Outside Statesboro
Uploaded by peachy92.

I finally got to Statesboro two weeks after first planned. Things all happen for a reason, even if we don't know why. That's been my big lesson for February.

Joey and I had originally planned for this trip before all hell broke loose for the both of us. We both agree this month has been a wash, for the most part, but we're doing our bests to survive. We left Savannah at 8; we got to Statesboro by 9:15. We first went to the Georgia Southern housing department to do what we originally planned to do: get some information on how the housing department maintains key inventory. That's what Joey's Senior Project is about, and he's the group member that is to collect information on the local colleges. Georgia Southern is considered a local college. Once we got as far as we could at the housing department, he took a small little tour of Statesboro. Most of his fond memories of his late sweetheart are in Statesboro, which is where they spent most of their relationship. I rode with him, taking photos of various spots that meant something to him all those years ago. While the things sure don't look the same as they then, the pictures still give him a vision of their relationship. He told me about things, and I listened. He wished we had some more time to just tour the city, but we didn't. However, I think the trip did him some good. It hurts that his sweetheart is gone, but she was alive yesterday as he spoke about her. When he smiled, she was there.

When we got back to Savannah, we went to work on collecting more information for the project. Joey had to go into work for an hour, so he took me along. I spent that time making calls for him for the project, claiming I was his partner for the project. I was able to get him a 4 PM appointment at SCAD. SCAD's been very helpful with his project research. We went down there and collected much needed information that Joey can use to write at least 2 pages for the Senior Project report. I made Joey laugh when I called the gentleman at SCAD on our way there and told him we were running late. I referred to Joey as my partner, Mr. LastName in the call. He said he hadn't heard that in years and made him feel old. I told him I was just being respectful to him with a guy he never met before.

After SCAD, we spent about an hour downtown walking from the SCAD housing department and City Market. We took a few photos while out. And as we walked, another memory of Joey's sweetheart came back to him. He smiled as he told me about the memory. After he finished telling me about it, he just smiled and said he was happy that memory came back to him. I know he could see her as he told me it. I know the grief is a lot to handle, but the talking and the memories help ease it. At least for me. Just the night before, while hanging out with him, I just started laughing for what seemed to be no reason. I wasn't laughing for no reason. I was laughing because Joey said something that made me think of a term my mother used. The term, used like my mother used it, is sick yet funny. It was a little happy memory for me. And in a way, my mother was back with me. Joey just had the same happen to him yesterday.

Joey and I also seemed to have a little theme going on yesterday: Double Entendres. It started last week with a sign at Loco's that said "Get Your Woody Serviced Here." It snowballed with lunch at Sticky Fingers and capped off with dinner at Johnny Harris. I also said one yesterday that I didn't catch until it was too late. Dinner was spent with the rest of Joey's family. I spent most of the evening speaking to his Aunt. His Aunt's been interested in me. The other day, she asked me about my mother and my family. She was not happy I left Joey's home at 1 AM the other night and told me so. It's the mother in her and my mother would have done the same. And on the way home last night, she told me she wants me to see her new granddaughter. She had shown my pictures of the baby the night before. I think Joey's family has appreciated my friendship with him.

[♪ Listening to: "You're the Only Woman" - Ambrosia]

Thursday Threesome:

Onesome: A--ny place but here? Are travel plans looming for Spring break? ...or are you staying home? I have no plans at the moment. It's whatever happens, happens. It's how I've been living my life this month.

Twosome: B--etter to look in the mirror before you leave? Have you ever discovered (say around mid-day) that your clothes really didn't match up? Yes. Usually, it's my shirt's on wrong and then someone else says something to me. Usually, I'm having a BAD day when that happens.

Threesome: C--atch any good movies lately? What should we go see now that the Oscar's are done and over for another year? I haven't been to the movies in months, but as I mentioned previously, I saw Zodiac and Rocky Balboa in the past week. Both were good. I also finally saw most of Roman Holiday this month. That was a good film.

[♪ Listening to: "Too Many Walls" - Cathy Dennis]

This past month has been a wash. I need to get a job, but the job is the last thing on my mind between my family and friends. I just feel like God needs me by them right now. Tonight is probably going to be another late night, but it's worth it.

Today, I finally, after God knows how long it's been, got my car to the shop and got an oil change. After 3 trips to Fayetteville, GA and 1 trip to Jacksonville, FL in the past 2½ months, I figured it was due a change. I'm going to Statesboro, GA on Friday. And no telling when I go out of town next. I found out my car needs another $220.00 worth of work done in the next 2 weeks. My left front CV joint is has a tear in it. Had I had the money today, I would have gotten it fixed ASAP. But, I was told since the tear looks recent, I can drive it for a while. That will have to do me.

I'm bummed to hear about Mark DeRosa's heart troubles. He may no longer be a Brave, but I still pay attention to news about him and still root for him. To be honest, he's one of the reasons I got into baseball. He's very attractive. Now, I did start watching the game in 2001 because I found out I enjoyed the sport, but DeRosa on my TV screen was an added bonus. How girly of me! I remember when he hit his first home run in the bottom of the 10th in one July 2001 game against the Montréal Expos and he got pied in the face. He was mainly used as a utility infield player in Atlanta. There were times when the Braves outfield was so depleted, Bobby Cox had to start DeRosa as left fielder. DeRosa played where Bobby put him. I don't recall him ever complaining about playing time and always seemed like a team player. I only ever saw him scream an obscenity once, at Montréal, during a game when he felt the umpire made the wrong call on a ball he fielded. Nicki and I spent the whole night looking at each other and just mimic how that word was said. I even got to see DeRosa play as a Brave in person. And this picture is from Spring Training 2002 at a game at the Astros' camp. Nicki, her friend Jenni, and I were at our thrid straight Braves Spring Training game of the Braves that weekend (God, has it been 6 years?). The day before, Nicki and I were 4^th row behind home plate at the Braves' camp. Nicki kept holling him at that game at Disney. So the next day, when we were 2^nd row behind home plate at Kissimmee, she screamed even more, and had Jenni join us, too. He probably thought Nicki was taunting him because he did a small little taunt at them at one point. They deserved it, Never spoke to us, but he recognized us. I was sad to see him leave Atlanta, but I understood that it was business. Wished him luck as a Ranger and still wish him luck as a Cub. And I just hope they get his health taken care of. He's a great guy for the sport. Most people like the superstars. I like players like Mark DeRosa.

[♪ Listening to: "Baby Come Back" - Player]

My Friday and Saturday were spent mostly with Joey. The past 2 weeks have been stressful ones for him, I'm sure. I've been there as a good friend and some to keep company with.

Friday, we were going to to Statesboro to work on his Senior Project. That was our plan for last Friday, but fate intervened. That's our plan for next Friday. The weather in area was just horrible, and it would have been a late start to Statesboro. We were going to Georgia Southern, and the weather and time would have hindered the work we had to do. We changed our plans to go to Savannah State to seek similar research from them Also, one of Joey's younger cousins, Sean, was in town for the day. We took Sean along on the trip to Savannah State and then spent the rest of the day with him. The three of us had lunch, dinner, played some Wii, and went to some bars until 3 AM in the morning. They took me to another bar I had never been to. That bar was sure interesting. I saw things that made me blush. I saw things that pissed me off. But, I spent most of the night with a chick that understood drink moderation and had a good conversation with her. I was the designated driver for the night. Joey was worried I wouldn't be able to stick it out all night and thought I was bored by midnight. I stuck it out because I believe my friends should get home safely, which was something I could do.

Saturday was lazy day at Joey's place. I had left some of my things at his house, and he left some of his things in my car. At 3 AM, we were both too tired to swap things, so I said I'd come back for the stuff later. Also, I needed to do something for Joey. He wanted a wallpaper of his lost love. I promised to do it for him Tuesday, but with family members of his in town all week, and the 2 of us entertaining them, neither one of us got to it until yesterday. So, the plans were for me to do the wallpaper. I did make it. He really loved it. He also asked me to set the wallpaper up so he could share it with the love's family. I was more than happy to help him.

I also stayed there longer than I expected. When I got to his place, he decided to watch Zodiac first. It was a movie his mom rented while in town, but didn't get to watch. So, we did. It was way longer than either one of us expected, but it was a great film. It's more a cerebral film, so if you don't like to think, don't watch it. I laughed at one scene, but it wasn't a bad laugh. This scene had Mark Ruffalo's character take half of Anthony Edwards's character's BLT. Ruffalo then proceeded to remove the tomato from the sandwich. Neither Joey nor I like tomatoes slices (and for the same reason, too), so this little quirk of the shot felt personal. It was a great film. It had me thinking and for the most part, we kept quiet taking in all the details of the film.

After getting the wallpaper made and dinner, I stayed over to watch another film. Friday, Joey had purchased Rocky Balboa while we were out. He got it for only $4.00 used at Blockbuster. So, he, in his own way, asked me to stay and watch it. I can see why people liked it. I can't believe Sylvester Stallone wrote such a great movie after seeing Staying Alive. I had read a plot synopsis of the film a few weeks ago, so I knew what happened in the film. And yes, I'm going to spoil the film. I don't think Joey knew that Adrian was dead in this film. I did. At one point of the film, Rocky and Paulie are talking about Adrian and her death and Rocky starts yelling and crying about her death, still, after about 4 years after the fact. I had to leave the room and call my father to say I love you to him. It hit so close to home with seeing my dad's mourning, and in a way, my mourning with my mother's death. The movie illustrated that why you move on with your life after losing a loved one, you still have those moments. I explained to Joey after the film that one scene got to me. I really didn't need to say much more to him. That scene hit too close to home for him, too. After the film, we watched the deleted scenes. We both like the deleted scene with the introduction of Rocky to Little Marie, again, over the one used in the movie. However, we disagreed with the ending. He liked the deleted ending where Rocky won. I liked the one used where he lost. Of course, we all want Rocky to win. However, personally, I thought Rocky losing had a better overall message in the film. The message I got from the film is to never quit. You may fail, and life deals you with a lot of pain, but you just have to keep on going and believe in yourself. Rocky kept going and believed in himself, even when other laughed at him. And while he didn't win the fight, he believed in himself and never did quit. People weren't going to remember that Rocky lost the fight. People were going to remember Rocky gave it his all and didn't quit. I am glad I watched that Rocky film. I haven't ever seen the others. I didn't need to see the others to enjoy this one. Once Rocky Balboa ended, it was after midnight. I packed up my stuff, save a few items, and came home and went to bed. The stuff I left at Joey's is stuff is computer equipment he can use if needed.

Being with Joey these past 2 weeks have been something. I've just been looking at life differently. It's made me miss my mother, too. I want to run to her to talk about my days, but she's not there in person to listen. And in a way, I've been reliving my mother's death and the aftermath in order to tell Joey I understand. I know he's going through a tough time, and his grief is one I haven't experienced for myself. But, I do know how it is to lose someone so dear to you, and how to come to grips with the facts, and trying to live your life. I understand mourning. I have been emotional about this all, but I know that this time, for me, the pain's fine. My main purpose right now is to be there for Joey as a friend.

[♪ Listening to: "Heaven's What I Feel" - Gloria Estefan]