Drunken fib shows lack of horse sense

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This article was published 15/02/2019 (2454 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Dear Miss Lonelyhearts: I’ve fallen head over heels for a horse woman. I lied about my own experience with horses and now she expects me to ride with her. I actually only rode horses when I was a kid, and I was lousy. Horses are her life and she needs a cool guy who can at least ride casually with her.

I’m afraid I was a little drunk at the party where I met her and I lied to impress her. I can’t even remember the right way to saddle a horse, let alone climb on with any style. We’ve had a few city dates, but I’m about to get found out. She really wants me to go to the horse barns with her. What do you suggest?

— Stupid Liar, Fort Rouge

Dear Liar: You’re better off confessing now, than having her discover your equestrian claims were horse hockey. She may suspect this already, but it’ll go better for you if you tell her you’re willing to ride, but don’t remember much from your youth. If you’re too scared to do that, sneak off for some emergency lessons at Aurora Farm (204-261-6279) near St. Norbert.

Dear Miss Lonelyhearts: I’m giving my husband the boot after I caught him gambling again. We’ve been through this bitter fight twice before, when he gambled away our savings. 

Counselling obviously didn’t work, and he’s an addict. He says the money isn’t technically mine to split, because I’m a stay-at-home mother and he “does all the work and pays for everything.”

I’m an excellent nurse and have people who would hire me in a second. He can gamble away his life if he wants, but not the security of my children. Three times and he’s out! I’m just worried about timing. My parents say they can help me a bit, and want to know how. They’ve had to help me with groceries this month, just so my husband could pay the mortgage. How humiliating! And he has a good job, too, so doubly embarrassing.

— Throwing Him Out, Winnipeg

Dear Throwing: Start looking for a nursing job and have a paycheque or two before you break up. You may want to bolt right now, but your kids need the stability of a working mother and a roof over their heads. Quietly see a lawyer — not one you share with your husband — and figure out how you’re going to split the money and property. 

If your husband is good at lying and hiding his gambling, then he may also be good at getting out of paying you child support. You’ll need maintenance enforcement. The best help your parents could provide would be money for a hard-nosed lawyer and accountant.

​Please send your questions and comments to lovecoach@hotmail.com or Miss Lonelyhearts c/o the Winnipeg Free Press, 1355 Mountain Ave. Winnipeg, MB, R2X 3B6.

Miss Lonelyhearts
Advice Columnist

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