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
