working out for Disney

[Sans Souci]

I would like to go to Ellis Island, my mom's grandparents came through there. They were asked (forced?) to change their last name. What I was told is that too many Johnson's had been processed that day. I don't know if that is true though. I do know that only her grandfather could speak any English at the time, her grandmother and their son only knew Norwegian. Once they settled in Wisconsin her grandfather wouldn't let his wife leave the house except for with him until she could speak English. Which isn't a great plan because she would have learned English faster if she had to navigate on her own. I guess in the last years of her life she reverted back to speaking only in Norwegian. Sorry for the ramble. Have fun if you go and if you feel like posting pictures that would be fun to see.

How was she supposed to learn how to speak English if she wasn't exposed to people who spoke English? My brother and I have different fathers and his father is from Cuba. He came here with his mom and his aunt. His mom's English was marginal, because she only mixed with people who spoke Spanish. She eventually left Chicago to be with extended family in Miami, where her English skills broke down. lol I think she thought Castro was going to be ousted and she was going to be able to return to Cuba, but she passed away waiting for that to happen. I don't blame people for staying in an enclave with other compatriots when they first get here, but I think it would be limiting not to learn English and not interact with other people. That goes for anyone who goes to another country, not just people who come here. (But I also realize many people come here and hold down 2-3 jobs, which makes it difficult to learn English.)

Edited to add: If you're ever in NYC for a long weekend, go to Ellis Island. My biggest regret is not getting there earlier. There are a lot of interesting things to see and I am hoping to go again when the weather is not nice and I won't have to deal with crowds.

 

[Sans Souci]

Hello! Kendall and I hit the gym this morning. I spent a little over 20 minutes on the elliptical, worked on legs today for a good 40+ minutes, a little time on the twisty oblique machine, and about 12 minutes cooling down on a treadmill. I also spent a little over an hour wrestling Sam’s new metal platform bed. The footboard didn’t work out and the headboard is barely hanging on, but it works and kiddo has a bed again.

I had to google "platform bed" and I realized that I have a platform bed.

 

[Sans Souci]

I'm sure she'd understand your grief, given that she's grieving, too. Maybe she needs to be with your husband for support. I don't think you necessarily need to play hostess. She probably just needs to get away from all the memories and the grief, and maybe you can help each other. Have you talked to your husband about it?

Yes. She was supposed to come here for my son's HS graduation in 2020, but that never happened. I didn't want her not to come, just maybe postpone it a bit. But she is coming, regardless. She knows my gram is not well, but I know she wants to see my husband and my son. She last saw us in 2018. My husband said he misses her and wants to see her, too. So, I guess I'll just have to ride it out next week! lol

 

[Sans Souci]

Hello-

Checking in with a no equipment workout I found on YouTube. Then I went out for a walk.

We did the Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island trip yesterday. I really enjoyed it. My regret is that our cruise was late and I would have liked to have spent more time at Ellis Island. It was really crowded, too, so it was hard to take in the exhibits without being in someone's way or someone was in your way. So, I'm going to go back when it gets cold again, start the day earlier and just spend time at Ellis Island. We climbed the pedestal at the Statue of Liberty, too.

We booked flights for Thursday. My brother said her condition hasn't changed. My husband thinks he might have overstated how ill my grandmother is, but she is in hospice. Even though, she could still be around for a few more months. Anyway, my husband said he might push the trip back.

Anyway, here are some photos from yesterday.

 

[HouCuseChickie]

Hello!

So, we got in some dog walking yesterday for our fitness. It was actually a decent experience...until it wasn't. We spent about 20 minutes filling in at the front desk because they had a big mess in the back. It was a paid employee that asked us to cover for him, so I figured it was something big. I actually felt pretty useful with no know-it-all walkers trying to poke their noses in and boss us around. In fact, I even got to help a new volunteer mom and son duo on how to get out of a room full of puppies. It was a great set up...K man the desk while I got called to help every few minutes. When we did finally get to dog walking...things were relatively peaceful, minus dealing with one thing that I feel is a universal safety risk at this facility (more on that in a bit) as well as seeing one of the know-it-all's walking in the same pattern we walked the other week and were scolded by a know-it-all. So, I guess things are wrong only when we do it. So, in any event, when things went wrong...they went very wrong....

I was bringing back the dog I was walking and didn't see anyone else in there. So, I open the door and walk in with my dog. I guess one of the more tenured volunteers decided to go into a dog kennel, left the door wide open- which I couldn't see from the main entry, and she never put her dog on a leash. She actually thought putting out a water bowl for it would distract it from us. Thankfully Kendall was far enough behind me that she was outside when the chaos started. I had my dog on a tight lead and backed up. The other dog was bigger (about 70lb- chow/shepherd mix) and jumping, but just curious. My dog (50-55lb boxer/lab mix) was snapping and snarling and wanted to rip this other dog apart. Thankfully, I wasn't hurt...because we already know they have no first aid kit!

Prior to Sunday, we were going to continue with this to teach Kendall a lesson in dealing with difficult coworkers and honoring your commitments, but the new lesson is to know when to walk away from a bad situation. While it's unfortunate that some of the tenured volunteers make it a toxic work environment, it becomes a bigger problem when those same people don't follow the safety protocols that we were given in training- putting us all at risk. Add on the lack of first aid kit (or the possible unwillingness to let us use it), the tenured volunteers being clueless about the color coding system/rules, and what I feel are some questionable practices with dogs that end up in the adoption area...it's just not worth it. Seriously, it's an accident waiting to happen putting a higher level dog or a dog with a "do not walk" in with a beginner labeled dog. Honestly, some of these super timid dogs - including the fear biter chihuahua that tried to take a chunk out of my ankle are a real risk to have among the rest of the adoptables. That was NEVER an issue in the shelter where I used to volunteer. Outside of an ornery Persian cat, the only scary animal encounter I had at the old shelter involved a jealousy fight between the dogs.

Sorry for the novel--just venting. It's tempting to ghost them. I'm sure they have volunteers sign up and no-show all the time. I know it happened quite a bit at my last shelter. You also pay to volunteer, so I'm the one that's out $. Still, it would be another good lesson to have Kendall work with me to write a letter formally terminating our volunteer relationship. Whew! At least Kendall can still say she volunteered there for the summer and we will no longer have to drive across town. In other news, Sam gets her hand checked out again tomorrow morning. PRAYING for good news.

 

[HouCuseChickie]

Hello-

Checking in with a no equipment workout I found on YouTube. Then I went out for a walk.

We did the Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island trip yesterday. I really enjoyed it. My regret is that our cruise was late and I would have liked to have spent more time at Ellis Island. It was really crowded, too, so it was hard to take in the exhibits without being in someone's way or someone was in your way. So, I'm going to go back when it gets cold again, start the day earlier and just spend time at Ellis Island. We climbed the pedestal at the Statue of Liberty, too.

We booked flights for Thursday. My brother said her condition hasn't changed. My husband thinks he might have overstated how ill my grandmother is, but she is in hospice. Even though, she could still be around for a few more months. Anyway, my husband said he might push the trip back.

Anyway, here are some photos from yesterday.
View attachment 663229View attachment 663233View attachment 663233View attachment 663235View attachment 663236View attachment 663237

I remember that herringbone tilework and how it formed sort of a woven fabric appearance on the ceiling. Again, it's been many years, but we visited Ellis Island in late September. The crowds were light and the weather was still decent.

 

[HouCuseChickie]

I had to google "platform bed" and I realized that I have a platform bed.

I kind of like them. It saves me from needing to mess with a box spring. I'm hoping Sam's new one is more sturdy. It's all metal, so I'm pretty sure it'll last.

 

[Sans Souci]

Hello!

So, we got in some dog walking yesterday for our fitness. It was actually a decent experience...until it wasn't. We spent about 20 minutes filling in at the front desk because they had a big mess in the back. It was a paid employee that asked us to cover for him, so I figured it was something big. I actually felt pretty useful with no know-it-all walkers trying to poke their noses in and boss us around. In fact, I even got to help a new volunteer mom and son duo on how to get out of a room full of puppies. It was a great set up...K man the desk while I got called to help every few minutes. When we did finally get to dog walking...things were relatively peaceful, minus dealing with one thing that I feel is a universal safety risk at this facility (more on that in a bit) as well as seeing one of the know-it-all's walking in the same pattern we walked the other week and were scolded by a know-it-all. So, I guess things are wrong only when we do it. So, in any event, when things went wrong...they went very wrong....

I was bringing back the dog I was walking and didn't see anyone else in there. So, I open the door and walk in with my dog. I guess one of the more tenured volunteers decided to go into a dog kennel, left the door wide open- which I couldn't see from the main entry, and she never put her dog on a leash. She actually thought putting out a water bowl for it would distract it from us. Thankfully Kendall was far enough behind me that she was outside when the chaos started. I had my dog on a tight lead and backed up. The other dog was bigger (about 70lb- chow/shepherd mix) and jumping, but just curious. My dog (50-55lb boxer/lab mix) was snapping and snarling and wanted to rip this other dog apart. Thankfully, I wasn't hurt...because we already know they have no first aid kit!

Prior to Sunday, we were going to continue with this to teach Kendall a lesson in dealing with difficult coworkers and honoring your commitments, but the new lesson is to know when to walk away from a bad situation. While it's unfortunate that some of the tenured volunteers make it a toxic work environment, it becomes a bigger problem when those same people don't follow the safety protocols that we were given in training- putting us all at risk. Add on the lack of first aid kit (or the possible unwillingness to let us use it), the tenured volunteers being clueless about the color coding system/rules, and what I feel are some questionable practices with dogs that end up in the adoption area...it's just not worth it. Seriously, it's an accident waiting to happen putting a higher level dog or a dog with a "do not walk" in with a beginner labeled dog. Honestly, some of these super timid dogs - including the fear biter chihuahua that tried to take a chunk out of my ankle are a real risk to have among the rest of the adoptables. That was NEVER an issue in the shelter where I used to volunteer. Outside of an ornery Persian cat, the only scary animal encounter I had at the old shelter involved a jealousy fight between the dogs.

Sorry for the novel--just venting. It's tempting to ghost them. I'm sure they have volunteers sign up and no-show all the time. I know it happened quite a bit at my last shelter. You also pay to volunteer, so I'm the one that's out $. Still, it would be another good lesson to have Kendall work with me to write a letter formally terminating our volunteer relationship. Whew! At least Kendall can still say she volunteered there for the summer and we will no longer have to drive across town. In other news, Sam gets her hand checked out again tomorrow morning. PRAYING for good news.

Wow. I'm sorry. That sounds insanely stressful. That's awful and I would feel comfortable walking away at this point. Did anyone even say anything about this or maybe even...apologize? I would definitely provide feedback on why you are terminating your volunteer commitment. I would also mention the crabby volunteers. They might get more people in the long-term if they corrected that situation.

 

[Sans Souci]

Hello-

I just went for a very long walk today. I wanted to do a kettlebell workout, but when I got the gym, there was a woman there who thought the gym was only for her use. She was using the 2 benches, an aerobic step, numerous kettlebells and other free weights, spread out everywhere. I only wanted the kettlebells (and a bit of space), so I asked if we could take turns using the kettlebells. She told me I could not, because "it would ruin the flow of her workout." I don't know, when I use a communal gym, I go in with the understanding I might have to share equipment. I asked when she thought she would be finished and she snapped at me, "I don't know." and kept doing her hip thrusts on the bench. I don't have the appetite for conflict this week, so I just left.

I went back up to my husband's apartment, put on some sunscreen and went out for a long walk. I got some photos of Manhattan, the Brooklyn Bridge and Brooklyn. I found a little nature center and I found a boat launch where a few sail boats were going out from. I sat and watched them a bit. Even though it was humid outside, there was a really nice breeze that made it tolerable. My MIL wants to see the apartment next week, so I have been doing a little extra cleaning. We're going back home tonight. I will use my kettlebells tomorrow AM.

 

[Sans Souci]

Good morning-

Checking in with a full body strength training workout. I might be sore tomorrow. When I lift my coffee mug, my arm shakes.

I am back home and the ride back was a white knuckle one. There was this large column of rain that went from the top of the state into Delaware going west to east and we seemed to be in it for most of the drive back. It was really heavy. We were on the Jersey Turnpike and you could not see the lane markings and the windshield wipers could not clear the rain quickly enough. My husband had to go down to 25 mph, as did most drivers. Some drivers pulled over onto the shoulder. But you always have one yahoo who needs to drive like the conditions are optimal. I was so relieved when we got out of that rain.

Today begins my last minute, make sure everything is super clean housecleaning bonanza before my MIL shows up Friday night. (Excitement! )

 

[HouCuseChickie]

Wow. I'm sorry. That sounds insanely stressful. That's awful and I would feel comfortable walking away at this point. Did anyone even say anything about this or maybe even...apologize? I would definitely provide feedback on why you are terminating your volunteer commitment. I would also mention the crabby volunteers. They might get more people in the long-term if they corrected that situation.

Nobody said a word...although, I must admit that everything was kind of a blur after I got to safety. I guess that happens when you go on high alert defense mode. My expression/demeanor after the fact was probably not the most inviting thing either. I've started composing a rather detailed letter to the volunteer coordinator. I have a habit of anger-writing to get out my frustrations, so what I currently have is a small novel. I'm sure my husband would say that it's too long, but Kendall is on board with sending it as is. In the end, it'll be longer than what he'd send, but more edited than its current state.

 

[HouCuseChickie]

Hello-

I just went for a very long walk today. I wanted to do a kettlebell workout, but when I got the gym, there was a woman there who thought the gym was only for her use. She was using the 2 benches, an aerobic step, numerous kettlebells and other free weights, spread out everywhere. I only wanted the kettlebells (and a bit of space), so I asked if we could take turns using the kettlebells. She told me I could not, because "it would ruin the flow of her workout." I don't know, when I use a communal gym, I go in with the understanding I might have to share equipment. I asked when she thought she would be finished and she snapped at me, "I don't know." and kept doing her hip thrusts on the bench. I don't have the appetite for conflict this week, so I just left.

I went back up to my husband's apartment, put on some sunscreen and went out for a long walk. I got some photos of Manhattan, the Brooklyn Bridge and Brooklyn. I found a little nature center and I found a boat launch where a few sail boats were going out from. I sat and watched them a bit. Even though it was humid outside, there was a really nice breeze that made it tolerable. My MIL wants to see the apartment next week, so I have been doing a little extra cleaning. We're going back home tonight. I will use my kettlebells tomorrow AM.

Good morning-

Checking in with a full body strength training workout. I might be sore tomorrow. When I lift my coffee mug, my arm shakes.

I am back home and the ride back was a white knuckle one. There was this large column of rain that went from the top of the state into Delaware going west to east and we seemed to be in it for most of the drive back. It was really heavy. We were on the Jersey Turnpike and you could not see the lane markings and the windshield wipers could not clear the rain quickly enough. My husband had to go down to 25 mph, as did most drivers. Some drivers pulled over onto the shoulder. But you always have one yahoo who needs to drive like the conditions are optimal. I was so relieved when we got out of that rain.

Today begins my last minute, make sure everything is super clean housecleaning bonanza before my MIL shows up Friday night. (Excitement! )

That drives me nuts when people take over a part of the gym. I've seen people hoard kettle bells and step benches like what you're describing. I've had to restructure my workout plans around some people who camp out in certain sections, like the cluster of guys who tend to take over all of the leg machines for an hour.

I hate driving in rain like that. You're right...there always is that one jerk who goes flying through like nothing is going on. I'm always afraid to pull off to the side. My luck, I'll run over some road debris and lose a tire.

Happy cleaning!

 

[HouCuseChickie]

Good morning

Nothing workout-wise to report for today. I'm also not sure yesterday really counts, but I did move around a bit more than usual. Sam had her 2-week follow up for her hand. After the excessively long wait a few months ago to have her seen for her leg, I booked all of this hand stuff at the pediatric facility with the first appointments available...which happened to be on the other side of the city. It's one of the perks of having the girls with Texas Children's pediatricians. It makes it really easy to get them in just about anywhere for anything IF I'm flexible on location. In any event, this hand clinic is tied to the west campus hospital. Unlike the other locations, it has a massive parking lot instead of a parking garage. After spending 105 minutes in awful traffic, I dropped David and Sam off at the front door (we were late because of the traffic) and I parked on the other end of the earth. By the time I walked from my car, to the building, to the proper elevator banks...I'd easily gone close to half a mile...and I'd have to repeat it on the way out. On the plus side, Sam was cleared. He still wants her to take it easy for the next week or so, but she can start easing back into things. She was also only in this for 2 weeks, so it's not like coming back from previous breaks.

The rest of the day was between bizarre, panicked, and just all-around stressful. While we were at the dr, Kendall texted me about a kid bringing a gun to school. We've experienced our share of violence and rumors of threats over the years (which unfortunately is now quite commonplace in most schools), but this was real. Thankfully, someone had the courage to report it and campus police were able to intervene before something horrible happened. The kid fled campus when questioned, but officers chased him down and found a firearm in his backpack. He's since been expelled and charges are pending. I was still trying to wrap my head around this gun thing during the drive home...like all of the "what if's" and coming to terms that K was there, inside the building, when the kid with the gun was there. In the middle of all of this, a man in a beat up red Mitsubishi SUV (circa late 90s) pulled up along side me- on the highway- while going close to 60 MPH and started yelling and gesturing to roll down my windows. He didn't look angry, so I didn't think it was road rage and carjacking in heavy traffic seemed unlikely. He was yelling something in Spanish to me, but all I could hear was "gato." I couldn't see anything wrong with my car...my gauges were all fine... tire pressure good...and I couldn't understand what a cat (gato) had to do with any of it. I also think I'd know if I hit a cat. Nobody else around us seemed to be concerned about us either. I was completely freaked out and wanted to get some distance between me and this guy. I managed to lose him in traffic, but I still wondered what was going on. We made a quick stop home for Sam to clean up her hand. I checked out the car, but saw nothing upon this first inspection. It wasn't until later in the day that I saw this piece hanging near one of my rear wheels.



I have an appointment to get it checked out on Friday, but according to my car group, it's a plastic shield to keep rocks from dinging up certain areas. One of the commenters is a master technician at a Hyundai dealership and told me to just tape it up or zip tie it until I can get it in. So, you can add in crawling around on the ground for 30 minutes and rolling in and out from underneath my car to the list of physical activities for the day. Apparently, it's a very common issue and different Hyundai techs have varied opinions on the necessity of this piece. I guess at least now I know that this man was trying to help me.

I ended my evening helping Sam with a reading/language arts assignment. She was given the first 6 pages of an unfinished short story and was tasked with completing the story...minimum of 1,000 words. The story had the potential of going in a number of directions, but she chose horror/thriller. I can't recall her having a lot of creative writing assignments in the past, so she needed a lot of hand holding. Helping your child channel her inner horror writer after the day I had put my brain into overdrive. It was after 1am when I fell asleep, up on and off all night, and then up just before 6am to get K to an early tutoring session at school. I'm not sure if I want to nap or hit the gym tonight to destress!

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

Good morning

Nothing workout-wise to report for today. I'm also not sure yesterday really counts, but I did move around a bit more than usual. Sam had her 2-week follow up for her hand. After the excessively long wait a few months ago to have her seen for her leg, I booked all of this hand stuff at the pediatric facility with the first appointments available...which happened to be on the other side of the city. It's one of the perks of having the girls with Texas Children's pediatricians. It makes it really easy to get them in just about anywhere for anything IF I'm flexible on location. In any event, this hand clinic is tied to the west campus hospital. Unlike the other locations, it has a massive parking lot instead of a parking garage. After spending 105 minutes in awful traffic, I dropped David and Sam off at the front door (we were late because of the traffic) and I parked on the other end of the earth. By the time I walked from my car, to the building, to the proper elevator banks...I'd easily gone close to half a mile...and I'd have to repeat it on the way out. On the plus side, Sam was cleared. He still wants her to take it easy for the next week or so, but she can start easing back into things. She was also only in this for 2 weeks, so it's not like coming back from previous breaks.

The rest of the day was between bizarre, panicked, and just all-around stressful. While we were at the dr, Kendall texted me about a kid bringing a gun to school. We've experienced our share of violence and rumors of threats over the years (which unfortunately is now quite commonplace in most schools), but this was real. Thankfully, someone had the courage to report it and campus police were able to intervene before something horrible happened. The kid fled campus when questioned, but officers chased him down and found a firearm in his backpack. He's since been expelled and charges are pending. I was still trying to wrap my head around this gun thing during the drive home...like all of the "what if's" and coming to terms that K was there, inside the building, when the kid with the gun was there. In the middle of all of this, a man in a beat up red Mitsubishi SUV (circa late 90s) pulled up along side me- on the highway- while going close to 60 MPH and started yelling and gesturing to roll down my windows. He didn't look angry, so I didn't think it was road rage and carjacking in heavy traffic seemed unlikely. He was yelling something in Spanish to me, but all I could hear was "gato." I couldn't see anything wrong with my car...my gauges were all fine... tire pressure good...and I couldn't understand what a cat (gato) had to do with any of it. I also think I'd know if I hit a cat. Nobody else around us seemed to be concerned about us either. I was completely freaked out and wanted to get some distance between me and this guy. I managed to lose him in traffic, but I still wondered what was going on. We made a quick stop home for Sam to clean up her hand. I checked out the car, but saw nothing upon this first inspection. It wasn't until later in the day that I saw this piece hanging near one of my rear wheels.

View attachment 663684View attachment 663685View attachment 663686

I have an appointment to get it checked out on Friday, but according to my car group, it's a plastic shield to keep rocks from dinging up certain areas. One of the commenters is a master technician at a Hyundai dealership and told me to just tape it up or zip tie it until I can get it in. So, you can add in crawling around on the ground for 30 minutes and rolling in and out from underneath my car to the list of physical activities for the day. Apparently, it's a very common issue and different Hyundai techs have varied opinions on the necessity of this piece. I guess at least now I know that this man was trying to help me.

I ended my evening helping Sam with a reading/language arts assignment. She was given the first 6 pages of an unfinished short story and was tasked with completing the story...minimum of 1,000 words. The story had the potential of going in a number of directions, but she chose horror/thriller. I can't recall her having a lot of creative writing assignments in the past, so she needed a lot of hand holding. Helping your child channel her inner horror writer after the day I had put my brain into overdrive. It was after 1am when I fell asleep, up on and off all night, and then up just before 6am to get K to an early tutoring session at school. I'm not sure if I want to nap or hit the gym tonight to destress!

Wow, so scary about the kid bringing a gun to school. I'm so glad nothing bad happened, and I hope nothing will. And the car thing is crazy too. Good thing you could do a temporary fix.

 

[Songbird76]

That's kind of how my family is as well. My dad's family came over very early, but my mom's family was primarily Ellis Island. Kind of like @ajrwdwgir , names were changed. I know on my grandmother's side, they shortened their last name considerably. She also spoke at great length about how proud my great grandmother was of being able to learn English, since it was required of them.

I know the spellings of last names were shortened, but I don't think they actually changed the names. Like, they just wrote things more phonetically in some cases. Möller or Moeller became Miller, for example. I'm kind of sad that my mom wasn't taught German. I know that was the thought then....you moved to a new country, you had to give up your previous life, including the language, but what a disservice that was to the kids! They had whole families back in the originally country with whom they couldn't communicate. And a lot of their culture ended up being lost. Learn the new language, absolutely! But you don't have to change everything about yourself and you don't have to stop speaking your native language with your family. And it's such a huge benefit for kids to be bilingual. It literally affects their brains and makes them better at certain things, and it apparently decreases your risk of dementia. They didn't know that back then, but I just feel bad that people felt like they had to change so much to fit in.

 

[Songbird76]

Hello-

Checking in with a no equipment workout I found on YouTube. Then I went out for a walk.

We did the Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island trip yesterday. I really enjoyed it. My regret is that our cruise was late and I would have liked to have spent more time at Ellis Island. It was really crowded, too, so it was hard to take in the exhibits without being in someone's way or someone was in your way. So, I'm going to go back when it gets cold again, start the day earlier and just spend time at Ellis Island. We climbed the pedestal at the Statue of Liberty, too.

We booked flights for Thursday. My brother said her condition hasn't changed. My husband thinks he might have overstated how ill my grandmother is, but she is in hospice. Even though, she could still be around for a few more months. Anyway, my husband said he might push the trip back.

Anyway, here are some photos from yesterday.
View attachment 663229View attachment 663233View attachment 663233View attachment 663235View attachment 663236View attachment 663237

So are you flying out to see your grandmother today? When does your MIL get there? And are you just visiting your grandmother for the day? It sounds like a lot of stress for you...please make sure you take some time for yourself to do something you enjoy doing.

 

[Songbird76]

Hello!

So, we got in some dog walking yesterday for our fitness. It was actually a decent experience...until it wasn't. We spent about 20 minutes filling in at the front desk because they had a big mess in the back. It was a paid employee that asked us to cover for him, so I figured it was something big. I actually felt pretty useful with no know-it-all walkers trying to poke their noses in and boss us around. In fact, I even got to help a new volunteer mom and son duo on how to get out of a room full of puppies. It was a great set up...K man the desk while I got called to help every few minutes. When we did finally get to dog walking...things were relatively peaceful, minus dealing with one thing that I feel is a universal safety risk at this facility (more on that in a bit) as well as seeing one of the know-it-all's walking in the same pattern we walked the other week and were scolded by a know-it-all. So, I guess things are wrong only when we do it. So, in any event, when things went wrong...they went very wrong....

I was bringing back the dog I was walking and didn't see anyone else in there. So, I open the door and walk in with my dog. I guess one of the more tenured volunteers decided to go into a dog kennel, left the door wide open- which I couldn't see from the main entry, and she never put her dog on a leash. She actually thought putting out a water bowl for it would distract it from us. Thankfully Kendall was far enough behind me that she was outside when the chaos started. I had my dog on a tight lead and backed up. The other dog was bigger (about 70lb- chow/shepherd mix) and jumping, but just curious. My dog (50-55lb boxer/lab mix) was snapping and snarling and wanted to rip this other dog apart. Thankfully, I wasn't hurt...because we already know they have no first aid kit!

Prior to Sunday, we were going to continue with this to teach Kendall a lesson in dealing with difficult coworkers and honoring your commitments, but the new lesson is to know when to walk away from a bad situation. While it's unfortunate that some of the tenured volunteers make it a toxic work environment, it becomes a bigger problem when those same people don't follow the safety protocols that we were given in training- putting us all at risk. Add on the lack of first aid kit (or the possible unwillingness to let us use it), the tenured volunteers being clueless about the color coding system/rules, and what I feel are some questionable practices with dogs that end up in the adoption area...it's just not worth it. Seriously, it's an accident waiting to happen putting a higher level dog or a dog with a "do not walk" in with a beginner labeled dog. Honestly, some of these super timid dogs - including the fear biter chihuahua that tried to take a chunk out of my ankle are a real risk to have among the rest of the adoptables. That was NEVER an issue in the shelter where I used to volunteer. Outside of an ornery Persian cat, the only scary animal encounter I had at the old shelter involved a jealousy fight between the dogs.

Sorry for the novel--just venting. It's tempting to ghost them. I'm sure they have volunteers sign up and no-show all the time. I know it happened quite a bit at my last shelter. You also pay to volunteer, so I'm the one that's out $. Still, it would be another good lesson to have Kendall work with me to write a letter formally terminating our volunteer relationship. Whew! At least Kendall can still say she volunteered there for the summer and we will no longer have to drive across town. In other news, Sam gets her hand checked out again tomorrow morning. PRAYING for good news.

So did the dogs attack each other? How did you get away? Was she already in there when you went in and just didn't see her? Or did she come in behind you? That sounds like a dangerous situation if people aren't following safety protocols. What a liability!! Why did you sign up for this specific shelter? Can you find one that's better organized and maybe a little closer to home? I'm sorry this one didn't work out, but this is valuable experience for Kendall as well. Knowing it's ok to put your safety first and that it's ok to leave a bad situation, even if you've made a commitment. You didn't commit to putting yourself in danger.

 

[Songbird76]

Hello-

I just went for a very long walk today. I wanted to do a kettlebell workout, but when I got the gym, there was a woman there who thought the gym was only for her use. She was using the 2 benches, an aerobic step, numerous kettlebells and other free weights, spread out everywhere. I only wanted the kettlebells (and a bit of space), so I asked if we could take turns using the kettlebells. She told me I could not, because "it would ruin the flow of her workout." I don't know, when I use a communal gym, I go in with the understanding I might have to share equipment. I asked when she thought she would be finished and she snapped at me, "I don't know." and kept doing her hip thrusts on the bench. I don't have the appetite for conflict this week, so I just left.

I went back up to my husband's apartment, put on some sunscreen and went out for a long walk. I got some photos of Manhattan, the Brooklyn Bridge and Brooklyn. I found a little nature center and I found a boat launch where a few sail boats were going out from. I sat and watched them a bit. Even though it was humid outside, there was a really nice breeze that made it tolerable. My MIL wants to see the apartment next week, so I have been doing a little extra cleaning. We're going back home tonight. I will use my kettlebells tomorrow AM.

Ugh, I hate that! I don't go to gyms anymore, but there was one we went to for a while, and there were these 3 people who would go sit on the equipment right next to each other, but wouldn't actually use it. They'd just sit there and talk. Every once in a while they might do a rep or 3, but that was it, and they'd sit there taking up those machines for an hour. When you only HAVE an hour to work out, you end up having to just skip using those machines because you don't have time to wait for them to be done. I don't understand why people can't just be courteous. If you want to sit and chat, go find a cafe and have a cup of coffee together. If you want to work out, work out. If you want to have exclusive use of gym equipment, buy your own and work out at home so you won't have to take turns or share!

 

[Songbird76]

Good morning

Nothing workout-wise to report for today. I'm also not sure yesterday really counts, but I did move around a bit more than usual. Sam had her 2-week follow up for her hand. After the excessively long wait a few months ago to have her seen for her leg, I booked all of this hand stuff at the pediatric facility with the first appointments available...which happened to be on the other side of the city. It's one of the perks of having the girls with Texas Children's pediatricians. It makes it really easy to get them in just about anywhere for anything IF I'm flexible on location. In any event, this hand clinic is tied to the west campus hospital. Unlike the other locations, it has a massive parking lot instead of a parking garage. After spending 105 minutes in awful traffic, I dropped David and Sam off at the front door (we were late because of the traffic) and I parked on the other end of the earth. By the time I walked from my car, to the building, to the proper elevator banks...I'd easily gone close to half a mile...and I'd have to repeat it on the way out. On the plus side, Sam was cleared. He still wants her to take it easy for the next week or so, but she can start easing back into things. She was also only in this for 2 weeks, so it's not like coming back from previous breaks.

The rest of the day was between bizarre, panicked, and just all-around stressful. While we were at the dr, Kendall texted me about a kid bringing a gun to school. We've experienced our share of violence and rumors of threats over the years (which unfortunately is now quite commonplace in most schools), but this was real. Thankfully, someone had the courage to report it and campus police were able to intervene before something horrible happened. The kid fled campus when questioned, but officers chased him down and found a firearm in his backpack. He's since been expelled and charges are pending. I was still trying to wrap my head around this gun thing during the drive home...like all of the "what if's" and coming to terms that K was there, inside the building, when the kid with the gun was there. In the middle of all of this, a man in a beat up red Mitsubishi SUV (circa late 90s) pulled up along side me- on the highway- while going close to 60 MPH and started yelling and gesturing to roll down my windows. He didn't look angry, so I didn't think it was road rage and carjacking in heavy traffic seemed unlikely. He was yelling something in Spanish to me, but all I could hear was "gato." I couldn't see anything wrong with my car...my gauges were all fine... tire pressure good...and I couldn't understand what a cat (gato) had to do with any of it. I also think I'd know if I hit a cat. Nobody else around us seemed to be concerned about us either. I was completely freaked out and wanted to get some distance between me and this guy. I managed to lose him in traffic, but I still wondered what was going on. We made a quick stop home for Sam to clean up her hand. I checked out the car, but saw nothing upon this first inspection. It wasn't until later in the day that I saw this piece hanging near one of my rear wheels.

View attachment 663684View attachment 663685View attachment 663686

I have an appointment to get it checked out on Friday, but according to my car group, it's a plastic shield to keep rocks from dinging up certain areas. One of the commenters is a master technician at a Hyundai dealership and told me to just tape it up or zip tie it until I can get it in. So, you can add in crawling around on the ground for 30 minutes and rolling in and out from underneath my car to the list of physical activities for the day. Apparently, it's a very common issue and different Hyundai techs have varied opinions on the necessity of this piece. I guess at least now I know that this man was trying to help me.

I ended my evening helping Sam with a reading/language arts assignment. She was given the first 6 pages of an unfinished short story and was tasked with completing the story...minimum of 1,000 words. The story had the potential of going in a number of directions, but she chose horror/thriller. I can't recall her having a lot of creative writing assignments in the past, so she needed a lot of hand holding. Helping your child channel her inner horror writer after the day I had put my brain into overdrive. It was after 1am when I fell asleep, up on and off all night, and then up just before 6am to get K to an early tutoring session at school. I'm not sure if I want to nap or hit the gym tonight to destress!

Yikes!!! Guns are not a thing here, but that's definitely a huge fear...your kid calling you to tell you there's a gunman in the school. I'm glad they got it under control without anything bad happening. How did the kid get caught? Did he show it to someone? That happened a few years ago in my home school district, in the school where I did my student teaching. Some kid brought a gun intending to shoot people, but he showed it to his friend and his friend went to the school principal or counselor or something and they checked the kid's locker and found the gun. I'm sure he was mad at his friend for telling, but that friend saved some lives....must have been really hard for him to do that to his friend. Do you know if the kid intended to use it or did he just want to look cool, like prove he could get it in the building or something?

 

[HouCuseChickie]

Wow, so scary about the kid bringing a gun to school. I'm so glad nothing bad happened, and I hope nothing will. And the car thing is crazy too. Good thing you could do a temporary fix.

Yes, we're very thankful for the outcome. The car thing looks scary...likely something broke with the suspension or wheel mounting, Hopefully, it will be a quick and easy fix.