November 4, 2015

The night lasted so long…yet I started waking up in the darkness and fortunately, too, because I had forgotten to set my alarm.  I enjoyed a lovely morning, yet suddenly so scared again.  I had seen both houses now in two days: what if I wasn’t chosen for either?  The owners are the ones who decide when the information is presented to them.  There really weren’t many other 3 bedroom/2 bathroom homes remaining, and word was rentals slowed down tremendously in autumn.  Yikes.

I dropped my beloved children at school after Mr. Marley serenaded us, and then headed quickly to the office. I was meeting a new transfer client this morning and looking forward.   After client we had our monthly meeting with Very Extremely Necessary Information (not really) presented to us.  Although I may have benefited more than others since this was my first such meeting on issues I know little to nothing about, for most it was information that could have been sent in an email.  

After the meeting, we headed off to the Baby-Shower-Farewell-We-Will-Miss-You-So-Much celebration for our lucky therapist who is moving to my home state and having her first baby.  I’m so excited for her….  First babies are awesome, especially boy babies because when you are changing their diaper at 3 a.m. after having nursed them and you are so exhausted, with milk dripping all over then they pee, so liquid is both shooting up and dripping down, it is AWESOME and one of those unforgettable moments.  As wonderful as vaginas are, they cannot shoot an arc at 3 in the morning form a 4 week old baby.  It was here that I got The Call.  I was nervous because Sean had called just before our luncheon to ask if I was sure I wanted the Camino house in first place, and I did.  It wasn’t conducive for us in terms of location (my car is not great in rain, much less snow), the size is large and heating will be so expensive, there is no washer/dryer, so I’d have to get them.  YES!  SUCH a cute house….but, Universe knew what I needed.  I love Universe.  J

After lunch, I headed back to office and got some prog notes done, closed a file, then off to get my child from school.  I had considered taking her by the house to show her, but remembered the whole Bus debacle when I had told Mags but not Ethan (I wanted to surprise him and it backfired horribly), thus I decided against that.  When I pulled up, Ethan was standing outside and I told him we got it!!  He was thrilled when he realized which house it was.  Maggie was not as thrilled initially, but I think she will be, once she sees it.   

We hung out with Tatjana, talking, sorting cards, and some-such.  Tatjana is good people and I am ever-so-grateful for her in this classroom. I had another transfer client session and headed back to work – Mags sat in the car and listening to music.  I already know dad and a sibling from prior and think it went very smoothly.  As soon as it was over, I ran out to pick up Boy, we grabbed dinner to go and then home.  I have got to find a different method of dinner when kids are with me… I need to become crock-pot savy.  Turns out I left my backpack at work, so after dinner, I drove back and grabbed it.  Against my better judgement, I had a conversation with someone….  After a certain point in the evening this is a no-no.    I also know better than to discuss certain topics.  SS, DD as a person said today.  Indeed.

Pictures: Baby shower!!; This glorious temperature; Mags watching The Sponge Bob movie.  I took E to see this when he has tiny and M was still a baby; A message from My Girl; I am burning the candle I bought for this house almost 5 years ago.  Time to Let It Go

November 3, 2 015

When the alarm went off at 5:30 for me yoga session, I have to admit that, since I wasn't prepared, I set the alarm for half an hour later and decided to sleep more.   The sleep didn't happen, however, so I got up to start my coffee machine and began forgiving myself for already slacking on day two.  In reality, though – there is so much craziness going on that trying to switch yet another part of my life is somewhat of a long shot so, I will be gentle with myself, do what I can, and carry forward.

I headed to my first official “working for pay" day,  a school appointment with a client at a local middle school and had the glorious joy of seeing one of my very favorite people from my past teaching life, a lady who worked in the office and has the same Dave Grohl Obsession that I do.  Seeing her made my day and I’m so glad I will get to see her whenever I come here.  The client was sweet and I think it’ll be just fine.  After this, I headed to get my TB test, then back down to the office.  I had missed my earlier supervision, so we did this now.

At 1:30, it was time to go view the house in Rescue.  This house is also gorgeous – Japanese maple floor, gas, stove, washer/drier, garage, gardener to do the yard work…but, it isn’t that lovely home up in Camino.  I had to decide on which house I liked best…which is tough…very tough.  There are a few people interested in Camino – none for this one, but I still put Camino a hundredth of a fraction higher than Rescue.  After this, I raced back to the middle school for an intake, but it had to be rescheduled, so down to my other client at the shelter, then back to the office for another transfer client.

After this sweet client, I was exhausted …but it’s Tuesday night so I headed to group.  We had a police officer for a large part of today’s session, answering questions and giving facts.  The biggest issue out there for teens today is social media – honestly.  It is causing more issues in terms of bullying, distribution of pornography (oh yes, kids – those boob and dick shots are considered porn and can land you on Megan’s Law for the rest of your life as a sex offender).  It was a very interesting class that needs to go much, much further.  This is a portion of what I am interested in focusing on with my degree – I think education on sex & sexuality is paramount to kids and the directions their lives will take, because, after all, doesn’t it all begin with how we feel about ourselves and if we feel secure in our Selves, then our lives are that much stronger.

I had to go to the store for milk and stuff after group…so I headed to the local store, where I got almost just about everything.  I ran into this very easy-on-the-eyes gentleman I know who happens, as luck would have it, to be a fire fighter.  I walked past him without realizing it was me and then the second time around, he waved at me and I realized who it was.    I get nervous around men that look like him, I guess..because when he gave me an in to inquire more -  you know, to dig a little deeper…I totally missed it and went on to ask about his sister.  Because that’s how I do things.  5 minutes after I restarted the conversation in my head and said all the right things, of course, but once again, too late in Real Life. Mind you, this guy is in his thirties and way too young for me, but still...it would've been great practice.  Then, to add salt onto the wound, there were NO GODDAMN CRANBERRIES, so I drove all the way to the next store under the guise of getting roast chicken for my son (which they didn’t have but it was a great cover), and picked up three 2 pound bags of Ocean Spray cranberries.  To be fair, I bought coconut flour and more Einkorn flour, as well.  This day that started at 5:30 has been full.  

Pictures:  A sign at the youth shelter; A special surprise someone left in my box at work!!; Come on clouds, come back!!; One of the most helpful therapists at the youth shelter.

November 2, 1015

This morning, beloved and much needed rain was falling – so I didn’t go for a walk.  I couldn’t do yoga because we had packed up the DVD player, so I got coffee and sat in bed, listening to the rain.  These mornings are so beautiful to me, and I’m always so happy with the sound of rainfall.  It had been such a joy to be in touch with Brent.  A thousand happy memories flooded my brain…he had always made me smile and was a very good friend – the brother I never had.   Those are the thoughts to hang on to.  Funny – as soon as I burned the bad, good happened.  Thank you, Universe.

I had no real plans – other than meeting Sean at 4:15 and bringing a wedding shower gift to school by 2, so got back to the CDs and the mundane jobs you have to get finished before you can move on to the next step.  Always the next step…  Because it was Monday – that meant The Bookery was buying books.    I headed down and got $50 cash (rather than $65 credit)  - I have about $80 worth  of credit here saved at the house, so I can go down and select a nice book or two.

I also headed to storage and saw that A) it’s pretty full, so I’m looking forward to the storage lot sale we’ll have Saturday morning.  I have a lot of decent stuff to sell.  If I can’t sell it there, it’ll go to Craig’s List or Ebay.  I also noticed B) my back is done.    I need to stretch it out and must stop carrying things/  I started reading the Amanda Palmer book last night : the Art of Asking. It is something I don’t do, unless it’s around recovery.  Yet, physically, this is something I should really consider learning how to do, because I am in no place to be lifting 100 + pound boxes.

Eventually it was time to pick up my Maggie.  I was so excited about seeing the Camino house with here.  We did an errand and then headed up.  The clouds hung low in the tips of the pine trees, and the rain drizzled in the air, as if it had lost its energy.  We pulled in to the driveway and…she gasped with excitement.  It is such a cute house…sitting ideally in the trees, just peeking out a bit to keep an eye on the detached 2-car garage.  We explored the house together – one small room downstairs (I would take that one) and two lovely large rooms upstairs (kids would get those).  The kitchen overlooks a wonderful backyard with a hot tub (not sure if it works or not) and a gas fireplace overlooks the living area (plus a formal dining room, where we’d stick the tv).  It is so beautiful, and as I told Sean, in the 20 years I’ve lived in California, I’ve never been in a place I’ve loved.  Not to say I haven’t enjoyed my homes, because really, how lucky are we to have shelter, right?  But no, never had a home I’ve loved.  Tomorrow, I look at Rescue.  That house is perfect in that it has everything – I wouldn’t have to buy a washer/dryer, but we’ll see.

After we ate a delicious chicken dinner which I cooked in the slow cooker (only meat and plants for me guys – except for einkorn flour…like Hugh said ) the kids and I sat down to try to learn how to play Catan, a strategy game.  After we listening to the lame dude on the instruction app explain, the kids were semi-hooked.  I actually had to beg them to stop because I’m so tired and still had to write this.  I think once we learn the game “fer reals”, we’ll be good.  I really think this game (and Carcassone) are The Answer.

Pictures: Catan - I will trade you some wheat for ore; Eier zumFrühstück  ; I love dark skies....

November 1, 2015

Up at..7 something, no lollygagging about, Missy!  Get that water going for the warm lemon water, get dressed and HIT THE ROAD!  That is exactly what I did, too (I often listen to myself).  I wish it were cool enough that these yoga-type pants didn't feel as warm.  I tightened them with a safety pin so they wouldn’t fall as I walked (an actually possibility) and saw people were at the place I used to go on Thursday nights before school had started and now look, school has ended and they are coming out the door.  Saw two I recognized – spoke to one of them.  He is in real estate and suggested buying a house might by the best thing, then I said, yes, yet I’d like to move to Europe in July, and he saw that wouldn’t make much sense.  Walked a little more, spoke to some homeless men, then saw them trek up into the hill where they live,  right across from my street. 

The next task was kale and egg breakfast and it was still no better than when Jake had me doing it, but I know my taste buds will change   Then …start..something?  Oh yes, the Fitbit.  So I headed down to REI because the Kohl’s coupon wouldn’t have worked and here I get money back.  I met a German woman there who was at the cash register…we commiserated in German (an dyes, she heard the Swiss) on how here you pay $5 for a coffee, where you could get a nice organic meal there for about the same amount, because just about everything there is organic.  When did that shit change here?  That suddenly, growing plants the way intended is a rarity and requires special marketing and licensing.  She mentioned healthcare – that here it’s $130 for a regular visit and there, so very little , if anything.  She’s going back to Europe next year, after being here 7.  Said she’s had it with this “doesn’t make sense” government.  I’m with her.

 

I also had to get new collars for the pups, something to get this hair off of Mabi and crickets for Violet.  When I got home, I sat with Mabi and brushed her and ohmygoodnessmercy, the hair that came out...she has a ton of undercoat that the other brush just didn’t get.  I really have to work with Annie on brushing, too.  She hates it and runs off or dances to avoid the brush.  Then..time to pack.  I’m tiring so much of saying that and it sounds as if I should be done, right?  But what “packing” entails is doing this:  Today, I checked the headlamps and changed the batteries, recycled old, had to clean out with baking soda water to clean posts and that took 20 minutes.  And CDs…there’s always CDs I’m burning to my iTunes library.  I’m only about 1/5 of the way done.  I don't want to move all this crap there...

Tanya texted, asking of I’d like some more boxes (she just finished moving) and so fortunately I hope I am set with boxes.  My back is quite pained, however..not sure if I pulled something or if my ass is growing an upper-level ass because of my little fruit problem.  I have tried loading the bus, and have a few boxes in there, but it started drizzling and Lizzie has yet to have the rubber window liner installed for the windshield (I’ll call tomorrow), so I pulled her in.  I took pictures of all the engraved glass decanters/snifters I have from my dad to sell. These are from Europe and have been around a whole, but El Dorado County is not a place where it’ll sell.  Maybe I should put it on Ebay?  I made some salad and started on my homemade steak chili since this meat/plant thing is the way to go.  I decided to use the last bottle of Swiss beer from almost 2 years ago which had been forgotten at Hipnic when I donated them.  A few hours later I enjoyed a delicious chilisalad.  It's tough to think outside the box for me but when I do, sometimes I love it.

A Dwight Yoakum CD was up, so I played some on Spotify as it burned my CD.  I thought of Brent, my high school buddy who was truly a friend, much like Gio.  I texted him as I’d emailed him last year for his birthday yet had never responded when he sent his number.  Within minutes, we were chatting and it was the same Brent from high school.  Hopefully I can see him in a few weeks in San Francisco.  If not, then surely before I leave.  He is married and happy as punch, which is wonderful.  Gio is happy, too.  I love that.  My two guys…  Miss them.

Pics 'n Flicks: The homemade steak chili with Swiss brew; Hidden Hill Homeless camp;  Look at all this rad corrugated metal!; REIs #optoutside for Black Friday.  THANK GOD stores are beginning to do this!!: Our glorious raindrops