Cusp of a New Year

I can't believe another year is almost over! A few updates because we always seem to changing something with our plans.  
Work is work.  It's been full of up and downs, just like any other job.  I do enjoy the work but I have another evaluation in a couple of months which are stressing me out if I'd have to admit it.  I was trained in July and then lately I have been having monthly mentor calls, which have been going well, but in a couple of months I will have person come and sit in on my work for two days! ack!  Had a lot of changes at work in personnel and all.  My "boss" has changed three times, I have a new coworker psychologist which I feel we have a good working relationship, and we had another social worker hired but he quit :(. They are suppose to be hiring someone else but so far no one has been hired.  So technically we are low manned so we are focusing our work on the active duty members.  So things are moving along.

On my balcony, with Fremont St behind me

Looking out towards Red Rock

Joe got a job!  A good paying job, hell he's getting more than me LOL. But it's in Albuquerque NM :(. So we are doing the separate thing for a wee bit.  Thus I moved to a small place in the Arts District which is pretty nice and Joe found himself a similar place downtown ABQ.  Even though neither one of us is happy about this new living arrangement we are focusing on the gains we will get from it.  Our bills will get paid quicker, Joe will keep his sanity, we can get our health and fitness back on track, and when we do visit with one another our time will be more intentional.  

Joe came out for Thanksgiving and we had a relaxing time catching up with each other and doing whatever came up.  One good thing about Vegas is that it NEVER sleeps and you can always find some place that is open!

Playing tourist at the Neon Museum!  

Seven Magic Mountains

Moving along....

I can't believe this year is almost over!  I also just got an email from my boss saying that I'm hitting my 90 day marker so I will have my evaluation right after the 1st!  Just the other night Joe and I were talking how it feels as if we've been in Florida a lot longer than we have and then I look back on this year and damn, I've been busy!

First off Sami is amazing and has the heart of a puppy.  She is still struggling but she's still moving about and her spirit has lifted with her adaptations.  We met with the vet this past weekend and we put everything out of the table in that we are not going for "heroics" in regards to Sami's care.  We are going to maintain her quality of life as much as possible and when that goes then it's time to let her go.  The vet was great and was supportive of our view on the situation.  I was worried that she would want us to get test done to confirm if it's DM, or do extra stuff...but she's seen a good amount of dogs and she said even if it's not DM but, let's say, a tumor on her spine there is still only so much we can do.  We probably won't board her anymore due to how bad she was when we picked her up, I think the activity was just too much for her.  We haven't figured out what we are doing for Christmas and New Years yet, I am working Christmas Eve and Day but we will be taking Sami with us wherever we go!

Joe is off on a TDY back to New Orleans, I know...hard life, and I'm holding the homestead down and even though I'm off of work this week I got my "to do" list.  Thursday I am meeting with someone at the Red Cross so I can volunteer with their Crisis Disaster Team.  I'm nervous but excited.  I tend to have some down time and the job front isn't as busy so I guess I'd do some volunteering.  I also got a book club that I joined and will be attending the first meeting this weekend!

Joe had his annual work Christmas Party this past weekend and it was actually fun.  We got dressed up, I got my hair done, and I must say....we are a good looking pair!  

The following night we had dinner at the American Legion. Joe works with some guys that are members there and they have cheap drinks LOL  They have a great set up, nice patio area where they will have live bands, and for this time of the year a really nice fire pit!  They are doing a toy run next weekend and I'm not sure if we're going to do that or not.  There is always something going on around here, and we are looking forward to the summer to get a lot of beach time in.  After the holidays I think we are going to get some beach cruisers so we can ride bikes to the beach or to brunch :)

This is at my work on the desk by the communal computer and I will read it off and on, it helps remind me of what's important with my work!

Work has slowed down but I'm getting some individual clients so that makes it so I get at least 2-3 days a week.  They did send me to Eglin AFB for so training, which I am grateful for! More tools to utilize with my clients :)

I am truly blessed in life and as much as I want to be lazy again, I need to get going on my "to do" list!

I took this photo of Sami because she has been struggling getting up in her beds but she got in with no issues the other night! :)  Love her to pieces!!! 

Back To School...

I'm two weeks in and I'm still looking for my "groove".  Currently I am doing my practicum/internship at the Vet Center on Monday and Tuesday from 7-6.  I'm going to be changing that schedule due to other things in my life.  I have two classes on Thursday and Friday, and a class that is online.  So currently I have Wednesday off for errands and homework.  Having that day off in the middle of the week is weird but nice.  Two days of work, one day off, two days of classes and then another two days off.  Nice schedule huh?  It's weird and I think it's one of the reasons why I'm struggle to find my "groove".
Currently Codi is living with us because on Monday he ships out to Marine boot camp.  It got moved forward because other people bowed out and no longer wanted to be a Marine.  Codi said these folks were paying attention to the news and the thought of shipping out to a war made them rethink their decisions to join.  Which is good, because the last thing the Marines need are people who have issues with being sent to war!
My classes are interesting.  My concentration is Forensics, apparently the therapist that work with court mandated clients or work in the criminal justice system are called "hug-a-thugs"  I thought that was cute :P  What surprised me is that Forensic Social Work is not really a "thing" just yet.  Even within our school it's been a struggle to be seen as a thing.  My one teacher had a domestic violence client come to the school so his class could watch a therapy session through a one way glass and he had to explain and fight for this with the Dean.  Apparently once the school found out that he was bringing in a DV client into the school all hell broke loose in regards to him "bringing in a violent criminal".  WOW!  Kinda takes away from what social work is founded on, helping those in need!  He eventually won his case and was allowed to bring that client in.
Another one of my classes is Law and Social Work and is taught by a Judge.  She's pretty interesting and I don't remember any of my Civics classes being so engaging!  Or maybe I just wasn't interested at the time :P
I'm also taking a class on ACT-Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.  I feel as though I'm going to be more of an empowering therapist and ACT is going to be a nice tool to have in my tool chest.
I haven't started seeing clients at the Vet Center yet :( Still waiting on computer access.  I am enjoying talking with one of the volunteers, he's an old Army helicopter pilot and he's interesting. I've sat in on a few therapy sessions with the other therapist.  There are two psychologist at the Vet Center and they are both pretty nice. I asked about what dictates a client see a psychologist as opposed to the LCSWs and I was told nothing.  At my last practicum the psychologist that would come in was not so cool, I never even formally met him and according to the other therapist he wasn't very user friendly.  So that's been a nice change.  I'm hoping when I show up on Monday I'll have computer access.  I'm going to be starting a support group for medics, we'll see how that pans out.  I think there are two groups that I need to run or work with while I'm doing my practicum.
My life is back to reading, homework, and work.  It's crazy to think that in April/May I'll be done and graduating with a Masters!  Go me :D

2 weeks to go!

I am almost done with the first semester of my MSW program!  It has gone by fast but at the same time... not fast enough.  I cannot wait for holiday break!  I need a BREAK from all the stuff that I've been trying to juggle.  We are going to go back home to see the parents for part of the week but I was adamant about having some down time at home so I can really relax!
I'm still enjoying the program, and I still feel that I've made a good choice for my next career path!  We had to pick our concentration for the second year.  I started off wanting mental health with the goal to do my second year internship at the VA.  I picked forensic social work and more than likely the internship will not be at the VA.  All the concentrations will prepare us to take the licensing exam and work at social workers so it made sense to pick something that interest me.
In my undergrad degree we discussed the legal system and it seems to have gone away from reforming people to just a business.  At my internship now I work with mainly court mandated clients and it frustrates me some of the things that I hear about the system.  Don't get me wrong, these people had done wrong and are accountable for these things but there is no guidance/support/education to where they don't end up back in the system until it's too late.  I have a class mate that works at a different area but the same type of clientele and she feels that helping these people are a waste of time because they don't want to be there and they don't want to change.  I disagree with her.  There is no excuse for their criminal behavior but from what I have gathered so far working with them, they have spent their lives with people not caring for them or not seeing them as humans... just criminals, people that are up to no good and that is all they are going to amount to...criminals.  That type of life would beat anyone down.  The last things these people need is yet another person to see them as less than human, to not see any potential in them, and just write them off.  Everyone deserves better than that.  I'd rather try and help these individuals and attempt to give them the tools to succeed.  If they choose to utilize them great, if not... I can only do so much.
I still want to help veterans, and with this background I feel that I will be better prepared to help veterans.  I will have tools for brief interventions to help people and lately there are increasing numbers of military members being caught up in the judicial system due to their PTSD, substance abuse, etc.  
This concentration will give me a good foundation to understand and navigate the judicial system which will help me guide those that need it.  
I'm looking forward to the second year of classes!