jencaro

jencaro @ 2007-09-22T10:34:00

2007-09-22T15:55:48Z

It's been forever and a day since I posted but just for giggles, I thought I'd break the silence.

Mainly so I could tell the sad tale of my no good, rotten, horrible week. The high points are as follows:

1. One of my patients became incredibly psychotic in record time leading to his literally taken to the hospital kicking and screaming. I attempted to get an emergency detention order which was botched because the commitment clerk decided not to fax the order to the county judge to be blessed because the patient was on campus in the appropriate building, simply refusing to go upstairs. Apparently, she believes legalities no longer apply once you step foot on VA grounds. News to me but I will take it under advisement.

2. I decided to experiment in delegating tasks this week since I've been increasingly stressed out as I attempt to juggle my roles as program manager/psychologist/casemanager/clerical support. I gave the job of purchasing supplies for the program to one of my minions who seemed vaguely trustworthy. Instead, she proceeded to purchase $200 worth of movie passes by mistakenly writing a check for $2600, thus bankrupting the program in one fell swoop.

3. I discovered one of my case-managers is going around telling her patients not to talk to the rest of us. No word on why she found this necessary since she also declined to come to work the majority of this week.

4. The program apparently will have to change offices again, a fact I discovered when maintenance came by to change the locks on our offices. No word on where we are going. Ironically, we just moved a few months ago to make room for the new research goddess. Unfortunately, said goddess was not satisfied by taking over our former suite and now insists she needs the entire floor for her nonexistent staff. For further irony, the VA campus is full of empty buildings but office space remains an issue.

5. We were supposed to get a 'performance award' for all of our hard work this year. Today I discovered an extra $52 dollars in my paycheck. Hopefully, that wasn't it.

Thus I end the week head of a tattered band of bankrupt nomads.

Inspiration in the form of shoes

2006-10-03T00:05:20Z

Today I invested in running shoes. I say invested because they were not cheap. Not cheap at all. But after thumbing through photos from last year, I've observed I was much more svelte then. I think the current state of affairs can be directly attributed to the fact my very favorite thing about Dallas was all the fabulous restaurants.

I do not foresee the same difficulties here, hence the inspiration, the outlay of capital and the grandiose new goals for self improvement.

Now I just have to leave the apartment......... tomorrow.

I actually got to interact with veterans today. This is noteworthy as my current job involves a whole lot of nothing. I have the distinct impression that while everyone was quite excited to have a psychologist on staff, no one had actually thought through what one might ask the psychologist to do. But today, I got to talk to all sorts of grumpy middle aged men so am feeling much better.

jencaro @ 2006-09-05T21:27:00

2006-09-06T02:39:43Z

This is my fifth night in Waco and there's a whole lot of nothing going on. I foresee a pattern here.

It is so damn quiet here, it's freaking me out. Where are the sirens? The shrieks from downstairs? The incessant trains?

For tonight's festivities, I was ambitious and decided to set up my new,improved, speedier than light DSL connection. This was all well and good until I discovered that the nearest phone jack to the computer didn't work. Undaunted, I decide to move the computer desk to be near a working jack. Until....... crash and my computer desk was no more. Yes, that's right. It was not up to the task of rolling across the carpet laden with computer monitor and now lies in pieces. I will give it a proper burial tomorrow. Meanwhile, the cats are enjoying the computer being at their eye level as is proper.

Today was my first day in new employee orientation, my third VA employee orientation in as many years. Maren_fic will appreciate how ghastly this truly is. Featured today were lectures from safety and infection control otherwise known as tales of death and pestilence. Who knew the horrors that awaited the unwary in the Waco VA? But now I know, those who roam its halls are only a heartbeat away from destruction. Good to know.

In a interesting touch, they showed us 20 minutes of Saving Private Ryan. This was to educate us on what it would be like to be a veteran.

moving woes

2006-08-17T12:11:03Z

I hate moving so. I've moved to active avoidance part of the packing phase, realizing if I put everything in boxes I'll have to come to terms which just how much crap I've got. It's best not to know, in my opinion. 11 days and counting until the movers are scheduled to come.

Today will be the 2nd day of 106 degrees and above. I would like a moratorium on weather forecasts from now on. If the weatherpeople haven't got anything nice to say, they shouldn't say anything at all. Denial all around.

jencaro @ 2006-08-01T07:17:00

2006-08-01T12:27:42Z

I have much news.

1) I have a job!!! With the VA, too!! I'm very excited about the non destitution awaiting me.

2) I'm moving to Waco or Wacko as someone reminded me recently. I am not sure how I feel about that but surely anything is better than Dallas. Surely.

3) Soon I will be 30. As of Saturday, I will no longer be in my 20s. This feels momentous to me.

In lesser news, I've been gone so long from lj I forgot my password. Musn't do this again.

I recently had a fun-filled and occassionally drunken weekend with maren_fic!

I'm very obsessed with 'so you can dance' but not enough to bother to vote. I was also obsessed with project runway until nbc preempted it with reruns of hell's kitchen. Damn you, nbc. And damn you,comcast for not carrying bravo.

And finally, a question for the ages. Why does ben & jerry's never taste as good as I think it will?

jencaro @ 2006-08-01T07:16:00

2006-08-01T12:17:17Z

You Are An ISTJ

The Duty Fulfiller

You are responsible, reliable, and hardworking - you get the job done.
You prefer productive hobbies, like woodworking or knittings.
Quiet and serious, you are well prepared for whatever life hands you.
Conservative and down-to-earth, you hardly ever do anything crazy.

You would make a great business executive, accountant, or lawyer.

What's Your Personality Type?

I do not woodwork. I do not knit.

Flatline

2006-06-22T12:21:03Z

Yesterday I ran about from 8-12 working working working and then nothing........ complete flatline. All the veterans ran away.

Then I discovered archives at television without pity. In other words, I've found a new major timesucker. Just try and make me work, oh VA. I dare you.

Studying again

2006-06-21T12:16:04Z

This weekend heralded the beginning of buckling down yet again to study for the oral exams. Mostly, I feel like I can chatter about clinical issues without much preparation but herein lies the frightening possibility they may ask me about children. I avoid children, clinically and prefer it that way. Ask me about treating the middle aged veteran. This I know.

And here's a question for the masses. How many phone books does one girl need? You might say one, maybe two. The city of Dallas disagrees with you and has determined that the proper number of phone books for one woman is six. I came home yesterday to another one which I'm currently ignoring. I hope someone will happen by and decide that another phone book is just the thing. I suspect this is a futile hope.

Today will be the third day running where I get to work and immediately have to start working. I disapprove of this trend, prefering to reserve the hour between 8-9 for drinking copious amounts of coffee.

I just ordered a big box of books from Amazon. One book purports to be about a man who chose to walk across Afghanistan on foot. Am very curious about why one would do such a thing.

Father's day shopping

2006-06-15T12:15:14Z

True to form, my father has proved virtually impossible to shop for, with his tendencies of requesting out-of-print books and such. But I've done it, successfully finding what he wanted and was very proud.

Until I got the father's day card section and am confronted by cards in the shape of umbrellas, hawaiaan shirts, shovels and ties. Cards about golfing, cards about fishing, cards about sailing...... Cards that insult his memory and his age. I can't believe this is what Hallmark has to offer as an image of masculinity and appropriate father's day cards. I finally ended up with a card, decorated with a leaf motif. Because nothing says 'dad' like leaves and a strategically placed lady bug.

a good use of network time

2006-06-13T12:14:46Z

What I've feared has come to pass - the VA has cut me off from live journal asserting that lj is not a good use of network time.

I beg to differ.

There's no work to be had this week so why shouldn't I entertain myself as I please?

And I wonder what is a good use of network time. So far, I have determined that the following sites are apparently still a 'good use of network time':
1. updates for the Bold and the Beautiful
2. Amazon
3. television without pity
4. entertainment weekly
5. lostpedia

I question your judgement, oh VA.

So I'm back to firing up the old computer here at home. Hello, old friend!

Bereft

2006-06-06T19:40:22Z

My email account still won't send emails. *pouts* I feel cut off.

I didn't sleep well last night due to having a wasp in my apartment. I'm really scared of flying things that could bite me and it took a sizeable amount of time before I decided to brave trying to kill it. Naturally, it crawled into a light fixture at this juncture. I'd hoped it would die in the night of starvation but no such luck. It's probably waiting for me now.

Bored I am

2006-06-05T20:35:15Z

My gmail account isn’t sending out emails and the southwest airlines site crashed on me just as I was contemplating the visiting of maren_fic. I feel like the VA is trying to tell me something….

Maybe something about actually working on government time versus abusing my internet privileges but surely not.

I had my very first job interview last week! Away from DFW I go! Maybe. *crosses fingers*

Victory is mine.

2006-05-26T21:22:07Z

I have passed test o'doom.

Ritual burning of study materials will commence.

Yay!!!

Very appropriate

2006-05-22T21:23:21Z

Your Ideal Pet is a Cat

You're both aloof, introverted, and moody.
And your friends secretly wish that you were declawed!

What's Your Ideal Pet?

I have three!

For want of a red plug

2006-05-17T15:25:18Z

The powers that be have announced they are turning off the power tomorrow to prepare us for 'emergency disaster training'. According to the powers that be, we are in fact actually to continue working in the dark sans documentation of patient contact and/or waiting at the gazebo for further instructions as appropriate. However, if you have a special red plug in your office, you will continue to have power. I do not have a special red plug. I am then compelled then to work in the dark ( i.e. leave early). Am stricken.

It's very quiet here today because they've taken all the patients fishing far far away. I wish to run down the hall shouting 'yay' but feel this would be inappropriate, professionally speaking. I am gleeful inside.

In other news, we have come to that sad time of year when there will no longer be anything to watch on television. Last night, I lowered myself to watch 'Pepper Dennis' and was cursing that decision about 15 minutes in as show is devoid of humor, character development, storyline and appears to have not-so-subtle anti-feminist overtones (I speak of the subplot that pitted attractive, unattached woman against bitter, unattractive single mother back from maternity leave for same job. Predictably we are assured of who really deserved the job (hint: it isn't the one who dared to take maternity leave).

In praise of parsimony

2006-05-12T21:03:10Z

It's the end of a long, cold day in which the VA is trying to freeze all of mental health in a diabolic plan to reduce costs by inducing frostbite in employees. I'm now reading an assessment report written by my trainee for a patient which was really good until the end where she assigned seven mental health diagnoses. Seven! Nobody has that many problems and if by chance they do, there's a place for them and it's not as an outpatient. In the name of parsimony, no! My soul hurts at the very idea of seven diagnoses. She must be stopped.

I hate giving negative feedback. *sigh*

jencaro @ 2006-05-04T09:31:00

2006-05-04T14:35:33Z

Today's commute was at a ghastly snail's pace. And of course, dallas traffic reporters fail to mention my route as they discuss daily gridlock. I need them to validate my pain.

I have many comments on last night's Lost but in deference to those of you who have given up on the show, I will keep it short and only ask if others have noticed that for the female characters on the show, having sex (or a budding relationship) equals death?

The next big thing

2006-05-01T21:22:33Z

EPPP is done and gone. But not forgotten.

And now we move on to the next big thing: Finding a job for next year. This involves sending out emails of inquiry to prospective employers which I hate. Loathe.

I feel like a little piece of my soul dies each time I have to write one. I feel so smarmy writing about how interested I am in their facility when I’m not. I don’t care. I am, however, very interested in being paid. I’m extremely interested in maintaining a roof over my head. I like eating and would prefer to continue doing so.

This is authentic, but highly unlikely to lead to prospective employment. So I smarm away.

Work is so boring

2006-04-25T21:28:42Z

snagged from adriana_is
"A to Z" Meme

Accent: I like to think I don’t have one. Hopefully, that’s true.

Booze: Margaritas, gin and tonic, dirty martini

Chore I Hate: I hate to vacuum.

Dog or Cat: Cats! I have three. But I like dogs too.

Essential Electronics: cell phone, car, dvd

Favorite Cologne(s): not really a perfume girl

Gold or Silver: Silver.

Hometown: Victoria, TX

Insomnia: only test o’doom induced

Job Title: Psychology Fellow

Kids: None

Living arrangements: apartment

Most admirable trait: wry sense of humor

Number of sexual partners: Not going to tell you

Overnight hospital stays: ear infection at three years old

Phobias: cockroaches

Quote: ?

Religion: Protestant but I don’t attend

Siblings: one sister

Time I wake up: 6 am

Unusual talent or skill: ?

Vegetable I refuse to eat: Lima beans

Worst habit: Avoidance of anxiety provoking things

X-rays: Yes.

Yummy foods I make: oatmeal chocolate chip cookies and lots more! I love to cook.

Zodiac sign: Leo

It is done.

2006-04-25T21:05:57Z

The test o’doom has been taken.

Now we wait.

May 18th is approximately when I should receive my results. Either I celebrate or I jump out my office window because I’m not doing it again.

jencaro @ 2006-04-24T09:08:00

2006-04-24T14:08:35Z

You scored as Old School Democrat. Old school Democrats emphasize economic justice and opportunity. The Democratic ideal is best summarized by the Four Freedoms: freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear.

</td>

Old School Democrat

75%

New Democrat

75%

Green

70%

Libertarian

55%

Foreign Policy Hawk

45%

Socially Conservative Republican

15%

Pro Business Republican

15%

What's Your Political Philosophy?
created with QuizFarm.com

jencaro @ 2006-04-24T08:44:00

2006-04-24T13:44:20Z

You Are 56% Girly

You're a little girly, a little boyish, and probably a whole lot indie.
You have your own unique style, and it pretty much defies gender lines.

How Girly Are You?

test o'doom

2006-04-04T18:43:06Z

Ever heard of the approach/avoidance gradient? Due to my handy-dandy test o’doom study materials, I now know this is me. Test o’doom is imminent – next week in fact. The closer test o’doom looms, the more avoidant I become. Last night, I watched ‘Wife Swap’ which others may easily identify as a cry for help. There is no redeeming social value to this show. I can’t deconstruct it in anyway that makes me feel better for watching it. There are no rationalizations persuasive enough. It was only a sick, sick means of avoiding test o’doom and all it implies. Who knows what I’ll watch next. Re-runs of Baywatch? There’s no telling how low I’ll go.

My handy-dandy test o’doom study materials also tell me that the more I suffer (i.e. study broken up with moments of sheer panic), the more positively I’ll rate my test o’doom experience. I’m still waiting for this to happen.

Still waiting…………

Any minute now.

Some days it is better just not to show up

2006-04-03T15:45:12Z

This is one of those days. I left my apartment early this morning because I had an eight o'clock appointment, needed gas (which by the way is $2.66!!!), and had to run by the post office. Traffic was slow but I still managed to get here around 8:05. I'm never here this early. I got to park in the special lot with all the other people who get here on time. Usually I'm here around 8:15 but today of all days after I raced to get here on time, two things happen:

a) I'm greeted by one of the interns with 'running late today?" I visualize strangling her with the ties of the anorak she's decided to wear even though it's supposed to be 80 degrees today.

b) Patient calls at 8:22 to tell me he's not coming

There's just no point. None at all. I should just stay home and read all day.

There is more to report. I did not realize the time changed yesterday. I went to one movie theatre for the 2:50 showing of Slither when it was 3:50 for the rest of the world. Instead of breaking it to me gently, the cashier told me it was a misprint in the newspaper. I found this odd, noting that it was posted on the sign as 2:50 but went on my merry way to another movie theatre. Not to be denied a viewing of Slither am I. So I make my way to Valley View thinking I could shop a little until the movie started. But lo and behold there was a 3:10 showing and according to my watch it was 3:00, so I went up to the counter and asked for a ticket to the 3:10 at what the rest of the world including the cashier knew as 4:10. But he grinned and sold it to me anyway. (So much for the good of mankind, say I.) But I still didn't realize what was going on until I walked into the theatre and the movie was already going on. I had to find a manager (after several conversations with teenaged employees who found me very amusing) to replace my ticket with a later showing.

So, after all that Slither was okay. It was very amusing in some places - other places it was kind of juvenile which fit with the audience of teenaged boys I found myself with. Nathan Fillion was very good and probably would have been even better with superior material.

jencaro @ 2006-03-31T10:31:00

2006-03-31T16:31:36Z

I spent all week working on my first application to a real VA job. This process involved writing extended answers essay questions - shades of college applications much? I've completely neglected studying for test o'doom which is imminent. Imminent, I tell you!

I've descended to watching Supernatural and was rewarded by gratuitous shot of one of our pretty boy main leads in a towel dripping wet. Squee! However, I feel compelled to mention that Richardson, TX where last night's episode took place is not that rural. In fact, while it is the home of many used car lots and a significant number of strip malls, it suffers from a profound lack of lonely wooded areas for our boys to frolic in.

Many of Dallas high school students have been protesting with abandon this week. I was feeling all pleased contemplating a passionate soon-to-be electorate campaigning for the disenfranchised until the voice of doom sounded from a co-worker who opined that they just wanted to get out of school. I feel disillusioned.