Not the lottery, but it sure does feel like it.

The judge granted me sole custody and day to day care and control. They considered Devin served since his counsel was served PRIOR to filing the Ceasing To Act order and considered him served in absentia.

I also was offered another job with Stats Canada starting in January. Which means that I won't have to worry about not getting EI from March 5th-April 30. Only in the month of May, I will be a little broke before going back to work. Then again, knowing how slow Stats Can is at paying, I'll probably still be receiving monies in May.

Child support was deposited into my account today.

All in all, I think I won the lottery today.

I have no idea what the real time is, however, I know that the clocks changed tonight.
I think we're now back to being 7 hrs behind GMT again.. they change at different times than we do, I just don't remember when they do.

And hold onto your chairs folks, he paid child support. Doesn't mean we found him, he just apparently randomly deposited money into the Maintenance Enforcement account. *faint*

Tomorrow/today, whatever.. I'm going to the Screamfest haunted houses provided that the weatherman is wrong. Its supposed to be -somethingsilly and snowing like a bugger. I didn't sign up for this. I'm moving to Bahamas since we started flying there regularly.

I re-pinked my hair today. How's that for exciting news?

I was perusing some of the blogs that I have linked and today, Dave scarred me for life. Well not quite, however his discussion of Christina Aguilera and Donald Duck made me shudder. But on a serious note, he was discussing newborn babies and breast feeding. Its been proven that if you place a newborn on a mother's stomach that they will worm their way up to the breast and begin to feed almost immediately. Its instinctive. Even bottle fed babies will go towards the breast for the first few weeks of life as it is intuitive. (But in the case of most men, they instinctively will go towards the breast for the rest of their lives.)

So in theory its 253am, but the clock says 153 and I still haven't figured out why I'm up when its EITHER of those times, so I'm going to bed. And if blogger still says "There was an ERROR." when I publish this, I'm going to throw something.

It is now for sale in Chapters - yahoo!

Sell it out people! :-)

The title "argh" has been well overused by me, however it is an appropriate title.

I know I made the decisions, and I know that I made my bed and I have to lie in it, and I know that I should have known better....

Why do people make promises that they can't keep? Do they do it make themselves feel better? "Oh look, I promised her that I'd step up" and you feel good about it? "Oh look, I promised I'd never not ...." double negatives buddy...

But, as predicted he's done a runner. Child support is over a week late and there is no sign of it at Maintenance Enforcement, he hasn't checked his voice mail in ages as it's full and has been since at least Thursday and he has received the message that I need to speak with him and he has refused to return my call. So soon, things will start to melt down and maybe just maybe he'll crash n burn.

So if I seem in a funk, I'm sorry - I'm stressed about money again, I'm exhausted because I'm stressed I'm not sleeping and I'm PMSy which isn't helping and I'm just plain ole in need of a vacation.

To keep busy I've taken a part time (and I mean very part time) job to hopefully assist with the shortfalls that him screwing me around has created. The unfortunate thing is, its now that I need the cash and I won't see most of it til end of Nov. Oh well, at least it is Christmas money.

All my wonderful blogrolled friends over there *points* appear to have been very busy at exactly the same time a few times this weekend. First it was saying everyone updated at 5:19am Saturday morning... Now they've all updated at 10:21am this morning. You people are amazing! I am astounded at your abilities to conspire without knowing each other and all update at the same time.. _and_ even update a page or two that doesn't report updates! I applaud your talent and glad you're my friends!

(ed: I noticed thankfully its not just my blogroll, however, its amazing how bizarre different the times are for others, even taking in time zone differences into account)

I had a registered version of 6.0 Acrobat Standard... when I got my new harddrive in June, it wouldn't Ghost over for some weird reason. So I was awaiting a new install of 6... I didn't really need it as I'd taken to not reading non essential PDF files until the forms came for booking my holidays for next year at work. After an arguement or 5 with trying to transfer files thru the network just to read what I already knew, I downloaded the trial of 7.0. It did what I needed it to do until my Geek(tm) came home and could give me 6 again. When he installed 6 it somehow registered 7.0 or at least it appeared to. Then suddenly last week it ceased to work again. So I suspect it wasn't really registered and I had non functioning crippleware again.

So I uninstalled everything... 6, 7 and the 7.1 that I had tried to install as well as now we we were back at essential reading and a slow transfer on the network that annoyed me.

I reinstalled 6 after I deleted everything from all previous installs and trials including cleaning up the registry and there wasn't a trace of Swahili in this machine.

I install 6.0 standard again.

I open the first PDF - "Unable to open application, if this error persists, please contact the vendor." ARRRRRRRRRRRGH

So after 3 days of fighting with it and having had to use the SLOW transfer on the network, I tell the Geek that this isn't fucking working and I'm getting pissed off and it had better be a damn good reason why. There was a few more swear words in there but you get the gist.

Why wasn't it working? I don't know. He checked some of the properties and clicked a few things here and there and in 30 seconds it was working.
I just said "I don't want to know, but if it stops working when I sit down, you're going to sit here and read me what it is that these files say in perfect Bantu."

Its still working this morning. I'll keep you posted if it fails again.

I'm emotionally wrung out and totally PMSy. I have a sinus headache from crying and I hate being this emotional. Sorry babe, don'tcha just love girls and their tears?

Anyways, off to eat the ribs that I've made with a basmati rice and flake in front of the tv.

If you can find Wilno and can find the Wilno Stn Inn and have free time on Sunday, go congratulate my sister and read the story of my Granny, a phenomenal woman, even when she eats paint.

Anyone who has ridden in the Dirty White Escort(tm) has sat in the passenger seat and wondered what is coming at them at 80 miles an hour. I've had comments and even people leaning over into MY space to see out the windshield. I've always profusely apologised and even go so far as to blame Ford for their windshield wiper arm manufacturing problems (they sieze on Escorts, Focus and Taurus)....until today.

I got sprayed with a concoction of snow, rain and mud on the way to driving the girls to the point where *I* couldn't see which resulted in a trip to Auto Value.

I am now the proud owner of $40 wiper blades that are guarenteed to remove all of the crap that Mother Nature (and trucks without mudguards) throws at you.

And for at least today - they have done just that and I can see.

As for the rest of the electrical and mechanical issues with my car... thats all down to time now.. when the damn thing causes an electrical short that will take out Calgary, I'll consider donating it to the Kidney Foundation for a tax receipt. Until then, I will keep up the wild hairdos that I get every time I open the door, I will yell "fuck off" at the stereo each time the cd player starts randomly and without justification cutting off the song I was just singing to on the radio, I will replace the headlights every 3 months without fail and I will take random guesses in the dark at how fast I'm going and how much gas I have left.
And when the transmission falls out of it, I'll call Ford and tell them for the upteenth time that there is a problem with it and tell them that this time they can come take the car back and give me something that works. It is not as though I've not mentioned this to you at least 3 times a year since I bought it. It is not as though you haven't inspected it 3 times a year since I bought it and told me nothing is wrong with. The KATHUNK that it makes when shifting at higher excelerations is all in my imagination. OF COURSE IT DOESN'T DO IT FOR YOU WHEN YOU ONLY DRIVE IT AROUND GLENDEER CIRCLE AT 40 KMS /HR DUMBASS.

Moving on shall we?

I've been to two toyparties in the past month or so... I've been shopping. However.. if I owned a business and was as slow with delivery as these have been, I'd NOT be owning a business for very long. Should these deliveries take place in the next few days and I don't post for awhile, don't be concerned - I've locked the bedroom door and have marked it with Do Not Disturb.

I had this nice long winded post about feelings and inadequacies and the like and somehow it got eaten by the imps that live in this computer and I've not the energy to put it all down again as it took quite a bit out of me emotionally... the gist was basically "ARGH" at the world and several people that apparently co-exist in it.

Shithead still hasn't been served as he refuses to return his lawyer's calls. Presumably because he owes money. His lawyer apparently can't be arsed to hire a process server because he doesn't want to incur any more costs that he isn't going to get back... Let me back track here a little.....

When you are finished with something legally - ie child support, unless you are pursuing something else, your lawyer files a Ceasing to Act with the courts and serves it upon opposing counsel so that if you are being pursued for something else, the opposing counsel must serve you directly. My lawyer (E) did that when we finished child support. His lawyer (H)did not. So when I filed for sole custody, it was a nice thing that we didn't have to get a process server ($$$), we could just serve H. So the paperwork went back and forth a couple of times between E and H because H refused to accept it because H wasn't his lawyer anymore... but under law, he had to accept it because H had not filed his Notice of Ceasing to Act.
We were to go to court today (the 17th), however, on Thursday at end of business (the day that any notices by opposing counsel/respondent were to be in), H calls E and says "We can't get ahold of the respondent, does your client know where he is?" Well it took me all of 15 mins to find him, why H can't do what I did... well its because it will cost him money. Because H didn't file the CTA, he will incur the process server fee. Which isn't my problem. And if dipshit was smart, he'd sue his lawyer once this was all finished.
My problem now is that they _still_ have not served him.
Which means that things are dragging out even LONGER than necessary. *whine*
I left a message for E hoping she'd let me know today where we're going from here, however no return call today. I'm hoping that we can serve his mother instead since she will be compelled to tell where he is or face jail time. Either way, I'm not paying for any of this crap, including all of the courier costs that were incurred because of H's ineptness with the law. E has been teaching him the ins and outs of family law since April!
And until the sole custody paperwork is done and finished, I can't complete my will.
See? Argh...

on that note, I'm going to bed... oh and one more thing.. 2 weeks and no comm... whats with that?

...you start reading one blog that leads to another and then yet to another and suddenly you've lost 2 hrs...
In following said link from Duff, lead to Dooce (which I've not read in a long time), which lead to this post and then 300+ comments. Which leads me to my list in no particular order...

- no addicts (drugs or alcohol)
- not accepting of my children - sorry, we're a package deal
- the 'psycho ex-girlfriend'
- telling me the same goddamn freakin story 9 times about how your friend got their nickname and how you met because he was talking to his wife on the phone and you said "how's your wife and my children" - it was funny the first time, not so much the next 8 times.
- playing on my insecurities and using them to your advantage
- no job
- unstable life - unable to pay bills on time thus having disconnection notices or even having things disconnected, not answering the phone because of collection calls.....
- hating to travel - we are SO not going to get along - I work for an airline remember? I intend to see the world.
- religious fanatics - I don't believe and personally don't give a shit about religion - I only care when you try to shove it down my throat.
- laughing _at_ me - laugh with me damnit, I know I'm a klutz
- musical taste won't neccessarily be a dealbreaker, but it could present interesting road trip moments with the cds.
- must enjoy sports in some form or another and not get pissy when I want to watch MY sports.
- not get pissy if I want to drive sometimes - macho is fine to a certain level, but let me have some 'macho'ism' too.
- no backbone

Alot of commenters said things about cheaters - cheating is an indication to me that there is a lack of communication in the relationship, so a dealbreaker would be someone that is unable to communicate their needs/wants and have open and frank discussions.
One of the comments was:
"I once went out with a guy who casually mentioned that his ex-girlfriend was going into labor with his baby that night but he choose to go to the hockey game instead because they weren't together anymore. Ummmmm yeah. Dealbreaker."

And I didn't write it!

Wow, I have alot more dealbreakers than I thought I did...

I've noticed as of late that there are alot of people searching for info about Dr Birch and winding up here and I didn't write a whole lot about him, however, given that when I search for him, not much comes up either, I thought I'd write a little more extensively.

When I was 31 wks, 3 days, the day Presleigh was born, I was transferred from Rockyview General Hospital from the care of Dr Birch's wife (a nurse), to Foothills Medical Centre, to the care of Dr Birch. He met the ambulance crew and I in an ultrasound room, and set me up on monitors and left me be to get some good 'tapes' of Presleigh. Around 6 pm, he came in and started discussing what he was seeing on the tapes, talked with my mum and I for quite some time, said "I'll be right back" and came back 15 mins later with a team of 4 doctors and made the decision that Presleigh was to be delivered tonight and had each doctor discuss risks and complications with regards to aestetic, Presleigh, c-sections and everything... I might also add he's kinda cute, but when you're stressed out and can't see straight thru the tears, I'm sure anyone is cute ;-)

He did not perform the c-section, it was a different doctor who's name for the life of me is not coming to my mind - I just know he was the one that bruised the hell out of my stomach.

So for anyone searching about Dr Birch, he was fantastic with me for the duration I was in his care and I'm grateful that he and his team did an amazing job and ensured that my bundle of joy arrived safe.

Foothills Medical Centre is the only hospital in Southern Alberta that delivers babies prior to 32 weeks and they have an amazing NICU/SCN. I've been invited to be on the Parents Partnership Committee for the Foothills NICU and I'm looking forward to being involved in it.
I've had a digital camera to donate to the committee since Mother's Day but welcome to my crazy summer of getting it there, however, the first committee meeting is Tuesday evening, so it will be coming with me.

Anyways, thats my two cents about Dr C Birch.

Gabcast! today's babble #1

Today Presleigh had her appointment with the neurologist. Dr B was great. She agrees that she's quite delayed in her gross motorskills but no worries about CP at this point. The new Children's Hospital just opened last week and there are still some computer issues and they aren't able to access everything just yet, so she couldn't read her previous MRI but we're to continue with OT and PT for at least 6 months to get her rolling over and sitting. She has great posture and strooooooong legs, but the muscle tone in her arms is what is stopping her from rolling which is a neurological issue rather than a muscoskeletal issue.
At this point, if the fact that the anestesiologist cancelling her first MRI has caused us to be delayed in getting her assistance, we could end up with a nice hefty lawsuit as he cancelled it against the wishes of 4 doctors and he isn't qualified to make that call. However, Dr B and I both agree that if it is indeed gone, its possible that it caused neurological damage while it was present (the spot that was on the right side of her brain floating in null space) I'll keep ya posted on that.

There has been silence on this end from dipshit, which has been very pleasant, but we're guessing that his lawyer has told him to NOT call me full stop and that if he does, he will only make things worse. At least thats our guess... which is true - it will make things worse for himself.

I have started crocheting hats... anyone need a toque for the winter? I've always hated making hats because I hadn't found a pattern that made sense til now. Now they're as easy as pie.

On the way home from Children's, I stopped in to pick up the pieces that the girls made when we painted pottery and finish my piece. However, finishing my peice only took 20 mins, so I started more - damnit ..I hate feeding this addiction ;-)

I'm really proud of her. She has decided that for Hallowe'en, she is going to dress up as a Breast Cancer ribbon and collect for the Breast Cancer Foundation. She wants to go out for Hallowe'en, but I've told her no more trick 'r treating as she's getting too old. She wants to go out with us, so this is what she came up with. We are going to make a sandwich board of a ribbon for her to wear and I just finished crocheting her a pink touque and she'll wear a pink sweater and white pants.

I wasn't sure if it was 'legal' for her to collect without something official from them, so I called them to ask if we had to do anything with them. They said as long as she doesn't collect any single donation over $20 (they don't give tax receipts for less than that) or if there is a donation of more than $20, that the donor understands there are no receipts given. So she's good to go.

I'm going to keep her home from school the morning of the 1st of Nov so she can go into the foundation in her costume and turn in her collection.

I couldn't be prouder.