MOVING = STRESS

SICKY!

If I didn't treat the sinus infection, would I have gotten the cold? I think I would have rather stuck with the migraine, no sleep, head feeling like a rock infection, than the snot faced, stuffy nose, all day every day sneezing cold!

In Loving Memory...

As I sit here typing this I am crying. We lost a dear resident this week. I think one of the hardest to date. She has lived at Arbor Village for nine years. She has always been there and is kind of a staple to the building. It is really hard to let go... even if I know she can see, hear, and dance again. It is still hard to not have her. So, I'll share some memories.

She is the most understanding and accepting person ever. She would always say, "That's okay!" If we did something that disappointing her (Kind of like disappointing a mom). There was one time she didn't tell me that. Because she had macular degeneration we typed to her on a laptop and it blew up big on a screen. Someone typed to her that I was getting married (I AM NOT!) and she was so upset. She worried for days! I think it was on a weekend so she didn't see me until Monday and she made it known to everyone that she wanted to see me. I went to type to her and she was so upset. We had a lengthy LENGTHY conversation about how I am too young to be married. She dais, "You have things to do, places to see!" She told me to wait until I was 29. So when everybody asks me when are you getting married... you now know where my answer comes from!!!

A lot of memories happened in front of the laptop. We talked about religion, politics, prejudices of the world. We usually agreed on everything. Our opinions were much the same (Well, except for religion!) We both agreed that as long as we loved our Lord, Jesus Christ, followed his teachings, prayed daily, loved our neighbors, and followed His teachings, we would be okay. She is definatley a Daughter of our Father in Heaven. My guardian angel. Which she gave me a couple years ago. A little cold and crystal angel that I see daily and think of her.

I helped her fill out her life story in front of the laptop. She told me she always anted to be a rockette. Something I never knew!!! So I imProxy-Connection: keep-alive Cache-Control: max-age=0 ine her up in heaven doing those kicks!

Giving me advice about my parents moving to Chicago. She told me she would always be here to talk to whenever I missed them or felt lonely. I know she is still listening and my guardian angel now!!!

She always told me, "You have such a hard job!" She would always whisper JOB. To everyone even when she whispered it to Laurie (My work Mom!) Sunday in the hospital. She always worried about me at work. Always wanted to know if I was okay. If she could help me in anyway. She would bring me ziploc bags in hopes I could use them. I used the last this week.

When we bagged bean soup for the food bank she wanted to help so bad. I had to make up a job she could do. A job that wouldn't need hearing or sight. When the other residents would finish bagging the little bags, we would put them on a tray and take them to her who would then put them in a larger bag to transport. Sometimes we re-emptied the larger bags to keep her busy. She would count each bag she put in to make sure and give me a detailed account of how many we did.

One of the most positive experiences I had with her was this Sunday when myself, Laurie, Jessica and Malerie went to the hospital to visit her. We typed on her computer that Laura and Laurie were here and in a worn out little breather she said , "My Arbor Friends!" I started to cry. She gave us instructions. To fix the lights in the dining room... It was important to her that we do that for all the people with Macular Degeneration... so they could see better. She also instructed us when we have a Memorial Service for her at the village, she wanted us to serve Root Beer Floats. WE ARE TODAY! She also asked what we thought Heaven would be like.

This is a hard death, but very positive from all the experiences I have had with her.

She will truly be missed... but Heaven is gaining an angel. One of the best they could ever have!

I'll miss you Frannie!

My Daddy...

... Left for Chicago today! It is really sad! I cried a lot.... It is sad, one more month and they will all be gone.... WHAT AM I GOING TO DO????

Job Market

I guess I never really had to think about the job market because I have always been stable at this company but lately it has been on my mind. We will be opening our Memory Care building in the next couple months and put an add on Craiglist about hiring. We have maybe a little bit more than 300 applications. They will be putting up a banner soon and also having a job fair. It is really sad most of these people will not get hired.... some of them look like they would be great employees also.... IT IS SAD!!!!

Highschoolers

The high schoolers have to teach do community service for school and of course they all save it for the last minute. These four dumb girls are here right now and absolutely driving me insane!!! They are fake and annoying and loud and I actually had to tell them to be quiet and respectful. SO DUMB!!!!

On the other hand, some Ballroom Dancers came Saturday to perform for my residents. It is amazing the difference between the two groups. Here is a supper cute picture of Hannah (She is in my ward) and one of my residents.

I am sooooo lucky!

I am pretty much the luckiest person around. Well, I exaggerated a little bit. Christmas Day I had to work and I was leaving around 2:30pm and noticed the fire alarms at our second building was going off. I debated in my head for ten seconds whether I should go help and of course I did. There was only one employee over there because of the holiday. I guess the alarm was going off for ten minutes before I got there. I had her go check the building and she said there was nothing wrong as I was calling 911. They came and couldn't silence the alarm which usually means there is a problem so they went to the sprinkler panel outside and it was almost drained.... We searched again, I went Down one hall and there was a shower of water coming from the sealing. I ran up the stairs to get the fireman (yes, he was cute!!!) and when we were coming down the stairs an exposed screw on the back of the stair rail sliced my right middle finger and was a bloody mess. I wasn't going to go get stitches on Christmas so I steri-stripped it and let it be. Also, I don't know if any of you have ever smelled fire sprinkler water but it is gross. The water sits in a pipe until it needs to be used. In this case for three years. Three year old stale water is disgusting and I vacuumed almost all of it up and my boss said leave the rest for Friday. By the way, the pipe exploded (and not because of the freak snow). So, that is injury number one... Monday I was shopping with my mom and dad, we were leaving Costco and i am sure I am being punished because I pushed the cart in a pile of snow instead of returning it (IT WAS REALLY REALLY COLD!!) As I was coming back to the van my mom shut her door and it got my hand... well, my finger... the same finger that I cut on Christmas. It hurt, I cried... I bawled actually and it bled for quite a while. The next day it felt worse and the pressure was building up underneath my nail so I went into the doctor. They xrayed it and I have a fracture on the tip of my right middle finger. It hurts like the dickens and they burned a hole in my nail to release the blood and it still hasn't stopped bleeding. My poor finger... I can't injure anything else but that stupid middle finger. My work won't let me touch knives or scissors because they are sure I will harm myself again. It is amazing how much finger injuries hurt... it's all those stinking nerves.

Snowed In

I think it is really sad when you live 1.47 miles from home and might get snowed in tomorrow!!! I could walk home, but i am a wimp... and if I do get snowed in, I could get the work done I can't do during work because there is too many distractions... maybe getting snowed in might be fun... I am going to pack just in case!

With my new job I have been so busy and haven't had time to do much. While my residents are watching a movie, I thought I should get busy! They loaded backwards and I don't know how to separate to label.

The first three are from Veteran's Day. The flowers we presented to veteran's and surviving spouses. Our Wall of Veterans and From the Ceremony at the cemetery.

Next couple are from Trunk or Treat and our Wine and Cheese Party at work. The two men are my boss (the fat mullet man) and our marketing director (Captain Morgan or Captain Hook, you choose!) and the hairy man sitting down is actually one of my residents, a 95 year old, 90 pound lady!!!

Enjoy!

need a dog?

We are fostering a dog right now. It's a young Brittney Spaniel. If you know anybody that wants one, or you do, let us know.

MUST BE A GOOD HOME! Our poor dog is tired of sharing his home (and bed) with others!

Life Enrichment Director

I GOT THE JOB! I am the new Life Enrichment Director aka Activities Director. I am so excited! I start Monday. It is a big step and I am so nervous. All of the employees and residents have been so supportive to me, I am lucky!! They have ideas up the wazoo... I am just glad I all ready have a relationship of trust built up with them so they know they can come and talk to me and give me their ideas. Next Thursday (Halloween) we have a big wine and cheese party... uhm yes, WINE... the family member that usually helps with wine and cheese came up to me and said, "Don't worry! I know your standards. I know you don't drink, I'll talk care of the alcohol!" I was greatful for that too! Anyways, my mind is all scattered right now, there is a lot of changes all for the good.

The Lord truly has been spoiling me!

Job Interview

I had a job interview yesterday at work. it was for the Life Enrichment Director, AKA Activities Director. The interview went great! I was so nervous but I think I held my nerves well. I got a call back for a second interview. It is on Monday. During my interview my boss talked about stepping outside the activities box. He worked at a place where during the winter they bought a truck load of snow and dropped it off at the facility so the residents could play in the snow. He also had a grape stomping part and then a wine and spaghetti dinner afterwards. I need to think of some great "out of the box" activities. If you have any ideas, let me know! Here is the list of "in the box" activities I would want to include if I get the job:

Spiritual

Contact Local Churches and have more religions involved on Sundays.

Physical

“Fit and Fall Proof”, More walks at the park (Soos Creek Trail), Mall, an Indoor Track, Water Aerobics (Fundraising), Play more physical games that use more concentration like done at The Inn, (Bean Bag Toss, Ring Toss, Clothes Pin Drop), Dance Lessons

Intellectual

Discussion Groups (Current Events, Reminisce, Travel/ Geography, “Dear Abby”, Chicken Soup Books/Discuss, Books), Baking Classes, Learn a New Language, Poetry/Essay Club (Create a Book from the Residents Work), Contact Local Teachers or Community Experts and see if they would teach residents (bird watching, finances, sewing…), Local Doctors, Nurses, Dentists come in and do health in-services with residents., Painting Lessons, Arts and Crafts, Clay Sculpting, Jewelry making, Visit an Alpaca Farm, learn about local farms

Social

Red Hat Society, Sing Along (locate volunteers), Community Service, humanitarian work, Group Crossword Competitions, Reading Partners, Picnics at Beach or Parks (weather permitted), BUNKO Parties, invite other Assisted Living Facilities, Utilize Kent Senior Center, Fireside Chats

Cultural

Fireside Chat with Employees, learn about their cultures, First Thursday of every month most museums, from 5-8pm, downtown Seattle are free. (Seattle Art Museum, Experience Music Project, Science Fiction Museum, Museum of History and Industry, Burke Museum of natural History and Culture), Visit Local Theaters, Art Studios, Learn a Different Language

Proud Owner of...

I got a text today that I needed to call the lady at our front desk, MY WORK MOM, Laurie. I called and she said she had to tell me something and it couldn't wait until Monday. So, I went into work and she said, " Now that you have this, you will occasionally have to do somethings for me and I don't want to hear any lip about it." I said okay and then she handed me a BIG BOX! I was shaking i had no idea she would do this for me. SHE and her husband, who I call Grandpa (HE also works at Arbor Village) bought me a Cricut. I am so thankful to them. I am always amazed at their generosity and love and support they show for EVERYBODY. I think of them as a major gift and blessing from God! i AM SO SPOILED! I was shaking so bad, who knew I would be so excited!!

Tears...

... We all know I am a cry baby. One of my family members even shared my best crying stories yesterday after my Brother was set apart as a missionary. I only had like two tears last night... HARDLY ANY! This morning I woke up at 4AM to take my parents and Chris to the airport. It was sad! I am so happy for him and the great act of service and sacrificing he is making but I miss that guy already. Even Worse he left his bag of Starburst at home. This bag has some good memories... hard to explain them... I think it is a family thing. I hope Chris knows how proud I am of him and how much I love him. He is going to be a great missionary!

Milan Italy is lucky to have him soon (He is stuck in Provo for the winter, HAHAHA!)

Boring Life!

I haven't been tagged but since I saw Kiersten openly tagged everybody and I have been fortunate not to... I might as well get it done (esp. since almost everybody i know has done this :( )

Ten Years ago I:
1. I was 13 years old
2. I was just starting 7th Grade
3. Just starting to wear make up
4. Actually enjoyed math... Thanks to Mrs. Foster (whose parents now live at Arbor Village)
5. Was very talkative... you thought I was bad now?

5 things on today's "to do list"
1. Finish Invitations for the big Open House at Work
2. Get a third job
3. Do my Laundry
4. Go Visiting Teaching
5. Run Bank Errands for my Residents

5 snacks I enjoy:
1. Cheez-Its
2. Apples and Dehydrated Apples
3. Popcorn made over the stove
4. Saltine Crackers
5. I love Candy Corn Season

5 things I would do if I were a millionaire:
1. Pay off school loans
2. Pay off my wonderful Car
3. Move into my own apartment (I guess a house would work also if I had that much money.)
4. Go on a shopping spree
5. Help out friends and family who might need it (Kiersten I am copying you!)

5 places I have lived:
1. Seattle, Washington
2. Burien, Washington
3. Unincorporated Kent, Washington
4. Kent, Washington
5. Rexburg, Idaho

5 jobs I have had:
1. Care Associate at Arbor Village, also Medication Technician, Housekeeper, Administration, and Receptionist
2. Clean a Dental office 4 days a week
3. Cleaned a Day Spa in Rexburg
4. Housekeeper at Best Western in Rexburg (worst job ever)
5. Nanny and Babysitter

...

Someone told me not so long ago that I am getting dumb. My solution... I am going to reread all the classic AP books I read in highschool. Not that it will really help. I also have a giant list of books one of my residents have suggested. So far I have only ready two books... not even tough ones. "The Spell" by Charlotte Bronte (i do not suggest. It was dumb!) and "The Last Lecture" by Robert Pauche? None of those are advanced books. The business office manager/associate director at work suggested the second. It is a great book!!!

This past weekend was Stake Conference. Sunday we had a YSA conference with Elder Marlin K. Jensen came to speak with us. Some of my most spiritual experiences were at Ydaho when we had Home Evenings with Elder Bednar. His question and Answer sessions really uplifted me spiritually and I gained so much insight from him. That is what this man did. He said it was the first thing he learned from Elder Bednar. I just got goosebumps. I felt the spirit so strong that meeting. It was a great way to start the week.

Well, I really can not think of what else I needed to blog. I have lost 9 pounds. Only because I have been reading so much and forget to eat breakfast and dinner and work food is a very low fat, low salt diet.... OOPS

I need to start exercising again. I am just not happy and I see pictures of a year ago and it is rather embarrassing so I am going to go on the routine we used at school awhile back. 0.5 miles (I know it isn't allot!!!) for one week, 1.0 miles for one week, 1.5 miles for one week.... and then on the days cycle in the incredible work out tapes I have but never use. At work we were talking about how i should bring them and we could do them at 9pm when it gets quiet. That is an idea!!!

Burned Out

Yesterday was a rough day at work. We had a resident who was in pretty bad respiratory distress. I don't know about anybody else but when i have a hard time breathing I get tired. So, this residents was getting tired and just wanted to lay down. The dumb paramedic said ," Are you giving up breathing? Are you ready to die?" What kind of jerk says that to somebody? What ever happen to public service and encouragement in crisis (no matter how big or small) After they took the resident out of the room to the ER the paramedic came up to me and said, "It doesn't look as if he will make it, you might want to prepare everybody now." UHM! What a Jerk! So, I was suppose to leave work at 7pm last night because I was in at 9:30am and that emergency got ober at 7:15pm, I took out garbage, toileted two people, but someone to bed and then at 7:45pm when i was getting ready to take the garbage out I hear, "HELP! HELP!" Once of my residents fell and that took another thirty minutes. The nurse and I were coming downstairs when the other nurse called on the radio. She had dropped all the other nurse's pills on the ground and they were alll mixed up, so guess what I stayed and helped do.... PILLS. So, obviously I was not meant to leave at 7pm yesterday. Who knows maybe I would have gotten in a bad accident on my way home or someone would have hijacked my car, either way I am very frustrated with work right now. I am just burned out! It doesn't help either that I am no getting very good sleep either!

I know a blog is suppose to be a place where you can vent frustrations and share whatever is going on in your life. I realized that putting things, for example, how unhappy I am at work, could come back in bite me in the rear end, so I deleted it. FYI, I only got a $0.30 raise. So after three years of not getting a raise, that is all I am worth. I am not quite a happy camper!!!!

Idaho

My mother, Christopher and I drove to Idaho this week. We left Sunday after church, almost got in three accidents in the QFC parking lot while Chris was driving and then got really close to the side rail. He drove from Kent to Ellensburg. We saw my Uncle Brian, he barbequed us the BEST chicken ever, left and then drove to Spokane, staed with the Burches, got up and drove to see my Aunt Sharon who took us to IHOP and tried to convince to stay the night but we decided to continue to drive to Rexburg. So, I am loosing reception on my cell phone while trying to make hotel arrangements for that night getting frustrated and finally gave up. We waited until we got to Rexburg at 8:30pm, reserved a room, got my stuff out of storage, went to Walmart, went back to the motel, slept got up, went shopping, visited Kiersten and Brilynn (WHO IS SO STINKING CUTE, except she cried when she saw me!!!) left Rexburg and drove to Rupert, Idaho where we stayed in 110 degree weather with Grandma and Grandpa Beth, who doesn't remember who I am :(. We stayed the night and then left for Washington at 6pm, made it four hours and got another motel room in Ontario, Oregon (stinkiest town ever!!!!) Slept and then left at 8:30am. We drove back home where "my mom folded the map" and time traveled. Somehow we missed the whole city of Yakima where we were going to go and get fruit to bring home. Made it home, my parents and family left to go camping with Jen and Joe and friendsm left me all alone at home and now I have to work this weekend so I don't think I will get to go camping. Maybe i will drive up tonight hang out a little bit and then come home. I am debating whether or not to put a mattress in my car so I don't have to sleep on the ground. THANK GOODNESS for fold down seats. I really need to wash my car but that will wait until after I make the drive. Anyways best part of the trip... I GOT NEW SCRIPTURES. Mine were in need of some First Aid so I just bought new ones. I LOVE NEW SCRIPTURES. If I am forgetting something in my long rambling, I will make sure to add it later. Pictures also... I will add those at another time :)