direct route and not necessarily the actual route I had mapped myself out.

Court with the Ex

So my ex hasn't paid support in over 3 years. She gets arrested on other warrants in February of this year. While in custody, another court date is spit out in regards to her not paying support. That all is supposed to happen.

Court date was March 16th. Everything pretty much went my way until the very end when the judge told her that he was granting a continuance in order for her to get an attorney because he doesn't think she realizes how much trouble she's in.

New court date, May 15th. On May 10th, they file for another continuance and it is granted.

New court date, June 5th. June 5th never comes to be because of another continuance.

New court date, June 19th. We actually go to this court date, only for it to be continued again until October 23rd because she is trying to claim disability on why she can't work and we have to wait until she gets approved or denied. She pays $1000 towards her back support after this hearing.

On July 10th, she files a motion to have her child support lowered, court date is set for August 28th. I assume she can only ask for this because of the one payment of $1000 that she paid at the last court date.

So today, I go to court for the motion to modify support. Basically, they say she can't pay so they would like it to be $0. Because they are waiting on disability, she can't work, so she can't pay. The judge asks if I have anything to say, my response "It's not about having the money, it's about priorities. She's paying for her own lawyer. 3 weeks ago they went on a vacation to Myrtle Beach. She's choosing not to pay."

What comes of that? She no longer has to pay support until our next hearing on January 8th. They cancelled the one in October as well.

In summary, she gets arrested for not paying support in February of this year, and not a thing will happen to her until at least January of next year. To be honest, I doubt that anything will happen to her then. Meanwhile, I'm the one supporting everything. So tell me, how is this judicial system set up for the children?

I don't even blame the judge because I think if he could, he would rule in my favor, you can tell he's sick of her crap as well. It's the system that has him handcuffed. It's ridiculous.

She still gets her normal visitation only now, she doesn't have to pay me a dime. She gets to sit on her ass while all of us working people get to pay her bills. It's a wonderful fucking system we have.

A Catch-Up Post

It's been a somewhat busy week or so for me which is a rarity. On Thursday of the previous week, I called up to the general managers office at work. I walked in and said "I feel like I'm in trouble and got called to the principals office" he replied with "nope, it's all good news." So I sat down and he asked me a few questions about previous anodizing experience (I have 14 years in that field) and proceeded to tell me that one of the other plants have been asking about me and basically wanted to know if I was interested. After all was said and done, I am. This all came about because my old supervisor at the place I have the anodizing experience, now works at the other plant.

I then got called to go out to the other plant for an interview, on company time which is nice since it's a half hour drive. I drove out there, they basically interviewed me while they gave me a tour of the plant. I was out there for around an hour and a half, met a bunch of the big wigs and headed back. They ended up offering me the job later that Friday and I accepted. They told me that they would like to have me out there the next Thursday and Friday for some classes that they were giving so I let my plant know and they said it was cool.

That Friday night we headed out to Jellystone to go camping with the family. It was a good time but both of my kids didn't really take advantage of all the swimming and pool slides and stuff available so while it was a great place, I don't see myself going back. It is kind of geared more for younger kids than mine are but all in all, it was a good time.

It was a relatively slow work week on Mon-Wed as I'm just biding my time until they let me transfer. Thursday and Friday I spent out with my new job for a couple of hours as well as the time spent in the classes. The new job is a really good opportunity for me and I can't wait to get started out there. I had all kinds of higher ups introduce themselves and would tell me they were glad I was there, basically, made me feel important. It's been a long time since I felt that way at my job. Most of them know about me because I am filling a created position so it's like it was created specifically for me. It kind of sucks that I have to go back to my old job next week.

All week long while I was working, Cheri was home baking 40+ dozen (mini) cupcakes and a wedding cake for our niece. So the house has smelled extremely good. On Thursday, after some drama from the school, while we had our daughter sitting in front of us, we had a discussion on whether or not she was allowed to date because she had a boy that was interested in her and she was in him. So on Friday, she came home telling us she had a boyfriend now. Yikes!

Friday night, we went out to where the wedding was being held to drop off the cupcakes and most of the wedding cake. We also nabbed some Chik-Fil-A as we always do when we are on that side of town.

Saturday evening, we had the wedding, We went out an hour early to get the cake stacked all up, I should have gotten a picture for you all but honestly, we were putting everything together and I don't think I took more than 2 photos all night. It was a truly beautiful wedding, on a beach off of a lake. We had a good time. Our oldest daughter made it up as well so we got to spend some time with her. Our relationship has gotten a lot better in the last couple of years and I enjoy spending time with her. Plus, we're dog sitting her dog for a week until she comes up for another wedding next weekend. That always makes my wife happy, she loves that dog.

Today, we didn't do much. I ran the kids around a few places. Samantha dropped off a job app and filled out another one online so we'll see how that goes. She's only 15 so her places are limited as to where she can work. She's also been busy taking her online drivers ed so it could be a rough year for the nerves.

Tomorrow, I have to go back to court for child support. The ex-wife made one payment in 3 years and that apparently is enough for her to take me back to court to try to lower her weekly non-payments. Whatever, she doesn't pay so does it really matter on how much she gets added to her back support every week.

I think that's about it. That may not seem like much to you guys but we don't do much around here so for us, it's been an eventful couple of weeks. Once I get transferred to the new plant, I'll give a little more details about my new job but just know, I am very grateful for this opportunity and it comes with a lot of benefits that I don't have now.

Routines

We all have routines, I definitely have routines but they were disrupted this week. Cheri had decided to run off to Virginia with her daughter and to spend time with her son (and other family and friends) which left me and the younger kids on our own. Not technically on our own since our cat is here, as well as my daughter's dog. Certainly nothing I can't handle, I'm a big boy, but I have routines that when I get out of them, I get lost.

My work morning routine is get up, do bathroom stuff, get dressed in the closet (so I don't wake Cheri) then I go to the kitchen, get my lunch together, put on my shoes, put on my glasses (prescription safety glasses) and head for the garage to go to work.

My routine this week is more or less the same but I had to add a few things. With Cheri gone, if I don't feed the animals, they won't get food until the kids get up which could be as late as noon (not usually, but it has happened). So I check both their dishes as well as open my sons door so the dog can go sleep in his room after I leave. If I don't open the door, he thinks he's alone and whines for a little bit which will wake my son up anyways. If I open his door, the dog will just go get into bed with him until he wakes up.

As you can see, not much change, but there was one morning where I stepped out into the garage and couldn't figure out why everything was blurry. I then realized that I didn't put my glasses on. I was out of sync.

My nightly routine, is I put away what ever I have out by my recliner, put my phone on the charger then go to the bathroom (take contacts out, brush teeth) go into the closet and get out of my PJ's and go to bed.

Without Cheri here, I also let the dog outside, check the water dishes and clean the litter box before bed. Once again, not much addition but it's enough. I went through that routine and went to bed. When I got up the next morning, I went through the other routine only this time, I put my glasses on and everything got blurry. Apparently, I forgot to take my contacts out the night before.

The problem this time though was because I had just gotten up (I usually walk out the door 15 minutes after I've gotten up) and I had slept in my contacts. I couldn't get them out because they were stuck to my eyes. So I had to grab my glasses and my contacts case and hope by the time I got to work, they would come out. They did after a bunch of intentional (and non-intentional) yawning to get some moisture in my eyes.

I have other routines, such as when I first get to work as well as when I get on my laptop (I have a daily's bookmark that I work my way though) but I'm always amazed at how little I get screwed up when I get a little out of my routine.

Stadium Tour continues

Day 193, Minneapolis, MN (605.35)

I haven't posted about my walking in awhile. I still don't really go walking but I do still keep track of my steps and such and still track it on a map. I'm in the process of hitting all the MLB and Big Ten stadiums but I didn't start until half way through the tracking so I have some backtracking to do. Anyways, as you can see above, I'm in Minneapolis which is home of the Minnesota Twins as well as the Minnesota Golden Gophers. I passed them both earlier this week just hadn't gotten around to posting them.

I went through the Minnesota campus first and walked past the TCF Bank Stadium. I believe it was Monday of this week. Then just a couple of miles up the road I walked by this.

It look much nicer than that domed stadium they had before. Let's check out what we've seen so far.

1. Guaranteed Rate Field (Chicago White Sox)
2. Soldier Field (Chicago Bears)
3. Ryan Field (Northwestern Wildcats)
4. Wrigley Field (Chicago Cubs)
5. Miller Park (Milwaukee Brewers)
6. Camp Randall (Wisconsin Badgers)
7. TCF Bank Stadium (Minnesota Golden Gophers)
8. Target Field (Minnesota Twins)

I'm heading South, mainly because there isn't crap in the North West states until you get on the coast. I'm going to head a little back to the East to hit a spot that I missed before I decided what stadiums I was going to do.

What happened to you?

I haven't post in awhile but I want to get this off my chest. Before I start, if you want to read more here about the things my ex and her husband have done in the past, check out the labels to the right. "the Ex" is the ex, "the JackAss" is her husband. Although both of them go to the same pages for the most part.

Let's start this letter off with what triggered it to begin with. After court the other day, you sent me a text saying that I have to follow the custody agreement that says we have to meet half way on your weekends. First off, like I told you on the phone, I find it highly hypocritical that you think I have to follow the custody agreement when you don't. That same agreement says you have to pay child support, which you haven't for 3 years. Secondly, I know what the law says, you were the one who didn't. I didn't say I wouldn't meet you half way because you weren't paying support. I just took advantage of the fact that you're not that bright. I didn't have a problem meeting you half way until you moved 2 hours away from your children to begin with. If it was for a job or something, I would understand but it was because that's what your husband wanted. To be closer to his family (not kids.)

I remember when we were together and we used to shake our head at the deadbeat parents that we knew. We couldn't believe the things they were doing to their children. Guess what? You have become one of those. What the hell happened to you? You were the one that wanted kids so bad and now you don't even take care of them. Other than spending every other weekend with them, you do absolutely nothing to take care of their needs.

Do you know who does? I do. The person that you think is an asshole and that is damaging your relationship with your kids, specifically your daughter. I'm not "turning her against you", you are. She sees you for what you are and I'm sorry that you can't face that. She knows who just paid for her drivers ed, she knows who will help her get a car and help her with her insurance. She knows that her stepmom (who she calls mom on occasion) will be there to help her pick out her prom dresses and anything else she needs help with. That's why she refers to us as her parents to anyone that asks. Not her dad and stepmom, her parents. She knows which parents are always there when she needs something. Don't be blind, she still loves you, you're her mom. She has just lost all respect for you.

That all started to fall apart when you married your current husband. Not that they hated that you got remarried, but the fact that you wouldn't protect them or stand up for them when he talked bad about them. You didn't stand up for your son when he was calling him names. You let him order them around and make them do everything in the small amount of time they had to spend with you. Sure, they can tolerate him more now because he's not as much as a dick as he was before, but that doesn't mean they have forgotten. They know which parent drove an hour and a half to pick them up at a mall because he went after your son.

What I really want to know though, is why you think you are above all of us working people? You have never wanted to work (nobody really does.) That was probably our greatest crutch when we were married. Did you not see a problem when we went to do our taxes one year and you had 13 different W2's? Do you remember when we used to talk bad about those people who lived off the system? Those who used to pop kids out for more welfare and then not take care of the them? Guess who has become that person now? You filed for disability because of joint pain? Seriously? We're in our 40's, we all have joint pain. You've never wanted to work and this is your way of getting out of it. Thank God the kids have me to look up to for a stable work influence. They see at least one parent that goes to work every day, regardless if he is sick or not, in order to provide for them. What absolutely kills me is how your father would feel about this. He was a hard worker who worked through all his aches and pains and the person you probably looked up to the most and you have become the complete opposite.

After all that, I got an email today that said you have filed for a Motion to Modify Support. You want to lower your child support payments? You already pay less than most people pay for 1 child and you have 2. I don't really care what they make the support payments because I haven't seen anything anyways so all you're doing is making less of an impact each week on what you owe. Personally, I don't know why the courts are even letting you take me back since you haven't paid in so long. Then again, the system has been in your favor ever since we separated. Even though I'm the custodial parent, I'm still the father and the system is set up for you to win.

I'm not saying I'm the perfect parent, I'm far from it. The difference is, I know what my flaws are, where you apparently have none. The difference is, I'm there for my kids, financially and personally. The difference is, I have provided a stable home environment for my kids, you've moved at least 10 times in the last 7 years. The difference is, I'm here, each and every day for our kids. They don't hear from you until they get the text every 2 weeks asking if they are coming over.