The cause of the Swine Flu?

A Day in the Life of a Social Worker

Last week I was given a case to investigate. This was the information I was given: Elderly Woman, Age: Unknown, Name: Unknown, What is known: She is quasi-homeless and roams the streets of a city in Boston. The reporter is calling in because this elderly woman hasn't showered in over a year, and is going around yelling at people and he is concerned she may get herself in trouble with passers by. I am given a description of the woman and sent on my way.
This is a difficult situation. Have you ever looked for one particular person in a city without knowing that person's name, and having never seen them before? All the information you have is what this person looks like.
So early on Thursday morning I head to this city in Boston and start walking the streets looking for this woman who hasn't showered in over a year and yells at people. As I am turning a corner, a woman with stained clothing walks by; I am looking at this woman trying to decide if she fits the description I am looking for, and as I am doing so she says to me, "What are you looking at Mother*!@#?" Yep, this was my lady alright! (Keep in mind I am a Social Worker; my job is to build rapport with people and gather information to see how I can best help.) After that pleasant introduction, the conversation went like this:
Me: "OH hey! I was just looking for you."
Woman: Who me? What's my name?
(Oh crap, I don't have this information!!!)
Me: I am not sure, but you fit the description of a woman I am looking for. I am a social worker and I wanted to see if I could talk to you for a minute.
Woman: How do you know it's me? Is it because I am carrying a Domino's bag? (yes, like the pizza joint)
Me: (Seems like a good in, why not; I mean I don't want to tell her what the real description is if I don't have to, because it wasn't very flattering) Yep. Do you think we could talk for a few minutes.
Woman:Sure, lets go get some coffee.
Needless to say, we had a very pleasant conversation for over an hour and I grew to really love this woman for what she had been through. She taught me that there is a story for why people are the way they are. Unfortunately, she wasn't old enough to be our client, so I gave her some resources and sent her on her way.
How awesome was it that I found this woman? I mean, what are the chances? It was so amazing to turn the conversation from being called a swear word, to leaving as pals.

This week I had do a courtesy visit for a neighboring agency, and their client was in a hospital near by my office. This elderly gentleman had gone in for a routine medical procedure, that was an outpatient surgery; unfortunately the doctor messed up and the guy has been in the hospital for over a month now with severe problems.
The crazy part of this "story" is that this gentleman had invited a much younger woman to live with him before this hospitalization, and while he was having these medical problems she stole things from his home, his money etc. But the best part, or the worst part, was when I had to inform this poor guy that she had come to the hospital with a pastor while he was sedated and tried to have them married. Luckily, the pastor wouldn't marry them because the Elderly man was completely out of it!! This woman thought the guy was going to die and wanted to get everything he owned. It is amazing how low people will go to get ahead in life.

I bet most of you don't get to go home with stories this awesome on a weekly basis!

Marathon Monday

**Happy Patriots Day**

Berkeley and I tagged along with Bonnie and Patrick today to cheer on the Boston Marathon Runners. This is always a fun event to attend; each year I am so inspired by what these people accomplish. It does NOT make me want to run a marathon, but it does make me want to set goals and accomplish them.

A special shout out to our friend Brigham who qualified and ran the Marathon, way to go man! Have you ever tried to find one person in a sea of hundreds of runners? That is what is was like trying to find Brigham, but we found him!

After we watched the runners run past Boston College, we headed downtown to walk around. Berkeley got to try riding in his Bjorn face out today; he enjoyed it so much that he quickly passed out. Here he is hanging out with his friend Soren.

Sunday, Bloody Sunday

Saturday is a special day, a day that Berkeley gets a bath to smell yummy for Sunday!
He LOVES to take baths and it always makes him have a great night of sleep.
All that Beauty sleep paid off; look at this HANDSOME champ.

The Sunday before Marathon Monday means that church is going to be FULL. It is always fun to have so many people come to town for the big race.

After church we had one of my favorite gal pals from work over for dinner, along with her girlfriend, and of coarse, McDuff's "Best Boston Puppy Pal" Bohdi. We had a great time BBQing, watching the dogs slobber all over each other, laughing, and figuring out if a coconut was a fruit or a nut.

McDuff got this fabulous bone as a parting gift from Bohdi. It is so large, however, that he doesn't quite know what to do with it. He walks around with it in his mouth, and then drops it at my feet and wants me to throw it like one of his stuffed animals. Well, it is a heavy bone and it isn't the best thing to throw with the hard wood floors, so we are still trying to figure out what to do with this enormous thing.

The little guy figured out how to roll from his front to his back today. I caught the last half of it on camera. Will try to get better footage soon.

Easter 2009

HoPpY EaSteR!

I have been waiting a long time to have a little one so I can do fun holiday things with them. This was our first major holiday with the little man and we had a great time visiting the Easter Bunny. I figure we should probably get his picture with the Bunny this year as he may be a little more afraid next year. He had no idea what was going on; that a gigantic white guy in a bunny suit was holding him, so the picture taking went pretty well.

We have some fun traditions around the Gentry house. Every year on the day before Easter we color Easter Eggs and make Sugar Cookies for our friends and neighbors. We were glad the Hadley's could join us for the 2nd year in a row. A good time was had by all!

The Easter Bunny (aka grandparents) was very good to Berkeley this year. He got some more stylish clothes and fun new toys. Another fun toy he got this weekend is his Bumbo. It is that little green chair that allows him to sit up. I finally caved in and got one and he seems to really enjoy it. Now he can be at the dinner table with us while we eat, and while we do dishes in the kitchen. This kid hates to miss out on any fun that his parents may be having.

Berkeley looked dapper in his Easter gear. I love his little vest and dress shirt; it was a big hit at church. Church was amazing this week; it was one of the most spiritual Easter programs I have been to. They had many beautiful musical numbers and speakers. I also enjoyed how they had a string quartet playing for all the congregational hymns; the music was so much more uplifting somehow with the added instrumentation. I hope everyone was able to think about Christ and his Resurrection this Easter Day!

Happy Easter everyone!

14 weeks

Look how cute my baby is getting? He is so strong on his tummy!

What did you do over Conference Weekend?

**Girlz Nite**

I love when the boyz go to Priesthood session because that means the girlz party like rock starz.
This year we had a fabulously fun party at Kate's house. Eunice really came through and brought two awesome games, Girl Talk and Girl Talk Date Line. We totally played both, and it was a blast!

Poor little Berkeley didn't want to do his dares so he had to wear the ever famous "Girl Talk Zits"

Some of the fun tasks included me putting lipstick on Eunice with my eyes closed.

Kate got to teach Gwen how to play patty cake. Good job Kate, Gwen really caught on quickly!

I had to make a shaving cream beard.

And Liser had to roll herself in a whole roll of toilet paper.

I don't think I have giggled so hard since the last time I played Girl Talk 15 years ago. It was a truly amazing experience. Thanks ladies for a fantastic night of girl talk(on a couple of levels)!

My Bad

I don't watch American Idol, and if you know my husband you know why. The other day after work I did however turned it on so I could talk AI with my co-worker the next day. I had not watched anything AI related this season, so I had no idea about any of the contestants.
As C and I are watching AI we are talking about the contestants and looking at the pictured gentleman above, Scott, wondering out loud how this guys is on the show. He is so creepy looking and weird; I am wondering how he made it this far.
I e-mailed my friend at work to ask her why Scott was on the show, expressing that he is so creepy looking with his eyes and hair.
She e-mails me back and lets me know that the reason Scott looks so "weird" is because he is blind!!!!

OOPS! I totally did not know that! I mean he really does look creepy if you don't know he is blind, but then once you do know he is blind you just feel really bad!
Sorry Scott! I really have nothing against blind people, Honest.