Such a Busy, Busy Fall

Okay, well... in the last three weeks, there is an insane amount to catch you up on. I really don't even know where to start...

Work has been okay. Difficult and draining, and a little discouraging at times, but full of a lot of good things too. Transitioning to the ARHD role has been very hard for me, and I've had to break ties with a lot of people because of it. It makes me sad that that's the way things have to be. I've also realized even further how convoluted the politics of this place are, and how carefully you have to tread.

On a much happier note, for those of you that read my last post, I found a lot more than a friend in Jon. From the first night, both of us could tell there was something between us. We were instantly comfortable with each other on a level I've never felt before. That following weekend, we went on a date (my first real date) to the Tall Ships Festival in Erie, PA. We had a lot of fun. Couldn't get on the ships because of the lines, but got to go in the museum and to the beach. We also went to a play the next day, which was nifty because he'd done a lot of the set design for it. This past weekend (not yesterday, but last weekend) we went camping at Ohiopyle in PA. Before all was said and done, we decided we were officially a couple, and ever since, we've both just been generally happier people. This weekend, Celia and Jon came and stayed for the weekend. It was really great to see Celia again, and awesome that Jon was actually willing and excited to meet my friends. (Jess never was.)

So all in all, I am doing wonderfully. I am tremendously excited for what's ahead. For now, I've got to go and get some work done!

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

With a title like that, I might as well just go in order, shall I? Starting with good:

Bree and I are talking again, with the mutual (hopefully) understanding that she fucked up

And that she understands why I was upset.

I went to a party with Bree and her friend John the other night,

And for those that know me, parties are drastically out of my comfort zone

But it'd been a bad day already, as you'll read below, so I figured it couldn't hurt.

I didn't drink at the party, because I really didn't want to.

By the time it was over, I was exhausted, but John and I still had to get Bree to bed.

So after we made her a grilled cheese, got her to drink some water and take Tylenol,

Then we got to go to sleep too. There was a lot of chit chat and whispered conversation

And I found out that he understands a lot of things I didn't expect him to.

It was nice to finally get to see Bree again, and I think I may have met a new friend in John.

Part two: the bad.

For those of you who didn't already know, Mr. Mercer passed away on Tuesday.

I spent most of last week driving back and forth between Kent and Vermilion.

But I managed to be there for the tail end of calling hours, the funeral, and to help out a little.

It was sort of a surreal experience, because Dad had picked all his own music and attire...

Basically he had everything ready for when he finally passed.

So sitting in chairs during calling hours, suddenly, "In Heaven, There is No Beer" starts playing

And you couldn't help but smile, because it was so very him.

I did mostly fine, just a few tears, until the last hymn in the church...

"Go in Peace" starts out with the line, "There will be no more darkness."

And from that point on, I was sobbing. I was sad, but I was also so wonderfully, blessedly, overjoyed that he doesn't hurt anymore.

Final part: the ugly

Last night was my first official night on duty as an ARHD.

I was on once before, but it was before students moved in, so there were no shenanigans.

Last night, I dealt with parties, police, ambulances, drunks, bad attitudes, forgetful residents, dead door locks, alarm clocks... Ugh.

I ran from building to building from 10:45 until 2:00 a.m. without stopping.

Every time we'd be wrapping a situation up, I'd get called to the next one.

But, I feel like I got a good amount of exercise from it, and a lot of experience.

So that's my last seven days in a nutshell.

Weather permitting, I'm going to Geauga Lake tomorrow...