shock the rock

Tweet
Share

The new year has started out fantastic with me. I have kept all my new years resolutions, mainly because I did not make any. I find New Years to be dramatic and over rated. I have no problem staying at home and getting an early night to bed (I'm so old).
Aside from this, I started a new position at work. For those of you who do not know, I work at The Salvation Army Centre of Hope (not a thrift store... I don't even get a staff discount). The centre of hope is a homeless shelter. I have been working there for about 5 years. Before I started my fab position I had a love hate relationship with the place. Okay, so the love hate thing is still there but I get more money.
So, my new position is called Major.. kidding. I'm not a part of the Army at all, just a worker there. I am a Resource Counselor. Essentially resourcefully counsel people who live at the shelter. I refer them to external agencies and internal programs. Being a Resource Counselor is a fun job but it is such a busy one. Today was the first day that I actually left on time and I still did not finish what needed to be done. Ugh. Tomorrow is a new day.
At the shelter we have free beds and rental rooms. My boss wanted myself and my colleague to check on all the rental rooms (approx. 75-80 may be just a bit less; may be more). She wanted to make sure that people were following the policy and rules (no smoking; no perishable food; no fire hazards; no drugs/alcohol; etc). Last Thursday we undertook this task and set out on our huge job. We got about half way done when we opened the door and the first thing we noticed was a space heater (huge fire hazard). Almost simultaneously the smell hit me and my head turned to another part of the room and there he was. The man renting the room was dead on his bed. We were both in shock and ran to my colleague's office and called security and they came up and called EMS (911) and they took care of it.
I have to say it was one of the most shocking things I have ever seen. I will not describe the scene but let me just say I will never wish that upon anyone. The client we found, a man whom I had been dealing with for a little bit, was completely unrecognisable. Not because of how he died (it may have been natural but it could have been suidice; we don't know) it was because of how much 'weight' it looked like he had gained (his body bloated alot). So anyway... it was not pleasant. I was in a bit of a shock and it takes much to shock me.
The closest I have come to finding a dead person prior to this was when my roommates ex boyfriend tried to commit suicide and I found him in time to call 911.
My reason for telling this story is simply to get it out of my head. It is like a debriefing of sorts. Oddly it has not caused me to think of my own mortality but rather you never know just what is going on in another's mind. Prior to finding him I had thought to myself that I had not seen this person in a few days (he saw me in my office quite a bit: almost daily basis) but I never went to check his room.... you just never know. My advice: if you have an impression about someone act on it. Do not wait. There is a reason for the impression in your mind.

Fire and smoke

Tweet
Share

My husband and I like to experiment with cooking sometimes. Before we were married we decided that we would make falafels. They are actually quite easy to make. So we ventured and made them for our friends. While we were making them my husband and I were discussing grease fires. I told him that you always put baking soda on a grease fire and never water because it would spread it more. So not even a minute later there was a small grease fire on the stove and Dave reaches for the water. Luckily the fire went out as quick as it started or we would have been dead.

My husband and I have been married for four months now and it has been wedded bliss from day one.

We stayed in Banff at the Buffalo Mountain Lodge and it was amazing. They had a the best pillows on the bed and let me tell you, I was dang close to taking one. The bathroom was bigger than my bedroom. It was awesome.

Dave is a romantic and since there was a fireplace in the room we decided to sit in front of the fire. So I sat on the bed waiting for him to start the fire. He was showing off his boy scout fire building skills. Within about 3 seconds of him lighting the fire smoke was billowing out from the fireplace. When I saw billowing... I mean billowing. The ceilings in the room are vaulted and fire alarm is probably at the highest point. My husband is not a tall man and so there he was jumping on the bed in his boxers waving a towel in the general direction of the fire alarm. Meanwhile, I calmly walked over to the fireplace, opened the flu and went outside.

Recently my husband was making cookies and rather than crowd the kitchen I asked him if he could toast me a bagel. He lovingly said yes. So he is doing two things at once. He put the butter in the microwave to soften it. I did not see him do this, I only saw the big flame that englufed the butter two seconds after putting it in there. Dave never saw the flame, he only heard the paper sparking up. So he quickly opened the door and blew it out... shut the door and it started on fire again. So he blew it out again. Dave knew not to put foiled paper in the microwave and all he said was "well, you know I can't do two things at once"... thus making it my fault the fire started, even though I was in the other room.

Shiny Happy People

Tweet
Share

Yes, it's true... Two posts in one day but I was motivated by a friend's blog today. She wrote a blog entitled "lot's of good people in the world". In this blog she posted 10+ statements about people in her life and never telling which statement was directed at whom. It was great. So please find your names on the left and try to match it to the statement that best applies to you. Okay I'm totally kidding. But I will post some statements now.

1. You are a breath of fresh air in a smog ridden city.
2. Your strength simply amazes me. I wish I had half as much strength as you.
3. You are the most supportive and loving person I have ever met. How did I get so luck as to have you in my life?
4. Your wit astounds me. You should consider standup.
5. Your perseverance and willing to endure to the end is simply incredible. You never quit! I love it!
6. You deserve the best, go get it! With all your heart take what you deserve!!
7. We need to be neighbours so we can quilt, write journals, have our children be best friends... You are awesome!
8. Machine. No other word describes you. You are able to the work of ten and still keep going. Where the heck do you get your energy? Do you have an IV of red bull??
9. You are one of the most honest people I know. Don't change that... Even if people get mad.
10. I wish you could stand up for yourself more. I see so much strength and so much spirit in you. Take a stand and do not let people walk all over you. You are a beautiful person with so much to offer... Find your voice.
11. We have lost touch and I am sad. I miss hearing your voice.
12. Shock and awe... Shock and awe.
13. You are the most free spirited person. You do what is in your heart and do not take crap from anyone. Good on ya but chill out sometimes... Not everyone means to hurt you.
14. We need to hang out more. I miss the good talks we've shared. It's sad we do not talk as much or at all anymore. You have helped me through so much.
15. You live your life without question. You see what you want and you take it. You live life by your rules and no one else's. I love you!
16. Confusion about life befalls us all but listen to your spirit and what it is trying to tell you. Do what is right.
17. We think the same... I like that.