Roller Coaster of Life – 2 jobs, LowLights and one new dog later…

Wow! I need to either stop paying for this blog or make a post! 😺

For the 4 of you who kept track… I used to post weekly and then… I stopped posting entirely. What the hell?

Well. I’ve been holding on by a thread. 😺 So, in this blog, I aim to catch you up as I have been able to wind up some thread now.

I said this before here but what happened really shook me somehow.

Just last summer, my Care Manager and RN team members received some shocking news at the end of a staff meeting:

We learned a for-profit/corporate healthcare company bought our Managed Care Organization (aka the Chief) and had decided – with the consent/complicity/open arms of the state of Wisconsin – to end our non-profit’s contract with the state.

This meant our Care Management Unit (CMU) was no longer to be a part of our non-profit organization which had been fighting and advocating for those with disabilities in the Milwaukee area for over 70 years.

This move also cut our non-profit’s budget in half.

It also moved to put in place a for-profit corporate entity in charge of Wisconsin public funds… an inherent conflict of interest, arguably illegal and certainly an unethical move.

They say the people we serve won’t be affected but that can’t be true.

Because the mission inherently changes from:

To serve and care for others

to

Make money

That’s going to affect how things are run and…

who was hurt by changing how things are run?

The people we served.

And also those of us who worked to ensure their health and safety.

In a year++ of doing that job in Milwaukee, I had so many incredible experiences.

Like when it was dawn and I was at this gas station where I had formerly arguably started a small, manageable riot amongst the addicts (I mean, if your sign says OPEN, you best be OPEN, gas station attendant person), a man followed me back to my car and offered to pump my gas.

I’m old enough that I remember when you pulled up to gas stations and people actually pumped the gas for you and so this is never weird to me.

So I said, “Sure”, as he didn’t give me a bad feeling and I feel strangely invulnerable very early in the morning. Thus, the man went right to work, talking about his time in prison and how he was so grateful to be alive and feeling the sun of freedom.

I only had maybe three bucks but gave it to him and he was delighted to receive it.

But then the guy suddenly bowed his head and folded his hands and solemnly recited, “When two or three are gathered together in my name, He is there.”

Joking aside, I got chills, standing there in the early morning light with this stranger in a pretty dangerous area reciting what I’ve heard my pastors recite before communion on Sunday (Matthew 18:20 for you heathens).

And, not to sound too crazy, but none of us really ever know who we are talking to.

Regardless, as I drove away from that scary little urban gas station that morning I felt real purpose and at one with the world around me.

And now that job is over.

But I was really burning out so maybe it’s for the best.

Other Highlights/Lowlights

  1. Around the same time as losing my job, I traveled to my local library on Martin Luker King Jr Drive and all the rows of books were wrapped in plastic sheeting and secured with hazard tape.

I asked the library staff if… I could check out a book… and they responded, “Of course!”

They pointed to a small back area where there were audio books.

And the next thing I knew my library was a rubble pile.

But the rubble pile has a construction sign advertising

MLK Library Apartments

I hope they remember to actually put the library back into that.

2. I got a new job as a Care Manager and covered/had 52 cases. My office was in a very old county building which had a broken elevator.

You just had to know the elevator was broken as they didn’t get a sign on it, confirming its brokenness, for weeks.

I only covered cases for others while I was there because losing my entire caseload previously made me not want to start over with another caseload.

So I actively searched and interviewed for a job not in care management.

But I felt bad and loved my colleagues at Community Care and the gruff, chain-smoking, witty veteran office assistant there got me a touching goodbye gift (well, I had just given her a birthday gift of a sign that said

Punch Today in the Face

which she loved so she got me a sign in return.

Little did she know my “sparkle” is really just ⚡️epileptic electricity. ✨

Here is also a photo of how our building received its air conditioning.

It should be noted that Community Care was the first Managed Care Organization in Milwaukee County and took Medicaid over from the city back in the day when it was all a real shit show.

Great organization. But I still had to get out.

3. So then I became an Options Counselor for St Charles Youth and Family Services which contracts with the county.

I was interviewing like crazy and, when I was offered this job, I was shocked as I had only done one interview for the position.

I was actively on the 2nd or 3rd interviews for other jobs.

While I wanted a new field, I also wanted to stop interviewing while holding down a caseload of over fifty people.

I was also shocked to get an offer after the one interview had taken place virtually, while I was sitting in my parked car outside a Kenosha Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) on the hottest day of the year.

I was there to do a mandatory in person visit with one of my people. But, while I was there, a hospital social worker called me to say that another one of my people was being discharged from the hospital.

Now I hadn’t known this person has been admitted (as she hadn’t called me to tell me) but it was a courtesy the social worker called to tell me she was on her way out as hospitals are known to push people out in wheelchairs until they’re off hospital property.

It could be winter, the person could be elderly with dementia… there they sit outside.

Phone calls aren’t always made.

So I was grateful about getting some notice and set about trying to find emergency transport to get my person home while pacing the lobby of the SNF.

And then I walked into my person’s room.

So I was behind schedule and barely got back to my car so I could join the virtual interview. But there was something wrong with the sound.

In order to hear any of the questions, I had to keep my windows up and the car off (no AC).

After about 15 minutes, my phone died due to the heat.

So I jumped out of my car and waved my phone around to cool it, thinking that I knew I didn’t get this job.

But when my phone regained function fifteen minutes later and I was able to log on, my three interviewers were still there.

They had waited.

So I completed the interview and then somehow got the job.

I was interviewing so much I didn’t even really know what job this was.

My Community Care supervisor and I hypothesized about what job this could be…

Eventually, I learned and now I essentially do intake, work with children, young people and their families in an even older and more dilapidated county building which has a non-working escalator in its center and a security-monitored parking lot from which cars are stolen in the middle of the day aka Not a Super Safe Neighborhood.

The mice who live in my work cubbie agree.

But I finally feel I’ve found the job for me.

I love my colleagues and we do great work.

I also like returning to work with kids.

4. Halloween also came and went. It was awesome as usual so HIGHLIGHT!

I created a Halloween room in the loft above our garage which stands to this winter day.

“Tarp Monster”

We had a ton of trick or treaters!

We had many different Halloween events!

We also dressed up and went to the local Renaissance Fair. David tells me we are now cosplayers.

I dispute this.

And finally…

Again, we took the dogs camping for the first time.

The dogs loved it.

Saying that, June Carter Cash is no longer the dog she was. She is now the one instigating all trouble and Baezy hides under the table to escape her.

I look at her little face and am quite emotional to see how far she’s come! The transporter of this dog and her brothers didn’t think they’d make it.

And she has. And now she’s terrorizing a big fat boy dog.

Excellent!

I know I repeated myself a whole bunch. I hope to get back on track now and get back to making illustrations and telling funny stories rather than just sharing an unsolicited update on where I’ve been.

And then I couldn’t access my blog AT ALL and it was warfare for a bit…

And my computer had died… but now it’s resurrected and now I have access to my blog and… I hope everyone is doing well out there. It’s a crazy world.

Please share one thing that’s happened to you in the last six months! Or many things…

Or don’t. 🙂 Hugs to you.

23 thoughts on “Roller Coaster of Life – 2 jobs, LowLights and one new dog later…”

  1. We finally found someone to help us redo our gross, likely mold-infested bathroom and we’re a cry about to get started on it! So I’ll be bathing in the dog tub for the foreseeable future but that’s ok!

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    1. Oh wow! That’s a big giant change for sure! Baths with the dogs (well, not WITH them hopefully… you’re ideally not having to conserve water or anything). A remodeled bathroom! Woohoo! I hope the project goes smoothly, quickly and stays on schedule. Can’t wait to see the new model! 😀 How adult! BATHROOM REMODEL! Hee hee love love love to you.

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    1. My MEGGY! How I love and miss YOU! Oh boy! Stupid school! Eek! But how lucky will the world be with you being a SUPER ACCREDITED EMT? Hee hee. I’m sure you’ll do great in school but it’s definitely trauma-inducing given the time span since the last time you’ve been in a classroom. But you’ll be amazing! Love love love love you forever. Give a hug to the family from me!

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  3. No dramas chez Goldie in the last scene x months. The grandkids continue to grow like weeds. We got a new grandog, Sadie, who is very cute. She’s some kind of poo, not a cutie cockapoo but just a little thing. Her big boy dog cousin Arthur, who is huge, is very scared of her, which is very funny to watch.
    Please keep blogging Hillarie. It lets me keep up with your life. Sending love and hugs.

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    1. Hello dear Anne! How I miss you! I’m so glad you haven’t been experiencing any dramas! Though it sounds like Sadie may have a different perspective given her relationship with her cousin Arthur… hee hee. “The Terror I Know” – Sadie’s memoir. hahaha Oh I’m so glad all is well with you and yours! And congrats on the new pup! And thanks as always for the support and love. What would I have done without you in Scotland and then in the worst years with all the losses etc? You’re wonderful and I’m forever grateful.

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      2. 😭 My peer support team!!! I don’t know how I would have got through those first couple years without you! And I’d love to meet your family. Yes. We always talk about finding a way to move back. xxx

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  4. I’m so glad you resurfaced Hillary because I love your blog! That new organization, with its kids and families, is lucky to have you. Too bad about the old job getting sold off to a private entity though. The rich get richer… I am just about to talk to a surgeon so gotta go. Bye.

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    1. Oh Naomi! I hope that you’re okay! And… it follows that I hope the conversation with a surgeon went as well as possible! 😦 Thank you so much for your kindness and support. I just do intake but that’s probably for the best as I’m already kind of stirring up things in regard to supports being offered not BEING offered for my families… haha… FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT! 🙂 Hugs and love to you! Please provide an update about your health (if you’re willing… this is the INTERNET… yikes…) healing wishes!

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      1. Hey, I’ve had a rough year health wise. I have not been able to eat properly. I am thrilled because the surgeon finally accepted me yesterday for an operation to fix my stomach.
        I am so relieved! No idea when yet. Still waiting for a booking…

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      2. Oh Naomi! A rough year from January 1st or from January 2023? 😦 I’m so sorry to hear this! I hope that they identify what is wrong and am so glad you were able to get a surgeon to hopefully fix the problem! Our health care system is a complete shit show. I hope that you soon get the surgery scheduled and… they know you;re not able to EAT properly, right? Aka sooner than later would be ideal? Sigh. Will be thinking of you and sending prayers.

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  5. I’ve missed you, welcome back!!
    I don’t have fun updates. I lost my mom in August and everything since then feels impossible. I’m grateful for every bit of connection with chosen family tho, and am absolutely thrilled to know you’re doing alright and are still writing. Thank you for your creativity and light and inspiration! I love you!

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    1. Oh dear B… my heart goes out to for the loss of your beloved mom. I definitely feel how important the connection with those who matter most is… sending you so much love. Miss you! Please keep taking care of you! 💙

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  6. Ever notice how stuff gets named after the thing it destroys?

    Example: I often find myself in some level of dudgeon whilst driving past Falls Lake on Falls of the Neuse Road, PARTICULARLY when driving by the Falls Lake Dam which replaced the lovely little waterfalls I remember on the Neuse River.

    Sigh. Worthy of a comment vis a vis “MLK Library Apartments.”

    Small rant over. SO GLAD TO SEE YOU BACK!!! 🥳 I loved catching up.
    New on our end? Grandbaby Iris! She’s the big deal news. 🥰

    Got my arm twisted (I was just scared) to start back hosting house concerts again. So far, we’ve had two of my very favorite artists back, blues rocker Michelle Malone https://youtu.be/EaP1zUdYDyg
    and Roger Blevins, lead singer and frontman for Texas funk band Mingo Fishtrap.

    Unless you’re avid to hear the saga of the Cpap…

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    1. Wow! You’re a music venue! That’s so cool! How wonderful! And two of your favorite artists? What a trip! I’ve never heard of Mingo Fishtrap but I’ll check them out. 🙂

      And congrats on your grand baby! Iris is a lovely name and I’m sure it has nothing on how perfect she is. 🥰

      And that’s a great observation! Where I grew up, everything is “Devil’s Lake” and “Devil’s Head” and Devil this and that… and it’s because the white colonists misunderstood the native people they overcame (destroyed the culture) so they named everything “Devil” instead of a word that captures“spiritual/holy/occupied by spirits” which is how they had described their area. So now it’s Devil this and that, marking the loss. It’s so true things are named after what they destroyed!

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  7. I wrote a lovely long comment that may have disappeared (wahhh) in which, among other things, I expressed joy that you are back. I do not have it in me to recreate it.  I can see an image of it in my history, but when I click on it, I see this:

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    1. This site is a shit show. I couldn’t even access my site for weeks due to changes.

      I got your great comment about the Texas band and Iris! And destruction! 🙂

      I’m so sorry if that isn’t the comment you are referring to. It’s a shit show. I responded to the comment I just discussed and as soon as I sent it I thought “I hope Lisa gets it.” 🤦‍♀️

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  8. Yay! It DID get there. And only once, too, not the umpteen times I attempted (which is what usually happens).

    Not a venue. That’s important. House concerts are a whole different kettle of fish. If we were a venue, we’d be violating all kinds of zoning regs, need special insurance, have to pay ASCAP. Nope. We do not make money–it all goes to the artists. House concerts are a way for touring musicians to make a living because most of them do not.

    We gather and make room for an audience, collect donations, put the musicians up overnight, feed ’em, and send them on their way to their next gig. Because they’re not paying a percentage to the house, a sound guy, a percentage of merch sales, eating in restaurants, and sleeping in motels, they usually make more money playing a house concert than they would playing a venue.

    The audience gets a VIP experience, and everyone has a blast. It’s just the best hobby. I overheard my adult daughter say, “Yes, my parents are cooler than I.” 🤣

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    1. So sorry for the super long delay in response to your comment, Lisa! I’m glad you found the post… this site is being held together by safety pins and sarcasm at this stage. I can barely log in. hahaha

      Wow! I want to someday experience your amazing house shows! What an absolutely wonderful resource and opportunity to all those musicians on the road. And yes yes yes saving all that money as you’re not making any… the artists just benefit from every angle. And definitely the best hobby! Haha you ARE so cool! 😀

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      2. I tried to respond onsite, but no joy. In any case, here it is:

        I did the briefest of searches and found this house concert host:

        House Concerts Milwaukee (houseconcertsmke.com) (262) 951-1915

        In case you want to see what house concerts are all about (so much fun) without having to take a little jaunt to NC. (But you will ALWAYS be welcome here–just say the word.) There’s sure to be more hosts in your vicinity, though.

        Bonus, now I get to show you pictures.

        xoL

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