A learning experience

There’s nothing quite like a friend you can learn from. Whether you’re learning from their experiences, or learning about yourself through their eyes, it’s an amazing thing.

I’ve been doing a lot of learning lately, courtesy of the vacationing friend. Odd, I know, given that he’s currently in the dreamsicle suit and showering three times a week while I’m among the free men but, as one of the guys at work always says, it is what it is.

We’ve spoken on the phone about 10 times in the last two days since he’s now in an open block and able to access the phone more often (which is great but is going to suck when the phone bill comes). We’ve discussed a lot of things, but mostly kept conversation light. Our letters, however, are an entirely different matter. In the letters, we talk truth. We talk about his fears when it comes to his current predicament, we talk about his experiences in Iraq and while he was in the Army, we talk about our childhoods (oddly enough, his was about as, er, different as mine)… we just talk. It’s kind of incredible, really. I’ve never had conversations like that (verbal or written) with a member of the opposite sex.

The letter I received today contained one part that caught me off guard (and not the part about his dreams about Iraq coming back):

“I’m really looking forward to seeing you this weekend. I know that visitation is early and you’re probably cursing me under your breath but it does my heart good to see you. You really are a great friend and I wouldn’t trade you for anything in the world. People like you are very rare. I just wanted you to know that.”

So, today’s question at hand is this: Why is it that the one man, ever, who realizes that I’m one of a kind is the one sitting in the damn jail?!

Oh, and let’s not forget the one man who actually decides he wants a relationship. HA! Unfortunately, as I explained to him, status does not change while one’s incarcerated. We can talk once his court date is over, provided he is among the free men. For now, however, I am going to simply hope that he’s bailed out by Christmas because his mama really wants him to be at the dinner table.

Not exactly my expectations

I’m fairly simple. I like to sleep, eat, go out with friends when I’m not exhausted. I enjoy spending time with Chopper and messing with Russell. I like to shoot pool, sing loud in my car and, APPARENTLY, deliver messages from Onslow County’s inmates to their girlfriends/wives?

As previously mentioned, a friend of mine is currently vacationing with Sheriff Ed Brown. His cell mate is currently waiting on New Jersey to decide if they’re going to charge him with manslaughter or something, if he’s not charged he’s free to go Dec. 20. Monday, I was asked to call his girlfriend and pass along a message. Which I did since I hadn’t met my full good samaritan quota for November.

“Why didn’t he write me instead of his sister?!”

Seriously? Seriously?! How about “thanks for delivering the message?” or “tell him I love him, too since you’re the one accepting the collect phone calls?” but “WHY DIDN’T HE WRITE ME INSTEAD OF HIS SISTER?!” You have got to be freakin’ kidding me.

So, I play messenger and deliver her message to him (that she misses him, loves him, keep his chin up and he needs to write her), then get asked to call her back and explain his situation. Seriously, if my cell phone minutes were not in abundance, I would be irate.

I AM NOT A MESSENGER!!!!

Tonight, Jeremiah calls again. Of course, he calls right as I give up on his calling and go to a friend’s house to pick up “New Moon” for my boss to read. So, I grab the book and haul ass back. I get back at the end of collect phone call No. 1. We talk through collect phone call No. 2, where he explains that his bond has been reduced to $40K (which I knew because I’d spoken to his mother an hour before) and that he has a plan to get more than half of it (and it’s legal, or so it appears). So, I call his mom to share his master plan at his request. Then comes phone call no. 3, where I am asked to again call Shamara, which I do. Then comes collect phone call No. 4, where Walter asks if I will call his wife, Jessica, to say that he “loves her dearly,” and did she happen to mail her letter and money to him?

At phone call No. 4, I broke the news to Jeremiah that he would have to call back tomorrow (especially now that he’s on an open block and can actually leave his cell for more than an hour every other day), at which point I’d have a message for Walter.

Unfortunately for Walter, the message is simple: No, Jessica has not written or sent cash. Unfortunately, he will have to eat what’s served to the inmates instead of from a vending machine. Perhaps, he should try to call her himself.

Army casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Pfc. Derrick D. Gwaltney, 21, of Cape Coral, Fla., died Nov. 29 south of Basra, Iraq, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident.  He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 377th Field Artillery Regiment, 17th Fires Brigade, Fort Lewis, Wash.

The circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation.

Camp Lejeune Marine casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Lance Cpl. Jonathan A. Taylor, 22, of Jacksonville, Fla., died Dec. 1 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.  He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Navy casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a sailor who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Petty Officer 3rd Class David M. Mudge, 22, of Sutherlin, Ore., died Nov. 28, in a non-hostile accident aboard USS Rentz while in Port Jebel Ali, United Arab Emirates.

Army casualties

The Department of Defense announced Nov. 24 the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Spc. Jason A. McLeod, 22, of Crystal Lake, Ill., died Nov. 23, west of Pashmul, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with mortar fire.  He was assigned to the 704th Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry.

Department of Defense announced Nov. 24 the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Staff Sgt. Matthew A. Pucino, 34, of Cockeysville, Md., died Nov. 23 in Pashay Kala, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.  He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 20th Special Forces Group of the Maryland Army National Guard in Glen Arm, Md.

The Department of Defense announced Nov. 24 the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Sgt. Briand T. Williams, 25, of Sparks, Ga., died Nov. 22, in Numaniyah, Iraq, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using small arms fire.  He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 10th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Benning, Ga

Army casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Pfc. Michael A. Rogers, 23, of White Sulphur Springs, Mont., died Nov. 27, at Forward Operating Base Hammer, east of Baghdad, Iraq, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident.  He was assigned to the 210th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, N.Y.

The circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation.

Blood sucking greatness

For nearly a year, I made fun of those who fell for the teenage vampire love story. I made fun until I saw the movie on my birthday… and fell head over heels in freaking love with it.

Then, last week, I got three of the four books, borrowed the one I was missing, and set to reading. Monday I read books one and two (not necessarily in that order). Tuesday I read book three. Wednesday I started book four and Thursday I finished it after dinner.

Tonight Alexis and I went to see New Moon (for $9.50 a ticket, those seats should be damn heated, by the way). Despite KNOWING what’s going to happen and KNOWING how the series ends and KNOWING every damn thing that happens between the beginning of New Moon and the end of Breaking Dawn, I was still sitting at the end of my seat.

But despite the fabulous story and the fact that I lost an amazing number of hours of sleep last week trying to read the series, there’s one thing that this series has that many do not: “Twilight” managed to get folks reading.

The young, the old and the in between fell in love right along with Edward and Bella. They read about Jacob falling for Bella and Bella’s choice. They read about Bella’s desire to become a vampire so she could spend forever with Edward. And they read all that happened after New Moon that I won’t discuss on here in case I ruin the story for someone else.

This series has inevitably fattened the pockets of author Stephenie Meyer but more importantly it re-connected folks with the written word. Even if they only read to see if Bella answered Edward’s proposal with a “yes” or a “no.”

Top things I should’ve learned by now

I realized this morning that I tend to make the same mistakes over and over and over again. Kind of like going to the fair each year and getting on the same damn ride that makes you hurl. So, for my memory and your amusement, here are a few things I should’ve learned by now.

1.) If the guy has treated you as an option not a priority the last few times, he’s going to do it again. Ignore his phone calls/text messages. Especially if lonely.

2.) If you think he’s bad news, he is bad news. RUN.

3.) If the main topic when hanging out with a guy is his upcoming courtdate, RUN.

4.) Just because you want to strangle someone at that particular moment doesn’t mean you won’t love them tomorrow, so don’t chew ‘em up and spit ‘em out. Or dream about it.

5.) Work isn’t your entire life.

6.) Work is approximately 40 hours a week.

7.) Work isn’t your entire life. (Yes, this is something that I need to remember obviously, hence it’s being on here twice.)

8.) I have the sensitivity of a rhino. Others do not. Try to be more sensitive. (Per my BFF’s request, LOL).

9.) Just because I love Chopper’s crazy ways doesn’t mean others do. Encourage him to be nice boy.

10.) I need to actually remember the things I’ve learned instead of moving on and then making the same mistake a few months later. I.E. Stop playing with fire, because I tend to get burned. Which is why Melissa was nice enough to print off a fire suit and put it on my desk.

Thanksgiving, extra shift and jail visits

There’s nothing quite like family holidays.

As my mother put it: “Family holidays are like drive-by shootings, you can see it coming but ya can’t do a damn thing about it.”

This Thanksgiving was not nearly as bad as the holidays of Pandolfe-Hickey family past. There was no bloodshed, no divorce announcements, no dying pets, no one incarcerated (though one is on probation), and no one locked themselves in their house and refused to come out. For my family, that’s a huge improvement. There was a ton of food (a 20 lb. turkey and no leftovers), a lot of relaxing (i.e. reading and watching Snow Buddies FOUR times!), and in general little bickering (but how can you blame a 12 year old for having the urge to squabble with her four year old brother).

Me, mom, Gram and Will

Samantha, Gram, Uncle Dave, Aunt Carrie and Cooper

This week was all about balance. Balancing work with family, balancing family with my sanity, balancing reading with letter writing, etc. I did pretty well, I think. I did three papers on my own this week and don’t think I effed up anything major, though if I did I’m sure I’ll find out Wednesday when I go in. I managed to read the entire Twilight series in four days, write multiple letters to my incarcerated friend, and see my family for more than my usual 45 minute drive by visit.

Oh yeah, I was on it.

The plan was to work Thanskgiving and Friday then have Sat-Mon. off… but because I love Timmi Toler so very much, I worked Saturday in exchange for Tuesday off (and her running the Listen Up! meeting).  Luckily, I got a lot of the stuff for Sunday’s paper done Friday night since my family required about 2 hours of my time after a jail visit Saturday morning… so I didn’t get to the office ’til like four hours after I typically arrive. Luckily, I didn’t feel that far behind (though I did a bit) for very long since I was ahead of the game.

Which is a damn good thing since my adorably hilarious incarcerated friend was beyond depressed when his mama and I went to see him, and that pretty much took over my thoughts for most of the day. Hopefully he’ll be a bit more chipper Sunday… though I’m not really counting on it.