WildTurkey

I finished and survived my first 2 solid weeks of training. I passed my TCI training, which dealt with how to take down and restrain the teens as well as passed all my CPR and medical awareness certifications. This week was my first week 'working the floor' or actually working in the cottage with the kids. I successfully made it through the first 2 days without having to take down or restrain a kid (although there were some close calls). Of course because I just wrote that I'll end up doing a take down tomorrow. The job isn't that bad, I mean the kids are really disrespectful and won't hesitate to call you every name in the book, but that doesn't faze me. I don't take it personally.

The thing that really bothers me right now is not having my own set of keys yet. I can't go anywhere in the cottage, cause everything is locked. They've ordered my keys, but I won't get them till next week. The other thing is I haven't gained my clearance yet, meaning I can't be left alone in the room with the kids, so I'm glued to another staff member’s side. My hours so far this week have been crazy too. I'm averaging about 10 hours a day/shift, and tomorrow I get to work a total of 11 hours. On the one hand its an awesome paycheck, on the other I don't have much of a social life.

I will be adding more photos to my gallery of both the boys and some friends. I had just enough time today to download them from my camera to my computer, but thats as far as I got, and I'm off to bed now. So hopefully I will post them tomorrow.

I was reminded yesterday by Cathy that I have a blog! lol, I've been so busy lately that I haven't had the chance to post. I started the new job on friday. I was there for 4 hours of orientation, where I got to sign my life and first born away. I've never had to do so much paperwork in my life! Actual training started last Monday. I have to have 4 training days of Therapeutic Crisis Intervention in which I get to learn how to deal with kids in a crisis, and how to take a kid down. Today was Fire Safety/Bloodborne Pathogens/Food Safety & Sanitation/Writing Progress Notes & Incident reports. Basically a fun filled day. Altogether I have a solid month of training, although after this week I can work in the field.

On a sad note, I had my last day of work at the library yesterday.
It was a little depressing. I've been there since I was 16, and it's the only job I've ever had - I don't know anything else. I'll miss everyone. Cathy is the coolest! Amy and Tina are my girls! And the rest of the staff is a lot of fun to work with...they are like a second family to me, so it feels weird that I won't be there. I didn't cry, but we'll see if I do the 22nd at my farewell dinner, I think that is when it will really hit me. Of course I'll be stopping by for visits once in awhile, especially to pay my fines, cause I probably won't return things on time, and now I'll have to pay!