I Should Have Stayed at Disney

I should have stayed at Disney....

then I would not have been laid up in bed for several days with a nasty stomach virus just two days after my arrival home.

I should have stayed at Disney...

then I would not have had to see the doctor for the horrendous sinus infection that followed the stomach virus that landed me in bed for several days after my arrival home.

I should have stayed at Disney...

then I would not have to explain to the big dog that there is no way that I could have called a client a crackhead, drunken, loser during a visit with her child in December 2008 because I have been involved in that case since May 2006!

I should have stayed at Disney...

then I would not have to repeatedly explain to some random stranger who has no involvement with my current case that I cannot discuss the case with her due to confidentiality.

I should have stayed at Disney...

Then I would not have answered my office phone last Friday and been threatened by an attorney representing not the birth parent...but the random stranger who has no involvement with my current case.

I should have stayed at Disney...

Then I would not have had to hospitalize one of my children who had a psychotic break.

I should have stayed at Disney...

Then I would not have been named in a lawsuit filed by threatening attorney representing the random stranger who has no involvement with my case. (Okay...I probably would still have been named, I just would not have been present to be served and therefore would not have to be in court for the next few weeks while attorney's argue over the "best interest" of the child. And I would love to discuss the details of this case, I actually think I would have the backing of my cyberstalkers, scary thought there, but due to the nature of this case and the fact that the hearing is ongoing, I feel it is better not to discuss the details at this time.)

I should have stayed in Disney...

Then I would still be eating carrot cake every day, watching the parade in whatever park I happen to be visiting for the day, enjoying the excitement on the bug's face when she meets one of her favorite Disney characters, riding all my favorite rides as many times as possible, lounging by the pool at the Disney resort, eating all sorts of interesting foods, and forgetting that my other life as a social worker even exist.

Okay....whining over with now.

Guess Where I'm Going...

Over a year ago, I looked at Military Man and reflected on our marriage and the number of vacations we have taken since we took the big plunge. And after much calculation and number crunching I presented him with the grand number of ONE. In our close to 7 years of marriage, we have only taken ONE vacation and guess when that was...our honeymoon! Military Man looked at me with all of his Military Man wisdom and stated "Vacations cost money."

Now, you have to understand Military Man, he pretty much grew up poor, he was on the free school lunch program when getting free lunches was not cool. Ramen noodles were pretty much a staple of his diet. So, when it comes to Military Man and spending money, it's like squeezing blood from a turnip. It just ain't gonna happen. Plus, being a former Marine who fought in the first Gulf War, he pretty much has been every where, done everything, and had no desire to travel.

So, knowing what I was up against, I made a proposal. I don't want anything for valentines, my birthday or our anniversary. Skip Christmas, Hanukkah, Ramadan, and Kwanzaa. I WANT A VACATION. Take the money that you were going to spend on me and put it towards a vacation for our family. I in turn will take the money that I would normally spend on you and do the same. Military Man looked at me, and stated "Vacations cost money." Fine I told him, I will do it myself. So I opened up a savings account and slowly began putting money back to send myself, the bug, and Military Man (if he was nice) on a vacation. I anticipated that we would probably be able to take a vacation this summer to the beach, rent a condo for a long weekend, something like that. But the first week in January, Military Man walked through the front door and stated "We're taking a vacation." I dropped by bowl of Campbell's Chicken Noodle Soup on the floor. I was in complete and total shock. Did he just say what I think he said? And then he showed me the picture of where we were going.

That's right my friends....I'm heading to Disney World. Now, I am sure there are those of you out there who are thinking they could find a better place to spend 7, that's right you heard me, 7 days on a vacation. But not me. You see, I am a bit of a roller coaster junkie. It is my secret addiction, along with reading smut and blogging. And what better place to experience the thrill of a roller coaster and the rush of adrenaline then Disney World. Military Man is a bit of a roller coaster junkie as well. The bug, well, she is a little young, so it is too soon to tell.

The last time I was in Disney World you could walk up to a restaurant, put your name on the list, and expect to be seated within 20 to 30 minutes. NOW, you have to make reservations, if you want to eat in a particular restaurant. And I am not going to even get started on planning meals with Disney Characters, nope, not going there. Needless to say, I have been planning, rearranging, going back and re planning which park we are going to be in and on what day to make sure that we are where we should be for our reservations of the evening. And as you are reading this post, I will be on my way to Disney. Woo Hoo!!! (And don't worry, I won't be thinking of you or my job while I am vacationing with the mouse.)

You know that Disney commercial where the dad is lying in bed and saying "I'm so excited, I can't sleep" (or something kinda like that). That's me folks. I'M GOING ON VACATION!!! I'M GOING ON VACATION!!! I'M GOING ON VAAAACCCCCAAAATTTTIIIOOONNN! See ya'll next week!

Now, if I can just convince Military Man that it really would not be in his best interest to wear a Hawaiian shirt with black socks and sandals while we are in the parks...

You Like Me, You Really Like Me!

So, I got this award a few weeks ago and well...I have to say, I was speechless. Someone out there really likes me! So, with that said, I would like to accept this award courtesy of foster mom to many at "Postcards From Insanity". I love reading her blog, it is funny and quirky, and to be quite honest, I wish we had more foster parents like her. Plus, she is not afraid to speak her mind. By the way, can I clone you? Seriously, we need more foster parents like you. If you have never read her blog, take a few minutes and read it, I promise you, you won't regret it.

So, here are the rules if you are honored with this prestigious award...

1. You must link back to the person you received the award from, and
2. You have to nominate 10 bloggers who are deserving of this award.

So, here is the deal, I am going to nominate 6. Not that I don't have 4 other bloggers in mind, but given the ever present cyberstalkers who are always anxiously looking to personally attack child welfare social workers and encourage others to personally attack them, I am choosing not to link their blogs in this post. But you know who you are, so congratulations and don't forget to pick up your award.

The first blogger to win this prestigious award is Still Dreaming of "Awake and Dreaming." I started reading her blog over a year ago, it is insightful and thought provoking. Plus, she follows my blog.

The second lucky blogger is Drama Mama over at "Drama Pond". Drama Mama was my first dedicated reader when I started my blog over a year ago. If you have never read the drama that happens at the house by the pond, then stop by and read it. Plus, if you are looking for a really neat gift for a friend, check out her side business Zemkoofies you won't be disappointed.

The third blogger to be nominated is C.B. who reside across the ocean at "Fighting Monsters". Yes Susan, there are social workers in the U.K. I really like what C.B. has to say and she gets what being a social worker is all about.

The fourth blogger to be named for this prestigious award is none other than my dear blogger friend Reas Kroicowl at "Trench Warfare". She is snarky, sarcastic, and knows how to find the humor in all things social work. If you truly appreciate snarkiness (such as I do) then I highly recommend you stop over there and read her blog. But, if you can't appreciate the humor in social work, then I suggest you stop by the next nominee's blog...

My dear, dear, dear friend Trasheka (aka LA Lady) of "Real Life In Lower Alabama." Traskeka calls it like she sees it and tries to find the humor in life. Trasheka was the one who encouraged me to start my blog after listening to my multitudes of social work stories. Although she doesn't post as often as she used to due to graduate school and her search for the illusive MSW. Her post are side splitters and will keep you laughing for hours.

Lastly, I want to present this award to Torina over at "Busy Intersection". I admire Torina tremendously, she is a foster mom as well as an adoptive mom. She advocates for permanency for foster children and is not afraid to speak her mind about adoption and the child welfare system. She is another person I would like to clone if she will let me.

So, for all you lucky nominees, come on over and accept your award. And thanks again to Foster Mama to Many, you like, you really like me!

The Birds, The Bees, and The Bug

Anyone who has a daughter knows that there is going to come a time that you have to explain the difference between boys and girls. I have been prepared for some time now. But I don't think Military Man was quite prepared for the conversation that occurred last night.

Bug: "Daddy, why do little girls sit on the toilet when they have to go potty?"

Military Man: "Because God made you that way and little girls are meant to sit on the toilet when they go potty."

Bug: "Oh, then why do boys stand up when they go potty?"

Military Man: "Because God made little boys to stand up when they go potty, and they made little girls to sit down when they go potty."

Bug: "Oh, I know why boys stand up when they go potty."

Military Man: "You do?"

Bug: "yes, boys go potty standing up because they pee pee from their belly buttons."

You Know You Are A Social Worker If...

This was sent to me by a social worker friend of mine. I thought it was humorous so I decided to share it with you. I think my social worker friends out there will truly appreciate it...





1. You think $40,000 a year is 'really making it'.

2. You don't know what it's like to work with men.

3. You know all the latest lingo for drugs, where to get them, and how much they cost.

4. You’ve started a sentence with 'So what I hear you saying is...'

5. You’ve had 2 or more jobs at one time just to pay the bills.

6. You tell people what you do and they say 'that's so noble'

7. You have had to explain to people that not all social workers take away kids.

8. You use the words 'validate,' 'appropriate' and 'intervention' daily.

9. You spend more than half your day documenting and doing paperwork.

10. You think nothing of discussing child abuse over dinner.

11. People have said to you 'I don't know how you do what you do'.

12. You’ve never been on a business trip or had an expense account.

13. You know a lot of other social workers who have left the profession for another.

14. You’re very familiar with the concept of entitlement.

15. Staying at a job for 2 years is 'a long time'.

16. Your phone number is unlisted for good reason.

17. Your professional newsletters always have articles about raising salaries...but you still haven't seen it.

18. You’re very familiar with the term 'budget cut'.

19. You can't imagine working at a bank or crunching numbers all day.

20. You’ve had clients who liked you just a little too much.

21. Having lunch is a luxury many days.

22. You’ve been cursed at or threatened...and it doesn't bother you.

23. Your job orientation has included self defense.

24. You have the best stories at any cocktail party.

25. Your parents don't know half of the stuff that you've dealt with at your job.

26. You know all the excuses clients use for a failed a drug test by heart.

Banned From The Computer

Okay...not really, but boy does it feel like it. Lately it seems like every time I head to the computer Military Man or the Bug or on it. The funny thing is, that prior to the lap top, Military Man avoided the dinosaur. But now...you would think he was a computer geek. Every frigging time I turn around, there he is, surfing the web, having a web affair with his fraternity brothers on FACEBOOK, or shooting emails to all his friends that he has not been in contact with since the dinosaur died. And then when I finally do get a chance to get on the computer, I hear, "are you going to be on the computer long...I need to look some things up." Now, let's keep in mind that he was most likely just on the computer not an hour before.

And now my child, my sweet precious bug, has learned how to operate the computer. I cannot tell you how often I hear, "not now mommy, I am playing Candy Land with Dora."

So, here I am, it is 10 pm and Military Man just handed the computer to me with the statement "I'm done, just in case you want to get on the computer now." It's 10 pm, past my bedtime, and he is just now handing me the computer as he is heading off to bed.

I think it is a conspiracy to keep me off the computer. Military Man and the Bug are secretly plotting to find out ways to limit my access, limit my blogging ability, limit my thought processes. Okay, I believe I am hallucinating now and need to go to bed. Maybe between now and Sunday, I will be able to complete the 5 or 6 post that I started and never finished because my posting got interrupted by Military Man and his new obsession with the laptop. But if I don't come back until 10 pm next Friday, please know that you are in my thoughts. Until next time...

Quote of the Day...

This quote came from one of my 16 year old foster children during a home visit on Wednesday. He is a bright kid and prides himself at being "medication savvy."



"Yeah, the doctor lowered my Focalin at the last visit but I don't think it is working the way it should. So when I see the doc in two weeks I am going to ask him to write a prescription for Cialis."