"We joked & laughed & outlawed..."

Well friends... today was a roller coaster of a Wednesday.

My co-worker, Michelle, told me she ran into my old boss today (who I just love) and she thanked her for letting them have me and that she could tell I was really going to be a good fit. At Day 8, that's really encouraging.

Then she took me to a collaborative staff meeting where all the service providers for one family get together when they're at their wits end to figure out their next move. They're rarely called to this degree (8 providers present) and I'm so glad I went because I learned a LOT but it was a case I used to do visits for at Child Guidance and I didn't notice until it was over that I had been sitting there with tears in my eyes.  The bizarre complexities of this particular case was something straight out of a Criminal Minds episode...only people watch that for entertainment while children in real life are living it.  It was overwhelming.  I was assured after the fact that this was NOT what I should be expecting from cases in the future- that's why the meeting was called- because it was so unusual. But still. Mercy.

I did some retail therapy after. My co-worker, Jamie said she heard through the grapevine that the Limited was having a BOGO on pants, just tonight! I get there and they were having a BOGO on everything! I have to tell you...shallow as it is...I was happy to end my day on that note. Just today.

I rushed back from Jax, bought chili fixin's on the way, threw it together while I tried to frantically work on my massive presentation due this weekend...but that was a big fail.  Then my friend Tori stopped by and painted my nails, just to be nice.  She also blew dry my hair for me so I wouldn't mess them up which I have to admit, was like an early birthday present.  I almost fell asleep standing up. I'm like a dog. Pet me and I can't move.  So then I thought, what I can I do for a few more minutes that won't mess up my nails? I can type. So here I am: 12:03...two hours past my goal bedtime. I'm getting progressively worse.

So...I shall leave you with this. My friend Levent texted me this poem today (we'll say it was a birthday kindness) with the disclaimer that he had happened upon it and altered some of it to fit his liking (the questionable integrity of this is something we debated over for a moment or two.)  I googled it so I could include the author with no results to be found...which causes me to wonder if he wrote it himself and is just a big fat liar.  I like it because it's whimsical and sad at the same time and I appreciate things that can be both. The last line is my favorite. Enjoy.

Night night.
Caitlin

PS I considered including the picture he sent in the name of birthday giving...but I shall not...lest he be embarrassed.

I think I used to be sailor. 
No! A pirate! Yeaa man! 
That's what I was. 
A pirate. 
And I was driven away from my home and thrown into the sea one night by a mob who yelled
and screamed 
and pounded on tin cans 
alrighty-o. 
So, 
I gradually learned geographies of water and got me a crew that worked with me and not for me- 
I was a pretty easy goin' guy you see -
And I rolled merchants and their load 
"I'm only taking a fraction of what you have taken from me!"
I justified my actions 
referring to my lost life 
and later after visiting many places 
I developed a taste for philosophy
and read many a great works 
and wondered about things. 
I drank whiskey and wine straight out of bottles in some dimly lit bar made from heavy stones in a foggy port towns near where the ships unload 
& played cards with cheaters and shooters & we joked & laughed and out-lawed & chased whores & lived for there and then. 
And I rambled out and abouts and whistled a tune I only knew.  
Now I live for the moment caressing the 7 seas and the skies only to find what I am not looking for.