This week, I have gotten rid of another bag of clothes so worn out they went to the garbage (what does it say about my self esteem that I was still wearing them?) and another bag for the good will (30 gallon garbage bags), I threw out wall hanging I was planning to do something artsy with as it had gotten stained. I have a broken lamp ready for the next trip. I also have been doing some picking up and cleaning.
Mostly I've been sleeping and reading and cuddling a little cat. I must have been exhausted for quite a while before my vacation arrived.
Shabbat Shalom!
Friday, November 26, 2010
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Thankful
I'm thankful for the following things:
Friends--'virtual' and 'real'.
Old friends I've reconnected with and new friends I've made.
Finding my religion and being able to practice it in a time and place that is relatively safe. And the wonderful community I've found to practice with.
Family--whether they get me or not.
A little cat who spends her life loving me.
A job that makes a difference; although a bit more money with it would help!
Access to adequate health care.
Safe, warm housing.
Adequate nutrition, clothing and other basic needs.
Clean water to drink.
Efficient sewer system.
Friends--'virtual' and 'real'.
Old friends I've reconnected with and new friends I've made.
Finding my religion and being able to practice it in a time and place that is relatively safe. And the wonderful community I've found to practice with.
Family--whether they get me or not.
A little cat who spends her life loving me.
A job that makes a difference; although a bit more money with it would help!
Access to adequate health care.
Safe, warm housing.
Adequate nutrition, clothing and other basic needs.
Clean water to drink.
Efficient sewer system.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Confused and tumultuous while in a rut
I love ruts. Being in a rut is sometimes the only feeling of order I have in my life.
It can be a rut of activity; a bout of reading, drawing, jewelry-making, blogging.
It can be a rut of ideas: psychology and counseling, Judaism, or other ideas
It can be a rut of routine: a daily/weekly/monthly/yearly schedule I adhere to.
But sometimes the ruts end abruptly and I'm twisting in the winds while lightening strikes.
And then, everything and nothing is attractive. Structure is gone. And I feel existential angst.
It can be a rut of activity; a bout of reading, drawing, jewelry-making, blogging.
It can be a rut of ideas: psychology and counseling, Judaism, or other ideas
It can be a rut of routine: a daily/weekly/monthly/yearly schedule I adhere to.
But sometimes the ruts end abruptly and I'm twisting in the winds while lightening strikes.
And then, everything and nothing is attractive. Structure is gone. And I feel existential angst.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Friday, November 12, 2010
Three Names
According to the Sages, we each have three names:
The name we were given at birth,
The name we earn by our own deeds (explained to mean the name we give ourselves)
and
The name that others give us (the name we deserve).
Should the last two be similar or congruent? What role should they play? Clearly the Sages think we should concerned about them.
Which do you focus on more? What would you like it to be? And is it similar to the other?
The name we were given at birth,
The name we earn by our own deeds (explained to mean the name we give ourselves)
and
The name that others give us (the name we deserve).
Should the last two be similar or congruent? What role should they play? Clearly the Sages think we should concerned about them.
Which do you focus on more? What would you like it to be? And is it similar to the other?
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Meeting Evil?
I was at the pool today, and in the hot tub afterwards a woman I have noticed but never spoken to asked me where I got my fins. We began talking and the next thing, I am hearing how much of a burden her spouse is since he had a stroke. As we talked, I still wasn't seeing what she talked about, as she described her spouse as still pretty functional physically and cognitively.
The next thing I know, I am hearing about how abusive he is and how she can't leave him. It boils down to the fact she doesn't want to lose the lifestyle she has.
At some point, I notice the husband is using a walker with the wheels on the front, dangerous in a wet area as it could so easily slide out from underneath him if he started falling. I point this out to her and she points out how easy it would be to remove the wheels, having been instructed on how to do so.
While we are holding this discussion, I notice the malevolent glint in her eye.
The next thing I know, I am hearing about how abusive he is and how she can't leave him. It boils down to the fact she doesn't want to lose the lifestyle she has.
At some point, I notice the husband is using a walker with the wheels on the front, dangerous in a wet area as it could so easily slide out from underneath him if he started falling. I point this out to her and she points out how easy it would be to remove the wheels, having been instructed on how to do so.
While we are holding this discussion, I notice the malevolent glint in her eye.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
A Small Victory
Today I had a small victory.
Recently a client of mine was awarded a guardian. After that, we started discovering some financial information we did not know ie, how many assets the client really had, how many life insurance policies he had...things of that nature that we had not been able to find out in the past.
Not that it was a bad thing we were in the dark. My client would have been kicked out of the program if it was known how much the client had in the bank.
Last week I had to file an report with the elderabuse agency in my county as the guardian did not get one of my client's Social Security checks and found out that the client's savings acounts had been closed. WE were a le to find that an extended family member had cashed the check. We were worried about how to pay for the client's funeral for a complex set of reasons.
The client died yesterday morning. The guardian stated she would notify the family and then updated how it went. I had a message from the client's sister to call her. She accused the guardian of taking my client's money.
In my professional capacity, when a client dies, I am no longer bound by confidentiality. I was able to inform her that we had evidence this extended family member had the money.
Two hours later, the extended family member was planning the type of funeral/burial my client wanted--after originally blowing off the guardian.
Sometimes i get to make things right.
Recently a client of mine was awarded a guardian. After that, we started discovering some financial information we did not know ie, how many assets the client really had, how many life insurance policies he had...things of that nature that we had not been able to find out in the past.
Not that it was a bad thing we were in the dark. My client would have been kicked out of the program if it was known how much the client had in the bank.
Last week I had to file an report with the elderabuse agency in my county as the guardian did not get one of my client's Social Security checks and found out that the client's savings acounts had been closed. WE were a le to find that an extended family member had cashed the check. We were worried about how to pay for the client's funeral for a complex set of reasons.
The client died yesterday morning. The guardian stated she would notify the family and then updated how it went. I had a message from the client's sister to call her. She accused the guardian of taking my client's money.
In my professional capacity, when a client dies, I am no longer bound by confidentiality. I was able to inform her that we had evidence this extended family member had the money.
Two hours later, the extended family member was planning the type of funeral/burial my client wanted--after originally blowing off the guardian.
Sometimes i get to make things right.
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