Son-of-a......I don't suppose I could get much luckier than I have today, honestly. Not only was Lisa a no-show at the Friend of the Court meeting we had to be at this morning, (I hope that doesn't mean bench warrant, but even so, I was the one there, so the warrant'd be on her,) the whole "just-cause" thing was dismissed. I won't get into exact details of what transpired, but basically, as long as I continue paying, I can keep my a*s out of hot water. What comes next? I've been thinking about that. Mostly I've been wondering if my little Bachelor's Degree, and the efforts I've made toward my Master's in Education will be sufficient to bend the benovolence of the State of Michigan into granting me a teaching certificate, so I can start to get myself out of this mess. I don't enjoy being in the situation I'm in any more than anyone else does. And, yes, I do fully intend to do something about it, but somehow or other that whole state of affairs just hasn't come to pass yet. But it's clear I'm not gonna rise above this mess until I take some serious, life altering, permanent action. I was talking to a teacher the other day I happened to be subbing for while he was in a meeting in the building, and he said no, his Bachelor's Degree was not in Education, and yes, he was able to obtain his teaching certificate before he got his Master's in Education. That gives me hope. Now I basically just have to see what the rest of the State of Michigan's guidelines are like, and pray someone is actually hiring. Winter of our eternal discontent that it's been lately, that's the tough part of the whole gig. But after a day like today, I think a little optimism might very well go a long way.

And, of course, don't get the wrong idea, and think me mailicious or greedy in wanting what I want. I think I was malicious and greedy back in the 80s, when conspicuous consumption was in vogue, and I was caught up in the frenzy. Which is essentially how I got into a lot of this mess. This is more like, atoning for past sins. Forgive me, Father, for I have behaved like a complete ba*tard most of my young life. But I'm older now, and having seen the error of my ways, (which, among other things, means drinking a lot more cranberry juice than I used to,) I repent, and I'm ready and willing to make amends. Believe me on this one. I'm really tired, frankly, of feeling as though I've just been shafted. Can we just put things right and get on with it? I promise to do my part, and make the most of every opportunity, every lucky break. So I'm saying it now, Dear Lord, forgive me, okay? I'll be better, I swear to you. I've been through being worse, and it just flat-out sucks. I'm not asking for a heaping mound of greatness, a flat place to walk unperturbed would be nice, though.