Well, last week was totally crappy. Somehow, someway, a place called the National Small Business Alliance obtained my bank informationa and relieved us of $150. Their 1-800 number is voice mail only, and their email is automated response telling us a "representative will contact us within 24-48 hours" We've disputed it with our bank, but that is liable to take forever, and then, there's no guarantee we'll ever get that money back. What is most baffling, is how they got our routing number, which I never give out to anyone.

As if that wasn't bad enough, my father in law finally freaked the fuck out. My husband is his step-son. He adopted Mark when Mark was four, and he really only did it to make Mark's mom happy. When Duane started having his own kids with Nancy, he began treating Mark like the red-headed step child.

Duane was eventually diagnosed with schizophrenia, but not before claiming Mark was the anti-christ trying to kill his other three kids and trying to kill Mark with a kitchen knife.

Yet, my husband, being the responsible adult that he is, forgave Duane and about three years ago invited the man to live near us, something none of Duane's "blood" children would ever consider doing.

Last week when Mark's sister came to Mark for help(Mark being the only father she's ever known), instead of Duane(her father in name and biology only), Duane freaked out, made up some outrageous lie, and took his truck keys from us.

Enough is enough. There are some people you just can't help, and no matter how much we do for him, he refuses to think of us as family.

Then, as the added icing to the cake(cuz, ya gotta have icing...even if it's bitter)Ibihama's car bit the dust big time. We're still waiting to get it back from the mechanic.

Where is one of those doctors that hands out Xanax and Valium like candy when you need him? sigh

In other news, when Ibrihama came back, he went to Greensboro and got his friend, Hadi(pronounced Heidi). Her english is much better than when she first visited, and I'm learning a lot about the true muslim religion, and life in her country.

After being here for about two or three months, she's decided that she will not stay in America. Our life is one of materialistic selfishness. We focus too much on money, and not enough on family and helping others.

I can't say that I disagree with her.

As soon as we get Ibrihama's car back, I will take her on some day trips around the state so that she may experience a little more of America. She's excited to learn to drive, so I will help her with that as well, since Ibrihama is what you'd call moody and impatient as hell.

And...that's it for now. It's enough, believe me.