The Best Christmas Present EVER!!!

So, If you've been reading the blog (semi-regularly, which seems to be how I write...) will recall, that my family has been going through a bit of a rough spot with my youngest sister. If you don't recall this, read a few entries, it won't take you long to get caught up. On Friday, October 20, 2006 I posted this.... "Yawn..... There's been a lot going on lately. I'm not sure blogging about it would be the best idea at this point. Those of you who have been following the drama with my sister, the situation has escalated and unfortunately the police have gotten involved. It really has turned into a gigantic mess. I am hoping that the situation will be resolved soon, in the mean time, I would certainly appreciate your prayers. Jess needs prayer for safety, and sense. My parents need prayer for strength and wisdom. My sister Sarah and I could both use prayer for safety, wisdom and the ability to forgive. We've both been run through the wringer lately and a lot of trust has been broken." The situation has been somewhat resolved. For those of you I don't get to talk to regularly, let me get you caught up. The Sunday before the post on 10/20. Jessica showed up with the boyfriend at my parents' house while I was caring for my youngest brother Joe (he's 14 but has Cerebral Palsy). She was told once again that she was not supposed to be there with the boyfriend and that he was not welcome on my parents' property. As they were leaving the idiot boyfriend threw a large cup of coffee on my car. (this was the second time, he had done something of this nature, the first time it was trash and empty cigarette cartons). I had had just about enough and called the police to file a complaint. The officer who came out was very nice, took down the information and offered to go have a nice little talk with the boyfriend. I hoped that would be the end of it. At about 7:15pm, my parents were still out with my sister Sarah (and her husband, celebrating their one year anniversary). Jessica came back to get her things. The boyfriend was with her again. I locked the door and called the police to report him as a trespasser. Well, apparently there were more important things happening at the moment, and it took the police an hour and forty-five minutes to get to my parents' house.... In the meantime, the boyfriend stood on the porch, banging on the door, swearing at me and telling Jessica to tell me she was going to get the cops involved. When I wouldn't open the door, he went to her car and got a bag of snickers. He came back and waved them in front of me. (I think this was his idea of a fat joke... Apparently, I am so fat and desperate for food, that the sight of a bag of snickers would send me into a frenzy and I would do things that normally I would not do.) My parents got home before the police arrived and decided to let Jess into the house, instructing the boyfriend that he was to stay in the car. He stood by the car and for the next hour he yelled obscenities and various insults at me... I was somewhat entertained by some of the contradictions he used to describe my character... For example, he called me a F***ing whore, but in the next sentence said I was too fat and ugly to get any man to touch or date me. In fact, he decided that the sight of me turns men gay (odd considering that apparently men pay me to have sex with them...) He went on like this before coming to my favorite of the insults; "I would love to see you dead, I would come to your funeral and piss on your casket. (long pause) I will own your head, I will rip it off with a bullet in it." So, around 9pm the responding officer arrived, somewhat annoyed that he'd been called in three hours early. I've since decided that he couldn't be bothered with a "minor" domestic disturbance. He told the boyfriend to leave and told me that my best course of action would be to obtain a restraining order. Much to my surprise the next day, I called to get a restraining order and learned that in the great state of Connecticut you can't get a restraining order against someone unless you're related or have had an intimate relationship. At this point... I was not ready to let it drop... I ended up contacting the sergeant on duty and asked him to look into the situation. He was a little surprised that the boyfriend hadn't been arrested. He also asked me to come in to the station and make a formal statement. The end result.... Dec. 27 Michael C. Gardner, 24, 83 E. Old Route 6, Hampton, 3 p.m., breach of peace, threatening; court date Jan. 8, Danielson Superior Court. This is an excerpt from today's paper. Unfortunately, he was out on bail by 6:30pm. So, please pray for my safety. He's a coward, but I'm not entirely convinced he won't decide retribution is in order. In the meantime, rejoice with me that sometimes, the system does work!!!

Down But Not Out

So, it's been awhile since I wrote last.... Life has been nuts!! Since my last post, I've only actually turned my computer on a handful of times. Each time the computer has been on, I've been working on my BEST Portfolio. BEST is the "Beginning Educator Support and Training" Program. Basically, I have to plan, execute and document a series of lessons in my English classes. I write the whole thing up, video tape a couple of lessons and submit it for evaluation. Teachers from elsewhere in the state will assess the work and give me a score of 1 to 4 on the portfolio. 2, 3 or 4 is passing and I get to continue my fabulous career in education. A 1 means that I get to try again next year.... In the end, as long as I pass this thing, I will be happy. It has taken up so much of my time and energy and has caused some stressful moments. In addition to that, I've been busy getting ready for Christmas. Two weeks ago Elisabeth, Sarah P, Diana and I got together in Worcester. I got to pick up a few Christmas presents, and we went to see Blood Diamond!!! OUTSTANDING MOVIE!!!! So, for all of my loyal internet stalkers out there.... I am still alive, I am still in the country and on the planet. I am just really really busy. I will be for at least another 4 weeks.... But then life may get back to normal. The next day, I started coming down with a cold. Despite the NyQuil and DayQuil and the excessive sleep, I couldn't seem to shake it, in fact, I kept getting sicker. By Thursday, I asked for a sub at school and called in sick on Friday (Something I NEVER do). By the time I got to the Doctor on Friday afternoon, what I thought was a cold turned out to be pneumonia. I spent the weekend on heavy duty antibiotics and the couch. Called in sick again on Monday. Fortunately, I've been feeling better. Still coughing and I have 2 more days of antibiotics. But I'm not throwing up anymore! The best part of having pneumonia was losing 10lbs last week. I couldn't eat and as I mentioned by Friday I was throwing up the only thing I could get down (orange juice - not pleasant by the way). So school is now out until the 2nd of January and I am looking forward to 10 days off and Christmas! This is really one of my favorite times of year.