My potential killer...

This is the Eastern Phoebe for those of you not up on your bird-watching.

This bird, is scary I tell ya! For the past, oh, 4 years or so, this bird has made it's nest in our carport. Usually, it prefers to build it's nest right in the middle of the carport, right above "my" car (AKA: Mommy Ivy's car, the minivan). As you can imagine, bird poop was a given on my car roof. Ewwwww. Lots of it. Lots. Last year, I didn't want the bird "droppings" on my car, I didn't want to deal with it - so Laura knocked down the nest as soon as they started to build it. I think we knocked it down once or twice until they got the idea that maybe building and re-building right above the minivan wasn't the hot set-up (you know, bird-brain and all). And I guess the bird decided to build elsewhere.

This year, a few months ago, I noticed that bird again in the carport - first sitting oh so innocently in the rafters of the carport - watching me, mocking me. Then a few weeks later - it all began AGAIN. First a twig or two, then some more and very soon that bird had it's nest up. THIS time however, the bird decided to build the nest all the way over to the side of the carport, nowhere near the roof of my car. Smart bird - okay, I take back that "bird-brain" comment above. So we now are the soon-to-be-human grandparents of yet another set of fledgling baby birds. But, it doesn't end there.

That mama bird (papa bird?) sits in it's nest and I swear, it just watches me with it's beady little eyes every time I get into my car. I check to see as I'm pulling into the carport if it is indeed sitting on it's nest, and if so, I know to be careful because that bird likes to swoop down off it's nest and fly right over my head as I'm either getting out or into my car. When I'm getting into my car it watches me, it mocks me as if to say "Hey you, I remember what you did to my nest last year and I'll never, ever forget or forgive you - just watch me - (insert evil-sounding laugh here)". I actually have to duck my head when getting into my car, lest I be hit in the face by that bird - or pooped on. I just know it's waiting to do that, I just know.

I need help, I need therapy.

This will surely scar me for life. Maybe I should just stop eating chicken or turkey (distant cousins of the bird I'm sure) and make peace with the bird.

Or not.

Am I the only one that hates...

...the summer?

Uggg, I mean I hate the warm/hot weather. I hate the bugs. I hate sweating. I hate the dry air. I hate not being able to wear my sweaters and jackets. I hate taking a shower with the water full-blast on cold and it's still luke-warm.

But, in the spirit of finding something good in everything, I must say that I just LOVE summer fruit. I think this is about the only thing I love about summer. We went to Henry's yesterday and I was just in my glory picking out the yummy summer fruit.

So there you have it. I must be the only person in the state that does NOT look forward to summer.

Finally, the New York "Post"

Click here for the link to the picture album for our trip to New York.

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8AZs2bNu0ZNGXe&notag=1

Enjoy!!!

It's Coming!!!!!

A sign that I need another vacation...

I was standing in the shower last night waiting and waiting and waiting and waiting for the hot water. I was wondering why the water was so cold and why it was taking so darn long for the water to get hot - or at least luke-warm.

Laura came into the bathroom and I complained that the water was taking FOREVER to get hot.

She said "well, did you turn ON the hot water?"

Duh....

I need a vacation.

Yeah, I know...

Need to post New York photos.


Need to post about new job.


Need to post about "goings-on".


But - need to sleep too - you know, priorities and all that.

Patience - it ain't just a virtue...

We survived!

I have to admit that the flight back to CA was 100% better than the one going TO New York. For one thing, all 3 kids slept almost the entire flight. Yes, it was a mid-day flight but who am I to question sleeping kids??? So, Jet Blue, I do love you (hey, I made a rhyme) but your seats don't recline enough - fix it and we will be good to go.

Otherwise, the last week is a blur. Why is it a week of vacation goes by in the blink of an eye but a week at work goes by, well, sooooo much more slowly? Overall we had a great time. We took Foster to the Natural History Museum and the Hayden Planetarium (on two different days). Now, these are world-famous museums, known all over, right? We were thinking that Foster would go crazy over the dinosaur bones and the Planetarium show. Well, he did enjoy all that but wanna know what the true highlight of his two-day trip into the Big Apple was???? He wanted nothing more than to collect used Metro Cards - off the floor...in New York. Ick. For those of you not familiar with the Metro Cards you can click on the link and see what they are but basically they are pre-paid passes for the subways and buses, etc. And what do good New Yorkers do when their Metro Cards are empty and no longer usable? Do they throw them in the multiple trash cans nearby? Nope. Do they insert them into the easily accessible Metro Card recycling container? Nah. They toss them on the ground for 5 year old boys to pick up. Lucky for my kid!

Laura took me for my birthday to see Beauty and the Beast on Broadway. I really enjoyed it. How can you NOT enjoy a Broadway show? However, I admit to liking The Lion King much better. She also treated me to a wonderful lunch at the nearby Bond 45 restaurant which was simply wonderful! What a treat. That day, we were in the City solo - even more fun!

Not so fun was all of us getting sick mid-week last week. I must blame my horrible head cold on the New York subways. I could just "see" the virus' floating around the subway car invading my California immune system. I got it first, then my mom got it from me, then Laura got it from everyone else. Well, the kids seem fine though so that's good.

We also did some visiting with friends and relatives and as usual, my mom threw a party for the kids and invited half of Brooklyn - okay, not half, maybe a quarter! ;-)

That was also really fun and the food, OMG, the food........if ever there is a good reason to go to NY, the food was out of this world (Jewish Deli) - seriously, it was one of the few things that kept me going on the red-eye flight to NY (when I wanted to flush myself down the airplane toilet - well, either that or just lay down in the aisle - I was SO tired) - I just kept thinking of the food waiting for our arrival.

So, now we are back and I'm back at my new job.

I'm not going to go there just yet, that's a post for another time...

Repeat after me...

"I will never, ever, ever, never ever take the Red-Eye flight with 3 kids and sit 10 rows apart from Laura. Never, ever, ever..."

This is the flight that shall not be spoken of, well at least not right now. Maybe later, maybe.

Suffice it to say we are in New York, we've survived the MONSOON - good grief, but today we took Foster to the Natural History Museum and it was wonderful, just as I remembered it as a child when I went there on school field trips. I just loved watching Foster check everything out.

Tomorrow is the Hayden Planetarium - can't wait. More later!

Single Digits Baby!

Not counting today, we are 8 days away from our trip to New York.

Don't say I didn't warn you all you Jet Blue passengers on the red eye to New York from CA....

Just kidding, I hope.

Maybe I'm just making more of an issue about the flight than I need to, maybe the kids will be complete angels, maybe they'll sleep the entire time and be all refreshed and ready to go when we arrive, maybe there won't be any turbulence and we'll get there early...maybe not.

I can only hope that all goes well and the kids do fine. Right?

My new job isn't particularly happy that I'm working for 3.5 days (I'm taking a half day off on Friday the 13th, the day we leave for NY, AND it's my Birthday!!!) and then leaving on vacation for a week and a day (I'm taking the 23rd off as well to recuperate even though we arrive back in CA on the 22nd). But what can you do? I planned this vacation in January - way before I even interviewed for my new job. Yeah, I explained that all to them but you now the saying about "deaf ears". They do understand but I have this feeling it's just setting up some barriers that I'll have to work extra hard on to break down once we are back in CA and I'm back on the job. Then, get this, one of the largest 'cosmic jokes' has landed in my mailbox...

So, I'm planning to go to work on the 24th, my first "real" day on the new job. A day my new supervisor is waiting for with bated breath (they are in desperate need of more workers). And what do I get in my mailbox last week???


Can you guess???


Yup, a Jury Duty summons.


Guess the start date???


Go ahead, I double-dog dare ya!


YES - April 24th! My first day back on the job!


So, what does a good county citizen do?

I postponed my start date until October. I'll push my luck but only so far. I couldn't imagine telling my new-to-be supervisor that wait - I have jury duty, sorry, can't come into work. Then imagine if I got on a case? Not good. So, October it will be. Maybe by then I'll be ready for a day off of work. I don't think I'll want to be selected to be on a case so that's why I'm hoping for just a day off. Here in San Diego County for jury duty we have "One Day, One Trial". So if you go in on your report day and you don't get selected for a trial, you're done. Well, at least until your name comes up again and you get another summons (but at least you have one year to count on not having to go back). BUT, if you get selected for a trial, you have to serve just on ONE trial. After that is done, you are free for 3 years.


Well, I'm actually home right now for an hour and a half lunch (unheard of usually) during the end of my CPS training so I'm eating lunch, listening to the news, reading e-mail and updating my Blog.



I can so seriously multi-task...

Math Whiz

This is Foster receiving his award at a very special school assembly. He won the award (which also came with a free meal at a local nice restaurant) for his "excellence in math". The picture is of Foster and his Kindergarten teacher.

Goodness, I know he certainly didn't get the math genes from me, but I'm pleased he is doing so well in math. It's such an important subject. If he can continue to do well in math - he's got it made.

And hopefully he won't decide to become a social worker or anything like that! ;-)





yes, I'm joking (kinda...)

So now it's Wednesday - do you all know what that means?

Wednesday nights Laura has her Practitioner classes. This means, Wednesday night, I'm solo mama. Not too bad really. It's just after 7pm and all 3 kids are in bed. The twins are almost asleep and Foster gets to watch a movie on Wednesday nights.

I'm here posting this vs. being in my room doing whatever I need to do because I don't want to walk past the twins' room. Logan is finally quiet - he's been cranky crying for about 10 minutes. He's fine, I checked on him 3 times but every time he quiets down and I attempt to walk past his room he sees me and wakes up and it starts all over again. I think I'll stay here for a while.

I know, I need to post some pictures. Will get to that as soon as I have some good ones to post. Probably this weekend. We're going to a b-day party at the park and I'm sure I'll get some good shots of the kids there.

In other exciting news:
Foster went with his Kindergarten class to the Zoo today. He had fun and is quite the tired boy. He's doing so well in school - I'm actually a bit surprised. Surprised mostly because he's a "young 5" - meaning he turned 5 in Sept. when he started Kindergarten and is in a class with other kids who maybe turned 6 right after school started. But, he's doing very well. So well in fact, that this coming Monday he's being honored at the school assembly with "an award". I think just a few kids in his class are getting them. And no, we still don't know exactly WHAT kind of an award it is. I unfortunately can't make it but Laura will go and will totally take pictures for me.

Logan and Seth are doing well also. They seem to learn something new every day; maybe every hour. Some things they say are too funny. Seth's new thing to say when I ask him to do something is "OKAAAAAAY" - you know, like a sassy pre-teen. Lovely. He's only 2.5 - what do we have to look forward to? Logan has mastered locking and unlocking the carport door and the door to the backyard. Not fun. Nope. Not when you are the adult (without keys) standing on the other side of the door!!!!

Me - this training for my new job is kicking my butt. It's tough to sit for 8 hours at a time. But, we're more than half-way done. Yay! I just want to get settled into my new job and get my office and desk and computer and meet all my co-workers and basically just settle into my new "normal".

Laura - doing well. Studying hard for her Practitioner classes (Religious Science) and writing papers, etc.

Us - freaking out about flying to NY next month. I do NOT relish the thought of the red-eye flight to NY with 3 kids. I pray they sleep. And then, what I think will actually be worse, our mid-day flight back to CA when they will be at their peak of alertness. Oy.

Well, methinks it's quiet enough to sneak past the twins' room.

If I post again it means I didn't make it.

If you don't see a post than "yay" for me - I made it!

See ya!

It's almost Friday, so that boys and girls means...

It's "O.J.T." Day - huh?

On the Job Training Day. We usually have them every Friday, minus a few here and there. So, that means tomorrow I go to my job site and follow some other workers around and "learn the (proverbial) ropes". I'm both looking forward to it and not. I am because then I get to be out and about and learning my job and interacting with other co-workers. Not, because I have NO idea what I'll be doing tomorrow or whom I'll be seeing and that scares me. It would be different if I was working there every day and really "understood" what my daily life would entail. But only going to the OJT once a week, I really don't have that follow-thru.

Anyway, who knows what tomorrow will bring. I have been out with other social workers as they interview kids at the schools but I really want to try to go out with one that will be doing an unannounced home visit. Haven't done that yet.

Otherwise, training is going fine. Some days are more fun that others. Earlier this week I had a 4 hour training on installing car seats - yes, by the professionals. We used my minivan and other peoples vans for "examples". This meant that all the world (okay, just my co-workers) got to witness what a minivan looks like after 3 kids have been in it. Let's just say that the birds got a treat of old goldfish crackers, and I found a dime and a play watch we "lost" a month ago.

Week 4 done, "only" 4 more weeks to go!!!!!!!!!

Yeah, squishy bed...

A week ago, I awoke with wet pj's. No, didn't pee on myself. Our waterbed sprung a leak.

Since this wasn't the first (or second) time, we decided to move away from waterbeds. So we went a searchin' and bought one of those Tempur-Pedic beds.

So, yeah, it's pretty squishy. Not quite as squishy as the waterbed, but certainly more so than a regular bed.

We're still deciding if we really like it. We have 60 days to decide (we can return it actually). So far, I really like it. It's very comfy.

So, yeah, squishy bed.

Still in training...

And it's only nearing the end of the third week. "Just" 5 more weeks to go!!!!!!!!

Some days it's pretty boring. Just sitting in the classroom listening to boring people present boring topics. However, some days it's much more interesting.

Monday brings us our "Car seat installation class". For five hours we have the police dept. come to show us how to properly install carseats. That is, if I know I'm going to be removing a child or children and will be using a county car - I need to install all the carseats first. At least it's a "hands-on" training so we get to be outside, and not in the classroom.

So that's the scoop. I'll have to fill you all in on our new bed - it's ummm, squishy.

A silent scream...

Do you remember those "oh-so-boring-classes" in college? Or the seemingly never-ending, highly boring work meetings?? Yeah, those. The ones where as the instructor, or your boss, or the guest-speaker was talking you had this silent scream going on in your brain that went something like this:

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO, nobody ask a question puh-leeeeese. Everyone, just be quiet and we can get out of here ASAP. (and) Good Lord, can this person be any more boring?!?!?!?!?!!?!?!?! Please let there be a fire alarm, anything so we can leave!!!! Let me outta here!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Understand? Okay, all you lawyers (and families of such) stop reading here...

Today at my CPS training, we had a lawyer present the "Laws Pertaining to Child Abuse and Maltreatment". I thought this would be a great primer on everything I wanted to know about the laws of my new job (but were afraid to ask). But NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO, the lawyer they had was just so dry and well, boring.

She basically just read her 'PowerPoint' presentation to us. Yeah, for SIX freakin' hours! OY. I mean really, I have my Master's Degree, I can read the damn 'PowerPoint' - she did hand it out of course. Uggggg. She read it in a mono-tone voice and had a hard time making eye-contact. I'm sorry, but she wasn't just boring, she was damn boring! AND, to make matters worse, we have some of "THOSE PEOPLE" in the class (which by the way has 23 people in it) who INSIST on asking questions - yeah, like 5 minutes before we are supposed to leave, they ask a 10 minute question. Well, it wouldn't be so bad if the instructor didn't have to consult her 500 page book on all the codes because she thought we should know the exact code (and paragraph) she was talking about - but good grief lady, it's all in the 'PowerPoint' hand-out!

Oh, and don't you dare promise a room full of social workers that we're going to get out early if you don't really mean it. EARLY means an hour early or at least 45 minutes early. NOT, I repeat, NOT 25 minutes early when we never did have our 15 minute break (so therefore we were "supposed" to include that 15 minutes in our 25 minute "early leave time"). Is that "Lawyer-talk" for "early"? Did you all feel the "woosh" of air as we all sped out of there at approximately 4:35pm this evening? Sorry to all you lawyers and friends and families of ones, I know "your" family member is totally not like this lady, no, it's not possible. But then again, you aren't reading this part are you?

Can you tell I didn't have a wonderful day? Is it obvious? Sorry. Tomorrow should be much more interesting and relevant - it's the start of "CMI" (Child Maltreatment Indicators) - or what I need to be looking for when I go out on an investigation. Seriously, I really am looking forward to this - because this is the stuff I need to know to do a good job.

Oh, and to answer the "What new thing did I learn today?" - I learned that if you threaten a CPS worker with bodily harm - that will earn you up to THREE years in jail. So don't do it okay?

Okay.

First week DONE!

Whew! I made it thru the first week of my EIGHT week training for my new job as a CPS worker. I found out a few things:

First - I'll be stationed within the IS/IRS unit. AKA: the Immediate Services/Immediate Response Services unit. This is the unit of social workers that are the "first responders" or the front-end workers. After the hotline receives a report (or abuse, neglect, etc.) of a child, the report comes to us and depending on the severity of the report, we have to respond within either 2 hours, 2 days, 3 days or 10 days. I will be called a "Child Abuse Investigator". I will have the authority to remove children from the home immediately (or from school if need be).

Lots of my cases will involve law enforcement who will either meet me at the home or I will call once I get there.

Second: I have now (hopefully if the DMV is working quickly) had my vehicle's license plate blocked. So, if for instance, I'm stopped by the Highway Patrol or police and they run my plates, they will come back as "Sensitive/Confidential". Now, this doesn't mean I'm off the hook for speeding on the freeway or making illegal u-turns but it clues the police/sheriff that perhaps they can just give me a "warning" vs. a ticket. They will probably ask if I'm off-duty police or "married" to one or if I happen to work for CPS (currently the only classification of social worker "allowed" to have a "license block"). I don't have to answer but it's good to know that not only will I have somewhat of a "get out of jail free card" but MORE importantly, the parents of the kids I'm removing from the home will not be able to find out anything from my vehicles license plate info. That is after all the primary reason for the # to be blocked. AND, I'm also allowed to have Laura's license plate blocked as well, in case I'm driving her car for work one day.

This week has been long and hard. Only 7 more weeks to go! I'm glad I'll be working the Immediate Response Unit. I've heard it's really hard and draining but exciting and rewarding as well. I look forward to it. And of course, the good news is that I won't be keeping any cases longer than 30 days - once I'm done with them, off they go - either closed or onto the next worker.

That could be a good thing!

I'm still here...

Just making sure Blogger didn't "off" me in the process. It seems like I can still post and all, but we'll see.

Okay, new job training=sitting for 8 hours=one tired mama

But it's all good. Can't tell you all the "goodies" (yet) I get to have as a CPS worker, but they are GOOD. I did get my calendar for the next 8 weeks and it looks very comprehensive and quite interesting once we get thru the "intro." dry stuff. I even get to train with the CHPD (CA Highway Police Dept.) on proper car-seat installation - guess I need to know that if I'm - for example - removing a child from a home.

Okay, that's it for now. I'm off to bed!

Well, it's not February 8th anymore, now is it?

Funny how that "time" thing sneaks up on you - excuse me for a moment, I have to go cover up a boy...

...okay, where was I...oh yeah, the time thing.

What is it with time?? I mean I can barely sit thru some meetings at work, and they are only an hour long (but feel like a week) - and then at home, a week goes by in what seems like an hour!

Anyhoo, tomorrow is the BIG day. I start my new job, well, kinda. I meet my new supervisor and I get to see where I'll be stationed, and meet some co-workers but that's it for Friday. Starting next Tuesday (Monday is a holiday) I begin an 8-week training!!! Then we're off for a week to New York, that is of course, if my "new" supervisor approves my already approved request for time off (it was approved by my old supervisor WAY before I got my new job). OY.

Well, I'm going to make this short as Laura is at a book club meeting and all the kids are in bed, and it's not even 7:30pm! I need to take advantage of this time to watch one of the movies I rented before I need to return them!

OH - and dear old Blogger threatened me with NO MORE ACCESS to my blog unless I "conform" and move my blog to the "new and improved" Blogger. So I shall do that - soon. I really don't feel like messing with it now. So, if some cosmic event happens when I switch to the "new and improved" Blogger and I disappear somehow - well, it's been fun - take care and try to find me - same blog name.

Over and OUT!

Yes, it IS February 8th isn't it?

No, I'm not pregnant.
No, we didn't buy another house.
No, we didn't win the lottery.
No, we didn't win in "another" class-action lawsuit.


I did however get a promotion.
To a job I wanted when I graduated from graduate school in 1995.
Finally.


I start my new position next Friday as a Protective Services Worker, yes, more commonly known as CPS (Child Protective Services). It's still in the county so all my bene's and such stay the same. I've been in my current position (more or less a "desk job") for 6 years and I've been itching to change. I got my chance!


Not sure if I'm jumping from the frying pan into the fire or if this is really going to be good, but I am really, REALLY looking forward to this change. I'll be doing investigations (not sure of the exact unit yet) of suspected child abuse. It will be hard, very hard, but I'm ready. I need to hone my clinical skills more and get busy in the community - I want, no NEED, to work with other social workers. My current position is more medical social work and I work with like 25 other nurses - I'm the only social worker and I have felt really lost. Now the tables will be turned and I'll be working only with social workers. I'm looking forward to it. Apparently I also got the geographical location I wanted, in fact, they told me today I was their #1 pick (highest scoring on the interview) for that location - so that was really nice to hear.


It is a promotion with lots of room for advancement. In my current job, I'm "topped out", meaning I can't get any more promotions, so this is a step forward.


So there you have the big mystery. Not all that exciting for you folks out there in blog-land but it's a great big, exciting jump for me/us.


Wish me luck!

We're OUTSpoken - and Proud of it!

Turn your speakers *UP*please (it's a copy from my camera of the tv coverage, not the best quality but you get the idea) This is a TV coverage snippet of the training Laura and I went to yesterday at The Center here in San Diego. Yeah, we're in there, towards the right on the "big, comfy couch". We are now registered and available speakers to represent OUTSpoken Families - a very important group dedicated to "Our message of equality is one that resonates with every parent - we want our children to have great lives." - Jennifer Chrisler, Exec. Dir. Family PridePlease take a look and support us in our mission.Thanks!