Unlucky in Love and In Life and Keeping My Head Up

I was told recently that some (ok, all 3 of) my posts were a tad depressing. So I am going to attempt something a bit more light. Here's the story of my experience in 12step and 12 step supportive meetings. I understand that the specifics of those programs are confidential, so I will be as vague as possible. If I offend anyone, I apologize. My son got in a little trouble last summer, resulting in having to attend out-patient rehab for substance abuse. One of the requirements of that program was to attend some kind of 12 step program. I finally got him to attend his first one in a church in the neighboring town. Although he is 17, and completely capable of going alone, I went along with him for some moral support, and, let's be honest, to keep an eye on him in case any weirdo tried to pick him up or sell him anything. So we walk into this church we had never been in. We do not attend church, so going into one was a little bit uncomfortable, more for him, I am sure. The group was...

Ok - maybe two posts in one night is a little much - but I am still feeling my way through this blog thing. For the last 14 months or so, I have been single. Completely single for the first time in my adult life. I have to admit that for the most part, I kind of like it. I like having peace and quiet (relatively speaking since I am raising a bipolar 17 year old by myself). I do not have anyone complaining about my kid, complaining about the animals, inappropriately groping at me in social situations, farting and being generally annoying. (ok, most of that was aimed at my most recent ex - yes I still harbor some resentment). I dated my most recent ex for about four out of five years. We broke up after about 2 years, and then got back together about a year later. Our last break up was his doing. Has anyone been dumped by text message? After dating for a fairly long time? After having dated your best friend, someone you have known for 20+ years? Yeah, it was a treat. I can't believe t...

I really need to get a new job. The two I have now just are not cutting it. I have three days to payday for my primary job, and about $40 in the bank. I am at the point of trying to figure out creative ways to get veggies into dinner as I am running very low on available food to eat in the house. I am not quite at the point of saying the katsup my kid dumps on any kind of flesh that I serve is his vegetable for the day, but I am getting close. I will admit that cooking is one of my least favorite things to do, but when I do it, I try to give him protein, starch and veggies/fruits. Sometimes, when I am close to pay day and running low on food, that means apple slices, sometimes tomato sauce. Tonight I made a salad. Plain and simple, and he refused to eat it. Its hard enough to put a decent meal together, and he complains that he is ALWAYS hungry. It is very frustrating that when I DO make dinner, he won't eat half of it, especially to healthiest part. And he doesn't comprehend t...

Well, here I am. Jumping into the world of blogging. I am wondering if this is just going to be a cathartic endeavor on my part, that no one but me, and maybe a couple of curious friends will ever look at. I have to be honest - I really have no idea what I am doing, as I haven't read other blogs before. But I do like writing, and thought I would give this a whirl. Maybe I am better off having not read other blogs, so what I do here is totally just me. I guess this blog will be primarily about the craziness I encounter being a single parent to a bipolar 17 year old boy, and how that effects (or is it affects?) the rest of my life. I guess if you are looking in from the outside, some of it is pretty amusing. I will work on some amusing reflections when it is not so late, and I am not so tired. I am single, not just parenting without a partner, but also unattached. Although it is not as if I have not tried to become attached since my last break up. What is it about men these days? It...