Florida's Custody Agreements....Grrr!

I LOVE my niece and nephew to death. They spend weekends at my house all the time, and I am was so looking forward to our summer time together. Not so much anymore. My sisters ex-a-hole has not paid child support in months. However, he still gets the kids for 7 weeks straight this summer. This was partly my sisters fault, and partly her lawyers. She didn't realize in the summer visitation schedule it was set up for 7 weeks straight. When she asked her lawyer about it, she said the summer visitation schedule was normal. It was NOT. Should she have read it better? Of course! But it's shutting the barn door after the cows are out. The kids hate going to their dad's. Their step-mom is cruel, and tells them she can't wait for them to go home. And at 10 and 12, they cry before leaving even for the weekend trips to Ocala. I'm going to miss them like crazy, and think in FL, if a NCP (non custodial parent) doesn't pay support, they should not get their kids. It's one thing if they are trying to pay, he just doesn't. And what does Florida do about him not paying? Not a darn thing. He hasn't got in trouble yet, and telling myself karma's a bitch is the only thing that keeps me sane. Love you J & J, and will miss you like crazy!!!

Bank Atlantic Stole My Bottle

Well, the last few days have been pretty rough. Here's the story:

My fiancee has banked at Bank Atlantic for about 8 years.  Every 2 weeks his check has been deposited with no problems. The past few paychecks were deposited by hand and not electronically due to new company ownership. Still, no problems. Except last week. Although my online banking's daily ledger showed the check as cleared, and part of the balance, we had no idea in actuality, according to them, the check had not cleared. On the banking site there were no "pendings" or "available balance"-just the amount in the account. 

Since they had not cleared the check, on the 26th and 27th of May we accumulated 14 - $35 over charge fees. Even being a customer for 8 years, with NO account problems, they would only take 2 of them off. It doesn't end there. After being in the bank on Monday, June 2nd, they told him it would be 170$ to get his account to the positive. No other charges pending. Today when we went in to get the account in good standing, in front of our eyes, 16 more $35 dollar over draft fees. This makes a total of 30, $35 dollar over-draft fees. They would not take ANY of these off as well, stating it was not a bank error. I think including a check in the balance with no pending notice or available balance IS a banking error, but they said it is not.

So, now we are up that well known known special creek with a twig. The twig is my wonderfully amazing in-laws.  They recommended we pay it off for now, and along with the payments give a "Letter of Protest", basically saying we don't agree to the charges, and it leaves the door open for us to pursue later if needed. We'll make it. We have a lot to be thankful for, and believe me we are. But I got my yearly meltdown in yesterday. Now I can't have another one, well, for 12 months. 

I didn't plan on starting my blog with financial stories, and my honey suggested his mom come down and picket with us since she's retired. I suggested a sign for Lexi with the phrase "Bank Atlantic Stole My Bottle". Alright, I'm off to go put the rest of my money under my mattress, and look at Lexi's firework brochure that has kept her interested for days. Seriously, get one. Daddy and her are looking at it now. Again. And I'm being summoned to see rockets. 

Cuteness

This is my daughter Lexi, I forgot to put the picture in the first post. Maybe one day I'll grace this blog with of picture of myself. But for now you're stuck with cuteness. 

The Beginning

Hi All! Welcome the Amy & Lexi's Daily Grind. I've been thinking about starting a blog for a long time now, and today decided to go ahead and take the plunge. Most of the people who will read this will know us personally, but for those who stumble on our Daily Grind, here's a little background. My name is Amy, and I'm a 25 yr. old SAHM. I sell on eBay, and have a 2 yr old daughter whose name is, you guessed it, Lexi. She's a little stinkweed, but I love her to death. My honey's name is Aaron, and we live in South Florida, in a great little beach town called Hobe Sound. (Hobe sounds  like "robe", not Hobie, got it??) We have a mutt named Katie who's a few years old, a cat and a leopard gecko. But that's enough of the boring stuff.  

I'll be posting video's, pictures, recipes, nonsense, jokes, and any other crap that makes it's way it's way into my mind. Feel free to comment, because I'm all about other people's opinions. NOT. But really, go ahead and let me know what you think.