My life

Since I have no idea how long it'll be until this farce of a mess is straightened out, here's the soap opera of my life. It's complicated, and drawn out, and may involve some bad words. Plurkers already know almost all of this.

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My inlaws have filed suit against J and I for custody of Scott, and are currently holding him against our wishes in MN.

Diana had been asking over and over if Scott could come visit, cause her husband, Carl, had just had surgery and they thought Scott would cheer him up. I finally agreed to letting him visit for a period of about 3 weeks. The deal was that he was to be brought back the week before his birthday (June 9) and we'd have a little celebration with them here. I called on Friday May 29th to talk to Scott and see what the therapy schedule was for Carl, to find out when they would be bringing him home. She told me that it wouldn't be happening and they had filed suit that day.

They took Scott up on Monday May 11th, though the original plan was for the 13th. But she called and asked if they could get him the 12th so they could have a day to rest before Carl's therapy on Thursday, and I said yes. Than I got a call around 7:30 at night on Monday asking if they could get him that night, and they would just head on back to MN, since there was a hotel on the Il/WI border that had recliners. Carl had shoulder surgery, and has to sleep sitting up for now. Again, I said yes, and was told they would be there around 9:30-10pm. They didn't get here until 11pm.

Diana is claiming that my house is unsafe, and filthy. She actually sic'd CPS on us. CPS states the house is fine, and I state that Diana is a cleaning nazi. She is saying the house was "strewn with pizza boxes". 2 boxes is not strewn, since it's what we had for dinner that night. She has told J that when she left here she had no intention of bringing Scott back to me. She took him to the Dr on May 19th and informed the Dr that she was gonna file for custody.

I can't get the cops in Todd County where they live to do crap yet. And all the cops are claiming that it can't be considered kidnapping because I let them take him. But if you borrow something and claim you'll bring it back at a certain date/time, with no intent to return it, that can and is usually considered theft. So why not this as kidnapping.

As it is, she and Carl are violating a standing custody order, because they are violating visitation for both J and I. For Scott's birthday he's to be with BOTH of us. For Father's day (this weekend) he's to be with J. And I get him with me 2 weeks every other month, and come June 22nd she'll have violated that as well.

Some highlights from the petition

Upon information and belief, Respondents (J and I) are not capable of caring for the minor child, do not have a very close relationship with the minor child, and have not spent significant time with him. Upon information and belief, Respondents are not capable of providing a stable, healthy environment for the minor child.

Anyone who'd read this blog knows how I feel for Scott. Anf if not, than go read postings tagged with his name. They are claiming that they have spent more than 180 days with him (true). Ok, that's 1/2 a year, out of 3. I can claim 2 full years with no problem. I would do anything and everything for my little man. I have the phone records to prove that even once I was in MI and he was still in MN or in CA I was calling him almost nightly. Some of those calls were over an hour long. I could call and tell him stories. Sing him songs. Sometimes I'd wind up singing him to sleep. When I was in MN with him, we'd play, I'd read to him. He's started pretending while he was here and we'd play "Kitchen". He liked to pretend he was a doggie named Pepper (their dog's name) and I was ok with that. I even let him eat popcorn like a doggie 2 times, out of a bowl, on a towel on the floor. I didn't let him watch too much TV. We've been coloring here, and playing Candyland, and I'm starting to teach him his ABC's. Every morning he would come and give me a hug to wake me up, and sometimes crawl into bed with me to cuddle. He had actually memorized 2 of the books we would read at night, the ones he liked the best, and would "read" them to me. I say he did it to keep me in there once it was bedtime. And I was fine with it. He wanted to campout in Kitty's tent, and so we made up a nest for him. Blankets and padding almost 4 inches thick, and a few stuffed animals in the tent with him. She hates that. It's not like the tent was outside, it's in the playroom. I think he liked it so much, not just for the camping feel, but because it did give him a little space to call his own area. Kitty wouldn't go in there without his permission, even though it was her tent. He loves his cousin Kitty.

We cut his hair, not because she wanted it done, but because he asked. So we got it trimmed short, and J asked if he'd like his Mohawk once it grows a little. Scott said yeah. But can Diana be happy it's been cut? Nope, now she's claiming that we got him a "Wizards Peak". WTF is that? Maybe she means a Widows Peak, which he has as his naturally occurring hairline. I wouldn't put it past her to say I sat there and tweezed it into that shape.

This is one big farce, and I want my baby back with me. I'm sick of the lies that this woman is telling about me, and I'm refraining from playing her own game.

Soon

Soon you'll be home little man, than I can tell what's been going on. Mommy loves you!

I can't think

So much is going on in my life right now that I need to talk about, but it will have to wait until it's resolved, one way or another. Leave a comment if you *must* know right now. Until then, a literary meme.

What’s your bookstore? Barnes cause it's what's here, or used. I love used book stores. Just the general smell they have, of old books.

Hardback or paperback? Paperback. Easier to hold and cheaper.

Bookmark or dogear? both? Though I usually use a receipt or piece of clean TP

Keep, throw away or sell? Keep. I love my books. Sometimes, I’ll donate it. Or trade to a used bookstore for new ones. I have a very good memory for things in print, and it can take 4+ years before I can read something again.

Read with dust jacket or remove it? Remove

Short story or novel? Both. I tend to buy more novels, but I love short stories too

Stop reading when tired or at chapter breaks? Usually at chapter breaks, but that’s not always possible.

Buy or borrow? Yes. I do both. From friends, and from the library. They have a good mystery section, and I've gotten hooked

Buying choice: book reviews, recommendation or browse? Browsing and recommendation

Tidy ending or cliffhanger? Hmm… I’d say mostly tidy. A little bit of doubt can be good, but not when it makes the reader go: Bwuh?

Morning reading, afternoon reading or nighttime reading? Yes. All of above. Also add reading in the loo, and those rare baths too.

Standalone or series? both. Though it takes a very good author to write long series where you don't run into the Sequel Syndrome. That's where they just drag on and on from having to repeat things again and again. I've gotten lost in some sets that started out amazing, and now I can't tolerate them.

New or used? New.

Last five books you read:
1. The Big Over Easy - Jasper Fford
2. The Face- Dean Kontz
3. Knitting Without Tears - Elizabeth Zimmermann
4. The Veiled Web - Cathrine Asaro
5. Change of Heart -Jodi Picolt

Next five books you want to read.
Don't have a list

The first novel you remember reading. Something from Sweet Valley Twins - the one where they have tonsils removed

A book that changed your life IDK…

A book that made you cry (really cry, not just a shed tear) A lot

A book that made you brood for days There's a few

A book that made you laugh What I Learned From Knitting (whether I wanted to or not) - Stephanie Pearl-McPhee.

A book you have signed by the author A have 5 Jodi Picolts (she was signing when I worked at Borders) and I have a few more

A book where you have drowned in the language There's a few, brain not recalling them

A book you have lost Not remembering names, but there's been a few

A book given to you by your father He'd have had to be around for that wouldn't he?

A book given to you by your mother Most of the ones I have. I didn't get allowence, she bought me books :)

Bored, and can't sleep

One word answers


1.Where is your cell phone? lap.
2. Your significant other? none
3. Your hair? ponytail.
4. Your mother? sleeping.
5. Your father? gone.
6. Your favorite thing? Yarn.
7. Your dream last night? pornshop. (please dear gods, don't ask)
8. Your favorite drink? iced tea.
9. Your dream/goal? Scott.
10. The room you’re in? Bed.
11. Your fear? spiders.
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? home.
13. Where were you last night? Home.
14. What you’re not? Tall.
15. Muffins? Blueberry.
16. One of your wish list items? Kindle.
17. Where you grew up? California.
18. The last thing you did? knit.
19. What are you wearing? jammies.
20. Your TV? small
21. Your pet? swimming.
22. Your computer? ebil
23. Your life? odd.
24. Your mood? owwie.
25. Missing someone? YES.
26. Your car? feet.
27. Something you’re not wearing? bra.
28. Favorite store? yarn.
29. Summer? pass.
30. Favorite color? reds.
31. Why did you laugh last? Scott.
32. Why did you cry last? miss scott.
33. Who will repost this? not a clue.
34. A place I go over and over: Library.
35. Someone who emails me: phatties.
36. Place I would rather be right now: CA.

I haven't died, honest

I've just been quietly sitting here and playing with Scott is all. Yes, playing with my little lad since St. Pat's day back in March. 7 weeks and 5 days of wonderful wonderful fun time. He's visiting his other grandparents up in MN for a few weeks, since his Papa Carl is having to undergo 2 operations to fix a disc in his neck. Scott will be here for his birthday, and pretty much until further notice. J and I worked out a 50/50 custody split, but the reason Scott's here is because J still doesn't have a job, or a place to stay. He's crashing at HIS grandparents place in CA, and that's gonna have to end soon. Then he'll most likely be out here in MI too.

In the craft world, I've been spinning. LOTS. Right now it's a blend of Ashland Bay's Merino top in a beautiful green color with stripes of browns and such, all carded together (cause I'm odd like that) with about an ounce of Pomeranian fur for my great-gran's dog Teddy. I plan on knitting something out of the yarn for her.

I'm also working on samples for the Phat Fiber Box again, for the month of July. July is the non wool month, so I'm doing a blend of natural colored cottons, mohair, angora, and soy silk. All in natural colors. The longer fibers spin up so nicely, and the cotton gives it an almost wooly feel, by core-spinning around the other fibers. Those as well as samples of my Isis yarn in an organic naturally brown cotton will be there in July.

Also for Jessie at Phat Fiber I'm working on shawl kits for her to have in her shop. A custom design by me, paired with the Twilight Dawn colorway of Isis. Approx 1200 yards of yarn are there, more than enough for the shawl.

I'm knitting socks again. I never did get past the first little armor one I made for Scott. But the main hostess for the Secret Pal swaps was a sweetheart and got me an angel package for SP12 (since my partner vanished off the face of the Earth) and sent me some amazing things. 4 oz of alpaca roving in a colorway called Crocus Crochet. Blues and purples. Reminds me a lot of my Twilight Dawn colors, and I LOVE it! Also, a skein of Mmmmmmmalabrigo Sock in Botticelli Red, which is this brick/tomato red kettle dyed color. I have been petting it like made lately. And some Addi's to knit socks on (right now they have mitts on them, couldn't get gauge with them for socks) and a nifty little keyring that had a small crochet hook on it, to help pick up stitches. That's come in handy already, trust me. There's also a beautiful pattern for bamboo patterned socks, that I may convert to toe up. I have odd feet (really high arches) so I like toe up construction.

My first socks WILL be done for whenever Harry Potter 6 comes to the big screen. I'm calling them my Griffenclaw socks. They couldn't sort me into just one house at work, when book 6 came out, but instead said I should be in both Griffendor and Ravenclaw. So I will be having socks with gray toes, heels, and cuffs (Knitpicks Bare I dyed myself) and a semisolid red body from a yarn I totally forgot what it is. I remember it was $18 a skein though, does that count?

Off to rest and make more samples. I've been having a fibro flare lately, which is why I haven't posted in a while. That and adjusting to a new psych med. Which causes cluster headaches whenever they up the dosage. I foresee a new medication soon. I don't like going to the ER to get an injection to make it stop.

What's up with me?

Hey y'all. Head on over to the Etsy shop and see some of the new yarns I just posted. Yes, I haven't fallen off the face of the earth, just been working my wheel into the ground with spinning up Isis yarns for sale.

Teen Dragon


Orangeade

Graffiti Artist

On the Scotty front, I go to get him in MN on the 16th, We'll be together on St Pat's day for 2 months (maybe more). Why is he in MN you may ask? Because he's visiting his other grandparents.

What else have I been doing? Well, I've been writing up a pattern I've been crocheting for years, and getting ready to self publish it. Yes, I'm that nuts. You'll be able to find the pattern on Etsy soon enough.

My Secret Pal

Hi Secret Pal, or as known in the real world Amy. For those not Amy go check out her blog and see just how cute her daughter is. Go, I'll wait here.)

I have to share pictures of my last package from Amy, something that has me oooooing and ahhhhhhing.
Ok, This made me laugh, because I do the same thing. With the tape that is. Lots of tape is better than too little.

Where Amy reveals herself to me, so to speak.

I have yet to see this book in our local Barnes and Noble. It leads me to 2 possiable conclusions. The first one is that our B&N sucks various critter parts (true, their craft area is sad) and the second is I'm not spending enough time there (also true, though they are the ONLY real bookstore in town.) But I did find an awesome used bookstore I need to spend more time in.


My Artsy fartsy shot of the cover, all closeup. I have to admit, I LOVE the macro feature on my camera.

Amy, the book is awesome. I love the yarns they have featured, and the colors are so beautiful. I can see this book being not just a spinning inspiration to me, but a dyeing one as well. I think that Madelyn is an adorable little girl, and she couldn't be blessed with a better mum than you are. Reading your blog shows how much you care for her. I love the picture you have up of her and the ribbon tag monster. That's something my little guy would do. Though with him it's his Kitty (or really his DAD's snow leopard. Just don't tell Scott that it wasn't for him).

On the Scotty front, St Pat's day can't come soon enough. I get to head BACK to MN (he's visiting his grandma right now) and pick him up on March 17th for a whopping 7 weeks and 5 days. Assuming that J has a place in CA by then, because otherwise he's not leaving this house. Cuff me and take me away, my son is NOT living on the streets. I can't wait to see my darling laddie. I'm painting him a castle to sleep in. Last time he was here we set up Kitty's playhouse as a private area for just Scott, and he loved it. Sadly the house was getting on in years, and had structural issues. It collapsed a few weeks after Scott left. So I asked if he'd rather a house or a castle, and castle it was. I know he'll love sleeping in his own castle.

Other than that I've been working my tail off spinning up more cotton yarns. I'm collarabiting with Jessie from Phat Fiber on a shawl kit so I have to spin/dye the yarn for that, and the masses of yarn I have here for the store. Business is going pretty well. I've even done the books, to keep track of profits and such. Oh, and I'm getting a wage, can you believe it? I still think taking 25% of the gross is too much, but I've been told that's a decent amount. And since I kinda gave in and got some scents from Happy Housewife and then a pendent followed me home on Etsy I kinda need it. Mostly I'm investing in more yarns and dyes. Jo'anns was having a sale on the t-shirt tye dyes and I stocked up. Then I found some for really cheap at another place, and snapped them up too.

Another things I'm going to do in my (huge laugh here) spare time is recycle yarn from high end sweaters. Not sell it as is, but spin it up into new yarn. So instead of a plain cobweb weight cashmere yarn, ply it up on itself as a lace weight. I've been thinking about trying beaded yarns as well, and the sweaters sound like the would work great for that. Really I'm doing it because people keep giving me nice sweaters that are too big for me, and too small for mom. Instead of get rid of them I thought it's a cheap source of good yarn. Silk fingering weight, silk/cashmere lace, cashmere lace, silk and cotton fingering.