You is kind, You is smart, You is important

Sunset at the park

Hello there campers! Once again, I apologize for the lag between posts but I have been busier here than in VA. Also, I may or may not be eating cookie dough while writing this.
Let's set adrift to memory lane to last weekend because that is probably more entertaining than anything else right now. Then we can catch up to the present.
Last week, I took a trip to the Tyler Rose Garden. Tyler TX is pretty famous for their roses, Rose Festival, Rose Parade, and Rose Queen- all happening in early fall. There is a FREE beautiful massive rose gardens featuring all kinds and names of roses- things those who are rose aficionados will know more about- types of roses, harvesting, etc. There is also a camelia garden and a local landscape garden. I was walking near a gentleman with his mother who must have 80 or so and I didn't want to hover but I was ready to pick her up from the ground if she took a tumble. She didn't, thankfully.

Those are more rose gardens in the distance. 

I bet a lot of prom photos get taken here. 

So, I'm almost done with TRG pictures. There is a Tyler Rose Museum and it looks like it is pretty much all gowns from past Rose Queens. I will have to accept the fact that, for many reasons, I could never be a Rose Queen. But, I will always be the Queen of De Nile (it's NOT a river in Egypt).

This is the Mon Cheri rose

This is the Coretta Scott King rose

And THIS, ladies and gentlemen, is the NEIL DIAMOND rose. how does he get a rose?
I wonder where this rose comes from.... (cue music) 

Rose Museum

That was pretty much the even of that weekend as I think I just hung out at the pool and did paperwork (not at the pool, that's a killjoy).  I went to an antique store that was lovely. 

Since last weekend to now, I have been dealing with a lot of stress from work. That's the short version and I don't care to share my frustration and personal issues on here and God knows I have them. I don't want anyone to be concerned about me- I am fine. I just get VERY frustrated on certain things and then dwell on them. 

1. I DO NOT like being told what to do, really in any setting. I am sure some of you readers can attest to this... I like to run my own ship and make my calls for my OT career. I know that I am a good OT and that I know how to do what is right for a patient/kid/client whatever. I work my ass off to make sure I do what is best for my kids- even if they're freaking bonkers. I miss my friends at SLPS but I also miss doing my own thing and not worrying about direct interference in my service provision.

2. R-E-S-P-E-C-T- - This has really been getting to me. I have been out of college nearly 10 years now and I do not like when I feel like I'm not given due respect for my professional knowledge. Please don't treat like I'm an incompetent idiot when it comes to OT- relationships, math, health/fitness is all fair game. So put that in your pipe and smoke it. 

And after all, I'm from MISSOURI. Look at all our great state gave you, Texas (and USA)! So shove it and drink some Coors Light then. And we'll (I'll) take Jon Hamm back too...... kidding. except for Jon Hamm. 

So in conclusion- leave me alone and we'll probably be juuuuuussst fine.

This is pretty much all accurate information but I am doing my best to be light-hearted and entertaining. 

In conclusion part II- I am trying to keep my fern Lorena alive and I feel like i have bugs crawling all over me (No Mom, I am NOT doing meth).

Peace, Love, and Aretha Franklin,
LMJ

** Aretha's Hat

Week Recap, I Need a Nap

Sunset after rain in Flint, TX

Howdy from East Texas! Here we are again on Friday and gurl I am so happy it's the weekend! I can't say I have major plans but I'm happy to be not working (for the most part anyway), pool time, and taking naps. I'll try to update sooner after this weekend so I don't fall so behind.

So this last week has been very busy and I've spent a lot of time trying to play catch-up. Paperwork is a bitch. In any job. That is one big difference between here and VA is that I take work home. I also have more on my load right now because I'm the only OTR. I have done 3 clinic evals this week and finished up my last Friday evals on Monday. Speaking of...

This was my last Friday route with all of my stops.

Last Friday was interesting because I went to three different houses for evaluations. It's interesting being on the other side of the fence because I never saw my kids' homes and sometimes, ignorance is bliss. The last house I went to smelled like a freaking herpetarium, no joke. This poor kid's parents don't seem to work with at home very much and THE HOUSE SMELLS LIKE SHAVINGS AND RODENTS. The family sells rats, an interesting way of life but not bad. However, when their house smells like a pet shop then it becomes a problem for outside guests at least. 

So I have some really great kids I work with (I do mainly clinic kids) and some that need some discipline, to say the least. I have several kids on the spectrum and one who is a BEAR 2 times a week. What joy. So I get to make him cry 2x every week because I'm not going to let him run the show for 45 minutes. Boo-freaking-hoo. Kindergarten is sure going to be rough for you son. He has some skills but they are hard to see through the tantrums. And telling him 'no crying' in Spanish doesn't help. I feel like I may get to a point where I want to yell THERE'S NO CRYING IN OT!

I really do like my job and would love an extension (TBD). I just need to get into a groove with evals and COTA supervision. I got super excited tonight because I went to TRU and found an Atari joystick to practice with one of my girls who we need to working on R UE coordination for operating a power wheelchair. I have two kids under 2 and they are fun. I've never worked with babies before so it's new but not hard.

Moving on... I started looking up yoga studios near me and I FOUND AN AERIAL YOGA STUDIO. I got excited about it and got a sample membership to see how I feel about it. For those who don't know me (I would assume you do if you read this but whatever) I have done yoga, aerial slings, and aerial yoga twice in STL. I would never ever consider myself an aerialist but I feel like I do have an advantage from having mostly done slings when I did practice aerial. I love it so far. It's a small studio in Flint and everyone is nice. I'm getting all that muscular awareness back that I forgot about that comes with aerial. Anyway, this does combine two things I like to do so I am hoping that doing these things together will help me strengthen and tone. I am dying to try some slings tricks I know but I know a) this is not an aerial arts studio (thanks Bumbershoot for the safety awareness), b) the slings are low to the ground, c) I'm here for yoga, and d) they'd be blown away by my mad skillz... 😛

Also they have rescue cats there. We all know I am not a cat person and shall never change my allegiance but they were pretty cute. Despite my sneezes afterwards. The sneak in and out of the studio space.

Beautiful lil' studio!

This is Phineas or Ferb, not sure which. He and his bro got adopted.

Also this past weekend I met up with My Aunt Cindy and cousin Katie Jo and we went to the Canton Flea Market in Canton TX, kind of a big deal around here. It's called First Monday and they are open Thursday-Sunday (yeah, not Monday) with outdoor pavilions and booths. There is a separate area for animals including peacocks (yes really), chickens, sheep, goats, kittens, and of course puppies! I have decided though I am not interested in going back to the puppies because it makes me sad because I want all of them. 

Anyway, it was great to see them and hang out for the day. For those who don't know, I have family in the East TX area so we'll get together for a rodeo or something Texas-related at some point. I'm hoping for a rattlesnake hunt or a BBQ, but definitely not those two things together. and also definitely not a rattlesnake hunt.

Sun-safe Lindsey was ready for action that day with a sun hat, sunscreen, and comfy shoes. There was a lot of going in and out and thankfully we got started before it got too hot. There are booths for everything under God's Green Earth and lot of cool homemade stuff. Food stands as well, this event goes on all year every first weekend of the month. I can't imagine it in July or August. One thing we noticed is that the scooter rental business is on FLEEK, making a killing to renting those suckers out. I'm pretty sure how you all know how i feel about those so I'll spare you.  I got some cool stuff and we had fun! Cindy is so sweet and KJ is just as hilarious as I remember. 

Canton Flea Market

KJ LOVES this place. She was hoping to run into the WalMart yodeling boy....

Dip n' Dots- the ice cream of 25 years ago.

I feel like I meant to say something else but this is all she wrote for now. I'm going to spend the weekend thinking of my Mother and how much I cherish her.

This is not my mother.

Peace, love, and mother's compassion,

LMJ