CRAZINESS!

Well, I'm starting this post all over again because for some reason it decided not to show any of the text...

I suppose that is probably good, seeing that I wrote it while high on adrenaline and a little bit worried. But, I am annoyed that I have to tell you about it all over again. (And, I'm sorry Laura, that I worried you by having a nuts title, and no information to go along with it!)

Today (Friday) was full of drama, suspense and frustration. I'm still a little bit angry at the situation and how badly it was handled...

At about 10:30 am this morning one of my supervisors came in and said, "Have you heard anything about the situation over in architecture?" The two of us present here in the office said no, puzzled. She went on to tell us that that Architecture Department was in lock-down and had been since sometime yesterday afternoon because there had been a student with 3 guns over there, threatening to shoot a professor. We were, of course, shocked, but more than that, confused that our department would not have been sooner notified. Where were the emails? Phone calls?

Now, here's the thing: the Architecture department and the Art department are in the SAME building! How is it possible for them to be on lock-down and we don't even know there is a "situation?"

About 15 minutes later, the same supervisor came in again and said, "Okay, here's the real story..." She said, sometime yesterday afternoon, the police pulled over a man driving erratically on the freeway. During this traffic stop they learned four key things: the man was an architecture student here at the U, he was drunk and angry, he was threatening to shoot an architecture professor and he had a gun. (Later, 3 guns were mentioned.) She also said he had been present on campus yesterday afternoon, so the Architecture department had been locked down and everyone sent home. (Again, we're in the SAME building... why didn't we know??) As of the morning, they didn't know where the guy was, but Architecture was still in lock-down.

So, here we are, sitting in front of two sets of windows that look out on the courtyard between us and the Architecture office. Bridgett and I were trying not to feel too freaked out, were relieved to know the guy probably wasn't on campus at the moment, but were still asking thinks like, "Why hasn't there been a larger email sent out? Why are we just learning of all this now? Is there something we should be doing?" Other staff members began to trickle into the office then asking if we'd heard about what's going on... saying things like, "Why don't we have a description of this guy? Why hasn't a picture been sent out? Where are the emails from campus security? Didn't anyone around here about Virginia Tech?"

The day moved on in this manner for a couple of hours. Many staff members felt like they were, "Living in the twilight zone." We continued to deal with disgruntled faculty members, our worried selves, and the questions, "Should we be locking up and going home or is this really just a scare?" I kept thinking, "Gosh, if Architecture is in lock-down and the guy is out to kill someone, won't he just come over here once he finds out that person he's looking for isn't around?" (Not helpful thinking, I know).

Around 12:15 pm I got a phone call from the Dean's office. The receptionist said, "Hi. We just wanted you to know that the suspect has been apprehended. He is currently in custody. Please carry on as normal unless you hear anything differently from us." Okay. Great. Situation resolved, right?

Then in marches a group of faculty members who were having a meeting up on the 2nd floor. Out the window, a couple of them saw the police out in our courtyard (yes, the beautiful view from my office) chasing this guy around the building. They watched the whole chase and say the police catch the guy and arrest him. Now here's the thing: HE WAS REALLY HERE, ON CAMPUS, IN OUR BUILDING THE WHOLE TIME! And, again, why did we not get this message?

Luckily, the situation was taken care of, no one was hurt and we all went home happily at 5 pm. We'll see if I get any more information about the actual events today (Monday).

Needless to say, this past weekend was one where I did a lot of relaxing, a lot of house cleaning and not a lot else. It did snow 10 inches Saturday morning, though, and it was nice to usher in December with a fresh blanket of white. Hopefully I'll get to post the pictures we took sometime tonight (the camera is a t home).

Blessings to you all. Hopefully today will be much less "exciting."