I spent the weekend working my second job. Why, you ask, must someone who makes as decent a living as I do have a second job to live? Well, between the old house being under water, shit breaking down over there (I just spent $500 fixing the air conditioner, which broke right in the middle of the hottest days of the year, leaving my poor tenants really hot!), the kids’ medical and dental expenses, which amount to $1100 per month, rent, car payments and the latest in car repairs, which will amount to $1000 per month, the second job isn’t just extra cash to be used for booze and fun. It’s an absolute necessity.

I used to freak out when I had to spend an extra couple of hundred dollars on various things. Now, my expenses run in the thousands. THOUSANDS! And the $500 I had to spend on getting the air conditioner fixed at the old house doesn’t even seem like a lot… until I look at my empty bank account at the end of each two-week period and realize that I have once again been unable to save anything.

Luckily, my awesome tenants were able to repair their refrigerator all by themselves at the old house. So for now, I’ve saved several hundred dollars. But, I have to pick up the car tomorrow. It had about a thousand things wrong with it, including a screwed up battery, so I’m paying a $1000 to get it running again.

Another $1000 is going to the lawyer, because my ex is an irresponsible bag of vinegar and water who refuses to pay anything to support his own children. Yeah… there’s little I hate more than fathers who refuse to support their kids. This one is a special kind of assbag. So now not only am I paying $1100 out of pocket for unreimbursed medical expenses, but the ex refuses to actually help with any of it. Instead he spends time questioning my decisions about which doctors I use and why I have chosen the courses of treatment I have, and demanding I inform him of any medical appointments ahead of time, because as the kids’ father he is “entitled” to participate in those decisions.

My reply was, “Sure, as long as you’re willing to actually help pay for them.” I, of course, received no reply to that.

Hence the lawyer.

And you wonder why I need another job.

But remember, folks, according to our government, I’m rich. I can afford to have an investment property (even though, if I could actually sell it without losing my shirt, I would) and I make six figures, and can afford to live in Arlington, where we have some of the best schools in the country. I’m rich.

Except when shit breaks down, when I have to pay for car repairs, when lawyer bills come due, and when I have to pay for the kids’ doctors and dentists.

When it rains, it pours.

Just needed to bitch.  I know times are hard all over, and I know I’m probably better off than a lot of folks, because even though I sometimes have to put groceries on a credit card for lack of funds in the bank account, I at least HAVE a credit card. Lots of folks have to choose between that car payment and those groceries. I get it.

But if you do find some spare change between the couch cushions, and aren’t using it to feed your own, do consider hitting that DONATE button. I have nothing to offer you except the occasional weird shit my brain has to offer, but if you find it just a little useful or amusing, do consider helping out.