a story about something very new

Attended a NASW chapter networking reception tonight; meet new people and gave out my new business cards. Every time I tell people what I am doing they get so excited and start smiling..so let me tell you a story: yes MSW & PHD gave birth to a tiny basw entity recently. Please handle with care and talk slowly and quietly...it's parents are so protective and want everything to be just right and sometimes forget to just relax and know it will grow into a beauty some day....It is genderless, only believes in equity and peace, does not have an ethnicity but knows its history, is willing to share, no role will be put on it due to the world being too big, has literacy in love, understanding, balance, and joy, it speaks with its heart, listens with its observations, and hears music all around from many nations, and is willing to learn new dances; it is a small entity right now but it knows it is loved and cherished by its grandparents and other social work relatives, when its new adoptive mom takes it out; everyone wants to talk about it and can't wait to see what happens in its growth and development, the first 40 students will be holding it up and celebrating while learning about themselves as multi-dimensional inter-galaxy support systems to mother earth, it does not have a big carbon footprint nor does it expect to since it is living in a GREEN place in so many ways, so lets give it some time to rest and have sweet dreams. It will be all ok and it will be what it is suppose to be. It is learning how to crawl in Beauty.

retreat or how to really work in disguise

went to b house for an all day work retreat; i enjoyed hearing everyone re their program and what they are proposing to do re the "diversity" issue. i talked a bit re the basw program and just want it to get started; so many unknowns still. it has not even been a month since I started and much of it i was sick....so still in orientation and observation part of my entry phase. lots of support for it to be successful which is good. i still need to get my feet on the ground and learn more and more. also, i need to work on my class which i have not taught before....so, tomorrow i am going to the market and the library and get a book then off to look for some stuff to hang in my office then to l,d,h re "MOVIE WATCHING" and some r & r. a big meeting i thought i was having is Tuesday and not Monday so that helps me a bunch with my weekend planning....will be getting my first pay check from psu next week so that will be a check on reality and what and how i can manage that new part of my life of being paid once in the month...this move was a lot more expensive that i had ever anticipated so that is going to take awhile to recover from.... thanks that many activities in Portland are free or pretty inexpensive. happy fishing d. guess who that cute girl is...??? she is a sweetie.

All Day All Night--

completed a mini task this am for d,l,h re their wonderful house....I think I am getting it down you all....had meeting with mp re tasks and goals, saw s re field, talked with k re whatever, invited to dinner at kc house...with 5 other people...she is a lovely host...finally home...off tomorrow for an all day "retreat"....THEN THE WEEKEND...yea! thank g that I am feeling better re my energy....hope you are all having fun in wyo....play hard! see you later

People People Everywhere....

In the last couple of days I have been meeting new people at various events. NA professional network group last night with k, was introduced to about 15 new people, some individuals from nicwa...a couple men from the Dine rez....today I visited an elementary school west of here (about 40 minutes) and went into several classrooms from kindergarden to fourth grade, primarily Latino/as children...I loved being there and even sat next to a fourth grader who was reading Spanish. I told him I had to repeat the 4th grade when I was a child; then he said "that's why I am going to summer school"---I even remembered some of the Spanish I learned in my class in the spring semester. Went with another professor from the university and he took me to a Latino grocery store with a Mexican deli...so good to eat real Mexican food, reminded me of Flag...then surprised d and l this evening with a "social worker home visit"---they are leaving tomorrow for Wyoming for a week. We all had dinner at Village Inn...just love them all. I am so lucky to have their friendship and love. I bought a RED hat at Walgreens this afternoon...sure fun to wear....because I can! ....tomorrow kc is giving a little dinner for me at her house with about 8-10 people ...and yesterday at lunch went to another function to meet child welfare workers from around the state; talked about the new BASW program...so busy getting connected to the Portland area from all directions. I am certainly feeling welcomed but I am starting to get homesick too. so..l2 called tonight and will not be here until next Thursday, so hoping we can get together but that may not work out. I am the one in the blue outfit in the pix...if you forgot what I look like these days....

Streetcar Named Desire

Had a good day at work; first day back for sometime; so happy to be feeling better; afterwards I decided to just ride the streetcar for some "viewing experiences" of Portland...teenagers, tourists, business people, "little ole ladies", couples of various sorts; a man got on who was listening to his ipod and was dancing to his tunes (actually a really good dancer):dancing to a different drummer"; so, it takes all kinds...green, yellow, blue, & purple hair and so many tattoos; kids; the novel readers; and me just watching it all happen...I wonder what category they put me into? Miss u l1 if u are reading this....happy travels. good nite....

It Is Still Sunday

I can see a Full Moon outside my east facing door overlooking the river, bridges, sparking lights....and listening to some new music from Pandora radio....what a wonderful end of the day....new beginnings tomorrow....starting with health this time. I pray that anyway...looking at the moon with my binoculars and can see the ridges, valleys, etc...what a gift from outer space and our universe...we are all related! Good wishes to my friends in Flag....and now Portland.

It is Sunday!

Been a long week or so; just sick and more sickness...but feeling better now...THANK YOU G. Even went to UU this am...felt so good to be there. Very passionate sermon on "Not being a Stranger" and meet a nice person too. So getting back to my ole healthily self, I hope. A is moving to Washington on August 2nd!

What a Muse.

Need I say more?

A Full Moon & Venus! Plus a River: What a Mug

What a dreamy site to behold...a gold full moon, venus the planet, and the river outside my window in Portland. We are all related; just remember we are all pieces of star dust millions of years old. (So, even if you don't want to be related we are, so there!)...my new mantra is "ok cold it is time to go somewhere else now go!)( I forgot to say a bridge too.) Nice photo of me too....what a site I am! What are they doing to you in Portland, Char? Ok, I know I need a bit of photoshop help but...guess my humor is coming back and that is a good sign.

Welcome to the Week

not too much but starting to feel a bit better; more energy; still coughing and will be on meds for several more days; LOSS...dealing with it in so many ways; so I guess my body is saying "Char you need to rest and sleep"...I miss everything...it is hitting me more each day...just a simple task as washing my clothes..went to the apartment laundry room early this am and then proceeded to lock myself out....my keys were returned pretty soon and I could get into my apartment and got ready to go to work...so, just the basics---seems like everything is a big ordeal...no real shopping here so have to go to other side of the river..and get lost...again...miss my house! My friends....NAU.....Flag....so I guess this is the "other side" of the coin about moving...ying and yang....ALWAYS HAPPENING. And on top of all all this..my left foot and the back of my left knee are hurting so walking is quite limited....can't wait to get my health care at Kaiser started so I can get that evaluated. Portland is no place not to be able to walk. I think what happened is when I first arrived here I walked my heart out everywhere and I hurt my foot with all the steps so quickly...so on one hand it was good but now I am paying for it. Went out of town today with a phd student, c to Salem and saw Mt. Hood in full force. Visited the Indian boarding school there. Very nice person! So, that's my day...boo ho...boo ho....oh well tomorrow will be better....

Creativity By Twyal

Twyla Tharp : Creativity is more about taking the facts, fictions, and feelings we store away and finding new ways to connect them. What we're talking about here is metaphor. Metaphor is the lifeblood of all art, if it is not art itself. Metaphor is our vocabulary for connecting what we are experiencing now with what we have experienced before. It's not only how we express what we remember , it's how we interpret it - for ourselves and others. (from aliedwards website today) just love this quote...my worldview is often a metaphor...enjoy

Hi Everyone: Happy Friday

I bet none of you have seen me in this outfit. No I am not going into outer space just getting my hair done. This week went quickly between being at the office learning all about my job and continuing to be sick and getting worse...now it is bronchitis. I hope when this is all over I will be feeling much better and can get some energy. Very lovely people and lots of support. Everyday I am meeting new people and I know this will continue. This place is huge is so many ways. Staying home today because I have a doctor's appointment re my continuing cold stuff. So enough about my physical condition. Hopefully I will feel better so I can do some fun stuff over the weekend. On top of all this my office at work has been really hot and I actually can't really be in there even with a fan so I have migrated to the prior acting director's office where it is much cooler. Also there are many files I have to review there anyway so it worked out for me. L1 miss u. Saw 2 eposides of JA last night. Loved being with your kitty cats again.

What A Day

So beginning again after being out last week. Many people came by to say hello and wish me luck...such a warm and welcoming group. Getting my office in shape and books put away. Need to pace a bit better or I will be burned out by the end of the first week....so, take your time Char. L1 have a great time on your vacation to the beach. See you later this afternoon.

Keeping In Touch

Visited ea today at the Jewish Manor where she lives...she is spry as ever...walked up the hill, around the building, down the hallways and then we had lunch; meet her sister and brother in law who live in the same place; what a sweetie she is; some memory loss but at 90 years old she is amazing....cute as ever! Bright as ever! and Full of Zest for Living. In her apartment saw several of her watercolors made in her past...she is quite the artist. So happy she called me when I got here and I made it over; want to visit her again...she actually does not live too far from my place. She also told me she had been married four times! Then went to my PSU office to start making it more my place.....the security guards did not come this time. Was invited to go to the blues festival with r but decided not to considering how much I have to do to my office. L and I are going to a movie tonight. So it is getting busy with love, life, and work!

Feeling Much Better

had a very special time with l,d, h at their place yesterday (had dinner with several neighbors) shot off fireworks and just laughed...watched John Adams HBO special with d and l...my first 4th of July in Portland as a resident. Aside from not feeling too well lately it was lovey spending it with my family on the other side of the river; today drove around Portland to get more lay of the land--went westward on new highways...pretty country. Then went to the Blues Festival next door to me for a couple of hours...listen to several artists and loved it all.......so many new people to watch. I called several of my Flag friends yesterday cuz I miss Flag...missed our parade etc. I think I am more vulnerable to sadness right now cuz I have not been feeling well so it will be better....just be patient and go slowly and you will make new friends. Everyone is so welcoming but I still miss Flag.

Sleep the Healer

Sleeping all day and I feel better.

What an Exciting Day or Walk Until You Drop

went to work for the first day at psu...pretty good so far even saw a student and had one meeting and had a sweet lunch with l1. got a call from my doc in flag and my inr was DOWN TOO MUCH. So she said i have get a local doc and get another inr tomorrow after taking 6 instead of my regular 3...this makes sense to no one except myself; so went home took another pill then TRIED ALL AFTERNOON TO GET A CHECK TO NAU OVERNIGHT...one streetcar ride, 2 buses and more walking and it was hot and i did not bring my h2o...so it was pretty horrible especially with my left foot hurting...as a later said to me "why didn't you take your car?"------------DUD. well tomorrow I AM TAKING MY CAR AND GIVING MY POOR FOOT A BREAK. So aside having a great morning my afternoon was crazy with me trying to get to the post office etc. I guess I still have not heard of the word moderation and balance....no I have to walk everywhere and I don't have too, char--take it easy! my office is starting to look much better now that the boxes are all stacked up in other places in the office and I have some room to move around and now decide what to do with all the books in the boxes...life is so complex isn't it. CHAR WHEN YOU HAVE REAL PROBLEMS, LET ME KNOW..your kid, char--so good nite and sweet dreams.....thanks to l2 and bg for sending me your sweet notes re my first day....