What's the latest in people's lives?

[Captain Seafort]

Given the state of the place you work in, I very much doubt that "not doing something wrong" would produce such good results.

[Sonic Glitch]

Well, I guess it was only a matter of time. We already have the Instant Rimshot and the Sad Trombone which have proved useful in our discussions, a friend of mine just showed me this Noo! which may prove just as useful.

Cheer's.

[Captain Seafort]

[Deepcrush]

Given the state of the place you work in, I very much doubt that "not doing something wrong" would produce such good results.

Half the kids here just need someone to tell them "you can do this". They doubt themselves so much. Then there are just the ones who wouldn't even make good fodder. It makes me really proud to see these kids turn themselves around. I won't take credit for it, though I do have to admit I like the feeling that I was a part of the turn around. I'm getting two more kids to my case load. One who has a violence problem, the other is just a bit out there... as in he just randomly changes what he's doing. With God on my side and a bit of luck, or a lot of luck, I'm hoping for the same progress with them that I've seen out of my other students.

On that note, have a new kid who's decided he wants to fight me. Or at least he's saying he does. Since a five foot tall, fifty year old woman was enough to stop him today. I feel the need to question his will for a stand up fight. Means I'll be keeping my eyes open for an ambush from him. He's a rather large kid, easily my size which means a fight will be messy. The dealings with kids my size or larger are always messy deals. The problem being that I haven't lost yet, and whats worse is I can't afford to lose. So long as they believe they can't hurt me or beat me they tend to stay in the "trash talk but run away" mode. Hopefully I won't get another broken rib. Acting tough and causal with a broken rib is a much tougher task then I thought it would be.

[Tsukiyumi]

...Acting tough and causal with a broken rib is a much tougher task then I thought it would be.

No joke.

[RK_Striker_JK_5]

I've been asked to join a mentoring program at work. I've had two students request me by name, one of which I thought hated me.

That actually speaks quiute highly of your effectiveness.

And Sonic... never heard the trombone one used here.

[Deepcrush]

That actually speaks quiute highly of your effectiveness.

I'd like to think so. Since only one in three of our program succeed in completing High School. I think my effectiveness will be proven best by surpassing those numbers.

[RK_Striker_JK_5]

Just got a call from my father. My grandmother passed away in her sleep last night. I... might not be on too much the next week.

I was pretty close to her. We'd go visit her, help her clean her house. She was independent until December of 2006, when a nasty bout of pneumonia finally forced her to enter a nursing home. We made sure it was a good one, though. On Thanksgiving, we didn't have turkey. Well, we did, but in sliced form for submarine sandwiches. I liked the meatball ones.

Now she's with her husband. He passed on before I was even born and was a tank commander in WW II Europe. *Salutes*

[Mark]

Well, its good to hear your making a difference, Jason. Me, I'm getting discouraged. The last "class" of addicits that I've been working with is running a 100% relapse rate so far, and its discouraging. As I'm supposed to be teaching them Relapse Prevention, it feels like I'm failing bigtime. But this group just WILL NOT LISTEN! I had one idiot last week tell the class "I've been clean for five months now. I KNOW what I need to do to stay clean." I asked what that was..... he looked at me blankly and said "Not get high."

He was loaded for aftercare 8 days after graduation.

[Deepcrush]

As long as my students believe I'm an inhuman machine that cares nothing for pain, excuses, lies and complaints. They perform very well. Even had one girl who wouldn't stop working on her classwork because she was afraid I'd walk in and catch her. Had two other boys inform a councilor that they are personally afraid of me which is why they behave. One of them I did put into a wall though, so for that one its understandable.

[Tsukiyumi]

Just got a call from my father. My grandmother passed away in her sleep last night. I... might not be on too much the next week.

I was pretty close to her. We'd go visit her, help her clean her house. She was independent until December of 2006, when a nasty bout of pneumonia finally forced her to enter a nursing home. We made sure it was a good one, though. On Thanksgiving, we didn't have turkey. Well, we did, but in sliced form for submarine sandwiches. I liked the meatball ones.

Now she's with her husband. He passed on before I was even born and was a tank commander in WW II Europe. *Salutes*

My heartfelt condolences, Striker.

[Sionnach Glic]

Damn. My sympathies, Striker.

[Tyyr]

Well, turns out my great grandmother has cancer, lymphoma. Doctor's don't know what kind though and to even fully diagnose it they'd have to open her up to get a biopsy. 86 Year old women with congestive heart failure, bone marrow failure, and numerous other health problems don't have a spectacular survival rate for surgery (~60% was the best the doctor would give), much less recovery and eventually maybe chemo and radiation treatments. After talking with her yesterday she's pretty much decided that she's not going to have the surgery and therefore not going to do chemo or radiation either.

She's tough, she's lived with congestive heart failure for over a decade, almost 15 years when the average survival post diagnosis is about a year. Hell, her bone marrow hasn't made red blood cells in over a year. We've often joked with her that she's just too mean to die. At this point things are piling up though and while her will is as strong as ever it looks like her body finally can't keep up with it. It's a pity because we're close. She's lived to see four more generations of her family though. Just last year we got all the female members of her line together for a shot. Everyone from her to my year old daughter at the time. Said that made her happy to get to see all the girls together like that. I'm hoping we get in one more picture like that with my next daughter.

[Lighthawk]

Damn, not a good time for the old ladies. Striker, Tyyr, my condolences to you both.

[Reliant121]

Indeed, Condolences to the both of you.