Hey, Guess What

It's finally snowing.

What A Beautiful Morning

You know it's going to be a great day when you come in to work and the first voicemail you have comes from a guy who is in crisis because he believes that somebody broke into his room and stole his long-johns.

Bleak House

I've been watching mini-series from the BBC called Bleak House. Now, I've seen this with other books/stories from long ago, but the characters names still make me laugh. The character's names are often directly linked to an aspect of their personality or something significant they have to contribute to the story. Here are a few examples.

Lady Dedlock
Mr. Tulkinghorn
Miss Flite
Guppy
Smallweed
Boythorn
Krook

So if my name was directly linked to personality, I wonder what I'd be called. (Rhetorical question, don't respond.)

Christmas Gifts

This post is not intended for everyone, but this is a placeholder for my Amazon list.

If you're reading this, you know I will not be able to head home for Christmas. Some people have already asked, "Well, what do you want for Christmas." Honestly, I don't want anything typically commercial. I would like something that would have some meaning to whoever is sending it . . . and remind me of home.

Since I can't be there, that is what would be more important to me. Since all of my (digital) pictures were taken, something like that would be sufficient.

If you really insist on getting me something from a store, talk to me about it.

Moseying Along

Well, I have been doing much better. My paranoia is mostly gone and I have returned (as much as possible) to a normal life.

I am still lamenting the loss of 8 years of photographs . . . but I will survive.

I have been enjoying my job which has been busy. Tonight I had the chance to hang out with some of my friends from PLU. It's fun catching up and somehow we end up talking about . . . inappropriate topics for some.

For example, discussing sexual abuse while munching on a hamburger is nothing out of the ordinary, is it?

Surviving

Well, this week has been full of ups and downs. The downs . . . I shall not recount. As for the ups . . . well . . . they're up.

I'm going to sleep soon and will wake up late tomorrow.

Wow, I think that is the most amazing and insightful post I have ever made.

Cheese.

Painful Update

For those of you that read this . . . my house got broken into today. My roommate called me at 12:10PM letting me know. My job let me go home early to see what happened.

I had about $6000 of electronics stolen. My roommates had more.

Even worse, I lost all of my family pictures that were scanned among other things of sentimental value. We have reported it to the appropriate people and taken all the necessary steps.

For those of you that believe in it, please pray. I know I have been. Thank you.

Fun Times for All

I believe I have found the best game ever. It is called Last Night on Earth.

Informed Discontent

We regret to inform you that since you are a new employee, you will not be allowed any paid time off until your probationary period of 6-months from your date of hire has ended.

This means you cannot visit family or friends for Christmas.

Sincerely,

Your New Job

Vampires + Werewolves = Zombie Lovefest

This is what I would like to see in November.

Reviving the Dead

Since my life consists of going to work, coming home, eating, making lunch and going to bed . . . I don't really have much to share here. As such I will add on a new segment entitled magnetic poetry. I'll pull these poems/phrases from the fridge at work.

The first phrase is:

Childhood potatoes make success.

You May Not Care

But . . . after watching the last of the extras on the Back to Earth DVD, I went to the Red Dwarf website to see if others had any comments about it.

I have found out that they have commissioned another Red Dwarf series. They are working on the scripts and no other info is known.

Actual Day One: New Job

So, today was the first actual day at my job. I went in and went straight to my office. People asked me if I was lost or confused . . . to which I responded with a polite no. I knew exactly what I was doing, however they were unfamiliar with me.

I went to the meeting in the morning and everybody was just as sarcastic as I am. It is going to be a good team. I'm still hesitant about how competent they think I am and what they think I did at my previous job, nonetheless I'll do my best.

I met with my supervisor several times that day as she explain certain procedures, showed me how to do certain tasks, and talked to me about some of my new clients. Also, the majority of the people in my hallway came and introduced themselves. It looks like I'll be working with some very good people.

I spent much of the day training, reading, and figuring out about this foreign concept known as productivity. In fact, I've done the math and literally know how competent I need to be to "exceed expectations" at the end of my yearly review. Somehow, with my caseload I don't think that is going to be an issue.

To make a long story short . . . (too late), it was a relaxing day and I've got some fun stuff planned during the next few days to learn even more.

the First and the Last

So it ended up that yesterday was my last day of work. It is kind of ironic, now that I think about it.

At work, things were exceedingly slow. I worked on Crisis Triage where we started out with three clients. At the end of the night, we had four clients. Since it was so slow, I was talking to my coworkers about my time at Pierce County and we reflected on what had happened over the past few years.

I referred some of them to my blog post about my first day of work. I remember that day and now I'm able to laugh at it.

The most ironic part of last night is that it was very similar to my first day working at Crisis Triage. It was quiet and I got to help one person get some things figured out. It was a great end to a thirty-month stint at Pierce County.

So long guys, it has been fun.

Goodbye to the Circus

Two more days of work, then I am done at Pierce County. It has been both good and bad.

I have loved most of my coworkers. We have had great fun, helped support each other during the good times and bad, and given each other the freedom to improve our skills. We have also stopped clients on the unit from punching us in the head when necessary.

I will miss working with some clients that needed help and were willing to take those steps necessary to improve their lives.

I will not miss those loud and obnoxious clients who had no desire to be there and created havoc for everybody (especially when they were stable). I will not miss the personality behaviors. I will not miss those nights where I was impatiently waiting to take my break so I could head in the back room and breathe just to get away from the noise.

Although the above list contains many "I will not miss" items, it was a very good job and I'm glad I was able to work there. I am glad it is coming to an end and I am fortunate to have another job that starts shortly after my last day at the county.

As for next week . . . only time will tell what will happen. And I've already been assigned my first client . . . although I don't start until next week.

It's Official, Again

As of 2:30PM PST today, I have been offered a position to be an employee for Good Samaritan Behavioral Health.

First Interview of the Season

I went to my interview with Good Sam today. As you may know, I've been volunteering for them since the beginning of the year. I interviewed for a position as a case manager in the css department. It means I would be doing intakes, therapy, being a case manager, dealing with loads of paperwork, and visiting the prison approximately once a week.

The interview was very interesting. It was with five supervisors, yet I didn't feel in the least bit fearful. They asked me questions and I answered them to the best of my ability. I didn't go with the politically correct responses, I simply answered them.

One example they asked is how I felt about the company that is taking over the healthcare for Pierce County. I said, "Honestly, I hate them." I explained they they caused me to lose my job. However I know that they are funding/running everything that is happening in the county and I know some people that are working there. As such, the people are better than the company but unless I leave the county, I have no choice but to interact with them.

In short, the interview was fun.

See, that's one thing about interviews that I never understood. They say you're supposed to be completely professional and show a false front (in a sense). Maybe I've misunderstood, but yes I presented myself as professional, honest, and I showed my personality. I don't see how it should be done any other way.

Now for those of you that will ask, "How did it go?" Honestly, I don't know. I did get a good impression from everybody that did the interviews but who can say at this point? I was the first person to be interviewed and they may forget me as the other wonderful people come in to talk to them about the position. Who knows, but I'll keep you informed.

Boundin'

Yesterday was one of the best, unplanned, days I have had in a long time.

I woke up at 8:30 to get ready to meet a friend at 9:30 at the Hob Nob. It is a great little restaurant out on 6th Avenue that is directly across from Wright Park. I met with my friend for breakfast and we caught up since I have not seen her for weeks. During which I ordered the three egg crab omelet with hashbrowns and wheat toast. Actually, I just ordered toast. I let the server choose what type of toast . . . don't ask me why.

The omelet was good, not fantastic. There were some pieces of shell in the omelet which made it a little less than desirable but the server was very perky, friendly, and sociable. I would recommend this place to anyone that comes by.

After breakfast I was going to leave to go to supervision. In looking at the clock, I'd only have 30 minutes left of supervision so I decided to follow my friend instead. We walked around Wright Park, looked at the fountain, and watched the ducks. My friend is moving to South Korea to teach English so that was probably the last time I'll be seeing her for quite a while. We hugged and she left.

I began driving home and realized how anxious I had been feeling due to the stress from the situation with my job. The thought came to mind to go to the forest that I went to a few years ago on my birthday. I hadn't been there since and I began thinking of the wondrous adventure I would have. I drove to the forest and began walking around, following a path I had not gone down before. I walked past hundreds of blackberry bushes and I could not help to snatch a few berries from their vines. I think it helps that blackberries are considered weeds around here which is why they grow so freely. After approximately 30 minutes, I sat down for a break and then decided to go back to my car.

Well, on the way back I got lost. I had a tug of war with several trees, brutally molested by many blackberry bushes and was attacked by four mosquitoes. Ultimately I found some telephone wires and followed them back to the main road, where I found my car.

I then went to Fred Meyers to find a pair of shoes. Apparently the largest they have is either 12 or 13 in most sizes. I, of course, needed 1/2 to 1 size larger than they had. Ah well. So finally I went home to take a nap.

I awoke and my roommate needed my help making meat and cheese platters for work the next day. I helped him from 6:00PM through 12:30AM. It was great fun, we joked, ate a lot of meat, and just talked.

I went to bed around 1:00AM and I was so tired because I knew I would have to do therapy today.

So now I have a mild suntan due to my struggle in the forest and I had a great therapy day. Although I still feel somewhat stressed about the job issue, yesterday helped a lot. It pulled me out of the routine I had been following . . . and it was glorious.

So how was your day?

Warning

I've noticed that recently I've been wanting to be more reclusive. I can only attribute this to not knowing what my future holds. Usually when I do this I get things figured out more quickly.

Now you know the rest of the story.

Back at Work

I’m at work again and man is this depressing. The majority of the employees are talking about getting fired, losing their benefits, other jobs, how they will survive, etc. I am aware of the situation and doing what I can so I will be employed, but these conversations are not helping. They are also talking about how frustrated they are and how the ‘county’ should be doing more to take care of them during their time of transition.

I understand that this is how some people cope. They need to relate to people and figure out what they are going to do. As such, I am not intervening. More than anything, it is frustrating for me because I am normally a very positive person and I am doing my best in staying focused and proactive.

When people have asked how I am, I have honestly responded with “mildly depressed.” It is an accurate diagnosis. When I mention it, people turn their head and start to console me. They then attempt to give me advice on how to manage it. The only reason I mention it is because people ask, “How are you?” By sharing it, I do not want advice or to hear the typical “everything will be okay.”

I know that everything will be okay, I know it will work out, and I know it will take time for everything to sort out. I understand that people are trying to help and be supportive. All I need at the moment is for somebody to listen and be sympathetic. That’s all. If they are aware of other possible jobs . . . that would help too.

Yes, this is a minor rant. As mentioned in my previous post, things will probably get worse before they get better. This is, however, keeping you apprised of the situation and how I’m dealing with it.

The News Keeps Getting Better

So, it has been released that after closing down Crisis Triage and Evaluation and Treatment, that three new units will be opening at another location. Two will be similar to the Evaluation and Treatment center (what most of my work posts have mentioned) and one will be similar to Crisis Traige but simply referred to as a living room model.

I looked at the current job openings for the company that will be opening the living room model as the other companies have no job postings yet. Their minimum requirements for working there is a Master's Degree in the mental health field and four years of full time experience in working with chemical dependency, mental illness, and clients in crisis.

In other words, I'm no longer qualified in working at the job that I've been doing for the past 2 1/2 years.

I have a feeling that these posts are going to get increasingly depressing for a while. You have been warned.

Unemployment, Here I Come

So, I attended the meeting about my job and I learned that "Optum has decided not to contract with [Pierce County] for any of our services."

They stated that we will remain employed until the end of September. They are starting to work on our 'pink slips' so we can file for unemployment.

There are mild hopes that Optum will change their mind, but it seems doubtful.

It Is Our Fate

Finally we were given some news at work. One of my coworkers called and let me know that there is a "mandatory meeting for all employees" tomorrow. In short, our future is decided.

Speculation does no good, however clients from the outside have been telling staff members what they "heard" will be happening. If so . . . it's going to be an interesting journey.

Also, I applied for another job with the agency I am currently volunteering for. Basically, it's exactly what I'm doing now except I'll have a larger caseload. That's about it.

Also, I did enjoy coming back to visit for a short time. Sorry I couldn't see everybody. Because of my job, I had very limited time. Hopefully I'll be able to come back for at least a week, if not longer, next time.

There will probably be another update tomorrow night.

No Answer

Well, supposedly today we would be learning what Optum would be doing with the county. Apparently they were unable to determine what, of all the options, would be the best to choose for the county. So, they decided they needed more time and would let us know later.

So what does this mean? It means I'll be coming back to visit for a week. If I learned I would be unemployed I wouldn't visit Utah it might make some more financial difficulties for me in the near future. However, since there is no resolutions . . . I might as well come back.

So I'll see some of you in a few days.

Budget Cuts

As you've known from previous posts, my life (or according to this blog) is my work. As such, there was recently an article from one of the new stations giving an example of the budget cuts in the works due to the county's mental health system being taken over by a business only in it for the profit. Here's the article.

Cuts to mental health deeper than expected in Pierce County

06:05 PM PDT on Thursday, August 6, 2009

By DREW MIKKELSEN, KING 5 News

PUYALLUP, Wash. - Gerald Pratt knew the state’s latest budget was going to hurt mental health facilities like the one he owns. He just didn’t think they’d be this painful.

“Worst I’ve ever seen,” said Pratt, owner of Puyallup’s Valley Community Inn, Inc. for nearly 28 years.

Pratt’s facility has room for 50 clients. Since July first he’s had to discharge 6 because of budget cuts.

Mental health providers in Pierce County have been told they may have to eliminate 15 percent of their beds.

That worries relatives of clients at the Valley Community Inn.

“I’m afraid she’d just starve to death,” said Chris Woodford, whose sister, Mary Mathews has lived at the facility since 1979.

Woodford does not know where her 68-year-old sister would go if she was discharged.

“She’d be wandering the streets or maybe living under the freeway,” said Woodford.

Optum Health began working as the Pierce County’s Mental Health Authority in July.

Their director said the 15 percent figure is a worst case scenario, and providers have been told every attempt will be made to avoid such a drastic cut.

An Unexpected Night

This has been an amazingly nice night at work and once again I realize how much I love my job.

Tonight I went to work on Crisis Triage. I was assigned one client because we started out with a census of 4 (which is extremely low). I completed the intake and the individual spent the rest of the shift in their room. Due to the low census, the CNA got sent home at 5:00. For the remainder of the night I was the CNA which means I basically did 15 minute checks to see where the people were. As the night progressed we maxed out with a census of 6 people. All but one person were assigned to one room. So it was very simply to hunt everybody down. I took four steps out of the office, looked into the room, looked into the hallway, and went back into the office.

It was rather simple, yet good. Also I ended up taking a crisis call from somebody who was concerned because they were at the low end of their bipolar mood swing. She talked for a little bit, I confirmed that she wasn't crazy, and she determined what she needed to do to resolve her problem.

Of course in the last ten minutes of work, two new people showed up at the same time. But . . . overall it was a good evening. I got to help someone, catch up with my coworkers, and eat a 4-cheese calzone. Overall, it was a great night.

Red Dwarf: Back to Earth

For those of you that care and haven't seen it . . . Red Dwarf: Back to Earth is coming out on DVD in October. Not bad since it has yet to be shown in the US. And of course, it has been confirmed that they are planning on making more episodes. It is a good day.

Mine, All Mine

A Depressing Conversation

Tonight at work we were all talking about being unemployed. We discussed what jobs we may have and how to make your way through unemployment with minimal hassle.

Since we will all be losing our jobs by the end of September, it's nice to have a good support group.

Now, why is this happening? Because a for-profit organization took over the healthcare system in Pierce County. So far, jobs are significantly being cut in every healthcare related business and this company still gets 10% profit from everything that will be earned. So in short, they could care less.

Just Like Heaven

This is what is sitting in my fridge.



I am a very happy man.

I Could Have Blogged All Night

Yes . . . something else from College Humor.

Work, Shmerk

For the past few times at work, I have been on Crisis Triage. Now, I don't hate triage. I just don't like crisis work. I'm more of a continuity type of person. They crisis people do their thing, then they send them up to the psych unit.

Well, here in triage there have been a few people that are consistently loud. There is currently a gentleman that has been shouting out of his door every 2 minutes. He makes threats, says he's the son of the devil, that he'll be taking our souls . . . you know, the basic threats. I'll admit, I run into this on the psych unit but there are many more people and usually the sounds are drowned out.

Another thing that happened at work is, they closed down the stabilization unit which means the people that worked there will be transferred to other units. Ultimately that means less shifts will be available to sign up for which means, I need a new job. Nothing bad, but it feels like its time.

I haven't heard back from the interview I had over a month ago and I'm tired of waiting. So now I get to join the rest of the graudates and look for a job. Hurrah! Actually, I think I'm still the only unemployed person from my graduating class. So . . . is it too late? What should I do? And whose feet do I have to smell to get a job I want?

All this and more on the next edition of . . . my life.

New Work Painting

The other night at work I had the pleasure of covering for one of my coworkers during arts and crafts. Some paints were right in front of me, so I decided to paint for a bit. I came home and scanned it. After doing so I decided to do see what the negative image would look like. That is the first picture you see below. The second is the actual 'painting' if you can call it that. Personally, I think they're just brush strokes of different colors. That's all. Either way, it was fun.



Have I mentioned I love my job? At least that's true when I'm not being attacked while I'm working.

More Music

Well . . . do you remember Barbie Girl? Yes, that horrendously catchy single that came out years ago by Aqua. Well . . . apparently they have a new single. And it's just as catchy.

Hold Music

Well, while I'm waiting to hear back about my job I'll allow you to enjoy this bit of music. Listen to it to the end, it's only 42 seconds.

(Turn on your speakers if they're not already.)

Does anyone care where it's from?

Hear Ye, Hear Ye

Apparently one of my roommates will be moving out. As such the homeowner will be looking for a new roommate.

Time to play Russian roulette. Will it be a pot-smoking junkie who sells meat door to door? Will it be a transvestite hooker? Could it be a recently returned missionary? Or possibly an accountant.

Only time will tell who will be the next contestant on . . . Choose Your Roommate.

Ode to My Brother

My brother and I were talking on the phone today and I was reminded of one of my favorite strips that he drew. Here is it. And if you want to see more, head to his website.

Hello to the Circus

Why I Love British Comedies

Those of you who want to hear about Red Dwarf again . . . continue reading otherwise, don't.

I just finished watching the bonus features in the Bodysnatcher Collection of Red Dwarf. For those of you who are unfamiliar with this, the Bodysnatcher collection consists of the first three series remastered along with some enjoyable making of documentaries. While I was watching these, I realized why I enjoy British comedies so. The people are more honest, less politically correct, and actually bad mouth each other in the documentaries. I have never seen/heard this on any commentary, making of feature, or documentary associated with any TV show or film. On American commentaries I always here "we were so close, it was like a family." And I don't recall hearing that once on the Red Dwarf DVDs.

Because of the pure and unedited honesty, they are so much more comical and enjoyable overall. I would highly recommend them . . . although you can only watch them on a computer or a region free DVD player.

I Made It Back

Much to my dismay, I returned from Disneyworld. It is always sad to see a vacation end.

Nonetheless, I had a blast. Having been to Disneyland dozens of times in my life and knowing it backwards and forwards . . . made it even more fun to see the differences between that and Disneyworld. The exact rides in Disneyland are larger in Disneyworld. One ride that I hate in Disneyland was much better in Disneyworld. In California it is short, loud, and full of so many blacklight sucking cutouts, that it takes away from the actual joy of the ride itself. Not so in Disneyworld. It actually has a story that you can follow without knowing the movie itself.

Aside from the Magic Kingdom there was also Disney's Hollywood Studios, the Animal Kingdom, Downtown Disney, and EPCOT.

Since I was there on my birthday (thanks for the birthday wishes of Facebook, by the way) I can honestly say it was the best birthday I have ever experienced. Now if I could have some family and (more) friends along, it would have been even better. So I'm back and you will no longer hear me blabber on about my trip, my excitement, or anything of the sort.

This morning I did get a call from my job for an interview. If I pass it, that means I might actually be working there with benefits as opposed to being simply on-call. I'll keep you updated.

Oh, one more thing. My nephew asked me to ride Splash Mountain for him. I did. And here's my proof.

On An Airplane

If you're reading this it means I am officially on the plane. Since I have left and won't be updating for at least a week (and how's that different from normal?) I decided to provide you a piece of music I put together. No, it does not contain any whale sounds.

If you listen to (and can understand) the words, it does make some sort of sense. And no, it's not full of music from Disneyland, Disneyworld, or directly from the animated films. I'd suggest turning your speakers down somewhat though.




Enjoy.

Just Finished

I just completed the first draft of a story I've been working on for almost two years now. Due to school and lack of inspiration for a while, I didn't touch it. But I just barely finished it and I have such an amazing feeling. It was originally based off of a dream which developed into something more as I began to type it.

It's not a long story, only 30 pages. But the content was something so simple, yet meaningful that I've been wanting get across for so long. And now, it's out there.

Of course, I now need to go through and revise it, make sure it is consistent, and to clarify the characters/situations as necessary. But it is nice having arrived at this point.

There's another Halloween story I've been working on for several years, for the same reason, with less meaning than my current story. I think I'll work on that one next.

Spring Sprang

Well, as the old saying goes . . . spring has sprung. Amidst the horrid rain, wind, and overcast . . . ness, somehow the sun has broken through. It had a long and painful journey, but it somehow it made it to the state of Washington. I heard it made it to Utah as well. Amazing how that works.

Nothing exciting is happening. I've got training for the next two days on how to properly restrain people that are out of control. I hope the weather is miserable so I won't want to be outside and the training will be easier. Oh, and of course I'm going to be leaving for Disneyworld in 10 days. Not that I'm excited or anything.

Due to the wonderful weather, I have made a personal vow. I am going to spend more of this spring/summer outside. Normally I tend to hibernate unless I have somebody to hang out with. Well . . . times have changed and I'm going to enjoy it if it kills me.

Hmm . . . or enjoy it unless it kills me? Or until it kills me. Either way, I shall enjoy it. So to each of you reading this, go outside and garden . . . or something.

Red Dwarf: Back to Earth - Part 1

Well, most of you out there won't care . . . but as for myself . . . I'm excited. In the UK they finished showing the new three-parter of Red Dwarf: Back to Earth. I just finished watching the first episode, and it was good. It was great to see the actors back in character with the same banter they always had. Of course there is much left unexplained, but that is fine by me. More than anything it is back to the four staple members which (in my mind) is what made the series so successful in the first place. I read various comments how so many 'devout' dwarfers were annoyed or frustrated at the new episode. I'm not sure why, it is just as classic as the original episodes.

So, I am headed off to work but will most certainly be watching the other two episodes when I get home.

And for anyone who cares, the episodes will be released on DVD in June in the UK.

Supporting A Friend

Yesterday I attended the funeral of a friend's mother. I didn't entirely know what to expect, but it was probably the best funeral I have ever attended (if that's possible). It literally was a celebration of her life. A focus on all the wonderful things that she had done and the encouragement given to everyone else to keep on living and understand the lessons that she lived through her life.

So although it was sad to see her go, it was great to see the celebration, the care, and the love that was involved in the ceremony itself.

Conference Typo

I saw this on another blog and I had to laugh.

A Welcome Day

With last week being what it was, I was excited to wake up this morning at 9:00am (ish) and be in a good mood. Then again it was the weird dreams that forced me to wake up. I wanted to get away form them so I willed myself awake. Funny how I can do that when I don't need to get up but I cannot when I desperately need/want to.

So after I awoke and showered, I played some video games, made lunch (and dinner for work) and got a few projects done. Since you know I love to cook I made two 1/2 pound avocado and bacon cheeseburgers with pickles. It was very tasty for both meals. I should cook more often.

After that I was feeling in such a good mood I even changed my sheets and made my bed. Since I only do that once every 6 months, it was a welcome change.

Work was different, but good. I was able to actually talk to a few of the clients and get/give some good feedback. They're not always ready/willing to talk about it so when they do, it's gold.

Also when I got back from work today, I got my 'Disney World Vacation Planning Package' which contained info on the trip that was booked and luggage tags. The luggage tags alone made the price of the trip worth it. So now I'm off to bed.

Pleasant Dreams

Reality is Setting In

This past week I have been feeling physically unwell. I have been eating right and sleeping enough, however my system is telling me otherwise. Take this and eclipse it with learning how much I will have to pay monthly on my student loans. Very few places are hiring and I have been looking for a job . . . without much success.

I am not royally concerned, however today everything has hit so it has been a down day. Due to my extreme frustration I bought a game I mentioned earlier. I've been playing it for several hours, and it did make me feel better. I enjoy this game because you can beat the crap out of zombies using varying weapons. In one of the most recent stages I just beat, you can kill them with a sword.

Since I rarely experience frustration at this level it is nice being able to deal with it appropriately without scaring the crap out of my roommates or friends. Now if you'll excuse me, I think I'm going to beat down some zombies with . . . a traffic cone.

A Fun Moment

I just came back from Blockbuster. Somehow, they found and updated my address . . . although I haven't been there in at least a year. Interesting.

But that's not the fun part. The Blockbuster is near my work. I rented a game and was on my way to my car. A rather scruffy guy asked a couple for some change and of course they said they didn't have any. I looked at him briefly, recognizing him from somewhere, and he simply asked me what movie I rented. I let him know it was a game and that's where it ended.

I know him because he has been a client on the psych unit.

Blue

One of my coworkers doodled this while he was covering me for arts and crafts at work. I've always liked his art.

Another Burger

goes between

which goes into

which leads toand makes

M-I-C K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E

Well, as many of you know from facebook, I booked my Disneyworld trip last night. Originally it was supposed to be Disneyland. However, the plane tickets were cheap and with food included, it equaled out to about the same. So I will be there over my birthday. I am going with my friend Melissa who also graduated with me from PLU. I am very excited. I haven't been to a Disney park in a few years so this will be nice.

According to the plan, we will be picked up from the airport and taken directly to the resort which is stationed inside the Animal Kingdom. We're going to be in the park for five days, which I hope will be enough.

Today was rather draining, so it's nice to have this to look forward to. Maybe booking this trip means that the Disney dreams will stop sometime soon.

Union of Demise

I've come to the conclusion that unions are similar to the stonecutters cults of old (as portrayed on the Simpsons).

Why do I state this you might ask? (And if you don't ask . . . indulge me.) Today I go into work and there are approximately nine part and full time positions posted for people to apply for. Nine! This happening when so many jobs are being cut. I go to apply for several when I'm told I cannot. Why? Oh, because they're union jobs. Union jobs? So in short, I am unable to apply for these positions that I'm perfectly qualified for because I am not a part of the union.

In speaking with my boss' boss, it is possible that many of these positions will go unfilled and as such will be posted for non-union people to apply for. But I have to sit and wait for that to happen . . . if it does.

But that brings up another debate. I am financially stable with my current hours. I honestly do not want to work full time. But my boss shared something which I will need to think over. He stated that with the budget cuts coming in June/July, there is a chance that some of the part time workers jobs will be cut because it is easier than cutting the full time jobs. So . . . if the jobs do become available to the non-union people, should I apply for a full time job? This is what I'm debating and I'm not even sure if I know the answer yet. It is going to take some time to think over.

Lionesque Day

So today has been much better than anticipated . . . although I was anticipation-free. Nonetheless, here is what has happened so far.

I woke up and went to supervision (in regards to seeing clients at Good Sam) which went swell. Afterward, I talked to a client and scheduled the next appointment. I was supposed to meet up with another friend, however he is doing job interviews/submitting applications so unfortunately that didn't work out.

Since I had some time off I figured I'd try a new restaurant. One that a client recommended to me. It was called "Burgers International and Pizzeria."

Here is what I wrote while waiting for my meal:

Here I am at a restaurant called Burgers International. It is owned by an older German couple. The woman's accent is strong and the man's is almost indistinguishable. When I arrived, aside from the couple, I was the only one in the restaurant. The decor is traditional but the menu is not.

On the menu, they have varying burgers ranging from lion to llama. The pictures on the menu are unprofessional, which to me shows this place is privately owned, which increases the appeal. They have a local radio station playing. The restaurant overlooks several trees, a stream, and a nearby city with further civilization in the distance.

I have ordered the lion (not loin) burger which is not on the menu, but only shows on the sign outside. Why did I order it? Simply because I will doubtfully ever have the chance to try it again. The man recommended I have it with pepperjack cheese, so I accepted the suggestion. The sun is out and it is coming through the window allowing for a gentle warmth which has been absent for several weeks.

I sat enjoying the ambiance for several minutes, while sipping my comforting lemonade. The meal came out and it looked like a regular burger, nothing special. If they hadn't told me, I doubtfully would have distinguished it from another burger . . . simply by the way it looked.


The taste, was a different story. I'm not sure what other meats you might have had but it had a similar taste to buffalo. The restaurant owner described it as somewhat "gamey" but not so much to detract from the overall taste. I would say that is accurate. The burger came with the pepperjack cheese, three pickle slices (I ate one), some thousand island dressing mix (which tasted good on the burger although I'm not naturally a fan of it), two tomato slices, lettuce and a side of fries. The fries were hot and crisp enough on the outside yet still warm and softer on the inside.

The man asked how my food was, made polite and appropriate conversation, and refilled my lemonade without asking (how I love that). Afterward he offered one of several deserts . . . and although tempted I had to decline the white chocolate raspberry cheesecake. Overall, the experience was extremely worthwhile. It is nice having time off enough to enjoy simple pleasures like that.

The rest of the day has yet to unfold, but so far it has been outstanding.

And if you were wondering due to a previous post, my job is once again secure. More details to follow.

Two Words of the Day

So my two favorite words that I've heard today are:

Prophecized and disorientated.

How would you use them in a sentence?

Somebody was disorientated after they prophecized about the end of the world.

Semi-Positive Work Update

Just wanted to give a quick update. Although I cannot release any details, it appears that my job is attempting to work something out so nobody will lose their jobs (due to Detox closing). They state "it's looking good" but as stated, I cannot specify what it means until the deal is complete.

My life is good, how is yours?

Yes, I'm A Geek

Within the past year or so, of all the music I've ever listened to, I've become more interested in film scores. In case you don't know, a soundtrack is an album that contains songs, with words, that people sing. The score is just the music created by a composer for the movie itself.

Now, as kids many of us grew up watching certain movies. We thoroughly enjoyed these films and watched them over and over again. Whether intentional or not, some of the music from these films pervaded our subconscious and left an indelible impact.

For me, one of these films is Ghostbusters.



A few months back I heard this score existed, but was oblivious to the limited quantities available. Apparently there are only 3000 in existence and they go for $100 at the cheapest. I knew I could never afford one, so I passed it by. Until . . . one fell in my lap for much less.

As I listen to the music I am transported back to my childhood and am able to remember every single moment of the film that is represented by the music in this album.

I know what I'll be doing to help myself sleep. How about you, who ya gonna call?

BMG Music Service

I have been a faithful member of the BMG Music Service since October of 2001. You've probably heard of them, "Buy 12 CDs for the Price of 1." Well, they sent out an e-mail within the past few months stating they will be 'closing' or more specifically merging with another 'music service' where all CDs cost $6.99 (shipping and handling is included).

Considering the deals they used to have, that's not worth it. They had such deals as Buy Unlimited CDs for $1.99 or Buy 1, Get 4 Free with Free Shipping. Most often, if you knew how to use them . . . the CDs ended up costing less than $5 anyway. Within the past year or so, their selection of music has dwindled as has their clientele (I'd imagine). And so now they're combining with another service.

I submitted my last order today since I still had 6 free CDs left. So long BMG.

Disneyland, Anyone?

So, my degree arrived yesterday. Apparently I have truly graduated now.

So, anybody want to go to Disneyland for a few days? No, I'm not kidding. I'd love to go and I want at least one person to go with. Any takers?

E-mail me.

No Real News

Hey there. I have no real news, nothing special is happening. I'm working, doing therapy one day a week, and casually searching for a job.

Since I have a four day weekend I started doing some cleaning, among other small projects I wanted to do.

We are now in the digital age so I decided to backup all of my music onto an external hard drive and store in in case anything happens. Also due to the recent flood, I am doing the same with the programs I have for my computer since if CDs/DVDs are exposed to "contaminated" water for several days it can affect their playability. As such everything is backed up.

While cleaning I found the backup CDs I made when I was working for IHC. This was before iPods existed/and were popular, otherwise I wouldn't have spent so much time making them. I have a backup of almost every album I owned. In cleaning things up, these are how many I found.


So I'll be throwing them out along with so much other stuff it is nice to get rid of. I've got to admit, that's one thing I love about the new year. Doing your taxes, boxing up the receipts and what not, and storing it (for what is it, three years now?). Then you don't have to bother it again unless you get audited.

So this will be a very relaxing yet worthwhile weekend. I hope yours is the same.

After Much Waiting

The hot water has officially been restored. I washed my hands . . . and they almost got 3rd degree burns. I love it!!! Now we just need to clean the basement out with bleach.

Work . . . Again

Well, every year they threaten to shut my employer down. Apparently this year, it is somewhat more realistic. I say this because one of the three units that I work on is officially being closed within the next two months.

It is the detox unit. According to the managerial staff, they will be taking the current employees at detox and have them work on the other units. What does this mean? It means the previously opened positions will be closed and no new employees will be needed. In fact, there may be too many employees.

As an extra hire that means that there will be less shifts (if any) to sign up for. So . . . unless I hear otherwise, I need to start actively searching for another job. This is both good and bad. There are some open positions in the mental health field . . . but not as many as there once was due to the current recession. So if anybody hears about any jobs in the mental health field . . . please let me know.

As for the flooding in the basement, the water has been drained. The heater works and the dryer appears to be working. We're not sure about the washer and the water heater is water logged.

I guess that's about it. Enjoy!

Texting vs Phone Calls

After reading through a previous post, it became apparent that I did not adequately express what I was trying to get across. Here is another attempt.

I have noticed that I have come to rely on my cell phone more often in inappropriate places and circumstances. For example during dinner with friends, during movies, while at a friend's house, etc. As such, I am drawing boundaries so I do not come across rude to whoever I am with. Besides, I would hate it if they did it to me. So, if I do not pick up the phone and it is time sensitive, please send me a text. I read those immediately.

Secondly, if I had the choice of sending multiple texts back and forth to somebody or talking to them by phone, I would prefer having a conversation. To me, the inflections are crucial and the written word can easily be misunderstood.

Third, often when I am inundated with a lot of conversation I need my time to recuperate. I notice this happening after a long day of therapy.

If something I post seems rude, let me know. It is not my intent.

Flooding

I write this as the sump pump in the basement is attempting to drain the water that was up to my knees around noon today. My roommate discovered it while going to get something. Upon hearing about it, I went down there as I had some boxes and other items stored.

Upon going into the water, it was freezing and fortunately not full of sewage. I went over to where my boxes were stored and found two boxes completely drenched. One contained all of the software for my computer(s), some cords, and the boxes/manuals for varying programs I had. I also had a ice chest thing that was given me by IHC a few years ago. Inside of it I stored several books and a picture. Despite the flooding . . . everything in the ice chest remained perfectly intact and dry. A huge thanks to my previous employer for doing something right. As for the software and whatnot . . . they are CDs so that means no real damage. Of course I'll check through them once everything is dried out, but that's all.

As for my roommate, many photo albums, rare books, and other collected memorabilia was destroyed. Since the water was getting so high, the dryer was flooded (and my clothing that was inside). So it seems like the washer and dryer are gone, the heater is dead, as is the electric water heater.

My roommate (ie: the homeowner) is currently sleeping due to the stress. My other roommate is buying pizza. I canceled my clients for tomorrow since I won't be able to shower but fortunately a friend will be helping me out there. Wait . . . he won't be helping me shower . . . he will be hel . . . :: sigh :: . . . nevermind.

Fortunately, I've got a few friends to lean on in the mean time. So for myself, there was no major damage. We are taking some pictures for the insurance who probably won't kick in until 2-3 months down the road.

Also, it appears that several roads are closed in the area. I have a full caseload scheduled for tomorrow, but due to the flooding I wouldn't be able to do counseling tomorrow or go to school anyway . . . that is, if I had to go to school.

I'll keep you informed.

New Year, New Policy

Hey everyone,

As most of you now know, I'm back in Washington. I arrived yesterday afternoon and made it before it started snowing up here. It was great!

In thinking of what I've been through in the past year I figured I'd elaborate briefly on what I will now be doing with my cell phone. You see, we've had some poor boundaries since I started the program and I don't like where it was going.

As such, I will be turning off my telephone more. I will have it on me most of the time for emergency reasons, but if I'm doing something with somebody I'll be turning it off. So if I don't answer, leave a message or send me a text and I'll respond when I turn it back on.

Also . . . the idea of text messaging is starting to irritate me. Every holiday I have about 30 people sending me a text with "Happy Boxing Day" or something of the sort. Although I appreciate the text . . . it then obligates me to respond in kind. And I dislike feeling obligated. I'm not a person who naturally wishes others a wonderful holiday but I've found myself doing so more often just because it is what they do.

So if you don't receive a response, it is nothing against you. I appreciate it and hope you are doing well. Now as for forwards via text message, I have the same perspective on these as I do on forwards via e-mail. Unless they contain something that will make me fall onto the floor laughing hysterically while trying to stop myself from urinating. . . please don't send them. I don't care to send magical words onto 18 other people to have a miraculous or stop from having a horrid 17 months of my life. Please, keep those to yourself.

Additionally, instead of sending me 30 texts about a topic . . . call me. I believe texts are meant to keep things brief and to stop from having long and somewhat pointless conversations. If it is important enough, call me so we can deal with it and get it over.

Now, this post may sound like I'm irritated. I'm not, far from it in fact. I'm sitting at home in my pajamas just having left my warm electric blanket while staring outside at the beautiful snow covered ground.

So that's where I am. Happy new year and I hope your resolutions don't exceed your abilities.