@Liberal Capitalist: My ex is a toxic mother. Despite everything she has done to my sons, they love her still. If I had my way, she’d still be in prison, but it’s not up to me. So I keep my mouth shut. When they praise her for doing the right thing, I don’t remind them of all the times she inflicted pain and suffering on them. They already know. The few times I find myself at my son’s house at the same time as she, I don’t say a word to her or interact with her in any way, shape, or form. I am upfront with my sons that I want nothing to do with her, but I don’t tell them why. They lived it, they already know.
I’ve mentioned Beethoven’s 6th, Pastoral, Symphony is my favorite, and in my estimation the best of Beethoven’s works. Nevertheless, what begins at 55:27 in the link above surpasses it.
I like especially how this section starts with lower tones played softly, and rises in tone and volume to include the whole orchestra.
@OzarkHillbilly: My daughter told us about one of her third graders, asked how her divorced parents got along, immediately responded “cordial.” My daughter was surprised at her student’s vocabulary, but also said she immediately recognized it as a perfect adjective for her own divorced parents relationship.
@Joe: I envy people who have a cordial relationship after divorce. I wish it was possible for me.
The thing is, I can’t forget when her husband went after my eldest son in a drunken rampage*. He called me and as I was on my way back to STL from an Arkansas caving trip, it was easy for me to stop at their Bourbon house and get the story straight from his mouth. He told me and I said, “OK, let’s go.” The relief on his face was overwhelming. Then she tried to say I couldn’t take him, and began arguing with him. Eventually he said he was going whether she liked it or not and she agreed to let me take his brother out of there too. (DFS had been notified, she did not have much choice)
Then came the moment when I came to realize not just how truly sick she was, but also that there was no saving her. My son pointed to his shotgun at the foot of the bed and said, “It’s loaded if you need it.” The look on her face said, “Ohhh… My son really loves me,” because everything is all about her.
I wanted to scream at her. What sane person remains in a relationship where their child feels the need to arm themselves?
* My sons never said much about their fighting, just enough that I was pretty sure it was not the first time her husband had gotten violently drunk, just the first time he’d gone after my son.
@OzarkHillbilly: The fact that you politely (I assume) ignore her counts as “cordial” for this type of situation. I’ve been affairs where the divorced parents are actively engaged in proving to the “audience” that “I’m” the “good” parent. Very sad to watch. +
Another trans-Atlantic difference! In UK (and I think most of Europe) Mothering Sunday falls on the last Sunday in Lent, so the date changes according to when Easter falls. Can vary from the first weekend of March to the last.
@Joe: @OzarkHillbilly:
When Scott Harshbarger (former A.G. of Mass.) and his first wife, Betsey, were divorced, they hugged each other outside the courtroom and said, “See you later for lunch,
honey.” Scott and his second wife, Judy, celebrated Thanksgiving with Betsey, Betsey and Scott’s adult children, and Judy’s adult children from her first marriage. One big happy family.
@CSK: My dad was married three times (my mom was his second wife) and big family events always included all the wives and kids (seven of us). Even today we all consider each other as full siblings even though we have three different mothers between us.
Dad and his first wife have been gone for years now but we kids are still close and my mom calls the kids from Dad’s first marriage her daughter and sons.
GOP Oversight Chair Says He’s Lost Track of His Biden Corruption Informant
A top witness in a Republican investigation into the Biden family has apparently up and disappeared without a trace—or at least that’s what Rep. James Comer (R-KY) said Sunday on Fox News.
On Wednesday, Comer—the chairman of the House Oversight Committee—held a much-hyped press conference in which he promised to expose the preliminary findings of four months’ worth of scrutiny into the Biden family’s business dealings. Publicized as a “judgment day” for President Joe Biden, the conference ultimately proved anticlimactic, largely consisting of Comer throwing around vague, unsubstantiated accusations and failing to link the president to any of his relatives’ alleged “influence peddling.”
But on Fox’s Sunday Morning Futures, Comer offered up what appeared to be a partial excuse: The probe’s primary informant had flown the coop.
“Well, unfortunately, we can’t track down the informant,” the Kentucky representative told host Maria Bartiromo. “We’re hopeful that the informant is still there. The whistleblower knows the informant. The whistleblower is very credible.”
A credulous Bartiromo interrupted. “Hold on a second, Congressman. Did you just say that the whistleblower or the informant is now missing?”
“Well, we’re hopeful that we can find the informant,” Comer said. “Remember, these informants are kind of in the spy business, so they don’t make a habit of being seen a lot or being high profile or anything like that.” Source
It’s not flowers and chocolates for some of us…
https://jezebel.com/a-toast-to-all-the-brave-kids-who-broke-up-with-their-t-1702954639
Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms in the commentariat!
Calm prevails at US-Mexico border after Title 42 migration restrictions lifted
Situation at the border stands in contrast to Republican fear-mongering as Biden officials establish strict new policies
But but but Gregg Abbott promised us chaos at the border!
@Liberal Capitalist: My ex is a toxic mother. Despite everything she has done to my sons, they love her still. If I had my way, she’d still be in prison, but it’s not up to me. So I keep my mouth shut. When they praise her for doing the right thing, I don’t remind them of all the times she inflicted pain and suffering on them. They already know. The few times I find myself at my son’s house at the same time as she, I don’t say a word to her or interact with her in any way, shape, or form. I am upfront with my sons that I want nothing to do with her, but I don’t tell them why. They lived it, they already know.
DNA evidence reveals family man in Australia was teenage killer who escaped Nebraska jail
An interesting story with a lot of unfilled blanks to wonder about. Not too long either.
Music for today is a long one, Beethoven’s 9th Symphony
I’ve mentioned Beethoven’s 6th, Pastoral, Symphony is my favorite, and in my estimation the best of Beethoven’s works. Nevertheless, what begins at 55:27 in the link above surpasses it.
I like especially how this section starts with lower tones played softly, and rises in tone and volume to include the whole orchestra.
@OzarkHillbilly: My daughter told us about one of her third graders, asked how her divorced parents got along, immediately responded “cordial.” My daughter was surprised at her student’s vocabulary, but also said she immediately recognized it as a perfect adjective for her own divorced parents relationship.
@Joe: I envy people who have a cordial relationship after divorce. I wish it was possible for me.
The thing is, I can’t forget when her husband went after my eldest son in a drunken rampage*. He called me and as I was on my way back to STL from an Arkansas caving trip, it was easy for me to stop at their Bourbon house and get the story straight from his mouth. He told me and I said, “OK, let’s go.” The relief on his face was overwhelming. Then she tried to say I couldn’t take him, and began arguing with him. Eventually he said he was going whether she liked it or not and she agreed to let me take his brother out of there too. (DFS had been notified, she did not have much choice)
Then came the moment when I came to realize not just how truly sick she was, but also that there was no saving her. My son pointed to his shotgun at the foot of the bed and said, “It’s loaded if you need it.” The look on her face said, “Ohhh… My son really loves me,” because everything is all about her.
I wanted to scream at her. What sane person remains in a relationship where their child feels the need to arm themselves?
* My sons never said much about their fighting, just enough that I was pretty sure it was not the first time her husband had gotten violently drunk, just the first time he’d gone after my son.
@OzarkHillbilly: The fact that you politely (I assume) ignore her counts as “cordial” for this type of situation. I’ve been affairs where the divorced parents are actively engaged in proving to the “audience” that “I’m” the “good” parent. Very sad to watch. +
@OzarkHillbilly: Sorry for your history there. I am glad you got you kids out.
Another trans-Atlantic difference! In UK (and I think most of Europe) Mothering Sunday falls on the last Sunday in Lent, so the date changes according to when Easter falls. Can vary from the first weekend of March to the last.
@Joe: @OzarkHillbilly:
When Scott Harshbarger (former A.G. of Mass.) and his first wife, Betsey, were divorced, they hugged each other outside the courtroom and said, “See you later for lunch,
honey.” Scott and his second wife, Judy, celebrated Thanksgiving with Betsey, Betsey and Scott’s adult children, and Judy’s adult children from her first marriage. One big happy family.
@CSK: My dad was married three times (my mom was his second wife) and big family events always included all the wives and kids (seven of us). Even today we all consider each other as full siblings even though we have three different mothers between us.
Dad and his first wife have been gone for years now but we kids are still close and my mom calls the kids from Dad’s first marriage her daughter and sons.
@Mikey:
That’s lovely. I’m glad it was such a happy experience for you.
@CSK: It was only later in life I realized we are basically living an episode of Oprah and very few families were “blended” quite like ours.
@CSK and Mikey:
I like to think of my family as happy, but Tolstoy asks for a word.
@Mikey:
Better to be living an episode of Oprah rather than an episode of Maury or Jerry, right?
Where’s Waldo?
@Mister Bluster:
“the dog ate my homework.” 😀