Rambling Friday: More Changes Coming To My Life

            It’s been a hectic week, but for the most part things are coming out good. Even as some things are still being watched to insure that they come out good. Starting tomorrow there will be some changes in how I run my day. I’ll be out in the living room more. Since I now have a good couch and love seat. Plus, a coffee table to set my computer on. And tomorrow I get my new television, which will help as well. That doesn’t mean I won’t be working at my desk. It just means I will have a variety of places to work in the house so I am not stuck in just one place in the house.

            Plus, for the first time in years I will be watching television, which some will call a miracle. They would call it a miracle since it has been so long since I have actually watched television like a regular person. Instead I have watched on Netflix and various other platforms after the fact. So you can also expect some more tweeting about television as well. Which will probably liven up my twitter followers. I plan to use as many of its features as I can. I might even get a WII. So I can get some movement out of myself on days I don’t go out. But I still plan to go out to the movies and stuff like that.

            I even found a movie buddy for myself as well in my dad’s fiancée, Pam. Though she won’t be able to go with me every time but it is nice to know that sometimes she can come with me. I’m still working on getting out more and have to make some adjustments to certain things to get it to work right, but it will all come together in the end. Got some of it straightened out tonight and some will have to wait till tomorrow. I finally got the new Kim Harrison book, and am ashamed it took me so long. I’m normally more on top of stuff like that.

            But I’m looking forward to reading it nonetheless. And I picked up a copy of Kory Shrum’s latest book in paperback now that it is available in that format. Before I was only able to get it in Kindle format. Have to finish a few books before I can open either one though. But I am confident I can do that. I admit I got a little behind in my reading lately, but going to get caught up quickly. Just so much going on lately with the holidays and everything. But I’m not complaining because I got to spend some much needed time with my family. As well as get my confidence boosted once more.

            We all need our confidence boosted from time to time. And family and friends are a good place for that. And I got it from both sides last month, which was a big boost to my confidence. As well as meaning a lot to me. It makes me want to work harder. Because the more positive I hear the more it drives me to get better and better. And I know the best way to do that is to keep practicing. And some of that practice comes from writing this blog.  Just take a look back from here to when I started out and you will see how far I have come. As I have grown in confidence and written more I have learned how to use my words better over time.

            Ah I see I have gotten long winded as is becoming the usual lately. Well better to write too much than too little. Feel free to leave questions and comments below. And if you want my columns appearing every day in your inbox enter your email right below where it says follow by email. As for me I’m going to get something more to drink and either do some more writing or a little bit of reading. Not sure yet. *Tips his hat and walks out the door heading for the kitchen. *

Throwback Thursday: Working With Case Managers

            I know I was absent yesterday and that was just because I couldn’t get the column out in time. But at this rate it is only a matter of time before it is written fully. But on to more cheerful topics today. Today we are talking about my evolution as I have been working with case managers. But most people don’t know what a case manager is, so I figure we will start there. A case manager is someone who works with you on life skills and when you are between counselors can be there for you emotionally. Sounds simple right, but it can be so complex at times.

I’ve worked with a number of case managers since I was 18. Most of them I felt comfortable with and got along with. Some were better than others, but all were pretty good overall. It was a case manager who helped me find my first place to live, which was a room in the YMCA. It took a little while. And he had to work around obstacles but he managed to get me in there. He also helped me start to get services while I was fighting for my disability. Unfortunately, he left before that fight was over so he didn’t get to be there for the victory celebration. But I understand him having higher ambitions where he can do more to help his clients.

            I’m not sure who I got after him, that part is kind of hazy. But I know I ended up screwing up and being out of case management for a while. I came back into a different type of case management though I didn’t know it. Somehow communication about that part of it got messed up. But I know I got back into it around the time I got married since that is when I got back into everything again. Up until that point I had been just on cruise control for a year or so. Sometimes it is good to take a break. But when I got back in I realized quickly I was missing something I needed.

            It was when working with my current and longest case manager that I met an intern who showed me the type of counseling that I needed in my life. She showed me how counseling could be and that led me to change where I was getting counseling from and give a place I had walked away from a second chance. I’m glad I did I ended up with just the right counselor by doing so, but that is a tale for another time.

            It’s taken years to get to where I am now. And most of that is thanks to my case managers through it all being so patient with me. I’m a difficult case I admit. I make progress slowly, and sometimes I slip backwards. But I am trying hard to move far forward this time. It’s not easy and I still mess up at times, but I am working at it. And finding success slowly but surely. It’s hard to fight against my sleepy days but I try like heck. Sometimes I win and sometimes they do. My case manager works with me knowing what a struggle it is for me though, and I appreciate that. She works with me and is flexible and that means a lot to me. I’m not saying it is all roses and cupcakes, we do have our disagreements at times. But we work them out by talking them out.

            But alas as always I have gotten long winded. Though please feel free to leave questions and comments below. And if you want to have my columns appear in your inbox everyday enter your email in the box below where it says follow by email. As for me I’m going to get a drink and finish up some schoolwork that is due tonight. *Tips his hat and walks out the door heading for the kitchen before heading to the study. *

Tuesday Coffee: Fresh Off A Great Weekend

I do apologize for not being here yesterday, I had one of my sleepy days where I just could not wake up for some reason. But I am wide awake today. Well for the most part still yawning a bit, but better than yesterday. I really do dislike my sleepy days, because I always want to be actively writing or studying or going out and doing something. Not just lying in bed like a lump on a log. But at the same time if that was the tradeoff for the weekend I had then I can live with it.

            Normally I only get to see my dad’s side of the family around the holidays, but I got to see them Saturday as well. Which was a real treat for me. Especially since my uncle Ron was up as well as my cousin Matthew with his wife, Jamie, along with their little girl, Madison. Madison is just a little cutie. Unfortunately, she is getting her first teeth, so like all of us were during that time she is in a bit of pain. But when the camera or a crowd of people are around her she just lights up with a smile.  It is adorable.

            I got to play Jamie in a game of Chess and she is pretty good. We discovered we both had played in our respective middle school Chess clubs as well. Plus, I found out she plays Magic: The Gathering, which is rare on that side of the family. As well as Dungeons & Dragons. And that was about as far as we got before Madison woke up from her nap. But I added her to my Facebook so that we can talk more. It will be nice having more than one person in the family that understands me.

            But the other cool thing was that after me and Jamie finished playing Chess the whole family sat around telling stories and joking around. It was great to be part of. I had to argue with my grandfather and stand my ground about sitting with the floor though. He means well just sometimes he over does it. And when he does and you are comfortable you have to stand your ground with him. I think that surprised everyone a bit. I also heard they were surprised with the wealth of knowledge I had. It’s like well if you let me speak you would know I had ideas as well as views on things that were educated. Just blew them away from what I heard.

            But it was good spending time with everyone. It meant a lot to me. Especially since I don’t get to get out there to see them as often as I want to. I know they all have routines and work a lot. It’s not like my mother who I can normally call up and say I want to see her. And within a couple of days she comes by and we go hangout or do something. With them I have to schedule it out ahead of time to a degree. And that is ok, but I do miss them a lot of the year. It is normally around this time that I get to see them. And I treasure all the time I get with them.

            How about you, my readers, is there a part of your family you wish you got to see more often at all? I know I have gotten long winded as always, so feel free to leave your questions and comments below. And if you want my columns to appear in your inbox enter your email right below where it says follow by email. As for me I am going to grab some dinner and figure out what to do next. *Tips his hat and walks out the door headed towards the kitchen. *