Life and its current condition

[trick-r-treat]

You really shouldn't be the one to have to deal with all her crap! You should be taking notes to prove that she is a bad mother.

[Mikelb]

well, I haven't been around much here lately. I apologize. My computer's power supply fried itself, along with my TV and a few other tech goodies in my living room (still unsure how it happened). That and I've had my daughter by myself all week...

Update:
I no longer have to deal with Ape $H!T... She just got married (outta the blue). Not getting into that one, but she's off my hands...(there's more to this story, I just can't post it, due to the possibility of being sued for slander [although it's the truth, I have no substantial evidence to prove it] and I'm trying to save some people's feelings.)

I also just got a laptop. After my comp fried, I got myself a Dell. I ordered a Dell Inspiron 1501 Laptop with an AMD Turion 64 X2, 1GB Ram, 80GB HD, 15.4" wide screen, DVD-RW, and Vista (grrr... I wanted XP Pro).

The order got messed up somehow and I received an Inspiron 1501, with a AMD Sempron 3500 (still a 1.8GHz, just a single core), 512MB Ram, 60GB hd, DVD-RW, and Vista (Grrr)

They are supposed to be locating my laptop and sending it to me, until then I get to use the other one as a loaner.

I ordered the laptop for a couple of reasons: I'll need it for school(first); fuel management(second); and when my comp went out, I think it may have fried the MB (I custom built it back in the day, was pretty top of the line, too expensive to replace).

[bigjon]

i am glad this will start to be on the upswing. what is going on with your daughter though?

[parise]

I wish you well, and hope things work well for you and your daughter.

[Mikelb]

wow, I hadn't realized that my absence had been so long... well, let's say things got worse before they got better...

I tried to get myself back into college, but they said they couldn't help me with Financial aid... Ape started all kinds of trash for Mandy and I... Even going to Mandy's mom and causing stress there.

I went back to the college on a Friday(the last day I could apply, and get financial aid). They told me there was nothing I could do, until I mentioned that I had a daughter. Then they told me that they could help me.

I got approved for financial aid, that same day. Orientation for classes was the following Tuesday. I walked in Monday, and quit my job. I figured I couldn't be devoted 100% to both the job I was in (required me there full-time) and school.
Classes started Thursday(Aug 16), I was enrolled in college again ... 18 Credit hours (pretty much 8-5 M-Th).

I kicked my freeloading roommate out. I got the house cleaned up pretty good. Mandy and I were doing pretty good, but Ape had gone to her mom and started stuff again.

During the same week, Ape took off with Taylor. I saw her at Mandy's mom's house one day(Friday), it was my weekend to get Taylor. So I asked April when I'd get Taylor back, all she said was "We're leaving". So her husband and her jumped in their car. I got her to partially roll down her window, and asked again when I'd get Taylor back, she said I wasn't. She told me that I'd have to take her to court... I was really pissed... I almost did some really stupid stuff to them (not going there, but I managed to hold it together). I went back to the house and had a few beer (I knew I wouldn't drive afterwards, and it'd give me time to cool off).

I struggled with some deep depression and trying not to do anything stupid or rash. I held it together and gave it all to God, realizing that he was bigger than I and had the situation.

I setup Taylor's nursery in the roommate's old room, and prayed the whole time. I asked Mandy to marry me that Sunday, she said yes.

I got a call that Monday (memorial day) that rocked my world. April called me, but I had made up my mind not to talk until I had paid my lawyer and was in the court room. She left a message, so I checked it... I eventually called her back, b/c I wanted to make sure that Taylor was ok.

I asked her what she called for and she said "nothing"... I told her I was about to be busy(cut grass) and I needed to go, but she begged me to talk. Against my will (thank God), I decided to stay on the phone. She told me that her husband hurt his back and quit his job. She told me that they wouldn't be coming to Wilson anytime soon, b/c they were outta money. I asked when I could see Taylor. She eventually said, when can you come get her(knowing that I had no job, or car of my own running). I said I'd be there ASAP.

I got off the phone and was on the way. I had Taylor for two weeks (since she had run off with her for two weeks).

All the while this was happening, Mandy's mom had been talking to April and buying her crap. So Joan (Mandy's mom), started controlling her and made "rules" about me not being there and doing this and that...

I got Taylor back on Monday, and took Tuesday off of classes, and located a babysitter I trust. I did this to protect Taylor and me, from April coming down here and trying to take off with her on my week. I also did this so that Joan wouldn't be babysitting Taylor and Mandy, Joan, and I worked out our differences.
That Wednesday, Jason(Mandy's stepdad) called me, he wanted to "talk". I just knew that we were gonna have a blowout. My stepdad offered to let Mandy stay at his house, if things didn't go so well. I went in the situation, expecting to have a blowout and to pickup Mandy's stuff and bring it to my mom's house.

What happened really shocked me. I went in and sat down, didn't say a word. I waited on Jason to come in and chew us out. He came in, I stayed calm. He looked me in the eye, and said "I'm sorry." He continued to talk about how he had been strict, and called himself an ass. He said that he's worried for Mandy, but wants her to have the best and be happy. He asked a few things of me in Mandy and I's relationship(and future marriage). I agreed to it, and told them some in-depth things about me. Then we all realized that it was about 10 o'clock, and we hadn't eaten. So we went to Chili's, I got to see Taylor eat a lemon and drink out of a straw (how's that for a smart baby @ 7 months).

Since the talk, tensions between all of us have been a lot less, and when there is an issue, we've been talking about it.

April is now about to ship out to Basic training (first week, October). She is signing her part of the custody over to Joan, and I retain mine. I'm not 100% comfortable with it, but there are enough restrictions on it, that we have certain things we HAVE to do. So, I get to see my daughter anytime I want, and get her every other week still, so I'm pretty happy about that.

Also, her husband has no rights, so I don't have to worry about him and I arguing.

Cliff notes:
1. Got engaged
2. Worked with fiance's parents
3. April shipping out
4. April and I at a somewhat agreeable point
5. I get to be a part of my daughter's life


Future plans are as follows:
Aug 1, 2008: Last day of classes (1yr experience for ASE certification)
Aug 2, 2008: Getting married (the Saturday after classes)
^Honeymoon to follow
1 week after honeymoon, relocating to Elizabeth City(hopefully working for Toyota, I've got a few contacts)


Now, I realize I'm jumping around, probably hard for you guys to follow. Those things above are the relationship/Taylor updates. Now, as far as school, I'm loving it. I'm cool with the instructor, and I get to bring in cars from the car lot I work for, and help run the shop (explaining to the other students what/how to do things).

I've missed you guys a lot. I'm sorry I haven't been around much. I was getting jerked around on the laptop, and returned it. My computer works when it wants to, I've got a broken wire in the power supply, and no time to diagnose it. I've been bogged down with working on cars, and haven't even had time to finish up my Talon. I'm very close though. I've got to run the coolant lines, do an oil change, run the intake piping, and finish hooking up the ignition. Then run it down to the college and readjust my valve timing(exhaust cam, 1 tooth off).

[bigjon]

mikel

i am sooooooooooooooo glad to see that you are doing better. that was a very good read and i thank you for sharing.

congratulations on EVERYTHING!

[search161]

Sounds like things are on their way up. Way to stick through the rough stuff and come through smiling.

[Mikelb]

Thanks you guys.

Since the last update, things got a bit turbulent again. This time it was only for about a week, then I got everything under control again.

April got into a fight with her husband, and got kicked out. She moved in with my fiance's mom. I talked with Joan, but she was stubborn and didn't listen. April started some stuff, and Joan talked down to Mandy the whole time she was there. I eventually gave Mandy an ultimatum, to stay there and take this, or to move out.
She looked at the situation and realized that things weren't gonna change if she stayed there, and moved out. That really ticked April off, and Joan. Though that allowed me a little more room to breathe, because it seperated the different situations, so that I could handle them somewhat seperately.

I got my pell check, and Zales card, and went and bought Mandy's ring. I took it and showed Joan, April was there. April talked some trash, then broke down at the table. By the end of the week, April had already decided to move back with her husband. She got Joan to take her to greenville and asked her to wait. Joan told her that she wasn't going to wait, b/c if April really wanted to move, she was gonna have to do it.
April ended up coming back and staying with her brother.

Things are now going great between Mandy and I, without all the outside interference. Joan was also able to see the true side of April, and that has helped me out.

I'm flat broke you guys, and can't even get to school and work, please keep me in your thoughts and prayers; and thanks for all the support.

[bigjon]

Originally Posted by Mikelb

please keep me in your thoughts and prayers; and thanks for all the support.

no problem there!

congrats on the engagement! things will keep going great for you, i can feel it.

[I, Brian]

Glad it's all finally working out, Mike - certainly you've had a tough time of it, so hope it continues to get better.