Proof that the universe has a sense of humor: the first song that came up on shuffle on my iPod? Lyle Lovett. "That's Right (You're Not From Texas)."

Ha ha ha ha ha.

Texas may or may not want him but they're not getting a say.

Texas has plenty like him, so he'll blend.

I meant to also say, job~ma for Erin and Hil. I know the feeling. We pretty much feel like it's day to day here. I don't want to find another job. Even if I could be certain of employment after this, I like THIS job. Bleh.

All sympathies for MFN and family.

Jail/dog/WTF update:

Ex's son was released this morning (at 5 a.m., Jesus, and since his car was at the justice center where he was booked rather than at the jail, Tim got up at 4 a.m. to go pick him up). They went to breakfast and had, in Tim's words, a LONG talk.

Then ex's son met with his probation officer, who said he had to complete his probation but could report by phone from wherever in the world there is a phone. So this means he can go to Texas.

Next step is getting him there. Before all the jail and whatnot happened last week, Tim rented the U-Haul (with a trailer to pull ex's son's car) to get him to Texas, which was a not-insignificant sum of money. When things got weird and jail-y, Tim returned the U-Haul, and still had to pay $300 for having had it for several days (I am not objecting to U-Haul wanting payment, to be clear; that's the way commerce works).

So, Tim has told ex's son how much $$ he's willing to kick in to re-rent the U-Haul and trailer, but he's not paying the whole amount, since he already burned up $300 last week. (He emphasized that this isn't a punishment; it's just that there's only so much money around, you know? What happened, happened, but Tim can't just cough up a grand to get ex's son to Texas.)

Tim talked to his ex last night, and she is able to wire him some money, but not enough, I don't think, to cover the U-Haul and gas and whatnot, even when added to what Tim's willing to pay. (Again, only so much money.)

Ex is going to talk to her dad about money, because she really wants her son down there. So, okay. Tim suggested that ex's son sell his car (a really craptastic beater that will not survive the drive to Texas; hence, the U-Haul), which would (1) be a source of money and (2) make the U-Haul bill lower, since he wouldn't need to rent the trailer to tow the car.

Ex's son said no fucking way will he sell his car. That's the point at which I began to swear and use phrases like "fucking MAN UP and OWN YOUR SHIT." [Not to ex's son; I wasn't with them, just talking to Tim on the phone.]

So, it seems he *can* go to Texas, but now the trick is actually getting him out of the state (and his shit and his dog out of my house). It'll happen, but FUCKING HELL, it should NOT be this hard. I resent getting sucked into this at all, but now I'm ready to do anything EXCEPT hand over my own money -- no goddamn way -- to get this kid out of town.

Maria, so much ~ma to you, your uncle, your dad, the whole family. Those kind of prognoses just break my heart for everyone involved.

Tep, you are doing fantastic at keeping your shit together. I hope Tim is able to get down on the ex's son's ass; that car has got to go.

Proof that the universe has a sense of humor: the first song that came up on shuffle on my iPod? Lyle Lovett. "That's Right (You're Not From Texas)."

May Tim's soon pop up "All my Ex-s Live in Texas" (with their sons)

Son must come up with alternate, not just whine

Oh, Teppy, I'm glad that Tim is able to be firm and set limits for this boy-in-man's-clothing.

Maria, I'm so sorry to hear that there wasn't any better news for your uncle. ~ma for him and for your father, and for the whole family. How heartbreaking. Fuck cancer.