Amazing how fast the last year went. Courtney has had her ups and downs but so far has come out on top. Last September she enrolled in six hours at Arizona State University majoring in social work. It had been a couple of years since she had attended school and was a little nervous about how she would do. She completed the semester with a 3.50 GPA and is currently enrolled in nine hours this semester. School is becoming very enjoyable for her this semester since she has more classes in social work and so far she has a 4.00 GPA. Gaining confidence she enrolled for twelve hours for the fall semester and will take Biology in summer school at a community college. One of her goals now is to graduate with honors.
The cost of living was going up for Courtney - her rent at an Extended Stay hotel was going to double at the end of March. With real estate prices down it became obvious that it would be less expensive in the long run to buy a condo. As luck would have it we found an amazing bargain - and it wasn't even a short sale. A one bedroom condo in downtown Phoenix, built only ten years ago and only a 15 minute drive to school. The condo had gone into foreclosure then was bought by a group from Chicago who went about updating the units. Our condo has brand new wooden floors, basically a new kitchen with new cabinets, stainless appliances, and granite. The bathroom looked like new too with a granite countertop. There is also a one car garage. All this for $69,900. For the first time in three years Courtney feels like she has a real home.
Courtney does realize now just how much she has to lose should she ever drink and drive again. In Phoenix a second conviction could get you six months in jail. Harsh but probably effective. Looking back, however, I do think that the DUI classes Courtney attended for so long really did help her. This type of counseling is a valuable resource in keeping people sober, along with the fear of winding up in tent city for an extended stay.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Thursday, January 6, 2011
RELEASED!
Days had a way of slowing down just before Courtney was to be released. Once she was out I believed my anxiety level would plummet and sleep would come easier each night. Courtney's license was to be suspended for three months and she was also required to get a breathalizer installed in her car. I called a couple of companies to inquire about getting one installed and was told Courtney would first have to received a letter from DMV requiring her to have one installed in her car. No letter - no breathalizer. We just couldn't wait to pay $90 a month for one.
Courtney was also required to attend weekly group counseling for which she (we) would have to pay $20 each week for about four months. She was able to schedule this for after she was able to drive again. Fortunately she actually enjoyed going each week and really liked the woman in charge and the people in her group. As much experience as Courtney had with group therapy I knew she would make the most of it. The hardest part for her would be getting up in the morning to go.
In the meantime, however, Courtney and Chris were having a few problems. She had only been out of rehab and living with Chris a short while before having to report to jail and adjusting to life on the "outside" was a little difficult. We thought things were going smoothly with them, but after one argument he made her pack up and get out - with no where to go - late one night. It was the first week of the month and we had paid for half the rent and utilities but since the lease was in Chris' name he believed he had the right to kick her out to spend the night in her car. She called me right away and told me everything that had happened - trivial argument blown out of prorportion. Both saying things they shouldn't. Then I called Chris and spoke with him, reminding him that we had paid her share of the rent. He assured me he would pay us back.(lol) As devastated as Courtney was, however, I was impressed by the way she was handling it.
I got online and added some funds to her money card from AAA so she could go to an atm and get enough cash for a cheap motel. There was a Super 8 a couple of miles away and she spent a couple of nights there before moving to a Days Inn for a couple of nights. A couple of hours online and I found there are many hotels in Phoenix especially for very long stays. Most are like an efficiency apartment. Some are horrid and a few are nice and a much better deal then an apartment. Within a week we had her moved into Budget Suites that was just a few miles from Chris and very close to her DUI classes.
Budget Suites worked out to be much cheaper than an apartment because there were no utility bills to pay and no lease. The outside was very nice - the inside was dated but spacious. She stayed there for one month before moving to Extended Stay a couple of miles away in the Biltmore area of Phoenix. A lot less for a much nicer place to stay.
Courtney was also required to attend weekly group counseling for which she (we) would have to pay $20 each week for about four months. She was able to schedule this for after she was able to drive again. Fortunately she actually enjoyed going each week and really liked the woman in charge and the people in her group. As much experience as Courtney had with group therapy I knew she would make the most of it. The hardest part for her would be getting up in the morning to go.
In the meantime, however, Courtney and Chris were having a few problems. She had only been out of rehab and living with Chris a short while before having to report to jail and adjusting to life on the "outside" was a little difficult. We thought things were going smoothly with them, but after one argument he made her pack up and get out - with no where to go - late one night. It was the first week of the month and we had paid for half the rent and utilities but since the lease was in Chris' name he believed he had the right to kick her out to spend the night in her car. She called me right away and told me everything that had happened - trivial argument blown out of prorportion. Both saying things they shouldn't. Then I called Chris and spoke with him, reminding him that we had paid her share of the rent. He assured me he would pay us back.(lol) As devastated as Courtney was, however, I was impressed by the way she was handling it.
I got online and added some funds to her money card from AAA so she could go to an atm and get enough cash for a cheap motel. There was a Super 8 a couple of miles away and she spent a couple of nights there before moving to a Days Inn for a couple of nights. A couple of hours online and I found there are many hotels in Phoenix especially for very long stays. Most are like an efficiency apartment. Some are horrid and a few are nice and a much better deal then an apartment. Within a week we had her moved into Budget Suites that was just a few miles from Chris and very close to her DUI classes.
Budget Suites worked out to be much cheaper than an apartment because there were no utility bills to pay and no lease. The outside was very nice - the inside was dated but spacious. She stayed there for one month before moving to Extended Stay a couple of miles away in the Biltmore area of Phoenix. A lot less for a much nicer place to stay.
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