Shellon

The classes probably could give a rats butt about any of us, but you already know of what to speak. It's an area for which you are well learned and versed and skilled. Get up there and tell your story. Make good eye contact, avoid the uh's um's and yaknow's. Don't bother trying to impress. Consider your audience, be clear, don't wander around the topic. Be prepared for questions. You'll do a good job and come back and tell us how well it went.

Ditto, if you don't want it public, don't post it.

Thanks dooj!!

LOL sushi, we'll have your wonderful gravy when I pick up my P**** couch for sure

Happy Birthday Eagle

Yeah, beautiful

Hmm I can get it to open in another box, in the corner, but still teeny. oop, nope, if I right click and open in other window it opens bigger. Thanks

What's happening in that pic Ron, it's too small to tell.

Oh I dunno George, we used to put boots on em and walk them with a collar and leash. Oh how the times have changed in Arkansas Pictures, Ron

Goats in the trunk? :blink:

ROFL!

Do you have any gray poop on Sushi?

How did your day go Hope?

We did the traditional turkey with dressing, smashed garlic tators, grape salad, deviled eggs and other finger foods, home made rolls that my 11 year old made. Dessert was pies (peach, rhubarb or pumpkin) and home made ice cream with strawberries. Tomorrow is dinner at my dad and step mom's and I think it's more oyster stew, shrimp, probably my dad's beer butt chicken and smoked fish. Beverages are always 'bring your own' and today was everything from Black Velvet to Milk or Pepsi.

Hope you already know how I feel about firsts and yup they suck! I think of you so often and pray with you daily.

:) Beautiful pictures!

:) These are the stories that keeps one putting one foot in front of the other!

Abi, isn't life interesting and wierd the way it unfolds? My growing up was very good and loving with our parents gone much of the time but a maternal grandmother living in the house I live in now, right behind us or spending the nights. Supervision was constant and the hand was one of stern loving. I was lucky. That was mostly why I chose Social Work. It started in 3rd grade when a little boy in my class had shoes in the winter that were full of holes, no socks and he had no coat. I gave him my new christmas sneakers and my brothers new coat. The joy in his face that someone cared about him and wanted to do for him is one I shall ever remember. I knew then that I was here to do stuff like that. Then I read Karen Quinlin's story and got interested in euthanasia issues and the fight her parents were under. I was hooked on the helping profession but didn't know it then. Now, alot of years later, life has happened and I no longer want to be involved in those kinds of things on a hands in the crud level. It took me about six years to really understand that sometimes it's better for the child to stay in his home even if it appears miserable and filthy and he's not necessarily safe, cuz it's his home and those are his family. It took me equally as long to understand that I might have to look at a child who was the victim of violence and his/her family and say these words to them "Your offender has rights too" I don't have it in me anymore, it is gone. That's not a bad thing, I don't think. It's better I see that now than secure employment and be more a part of the problem than a solution. My degree will suit me somewhere and I will find my fit. I'm thankful and I know that I did some good somewhere, as so many do and will. I'm also fortunate in that my Professors are adjunct so they stand in front of class and tell that day's stories and share and take us on the field and show us the reality of that world, it's not just bookwork. I finally understand that it's ok to say I can't do it. Not in the realm of CPS or where I have to look in the face of victims and tell them there is nothing we can do for them. Yeah, Galen, I tell anyone who asks to not do it. That's not a good thing, necessarily, because s/he might be perfect for the job but the burn out rate for case workers is 1.5 years and they need to know that going in. And this system where change is made AFTER some tragedy. Michigan's recent case of Ricky who was killed and buried by his mom/dad setting off a statewide search and the ensuing trial, etc. NOW they are saying the system failed Ricky and his family and massive changes are in order. How many more kids before anyone really does anything........it's the universal question. I just don't want to be a part of that anymore. All blow, no go.

Indeed, Galen, your post put my many many words into a few shorter ones. I've been jaded and in realization of the reality that studying Social Work wasn't for me for a long time now but am finishing the degree because I'm so close now. But unless my child is needing food in the pantry I have no interest in working in the system as it sits. The more I study and see and intern around, the more I know the fit is bad for me and they would never find the fit for them good with me there.

I've been struggling to verbalize to my career counselors why I'm sorry I chose Social Work at a field for me and why I wish I'd chosen animal husbandry or something honest. You just described the reason. But hey, Animal Psych is a legit thing these days right?

praying with you Jonny

Happy Birthday Speed :)

My oldest, raised in TWI lived with a wierd mix of 'yes Samantha there is a Santa' to 'no Samantha there is no Santa but it's fun to play the game huh'? She got gifts from Santa from her maternal grandmother. And the tooth fairy always showed up on time, but she knew by about age 7 that I was the lady that collected her teeth and traded them for coin. We never really told her any truth and don't recall a time when she realized were were fulla it. My youngest said she busted Santa at about age 9 when she saw me putting gifts out and those same gifts were from the jolly man the next morning. We still play the game and with all the great things we see happen this time of year, we choose to believe there is a "something". Call it Santa, call it people being good to each other for a change.... And this year she's 11 and I told her I killed Santa by telling him I was a good girl and he died laughing. That was not well received at all. There is a time and place for mom humor. Or a mom who just thinks she's funny. This during the time she's losing tooth after tooth and the tooth fairy has been up to three days late showing up twice. But then again the guilt money has been appreciated. She found all her baby teeth in my jewelry box about a year ago in a little envelope marked "Kelly's teeth". <_< She knows, we play the game and it's fun for now. And we help out a family that needs help, every year a differant family, signing our givings from the jolly guy.

Thank you whitedove :)

Happy Birthday Thomas :)