A few days ago I received a call from someone for the Barack Obama campaign. Just so you know, I am all about President Obama, I’ll be voting for him, and I have donated to his campaign. At some point in the distant past I MAY have said I was interested in volunteering. But if I did it in the past 6 to 12 months, I don't remember doing so. Anyway, so I get a phone call the other day:
Danette (D): Hello?
Obama Campaign Organizer (O): This is Blah Blah with the Barack Obama campaign. I am the organizer for your district.
D: Oh! Great!
O: Several months ago you said you would like to volunteer. I was wondering if you would like to grab a cup of coffee to talk about volunteering (he also had a short spiel about how important it is that President Obama gets re-elected).
D: Great! I totally agree! But here’s the thing. I’m currently working full time, am just starting my last 5 classes of grad school, and am in an internship. I would LOVE to volunteer for the Obama campaign starting in July but I just can’t help out right now. Is there any way you could call me in July? (just so you know, I was completely serious. I actually would LOVE to volunteer anytime after graduation)
O: Well Danette, there are lots of ways to volunteer that don’t take much time at all. Why don’t we meet for coffee now and we can discuss ways you can be involved that don’t take much time.
D: I really can’t right now. But like I said, in July if you need help with knocking on doors, fundraising, phone calls, or licking envelopes, I’m your girl.
O: But Danette, we need to get organized now. I would love to meet with you for coffee and discuss ways in which you can be involved…
Click. I hung up.
I felt bad doing so, but seriously. If you have someone who is saying they will help out in a couple of months take that for what it is and move on. Don’t be obnoxious and continue to invite someone who doesn’t drink coffee to come meet you for a cup when she already said she doesn’t have time.
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Reading...
I love to read...pretty much always have. But I haven't really done a very good job over the years of tracking what books I'm reading...at least until a few years ago when I discovered GoodReads. Now I track all of the books I read on there as well as on a spreadsheet (I'm a bit of a spreadsheet fanatic/addict). So as I've been reviewing the books I read in 2011 and choosing the top few, I took a look back at the three previous years too...not that it means anything to anyone, but I thought I'd put my top 3 or 4 from each year here...So here goes...
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Multiple Choice Test - Social Work Style
I miss multiple choice tests. Where you take your number 2 pencil and fill in the circle. Staying completely within the lines of the circle. Where there is always a right answer, no explanation needed. If grad school social work assignments were a multiple choice test it would look like this:
Apples are:
A. Good
B. Tasty
C. Good and Tasty
D. Neither good nor tasty
**Please list your answer below, citing your sources using APA style. Your answer should be 12-15 pages. You should demonstrate your deep understanding of the topic and should incorporate your views, your family's views (going back 12 generations), as well as theories and concepts discussed in class. Use PowerPoints, class notes, small group discussions, textbooks, and 32 outside sources to summarize your learning and insights.
ANSWER:
'C' is the correct choice because of the following eight reasons which I have thoroughly researched. My views on 'c' are as follows: blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, and blah. I believe that I feel strongly about 'c' because my mother felt strongly about 'c' and her mother felt strongly about 'c'. There are definitely multi-generational patterns as to our views on apples. I’m not sure what Bowen would say about this, but I’m sure he would be impressed I was able to find the damn (oops, I mean darn) pattern. It is important for me to understand, however, that other families may not see ‘c’ as the correct answer. As a social worker, I am okay with that as each family is the expert of their own experiences, and may view apples in a completely different way than I do. That doesn't make either of us right or wrong. It just means we get to have lots of frank discussions about apples. I am so grateful for the opportunity to answer this question because it helped me not only gain insight into myself and my family, but will also inform my social worker practice and make me a more competent practitioner.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
My Busy Life
Life has been extremely busy the last couple of months. I finally got a job in February working as a care manager with elderly clients. As of tomorrow I have been there for 6 weeks. It's been crazy 6 weeks, but I love it. It still doesn't really feel like a "job," which I guess is good. After my first paycheck I literally thought "Wait...they're paying me for this?" :) I think it was because it was so different from anything I had done before other than internships which, obviously I hadn't been paid for.
I have also been busy with school. This weekend was my last session of my first class. I'm a bit worried about how I'm going to handle the three classes that start in 2 weeks, but I managed before, and I'm sure I'll manage again...right?
Anyway, hopefully I'll get my act together and find more time to do all of the things I was doing before I started working again...like reading, exercising, blogging, and cleaning!
The Great Read 2011 - February
Okay, so life has gotten crazy busy. Out of control at times. My reading is definitely not going to be at the level it was at last year, but I'm still reading a bit. In February I read 5 books. My favorite by far was Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand. It was an inspiring read, and I was surprised that I was hooked from the beginning. I love World War II books but this was so much more. A definite must read!
Review from Amazon.com:
From Laura Hillenbrand, the bestselling author of Seabiscuit, comes Unbroken, the inspiring true story of a man who lived through a series of catastrophes almost too incredible to be believed. In evocative, immediate descriptions, Hillenbrand unfurls the story of Louie Zamperini - a juvenile delinquent-turned-Olympic-runner-turned-Army hero. During a routine search mission over the Pacific, Louie's plane crashed into the ocean, and what happened to him over the next three years of his life is a story that will keep you glued to the pages, eagerly awaiting the next turn in the story and fearing it at the same time. You'll cheer for the man who somehow maintained his selfhood and humanity despite the monumental degradations he suffered, and you'll want to share this book with everyone you know. - Juliet Disparte
Saturday, February 5, 2011
The Great Read 2011 - January
This year I've set a goal to read 90 books this year. That's 7 1/2 books a month. Who knows if I'll make it since my life seems to be getting busier by the day, but having a goal gives me something to aim for :)
Anyway, I figured I would feature my favorite book or two here each month to help keep track of the ones I love.
So...for January, my favorite book by far was A General Theory of Love by Thomas Lewis, Fari Amini, and Richard Lannon. This book was exquisitely written. A definite must-read for those working with people (therapists, social workers, etc.) or for anyone who hasn't found quite what they are looking for in the self-help section of the bookstore. This IS NOT a self-help book, but it explains why people can't find the answers in them and provides a fantastic explanation of how our brains function, change, and grow and why it is we need other people in order to become truly independent, satisfied beings.
Review from Amazon.com:
The Beatles may have sounded naive when they assured us that "all you need is love," but they may not have been far off the mark. New research in brain function has proven that love is a human necessity; its absence damages not only individuals, but our whole society. In this stimulating work, psychiatrists Lewis, Amini and Lannon explain how and why our brains have evolved to require consistent bonding and nurturing. They contend that close emotional connections actually change neural patterns in those who engage in them, affecting our sense of self and making empathy and socialization possible. Indeed, the authors insist, "in some important ways, people cannot be stable on their own." Yet American society is structured to frustrate emotional health, they contend: self-sufficiency and materialistic goals are seen as great virtues, while emotional dependence is considered a weakness. Because our culture does not sufficiently value interpersonal relationships, we are plagued by anxiety and depression, narcissism and superficiality, which can lead to violence and self-destructive behaviors. It is futile to try to think our way out of such behaviors, the authors believe, because emotions are not within the intellect's domain. What is needed is healthy bonding from infancy; when this does not occur, the therapist must model it. The authors' utopian vision of emotional health may strike some as vague or conservative to a fault, and the clarity of their thesis is marred by indirect and precious writing. Yet their claim that "what we do inside relationships matters more than any other aspect of human life" is a powerful one.
Although my "to read" list is already much longer than 90 books, I'm always looking for more. Read any good books lately?
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