So, I’m in my last couple of weeks as the interim ed. In some senses, it’s seemed very short - could be that extra stint in the hospital has something to do with that. That, and the recuperation time after the surgery that required some half days.

But, in other ways it has seemed like a very long three months. Could be the quirks and foibles of managing a diverse group of staff has something to do with that.

I am blessed because they are a great staff. They work hard for little pay (in comparison to big business) and they do it willingly because their hearts are with the clients. It’s a tough job that they do. I tell them often (but probably not nearly enough) that I am thankful for what they do.

Today the bookkeeper teased me when I complained about my left eye. It is probably just a bit of hay fever - but it has been itching like crazy for the past few weeks. My left eyebrow also had a bit of the twitchies a couple of weeks ago. We were standing together before leaving the building tonight when I mentioned these things and the bookkeeper just looked at me, grinned, and then told the rest . . . “there is something about people in ‘that office’. They all have SOMEthing go wrong with their eyes - they twitch - they . . . ” and she was off.

Is there something to it? Nah, probably not. But it gave us all a good laugh as we closed out what had been a somewhat tense day - and that’s not a bad thing, is it?

So, for your viewing pleasure . . . I give you a shot of the moosie in Juneau . . . . that is the Capitol building behind me and the bear. Welcome to Juneau, everyone.

Posted: March 13th, 2008 under Alaska, I wanna go home!.
Comments: 3

this was sent to me by a cousin who still lives in the Columbus area . . .

the email said something like . . .

even the snowmen are tired of the Ohio weather.
bwahahahaha!

Posted: March 10th, 2008 under Family, I wanna go home!.
Comments: 3

Well, not in ALASKA, of course . . . no, my friends. It snowed TWENTY INCHES in Columbus, Ohio. This is important because . . . that is where we are headed next Sunday!

Oh, the smirks and laughter we are experiencing. Oh, the pain of it all. Seriously - we are melting at a rapid rate here in ALASKA, while out there in the midwest it SNOWED TWENTY INCHES.

Never fear - we DO know how to drive in the white stuff (unlike some Ohioans we’ve seen on the tv) and, we’ll make sure that the rental car has all sorts of insurance - for our protection, of course.

Not to mention that it will probably ALL be gone by the time we arrive next Sunday noonish.

We are taking our oldest granddaughter with us. She and I were supposed to go to Washington, D.C. for spring break - and the trip was cancelled. So, with the same amount of money I had spent and gotten refunded we are able to all go - grandpa, the Girl and me. It will cover the airfare, hotel AND car rental. (are we thinking the DC trip is a tad overpriced? No, that actually covers all DC transportation, lodging, food, and admissions - so it’s all equal, I guess)

Juneau was great - I walked a LOT - up and down the big hill from the hotel to the Capitol building and to the office where our meetings were being held. Visited with one of my legislators and spoke to the staff of the other two. Unfortunately, it would seem they are pretty set in their way and the hoped for funds will not be coming through. That is sad - as it affects 20 dv agencies. I can’t imagine status quo - most likely people around the state are going to be let go. Or our insurance coverage rates will go up. Or . . . too much to think about.

But, I did enjoy the trip - right up to coming home when the planes were being grounded for this or that - I left Juneau 2 hours late - missed my flight in Anchorage - got another flight - left an hour later than it was supposed to leave - then they forgot to put my bag on that flight. So it sat in Anchorage for a couple more hours before they could get it down here.

All in a day’s work in Alaska.

unlike Ohio . . .

Columbus, Ohio . . .

where they had TWENTY INCHES OF SNOW!
bwahahahahahahaha

Posted: March 9th, 2008 under Alaska, Family, I wanna go home!.
Comments: 1

but the best part . . . I got out!

Was able to visit AV today at the pretrial facility. We had a nice talk - I do feel a bit bad because I had no clue that the prisoners are only allowed two visits - TWO - each week. She will now be unable to have visitors, outside of attorney visits, until next Thursday! Ack! That was NOTon the message phone - nor was it on the website. I understand that it was just recently changed.

Gah! Now she won’t even be able to have a Christmas visit!

But - as I said - we had a nice talk and got some things out and fleshed out and we are on good terms. For that I am thankful.

Please do continue to lift her up - it’s going to be a long road ahead of her.

But, MaryLou left a comment on my original entry about this. She mentioned something about how they (the ever so infamous “they”) treat the visitors like the enemy. Oh, so very true.

I walked up and pushed the button at the gate - and then waited and waited for someone to answer. The wind was cutting right through me! Finally when they did answer I jumped several feet inches because even though I was expecting it, I wasn’t expecting it, you know?

Then I had to wait awhile longer while they checked to make sure I could come in to visit.

When I was admitted to the building I came into a waiting area - nobody was there to greet me, tell me what to do, where to go, or anything. So I took a seat and waited. Another person came in - someone who works there - someone who I recognized from the “outside” and I asked if I was just supposed to wait there. He said yes, and was buzzed inside.

Another person came in - another visitor and she and I chatted for a bit. Finally a young officer came out to greet us and take our id to record the visit - then went back inside, I guess to check on our ids and to make sure we weren’t wanted or something.

A bit later he came out, escorted the previous visitors out, and waited until our people were inside their little cages before he let us enter.

Listen, folks, this is what I would like all of you to know. Even though I have never been incarcerated - even though this was my first time inside a facility such as this - even though I was only visiting . . . tell your kids (and yourself) the same thing I am telling myself - you do NOT want to be there. Blergh! Nasty place.

They are overfull at the moment so my friend is sleeping in the gym! The gym, people! And, they won’t let her do any work. She can read and write, and does both, but she’d like to be able to work off some energy by, oh say, painting the walls or something. She’s been told that the male prisoners are doing that.

Anyway - let’s all stay on the right side of the law - and out of such places.

And, while I am empathetic over her being there, I know that the circumstances are such that she needs to be there for now.

Posted: December 22nd, 2006 under I wanna go home!, Moose Nuggets.
Comments: 1

I receive emails from someone who is on a foreign mission field. For the safety of many, that is all that I can say about it. A scripture is written with each message and today’s blessed me mightily:

Romans 1:16  “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”

There is blessing and conviction in that verse. The conviction comes from the first part - “for I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ . . .”There is no shame in telling you all that I am a believer in Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior. Yet, sometimes I fear I hide that fact. Thus the conviction.

It is easier, at times, to play along with those around us - joining in on the reindeer games, so to speak. It is easier to titter at an off color joke than it is to simply turn and walk away (taking the chance that someone else might be offended by our actions???)

It is easier to join in on the office gossip - to cross the line from confidence to expose’ - so much easier . . . in THIS world.

but in the next world - I will be facing my God - and He will be demanding the reasons - and I will be responsible for what I have done or not done on this earth.

no less forgiven, understand, but responsible nonetheless.

It is my prayer that He will see only His Son’s shadow in front of me - for I am forgiven by His blood on the cross. Praise Him!

Have an awesome Saturday, everyone. 

 

Posted: November 18th, 2006 under I wanna go home!, Moose Nuggets, NaBloPoMo.
Comments: none