Disturbia, fiction, family, friends, and everything else between the lions.
Published on January 1, 2009 By Tova7 In Blogging

Adios 2008. Can’t say I’m sad to see ya go.

I went to see Jay Friday.

He’s in prison here in Ohio; medium security. He is in a comprehensive cognitive behavioral therapy program as well as the AA/NA stuff I blogged about before.

I don’t want to get into all the details. Not because it’s so terrible or great but more out of exhaustion. He is at least learning some productive coping skills, which is a great thing imo. If he gets past his entitlement attitude he’ll really be rockin. It won’t be easy though, not after 37 years of it.

The holidays kept us hopping this year, and now everything is finally taken down and put away, we get to rev back into school.

I hate school. Don’t get me wrong, I love learning. I also realize how fortunate I am to be able to attend without debt or trying to juggle a full time job at the same time. The parts I hate, the parts which make me dread starting back, are twofold. First, the boring subjects. Yes, I know they are important. Yes, I know they will make my education better rounded, helping to clarify the macro picture, yadda, yadda. But really, Statistical Analysis almost did me in with how bone dry and B-O-R-I-N-G it was. And doing the hundreds of hours of research to write a 66 page analysis of statistics….gag..I throw up a little in my mouth thinking of it.

This quarter the only class that looks sleep inducing is Theory. I get the whole idea behind studying theories of a profession. The problem as I see it? No theory is ever really 100%. You have to mix them all together and come up with something workable for you and the situation you’re managing.

Well, duh. That’s exactly what the theorists did before they sat down and wrote the theory. Does it really save me time on the job? Maybe. Maybe not. I didn’t use any of the theory I took for my undergraduate.

Mostly I hate memorizing the names of people who had nothing better to do in their careers than write books on theory. Why are the names considered as relevant as the actual theory? Why not just remember the concepts? If you don’t consider the author’s name = to the theory then which is more important? Well, if you look at collegiate exams you’d think the names are the most important thing. I wonder if that’s because most of these people, who come up with the theory (in this field anyway), and then write books about it, are in fact college professors.

The second thing which makes me dread returning is the time it takes from my family. They don’t miss it, but I do. Hahahaha.

I want to try and finish the JUWC Round Robin story before the weekend is over. Not that I think its really getting read-age…but because I can’t stand to leave a story unfinished. It bugs me. Endlessly.

I know exactly where it’s going, the climax and all, but finding the time is kicking my butt right now. When school starts…..forget about it!

Thank you to all who sent Christmas cards. I didn’t send any out this year. First time ever…but I kept putting it off and then before I knew it…MERRY CHRISTMAS.

Yeah, yeah. I know.

Sad.

Well I hope 2009 is a year in which your blessings multiply, grace is given abundantly, received in equal measure, and your health prospers.

Happy New Year.

Tonya


Comments (Page 1)
2 Pages1 2 
on Jan 01, 2009

 

on Jan 01, 2009

And a Happy New Year to you too.  Hope 2009 turns out to be all you want and more.

on Jan 01, 2009

A military wife?  You have the hardest job of all....I am not strong enough to marry military, so I did the easier thing I went to basic training.  I wish you all the luck in 2009

on Jan 01, 2009

If he gets past his entitlement attitude he’ll really be rockin.

You know, it took me a long time to finally get through my thick, stupid head that NOBODY owed me a damn thing. Nobody or no thing, and not God or the Universe or Karma what have you. Heh, and once I did get that through my thick, stupid head I found freedom! I hope your brother does the same.

(2008 was a great year for me -but I think it was in a large part because I had decided it was going to be)

on Jan 01, 2009

You know, it took me a long time to finally get through my thick, stupid head that NOBODY owed me a damn thing. Nobody or no thing, and not God or the Universe or Karma what have you. Heh, and once I did get that through my thick, stupid head I found freedom! I hope your brother does the same.

Glad 2008 was a good one for you.  It wasn't exactly bad all year, but death and prison...two low points.

The whole entitlement attitude ruins lives.  I think Jay is starting to see it now.

For instance he said, "If I work 5 hours a day, all I get is $18 a month."

I said, "That's not true Jay.  You get $45.16 a day beyond that.  That's what it cost to feed you, to give you a bed, and it doesn't count all this therapy program you get, the gym, the track, the heat.  Who do you think is paying for that?  It's not free.  You should appreciate that some people actually stay out of prison and keep a job so you don't starve to death in here."

He said, yeah he never really thought of it that way.  That he was on a sort of welfare, living off the government.

So was it BS?  I dunno.  We'll see when he gets out.

A military wife? You have the hardest job of all....I am not strong enough to marry military, so I did the easier thing I went to basic training. I wish you all the luck in 2009

Military wife.  hahah.  Where did you get that impression?  (Curious here..because I don't exactly advertise it, and just glancing at my blog wouldn't give you the impression...so you know someone here?)

Been awhile since I was called that.  But, yes I am.  I also served active duty in the AF where I met and married my husband.  So I am no stranger to the Air Force, officer or enlisted.

See, things in common all ready! 

And a Happy New Year to you too. Hope 2009 turns out to be all you want and more.

Thanks Maso.

 

on Jan 01, 2009

For instance he said, "If I work 5 hours a day, all I get is $18 a month."

He's lucky. In Texas prisons he would work 40 hours a week and get nothing -except maybe good time credits and maybe some slightly better living conditions,

on Jan 01, 2009

He's lucky. In Texas prisons he would work 40 hours a week and get nothing -except maybe good time credits and maybe some slightly better living conditions,

He's really lucky since he is in one of the better prisons in Ohio.  But I don't think he'll fully appreciate that fact until he's out.  His brothers are in much worse.  When THOSE stories get back to him, maybe he'll....well, wait and see I guess.

on Jan 01, 2009

Happy New Year! I am looking forward to a new year. I always like the thought of a clean slate as well.

I am reading the round robin story but have to go and catch up. I popped on a little bit during the holidays, but not long enough to really read. I was staying calm and collected then, the 23rd came and BAM...then the crazy storm. It is still snowing and shovelling. Criminy.

Good Luck at school and pop in every now and again to keep us straight.

on Jan 01, 2009

just tiptoeing by to say hello. 

on Jan 02, 2009

just tiptoeing by to say hello.

Hey!  Glad to see you.  I read about your new job and I think it is FABULOUS!  Rock on Crazy Mama.

I was staying calm and collected then, the 23rd came and BAM...then the crazy storm. It is still snowing and shovelling. Criminy.

I haven't watched much tv, but when I turned it on, I saw the west coast is getting pounded.  Yikes.  And here we sit with less than normal snow fall for 2008, and nothing in 2009 (so far and I'm not complainin).

 

on Jan 02, 2009

Hey chikka--got a letter from Jay right before Christmas, I'll write him back sometime this week. Tried to call ya too, but you've been on the run so much I couldn't catch ya at home.

I'm sorry.  I didn't even get the message.  If my oldest took it, well there is a 50/50 chance I'll actually get it.  He writes the note, but then doesn't bring it out of his room.  So I usually find them weeks later...crunched up and alone behind his desk, or on the floor.  heh.

I'm glad Jay wrote you back.  He didn't say much about the letter except, "I was really mad at you because of your last letter, but then I thought about it awhile, got that letter from S, and decided to not be mad anymore."

So whatever ya wrote helped him with anger. 

on Jan 02, 2009

hey {{{{{tonya}}}}} sounds like you got the serious low down holiday blues, I always did wonder about having to remember the names of people that wrote books on the subject you were studying. I still wonder whats that about?

on Jan 02, 2009

hey {{{{{tonya}}}}} sounds like you got the serious low down holiday blues, I always did wonder about having to remember the names of people that wrote books on the subject you were studying. I still wonder whats that about?

Not really blue MM, exhausted, yeah that's more what I am...but thanks for the hugs.

 

on Jan 02, 2009

Happy New Year, Tova...glad you survived statistical analysis (yuck). 

Here is hoping your school semester is a success...I would love to go back and get my Master's in the near future.  I've been getting small epiphanies about making changes in my career, so I hope it will happen soon!

on Jan 02, 2009

Now we gotta work on your anger, lol.

Don't mistake my loud personality for anger.

I'm over it.  The original stuff anyway...no promises on the future...I get mad but can't really maintain it...takes too much time and energy.

Plus I don't ever want to be one of those angry bitter women who life can never seem to please.

2 Pages1 2