It snowed here yesterday and today is seasonably cold. I arrived at work this morning to find one of our early risers waiting outside in the cold. We have strict rules about letting our clients in early because 1. we don't officially open until 7:30am and 2. there's no one at the front desk to supervise them. What can I say? Things have gone missing from here once in a while.
But this morning, there he was. Standing out in the blowing cold in a hoodie and tennis shoes with no socks, hat or gloves. He asked me if would let him in and the "agency" side of me said no. At first. I explained that I wasn't trying to be mean but he really needed to try to time his arrival to get there at our opening hour so he wouldn't have to wait outside. I explained that this was an agency policy and I could get in trouble for letting him in. He explained he knew this and promised it wouldn't happen again. I explained that I really shouldn't.
Then I let him in.
And gave him a pair of boots.
And a microwave we had just gotten donated. And made arrangements for someone to take him home with it so he wouldn't have to carry it on the bus.
The boots were a neccessity. The microwave may have been me overcompensating for my own guilt. But he really did need a microwave.
I know he will be out there again Monday morning. Hopefully, he will keep his word and show up slightly later, closer to our opening time. We'll see.
In the meantime, I couldn't, in good conscience, make him wait out there, in tennis shoes, without socks. So, I might get in trouble. I'd do it again in a heart beat.
Showing posts with label bad weather. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bad weather. Show all posts
Friday, January 13, 2012
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Crazy from the heat...
It's hot here. Seriously, ungodly hot. I keep watching the weather just to see if and when we can expect some relief but it never comes. I keep looking at the sky hoping that haze is really a cloud formation that might, just might, drop some cooling rain but it never does. It's horribly, miserably, disgustingly hot.
Yesterday, when we were getting in my non-air conditioned car, Alex asked, "What kind of weather is this???" My sentiments exactly.
When it gets like this people get crazy. Oh not right away, no. First, they get lethargic then the crazy sets in. It's a quiet sort of brain boiling crazy that makes people snap at a moments notice for no real reason except that it's hot. Yesterday at work, people were snapping all day long. There was no predicting it either. Some of the quietest, nicest, most unassuming people just went off and it can only be attributed to this heat.
When you work with people with mental illness, there are things you have to remind them of. One, dress for the weather. Medications make people's body temps go kerflooey and we get a lot of people walknig around in 90+ temps with sweatshirts and ski caps. Two, drink water. Lots of it. We try to have water here by the case on days like this so we can give them all some when they stop in. Three, GO HOME! Why people want to be out and about in this crap is beyond me but I swear I shooed more people out of here yesterday and told them to go home to sit in their AC.
I'm not immune to the heat. I hate it. I get cranky and know I am usually on the verge of my own snap. Today it's hot again and I hope I can hold it together.
Because I hate this. Have I said that? Well, I do. I like warm summer weather but this humidity has to go. I'm gonna go out and look at the clouds. Hoping...
Yesterday, when we were getting in my non-air conditioned car, Alex asked, "What kind of weather is this???" My sentiments exactly.
When it gets like this people get crazy. Oh not right away, no. First, they get lethargic then the crazy sets in. It's a quiet sort of brain boiling crazy that makes people snap at a moments notice for no real reason except that it's hot. Yesterday at work, people were snapping all day long. There was no predicting it either. Some of the quietest, nicest, most unassuming people just went off and it can only be attributed to this heat.
When you work with people with mental illness, there are things you have to remind them of. One, dress for the weather. Medications make people's body temps go kerflooey and we get a lot of people walknig around in 90+ temps with sweatshirts and ski caps. Two, drink water. Lots of it. We try to have water here by the case on days like this so we can give them all some when they stop in. Three, GO HOME! Why people want to be out and about in this crap is beyond me but I swear I shooed more people out of here yesterday and told them to go home to sit in their AC.
I'm not immune to the heat. I hate it. I get cranky and know I am usually on the verge of my own snap. Today it's hot again and I hope I can hold it together.
Because I hate this. Have I said that? Well, I do. I like warm summer weather but this humidity has to go. I'm gonna go out and look at the clouds. Hoping...
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Diggin my way out of this damn hole...
Okay, so first let me apologize to you, my two or possibly three faithful readers, for the last blog entry where I bathed you in my endless shower of self pity. I am deeply sorry for dragging you into the hole with me. I have now slapped myself silly and snapped out of it. So, let's get on with it, shall we?
After I came up for air, I realized I can make a drama out of just about anything. I guess that's a gift...really? No. You see, there is drama in my life as is there in all of our lives. It's a matter of persepective. And when I start sitting on the pity pot it's best that someone just remind me that, by comparison, my life is pretty damn good.
Case in point, this week our agency is participating in the Point In Time Count. This is an all night count of homeless people. Volunteers bundle up, armed with food and toiletries, hit the streets of Kenosha and search in alleys, fields, and byways to find, count, aid and assist as many homeless Kenoshans as they can. Ever wonder how the government gets those stats on the number of homeless people in the US? This is how. Well, yesterday the weather here hit an all time low of -19 degrees Farenheit. It was not lost on me that there are people out there, possibly dying, because they are not as lucky as the rest of us. Suddenly, my so-called life drama seemed trivial and stupid.
Sure, I may wish to have more, do more, want more. I may worry about my family, my job, my money, my life. But damn, I am not huddled under a viaduct with nothing but a used sleeping bag and a hand me down Parka, hoping that tonight won't be the night I freeze or starve to death. Realizing this got me out of that hole pretty damn quick. Allowing myself to indulge in even one moment more of self pity would have been shameful.
So, yeah, today when you hear yourself complain about the weather, or you're feeling hungry, or you're bored, or you're just wanting a hug...think twice. You're doing okay too. And, by the way, if you're bored? Check out volunteering at your local shelters or food pantrys. Honest, do it once...just once...and you will go back again and again. Once you meet some of these incredibly brave souls, and hear their stories, you will want to be there. And bring a friend!
After I came up for air, I realized I can make a drama out of just about anything. I guess that's a gift...really? No. You see, there is drama in my life as is there in all of our lives. It's a matter of persepective. And when I start sitting on the pity pot it's best that someone just remind me that, by comparison, my life is pretty damn good.
Case in point, this week our agency is participating in the Point In Time Count. This is an all night count of homeless people. Volunteers bundle up, armed with food and toiletries, hit the streets of Kenosha and search in alleys, fields, and byways to find, count, aid and assist as many homeless Kenoshans as they can. Ever wonder how the government gets those stats on the number of homeless people in the US? This is how. Well, yesterday the weather here hit an all time low of -19 degrees Farenheit. It was not lost on me that there are people out there, possibly dying, because they are not as lucky as the rest of us. Suddenly, my so-called life drama seemed trivial and stupid.
Sure, I may wish to have more, do more, want more. I may worry about my family, my job, my money, my life. But damn, I am not huddled under a viaduct with nothing but a used sleeping bag and a hand me down Parka, hoping that tonight won't be the night I freeze or starve to death. Realizing this got me out of that hole pretty damn quick. Allowing myself to indulge in even one moment more of self pity would have been shameful.
So, yeah, today when you hear yourself complain about the weather, or you're feeling hungry, or you're bored, or you're just wanting a hug...think twice. You're doing okay too. And, by the way, if you're bored? Check out volunteering at your local shelters or food pantrys. Honest, do it once...just once...and you will go back again and again. Once you meet some of these incredibly brave souls, and hear their stories, you will want to be there. And bring a friend!
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Rain, rain, go away...
Today, with it's incessant rain and cold, is one of those days when it would have been better to just stay in bed with the blankets up over my head. Actually, the crappy weather is sort of the physical embodiment of my mood. I get that way. When the day to day is boring and usual and one day just drones into the next. I can feel my energy just getting sucked out of my body and, frankly, I can feel myself giving in to it. There's just no fight left.
I am longing to travel. I have to get a new passport. I have to get my Social Security number thingy fixed at Social Security. I have to get things in order at home and crap out of the house and to the curb. I want to do stuff and right now I can't even imagine doing it. That's how badly this rain is affecting my mood.
And then I feel ungrateful. Because so many good things have happened and are happening everyday. I see people around me who have REAL problems, REAL issues, REAL life stuff they have to deal with and yet I am sitting here feeling sorry for myself. I wish I could snap out of it.
I remind myself everyday that I have much to be grateful for. A wonderful husband, a good life, and so much more that I could only imagine.
I know it's nothing that a little sunshine wouldn't fix but still...I'm in a crappy mood and wish that I could be back in bed. Where's my blanky when I need it?
I am longing to travel. I have to get a new passport. I have to get my Social Security number thingy fixed at Social Security. I have to get things in order at home and crap out of the house and to the curb. I want to do stuff and right now I can't even imagine doing it. That's how badly this rain is affecting my mood.
And then I feel ungrateful. Because so many good things have happened and are happening everyday. I see people around me who have REAL problems, REAL issues, REAL life stuff they have to deal with and yet I am sitting here feeling sorry for myself. I wish I could snap out of it.
I remind myself everyday that I have much to be grateful for. A wonderful husband, a good life, and so much more that I could only imagine.
I know it's nothing that a little sunshine wouldn't fix but still...I'm in a crappy mood and wish that I could be back in bed. Where's my blanky when I need it?
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