So as I mentioned last week Patricia Yarrow pleaded guilty for two counts federal felonies of identity theft, two counts of credit card misdemeanor, and one count 2nd degree theft. She plead GUILTY!!
It was the sweetest thing to my ears to hear it utter from her throat. This has been a year in the making. I pressed charges back in August 2007, she was arrested and arraigned in September. If she had been smart she would have taken the first plea, the one that was smaller. But thinking if she just ignored it, it'd go away she didn't go to her meetings with her attorney, she didn't give the court the correct address and she didn't show up for court dates.
This meant that I had to go to testify in front of the grand jury. I had to relive the entire events in front of a roomful of strangers. I cried on the stand. It made me shake. But I made sure my voice was heard. I never was going to let her get away with this. All I could think was how she would say she didn't believe in karma. That was reason enough to push through. It didn't take the grand jury more than 15 minutes to come back with 9 charges! When I went in there were only 3 against her.
Then there was the re-arraignment that she didn't show up for. They did a continuance, she didn't show up again. They put out a bench warrant for her. Took a month or two but they got her. She was arrested once more. She was released once more. But she got it through her head she better show up.
So one year to the date, we went back to court, Heidi and I and I watched her lawyer get through it again. He gave her the outline of the plea bargain and we had to come back for the disposition as there was a clerical error on the paperwork she needed to sign to claim Guilty. So I came back, after my birthday and heard her say it. Guilty.

To know that I wasn't going crazy all those times I didn't know where my statements were or I was missing money. To know I wasn't exceeding my own limits and overdrawing my accounts. But it hurts to know all the lies she said and did. To have cried on her shoulder when my cards were declined. When I thought I was going crazy. To have told her my secrets and believed her when she said she was my best friend. I thought she was a sister but a sister doesn't steal your identity. They do not steal your confirmation cross that your mother gave you. They don't leave you with no answer for their behavior.

I am so blessed to have learned what real friends are from this experience. To have a love in my life that is based on open honesty. Something she will never have. I am proud of my job, doing something where I passed background checks because I am an upstanding citizen. I mean with identity theft and credit card fraud on your records you can't even get a job as a cashier at Wal-mart! I am glad to know my vote counts. I am not a convicted felon.

So the tears, the anger, the nightmare, the move, the stress, was all worth it. Now I just have to wait for the sentencing. That will take place in December. Also, if you know of any good civil lawyers in DC, give me their number. I'm ready to get my money back :)

But!! Patricia Yarrow plead guilty today. GUILTY!!! She said it with her own mouth. Her own voice, her own words, GUILTY!!!!

So because of the rain, my kitchen has flooded. This is because the drain in back is clogged because dc sewers suck. Because the sewer is backed up our bathroom is also covered in poopy water because guess who had to go and didn't think, hey, rain makes it so nothing with water should work properly when it rains... ME!

So yeah, not as bad but I feel your anguish. Poopy water sisters.

Oh, I forgot to mention, I also got my Stimulus check today! A full $600!!! Suhhhh weeeeet!! This will be nice. I think I am also going to talk to my friends that live in Mass and might go up and visit the week of the 4th of July. I get the whole week off!!! Well, sort of, there's a half day on Monday but the rest of the week is off. It'd be great fun. Cape Cod at the 4th is soooo much fun. I would love to do that again. Plus I'd maybe get a chance to see my Kris and Emily! Kris?? :) :)

So pleasant and drinking a great wine while my fabulous wife spoils me by baking me cookies and dinner, I am so happy right now :)

SO I had my first day of work today. It was amazing!! I really like the kids in my class. They are all little hellions I can tell but they are really trying to lull me into a false sense of security. Mind you, when these kids act out they don't fight fair, we are talking head butting, biting, kicking, scratching, they are not nice kids. But they were awesome today.
I spent my morning reading their case files and then working with them all afternoon. Since the people who work there already showed me respect, they knew they had to respect me too. They followed all the rules I told them, I was great!
The people I am working with are also so much fun. When I got there one of the fellas opened the front door for me he said, "We've been waiting for you!" Everyone was so nice. During the morning meeting we were all laughing and getting along. Some people were sad to here I wasn't in their room. It was awesome to feel wanted. Turns out a girl that I spoke to at the group interview also got hired so that was very cool to see her.
I can't wait to learn everyone's names and classes. As it goes, I feel like this is the right fit finally.

Yay :)

Oh I don't know, how about sleeping in late, finishing my book in bed, checking on the wifey playing her video games and continuing to read ten more chapters in my next book and then took a nap.

I think it was a pretty damn successful day!

Oh, and yesterday we signed the lease for our new house. We also went to Ikea and I made peace with my favorite store since the whole fraudulent credit card deal. Heidi was a total doll, let me get meatballs and then decorate our new house with my mind. It was great.

We also had some friends over on Saturday to play Wii and then we went out to go dancing. It was a lovely weekend. We had also planned on going bowling but it just didn't play out this weekend. I'm still quite satisfied. OH! And I got rid of a garbage bag worth of clothes and shoes. I'm quite happy about that. Time to pare down for the move even though we are moving to a bigger space, we are going to look like one of those tv houses!!

Now to read through all my new work manuals one last time before my first day tomorrow!!!
:)

Sometime life is worth the wait it makes you go through. I have been through some hard times lately, not the most horrible times, others have been through worst but they definitely weighed on my soul in a way I've never had to do before.
Identity theft, nervous breakdown, leaving my job (while my choice I was forced out by harrassment), another nervous breakdown, barely being able to pay bills, getting a job, getting it pulled from me, still dealing with the identity theft a year later, finding a new house, having it be rented out before we can even apply. But everything works out for a reason.

-The identity theft has shown me who people really are. My real friends have stepped up, they have supported me. It has gotten the toxic venomous people out. I have nothing to do with them now and that's fine.
-Both nervous breakdowns have made me more self aware. I am able to understand myself better from them and proven that I am stronger than I even think I am sometime.
-Leaving my job, while difficult financially had been the best thing for my career. I hated accounting but I was good at it. This forced me to go after my dream jobs. It made me look at my priorities and I went after it.
-Heidi has been my stone and made sure that the bills were always taken care of. She's done her best to not let me stress about them and she's amazing.
-I think the job that got pulled due to the horrible things that lady said was part of the process. Because I was turned down for it it opened up the doors for the job that I will be starting next week. It's a job with growth in the field I want to be professional in.
-One of the reasons I'm still dealing with the identity theft is because she didn't take the plea bargain. This worked out in my favor. I wish I could tell you all the fun details but the fact is I would hate to spoil it all for her :)
-While we lost out on the 2 bedroom house for $900 we found a three bedroom for $1,000. We have gotten it! We will be signing lease tomorrow. While it will be taking us out of the city it will be bringing us closer to a University and my new job. This is a great opportunity. Oh and I get a garden!!

So I have struggled through the hard times and they are starting to turn around. On another page, I have been asked to perform at two Prides. Not just the DC Capital Pride but Atlanta Pride. I'm working on the logistics right now but hopefully it will happen. I'm very excited.

Life is worth the wait sometimes.

Can I just say holy crap I'm watching Oprah. Not only and I watching Oprah but I'm going to the links that she talks about because they seeem interesting. AAAAAGGGGHHHHH!!! I blame it on the wine, it's the wine's fault, but damn is she intersting... I didn't say that!! I didn't! AAAGGGGHHHH!!!!

So Marie, how was the interview you ask? Oh, it went ok, I think, I respond. But by the title of this entry you know I'm a dirty liar! It went fantastically!! She loved me! She said if it were up to her, she'd hire me on te spot but alas I have to interview with the direct supervisor.

God that sucks you ask, when will you know. Oh I don't know maybe when they called earlier today to schedule it for this Sunday! I am meeting them on Sunday for about an hour. If they like me, I might start as early as next week. I am sooo psyched!!

I'm still a little anxious to say exactly what the job is, being superstitious about that but it is exactly the stepping stone I need to start my professional career. It would be perfect, I'd be making just a little less than Heidi so I won't feel like such a leech anymore. (One of the reasons I have not posted recently) I've been really really dry financially this past month or so. So this would be great to get our lives back on track to what I see our futures holding for us. YAY!

Thank you for the good thoughts and for the kind words. It's so refreshing to be looking forward for stuff!