Better.

Thank you for reading.  Thank you for responding.  I'm sorry that so many of you have also endured similar pain but this is the essential nexus.  The human condition and connection.  I feel safe sharing my experience because it is also your experience.  I feel safe sharing because I have love and friendship that supports me and makes my shitty days bearable. 

Better is something I become everyday.  I do feel as though I have the opportunity to reconstruct myself in the manner that is my own truth. 

Read Jung, Man and His Symbols.  When a human being goes through extraordinary suffering some surface into a the 'true self.'  Every thing that was is broken down into nothing because nothing is the same.  Your subconscious emerges and shakes hands with your conscious.  You lose your mind.  You are forced to share a room with your all of the trauma that you have blocked for your entire lifetime.  It sits there staring at you until you can specifically name every pore on its face, every wrinkle and every vein on its leg. 

That varicose is My mother's car accident when I was 10

That pimple scar is from the bi-polar teacher that humiliated me in front of the entire class.

That dark circle under my eye is from the physical abuse.

That scar on my knee is from the time that my mother tried to set herself on fire.

That wrinkle on my chin is from preschool when the little blond girls forced me to dress up like a lion while they costumed as princess. 

Etc., etc.

You sit there and are forced to inspect.  You are repulsed that its you and your pain but slowly you come to terms with it all and you find a calmness.  Less anger.  You can acknowledge and identify how you feel while you're feeling it.  You stop worrying and fantasizing about the terrible things that can happen because they already did.  Your imagination opens up into this beautiful unreality where anything is possible.  An altered state of sorts. 

I spent the last 4 months day dreaming about wonderful things that could happen for me.   That's a new concept.  Initially I thought I was going cray because I didn't understand how my brain was operating. It kept me going.  I was depressed but still hopeful.  Truth is, my mind had to change paths or the results could be devastating.

I ain't no shrink but I think this is what's happening.

Point being, I feel ok.  Better everyday.  No worries...

I'm still hilariously funny and I still enjoy laughing at you, so that's good.  My name has the word 'Ha' in it for God's sake.   

Now if I can just figure out what to do with the rest of my life. 

Actor
Photographer
Middle Management in the Restaurant business
TV Host
Bartender
Lover
Blogger Extraordinaire!

If the results matched the outcome of last weeks interviews and auditions, it looks as though the fortune that I've spent on my degrees and conservatory have gone to waste and I am just another actor/artist casualty committing to the restaurant industry for the finality of my days.  uggh.  

Thanks again and keep the emails and comments coming.  Your experience is not for naught.  Use the beautiful and kind words that you have offered me to encourage and love yourselves.  I will continue to write as long as you continue to read.

I am the Lion. 
They knew it all along.   

Oyster's are not vegetarian.

Oyster's are not vegetarian.  If you eat oysters, you are not a vegetarian.  Fish sauce is not vegetarian.  If you eat fish sauce, you are not vegetarian. 

If you are a Celebrity Chef (who shall remain nameless) and you are cooking for vegetarians while shooting a 'Vegetarian' episode and you add Oyster Sauce to your 'Vegetarian' dish, shame on you. You should know better.  My mother (a staunch vegetarian) would be very disappointed that you have an entire arsenal of people on your team (at least 25) and none of them told you prior to show time that your non vegetarian ingredient was umm, how do I put this...NON VEGETARIAN.  But you're the expert, not them.  Ultimately your brand/name not theirs. 
However, you pay them to do the work so you don't have to.

Who in the world is responsible for the reputation of public figures? 
 
Could it be that once you attain a certain level or power and celebrity you become your Own Personal Jesus?  Staffer's can only do so much to protect and advise their boss and after all, as a staffer your job is on the line.  

<Segue>

If a "hot dog" is meatless, spineless and uses Face book to ruin his pregnant wife's life- what is he?
A: He is an Anthony Wiener. 

<ya like that?  You'll like this too>
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HClsBFDLye4>

Seriously Anthony.  Where was your staff and why didn't they stop you from putting oyster sauce on your Noodle and calling it vegetarian? 
Did you miss the mandatory orientation where they tell you not to act like a complete idiot and end your own career by having an affair via email?  Why haven't you realized that only you are responsible for you life?  Don't you watch Oprah!? Gaahwd.
 
And now you have convinced your pregnant wife to stand by your side through all of YOUR mess.  You have not only embarrassed her by sending those 'lewd photos' and emails but you've completely humiliated her and proven her to be stupid by manipulating her into believing that it's wise to 'Stand by Your Man.' 

Huma, honey, the Rodeo's over when the clown jumps into the pit.  It's time to look the bull in the face and save yourself.  Your hubby was saucing his non-veg noodle instead of attending the 'What not to do as politician if you would like to have a lengthy career seminar.' 

The Annals of My Divorce

At 9:47am on Wednesday June 8th, 2011 I was a married woman.  At 9:52am on Wednesday June 8th, 2011 I became a single woman.  No longer committing adultery.  No longer living in sin.  No longer a wife. 

I sat in the court room alone waiting for my name to be called.  The sharply lit room with 70's white ceramic tile and pale green painted walls made me feel like I was in hospice. 
Three other women ran their 12 minute course before me and all were exonerated from their marriages. 

The judge asked the same questions over and over again but only one plagued me,
"Is there any reasonable prospect that you can reconcile your marriage?" 
Three times the question was asked and three times my stomach hit my throat like gravel hurled from a sling shot.  I was under oath.  Had I done everything I could have done to keep my marriage together?  Not being in love with your spouse is not reason enough to cut the strings that bind two people in life.  I know that.  Why am I suddenly unable to answer the question?

IS THERE ANY REASONABLE PROSPECT THAT YOU CAN RECONCILE YOUR MARRIAGE?

 
I desperately wanted to call a friend and ask- did I do enough?  Panic.  I can't even remember why I'm getting divorced.  It's been nearly a year since I asked for a divorce.  I tried so hard to not have hatred and anger towards my husband, to move on and leave it all behind that somehow I have begun to romanticize our relationship.

I saw my husband the weekend before my court appearance to say goodbye.  I needed to ask forgiveness for my actions on one day in October.

My Aunt had died suddenly and tragically on October 16th, 2010.  Although we were separated, my husband returned to our apartment to drive me to the viewing.  Over the phone He swore that He would give me support and be my friend and not press me to discuss our relationship.
He did not keep his promise.

He arrived at the apartment with a shaved head- an Indian tradition when mourning the loss of a loved one.  He lost 15 pounds in 2 weeks and looked like a cancer patient undergoing chemo. 
Sick.
It made me ill to look at his face.  He tried to contain himself but it wasn't long before He was crying so hard that He was moaning.  I stood there and I watched.  He got on his knees and begged me to take him back.  He grabbed my legs and drooled and spit and cried on my belly and I peeled myself off of him.  I was crushing him and I knew it.  I was angry and I knew it. 
All I wanted was to grieve for my Aunt and forget that our marriage was failing.
The burden of sorrow and remorse that He was carrying around was too heavy for him to think of anything other than his need to make me his once again.

He changed his mind, He would try counseling. 
He would do anything to keep me.

I was ruthless.  For the first and only time in our relationship I would not comfort him.   
I deserved the right to grieve for my Aunt God dammit.

We returned from the viewing.  I made him sleep on his own couch and wouldn't allow him into his own bed.  He continued crying in the living room and I continued to lose my mind in the bedroom.  He whimpered like a puppy separated from its mother. 

I kicked him out of his own home at 2am.  He drove over bridges and under signs that displayed the number for the Suicide Prevention Hot line, 1-800-273-TALK.

 I was emotionally numb from months of verbal abuse and I couldn't save him. We both drowned.

What I did was unforgivable.  I was cruel.  I needed to get down on my knees and repent.  I needed to erase the memory of his dejected face.  His beautiful sad eyes the colour of the bottomless sea.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

 We used to have outrageous shouting battles and out of control fights- habits we inherited from our parents.   Habits are hard to break. 

I started therapy over 2 years ago.  I wanted a family.  I wanted babies.  I wanted to make human beings that were compassionate, fearless and functional.  I did not and do not want to unconsciously dump all of my "stuff" on a fresh creature.  I want my offspring to be healthy.  I knew that started with me.  I want to be a great mother.  I want to be model parents that don't scream and fight.  That is up to me. 

Off to therapy we go. 
The thing the world doesn't tell you about therapy is that as you change and become happier you become conscious of other people's "stuff."  If you're smart, you realize that you can't change the "stuff" of others and you learn tools to adjust yourself as needed within your relationships. 

I was adjusting.  I was not shouting.  I was becoming less angry.  I learned to communicate.  I asked confidently, politely and clearly for the whatever it was I needed whether it be sex, food, a hug, whatever.  A valiant effort was made to be assertive and not passive aggressive and! no more temper tantrums.  I'm not saying that I was the poster child for therapy but I was improving and it was noticeable. 

He however became even more angry and aggressive after his first year away at law school.  He had two speeds, self medicated and not.  I tried to love him. He lashed out at me, put me down and cornered me verbally. 
I did not fight back.
I wish I would have fought back.
He crushed me.  I let it happen.
I took the punishment everyday. 
I used my fucking tools. 
I would endure my unwarranted mistreatment, offer him what he needed in whatever way possible and try desperately to hold myself together until he left for work - at which point I would fall apart for the half hour that was allotted to me before I cleaned myself up and left for work.

I was getting better?  he was not. 

"All I need is an apology."  That's what I told myself everyday.  "He loves me.  He'll come to his senses.  You keep getting better, healthier and he'll see you as an example and he'll change because he'll see how good I am.  All I need is an apology and all is forgiven."

The apology came too late. 
I had self protected by detaching emotionally and didn't even know it. 

The weekend before my court appearance I saw George.  I asked for forgiveness for all of the bad that I have ever done to Him. 

I didn't receive forgiveness.  I accepted the blame he slung on me.  The guilt was enough to keep me married so he would get what he wanted.   

Wednesday June 8th, 2011.  I'm in the courtroom pew waiting for my name to be called.

"Sho-haw Code-ing?"

I walk to the table in front of the judge

"Please sit down."

I correct the Bailiffs pronunciation, "Yes, Soha Codd-ing."

"Sorry, Codd-ing."


The Judge speaks, "Mrs. Code-ing,"

"--It's Codd-ing Your Honor."

"Sorry, Codd-ing...Codd-ing is it?"

"Yes, quite alright Your Honor."

"We have a problem, I can not grant you your divorce because your husband did not notarize his signature."

 
I can't come back here again.  I don't want to sit in this crappy place all by myself and question my life anymore.  The judge takes a moment to look through a law book to see what, if anything can be done.  I want to run for the door and never return.

This is a sign.  I shouldn't be getting a divorce. 
I want to run.  I am going to run.

A voice comes into my head.  You don't know what to do, trust your gut. 

I take a deep breath and decide to look through my set of papers.
Trust your gut.

I find his notarized signature. 

Last chance.  I don't have to tell anyone that I found the papers.  I can walk out of here and go back to Him.  Not out of love but out of guilt and fear.

Deep breath.
Trust your gut.

The voice- it's my voice- 'You will never know if you did enough.  Finish what you've started and let Him go.'

"Your Honor!  I found the notarized copy!"

"Great.  Let's proceed with the hearing so you can get on with your life Mrs. Code-ing."


"Yes Your Honor.  Thank you."