*Dinner with grad school friends. Another dinner planned for soon!
*Puppy-sat for most of weekend. Finally realized that having a dog is a mammoth responsibility, but is a much bigger responsibility if you and the dog live in different houses.
*Finished paper on perinatal death. It's an issue about which everyone should be more aware and I'm glad I was able to research it. I learned a great deal. Ended up citing my mom.
*Grammar-and-Style Nazi professor told me that I "have a great way with words" and that my last paper was "very awesomely excellent, if such a phrase exists." He is one of two reasons I would ever admit to missing graduate school.
*Role-played an esteemed representative from The Heritage Foundation. This was for an exercise on policy debate between stakeholders. It was much more difficult to quiet the social worker in my head than I had previously suspected. So when I had questions, it was a good opportunity to practice my reframing, or WWHS--What Would Heritage Say?
"Heritage is very concerned with the accuracy of numbers. We want to make sure that your interpretation of those numbers is correct."
*Attempted shopping for new flip-flops. None met my specifications. Never try to please a connoisseur.
*Was part and parcel to the following hilarious exchange:
Professor: "We usually think of adolesence as ending around 19 or 20. But it doesn't really end until you're out of college and move out of your parents' house."
Me: *Bows head and whimpers*
Professor: "Well, or until you're not depending primarily on your parents for survival anymore...as Meghan turns red over there. Is there anything I can do to take my foot out of my mouth now?!"
Ironically, this was just prior to our discussion on therapeutic shame.
One road trip, one private karaoke show, several drinks and biscuits, and one breeze through JMU later (which involved dining-hall sushi), my 19th and final spring break is over. Okay, technically I've got about another 32 minutes from this point in typing, but I'd better start weaning myself now. No time to reminisce.
But I do believe that all the hugs will fuel me for the rest of the semester. I can do this.
MSW Mission: Possible.
( 11:45 PM ) Meghan
Tuesday, March 16, 2004
Trying so hard to deserve this weekend...
I don't normally have much of an affinity for The Friday Five, but I'd rather like another distraction after several hours of researching treatment techniques for survivors of perinatal death.
1) What was the last song you heard?
"When the Sun Goes Down" by Kenny Chesney and Uncle Kracker. Best mood song ever.
2) What were the last two movies you saw?
"The Wedding Singer" and "The Passion." Quite the contrast.
3) What were the last three things you purchased?
Gasoline, a Toffee Nut Steamer from Starbucks, and a lovely dinner had with Cynthia, featuring General Tso's surprise. Mmm, sauced-up tofu.
4) What four things do you need to do this weekend?
*Drive to Blacksburg.
*Enjoy a rousing finale to my spring break.
*Drive back to NoVA.
*Not go crazy with worry over end-of-semester deluge.
5) Who are the last five people you talked to?
Parents, brother, Jason, and the nice lady from around the corner who was also taking a walk in this puddled, rainy mess.
Well, that's better. On to my policy research project about abortion law.
You know, I think my choice of topics could use some work.
( 8:45 PM ) Meghan
Monday, March 15, 2004
The Ideals of March
O God, You inspired Saint Louise to strive for perfect charity, and so attain Your Kingdom at the end of her pilgrimage on earth. Strengthen us through her intercession that we may advance rejoicing in the way of love and service to our brothers and sisters.
Amen.
Patron saint of social workers, please pray for your colleagues.
( 11:57 AM ) Meghan
Sunday, March 14, 2004
Well, when are we gonna get rowdy?
My stomach made it over the worst Jell-o shots ever and was able to move on to the worst cheesecake ever. I think this is a sign that as long as I'm giving up chocolate, I should probably take advantage of any vague weight-loss endeavors that have been hanging around.
Data entry has begun. 30/80 surveys have been transferred. And since I find SPSS inadequate (or I haven't figured out how to use it properly) I've been brushing up on my Excel skills as well.
In between all this and writing a paper on support-group efficacy, I need to carve out some social time, especially for Saint Patrick's Day. With hope, there's a grad-school crew and a non-virgin Irish coffee with my name on it this year.
( 12:16 PM ) Meghan
Thursday, March 11, 2004
All I want is to help them say it...
He could still feel the way he felt,
Standing in tears.
Stretching his arms out
As far as they'd go,
Whispering,
"Dad, I want you to know...
...I love you this much
And I'm waiting on you
To make up your mind.
Do you love me too?
How ever long it takes
I'm never giving up, no matter what.
I love you this much."
--Jimmy Wayne, I Love You This Much ( 10:00 PM ) Meghan
Ex-cellent. I believe my result from two years ago was a Margarita, so perhaps I'm blossoming in my maturity.
Ha. Haha.
The shallow news of the day is that Ben and Jerry's had the pall bearers dispatch From Russia with Buzz and Totally Nuts to their Flavor Graveyard. In their moment of shame, they have tried to win me back over with Dublin Mudslide. And as soon as Lent is over, forgiveness will be in ample, Irish supply.
The moment of indulgence has passed. I return us all to doing something slightly more important.
( 9:59 PM ) Meghan
Tuesday, March 09, 2004
And you know I wore my pajamas to take it...
Midterm complete. Remembered what I supposed to remember. Plugged in some practical examples. Went into laughing hysterics when I almost typed "it compromises our ability to compromise." Ultimately, two hours and forty-five minutes resulted in nine (mostly) double-spaced pages of well-informed crap. Not going to want to do anything for the rest of the semester. Except that was also before. Word.
I really have to record some of these last-semester class sessions for posterity.
"The next person who yawns, dies."
On help-rejecting clients: "They're the yes-but-ers."
"Butters? Like from South Park? Oh, now I'm in trouble."
And apparently if you want to know if someone is passed out or faking it, you observe their reaction as you drop their arm over their face. Alternative methods are a topic for another night.
( 11:55 PM ) Meghan
Sunday, March 07, 2004
Exam? What? Where?
I'm trying desperately to fight off senioritis for what I hope to be the last time. This is positively the worst possible interval to be taking my first grad school exam. One of the first things that my professor told us is that for the longest time she avoided teaching second-semester seniors because of the collective slump. So when she finally does get to us, she arranges for a comprehensive midterm. Now there's a real policy paradox. Perhaps I'll mention that in one of the ten essays I'll have to write.
As long as I'm being bitter, here's a list of other things that have been ticking me off lately:
1) The National Association of Social Workers is a co-sponsor for the first annual March for Women's Lives. This is a large pro-choice demonstration that not only blatantly ripped off its name from the March for Life, but seems to imply that the pro-life movement doesn't raise a hand to issues like women's health care, disproportionate financial disadvantage, or mental/emotional well-being.
The root of my problem, however, is with NASW. Although I have always known that they took a pro-choice stance on social work practice, it was a minimal bother until now when they've started using my money to advocate for that stance. This is enough to make me want to join a pro-life social work organization, but first I have to find one.
2) Driving obstacles such as potholes and jersey walls. But especially drivers who think they can tailgate, pass on the right, cut people off, and not use their bloody turn signals. Basic respect saves lives.
3) When devout atheists pre-meditatively use profanity.
4) Close-mindedness. Whether to traditional conservative or contemporary liberal viewpoints, about music, food, religion, or policy. Our problems don't result from not believing the same things, but because we don't listen, don't empathize, become defensive, and treat each other as opponents and inferior beings. The strengths-perspective is underrated.
5) When anyone uses my "Catholic" label as a pejorative. Just because I practice, it does not make me a prude nor does it preclude me from ever thinking, talking about, or wanting to have sex. It also doesn't mean that all of my friends have to be Catholic because I rather appreciate diverse perspectives. I try not to advertise my faith, but it is an important part of me that I would like to feel that I can express freely in the forum. On some level, I would even like to think it valuable.
Never liking to end on a negative note, this week's "Simpsons" rerun reinforced some of the policy concepts that I have to know for the exam. Nice.
( 11:35 PM ) Meghan
Saturday, March 06, 2004
Interview with the Grad Student
Let's get this professional business out of the way first. My job interview went well, in my opinion, for being my first career-type interview. Not that applying to Parking and Dining Services wasn't edifying, but they weren't exactly the activities I was planning to depend on for my livelihood. It surely wasn't meant to be. The crossing guard position with the county was snatched up long before I could even apply.
Anyway, I think that I came across funny and endearing and all those other qualities that I hope I actually possess and don't just try to convey in interviews. Nothing's for sure right now, since they're hoping to fill the position sooner than I'm graduating. But failing that, at least I'm in the running.
Good timing with the interview. This year's set of clinical junk had just been successfully resolved and helped to strengthen my practitioner ego. Now I also have something to apply to my family paper for Practice. God provides in weird ways sometimes.
Hat's off to a lazy, Chinese-and-gossip evening with a grad school friend. Heh heh...it's about freaking time.
( 3:20 AM ) Meghan
Monday, March 01, 2004
Mas o menos?
I don't like days that half suck because the lousy points always seem to overshadow the better ones. Especially if it involves criticizing my clinical self. Uh, and I just when I was starting to feel good at what I do.
But for the strengths-based record, I've gotten back 64 total surveys so far, making for an 18.4% response rate! There are also tentative plans for me to present my findings to the agency, which is both exciting and practical.
Oh, and a job interview Friday. Crisis pregnancy and adoption counselor. Four days to hone my Spanish linguistic skills.
"Mellamo Meghan. Yo soy una trabajador de social."
