Today was the final day for the crazy one to appeal the judge's decision on my restraining order. As you can imagine, I don't believe she really understood what she was faced with when she said she wanted to appeal. She must have realized it because no appeal was filed.

First of all, the cost is $300, and that's just to file the paperwork saying you want to appeal. After that, there's a barrage of attorney fees and paperwork and briefs that have to be filed. Then, my attorney and I would respond with our own paperwork and briefs, and then, when it's all submitted, it gets put aside in the courts for probably about a year, and then it's picked back up and reviewed by an appeals committee. During all this time, the order remains in effect as signed. So, besides the money spent, (and it would end up being quite a bit on her part,) the time spent is another issue altogether.

Andy brought up another issue that I hadn't even thought of. The humiliation factor. She was terribly humiliated at the hearing when she contested it. She was unprepared and did not take any of it seriously, and it showed. Not only was she humiliated in front of me, (her apparent mortal enemy,) but also all of her former ex's and friends. She left the courtroom crying. I left smiling, thinking it would finally be over, and then she went on to say she would appeal. I thought she was just blowing smoke up my ass, and sure enough, she was. In any case, I am still relieved that I don't have to see her or deal with her, or even think about her, for at least another year, when I will again file to continue my order.

I guess, when it all comes down to it, the cost of further humiliation was just too high.