November 27th, 2008

It's a secret?

Some of you may have noticed the Q&A's link on the right hand side, so I thought I would officially give a very BIG blog shout out to my new secret pal.....


HELLO SECRET PAL!  I am so glad we are matched up together! 

The Secret Pal exchange was started several years ago I think, as a way for bloggers of like hobbies to exchange emails, and gifts all over the world.

This is my first time participating and I can't wait to put together my first package to send out. 

The only thing that seems odd...it's called "Secret Pal", yet when I was notified of my match-up I was given her name, address, real email and blog.

Not much of a secret after all but a whole lot of fun!

Tuesday, November 11th, 2008

What's for dinner?

It's chicken Bouillabaisse.

It's very time consuming, but the rewards are ohhhhhh so good!

If you want the recipe it's from Ina Garten and can be found here.


I've been searching Ina's recipes and picked out the top 4 most interesting and most difficult and decided to challenge myself to make one each week.

Next week.....it's jury duty but the week after it's Beef Bourguignon!

Monday, November 10th, 2008

October update

I know, I'm a little late but it's been a very busy October this year. 

Here's a re-cap of the month:





1)  The divorce
(I hope this answers all the questions I have been getting via email lately, I sincerely appreciate your concern and thanks for your warm wishes)

The negotiations are still in progress.  The only roadblock is my husband's refusal to provide a financial affidavit listing our assets and debts. 

It sounds simple I know, and it really is simple according to the standard form that is part of all divorces for the state we live in. 

The reason for my husband's refusal is just as simple. My husband does not want ANYONE (especially his parents) to know just how much of a MESS he has made of our finances especially when this is the THIRD time he has done so over the last 6 years. 

A financial affidavit is not only part of the divorce filing, but it becomes part of the final divorce decree and is often used to determine child support, alimony and equitable division of assets.  If it is not submitted as part of the divorce filing it can be viewed as an attempt to conceal information or possibly sway the courts to favor one party over the other.

I wish I could help move this issue along but you see my husband has refused to give me access to ANY of our joint accounts, ANY of our joint money nor see ANY of our joint debts.  In fact, since we have been married (6 years) I have NEVER been able to see any of our accounts!  So all financial decisions and all financial expenditures have gone through my husband exclusively including the monthly allowance he has been giving me for the last 3 1/2 years since I stopped working to move oversees with his job and start a family. 

2) Halloween - Unfortunately it was a bust this year because my son got the flu and was in bed resting during all the celebrations here in the neighborhood.

3)  Preschool - My son has been accepted to preschool!  It's the #1 preschool for musically inclined children which my son is without a doubt.

There was a very long waiting list initially, but after my husband and I toured the school, filled out the application and gave the deposit sure enough (just 2 months later) we got the call saying there was an opening!

I'm so glad that with all the divorce stuff going on, my son will be happily settled in a preschool that will cater to his unique musical talents.  He starts this week too!

4)  Jury duty - I have jury duty next week!  Like everyone else I watch those court shows and wonder about what it would be like to be on an actual jury.  Well, now I have the chance.  I'll let you know what kind of trial it will be.

5)  Cables - I've ventured into cables!  I've been drooling over all those beautiful holiday sweaters and vests with wonderfully intricate cables but thought there was no way I could master the technique.  Well, I'm happy to say...I taught myself and have begun my first holiday cable vest for my son.  I'll post a photo of it when it's complete.