Recently I had to put things in perspective for a DCS/CPS case manager. I had been reviewing the grades of the children I represent and I expressed to the case manager that I was concerned about 2 of my kids. Each had one failing grade, 2 d’s, and a mix of C’s and B’s. The case managers response was  ”That’s better than most of my kids”.

Really, you didn’t just say that to me? You have already stated in your reports that the children are doing well in school.

My response instead was “I’m not concerned about “most kids”. Both of these kids are easily B students. So quite honestly I don’t care what any case managers “most” are doing. Each case, and each child has to be assessed against what they are capable of. If a child is doing their best and they are a D student that is one thing. But when a B student is pulling D’s and F’s I’m not satisfied. If the judge were to read DCS/CPS comments on the education of my case he would think the children were “doing well in school”.  My assessment is more like “children are not performing at their best, primarily because there is no emphasis on completing homework at home”.

“Well” in my eyes is when a child is performing at their best.

I’m not new to volunteering, I volunteered with a hospice organization for 9 years, working with the bereavement coordinator during that time, but felt a need to move to a different type of service. That’s when I began researching what I felt was a good fit.

Most people do not know what CASA means either in terms who they are or what they do so I’m about to educate some folks. CASA is a national organization. “CASA volunteers are everyday citizens judges appoint to advocate for the safety and well-being of children who have been removed from their homes due to parental abuse and neglect. They stand up for these children and change their lives.”

Sounds like a mouthful but what does it really mean? I’m sure today it will means one thing and after I have finished my first case it will have much more meaning.  I need to preface all of this with a couple of disclaimers – my experience is based on one county in one state and that specific organization. Although CASA is a national organization, each county sets up their program and there are differences in how the organization is operated.

A CASA is responsible for speaking and making recommendations for a child in need when they or their case) appear in court. The job requires that the CASA meet with the child and all parties directly involved to gather information in order to make those recommendations.

My oath of confidentiality will prohibit me from disclosing any details of a case I may be assigned. I do believe however that  I will be able to discuss holes in the systems that need to be addressed. Just based on the what I have observed in court thus far there are certainly issues. Issues with broken families and broken systems.

As a CASA I have made a commitment to the children (or child) in the case until permanent placement is found. The length of time can not be determined in advance. It might be a few months it might be several years. Regardless the goal is for the CASA to be the stable ongoing contact for the child through their court system trip.

My goal is to make sure I view the child, the child’s case, and the situation objectively and make all recommendations to the judge based on fact.  Today, I accepted my first case. Entering the discovery/uncovering stage.  Just hope to make a difference in the life of a child, one child at a time.

You are sitting in a restaurant, church or other other social setting minding your own business when in walks the perfume factory. Maybe their sense of smell has been destroyed. I know lifelong smokers who can’t smell anything.

You get that first whiff and you think perfume, a fragrance I haven’t smelled recently then they stop or even worse sit next to you. Your brain starts racing trying to figure out if the odor is emitting from the person next to you because it is now so strong it is nauseating. The odor – it’s clearly not a fragrance anymore – has sent your nasal passages into overdrive, then the worst happens you can actually taste the perfume and you start wondering if you can keep from gagging.

I’m sure these individuals don’t really know how bad they smell. They’ve found a fragrance they like but they are clueless as to how much is too much. So, I propose that a perfume alarm be put on the market. If the perfume fashionista isn’t willing to purchase one maybe those of us who like to breath will. If it goes off we will have a polite way of excusing ourselves from the offender so we can breath happily again.

DETROIT—General Motors Co. has made progress tidying up its balance sheet ahead of a planned initial public stock offering next month, but there’s still a big question it has to answer for potential investors: Is GM fixed?

The auto maker said Thursday that it will return another $2.1 billion of the nearly $50 billion in bailout funds it got from U.S. taxpayers. So if the federal government owns the majority of GM – then they are returning money to themselves? The repayment was one of a series of moves GM, which is majority owned by the federal government, announced to reduce its liabilities and show financial strength ahead of the IPO.

GM said it will repay the money by buying back 83.9 million preferred shares owned by the U.S. Treasury. So the federal government (remember they are the majority shareholder) is buying shares back from themselves to pay themselves. ??? How does this make any sense.

Now I don’t have a PhD in economics or finance but I’m pretty sure if buy paper from myself , call it an asset, then pay myself from the proceeds, when the transactions are done I still have my money and my paper. I just put them in different pockets. It’s all for show and meaningless.

So why does the media believe it should be reported?

Employer:  What possible excuse could there be for leaving work and not returned?

Employee: “I had a cat emergency”.

Employer: Seriously? What is a cat emergency?

Employee: “It was my kitten, I went home at lunch and it had a bloody mouth.”

Employer: And?

Employee: “It was bad, it was an emergency”

Employer:  And that kept you from a telephone for 5 hours?

Employee: “I don’t think this job is working out for me, I’d like to give my two weeks notice.”

Employer: Really? Not working out for you?

I could not make up stuff like this even if I wanted to

Special Skills (degrees, certifications, software, etc.)

A few things we’re looking for:

1. Must be able to talk to anyone (no creepers)
2. Must be able to tell a joke (timing is what counts)
3. Must realize that hard work cannot be replaced with a degree (degrees are highly important and not easily attained BUT you still have to work hard)
4. Must not update status on Facebook with things like “the weather sucks”, “I don’t feel good” or “I’m having a bad day” (attitude is everything)

Do all of the above and advance into a marketing management position.

I can’t believe they actually used “no creepers” in a job posting – do creepers really know they are creepers?

Applicant for a marketing position submitted this:

I’m not sure about every state, but in Indiana there are many individuals unemployed, and many of them complain that they can’t find a job. That simply isn’t true, they can’t find a job that will pay them more than unemployment will.

It’s simply easier to stay home, draw unemployment and complain about the economy instead of taking a job where you actually have an opportunity for more.

Shouldn’t we require a bit more for such extended unemployment benefits than to simply file an application online. Should employers be required to notify the state of job offers made and refused?
Isn’t the point to get people back to work? Not keep supporting those that are fully capable of working on the government payroll?

Me: You have it all on file from when we opened the account years ago

Bank: Yes, but that was at a different branch.

Me: Are you serious? If I open accounts in multiple locations I have to go through this again? (forget the fact that it could have been 40 years ago when we incorporated – in this case it’s more like 12).

Bank: Yes, and while you are gathering documents I also need a copy of your IRS notice when your EIN was assigned?

Me: (struggling to not reach across the desk at this point) no problem I’ll bring a tax return.

Bank: No that won’t suffice. We need something from the IRS verifying your EIN you can contact them to get it if you don’t have it.

Do banks really want to do business anymore??