Jumping for Joy!

We went to court with Rhi this morning, and after a nearly 2 hour wait, she plead guilty to two counts (the lesser ones), she was granted a pre-sentencing investigation (to find out any mitigating circumstances as to why she should not be incarcerated, like her mental illness) and was released on her own recognizance until sentencing. She was told she had to get a mental health screening and have an appointment by next week, so we'll go take care of that tomorrow, and to get her PSI scheduled before end of business tomorrow (we took care of that as soon as she was released from jail).

So, she's home, at least until May 10. She may have to serve 180 days, but that's a lot less than 15 years, and she'd be at county jail, where we can visit her. It's just good to have her back, and she seems so happy to be here, too. She got very emotional when she saw the house & everything turning green, I know she thought she'd never see any of it again. So, no more sitting around, reading oxyelite pro reviews just to keep from going crazy. I think we're all going to be okay now.

Bad Grammar Vexes Me So

I was on Facebook this morning - okay, every day, most of the day - and one of the people on my friends' list (I say this, because they aren't really a friend, just someone who added me, because they needed more friends for games or I was on the lost of someone they knew, or whatever, at any rate, I don't actually know them, because I'd have said something if I did) and they posted a status message that said, "looking for great mother day gifts for my mom & gram, any ideas?" My mind shifted to "Why are you calling my mom "Mother Day?" since that is my mom's last name, then went to "That should be capitalized." and then, I realized what they were really saying, and trust me, English is this person's first language, so there was no excuse. I could say maybe they weren't that great at typing, but nothing else was misspelled, so I have to assume they are one of those people who also say "Valentime's." and I'll just move on with my life, bite my tongue & try not to make waves. But vex me, it does.

Trying to Get Through It

I went & saw Rhi on Saturday morning, let me tell you, that's not something I want to get used to doing. We had problems getting the stupid phones to work so we could talk, thankfully Rhi's bunkmate & her mom were next to us & did it for us. We both felt pretty stupid. She isn't doing great in there & really needs to be out where she can see a doctor & get on some different medication, but I won't say anymore, I don't want to violate her privacy.

Some yard work got done today, so maybe a little planting can be done at some point this week. I just want to plant some bulbs in the front flower beds, and Troy got them raked out nicely for me earlier. I wish we could get some outdoor wireless speakers for there or the back yard, it would be nice to have music when we're out there.

Anyway, almost time for TV & I'm ready to eat.

What in the World?

I guess I spoke too soon when I posted on the 12th, because our whole world came crashing down two days later. Troy & I were sitting in the office, each doing our own thing, Rhi left & went over to her friend, Chris's house, everything seemed fine. That afternoon, I heard a car pull up in front of the house, looked out my window (it's right next to my desk & I always look out to see who's here) and saw an SUV, with 3 plain clothes cops getting out & heading for our door.

I told Troy, he headed for the door, so he could go outside to talk to them (we have absolutely nothing to hide, but we have a big dog & never let cops inside without warrants). He went outside, one of them immediately copped an attitude, and was completely paranoid about whoever was "peeking out the window" when they pulled up, and went out back, hand on side arm, expecting me to mount an ambush from back there. They were the Drug Task Force & they were looking for Rhi. Of course, as I just said, she wasn't here, so they called her, found out where she was & went to go "talk to her." She called me almost immediately, claiming ignorance. I told her to call me when they were finished talking to her & never heard anything else from her, until that night.

I did hear from her friend that they had handcuffed her & taken her away. I checked the county inmate bookings awhile later & found that she'd been arrested on 3 felony counts of distribution of marijuana. I looked it up & learned she could serve up to 15 years in prison. 15 years. I was pretty convinced she didn't do it, until she called that night & told us that she was guilty. I only got to talk to her for a minute (literally), and haven't gotten to since then. This was a payday where I was determined to get things paid off & down, so we were pretty much broke by the day she got arrested & weren't able to set up the account so she could call us collect (calls are $10 & up for 15 minutes). I did get a postcard, where she apologized for being an idiot, but also kind of blamed it on the state, I guess not realizing that marijuana is a controlled substance throughout this country. She also asked us to pay $1500 of her bail, which isn't going to happen.

I can handle a lot. I've been through a lot of things. I can find out just about anything on the internet (you wouldn't believe the calls I get from Erin asking to solve arguments about music, movies and books. I even got one asking if it was possible to use Blue Cross North Carolina benefits outside of the state of North Carolina. I can't find a way to deal with this pain. I can't find a way past thinking I won't see her, outside of a jail/prison until she's 36. This. This right here? Hardest thing I've ever done.

A Little Better

Troy seems to have made peace with his feelings about his job, at least he's determined not to let it ruin his whole life. He still dislikes the things that are going on out there, but he's learning to let it go when he gets home, so he isn't taking it out on us. I really wish we were in a position where he could look for something els, but not in this economy, we can't take that risk & sadly, his boss knows that.

At any rate, we're getting ready for the warmer months. We need to buy a new tent before our trip in May, since the one we have is way too big & we can never get warm at night in there. We'd also like to get a new sleeping bag, to cover up with at night, so we don't have to keep borrowing one from Ryan (ours are nylon & they suck). Thankfully, we already have a receiver hitch & a curt trailer hitch for my XTerra, not that we're taking that, but when we finally get our trailer, we'll be ready to go with that end, anyway.

We changed our cell phone carrier & got nice new HTC Heroes for Troy & I. I absolutely love my new phone, I don't know how I went so long with an Android, but I never will again. It's so much fun, and I finally learned to answer a phone call, too (so funny, I failed miserably on the first 3 calls I got, thankfully they were Troy & he was failing too!) The yard is getting green, the tulips are coming up & Spring is in the air!

Frustration

I hate seeing Troy get that look of dread & depression on his face when it's getting close to the time he needs to leave for work. I remember when he loved his job and even liked most of the people he was working with. Then he got a new boss, who has very different ideas of how he can exploit Troy's talents & willingness to please. He changed his schedule, so he was working the other end of the week, which made things very tough here at home (especially with me, cause I was a total bitch about it). Then Troy got really sick & was in the ICU for almost a week. He came very close to dying & that changed his perspective a lot. He didn't even get a phone call from his boss while he was in there, let alone a visit (I know, I practically lived up there). He decided he was done giving that company his life & getting nothing, not even respect in return.

So, his boss decided to make him work with some one he thought would "motivate" him, expect this man absolutely hates Troy & makes his life miserable. He has so many added duties to his job now, you'd never see that he is, indeed, a security guard. I'm surprised he isn't teaching them all how to handle Conference calling, honestly, it would just be par for the course.

If he could quit, he would. There aren't any jobs here that pay anywhere near what he makes, so he'd have to work twice as hard at two jobs just to make ends meet. I could work, but I sure wouldn't make enough to pay the bills. I just hate seeing him this way, I wish I could fix it. I miss his smile so much.

Bad Day

Poor Rhi. She was all excited on Wednesday, she had just made a new friend & had also spent the day feeding horses, playing with goats & hanging out with people who wanted her around, she had an interview scheduled for the next day & was even going to go hang out with her new friend. I guess they went out to dinner, but at any rate, she woke up Thursday violently ill. She threw up for hours, was still sick when it was time for her interview at 4:45 (she went anyway, just had to run for the bathroom before the interview) and I think once more a couple of hours later. She was just miserable & I felt so bad for her.

Things like that always make me adjust the scopes on my daily viewfinder, you know? It changes the way I look at things, mostly because there are times when I'm that sick & all I want is my own mother, and I know that's unreasonable, because, after all, I'm 45 & she isn't going to end this feud to drive into town & babysit her sick daughter. At the same time, I know that in spite of Rhi's protests, she's likes knowing we're here when she's that sick, I know it scares her to be out of control like that. Sometimes, it's just nice to feel needed.