[Edreina's Scrapbook] When All is Silent, I Still Hear Waves

[Abstract]

O.o that must have sucked... wow. Never been in a car crash myself, and I hope it stays that way...

Did you guys figure out why the woman was driving full speed into you anyways??

I hope you're alright

[Edreina]

It was so far beyond terrifying! I heard her clip a guy behind us but didn't think anything of it until we were already spinning. I didn't even really realize I was hurt until after I had already gotten my little sister and dad into the hands of the paramedics. I was mostly worried about my dad; he had triple-bipass in January and I worried that this would aggravate it. I'm just glad we're all ok.

Funny part is, my ex boyfriend offered to drive us home from the hospital but then his car died while he was inside waiting for us. Talk about dumb luck!

And Abby, this was my first true car accident. The only other time was when a drunk driver took off our front end on the way to a wedding. I was too young to really remember it.

Apparently she was texting. I just found this out about an hour ago when I called the police.

[Kaie]

That's some serious damage! Glad everyone's alright. Just one of those unfriendly reminders you can't trust anyone on the road. Props to your dad for reacting so quickly!

[Edreina]

Long, multi-topic post ahead!

My dad is a serious bad ass. I know all kids say that, but I honestly consider my dad to be a real life super hero.

Here is why:

He started working at the age of 7 to help support his family. Now, he didn't work at some five and dime helping with shelving or something. He lived in a rural old town and so he worked at the local stock yards helping to manage cattle. This means that as a 7 year old bean pole, he was keeping thousand pound animals in line.

After high school, he joined the US Navy and served 21 years. He has crisscrossed the globe and been to every country accessible by sea save for Australia. He served on the Tripoli during the Gulf Crisis and was even serving when the Tripoli hit a mine. Fun fact, the Tripoli is the only US Ship to hit a mine and continue in its station. In his time in the Navy, my dad saw more death and violence than most people could imagine. He worked his body so hard that he ended up having to have all of the meniscus between his knees removed before he had even turned 40.

When he retired from the Navy with two daughters and a wife, he had trouble finding work; no one wanted a man in his late thirties with no college degree and that programmed in a dead language. Along with that, my dad hated computers at this point. So, he and my mom worked for Public Storage for about 12 years.

Finally, he received his lucky break. He was offered a job as a Commercial Pest Control Operative for the company of Steritech. Things were looking up. Finally, we could afford to move out of Public Storage (they had a ramshackle, on-site apartment). I got a bedroom with a window in our new apartment!

Things continued to get better! After a year in this job, he passed his probationary period and became a full employee. We moved out of the inner city and were able to build a house in the country.

Fast forward about six years, and we come to November of 2012. My dad's knees have been giving him heaps of trouble at work, he can barely make it through the Walmart Distribution center because he has to move so slowly and stop constantly. So, he finally decided to have his knee replaced that December.

The surgery went off without a hitch despite our frayed nerves, and he was expected to make a full recovery. But, somehow this procedure messed with his Diabetes medications and after only a week of having him home, he was rushed to the hospital by ambulance twice within a month as his blood sugar plummeted abruptly.

But, things were fine, eventually! He just needed to go to the hospital to make sure that his knee was healing well.

One visit to the hospital later, he finds out that he needs emergency triple bipass heart surgery because of major buildup in his arteries.

Again, my family was thrown in to a panic as the surgery approached. Tests were run, plans were made, days grew shorter. Finally, the day came and, once again, his surgery went off without a hitch.

Things should be great. But, life seems intent upon testing the iron in my father's bones.

Two months ago, my father found out that, since it will be another several months until he is well enough to work full time, his company has let him go. No longer will they be paying him partial wages for Short-term disability. I understand why they did it and I bear them no ill-will. Sure, we're a little short on money, but it's ok. We've been through worse together.

My dad started to look for work but, because of his health issues, no one will hire him. So, finally, he decided to apply for disability. The Beast of Bureaucracy is now barring his way, keeping him off of Welfare or Social Security because he receives a small amount of money each month for being a veteran of the armed forces from the military. The problem is that this is not nearly enough to make up for the wages he is losing because he cannot work.

What peeves me is the fact that there are people in my city living off of Welfare who are able to work (Perfectly able! Just too lazy...). I see them at Walmart with their Gucci purses and brand new iPhones, pulling out freaking foodstamps cards! People here pop out babies and scream for more money from the government because "they can't find a job". Bullshit! Our city is booming; there is work everywhere if you're willing to look for it. If you're able to sit there with your palm open, you're able to ask someone if they want fries with that. I know it's not a glamorous or even well-paying job, but it'll keep food in your child's mouth! I'm just... so fed up! It isn't right! I know this isn't how it works elsewhere in the country... It can't be... My dad worked his ass off for this country... and this is how he gets treated?

This is all coming to a head now because the woman who hit us a few days past turned out to be an illegal immigrant without valid insurance. So, basically, we're getting screwed all over again...

That was my dad's dream truck, the only thing in this world that he has bought strictly for himself...

All he does is try and try for his family. No matter what life throws at him, he is always doing his best to make sure that my sister and I have a decent life. I just wish that a fraction of that karma would come back for him...

---

Everyone, I'm sorry if lately my Scrapbook has been a "Woe is Me" sort of thread. I really don't mean to lay my problems out on you, but I have no one in real life that I can vent to. I'm everyone else's rock and everyone else's sanity. There comes a time when I have to just vent and let it out or I feel I'll go crazy.

If you ever need someone to vent to, I'm here. This isn't a one way street. I truly cherish everyone that comments on this with words of comfort; you make the day a little easier.

---

On a far happier note, I was able to bear through Friday long enough to participate in the pitch contest. Despite being all kinds of doped up on pain-killers and muscle-relaxants, the judges applauded how well I conveyed my idea and the professionalism with which I conducted myself. Mentally, I was thinking that telling them about an idea is far less terrifying than pitching an idea to Gossamer. So, thank you, Lady Jen, for giving me some experience. I didn't place because technically I was one of three alternates, meaning that if someone didn't show, my name would be entered on the full roster and my pitch-score counted. But, it was a great experience!

The rest of the day was spent attending the Austin Film Festival, meeting fancy people in the industry and getting to hear their thoughts on things.

I met the producer of Breaking Bad, Mark Johnson, and got some inside information on the upcoming series based around Saul! No spoilers.



I also listened to a seminar on Thematic Structure by the writer of The Hangover Part 2 and 3, Identity Thief, and a few others, Craig Mazin. Despite the... ehm... lackluster work adorning his IMDb, he is actually a brilliant person! He gave me some great tips that I will be putting into use with Edreina and some Endrykas plots later on.

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Anyhow. This round of medications is wearing off and, despite my lovely mental clarity, the pain is back. SO, tis time for me to imitate Dr.House (only with more sleeping and less awesome illness solving!). Goodnight, all!

[Edreina]

Oh my gosh!

[Arundel]

Oh my gosh! I love this! It's spectacular. I hope you're feeling better by the way.

[Taylani]

Hiya Reina, no worries about any "woe is me" posts, I read your SB faithfully and it never comes across as whiny woe is me to me atleast. I am sorry that you father has had troubles. Has he hired a law firm? After my mother's failed Angioplasty (sp?) and subsequent stint surgeries it took her four years of fighting for her disability. Like your father my mother has worked her entire life, and paid faithfully into SS for this kind of occasion. I hope things work out for your father, I know the frustration.

[Edreina]

A little... Went to the chiropractor today and found out that I'm not even at the most painful part of heeling yet. xD Joy. But, I'm finally getting a clear head, which is nice. Thank you for asking!

Thank you so much, Tay, I'm glad to hear that I don't always sound like a whiny baby. <3 I'm sorry about the troubles your mom has faced and I'm glad that they have been resolved.

[Edreina]

Oh my gawwwddd! -foams at the mouth-

I don't care that my back hurts.

I don't care that I can't turn my head.

I don't even care that I'd be losing a NaNo Saturday to do this.

Coheed and Cambria is coming back to town this weekend!

I'm going.

...Sorry... I love this band. xD

[Taylani]

..Never heard of them but then again I am an oooold lady. Have fun and enjoy!