Vent from "The Mouse That Roared" 

Hi all! I haven't been on the site much (as some of you have noticed) as things were going well, both divorce-wise and in my personal life. Until two weeks ago, that is.

My lovely STBX decided to hire a lawyer because, she says, the paralegal wasn't getting things done (which I can't argue with...she should probably be in another line of work). When he finally contacted me, three weeks after she hired him, he told me the same thing, and we scheduled an informal conference between the three of us. So far, not too bad.

During the conference, he asks us questions about our assets and liabilities as though he was starting over. She finally blew up when we got to the house (saying things that if said in public would have caused me to seriously consider a slander lawsuit).

I gave her lawyer some of the paperwork he had asked for, and then decided there was a snake in the grass. So, $4000 (and counting) later, I have my own lawyer (no clue what her's is costing, but I'm sure they'll ask me to pay that, too). Turns out the STBX and her lawyer agreed not to file the notarized settlement agreement we had worked out last year with the courts and want to start over because she thinks she got screwed. And this was known when we had the conference. Yup, there's a snake in the grass, and I think it has rattles on its tail.

And just to put icing on the cake, STBX and I traded emails about DVD's, DVD players, AAA card renewals, and lawyer status. I offered to give her a DVD player as her's isn't too happy playing computer recorded DVDs, to renew the AAA cards as "joint" (saving us both money) for one more year, and gave her lawyer status. The AAA thing was also driven by them wanting her card back if I don't renew it, which I told her. She basically blew off the DVD player offer, and told me I didn't have to do anything with the AAA card. Um, not; as I read their letter I either renew it or send it back. Ignoring it wasn't one of their options. Yes, I know the earth won't implode if the card isn't returned, but the tone of her answer just made me restate that (because I was starting to get annoyed with that attitude...a big part of why she's an STBX).

That email chain ended with her sending me one that simply said (quote):

I AM REALLY ANGRY WITH YOU.   ALL I WANT IS WHAT IS LEGALLY AND MORALY MINE.

Um, again; I guess she feels she didn't get it. But what's morally hers? IMHO what's morally hers is less than what's legally hers. I guess she thinks she deserves whatever she thinks she deserves? And that, to me, is a bit of circular logic that makes no sense to a sensible person. Sigh.

So much for the bad news. Here's the good...

I have met someone (through a dating web site, no less) that could very well be my next ex-wife. ;-) That phrase is a line some comedian used (Don Rickles?) a long time ago, and it's just stuck with me. All kidding aside, she could be a winner. The only problem is she lives over an hour away, so we can get together only on weekends, and because of her work schedule, usually only for an afternoon and dinner. We're going to spend Thanksgiving week together; short trip to the city of lost wages (Las Vegas), Thanksgiving at one of my friend's houses. We think it will go well, and my counselor agrees spending that long together will be a good "test". I can't tell you all how much I'm looking forward to that little "vacation".

Anyway, now that I've written a book, and I'm supposed to be working instead of blogging, I'd better sign off. I just wanted to let folks know how things are going with me. And if you want to wish me "good luck", please do. I know a little prayer or three about the lawyer thing wouldn't hurt.

And allow me to wish everyone who reads this nothing but "good news" and smooth sailing through this storm they call divorce.

Take care,

    The mouse that roared.