Good thought for the year's end (and beginning)

I saw this on a Twitter feed from another social work blog:


As we ponder the year 's end and a new year beginning, think about where you've been this year and who you've helped. Be thankful you could.


Such true, true words. I know as social workers it is often frustrating working with many of our clients, as well as within the broken systems we have no choice but to interact with.

There is no doubt that social work is a challenging job. But it is super rewarding and just down right powerful to think back over a year's span of time to all the things we do on a daily basis for persons who are often powerless to make change without our support.

I just thought this should be pointed out again. Thank you fellow social workers for all that you do!

Have a safe, happy and prosperous New Year, and keep up the great work in 2011!

I can't believe

my baby boy is going to be 2 years-old at 12:03 tommorrow morning.

I kept bursting into tears tonight when I looked at him.

DH thinks I am totally nuts.

Right about this time 2 years ago, we were checking into labor & delivery. I remember a group of pregnant women were about to get onto the elevator to go on the L&D tour, and DH was pushing me in the wheelchair, stating "get out of the way" as I was saying (very loudly) "there's no way I can do this. It hurts it hurts it HURTS".

But I did. And he came so fast too. DH told me the nurses told him that if I had not gone through with the epidural he would've been born well before midnight.

I love my crazy, sweet child so, so much.

And it never fails......

NONE of us are in the office today. I emailed my boss earlier to say that at this point I think it's safe to say I am not going to venture in. He responded back that I would've been the only one anyways.........well, I decided to leave my work cell on because it is technically a work day and I didn't want anyone not to be able to get in touch with me in a true emergency.

Well, it never fails......

I just got a call from a client (who calls me at least twice a day to give me "tasks" to do....often ones he's already completed because as it's been said by him this is my job and he wants to make sure I am kept busy) that they have only partially shoveled him out and he does not know what to do so I should call him back on this ASAP.

Really? I am not even completely shoveled out and no plow has come down this block. I think this is one return phone call that is going to have to wait until tommorrow. I guess I am a mean, mean social worker..........

Snowed in!!

LI was hit with a major blizzard yesterday and all has come to a complete standstill today.

And I am totally loving it. I am hanging out with DS right now as he plays with his new Christmas toys..........and I just made a delicious cup of coffee with my new French Press :).

If things are back to normal tommorrow, I will only have a 3 day work week..........


AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH..............this is the life............

I don't know about anyone else

but I am sure happy Christmas is over.

I don't know if it's the money we spend, the fact that we have houseguests for several days on end, or if it is just that there is some ridiculous expectation to live up to in my mind.....but Christmas in general is really stressful and anxiety provoking for me.

Today we are supposed to be hit with the blizzard of the year, so my family ended up leaving late last night so as not to get stuck in that.

I am planning to just stay in and relax today. DH just ran to Home Depot with DS to buy a new snow shovel and salt. When he gets home, he's going to make us home-made waffles. Then we need to clean up the house and find places for the zillion-and-one gifts DS ended up getting for the holiday. His birthday is this week too, so I am sure he will only get a bunch more that we need to find a spot for.

Then I have to address my holiday cards. I ended up doing a New Year's theme because I was so behind.....

Anyways, I am going to take a quick shower before they get home. *Here's thinking positive thoughts that we get a snow day here tommorrow and I have a 4 day weekend and 3 day work week ;)*

Survey of the day!

Come play along :)

1. What color are your eyes? Blue

2. How tall are you? 5'4

3. What are you most afraid of? Something happening to my son.

4. Do you play an instrument? I played flute but quit because I didn't want to practice (I regret that now!). I also remember playing the recorder in elementary school.

5. What is your favorite physical feature ( on yourself)? My belly when I was preggers (seems so long ago now!) and probably my eyes.

6. Goal you would like to achieve this year? I've been saying this every year it seems, but I really need to just get my damn LMSW already. It would open up SO MANY more options ;).

7. What are your favorite clothing stores? Old Navy/Target. I'm cheap and so are their clothes and they still look decent.

8. Favorite vacation? Our honeymoon cruise to Bermuda. Need to take a vacation soon!!! It's been WAY too long.

9. What are you most looking forward to this holiday season? Feast of the 7++++fishes :)

10. When was the last time you went swimming in a pool? A couple years ago at least. I am more of a beach girl although I don't really "swim".......just go in enough to get wet.

11. Do you speak any other languages? Spanish but not fluently. (I should brush up on that).

12. What is your least favorite chore? Folding and putting away laundry (hence why I have about 3 huge bags in my basement waiting for me to lug upstairs).

13. Do you get regular manicures and pedicures? Pedis only in the summertime every couple of weeks. Doing my fingernails would be a complete and total waste.

14. What was the last thing you cooked? Fetticine y meataballs & a spinach salad (well that's not "cooked" LOL).

15. What states have you lived in ? Only NY. However, different regions......Grew up in the Hudson Valley in the tri-state area of NY/NJ/PA, went to college at SUNY New Paltz, moved to NYC and now live on Long Island. I often dream of moving far, far, away from NY though............

Welcome

I have had a few new subscribers to my blog over the past several days. I just wanted to say welcome, and that I hope you will stick around. Feel free to introduce yourself as well. I love making new bloggy-friends :).

Fill in the Blank Friday

I am going to play along today. I love Lauren's Blog.

1. I wish I had a million dollars. Totally. I'd even settle for something more reasonable, like 10 grand. Or even 5 or 3. Money has been very tight these days because of DH's business. Coming up with our mortgage has been difficult, and because of that, our savings is slowly going buh-bye.

2. Yesterday I resolved lots of client issues that could have had the potential to escalate into not so good things.


3. Today I will work from home, and hang out with my little hellion of a son LOL.


4. Tomorrow I will probably just lounge around the house, maybe run to the grocery store or Target and enjoy my day off with Matteo.

5. Maybe I will hit up a yoga class or two this weekend. (Fingers crossed).

6. Someday I just wish everyone going through some kind of bad stuff could have peace in their lives and all of their needs met, whatever they may be.


7. I love when things are calm and quiet. That is all :)

Great post

for those of you thinking of coming into the social work field, and a great post for those of you who are already here. Check out this blog.


With that said, it has been a hell of a week around here at work. And it's not ending. I am barely breathing.........and my duties keep piling up..........so much so I often feel like my head is going to explode.

Is it worth it?

Most of my yoga tops and sports bras are from places like Old Navy, Target and Wal-Mart. I usually don't spend more than $15.00 on stuff like that. However, I have noticed that what I have now doesn't really offer much support, especially for someone like me who is well, fairly heavily endowed up there.

I am constantly finding myself pulling and straightening my top out after most poses, which is not really what you are supposed to be focusing on in class ;).

I have been browsing different yoga and running sites lately such as this one, and after speaking to several other yoga lovers and runners for their suggestions, I think I may need to just suck it up and spend the money on a couple expensive tops. I guess cheaper is not necessarily better, but if I have some costly ones, at least they SHOULD last a long time and also hold the girls in where they need to be so I can focus more on my practice.

Any particular yoga tops, stores or websites you can recommend that offer good support?

I suspect I will get a few Amex gift cards for the holidays, so the plan is to use them towards this.

Thank goodness it's the weekend!

Been a rough week with one of my clients.

This guy has severe communication deficits and he is hard to keep under control, even with 24 hour oversight and supervison.(i.e. he curses and yells loudly out of frustration from his word-finding difficulties, often runs ahead of staff in the community, is unaware of any kind of dangerous situation and often finds himself in one). He was living in a behavioral center for several years and was discharged in late October. He was also taken off all mood stabilizers while in the behavioral place (probably because it's such a structured environment, it was "easier" to work with him there).

Now, his behaviors have been increasing. I've been trying to get him into a mental health clinic (many won't accept if someone has brain injury), but there's like a whole big long process and overall WAIT for him to be evaluated with the ones who will consider him. We were planning to just walk him into the local psych ER and ask for him to be checked out and hopefully given something to tide him over until he can get into treatment somewhere........when boom...........quick as anything he had a really bad seizure (hasn't had one since he was in a coma when he got his TBI). So he is in the hospital now.

While you never wish someone gets sick or ends up in the hospital, it is definitely for the best, because he can get a good work up now, and hopefully be put on some meds to keep him a little more stable (I say A LITTLE because I know he's always going to have issues). If he refused to go with staff to the ER (which was a strong possibility!), we would've eventually had to call EMS and I KNEW that was not going to be a pretty scene with this guy.

I am trying to get some information from the hospital on how he is doing, but of course, no one has called me back yet ;). Another day, another............day.............

Boo!!!

Sickness has hit our household again......first it was me and DS a few weeks ago........now DH has come down with flu symptoms. He's been passed out on Nyquil since around 4PM.

DS just went to bed, but I am nervous about leaving him to go out to yoga for a couple hours since DH is so out of it.

Boo!!! I haven't been there since Sunday. I am planning to go tommorrow though, and will try to squeeze in 2 classes between Friday and Sunday.

Everytime I sign up again for the unlimited pack, this seems to happen.

Oh well. I think I am just gonna have a bowl of cereal for dinner, then crawl into bed myself. That's the next best alternative when it comes to missing yoga.

Checkin' in

Nothing much new to report. Work is still pretty crazy busy most days.

I was happy to get a little relaxation in this weekend.

Thursday family came down, I went to an early morning yoga class, came home, ate dinner around 2PM, and then afterwards, I delivered Thanksgiving leftovers to three of my clients who I knew were alone for the holiday. This made me feel really good inside. Especially because two of them were sitting alone in the dark with no Thanksgiving meal, and the other was eating a dried-up, burnt looking sweet potato his aide had made him as his "main meal".

Friday I went into work and got a bunch of stuff done. I rarely go into the office on Fridays, but it was nice and definitely needed. Most businesses were closed, or people had taken the day off to shop. (Something I've personally never gotten into).

Yesterday was DS holiday photo shoot. Most of it took place outdoors and he and his cousins were completely miserable and uncooperative. The photographer did email however and said she got a bunch of good shots so I am keeping my fingers crossed.

Today I have mostly been catching up on laundry. DH and DS are stringing up the lights outside, and have already made one Home Depot run (Thank you recent anniversary gift card from the 'rents). I am planning to go to yoga today at either 12:30 or 3. Then I am planning to make a big batch of pumpkin soup. My sister and her boyfriend are coming down tonight for a couple of days.

So, in a nutshell, this is what I've been up to folks. Hope your holiday weekend was happy and relaxing as well!

I

mailed out a resume yesterday. For a totally different kind of job with a completely different population.

Don't know what will become of this, but if there is one thing I am sure of...........that is that I have started to get "the itch" lately.

I've been at my current agency for close to 3 years now (with this program for close to 6) and I just want to see what else is out there.

It is definitely time for a change........I'm not going to go into the things that are bugging me about work lately.

But I know that I need to start keeping my options open again, and changing something about work in general.

Whether that means leaving or just seeing that maybe the grass really is not greener, and staying and going about my role in another kind of way.

I am happy that I do have options. I haven't sent out resumes or interviewed in over a year at least, so if anything, this is good practice :).

Question of the Day

How do you deal with other providers who are part of the team, however, constantly seem to be working against the team instead of with it?

How do you work with "professionals" who you start to question their sanity at times?

Especially when they constantly try to stir up drama and focus on dead-horse issues that are not immediately fixable over and over again?

I feel like you can give me any difficult client to work with and I can figure out a good strategy but when it's another helping provider............I just want to spit nails at them sometimes. I feel like this is where I want to draw the line.

I think the helping professions tends to draw people into them that don't always have control over their own stuff, and that is where these power struggles stem from.

Anyways, I am SO happy it's the weekend!!!!

How do you NOT vent about work?

My co-workers and I tend to gather daily for a bit to just vent. I think this comes with the territory of being a social worker, and can be very therapeutic.

However, my reason for raising this question is that we have a new social worker starting next week. The plan is for her to take over some of my cases.

I don't know anything about her, or her background, but I sure as hell don't want to scare her away. A lot of the stuff we talk about can be very intense and is really not "fixable".

So do you think we should all just keep our mouths shut around her? I don't like to sugar-coat anything, and if I am having a difficult day with work, my stress can show.

Take this funny quiz

Are you a social work moaner?

Awww, Monday

You've snuck up on me again, my friend.

Weekends always go by way too fast.

I have scheduled myself to be in the office most of this week so I feel a little less stressed to get a bunch of things done.......I have planned to primarily focus on all of my paperwork over the next few days.

I have had a nice relaxing weekend, and yesterday in camel at yoga, I wished myself a good week.

I hope everyone else out there in social work land has a positive week as well.

Where the Heart Is

I can never grow tired of this movie. I've watched it two nights in a row.

I still can't

shake this awful cold. I was starting to feel better a day or two ago, and even went to a yoga class. Big mistake. I ended up having to sit out basically the whole floor series as I felt like I was going to vomit the entire time.

I also can tell that the holiday season is starting with many of my clients.........just lots of problems coming up with them in general, in addition to the tons of things I need to follow up on for my new cases coming into the community.

I haven't really had a moment to rest and my body is very upset with me for it.

It sucks. I know I need to just take a few days for myself, but if I do that........things will be even more stressful at work. My boss did promise me that he is going to offer the open Service Coordinator position to someone today, so hopefully, that will take some of the burden off my shoulders. We shall see. One of my co-workers and I have been joking all week on whether or not the person he hires will stay.

I often feel like you have to be crazy to do what I do for a living!!! There are lots of perks that come with the positon, but there is lots of dysfunction junction too.

My "mantra" for the week

is to only work on what I am realistically capable of finishing.

It's only Monday, and so far it's working well ;).

So sick

but I HAVE to go into work today. Two more client visits to meet for this month. One of them I finally got into the community from the nursing home yesterday after about FOUR long years. He needed a lot of that rehab time, trust me, but it was so nice that this his discharge has actually happened now.

I saw him at the center earlier this week and he hadn't started packing. I don't think he really believed it was going to happen.

Discharges to our program often can end up taking years because of the process in general......everything from being approved, a sudden change in the client's status, to the ever fun.........finding of housing.

So yeah, it's exciting that one of my people has finally come home so to speak.

I am going to go do my field visits, stop in the office and pick up my check and maybe sneak out a little bit early today........I just want to sleep and sleep. And even that's not really happening with this cold.

I haven't been able to go to one yoga class this week either because I totally felt like death warmed over by the end of each day. I hope I can shake this by the weekend!

I hate

apartment management companies and their blatant discrimination against people with disabilities.

I know not every tenant in all of your complexes is an angel (even a few who are disabled), but with all of your power and money, don't try to screw over one of my clients based on someone you might have had to evict in the past.

I am also pretty sure that your refusal to accept a check from the Department of Social Services on behalf of my client who is disabled, not in arrears, but on SSI and not able to come up with the $$$ you are asking for on their own----is pretty much breaking the law and I will go as far as I have to to prove that it is.

That is all.

Oh, and the bed bug madness continues......

Saw this in another social worker's office today.......

and it made me laugh. I SO can TOTALLY relate.......how about you?


Everybody, Somebody, Anybody, And Nobody

This is a little story about four people named Everybody, Somebody, Anybody, and Nobody.

There was an important job to be done and Everybody was sure that Somebody would do it.

Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it.

Somebody got angry about that because it was Everybody's job.

Everybody thought that Anybody could do it, but Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn't do it.

It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have done

Fronting money for client-related expenses

I just realized this is something that REALLY annoys me about my job.

I often have to front money for client-related expenses mostly centering around transportation. I refuse to take clients in my own personal vehicle for a couple of reasons........first is the independence factor. I don't want them to think that just because I am their social worker, I should be readily available to drive them where they need to go. The second, is for the liability factor. I really have no desire to get sued, and risk losing my house if we get into a bad accident.

Anyways, because of this issue, I often find myself fronting $$$$ in advance for expensive things like cabs. I spent $75.00 a couple weeks ago on what was literally the cabride from HELL and have to do it again this morning. I get reimbursed obviously, but some weeks are leaner for me then others (especially with DH's situation), so it can be hard, and I do feel resentful.

I know it's even harder for some of my co-workers who make less money than I do (one lady told me she had to borrow money from her husband so she could go out of area to see a client she is bringing back into the community from a nursing home).

We have brought this up at a recent staff meeting, and have encouraged the company to look into leasing a cheap vehicle or do something like zipcar for these kinds of things. They are still "looking into it" but in the meantime.............this is our system.

I am going to bring this issue up again. We need some kind of petty cash system or our own company debit card.......do you have this issue at work? How do they address it?

Coffee and a smile...........

I've been up since 3AM with my son. He has a cold and had a bad cough. I am wide awake now, as is he, so it doesn't make much sense to try to go back to bed.

I have to go down to one of the NYC HRA office's today to apply for a one-shot-deal for emergency funds for a client.

What is normally so not a good time on a day with sleep, should be even better with almost none!

DS is watching tv so I actually took advantage and washed a sink full of dishes, changed the cat's litter box and mopped the floor. Go me!

Time to get some coffee and a smile. That's all you can really do in moments like this :).

Words for the day(s)..............

A lecturer, when explaining stress management to an audience, raised a glass of water and asked:
"How heavy is this glass of water?"

Answers called out ranged from 20g to 500g.

The lecturer replied, "The absolute weight doesn't matter. It depends on how long you try to hold it. If I hold it for a minute, that's not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my right arm. If I hold it for a day, you'll have to call an ambulance. In each case, it's the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes.'

He continued, "And that's the way it is with stress management. If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later, as the burden becomes increasingly heavy, we won't be able to carry on."

"As with the glass of water, you have to put it down for a while and rest before holding it again. When we're refreshed, we can carry on with the burden."

"So, before you return home tonight, put the burden of work or whatever is bothering you down. Don't carry it home. You can pick it up tomorrow."

"Whatever burdens you're carrying now, let them down for a moment if you can. So, my friend, put down
anything that may be a burden to you right now. Don't pick it up again until after you've rested a while."

Here are some great ways of dealing with the burdens of life:

* Accept that some days you're the pigeon, and some days you're the statue.

* Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them.

* Drive carefully. It's not only cars that can be "Recalled" by their maker.

* If you can't be kind, at least have the decency to be vague.

* If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, it was probably worth it.

* It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply to be kind to others.

* Never put both feet in your mouth at the same time, because then you won't have a leg to stand on.

* Nobody cares if you can't dance well, just get up and dance.

* When everything's coming your way, you're in the wrong lane.

* Birthdays are good for you. The more you have, the longer you live.

* You may be only one person in the world, but you may also be the world to one person.

* Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once.

* We could learn a lot from crayons... Some are sharp, some are pretty and some are dull. Some have weird names,
and all are different colors, but they all have to live in the same box.


*A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour.

Even if you are on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there. ---Will Rogers

Ugh

Things have not been going good lately on the homefront.

DH has not taken in any money now in close to two months and told me today he doesn't expect to get paid in November either. He actually asked me to do some online applications for him for local retail places. I did that earlier today. Obviously his lack of income continues to be very stressful on us, and I don't know what he is going to end up doing.

Clearly something is NOT working with this self-employment thing though. He can't keep working 10 or 12 hour days 7 days a week and not bring ANY money in.

He keeps talking about the possibility of selling.........and then putting that money into our savings........and then getting a "real job", whatever a "real job" means........

I also have encouraged him to get some kind of job somewhere, and do his construction stuff on the side.......I don't know though.......it has just been rough and it's not one of those conversations that we can sit down and easily discuss.

We are fortunate because I have a good job that meets a majority of our bills, and we have our savings........but even that is going down a lot BECAUSE of the business.

This can't go on for much longer...........something needs to be decided...........

Floating on a cloud

I'm on a bloggity roll today........but I just had to post that for once, when the entire team expected the worst for a client related to the overall bureacracy of the "system"...........well, the system actually surprised us ALL and came through for him!

A whole big ball of stress has totally been lifted from my chest. I just wanted to share because it seems like there is always so much negativity associated with what I do for a living........it takes only one positive like this to remind me why I do what I do, and absolutely make me LOVE my job despite all that's negative.

That is all :)

NIMBY

A message board I frequent started this topic. As a social worker I always find everyone's feelings about this interesting, but in most cases, really sad.

What do you think?

I'm mzsocialworker1 on that thread by the way ;).

Since I'm not that creative...........

I figured I'd do another Fill in the Blank Friday post.

This week has been pretty crazy and stressful at work (ha, what the heck else is new ;). I did meet my goal of getting to three yoga classes though at night. I am also very pleased with myself because I can finally get deeper into a lot of stretches I have been struggling with. I am going to try to get in at least one class this weekend if DH's schedule allows..........Anyways........on to Fill in the Blanks......


1. Blogging is....something that I enjoy, but really more to read other peoples' blogs. I think everyone is a lot more interesting and creative then me.

2. A current fashion trend I wish I was brave enough to wear is........the leggings look. I do wear them on occasion, but I often feel super self-concious. I also have to have a long sweater or something that covers my butt completely.


3. My greatest accomplishment in life thus far is ......probably getting my Master's and also being able to juggle all the things that I do. (Work F/T, parent, wife as well as get in some "me time" for my yoga classes).


4. If I had to choose between a mountain or a beach vacation I'd choose the mountain vacation. I am close to the beach and I miss being close to the mountains and all kinds of related mountainy/country stuff like orchards and hiking.

5. A talent I wish I had is being able to do something artsy.....sing, dance, paint, draw, sculpt............whatever. I don't think I have an artsy bone in my body.


6. A talent I do have is the ability to multitask and somehow get all of the important things done I need to get done.


7. This week is finally over...thank goodness! (Although I am still on call today, boo!).

Local news post......Thoughts and how this impacts us as social workers?

The man accused of stabbing a boy repeatedly with a hunting knife as the child played a video game Friday in a Westbury arcade spent weeks casing Long Island malls looking for a suitable victim, Nassau police said Monday.

"He's been scouting locations in the area to find an appropriate place to kill a young boy," said Det. Lt. Ray Cote of the Third Squad of the suspect, Evan Sachs.

"He was looking to find a young boy who had been separated from supervision and a place where he could escape without being arrested," he said.


Sachs, 23, remains behind bars and under medical supervision after being detained Friday night by an employee of Dave & Busters and the father of the 8-year-old boy who was stabbed. He is charged with attempted murder, assault and weapons possession. At his arraignment on Saturday, Sachs' attorney said he has been under psychiatric care.

The boy was at the Dave & Buster's, an arcade-restaurant on Old Country Road, with his family when Sachs approached from behind, grabbed him by the shoulder, and plunged a knife into the boy's back five times, police said.

The child survived but remains hospitalized. Police said he is expected to recover, although details of his condition were not available.

After the attack, Sachs put a black folding knife into his pocket and walked toward the front door leading to the parking lot, Cote said. But finding the area in confusion, he turned and walked back into the arcade, where an employee stopped him and held him with the help of the victim's father. He was arrested without incident.

Officials said Sachs was carrying a computer-generated note he wrote addressed to "anyone who might encounter him after this incident ... seeking to explain his actions," Cote said. He declined to discuss the contents of the note but said it and later statements Sachs made to police "made it clear his intended victim was a young boy."

Cote said the unidentified boy's father was standing a few feet away from the child as he played a video game but was momentarily distracted as Sachs approached. The boy's mother was also seated nearby. Detectives are currently reviewing surveillance video taken inside Dave & Busters.

Over the last several weeks, police said Sachs visited at least four malls - Roosevelt Field, Walt Whitman Mall, Green Acres Mall, and Broadway Mall - in an attempt to find a young boy to kill.

"This was his first attempt," Cote said. "If he planned to continue this assault plan, I'm not aware of it."

Sachs has no criminal record and no known previous contact with police. He graduated in 2004 from Sanford H. Calhoun High School in Merrick and later from the University at Albany. He works as an usher at the UA Farmingdale 10 movie theater in Farmingdale.

Fill in the Blank Friday

I am stealing this from this cute little blog:


1. The first thing I do in the morning to start my day is feed the pets, get my son his soy milk and sit him down in front of Nick Jr. then read my email/check my fave message boards/blogs.

2. Today I wish I was not on-call for work. But it's my Friday agreement so I don't have to go into the office.

3. If I had an extra $100 in my bank account today I'd probably put it into savings or pay off some debt.


4. Tomorrow I will be taking Matt to his Saturday class at his toddler gym.


5. Two things that don't go together are me and being woke up to just "chat" with the DH.

6. Something I can never pass up at the grocery store is ICE CREAM! I get at least one or two containers a week.


7. The last time I tried something new was HOT YOGA back in February. I've been hooked ever since and so wish I had the time to go more often!!

Made it through the week

and things have calmed down a lot since I last posted. I still have plenty to follow up on, however, in terms of my discharges, some unexpected things have happened and several of them are just on hold for now.

I also made it to yoga twice this week. I really wanted to go last night, but opted for dinner in with DH instead and an early bedtime.

Today I am home with DS. I am going to try to take him to a morning free play at his toddler gym.

I am welcoming another weekend of just rest and relaxation!!

So busy

at work that I can't breathe and have very high amounts of anxiety. I have about 25 things to do that are all top priority and of equal importance. I don't even know where to begin!!! (None of this work includes things that just happen that require follow up). Everything also needed to be done "a week ago". HELP!!!! Any tips? I really did inherit a mess!!

Recharging for the week ahead

It has been a pretty calm and relaxing weekend, which is good because I know this week is going to be pretty CA-RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRAY-ZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!

I have 3 client visits tommorrow morning----one of them is because the bed bugs came back to the guy's apartment and staff are protesting now and don't want to work there. Another, to sign a new lease. Third, is actually an interview with a new client.

I then have to catch up on a ton of paperwork (Mostly inherited from former co-worker).

Write several service plans. (About 20 pages each!).

Take a client down to DSS to apply for a one-shot-deal so she can move out of a nursing home, and into her own place. (This will probably be an all-day event).

I also have to fit in an interview with another new client who I already can tell is going to be quite challenging.

For ME, I want to try to make it to at least THREE yoga classes this week. I went to two this past week. If DH gets home at a normal hour, and I make no excuses, I should be able to meet this goal.

So

I feel like I've had to hit the ground running this week.

I couldn't post about this last week, because it hadn't happened yet, but one of the people I was friendly with at work ended up getting fired. I think all of us at work, including my ex-co-worker knew this was coming. In any event, I've pretty much inherited all of their cases, which means I am now insanely busy. I will be taking a bunch of new clients into the community as well which is always a challenge because there is SO much work involved with discharges, between finding an apartment for the client to live in, to making sure all entitlements are set up properly. And then of course there are always a million and one things that happen with new clients that you can't predict.

So even though I am going to be super crazy now, this is good because it also will allow me to possibly make some extra money once I bring them on (our agency will give us bonuses if we can bring new clients on quickly, and also if we agree to carry extra cases beyond the agency maximum requirement).

I do feel bad for my friend though but I do sometimes think they may have known what they were doing. They weren't a social worker either (just had a BA and minimum amount of experience required for our position), and used to tell me frequently that they didn't like our job at all. So I think it probably worked out for everyone for the best.


DH is still struggling a lot with the business right now and has been talking about taking on a P/T job somewhere at night to help out in getting through the lean times. I wonder though in this economy----what is even going to be available. So this obviously continues to be pretty stressful for us.

TGIF again

It's been kind of a long week.

Both DS and I have come down with a stomach virus (he's better now at least), me, I'm hopefully headed in that direction.

DH is going through a lot of stuff which in turn has been rubbing off on me and my mood. Also having some pretty big struggles with his business.

I had a client get mad at me this week because they were basically just looking to blame SOMEONE for their predicament. They ended up telling a bunch of lies about me in front of the team (I think everyone hopefully is wise enough to know that none of it's true). They asked for a new social worker, and I am fine with that.

There's also some other stuff going on at work that is probably a good thing for me, but not for some other people (can't really post details just yet).

I went to the dentist and found out I need a wisdom tooth pulled ASAP. I'm kinda scared because I've never had a tooth pulled and I am expecting the worst!

My laptop broke earlier this week so I had to get a new one. The new one wasn't that expensive, and I am paying it off 6 months interest free, but still, who wants ANOTHER bill?

I also blew off yoga every day this week for absolutely no good reason. *Sigh*.

All in all, I know that these are just small things and life could be so much worse!

Happy weekend all!

Keeping details from clients

So one of my people who had bed bugs, also received a bill for close to $1000.00 for the treatment.

They of course (as I knew they would) flipped out and refused to pay because in their eyes, either the apartment complex or our agency should be responsible. I knew I could recommend they go to DSS and ask for a "one-shot-deal" to pay, however, they do have a special needs trust as a result of the settlement of their accident, with a decent (not huge) amount of cash in there that would most likely make them ineligible for this "emergency" money.

As a tax-payer in this county, I personally agree with this rule. It sucks, but if you do have $$$$ available you need to tap into that (again IMO) first, before you request tax-payer money to pay. Especially because there are people in worse situations that need access to these kinds of emergency funds.

SO......I decided to call their trustee and ask if they could take the $$$$ out of the trust as well as purchase them a new piece of furniture that they threw out as a result of the bed bug infestation. The trustee agreed on the condition that I not inform my client where the $$$$$ came from. (Again because the client will FREAK knowing this is her $$$$$$).

I talked it over with my supervisor, who felt that this was okay, because as this client's social worker, I really do not have a say how the funds in their trust be spent.

I've been telling my client that I found a resource in the community that would pay their bill and purchase them new furniture.

I also am not sharing the resource with most of the rest of the team because I don't want to take the chance that someone tells them where I came up with the $$$$$$.

What do you think? Am I being deceitful? Should I have kept this info from my client? One of my co-workers told me I was overthinking this too much and that I should feel grateful that my client has a trust they can tap into when needed.

Wow

A client who can be a real PITA at times sent me a note thanking me for taking them seriously and providing them assistance that they need for some tough things they are dealing with. It was really nice to hear that for once and reminds me why I do what I do and enjoy it so much, despite the bad days that happen. It probably seems like I complain a lot about what I do, but I have to admit......I really like my job (and even my real PITA clients) a lot.

Fall is on its way!

This is one of my favorite times of year.

I can start baking again, light candles that fill my home with spicy scents, and wear hoodies and boots again.

It's a cool, overcast day out right now and I've been sipping tea all morning (something else I rarely do when the weather is warm).

I'm trying to figure out what to do with myself today. DH is planning to watch football all day (NOT a favorite fall pastime of mine!).

I am thinking of either going to a local fall craft festival if it doesn't start to rain, or maybe wandering around the outlets. I'm in the mood for a Christmas Tree Shop fix!

Great yoga work-out

I got my bootie up early this morning and made it to the 7:30AM class. I feel so good! I'm so glad I went. Now I also have the whole rest of the day ahead of me..........I am going to try to get up for tommorrow's early class as well. I just made sure to drink plenty of water as soon as I woke up and was able to make it through the 90 minutes in the heat.

We are going to a BBQ shortly. I am looking forward to some more good eats, rest and relaxation. The hot weather is also starting to go away too. I can't complain about that. I love fall so bring it on!

Ah..........

I just woke up from a nice nap. And my son is still sleeping too :D. I never do this, but I guess it's the overcast weather that is making me sleepy. Speaking of weather, it doesn't look so far like we are going to get much of a hurricane here. It has been raining off and on all day, but the last news report I saw a few hours ago is that we probably will not get hit with much of anything and they have downgraded the storm to a category 1. I am certainly NOT complaining about this.


On another note, I also just saw this online on a site I frequent and thought it was nice enough to share. (I'm not a religious person though but you can transfer the God part to whatever it is you may believe in).


HANDBOOK 2010

Health:
1. Drink plenty of water.
2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.
3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants..
4. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy
5. Make time to pray.
6. Play more games
7. Read more books than you did in 2009 .
8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day
9. Sleep for 7 hours.
10. Take a 10-30 minutes walk daily. And while you walk, smile.

Personality:
11. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
12. Don't have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present
moment.
13. Don't over do. Keep your limits.
14. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
15. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.
16. Dream more while you are awake
17. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need..
18. Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner with His/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present
happiness.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others.
20. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
21. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
22. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and
fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
23. Smile and laugh more.
24. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree...

Society:
25. Call your family often.
26. Each day give something good to others.
27. Forgive everyone for everything..
28. Spend time w/ people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.
29. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
30. What other people think of you is none of your business.
31. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

Life:
32. Do the right thing!
33. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
34. GOD heals everything.
35. However good or bad a situation is, it will change..
36. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
37. The best is yet to come..
38. When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it.
39. Your Inner most is always happy. So, be happy.

Do you

have clients that you find yourself dreading to work with?

That just the mere mention of their name is like fingernails on a chalkboard?

Do they do stuff that makes you want to do anything but help them?

And you don't buy into the fact that it has anything to do with their disability, but it's just "them" and they are just a rotten kind of person?

Are they always stalking you with phone calls to call them back as soon as possible because it's really important? (But it's really kind of just, well, nonsense?!).

Ugh. I have a few of these.

I am so glad I am off too for the next few days! I need to re-group so I can continue to effectively go on and work with my people like this.

Batten down the hatches

another major hurricane is predicted in my area this weekend. Everyone here is all on edge. I know many of my neighbors were affected earlier this year when large trees fell and destroyed things on their properties such as fences, roofs and cars during an unexpected "hurricane".

My neighbor is a wreck that a tree is going to fall on his house.......thank you TownofB where we live for cutting down the WRONG tree on his property ;).

Our basement has flooded numerous times this year during bad weather...........I don't know if I can take it again (although I am sure there is much, much worse we could face).

Please everyone think good thoughts that this weather takes a major turn and heads straight out to sea.

It's only Monday

but I'm exhausted!

I think it's because I barely had any sleep this weekend. It's always hard on my son when he's not able to sleep in his own bed.

He woke up around 2AM on Sunday morning and spent close to 3 hours crying (well screaming!) on and off. I then had to drive over three hours home later that night after we left my parent's house.

I really wanted to go to my fave Monday night yoga class, but I think tonight I will need to pass for my bed instead. I think I am even going to have to miss the reunion special for RHWNJ (not like it won't be repeated every day coming up anyway).

My husband and son are both already sleeping and it's barely 7PM.

Hope everyone had a good Monday back to work :). And that you also were able to catch up on some rest and relaxation (not like me LOL).

Relaxing weekend ahead

Today we are going to a christening for close friends. They are having the reception at one of my fave Italian restaurants so I am looking forward to some good eats. Then we are headed Upstate to my parents. We are staying overnight. Tommorrow they are hosting a huge family BBQ.

I am planning to make my new summer staple, grilled eggplant with peanut sauce.

(Let me know if you want the recipe, it's super easy!).

Anyways, I am looking forward to a little time away with just family and good friends because I have a feeling that the week ahead is going to be another crazy one. I am planning to bring a client into the community from a nursing home/behavioral placement. Discharge planning is always a nutty, stressful time for all involved, however, probably even moreso for me!!!

I went to identify the body

of my former client today with my colleague who had recently taken over the case. He felt a little uncomfortable going by himself. Neither one of us had ever done this before, so we really did not know what to expect.

When we arrived at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, we found that it was a pretty large, bright, airy building---not some dark basement of a hospital like we assumed. We were greeted warmly and asked to fill out some paperwork with some brief background information about our client, including some of his history, medical providers and our suspected cause of death.

After that, we sat in a nice waiting room and the worker came out to meet with us. We did not actually have to go "look" at a body. She brought out a digital photo of his face.

It was definitely our client, although like when many people die, it did not really look like our client.

After we stated that it was him, we sat and chatted for a little bit with the worker. She told us that she was impressed that we had come, and as social workers, did we have any suggestions of how to go about helping their office identify more of the people who are brought in.

I suggested that she gather up a list of local homeless shelters, mental health providers, and in particular ACT/ICM/SCM teams. She felt that this information was very helpful because there are so many bodies brought in each year that no one comes to claim, and she feels sad that they are eventually buried without a name, or a notification to anyone.

Anyway, I am really glad I went today. It brought me some closure, and I also learned what the process is to get a death certificate, as well as autopsy report (two items most social service agencies will often need as part of their own internal investigation when a client dies unexpectedly).

My co-worker and I are also thinking of doing a service to honor our former client's memory. Sadly, he really didn't have family or natural supports in his life, however, many of his helping providers remember him fondly so we would like to do a little something.

Sad

I learned today that one of my former clients, who was recently transferred to another social worker in our agency, lost their battle with schizophrenia.

I have not been able to get my former client out of my mind all day.

I remember them always trying to give me candy when I visited, and sending me nice little cards to thank for me for my efforts in working with them. (I still have them in my desk).

It's so sad. I believe that this is what they wanted though.

And I can only hope that they have finally found the peace they were looking for.

Finally

got back to yoga last night. I had an AMAZING class. It felt so nice to work out again, and let a whole bunch of stress just go. Then I came home and watched the season finale of Real Housewives of NJ. For some reason the "meeting" between Caroline and Danielle reminded me of some of my meetings with my most difficult clients. You know the ones where absolutely nothing gets accomplished? Even though your intentions are good? Where you leave there thinking "Could I have done anything differently?". "What can I do or say to help this person?".

Anyways, this mornning I am absolutely exhausted. I so wish I had a day I could just go back to sleep until I am actually ready to wake up on my own and not with an alarm. I don't think that's going to happen for awhile though.

So I am going to hop in the shower instead before DS wakes up. That always makes me feel better. Have a good one all!

Good one for a rainy Monday morning..........

I AM THANKFUL:



FOR THE WIFE
WHO SAYS IT'S HOT DOGS TONIGHT,
BECAUSE SHE IS HOME WITH ME,
AND NOT OUT WITH SOMEONE ELSE.

FOR THE HUSBAND
WHO IS ON THE SOFA
BEING A COUCH POTATO,
BECAUSE HE IS HOME WITH ME
AND NOT OUT AT THE BARS.

FOR THE TEENAGER
WHO IS COMPLAINING ABOUT DOING DISHES
BECAUSE IT MEANS SHE IS AT HOME,
NOT ON THE STREETS.

FOR THE TAXES I PAY
BECAUSE IT MEANS
I AM EMPLOYED.

FOR THE MESS TO CLEAN AFTER A PARTY
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE
BEEN SURROUNDED BY FRIENDS.

FOR THE CLOTHES THAT FIT A LITTLE TOO SNUG
BECAUSE IT MEANS
I HAVE ENOUGH TO EAT.

FOR MY SHADOW THAT WATCHES ME WORK
BECAUSE IT MEANS
I AM OUT IN THE SUNSHINE

FOR A LAWN THAT NEEDS MOWING,
WINDOWS THAT NEED CLEANING,
AND GUTTERS THAT NEED FIXING
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE A HOME.

FOR ALL THE COMPLAINING
I HEAR ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT
BECAUSE IT MEANS
WE HAVE FREEDOM OF SPEECH..

FOR THE PARKING SPOT
I FIND AT THE FAR END OF THE PARKING LOT
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM CAPABLE OF WALKING
AND I HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH TRANSPORTATION.

FOR MY HUGE HEATING BILL
BECAUSE IT MEANS
I AM WARM.

FOR THE LADY BEHIND ME IN CHURCH
WHO SINGS OFF KEY BECAUSE IT MEANS
I CAN HEAR.

FOR THE PILE OF LAUNDRY AND IRONING
BECAUSE IT MEANS
I HAVE CLOTHES TO WEAR.

FOR WEARINESS AND ACHING MUSCLES
AT THE END OF THE DAY
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE BEEN
CAPABLE OF WORKING HARD.

FOR THE ALARM THAT GOES OFF
IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM ALIVE.


~Author Unknown

Rainy day

It's raining here finally. We really need it too.

I got up around 7AM (DS actually slept pretty late for once!), and made sauce from a whole bunch of tomatoes from our garden.

DS went back in for a nap around 9:15AM so I've just been doing laundry and watching old 90210 re-runs (guilty pleasure).

I had to work this past Friday so it's been a shorter weekend for me. This coming week at work I already know is going to be crazy. We will be starting the bed bug prep on Monday and hopefully the exterminator will come on Tuesday. It's been nuts because both clients are blaming me and the agency for bringing in the bugs.

I seriously think it's an apartment complex issue though because some of the aides have told me that other tenants have them.

Not only that but has anyone seen the NEWS lately? They are all over the place. They had to close down a huge movie theatre in Manhattan due to an infestation.

The icing on the cake is that on Long Island, landlords are not responsible for bed bugs, so I am going to have to figure out how to get my clients money for the treatment, and possibly new furniture.

If it's an apartment complex issue.............I am sure this will not be the end that we hear of this..........and even if it is for awhile I can be sure that at least one of these clients is never going to let me forget that "her staff" is responsible for this mess.

Time online

This is something I have been thinking about a lot lately. I spend a good portion of my downtime, especially when DS is sleeping, online. I am often found on social networking sites like Facebook and several message boards. I have been going back and forth on whether or not to deactivate my accounts completely with a few of them, because of the time suck feeling. I did this once before with a private message board and I have to admit, it felt quite refreshing. Especially because my life had been taken over it seemed with unnecessary drama from STRANGERS, or people I barely knew IRL (I had met a few people a couple of times).

At present though, I think before I take such a drastic action like closing down my accounts, I really feel that I am going to have to try to make a more concious effort to just cut back my time online significantly.

I know by doing that I have to involve myself in some other activities. It's too easy to come home, lounge out on the couch with the TV on in the background, and get sucked into various sites. I also think it's an easy subsititution for social interaction because as I have mentioned before, DH often works very long hours.

So this is my new goal for the upcoming week. To cut back my online downtime.

I will need to find things to do around the house when DH is working. This is also a great reason to get back into yoga or to find stuff to do with him when he's not ;).

Do any of you ever feel like the internet has taken over your life, and have you been successful with cutting back the amount of time you stay online significantly?

What are some of your tips?

I've taken a week off

from yoga. I've had at least 3 opportunities to go this week and I've blown it off every time.

I think because I preferred to stay home with my family instead.

Hugging and snuggling with my son especially can be just as therapeutic, if not more.

I plan to start up again next week though. I may even try to fit in one early class over the weekend.

I still feel a little guilty though.

I can't believe it's only Tuesday

because it's been such a long week already. I think it's because half our department, including my boss is either on vacation or on medical leave.

As a result, I've been assigned (as well as volunteered to shut every panicking person up!) to do a bunch of extra work.

I don't mind helping out, and I think it's actually pretty cool that my boss trusts me enough with a lot more responsibility, but what I do not like is when certain people at work just expect me to drop everything to follow up on their tasks, or they just have a nasty attitude towards me because they want something done NOW!!

We are co-workers. We are from the same agency. We are on the same team, and want the same result. There's no need to be snarky to get what you want.


I just needed to vent. I'm over it now. However, hump day cannot get here fast enough.

I can relate to this guy LOL

NEW YORK – A JetBlue flight attendant got into an argument with a passenger on a jetliner arriving at John F. Kennedy International Airport on Monday, cursed the passenger, grabbed a beer from the galley and then deployed an emergency exit slide and fled the plane, authorities said.

Flight attendant Steven Slater was arrested at his nearby home in the Belle Harbor section of Queens by Port Authority of New York And New Jersey police on charges of criminal mischief, reckless endangerment and trespassing.

Slater, 39, remained in custody Monday night. His attorney's name wasn't immediately available, and there was no home telephone number listed for him. A woman who answered a phone at a previous residence listed for Slater in Thousand Oaks, Calif., identified herself as his mother but said she wasn't speaking to the press.

JetBlue Airways Corp. said in a statement that it was working with the Federal Aviation Administration and Port Authority police to investigate the matter. It said the safety of its customers and crew members was never at risk.

Slater was working on JetBlue Flight 1052 from Pittsburgh when he got into an argument with the passenger, who was pulling down baggage from an overhead bin, the Port Authority said. The luggage apparently struck the attendant in the head, and he asked for an apology, but the passenger refused, the agency said.

As the plane was landing, Slater got on the public-address system and cussed at the passenger, the Port Authority said. He then grabbed at least one beer, activated the slide, slid down and went to his car, it said.

Port Authority police were notified about 25 minutes later.

JetBlue would not say how long Slater had been employed by the company.

You can't control everything in your life

I have a client who has been driving me nutty all weekend, since he now has learned how to email, and knows I get my emails on my blackberry.

In any event, even though he is perfectly capable, he will often ask me to become involved in setting up his appointments for him. The other day he called me to ask if I could call one of his workers to let her know that he had to go out for blood work, so he may be a little late to her appointment, and could she just wait a few minutes for him.

I touched base with her and she said she had already rescheduled the appointment, because he called and cancelled. She was now seeing other clients so could not meet with him.

I told him this.

He's now been sending me emails all weekend complaining about why I cancelled his appointment, it could have only been me "because I have a Blackberry" (?????!!!!), etc. etc. etc.

I just sent him a response and told him that from now on, since I know he is capable of setting, and rescheduling his appointments, that will be the plan. He should only involve me if he is having some kind of major difficulty setting something up.

He does stuff like this with everyone that works with him because it's his way of feeling like he's controlling his situation.

For those of you who are social workers

outside of the NYC metropolitan area, where do you live?

What is the job market like by you?

What kind of social work do you do?

Any special requirements?

How is the cost of living?

What are salaries like?

Do you enjoy the area where you live?

How long do you plan on staying?

Is it good for raising a family?

If you are married, or in a relationship, what does your S.O. do?

Was it easy for THEM to find a job?

Any other pros/cons you can think of?

Lastly, any good tips in general when it comes to possibly relocating?

Husbands

I often feel that mine is my most challenging client. I really want to bang my head against the wall many days.


Can anyone relate? It's going to be a LONG ASS weekend!!!!!!

All in all

it's been a good week. Even despite the bed bugs issue. I did get the management company of the apartment complexes where my two clients reside, to agree to not charge for an exterminator to do the inspection. If they do in fact have bed bugs, that will be a different story. I will probably have to go down to DSS and apply for emergency money for the cleaning. We will cross that bridge when we come to it though.

I also found a really cool day program for one of my client's. I went on a tour today with him and his mom.

Tommorrow I am having new living room furniture delivered, and then later this weekend I am headed Upstate. I am taking my son to a country fair on Saturday. That should be a ton of fun. It will be so nice to get off of Long Island, if only for a day or two.

Well, we've made it through another week! Have a good weekend everyone :).

Cool Etsy Find

You so have to go to this Etsy Shop. I got all three of these this week and have been receiving tons of compliments from random strangers. They are made on Scrabble and Rummikub tiles. Go forth and shop! She even offers free shipping, and BOGO free specials.

I went

to yoga last night after not being there in about a week. It totally kicked my ass. It was very humid and I had to sit out for a lot of the poses. I really, really wish there was a way I could get there more often, so it's not like starting over all the time, but it's just not possible this month. There's too much craziness going on with DH's business and he's lucky if he gets home around 8 or 9PM each night.

I have been looking for places with childcare but I have only managed to find a couple of gyms that don't offer yoga classes so that's out.

A co-worker and I have talked about joining the hot yoga studio near our office in the fall and going after work. That may be a good option, except this particular studio is a little more expensive.

I have also thought about trying to go to some morning classes, and then just going into work a little later, and staying a little later (they are pretty flexible with our schedule).

I am so happy I have finally found something new that I love though, even if I can't get there half as much as I would like. I am confident that things will calm down a bit in the fall. I hope.............

My boss

I've mentioned him before on my blog. So, one of the client's with the bedbug infestation............she is someone who is traditionally very difficult for me to work with because in her eyes, I am the one who should be able to fix all of her problems----problems she's had since, well, birth. Problems that NO one, even GOD if you feel one exists, can cure. So you better believe that the fact that she may now have bed bugs is somehow MY fault. She is ready to rip me a new one when I go visit her tommorrow about this issue. A strategy that tends to work with her though, is for a supervisor to go meet with her and remind her that I am only there to coordinate her services, and not fix her life. So I invited him to join me tommorrow.

He called me while I was driving home tonight and said that he was probably not going to come, because his wife would kill him if he brought bed bugs home to their apartment. I told him my husband would probably kill me too (or at least forbid me to return!) if I told him about even half of the things I have to deal with at work. I really don't think the bed bugs are THAT contagious, as long as we don't just chill out on her couch or anything. I also know for a fact that he's said the same thing to at least two of my co-workers who have problematic cases, as well as a bed-bug issue going on (it really is such a tremendous problem in this area of the country).

He told me he'd call her on the phone and talk to her if I wanted.............how do you even respond to that? Imagine if I said I wasn't going to go to her home?! He's not a social worker though, so I guess that is his free pass............once again a social worker will be the one to assist with this mess. All the while being blamed for it, and getting little to no support from a supervisor.

Bed bugs

There's been an epidemic with them in the NYC area as of late. And lucky me, I got a call today that two of my clients apparently now have them. Both of them are "clean" and have had services for awhile so it's total speculation to where they may have gotten them from. It really could be ANYWHERE from what news and research shows. Anyways...........looks like this will be the next big problem I will have to deal with. I've been itching all day (literally) just thinking about cleaning up this mess.


Have any of you had to deal with this problem before either personally or professionally? What did you do and were you successful?

Up super early today

We are going on a work road-trip. About 3 hours away (probably more with traffic because we are picking up a co-worker in Manhattan) to interview with potential clients who if they decide to work with us, we will bring back into the community from a nursing home setting. I also am going to see one of my client's who I am in the process of bringing into the community right now. I have known him since I first started working in TBI-land and got him into this setting where we are going today because he was just not doing well at all in the community................anyways...........

I volunteered to drive today, I don't know why LOL. Me, 2 co-workers and my boss. I need coffee, stat! Happy Monday all :D.

Check out this blog + giveaway

This is such a cute and interesting blog, and the owner is doing a giveaway this week from a vintage jewelery site from Etsy. Have fun reading and checking out both sites.

Bleh

I have to go into the office tommorrow for a staff meeting. I normally have Fridays off. Wah!!!

Just feel like whining.

On a positive note, I may be picking up a bunch of new cases which means a chance at possible bonus money if I can get their plans approved quickly. I will have to do a bunch of other PITA stuff too like travel really far to the facilities where these clients are located out of area............but extra $$$$$$..........

That would be nice as I am feeling like we are broke lately.

DH also has to work a TON this month to get a bunch of $$$$$$ in so it doesn't look like I am going to make it to a whole lot of yoga classes :(. I have to miss tonight because he won't be home in time. I think I am going to need to start exploring other options for exercise until things calm down for him a bit.

I'm bummed though. I really love this class. I also refuse to leave DS with the ILs so I can go to yoga, even though they offered because they watch him all day. It's just not right. I feel like that's taking advantage.

Which brings me to this topic that I've been contemplating posting about.............more kiddos!!

DH has been obsessing lately about having another one. But I personally don't feel ready. The lack of affordable childcare is the biggest reason on the list. It would be really hard financially even just sending one to daycare P/T. And I just don't feel right about asking family to watch another one. Especially after I found out this week that SIL is TTCing again. (ILs watch 3 under 19 months already) One of us staying home is not an option either because we couldn't afford health insurance

I also don't feel like I devote enough time to my son----I have a hard time imagining being able to spend time with TWO kids. I love him so much too...........I don't know if I even want another one for that reason. I already feel like DS is my favorite.

Anyways, a short-term goal for this week:

Exploring other exercise options, or a yoga/gym facility that offers childcare

Long-term goal:

Look into starting a childcare co-op.

Have a nice weekend everyone :D.

So looking forward to

Hot yoga, followed by Real Housewives of New Jersey tonight.


That is all :D I made it through another Monday.

Please don't.

Please don't try to push your work off on me. I am a social worker. Not your personal assistant.

Please especially do NOT try to push your work off on me when it involves going beyond my scope of practice and doing what YOU are licensed to provide .............nursing duties.

Again, I am a social worker.

I can do a lot of things, but when it involves handling medications, I know that's not on me!

I also do not work for your agency. So if you have questions about what your responsibilities are, ask YOUR nursing supervisor.

Lastly, please do not assume you know what my position entails. You know what they say about people who ASSume ;).

Holy Awkward Batman!

OK, let me start this by saying I work under a couple guys who can be very pushy, bossy and sometimes just not nice people. If you are the type who can take things personal, you probably wouldn't like them at all. (And before anyone says anything, I don't agree that their behavior is right). Anyways.....

One of them is always bumping heads with another co-worker of mine also in a position of authority but still technically under them (a woman twice my age who is sweet as pie).

So, we all held a meeting the other day with a client who can be difficult, demanding, split staff and often lie about stuff in general. The meeting got pretty heated, and I guess my female co-worker got upset with the way my boss had treated her in front of the client and other professionals from a different agency. (She felt like he was siding with the client and blaming stuff on her). FWIW, I think he was trying to use a strategy to make the client feel he had someone else to vent to, even though he knew a lot of what the client was saying was total B.S.

After the meeting we all walked out together and they got into it. She actually was in tears and this was all in front of me. They then followed me to my car and were still going back and forth.

I quickly excused myself but feel bad. Other people I work with have complained about my boss (and the other male boss) but they also are people who tend to take things REALLY personal. Sometimes IMHO I think they haven't done what they are supposed to, so it's understandable that my bosses may call them out on stuff (that's another post though!). For me, I basically just ignore these two, do my work and don't get involved with them unless I absolutely have to.

Well, I don't really know where I am going with this..........just wondering if anyone else has been in this situation before. This is the 2nd time I have witnessed this co-worker cry related to my boss.

I guess I just don't want to be sucked into anything!!!!

It must be working!

A random co-worker came up to me today and asked me how much weight I've lost?!

She told me I look amazing.

And I've been slacking a lot with my yoga lately. I've been going on average about twice a week because life in general has just been getting in the way.

Imagine if I could go more often!

With that thought, I decided to email the studio owner and asked him if there was a way he could make a later evening class, as well as consider doing a modified class for 60 minutes instead of the full 90.

Wouldn't that be great if he can do these things? I am sure I am not the only one who would go. I will keep you posted regarding what he says.

On a non-related note, I was excited to see that my blog was featured today on this site. Thanks for the shout-out!! I'd love to draw more social work related traffic to my site. Even though my blog has been kind of boring lately. If you are new here (or even if you're not!), give me some ideas of some social work related hot topics you'd like to discuss.

Well, have a good evening all. I am actually off to yoga. Two nights in a row, go me!!

OMG, I want to do this!

It also happens to fall on our anniversary ;).


Do you think I can convince DH to go here?

Back to the grind tommorrow!

I am actually looking forward to it though. I already have a stack of work that needs to be followed up on (as I knew I would!). I have loved being home with my son this week, but I need to get out there again to use my brain to help solve some of the world's problems.

I also need to get back to yoga. I've been slacking on that A LOT lately. I only went twice last week. I also chose the beach over yoga earlier today. Oh well. Tommorrow's a new week :).

I'm on vacation but.........

I just got an email from one of the higher-ups "scolding" me for not sharing some info about a client.

I actually forwarded this email to my boss earlier this week when I first found out about the situation...........but I suppose he could have overlooked it and not followed up because of that, not to mention I know he is completely overworked and running in a million directions. Sheesh!!!

What if I was actually on a REAL vacation and didn't have access to my crackberry? I swear......as social workers we can't catch a break. Even when we ARE supposed to be off.

I am just venting, and I WILL get over this, but I am still really, really annoyed.

I guess I will have to start CALLING in these things on my days off *rolls eyes*.

Guess what?

I'm on vacation next week!

I am so freakin' excited, even though it's just gonna be a staycation. I may go out of town for a few days Upstate but, even though I have nothing seriously planned it will be nice to have a week off from work.

I am sure I will go back though and things will be nuts. That's how it always is in the social work world.....take off 1 week, find yourself behind TWO weeks LOL.


Oh, BTW, we also got a new car-----2010 Mazda CX9. I love, love, love it so far!

Fireworks last night

We walked to the local beachfront near our house last night to watch a fireworks show. This is the first time my son has ever seen fireworks. It was so amazing to watch the excitement through his young eyes. He kept saying "oooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhh" and "What's that?" and pointing, laughing and his face just lit up so beautifully.

The show itself lasted about 25 minutes which was just enough for his short 18-month-old attention span. (Maybe a little too long because he was restless about 15 minutes into the show).

Someone down near the beach started a grass fire by setting off their own amateur fireworks session. We watched some of the fire boats come into the bay to water down the grass where the fire was going strong. Fortunately, they were able to put it out pretty quickly and all of us spectators were able to finish off the evening without too much chaos and mayhem.

4 day weekend!!

I don't have to be back at work until Tuesday. Yes, I am very excited about that. We are planning to resume our car search at some point though this weekend.

I am NOT looking forward to that. Earlier this week we looked at the Honda Pilot and Nissan Pathfinder. We didn't test-drive either yet. The Nissan dealership didn't have any Pathfinders in stock which seemed kinda crazy to me. They just had a used 2007 model. The Honda dealership was of course trying to push the highest-end model of the Pilot. He also insisted all the 2010 models had been "sold out for months and he didn't expect to be getting any more". The salesman quoted ridiculous prices for a lease as well (something like $7K down and $600 or $700 a month). You have to be shitting me. I know new cars are expensive, but for a lease, my research has shown that you should put little to nothing down, and $700.00 a month payment? For a HONDA? Yeah, Honda's are great cars, but I better be getting a MERCEDES to be paying that much a month for a LEASE!!


Some of the SUVS/crossovers we plan to look at this weekend are the following:

Mazda CX9 (my absolute fave right now!)
Jeeps (Cherokee, Liberty)
Chevy Traverse
GMC SUVs
Toyota 4runner

Wish me luck for this. I hope we find a great deal. Otherwise we will continue to look and pray that I run into no more problems with my car and that it lasts until we find something that fits our needs, and most importantly, our budget.

I hope we win!!!!

I so doubt it, but I just wrote a big long letter trying to sell our family for one of the newest HGTV shows that will be coming to the Long Island area.

Think good thoughts for us!!

So sad.

One of my pugs passed away this morning. I found her. I don't know what happened and I don't want to know. I do think she went quickly though and did not suffer.

RIP Ms. Emma girl

I am home-bound

My car wasn't ready yesterday so I decided to stay home today and do my work here.

Fortunately, I am pretty much caught up with all my work so it may just be a few phone calls and progress notes I have to write.

My son is already napping. It's super hot so I expect that he will probably be sleepy most of today.

I actually let him sleep in our bedroom last night on a little area I made him with pillows and blankets since it was so hot, and our only A/C right now is in our bedroom.

He's so cute. I need to think of something fun to do with him this weekend.

Things I do to feel happy + content

To appreciate the little things in life.........

*Create daily rituals. For me, I bring my son up into my bed for about an hour every night when I am officially "done" with my day (even if he's fallen asleep for a few hours already) to snuggle and play.

*Drink green tea.

*Burn a nice smelling candle. (I have a lemon cream one going right now).

*Grow flowers. And plants and spices. Walk around outside and water them each day.

*Eat dinner (or breakfast or lunch) outside.

*Take a shower (or bath) with yummy smelling bath products.

*Munch on fresh fruits like cherries.

*Take a walk around the block. Take time to notice little things like trees and plants. Say hi to everyone you pass. (You'd be surprised how many New Yorkers don't do this!).

*Start your day in a coffee shop place and take time to just read the newspaper from cover to cover.

*Wear a bright, fun head-band.

*Clean.

*Sit on the beach or by another body of water.

*Drink one cocktail (for me these days anything beyond that tends to give me a headache or knock me out the next day!).

*Make the bed.

*Make the bed with fun, colorful or mis-matched sheets and blankets.

*Write on bright colored stationary or in a cute notebook at work.

*Keep a bottle of cold water on your desk and drink from it throughout the day.

*Chat with your co-workers as you get up to fill your water bottle from the cooler.

*Change into comfy clothes as soon as you get home from work and all times when you aren't at work.

*Try to find a job that you can dress in comfy clothing that totally reflects your sense of personal style :D

*Have longer conversations about interesting work-related topics with colleagues that you normally don't get to spend a lot of time with. (This really works in establishing good relationships AND in getting stuff easier for some of my clients who can be difficult).

*Walk around a Farmer's Market or produce store and just browse.

*Make a fresh veggie every night with dinner.

*Buy fresh bread a few times a week. Eat it with cheese or dip it in seasoned EVOO for a snack.

*Keep candy on your desk at work.(This is another great way to establish a good rapport with co-workers).

*Try to sit outside and read anything for at least 30 minutes each day.

What are some of the things YOU like to do to feel happy and content?

Damn it.

So I am having car issues again. Last night, I raced home from work, rushed DS to the pediatrician (he's had a bout of diarrhea lately, poor guy) and made it home just in time to make it to my yoga class (I haven't been since last Thursday).

Anyways, I went to start my car and the lock wouldn't turn. I've had this happen before and just wiggled the wheel/lock no issues. Well, to make a long story short, the whole thing needs to be replaced.

I feel like every month it's something now with this car. I think DH and I will have to officially suck it up and start looking for something new. I sooooooooooo don't want to have to shell out a car payment, but with a small child not to mention the fact that "my car is sick again" is becoming an old excuse at work.......we are going to need one.

I also am feeling spoiled because my inlaws let me borrow their new Lexus today and tommorrow for work. I can't remember the last time I drove something brand new, and definitely not a luxury automobile!


I am debating on just keeping this car, in addition to something new and reliable and using the old one for work. I drive it so much for my fieldwork, and it only costs $30.00 to fill it up each week. I sometimes feel like I make a little money with this car when I turn in my expense report at the end of the month.


If anything, this is going to have to be motivation for DH to quit smoking once and for all. He smokes over a pack a day and cigarettes here in NYS are now over $10.00 a pack. I think we will certainly be able to afford something nicer and more reliable to drive if he gives up smoking.


I am really dreading having to start our search though, and meet with car salesmen. Wish us luck! And while you're at it, if you have any mid-size SUV recommendations, send those my way as well.

Social work line(s) of the day:

"I don't want to work with you anymore. I don't understand. You're a trained social worker. Why haven't you been able to fix my life. That's your JOB!!!!!".....................

Game of 8 Questions

I am stealing today's post from this blog. I also thought I would tie this in with my Social Work Question of the Week theme for all of you social workers out there for something light for a change !

Game of 8 Questions


What's your staple meal (ie. what meal do you cook most often when you can't be bothered to be adventurous)?

This depends, but my go-to meals tend to be some kind of pasta with tomato sauce, home-made pizza (although I usually buy store-bought dough!), and lately, we've been grilling burgers a lot.


What do you want to be when you grow up?

I have been working in the human services field since 1998. It's my dream to open up a coffee shop/yoga/music space/community resource center/housing program.


What book are you reading at the moment (if any)?

Ugh, I planned to hit up the library this weekend but just never got around to it. I've had The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold sitting on my nightstand forever it seems, but between working F/T, chasing a toddler around, housework and 90 minute 8PM yoga classes 2-3x a week, I really have been slacking on the reading. Being able to read a book a week is probably one of the biggest things I miss from when I used to commute by train to work in the city every day.


How do you relax?


I waste way too much time on the computer each day. I enjoy reading blogs of people who I tend to find are much more interesting than me (LOL) and I also frequent several message boards. I have also been practicing hot yoga since February and I have to say I am becoming mildly addicted.

What colour are the interior walls of your home?

Multiple colors LOL. We bought our house a couple years ago and we are still in the process of going room by room to fix it up. Since we are paying for everything out of pocket instead of taking out loans, DH working a ton of hours, and with an 18-month old, even painting has taken a lot longer than we have planned. Anyways, starting with our living room/hallway/stairway to our bedroom on the top floor, that color is a bland light green leftover from the previous owners. Moving along to the kitchen, there's a really tacky pink and green floral wall-paper that I can't wait to tear down.

My son's room is a nice forest green color and then he has chair rails and underneath that, it's painted cream. His playroom is a brightish-orange on top, with chair rails and cream underneath.

Our master bedroom walls are painted lavender. I love it up there!

The bathroom is painted peach with white tiles.

What is your guiltiest pleasure?

ICE CREAM!! I must confess I eat it at least once a day.


What time is bed time and getting up time?

Bed time these days is anywhere from 8PM-midnight depending on the day of the week, my level of exhaustion and whether or not I am taking an evening yoga class. I get up in the morning usually when my son wakes up, which could be anywhere from 4:00AM to 6:30AM. (Although 6:30 is very rare. He usually doesn't sleep past 5:30AM).


How long do you spend reading blogs (per day or per week)?

Too. Many. Hours.

----------------------
extra credit:
*what is your favorite movie? I'm not sure what my favorite movie is, but I love cheesy and girly movies. Anything from Legally Blonde to old school Lifetime movies to Sex and the City (although I haven't seen the new SATC yet!).

*tell me something embarrassing about yourself. I have this constant habit of grinding my right side jaw. I often don't realize I am doing it and make a really strange face and then sometimes think people are starring at me.

*What really gets on your nerves? People who always compare themselves to others, those who feel like they are entitled to certain things in life and just others who gossip and put others down in general.

Friday, I am so glad you are here.

I love, love, LOVE only working a 4-day work week. I think this is one of the biggest perks of my job.

I have had a couple of phone calls today but nothing major at all (keeping my cell on was the agreement my boss had me make so I don't have to officially "work" on Fridays).

I had to get a few Father's Day gifts so I took my son to a local outlet place this morning. I'm not a huge shopper, but this was such a nice change of pace from the local mall/strip mall/big box store. It's gorgeous out here today so DS and I spent time just walking around and sitting next to the various outdoor fountains. He loved them. In fact, this child is totally obsessed with water. He shows no fear at all. A few weeks ago, DH and I brought him to a beach and we had to leave because he kept trying to run into the ocean. He was not content at all with just walking along the water.

Last night, I got to go to my yoga class so I was super excited about that. I also had a pretty good work-out, and was able to get into most of the poses.

We have no major plans this weekend. My town is haviing a carnival at the park down the block from my house so I will probably bring DS there at some point.

Going to a family BBQ on Father's Day but we will probably also get to spend some time hanging out in the new hot tub too at my inlaws house. DH is looking forward to this. He just re-did their whole backyard and put in a new patio. The hot tub was delivered last week. I am very much looking forward to lots of relaxation this weekend.

Aaaargh!

I have to miss yoga again tonight because DH got caught up with stuff at work and can't leave (one of the many cons of being self-employed). My son also fell asleep around 6PM. So it's all me by my lonesome. I have decided to make it a grilled cheese and soup night. So, so good, yet so, so, bad for me. The George & Marisa Tomei episode is on Seinfeld right now. Awesome!!!

Have a good evening all!

It's been a day!

I think this social worker is in need of her OWN social worker!

I had several incidents occur with clients today, one in particular where the person's mother they live with called me up and started the conversation with "I have to tell you something but you cannot tell anyone else............". That's ALWAYS a good sign!

She basically gave me a bunch of information which lead me to believe that my client's life is at risk. When I said I had an obligation to call 911, she told me if I did so, she was going to take the client out their back door which would prevent the police from taking him to the hospital, and never provide me with any information about him again.

The whole agency got involved in this one. We did not end up calling EMS after involving his doctors.

I should go to yoga tonight, but after a difficult class last night and staying up late to watch The Real Housewives of New Jersey...........going to bed early tonight is a much better option. I am going back tommorrow though, I promise!!! To both work and yoga!

Social work Question(s) of the Week:

How do manage working in a host environment, in particular one that is not overly supportive of social workers and promoting client independence?

What do you do when it's upper management that goes against you and tries to enable your clients by giving them whatever they want?

So........

that client I wrote about awhile back, the bi-polar one with the head injury...........we decided that she was just becoming too much of a risk for our agency. I met with her today and gave her a notice in writing that we will be terminating with her 30 days from now and that she needs to find a new provider to manage her case.

I felt (and still feel) bad about it. Especially after she told me that her brother wants nothing else to do with her and she has decided to go back on one of her mood stabilizers.

It's kind of too little too late though and I had a long discussion with one of my colleagues at work about her today (in fact I always have long discussions about her with him LOL)............he said I shouldn't feel bad because this is just HER..........there's never a good time to terminate. We gave her numerous opportunities to go on meds and each time, she refused. Hopefully she will find someone to pick up her case. I promised her that I was going to help her connect to someone new, and if not through the TBI program, then I will refer her back to APS. She is known to them now so they will probably follow her case if she does not have anyone supporting her.

She actually gave me a hug as I was leaving her house and told me she didn't take it personally, she really liked me but just felt that she couldn't trust me anymore after I called APS on her the first time around.

It's sad. I felt like I did everything humanly possible to help this woman..........but I was the only one doing the work.

Have a great week everyone!

I can't believe it's Sunday night already.

I've had such a busy weekend. Friday I went Upstate to visit my family and came home yesterday. We had such a nice time. My son got to run around the countryside and even rode on the "tractor" lawn mower with his Poppy. (We just have a push lawn mower since we have such a small yard).

I got to go out Friday night to an open mic sans bambino AND hubby. Had a wonderful time.

Yesterday was lotsa errands and cleaning up the house.

Today, more errands, I got a great yoga workout in, and then went and had dinner---macaroni and gravy old Italian style---at the inlaws. My MIL sent us home with plenty of leftovers so I don't have to worry about lunch and dinner for the next day or so.

Right now I am relaxing with a Frosty I picked up on the way home for my husband and myself. Now I am getting ready to lounge out and watch mindless TV and spend some quality time with the husband. He has been working constantly lately so we rarely get that at all. Anyways, have a nice week everyone :D.

Social work Question of the Week

I know this may vary slightly based on the population you work with, but what do you see as the biggest strength/resource for many of your clients?

For me, it is often FAMILY.

While a lot of my clients do not have the support of family for any number of reasons, many of them do. For some, they take this for granted though and do not consider it a strength in their lives.