Random Thoughts
(aka A Lame Excuse For An Update)

This is probably the closest you're going to get to a PV this year...

* I think it's time for you to pick up the new Tragically Hip album, "In Between Evolution". What's that? You already have? Then you know it's so good, you've got to buy another copy.

* What's better than No Name Teriyaki style rice in the microwave? No Name Teriyaki style rice in the microwave with shredded mozzarella mixed in, of course.

* Nickelback still sucks.

* So, the guitarist from Creed already has a new band. Guess what? They sound like Creed... although, minus that drunken pompous ass Stapp singing. So, they're already better than Creed.

* Am I the only one not surprised by Mary-Kate Olsen's entry into rehab? I mean, sweet fucking Christ, are people that gullible these days? Oh my God! A former child star with a coke addiction and an eating disorder! That's NEVER happened!

* Here's the scenario... you're living in a normal neighborhood, beside a normal neighbor. And, though you haven't become friends with this particular neighbor yet, you'll gladly smile and wave as you see him watering the lawn or waxing his Mustang. Then, all of a sudden, you wake up one morning to find your really expensive tool set missing. Ironically enough, your neighbor has been spending a lot more time in his garage working on stuff. Armed with this knowledge, do you... A.) March your ass over there and take back what's yours? Or B.) Ask him if you can build that treehouse for him while he relaxes on the patio with a cold one. If you chose option B, that's kind of like what my job's like right now. I'd go into details, but suffice to say, I'm too busy building fucking treehouses. Oh well, at least I don't have to worry about working more than 25 hours a week to get it built.

* Speaking of which, about a month ago they laid five people off where I work. I figure if the axe falls again, I'll be bleeding in its wake, so I've made a point to show a little attitude over there while I can. That way, if I get canned, I'll at least be able to convince myself that there was a reason, unlike my last termination.

* And, ending on a downer (yay!), family services in Miramichi recently decided that (though I couldn't have possibly been behind more than a couple hundred dollars in my child support payments) they were going to start garnishing $50 per week directly from my paycheck to go toward child support. This came mere days after receiving a letter from the Woodstock office, asking me to call so an agreement could be reached. Typical government warfare on the common man... all of this coinciding with the most recent cut in hours at work. So, basically, with in excess of $200 per week already owed toward my bills, these fat cats decided they wanted a chunk. The problem is, with the lost hours at work, I'm rarely left with much more than $100 each Friday after the government takes their "fair" share. Basic math: what's 100 minus 200?

Surprisingly enough, the credit union (to whom $100 a week is to be paid on a loan) has been completely understanding in my plight, and have even gone so far as to not take their payments (they usually do, automatically, before I see a cent of my check) for the past three weeks. To which I say, get these fucking people seats in the legislature!

Anyway, when I called Woodstock family services, they asked me to fax a pay stub, so they could do some number crunching, and rework my monthly child support payments. I sent the fax, then did the math myself and, based on my current wages, the rate would drop from approximately $140 a month to approximately $60 a month. Which is probably why, though they placed much urgency on receiving my call, nearly three weeks has passed with no decision from their end. I guess they're planning on waiting it out until I win the lottery or something. Meanwhile, my weekly pay continues to come up $50 short every week, when we could have started a more reasonable payment system a couple of weeks ago. Of course, if that were to happen, I may not have to worry about having my car repossessed, failing to come up with rent, having to move back to Blackville without a vehicle (and, thus, no means by which to travel 45 minutes a day each way to work), losing my job, and not having the cash to pay child support. My tax dollars at work.

Incidentally enough, I haven't seen my children in almost four months. This, despite being told not long ago that plans were in place to have the kids brought to see me every two weeks come the end of the school year. Well, school's been out for almost a month, and I still haven't gotten so much as an email outlining said plan. It's not like I expected anything, though. In the nearly two years since they moved to Woodstock, Taya and Ryan have never (at least to my knowledge) been anywhere close to this area. That poses a big problem for me. And, the minute the support payments are straightened out, I'll certainly be looking into this matter with great focus.