Month: August 2020

Working with BPD and things, an Update Part 1

Posted on by kmarrs

So I am officially working now. I’m a senior caregiver with a international company, though they are franchised out.

I started a week ago and spent a few evenings (I work 3pm to 11pm – mostly) with a really nice lady who had just had emergency surgery. By the time I got my turn with her, she was mostly recovered. She was well on her feet in a way that you wouldn’t think a 91-year-old would be. She was for the most part able-bodied, and her mind is as sharp as a tack. I spent most of my time with her reading beside her, refilling her water as needed. It was a really relaxing way to get my feet wet.

By Monday of this week she was well enough that she didn’t need us any more, and good for her. She was a delight to work with, but I’m glad she’s feeling better.

My new case is a little more challenging. She is 90-years-old and about 80% able bodied, though she is slow getting on her feet and uses a chair lift for stairs. But she gets around. The catch is she has dementia. So she’ll present a unique challenge.

I’ll just have to be patient and persistent. I spent a few hours with her Tuesday while she was in someone else’s care, to get to know the case, her needs, and my way around the house. I will officially take over the 3-11pm shift on Thursday. I’ll be with her 5 days a week.

This is subject to change at any time, but this seems to be where I’m stationed.

I’m feeling pretty relaxed about the challenge ahead. I’ve been around dementia patients before. I know to just go with the flow and not add to the confusion in her head. I know how to place ideas in her head that she’ll develop and claim as her own as the day progresses that will allow me to make sure she eats, bathes, etc.

In closing, I present one of the sunflowers the local birds planted in among my lilies. Some people would be bothered by this and pull it all. However, I myself am an agent of chaos, so I support the birbs in their gardening efforts.

Something Something Time. Something Something Slipping. Something Something Future.

Posted on by kmarrs

Time sort of got away from me. I suppose it does that when the calendar no longer matters. Last week was a rush of phone interviews, COVID testing (I’m fine. It was a precaution.) and such.

There was also a weekend depression because I found a job. While I’m excited about the job itself, I wish it was a 2021 job. Not an end of the summer 2020 job with COVID still being out in full force in my community. But, well… the unemployment bonus is gone and I have a family to provide for.

Anyway, I’m not ready to talk about the job. I had orientation yesterday. I start my first shift tomorrow. So I’ll have something to say next week.

Also, just a note. I’m going to start having new posts drop on Thursdays. Wednesdays are my guaranteed day off and I work a lot of weekends so it just makes sense to drop things the day after I have a day off, so that if I am writing last minute it’s on a Wednesday not a Sunday, when I’m working.

2021 Planning

Posted on by kmarrs

I made a goal of getting back into sewing in 2021, at some point during the quarantine. A bit later I dug out my old machine and tested it to see if it worked, because I vaguely remember there being a problem. And I was right. I couldn’t get the needle and bobbin to do their thing.

I set it aside and ordered some oil and new needles as well as more bobbins with the plans of tinkering with it to see if I could get it to work. That was weeks ago and it’s all just sort of sat in my living room waiting on me since. I was afraid to try and fix it, because I was afraid of failing.

Anyway, I finally sat down with it this weekend and I managed to get it working which means I’m on track for my 2021 goal of getting back into sewing.

I am going to wait until 2021 to really start because I’m crowd sourcing getting my bills paid at the moment and there just isn’t any allowance for me to go and buy fabric. Hopefully by January I’ll have steady income again and can go to the fabric store without guilt.

My first project will be a couple of pairs of flannel sleep shorts for Sammy. I’ll get an extra half yard of flannel to remind myself how to do the thing (it’s been 18 years) but then I’ll go to town on shorts for her. Flannel is easy to work with and shorts are a simple enough project. This will help me getting into the swing of using the machine. Plus what little gorl doesn’t like flannel sleep shorts, espcially if she picks out the fabric herself?

Once I’ve mastered flannel I’ll get a pattern for a decent a-line skirt and some decent linen or whatever and start making myself skirts. I’ll be using more expensive fabric, but will have the skill needed to treat it right. A good linen in forgiving and sturdy as hell. It’s also priced with the idea that my great-grandchildren will be able to wear these shirts, in mind. So expensive, but worth it. I will not be working with polyester. Polyester is plastic. So 100% cotten, linen, wool, silk, etc only.

Once I’ve masters that, it’s over for you bitches, and I’m moving on to cotton dresses in my favorite 1950s cut and style. I love dresses like this:

So the thought of making my own out of cute cottons is giving me life.

I can also make my own flannel shirts and not be limited to plaid flannel (Not that there is anything wrong with a standard plaid flannel. But…)

I will have the power to do what I want, and no laws of fashion can stop me!

Anyway, I’m too broke to fabric shop right now which is OK since getting back into sewing was my 2021 goal. But in the meantime the machine is working, so assuming I’m working too, there is nothing holding me back come the new year.

This One Is About Money

Posted on by kmarrs

So the GOP failed to agree to a stimulus without trying to add to the military budget, or fund a refurbishment of the west wing, so like many Americans, I just lost 80% of my income.

Which means I’m now job hunting. Which is exactly what the GOP wants me to be doing. I’m just supposed to ignore that there were 1700 new cases in my county the other day, and that that is normal right now.

I don’t really know what I’m looking for. I think I’d prefer something where I’m in scrubs. But I’d be fine with a regular office too. I’m just sort of seeing what’s out there and applying to anything that will pay the bills.

I’m not settling for less than 15$ an hour. I’m aiming for 18$ an hour. I have 5 people besides myself to support, I’m nearing 40, and I have a college degree. I will be paid my worth.

Realistically, I’ll accept whatever I’m offered, but I’ll keep looking even after that if the pay isn’t a reasonable living wage.

This is such bullshit though.

Anyway.

I between my income and Robin’s disability, we have enough to cover rent. We are still, however, short about 800$ for utilities, insurance, and various debt payments. If you like what I do here, now is the time to tell me via PayPal. I put a lot of work into being a source on mental health shenanigans, and I don’t run ads. I think asking for tips is valid. So if you can, now is the time to toss a coin to your blogger, oh valley of plenty.

You can do so here.

As tip tax, I offer the corn the birds out front (we’re not buying bird food this month obviously) tried to grow.

They have an entire garden going out front, in the beds and in the lawn, but this corn is my favorite. I’m kind of sad Robin pulled it.