As some of you know, I've had my house of 28 years foreclosed as a
result of what was probably criminal as well as unethical (as in
potential disbarment) activity by my ex-wife's sort-of-ex-lawyer. I say
"sort-of" because the lawyer won't accept being fired, doesn't do
anything for her client, but totally blocked my refinancing with
fraudulent claims, in a pattern of extortion.  Now that there is
measurable damage, it's much easier to get legal assistance.

Friends in St. Louis have offered me a place to stay, but there are
lots of last-minute issues. I've been working with a new group of
people that seem to have Midwestern values of following through, and
have work waiting for me -- I've also done business development.
Everyone agrees money is due to me for what I've done so far, and the
next weeks offer some extremely interesting and profitable work -- we
probably need to bring in more people (reasonably experienced routing &
switching people, preferably with telephone or VoIP experience,
preferably with carrier or hosting center experience).

The immediate purr problem is hoping Ding is hiding somewhere and won't
come out while the laborers are going in and out.

My next challenge is managing my blood sugar. My ex had a "chocolate
craving" and cleaned out my low-sugar reserves.  After a quart of
orange juice, it's now back to normal. I've been trying to use up food
and most cooking things are packed.  Things are ok now, but I'm going
to have to order dinner delivered.

Third purr: Unfortunately, I've been waiting for some cash for move
expenses, including fixing my car, and the key person is having bank
problems -- apparently, the state froze his accounts due to an error on
child support he actually paid. I've been after him for at least a week
to go to a wealthy business associate and get discounted loans on my
invoices, which should handle the short-term problem.   With my
receivables and his paying me something, it should be possible to work
a solution -- but time is the big problem. Technically, I have an
eviction hearing on the 20th, I have billable work to do.

My ex-wife came down to "help", and in her mind I think she did, but
most of what she did, after 10 days of "I'll be there tomorrow" was get
in the way. The big win is that she agreed to do what was needed to try
to get damages from the lawyer. I'm scared about her follow-through,
although we've taken measures to help.  When she visited in Nov-Dec, we
had agreements about a specific, admittedly tricky, way I might have
been able to stop the lawyer's games and allow the refinancing.  The
guy she lives with inserted himself into the process, intercepting
email and phone calls, and arguing with her that I was wrong. Bottom
line is that he didn't understand the strategy, and talked her out of
it. She says she won't let him interfere again. Purr #4.

The laborers see a lot of work, and I'm afraid they are right. The
trailer is just too small.  These guys are saying 3 people for 6 hours
to clear out the rest of the house, and a 17-24 foot truck, not an 18
foot trailer that's about a third narrower and lower than a truck cargo
area. I'd love to get these guys back if I had the money, but they
aren't available until Monday.  I'll definitely use them again if I
can--anyone in the Northern Virginia area, I'll refer them.