These weeks seem to be passing by more and more quickly as summer is nominally coming to a close, though the weather will be the same through October most likely. At the Red Cross this week, we were rather busy just because Sarah, our Health and Safety instructor, was out of the office all week dure to shoulder surgery. Dawn took her place this week and did a great job, but it is a lot of work to handle. The transition has resulted in everyone running around trying to get things in order, so people spend a good bit of time out of the office.
We got a social work intern this week that had been accepted by my former supervisor that is no longer here. She failed to pass that information on to anyone making his arrival a surprise. We tried out best to give him stuff to do, but he sadly fell through the cracks during the disaster. Nothing terribly important happened, but we did get a tentative class schedule made and were certified in Client Casework. Mike and I have touched base with everyone who wants disaster classes offered, so it's only a matter of time before our newly hung dry erase calendar becomes filled.
In the non work related world:
Tuesday: I got a great discount at Banana Republic thanks to Chris'(s) friends and family discount.
Wednesday: The Donner Party reigned supreme at trivia. Well, at least for the first half. Shout out to Jenae and Maggie for some awesome answers including our Stephen Hawking bonus points and "Another One Bites the Dust" courtesey of Red Cross CPR training.
Friday: Dinner of Fajita soup with a visiting Carrie Shirah and Sarah Icandobadallbymyself Langcuster at Jalapenos in Northport. I'm really frustrated that my work computer refuses to let me copy and paste the proper "n" with a tilde. This was followed by Georgia's birthday celebration, Sarah doing something mysterious in the crapper (dropping of some timber), Benae's house warming, and Degrassi marathon with Corey.
Saturday: I had barbecue with my family in Hoover and dinner with friends at Surin downtown. Then Chris, Amanda, his friend Lisa, and I watched the Goonies for free on a screen downtown that was also outside. The weather was perfect, and I love that movie. After this Chris intorduced me to a movie that I do not know if I will ever watch again. John Waters('s) creation Desperate Living was an interesting film to view including graphic nudity and just flat out disgusting things. I still laughed frequently, but I think my face was more of a permaent gasp during the majority.
Sunday: I interpreted at Holy Spirit's Cartas de Poder day, which involved getting power of attorney documents created for illegal immigrants just in case the are deported, which will be even more likely if the new law in Alabama survives court. Then Sarah Langcuster and I watched a few of our favorite bad television shows (Big Brother, True Blood, Keeping Up with the Kardashians, and Monarch of the Glen). We also made dinner and cookies, which improved on the evening greatly.
Now I must get back to tasks that don't directly apply to my job, but I must say that I am looking forward to the strart of football season this weekend. Rol Tide.
Monday, August 29, 2011
Monday, August 22, 2011
At Least I Saw the Sun Rise
After my eight weeks at The Red Cross, I have to assume that the organization is always in transition. This period that was only supposed to last through July is still having major effects on the way the office is run. We FINALLY got a new executive director and a disaster services specialist. My new superivsor is my old friend Holli Maxwell from Camp Sumatanga. It's already been so much fun seeing her around the office, and we haven't even done anything yet.
If this past week had a highlight reel, here's what it would include in some sort of musical montage.
Monday: Wesley sitting on the floor after hours comb binding 16 participant manuals for Disaster Assessment and then going to the class that the books are for until 8:30.
Tuesday: 2/3 of my roommates finally move back in!
Wednesday: My first meeting with the Hispanic Services Coalition discussing combating the new anti-immigration legislation in Alabama.
Thursday: Teeth cleaning!!!!!!!!!! And hanging out with too many people when I all I wanted to do was sleeeeeeeep. It was important to see Martha and Sarah one last time before they begin their Americorps (and formerly Americorps) jobs out west.
Friday: Here a small bit showing the comically antagonistic relationship between the old man volunteer receptionist, Doug, and myself. The best dinner of all time with Abby and Alyce followed by a regular golfest with roommates and visitors.
Saturday: The end of Arrested Development and Angels in America along with striking a show I wasn't in. All of the sudden, it would be 4 am four Wild Blues later, and someone thinks it's a good idea just to wait to see the sun come up at 6 before going to bed.
Sunday: A sleepy afternoon watching Scott Pilgrim vs the World with Chris, a beautiful yet hot picnic with Alpha Psi Omega, and some True Blood and stone baby bonding with my brujita favorita, Sarah Icandobadallbymyself Langcuster.
Now I am just trying to not think about a nap this afternoon since I have the first of two client casework classes from 6 to 9. Then there is the first Pink House party of the year from which I will be making the earliest and most sober of departures.
If this past week had a highlight reel, here's what it would include in some sort of musical montage.
Monday: Wesley sitting on the floor after hours comb binding 16 participant manuals for Disaster Assessment and then going to the class that the books are for until 8:30.
Tuesday: 2/3 of my roommates finally move back in!
Wednesday: My first meeting with the Hispanic Services Coalition discussing combating the new anti-immigration legislation in Alabama.
Thursday: Teeth cleaning!!!!!!!!!! And hanging out with too many people when I all I wanted to do was sleeeeeeeep. It was important to see Martha and Sarah one last time before they begin their Americorps (and formerly Americorps) jobs out west.
Friday: Here a small bit showing the comically antagonistic relationship between the old man volunteer receptionist, Doug, and myself. The best dinner of all time with Abby and Alyce followed by a regular golfest with roommates and visitors.
Saturday: The end of Arrested Development and Angels in America along with striking a show I wasn't in. All of the sudden, it would be 4 am four Wild Blues later, and someone thinks it's a good idea just to wait to see the sun come up at 6 before going to bed.
Sunday: A sleepy afternoon watching Scott Pilgrim vs the World with Chris, a beautiful yet hot picnic with Alpha Psi Omega, and some True Blood and stone baby bonding with my brujita favorita, Sarah Icandobadallbymyself Langcuster.
Now I am just trying to not think about a nap this afternoon since I have the first of two client casework classes from 6 to 9. Then there is the first Pink House party of the year from which I will be making the earliest and most sober of departures.
Monday, August 15, 2011
The Scene is Safe
This week marked my official certification to teach Health and Safety and Disaster courses for the Red Cross. It was a beautiful three day affair invoolving reving dummy adults, children, and babies. These classes were much more informative and beneficial than some of the disaster courses I took. They're still using the same jokes about using "Staying Alive" and "Another One Bites the Dust" as the perfect beat for CPR chest compressions. Being at the training center in the mall also meant that I got to eat Taco Casa three days this week.
Jessie May was also here this week! I was so happy to see my Mae FN one last time before she's in London all semester. We had a great time going to trivia and midnight sushi and just hanging out. I'm so glad everyone is moving back to Tuscaloosa. Now if my dumb roommates will just get here. I doubt they'll read this, so I'll insult them.
Also, Martha and I took home our second third place prize at trivia on Monday, which resulted in us getting points for the fall league!
Saturday I taught my first Disaster Services course in Disaster Preparedness at First Baptist Church in Northport. It was a rather basic class, so it was a good first one to teach. I think it went really well, and they all seemed very grateful for us to come and teach them some basic CPR skills as well.
This weekend consisted of a great Angels in America cast party with an interestingly titled drink and wonderful conversations about a sundry assortment of topics. I stayed out much later than originally intended, but it was worth it. I also helped my father set up for his annual messy games night at church Sunday, which involved spreading pudding and flour on slipnslides and tying so many water balloons that the cuticle on my left pointer finger has been rubbed raw. I got to end my Sunday evening with a lovely screening of Birdemic via Netflix. It's hard to say that a movie is on par with Troll 2 for being the worst movie ever, but this deefinitely comes close. To off set this terrible cinematic experience, Chris and I watched some Arrested Development before I came home and went to sleep listening to The Help audiobook.
This week isn't looking overly interesting especially since I am avoiding calling all the board members to make them RSVP for the meeting this week. Hopefully, it will pick up when my new supervisor and old friend gets into the office.
Jessie May was also here this week! I was so happy to see my Mae FN one last time before she's in London all semester. We had a great time going to trivia and midnight sushi and just hanging out. I'm so glad everyone is moving back to Tuscaloosa. Now if my dumb roommates will just get here. I doubt they'll read this, so I'll insult them.
Also, Martha and I took home our second third place prize at trivia on Monday, which resulted in us getting points for the fall league!
Saturday I taught my first Disaster Services course in Disaster Preparedness at First Baptist Church in Northport. It was a rather basic class, so it was a good first one to teach. I think it went really well, and they all seemed very grateful for us to come and teach them some basic CPR skills as well.
This weekend consisted of a great Angels in America cast party with an interestingly titled drink and wonderful conversations about a sundry assortment of topics. I stayed out much later than originally intended, but it was worth it. I also helped my father set up for his annual messy games night at church Sunday, which involved spreading pudding and flour on slipnslides and tying so many water balloons that the cuticle on my left pointer finger has been rubbed raw. I got to end my Sunday evening with a lovely screening of Birdemic via Netflix. It's hard to say that a movie is on par with Troll 2 for being the worst movie ever, but this deefinitely comes close. To off set this terrible cinematic experience, Chris and I watched some Arrested Development before I came home and went to sleep listening to The Help audiobook.
This week isn't looking overly interesting especially since I am avoiding calling all the board members to make them RSVP for the meeting this week. Hopefully, it will pick up when my new supervisor and old friend gets into the office.
Monday, August 8, 2011
For Hire
The title is inspired by a message that was taped on someone's graduation cap this weekend, which segues nicely into this being a post about my graduation this weekend.
Before this weekend, work was pretty slow. Mike and I are FINALLY scheduled to take the instructor course at the end of next week, so I can actually start teaching disaster courses. Thursday, I left work early to go get my teeth cleaned in Hoover, but it turned out that I was exactly two weeks early. Oops. I had at least made plans to stay there already to see Angels in America on opening night, which was wonderful and worth the drive. I also got to spend time with quite the interesting character, who asked me to feel his heartbeat during the show. I would like to thank Chris for that opportunity.
I was so happy to see everyone who came back into town this weekend, which made me realize how few people I actually knew in my year because I only needed to see 10 or so people. I hate that everyone couldn't make it back because the ceremony was great and not terribly long. My campus minister gave the opening prayer, which was a nice surprise. I loved that he made it vague enough to apply to anyone and not specifically Christian as many Southerners tend to do. Then they gave honorary degrees to the family of thos six students who died in the tornado. I wasn't ready for that emotional moment, and I thought it was a great decision on the University's part. I don't know if I would have been able to come back to get a degree for a dead family member.
After the ceremony, my family stayed for a quick second to get lunch before I was left to twiddle my thumbs and nap in my internetless and cableless apartment for hours before going out to celebrate graduation with Melinda, Donald, and Mitchell. It felt like being in school again, which this summer has severely lacked.
Sunday I helped Jake, Tommy, and Michelle move in to their new home named "The Kingdom." Michelle's mother's food was worth moving a few appliance and sofa pieces. I'm so happy that people are finally getting back into town. Living in a four person apartment by oneself can get quite boring. I also went to see the most recent Pirates movie with Chris last night. It was good but had one of the weakest subplots I have ever witnessed. I think this a brief overview of everything that happened. I miss everyone who was in town already, an dI'm excited for more people to start showing up to make Tuscaloosa feel normalish again.
Before this weekend, work was pretty slow. Mike and I are FINALLY scheduled to take the instructor course at the end of next week, so I can actually start teaching disaster courses. Thursday, I left work early to go get my teeth cleaned in Hoover, but it turned out that I was exactly two weeks early. Oops. I had at least made plans to stay there already to see Angels in America on opening night, which was wonderful and worth the drive. I also got to spend time with quite the interesting character, who asked me to feel his heartbeat during the show. I would like to thank Chris for that opportunity.
I was so happy to see everyone who came back into town this weekend, which made me realize how few people I actually knew in my year because I only needed to see 10 or so people. I hate that everyone couldn't make it back because the ceremony was great and not terribly long. My campus minister gave the opening prayer, which was a nice surprise. I loved that he made it vague enough to apply to anyone and not specifically Christian as many Southerners tend to do. Then they gave honorary degrees to the family of thos six students who died in the tornado. I wasn't ready for that emotional moment, and I thought it was a great decision on the University's part. I don't know if I would have been able to come back to get a degree for a dead family member.
After the ceremony, my family stayed for a quick second to get lunch before I was left to twiddle my thumbs and nap in my internetless and cableless apartment for hours before going out to celebrate graduation with Melinda, Donald, and Mitchell. It felt like being in school again, which this summer has severely lacked.
Sunday I helped Jake, Tommy, and Michelle move in to their new home named "The Kingdom." Michelle's mother's food was worth moving a few appliance and sofa pieces. I'm so happy that people are finally getting back into town. Living in a four person apartment by oneself can get quite boring. I also went to see the most recent Pirates movie with Chris last night. It was good but had one of the weakest subplots I have ever witnessed. I think this a brief overview of everything that happened. I miss everyone who was in town already, an dI'm excited for more people to start showing up to make Tuscaloosa feel normalish again.
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