M.,

This morning, it came to my attention that the Home Owners Insurance Policy on the house was canceled on October 9, 2009 by you, according to the insurance company, and a refund check was sent to your attention in the amount of $1193.25.  Since that money was paid with joint marital funds, half of the amount of that check should have been paid to me.  While I recognize your right to cancel the policy as it was in your name, I cannot believe that you placed your children, who live in this house, at risk by not notifying me that it was canceled.  I also do not appreciate that you were not forthcoming in providing me (and ultimately your children) with my fair and legal share of the refunded amount.

Please send a check for 50% of the refund with the children when you return them today so that I can pay for home owners insurance immediately.

S.

His response?

S.

homeowners policy was taken out my name when I no longer had title to the house per insurance company.  Just like the auto policy. This shouldn’t be a surprise and is basic knowledge. I don’t know how you got a mortgage w/out a homeowners policy in your name, very irrespopnsible of you. And it’s not my responsibility to educate you or pay for your insurance.

He cancels it, he pockets the money, he doesn’t tell me that he canceled it, and he says that I AM IRRESPONSIBLE?  What an asshole!

A while back, you provided me with some names of therapists for our son.
They were not located in M_____ (or even neighboring towns).  I
received referrals from DYFS and from M_____ Medical for a
M____ therapist, Dr. D___ who is located on Maple Ave. in
M____.  She is licensed and takes Blue Cross Blue Shield.  She
specializes in children and anger/stress management.  As the school has
also recommended counseling, I trust that this recommended counselor
suits.

His response:

The names I provided you were from M_____ Medical and within
M____ area.  I don’t know what you’re talking about.

Daughter told me that last week you and Alex were fighting. In fact,
she said (again) how Son always picks on her at home.  Your previous
response to me when I notice all is this was “.. that they are fine at
home, I don’t  know what you’re talking about.”

She said you were swearing at him, he was swearing back, you took away
his PS3, that he kicked you in your bad knee and you slapped him and
made him go to this room. Her words.  I’m concerned about this.

And your barn man writes me “.. You should be grateful for my
involvement with Daughter and Son. They are adjusting very well, much
better than expected.”  Yeah right..

Where should I pick up Son tonight?

I reply:

I’m not certain what your response has to do with my email.  I was
talking about his poor choices at school.  For the record, while he did
lose PS3 due to poor grades, there was no fight, I never slapped Son
and he never kicked me.  Interesting that she would say that since I was
told (again) that you were drinking in front of them among other things.
But that’s not what this email is about.  It’s about getting Son some
help.  It’s also about the school recommending therapy and a recommended
Maple Ave. therapist who specializes in child therapy with stress.
M______ is closer than L_____ and C______ (the two that you
emailed me). Plus the C______ doctor specializes in ADHD which I
think we both agree is not the issue.

Son is home.  He was suspended.  He has lost all privileges and I would
hope that you’d

He replies:

Impossible they said that.

So you’re saying Daughter lied to me?

Dr. D____’s speciality is: “Life Coaching Relationship Issues Separation/Divorce Depression Anxiety Parenting ADHD” DYFS is as incompetent as they come and I won’t allow my kids go to any place they recommend.

My response:

Frankly, I don’t believe she said that to you at all.  But I’m not engaging in a distracting, toxic dialogue with you when I’m simply trying to help my son get some help so he doesn’t get expelled from school. Her specialty is Children, Adolescents, Adults, Parenting and Relationship Issues, Anxiety, Depression, and Anger/Stress Management.  This is about getting Son someone to talk to.  I have obtained the referral as indicated in section 1.6 of the PSA from the physician which is all that I have to do.  I don’t think M____ Medical is incompetent.

Monday morning, I received an email from this asshole on main campus (let’s call him A. Shole).  He’s the dept chair for the Business Department.

I have received a considerable about of feedback regarding the currently running BUS101. We will need to discuss this matter as soon as possible. Please note that professors are not permitted to change documented course requirements. This is particularly troublesome after the course expectations are communicated to the classes.  Please call my office at your earliest convenience.

A. Shole

This jerk has been after me for years and he’s a very nasty man by reputation, out for his own good, holds others to higher standards, etc.  Also, the same person who cut all of my teaching courses.  His department has been horrible to all of us, harassing us, calling us incompetent, blah blah blah.

So, I went into my classroom and posted the following message:

Apparently, several students were enjoying the case studies and did not want to shift gears to do the Management Project.  Since no one has posted anything yet and there were complaints, I will be reverting to the original syllabus requirements.  Therefore, you will need to do the self-assessments and case studies as indicated.  Please note that you will be responsible for doing the case studies for EACH CHAPTER BEING READ during week six.  Since I told everyone that they did not have to do week 4 or 5 case studies, you are exempt from those two weeks.  However, in order to keep everyone happy and to meet the department’s requirements, I have been told that you must do the case studies for each chapter.  I had previously said you only needed to do one chapter but, after the department chair was notified, he informed me that the students must do the case studies for each chapter.

I’m glad that I’m able to correct this and keep the students happy with the case studies!

Unbeknownst to me, he had enrolled himself in  my class and was lurking so he, too, received the message. He flipped out, which doesn’t make sense to me. I did exactly what he told me to do: revert back to the original course syllabus despite trying to adjust the course to accommodate their poor learning skills and ability to adapt to the online environment.  He called me, told me that this was the last business class that I would teach at the college to which I said a terse “Fine” and hung up.  He called the VP of Academic Affairs, telling him that I hung up on him in the middle of a phone conversation.  In the meantime, I was furious and I quit.  It was the straw that broke the camel’s back.  I later found out that he REMOVED ME FROM MY CLASS!

To make a long story short, the dean did not want to accept my resignation and I’m back here.  I am contacting a lawyer about this situation, on my boss’ advice.  The bottom line is that I discovered that his department is not properly preparing these students.  By exposing him, he was covering his ass.  So, that’s the story.

That was when I realized that, without Awful Job, I really didn’t have much purpose in the day.  The house is clean, laundry caught up, and all is quiet.  Now what?  That’s when I realized that I’m battling a seasonal change depression…could it be the seasons of life or seasons of the year?  I’m not certain.  But I do know that, in order to survive, I must find a purpose.  I’m not certain where to look for it.  It’s not hiding in my closet…which needs to be sorted.  It’s not in my cabinets…which need a good cleaning.  My normal passion, horses and books…not much there right now in the way of an interest.  At least not for today.

So, in order to embrace this new day, I will be searching for my purpose.  Whatever it is and wherever it lies, I will find it.  That is my advice to survive…

Why don’t you go hit the vodka bottle and pass out again, a-hole???!

Of course, the only one that he’ll punish is the kids.  He’ll deny the little one riding in the park with the police force this weekend.  I can see this coming. But, she’ll know it’s him and the wedge will be even deeper between him and the kids.

Why do we work?  Is money the end all goal in life?  Why can’t we just live beneath our means and survive?  What is this constant drive for more, more, more that forces us to sacrifice the quality of our life and add stress to our daily existence?