A Shout Out

 My friend MST has started her own blog! Go check her out here. She has left several insightful comments on my blog and I am truly looking forward to reading her thoughts. Welcome to the blogging world MST!

 In other news, I voiced my work frustrations with my boss today. To my surprise, he is in agreement with me and has already begun to fix the problems we are having. I felt completely supported and validated. Of course it is not about me, it is about our clients, but when I feel like their best interests are not at heart I get pretty pissed off . He assured me things would get better but that I better just sit tight because it would take some time. 

 I don’t feel like I should discuss the problems here but I will say that some of the things I have been seeing have made me want to smack people up side the head and ask them what the fuck they were thinking. The clients come to us for help. It is our job to help them, not hurt them and not make them feel worse about themselves. Once again I have found myself in a situation where I have to stand up and do what’s right. I know I am going to seriously piss off some co-workers but I took this job to help our clients. That’s what I plan on doing. 

 In other, other news, did I mention I am excited to vote?!! Did anyone watch the Obama infomercial last night? What did you think?

Ten Things Tuesday

 I haven’t had much to say lately and I am not sure why. Plenty of stuff has been happening, I just haven’t been blogging about it. I decided when I started this blog that I would write when I felt like it and when I didn’t, I wouldn’t feel bad about it. There you have it. So, this weeks TTT is just a run down of what I have been up to lately.

1. Today, I had a shitty day at work. There are some things going on that I just don’t like. I am not sure how to deal with them but I KNEW today was not the day to do it.

2. I went to Bosses Halloween party over the weekend. I decided I wanted to be something really scary so I went as Sarah Palin. People, for the most part, thought it was a great costume and I walked around telling people I could see Russia from my house. One guy didn’t think it was so funny. Joe 12 pack( read drunk out of his mind) went off on me about how bad Obama is. Jesus was there too and when Joe 12 pack didn’t shut up, Jesus and I had a friendly debate. People, Jesus really is for McCain/Palin, just like she said. Anyway, Jesus was really nice and he knew his shit. Our conversation ended by us both agreeing that it is really cool that we get to choose who we want and that it was cool that we could have very different views but have a nice, respectful conversation. When we parted ways, Joe 12 pack was still talking. 

3. I got to spend a little time with Auntie Teachers family which was great. They have always been so nice and welcoming to me and for that, I am so grateful. 

4. Been doing lots and lots of reading for school. I like readin’.

5. Didn’t end up carving the pumpkins this weekend. The Room-Mate was late getting home.

6. My client had a very frustrating experience with the receptionist at the very busy health center. I heard her raising her voice from across the noisy waiting room. I decided I needed to intervene and as I walked up she said several times “I don’t understand what you are telling me!” By the time I got up there, she had dropped the F bomb. The lady tried to explain the situation to me but I couldn’t understand because of her thick accent either. I remained calm and asked her to get the nurse. The nurse cleared it all up for us. After, I tried to explain to my client that getting upset wasn’t going to get her what she needed. She was able to see what I had done to resolve the situation as well as where she could have done things differently. Good stuff.

7. I am really craving Auntie Teachers chocolate cheesecake. She makes the best cheesecake ever. Hint, hint.

8. I can not wait to vote! I love voting!

9. I am re-watching John Adams because I am using part of it for a group project for school. I LOVED the series and I am glad I have an excuse to watch it again!

10. Gentleman, you may want to stop reading here! I warned you! So, I managed to not get a headache or the blahs after my period ended this month! Yippee!

Peace out peeps!

Ten Things Tuesday

  This weeks ten things is brought to you by my friend MST! It is late because I asked her to guest post late Monday afternoon. Technically, she had it done on Tuesday but I was sound asleep by the time it reached my in box. Here goes;

Hi! My name is MST, and I’m an alcoholic. Really. Now don’t
fret…this isn’t a mellowdramatic Lifetime movie or after-school
special. It’s just my life…a life that has improved exponentially
since October 15, 2002-the day after my last alcoholic drink …as of
today. Last week, I celebrated 6 years of sobriety, and Auntie asked
me to write about ten things that have improved in that time for her
Ten Things Tuesday. To be honest, it’s hard to pull out just 10, but
I’ll do my best.

1. My basic physical health.

2. My ability to forgive.

3. My ability to empathize.

4. My relationship with my family.

5. My relationships with friends, and my ability to be a friend.

6. My ability to actually have fun and LAUGH!!!

7. My ability to have any and all feelings…and cope with them.

8. My ability to own my part, take responsibility for mistakes, but
also see what’s NOT mine.

9. My ability to relax.

10. My sex life. 🙂

I would love to elaborate, and really, sobriety has given me so much
more and continues to do so, but I’m running out of Tuesday, and I’m
exhausted! Just know that my whole life has improved. Is it perfect?
Lord, no!!! But I like imperfection!

But the really right answer is, what if he is?

I just watched Meet the Press. Mr. Powell said something that I think needs to be said more often;

 “…I’m also troubled by, not what Senator McCain says, but what members of the party say. And it is permitted to be said such things as, “Well, you know that Mr. Obama is a Muslim.” Well, the correct answer is, he is not a Muslim, he’s a Christian.  He’s always been a Christian.  But the really right answer is, what if he is?  Is there something wrong with being a Muslim in this country? The answer’s no, that’s not America.  Is there something wrong with some seven-year-old Muslim-American kid believing that he or she could be president?  Yet, I have heard senior members of my own party drop the suggestion, “He’s a Muslim and he might be associated terrorists.” This is not the way we should be doing it in America….”

 I actually clapped when I heard him say this.

Did You Know..

.. that I am a bad person who likes to hunt moose?

 Why do they let her speak?

Nearly Wordless Wednesday

 I got out of the shower to find a voice mail waiting for me on my work cell phone;

 “Hey Auntie, where do I go to register to vote?”

 Words cannot explain how happy I was.

 I called her and told her where to go and what to bring. I also told her how proud I was of her and that sometime between now and election day I wanted to sit down with her and talk about the candidates. She said that was fine but she already knew who she was voting for. I asked her why she chose her guy and she couldn’t tell me.

“That’s why I want to talk about it. You need to have good reasons for why you are voting for your guy.”

“How about I tell you why I am not voting for the other guy!”

She had some damn good reasons. 

 She has come so, so far.  This is part of why I love my job so much. I get to witness these “normal everyday” things that these kids never dreamed of doing while they were using. 

 After I got off the phone with her I called her PO and shared the good news with her too. I also told all of my co-workers who have worked with her in the past.

 

 Nearly wordless Wednesday? Not so much.

 

Photo credit

Ten Things Tuesday

All I have is randomness people. Sorry. I am working on something for next week though.

1. I finally got a library card today. The truth is, I haven’t been to the library in at least 10 years. I would rather own books. I am not sure why that is. Sometimes I like to re-read them but I usually don’t. Anyway, with the economy in the shitter, I decided one of the ways I can save a few bucks is by going to the library instead of buying all those books.

2. My library is connected to 12 other libraries in the state. Unfortunately, only one is nearby. They will send books over for you though. I ordered one that I need for class. Super cool and saving me 20 bucks!

3. Me and the peeps went to Spooky World on Sunday. It was fun but we didn’t have enough time to ride all the rides we wanted. They sold these flashing necklaces that kept the ghosts and goblins away. No, really. If you wore one the dudes walking around in costume would know not to try and scare you. Anyway, Boy1 got one and I told him I was scared so I was going to stick close to him. Well, we went on this “scary” hunted ride and wouldn’t you know, he insisted on sitting with me and he held that thing up in the air the whole time! My hero!

4. Back to books for a second. I got the second of three that I needed for class on Sunday. It is called Two Or Three Things I Know For Sure by Dorothy Allison. It was a short one, only 94 pages but it was really good. It was one of those books that as soon as it was in my hands, I knew something in it would resonate with me. Page 3 “Two or three thing I know for sure, and one of them is what it means to have no loved version of your life but the one you make.”

5. Me and The Room-Mate got pumpkins on Sunday. Two years ago (before I lived with her) she hosted a pumpkin carving party. Ma came up after we were done and judged them. Mine came in last. This year, I am using my Dremel to carve it. Power tools baby! I’ll post pictures.

6. Lets go Red Sox!

7. Mr. Chili and I had a text fest last night while watching the game. The Sox got their ass kicked. Already in the bottom of the first it is 3-0 Tampa. I am surprised he hasn’t texted me yet. 

8. I met with my academic adviser this morning. I had some questions she couldn’t answer but she pointed me and the right direction. I really want to make sure I take classes that will cover me for the masters program.

9. Have you seen the Travelers Insurance commercial where the man has the giant red umbrella and he helps all the people? I love that commercial. I think it is cute.

10. Lets go Red Sox!! Sorry kids, I am distracted by the game. I gotta go. Peace!

FFF But With Out Flowers

 

Just a couple of things to keep you updated on what I have been up to or thinking about;

 

• There have been several people in my thoughts this week. A few of my clients are not doing so well, one I actually fear for her life. Her parents, I think, have died on the inside. I spoke with her father the other day who was crying almost the entire conversation. I was choking back the tears myself. Addiction sucks hard. Also, Gerrys son-in-law, and his entire family have also been in my thoughts. They will remain there.
• I have been trying to finish up my assignments for my first class and get started on the ones for the second. It has been tough because of the 8 day headache. Auntie Teacher gave me a reverse hug in order to give my back a nice crack. (Don’t try it at home!) Man oh man did it help! Thankyouthankyouthankyou Auntie Teacher! By Monday morning my headache was gone but it came back at night. The same was true for every day this week except yesterday. This morning I got up at 4:30 and banged out most of my last writing assignment, put it on my usb drive and planned on finishing it at work during lunch. Wouldn’t you know, it wouldn’t open. As I write this, Microsoft Word 2007 is downloading on to my computer.
• Today, Connecticut became the third state in the US to legalize same sex marriage! Yesterday I read a story about a Massachusetts couple who tried to get the supreme court to force their childs library to ban a book about same sex couples. The court wouldn’t even hear the case. It’s a good week to be a queer kid!

 I don’t really think that marriage is about suffering, I just found this and it cracked me up!

• Game one of the Sox/Rays ALCS is tonight. I’m going to watch at the SLMs house. SLM2 and I are really going to try not to fall asleep. We both like to go to bed early.. If we do, SLM1 will be home from work at 10:30 to wake my ass up and send me home. GO SOX!!!
• Tomorrow is laundry day followed by a 10:00 hair cut. I haven’t really decided if I want to grow it out this winter. After that, I may or may not be having lunch with Chili. She hasn’t let me know yet if she is planning on coming down. Chili? Come on! You KNOW you want to got to the Mac store!

Sunday me and the peeps are going to Spooky world! Auntie Teacher, MST? You guys in?? Also, Sunday is catch up with the Room-Mate day. Sunday is literally the only day we see each other.

 What are you doing this weekend?

 

photo credit

Nearly Wordless Wednesday

“Auntie, come to the kitchen after your meeting.”

“Ok, Cook-Man.”

“Thanks! What is it?”

“Shutupandeatit.”

It was chocolate cake with mixed berries but not cherries because he knows I don’t like them.

Ten Things Tuesday

The Sox are heading to the ALCS to play Tampa Bay. It’s going to be a tough series, Tampa Bay is good. Just for today, lets celebrate the ALDS win.

1.

Dustin makes a great play to get the out.

2.

Mark played first because Mike couldn't play third.

3.

Jon pitched very well again.

4.

Bay slides in for the win.

5.

Jed drove in the winning run.

6.

Youk, Tek, and Jacoby charging the field.

7.

Celebration on the field.

8.

Mike will not play in the ALCS. Thanks for everything Mike!!

9.

Could these guys go down as the best manager/GM in baseball history?

10. The Red Sox theme song;

 

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