Thursday, September 29, 2011
Fall Frolic
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Tidings of Joy
I found a minute today to call Jane's work phone and left a message saying how concerned I was that I had not heard from her and Fiona. She left me a voice mail during the event I was working at tonight. Jane is vacationing in Oregon. Fiona is fine; she has had one more hospitalization but very short term and we will hopefully hear from them both on next Tuesday evening. I am so relieved.
The work event went really well. I was excited to see the residents where I work participate so fully and joyfully. It was very magical to me. People whose life is marked with trauma, addictions, lack of education and more often feel they can't do things. Today, for this moment, they not only saw that they could, they positively rocked it out! The bigwigs were all suitably impressed. I tried to visit each table people and chat a couple of minutes. I don't want residents to think that all the management people sit at one table and look down on them or judge them. And I don't want one set of residents saying that I like another resident more than someone else. So that is why I kept circulating. A bunch of residents wanted their pictures taken with me which totally cracked me up. I mean, I am the person who writes the letters when people are not towing the line. I am the same person who had to lecture two of the residents this morning before the event on how they would behave at this and how we would not have drama. At all. But I also am the person they have known for 30 years. There was a cool spanish band playing music and we all sang La Bamba, and De Colores and a few other songs that even though I am a gringa, I know all the spanish words to.
My wife and kids came to pick me up at the end of the day (or maybe I should say end of the night as it was after 7). My car had a flat when I had gone out to go to work this a.m. and thus K had to drive me in today. Looking over at their faces smiling at me and having Lissa jump into my arms was the perfect end to the day.
The work event went really well. I was excited to see the residents where I work participate so fully and joyfully. It was very magical to me. People whose life is marked with trauma, addictions, lack of education and more often feel they can't do things. Today, for this moment, they not only saw that they could, they positively rocked it out! The bigwigs were all suitably impressed. I tried to visit each table people and chat a couple of minutes. I don't want residents to think that all the management people sit at one table and look down on them or judge them. And I don't want one set of residents saying that I like another resident more than someone else. So that is why I kept circulating. A bunch of residents wanted their pictures taken with me which totally cracked me up. I mean, I am the person who writes the letters when people are not towing the line. I am the same person who had to lecture two of the residents this morning before the event on how they would behave at this and how we would not have drama. At all. But I also am the person they have known for 30 years. There was a cool spanish band playing music and we all sang La Bamba, and De Colores and a few other songs that even though I am a gringa, I know all the spanish words to.
My wife and kids came to pick me up at the end of the day (or maybe I should say end of the night as it was after 7). My car had a flat when I had gone out to go to work this a.m. and thus K had to drive me in today. Looking over at their faces smiling at me and having Lissa jump into my arms was the perfect end to the day.
Circus Juggling
Being a parent and having a bunch of kids makes me a juggler. But my abilities to juggle are being tested this week as I have some extra work responsibilities that require I leave home earlier, return later etc. My kids are not loving this. I am not loving it either but it is short term and I also hope that showing I am committed to bringing my best efforts to my job will result in the promotion I hope for. Oh and at home we have 70 boxes of product to turn out for our home based biz. Stress? What pray tell is stress? I haven't time to look it up.
I am worried about Fiona though. I have emailed Jane twice and not heard anything which is extremely weird. There have been 2 missed calls. Again extremely weird. I have emailed Jane from both my work computer and myhome one in case my work server was not sending the email to an outside source. I can't call the school today due to how crazy things are at work right now, but I do plan on calling tomorrow.
On the plus side, I had a first yesterday. I was at an industry event for my job and one of the vendors was offering free manicures to women and free shoe shining to the men. I had a manicure. It only took 10 minutes (which is about as long as I can sit still) but my nails look so pretty. I have never had a manicure before. (since I am over 50 that is probably kinda weird!!) The manicurist said I had beautiful nails to work on. I told her that they get no attention so it is just luck.
I am worried about Fiona though. I have emailed Jane twice and not heard anything which is extremely weird. There have been 2 missed calls. Again extremely weird. I have emailed Jane from both my work computer and myhome one in case my work server was not sending the email to an outside source. I can't call the school today due to how crazy things are at work right now, but I do plan on calling tomorrow.
On the plus side, I had a first yesterday. I was at an industry event for my job and one of the vendors was offering free manicures to women and free shoe shining to the men. I had a manicure. It only took 10 minutes (which is about as long as I can sit still) but my nails look so pretty. I have never had a manicure before. (since I am over 50 that is probably kinda weird!!) The manicurist said I had beautiful nails to work on. I told her that they get no attention so it is just luck.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Of Television and Autism
Much of the time I don't really notice the differences between how Chet and I interact, or even how Chet views the world. This has been the reality of our life for so long it is our definition of normal. I noticed something this week though--sort of silly, but it was there.
Fall is the time when new television shows are promoted. I am not a big TV watcher except for the fact that I watch TV while I do piece work at night. No work= no TV watching for me. But luckily right now we have a lot of piece work to do.
Rob has had a couple of shows that he has wanted to try out and we have watched them together in the evenings. It is companionable, and it also allows me to make sure that I am comfortable with what he is watching.
Chet on the other hand, HATES new shows. They disrupt the routine of the familiar. He would rather watch a repeat of an old show than see a new show. An old show replacing a star with a new actor destroys his viewing experience. He can not even bring himself to try the new show.
It is all about the order that he tries to impose in his world and I understand that. But I guess sometimes I forget how terribly important that is to him. I'm glad for the reminder.
Fall is the time when new television shows are promoted. I am not a big TV watcher except for the fact that I watch TV while I do piece work at night. No work= no TV watching for me. But luckily right now we have a lot of piece work to do.
Rob has had a couple of shows that he has wanted to try out and we have watched them together in the evenings. It is companionable, and it also allows me to make sure that I am comfortable with what he is watching.
Chet on the other hand, HATES new shows. They disrupt the routine of the familiar. He would rather watch a repeat of an old show than see a new show. An old show replacing a star with a new actor destroys his viewing experience. He can not even bring himself to try the new show.
It is all about the order that he tries to impose in his world and I understand that. But I guess sometimes I forget how terribly important that is to him. I'm glad for the reminder.
Saturday, September 24, 2011
First Fall Saturday
Fall is here and so is our more busy schedule. Dance classes started today and that makes our Saturdays busier. Especially since Lissa is now taking a dance class which is after KC's class. We arrive at the school at 9:30 and leave at 11:30. Before that we shop, bank and go to the post office. My lovely wife has taken on the library run as we really need to get home for lunch after the second dancer is finished with class.
So today we began our new schedule and all things considered our "shake down run" went well. KC was really happy to be back at dance. A lot of his friends came back. He is the only boy in the class still but this does not seem to bother him or any of the girls in the slightest. After his class and while Lissa was in for her class, he hung out with someone's brother in the waiting room so he can and does play well with both genders. (believe it or not I get asked that!!)
We came home for a quick lunch and then walked down town to our community's harvest festival. It is noisy and over stimulating to Chet so we never stay more than an hour or two max. I usually spend about $6.00 and the kids manage to have a lot of fun for that. Walked home and i was glad that I had all ready put dessert together this morning after breakfast as one of my friends and her daughter came over to play with the kids and the kittens.
Somewhere in there I cleaned the bathroom and kitchen, prepped for my church school class tomorrow and made a fall wreath with the kids. The season's changed for sure! LOL
So today we began our new schedule and all things considered our "shake down run" went well. KC was really happy to be back at dance. A lot of his friends came back. He is the only boy in the class still but this does not seem to bother him or any of the girls in the slightest. After his class and while Lissa was in for her class, he hung out with someone's brother in the waiting room so he can and does play well with both genders. (believe it or not I get asked that!!)
We came home for a quick lunch and then walked down town to our community's harvest festival. It is noisy and over stimulating to Chet so we never stay more than an hour or two max. I usually spend about $6.00 and the kids manage to have a lot of fun for that. Walked home and i was glad that I had all ready put dessert together this morning after breakfast as one of my friends and her daughter came over to play with the kids and the kittens.
Somewhere in there I cleaned the bathroom and kitchen, prepped for my church school class tomorrow and made a fall wreath with the kids. The season's changed for sure! LOL
Friday, September 23, 2011
Saying Goodbye to Summer
Today is the first day of fall. The changing of the seasons is a big deal in our house. The pulse of the earth is something we try to stay tuned to. KC and Lissa have planned all week that they were going to have their last long bike ride on the last day of summer. They understand that now it is getting darker and that after supper play is shorter and confined more to our immediate environs due to the diminished light.
Except it rained. Like crazy. So I had to get creative and tell them that the earth was washing up for the new season. They looked at me dubiously holding their bike helmets. I said we would go on a rain walk as it was also very likely the last warm rain we would get in a long time. Fall rains are cold raw and icky. Summer rains are fun. So they grabbed boots and rain gear and we took a long puddle jumping walk and came home soaked. Welcome fall and farewell to summer, my most favorite time of the year!
Except it rained. Like crazy. So I had to get creative and tell them that the earth was washing up for the new season. They looked at me dubiously holding their bike helmets. I said we would go on a rain walk as it was also very likely the last warm rain we would get in a long time. Fall rains are cold raw and icky. Summer rains are fun. So they grabbed boots and rain gear and we took a long puddle jumping walk and came home soaked. Welcome fall and farewell to summer, my most favorite time of the year!
Thursday, September 22, 2011
In which I submit my resume. . .
My boss is no longer my boss. Things have ended with a spectacular bang and more hubbub and high drama than one could believe. Just trust me, cause I can't talk about it in any detail. It.was.not.pretty. I am the assistant property manager. More than likely with my old company my track record would lead them to offer me the managership. In my new company, they post the position company wide and one is welcome to apply. Course they also post it 50 million other places outside the company too. So my guess is many many people will apply.
I wrote my letter of interest and sent it with my resume. I would really really like to have this job. I truthfully always stayed where I was thinking that my boss would someday retire and I would be the next manager. My previous employer knew that I did most of his work. My new employers know that too. But they have also invested in training me for another aspect of our work and the managership has less of that role in it. So I can see them feeling that the better bang for their buck is to leave me here. Here is hoping that they see beyond that and to what I can do in another capacity. Fingers crossed . . .
I wrote my letter of interest and sent it with my resume. I would really really like to have this job. I truthfully always stayed where I was thinking that my boss would someday retire and I would be the next manager. My previous employer knew that I did most of his work. My new employers know that too. But they have also invested in training me for another aspect of our work and the managership has less of that role in it. So I can see them feeling that the better bang for their buck is to leave me here. Here is hoping that they see beyond that and to what I can do in another capacity. Fingers crossed . . .
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
