Where should I begin my writing? Well, I guess I’ll just go day by day and see where that leads. On Thursday I dropped Ann and Harley off at the airport. They were spending it with their daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter down in sunny Arizona. It was nice dropping them off at the airport. Later that evening, John and I went to Centro for dinner before a Christmas concert by Tonic-Sol-Fa. Last year we saw the group, “Blenders” and this year we saw Tonic-Sol-Fa. Both groups sing A Cappella and they are pretty big especially in the Midwest. Tonic-Sol-Fa singers tend to be younger than Blenders but both groups definitely sing well. All in all we enjoyed the concert, but I would rather see the Blenders again before going to Tonic-Sol-Fa. At the end of the day, listening to their music definitely got me into the Christmas mood.
At both the residences, the residents opened their Christmas presents from the company and other presents that were bought by church members. I was told that the residents would write a Christmas wish list and either the company of the church members would try their very best to get the presents for the residents. For me, it was fun looking at them open their presents especially when they got what they wished for. You could see just a little spark in their eye as they were opening their presents.
Snow really came down on Saturday and I pretty much spent the entire afternoon and evening in my apartment watching the snow fall. This was the first time in quite some time where I literally spent a good amount of time in my apartment just catching up on dvds which was a lot of fun.
Christmas Eve was very nice because I got to really clean my apartment – something I’ve not done for a number of weeks. It’s nice to have a clean apartment. Actually, my former religious education students would be coming over on Thursday for a mini-reunion so I figured what better time to get things cleaned before they arrived?! Once the apartment was spick and span, I spent a number of hours on the Internet looking for accommodation in Sydney for our family vacation next year. I did manage to find a couple of places but everything really is dependent on whether I’ll be able to get tickets to the Sydney Orchestra which goes on sale January 1st. I got ready for Mass at 4PM and it was a packed service. Two thirds of the people in attendance were not regular church goers. I’m always tickled that people think that it’s OK to go Mass once or twice a year and call themselves Catholic! Oh well. After Mass, I trooped over to Fleming’s for my annual steak dinner and my oh my, was it an amazing meal. The best part about it, the waiter was the same person I had last year – I remembered him. No, I did not make reservations for next Christmas, but the thought did cross my mind and I did ask the hostess how soon I should make reservations for Christmas Eve dinner since it surprised me that they were not accepting walk-in because they were fully booked. After dinner, I called a number of people to wish them Merry Christmas and it was nice just chatting and catching up with them. Talk about a great way to spend Christmas Eve.
I got up at 6:30AM on Christmas Day because there was soccer highlights on the television and I was not going to miss it. Once I got my soccer fix, I got ready for the annual Christmas meal delivery. This year, my task was pretty simple. I was to staple the cold meal sack – there was only roughly 480 of them! Once that was done, I would be checking the names off the people who would be picking up the meals to be delivered. I do have to say that we were a little backed up and one guy – just one person expressed his displeasure to me and there was nothing I could do about it but apologize profusely and said we were trying our best to get things moving to the best of our ability. He was hearing none of it and it proves to show that Grinches do exist even on Christmas Day. All the other people were very appreciative of the fact that we were volunteering our time to such a worthy cause. I told myself that I would not allow that yahoo to spoil my Christmas and he did not but I truly wished that people could get off their high horse and get with the program. It is Christmas Day. Geez. After the meal delivery got taken care of, I headed to Joel and Kathy for a very nice but quick Christmas brunch as I would be working at the residential facility at 2PM. Joel prepared a very nice lamb and it was yummy to say the least. Oh, roughly a month ago John came over my apartment and while we were chatting, I was getting some dishes cleaned and I broke three – yes three wine glasses and I was extremely bummed about it. I told Joel about it the next day at work and guess what Santa bought me this year? He got me wine glasses and mind you these were really good wine glasses. Talk about a cool couple! I mentioned to Joel and Kathy that I should learn to keep my big mouth shut or next time to ask for a Ferrari!
When I arrived at the residence, I was comforted to know that there were only four residents who were there. It basically meant that ten of them were spending Christmas with either friends and/or family and that really made me feel good. I’ve told a couple of people that it sickens me that some family would not spend Christmas with their loved one because they have a mental illness. The way I look at it, just for one day a year, you could at the very least suck it up and spend the day with your family member. Heck, you don’t even have to spend an entire day with them – just a couple of hours will do but I guess for some people that’s just too much to ask. I’m a firm believer that what goes around comes around. All in all, it was a pretty quiet evening at the facility. I even had time to watch the best 100 songs of the 80s with some of the residents. They were tickled silly that I knew almost all the songs!
That’s how the week went and I guess the next big thing would be New Year’s Day and then things will definitely quiet down. I can guarantee that it’ll be a very quick week ahead and I’m OK with that.
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Monday, December 17, 2007
A good week.
So, what kind of fun stuff did I do over the week? Well, on Tuesday the office closed because of an ice and snow storm that swept through the Midwest. I was already on the bus when Joel called to let me know that the office was closed. Since I was already there, I worked for a couple of hours then went back to my apartment to watch the Liverpool’s must-win game in order for them to progress to the next round of the Champion’s League. They won the game convincingly and I was a very happy camper. Later that evening, I went to the performance of Rockettes. This is the first time they made it to Des Moines and I must say that the choreography was mighty impressive. They ended the performance with a live nativity scene with some lives animals that were on stage. It was definitely one of the most awe-inspiring scenes I’ve seen in quite some time. All in all, it made for a very good day.
On Thursday the office held the holiday party at the community room in my building and I think we all had a good time. They all liked the community room and there was more than ample space in the room for all. I would say half the staff came and some of them brought their spouse which was nice because it was the first time seeing their spouse. Joel and Kathy came later as they had a prior engagement and after that the three of us hung around the apartment and just chatted. It was a nice way to end the evening.
Saturday was a busy day as I went to two holiday parties. The first one was the annual 2nd Sunday Christmas party. There were a good number of singer/musicians who were there and it was just nice to see everyone and celebrate the season. Parties are fun when make it fun and stress free. We all know how stressful some parties can get and this one was not a stressful one at all. I left a littler earlier than I wanted to because I had to drive a little north to the second party. Anna, who is part of the young adults group organized the party with her sister, Gretchen who when I first came to Drake many moons ago, got me involved in St. Catherine and as they saying goes, the rest is history. I’ve not seen Gretchen since we graduated in 1999 so it was nice to be invited to the party. It was a mix of people who were at the party – Anna’s colleagues, Gretchen’s friends and family and some from the young adults group. We had a good time just celebrating the season. I was the last to leave and it was my intention to help Anna clean up a little but she said she was planning on getting everything done the next day. By the time I went to bed, it was 2:30AM which was a little late for me, but I did not have to be up early the next day.
After Mass yesterday, I gave the RCIA group a tour of St. Catherine’s and explained to them some of the different Catholic “things” found in the church. It was a pretty fun tour for them I guess, and at the least they know what most of the stuff are.
That’s kind of how the week ended. Work wise it’s been pretty quiet on all fronts which is a good thing. Reports are going to be sent to the state on Friday which is a couple of days earlier due to the office closing for Christmas and it looks like we’ll be able to get it done without a problem. It’s kind of hard to believe that Christmas is almost here – literally right around the corner. That’s all from me for the week.
On Thursday the office held the holiday party at the community room in my building and I think we all had a good time. They all liked the community room and there was more than ample space in the room for all. I would say half the staff came and some of them brought their spouse which was nice because it was the first time seeing their spouse. Joel and Kathy came later as they had a prior engagement and after that the three of us hung around the apartment and just chatted. It was a nice way to end the evening.
Saturday was a busy day as I went to two holiday parties. The first one was the annual 2nd Sunday Christmas party. There were a good number of singer/musicians who were there and it was just nice to see everyone and celebrate the season. Parties are fun when make it fun and stress free. We all know how stressful some parties can get and this one was not a stressful one at all. I left a littler earlier than I wanted to because I had to drive a little north to the second party. Anna, who is part of the young adults group organized the party with her sister, Gretchen who when I first came to Drake many moons ago, got me involved in St. Catherine and as they saying goes, the rest is history. I’ve not seen Gretchen since we graduated in 1999 so it was nice to be invited to the party. It was a mix of people who were at the party – Anna’s colleagues, Gretchen’s friends and family and some from the young adults group. We had a good time just celebrating the season. I was the last to leave and it was my intention to help Anna clean up a little but she said she was planning on getting everything done the next day. By the time I went to bed, it was 2:30AM which was a little late for me, but I did not have to be up early the next day.
After Mass yesterday, I gave the RCIA group a tour of St. Catherine’s and explained to them some of the different Catholic “things” found in the church. It was a pretty fun tour for them I guess, and at the least they know what most of the stuff are.
That’s kind of how the week ended. Work wise it’s been pretty quiet on all fronts which is a good thing. Reports are going to be sent to the state on Friday which is a couple of days earlier due to the office closing for Christmas and it looks like we’ll be able to get it done without a problem. It’s kind of hard to believe that Christmas is almost here – literally right around the corner. That’s all from me for the week.
Monday, December 10, 2007
Never a dull moment.
What happened this week? Not a whole lot really. The interesting story to share would be one of the staff was almost stabbed on her neck with a sharpened pencil by a resident. This took place during the day when I was not there and informed of it when I came in the evening. This resident has been battling/struggling with many issues for a number of years and only recently was she discharged from the psychiatric ward. Needless to say the cops were called and she was arrested and sent to jail. To the best of my knowledge, she’s now back in the psychiatric ward seeking treatment. Because of the potential assault, she was emergency discharged from the facility and her parents took her stuff out of room the very next day. I’ve said this before, you never know what to expect from the residents and you do the best you can to protect yourself. Anyone can snap at any moment and you just hope and pray when that happens, nothing is done to another resident and/or staff. Something else that I went through my mind was the fact that some staff are on a power trip and talk down to the residents and don’t treat them with respect. In my most humble opinion, that’s the worst thing that could happen. I do my very best to treat the residents the way I want to be treated and I’m not saying that’s going to keep me from getting assaulted, but at the very least, I’m not burning any bridges along the way with the residents.
On a much more positive note, I had dinner at Ann’s on Saturday evening and it was an amazing meal and conversation. We caught up with one another and her birthday is Wednesday so I was able to celebrate it albeit a couple of days earlier. It was such a fun evening and I always look forward to dinner and conversation with Ann.
The week and days go by much faster because of my second job which is a good thing I guess. This week, there will be three holiday parties that I’ll be attending. On Thursday, the office will have our holiday party in my building’s community room. It should be a fun evening. Since I’m on the committee, a number of us will leave the office early that day to decorate the room and make it all festive. There are two parties to attend on Saturday. The 2nd Sunday will have its annual Christmas party and we normally have a blast then later that evening, I’m headed over to a friend’s place for her party. We both went to Drake at the same time and her older sister was one of the people who recruited me many moons ago to be an active member at St. Catherine’s. As the saying goes, the rest is history. She’ll be at the party so it’ll be great to catch up and meet her again.
That’s the week ahead for me. It’ll definitely be more eventful than this past week.
On a much more positive note, I had dinner at Ann’s on Saturday evening and it was an amazing meal and conversation. We caught up with one another and her birthday is Wednesday so I was able to celebrate it albeit a couple of days earlier. It was such a fun evening and I always look forward to dinner and conversation with Ann.
The week and days go by much faster because of my second job which is a good thing I guess. This week, there will be three holiday parties that I’ll be attending. On Thursday, the office will have our holiday party in my building’s community room. It should be a fun evening. Since I’m on the committee, a number of us will leave the office early that day to decorate the room and make it all festive. There are two parties to attend on Saturday. The 2nd Sunday will have its annual Christmas party and we normally have a blast then later that evening, I’m headed over to a friend’s place for her party. We both went to Drake at the same time and her older sister was one of the people who recruited me many moons ago to be an active member at St. Catherine’s. As the saying goes, the rest is history. She’ll be at the party so it’ll be great to catch up and meet her again.
That’s the week ahead for me. It’ll definitely be more eventful than this past week.
Monday, December 3, 2007
2007 Year End E mail
It’s that time of the year again to send out my end of the year e mail to all of you. Not too much took place this year, and overall it’s been a good year.
1) Young Adults Group – I’m the coordinator of St. Kate’s Young Adults Catholic Group and we meet once every three weeks for a meal and socializing. It’s fun and a good way to keep young adults connected with one another through our faith.
2) Hillary Clinton – “Good Morning America” came to DM and I was one of the guests who got to hear her speak. She’s pretty impressive and it’ll be interesting to see if she wins the Democratic Presidential Nominee.
3) Carol/Omaha/Chicago – Carol, a friend from elementary school came to the US for a conference and we managed to spend time together catching up and visiting Omaha and Chicago. We had fun reminiscing.
4) Colorado/Silent Retreat – My big trip this year took me to Colorado for the very first time, and my word, talk about a great vacation! I did a bunch of hiking and had the time of my life hanging out in and with nature. I also went on a weeklong silent retreat while in Colorado and it was definitely good for my soul and spiritual nourishment.
5) Norazlan Termuzi – Not too long after I came back from my Colorado trip, I found out that a friend from high school died in a helicopter crash. He was a helicopter pilot, and his death kind of shook me up a little. Life is precious, and never take it for granted because you just never know when your time is up.
6) Approval of Green Card – The happiest, biggest and most important news by far was when I found out that my Green Card application was approved. I am now a permanent legal resident of the USA and trust me, it’s a great feeling. Lots of sweat and tears went into the process, and the fact that I have my Green Card now makes it all worthwhile. Joel even organized a Green Card party! It was a fun evening.
7) Westminster House/Linda Nebbe – With the approval of my Green Card I’m able to work a second job, and I’m working as a Human Service Counselor at a residential care facility for persons with mental illness. Most of them have some sort of psychological disorder and trust me, there’s never a dull moment at the facility. No two days are ever the same. I also reconnected with my counseling mentor who is now working at the University of Northern Iowa.
I’m already looking forward to a couple of major events taking place next year. Three weddings and I’ll be in my first wedding party at one of them. I’ll also be attending a priesthood ordination of a dear friend from Drake that will take place in Osh Kosh, Wisconsin.
I wish you nothing but the very best as the year comes to a close, and if for some reason this past year did not live up to your personal expectations, don’t fret too much because life’s too short to let minor things like that bog you down. Remember, there’s always 2008 which is right around the corner. Have a great Christmas and/or New Year celebration.
1) Young Adults Group – I’m the coordinator of St. Kate’s Young Adults Catholic Group and we meet once every three weeks for a meal and socializing. It’s fun and a good way to keep young adults connected with one another through our faith.
2) Hillary Clinton – “Good Morning America” came to DM and I was one of the guests who got to hear her speak. She’s pretty impressive and it’ll be interesting to see if she wins the Democratic Presidential Nominee.
3) Carol/Omaha/Chicago – Carol, a friend from elementary school came to the US for a conference and we managed to spend time together catching up and visiting Omaha and Chicago. We had fun reminiscing.
4) Colorado/Silent Retreat – My big trip this year took me to Colorado for the very first time, and my word, talk about a great vacation! I did a bunch of hiking and had the time of my life hanging out in and with nature. I also went on a weeklong silent retreat while in Colorado and it was definitely good for my soul and spiritual nourishment.
5) Norazlan Termuzi – Not too long after I came back from my Colorado trip, I found out that a friend from high school died in a helicopter crash. He was a helicopter pilot, and his death kind of shook me up a little. Life is precious, and never take it for granted because you just never know when your time is up.
6) Approval of Green Card – The happiest, biggest and most important news by far was when I found out that my Green Card application was approved. I am now a permanent legal resident of the USA and trust me, it’s a great feeling. Lots of sweat and tears went into the process, and the fact that I have my Green Card now makes it all worthwhile. Joel even organized a Green Card party! It was a fun evening.
7) Westminster House/Linda Nebbe – With the approval of my Green Card I’m able to work a second job, and I’m working as a Human Service Counselor at a residential care facility for persons with mental illness. Most of them have some sort of psychological disorder and trust me, there’s never a dull moment at the facility. No two days are ever the same. I also reconnected with my counseling mentor who is now working at the University of Northern Iowa.
I’m already looking forward to a couple of major events taking place next year. Three weddings and I’ll be in my first wedding party at one of them. I’ll also be attending a priesthood ordination of a dear friend from Drake that will take place in Osh Kosh, Wisconsin.
I wish you nothing but the very best as the year comes to a close, and if for some reason this past year did not live up to your personal expectations, don’t fret too much because life’s too short to let minor things like that bog you down. Remember, there’s always 2008 which is right around the corner. Have a great Christmas and/or New Year celebration.
Sunday, December 2, 2007
Handel's "Messiah".
The highlight this week has got to be Handel's "Messiah" at the Civic Center. John and I went to it yesterday evening and it was a mighty good performance. I've head Messiah before on a cd, but not in its entirety. There were four soloist and the DM Choral Society joined the symphony. All in all, it was an inspiring performance to say the least and what better time to go see it than right before the First Sunday of Advent?
We had the Rite of Acceptance at St. Kate's today and the candidates were introduced to the parish. One of the candidates teared up as it was a very moving and emotional rite for her. After the dismissal, we had a good discussion.
Work wise, there's nothing really new to report. It was a little trying at one of the houses because one of the residents was acting up, but it was nothing the cops and the mobile crisis team could not handle. Thank goodness the rest of the residents did not play off him. If they did, it would have been a very long and emotionally draining work day.
The agency's Christmas party will take place at the community room located in my apartment building and it should be a pretty fun evening. We'll be having it on Thursday, December 13th since we were pretty limited to the amount of evenings that would work because of my other job. Due to the Christmas Holiday season, we are planning on sending the reports to the state on Friday, December 21st. A memo was sent out to all providers letting them know that we need to get the reports in one time and they can't take their time getting it to us because if they do, they'll only be paid after the new year. That should get them to take note.
Not too sure what my Christmas plans are but I know I'll be going to Flemings for my traditional Christmas Eve Steak dinner. I've not been there in such a long time and just the thought of having a steak there is making my mouth water! Joel and Kathy invited me over to their place after we get done coordinating the Christmas meal delivery and I'll most probably take them up on their offer. Later that day, I did sign up to work at one of the houses and it'll be fine. It'll be interesting to see how many of the residents will spend it with family. After all, it is Christmas.
I guess that's all the news from me for the week.
We had the Rite of Acceptance at St. Kate's today and the candidates were introduced to the parish. One of the candidates teared up as it was a very moving and emotional rite for her. After the dismissal, we had a good discussion.
Work wise, there's nothing really new to report. It was a little trying at one of the houses because one of the residents was acting up, but it was nothing the cops and the mobile crisis team could not handle. Thank goodness the rest of the residents did not play off him. If they did, it would have been a very long and emotionally draining work day.
The agency's Christmas party will take place at the community room located in my apartment building and it should be a pretty fun evening. We'll be having it on Thursday, December 13th since we were pretty limited to the amount of evenings that would work because of my other job. Due to the Christmas Holiday season, we are planning on sending the reports to the state on Friday, December 21st. A memo was sent out to all providers letting them know that we need to get the reports in one time and they can't take their time getting it to us because if they do, they'll only be paid after the new year. That should get them to take note.
Not too sure what my Christmas plans are but I know I'll be going to Flemings for my traditional Christmas Eve Steak dinner. I've not been there in such a long time and just the thought of having a steak there is making my mouth water! Joel and Kathy invited me over to their place after we get done coordinating the Christmas meal delivery and I'll most probably take them up on their offer. Later that day, I did sign up to work at one of the houses and it'll be fine. It'll be interesting to see how many of the residents will spend it with family. After all, it is Christmas.
I guess that's all the news from me for the week.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
