I am going to write this in reverse order just in case I am not emotionally ok to finish, you'll get the other parts.
My mom read in the news paper this morning that the Gov is planning to cut 160 beds from the state MH hospitals so he can save about 1.4 million dollars over the next year.
Enlight of what happened at my work, he thinks that it is an ok time and place to cut cost there?
The waves would be felt in the houses and shelters that are under staffed and filled to near capacity across the state and the edge of the water will be felt by the criminal justice system and the general public as some may be deemed ok to live in the comunity.
This is on top of the one percent that he is planning on cutting the funds for residential.
I understand that the state is projected to have a 1.4 b debt for the fiscle year and I do not know where we could cut that money from. Schools? police-fire? but not only would that preposle cut beds but it would cut jobs too. How is that helpful for the economy?
AND, yes, as my mom read the article, I had a few teers as my cowoerker's name was mentioned
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I wrote Leigh a short email yesterday...
hi, hope your week is going well.
Wasnt sure if you are busy... or what but havent heard from you in a couple of days.
Do you have any plans for the weekend?
She wrote me back last night.
Hey sorry. Its been a chaotic weekend. As of right now I am looking at three apartments on Saturday... hopefully a few sunday....not sure what else yet....maybe coffee wth the girls\
I hope that tonight ill email a bit ... and then at 8... relax, cuz its been crazy busy these past few days
well hope all is well...
SO, I know she is busy, she needs to find an apartment by mid March. Her lease is up and her roommate is moving. I never went through the process so I have no idea how much stress that must be.
The good thing is, she seems as she is still interested in me. she hasnt told me to go away.
I am going to call her later on, in the early evening.
I am going to ask her out for Monday.
Funny thing, there is a scene in the movie I saw with her, where the guy asks the girl out and she siad that it's valentines day. he said that he knows but it can be just a date. She agrees but said no flowers.
So... same situation here but will ask if she wants to go to her favorite chinese restaurant and then we can go out for ice cream after.
What do you think?
My mom said I never told her about Leigh and I thought I had told her but hey, I wont argue.
I told her a lot about her and I told her something tha I had mentioned on her... remember how I said that there is something about her that I have not admitted out loud to myself yet so I didnt want to write it on here?
Well, I told my mom that, that there is something about her that I have not admitted to myself yet and my mom goes "what? is she a big girl?" I laughed and gave a grin and I must of had "THAT" glow, because she just knew by my face what it is.
"does she remind you of Lisa?"
I laughed a nurvious laugh. i turned away for a moment and turned back and said yes.
She is 5-3 about 130 lbs. ( I dont remember what else I said ug lol) hmm she is jewish and wants to be Jewish. she talks a lot which is ok with me. she doesnt care about sports but (and my mom finished my sentence) she'll go to games just to go with you. She was reading me things without really thinking of it. (and other things)
So the Jewish thing alone, my mom loves her.
I told her that I was thinking of asking her out for monday, my mom said that we could make it a double date but it not be. We could go and pick her up and we could go to PF changs and you could sit somewhere else. (then she quickly said) oh, she drives. never mind. I laughed and said "that's her favorite chinese restaurant". So yes, I got that idea from my mom.
We will see how all this plays out.
Stay tooned till the next epasode.
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first day back at work.
I will admit, I had a sick to my stomach-fainting feeling for a moment as the last time my mom drove me to work, was on THAT DAY. But I quickly composed myself.
I walked up to the door, by myself, and with my hand on the handle, I took a very big deep breath in and out before I turned the handle and opened the front door.
I called out "hello" and heard people down stairs. I went up stairs and put my bag on the chair at the dining room table that I normally sit on and take off my jacket then went down stairs. I heard a female on the phone in the kitchen who I didnt recognize and figured it was just the relief staff. I went down stairs and heard Collette's voice. She's the one who is my boss's boss. She was on the phone as well in the little office and I was pleaantly suprized to hear my boss's voice. She was in her office talking to a coworker of mine and came out after the conversation and said hi, told me what was going on and told me what I should talk to the clients about.
My coworker who does the house meetings (menu and hands out chores for the week) was standing next to me and I looked at her and said something like "are you ready for this?" she said no, and I said me either but we will get through this together.
My boss also told me that there was two coping counselors from the other company there and asked me if I needed anything. I said no and she said "thank you for coming in today. it means so much to me" I just smiled my charming smile before I went back to my strait face, trying to hide my sadness and anxiety.
I went up stairs and headed back to my chair and along the way I heard one of my client say "where is jonathan?" I said "Im here AK" I turn to face him and he says "hey man, there you are. It is great to see you Jonathan" (just hearing him say that in his happy tone, put that smile on my face) "it is very very nice to see you AK" We talked for a moment and then he went back to his bedroom.
The lady from the other company introduced herself. She said that she understands that I am the one who does the group work here. She said that if I feel that either I, my coworkers or the clients could use a little more suport, to contact them. She asked if I had any questions. I said no. She said that she was only there till 4pm (a few more minutes) .
I introduced myself to one of the new counselors who we are borrowing from oanother house. I told him who I was and what I do and the days I work. He seems like a cool guy.
Shortly before we started our group I got introduced to another relief counselor. She was the one who I heard in the kitchen on the phone earlier. She seemed more about just being there collecting a pay check as when she was not on the phone she was watching TV.
We got all the clients to the table. I started by welcoming them back and stealing an idea from one of my favorite movies (hard ball), I said "I am impressed by your ability to show up today." (to have everyone at a meeting is just amazing) I told them how I am going to be there, like I have said all along, till I find a fulltime job. However, we will have other staff members here. I hope you treat them with respect. They are good people.
I went on to talk about how we have had our phone number changed and to call their family and friends to inform them that you are back home and to give them the number.
I also talked about the comunity and how since the house has been on tv because of the situation, they maybe people who will be looking at the house a little strange and if you feel a bit unfortable, to come and tell the staff members.
I then handed it over to my coworker to do her part of the meeting.
My ride was a bit late do to the weather.
all and all, it was dificult but at the same time it was comforting having the clients there and seeming to be doing well.
They just want to put the situation behind them and move on.
It will take me a while to be able to do that but one hour at a time.
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