chassit: picture of a black kitten jumping on an orange kitten, from above! (Default)
So - all of the regular readers of my journal know that my Grandpa's in a nursing home for physical therapy right now, and most people that know me know I'm volunteering there. I figured it'd be an interesting enough post, and some people actually wanted to hear about it, so here we go!

When Grandpa first moved in there, the first time we went and stayed with him, I told Grandpa, Mom and Grandma that my legs were getting twitchy, so I was going to go for a walk to get a decent understanding of where everything was. Grandma told me not to bug anybody, and Mom told me to keep my phone on me, and I said yes to both but didn't quite follow the first one word for word.

So I got to stretch my legs and I figured out where everything was at, basically. The Lutheran home has one long hallway that branches out into others, with a nurse's station at the 'crossroads'. There's a large, lush green dining room with a piano, and there's a sitting room with a TV, as well as one that's connected to a little courtyard and has a swinging bench in it. In the room with the swinging bench there's beautiful dollhouses, and there's a stunningly beautiful bird cage - made of wood and glass, with little songbirds and a couple of doves. (Recently, a couple of birds had babies. I got to see three little fuzzy heads sticking out of a nest and begging for food, which they got.)

I got to the very front of the home, where most visitors enter, and saw a lady in a wheelchair next to the nursing station. She spotted me and asked "Do you work here?"

"Uh, no. What do you need?" I asked, completely breaking the promise into a thousand little shards, although she was the person who talked to me first.

"All I need is a push to the TV room. Can you do that for me?"

There were no nurses around at that time, and I figured I could do that and not get in too much trouble. So I took the handles of the wheelchair and we went along, talking a little bit. I told her my name, she told me her name was Alice. We went to a couple of different rooms, and we went to the TV room and sat down. One of the ladies there (who I guessed - correctly - worked there) looked at me after we said hi and said "Are you a relation of hers?"

My response was as follows: "... Uh. I can be if it gets me out of trouble."

After a few minutes of giggling, another employee said "You know, I think you'd make a good volunteer."

Before I left, I said I'd ask Mom about it, and I did - Mom and Grandma said they didn't have a problem with it, so the next time I went I picked up a sign up sheet and I filled everything out. After that I had a snazzy red vest with "Volunteer" on the back and permission to wander around and talk to people. (I've done more than that, I've helped pick up finished meal trays and helped with Bingo.)

For the most part, it's awesome. I made friends with a lady who's ninety six years old when I was looking for the cat that lived there (yes, they have a cat there. There's a dog that lives with its owner, although I haven't seen the dog in a bit). A lot of the time, we sit and watch Judge Judy and gossip about the people on the show. Also, I have come to the realization that old ladies always think you need to eat something. Some of the ladies really appreciate me hanging out with them, and I guess it makes me feel like I'm making a difference, even if it's not a big one.

And of course, sometimes it sucks. Sometimes a person won't remember you, and you know the reason why. Or you can't understand somebody, and you hate the fact you can't really have a conversation with them because of that. Or hearing a lady say "I want to go home" and threaten to break the fingers of a nurse when they try taking her back to her room (it's worse if you've had a conversation with her when she was lucid, and she said "I just met you and I love you."). Also trying to beat feet past the Casanova of the nursing home without trying to obviously do it is difficult, but hey.

Generally I end up talking to my Mom about my day, because chances are something new will have happened and generally it's good. Sometimes it's a mixed bag.

One day I had dinner with one of my friends, Alice. She said she couldn't eat all of her food, so did I want some? I am not good at saying no, and she was already cutting the sandwich in half. I asked a nurse about it and she said this one time it was okay. (The next time Alice offered me half a sandwich, I was able to turn it down, partly because I told her that I was going to have dinner with my Grandma after we left.)

And then there's days like today, when you hear a lady screaming to be taken home and it's really heartbreaking. But then you meet a lady and you talk with her a little bit, and all she really wants to do is sit and hold your hand and talk about the birds.

So I guess that's my first post on the whole volunteering thing. It won't be my last, but I wanted to get out a good, kinda serious post about it first. I'll probably put up more talking about random encounters, like the one I had with the Casanova of the place. But that's a story for another time.
chassit: picture of a black kitten jumping on an orange kitten, from above! (Default)
Grandpa is in the hospital. We went to see him yesterday and today. The nurses have been regularly checking on him, taking his sugar, stuff like that. Last night he was hallucinating a little - we think because of the meds - and he was thinking he was home at times, and other times he thought there were paintings on the walls and that stuff was moving... When we visited him today, he didn't remember it at all.

I left the room a couple of times, partly because once he was having a test done, and another time because Mom wanted a pop. So I went to the cafeteria and got them sodas, and once I ended up helping a lady get her lunch. She was absolutely tiny, smaller than Grandma. She said she'd keep Grandpa and my family in her thoughts and prayers, and I thanked her.

Mom is thinking about getting intermittent family leave, and if she does it might help. I've got my phone right near me in case Grandma calls so I can call up Mom.

I'm just worried and tired, and I know I won't be napping at all. I might try to play relaxing games or something. I'm just... yeah.
chassit: picture of a black kitten jumping on an orange kitten, from above! (Default)
Highlights of yesterday:

- peaceful highway
- seeing Lansing Skyscrapers
- signing in
- getting a sign
- getting a clipboard to help people sign in
- "Semper Fi"
- "Here's my card."
- 1950's styled diner
- Hippie Hash
- "Your reaction to that was awesome."

Downpoints of yesterday:

- Waking up really early
- "I'm supposed to feel my toes, right?"
- "Grandpa's in the hospital, but he should be out tomorrow."

Will say more tomorrow. Won't be terribly good at writing about it right now.
chassit: picture of a black kitten jumping on an orange kitten, from above! (Default)
I've been terribly lax on writing in this thing. But I know I should at least make a Christmas post.

It's snowy out, and dark and cold, but in the daytime when the sun is actually out, it's sparkling and beautiful. Mom and I have been mostly staying home, sleeping and playing with the dog, but we have gone to a few places - I've gotten into Geocaching, and have found three caches. It's really fun, and I took one thing and left another, but didn't in another one. It's really fun - I mean, you're finding hidden treasure. What's not to love?

Tomorrow it's Christmas. I'm not getting a lot but it'll still be good. The dog might even get a gift, for all I know. Grandpa and Grandma do like the red mutt.

I have to go soon, so I'm just going to end it here and just say Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all of you.
chassit: picture of a black kitten jumping on an orange kitten, from above! (Default)
Where I'm at, it's Thanksgiving. So here's my post for it.

I'm thankful for my family who is the best, who accept me for who I am, who accept my friends, who support me and my Mom and family. I'm thankful for my friends who love me and talk to me at stupid o' clock in the morning, who help me write and help me feel better when the walls are closing in. I'm thankful for my home and my computer and all my books and iPod, and I know that my life is pretty damn awesome.

Happy Thanksgiving, everybody.
chassit: picture of a black kitten jumping on an orange kitten, from above! (Default)
LESS THAN A DAY. LESS THAN A DAY. LESS THAN A DAAAAAAAYYY

I'm flailing and giggling and yaaaaay! I'm seriously happy about this. We're packing and stuff right now, and I'm packing clothes. We've already gotten the snacks in the car, we've got the pills and stuff packed, we've gotten the pop and coffee and gaaaaah so excited.

Going to bring coffee to enable Rey, going to bring books to enable Shad, which reminds me - I need to ask y'all what books you have and what you don't, 'cause I'm totally up for giving you good books I like.

Bwheeeeee soooooo exciiiiteeed. When we're done, we're walking the dog so that he's good and tired tonight, and so we are, too. We're waking up at Ungodly o' clock in the morning tomorrow, so yeah.

I'm tempted to look on the internet to see if there are any tacky americana type road stops along the way, because what good is a road trip without those?

SO FREAKING HYPED.
chassit: picture of a black kitten jumping on an orange kitten, from above! (Default)
So, spring break is fast approaching, and Mom and I discussed if we wanted to do anything over it. Someone brought up seeing Bridgie and the Loony-bin, I don't remember if it was Mom or me, but I was all for it. (I might end up missing Steam Con, but if it comes down to it, I'd rather hang out with my friends than go to SteamCon.)

Anyway, I called up die krazy haus and talked to them, and guess who I'm going to visiiiiittt.

I'm all excited about this. I'm trying to stay calm because I know if I'm excited, the days will drag by.

Anyway, today was pretty good! I have work I gotta do, and I am.... procrastinating, but hey I'm working on it D:

You'll probably get little posts like this for the next couple of weeks.
chassit: picture of a black kitten jumping on an orange kitten, from above! (Default)
Today was really awesome. Dresden came with us to Grandma's house, and he was a very good boy. Anyway, here's the haul -

New Pajamas, which I'm now wearing
Socks
More Socks
Legsocks
A Coat
BOSE NOISE CANCELLATION HEADPHONES omg
A new iPod, which was really awesome, because my old one was getting kinda wonky. I plugged in my new iPod, and - my old one was halfway full, almost. Now? This one? NOT EVEN A QUARTER. IT ROCKS.

I got a couple of gift cards, too, one for my iTunes and two for my eReader, which rocks. I'm already thinking of CDs and stuff to get.

So, today? Was awesome. Oh yeah.
chassit: picture of a black kitten jumping on an orange kitten, from above! (Default)
HAPPY THANKSGIVING, EVERYBODY!

Mom and I are considering going to a Black Friday sale just for shits and giggles.

Also, we're going to be doing stuff for 1984 in AP class. I sort of know some of the answers to the study questions, but I think I'll write them on the computer so that I can get some of them done, and ask the other kids what they think.

I had a delicious Thanksgiving lunch today. Mmm. Oh yeah.

Also, I think I did pretty decent on my final exams. The DNA test wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. So that was good. Astronomy, I think I did pretty good on. *nod*
chassit: picture of a black kitten jumping on an orange kitten, from above! (Default)
Did a lot of shopping today! I'll have to take a few pictures of me in my new clothes. I kind of like them.

I got a pair of Sketch-ups, Fitness, which should help me lose weight and stuff. I got a pair of steampunk-y boots, but they're being ordered, since the only ones in that size that were in the store were grey, and I liked the black ones more.

Also -

'I Know I'm
Not Normal'

At 13, Andrea Struggles to Overcome
Autism's Grip: Tactic That's Helping

First faux pas - saying 'struggling to overcome Autism's Grip', like Autism is a scaaaarrry monster that will steal your kid away. We get that enough, kthx.

Second faux pas - 'An estimated 1 in 150 American children has some form of autism. There's no known cure.'

This makes it seem like autism is a disease and that is the easiest freaking way to make an autistic person want to let the air out of your tires. Swear to god.

Anyway. Need to tag people and write a lot.

Also, go tell my Mom happy birthday - she's one year older!
chassit: picture of a black kitten jumping on an orange kitten, from above! (Default)
*ahem*

WE'RE GOING TO GREENFIELD VILLAGE ON SATURDAY!

Omg I'm already excited. <3
chassit: picture of a black kitten jumping on an orange kitten, from above! (Default)
So, today I went to the coffee shop, and I listened to some music. The singer turned out to be a pastor, although he had a sense of humor. When I was there I got to see a relative of mine - the lady that was the mom of my namesake. We chatted, and she had two other ladies with her. It was fun, gossiping. Grandma and Grandpa and I might go to a family renunion in August. I know most of Grandma's family - but not a lot of Grandpa's.

Dresden will also run next to a bike! That makes me happy.

Also, Grandma and Grandpa are talking about taking me to Greenfield village. Despite a lot of Henry Ford's personal FAIL, he still did quite a few good things.
chassit: picture of a black kitten jumping on an orange kitten, from above! (Default)
So, yeah, final exams are coming up. These are the first of 'em I've ever had. So a bit nervous.

We got some graded papers back, and I got good grades mostly, but some were depressing. (Given that I'm a perfectionist, anything below an A is depressing. Especially in a class I like.)

Gonna take a nap, and then Grandma is apparently going to kidnap me and take me to Sears to get me shorts and stuff. Maybe I can convince her to get me the new Tori CD, or at least a copy of Soldiers of Halla.

TVTropes is giving me Ideas. I kinda like it. :D

On Writing... I still don't have a style yet. Part of me wants to be snarky and funny, but some of me wants to be serious, but... I don't know. Nnngh.

Nap now.

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