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November 30, 2004
Random Thoughts
My stomach was feeling that 'airy' pain again under my ribs, probably from eating too much at my company's annual holiday luncheon at Maggianos. So after lifting and running, I had a big bottle of chocolate milk for dinner. I don't like to skip meals since I probably don't eat enough anyhow.
I ended up doing speedwork tonight, so I can submit my paper and finish packing for San Diego tomorrow. All the military lodging on base is booked, so I may have to ask my godmother if I can crash at her house. I don't know how close it is to Miramar. Back to speedwork - 15 minutes warm up 6 x 3 minutes ~faster than marathon pace/3 minutes off; 15 minutes cool down. I felt horrible by the end with my stomach, but a great workout otherwise.
On an angry and disappointed note, my brother was arrested and jailed last night in California on felony drug possession and three other counts, soon after I spoke with him. Our entire family is quite upset because we thought he had kicked the habit when he moved, mainly to get away from his bad influence friends in Virginia. I feel like we can't do anything else for him because he doesn't want to seek help for his problems (therapy), and I certainly don't want to help pay $13K for bail only for him to return to his old habits. Maybe I'm being callous, but I tell my mom and stepbrother that we shouldn't bail him out unless he commits to checking into inpatient drug therapy. I do have a sensitive side, really. That side hopes and prays that someday he can find the happiness that we all find in life, be it running or some other positive outlet. Sorry to be so heavy; it was just weighing on my mind.
Posted by Leilani at November 30, 2004 10:30 PM
Comments
I am so sorry to hear about your brother. I hope everything works out for the best somehow.
Posted by: barb at December 1, 2004 12:55 PM
Yes, I'm also sorry to hear about your brother. O and I will be praying for him!
Posted by: Beth at December 1, 2004 06:56 PM
I am sorry to hear about your brother. I understand your trepidation about contributing bail money, I work in an alternative school where many of the students have drug problems. They do not want to change and there is not anything I (or any other staff member) can say to make them want to change. The only way he will be able to change is if he wants to. I hope that this incident will give him the desire to make that change in his life.
Blondie
Posted by: Blondie at December 1, 2004 08:09 PM
Yeah, I'm also sorry about your brother. And I think that you and the rest of your family are all entitled to whatever feelings his situation conjures in your minds.
I don't know much (anything?) about the California legal system, but I have a few suggestions. In the state of Texas, for example, family members/lawyers/concerned parties can make sentencing recommendations. As in, here in Texas, your family could recommend that he be put into a inpatient drug rehab program, if that's what you think might work for him. Such sentences are usually in addition to court-defined sentences such as fines and jail time. (I don't know if this is an option in California.)
Also, I don' t know California drug law, but depending on statutes and such, some fairly minor drug crimes are classified as felonies (eg, more than X grams of marajuana, for example). So, it's a possibility that the crimes he committed weren't too serious. However, a $13,000 bail on drug charges indicates to me that the California judicial system thinks he did something really wrong.
If you need any help with this, feel free to email me. I have a background in law enforcement and (probably) access to California drug law.
Take care,
Meghan
Posted by: Meghan at December 1, 2004 09:34 PM
Thanks for your support. My family's in a pickle now trying to figure out how we can help him without giving him a free meal ticket out of jail.
Meghan, what you suggested is EXACTLY what I told my mother and stepbrother. However, since none of us is familiar with how the jail system interacts with drug treatment facilities (if at all) in CA, I don't know where to start. Is it too late if he's already had his trial? If you can point me to any online resources or POCs, I'd be forever grateful.
Posted by: Leilani at December 1, 2004 11:41 PM
Wow, I can totally empathize with you about brothers! Ok, well luckily, mine hasn't gotten jailed yet, but I, too, have had a sense of hopelessness with my brother, who after 12 years of high school, 4 years of college and 4 years post-college, STILL does not know what to do with this life! ok, well maybe we all don't know that either, but at least most of us are independent, have responsibilities and a steady career!
I hope your brother's experience is an awakening. I wonder what it will take to make my brother see the light now, too.
Posted by: Sherry at December 2, 2004 03:34 PM