Gilen and Katisa playing together. Posted by Gia on April 28th, 2009
Gilen was pretending to cook and wanted Katisa to try what he made. She was very eager to join his game. =)
Filed under: Pictures | No Comments »
Katisa giving Superman kisses. Posted by Gia on April 28th, 2009
Katisa giving Superman kisses.
Filed under: Pictures | No Comments »
On public transportation Posted by Gia on April 16th, 2009
It’s been a while since I left Ohio and flew south to Texas so here’s what’s been happening.
For those in the know, I left Wednesday and started working that Sunday. I have been going over every Sunday since I arrived and he’s a pretty nice guy. I always knew it was a part time thing, something that I would eventually leave behind when I find the job of my dreams.
I’ve submitted to quite a number of companies, both in the corporate world and in Education. While there have been a nice response to corporate jobs I applied to, all teaching jobs I applied to had replied. 100%. Teachers, there are jobs here for you.
I am surviving the crazy way Texans drive. That’s a major feat for me. I survived in Madrid for 6 years without a car. Didn’t want it. Didn’t need it. Unfortunately, with the development of new suburbs around Houston, the metro didn’t grow the city.
For about a year, while in Madrid, I lived away from the city. It took about 1 hour to get to work by public transportation BUT there was public transport available. I’d walk to the only station in our town and change trains 3 times BUT still, the option was available.
Here I’m learning about park n ride. Sad really, since that still means that I’d need to take a car out and drive at least 15 minutes to get to the Park n Ride station. From there I can take a bus downtown. HOpefully, the job I take on will be on the bus route. It would, kind of, be like what Richie does in with the GO Train (SLOW TRAIN from my experience) from Mississauga to Toronto. Again, at least that option is available to both sides of Toronto. I took it when I went to see Marah in Ajax a couple of years back. She said they started having buses in her development a year ago.
Driving down to the Galleria Area with Nina the other day, I was (searching for the right word here) to see hundreds of people all by themselves in their cars. The HOV lane was practically empty even though High Occupancy here meant “at least 2″. To me, that isn’t even high enough. I know, if I don’t live downtown, I’ll be joining them on the heavy traffic side of the road. And I am not looking forward to that.
Filed under: Pictures | No Comments »
Saying goodbye to OLD friends. Posted by Gia on March 20th, 2009
Today I stopped by to visit friends and patients and, of course, boss to say goodbye.
I hadn’t worked there very long but it was very nice to walk in and see them, or rather, hear them calling out, “There’s my Gia!”
I worked in a Retirement home, part of the career ladder I’m on to get my nursing degree, as a Nursing Assistant. Very tiring work yet very fulfilling. I had changed my shift from regular to PRN (as needed) when my trigeminal neuralgia had started acting up again and now came back to terminate my contract before leaving.
I had been lucky enough to have been assigned in the same hall most of the time and got to know my residents pretty well. And saying goodbye wasn’t easy on anyone. I’d seen other staffers terminated and didn’t get the same feeling of sadness from them as when I had said goodbye.
I walked in today just as they were finishing lunch and they all saw me get out of the window. Who’d have thought that these folks that can’t remember to take their pills would remember my face, much less my name. But they did. They all wanted their chance for a hug and a few minutes of my attention. Which I gladly gave since the Director of Nursing had gone home early and I missed her by 5 minutes.The good side of Alzheimer’s and dementia is that no matter how sad they are now, they will have forgotten in a few minutes.
A discussion on “who’s Gia I was” made me realize how much I had touched their lives in the few months that I was there. “No, she’s mine. ” And ” No, she’s MINE,” ensued. It only stopped when another aide asked, “What’s with Gia? What am I, chopped liver?” Only to be replied to by one, “Who’re you?” You gotta love their smart mouths.
It feeds the ego to hear them say the good ones never stay. Those who were more coherent wanted to know how I was doing and when I was coming back. They also wanted to fill me in on what was going on and how the other aides were treating them. Like children, they tell on the bad ones and ask for their presents. Some even wanted to know if I brought some puzzle magazines with me. Note to self: bring some over this weekend.
My experience there wasn’t as bad as I had always thought working in a nursing home would be. There are things they could have improved as well as things that I know they do better than some other places. Other aides were great to work with, and there were some that were just plain useless. Most nurses were nice and great to work with and there were a few who were really nasty, one in particular who liked to find things to criticize.
If I had to sum it up, I’d say there were more pleasant moments than unpleasant ones. And it’s not as bad as Sharon Cuneta makes it out to be in caregiver.
One thing I’m looking forward to though is that when I get to Houston, where my new patient awaits me, is that I know I have one person to take care of and not 14. As much of an improvement that is, I still am looking forward to getting my nursing degree done with.
Filed under: General, Nursing | No Comments »
Photo fun Posted by Gia on March 18th, 2009
I’ve decided I want a hair cut. How short and what like was still under debate. So I look a photo with my hair tied back and some hair styles that I thought might work.
I showed it around and all but two went for the conservative look.
top choices
These are the top two hair styles.
I like the first one. I figure, if I have to cut my hair which I’ve had long for ooooh sooooo looooong, I might as well make it something drastic. Something I haven’t done and might not do for a long time again. Mother, I’m going for the shorter hairstyle. Keep looking at this til you get used to it hahaha.
Filed under: Pictures | No Comments »
Insurance Industry Wins, Low-Cost Doctor Raises Fees Posted by Gia on March 16th, 2009
Insurance Industry Wins, Low-Cost Doctor Raises Fees
State regulators frown on NYC doctor’s flat fee.
Too irritated to say anything the nuns in school would approve off. This is caca.
Filed under: General | No Comments »
Gialogy › Tools — WordPress Posted by Gia on March 16th, 2009
There are just so many new tools in WP. I love how it is layed out. Easier access to everything.
I’ve missed blogging. I miss typing out the thoughts that come my way. More often then not it doesn’t get published, but at least i’ll have a journal.
I am still hoping that one day, I’ll find a disc with most, if not all, of Lost in Spain.
All the pictures, the memoirs, bwisit. I should stop thinking about it or i’ll just get super pissed off again.
Filed under: On blogging | No Comments »
Good-bye Ohio photo shoot Posted by Gia on March 15th, 2009
With us leaving soon, we (OK. I admit, I) wanted some pictures taken so that we could leave it with his parents. We had picked what we thought would be a fairly nice day, sunny and all, but it turned out to be quite chilly. Though the sun was out, it rose above freezing only around 2 p.m.
We asked a friend to take her camera with her and take some pictures of us. This is what she came up with.
Click on pictures to open larger in a new window. More Goodbye OHIO pictures
The Phillipses
Filed under: Pictures | 1 Comment »
Getting my groove back. Posted by Gia on March 15th, 2009
It’s been a long while since I’ve messed with blogs. Losing all copies I ever had of Lost in Spain was too traumatic I guess. In one instance of a techie’s stupidity, my server had lost my back-ups and the actual site. I could have caught it, but their knowledge based assistance had set a trap I did not foresee, when I thought I had sent the note I typed, it inserted a note suggesting topics that would help and had I tried them? In my fury and frustration, I had clicked yes without really reading it. Thinking it was asking me if I really wanted to send them that angry letter.
But I believe in starting over when things go wrong or not quite as well as we’d like them to be.
Here I am, 10 years after leaving Manila to live in Spain, I am moving again. This time TEXAS.
It all started out innocently enough. Thought of catching up with a good, olde friend and we got to talking about how it the economy is really bad in Ohio and how it hardly seems to have affected them in Houston. She might regret it soon, if not yet, but I jumped on her offer of heading down there and seeing what is to be seen in Houston.
So, 10 years later, I’m packing everything up again, and leaving on a plane.
For now, I’ll take a few minutes to set this blog up. Hopefully, I’ll remember how to do it.
We’ll be catching up on news before you know it. Hang in there with me.
Filed under: General | No Comments »