Hi Tupp:
I went by the food coop and asked if anyone knew the guy taking photos. I just said I'd lost his card, and did they know if he was a regular. No one recognized him. I don't think I'll contact the police, but it's an idea. Could bring the letters, the final CUSTODY/VISITATION ORDER, the TPO, and the letters MIL wrote that pretty much sum up who she is, without having to say it myself, which appeals to me very much.
This morning there have been 2 thumps from my second floor.... I checked the first time, and found an open window, so assumed wind blew something over. The second thump... which sounded like an animal, maybe opossum sized, jumping down from a bit of a height.... the thump of front paws closely followed by back paws, which I don't believe it IS. Just saying... that was the sound. Nothing hard or sharp or wood hitting the floor. Honestly, there's heating duct at that point, and it could have been from there even.
Since the Pug baby girl isn't concerned, I'm thinking there's nothing animal or alive in the house, so still wondering... could be something dropping on roof, many large trees with a bit of a breeze, and rain.....but it sounds closer than the roof.
Could be animal in garage.... sometimes birds, and chipmunks get stuck for a minute. It happens. Could be a hawk?
With that, I'm just not worrying about the man taking photos, or the noise, just noticing how it feels to notice them. My heart rate didn't go up at the first thumps.... the second thumps, however, made my hands shake. ::sigh:: I'm not sure why, exactly, that did it, when the first did not. Hmmm.
I'm pretty steady, and it's a relief to feel I've dropped expectations... just ready for whatever comes, with belief I'll handle it, whatever it is.
I'm considering moving into a smaller space, and renting out this house. I won't need it once oldest dd is at college, AND I'd like to pare down, like you're talking about. I think it might take upheaval like that to purge stuff. I have to do it at my father's as well. Radical change is sounding better and better right now.
Both girts need their wisdom teeth out, minimal, this summer, with maybe another procedure as well... tonsils.
I don't think I'll ask oldest dd18 to write to her Grandparents. I've forgotten the ILs, for now. Neither dd is interested in connecting with them. They seem to understand what they are. I've emotionally pulled documents to SHOW them, should they forget. I'm not putting time into actually putting my hands on all those documents, but have a file with MIL's letter offering up her son's baby hair to prove the girls weren't his. Utter nonsense, but how she's compartmentalized the children in order to do the harm she's done.
Actually, I have many letters in that file, pulled from the Assistant District Attorney's files, which maaaayyyybe I'm not supposed to have? Not sure, but the private detective I hired to get those files said she got a little time to comb through, and pulled the things we didn't already have, so everything is scattered, out of order, and just thrown into a file folder after hours of printing, helter skelter. I'm just ready to be done looking at that stuff, and I know you know what I mean. There are many strange letters from family, and mistresses. Ready to file it, and maybe put it in a safe deposit box, out of my space.
::nodding::.
Just so ready, Tupp.
When you have son's situation comfortable, and steady... maybe you can visit the cottage for a while. The idea of sleeping with windows open, breeze blowing through, cold white wine shimmering in the moonlight, with a little fire oceanside on the patio brings peaceful thoughts. Maybe you could Airbnb your place out while you're gone? So many moving parts, but they're out moving parts, eh. I can picture Amazon ceremonies.... releasing old energy..... making room for new.
::nodding::.
Lighter