demolitionpolka

I just found out a dear friend passed away. He's got an LJ page, too. Check under my friends for mousegerald. I've known this guy for a long, long time, since an early internet bulletin board. We were in the pagan community for a long time. He did the naming ceremony for my son. I've watched and cheered his journey to sobriety and things were really going well for him. And now he's gone. I'm numb.

This is the most amazing video. I just love this song

I got to sleep in today. The dog woke me up at 9 a.m. That's the latest I've slept in for I don't know how long. The Chimp is still asleep, so I'm getting my alone time anyway. I'm actually looking forward to having some time with him. I don't get to see him during school as much as I would like, with him in school during the day and me working three evenings a week and weekend days, so this is cool. The library has a deal with free passes to various kinds of museums and such and I'd like to see if he wants to do any of that. Heck, I think it'd be fun if he wants to go to the library. I'm probably going to be helping him put together some of his Lego stuff, too. I love watching him come up with his own stuff to build and the stories he comes up with to go with the things he builds. The Chimp has a lot of imagination and I try to encourage it. Dang, my heart is going to burst just thinking about him.

One thing though, I'm going to have to switch my working out time to after work while he's home. There's really nowhere for him to go at the fitness place and I think he'd get bored there, so I'll have to go after work when DH is home and the Chimp is asleep. That might freak DH out though, having me out so late in this neighborhood. He forgets I'm an ass kicker. LOL Maybe I should knock him over and restrain him again so he remembers. Yeah, I'm an ass kicker who crochets. Okay, now my mind is starting to get weird. I need to stop now. LOL

I'm taking a moment of quiet time before I wake the Chimp up to let him know Santa came. It's been a nice holiday so far. I had to work yesterday morning, but it was a nice pleasant day there. I've been helping the clients make fudge and cookies, etc and also just plain cooking there. Harley has been really grumpy, but we still managed to have fun. I played Scrabble with Farm, too. I haven't played Scrabble in ages!

After work I picked up DH and we went to his Dad's and Stepmom's. The Chimp had stayed there overnight as DH and the Chimp had gotten together with them and DH's brother the night before (while I was at work again). We all went out to dinner and then back to the in-law's to open presents. The Chimp got a bunch of cool toys. The in-laws were extraordinarily generous, as usual. MiL's brother even got us stuff. We couldn't afford to be extravagent, but DH had gotten them gift certificates and I had made them all winter hats. MiL's brother was beyond thrilled with the hat. He's not used to the winters here in MN and he's working construction, so a warm winter hat was just what he needed. LOL DH got a mondo cool tackle box and some gift certificates and I got a couple of sweaters, a Bead-a-Day calendar and some gift certificates. Wonderful! I'm afraid I started crying.

When we got back home we opened up the family presents. I even got a present from DH! He has a history of not getting me anything for Christmas or my birthday, so I wasn't expecting anything. He got me gift certificates for Target! I got him a set of ratcheting crescent wrenches and a fleece hood (he also works outside).

I really think I have a lot to be grateful for this year. I'm in the midst of paring down my stuff in preparation for eventually moving, and I've realized that the best things I have are my family and friends. Everything else is just glicken.

I have to work again this evening, so I won't be going on the road trip to DH's mom's and grandparents' in Worthington. That's okay though. I'm just happy DH and the Chimp are able to get down there. DH really should see his family during the holidays as they live kind of far from us. Now if I could just convince him to let me go see my sister in Florida LOL

Well, it's time to get the Chimp up and start the day. Hope everyone's holiday of whatever kind you celebrate this season is wonderful.

I found the calendar I was looking for. I didn't get the one for 2006, but I got it for 2007. It's called "Nuns Having Fun." It's pictures of nuns from the 50s and 60s doing stuff, with funny captions to go with. For example, February shows a nun in full habit on skis with the caption "For Thine is the kingdom and the powder and the glory." I just love goofy religious stuff.

So, here I sit. I have a ton of stuff to do, including laundry, dishes, my daily prayer work, wrapping presents, working out and packing stuff up. Am I doing any of that? No. What am I thinking about? Taking a nap.

DH wants to move out of this neighborhood as soon as possible, and I have to do a major sort and pitch so we can get the house ready to put on the marker. I'm not looking forward to that. I'm going to do a hard pitch, though, keeping the Rule of St. Benedict in mind, as in, do I really need all this crap? LOL (Well, I don't think he would have worded it quite that way).

I took a first aid/CPR course through the University of Scouting at the end of October. I ended up needing that training last night. One of the guys started a new medication at 8 p.m. I was playing a game with him and he started complaining he felt hot. He started turning red and I realized he was having an allergic reaction. I called 911 while my coworker called the nurse and the response team. By the time the paramedics arrived he was itching horribly and was having trouble breathing. I'd gotten my CPR mask out in case, but the paramedics got there and got some epinephrine in him before he got to the point of stopping breathing. I went with the client to the hospital and indeed he was having a severe reaction and I was told that it was a good thing I had called when I did. The hospital gave him a bunch of meds and observed him for a couple of hours. The doctor gave him some meds to take for a few days to counter the reaction and we got to go home. Then, of course, I had a ton of paperwork to fill out. I didn't end up getting home until nearly 3 this morning. Yee ya. I did a brief run down with my house manager on the phone as I've never had to accompany anyone to the hospital before and I wanted to make sure I had done everything properly. I did pretty good, except for forgetting about bringing a medical referral form, which was okay with the HM as it was a bit chaotic. We are going to make packets now for each of the guys though so we have everything we need in one place when something like this happens again so we're not having to try to remember all the pieces of paper we need in the moment.

On another note, I'm not as sore as I thought I was going to be from working out yesterday. I guess that's a good thing.

I joined a fitness center. I've been sitting at 160-165 pounds for over a year, which isn't bad, but I'd like to break the 150 pound mark. Also, with my job being so physical I really should be in better shape so I don't hurt myself or a client. I have to lift a guy who's 6'2 and over 200 pounds. He has some leg strength, but requires a lot of help. I can lift him myself now, but if he shifts weight it's a struggle. Plus, with the possibility of having to physically restrain guys who are a lot younger and stronger than me, I'd like to level the field a little bit. I like the place I go to (Snap Fitness). It's a no frill place, so there's no pools, lockers, running tracks, etc. Just cardio and weightlifting equipment, which is all I want anyway. The time I go isn't crowded either, which I like. I hate working out with a bunch of people around, especially if they're in a lot better shape than me and the place has a meat-market feel to it. Everyone I've seen at the place here so far have been just folks who work out and get out. Nice.

DH just called me from work. He was thinking that once he gets farther along with his apprenticeship that I could go back to school. I don't know where that came from, but I'm always up for more schooling. He thinks I should be a social worker. LOL I was thinking about being a social worker anyway, or possibly a physical therapist. Apparently I'm good at motivating people to get going physically and have more patience than I thought. We'll see though. Personally, I'd just like to be a professional student.

Note to self: Do not stack rolls of toilet paper on sleeping coworkers unless you have a camera available.

Like the new pic? It was my favorite position when I was on retreat in September

Well, It's only been almost 4 months since I wrote in here. That young man who I hadn't met yet is no longer at the home. He ended up almost killing one of the other staff, so he's gone. I've had a lot of restraint training now, and it turns out I'm quite the deal for that. I took down our program manager, who's half my age, 6 foot tall and very strong. I don't know who was more surprised, me or her. LOL

I'll have to do more updating later. I have to work an overnight shift tonight.

Pax

I had orientation on Friday and yesterday I got to work my first day with the guys. One of them is in the hospital under Monday, so I haven't met him yet. The guys are "Harley", who is an older gentleman who was in a motorcycle accident 25 years ago. He is in a wheelchair, one of his arms doesn't work so well, and he has speech difficulties. He requires a lot of care, but he's really funny. The thing the staff is working on with him is his eating. He feeds himself, but he spills and isn't allowed to pick dropped food up and eat it.

The next guy is "Biggie". He's a younger guy, mid-20s, who has Asperger Syndrome. He's really low maintenance, but I've been warned he's really manipulative. In fact, when I was talking to him he asked which house I had come from, and when I told him I was brand new I could see the wheels turning in his head while he was thinking about what he could get away with. I told him, "don't give me that look, I'm a mom, so don't try anything." I think I surprised him. I also think I might have passed some sort of test with him. Anyway, we had some really lively discussions about movies and cartoons and such. He was pretty easygoing.

The next guy is "Farm". He's another older gentleman who had a motorcycle accident. He's also pretty low maintenance. However, he's really prone to rages. He's got to be watched constantly so he doesn't start accelerating into a rage. When he starts to, he has to go be by himself for a while. That wasn't too much of an issue yesterday, but when the other resident comes back it will be, as Farm absolutely hates that one and can't be in the same room with him. I taught Farm how to play Texas Hold 'Em poker. LOL Turns out the guy loves cards, especially spades and rummy, so I scored points with him by showing him a version of poker he didn't know how to play. I'm not sure how his short term memory is, so I may have to show him again a few times until it moves into long term memory.

I don't have a nickname yet for the guy I haven't met yet, but from what I've been told he's a young African-American gentleman, mid-20s, very high energy, also prone to rages, who enjoys getting Farm into rages. So, my Monday evening shift will be interesting, to say the least.

All in all, I think I'm going to really enjoy this job. I like the guys, I like my coworkers, and I like the job. We'll see once I've been through a few bouts of verbal aggression by Farm, but I think I will continue to like it. I really missed interacting with people. I am going to be doing some more research on traumatic brain injuries and Asperger Syndrome though. I've also got to read the reports on the guys so I know more about where they are coming from, their issues, and what the goals are for them.