Ayn's Multiple World

How'd did I get to be this gosh darn smart!??

HA V! We'll show you efficient! We're starting EARLY this time!

Good morning! This is just me … I figure it’s been a couple of days, we better put something down, or people will forget who I am! This is of course for those of you that made it through the last umm “short” entry. BTW – we thought the fishies were kind of cool too. 

Not sure where to go here this morning. I know at least one of my kitties really love me, because he let me do one of those pets where he twists his head every which way to get in on the action. This is why we get up at such early hours. Because the kitties say, “pet me, pet me.” They figure if I enjoy myself I will tip them a little extra in the food department. Sure wish someone would pet me at 2:37 in the morning *sigh*

Ok, ok … so where are we going to go here. I guess I should make a little confession. Someone stopped by BK last night and had not one, but two chicken sandwiches, and if that weren’t bad enough … they topped it with a piece of cheesecake. Our simple mathematical formula for this was of course, but it was all only $4.15! I’m pretty sure this is against all dieting rules. I’d slap my hand, but we are trying to run a non-violent program over here. What makes it especially dangerous is that a couple of times in doing the wrong food thing, we get on the scale like this morning and it FINALLY shows we lost a pound. We’re at 271 again. I figure there are some of you who aren’t going to believe this logic, but who’s to say …

I’m not sure what had happened we were fine when we left work, but in the two blocks from there to BK, we fell apart. I think part of it had to do with there being $6 burning a hole in my pocket. I told our friend not to trust us with this much extra money! AHA It’s HIS fault. Well. I feel much better now. 

Yesterday was the first Monday we went into work without stopping at Dr. M.’s. It was noted, but we didn’t cry. We assumed the attitude that we were going bravely to work on a Monday morning like the rest of the world and we were going to jump right in and get some stuff accomplished! Woo Hooo!

Unfortunately, I figured out why people shouldn’t do this. There is a lot of work to do on Mondays! ESPECIALLY, if you are in the people business. I think people fall apart over the weekend realizing life isn’t going their way, and they take it out on the people at the work place. The last thing anyone wants to do is be in a good mood on Mondays. It seems to draw the attention of everyone who ISN’T in a good mood. We’re going to tape a new sign to our door (which for the record will be shut) saying “FIX ME! 25 cents” I figure someone ought to profit here and it might as well be me. Can’t tell you how much fixing we were doing.

First thing of the day I noted was that something is wrong with Sr. Tess. I don’t usually ask her how she is doing, because that in her book it is like lollygagging. But, she looked terrible. She responded uncharacteristically that she’d had a hard weekend with little sleep. She looked like she had been crying and was emotionally depleted. Other staff we’re independently picking up the same vibes … that something was wrong, but she wouldn’t let on what she’d gone through. I do know there were several private calls taken back in the convent. So, we can be pretty sure that it is Sister Business. I am trying not to let my imagination go to that she’s been relieved or the Center is closing or something. It is not like Sister to fall apart if someone else is sick. She will ask a few questions and then things are back to normal. Maybe she’ll offer a prayer. I’m afraid this is something to do with her. I guess I’ll have to be patient. Sister doesn’t usually hold too much back. The reassuring thing was that she’d continued as normal as far as getting bids in for the windows. Several people were through. She asked to cover the full lunch which was fine, but as I seen her lead the guys past, she didn’t seem to have her regular vim and vigor. Ok, ok … we’re going to try not worrying too much.

I tried to do a little stuff on my own when I got back to the office. I wanted to get my school work printed out so I could use it more easily as a resource in writing the final paper. But, by then people started bringing me their problems. I have this characteristically bad idea that my work consists of the papers left to be progressed on my desk and not the number of people that stop by. This can get in the way with reality. ESPECIALLY, since every new person contact requires MORE paperwork! There were a couple of key problems that were longer standing problems … this is besides things like “I can’t make the computer do what I want it to do,” “Somebody is making fun of me,” and the old time favorite, “Did you see if the garbage man came, you’ll call me if he comes, right, right, right?”

The first problem has to do with my client that does so much crying. We’ve become a little upset because her DSP is doing so little with her. Both times we brought the client into the office, talked to her (She’s on an age level of 2.5-3.0 years) and spent some time doing little tasks with her. She seemed to brighten up. At some point, she stopped crying long enough to ask for a bandage. This is a long-standing repetitive thing and Sr. has made a policy that we can’t give her them. We are not a cruel agency, but it’s against Sr.’s policies to hand out one or two dozen bandages a day when there aren’t any cuts, bumps, or bruises. I think it’s a budget issue hehehe. But this client was sitting in my office wanting a bandage and I was saying, “No, you have one!” So she took off the bandage she was wearing on her jaw to show me her bandage, or maybe she was thinking she’d trade up, I’m not sure. Then, unfortunately as these things go, when she tried to put it back, it wouldn’t stick. I thought oh Lordy this is going to be a problem.

Then I thought for some reason to ask her if she had an “Owie.” She said yes. I thought yoohooo we’re getting somewhere … this person only speaks a few words at a time and she definitely knows yes and no. So then I asked, “Do you hurt?” I was trying to check out her vocabulary limits. Again she said yes. And then I said, “Can you show me where it hurts? And she said, “Right here,” while massaging her forehead. Man oh man … I thought I was going to cry. Here’s my terribly regressed client trying to explain to the world her head hurts by asking for a simple bandage. And, we cannot give her one due to Sr.’s policies and procedures. I felt pretty miserable. But, as luck would smile down upon me, she seemed to be doing better with the acknowledgement and validation of her pain. I’d scrunched up my eyebrows and said the appropriate oohhs and awes. I think if it had been allowed I would have given her a kiss on top her head. She started smiling again and looking around the room for something she could have. It’s a familiar game we play when she is in the office. It happens with a lot of clients.

She decided she was in such a good mood that we’d play some cards. She remembered the laminated cards I’d shown her … the one’s to give DSP’s everyday because of the dieting reminders. So I gave her the cards, she handed them to me one at a time, and after we’d gotten done with the 36 cards, then it was my turn to hand them back to her. She busted me though because I’d forgotten that you have to say the word, “See” when you hand the other person the cards. Shoot *giggle* Before the game was over I reminded her we’d have to go back to the room when it was done. She complied after snatching one of my medium-sized books with a spiral. I thought fine, it’s early in the day, I’ll retrieve that later. I figure it’s sort of like a token, where I have to pay THEM for visiting me.

I thought, ok … we’re all good here back to that nasty paperwork.

But then about 75 minutes later, I got a call from the DSP that she was moving her whole group out of the room and leaving my client behind because they all couldn’t tolerate the crying that had begun again. I thought Damm DSP! Better go in and retrieve the poor girl THE CLIENT!!! You’d think she could at least work with the client. I had already stopped by with Sister and let her know what was going on. I was pretty sure that I would leave another note after the next visit because I think its bordering on client neglect to just leave a client in a room, because you cannot tolerate her noises. But, as we mentioned Sr. wasn’t being up to snuff.

As soon as the client recognized me and I held out my hand, she gathered her things and followed me out the door. By the time she had gotten to the door, she had stopped crying. If there is one thing I know for sure, there are TWO reasons why people act out. They are either avoiding something or they want attention. I think at this time the client was telling me her DSP was pretty inefficient (avoiding her) and wanting our attention, because she wasn’t getting it elsewhere. After the client sat down again, she said the word, “Puzzle.” I knew she liked simple puzzles and had started to think maybe she had been bored in the other room, because the DSP leaves her in a corner of the room with nothing to do. Again, this is an issue passed up to Sr. The DSP says she wants to sit by herself. I say, and then maybe she is telling you she feels lonely. BRING HER BACK to the GROUP! Alas, my job is responsibility not authority. Can’t make the DSPs do anything.

So anyway, I find a piece of paper with a picture and I ask the client to cut it out (cut off the white boarders). She is happy to do so. Then I cut a few jagged edges and make a 4-pcs. Puzzle. She liked that. But, even more so the cutting. So, I looked around my desk and found the information I’d pulled for the fitness stuff because on the pages the pictures were in like little squares. I gave the client about 20 pages to cut out figuring I could pull the other from the Internet again later. Again by the time she is almost done I am giving her the notice, ok, but we’re going to need going back when you’re finished. She understands this and is good with it. By now she is a happy camper. All the time, I keep watching her so when she looks up I can give her regular smiles of reassurance, and as the norm, I keep calming music in the background, today soft Spanish music. She is able to smile back.

This time though when I bring her back, I brought her to group, but the group one down in ability than the one she was at. Sr. had said earlier in the week maybe we could get her accustomed to another room where the staff was a little more receptive to people problems. The client did fine with the change and accepted the roll of paper I’d brought her and color pencils. The new staff was a little intimidated, because by this time the other DSP was claiming well sure if you give the client one-on-one attention, but that she hadn’t the time. I emphasized to the new staff, ALL our clients need attention, some more so than others. If she balanced just SOME time for the client it would work out. The client isn’t the type to take ALL the time.

About lunch time, we brought the client back in with her own group and she seemed much better and was fine the rest of the day. I had also talked with the Sister of the client. Today they are having an appointment with the psychologist and next week there is an appointment with the neurologist. So, hopefully SOMEthing will come of all this. Pretty ticked off with the DSP though. This is the same one that ignored my other “problem” client until in that situation too, Sr. pulled him out of the room. Hmpf! I’m a firm believer that if a DSP spends a little time helping out one of the clients, the others will benefit, because they are learning how the staff resolves issues and that makes them feel safer, because they learn if they have issues someone will help them too. This is going to need being a point at the next staff training.

The last problem that I had beside many people stopping by to have things fixed was with another DSP and a half. They are both covering the 2nd group until Sr. can find a replacement. They had gotten together to complain about one of THEIR clients until they had escalated the problem and were shouting there is nothing to be done, I’ve tried everything. We get pretty honoree about this kind of thinking. But, on the outside we’re pretty reserved. Though in this case, I looked at her and I asked, “You tried everything?” The DSP said emphatically, “YES!” I then asked, “Did you consider calling me?” The DSP sputters, well you were helping another client. I said, was this an emergency, or could you have told me after the other client was cared for. Well, well …

Right!

The DSP said, well she isn’t doing anything and she was disrespectful to me. How? She would’t do like I told her! Fine, let’s deal with that … I walked over to the clients table. (Clients were all gone for the day). Here she was … now tell me what did you ask her to do? Well, I told her to get her coat. And, what did the client do? She went over to another client and started pestering him. So, then what did you do? Do you think the client understood you? I think she understood but was defying me. So, then what did you do? Etc. Etc.

Then it was like, ok let’s do this over again. Where are you when telling the client that she has to get her coat? What did you expect her to do. What has the client expected to be able to do this whole entire other year when another staff was in charge of the room. Do you expect all the clients to “Obey” you because you are the “teacher?” When you threatened the client with calling Sr. Tess do you think you gained more authority??? I restaged every problem the DSP had been stating all the time the DSP was saying, but, but… every time I gave her another solution, she would come up with three more problems. I knew certainly by this time, that no matter what I told the DSP as an advocate for the client, she was going to complain how unfair life was to her. And, that is the crux of the matter. I’m a firm believer that although the clients certainly have problems, especially adjusting to change, the staff should not dump their problems or inadequacies on the clients. Like leave your bad day or attitude at home. BUT, on the outside we were more calm. I said, look … I am going to stop giving you solutions, because you are not listening. (Hmm, I pulled a V here! Hehehe). I’m going to walk away until you are ready to listen. Then I will be back and we can work on more problems, because at this point, you are no different then the client. You are being defiant just to be defiant. I’m telling you something and it is going in one ear and out the next! But, But … uh huh ya…

Later, she came in and apologized, while trying to start up things again. I told her simply that she was going to need prioritizing her time. I could work with her to get through the problems the client was having, or we could spend the time dealing with her (DSPs) emotional state when she gets frustrated. She laughed. I think she got the point. SHEEESH!

It was a long day like this … The bottom line was that I got done with two small reports in a long 9 hour day that should have taken 20 minutes each. AND, so this all goes back to Dr. M. Maybe if I had been at his office, I could have missed this! AHA! Again, it wasn’t my problem *silly grin*

We did get a chance to update the journal. We’re feeling a little dismayed. Each journal is 48 pages long. Since November, we’ve filled up 2 journals and there are so many things not getting done, I’m not sure how to handle this. I think some way or another it is going to need getting reframed. I think I heard something in business about taking care of the 20% of the business that really needs getting done and letting go of the other. About now the best I can do when I get busted for not having something done is to say, but I have it right here on my list of things to do! *Giggle* I’m pretty sure God invented lists. He started, “On the first day …” HA! He didn’t get everything done either!

Ahh, V. is up!!! Now, there is a man who can get stuff done! He keeps up with his paperwork AND bills EVERY day! Yep, yep my hero for the day. Yesterday, it was Tom because he just sometimes tickles me to pieces! Just for clarification You to can be my hero for the day … but, you gotta say nice things to me 

I still haven’t been able to get out for the visiting and now I’m over a week due. I’m really sorry about this. Probably all kinds of good crises happening without me! Hmpf!

That about covers work though. I think my friend is having a hard time too. He said he’d be at the center yesterday, but didn’t make it. That’s a pretty good bet for Mondays, because he is in the people business too where everyone hits him with problems first thing and it lasts through the day. Problem with my friend is that he’ll shake his head and scratch it thinking a little down on himself, because he had PLANNED to get a lot of good stuff done and it usually doesn’t work out that way. Thinking that this probably happens all around the world, so there are sheep talking in Mongolia about the shepherd who’s complaining he didn’t get laid over the weekend.

Umm, I didn’t just say that …

Let’s see school, friend, work, Dr. M. (Dog house), boys … nothing there …You all turning into my alter psychiatrists!

SCHOOL!!! Haven’t talked about that yet. We got a new thing with V. Well, actually it’s a kind of old thing with V. I am going to try listening to him when he says, be more efficient. He doesn’t say exactly that, but he says I definitely spend more time on school than I should be. This is probably true with 9/10’s of the things I do. He says it wastes energy. Which, incidently, may be the reason why nothing SEEMS to be getting done. V. thinks I should go in … do the paper … and get out! I know he’s right. BUT, here is where WE seem most defiant.

Hmm. Maybe I better just skip the next part and go directly to work. I should be reading the next chapter for the next paper due. Well, just a couple more things toward school? See this is where we get into the concepts of framing. My writing helps frame my experiences, so I can go from one thing to another. We’ve put things back in order like a good cook after preparing a fine meal.

We finished two papers on Sunday morning before 8 am, because we got up early and got down to business. We really earned a lot of V. Points there! It took a couple of more hours of fooling around then because we had to decompress. After that, we started back up with the paper. We’ve been framing that in too. You’ve all seen the outline. We understand now how to do the first couple of sections out of the three. We still have a couple more items to look up … I’m not as advanced in old age, disabilities, homosexuality, religion, or economics, but I know that is the work of the next couple of weeks. There is no reason I can’t go back and do the other stuff first.

Yesterday, on the drive to work, we were thinking in an abstract way (while looking at the car in front of us) Shoot V.’s taking a shower … he never invites me! Hmpf!

That’s enough abstract!

Well, it’s just you see … I want the paper to be a collection of what we’ve experienced in the course so far. And, then to analyze and then synthesize and conclude. The problem part of it is that I have trouble remembering one point from the last. I have this whole thing down inside me somewhere, but again … I don’t have the ability to recall. That is why we have to trust so much the paperwork process. I want the paper to sum up everything we’ve learned, but I want it to do more. Here’s where we find V. sitting again on our right shoulder. Just do what you have to do and skip the rest! He hates it when we say, but, but, but…

Ok, somehow to appease school Gods, we have to be succinct in getting done what has to be done. Succinct, yah right, that’s like my middle name. *glum* So, we need to realize there is 75 more minutes left of the morning and we are going to be doing something toward school. We’ve two avenues. We either work with the small paper due this week or the big paper due … hmm? When exactly is it due, and exactly how many pages? We’ve been thinking its 30. Better let me check that out.

Pshwoo … tired out! Just ran to school and back … I found out there are 3 more weeks of regular papers … that’s good I thought there was two and time nearly out. So, that be like units 8, 9, & 10, which makes an 11th week to actually do the paper. Shoot forgot … need to run back to school. Hold on. Ok. Back (little sweaty) School says the big paper due on March 26th at 11:59. Anybody got a calendar? No? Whoops wait a minute … we’re going to run over to work, hold on. Ok, back (knees shaking) ok .. great! There are actually 4 weekends left. BAD?? Do not take advantage of this like we don’t have to be doing the work now! Ok, but as far as the game plan goes this is a little better, we were thinking it was like 2 weeks away. Oops, forgot something have to run back to school. Wait a sec … Ok back … (thoroughly exhausted … tongue rolled down to chest). It SAYS the paper can be 24 – 30 pages long! AHA! We had thought it HAD TO BE 30 pages long. Just think all the V points I would get for handing in the shorter paper!

HA! Not efficient … we’ll just see about that Dr. V.! Going to read a bit now … bye!

posted by Ann Marie @ 2/28/2006 05:22:00 AM Comments: 8

In a Swimmingly Good Mood

I am becoming my self when I am patient and encouraging, which allows me to find the peace I need to give joyfully to the people and projects I love.

--Ayn and all






















Good morning. It’s just me … we’re up! Kind of latish though about 5 am and V. isn’t up yet. Hmm, what’s gotten into him!??

We’ve been real good and over at the fitness blog this morning. It feels like stopping in to stretch before the exercise of writing our more lengthy thoughts we so love. You all have kinda accustomed yourself to me doing this right? *Sigh* How I do like to think and write. It feels like there are a jillion thoughts locked up in our mind. I think it’s because we’ve spent so much time trying to get together this program. OHHH, and there was very good news at the Center. Sister was told yesterday by a Senator’s assistance that she’s almost guaranteed a grant. It’s for about $400,000!!! To put that in perspective the Center runs on about $500,000 a year including the salaries for 10 people. Sister just needed to hand in about 20 pages of paperwork.

We pulled a few things for Sister, but primarily she does 98% of the work. She is pretty good at signing, dotting, and crossing T’s. This is going to mean a lot for the center. The Senator’s aid told her not to worry; we would have air conditioning by summer. Wooo HOOO!!! There are some other major things that need to be taken care of to weatherize the building. The Sister’s built the building back in 70’s, so it’s always been by them and for all of us. I’m in the new wing (2 offices and an activity room) in the back that was built in 2003, that and the workshop (also built on) are air conditioned by central air, but the other rooms have only had one small air conditioning unit in each room. The halls, the big multipurpose room, and chapel have had no air at all. Wooo hooo! Under this grant all will be taken care of.

The energy efficient part will be that Sister will be doing over the big glass plate windows. She did the Chapels already, but the $17,000 cost will now be covered. They were six windows 21’ tall and 3’ wide. They were letting in a tremendous amount of cool air. The four main windows/doors in the four major course rooms each have a door/window that’s floor to ceiling and as wide as the room. They are also



old and letting in air. I think the ones she gets next are going to be tinted too so they’ll help keep the rooms cooler. I don’t know how to explain the shades, but I’ll gladly say goodbye to them.

What else, what else … Sister will get the third van. That’s for sure. And all the interior doors will be replaced. And, ohhhh the lights will be changed. They are old fluorescents that need ballasts whatever that is, but nobody makes them anymore. Pretty sure she’s going to get new circuit breakers too. Last year she re-roofed so that’s taken care of and the administrative team, staff, and one of the groups already has fairly new computers, so that is all good. We’re standing pretty tall as a Center goes. Just so proud of her. We were supposed to get a special grant back in 2002, but with a change of Governor’s that didn’t happen, but the Senator is making it up to us in hearts! Just so dammed cool. I bet she is going to be making big points with the upper upper Sister’s for this one. She’s made so many improvements … just awed by what’s she’s done.

Hooo Boy … we’re back … disappeared over the last several hours out in Blogland. Didn’t go very far, but we went deep. Hehehe. We’re back now … We’ve accepted our position for the time being … It always amazes me how being respond to one another and this week there has been a flurry of strong thoughts particularly concerning some structural beliefs. Maybe that’s not the right way of putting it, but it seems politically vague enough for me to think, ok done that, now back to other things … the task of getting things accomplished. I’m being taken with a new term for us “To do.” Next paragraph!

Where did we leave off?

Ok, done with that part … next? We can’t go too far without talking of the new fitness program. That crossed zions of eons yesterday . I would like to add here first just a couple of comments. My eldest son tried to contact us yesterday, in that when I woke up this morning there was an IM asking if I were awake. Hopefully, he’ll try again. He knows where to find us. The deal with our friend carried us out to dinner last night before stopping by here. He helped me get a load of washed stuff from the car and up the stairs. YAYYY!!! We pre-thought some of the diet plan on the way over. We’ve made a new diet plan to include more fish in our dinner and since we were eating Chinese, we decided we’d have the shrimp, onions, tomatoes, and peppers dinner. Pshwoo!!! Great STUFF! We skipped the umm will wait oh yeah egg roll, but had the pork fried rice. AND, we ate way too much. Don’t have that under control yet. Last night we dreamed we were at a smorgasbord with our friend and he was nudging us on patiently though firmly. The only plate we had was a coffee filter and we were starting to panic pretty bad 

I’m trying to think of what we talked about last night, but I don’t think we were either in much of talking moods. Feed those tummies and meet you in bed! Hehehe Ok, we’re a little satiated with umm this aspect of God work. Thanks guys you all are the greatest thinkerers! The pillow talk melts my mind … existentially!!!

Ok, anything else? Oh oh … checkup … Dr. M. Well, he’s still in the dog house. Afraid we’re going to have to move a computer out there for him. He might be stuck out there for quite a bit. It’s how we are dealing for the moment with his loss. The last session on Thursday was spent in a lot of tears yet. We’re trying to grasp things, but it is pretty hard. We feel during our regular week we’re doing fine, though feeling there is just never enough time. But, back in the office where thoughts and feelings are extremely sensitive its very hard. For the record though



we were at a point, where we could at least apologize for saying we didn’t like him. There were quite a few parts out … all more regressed, though a few able to carry out business decisions. Can’t explain the shatteredness it seems. We do have a smidge of thinking in that Dr. M. will meet us within the limit of time structure to things most important. I think though we were concerned at one point with not growing as we have been and stagnating on this level of mental illness without time to work through things with him. Of course, the various parts have many other different fears. But they are more deeply seated and hidden in places I don’t have access to. We see him next Thursday and then we’ll start the twice monthly visits.

We told Dr. M. this week the hospital money thing (not getting his services) was like going to the pop machine, needing 50 cents and only having a quarter. They both left you feeling thirsty.
Little quiet respectfulness here. We’ve been back to JD for the last couple of days. I can’t explain what’s going on there, but I need that one to be left alone this time, k? JD seems to represent a lot of positive happy thoughts and tunes … right now we seem to need that. Yeeks just thought anyone new might think we’re talking about Jack Daniels! For the record, that’s John Denver! *giggle* fortunately we don’t have drinking problems on top of everything else 

*Sigh* We just gave Chief a good 10 minutes. It’s about the longest I can slow down and relax for now. Maybe though it was him who gave me the 10 minutes  We just hold him and cuddle and pet softly his tummy … It’s just about the most incredible feeling. And, if we had it his way he could do this for several hours if we let it be. Please don’t feel bad for him. He snuggles with us all night.

We keep giggling now … V. just sent us an email and we changed the names to protect the innocent AND we sent it to our friend of immense patience and understanding.

A multiple called her boyfriend and said, "Please come over here and help me. I have a killer jigsaw puzzle, and I can't figure it out or how to get it started."
Her boyfriend asked, "What is it supposed to be when it's finished?"
The multiple said, "According to the picture on the box, it's a tiger."
Her boyfriend decided to go over and help with the puzzle. She let him in and showed him where she had the puzzle spread all over the table.
He studied the pieces for a moment, then looked at the box.
He turned to her and said, "First of all, no matter what we do, we're not going to be able to assemble these pieces into anything resembling a tiger.
Her took her hand and said, "Second, I want you to relax. Let's have a nice cup of hot chocolate and then…..", he sighed, "Let's put all these frosted flakes back in the box."
Hehehe This is so you and us ... Love you to pieces ... the kind that makes pies sweet!
Us
That sure did chuckle our tummy. I think I want it to be our final epitaph. T. I say this now particularly to you. I think this is a God sent marker to compensate our multiplicity thoughts this morning. As highly complimentary you were over at V’s place, we just *sigh* Sometimes its hard to solve world problems when you’re having trouble figuring out which arm goes in which sleeve. I know you understand this though and I love you for it.

Hmm, didn’t get so far with Mr. Kitty … he came back to rest within the U shape our arms and chest make for him. His sleepy little head lies on our wrist and we feel



all warm and snuggly. But, being the smart kitty that he is … he’s allowed our fingers to be free. They are such perfect animals. We like know each other. We love each other. Ok, we’re not going to cry again.

AHEM ... Girls … we have business to attend to today. Tick-tock?

I know I know … we’re still trying to clear up our week’s thinking. Let’s see boys, friend, Dr. M., kitties, what else? There’s school and we have to be over there pretty soon, but we need to finish up here first … Maybe another compromise … we right first on Saturday mornings, unless up real early and then on Sunday mornings we do school first?

I love everything about school … Just it takes time and that’s sometimes the hardest thing to give into. Please God help us stay the course…

Hmm, ok … now the good stuff of our minds’ real bent these last few days … the fitness program. Man d’ever tell you how we love new systems?

We’re on borrowed time now … so I’m going to time ourselves. We can only write for another hour. THAT’S IT! See, we’re trying to learn discipline.

How do we start this last section? Ahh the song, “Is it love!” That’s a good place.

I love thinking about how to help people. Adding “structure” seems to make us feel particularly joyful.

Hehehe thinking our Christine thoughts now …

Entry Word: structure
Function: noun
1 Synonyms BUILDING, fabric
Related Word construction, erection, pile
2 Synonyms EDIFICE, erection, pile
something made up of more or less interdependent elements and having a definite organizational pattern
Synonyms framework
Related Word anatomy, skeleton; build, construction, frame; arrangement, composition, form, format, makeup, morphology; complex, network, system

Oh majorly cool … Just spotted in the crowd the word “framework.” That ties us back into school thoughts. One of the top most important things parents do is love, but within that offering is the parent’s ability to “frame” a structure for their children. I caught this for a second over at someone’s place new to me, but probably not to you all. Her name is Vicky … she was talking about how kids don’t have as much guidance because parents had made themselves unavailable. I like the thought though of turning this into something more positive. I am thinking here in relationship to my children … whoops at 22, 23, and 25 … Not so much children anymore … keep catching myself on this point …

Errr … let it go … don’t want to go into boys thoughts. Our friend just IM’d for the day. He’s got 3 B-ball games to officiate today, but needs to go back to folding socks or something. We told him the socks wouldn’t care, but he said HE would come 5 am Monday morning! Gotta give him that one hehehe… He couldn’t go though without giving us a heavy set of goals. We agreed to four things, but complained because he was overcapacitating us. In no particular order … 1) shower, 2) empty dishwasher, 3) pick up, 4) treadmill. To make things worse V just signed off and he said something like expect to see me over at school. Pswhoo … not sure think this is all going to take a whole rest of the weekend! We want to do some visiting today too. Ok, ok … let’s not get overstraught. Hmm, my words are getting



confused. We’re making something to eat … for brunch. Those little pasta side dishes from Knoxx we get. I had to repeat over and over again from the kitchen to here timer, timer, timer … so we wouldn’t forget and burn the food again. One more minute. Twiddling thumbs. Ok, brb

There we done it! Now it has to cool. *Big SIGH*

It seems like we never am going to get to the work done yesterday. Ok, we can do this …

The bottom line is that we STRUCTURED it a bit. We last left off with making ourselves a table of contents. Like this, but the other looks prettier …

Standards
***Measuring
***Goal weight
***Body mass index (BMI)

Dietary – DHHS Federal Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005
***Adequate nutrients
***Weight management
***Physical activity
***Food groups to encourage
***Fats
***Carbohydrates
***Sodium and potassium
***Alcoholic beverages
***Food safety

Exercise & Nutrition Health Education Curriculum (we found this new piece yesterday)

***Health, exercise, and nutrition-making choices
***Changing my lifestyle-assessing my behaviors
***Making lifestyle changes-setting goals
***Lifestyle changes-doing my program
***Lifestyle change-staying with my program

Additional Staff Resources

***The complete book of food counts or game of “which is better”
***Group workout log
***Handouts

Family (English & Spanish)

***Message from the secretaries of Department of Health & Human Services, and the Department of agriculture
***Executive summary of DHHS Federal Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005

During the Thinking Group, I weighed the ones that were available and didn’t need to leave early for transportation home … think we have 27 out of 46 done. And, we got the height measurement and previous weight (from doctor’s office) from the other Q’s files. We’ve asked the staff to complete weighing everybody and then I will also have to go through my file for height and previous weight. I’m going to ask the staff for several reasons to keep their numbers on the same chart as the clients. Pretty sure our tight center SHOULD be able to handle that, because in the long run it’s important to know we’re all not just talking about fitness, we are living through it too. There will be several columns on the chart, but haven’t weeded them



in yet … something like present weight, height, BMI, name, group, … Maybe … hmmm, could we keep it this simple? Hmm, that’s interesting … what happened … nah don’t want the groups divided up. This is a center-wide project. Skip the group column.

One way or another … I haven’t figured it out yet, we need to do some charts. Hmm picturing it now! We could count down a line using the negative axis of a chart, so it would look like a water line with people’s names (fishing boats) at the top fishing lines making it easier to catch the fish, and then the fish would have to slide up or down the fishing line. I’ve got a picture in my mind now of the line being yarn hehehe and color coordinated of course by group with teacher’s being a group. I think we can laminate some fish representing the person … very interesting first I thought they could find the fish, but now thinking that we could put pictures of them on laminated cutouts of fish. We could have the DSPs responsible for moving the fish down to the bottom … there’d be treasure and T-like turtles and crab on the bottom. Ok, we’re messin around now. There are two hard parts left … I can see this going on the long wall in the hallway. Whoops, almost that time of the year Sister uses like a week of housecleaning time to clean the tile. Ok, that just buys us time. Ok … now do we do yes, I like one long strip, the easier way though might be shorten the pieces. Hmm. Thinking now of a plumb line. Wow … that’s an old thought haven’t used a plumb line since prior to the 90’s. Would it give me a strong enough line? I don’t think so. I would think the smearing would be too confusing. Maybe the best bet would be to get some real string and keep it attached with tape … then I could run a thin strip over the ends and periodically through the chart to secure the string and make reading line numbers easier. We have to have straight lines across representing the horizontal grid. Funny this is the kind of stuff real teachers do. I like it that it will keep things in mind for everyone too. Hmm. If I’m 43.something … we have one of the guys already weighing in past the scale’s 335 limit at 5.4 or so he’s challenging the over 50 BMI mark. Do I raise the bar? Better. We’ll start her up at the top with BMI 55 down to 15 … that be 40 lines … to many … two points per? I wish I knew … I know I can figure it out. Ok so it’s about 6 pounds to lower one BMI that’s a good marker point. Hmm, think … how wide would the paper be … probably about 36 Inches … the top and bottom parts could be boats on top and sea creatures on the bottom. AHA! That’s what the clients can do! They can make the bottom top of the grid! Damm thoughts are coming too fast. Shhh, girls slow down. Ok, two more things before I forget … ghost fish and shading the water. Haven’t figured out lake or ocean … Hmm, ocean has more interesting fish! Hey we got those drawing book with sea creatures. That would work … do it in thinking group with the colored pencils. Think we could use colored chalk on the background of the grid we would use it to mark 9 levels of weight … anorexia, underweight, normal weight, marginally overweight, overweight, very overweight/obese, severely obese, morbidly obese, super obese. We have one client with spina bifida who is in the anorexic range … lowest functioning keep her in or leave her out? Hmm, we’ll just put her fish in underweight and skip the anorexic part. Don’t want to go into that with the clients. So 8 lines so about every 4.5 inches the levels are going to change. Hmm … did we decide on how many string lines? Each line representes 6 pounds whoops that’s 30 not 20, right 50 super obese to 20 regular… that’s a simple 1” thing then … good marker that would mean about 1.75” per line … can we do that with the string since the chart is wide? I think it’ll work, because we have those column supports with the numbers on them. We’re




going to need the leadership group to help us with this middle part … that way I get good chalk colorers and string holder/tapers  Ok, almost through here … Yes … we’re going have to add name across top too … the paper width wide can be about … 58 people on the chart ok … 20 feet … that’s like 3 people per foot. That’s pretty nice actually. This baby is going to take some time. Can I do it in a day? Have to stop for lunch because they will need the tables. Be nice to do this more with Group I and use there nice tall butcher block tables  They are the better group with coloring anyway. Staff is a good helperer. Don’t think I can get them away from work that long … Maybe we’ll do the leadership and group 1. Group 1 first with the chalk coloring, then over that we’ll bring to the other group. They’ve got a little more time  Ok, avoiding that one last tough obstacle. How are we going to attach the fish so we can move them without becoming unanchored when people fill up the hall. Wait ok stray thought .. we should have the few who are underweight sitting on the 20-22 point regular line. Then those people would be known as role models. We might have like 2 or 3 of these from the 58 hehehehe. That’s why we’re doing this. Thinking of the groups going out to move their fishes … “gone fishin” what I’ve been thinking is those little clips either black or gold … hold on let me look at them … ok, gotta study this. I know … we could keep all the fishing lines 36” long and use the clips to pull them back to the right horizontal line. They are just the right weight to be used as a weight … keep the strings straight. Would that work? I like that the one clasp can be dropped so passerbyers wouldn’t grab them. I’m thinking these clips are going to go on the top edge of the paper. We’re going to need securing that edge. I actually like electrical tape … that’s a pretty long strip though … 20 feet. Three things hardware store … electrical tape, string, and … I guess two things. Those probably gotten at grocery store, though I’d get better electrical tape at the other. Better go that. We have a new one at the corner. The leadership group could get that and maybe stop by an office supply for the gold clips. Pretty sure there’s enough colored chalk in the building. Be cool to keep the whole project under $10. I think naturally the colors would be more faded on top and deeper toward the bottom. Still want a gold treasure chest on the bottom, so the can figure out that reaching the bottom “normal range” is the way to go, or reward. Ok, need to go back to the laminated fish and the ghost fish … They are going to need being about one inch by one inch … is that big enough? With 30 one inch lines it has to be though it could be wider let’s go one inch by one and a half inches. Measured out a fish … fair size … I lost the camera ability on my computer … there are some people who I don’t have pictures of … they’ll have to get either a cartoon character or one they choose from magazine. Ok, think we’re about up to lastly. The ghost fish. Hmm ghost or shadow. We need something to represent the original weight. Ghost is catchier. Thinking though of people thinking of leaving their ghosts behind. Ok, I know … we can double the number of fish so that means 116 fish, but one will go lower and the other stay in place, the stay in place one can have laminated on it the person’s name.

Ok, ok … think we done it. Good work. Yeeks. School forgot about school its 12:15 now! Better get to that too  Oh one more thing … a social skill lesson thrown in here. Since the fish are easy to clip on and the name is attached to ghost fish I can come down the hall anytime I want and move people around. That will keep them interested because they will have to keep finding themselves and who they are next to. Thinking now too maybe size the fish with colored background according to group that will help them sort it all out. Sweet! Finished!!!

NOOOO... Moose DO NOT EAT fish!

ok, ok ... I haven't left yet ... Just a few more thoughts to attach to the project. It would be nice to have some kind of Center song or cheer to people who move there fish down. Not sure if Sr. would go for that, but some of the people will have trouble understanding the goal ... they can figure out though that if they learn to say no to the sweet pop, sweets, and chips somebody might cheer for them ... hehehe I have the image of a "fish moving" period like directly after chapel in the morning. Should help them get through the slow periods too. Staff will be the best encouragers if they get to move their fish and its a big deal. They'd say, "Oh no, you can't move your fish if you keep eating french fries!" It could be announced there for that matter. This would be cool, but on the iffy side ... we'll wait on it. We're going to need a minimum of 600 feet of string and 40 feet of electrical tape. We're going to figure out if we can glue the ghost fish to the chalked surface. May after wiping with damp kleenex? I think it can be done ... we'll then get some stronger glue.

Ok, we're really cheating ONE MORE THING ... Just wanted to say how nice the Staff training meeting went yesterday. I was very prepared for the meeting though not working on it for long. I gave them the same charts I put up the other day. We meansured elbows :) Everyone was pretty interested, no one had heard the measurement trick. Then we gave them a chart with partial clients weights and I took the staff's weights (had scale with us). Everyone there gone it. It was a very brave moment. One woman who had sworn she only weighed 130 turned out weighing 152. She had a hard time with that. It was a tense moment for us too. They were given a table of contents for the Dietary Guidelines (checking out their resource for groups). Between each step we explained and they listened and asked questions. We then gave them the calorie books and they peeked into that for a few moments. We showed them pictures of the curriculum guide from the University and we tested out with them how exercise can be simply inserted into places between activities. And it that respect, the clients can opt instead to play a round of which foods are better for you considering fat, calories, or salt. I'm thinking protein, cholesterol, carbs, and fiber are going to be too confusing. But, well see. My mind envisions the old spelling bees where half and half lined up on either side of room and when it came your turn you either spelt the word and got back in line, or you would miss and need to sit down. I'm thinking now it would be a great way to get them up during the day and moving more quicly. Maybe a sticker reward ... yep they still like stickers :) And the last main part was giving them that daily fitness log book, we showed here a few days ago.

The DSP's were given instructions on filling it in. I remembered to read the given 16 pages of instructions too ... pretty simple for them to go back and refresh. The biggest deal was to let them know the whole group would act as one ... to cut down on paper and simplify things. Theres the little note section of someone did something special. The first thing the staff asked was ... can we write in the book?! Yup yup. Again, is the log that charts cardio, strength, mind-body, nutrition, daily wrap-up and a couple spaces for ranking the effort or mood. This book will cover a half year. :) I think they were takin the program pretty seriously. I could feel the sense of them as athletic trainers YAYYYYY Staff! Ok Ok really really gone now. Bye!

I just thought of something ... I know I'm going, but do you know what? Since the first time starting this project I forgot to think ... this is what I'm going to school and wanting to become a Doctor for. To write programs for adults with developmental disabilities. Pretty darn cool, hmm? Damm gotta stop the obsessiveness ... but how about along with the cheer, or instead they get their picture taken! The pictures could get hung on the opposite wall and they would log the differences in people's appearances. Like they do with employee of the month. Ok ok ... kitty is saying break!!!

Oh man V ... we need you ... 2:44 ... They can make another more simple 11x17 paper for each of the rooms with the individuals names ... so when they play the "name the better food game" their sticker will go to the room graph up a column ... maybe the best of the month could be rewarded with a fruit party ... The winner gets to choose the fruit. Or each client could get their own 11x 17 and after 25 stickers they get to choose a fruit day. Or, Vegetable! Hmm Bottle of water be nice too. Having trouble stopping my mind now. Help? What am I supposed to do again??? I know, I know ... shower ... ok so so outta here ...

posted by Ann Marie @ 2/25/2006 12:38:00 PM Comments: 9

Ok, this is reality ... reality isn't bad

(Image from Gabreael thanks!!)

Good morning. Just us. I think it is going to be a long day today, because we’ve been up so early. Just to avoid the scolderers’ in you … we’ll not mention our time of getting up. Seems like the big deal part of your comments is in addressing our jean skirt. *Gigglin* this may be because it’s all we’ve talked about in the last two days. I think our image of the reviews are mixed. There were good comments from it, but not nearly as Earth shattering or moving. The preponderance were you look much more modern. That was kinda neat, but still scary. We usually dress drably not to catch attention … kind of like fitting in with the wallboard … plants being much too exciting.

The funniest set of comments came from my fellow peer, the other Q. She stopped me in the hall to suggest accusatorily, “you’ve got some new dresses.” “Uh huh” “Well now I can see where you lost weight” “Uh huh, thanks.” “So how much do you weigh now?” “AHA … you go first, how much do YOU weigh?” “Well, hmmm, hmmm, hmmm 251” “Ahh then you are exactly 20 pounds lighter than us!” “You weigh 271? Ack that’s too close. I wanted to be the skinny Q. Didn’t you weigh more? You look a lot heavier.” “Uh huh. I started at 312.” “Well, I haven’t really been trying hard the last 5 months. But, I am going to work on it now! I am going to get serious” “Seems like you have been serious? I heard you've lost like over a hundred pounds since the surgery.” “Well, yes … I lost 120 pounds. I started 370’s” “See, you are doing great!” “Uh huh. I am going to beat you.” “Hmmm, maybe, maybe not. Is this a competition? Umm, so and so weighs 260 and the other so and so weighs 237.” “Really?” *Giggling … so you all get head starts ... good luck!"

Funny, this all make me feel good … I don’t mind starting from a disadvantaged point … that and holding the knowledge that the other Q is 3 inches shorter and has set her goal only to be 180 … We are 5’6” and going for 140. So, I figure we got a little edge. Sr. is not out of this either. Her weight is very consistent … she’s at 165. Yesterday, she came out of the Sr.’s hallway leading from the kitchen eating a handful of marshmallows. She said something about her dieting. I just asked, “So, those are diet marshmallows?” “It’s just 120 calories.” “Uh huh.” *Giggle* I figured we better keep this on an all around knowledge basis, so I sent her the previous paragraph. I’m not saying everyone should weigh more or less than 140, but Sister is like another 3-4 inches shorter too.

Hmm, we better establish healthy weights for the Center’s fitness program. Hehehe







Ok, we’re all set here hopefully you are seeing the charts … Although, this scale could be different from others. Next step … we’re going to need taking Dr. M.’s advise and do the measurements according to BMI. At 5’6 and 271 pounds my BMI is 43.7. I’m definitely in the 30.0 and Above obese category. Go ahead and check yourself out here. This is a link to Depart of Health and Human Services.

http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/bmi/calc-bmi.htm

Hehehe I checked out 5’6” at 140 … it came out at 22.6, which is about half way in the middle of normal (18.5 – 24.9). Gotta be a good goal.  Damm … gotta go downstairs and outside for smokes. Nasty habit. AHHH good exercise though! BRB!

Ok, ok … dealing with reality this morning.  This next chart says that I’m morbidly obese, but at least not super obese. Using another calculator we looked for the dead center medical point of ideal weight for women my age and height. It says 137.5 … so that is my new goal  Hmm, this is still pretty bad isn’t it. One calculator said that 98% of the females in my height and age category weigh less than this. Oh man … this is encouraging … just checked … my BMI when I started was 50.4. I WAS in the super obese. Man … damm scary! Ok … we can do this.

Adults

anorexia women/men < 17.5
underweight women <19.1 men <20.7
in normal range ideal weight women 19.1-25.8 men 20.7-26.4
marginally overweight women 25.8-27.3 men 26.4-27.8
overweight women 27.3-32.3 men 27.8-31.1
very overweight or obese women >32.3 men >31.1
severely obese women/men 35 - 40
morbidly obese women/men 40 - 50
super obese women/men 50 - 60 kg/m2


Yesterday … we had thinking group early … Wait a sec … ok, it says that our friend is directly in the middle of severely obese not morbid like us … MAN does that sound horrible! Ok, ok running short of time here. But, we did get about half the clients weights and heights yesterday … I think I am going to get staff’s and the balance of the clients and put us all on a chart … I’m going to fight that staff go on the same chart as clients so the clients can encourage too. That was the first thing they insisted on yesterday when we were finished weighing. “HOW MUCH DO YOU WEIGH MS ANN???!!!” Ok, ok we’re brave. I am also going to list on the chart the exact medically perfect weights. PSHWOO this is hard!

posted by Ann Marie @ 2/24/2006 06:16:00 AM Comments: 5

*Sigh*

Good morning. V’s in the shower so we’re going to sneak write this morning. Think its ok … not quite sure. It is harder to do papers if there isn’t enough time to do the whole thing. Waking up at 4:30 isn’t the same as 2:30. Shoot we’re giving excuses again aren’t we. Ok, maybe we better check school out, brb.

We’re back! We checked things out. We responded to a few comments. It’s a pretty docile group. Most people say about 6 lines of something nice. You say something nice back. *Sigh* I also looked forward. There is only one lady that handed her assignment in already. She’s always the first one to do so. The teacher doesn’t respond very much to the people in the courseroom. I can count the number of responses from her on one hand. I know let it go.

Need to clear my mind a bit of that … I felt frustrated. Periodically, we find that we’ll get in a class one or two people who think more intellectually. I expected more from this course where most of the students are doctorate students. But, I haven’t found one where they are challenging the thoughts of what they’ve read. Sometimes though people will become a little more adamant about what they’ve just read. There is hope in that.

Ok, moving on …

In response to inquiring minds … Yes, we did have a pretty good reception as far as to dress yesterday. A new change of costume always creates kind of a stir. People stop in the hallways, come to the office to comment, or as in the case of the lunch bunch, we get a whole room of oohs and ahhs when we enter. I’m not thinking Sr. likes that part too much, although she had to comment herself on noticing the new dress and that it had looked nice. I prefer the comments of the clients … “Ms. Ann you look so pretty in your new dress!” I’m not so sure what to say at times like this. Pretty much look down, smile and blush and just say thank you.

Right now because of the dance/singing practices the tables are bunched up so there are three main sets. We usually go from one set to the next in saying hi and checking everyone out. It’s that one time of the day; I look deliberately into each of their faces. Most are bright and shining, some are off somewhere in space, but it is at this time, we make comments or ask questions to rein them in a little. Maybe that is why people make such exclamations when I walk into their rooms. They know I’m going to be responsive back. Yesterday was a little bigger deal, but in general, I think we’re treated well by the clients. I sorta look forward to this moment of glory. Mostly, just for being ourselves.

The rest of the day went pretty good, though time was slipping by too fast. We spent most of the morning catching up with the journal items. We dedicated today and most likely tomorrow to working on some hard Annual cases. We need to clean that up a little. I am very pleased with the efforts of the Assistant. After this week, she’ll be just two weeks from catching the whole group up through December. Then it will take a couple of weeks each to catch up January, then February, and by then March and April, but by May 11th, she will be on time with April’s notes. This is really pretty darn cool and it is timed well with her graduation in May.
We still don’t know how much we’ll get of her after that. We’re hoping that Sister offers her full-time and she accepts. But, we can’t count on that happening yet. There is hope though in that Sister says we are to start teaching her how to do Annual reports. This would be a good sign of hope.

Ok, ok back to the other thoughts of the day. We got through the entire journal and as we were saying, we need to spend some time with the Annual work … that means reports and goals and objectives, along with that we need to get all the information into the Tiger program if its not in there already (just half the case load finished). What competes with that, of course, is CARF. I spent the last 3 hours of the day on that. We’re at a point of looking over policies and procedures. We got through the list comparing what they suggested we have compared to what we have, but we’re going to have to go through each of about 25 to check what has to be changed. I don’t think Sr. is going to like this, because her philosophy is they were fine last time, so they’ll be fine this time. That interplays with the fear of how long that process could take. So, the work of yesterday was trying to find a happier balance in being very clear as to what needs to be changed in a format that will be simple for Sr. Theresa. I think she’ll feel much more part of it and not so overwhelmed if we can add simple changes and we let her write them in or just approve of what we’ve done so we can right them in. I know she is going to need being some part of it, or she’ll get behind with what is being added.

AHA! Just umm did something and went back to scale … 271.4 yayyy!!! PLEASE don’t let us mess up this time … want to hit a firm 269.0 and below. Seems like it has been awhile; wrestling this last four pounds. But, we’re doing pretty good eating. Yesterday, there was just one miniature sucker eaten to stop the coughing that was happening. Other than that … we feel on target.

Hmm, anymore work? I don’t think too much. Just have to fight the balanced needs of Annual work with CARF. Hmm, think we’re being pretty repeaty today. Just trying to get a grasp on what there is to do, so we don’t waste time thinking about it.

We got to see our sweetie-pie for a few moments yesterday. That was nice … couldn’t stop smiling. I think it had to do with his participation and feeling so nice in the new dress. In a few moments we will take our shower and test out the jean skirt. Not as sure about this, because it is more form fitting then we are accustomed to. Little bit nervous. I know we didn’t want everyone to be paying that close attention on the first day of new outfit. We are sooooo conscientious about our appearance. But, just so we didn’t chicken out … we left our old clothes at the cleaners for one more day. *Sigh*

Hmm, think we better get going though … still need to pick up smokes this morning and a matching brace for the right hand. It seems we are losing the strength in our middle two fingers and underneath our wrist is aching. We're having a hard time gripping. That’s not a good sign. She had written in before that we had carpel tunnel, but we didn't want to listen. Scared of not being able to type. That would be a terrible, terrible mess and take me out of all kinds of practical living for the rest of my life. That thought is terrifying … better get the brace and wait to see what the Dr. says toward the end of March. *Sigh* It’ll be ok ...

posted by Ann Marie @ 2/22/2006 06:14:00 AM Comments: 7

We can do this, we can, we can...

Good morning. Just have like 10 minutes here so it’s going to be fast. I just wanted to say, we are up and atom ready for the day. Yesterday when sweetie pie came over, we took clothes to the laundry, stopped at the bank, went to a couple of clothing stores and then stopped to eat. I am proud to say we ordered a diet coke and a julienne salad, yayyyyyy!!! Well, never mind that reward cheese cake 

We felt very bad for our friend because he had to shop with us. We walked out of the first store in tears. He spent the whole way to the next store calming us down and suggesting that we at least try to wear skirts or pants. We always where dresses, but they seem to be out of fashion? Not sure. Just the stores we went to for big women didn’t carry them. We eventually found two skirts, four shirts, and two under-type shirts. It cost about $200. Thought man wayyyyy to expensive. I don’t know how people do this for fun. We put on the print skirt this morning and it has a long teal short sleeved shirt that looks pretty ok. I like the long look … makes me feel skinnier. I even tried out and put on the “real” shoes. Most often I wear half something, socks and worn out tennis shoes. The last time I’d worn these shoes my feet were too big to fit in them comfortably and now they work. YAYYYYY!!!!

Our friend says that in 25 pounds we have to go back and shop again. I’m not so crazy about that idea. The feeling bad for our sweetie pie part was that right next to the fitting rooms were the bra and underwear section. Because we were getting his opinion on things that’s where he was standing. He said the whole town came into wonder why this male was standing in the under section. I just hadn’t realized at the time … Did I ever mention this is a REALLY good friend!??

Ok, gotta go … trying to strengthen our nerve. After several years wearing the same clothes …. People at work make ALLLLL kinds of comments. We’re so not looking forward to this. Although, we’ve lost … still have plenty to go. Hmm, V would say, “You can do it!” We’re not going to cry, right?

posted by Ann Marie @ 2/21/2006 06:52:00 AM Comments: 5

Gettin down to fitness

Good afternoon, again. Sorry, spent the last two days now primarily at school. I’d like to say for the record that we are “on time” now!!! AND, with the work put in last evening, we are actually a couple of inches ahead! That is where we are going to go back to in a little bit. But, we figured we needed a little mental break from it. Both the first and now second time that we took this course, we have found ourselves feeling more anger toward the typical White American approach to minorities. I’m not sure if this wasn’t worked into the course design. We are being invited to step into the positions of minorities. This last couple of assignments has been going over issues with American Indians and Alaskan Natives. I have to say I’ve been pretty ignorant of most cultural issues. I feel very affected now; in a good way.

I know that I need to channel the feelings involved and the best way at the moment is to spend some time writing a paper that will help me incorporate what I am learning. I know that it makes a difference. I am glad I had a chance to read some stuff yesterday before commenting in class today. I can see my attitude changing. I believe in the Flylady’s perspective of “You are never behind just jump in wherever you’re at!” Well for the moment we are at home/school. I figure that’s as good a place to start as any. Hehehe, so I ummm, went and picked a couple of fights in the classroom.  Naw, not that really REAL fights, but I did challenge some thoughts. If I never again hear how people, and in particular psychologists are going to “deal” with “them,” it would be too soon. It doesn’t seem to matter which minority group we are talking about, which is like a big point the author is making. People shouldn’t be “dealt with” … there has to be interaction. I also think thinking of “them” as troublesome because we are forgetting the we of us. It isn’t “their” problem. It is EVERY bodies problem! There is a whole more oppression out here than I ever considered. I’ll defer back to our favorite statement. “If you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem.” We feel strongly about this.

There is one woman in the course, who again today commented on another student’s paper. It was like she was wringing her hands saying, “Oh dear, it is bad. But, there is not much “I” can do to help them. Those poor things.” Yeegads. I tried to place her mentally standing next to an American Indian Chief saying, “Sorry Dear … I feel bad for you. Maybe we could hold a bake sale.” Drives me nutty. No, I am not above and beyond here … I hear her voicing her frustration too. It’s just that we have the opportunity to learn from cultures other than ours and if we’re smart, we’ll learn to do it today, rather than three years down the line when we graduate. It doesn’t mean I am going to work on Tuesday and grasp the hand of the first Hispanic person I see and shake it vigorously, because all of a sudden I’ve been hit by “the light!”

I’m just as confused now as ever, but we’re not going to settle with this. The thing I have always loved about psychology and the image of being able to learn about things we don’t understand. I figure if we listen hard enough we are going to learn how to better handle ourselves out there in the big wide world that begins as close as the elderly lady that lives across the hall. Well, no, we’re still not going to take down her garbage, but we can be more considerate in playing our music with headphones rather than loudly on the speakers and we can be more cautious in leaving our empty boxes outside our shared landing. I tried that already. I had umm forgotten them until she complained to the building people. Just hadn’t thought outside my needs. I figured they were pushed back. I wondered later how much I imposed on her aesthetic needs or feelings of intrusiveness in seeing garbage cartons stacked up in the corner. We did this for about 3 months. Real neighborly, hmm? I think they call this passive aggressive. The only contact I have had with her in five years was the first week when she left a note on my door telling me she would like it if I took down her garbage. See we aren’t all good, k? There’s lots of room for improvement. We’re pretty much the long sulky/brooding type.

What has this got to do with the tea in China? Well, probably not much … we’re just off on a tangent here.

Ok, seriously, we need a new plan … how are we going to change the world for the better? My little V-man with red cape who now sits on my right shoulder says, “Go to school. Learn.” Shoot, ok ok … getting the point. We’re going … just a little more break ok? Ahhh shhhhh, V’s napping! We should stop in the kitchen to see if he really ate that last éclair. Hmm?

*Damn*

Ok, what happened to seriously? We better check out the rest of our life. First thought is our friend. Kids still don’t need me. *frowny face* Ok, friend. He just caught up with us on line. He says that he can be here about 1 pm tomorrow and we would plan from there. He’s talking about getting a couple of new dresses, because he says ours are getting baggy. We’re of the opinion we could wear baggy all the way down to 140.  I know, I know … we’re just like that. The other thing that has to get done, if it is open, is to get our driver’s license replaced. We’d lost ours and have been driving without since December. Ok, it gets worse … we don’t wear our seat belt. Ok, now you got the worst of it. I think that V-man is back. We’ll call him our Super V Ego.

Shoot, shoot. Just checked … tomorrow is an official day off for State facilities. Thought it might be. BUT, Tuesday they are open until 7 pm. Maybe we’ll have to try that. *Sigh*

I think we are going to make up a bed for Super V Ego on our left shoulder … AHA I know … I’ll make him a Jacuzzi! BUT, no wild women! Well, ok … maybe just one, but only one at a time! No hoarding!

Hmpf!

Dr. M. is still in the dog house. He is still making us cry. Don’t know what to do with all that. What happens if we just keep getting goofier and goofier. Shouldn’t this be in some kind of liability clause??

Double Hmpf!

Ok, next? Hmm, WORK! We haven’t talked about work in a couple of days. Maybe you all think we were taking a break?? Hmm, not so much I want to really talk about there. Feel some distance from it. We’re still frustrated because so many peoples’ cabs come while we’re having the Thinking Group. Get’s to be that the last 15 minutes we’re dealing with a ghost town. Before that it was ok. During the first part we called up the four clients that haven’t been clapping during the entertainment sing/dance practice for the spring fundraiser. Not sure how that took up our attention, but it did. I think because they looked like they were having a bad time. We have a lot of fun though in this group. We got them partner clappers and turned up the music good and high and did some great encouraging. Hehehe. You should have seen the gloomiest one, he did the most terrific job of clapping I’d ever seen! Not sure what wires had been crossed on that one. I’m thinking he just needed a little space and attention. YAYYYY!!!

The third part of the hour was terrible. See above, but during the middle part, we figured we wanted them to understand how easy it was to start their new exercise program we haven’t really developed yet, but we were pretty sure we wanted them to understand evaluating their own efforts. We wanted something that they could all do on their own and from home in their bedrooms. So, we called 5 people at a time to volunteer to run in place. We didn’t want a law suit or nothing, so we timed them for 30 second intervals. In between we asked them if it had been easy, hard, or so-so. If it was hard, we had them sit down and another volunteer would come up. We only had one runner who made it the full 3 minutes and 30 seconds. Does this convey how much work is necessary? We then had ummm, a little talk. We definitely included in the dialogue questions as to what was happening with the people who didn’t even volunteer! Sheeesh. Pretty much we congratulated the person who had volunteered that she’d really thought about volunteering. We gave her a big yayyyyyyyyyy, and then we suggested that as a goal for the chair sitterers - that they at least seriously consider volunteering to run next time. If we can get the non-clappers to clap, I’m pretty sure we can do this too! Hehehe

Yup, yup someone pays me to do all this!

I know, I know … some of you are thinking … that one … her cap isn’t really screwed down tightly … like someone who resembles an open tube of toothpaste. But, just the same here we are in the middle of life and it just keeps progressing. YES … we’re going FORWARD!!! Double Sheeeesh.

Hmm, thinking we are feeling a little light headed. Maybe its time to eat lunch … we’re a couple hours off … that’s the nice thing of being home … we can eat when we want to  Let me check out the freezer 

Whoops a little too dizzy … we got up too fast and by the time I got to freezer the light headedness blanked out my vision for a couple seconds thought I was going down. We DIDN’T though. Super Deb Ego just took up V’s shoulder. But, just to make sure, we’re eating some peanut butter now as the stuff unfreezes in the microwave.

Ahhh, all better … eaten lunch and talked to V a few moments. He’s UP! We also got a couple of mails saying that the second set of books are on its way and the scale … just shipped. On a SUNDAY even! The first set of books came in on Friday right before group. I have to figure out how to use them best. I included a picture above of the daily log we’ll be using for the groups. I was just taking a look at it. It seems broken down by heart, strength, attitude, and diet notes primarily. Think that’s a great idea for our structure and the clients/staff. We figure that we should teach the clients to exercise to music rather than worrying them about timers. Most don’t understand numbers well. Most everyone has music though. Figure most songs 3-5 minutes … that won’t overdue anything. There isn’t a lot of writing room and that is good, because of similar difficulties. But, I could see if they were interested in taking the book log home and asking someone to fill it in for them.

For the aerobic heart exercises we can teach running or walking in place. Just thinking it would be a really cool goal if by this time next year the clients could all stand up at the spring fundraiser and walk/run in place for a songs time or two. That has to be just as fulfilling to the parents as any pre-established dance/song number. Hmm, I wonder if Sister would buy that. It be pretty something … we could set a one year goal with pounds lost for the center too. Hmm. Interesting. We were looking through the calorie books we got on Friday too. We brought our copy home and gave one of the DSPs who had stayed later her copy. First thing she had to look up was double cheese burger from Mickydonalds. Yeeks! Just to be fair, we looked up our sub sandwiches from subway. The low fat might be ok on calories, but they sure do add a lot of salt to their meats!!

Ack … it’s the next morning already. We lost the rest of the day to reading material about fitness. Think we are going to post and start again … sorry about that.

posted by Ann Marie @ 2/20/2006 05:06:00 AM Comments: 5

Yawwwwwn ... long day just like we like um.

Good afternoon! I didn’t get a chance to write this morning, but we’ve earned some free time. I think I’d like to take the next four hours off to write and read blogs. Pretty sure if V. were around I’d have his blessing. I just finished writing another paper and commenting on a few of my peers papers. YaHOOO!!! FREE TIME! This new plan of V’s where I have to start with the paper first is working real well. I feel good about getting the work done and when I am working on the fun stuff I feel it’s a deserved treat!

Not sure where our thoughts are going to take us this morning, but seeing as it is still sorta Saturday morning, we’re sure as hell going to give it a whirl.

Let’s see … first … hmm, school is going pretty good for the moment. We’ve got one more paper to finish this week that we would like to start at about 3 pm. I figure if I can be well into it, I might finish before the end of the night, though I might have to extend bedtime until about 9 pm. Hmm, maybe I should plan on doing the paper tonight and the comments tomorrow. That might work better. I’d much prefer doing work first thing in the morning rather than dragging out the night.

A few of you have commented on me being able to get things done. Let’s reiterate the point friend is helping me around the house and besides communicating in a few IM’s my weekends are pretty empty. No one to rush to soccer practice, nor to their dentist, or out grocery shopping and my meals consist of something I can put in the microwave from the freezer for 10 minutes at a time. I could think of almost no better way to live. Well, I do love it when I get to eat something new, but for the sake of diet and time, best we stay our stable course.

I also took to heart the statements concerning missing meals. I agree it’s pretty silly. So, we’re trying to remedy the problem. No reason why we can’t at least have cereal for breakfast and something for lunch. I would love to change my heavy meal of the day to another time, but I haven’t worked out the basics yet. Pretty convenient to engorge in a meal when we’re tired at the end of the day and have nothing else to do, but climb into bed. I think food makes us sluggish; maybe something to do with the diabetes. We’re trying out this week new medicine. Maybe that will help.

We’ve been having trouble with the scales of late. This morning we weighed in again at 4 pounds over although we’d gotten back down to 271 just prior. Three rounds battling the same four pounds. This MIGHT have something to do with having gone to a Bohemian Smorgasbord last night, but for the record, I had diet coke, brothy chicken noodle soup, and only one trip up to the dinner bar. The noodles were skinny … granted it was a healthy size trip to the bar. Bohemians appear to be very good pork cookers and even the chicken legs were stuffed. AND, we do love a good potato pancake … still fighting these 4 pounds is frustrating. Did I mention I did not sample one dessert!?? Shoot. Maybe I’m losing size not pounds? Or, maybe there is some dieting rule about thinking what we would LIKE to eat as adding to calorie counts. Our friend brought up that we are moving around a lot more than before and that some of the weight might be converting over to muscle. I think that’s a pretty far stretch, but it beats thinking that our time of the month is just around the corner. HA! There’s nothing my mind would not dare to think by this point!

Ahh bedazzzled … thought you might want to know that V. got us to stop listening to JD for a while. We jus finished Frank Sinatra’s “Mack the Knife,” and that preluded perfectly to Enya’s Shepard Moons. Go figure? I subscribe listening to Jukebox Music and they have what is called, “My favorite station.” Somehow they collect an idea of the kind of music you listen to and that gets played back to you skipping around on artists. It’s serving good purpose now. Hehehe before that Paul Simon and George Winston. Odd enough stuff to be in my collection. Hmm, Charlotte Church? Am I confusing your mind yet?

Ok, ok … what’s next? Did I ever finish school? Think we got through the day’s plan. I wonder if we couldn’t dare look for a moment at the outline from last semester’s paper. AHA! We made a few changes, but we’ll stick to the basics. This is what we are looking at … 30 pages worth … ugh

OUTLINE FOR FINAL COURSE PAPER
Option A:
Summary of Knowledge
1. Sociopolitical issues & culturally appropriate interventions
2. Multicultural family interventions & cultural development
3. Non-western & indigenous approaches to treatment
4. Special population focus: African Americans
5. Special population focus: Asian Americans
6. Special population focus: American Indians & Alaskan Natives
7. Special population focus: Hispanic Americans
8. Special population focus: The elderly & persons with disabilities
9. Exploring the diversity of human sexuality & gender
10. Socioeconomic class & religious/spiritual orientations

Critical Analysis of Important Concepts and Theories of this Course

11. Changing demographics
12. Locus of control/responsibility
13. Values and barriers
14. Family characteristics
15. Educational status
16. Class affect on perception and behavior
17. Core mental health concerns
18. Religious and spiritual influence on World view

Synthesis of Ideas

19. Monoculturalism and acculturation
a. Personal mindset
b. Conclusion
20. Values of Western-based counseling
a. Strengths
b. Weaknesses
21. Values of Indigenous people and folk healers
a. Strengths
b. Weaknesses
22. Communication
a. Affect of this course on personal understanding
b. Communication to others (Staff and client training at work)
23. Treatment Strategies
a. Personal Change & Goals
b. Future Studies

Hmm, seems reasonable … would break down into about 1 1/3 pages per area of 23 areas. I’m not sure of skipping from knowledge to analysis and synthesis. If I were going to use Bloom’s original taxonomy it would go knowledge, comprehension, application, analysis, synthesis, and conclusion. I already sent in the outline for professor approval. Better make it work. I guess knowledge and comprehension go together, in that what I will do is collect as a summary what I had previously picked up in knowledge and so we’re pushed forward already to comprehension. Hmm, I like that. As far as application, I might want to establish a case study or more to go along with the paper to bail me out of trouble when an example might better explain a point. And then, I could easily see 22 Communication and 23 Treatment strategies as serving as a conclusion. Yep, yep works for me!

Ok, we’re past go … what would be the next step … if I were to give an example of say working on the final paper. WHICH FOR THE RECORD, I AM NOT! Hehehe That be much too scary. Well scary? What were to happen if I were to work on the final paper now that I’m interested, and just do that other paper tomorrow? It’s not due to then anyway. Sure give me a leg up to start pacing this bad boy down. Look to the right, look to the left, forward, backward … nope no V. We see Bon and Mal over there, but we want to keep them in reserve in case we really start to mess up on our V cues. Hehehehe Hmm, wonder how the mice are doing? No no … that’s no good … better concentrate … BUT, did you know that today was Mal’s birthday??? Yup, yup … thinking prime rib here. I think that’s what you call it. Sure hope that wasn’t a secret *Silly grin!*


Ok, ok goofy people. Better get back to work. Paper? Ok, let’s bet a Saturday on it. Still a whole 8 hours left to work. Sounds good to me!

AHA! We made it 7 hours of study. Pshwoo. Been studying to pieces. We gathered the first 16 resources for our paper, but the last … man … it was 35 pages! That took a while to get through. But, fortunately for us it is all interesting. The last paper was on traditional medicine in contemporary contexts: protecting and respecting indigenous knowledge and medicine. WooHOOO That’s a mouthful. Did you know that 25% of the medicine on the shelves originated from indigenous medicine? I didn’t know that! Real good paper.

But, alas … I’m yawning … bout time to move on … Mal if you get to this before the end of the night … one more Happy Birthday to you! And, nighty-nite and sweet dreams!

posted by Ann Marie @ 2/18/2006 07:04:00 PM Comments: 6

Hmm, so much to think on ...

Good morning, good morning! Guess what?? I earned a free “V morning!” That means we got up before him and finished a paper, so we get FREE time with V’s blessing to mess around here with MPD blog. YAYYYYYYYY! Shoot, shoot wish we had some marshmallows to throw around or something! Hmm, maybe breakfast? Yah, let’s do that! Officially, it is now 4:52 am and we’re going to get cereal! Hmm, maybe scale? We forgot that earlier. Well, maybe but with further trepidation, because we’ve been drinking coffee. I’m pretty sure that’s going to make us heavy 

Yeeks, that was so not a good idea. It said we gained 4 pounds over night. Damn…

Eh, flukey weight … we’re still having our cereal! We didn’t have breakfast and lunch yesterday, but ate a heavy dinner. We had the left over noodles AND tomato sandwiches. Still 4 pounds?? Ok, ok nevermind that … we’re going to march forward into our day. Well, not really march, cuz its only February. Hmm, wandering here…

Well, anyway … we DID finish a paper … and it turns out we’d already written comments, but wrote one more before we figured it out. I was in such a good mood; because we talked to our teacher for the first time yesterday and figured out we weren’t in trouble with late assignments after all. She said something about “finding out” that she had to be a little more lenient with late assignments, especially because of doctor’s note. No reason to add THAT kind of pressure on students that we can’t turn in anything late. What would be the purpose of late, if you couldn’t use it?!! I don’t want to get over involved with it that I’m not trying to catch-up. Just one a day … we can do this … four more days . What be REALLY good though is if I did two papers on Saturday, that would allow me some time on Sunday to work on the final paper.

The teacher said when asked that we don’t have to turn in an outline for our final paper like was due during chapter 5 of last semester. She says she understands because there are some other students repeating the course. She says that they’ve redone that part, so it isn’t necessary, but if I want to turn one in that’s ok, she said she’d look at it. I like that idea a lot … two papers Saturday and final paper Sunday. It’s one of those long 30 page things that could get the better of me as it did last semester. I might as well plan ahead this time. Hehehe shoot, who wouldn’t want to be a student!??

Yesterday was ummmm … well, we’re remembering first that our sweetie pie came over. But, it was just for a quick visit. He was an hour later than expected, so had told us to eat ahead of him. He had left some meat here the other night, so cooked up another couple of dinners for the freezer and he had something to eat. My poor baby was going to a card game and he said he needed to be there at 7 pm sharp! Sometimes I think he goes to work, just to practice getting to the fun stuff on time . We’ll talk to him this morning, but we already know he is going to complain about being tired as if that might not occur to him the night before. Guys are kinda funny this way  But, stands to reason if he wins at least $5, he will have thought it a good cause. Go figure!

Hmm, now the work stuff … what do we remember?

First thing? Shoot, not doing such a good job remembering. I do remember the part of Sister handing us over another CARF book. She has in the past done this book herself. It is a survey guide to help you answer the standards questions. Usually, we do the standards and this year we have a checklist as well. So, I figured in general, why not do the questions, at least that way we keep things all standardized and maybe it would help me with the other stuff. Pretty sure CARF doesn’t do this kind of stuff to us, just to pain us! Shoot, that reminds me … we still have to put our money down for the meeting in Ohio come June. Plenty of time right? Just got to remember. We got a paycheck yesterday, but that’s the check that covers the rent. Can’t be outspending that one.

A good thing was that we figured that we better use pencil on the questions. That turned out to be a REAL good idea. We’re the type that gets half way through a thought, and then change our mind. The questions that we answered yesterday helped us put a whole perspective on this set of standards. There were like three major questions, but they broke down to about 12-15 questions. Pretty much wanted to know where we got input from clients, staff, and others, how we analyzed it, and how we used that to be planning. This information could include anything business wise, but they suggested things like program development, strategy, finances, resources and the like. One thing for sure … if I ever went into a different company, I’d have a better idea than most about how things work together. This is the year we want to become a full CARF expert. We want to figure out the small details. I’d think by the next CARF three years from now, I’ll have my masters, maybe more experience, because Sister would have hired the third Q giving me different responsibilities, and I will be very confident in my CARF and report writing abilities, and possibly accept the job of being an inspector. Part of that comes in too with my weight and ability to move around. I refuse to sit in airplane where I have to ask for an extender seat belt! Booooo HISSS HISSS…

I finished the work by 2:30, which was pretty amazing, because of all the office stuff going around yesterday. One way or another it was placed on Sister’s desk, which might have something to do why I’m being treated so nice the last couple of weeks. I’m now back to being important. Well, that and the other Q is having Sister problems now. It’s pretty well known in the agency that there’s always a good guy and a bad. It’s just that I’ve been the bad guy for so long, I sorta feel sorry for the other Q. Words out that she got written up too, but Sr. was so put off by her not valuing this criticism that she had the other Q write herself up! Shoot, that’s just not right! I told that to our friend last night though and he said he’s used that technique before. I say stand up all the little people in the world and rebel against such thinking!

I saw part of the letter the other Q was writing. There’s no doubt she was still angry … she had gotten pretty legalistic in her terminology and was still denying that she’d done wrong in not having whole case files of Qnotes not done when the inspector was here. Again, we must say for the records, we just got luckier than her. Our notes were further progressed. At least due to the structuring we’ve done … everything is down on paper and backed up. Another fault of the other Q was that because she didn’t have things down on paper, the assistant that we each get for one day, cannot finish an entire Qnote of the other Q. where in my case she can. Today, I’m going to take the Q. to meet a couple of the DSPs in meetings where we go over more thoroughly the needs of understanding the client’s goals more clearly. I want a three system back up behind every client’s goals. We’re counting on the DSP to let us know what can be done, the assistant for getting it recorded properly, and myself for making sure everything works together with some purpose. YAYYYY Team! There’s going to come a point in time where things are more caught up and we can play more with future ideals.

One of the things that I was working on yesterday was in being able to mess a bit with a type of survey that I’d been trained to do sometime last year. It is called, “Support Intensity Scale.” I didn’t get it approved last time because Sister was yelling at me, “Nothing New!!!” Right now I’m in her better graces, but if I were to get the package it would be at an addition $138 for test booklets for 50 people. And then, she would complain about who was going to do all the testing. It would have to be done by me and with the assistance of the DSPs. What this test though would do for us is give us a basis for the performance analysis report, which is like the outcome assessment of what it is our company does and why it is an important service to the community. The survey breaks down in segments all the clients needs whether it be medical, psychological, daily assistance, remedial, etc. It asks us to gauge how much service is needed and what kind of time it would take, and it is scored against a norm. It would more clearly help us to design programming needs, which is the basis for the performance analysis I am going to need doing. I would then have to have more input into the goals and programming. I think this is something that someday Sister is going to need for me to do. We don’t have conformity with the goals and the programming is being short-cutted, so in need of reevaluation because there is now more steadied work at the center. That is the stuff that gets done in our workshop. The other Q came up with a test from one of her meetings that would be useful here, and we’d started to test it out with one of the DSPs this week. It is more clearly defined in work, community and socialization goals. Sister doesn’t always see the purpose in testing, but without it making specific outcomes is difficult. The state and about everyone else is demanding we work “by numbers.”

A big concern is if the assistant is going to stay on past her graduation in June, and whether or not Sister would hire her full time. Sister needs to be convinced that I can put together an entire agency plan. I think she has in mind at this point that we split 3 ways the caseload of 50 clients. I instead want to have the client caseload split evenly between the other two Q’s, but I would take on the higher role of setting goals for all the clients for specific learning needs. There is room at the center for a developmental instructor. Thing is that I would need that position to be higher than a Q. Q’s would still be responsible for the annual meeting and Qnotes, and such … most likely parental involvement too. But, while the DI would communicate to the Q in gaining input into the goals, would be the one develop the plan. The center should be able to take itself up a couple of notches as to its usability in the community. I am still not opposed to the idea of selling our practices to other facilities. Would need a whole encompassing plan. Yup, yup this is the year we’re going to need pulling together all CARF concepts as one big whole. I need to improve the program itself so that it is more articulate as to services rendered. We have to get to the point where clients’ graduate and new people are brought in to GET to a certain point, not just longstanding care. Hmm, if all else fails, I could do things more old school and incorporate into the business plan that we get to the points I’m not thinking of vaguely in my mind.

Pshwoo … I guess I’ve worn out my time. But, it might be worthy of my time this morning while at work to be putting together more an outline of this that I have in mind. Always we feel so vague. This is why people have to write paper after paper. We need to claim our points of interest.

Have a good one!

posted by Ann Marie @ 2/16/2006 06:24:00 AM Comments: 6