The material presented
here is not Al-Anon Conference Approved Literature. It is a method
to exchange
information, ideas, feelings, problems and solutions on a personal
level.
Because the campus is 40 miles away, and all my faxed and emails to the book store last week went unanswered, I did drive the Nissan as all my program friends work during the day. When I got home, I handed the keys back over to AD and walked off.
I started off with the student support center, and they redirected me to the Workplace Assistance Department, who works in conjunction with Vo-Rehab, so at least I was starting to get somewhere!
The gentleman there was SO nice, and I explained my dilemna, that 2 of my classes already had started this past Monday, and the other 3 due to start next Monday, no responses to the multiple emails/fax to the book store to request they send all my book/software requirements and prices to my VR worker. No word from my VR worker since last week.
He gave me a small office to sit in and allowed me to call my VR worker long distance, and he was in, but on the phone. So I held and held and held, and the receptionist finally came back on and said he was still on the phone. I gave her the office number where I was at and asked that she pass that on to my VR worker as I needed to hear from him TODAY!
An hour later no call, another nice lady offered to stand by the phone while I went to the restroom. I called my VR worker's office again, he's still on the phone.
I waited 30 more minutes and by that time, my back hurt so bad I just couldn't take it and made my next step the book store. I thanked the gentleman who originally helped me. He said I certainly gave it my best effort today at trying to contact my VR worker, and asked me to please stop in next time I was on campus and let him know how things turned out.
Off to the book store I went, and a very nice lady in front referred me onto her supervisor, and that's when some progress really started happening. I related the story once again, they didn't even have time to get to my fax/emails last week as they processed books for over 4000 students!
She pulled up my student records, and had a list of all the books, software, and prices and asked if that was what my VR worker needed. I told her yes, I KNEW he was in his office today as I had sat forever in the other office waiting for his call and she faxed it to him before I left. She said if he authorized everything by noon tomorrow, they could get it out UPS.
If he drops the ball on this one, it certainly isn't through anything I haven't done.
As soon as I got home, the AD informed I was to call my mother because they couldn't make plans for the family get-together on Sunday. Again, blatant disregard and no respect for my wishes to be left alone. She also told me the garage had called as my valve stem extenders had come up missing after I had two new tires put on, and I told her that was hers to deal with, period. I was done with 'the car'.
She got on the phone to talk with Mom and I walked out into the back yard to mow because I wasn't going to get sucked into their crap.
I have rides to the meetings, so that is good, and when the weather is nice, it does me good to walk to the meetings, and I can hitch a ride home afterwards.
I am so exhausted and my back really hurts from being on my feet too long, but I feel really good about what I accomplished, and staying out of the toxic crap between AD and my parents
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"If a dog will not come to you after having looked you in the face, you should go home and examine your conscience." - Woodrow Wilson
Ten, when the chips are down the ONLY person one can depend on is the self. I have been thinking of you the past 48 hours and just adding my prayers that your problems will be solved and you can get on your way with the studies. You have my admiration and awe...it is so difficult to deal with all that you have right now, not to mention where you have already been.
I wish there was a magic button to push!! Thinking of you!! Let us now what happens.
Thank you so much for your kind words, Joyoma! I am also praying I see some improvement with the sore on my ear over the next couple of days as I'd really like to rule out the basal cell carcinoma!
I will keep everyone posted on the text book situation :)
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"If a dog will not come to you after having looked you in the face, you should go home and examine your conscience." - Woodrow Wilson
THSKS, with school comes bureaucracy! Yikes! I have heard this story of running around from so many- I know I had to do a lot of it, too- especially in the beginning. Just take it one day at a time and know that this is normal to a certain extent. No one expects you to have all your ducks in a row, you are a student now- do not forget! Give yourself a break, I know that its hard to make the switch from being a totally competent together adult to an adult student but part of the beauty of being a student as a mature adult is that we are opening ourselves to something new and to new learning. I think that this is a really important thing. It takes SO MUCH courage to enter into a whole new realm, admit we want to learn, open ourselves to admitting that we do not know everything we need to know...its all really pretty radical, you know. Most adults have "made it" and there I was going back to square one...its pretty tough!
You are doing just fine, jettison all that family crap off to HP- let him deal with those bozos!!! love and hugs, J.
Oh Jean, you really made me chuckle with the 'totally competent together adult'! I think I might qualify as fairly competent and getting better at getting it together' adult!
I just can't believe how warm everyone was to me, and even though I did see some non-traditional students while I was there, the vast majority were fresh-face young ones!
I was pleasantly surprised when I walked out of the Student Union building, thinking what my next step was, and I heard a very cheerful 'Hello'! I looked up and a young black man was smiling at me as he was going into the building.
Wow, he said hello to a middle aged grey-haired grandmother of two, and his smile was genuine, and contagious too as I broke out in a huge grin!
Even though it was a long day, it was great to get out in a social setting I am normally not in!
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"If a dog will not come to you after having looked you in the face, you should go home and examine your conscience." - Woodrow Wilson
Again, taking your serenity back and holding on tight to it. Good for you. I'm saying prayers that your ear heals, too.
In recovery,
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~Jen~
"When you come to the edge of all you know you must believe in one of two things... there will be earth on which to stand or you will be given wings." ~Unknown
