Wednesday, March 25, 2009
SOWK 680
I just finished teaching "Children and Families Policies and Services" for the 4th time to social work master's students at Loma Linda University. Every class has a different character - Summer 2007, five weeks, 15 students, they broke me in and the first thing I did the next time I taught that class was ban laptops. Fall 2007, 10 students, we sat around a table and had a great time. Winter 2008, I was getting burned out, three times in a row was a bit much and I was just getting ready to start a new job. A year break, another class, 15 students again, mostly Title IV-E, which was good, most had child welfare or something related experience, so we could have good discussions and what I had to share with them meant something. The class is part lecture, part journal article critiques. The students read articles, write a short critique, present to the class and then lead a discussion. Quizzes and papers too. I am continually amazed that people in graduate school can have such poor writing skills. I don't know how they get in. Not everyone, of course, but I finally had to do a style sheet, with pet peeves to get some results. Nevertheless, I do enjoy it. I think if I teach it again I am going to totally revamp how I do it, just to keep me fresh...
Thursday, February 19, 2009
dog tales #1
Our dogs provide waaaay more entertainment than they cost (a bag of dog food and a box of bones a month!). My sister Joan has a night t-shirt that says "Dogs are proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy." Amen sister.
Maggie was the first. We hadn't had a dog since we lived in Peru where our housekeeper had a small wire-haired fox terrier named Inti. She was a pistol. When we moved home, we lived for quite a few years in rentals and places with little room, plus we had busy lives and were not home much. After we moved to Highgrove, we had more room and in theory had decided to get a dog. My sister Joan knew that I had carried a torch for a Great Pyrenees for a very long time, having been introduced to the breed by some friends from Arizona who had them in Tucson back in the 70s. The hitch is, Great Pyrenees are truly "great" in that they usually weigh more than 100 lbs and have a giant coat of fluffy white fur. You need room and a few extra $$$ for grooming costs. We finally had both, so one weekend after I had been away I returned to find my sister and my daughter with Cheshire cat grins - Joan had found an ad for a Pyr in Winchester. Off we went to see "Angel." She was a mess, having grown up on a horse farm, outdoors, never been groomed, had not been spayed yet. The family had her father, a great BIG boy, and didn't need another dog. She was obviously good-natured and came to us easily, and Joan swore that she would clean up. So off we went with her, her first time in a car, stuck between Joan and Laura in the back seat of my car. By the time we hit the freeway, she had a new name, "Magdalena" immediately shortened to Maggie, in honor of her Spanish/French heritage.
Within two days, I had spent $800 on her. That was soon followed by dog training with Brevela, who just loved her. Maggie was still a silly puppy when we got her and not house trained. She figured that out in about a minute, but decided that the best way to tell us that she had to go out was to jump around on the couch all 80 lbs of silly puppy. I finally had to convince her that NO, this wasn't the way to go, by dragging her off the couch, getting her down on the floor, and growling at her. She looked shocked, but I was the Mama and she rolled on her back and said, OK MOM, YOU WIN!!! She never jumped on the couch again. She is also great on a leash and I can take her anywhere - she is very friendly and people can't NOT pet her, her fur is lovely. She loves to get in your face and smell your breath (what have you been eating?) but doesn't lick.
Maggie is the queen of Highgrove. She feels that it is her duty and role to guard the entire neighborhood from evil and barks at any dog she hears ANYWHERE, and would love to take out the garbage truck - she barks, and it always goes away! She loves our neighbor who barbeques in the afternoon and chats with her and scratches her head through the fence. Right now, she is groomed and cleaned up and looks wonderful. That will last for a week or two until she rolls in the dirt, but right now she is spectacular. She loves big guys and absolutely dotes on our friend Joe, who does yard work for us, and Joan's son-in-law Rod, both of whom are good sized. She is also on a first name basis with the UPS man, who thinks she is wonderful.
Maggie also rules the roost when it comes to the "pack" too, although I am still the alpha female. She regulates Wiley and Athena when they get in her business - they are not allowed to bark at boys walking by, but recently Wiley has been allowed an understudy role...
Saturday, February 7, 2009
January flies by
I don't know what happened to January. I feel like I just got back from Texas. Life continues to be busy. My sister Joan and I have spent most of the month sorting out a difficult situation with a good friend of ours from church, Doris. She is 82, and is legally blind and somewhat deaf, and is recuperating from a bad fall in early December. Long story short, she stayed with us for a few days at a time until she was able to stay by herself at night, and we found someone from my church to come in during the afternoons to clean up and make her dinner and make sure things are in order. She knows she needs to move eventually into assisted living but it has been a hard decision for her. We are now working on getting her mobile home cleaned out and ready to sell. Slowly, slowly, it's a big adjustment for her.
Otherwise, I spent lots of time in training this month with people from other counties and hearing about budget woes. I am counting my blessings because there are (so far) no indications that SB County will lay off anyone - we may go to furloughs, but that's better than losing a job. I think I could get by if I was laid off - I could probably retire ok - but there are many of our workers who need both incomes just to get by. In our Department, we are now doing something called "Brown Bag with the Managers" every month or six weeks or so to give workers a chance to help each other and help us problem solve as well. It has been super-successful and so far we have had a great turnout. The December meeting consisted of everyone thanking each other for all the help they have given each other - we have an office that is known for its great teamwork and it continues. I feel very blessed to have this job.
Matt, Laura and Danielle are fine as are Bill, Joan and the dogs. Maggie (our Great Pyrenees) has been beside herself since two Mini Pinschers moved in across the street - they drive her nuts and she just wants to go over there and clean their clocks...Athena hates it when it rains and doesn't even want to go outside to pee. (We tell her she has no choice in this particular matter...) Wiley is a big drama king and hates having his nails clipped - acts like you're killing him.
I have started teaching my class at Loma Linda School of Social Work. Big class - 15 students. Doesn't sound like it but when they are making two presentations each, two papers, three quizzes and two longer papers, that adds up to a lot of work. However, I really enjoy the class and they are starting to get into it now. We have lots of discussion and debate over social issues. Fun.
Bill has been to the doctor several times this month. I was concerned that his legs were getting weaker, but I think it is primarily because he hasn't been doing anything except sitting. We now have him in physical therapy with the idea of getting him strong enough to be able to go back to the gym, that would help a lot. I didn't realize that his doctor is head of the medical staff at a large local Kaiser facility and gets anything he wants when he wants it. We got the referrals that he asked for within a few days. Pretty nice.
Not much gardening going on. I have been cleaning up the yard a little at a time. Didn't plant too much this winter - lettuce, beets, carrots, spinach, fennel and chard. I know that sounds like a lot, but it really isn't, not for me!
For February, I plan to keep working on cleaning out pockets of messes, of which there are many in my house, work on the yard and my class. Back to the gym on a regular basis - I have struggled to get into a regular schedule since my class is on Mondays and that was one of my regular gym nights. I'll figure it out.
Otherwise, I spent lots of time in training this month with people from other counties and hearing about budget woes. I am counting my blessings because there are (so far) no indications that SB County will lay off anyone - we may go to furloughs, but that's better than losing a job. I think I could get by if I was laid off - I could probably retire ok - but there are many of our workers who need both incomes just to get by. In our Department, we are now doing something called "Brown Bag with the Managers" every month or six weeks or so to give workers a chance to help each other and help us problem solve as well. It has been super-successful and so far we have had a great turnout. The December meeting consisted of everyone thanking each other for all the help they have given each other - we have an office that is known for its great teamwork and it continues. I feel very blessed to have this job.
Matt, Laura and Danielle are fine as are Bill, Joan and the dogs. Maggie (our Great Pyrenees) has been beside herself since two Mini Pinschers moved in across the street - they drive her nuts and she just wants to go over there and clean their clocks...Athena hates it when it rains and doesn't even want to go outside to pee. (We tell her she has no choice in this particular matter...) Wiley is a big drama king and hates having his nails clipped - acts like you're killing him.
I have started teaching my class at Loma Linda School of Social Work. Big class - 15 students. Doesn't sound like it but when they are making two presentations each, two papers, three quizzes and two longer papers, that adds up to a lot of work. However, I really enjoy the class and they are starting to get into it now. We have lots of discussion and debate over social issues. Fun.
Bill has been to the doctor several times this month. I was concerned that his legs were getting weaker, but I think it is primarily because he hasn't been doing anything except sitting. We now have him in physical therapy with the idea of getting him strong enough to be able to go back to the gym, that would help a lot. I didn't realize that his doctor is head of the medical staff at a large local Kaiser facility and gets anything he wants when he wants it. We got the referrals that he asked for within a few days. Pretty nice.
Not much gardening going on. I have been cleaning up the yard a little at a time. Didn't plant too much this winter - lettuce, beets, carrots, spinach, fennel and chard. I know that sounds like a lot, but it really isn't, not for me!
For February, I plan to keep working on cleaning out pockets of messes, of which there are many in my house, work on the yard and my class. Back to the gym on a regular basis - I have struggled to get into a regular schedule since my class is on Mondays and that was one of my regular gym nights. I'll figure it out.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
moon rocks
Saturday we went to the Houston Space Center down south of town. It started off a really gorgeous day but by the time we left at about 5 pm, the temperature had dropped 20 degrees and it was pouring cold rain! We ran for the car and got soaked in the process. The Space Center was fun - lots of people - holiday weekend, you know. They have a great display of all the different stages of the space program including the moon rover, Apollo capsules, a full size mockup of Skylab and a moon rock which we all had to touch of course (see silly picture above), several good presentations including one regarding what it is like to be an astronaut.
After lunch, Bill and Matt went off as Bill was getting tired, so Laura, Danielle and I decided to take one of the tours. First mistake. We should have done it early. Second mistake. Then we decided to take the tour that supposedly "they only offer a couple of times a year" -- sounds interesting, right? THIRD MISTAKE! by that time we were committed and trapped in a line like the ones at Disneyland, but unlike Disneyland, IT DIDN'T MOVE!!! After we waited and waited for an hour and made the acquaintance of our fellow queue-standers, we were ushered into a big bus, drove in utter silence for nearly 20 minutes and finally arrived at the underwater training center where they teach astronauts to do the repairs and installation on the Space Station. It would have been pretty interesting if something was happening, but it was Saturday and there was NOBODY DOING ANYTHING and no one to explain what we were seeing or anything. Now, it IS the biggest pool in the world, about the size of a football field and 40 feet deep. But we should have had a clue when we saw the faces of the people coming off the bus - totally deadpan. Why didn't someone TELL us????
We tried to make up for this total waste of two hours by going to an IMAX presentation about becoming an astronaut and doing a little shopping, but by that time we had had it.
On the drive home, I was reflecting about how Hurricane Ike must have roared through there. The Space Center is about halfway to Galveston, which was totally leveled, and it is nearly completely flat from the coast to Houston. Not a single bump of a hill to slow the thing down. No wonder they got walloped. We saw lots of evidence of the hurricane, but most of the damage is in the process of being repaired, and you could see stumps of trees everywhere. I'll take an earthquake any day. Matt and Danielle had no power for 17 days and were totally bug eaten by the time the power came back on (no window screens since they almost never need to open their windows), no fans. It's still really hot in Houston in September too. Remind me to stay out of there during hurricane season.
After lunch, Bill and Matt went off as Bill was getting tired, so Laura, Danielle and I decided to take one of the tours. First mistake. We should have done it early. Second mistake. Then we decided to take the tour that supposedly "they only offer a couple of times a year" -- sounds interesting, right? THIRD MISTAKE! by that time we were committed and trapped in a line like the ones at Disneyland, but unlike Disneyland, IT DIDN'T MOVE!!! After we waited and waited for an hour and made the acquaintance of our fellow queue-standers, we were ushered into a big bus, drove in utter silence for nearly 20 minutes and finally arrived at the underwater training center where they teach astronauts to do the repairs and installation on the Space Station. It would have been pretty interesting if something was happening, but it was Saturday and there was NOBODY DOING ANYTHING and no one to explain what we were seeing or anything. Now, it IS the biggest pool in the world, about the size of a football field and 40 feet deep. But we should have had a clue when we saw the faces of the people coming off the bus - totally deadpan. Why didn't someone TELL us????
We tried to make up for this total waste of two hours by going to an IMAX presentation about becoming an astronaut and doing a little shopping, but by that time we had had it.
On the drive home, I was reflecting about how Hurricane Ike must have roared through there. The Space Center is about halfway to Galveston, which was totally leveled, and it is nearly completely flat from the coast to Houston. Not a single bump of a hill to slow the thing down. No wonder they got walloped. We saw lots of evidence of the hurricane, but most of the damage is in the process of being repaired, and you could see stumps of trees everywhere. I'll take an earthquake any day. Matt and Danielle had no power for 17 days and were totally bug eaten by the time the power came back on (no window screens since they almost never need to open their windows), no fans. It's still really hot in Houston in September too. Remind me to stay out of there during hurricane season.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
texas two step
Well, we are back from our trip to Austin and Houston to see Laura, Matt and Danielle which was full of drama, as usual when I travel with Bill. We left on 12/21, but the drama started the day before when I couldn't find his identification card. I tore the house up before I finally told myself to take a breath and figure out another solution, as there was no way I was going to be able to find the darn thing. He has not used it since we went to Texas in April and I have no idea where it is. The lady from American Airlines told us to take any identification we had, so I ended up with his 25 year old expired passport, his birth certificate and a Kaiser card.
The next day, we drove to Palm Springs Airport (another new experience - nice little airport, like Ontario used to be)and they just said that he would get extra checking, which he has to do anyway since he can't walk through the metal detector. Other than that it went well, they put us on the bulk head and we rode in first class by ourselves from Dallas to Austin (big whoop, 35 minutes). When we got to Austin it was freezing cold, about 35 degrees and stayed that way until Tuesday. Laura and I went to the Christmas lunch at her new job at the hospital and I enjoyed meeting her co-workers who are all social workers, so we all had something to talk about. Nice bunch of people. She is now working in a hospital (medical social work) and is really enjoying it - she feels like she is using her education now - always a good feeling.
Tuesday she worked, so Bill and I drove on down to Houston so I could help Danielle get ready for Christmas. By the time we got there it was clear and warm, about 65 degrees and stayed nice until Saturday. She and I shopped for everyone (I didn't take any presents except two candles for Laura and Danielle), wrapped everything, decorated the house and made a centerpiece with some antique silver from Danielle's grandma, bought a tree and decorated it, filled the refrigerator, planned Christmas dinner and cooked enchiladas, chile and corn bread in the space about about 36 hours. Talk about a power Christmas! Honestly, I rather enjoyed it as I had only done some shopping for folks in my office up to that point. Laura came down the 24th. Otherwise, we watched movies (Fred Claus and Tropic Thunder), played Scrabble and the kids resurrected the FAMTASTEX rock band -- Laura has discovered that she does VERY well on drums, something she hadn't tried before. Matt has always been the drummer and Danielle and Laura take turns doing the vocals. Everybody takes turns on guitar. It's really fun to watch, as I am waaayyy too klutzy to actually participate. Hand-eye coordination? -- not so much!! The Scrabble games are always fun as we are all pretty evenly matched except for Matt who cheats! (Not really, he is just really good at it...)
Christmas we ate quiche and panneton, opened presents and just generally enjoyed the day. Matt said it was the best Christmas he had had in years. It was just good to be together. Dinner was a joint effort - Danielle made some great gouda-laced mashed potatoes, I made the Texera broccoli, Laura did the stuffed mushrooms, and Matt made a tenderloin roast with a spicy crab salad (wow!). What a dinner. It was really nice and relaxed since nobody was slaving in the kitchen. Pumpkin pie later followed by a chaser of whipped cream directly into the mouth....
Bill did ok, although there were a few issues with accessibility at both Laura's and Matt's houses -- nothing that couldn't be overcome, however. He really enjoyed the trip and was willing to accept some inconveniences.
The next day, we drove to Palm Springs Airport (another new experience - nice little airport, like Ontario used to be)and they just said that he would get extra checking, which he has to do anyway since he can't walk through the metal detector. Other than that it went well, they put us on the bulk head and we rode in first class by ourselves from Dallas to Austin (big whoop, 35 minutes). When we got to Austin it was freezing cold, about 35 degrees and stayed that way until Tuesday. Laura and I went to the Christmas lunch at her new job at the hospital and I enjoyed meeting her co-workers who are all social workers, so we all had something to talk about. Nice bunch of people. She is now working in a hospital (medical social work) and is really enjoying it - she feels like she is using her education now - always a good feeling.
Tuesday she worked, so Bill and I drove on down to Houston so I could help Danielle get ready for Christmas. By the time we got there it was clear and warm, about 65 degrees and stayed nice until Saturday. She and I shopped for everyone (I didn't take any presents except two candles for Laura and Danielle), wrapped everything, decorated the house and made a centerpiece with some antique silver from Danielle's grandma, bought a tree and decorated it, filled the refrigerator, planned Christmas dinner and cooked enchiladas, chile and corn bread in the space about about 36 hours. Talk about a power Christmas! Honestly, I rather enjoyed it as I had only done some shopping for folks in my office up to that point. Laura came down the 24th. Otherwise, we watched movies (Fred Claus and Tropic Thunder), played Scrabble and the kids resurrected the FAMTASTEX rock band -- Laura has discovered that she does VERY well on drums, something she hadn't tried before. Matt has always been the drummer and Danielle and Laura take turns doing the vocals. Everybody takes turns on guitar. It's really fun to watch, as I am waaayyy too klutzy to actually participate. Hand-eye coordination? -- not so much!! The Scrabble games are always fun as we are all pretty evenly matched except for Matt who cheats! (Not really, he is just really good at it...)
Christmas we ate quiche and panneton, opened presents and just generally enjoyed the day. Matt said it was the best Christmas he had had in years. It was just good to be together. Dinner was a joint effort - Danielle made some great gouda-laced mashed potatoes, I made the Texera broccoli, Laura did the stuffed mushrooms, and Matt made a tenderloin roast with a spicy crab salad (wow!). What a dinner. It was really nice and relaxed since nobody was slaving in the kitchen. Pumpkin pie later followed by a chaser of whipped cream directly into the mouth....
Bill did ok, although there were a few issues with accessibility at both Laura's and Matt's houses -- nothing that couldn't be overcome, however. He really enjoyed the trip and was willing to accept some inconveniences.
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