Lawn Mower Saga

June 2008- New heavy duty Craftsman 675 series purchased on sale 40% off. Ironically it was a Father's Day sale. The only time I buy mowers. It worked like a dream on the just short of 1/2 acre partially sloped yard.

2009- Lawn mower still doing it's job, with or without it's bagger. Our boy and I split the yard work. Nabal and friends take over the yard load it with cars. He gets some down and out guy to cut the grass, but doesn't pay him. One evening while drunk Nabal moves one of the cars and decides to mow the tall grass where the car had been. The guy runs over a large stone from one of Nabal's jobs. I heard it. Next week our boy starts the mower and it vibrated and sounds like an airplane. The blade was bent. New one bought and put on. The vibration lessened but it was still there. A few weeksgo by Nabal drank for hours than decided he needed to cut a patch of grass. He ran into a few bricks. Back to the extreme vibration. The mower was unusable. I asked him to get it fixed. He said he was going to give it to his down and out friend. Really! The job my son was pretty happy doing came to a halt.

2010- I reminded Nabal of the mower needing to be fixed. He told me that I bought cheap junk and wasting money. He was going to Salvation Army and for $40 would buy a 'good' older mower that would last. I was incredulous! No mower will cut bricks!! He got his down and out friend back. They cut the grass all except around the house. For the first time in 14 years we had mice come in the house, and snakes in the yard. He always left the basement door wide open all the time. This he'd taken the screen door off years before. Gee, what does a snake like better than cold concrete on a hot day. I believe that never happened thank God!

2011- Grass still growing... along with weeds of all description including poison ivy. I didn't have these problems when I took care of the yard. This is only since Nabal took over. He and his cohorts claim to be versed in lawn care. Like every other hispanic? They only do what they are told no real knowledge. I told Nabal to take the mower to have it fixed. He refused. I guess by getting it fixed he'd admit it wasn't a piece of junk. He finally went to Walmart crying all the time about not having money. For $30 less than I paid... he bought the smallest Weed Eater brand mower they carry... The thing has idle consistancy issues and is about 5 inches smaller. He's the only one who uses it. That is until yesterday. The grass was ridiculous! Snakes were back. Nabal stays drunk or high almost every day. After struggeling with the the sloped front I finally loaded the Craftsman and took it to be fixed. Realized Nabal left it out all winter. I know I could have, I have given up. The year he made our yard hell for me with his drunk friends, cars and junk. Our lovely grill is trash. I love to cook out. He has completely wiped out anything for our family. His real allegance is unwillingly now, to his bottle and weed, but now I see that he has always had a selfish streak. A need to control by having me wait on him and take care of him like a child. Even at the expense of his own children.

Lately he has been trying to cajole me back into our bedroom. Always coming home, "Give me a kiss." He occasionally will try in a commanding voice to order me. He tries to hug and grope me. I'm still pretty quick, but it depresses me. The other night he said I was nice once and now I'm mean... He wants the elephant swept under the rug. My only emotion is hatred. I sent a message to a friend who once worked at a women's shelter. I need more than the I'm sorry of friends. I'm thankful for them, know they will weary of my not just walking. I know I'm depressed. I need professional help.