Mike40's Journal

January 2nd 2009

Hi everyone,

Hope the new year brings new hopes, new dreams and new love to each of you. In another week I will be a member for 2 years on the site and I haven't journaled for almost 3 months. I figure I owe my friends an update.

Me and my monkeys are doing well. I have had them most of the last few months and that included all the holidays. My X is so wrapped up in her new boyfriend that she freely gives up her alloted time with the girls. She has been in South America for the last few weeks traveling with her new lover and the only part I don't like is that it was on money she stole from me!!!

I am still grateful to be employed, the company has been letting go so many people and with the economy the way it is things are rough. I am a manager and have about 140 people working for me and I have had to slim down my workforce over the last month or two and have some more slimming ahead. It can be tough making decisions that impact people and their livelyhood but that comes with the territory. I had just gotten orders to deploy to Iraq in the middle of January but I'm happy to say that they were cancelled because my retirement from the Navy was approved effective starting May 31st. Can't believe I've been out of college for 20 years now. I have enjoyed my time in the Navy....12 on active duty flying some of the greatest, fastest airplanes ever built and 8 years in the reserves.  I will miss it but I'm looking forward to getting more time back which includes an extra weekend a month and 4 or 5 weeks during the year.

The dating life now is much more crazy than I remember it. I've met some great people and I'm enjoying it but I still think I have some commitment issues. I went out New Years with a bunch of couples (yes, I had a date! :) ) and on my way home at 3 am (I didn't drink anything) I was worried about drunk drivers....shouldn't have worried about them because as I was going about 75 or 80mph down the highway I had a group of about 18-20 wild pigs run out on to the highway and I smashed into a bunch of them and did some damage to my car and left dead pigs all over the highway. They were all between 100 and 300 pounds a piece. A good friend came out from home and helped me at 3am.

I have been dating a very sweet, beautiful and intelligent girl. She is 32, a doctor and of the dates I have had she and I seem to be very compatable.  I am meeting her kids tomorrow and we are going canoeing on one of the rivers locally. I still have not introduced the kids to her or to anyone I have dated.  I really like her but her medical group may be moving her about 2 hours away. Until then I just enjoy her company.

My mom and brother came down with my nieces for the holidays and it was really nice seeing them but it is also nice to have my house back. My father couldn't get off work and will try to visit in the next few months.

Tonight I took my girls shopping and it was really cute...the two of them were putting on a fashion show for me trying on all the clothes and posing like a tv show. We had a lot of laughs and it was fun.

I'm still checking out all your journals and kind have been a silent member recently but I often think about all of you. Again, thank you to each of you. I look back to where I was two years ago and I can't help but think where I would be now without the support, love and consult provided by so many of you. I have made so many good friends from here and went from shambles to a happy life over the last two years. If I can do it than anyone can.

The board seems different now a days than it did while I was active on here but there are still a lot of hurt and broken people out there.  To them and to the old timers I want to say it will get better and there may be some hardships, pain and anger but remember that your kids are unwillingly thrown in the middle. Don't use them as pawns to get back at eachother and don't keep your kids from seeing the other parent. All the decisions you make have to be in the best interests of your kids. If you can keep that in  focus and in the forefront of your decisions you will get through this and your kids will be ok. If you have your kids with you tonight, give them a heart felt hug and kiss. If you don't have them think of them and give them a call when you can.

May 2009 be the start or continuation of happiness, peace and love and from my family to yours.... Happy Holidays!