I'm sitting in class in Boston and the class is number 3 of a 6 part series (who knows if I'll ever finish it all) and everytime I go to these things I'm super-charged. This is the place that focuses me because in all the hussel and bussel of school and all that there are times that I loose sight of what I really am working for.
Well, this class is all about aftercare. Models that work, intake and assessment, and how to affectively work with kids that get out of lock up. It's really cool because in the classroom with me are 26 different classmates, we represet a variety of states from east to west coast (literally) and we work with as chaplins, residential care providers, minstry workers (yes, one YFC person), former convicts, former juvenile delinquents, a whole sort of characters. And the beautiful thing is all these people that i'm stting in the room with brings different htings to the table and we just give and take what we have, pooling our resources, and getting better results.
We talked yesterday about collaboration. This is collaboration. Straight Ahead Ministries (SAM) has a great model that was fedearlly funded/studied for three years with nearly $700,000 in funding. They have reduced recidivism (repeat offending, in this case juvneile offenders) from 85% to 15% and brought the murder rate down to less than 5 per year in six years. This is in a city of 89,000 and 2,000 gang members from four rival gangs (Bloods, Crips, Soldiers, and Latin Kings - I think that was the fourth one). Its really cool because they have success with nearly every single kid they work with.
So, back to my life... the last class I went to (in January) there were a few people who really encouraged me and one thing that was said more than once to me was, "I could see you starting your own ministry...your own program...". I don't know about that but...I'm sure I could.
Okay, so I'm fulfulled. It's great to be fulfilled (and yes, I have my B coffee cup with me) :).
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Thursday, May 28, 2009
B Happy
It’s 8:05am and class has started. Don bought me a coffee…my first one in about a month (I know, down from my weekly addiction…but I’m a grad student, funds are low). I got to the front of the line and ordered my Tall, Skinny Wild Zebra (with whipped cream on top) and a bagel (sliced, toasted, with butter) to go. And the lady at the counter said, “The guy behind you is buying drinks today." I thought she meant for his work…like he’s taking ten drinks to his office. So when she said, “It’ll be $1.67” I replied with, “Are you going to charge me for the drink?”
I know, it wasn’t even 8a at that point. I walked down the counter and asked the lady making my drink, “Who is that guy?”
“Oh, that’s Bob. …The co-founder of Biggby.” He’s also the CEO.
That made my day. Don was going to buy me a coffee but heck, when the co-founder of your favorite coffee place buys my coffee, Don takes a back seat. Sorry hubby…you can have the front seat on the way to the airport Sunday.
I blog because that made my day. I would have loved to stay and chatted with Bob but I had to get off to class…man, this class is definitely getting in my way! First, the wedding, now this… (Note to self:) I guess I should take a hint that summer was never meant for classes.
Bob has a blog: www.behappylounge.com. He also told me there are tons of drinks not on the menu. Why not? I’d probably venture outside of my norm.
Thanks for the Coffee Bob!
Oh yeah, I got a 95 on my Group Therapy Paper that was due yesterday. Thanks for your prayers!
Monday, May 25, 2009
What a Grand Adventure!
I went to a wedding this weeknd. My roommate from college got married yesterday. We arrived there Friday abot 4:30p and from the 48 hours after that were the most jam-packed 48 hours I have ever gone thru! ...Even more so than MY wedding (being the bride)!
Within minutes on arrival, the bride (Jo) had the dress that she hated on and we were already planning on what we were going to do to the dress. We had less than a short hour to get an attack plan before we left for the rehearsal. She tried on her back up dress...better but not the dress she wanted. She put the first dress back on and said, "We can't do any damage to it!" We agreed on a plan and a time to start on it the next day, packed up our stuff and headed out to the rehearsal.
So Saturday morning we were at Jo's having breakfast at 8:30a and we were working on the dress by 9a. We broke for lunch at 2:00-2:30p and were done about an hour late which ended up being 4:30p. During those hours all I did was sew...by hand! We did everything that we could possibly do: gave her a waist, adjusted her straps, added decorative details, removed and replaced darts, fixed seems, let out, took in, and that didn't include what we had yet to do Sunday after we got some supplies from - of all stores - Walmart!
We left Saturday getting everything we could possibly get done that day because we had negative time on Sunday. Sunday though, I had to cut some threads and do a bussel. This is the funny story: I put the bussel in (two hook and eyes, one on each side of the zipper - which was one place we had to replace/reinforce a seem) and I announced the last little snip of my thread to mark the end of the altering and everyone got out their cameras (remember, this is after seven and a half hours of altering) and took pictures. Jo fit the dress one last time and we couldn't get it on. I took it off, looked at the back of it and alas, I gasped. Jo freaked, "what's wrong?!?" I burst out in loud laughter: "I sewed it shut!"
A couple of snips and a re-do and it was good as gold...or at least as good as it was ever going to get. I asked Jo Sunday morning (the day of he wedding) on a scale of 1-10, 10 being the best, where was this dress and where is it now? I wanted to know how much she had liked it and if she was satisfied with the work. So much negative emotion went into this dress already and there was tons of stress between packing to move, packing for a honeymoon, and getting details settled for the wedding, she didn't focus much on the work...she just went with the fitting and let the three of us (Rita, Melanie, and I) make the decisions about the dress.
"Negative 8 to a 5." She didn't even let me finish the question.
The wedding came and went and the "design team" got together and all agreed, "This was a great adventure that we never want to do again!" I caught up with Jo's mom at one point and I said, "I never want to go to Jo's wedding again!"
...973.7 miles later, I'm home and I can finallly rest! ...My poor wrist though, it still hurts...
Within minutes on arrival, the bride (Jo) had the dress that she hated on and we were already planning on what we were going to do to the dress. We had less than a short hour to get an attack plan before we left for the rehearsal. She tried on her back up dress...better but not the dress she wanted. She put the first dress back on and said, "We can't do any damage to it!" We agreed on a plan and a time to start on it the next day, packed up our stuff and headed out to the rehearsal.
So Saturday morning we were at Jo's having breakfast at 8:30a and we were working on the dress by 9a. We broke for lunch at 2:00-2:30p and were done about an hour late which ended up being 4:30p. During those hours all I did was sew...by hand! We did everything that we could possibly do: gave her a waist, adjusted her straps, added decorative details, removed and replaced darts, fixed seems, let out, took in, and that didn't include what we had yet to do Sunday after we got some supplies from - of all stores - Walmart!
We left Saturday getting everything we could possibly get done that day because we had negative time on Sunday. Sunday though, I had to cut some threads and do a bussel. This is the funny story: I put the bussel in (two hook and eyes, one on each side of the zipper - which was one place we had to replace/reinforce a seem) and I announced the last little snip of my thread to mark the end of the altering and everyone got out their cameras (remember, this is after seven and a half hours of altering) and took pictures. Jo fit the dress one last time and we couldn't get it on. I took it off, looked at the back of it and alas, I gasped. Jo freaked, "what's wrong?!?" I burst out in loud laughter: "I sewed it shut!"
A couple of snips and a re-do and it was good as gold...or at least as good as it was ever going to get. I asked Jo Sunday morning (the day of he wedding) on a scale of 1-10, 10 being the best, where was this dress and where is it now? I wanted to know how much she had liked it and if she was satisfied with the work. So much negative emotion went into this dress already and there was tons of stress between packing to move, packing for a honeymoon, and getting details settled for the wedding, she didn't focus much on the work...she just went with the fitting and let the three of us (Rita, Melanie, and I) make the decisions about the dress.
"Negative 8 to a 5." She didn't even let me finish the question.
The wedding came and went and the "design team" got together and all agreed, "This was a great adventure that we never want to do again!" I caught up with Jo's mom at one point and I said, "I never want to go to Jo's wedding again!"
...973.7 miles later, I'm home and I can finallly rest! ...My poor wrist though, it still hurts...
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Good Ole Summer Fun
So I grew up playing softball. It was great! It was a release of energy, it was fresh air and a little exercise, it was not-overly competitive, it was good ole dirt, sweat, and fellowship. Nothing beat the Wednesay night church league.
Then I went to college. Four years later, I graduated, played that summer I think, then went off to Fiji...a place where you couldn't find even a baseball in the entire country let alone a softball (seven inch preferably). Oh did my heart just cry out! Those warm, humid summer nights just begged for the old ball and glove and a sandy lot to play in. The closest thing tho, my worn out old glove (that had seen much better days as it had no padding left) without a ball to catch on a grassy rugby field - not even close to the shape of a diamond!
And then I came back to good old Grand Rapids where scenes from my childhood (see previous blog) came flooding back. The hope of softball that first spring and summer made time move so slow. When it finally arrived...my hopes were dashed by the fact that Wednesday night now belonged to Juvie. Let down, heartbreak heard miles away, alas, the pitcher would have to go on without the catcher.
Until this summer. Tonight was our first game. Traditionally speaking we always lost our first game. I even got to play with virtually a new team (and the ones who used to play years ago were taken over by age) and we all sat at the same level. Antwionette even got to play! My new good friend/mentee was joining me in something she loved too! How grand could life get?
It was such a release! The blood flowed, the sweat dripped, the knees got dirty behind the plate (my shins even got hit a couple of times). Oh, the smell of the dirt and the sunset in your eyes. Life is good once again. I drove home tho wishing Don had been there to enjoy it with me, my parents too as they were faithful spectators. Oh the grandness of summer time softball.
Perhaps the greatest thing, my life seemed normal, stress free, and totally relaxed. It was like I revisited those days when softball was life was all about. I feel like my sanity has come back - like the years of toil in college, Fiji, marriage, and everything else now, finally, jelled into my life, as if it finally all belonged there and was meant to be there. Like, I guess, like I'm myself again.
I say that because shortly before I left Fiji, I told a good friend of mine all the things that had gone on in the two years since I arrived and her initial response caught me quite off guard (because everything that had happened was normal up until she said this). She said, "Do you need professional counseling when you get home? ...Beyond the standard debrief?" Shocker to my system...mentally! But I finally feel, after that first game, that it all belongs and it is completely a part of who I am.
I really don't know if this makes sense to anyone reading this...but I don't really care if it does. It's out there and all I wanted to do was share it with the world. That once again, life is good and coming closer to normal sanity.
Then I went to college. Four years later, I graduated, played that summer I think, then went off to Fiji...a place where you couldn't find even a baseball in the entire country let alone a softball (seven inch preferably). Oh did my heart just cry out! Those warm, humid summer nights just begged for the old ball and glove and a sandy lot to play in. The closest thing tho, my worn out old glove (that had seen much better days as it had no padding left) without a ball to catch on a grassy rugby field - not even close to the shape of a diamond!
And then I came back to good old Grand Rapids where scenes from my childhood (see previous blog) came flooding back. The hope of softball that first spring and summer made time move so slow. When it finally arrived...my hopes were dashed by the fact that Wednesday night now belonged to Juvie. Let down, heartbreak heard miles away, alas, the pitcher would have to go on without the catcher.
Until this summer. Tonight was our first game. Traditionally speaking we always lost our first game. I even got to play with virtually a new team (and the ones who used to play years ago were taken over by age) and we all sat at the same level. Antwionette even got to play! My new good friend/mentee was joining me in something she loved too! How grand could life get?
It was such a release! The blood flowed, the sweat dripped, the knees got dirty behind the plate (my shins even got hit a couple of times). Oh, the smell of the dirt and the sunset in your eyes. Life is good once again. I drove home tho wishing Don had been there to enjoy it with me, my parents too as they were faithful spectators. Oh the grandness of summer time softball.
Perhaps the greatest thing, my life seemed normal, stress free, and totally relaxed. It was like I revisited those days when softball was life was all about. I feel like my sanity has come back - like the years of toil in college, Fiji, marriage, and everything else now, finally, jelled into my life, as if it finally all belonged there and was meant to be there. Like, I guess, like I'm myself again.
I say that because shortly before I left Fiji, I told a good friend of mine all the things that had gone on in the two years since I arrived and her initial response caught me quite off guard (because everything that had happened was normal up until she said this). She said, "Do you need professional counseling when you get home? ...Beyond the standard debrief?" Shocker to my system...mentally! But I finally feel, after that first game, that it all belongs and it is completely a part of who I am.
I really don't know if this makes sense to anyone reading this...but I don't really care if it does. It's out there and all I wanted to do was share it with the world. That once again, life is good and coming closer to normal sanity.
Caboodles
I was at my mom and dad's house yesterday picking up some camping gear for the weekend. I went up to my old room - I do that frequently because it's like walking back into a time that was simpler and more care-free. And I walked out with my pink and purple Caboodle.
Now, for those of you that don't know what a Caboodle is, I'll explain it like this: its a tackle box for girls. It contains a mirror, pull out shelves, compartments, and all sorts of little places to put our tackle (you know, earrings, make-up, hair brushes and products, nail products, and just about anything any girl could ever need.
Why did I pick that instead of all the other cool remnants of my childhood? Well, my friend from South Dakota came by a few weeks ago and she was carrying hers. She laughed at herself and said, "Yep! It's practicle and handy so I am doing it. I know, I'm a dork!" And I got to thinking, that would be perfect! So there it is...my pink Caboodle (still in the back of my car because I didn't have enough hands to bring it into our apartment last night) ready to go for the weekend. Its the perfect camping accessory.
So, for all you girls out there who remember when days were simpler and more care-free than today, grab your caboodle, brush off the dust and use it! You'll think you were 12 again!
(and for those of you reading this, anticipating spending a weekend with Don and I, you can bet I'll have my caboodle!)
Now, for those of you that don't know what a Caboodle is, I'll explain it like this: its a tackle box for girls. It contains a mirror, pull out shelves, compartments, and all sorts of little places to put our tackle (you know, earrings, make-up, hair brushes and products, nail products, and just about anything any girl could ever need.
Why did I pick that instead of all the other cool remnants of my childhood? Well, my friend from South Dakota came by a few weeks ago and she was carrying hers. She laughed at herself and said, "Yep! It's practicle and handy so I am doing it. I know, I'm a dork!" And I got to thinking, that would be perfect! So there it is...my pink Caboodle (still in the back of my car because I didn't have enough hands to bring it into our apartment last night) ready to go for the weekend. Its the perfect camping accessory.
So, for all you girls out there who remember when days were simpler and more care-free than today, grab your caboodle, brush off the dust and use it! You'll think you were 12 again!
(and for those of you reading this, anticipating spending a weekend with Don and I, you can bet I'll have my caboodle!)
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Oh the Woe
Well, I'm wrapping up my second semester at GRTS...and what a finish it is! I started the semester wondering - seriously wondering - if I was going to make it. One class had 850 pages of collateral reading, another class had five textbooks, a third one had four, and the other one came with not only a quiz at every class period but a student mannual (not a required text) that was my only chance of not failing (literally)! Oh gavy!
It is finished, I'm about to email my last paper into my prof and that one isn't due til tomorrow so technically, I will finish the semester a day ahead. Praise the Lord!
I am however slightly disappointed that in one class I got next to no feedback on my daily work (a class that also had daily quizes) and I ended up being overly optimistic about my performance (which was equal to the rest of my classes but grade-wise I did much worse). So wrote an politely angry email to the prof about my lack of being impressed. I heard of one other student writing a letter too...tho his went to the Dean.
In my daily quizzes class mentioned above, my exam grade was surprisingly high. I have no idea where that came from. I came out of it feeling like I completely failed it. I actually arrived at 3 points shy of an A.
All in all, it was good. I'm nt so much looking forward to the summer class only because it starts in 12 days. That will start three weeks of intensive classes...so come the middle of June, when I'm working thru homework for that last class, I will be one happy chappy.
Love to you all!
It is finished, I'm about to email my last paper into my prof and that one isn't due til tomorrow so technically, I will finish the semester a day ahead. Praise the Lord!
I am however slightly disappointed that in one class I got next to no feedback on my daily work (a class that also had daily quizes) and I ended up being overly optimistic about my performance (which was equal to the rest of my classes but grade-wise I did much worse). So wrote an politely angry email to the prof about my lack of being impressed. I heard of one other student writing a letter too...tho his went to the Dean.
In my daily quizzes class mentioned above, my exam grade was surprisingly high. I have no idea where that came from. I came out of it feeling like I completely failed it. I actually arrived at 3 points shy of an A.
All in all, it was good. I'm nt so much looking forward to the summer class only because it starts in 12 days. That will start three weeks of intensive classes...so come the middle of June, when I'm working thru homework for that last class, I will be one happy chappy.
Love to you all!
Friday, April 24, 2009
Again, Terrible Service
Back in March (the 18th actually) I posted about the terrible service of Alltel. Well, it happened again.
I just can't believe it. It has been probably a decade since the Cell Phones, service plans, and two year contracts were a staple in a growing number of people's lives and we are still - or rather this company still cannot get reliable service to their people! How shocking is that?
I had Nextel - you know the bloop-bloop as my Juvie girls called it - before Alltel and Don and I decided to change because more minutes and less cost for the plan that I was getting. I was so excited, I was able to save a little money (not tons, but enough). But now I know why. I would love to spend the extra $10 for Nextel, have a bloop number (with free bloop minutes), free incoming, free nights/weekends (9pm was the only downer of that) and do all that without having to call to reprogram my phone every month.
Ode to have service that I don't have bitch people out for!! Please, whatever you do, DO NOT GET ALLTEL!!
I told them on the phone the other day if this happened again, then I would cancel and NOT pay the cancelation fee (the standard $200). I'm not sending them the phone. They are not gettingany courtesy from me. I've only been patient this time because we had a death of a close friend and it was terrible timing to shop for a new plan. The next time tho...it WILL be gone
I just can't believe it. It has been probably a decade since the Cell Phones, service plans, and two year contracts were a staple in a growing number of people's lives and we are still - or rather this company still cannot get reliable service to their people! How shocking is that?
I had Nextel - you know the bloop-bloop as my Juvie girls called it - before Alltel and Don and I decided to change because more minutes and less cost for the plan that I was getting. I was so excited, I was able to save a little money (not tons, but enough). But now I know why. I would love to spend the extra $10 for Nextel, have a bloop number (with free bloop minutes), free incoming, free nights/weekends (9pm was the only downer of that) and do all that without having to call to reprogram my phone every month.
Ode to have service that I don't have bitch people out for!! Please, whatever you do, DO NOT GET ALLTEL!!
I told them on the phone the other day if this happened again, then I would cancel and NOT pay the cancelation fee (the standard $200). I'm not sending them the phone. They are not gettingany courtesy from me. I've only been patient this time because we had a death of a close friend and it was terrible timing to shop for a new plan. The next time tho...it WILL be gone
Fun Little Treats
Last June my cousin got married and my aunt and uncle and their entire family came from Virginia for the wedding. One night I went out for dinner with them and they introduced me to Hommus. I hadn't had it since until my friend (from Seminary) Emma re-introduced me to it. Oh and the flavors I now eat!
...Red Pepper Hommus...
...Parmasian and Garlic...
...and now Greek flavored Hommus.
Now, I will admit that Hommus isn't for everyone. There are some people that don't like it and I'm not sure I liked it last year with my aunt. But, I suggest you try it at least once. Have fun!
...Red Pepper Hommus...
...Parmasian and Garlic...
...and now Greek flavored Hommus.
Now, I will admit that Hommus isn't for everyone. There are some people that don't like it and I'm not sure I liked it last year with my aunt. But, I suggest you try it at least once. Have fun!
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Are Those Tears of Sorrow or Tears from Laughter?
If I were more faithful at blogging these days, you would have to ask yourself if the tears I cry these days are tears of joy and laughter or tears of sorrow. A dear family friend of 20 or more years went to be with her Heavenly Father this past Friday. To say it was sudden is an extreme understatement. My soul...I am tired of shedding tears. I cry for the family, I cry for my parents, I cry for their three grown children, I cry. I cry in the shower, I cry going off to sleep, I cry in class, I cry with my friends who have no clue, I cried at the funeral, I cried at visitation, I cried because I remember our joint family vacations, our hours of scrapbooking together, because she followed the Lord's prompting on big and little things, I cry because though Heaven has welcomed a faithful follower, here on earth, we know this place and our lives have lost another person who knew more about living for Jesus than living at all.
But I cried last night, tears came from my eyes, because I had such a good time with my old roommate from college. OMG it was just like the good ole days: a movie, some popcorn and pop for dinner, and then a little alcohol and some innocent trouble. We laughed so hard, it was just like lady's night in Orange City, Iowa.
So, Thank you Denae, you mean more to me than you'll ever know! Not just because last night you helped me out emotionally (again) but because you're you and I can talk to you about anything and everything..literally!
But I cried last night, tears came from my eyes, because I had such a good time with my old roommate from college. OMG it was just like the good ole days: a movie, some popcorn and pop for dinner, and then a little alcohol and some innocent trouble. We laughed so hard, it was just like lady's night in Orange City, Iowa.
So, Thank you Denae, you mean more to me than you'll ever know! Not just because last night you helped me out emotionally (again) but because you're you and I can talk to you about anything and everything..literally!
Monday, March 30, 2009
In All the Excitement
So in all the excitement of my non-exciting life, I got a job.
I now work at Pine Rest, a Christian mental health hospital, in their Cedar Program or house or something like that (?). I am a Residential Care Provider. So I'm staff for their Teen and Adolescent at-risk/high-risk kids. They're the kids that are the "worst of the worst" apparently. More later.
I now work at Pine Rest, a Christian mental health hospital, in their Cedar Program or house or something like that (?). I am a Residential Care Provider. So I'm staff for their Teen and Adolescent at-risk/high-risk kids. They're the kids that are the "worst of the worst" apparently. More later.
My Necklace
I have a necklace that was given to me by two dear Fijian friends of mine that receives more complements than anything else I have ever owned, large or small. I just received yet another one today. So in light of that, I'm going to tell the story of this necklace because it is more than just a necklace to me.
There was a camp that we were going to run during the school holidays. It was me, Tomu, and another leader or two who were running these day-camp school programs for elementary (primary) school kids two or three days each at two or three schools or something like that. Well, we were at this one school and Tomu didn't show up...at all. Leaving the bulk/all of the execution up to me. I was so mad. And being raised American I was ready to approach this conflict and bring it out in the open. A better part of me (being aware of the Fijian culture) had to hold back my American upbringing and bribe it to keep it quiet.
So I walked into that office that Monday after No-Show Friday exhausting myself (which at that point in my life was easy to do) in the means of keeping quiet about the No-Show issue. So I went to my desk and there it sat. All of my anger and frustration dwindled from me with the words Tomu spoke to me: "Tony and I made that for you. Sorry about Friday". No explaination about his whereabouts, nothing of that sort. Just a simple apology. The beaded necklace strung together with greenish/ocean waterish color fishing line held beads of earthy tones all shapes and sizes and strung together in no particular order. In the four years or so that have passed, a couple have cracked in have, giving it even more character. Every time I wear it, it gets complements and every time I wear it I think back on that Monday morning I was so piping mad, but one simple peace offering with forgiveness as gratitude and the world was set back on its course.
There was a camp that we were going to run during the school holidays. It was me, Tomu, and another leader or two who were running these day-camp school programs for elementary (primary) school kids two or three days each at two or three schools or something like that. Well, we were at this one school and Tomu didn't show up...at all. Leaving the bulk/all of the execution up to me. I was so mad. And being raised American I was ready to approach this conflict and bring it out in the open. A better part of me (being aware of the Fijian culture) had to hold back my American upbringing and bribe it to keep it quiet.
So I walked into that office that Monday after No-Show Friday exhausting myself (which at that point in my life was easy to do) in the means of keeping quiet about the No-Show issue. So I went to my desk and there it sat. All of my anger and frustration dwindled from me with the words Tomu spoke to me: "Tony and I made that for you. Sorry about Friday". No explaination about his whereabouts, nothing of that sort. Just a simple apology. The beaded necklace strung together with greenish/ocean waterish color fishing line held beads of earthy tones all shapes and sizes and strung together in no particular order. In the four years or so that have passed, a couple have cracked in have, giving it even more character. Every time I wear it, it gets complements and every time I wear it I think back on that Monday morning I was so piping mad, but one simple peace offering with forgiveness as gratitude and the world was set back on its course.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Fire the Bastards Damn it!
So this is a bit rediculous. Finally "justice" has been done in the financial upheavel. The White House...okay, lets call it what it is, the White House doesn't say anything, Obama...did what should have been done four months ago. The GM CEO was asked to step down.
This is why I think this is rediculous. If I owned a successful business, and lets just say that one day things turned and it went down the tubes and was bought out by another business. Strategic move and it gets done all the time. But really, the first thing everyone knows about business is that when one buys out another the CEO of the buyer fires the CEO of the one that was sold. Why? Because obviously he can't manage because he ran his business into the ground and it ended up being sold. HA!
Its about darn time! So you know who else needs to be gone? The Chrystler CEO, CitiGroup CEO (but I will say, they're turning profits now), the Bank of America CEO, as well as the CEO of AIG. AIG is the biggest joke...their excuse for allowing their employees keeping their bonuses is that they need to keep their people to turn the company around. Good grief that is the biggest load of crap I have ever heard. With the highest unemployment rate in decades there are probably hundreds of (more than) qualified people to run and turn around AIG. Congress has GOT to be blind not to see that.
My dad for one...knows how to run a business! The first thing he did when the business started to go down due to the economy years ago was him and his co-owner took a paycut and gave everyone else a raise. That is management. Even when they have no work, he still goes to work. And everytime an employee's wife has a baby, he comes home and says, "I have one more mouth to feed." That's the way he looks at running a business...the employees and their families have to eat and he's got the responsibility to give them work to do to keep them fed.
This world would be a different place, our economy would be a different place, if we started looking at running busniess with the thinking that we have to feed our employees and their families, send the children of employees to college, save up for retirement for employees as well as ourselves, and helping employees strive for the luxuries in life as owners does themselves.
Now, as a taxpayer and owner of AIG, GM, Chrystler, Bank of America, CitiGroup (which, by the way my student loans are through), and I'm sure a "few" others, fire the wealthy bastards that did this (they have plenty of money to retire on) and put some well qualified unemployed people to work, damn it! You don't need to be a genius to figure that out. Get to work Obama, your home is DC now, not Chicago!
This is why I think this is rediculous. If I owned a successful business, and lets just say that one day things turned and it went down the tubes and was bought out by another business. Strategic move and it gets done all the time. But really, the first thing everyone knows about business is that when one buys out another the CEO of the buyer fires the CEO of the one that was sold. Why? Because obviously he can't manage because he ran his business into the ground and it ended up being sold. HA!
Its about darn time! So you know who else needs to be gone? The Chrystler CEO, CitiGroup CEO (but I will say, they're turning profits now), the Bank of America CEO, as well as the CEO of AIG. AIG is the biggest joke...their excuse for allowing their employees keeping their bonuses is that they need to keep their people to turn the company around. Good grief that is the biggest load of crap I have ever heard. With the highest unemployment rate in decades there are probably hundreds of (more than) qualified people to run and turn around AIG. Congress has GOT to be blind not to see that.
My dad for one...knows how to run a business! The first thing he did when the business started to go down due to the economy years ago was him and his co-owner took a paycut and gave everyone else a raise. That is management. Even when they have no work, he still goes to work. And everytime an employee's wife has a baby, he comes home and says, "I have one more mouth to feed." That's the way he looks at running a business...the employees and their families have to eat and he's got the responsibility to give them work to do to keep them fed.
This world would be a different place, our economy would be a different place, if we started looking at running busniess with the thinking that we have to feed our employees and their families, send the children of employees to college, save up for retirement for employees as well as ourselves, and helping employees strive for the luxuries in life as owners does themselves.
Now, as a taxpayer and owner of AIG, GM, Chrystler, Bank of America, CitiGroup (which, by the way my student loans are through), and I'm sure a "few" others, fire the wealthy bastards that did this (they have plenty of money to retire on) and put some well qualified unemployed people to work, damn it! You don't need to be a genius to figure that out. Get to work Obama, your home is DC now, not Chicago!
Monday, March 23, 2009
OMG Kelly Actually Posted Again
Well, you're right, I am posting again! I'll give you a second to actually catch your breath again.
So I've worked out the kinks with Alltel...but I still can't wait until my service contract is up! Counting the days...well, I would be except it's like a year and nine months to go.
That isn't the reason I'm posting. I'm posting to let you know that I've got a job! Well, I'm an 'on-call' status but really excited. I work at a local christian mental health hospital in their work with high risk teen/adolesence residential program. So kinda what I did before but much more intense. I'm really excited because it keeps me really involved with my Masters program as this is what I'm working for. It's all working out for the good. I knew it would, its just getting there that is sometimes a challenge. My first day of training is in the middle of April.
Let's see, there isn't much other news. I'm offically not going to give birth to the first great grand baby for my Grandma T. My cousin Kathryn is pregnant and is due in October. We're all really excited for them.
I'm excited too because my last cognate course is in June. It's all about aftercare. It looks to be a lot of work but thats okay, I haven't recently shied away from that...heck, when have I shied away from a lot off work...or at least a good thrill??? For more information on that course you can check out Straight Ahead Ministries at http://www.straightahead.org/. They're a great organizaiton so if you're looking for a non-profit to support (hint, hint former donors) then they're the ones I'd go for!! They do great work showing unconditional love to kids that get locked up - unconditonal love that only Jesus could surpass. They also have affiliate ministries all over the country. The closest one I know of to west Michigan is called Barnabas or Barnabas Ministries in Holland. They run a girls home for those inbetween the legal definition of a child and adult (which is the 365 you call 17).
Anyway...I just thought I'd let you all in on what is going on in my life. Continue to pray...there are many who need it!
God bless
Oh yeah, I got a B on that test I was talking about in my Mar 3 post. I was SO relieved!!
So I've worked out the kinks with Alltel...but I still can't wait until my service contract is up! Counting the days...well, I would be except it's like a year and nine months to go.
That isn't the reason I'm posting. I'm posting to let you know that I've got a job! Well, I'm an 'on-call' status but really excited. I work at a local christian mental health hospital in their work with high risk teen/adolesence residential program. So kinda what I did before but much more intense. I'm really excited because it keeps me really involved with my Masters program as this is what I'm working for. It's all working out for the good. I knew it would, its just getting there that is sometimes a challenge. My first day of training is in the middle of April.
Let's see, there isn't much other news. I'm offically not going to give birth to the first great grand baby for my Grandma T. My cousin Kathryn is pregnant and is due in October. We're all really excited for them.
I'm excited too because my last cognate course is in June. It's all about aftercare. It looks to be a lot of work but thats okay, I haven't recently shied away from that...heck, when have I shied away from a lot off work...or at least a good thrill??? For more information on that course you can check out Straight Ahead Ministries at http://www.straightahead.org/. They're a great organizaiton so if you're looking for a non-profit to support (hint, hint former donors) then they're the ones I'd go for!! They do great work showing unconditional love to kids that get locked up - unconditonal love that only Jesus could surpass. They also have affiliate ministries all over the country. The closest one I know of to west Michigan is called Barnabas or Barnabas Ministries in Holland. They run a girls home for those inbetween the legal definition of a child and adult (which is the 365 you call 17).
Anyway...I just thought I'd let you all in on what is going on in my life. Continue to pray...there are many who need it!
God bless
Oh yeah, I got a B on that test I was talking about in my Mar 3 post. I was SO relieved!!
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Terrible Service
Well, its been three months since I last worked and I haven't had a "first day on the job" experience in those last three months but I'll keep ya posted.
I however have a huge frustration to share with you - just so I can get it off my chest. Part of leaving YFC meant I left my cell phone plan and also a trusty sell phone service (Sprint Nextell if you're wondering) and I signed on with Alltel. Everyone knows Chad and all about his My Circle. He's the one in the blue shirt teasing alll the other companies for their not so par service (mostly their not so par price) but I'm here to tell you about my experience with Chad, the My Circle, the blue shirt, and all the rest.
I got my phone frome one of those places in the mall that is contracted to sell phones by the actual cell phone company and I signed the two year contract, yada, yada, yada...I got the plan with one my cicrcle number and $500 min for like $35 or $45 or somehting like that because all my friends are on fb and I don't talk forever -- I'm just never home. Anyway, I got the phone on Dec 30 (two and a half months ago) and took it home, went to make my first call, and it didn't work. So I went back to where I got it and they said it was an Alltell problem not theirs...so I went to the Alltel office and they said it wasn't an Alltell problem and sent me back to the other people. "But" the Alltel lady said, "I'll just try one more thing." Apparenlty it was an Alltell problem because she fixed it.
So la-dee-da a month and a half or so goes by and phone ceases to make out going calls as it did the lovely day I got it. Two days later, as I was about to call Alltell about it, it started working again.
So la-dee-da today I go and call my voicemail and BAM! It again ceased to have the ability to make calls. So I called them and they had the nerve to tell me that this wasn't normal. My exact words were, "I've had the phone less than three months and it's happened three times. This IS normal for me."
And then he insisted (lied) on sticking to his statement, "Well this isn't normal. Other customers don't have this problem."
That made me so mad! "You can't tell me that. I'll believe it when I see it. ... I wish I had never signed up with you guys. Nextell was a whole lot better. And their bills are right, mine is two dollars more than it should be."
"We'll get that fixed."
"** You will. I have a friend on Alltell that every month her bill is off."
So let that be a warning to you. Had I known these things before I signed up...Chad would not have my business.
...Humm...that cancelation fee is looking mighty good right now!
I however have a huge frustration to share with you - just so I can get it off my chest. Part of leaving YFC meant I left my cell phone plan and also a trusty sell phone service (Sprint Nextell if you're wondering) and I signed on with Alltel. Everyone knows Chad and all about his My Circle. He's the one in the blue shirt teasing alll the other companies for their not so par service (mostly their not so par price) but I'm here to tell you about my experience with Chad, the My Circle, the blue shirt, and all the rest.
I got my phone frome one of those places in the mall that is contracted to sell phones by the actual cell phone company and I signed the two year contract, yada, yada, yada...I got the plan with one my cicrcle number and $500 min for like $35 or $45 or somehting like that because all my friends are on fb and I don't talk forever -- I'm just never home. Anyway, I got the phone on Dec 30 (two and a half months ago) and took it home, went to make my first call, and it didn't work. So I went back to where I got it and they said it was an Alltell problem not theirs...so I went to the Alltel office and they said it wasn't an Alltell problem and sent me back to the other people. "But" the Alltel lady said, "I'll just try one more thing." Apparenlty it was an Alltell problem because she fixed it.
So la-dee-da a month and a half or so goes by and phone ceases to make out going calls as it did the lovely day I got it. Two days later, as I was about to call Alltell about it, it started working again.
So la-dee-da today I go and call my voicemail and BAM! It again ceased to have the ability to make calls. So I called them and they had the nerve to tell me that this wasn't normal. My exact words were, "I've had the phone less than three months and it's happened three times. This IS normal for me."
And then he insisted (lied) on sticking to his statement, "Well this isn't normal. Other customers don't have this problem."
That made me so mad! "You can't tell me that. I'll believe it when I see it. ... I wish I had never signed up with you guys. Nextell was a whole lot better. And their bills are right, mine is two dollars more than it should be."
"We'll get that fixed."
"** You will. I have a friend on Alltell that every month her bill is off."
So let that be a warning to you. Had I known these things before I signed up...Chad would not have my business.
...Humm...that cancelation fee is looking mighty good right now!
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Hi All
Well, later today (tonight actually) I have an exam that I have spent the last four days (today is day #5) studying for. I have NEVER studied this much for a single test. It's over the three introductory chapters in my Theories book, Psycholanalysis, Adlerian, Existential, Person-Centered, and Gestalt Therapies. Good Lord that sounds like a lot! ...It is. Thankfully tho it is a publisher test and not a test written by the prof. I took another exam from this prof last week and had I not spend the four hours prior to the exam studying I would have sucked. It wasn't nearly as bad as they had made it out to be.
Okay, so I've been out of a job now for two and a half months, nearly three, and I've got a good lead on a job so I'm pretty excited. Don and I enrolled in the Dave Ramsey Financial Peach University program our church is doing. We've invested half our savings (now don't get too excited, it isn't terribly much) in a CD and next year we'll be able to go out to dinner:). Don is way too excited about his new class' this half of the semester and the Chef is really impressed with his knife carving collection. Don is also way too excited about his summer Co-Op. He's also way too excited for his last semester to start this fall. I'm way to excited to be in school full time this semester but am starting to have anxiety over my collateral reading. I'm way too excited about my organization for classes too! I'm also way too excited because I renovated my Praise and Worship library. I'm way too excited about our church possibily offering guitar lessons.
That's about what is going on in our lives. Spring break for Don is this week and for me it's next week. Other than that, not much is happening. Will talk to you later!!
Okay, so I've been out of a job now for two and a half months, nearly three, and I've got a good lead on a job so I'm pretty excited. Don and I enrolled in the Dave Ramsey Financial Peach University program our church is doing. We've invested half our savings (now don't get too excited, it isn't terribly much) in a CD and next year we'll be able to go out to dinner:). Don is way too excited about his new class' this half of the semester and the Chef is really impressed with his knife carving collection. Don is also way too excited about his summer Co-Op. He's also way too excited for his last semester to start this fall. I'm way to excited to be in school full time this semester but am starting to have anxiety over my collateral reading. I'm way too excited about my organization for classes too! I'm also way too excited because I renovated my Praise and Worship library. I'm way too excited about our church possibily offering guitar lessons.
That's about what is going on in our lives. Spring break for Don is this week and for me it's next week. Other than that, not much is happening. Will talk to you later!!
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
A Life of Headaches and Blessings
Well, I know its been a while. I apologize for that. If there are any faithful readers yet, know that I’m really impressed.
My computer crashed this past weekend. Headache! It’s all good now…just working on personalizing it again. I ended up working with the Dell Tech in Manila and restoring my computer to the factory image. GRAND!
But there were good things that happened this weekend too! Don’s PR status was renewed to a PR without conditions. What a sigh of relief that was. Neither one of us were expecting it for another few weeks so it was great news. The good news too is that we don’t have to go for an interview with the INS or CIS or NSC people. Which would have been doable but nice that we don’t have to do.
So all is well. I haven’t fallen off the end of the world yet. School is going well. Don, starting next week, will be working the lunch shift at The Heritage (a 4 star restaurant) for his class and he’s looking forward to that. I’m plugging away at three counseling classes and one ministry class this semester and the reading will probably kick my butt (thankfully I’m about two days ahead right now). Don will be finished in December, I should be finished with classes and starting my 3000 hours to be fully licensed in Jan 2011.
For now, I pass.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Can We Expect Anything Else?
I read a news article on the net that criticized Wall Street Executives for their bonus': $18B...let's put that in a numerical figure: $18,000,000,000. That is a huge amount of money...considering that they got that money from our pockets.
But really, can we expect anything else? When the stimulus plan went thru last year, most executives kept their jobs. In my management class in college my Prof said that when companies were overtaken by other companies the first people to get fired were the executives because they were the ones that drove the company to where it got taken over.
Can we expect anything else? Government was the one that ever since 1981 has one at a time taken the regulations off of Wall Street encouraging free market, Clinton took the last of these off.
Can expect anything different from executives from companies going bankrupt to spend millions of dollars on private jets to fly to Washington (three executives, from three companies flying to and from the same city on three different private jets)?
John Rich from Country Music's band Big and Rich have a new song out saying that the government and Wall Street are killing Detroit...well, they're killing more than Detroit and unless they can drop some huge cash into American's pockets real soon, there won't be anything left to rescue.
What government needs to do is make sure the banks have money to loan people and that people have money to pay off debts and spend money. They can give all the money in the world to the Big auto Three and if there aren't people with money able to buy cars, all that money won't make a lick of difference because at that point there will be a whole lot of efficient cars on car lots and no people to sell them.
Think about that President Obama.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
20 Degrees
I started today with a little bit of studying, an hour workout, and from there, I had lunch at YFC, Coffee with my mentor, and topped off with a little more study and class.
So I drove down the highway though because I needed to get my book from home (thankfully the Mr Brown guy was on time). I took the 40 minute drive (there and back) with the window's rolled down and the radio cranked up and singing along. I was so in love with Jesus today...for no reason.
Perfect right? It was 20F today.
Thank you to all my friends and family because you have helped me get to where I was/am today.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Fresh Out of Detenton
As YFC's newest Female Volunteer for JJM, I came and went from Detention last night. I want to say, "For the first time" but I hardly feel like it was my first time. I came back to one girl (still there since the last time I went) and others had left and come back in that time or in the past couple of months.
The girls are relatively discouraged inside, which saddens me. One was promised that she'd get visited last night and wasn't. Others got the bad news that they'll be inside this time for a long time. And yet others are wanting to go back home after the leave and that won't be the probable outcome.
It was kind of difficult to be inside last night for those reasons even though I was excited to come back. I'm really looking forward to getting right back into the swing of things.
Thanks for your prayers.
Happy New Year!
The girls are relatively discouraged inside, which saddens me. One was promised that she'd get visited last night and wasn't. Others got the bad news that they'll be inside this time for a long time. And yet others are wanting to go back home after the leave and that won't be the probable outcome.
It was kind of difficult to be inside last night for those reasons even though I was excited to come back. I'm really looking forward to getting right back into the swing of things.
Thanks for your prayers.
Happy New Year!
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