Just Another Herd Creature

End of fiscal year stuff all over my desk
22 kids in arts program
one "accidental" toaster oven left on and burning fimo figures died - terrible smell
enough clay on the bathroom floor and doors to make a small statue
blue paint foot prints in one classroom complete with glitter and glue
one "dropping" of a cutting blade left shallow gash in child's leg
one staff person called in sick, but we suspect a possible harassing boyfriend problem
no janitor today

staff person on the other side of our facility (we're all one but different programs) takes a swing at another staff person - did I say they are both "security" folks? Police called a total of 3 times today on same individual. There were threats of further violence and hints at guns being involved. I think my boss might be ready to quit and he's only been here since Nov. 1, 2005.

And I had my meeting with him to go over my yearly evaluation, which was very good.

but the day . . . was not so good

Last child left, I'm locking the doors and going to hide in my office. Maybe I'll listen to the cd that the aforementioned violent staff person gave me yesterday. He just produced it and it's rap/funk/lazy summer/take your lady out kind of music or at least that's how he's described it to me.

later

I'm leaving my boss's office, heading for the coffee house next door, he follows me out and asks if I can give him a ride to the main office.
Usually he would walk, but they just called an emergency budget meeting and he needs to get down there NOW. I don't have my car keys with me. "We'll take mine", he says casually.

Driving through downtown streets, at noon, in an unfamiliar car with the owner in the passengers seat, he's your boss and the car is a Mercedes. Bring on the stress Babyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!

Oh yeah, there was another suspicious package in downtown Oakland. It was in front of the Federal Building and they blew it up a few hours ago, just a block away from our main office and about 6 blocks from my office.

back to work

In this last year, my job has greatly expanded. I've continued my original work load, while adding about 75% of the work my "now retired" boss did. And in the last 3 months, they've dumped a major project on my head; bringing a new facility into our registration and reservation system. And all of this on 30 hours a week!

So, today when my boss said he had to have my self-evaluation form completed before I left work - it turned an already full day into a very full 10 hour day. Question #6 made me want to bang my head against the wall repeatedly until my hysterical laughter subsided.

"What new work responsibilities would you be interested in undertaking? I wanted to write "not one more fucking thing, thank you", instead I went the more sedate route with "Currently my plate is full."

With the exception of receiving a delivery of fresh swiss chard from the very generous serenejournal, this day sucked.

Started with a department wide email about a colleague's 4 year old little boy (Tyler) who was badly burnt Wednesday night. His brother was playing with the lazy-susan at a Chinese restaurant. The large pot of very hot tea flew off the table and burnt Tyler from the neck down to his waist and both arms and hands. He is in a burn unit in S.F., wrapped like a mummy, on morphine for a couple of days, before the doctors can assess the damage. His father works a few blocks away at another center.

Tyler is in a pre-school right next to the building I work in. I've often seen his dad dropping him off or picking him up. Last week stonebender and I were walking pass the pre-school, when we ran into Tyler and his dad. While I talked shop with dad, Tyler talked to Stonebender. "I know why you're in that chair." he said. We stopped our conversation for a second to listen. Stonebender said "Why" and Tyler proudly responded "Because you can't walk!" Simple, direct, non-judgmental; just the facts.

My interactions with Tyler have been minimal, yet today's news greyed my day. I cried for the little boy, his pain, his parent's pain and his sibling's pain, his extended family and friends. The older brother is about 6 or 7; I hope there will be love, support and intervention to minimize the guilt he is feeling. Tyler, of course, needs a great deal of love and support. This is a life changing moment for Tyler and his family.

And a ripple in mine, a texture absent yesterday, but up front and very present today. I chipped a tooth many years ago. For months my tongue would seek it out, it felt foreign, wrong, something in need of soothing. With time, the sharpness of the break yields to the body's geology; it became smoother, transitioned to "normal". Now I am seeking out this new knot, smoothing it, weaving it. It will change texture, it will take its place with all the thousands of others, it is my tapestry.

My life is not CHANGED by this event, but I am changed.

Rambled enough for one day, now I will amble off to bed.

I ordered a bagel with plain cream cheese, lox, tomato and onion. What I got was a bagel with lox, tomato and onion. I guess "plain cream cheese" translated into "no cream cheese", although I did pay the the price for one with cream cheese. And I didn't find this out until I was at my desk at work.

To me, a bagel without cream cheese is just a chewy piece of bread.

Saw the movie this afternoon and I was disappointed. If you see it, make sure to stay through all the credits. Did enjoy the Beast as a diplomat. Tired now, time for a nap.

There's a mermaid on my soap. The resident witch is threatening the mermaid with the prospect of her giant cat, Fluffy having the mermaid for dinner. Mayo is offered. Just when I think this soap is getting too normal.

serenejournal and kightp inspired me to pull out the camera at dinner last night. The meat is lamb and it's the first time I've cooked it any other way than in a crock-pot stew. It came out great; medium to medium rare. The cavatelli pasta is covered with a sauce of butter, olive oil, peas, portabella mushrooms, regular mushrooms and peas, then topped with asiago cheese.

On my drive home from work, the best I could come up with for an accompaniment to the lamb was a box of Kraft Mac & Cheese. Then I looked at the marinating lamb and started going through the fridge and cabinets looking for something a little "fancier" to sit next to such beautiful meat.