cirramqc

Well I've been quite busy this last month.

From march 5th to the 9th was quebec's march/spring break. We had so many activities planned at the center, kept me busy and was a big week.

On the tuesday, we took the kids sliding
On wednesday, we took them to the movies, then to the restaurant then to the cosmodome. (space camp)
On thursday we went to the Recreatheque (indoor roller rink, lazer quest, arcade, bowling, etc)
On Friday, we took them skiing.

Have you ever tried taking 25 teens to the movies and to a restaurant?? Well I can tell you it's an experience! Anyhow, the week went super well and was great. The kids were great, and everyone enjoyed themselves.

To top things off, my cousin came along with his girlfriend's 3 kids. They stayed at my teeny place for the week. That was kinda cool. Everyone thought that I would go nuts cause I'm used to living alone.

This week, got my 2 day first aid refresher course for work. Was really cool. Gave me some new ideas for work. I always liked first aid, but for some reason, this time, I would like to take more advance courses, go deeper, learn more, actually see some action.

New comp is going well and finally getting the chance to play with it a little more. Did a cool little video from the week's activities.

Oh, and of all things, at the cosmodome (space camp) ran into the last Katimavik PL that was in Ste-Julienne. He was there with a group.

That's it for now.

So yesterday, I finally got a new computer!
Yeppers, after 8 years of working with a P3 and STILL in Win98 (yeah, that's right, I was still using Win98 untill yesterday!), I made the move. I waited so damn long for this! I just didn't have the $ to do the move.

I don't have the best computer in the world but it does the job. It's no Intel but what the hell. Compared to what I am used to, this is like winning the lottery. Not to mention the new flat panel widescreen.

Only prob is that I want to transfer some files from the old comp but.... It's pretty hard with what I had. Either I get a network card or burn CD's (which I tried but doesn't seem to be working on the new comp). I'll think of something.

2 weeks ago, I bought my first digital camera. Cute little thing that cost under $200 and 7 megapixles. Takes nice pics and is fun to use.

Anyhow, just thought I'd share.

Anyhow, glad I could get it all yesterday cause there is a MEGA snow storm today. Don't know if I'll open the youth center. Gotta think of the staff that needs to travel.

Gotta have fun.
Laters
Eric
xxxx

Work yesterday HELL!!!!! in a good way (I guess).
What the hell is it with January? Can someone please try to to give me a decent answer?

Seems that all last year was spent entertaining the kids, selling them junk food from the cantine filling out papers and stuff.

January comes along and all hell breaks loose. Seems that everyone has problems and all decided to talk and get help in January.

Had my evening work kinda planned out. Typical day at the office. So I thought. I get in at 3pm. My employee arrives at 4pm. My work plans started going down hill from there.

So we/she had to talk. At 5pm, a mom comes in. Needs to talk/help. 5h30, kids arrive. I'm with the mom till about 6pm. TRY to go out for a smoke. HA!!!!!! It is now "please take a # and I'll get to you as soon as possible". Lets make a long story short, I was busy in my office till 9h30pm.

5 crying ppl (including 1 mother)
1 self mutilation
1 suicide attempt follow-up
1 major war amongst friends
2 diciplinary intervention follow-ups
1 community services request
3 kids requesting to see shrinks
1 kid taking my offer for violence therapy

And how was your evening? Thank god I have an employee this month. There were 21 kids last night at the center.

Well howdy all. It's been nearly 4 months. Although so much as gone on in my life, everything is the same.

Life at work has been basically hell. Hell in a good way for the center and in a bad way for me. I've been working alone since june 2006. We shouldn't but at that time, there was only a few kids there so why waste $. Second, I was working on getting an ex employee back so we didn't post job openings. From an average of 7 kids a day from jan to july 2006, I brought it up on my own to 16 from aug to dec, with many days of 20 + kids a day.

This explains pretty much my absence. First, after the huge aug fund raisers, I was totally burnt out and no time to recuperate. No summer vacation, etc... Then doing the job of 3 people on my own. I couldn't get anything done and was only able to give my 25% to accomplish anything. Obviously the kids came first. But even then, they couldn't get my full attention. From july to dec, over 80 new kids came to the center.

A typical evening: Welcoming new kids, meeting parents, kids needing to talk about a prob, discipline, taking care of the cantine, phone calls. Those who have been at the center can just imagine.

The fact that I was alone wasn't too good for the kids either. If I wanted to go smoke, everyone had to go outside with me, even if I was the only smoker in the group.

Now even if I have been absent for 4 months from LJ, I have also been absent from all meetings relating to work for the same period. So many, many things and people have been neglected by me.

I was so tired that I didn't care about anything or anyone. Home was neglected and also considered leaving the job for something else way less demanding.

Anyhow, so I decided to take a 2 week vacation during the holidays. That helped ENORMOUSLY! Started taking care of the home again, got a new appreciation for the job (although still far from perfect) and got back some vitality. Another thing that helped is that the ex employee was back for a trial basis for january. Unfortunately, this might be her last week. She was on sick leave and this was a trial run. Her and I want her to stay. But the desicion isn't really ours to make. We both know that she won't be there for february but we sitll have no clue for march. Hopefully we will find out this week cause I got to get organised and find someone, plan budgets, etc...

So yeah, that was a long story made short cause I skipped MANY details.

Love yas
Eric
xxxx

It's been WAY too long since I updated my journal. So much has happened, mainly at work. Nothing bad really mostly good stuff.

At work, been working alone all summer. We were down to 0-2 kids per night in mid june. By end june, had over 40 new kids in the place, and still working alone. 12 & 13yo really take up a lot of energy. I totally forgot how much time, energy & attention that this age group demands. It's a real swell bunch of kids that I really like. Yeah like all the others they have a major lack of respect, but at least they have it towards me and they listen. They love to do any stupid activities that are planned. Weird to say, but they really love to play "who can shut up the longest". I did it once and they keep asking to play that "game".

Had a major week of fundraising. First, we were responsabile for serving lunch on 2 days for the annual senior olympics. Lots of people were scared at first to have the kids there and doing the lunch thing. My goal was not mainly to make $ but rather change the image that seniors have of teens and the center. Anyhow, to make a long story short, MISSION ACCOMPLISHED! From day 1, all I received were compliments. I had tears in my eyes for 3 straight days. They were amazed at what they got for the price, the taste of the food, the fact that it was 12-15yo that prepared it all, how polite the kids all were, how well organized the food stand was, etc... To top it off, we added another factor. On the first day there, I told the organizers that the kids would also take care of cleaning the tables & replacing tables & chairs and keep the site clean. Day 2, RAIN! So got a few kids there to do all the work of moving things inside with the municipality workers and setting everything up. Overall, day 1 we sold about 70 lunch boxes, results of comments of the ones that ate them & showed them to others: Day 2, we sold double that and ran out. We basically had desert left only (banana cake) and people loved it so much that they asked to buy it by the piece. Closing official supper, I and my 2 volunteers were asked to attend and they paid our supper! We were also told not to mention to anyone that we had a free meal. Anyhow, we were mentionned in such a positive way and even got a standing ovation! Comments were: "Why did we never include the kids before?", "We have to make sure that kids are involved again next year". Every year they change the municipality were the games are held.

So that was 3 first days of the week. The next few days was at the annual 3 day ATV show where 15000 were expected. We were responsabile for the parking, keeping the site clean, and at the last minute, selling popcorn. Again, the organizers were a little scared especially for the parking. They said that on saturday, they would have a few people there to help us to make sure things got off on the right foot since it's the big day. Well, since we started friday night, there were 2 there but only stayed for about 1 hour and left when they saw that we were doing an amazing job. Never came back on saturday morning. Anyhow, with some minor probs on fri & sat, and MAJOR probs (5 kids less for parking on sunday) we did an amazing job. Again, a long story short. After that, 3 days of cleaning the site. We were asked to go again next year on the condition that I was still at the MDJ and that I was the one running the show.

All in all, over 9 days, I had 22 kids that did over 650 hours of volunteer work. Some pulling 14 hour days, taking 5 minutes to eat or eating while they worked, in the hot sun. My parking kid staff was AMAZING! They worked so hard in harsh conditions. I did over 120hours on the 9 days and worked for over 14 days straight. Now it's relaxing time. Taking a few hours back, working 2 short days a week till mid sept. Kids are aware that center is closed till sept 6th (for now). Took them out to supper, went to the amusment park yesterday.

And that is life for now!

Love yas

So the last katima kids of the year are gone as of today. I went to see them before they left and as they were literally, totally cleaning out the house. All the unwanted furniture is on the curb. Guess it's true that if there is a rotation here next year, they won't be my neighbors. Anyhow, I really liked this last group. Nice kids, goods times I had with them just chatting and goofing off.

On another note, I convinced my bosses to buy a popcorn machine. Got it on thursday. MAN did I have fun with it. It's really cool. Always wanted one. Made great caramel popcorn. Also have other flavors. There was the St-Jean (provincial holiday) on saturday, so we had a popcorn booth at the local festivities. I had fun. I really like my new toy.

Trust time, trust destiny, trust your guardian angel.
Life has a way of making everything work out just fine!!!
Trust me.

So I haven't written here in a while but, why always write the same un-exciting thing all the time and bore people to death?

Anyhow, what started out to be an ordinary, I can't wait till it's over day, turned out to be SOOOOOOOOOOO damn amazing! And it all happened at just the right damn time!

So I eventually get to work, somewhere where I didn't really want to be tonight. Had my work planned all planned out. Yeah. A katima-kid walks in, says she has an important message for me. Hands me a piece of paper. All I read was the frist 2 words: "Hi dad". The shreak that came out of my mouth!!!!! I knew who it was. I knew they were gonna pop in sometime during their trip but didn't know when. They were outside the window and heard me. Of course I run down and meet them. It was my katima kids Sarah & Nat.

So we spent the evening together, talked about the good old days, they gave me news of the parts they went to visit so far. We went to visit the katima-house and meet the last katima-kids. Just to show how things didn't change, when my first group was here, I didn't work for 3 months. Well tonight was no different. 5 1/2 hours at work, and nothing got done. Anyhow, we're gonna get together sunday so their weekend isn't a total waste cause all the work partners are closed on the weekend.

Then I get home, and I have an e-mail waiting for me. It's from my best friend. I know he's had it rough the last few years and we kinda lost touch. My e-mails either were returned undeliverable or never any replies. All phone #s and addresses I have for him are invalid. Anyhow, I wrote him last week for his B-day as I usually do in the hopes that he would get it. Well he did. He wrote a nice update letter. He found out his sister died 2 weeks ago (was a shock to read that). Anyhow, he was quite emotional in his letter. He's never been like that. And the last phrase... WOW totally out of character for him. I'll permit myself to cut and paste here cause it means a lot to me: "Anyway, I hope this letter finds you well. I often think of you and I up north and skiing and in the trailer. I miss you buddy! Love, (name here)".

What looked like was gonna be one shitty, long, rainy weekend is turning out to be one damn best weekend I've had in long time!

Love you all so damn much
Eric
xxx

Yeah so after yesterday, my plans for today were kinda shot! But decided to make the best of it.

So plans were to go to nudist club for the day. Instead, I taped up the window to go pick up a new one. It figures that all door and window places are closed on saturdays. I found this one place but he would have to order it and it would take 1 1/2 weeks! For now, I don't think so!!!! The good thing about this is he said I should be able to pick one up for around $100 which is way less than I expected.

So ended up going to pick up a few things like dust pan to pick up the glass, air freshner, bulbs, kat litter and FOOD! Because of my bad luck, I decided to treat myself so bought a nice rib steak. Haven't had one in like hmmmm 3 years or so.

So I get back home and I have 2 choices, clean up damages or, since I can't be out nude tanning, have the next best thing, 1/2 tanning by mowing the lawn. So I start to mow the lawn. Fixed a prob on the tractor and all ready to go since I bought 2 new tires for it yesterday. Things are going great. 2 nice turns around the lawn. Then, I notice that one of the tires that was fixed was flat and off the rim. There goes that part of the best of a bad situation.

So, I decided to clean up the mess they made yesterday. Well pretty much everything is back to normal around the house. Surprisingly enough, the TV works today! YEAH! So all is up and running. I will need a new TV cause the glass is all scratched but it'll do for now. Also it'll need some major degauzing. Anyhow, the only thing that is busted is the CD player. But then again... what the hell, the dvd player can play my music CDs.

Another thing about this situation, I now have a major fly prob indoors. LOL nearly as bad as outside. That's one thing I forgot to buy, repelant.

So I was looking on the net. Decided that instead of spending $ on a TV, I'll collect $ and get a new comp. This way I can hook up a cool survailance system with wireless web cams. If I can't stop them, may as well have their pics and know who they are. I guess the worst part is not knowing who did this. Is it random? Is it someone I know?

Well had a good day. Tomorrow will be even better.