So its been weeks, and I have had many hilarious stories and things happen to me, and many wonderful things. Yet I haven't taken the time to write them. Some times I forget that I have this, but the idea of writing something down and who knows who is going to read it perhaps no one or perhaps a whole lot of someones is very cleansing and good. I love going back and reading what has happened over the last little bits of my life and the whole idea behind writing the humorous things of my day is to simply be able to remember them and catalog this time I am spending working with street youth.

I am beginning to love my job. I love working with these kids, I'm finding my groove. I'm enjoying the simple tasks I'm given and making them fun and entertaining. I enjoy seeing how simply me taking and leaving our card in a library means some teenager finds it just when they need it and calls the hotline and gets the help they need.

I think I'm in the process of outlining where I want to put my "career" focus. This has been such a hard thing for me, there is so much that I want to do, to experience, so many problems I want to help solve. Its exciting and terrifying all at the same time. And I have no idea where to begin with this new possible focus, but I know if this is what I'm supposed to be doing I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be for it. As things become more clear to me, I will reveal my thoughts and ideas. For now know that the light bulb may have finally come on inside my head and I am bubbling with enthusiasm to see how this chapter of my life (which is only just beginning) will unfold.

A few days ago I was sitting at the bus station and an old man, who was drunk, came up to me and proclaimed that Obama was a black man, And a President the world was in a good place. Then we walked off, and ran into the glass wall on his way out. I did very well not to laugh until I got into our van.

Its hard for me to watch kids with so much of their lives ahead of them wasting their time with drugs. But they've been smoking weed since they were 10... they aren't stopping now, not at 19 its not that easy. But I see them killing themselves and I want to shake them and push them out of this vicious cycle of poverty. If they do have kids and they continue with their lives as they are their kids will be in the exact same place they are now, and so will their grand-kids. And I don't see how the cycle ends. Its such an uphill battle for them, and the hill is steep, and hard to climb with no clear map. Their whole lives is such a foreign concept to me, they have seen and experience so much that I can't even imagine. I walk away from work every day thankful for the life I've been given, the education I've had, and the people surrounding me. I could have been born into poverty, but I wasn't and I'm thankful for that. And because of that I will spend my life doing what I can for those that have been born into a life of poverty.

there is never a dull moment when working with people

I'm coming to learn that there is truly never a dull moment when working with people, especially homeless and "street" youth. I confessed last time that I'm working on controlling myself and my dancing... I am proud to say that apple bottom jeans came on the radio yesterday and I contained myself very nicely.

I hope that I daily have a funny story and hopefully many success stories along the way. Today's story happened when we were transporting a few of our clients to the place they are staying currently. These guys have been joking with me for the past 2 weeks and introducing me to many new songs and telling me stories about themselves. All but one of them, he usually is passed out (sleeping) on the couch most of the day until its time to go. This young man, he's one of my favorites because he is usually so incredibly stoned that it takes him a minute to respond to anything you say to him, some times he just smiles and says "yeah" and nods his head as a response probably because he doesn't know what is going on, and he has a grill. He's really funny to interact with probably because he's always 'on' something. Today as he and his friends loaded onto the van he asked me if I preferred 'dark meat or white meat'. Now I am smarter than the average female that is new to working with youth on the street. So I knew he was not referring to actual meat. I have been blessed with the gift to think on my feet and I didn't want to actually answer the question so, I decided to see how long it would take him to realize what I was saying. As I mentioned above this kid has a grill so when he says 'dark' it sounds like "dog". So I begin to use the word 'Dog' and say that, 'No I don't like dog meat, you're crazy if you eat dog meat, etc'. Blah, blah, blah. 3 minutes later he still has not caught on and is trying to continue using the word meat thinking I don't know what 'meat' he is talking about. He is getting more and more convinced that this conversation is hilarious and that I don't have a clue. It was probably one of the funniest 5 minutes of my week. As he was getting out of the van one of the other people in the van finally caught on and announced the 'word confusion' to everyone. So I'm sure this will continue tomorrow. As he got out of the van he just smiled and said you're so funny, I'll see you tomorrow. Apparently that's the most he's talked to any of the Outreach workers (that's my job/team), about something other than what he needs for us to do for him and those are usually short conversations as well.

Don't blink or life will pass you by

It seems that life has been moving at the speed of light lately.

We've had some drama with the local gas company and our apartment complex which has meant that we haven't had heat or hot water for a week. Might I mention that it snowed this weekend. I can't get warm, ever. I'm currently sitting in front of a space heater.

I started my job yesterday. I still don't know what to think or if I'm going to enjoy this. I still have yet to do anything. I've sat and read articles, and a book about what I'll be doing, and case files, and I've observed what happens in the day shelter but have yet to do my job. I have met a lot of our clients and I LOVE it. it reaffirms that I want to do social work, however the law interest is also being reaffirmed because the only way I can make real change in a large number of people is working with policies and in Family Law.

I do have to wear a large T-shirt for my job, every day ... its a giant blue shirt. I am already frustrated by this t-shirt. (if you don't know this I absolutely HATE t-shirts, especially if they are too big). Part of how I express my sass is through what I'm wearing, so this is going to be even more of a challenge than I thought it was going to be.

I got an iPhone, it was my pick-me-up this weekend when I was shivering and thinking I was going to be a Popsicle by the end of the weekend. I love it. It is amazing. I already feel like there are things that are much smoother simply because I have my email on me at all times. Its strange. I think it will also be good considering my strange hours I'm going to be working. It is beautiful and in a pretty pink case and I'm still working on a name for it.

For the past two days as I sat in the shelter and read, and observed how things work, I have been introduced to so many "jams" and the sentence, "you heard this one miss tiff?" is constantly being yelled at me. I'm praying to Jesus that Apple Bottom Jeans doesn't come on at any point, I can't control myself when that song comes on, I just have to dance. I will obviously greatly embarrass myself if I do.

And now I'm off to make big kid decisions about health insurance and the like... weird. and I need to bum a shower off someone.