Just an FYI

Things That Make Me Sad

1. Funeral Processions.
2. When you run out of toilet paper because someone left three squares on the roll and you have to waddle to the closet to find more or shake dry.
3. Waiting to find out if I have a snow day.

Today was probably the best day I've had in a really long time. That's right folks, today was worth describing with two font effects. I drove home yesterday late in the morning for court today. I was able to hang out with Shannon which was nice because I miss her lots when I'm at school. She made me dinner and then we were silly and talked about pooing and boys and friends and life in general.

On to today! Today was easier and harder than I thought it would be, all at the same time. I held it together until the ADA brought me into an office to let me know where the trial proceedings stood and what his plan of action was from there; at that point in time I was also notified that his lawyer would be coming to talk to me and that I was not obligated to talk to him. I *barely* held it together through this brief meeting. After I left the office the magnitude of everything I'd experienced, felt, witnessed just hit me. Tears were pouring down my face but at least I wasn't sobbing. I called Padre to tell him to high-tail it down to the courthouse and be my moral support. The woman who was in charge of my case for the day [VWA] was very supportive the entire time continuously telling me how brave I was and how strong I was; it was nice to hear because I felt like a little bitch sitting on that couch crying.

After I was off the phone with my dad and the VWA left the office his lawyer walked in. He shook my hand and introduced himself after which he asked me, "What's wrong, honey?"  SERIOUSLY?! What the fuck do you think is wrong?? I'm taking the man who was my fiance to court for assaulting me. What about that statement isn't wrong? So I just tell him that I'm overwhelmed by this whole process and that it just hit me right now. He goes on asking me questions like have I seen him, has he contacted me, etc. After which he tells me that he has been on psych meds and blah blah blah. Like I give a damn. Apparently his willingness to admit that he has a mental health problem should be punishment enough for putting his hands around my throat and headbutting me in the forhead. IDK. At this point I let him know that while I support his decision to seek medical help for these issues that it's not enough for me as far as punishment for what he did. That he is an ADULT and that when you make ADULT mistakes you have to suffer the ADULT consequences and sometimes those consequences include jail time. To which he asked, "So, you think he should go to jail?" BINGO! I was then asked how long I thought he should go to jail. I told him that I didn't think I was qualified to have an opinion on this matter because I had no legal knowledge or training in the issuing of senteces for criminal matters and that I trusted the suggestion of the ADA and the judge's final decision. I'm not sure if he was aware that I'm actually a well educated woman and not some white-trash townie that he can dick around but after I said that I'm pretty sure that he was in the know on that one.

Padre rolled into the office at this point. I told him what happened with his lawyer and he was proud of how I handled myself. Shortly after this I was given the option of witnessing the sentencing or waiting in the office. Of course I wanted to witness his sentencing - I didn't go through the last eight months to sit in an office waiting for them to tell me what had happened. The VWA told me that when we were walking to the court room I would walk by him. That was the first time I have seen him in eight months. I'm pleased to say he.got.fat. It makes me feel slightly better about the weight I've gained since we split. He wasn't expecting me to be there so it was a nice shock before he's told that he's going to jail, I'm sure.

There isn't much else to tell. I was able to see him handcuffed by the court officer. It was worth the eight month wait to see that. I know it's a little petty to think of it this way but in my eyes that was when I was victorious in this situation. He's sentenced to a year in the house of corrections. Six months to serve with six months suspended for one and a half years; he has to comply with a lot of Department of Mental Health requirements when he's paroled which I'm not sure will happen so he may or may not end up serving the full year. Either way he has more charges coming his way from other open cases which will ultimately make his time in the HOC longer than six months.

It's finally over. I'm done with him. For good. I'll be notified when he's released from the HOC at which point I don't expect to be living on Cape Cod, anyways. I've been instructed to renew my restraining order simply because of his record and the fact that the renewal date is close to his expected release date - at this time, anyways.

Happy days are here again.