Our Little Addition

When I graduated college, one of my best friends from high school, and I moved into a small, two bedroom apartment. We were learning what it was like to be "adults" - transitioning from lifeguarding into grown up jobs, and helping each other get ready for big dates that we would eventually forget. One afternoon, I went for a run and saw a dog tied up to a fence with some sort of twine. I decided that I would drive back by the area after my run and see if the dog was still there. I didn't really have a plan, but knew that the dog (later described as the "ugliest dog I have ever seen" by my friend Rachel) needed someone to take care of him.

When I drove back by, the dog was still there, so I loaded him up in my car and drove to the drug store. I bought some shampoo and dog food headed back to the apartment. I didn't even think to buy a leash, which proved to be a problem when I tried to walk him later on. These were the days where cell phones were not the norm, and I had no idea where my roommate was or when she would be home. I lured the dog,(later named Brownie because of his luscious brown coat) into the bathtub with some cheese and proceeded to give him the messiest bath ever. We both came out sopping wet, but Brownie was clean, and I felt comfortable leaving him when I left. I didn't even think that the dog would need to go the restroom, and left Ellen a note asking her not to freak out, but alerting her that there was a dog in the house.

When I arrived home, Brownie was outside in our small, gated patio and Ellen was not happy. Apparently, I hadn't really thought this through. Where was the dog going to run and play? Who was going to pay the security deposit for an animal in the apartment? Who was going to watch the dog during the day? Oops. Brownie was shipped off to Ellen's parent's house, where she was able to enjoy a large backyard. I did visit her, but eventually Ellen's mother found that Brownie was not a stray, but actually someone's pet who had run away. Brownie and I shared a tearful goodbye and I never saw her again.

Fast foward almost ten years. As I was leaving work about a month ago, I noticed a little puppy who had wandered into the front yard. We fed her some water, gave her some food and waited for her to run on. I went back inside for a little while, and when I came out, she had moved to the porch. It was hard for me to look at this little face and not feel sorry for it.

I took a picture and sent it to Mike, asking, "Can we keep her?" I was already calling her Maggie and took her in the back to give her a bath. While fleas were jumping off of her, I noticed that she had what looked like tire marks on her. She was limping and I couldn't imagine leaving her alone. Since I had not heard from Mike, I decided I would take her home and ask for forgiveness later. (This is not a good marriage practice.)

After taking her to the vet and learning that she had some hip displaysia ( and that she was a HE) we were also told that he had a chip. We finally got in touch with owners who informed us the dog went missing after her chewed through the rope they had him tied up on in the back yard. They waited for him to come back for three days and eventually just got another puppy. He had been on his own for two weeks. At this point, what could we do? Mike had begun to love our little mutt, and he was so good!

We called and asked the owners if we could keep him, and they said it was no problem for them. I have never had a dog and I am actually loving it. Yes, he gets into everything and has chewed up several pairs of my shoes. But I have never seen anyone so incredibly happy to see me walk through the door at night, or to cuddle up in the bed (which is not allowed. Don't tell Mike.) We are having fun with "Maggie," now, "Mags" and taking it as a new chapter!

It's Been a Long Time..

I am sitting on the sofa with tissue paper glued to my face with egg white, praying that Mike doesn't walk in the door earlier than he said he would. I found this face mask on Pinterest, and am waiting to see if it actually does all the things it promises. I will report back.

Yes, I haven't written in forever. No, I don't really have an excuse. I thought about all the events I did not document the other day - Father's Day, a beach trip and a wedding, MY BIRTHDAY....maybe I will be able to go back and repost.

SO - here's where we are. Mike's LAST YEAR OF SCHOOL is about to start! We (I) am so excited. He is super stressed with having to write his dissertation and teach a class. I am continuing to enjoy work and just wrapped up the longest four days I can remember. I took Friday off for my own mental health, knowing that I had to back on the job at 9 this morning. I napped a lot today. :-)

Recently, I have been comparing working with children in difficult situations to working with adults.I may have noted in a different post that I worked with kids in foster care oh so long ago, and truly loved that job. Here's the thing about kids - it's hard to blame them for the things they are going through. It's hard to say, "Hey four year old - I am really disappointed in the choices your mom made, but you should have to suffer the consequences." Adults are a whole new ballgame.

For the most part, we don't run into a lot of issues because they people we are serving are so sick, and they are grateful just to have somewhere to be and someone who cares about what happens to them. Once in a while, you get a bad apple- an entitled apple, and you have to walk away to keep yourself from lecturing this person on how lucky he/she is to be in an environment where others WANT to help them. It can be trying. We had three clients move out of our facility (where cable tv, three meals, air conditioning and a private room are provided) because they were tired of abiding by our rules. They were tired of being told they had to be home by 10 pm and that they had to tell someone where they were going. It was really upsetting for me, because I have a feeling these individuals may be knocking on our door in a few years, looking for a place to die comfortably. (Yes, my job is kind of dark.)

On the other side, there are people who genuinely appreciate what we do everyday. I went to pick a man up on Wednesday, planning to bring him our little Cottage. When I knocked on the door, I waited...and waited...and begin panicking that maybe we had not gotten to him in time. I realized I had his number and called him, only to see a ghost of a man hobble to the door. He told me he was so glad I was there because he was feeling weak. I ended up calling 911 because he was making me nervous, and because as much as I may try to pretend, I have no "M.D" after my name. The paramedics told me his vitals were good but took him to the ER as a precautionary measure. He ended up moving into our little house that night.

Since he came, he has been put on Hospice, and looks worse than when I picked him up. The only thing I can be thankful for is that he will most likely spend his final days with us, rather than alone in an apartment. While we were waiting for the ambulance to pick him up, this man asked me to gather up his medicines which were "by his bed." I walked to the room he was pointing at, but saw only a couch. It took me a minute to recognize that his "bed' was a pillow and some blankets on the floor. A hospital type toilet was sitting in the room and hadn't been emptied in days (from what I could smell.) The floor was piled with dirty dishes, clothes and just junk. The cold water was not working, so he had been drinking hot water out of the faucet. I am still waiting to speak to the roommates he told us about. No one seems to be very concerned that he suddenly disappeared.

While that is a pretty depressing story, it is what keeps me going. This man knows that he is a place where he no longer has to sleep on the floor and where people are caring for him. Hopefully, that is enough.

I am sorry to be so depressing, but this is what has been going on! We are looking forward to seeing some fun people next weekend for the AL game, and are headed to spend some time at the beach with my parents in a few weeks.

To conclude, the egg mask did not work. While my skin does feel somewhat softer, the blackheads are still staring at me from my chin, not on the mask. You can try it yourself here:

 http://beautydivaindia.blogspot.com/2010/12/diy-peel-off-mask-blackhead-removal.html

Let me know if you get different results!

Austin

This is the first weekend I have been home in two weeks and I am thrilled. I didn't get much done on my to-do list, but we do finally have some food in the house and lasagna sauce on the stove. I forgot how precious the weekends are to run errands, clean the house and just relax. On the other side, the weekend trips were worth it! Two weeks ago, Mike and I took a trip to Austin to celebrate our first and second anniversaries. Neither of us had been, and everyone said it was worth the four hour drive. In standard Mike and Jenny style, it took us a little longer. We said goodbye to our little munchkin and started on our way.

 When we finally got on the road, we heard a "pop" and Mike swerved off the road. Luckily, the traffic had calmed down so we were able to ease onto the shoulder and see this.

If you can't tell, it's completely flat. We called our AAA people and waited....and waited....45 minutes later, a peculiar looking gentleman with only a few teeth helped change our tire. Michael helped by eating the fried chicken we had picked up only a few minutes before the tire blew. He claims he knew it was coming and had planned ahead so that we would have sustenance.

When we finally arrived, it was almost 9:00. Mike was interested in looking for the bar in our hotel, but I was interested in crawling in bed. We both slept hard and woke up in the morning ready to explore. There is a strip of road that has shops and food trucks. I loved the food trucks - they were all very unique and had delicious food!

This one was so neat to me because it looks like someone's house....it's not.

This is where Mike ate - I really wanted him to try the Predator and Prey, but he wasn't interested.

This sign kind of sums up Austin:

That night we got dressed up and went to dinner. Only later did I found out that the place we went to is a chain....This was supposed to be some sort of seafood tower extravaganza....

After dinner, we hit 6th street. We did not hit it hard. In fact, after about 30 minutes of people watching, we decided we are too old for 6th street. They have these handy little bike people who ride around the city looking for suckers like us. People who don't want to catch a cab, but also don't want to walk 4 blocks in heels. I suggested that we get a ride and this guy literally carried us for several blocks with his iPod blaring, "Partly like it's 1999!" It was so much fun until the guy told us we owed him $20!

Our chariot:

The next day, Mike and I took it easy. We had been told about the bats that come to Austin and decided we wanted to see them. Apparently, 1.5 million bats live under a bridge over Lake Travis and all come out at night. On our way, we saw a parade for gay marriage! My first protest/parade! I wanted to join, but we did have a commitment to the bats....

Sorry, there are no pictures of the bats. It was late when they decided to come out, and hard to get them on camera.

The last leg of our trip was spent driving through Texas in search of the Lone Star State's best BBQ. I had seen Salt Lick on "Top Chef" and several people suggested that we try it out. It was a beautiful day, and we had a great time just waiting for a table. Live music and a beautiful winery right next door.

There's not to much to say about this place, except it is delicious. They BBQ the meat on hot stones for many, many hours...

This was enough for me, but Mike ordered the all you can eat special. The money was not spent in vain.

One happy boy :-)

I took a nap on the way back, but woke up to this:

Yes, another tire was losing air. I'm not sure what happened there...maybe it was a sign we should have stayed another night.

All in all, we had a great time. Austin is an amazing city and Mike and I had not had vacation on our own since our honeymoon. (2 years.) It was greatly needed! My next expedition was to Toronto, but I will leave that for another post. Hope all is well!

It Starts with One

I know that I have not written in awhile, but I am going to address that in another post. Work is wearing me out! Today I am focused on Mother's Day and how many special people should be honored. It occurred to me  that while we all have our one "real" momma, the one who raised us, there are so many other wonderful women that should be celebrated. No, I am not going to forget this lady right here:

This woman is the most selfless, loving and fiercely protective person I have met when it comes to her babies (whether they are 3 years old or 31.) I know I can call her at any hour to talk through a problem, ask for relationship advice or just kill time on my drive home from work. She works tirelessly as a mother, but also for my dad's practice- and she just discovered coffee last year! My mother is a mediator, a listener and a shoulder to cry on. She is hilarious after one glass of wine and often amazes me with her inability to age. And so, it starts with one.

I can almost bet that everyone has an "Other Mother." A mom they spend half their childhood with. A mom that was given permission to punish you if necessary and whose house you know just as well as your own. For me, this was Nancy Heck - my very best friend, Emily's mother. Nancy used to listen to me while I followed her around the house asking her questions, and put me to work scrubbing bathrooms if I was over on the weekends. I can still call her even though her daughter is in New York, just to catch up. She is an incredible other mother, and now, an incredible grandmother to three beautiful babies.



Then we have the mothers that aren't related by blood. My mother in law, who gave me the gift of an amazing husband.

Who taught her son how to treat and treasure his wife, and molded him into the patient, kind and loving man that he is. She is always a blast when we get together, ready to celebrate any occasion in true Italian style. Mama C is a fashion connoisseur and keeps me updated with the latest trends - she has also taught me more than one secret to cooking. She embraced me as soon as I met her nine years ago, and has constantly continued to make me feel like her daughter, not just an "in-law." (We were going to a Halloween party....I think I am the only one that dressed up...)

Finally, we have the next generation. The women who are my friends, who have begun this journey of motherhood. While stressful, exhausting and probably the hardest thing they have ever done, the girls I know are amazing. They are patient, loving and thoughtful. They seem to automatically know how to take a deep breath and count to 10. They are creative and raising incredible children, while they continue to balance external jobs and marriages. (Sorry, I have more pictures of their kids than the moms! Also these are in no particular order!)


Indihi:

Rachel & Anna Barton:

Kate (who has twin sisters on the way!):


Harper:



Kate and Ellie:


Houston and Calista:

Vivi:



Avery Claire, Auden and Adler Grace - Baby Bee is looking down on you!


So Happy Mother's Day to ALL the wonderful mothers out there. You are appreciated and loved!!

Happy Easter, Happy Spring, Happy Every Little Thing!

I stole that little ditty from an Easter card, so Hallmark should really get credit for it. I started this post by writing, "I love Easter" but realized that I start all blogs about the holidays like that. I think I just love the idea of celebrating something - being around the people that you love and, in our case, eating a lot of food. Mike informed me that Easter will always fall during a stressful part of work for him, as the semester is wrapping up. He is swamped with deadlines (and a sneaky cheater) right now, and I know he is looking desperately for the light at the end of the school year.

As a little pick me up I went to the store and spent an outrageous amount of money on candy. (Why is it so expensive?) I bought a cute little basket and a card and set them out before he woke up Sunday morning. As soon as Mike woke up, he looked at me and said, "Did the Easter Bunny come?" I told him that we would have to go downstairs and see, but then asked if the Easter Bunny had come for me. As we walked downstairs he told Lullabelle, "Mommy is about to be really disappointed." I did get some surprise treats later on, but I think they are mostly for Mike. :-)

The rest is really just pictures. I never really got that excited about Easter baskets because I don't really like candy. I am still munching on some old Halloween treats that I have stashed away when I want a little chocolate. My mom used to eat the chocolate bunny and it really wasn't that big of a deal. I will trade that chocolate for a big ole piece of cake (or cupcake) any day.

It may not be the PRETTIEST cake you have every seen, but it is delicious! (Yes, it is from Pinterest.)

Mike's basket of goodies:

Finally, for Easter supper, I decided to take another stab at Mama Cherbonneau's special sauce. I think it turned out a little better this time - it will take a few decades to get it right!

I am really disappointed because I had a picture of Mike sitting down to dinner, but I took it with my work phone and now I can't figure out where the picture went. I hope your Easter was filled with joy and love as well!

Movie and a Job

Mike and I just finished watching "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close." And I cried. I cried like I cried in the theaters when "Titanic" came out. Big, fat tears with my nose dripping. Crying like someone I knew had died. Crying to the point that Mike said, "Wow. I don't think I have ever seen you cry that hard. Ever. Have you seen yourself cry?" Believe me, it's not pretty - I know. If you haven't seen the movie, I will simply tell you that it revolves around the events of 9/11.

When 9/11 occurred, I was in New Orleans for college, but surrounded by a surprising amount of people from the Northeast. Our school was shut down for a week while students went home in hysterics. I remember sitting in front of the television for HOURS, sobbing about people that I didn't know until my roommates made me leave the living room so that the house could watch something a little more cheery. I get attached to people - even people I don't really know.

Interestingly enough, this discussion leads right into talking about my new job! (Wasn't that a nice segway?) I haven't written here for more than a month - I can't believe how quickly the time has gone. I love where I am working, who I am working with and what I am doing. I am learning so much about a very ignored population that I will discuss on a soapbox in another post. The hardest thing that I am dealing with is seeing how many people are homeless, and knowing that I can't bring them all home and tuck them in the second bedroom. I feel like Mike may not be open to this (even though he may not discover them for a little while.)

Everyday I know that there will be a new problem to solve or new issues to handle. Today I was in the hospital room when a man was told that his biopsy results showed malignant tumors and the doctors are going to stop chemo because his body is shutting down. He nodded, looked at me and continued making arrangements to come live in our facility. He showed me his funeral plans, including the letter to his pastor of what psalm to read and a list of things that make him happy. I am constantly amazed by the emotional strength our clients have, as well as their stories. I am scared for the day to come when I walk into the house one morning and learn that one of them has passed away. I think I may be more scared than they are.

The full half of the glass is that I do know we are helping people. Recently a man left our facility and moved into an apartment. He had spent years circling from homeless shelters to the hospital, but finally ended up in our little "home." He still calls us to keep us abreast of what is going on, and comes back to motivate other clients. I am so proud of him and cannot begin to imagine the sense of accomplishment he feels.

In short - I don't think ALL the sobbing was about the movie. I am trying to help 90,000 people in just the Dallas area. It's a lot of people. But I feel like I am on the right track and am so thrilled that I am excited to get up every morning to start a new day at work. Hope y'all are well! I will try to write about something a little lighter next time!

(Sorry if this was Extremely Long and Incredibly Depressing.) (With no happy pictures!)

The Power of the Shirt

This has been a very exciting week and I am attributing it mostly to this:

You see, for Christmas, Mike got a Superman shirt from our nephew. He loves it and wears/flaunts it around the house whenever he can. I got jealous. Mike was the cool uncle. The one our nephew wanted to impress. So I ordered the shirt. Of course, when I sent Houston a picture of me wearing the shirt he sent me this back, with the message, "Aunt Jenny, where are your boots? You need them to fly!"

Thwarted again by a three year old. While I didn't order the boots, I have been wearing my shirt to cook dinner, apply for jobs and clean the house. It makes me feel more powerful. So when I received an invitation to interview for the position of Housing Services Coordinator at a Counseling Center, I thanked the shirt.

Two interviews and one presentation later, I was offered the job! We are so excited. Once I started thinking about it, this is the first time that I have been employed full time, with a salary and benefits in EIGHT years.(Thank you law school.) It has been a long road and I teared up a little when I called Mike to tell him about it. I was shocked back into reality when I realized how much I have to learn.

I will be working with patients who are HIV/AIDS positive and have recently been discharged from the hospital. They come to our living facility, The Cottage, where there are only seven beds. Because there are so many sick people who need a home, my job is to get these people out of The Cottage as quickly as possible and find them a transitional or permanent place to live. It's a lot. Mike asked me, "So, if you don't do your job, these people end up homeless?" Yes...but - challenge accepted! I am so excited about this position and feel like I am finally going to be making a difference in people's lives. I know that no day is ever going to be boring and I can't wait to dig in! Thankfully, my various bosses have been so accepting of this change in events and are allowing me to start tomorrow! (Really last Thursday.) Sooo, wish me luck! I think Mike and I both let out a sigh of relief when I got the call - this is going to be a huge weight off our shoulders.

In other news, there is cause to believe that my parents should have ordered the Superman shirts before they left on their journey. Two days into the trip, the engine sputtered out because of some mechanical issue I can't explain. They turned around and ended up in sailing home at night, in the rain with 50 mph winds. You can't make this stuff up. Thankfully, they were able to contact a towing company to help them safely back home. Don't worry - they are fixing the problem and will be leaving again as soon as possible. It appears that my parents are bound and determined to go on this trip. I wonder where my stubbornness comes from?

Well, that's it in a nutshell. I am headed for a run and then going to try and educate myself on the job I begin tomorrow. Yay!! Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend! Enjoy the Oscars!