The Word B

several of my friends lately seem to be going through troubled times dealing with ex-partners, in regards to custody of their children. it is truly sad for me when i hear about these events and circumstances. at times i think the parents are so busy fighting against one another, that they fail to see the reason there is an issue in the first place- the 4 year old child standing right in front of their face. has anyone asked the child what they want? guessing (from experience) the answer would be, "i want mommy and daddy to stop fighting. i want them to be happy. i want them to love me. i want to be a family."
my parents split when i was 4 and my sister jennifer was 2 nearly 3. we were fortunate enough to have parents that recognized the impact that an ugly seperation would have on us kids, so we were kept well away from the fighting, and legal issues. sensibly our parents realized the importance of having both a strong relationship with a mother and father in our lives. so they struck an arrangement of joint custody and near equal time spent with each parent. i was told years later, that they were one of the pioneers in joint custody cases in the united states. not that there were never problems as we grew up, but in hindsight it was the best possible outcome for jennifer and myself. i know that divorce and seperations can be ugly, because i have seen many friends go through them as mother, father, or child. however, i also know that these splits can go a lot smoother, from personal experience.
for me to hear the horror stories that my friends are undergoing today makes me ill. i can more easily empathize with the child, as i have been in their position. so for me be told the actions that some of these parents are taking and the ugliest of words being spoken in fornt of their child, it makes me upset and a bit angry. these innocent kids are going to be scarred for life from those words. even at the age of 1 or 2 and onwards. i know this from personal experience. i can remember with vivid detail the day my mom sat us two kids down to explain that she and our father were seperating.
when the issue is between the parents, keep it between the parents. do not put your son or daughter in the middle of the fight. that is totally unfair. however, if you are stupid enough to put the child in the middle, be forewarned, it will come back to haunt you a million times over. children do not forget.

well world, we have to face the fact that we only have 4 more years to be patient. that is if there is much of a world left after that time. yes, that dumb-ass bush jr was re-inaugurated yesterday. it leaves me with a sick feeling in my gut, still. it is not as bad as the chemotherapy nauseating feeling i had while being treated for cancer, but it is a close second. and as far as the new secretary of state, condoleza rice, it is all about integrity. of which this whole bush jr administration has absolutely none of, including the new secretary of state.

so i haven't blogged for a while. i have been having difficulties with technology as of late. actually, i will count myself lucky if this blog entry actually makes it to the website after i type this up. we have been having computer problems. at first i thought it was just hotmail, but then there began to be more and more repetitive errors while using the computer. we have finally come to the conclusion that it is our hard drive. so for the moment, it is hit and miss, when i use the computer. i have sat down to blog about 5 times in the last 2 weeks and every time been unable to publish a single thing. it does not stop me form trying to put my words and thoughts out there, but it may explain why i have not so much recent material. hotmail is not to blame, but still it grieves me at times when i use it.
also, we have been planning and packing for the big move. the house is to settle on monday, 3 days from now. there is so much legal documentation to read through and sign. at times i feel overwhelmed and want to chuck the towel in, but cherry seems to keep me upbeat. i do the same for her, when she can no longer bear it either. in the end, it will all work out and by this time next week, we will be all moved across to the new house, still living out of boxes and probably camping in the front yard, as we are ripping up carpets and polishing the timber floors underneath. that is the first action we are to take on the new house.
who knows when i will have time for a new entry this month. so i look to february for more writing and a new computer in our new place.

so i just tried typing this and lost everything. this is becoming a week of loss for me:
two days ago i was the innocent victim of petty crime. while at work, lifeguarding on the beach in collaroy, some filthy mongrel came into our office and stole my mobile phone and wallet. the phone would normally not be as big of an issue had i not been able to access my hotmail account for the last 2 weeks. now with the loss of the phone i have lost contacts on email and the mobile in the same two weeks. not the end of the world i know. my wallet contained 5 bucks, drivers license, boat license, medicare card, credit card, ATM card, and library card. all of them a pain in the ass to replace but once again, not the end of the world. however, the clincher and real low blow was the theft of my wedding ring. i had taken it off and put in my locker earlier in the day when i had taken the rescue board for a paddle into the water. the loss of this is what really pissed me off. the sentimental value on this ring is beyond monetary compensation. i want swift vengeance upon the little fucker that took my wedding ring. i do not know who the person is, aside from pure scum. so i am sending bad kharma his/her way, and invite anyone and everyone else to do the same.
now not only do i need to replace all the i.d. cards in my wallet, but also shop for new wallet, phone, and now ring. fortunately, work has pledged to cover the cost of those three items, but for me the ring is irreplacable.

hello and happy new year. one question. do you have a new years resolution? i don't. this seems to be a commonly asked question these past few days. after people greet you with the traditional "happy new year," it is quickly followed up by a "did you make any resolutions" quiz. people are just tyring to be nosy i know. what is a new years resolution anyhow? and how many people actually stick with their resolution. i tried to tackle one about 12 years ago. i can't remember what it was i was resolved to do, but i gave up on it after about 3 weeks time. that was the last time i have done that. personally, if i want to change something in my life, i do it. i am not waiting around for another december year end party to make changes in my life. why? because i am not sure i will be alive that long, and a year is a hell of a long time to be waiting around just to do something i can start today. i certainly have achieved most of what i wanted to do this last year, and then some. that was without any new years resolution last year. so i figure why attempt to do one now? i will just keep going at the pace i set a while ago and accomplish things when they come up, and when i feel like it. good luck for those of you who have made the decision(s) to live by over the next year, what ever they may be. i support you in your endeavors.