Eph has scarlatina...

Today is a teeny bit cooler... what is the DEAL with the weather this year? I mean, not to go on and on about the weather, but it's been fucked up this year. I guess everyone knows that and there's really no point in my mentioning it, but it's such a salient point that it seems none of us can help but mention it from time to time. I remember three or four weeks ago when the day was so warm but windy with shocking grey clouds and for the first time my skin crawled as I listened to someone rant about the end of the world. That night I nuzzled into Mimz's neck and cried as I told her I thought the kids needed more time... she told me that she thought I needed more Vodka.

Back to today, since I am clearly trying to live in the moment now that I recognize the fact that the end is near (wink)... Eph has the bling blang scarlatina which is a strain of scarlet fever and must be kept cool and away from sunlight. Hmmm... did I mention that it's HOT outside today??? We hit the video store and he also got a bag of these disgusting glow worms which you pinch between these tongs. He adores them and since Roo is at a birthday party, what could I say??? Now he's plugged in and I snapped a shot which I THINK has the critter from his flick winking back at me. I'll post it for your viewing pleasure.

When the doctor told me that he can't be around other children until his rash is gone... part of me died and the other part was relieved. Work has been intense lately. I have enough projects to go grab and work on at home that taking a day or two at home may actually put me ahead. That, and I am exhausted... and sometimes just dealing with the people at work makes me zonked. It used to be better, my job is rewarding when I am reuniting families... you know, little stuff like that. I get to be a witness to some of the most intensely magnificent moments in peoples lives and for no other reason than their case was assigned to my name. Conversely, I witness their grief and the multitudes of ways that humans deal with grief and loss and pain and addiction. My job is rewarding but it is also very tough.

I think I am finally able to recognize the fact that I am good at what I do. I used to think that people just thought I was good and didn't yet realize all of the balls I was dropping. Let me admit right now, I drop a million balls. It's just a part of my job. There is no way that any one person could ever do everything that is within my job description, so we are all missing things all of the time. Isn't that reassuring when you think about the fact that we are the people in charge of keeping children safe? Nevertheless, I do believe that I am good at what I do. Let me tell you this... when you are good at this job... you get the most psychotic caseload EVER. This makes work LESS rewarding and MORE demanding. And then they wonder why we burn out so quickly. My boss is trying to help with that by easing my numbers... this is so sweet. I think she missed my explanation of the fact that I need the positive people interactions as well. Anyway, that was way more thinking about work than I usually like to do on a Sunday, and since it is most highly probable that nobody even followed my stream of consciousness, I will stop it NOW!

Last thing, yayayayay hot means summer and I really am glad it feels like summer because I was SO ready for summer. It has been hard to be immediately slammed by 95 degrees because this is Oregon for goodness sake!!!! BUT, I will TAKE IT! We shall BBQ tonight under twinkle lights as a thank you to the weather (once it's cool enough for Eph to go outside).

...posted by mum...