[So much for losing weight, eating right and exercising...all of which I've focused on the past 8 months.]

Right now I’m waiting for my insurance company to pre-approve the tests. The nurse said she thought that would happen by Friday at the latest.

I’m a little in shock by this turn of events, not to mention frightened. I have a strong family history of sudden, massive cardiac attacks. I had believed that by taking better care of myself I would escape it, even with my other health issues.

Luke is doing better. He still limps some on the leg with the most nerve-damage, but otherwise seems back to his normal self. It’s not bothering him enough to keep him from chasing after the puppies next door, nor does it keep him from wrestling with Lucy and Cotton.

Since I received notification of my rights as a victim, I’m taking that to mean that the other party was finally found. I haven’t heard when the court date is, but I’m sighing with relief that I don’t have to be wary every time I come home and constantly on my guard.

Work seemed better towards the end of this past week. I hope I’m not jinxing myself by writing that…

Still having a really hard time breathing at moments. I see the doctor Wednesday.

I finished reading Breaking Dawn earlier today. At one point I was really not enjoying the way I thought it was heading. At the end, however, I was satisfied with the way it all turned out.

Had a “friend” decide that because we work together we can’t be friends even outside of work. When it happened I was very upset, mostly because we rarely (if ever) even discussed work outside the workplace. The upset has turned more into disappointment at the lack of perspective and the seeminly “thow away-ness” of what I (wrongly) perceived as a friendship.

*sigh*

In the midst of that I was on the receiving end of a public and humiliating conversation this week. The unhappy person and I both were, and it just added fuel to the fire. I was (and am) appalled that anyone would speak to another person in such a manner, and even more horrified that it was done publicly. I didn’t even know who was witnessing it (the conversation being via speakerphone) until the end of the week.

Leadership by fear, intimidation, and humiliation is not real leadership in my opinion.

In the middle of it all, my favorite uncle died of what they’re saying was a massive coronary. Life seems a bit emptier and less optimistic without him in it. I don’t have very many happy childhood memories, but the few I do generally involve him and my aunt.

His death coming in the middle of the mess was yet another timely reminder that life is too short and too precious.

We also had a big storm this week. I read in the paper this morning that we’ve had almost 6 inches of rain so far this monsoon season…more than the past two years. The dew points and humidity have been high, making it sticky outside.

The other party from my previous posts continues to be a problem. The last officers I spoke to did seem a bit more concerned, but I haven’t heard yet of anything actually being done.

I’m very disappointed with the local police department. When I called to report seeing the other party walking through my yard to the neighbors (the tree burners), it took 3 hours for anyone to come by. Of course the other party had left by then. The officer did take statements from me and the neighbor across the street (six days after the fact mind you), so maybe he’s actually planning on doing something. I was equally disappointed when he told me that as long as the other party has no contact with me there’s nothing they can do about the other party going to the neighbors. Since those kids aren’t supervised at all during the day, it makes me even more apprehensive about what’s being going on. Especially after the neighbor across the street shared she’s heard the tree burners screaming and poking at the dogs.

I did remind the officer that the order says no contact with me and that the other party is not to be at my place of residence. He agreed that the other party should not be walking in my yard. I feel so safe now.

My neighbor from across the street and I went over to talk to the parents of the neighbor kids. Apparently the other party has become a “friend” within the past week. My neighbor shared with them what she had seen and I shared that I had an order of protection against the other party in hopes that would encourage the adults to discourage the friendship. The boyfriend’s response? The other party doesn’t seem intimidating to me. Of course this is the man that grabbed one of the kids by the throat and left marks, as well as throwing things at the girlfriend and their dogs all the time. *sigh* I doubt they’re going to do much. The good news is that school starts this week and so that means at least everyone will be supervised during the day, as well as meaning my poor dogs will get some peace.

The not-so-helpful officer? Said he’s try to stop by and talk to the other party. Never mind that the other party has violated the order of protection as well as the terms of probation.

I’m not sure what to do at this point. I am extremely irritated.

Until yesterday.

I should have known something was wrong because my neighbor across the street was outside moving their dumpster (instead of one of the kids). She was walking towards me as a turned around and came face to face with the other party. The party said something to me, but moved away rather quickly when she came up to me. That is, moved to sit under the tree two houses down from mine and stare. My neighbor expressed concern about how “aggressively” (her word, not mine) I was approached. My neighbor also shared that the party had been walking up and down the street, even sitting on the street facing my door, during the same afternoon. I thanked her, went inside, pulled out the court documents and called to report the incident. An officer came and took a report and said they would be picking up the other party as soon as possible. He also cautioned me to take extra care because of the general unstable nature of the other party (as evidenced by various acts and displays…one day in love with the world, the next wanting to “kill” everyone and so on).

24 hours later

I come home (late) from work to discover that the furniture on my front porch had been moved (a chair was blocking the door), and gopher bait all over. After making sure the dogs were okay, I went in and called an officer friend of mine to see if the other party was apprehended last night.

The other party was not apprehended last night.

So, is the fact that the furniture was moved and gopher bait spilled a coincidence? It’s not happened once in the past four years. Obviously the police aren’t convinced because I’m sitting here waiting for an officer to come and take a report.

Yeah, I’m a little stressed today.

After my latest doctor’s report I broke down and hired someone to mow my lawn this weekend. He’s here now and the dogs are going crazy. I reminded him (twice) that when I was feeling better I would be taking over again and so not to mow again without checking with me. He’s done with the front and side and it looks great.

It’s been an emotional week. I’m looking forward to regaining some equilibrium this weekend.