Ok, so I lied...
I forgot how "often" I use the computer when I'm home, so my hope to make shorter, more frequent entries has seriously gone out the window. Besides, if I had the ability to use the computer this summer as often as I did in school, I would have NO LIFE TO WRITE ABOUT! So, here's what's happened since then...
I got home from New York.
I searched (sort of) for a job.
In between that time of me looking and me finding a job, I went with Aaron to Traverse City for three, nope four days. It was only supposed to be three, but we were having such a good time, we decided to stay there for one more night :) My parents have been really good about giving me my time with him, saying it's ok for me to go up to Lansing and not come back for two days, and like I just typed, going to our TC house by ourselves to enjoy our summer vacation. We had such a blast. I took him all over downtown, we had a picnic in one of my favorite spots in the world - at the tip of Mission Peninsula, where the lighthouse is and the 45th parallel. We ate ice cream and watched movies while snuggling on the couch, along with playing mini golf and eating the best chocolate truffle torte ever, called "Chocolate Oblivion". It was heaven, a real vacation.
And then I came home.
Jocelyn helped me to find a job by passing along some very valuable info on a law firm that was hiring a receptionist for the summer. I called, sent my resume, and was hired on the spot after my brief interview ended. They are absolutely wonderful people. Save the fact that Aaron is a law student, I had these major preconceptions about lawyers and how law firms work. My bosses (they're a husband and wife team, just the two of them) are open, ethical, honest and very organized people who invite me to listen in on conference calls so I can learn from them. I can't give any information on what I get to listen in on, because they have confidentiality laws between counselor and client, but they do good work.
Although I was hoping to work part-time this summer so I could have a separate life from my job, I like this 9-5. It's a big step-up from working in the dirt at a cemetery, the pay is better, and I'm not sticky and smelly from bug spray at the end of the day. Aaron and I have been managing to see each other once a week for at least one night and will continue to do so all summer, especially once my other job is definite.
I finally got a call from someone who needs a tutor for her son this summer. She got my name from the organization that I volunteered for second semester for TE 250; they matched us up and I was thrilled when she told me I was "highly recommended". If everything works out, I'll be in Lansing on Saturday mornings at the same library I tutored at this past semester AND around the same time Aaron is in class. It'll work out, and I'll get more experience with teaching...
I wish that was all I had to say in this entry. I wish that my memories of summer so far would include working, Aaron, seeing my friends after work on the weekdays, and such. But they don't. Why? Because I live with my family.
This past weekend, my parents went to California for a Bar Mitzvah, and to spend the weekend together since today is their 29th anniversary. Joey and Jennine, the two caregivers/tutors who have been here almost since my younger sibs were placed with us, were double-teamed to baby-sit. I was supposed to be in Lansing for a cookout Aaron and his roommate were having by one. Instead, I was at Beaumont hospital from about 10:30 to 5:30 because Chris, who's nine, decided to be Superman.
He jumped out his window. The second story window. With a heave and a ho...
Nothing is broken, he's not paralyzed, there's no internal bleeding, he's just bruised. But I literally passed out when I was with him in the trauma unit while he had blood taken and an IV put in -(I hate needles. And I was with him while we waited for his CT and X Rays to come back. It was a bit easier once my grandfather came, and then my sister and brother-in-law, but I was the one to call 911, and the one to bring all of the emergency info my mom left for them, and then one to talk to the police, and the one who was told by my father that I could make any emergency decisions that needed to be made to help Chris if he was seriously injured.
It was a long day. At the end, Marla and I spoke with a woman from Child Protective Services who showed up to the house when we came home because they discharged Chris without needing him for overnight observation. That worked out too- it's just that people ask questions when a kid unhinges a screen from the window and then jumps.
Once everyone was home, I showered, brushed my teeth (I was still in pjs) and drove over six hours late to Lansing. Marla said I could go; it was no longer an emergency situation, she and Newell were still at the house, Jennine was there, Joey was there, my parents had a flight out and were coming home, I was no longer needed. I felt like my day had finally turned around when Rachel, my other sister, called from Traverse City, because she's been there for about a week now, and asked what had happened. After I explained everything, she proceeded to tell me how selfish I was being by not staying at home. She wouldn't let up, either, and then went below the belt by making a really nasty comment about my reasons for going to Aaron's.
I was really upset by the time that I got to Lansing and so I composed myself in his room as I told him what happened before joining his guests.
My parents called later that evening to ask if I had gotten there ok; they were happy I went and thanked me for what I had done. I was still really upset about Rachel's comment, though - she wasn't there, I was where I was needed when it was an emergency, and when everyone but her tells me so, I can't help but think she has no right to rag on me. Go figure.
So that's my summer so far. Like I said, I like my job, Aaron and I are great, I still have time for my friends, and every now and then someone jumps out a window...
I got home from New York.
I searched (sort of) for a job.
In between that time of me looking and me finding a job, I went with Aaron to Traverse City for three, nope four days. It was only supposed to be three, but we were having such a good time, we decided to stay there for one more night :) My parents have been really good about giving me my time with him, saying it's ok for me to go up to Lansing and not come back for two days, and like I just typed, going to our TC house by ourselves to enjoy our summer vacation. We had such a blast. I took him all over downtown, we had a picnic in one of my favorite spots in the world - at the tip of Mission Peninsula, where the lighthouse is and the 45th parallel. We ate ice cream and watched movies while snuggling on the couch, along with playing mini golf and eating the best chocolate truffle torte ever, called "Chocolate Oblivion". It was heaven, a real vacation.
And then I came home.
Jocelyn helped me to find a job by passing along some very valuable info on a law firm that was hiring a receptionist for the summer. I called, sent my resume, and was hired on the spot after my brief interview ended. They are absolutely wonderful people. Save the fact that Aaron is a law student, I had these major preconceptions about lawyers and how law firms work. My bosses (they're a husband and wife team, just the two of them) are open, ethical, honest and very organized people who invite me to listen in on conference calls so I can learn from them. I can't give any information on what I get to listen in on, because they have confidentiality laws between counselor and client, but they do good work.
Although I was hoping to work part-time this summer so I could have a separate life from my job, I like this 9-5. It's a big step-up from working in the dirt at a cemetery, the pay is better, and I'm not sticky and smelly from bug spray at the end of the day. Aaron and I have been managing to see each other once a week for at least one night and will continue to do so all summer, especially once my other job is definite.
I finally got a call from someone who needs a tutor for her son this summer. She got my name from the organization that I volunteered for second semester for TE 250; they matched us up and I was thrilled when she told me I was "highly recommended". If everything works out, I'll be in Lansing on Saturday mornings at the same library I tutored at this past semester AND around the same time Aaron is in class. It'll work out, and I'll get more experience with teaching...
I wish that was all I had to say in this entry. I wish that my memories of summer so far would include working, Aaron, seeing my friends after work on the weekdays, and such. But they don't. Why? Because I live with my family.
This past weekend, my parents went to California for a Bar Mitzvah, and to spend the weekend together since today is their 29th anniversary. Joey and Jennine, the two caregivers/tutors who have been here almost since my younger sibs were placed with us, were double-teamed to baby-sit. I was supposed to be in Lansing for a cookout Aaron and his roommate were having by one. Instead, I was at Beaumont hospital from about 10:30 to 5:30 because Chris, who's nine, decided to be Superman.
He jumped out his window. The second story window. With a heave and a ho...
Nothing is broken, he's not paralyzed, there's no internal bleeding, he's just bruised. But I literally passed out when I was with him in the trauma unit while he had blood taken and an IV put in -(I hate needles. And I was with him while we waited for his CT and X Rays to come back. It was a bit easier once my grandfather came, and then my sister and brother-in-law, but I was the one to call 911, and the one to bring all of the emergency info my mom left for them, and then one to talk to the police, and the one who was told by my father that I could make any emergency decisions that needed to be made to help Chris if he was seriously injured.
It was a long day. At the end, Marla and I spoke with a woman from Child Protective Services who showed up to the house when we came home because they discharged Chris without needing him for overnight observation. That worked out too- it's just that people ask questions when a kid unhinges a screen from the window and then jumps.
Once everyone was home, I showered, brushed my teeth (I was still in pjs) and drove over six hours late to Lansing. Marla said I could go; it was no longer an emergency situation, she and Newell were still at the house, Jennine was there, Joey was there, my parents had a flight out and were coming home, I was no longer needed. I felt like my day had finally turned around when Rachel, my other sister, called from Traverse City, because she's been there for about a week now, and asked what had happened. After I explained everything, she proceeded to tell me how selfish I was being by not staying at home. She wouldn't let up, either, and then went below the belt by making a really nasty comment about my reasons for going to Aaron's.
I was really upset by the time that I got to Lansing and so I composed myself in his room as I told him what happened before joining his guests.
My parents called later that evening to ask if I had gotten there ok; they were happy I went and thanked me for what I had done. I was still really upset about Rachel's comment, though - she wasn't there, I was where I was needed when it was an emergency, and when everyone but her tells me so, I can't help but think she has no right to rag on me. Go figure.
So that's my summer so far. Like I said, I like my job, Aaron and I are great, I still have time for my friends, and every now and then someone jumps out a window...