Update

I finally got a hold of our lawyer today, who informed me that she has not yet submitted the motion b/c she's writing up a big one to include all of the whore's transgressions, not just this past missed visitation. For example, the whore has not yet paid her half of the social study (the court-ordered investigator who comes to your house to inspect that it's clean, safe, etc.) even though WE paid our part and got the paperwork in by the 5-day deadline which was about 2 months ago; she never sent anything. Our lawyer is also asking for "huge sanctions" in her words, which I don't know what that means specifically yet but it's probably going to make the whore pay even more of our legal fees, or a fine, or something monetary. And we do have to have another hearing on this, so the judge can revoke the whore's probation and send her sorry ass to jail, so unfortunately I guess she won't be getting arrested at the Walmart. Our lawyer said we'll appear in front of the same judge as before, and he will not be happy with the whore. She also said he'll want to hear everything about the other night, how we were there but she wasn't. So I might need M. to come to court and testify since he was there with me.

That dumb lady did not show up today at our agreed meeting place so I could look at the girls' clothes she had for sale. This after I hustled my butt over there on my way to Job #2, where I am now. That's ok, there's a cool little consignment shop right near my work where I bought clothes for the baby before that I'll probably check out again soon. The baby's favorite shoes, her pink cowboy boots w/sparkly hearts, came from there. I think I paid all of $7 for them!

So our lawyer said just to go on as normal, pick the baby up this Friday, and we actually have her until Tuesday which is nice, and just wait to hear from her as to when the hearing will be. She'll email me a copy of the motion she is writing up so I hope to get that tomorrow. It's so hard to be patient in all of this. I've never prayed so much since this case started--for sanity!!!

Party note: Looks like I probably won't get to bring the family down here on Friday night for the party at Job #2. They said it starts at 6:30; since I'll be picking the baby up in the Motherfucking Woodlands around then, it won't be worth it to try to get all the way down here. Especially since librarians, for the most part, don't party into the wee hours, or even into the post-happy hour hours. Boo.

Christmas spending note: Current reports say that the average U.S. individual will spend over $800 on X-mas this year. I think S and I will spend just a little over $100. Maybe $150. It's great not having his worthless piece-of-shit family to have to worry about. He was out and about today, saying he had some shopping to do. I asked for whom; he listed some people we both know and I said that was not necessary, since we typically don't exchange gifts with each other. He's just so sweet and generous, but as I reminded him, we are on a SERIOUS budget this year due to our court costs. I made the sad decision to not even send out any cards this year, just to save those few dollars. Some of you know that I always send X-mas photo cards, but this year it's going to have to be a simple email. I have become the coupon queen, the credit card strategizer, the retail haggler, etc. It is not pretty, but I have no choice. It's been kind of weird to make this transition--after all, this is the same girl who thought nothing of flying to Australia, dropping $1000 on a shotgun, getting Lasik surgery (ok, only 1 eye, but still!), and just last year I bought a $200 bathing suit (ohhh, but you should see me in it!). Well, those freewheelin' free-spending days are long gone. I've traded them for stability, home-ownership, marriage and motherhood. And even though it's been so worth it, more worth it than I ever thought, I am honest enough with myself to say I am so glad I got those old days out of my system!!!

However--I have learned to enjoy squeezing the penny until Lincoln screams. It is very satisfying to save money w/coupons, knowing that the sucker standing in line next to you paid more for the exact same item. My mom always taught us to never pay full price for anything anyway, so this is just the next extension of that. And even though it was painful to do so, when I got my annual COLA raise this past September, I upped my retirement contribution percentage, although it hurt to not be able to use that extra money to go towards our immediate legal fees. But you can't beat the concept of compound interest! And at my age, I already feel behind as it is. Plus I'm coming out ahead anyway since it's all pre-tax. Any way you can find to pay less taxes, do it. That's what the rich do! I read money boards everyday, read personal finance books from the library, listen to money radio talk shows, etc. It really has become my new hobby. Go ahead--ask me anything about money, debt, etc.!