Bad Blogger

I admit, I've been a very bad blogger. Abandoning it and you for 4 months. I'm sorry (rips back 4 perfectly good complicated rows of knitting as punishment........It's a knitter's thing).

Things have been busy here. First of all tackling computer issues. One dies and then had to get the other running. Then came my roommate having major surgery. Then moving into a 2 bedroom apartment using a car. No truck, no U-haul, just a car. Thankfully it was to the next building. That took a week. Yes a week to move my roommates apartment and get all my stuff out of storage. Oh and the 4 cats.

Oh and the SIAD fair. Robbyn and I pulled that off too. GAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH. It was great though. We'll be taking it on the road now.

Once that all got settled, it was time for all the meetings to heat up. Our meetings are like alphabet soup. KTP, CTN/MRO, CAB, NAMI, SnB. Then one of those has 2 other meetings and one other has another meeting. I've also been appointed Vice president of one.

All through this though I've been knitting away. I don't have pics though because this comp doesn't cooperate with pics that well.

That's all for now.

YAY!!!!

As a followup to the post done in red (and part in caps). Someone I can't stand has quit their job and will be leaving next week. She has been a nightmare since I met her.

Ugh!!

R an i have both been sick as dogs all week.

I can't go into specifics right now, but one of my unspoken MY DREAMS HAS COME TRUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Busy, Busy

Alright, since right after Christmas "R," my roomate, and I have been working on tthe Self Injury Awareness Day Informational Fair. Things have been going smother this year than last year. A lot hast to do with the fact that we know what we're doing, I think.

Last year was our first year. As a result, we weren't sure of what we were doing, or our footing. Plus we has tons of work to do (getting the info, getting it presentable and ready, taking care of the mailing, etc.). We had a place we just didn't know where we stood (didn't want to overstep our bounds) even though we knew everyone that works there. This year we're prepared. Heck, the photocopying is about half done (a month before the fair). Also the invites are in the mail (also a month before the fair) Last year we were photocopying the day before the fair and invites went out the week before the fair.

I'm not saying it's going to be smooth seas, but a lot smoother than last years. Overall, I'm looking forward to Feb 29th. Ok a day before Self-Injury Awareness Day (SIAD), bit SIAD is on a Saturday so we had to do the fair a day early.

How's things going

Ahhh, finally a minute or two to relax. How nice it is. An update from the previous post:

• 1 flat tire -- The tire has been fixed. Amazingly, the car dealership was the least expensive place.
• 1 deceased friend -- His memorial is today. I'm not going. I'd like to, but usually, when I go to memorial services, wakes, funerals, and the such, I end up in the ER. I don't go any more as a way to avoid that step.
• 3 Funny Stories -- Still laughing
• 1 ongoing family story/legend from christmas -- The "10 Pounds of Fudge" story/legend from christmas is still going strong, and has not ended yet.
• 4 cats still not getting along -- THey're getting along a little better day by day, but not playing together yet. At least they're not hissing or growling at each other constantly.
• 1 Informational fair in the planning -- Fair preparations are well under way (another post entirely).
• 1 call in to local sentaor -- The senator and I have been in touch and will be talking more.
• 1 proclamation request put in -- Still no word.
• 1 invite to previously mentioned fair on it's way to governor -- Also no word,
• 1 ticked off step-mom -- Same old, same old.
• 1 extremely happy maternal side of family (large family) -- I'm happy too. We've been in touch since May. It's great.

Here we are in 2008...

...and it's off to in interesting start. Tally of events since New Years:
1 flat tire
1 deceased friend
3 Funny Stories
1 ongoing family story/legend from christmas
4 cats still not getting along
1 Informational fair in the planning
1 call in to local sentaor
1 proclamation request put in
1 invite to previously mentioned fair on it's way to governor
1 ticked off step-mom
1 extremely happy maternal side of family (large family)

So far this year is looking up, and busy. I have 8 or so meetings to attend a month related to boards and commitees.

2 months ... Wow!

When you're apartment searching and moving 2 months fly right by.

Apartment update: My stuff is in storage and some of "R's." I'm at her place and we're going to start looking again next year. There's not much turnover in apartments right now with what we're looking for. THat's ok though. Everything is working out great. Cliona's adjusting (slowly).

A lot has beenen going on in the past 2 months. I've been going through Essentials of Legislative Advocacy Training, and Advanced Legislative Advocacy Training. It's extremely interesting. I've also gotten involved in the Medicaid Rehab Option (that's an extirely separate post to explain), the Connecticut Transformation Network (also another post to explain).

The Self-Injury Awareness Day project is going along nicely. "R" and I both had letters to the editor in the paper and we are talking to legislators. They're talking of raising a bill for us during our next legislative session. YES!

Family is still a bit of an issue. My step-mom is flipping out that I'm talking to my real-mom. My real-mom and her family are great and that is all going along wonderfully. We had a great Thanksgiving, "R" got to come too. We even had a birthday party for me Sunday and I'll be seeing my family on Thursday for my birthday too. "R" got to come to the birthday party Sunday, and is coming for Christmas also.

Like I said a lot has taken place. I'll post again soon. Until then have a Happy Holiday Season.

Apartment Hunting and Other Things

A friend of mine ("R") and I have decided to become roommates. Our case mamagers our driving us nuts regarding finances, so we have decided to become roommates to save money and shut them up. Of course neither of our apartments is large enough for the other to move into. As a result we have to find a new apartment for both of us to move into.

We have a 2-3 town area that we are willing to live in. Of course in one town there are area that we will not live in because of drugs or the general saftey of the area. Our requirements for the apartment are that: it accepts cats and is on the bus line, is $1,000.00 or less a month, and has at least 2 bedrooms. Our preferences is that: it's on the 1st floor, has laundry on site, heat is included in the rent, and off street parking (my roommate has a car).

We looked at an apartment the other day. We weren't too crazy about it. We're looking at 2 or 3 other complexes tomorrow. "R" and I get along extremely well. She likes to cook, while I don't like to as much. Also I love to do dishes. We have plenty of furniture except bookcases.

One of the most interesting parts of the whole move is going to be getting our pets used to each other. We made the first move the other day by bringing CLiona over to her place to meet her cats. If you consider Cliona hissing and growling just about the whole time going well ... Then it went well :P Whatever the case is they'll just have to get used to each other. It'll all work out.

I'll Miss You Jimmy

A wonderful local man passed away this week. His name was Jimmy. I have had the pleasure of knowing him for the past several years. The past 3 or so is when I got to really know him. At first one might not think much of him, but once you get to know him... WOW! One of the local papers ran a beautiful article about him.

I saw him at the end of last week and he seemed to be doing well. When I got back downtown on Tuesday, I found out he had passed the day before.

Jimmy may you rest in peace and have all the things you want. At least everyday will be a nice day to sit outside.

What a Week

Phone back in order...check. Electric on...check. Job...still looking. All bills paid....check. Still sane after everything this week... questionable.

I'll tell you since Wednesday of last week things can't get much crazier. I was a space cadet but thanks to the help of friends and family, the phone is back. I spent the weekend at my mom's. It was a much needed break from my normal life. Except my knitting group I needed that. Having Stitch n Bitch (SnB) withdrawls now. Hey it's been 2 weeks since I've been to SnB what can I say.

Over the weeked though I did get a bit done though. I got to visit with family, do some shopping (at mom's insistence, she paid), work the phone thing out, and get some time away from everything so I could think.

Then came Monday. I went for my weekly get toether with my employment specalist. When I got home I went down to get my mail, but was signaled that it wasn't a good time so I went back upstairs. Apparently the night before the half-sister of the 2 kids (I think of them as my niece and nephew) I used to baby-sit died. It's being ruled as a homicide. The baby's uncle confessed to killing her. No wonder it wasn't a good time to get my mail. So yeah now there's this going on.

You can also throw in my father giving me a hard time over the phone. Not because I didn't tell him. Rather because it happened. I'm supposed to be this perfect child of his. Ok, I'm an adult and I know i have to take responsibility for my actions. But don't I get to make a few mistakes in my life? Cripes, I know I've had a bad few months. My father needs to give me a break though. I know he has made his share of mistakes. Don't I get to?

I've got to have a chat with him. I'm tired of feeling like walking on eggshells with him to keep him happy. Grrrrrr. I love my parents. They make me nuts though.

Life.....Gahhhhh

My phone is out of order. I forgot to pay the bill. Wrote the checks and all, but forgot to send them in. Oops! I'm ok. Don't know if I'll make it to SnB this weekend as I might be handling family obligations. If I don't make it this weekend I'll try to get there Wednesday. I'm going to start having SNB withdrawls soon since I go weekly but family and Petition things ahve kept me away. :P I'll try to get to the library as much as possible to check in.On the bright side I'm getting more knitting done to relieve my stress.

This means a great deal to me. As much as if not more than Knitting (for those that know how knitting and I am).

I used to Self Injure and have recovered. It's not easy. Approximately 2 million people in the United States self injure annually. It recognizes no barrier. In other words, It's not limited to any one group of people.

Globally those that know about Self Injury Awareness Day recognize it on March 1. The thing is no national governments officially recognize it. As far as I know only the states of New Mexico and Connecticut recognize it.

Public awareness is one way to shed light on this growing problem. In an effort to reduce the stigma and help reduce some of the myths. It can also help those who self injure along with their family and friends get and/or find treatment. Such treatments can be: individual and/or group therapy, medications, or support groups, just to name a few. That is what we want in getting National recognition with this day.

If you want to help would you please sign the petition here.

Thank You so much. Like I said it means a lot to me. My friends and I are the ones behind this petition.

If you have questions you can comment here or email me at: CTSelfInjuryAwarenessProject at gmail dot com

Allergies...Ugh!

I don't know what is in bloom. Whatever it is though....Please go away! My allergies are off the wall. So much that my nose hurts on the inside! I feel like death warmed over. I can't go 5 minutes without using a tissue.

Apparently I don't look so hot either. People today have even been asking me if I'm ok because I don't look like I do.

I'm not sick, just miserable with allergies. Someone get rid of whatever is blooming....PLEASE!!!

New Favorite Artist

I have a new favorite artist. His name is Josh woodward. You have got to check out his site. It's www.joshwoodward.com. He's great.

Click here to create your own painting.

Confused

I'm so confused and lost. I mentioned in a previous post about my being at a crossroads in my mental health. I'm changing providers, and it's a big change for me. Well, I took the next step today.

I had my intake appointment at my new provider. It felt so weird. I know it's the right move and it's the right time. It just feels so strange. It's like I'm leaving home. Actually it was easier to move out into my own place. I'm just so nervous about it.

The lady that did my intake was really great though. I'll be seeing her next Monday to finish it up. I also know I'm going to a good place. It has a good reputation.

Sigh...I always knew this time would come. It's here and I just have to get through it. I will too. One thing mindfully. That's what I have to keep in mind.

Well, this time next month I'll have been discharged from the Local Mental Health Authority (LMHA) most likely. My therapist is starting the paperwork today or tomorrow. It's a bitersweet happening. I'll still have a prescriber for my meds and a therapist. I'll aso still have my RH case manager.

Still though. SMHA (the LMHA) is the place that has had me the longest. THey've been where I've gotten my DBT group, meds, and therapy. Without them I don't know where I'd be right now. Six years ago I started a downward spiral with my mental health. They're the ones that caught me and kept me from falling through the cracks.

THat's why it's so bittersweet for me to be leaving. It means I'm doing well. I don't need that intensive of a level of care. Honestly haven't needed that level for a while. They've been holding on to me though. It's hard though because it means I'm leaving those that know me best. They know my warning signs for a crisis as well as if not better than me. I'm going to have to break new providers in. Once I leave it also means I can't have my therapist again. That's all going to be tough. That's life though.

Guess I'm going to have to figure out how to deal. This will definitley put my skill to the test.

Going on a Playdate and I have no kids

Ok so how does one go on a playdate when they have no kids. Simple. THe other 2 moms are knitters and you don't mind being around the kids.

Let me backup. I have no car. One of my knitting friends is on vacation and the other is a SAHM. My friend on vacation put the idea of a playdate out there earlier this week. I agred to the idea. Last night I had an email talking about getting together today. I was up for it. So my friend that was on vacation picked me up on the way to our other friend's house and we all got together. The kids had a playdate while we got to knit. Life is good.

Even better is that my friend Kristy got to move on to the next round of Jukebox Hero. YAY Kristy!!!!

So Cool

This is So Cool

http://thekidnappedcanopener.blogspot.com/

I think it's a wonderful Idea