12.24.2009
Merry Christmas
Posted by Alice at 3:20 PM 3 comments
12.17.2009
Mental Vomit: Exhausted Edition.
I stayed up far past my bedtime last night and boy am I paying for it today.
But at 2 AM when the blabbering continued, I didn’t care.
We were busy discussing how we could save the world.
This morning I cared.
I felt as though I had been hit by a truck and kind of wanted to puke.
I dutifully woke up and travelled to my dentist appointment anyway.
I was late.
But you probably already knew that.
I don’t have any cavities.
I could really go for a nap.
This is exhausted edition after all.
Christmas is in 8 days.
Still a lot to get done before that 8th day.
Oh well, it always happens and I some how survive.
I just closed my eyes and started to fal……………
…started to fall asleep while typing.
Now I am yawning.
I miss the gym.
I WILL make time this week.
What is your favorite white elephant gift?
I enjoy online shopping.
They are painting the walls green.
Were they green before?
Now I can't remember.
He just said this is the 4th time painting the hospital since it opened.
So that's where my raise went?
Puke green paint.
Did you notice all the reference to barf?
Gross! I hate barfing.
My skin is so dang dry!
It makes me so freakin’ itchy- ugh!
Sometimes I hate this weather.
I wish I was somewhere warm right now.
Preferably with flip-flops on, warm sunshine on my face, and blue water for miles.
Guess I better clean my office or something so I can stay awake.
Can’t wait to meet my pillow later-It’s going to be amazing!
Posted by Alice at 2:31 PM 2 comments
12.13.2009
Happy Birthday Ashley!






Happy Birthday Day Ashley! I love you and am lucky you are my sister. I miss you and wish you were home about now. Hope you have a happy birthday!
LOVINS!
Posted by Alice at 7:55 AM 5 comments
12.08.2009
She belongs with him.
Many moons ago I for some freakish reason decided social work was the field for me. I spent hours volunteering my time for the betterment of the community. Painted the Salvation Army, collected supplies for the homeless shelter, raised awareness for drunk driving, talked about feelings with fourth graders, and made crafts and sang songs with little ones who had lost a family member to an untimely death. I ate school up just like I enjoy Cafe Rio and I couldn't get enough. After graduate school was complete I headed for the real world with my head spilling over with knowledge. Empathy and a client's right to self-determination are key. I was on board with William Glasser and thought there may be something to good old Fritz Perls.
Enter first job. They wouldn't stop talking about being the "nice and friendly one". The one who comes in and makes everything better in the world because they think in school I was taught to crap rainbows and spew sunshine you know. After a full day with the Social Worker I was replacing I was sure my assessment skills were rockin' it, because that woman was a piece of work- and diagnosable at that. Several years and a few jobs later, some how I am still expected to deal with all the conflict and ensure the world is smiling and birds are singing at the end of the day. The good news? Sometimes it actually happens. The reality however? Many times birds aren't the answer. Taking a patient's phone right out of the wall because she can't control herself, or how about marching into waiting room of the ER at 2 AM to tell a group a hooligans to get a grip or get out. A bird would never do that!
Still the Social Work job description includes friendly faces and magical music and butterflies.
And it gets so old. Especially when sometimes it isn't a patient that is the problem. I don't find it hard to be nice to patients most of the time.
Since this is a blog and dishing the dirt about your job or your coworkers on a blog is NOT a good idea I will leave it at this:
Social Work isn't what I thought it would be, but most days I love it anyway. I might have learned all sorts of theories and techniques and keep them in my head somewhere, but most of the time it comes out in some hybrid form of chaos meets just being real. And that's ok. People are in hard situations and I am happy to be apart of that journey. The most frustrating part of my job these days has nothing to do with the happy Social Work job description at all.
It's because of darn people you can find you anywhere. You know the kind who press your buttons? Make your skin crawl? The very sound of their voice makes you want to barf? The ones that you think about kicking square in the crotch because they are so difficult and entitled and judgmental and self-important? That's why this job is hard and unfortunately I can't change it. I tried to be positive and sunshiny and welcome the birds?
But I can't do it today. I don't have it in me.
P.S. If I haven't said it before let it be known, Freud is a freak-wack-job.
Posted by Alice at 4:37 PM 6 comments
12.01.2009
A less than proud moment
This morning I woke up and emerged from the sickening fog the past three days have been.
This is what I saw...
Posted by Alice at 9:21 PM 3 comments
11.13.2009
A thought for Friday
“I admit it's tempting to wish for the perfect boss - the perfect parent - or the perfect outfit. But maybe the best any of us can do is not quit, play the hand we've been dealt, and accessorize what we've got."
Have a good weekend!
Posted by Alice at 3:44 PM 2 comments
11.11.2009
Maybe have time to sing in the shower?
Sometimes I fantasize about a day off. Not just any day off, one where I stay home to do nothing in particular. You know, where I can wake up when I feel like it. Eat breakfast while watching a little Today Show. Make my bed before I shower. Wear jeans and flip-flops. Wash my dishes in time for lunch. How about a Tuna fish sandwich? Back up the photos on my laptop. Sort through clothes in my closet. Paint my toe nails. Lay on my bed with the sunshine coming through the window while I read a book. Visit the grocery store at 2:00 when the rest of the world isn't there.
I want a day off like that. Not because I hate my job or the fact that I even I have a job. For that I am grateful. But tonight I wish I was having a day off like that...tomorrow.
Posted by Alice at 8:54 PM 6 comments





