My Macintosh laptop is back! Less than a mere week when I dropped it off at the Genius Bar in Braintree! I love my AppleCare. This computer which has been carried with me nearly every day since I got it in May 2004, that saw me through an entire master's degree, that has helped me plan my wedding, to organize photos, update my website, etc, can probably last me for another 2 years at least. My AppleCare at least won't run out until May 2007, so I am definitely covered until then.

In October of last year this computer was diagnosed with a faulty optical drive (could be kitty related, but not sure) but at any rate my DVD drive would decide occasionally that it liked whatever DVD/CD I fed it so much, that it wanted to hold onto it indefinitely. This was a real, real problem when the DVD in question was a Blockbuster rental, for example. I kept putting it off bringing it in because the computer worked fine otherwise, there was midterms, then finals, then Christmas shopping, then.... While it was in the shop, I asked to replace the feet which kept falling out and a few of my keys which were completely rubbed off. The Genius at the bar also suggested replacing part of the case which had become a bit warped and chipped.

So yesterday evening we went to pick up Keith's new replacement iPod (a video one, he convinced me he'll also use it for storage for his work...) and it turns out FedEx had another package waiting for me. My laptop---a mere 6 days after I handed it to the folks at Apple! And over a holiday weekend! What service! Will Dell do that for you? I think not. The Genius actually estimated that it would take 2 weeks, maybe 10 days if I was lucky.

So it was returned to me with a new casing bit, a completely new keyboard, and my DVD drive works like a dream.

Keith is busy now working on his first freelance client, which I expect (that is, will nag him about) will be done this weekend. Then I need to get on him about the wedding websites for two friends, both of whose weddings are in September. Chop, chop, Keith!!!!

Everything else is pretty much same old, same old. This weekend was pretty refreshing in that we had the party Friday, cleaned up all day Saturday, and pretty much chilled Sunday and Monday. The neighbors are currently tearing apart their kitchen to remodel, so I occupied much of my time feeding them and watching the work in progress. Keith works a lot as he is project manager for the School of Law website revamping at BU. He's a hard worker and I am appreciative of his dedication.

Housing's new employee, Elsie, started on Tuesday. She has been in non-stop meetings with the senior assignments staff and going to Orientation and such. I hope I get a chance to chat with her soon...Chocorua's back from Vegas with a cold. Then again, Marc pointed out that we all have colds---the pollen count right now is unbelievable with the very warm weather we're having. We broke out the AC units this weekend to get maximum use (we bought ours last year in late July).

The past week has been pretty business-as-usual. Work in particular has been hectically busy with many people to assign/offer changes to before the summer ends. My current count has approximately 750 female room change requests submitted to date, Chocorua has about 300 room change forms submitted to date. That doesn't take into account about 4,000 BU incoming students who are eagerly awaiting their fall housing assignments.

Dad is out of the hospital (again) as of Tuesday, when I spoke with him he sounded to be in good spirits. So I am hoping he stays out the hospital is able to be as active and independent as he was before all his surgeries.

On other fronts, it appears that Keith's position will finally become full-time and permanent around July 1, which starts the new fiscal year. I am still seeking a position that will make use of my gifts, talents, and recently acquired M.Ed. Frankly, my current position is boring--comforting in that I know what I am doing top to bottom, front to back, but, frankly, its really, really boring. I could have done it yeeeeaaaarrrssss ago. So I'm hoping for a challenge. Mostly I am looking for a role that will allow me to expend a lot of creative pent-up energy, execute some decision making power, actually counsel students versus servicing them through solely through paperwork, and actually have the opportunity to be a mentor. A hall director position seems the ideal ends to this goal, and I was glad to have the opportunity for a telephone interview Wednesday, which I believe went well. At least Keith, who overheard much of it, thought so. I will hear Tuesday or Wednesday if I'm to be considered further--please keep your fingers crossed!!! I'm somewhat emotionally invested in getting this position!!!

Another position at my alma mater in Lancaster has come to my attention, and I am considering applying for it. Its a fantastic opportunity to break some totally new ground at the new International Center. They are doing great things at F&M, building a new residential complex with a "town square" feel. It would be an exciting time to be there. Still, I'm not sure I'm ready to return to Pennsylvania, nor am I convinced that Keith ought to. He has only lived away from his hometown for not-even 3 years. I would like the next few years to be about us, and not so much about our respective families--who while they love us very much would be a much larger presence, despite anything they might say to the contrary. I really value this time as newlyweds to just be us, in a big beautiful cosmopolitan city with tons of history and sights to see in a town where higher education is king. We can think about moving back to be closer to family when its time for us to start our own family. So we will see what turns Fate takes and hope that it is an optimal outcome for all.

Last night we finally had a post facto celebratory graduation party for me, considering we were not really up for it all following the robbery. We need to look at pawn sheets very, very soon before they stack up, considering that we didn't have the time to do it this past week. Maybe they are open tomorrow? That would be great as its a three day weekend and our apartment is now immaculate as we cleaned up after the party and all the mess that built up over the week.

I hope all is going well and that all my dear family and friends are enjoying the Memorial Day weekend.

I'm just a few hours back from Keith's and my first trip to the Boston PD to look at pawn sheets. Needless to say, I'm utterly horrified, devastated, and completely depressed about the steps we will need to take and the degree of work it will take to have even the slightest hope of recovering my prized items.

First off, pawn sheets are frequently messy, in small type, and incredibly vague. Like a typical description reads something like "14K WG ring with stone." As you can imagine, that could easily describe a million pieces of jewelry. And its not in their interest to exactly be as forthcoming with the details--if stolen property is claimed, they are out the loan money with nothing to re-sale. Personally, I am going to make it a point, and a big point at that to lobby my local politicians for a law on the books that requires PHOTOGRAPHS instead of lame-ass vague descriptions. I don't see how taking Polaroids or digital photos can be any more time consuming (if not less) than writing descriptions. Personally, if more people recover their stuff, that's the price pawnbrokers pay for dealing in stolen goods. If you suspect its stolen, don't buy it. Then people won't steal it in the first place. People don't do these kinds of break-ins because they are looking for some nice jewelry for themselves---they are almost always drug junkies needing quick cash for their next fix of heroin or cocaine.

This evening I sat quietly looking through the huge stack, my heart sinking quicker and quicker, all reports with dates ranging from 05/08/2006 to 05/12/2006 and as things progressed I just wanted to let out a scream in the detective's office. A bloodcurdling scream of complete anguish to show how dissolute and heavy my soul feels right now thinking of my violated home, sense of self, and the legacy I planned to pass on. Lucky for me, and everyone else at the Boston PD, I have an unflappable sense of control and decorum when called upon. But my feelings of uncontrollable frustration and rage were practically impossible to supress--I didn't want to act like a lady. I wanted to go on a rampage. But I pervailed...until I got in the car.

Even now, as I returned home with Keith this evening, I am particularly depressed as I found out that my father is now in the hospital again. My grandmother rang with the news no sooner than we stepped into the door (30 seconds tops). The blood thinning agents that he takes caused his blood to pool in his knee, and one of the stiches opened. Therefore, my dad sprung a "leak." He's been in the hospital now for a day and will likely remain there for 4-5 days. I am so angry the turn my life's taking right now---when is my luck going to change? I don't think I can truly handle any more bad news. I'm trying to drive myself to see people, put on a happy and cordial attitude at work, and I think I'm putting a pretty good face forward, but am fast losing my mental will to even get out of bed in the mornings.

Many people have written me to express their concern and condolences...most admitting that they can't possibly understand what it is like. I'm not so sure anymore that it is the loss of the items, valuable or not, and the memories (the getting and their "companionship" through certain life events) and people they represent along with it. I told Keith that the most utterly devastating thing is my attitude at this point that I no longer want to collect items I love in the future---accepting these items is like making myself more vulnerable to this happening again. The bottom line is if the bad guys want to get into your apartment, they will--even the cops have stated as much several times.

I know that these thoughts of not wanting more things to become attached to sounds nutty, but, if you never love things, never become attached to things, and never develop memories that correlate with those things, its a lot harder to get hurt when you get robbed or your house burns down. I recognize in the logical part of me that that's crazy talk--but truly, if Keith ran into the jewelry store right now and we were getting back all the financial value of the items and bought me the same earrings I wore on my wedding day---I couldn't take them. Just couldn't. I'd be replacing things that can't and ought not to be replaced. I'd be accepting something that could hurt me in the end. I know I don't have control over lots of things--other people namely--their deeds, words, thoughts, and feelings. I can accept that. I can't accept it when I can't take responsibility. I could accept my purse being stolen in December 04 because it was my own damn fault I left it unattended. It was a pain to replace everything--heck, it took months just to get replacement work keys...but it was my fault and I could accept it. But it wasn't my fault that my landlord is a cheap asshole, that had I even complained about the door it would have taken his customary 2-3 months to get things fixed anyway if at all....I can't take the fault for bad people and bad people wanting my stuff....

The pain of all this is tenfold for someone like me--who still remembers what she wore on her first day of kindergarten, the first thing she got in trouble at school for, what songs she played at piano recitals, what she wore on the airplane to Sweden, movies she saw and meals she ate on dates, touches, glances, conversations 10 years old. Normally this aptitude is a gift---something that older relations delight in when they realize that a then elementary-school age child remembered things quite vividly that they thought for sure I couldn't possibly. There's so many things I can lovingly recall to my husband (sweet comments, love letters, poems, generally misbehaving). Now even little silly moments---like explaining a class ring to my Swedish host brother, throwing my sapphire ring at Keith in a fit of anger during an argument in college, or panicking looking for the blue topaz ring he gave me in my apartment in Stockholm 5 hours before my flight was to depart, because I couldn't bear to possibly leave it behind---are just like little stabs of hurt.

Now I realize I'm babbling and I should just go to bed. Hopefully I'll feel somewhat more resolved and composed in the morning.

The dust has begun to settle in the Gibbs' household. An update from our home base:

My family descended upon Beantown early Saturday morning and came for a rainy weekend of sightseeing. We managed to find friends (thank you, Dan and Mandy) to watch our not-completely-secure apartment while we were out and about for a Duck Tour and the actual Commencement ceremony Sunday. It was hectic and made worse by the cold, hard, driving late spring rains. Perhaps you have heard of the flooding in New England lately?

Following the graduation ceremony, my family departed, we came home to leave the Potters and elected to leave the apartment unattended for a few hours to take them out for food to thank them and unwind a bit.

Monday dawned with Keith still remaining at home to supervise the workmen. Our toilet, cornice, and our door all were fixed, with some finishing touchups undertaken Tuesday evening. We also dropped off our comprehensive report to the Boston PD on what items were stolen from the apartment. We are making plans to view pawn sheets to determine if any of the items can be recovered, but I am completely pessimistic (as usual).

Last night we informed the landlord that while the repairs undertaken were to our satisfaction, we felt that our asserting our legal rights as tenants had recently soured the relationship and if he might not prefer for us to depart September 1. So for now....

• We await word of whether or not I am being considered and get the hall director position.
• If I do, I can make plans to move, no need to search for an apartment. But I do need to find a temporary home for our cats *sniffle* as pets are not allowed on campus.
• If I don't get the job, Keith and I will scramble with realtors to see what's available. We aren't worried about this--Boston isn't going to run out of apartments, and if anything, we may get a better deal from a landlord desperate to rent out his place.
• Visit the PD to get back our stuff if possible
• Finish filing claim for Balboa to get our paltry $550 bucks for our losses

I hope all is well with y'all and that if you were in the nasty weather of Biblical proportions this last week that you are drying out.

Well, a lot of our friends and family already know this, but on Wednesday (sometime during the day), our apartment was forcibly broken into and almost everything Alyssa owned (in terms of jewelry) and some electronic shit was stolen.

This includes the necklace and earrings Alyssa wore on our wedding day, her class rings, her costume jewelry, her great-grandmother's gold watch (from the 30's), some of her grandmothers antique (circa 1950's) jewelry, the rings I gave Alyssa while we have dated, etc. I basically just lost my iPod that Alyssa gave me for my 23rd birthday, but I have also lost my piece of mind about this apartment.

The landlord, from the first day has been dragging his feet, first saying, "Oh, just get a locksmith in to fix the lock" and it took me insisting that the door and door frame is seriously screwed up (and sending pictures to get him to send his handman to come see it Thursday. He originally suggested I pay the a locksmith and he would pay me back... yeah... 1) like I want to be strapped with paying for his repairs and wait until he gets around to paying me back, 2) I don't just want a fixed lock, things are really really screwed up!

Alyssa and I worried that George would drag his feet (as he tends to do with most repairs - they get done, but maybe after a month or two... sure we never had anything serious, but still). Alyssa went ahead and called in a city housing inspector. So yesterday afternoon, when working from home, Inspector Holmes (seriously, that is his name) came by and looked at it. We need to have the entire right side of the door frame replaced, the lock, the striker, the striker plate, a few plates and such on the hardware, etc. Basically everything but the door itself and the hinge. That is just to bring it up to code.

George's man, Chester, came by while Inspector Holmes was there and had the same opinion of what needed to be changed. The inspector told him that those needed to be done within the next couple days (if not yesterday, really) and that this unit needed a Carbon monoxide detector within 24 hours (which was... well, 24 hours ago from the moment I am now writing this blog post). Chester then slapped the old lock back on with big screws (which is more of a paper lock with that cracked door frame).

Fast forward to last night - George was furious that we even called in an inspector (although it was fully within our legal rights) and wanted to talk about our continued lease (I mentioned in an email on Wednesday that our continued lease is contingent on us having a safe and secure door). The way he sounded was as if he was more than happy to kick us to the curb... I merely meant that we wouldn't be coming back in September. Well, now, since George is not really being compliant (even though I am home from work today to keep the place secure, but it doesn't look like I will have a doorframe until (at earliest) Monday, from the message Chester called in this morning).

I left a message for the inspector about what has been going down. Just working until I hear back from him.

To add insult to injury - the estimated value of our stolen jewelry is over $3000, but the renters insurance only covers up to $500 on jewelry. We were in the process of getting our renters insurance rolled over for June 1st, in another company, with specific riders on specific pieces of jewelry... but that is moot now. The only remote hope is that some of the pieces will show up in Boston-area pawn sheets and we go down with the police to identify the items (one by one).

So that sucks.

Just throught you all ought to know.

I'm feeling recharged after my four-day weekend, however, a little wistful that it is now back to work for me! Summer housing assignments were released today, with most students relatively content or downright thrilled with their assignments, a few others still less than thrilled. Right now I am sitting at home watching the final cut of our wedding DVD. Finally--over 8 months since our nuptials, we have it!

Keith is finishing up Alembic Lab's website sometime this week (finally) and a few clients are already lined up waiting for Keith to work his magic. I will be lending whatever assistance I can with content management in my spare time.

Hope you all are enjoying the glorious spring weather when it hits!

Finals are underway at Boston University and soon the school will empty out. The T will be easy to get on and find a seat, the weather will be warm, and soon legions of incoming students and their parents will be crawling all over the campus Thursday through Saturday.

Lately I have been working a lot in preparation for summer housing but have elected to use two vacation days (about 2.5 months of accrued vacation time) to relax today and tomorrow. Yes, I am using vacation days to sit at home. That's how tired I am.

Alembic Labs is still not completely up. My working late consistantly has meant Keith has still had to take on a lot of the home slack, but it will be shortly...definitely by the end of the weekend!