Fish and Blueberry yogurt

Right now it is extremely slow at the shelter which leads to blogging. The beanies received their checks this week, all kinds of checks. There were blue checks and yellow checks and even white checks. Some people received even three checks all from the government. Now I'm not saying that this is a flawed system entirely but it is with the chronically homeless population. These checks are primarily spent on getting drunk and sleeping in hotel rooms and then they come back when their money runs out. Is that a big generalization? Well yes it is and there are probably some that really use that money to get of the streets but I have yet to see that happen in the 4 months I have worked here. I am not saying that they should not receive this money, I am merely bored because there are no clients around and so I have let my mind wonder.

On another note today I was supposed to go on an army base in order to cut down three christmas trees. Two things I usually am not fond of, cutting down live things for personal pleasure and anything involving the army. But I was actually quite excited, a chance to get out in the woods and take a few hours out of my work day to tromp around and look at nature. Unfortunately we were supposed to go with Greg, a close friend and client of Bean's, but sadly we found out he was in the hospital. And since he helped with the tree cutting the last 7 years the event was postponed and instead all of the social service workers meaning the 2 others in the office and myself left to go visit him at the Native Medical Hospital. On a side note, I love the Native Hospital here in Anchorage. It's got character and art and everything that hospitals usually lack. But anyway we went in and visited for a few short minutes. The nurses wouldn't tell us what happened but he didn't look too good and I'm not quite sure he knew who we were. Although hard to see talking to the clients outside of the shelter is my favorite part of the job. I think it helps them knowing that someone knows their name and stops to talk to them on the street and it helps me to feel connected to the people that I work with. Of course it does mean I am doing outreach anytime I ride the bus or walk around downtown but that comes with the job.

Alright I am hoping right now that I get an e-mail from the volunteer coordinator of the International Film Festival. I am volunteering for this event this coming week and the perks is that i get a pass to see as many films as I want. But I have no idea where to pick up this pass and tonight is the first showing. And I probably should be volunteering just to do it, but I am really volunteering for the free pass because since the pass is 85 dollars and I only earn 80 a month that would put me in debt. I am most excited about the movie Dream Boy, a love story between two adolescent boys. I am most excited because there is a meet and greet with the director at Myrna's afterwards. But first I must get the pass.

And for lunch today I had fish and blueberry yogurt. The perks of working at a day shelter is free food and interesting combinations. The walk in freezer is packed with food. It's a grown ups version of an easter egg hunt. So far my most prized find were avocados.

I feel really bad about this confession but I am finding this extremely funny. One of our clients is extremely drunk and is trying to put baby powder in a cup but is failing miserably. Now I know I should just help him out because not only would that be the nice thing to do but that would also mean I wouldn't have to clean up his mess. But instead I choose to laugh on the inside because that is the best solution I have found for all the crazy things that go on at Bean's.