Post Meeting

Our new worker is a fresh face. I'm pretty sure that she's younger than both my husband and I, which means she's got to be early-twenties. I'm also guessing that she's extremely new to her job, because she didn't know a lot of the reasons behind why they needed certain information from us.

Here's one of the most frustrating parts of this paperwork part of the progress: they always need more, and you never just get one big list of what they need.

When our first (the one we had while we were still in class) worker gave us a pile of paperwork. On top of the paperwork was a checklist of things they'd need from us - basically anything that was in that pile that needed to be turned in, the classes we had to take, and the copies of our things (licences, insurance, fingerprints) they'd need.

Since then, we've been asked for several additional things that were never on that original list. I point of fact, my checklist is complete (as far as paperwork goes) but there's still more things I have to turn in.

Here's the list as it currently stands:
- Copy of my Drivers License (Emailing this to her today)
- Pet Vaccination Records for Jazz
- Sample Menu (NEW from worker 12/2) (Emailed worker to get this form)
- Vehicle Mechanical Check (NEW from worker 12/2) (Slightly annoyed about this requirement since I live in a state that does not require checks for vehicle licensing, so it's not something I have laying around, which means we have to spend time & money to get it done.)
- Copy of Taxes from this year or last year (NEW from worker 1/4) (depending on how long it takes us to get this year's done)

Then there's the classes that still remain:
- CPR & First Aid training (someplace that will give us a physical paper certificate when we finish training)
- 2 classes through the website (Matt's done one of these, I haven't done either, but I signed up for both of them yesterday.)

While she was here yesterday, we learned that she didn't know how many workers we'd already had. She has no clue why they want our taxes, only that they do. She informed us that the fingerprint records aren't actually for Foster Care, they're for the contracting company that does the safety walkthrough on the house (when we get to that part).

We also started what they call our "Family Assessment" which is a LONG talk about our individual families, history, childhoods, education - everything. It's supposed to give a more well-rounded look at how you're family relationships and own personal history has changed and influenced who you are today. The biggest problem doing this last night for both of us was that the questions are EXTREMELY vague.

"What are your values and beliefs?"
ABOUT WHAT? That's not a real question, though I have a feeling that there's a large sub-section of people out there with certain religious values, or "American" values that have no problem rattling off a list of generic values/beliefs. Now, if you ask me a specific question, I'll give you a better answer.

I'm also willing to assume that a more experienced worker would have a better idea of what kind of answers they're looking for and be able to ask more leading follow-up questions to get more specific answers out of people like me.

We got through the extreme mess that is my family and history, did a bit about our relationship and stuff as a couple, and then she quickly ran through the family and history questions for my husband - his is much easier to get through. According to the worker, we still have a bit more to get through. It took about an hour and a half last night, and we've probably got about an hour and a half of Q&A left to get through.

2011 is a New (and Different) Year (we hope)

Tomorrow, my husband and I have a meeting with our 4th Foster Care Worker. Fourth. It's a little disheartening that it's taken this long to get a meeting set-up with her. Especially after I emailed her three or four times in the process of transferring from our previous worker and verifying our to do list, and she never once emailed me back. She called like two weeks ago and only mentioned that she'd seen the emails after I prodded about them, but didn't give an excuse to why she hadn't been in touch sooner.

Anyway. So this means that we've got a worker that I'm already feeling a bit antagonistic against and we've still got outstanding paperwork to do. Paperwork and the 2 web classes we have to do are on tonight's agenda.

Here's the list as it stands, with notes:

- Paper with Dimension for the Bedroom, and the window in the bedroom
- Copies of Matt's Drivers License and Insurance, Copy of my Drivers License and Insurance (doing this now at work to take home)
- Pet Vaccination Records for Sekhi & Sebastian (the Cats), Piper & Jazz (the Dogs) (Found the cat's, still need Jazz's.)
- Emergency Contact List still needs a hospital phone number (I think?)
- 3 Paystubs to prove Matt's employment (he can print these out at work today)
- Marriage License (So much easier to find than I thought it'd be.)
- Sample Menu (NEW from worker 12/2) (I imagine this is going to be fairly easy, I'll have to print out the form the third worker sent us to find out what they really want to know.)
- Vehicle Mechanical Check (NEW from worker 12/2) (Slightly annoyed about this requirement since I live in a state that does not require checks for vehicle licensing, so it's not something I have laying around, which means we have to spend time & money to get it done.)

Then there's the classes that still remain:
- CPR & First Aid training (someplace that will give us a physical paper certificate when we finish training)
- 2 classes through the website (Matt's done one of these, I haven't done either. Should only take an hour or so for each. Will have to track down the links to the site.)

I have ONE goal for this year. And that's to finish this process - the whole thing. I want to be licensed before the end of 2011.

Reverb#10 - Days Five through Eight

I'm obviously horrible about posting these over the weekend or when I'm working elsewhere. I'm going to try and be better.

December 5 – Let Go. What (or whom) did you let go of this year? Why? (Author: Alice Bradley)

I'm not sure I succeeded (yet) but it's a work-in-progress to let go of needing to be needed. One of the things I know I struggle with is taking charge, making sure people check in with me, making sure that I know what's going on with people. In some situations, that's necessary, but I do it with friends, and in the past it's cost me friendships. Not everyone feels the same connections - where sometimes I feel like it's part of a good friendship, others might not see it the same way. It causes rifts, and I have to be wary of how much I try and involve myself. It's still instinctual for me to step in, make my help known...and I need to try and keep that in check.

December 6 – Make. What was the last thing you made? What materials did you use? Is there something you want to make, but you need to clear some time for it? (Author: Gretchen Rubin)

I'm always knitting. Right now, I'm working through my set of Christmas presents for family white elephant exchanges. I finished a really cozy pair of winter mittens. They turned out so well, I'm going to work on another pair for myself after Christmas.

December 7 – Community. Where have you discovered community, online or otherwise, in 2010? What community would you like to join, create or more deeply connect with in 2011? (Author: Cali Harris)

Everywhere. I found a lot of writing communities this year over on LiveJournal, and I want to keep that up in 2011 - with some better time balances. But community has been everywhere I've been this year, and it's been great. (Especially at gaming events like PAX East and PAX Prime.)

December 8 – Beautifully Different. Think about what makes you different and what you do that lights people up. Reflect on all the things that make you different – you’ll find they’re what make you beautiful. (Author: Karen Walrond)

Today on Facebook there's a meme going around where you give your friends a number and they use that number to post a message about you on their facebook page. I got two amazing ones today, and I'm going to use those because they've completely lifted my spirits.

‎-- a FANTASTIC woman that I adore. I want to hang out with you more, and I think our husbands could really get along too. You are super talented and sweet and SO much fun. I hope you're current issues with idiots brings you bundles of joy. You'd be GREAT at caring for them.

-- You are Alpha Female personified - you take no prisoners and you do it with a grin so that everybody is pretty much okay with it. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you in this next year as you navigate the changes ahead and hoping that it all comes out the way you want it.

Radvent 2010 - Day Eight

Day 8: Creating

Yesterday in the mail, I got a box from Amazon. Inside the box was the new book by Amy Sedaris - Simple Times: Crafts for Poor People. Okay, if you're familiar with Amy Sedaris, you'll know that it's just a big joke. The book is full of crazy crafts and ideas that are all meant to give you a chuckle. I absolutely love it. I'll read this one cover-to-cover just like I did her other book: I Like You: Hospitality Under the Influence.

Choose an object to symbolize your creativity and put it in a place you can see it every day.

Everyday when I get to work, I have three different notebooks with me. One of these is my creative note-taking notebook where I can jot down just any old thought that comes into my head. Usually, the notes are things I want to make, or need to do. Right now, I've got it out so I can go over all the Christmas gifts we're buying, or I'm making. It's a big list.

Sometimes it stays in my bag - on extremely busy days - but most days, it's out on my desk where I can see it. Just having it in my line of sight helps me trigger ideas that I need to be thinking about somewhere in the back of my mind. That way, later, when I actually need to work on it, my thoughts are a little more clear.

Radvent 2010 - Day Seven

Day Seven: Playing

I think I've got this one down. Between the video games, the board games, the card games and the shelves and shelves of RPG books, I think Matt and I have gaming COVERED.

Buy something interesting and inexpensive from the end-cap in the toy section. Get one for you and one to share.
Glittery Play-Doh! Hot pink playing cards! A tiny fishing game! Gyroscopes! Balsa wood airplanes!
Schedule 30 minutes to play.

One of the things we're looking forward to about having kids in the house is the ability to share our love of gaming pasttimes with kids. WE LOVE GAMES - reading, writing, playing: you name it, as long as it's gaming related.

Radvent 2010 - Day Six

Day Six: Adventure

I've been on a ton of adventures this year. For the first time ever, I went to Boston and met up with friends. I attended PAX East and recorded a podcast with friends.

Sometime early in the year, we were in St. Louis to visit family, and I got to visit the St. Louis Zoo one afternoon.

In August I went to GenCon with my husband and some of our friends. We'd been before, but I went into it with a much different attitude this year, and had a more relaxed time than I have in the past. While in Indianapolis I went with my friends to the Indy Zoo, which was a great time.

In September, Matt and I went to PAX Prime in Seattle. Met up with some more great friends, played some fun games, and stood in long lines. One night, we just chilled on a rooftop and watched commuter jets fly in with friends. Good times.

For Matt's birthday, we spent our Halloween afternoon at the Topeka, KS zoo - which we'd never been to.

If you haven't been able to tell - I <3 Zoos. I'd only ever been to one major Zoo (and one park/zoo) before this year. I turn into a five year old when I'm at the zoo - I get a little ADD (I want to see everything) and I talk to the animals (yes, I know they can't hear/understand me). So, in that sense I've been on some good adventures. I also got to meet some great friends this year.

Radvent 2010 - Day Five

Day Five: Playlist

(Backdated because I missed the weekend prompts due to teaching classes.)

Dude. I got this. I was planning on putting together a 2010 Playlist in January (and it will be epic. But for now, I'll give you a taste of what's going to be on there.

Write down the soundtrack of your year so far. Play it for someone who loves you.

1) Winter Song - Sara Bareilles & Ingrid Michaelson
This song is absolutely beautiful and conveys a sort of longing that I don't even understand how they put it in there. It's very surprising that I get this attached to a Christmas/Holiday/Seasonal type song. But for serious, you have to give it a listen.

2) Make it Rain - Anouk
To continue the sort of awesome female singer idea. I put this on a Fanmix I did earlier this year, and it's one of those songs that just sort of sticks with you (or it has for me).

3) Not Strong Enough - Apocalyptica
And now for the metal portion of our playlist. But it's metal with strings and well worth the listen, even if you're not a metal fan. Good stuff here.

4) Hurricane - 30 Seconds to Mars (feat. Kanye West)
Last one for now. A little Rock with some Kanye to close things out. This is another one I used for a fanmix this year, but absolutely fell in love with.

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I'll have more when I finish this year's playlist (in January). I'll try and remember to update this space then. :)