Simplicity

Wow...It's been quite some time since my last blog!  Lot's has happened, and at the same time, there's not a whole lot to tell.

I got a bed!  That's right, I'm now sleeping on a genuine mattress instead of the hard floor!  Let's just say this was one of the best purchases I have ever made!  I love going to bed!  And now, if any of you ever come to visit (hint hint) you'll have a place to sleep!  This is a good thing!  And with the bed came the rearranging of my room.  Now, it still has work to do for when Linda gets up here, but it's a start.  Another good thing.

Work continues to be crazy.  This past week I worked eight straight days because my schedule was switching around.  Let's see.  In the past eight days, I have dealt with:

• Two girls cutting themselves
• A suicide note
• A girl barricading herself in a room, non-responsive
• Six girls PMSing all at once
• Six girls with extremely rude, defiant and annoying behaviors

Sound like fun?  Anyone want my job?  Needless to say, I'm SO glad for two days off!  I need it badly!   I'm happy to report the two girls cutting themselves have stopped, for now, and are doing much better.  The girl that had barricaded herself in the room for three hours is also doing much better and is her "happy, normal" self again.  Poor thing - she even went to each of the staff and her peers to apologize for her behaviors!  She really is a sweet girl.  And the suicide note girl has a plan for when she gets sad again, so hopefully we'll be alright there.  Never a dull moment!

This past week, it snowed about 12 inches.  Yikes!  When will the snow stop???  Answer: never.  I seriously don't think it will ever stop.  I can only hope...It's raining now, so that's a sign of warmer weather.  

I must say, I've enjoyed this day just sitting in PJ's, with a hot cup of tea, watching LOST, and listening to the rain.  There's not a whole lot more peaceful.

Which reminds me, LINDA - YOU'RE DEAD!  Linda, my dear sister, told me to watch LOST.  So being the wonderful sister I am, I did.  And it makes me angry.  Seriously.  I hate the show - it makes no sense!  But I can't stop watching it because I have to know what happens.  That's the dumb part.  Any normal person would just say, "this is dumb, and I'm not going to waste my time on a show that doesn't make sense."  Apparently, I am not a normal person and cannot do that.  GRRRRR...

I'm currently reading the book "All I Ever Needed to Know, I Learned in Kindergarden".  It's a great book.  Makes you think about the simple things in life.  It's a book of thoughts about common things.  Easy read - I suggest reading it!  It's made me look at life up here.  How different it is in Juneau to Riverside.  Some of the things are big things, but some are the small things: how you can go to the store and see at least five people you know at any given time; how the fastest speed limit is 55 mph; how when there is an avalanche, everyone rushes to help; how people know how to appreciate the weather.  That's probably the biggest one. 

I hate the snow.  Mark, my landlord, loves the snow.  He says that the snow is like God cleansing out all the bad and making it white, just like the snow.  He says it is a purifying that happens every year and gets us ready for the new year.  I look at it and see a mess and a driving hazard.  But that's the type of things people up here see.  When it's sunny outside, people call in sick at work just so they can go outside and enjoy the sun!  They've learned to look at the beauty everywhere and in every situation.  I love that!  It's something I can learn as well...

Hope all you are doing well!  I miss you, and for those of you in So Cal, I'll get to see you in about 45 days!!!

Love you!

Blessings!