New job!

So, I've been at the new job for three days now. I'm an "Income Assitance Program Specialist" for long-term care, which means I'm doing evaluations and database searches and paperwork and so on to determine whether people qualify to get some of their nursing-home or other long-term care paid for by the government.

The first big part of my training is reading a 3-inch-thick manual with state and federal regulations, categories and formulas--it reminds me of federal tax forms than anything else I can think of and much of it is boooring. Thank goodness it includes examples so I can read how things play out in certain situations. And it's intended to help people with long-term problems--old people in nursing homes, people on permanent disability and so on.

And I get to play with databases and forms (I'm one of those weird individuals who loves forms and surveys. I worked with surveys my very first job at Peterson's Guides and have a soft spot for them). Plus I have a nice cubicle with my own computer (at my old job we had to share), and the other staff have been pleasant. Best of all I have a supervisor who's bright, comfortable to talk with, and dedicated--and has a great sense of humor. Example from Monday: "the first thing we're going to have you do is kill people." Meaning I'll make the appropriate changes to the database for people who have died.

Eventually I'll be dealing with actual customers, some of whom get obnoxious, but hey, I've been dealing with that for 12 years now and most of these people will be on the phone, not in person.

The commute is nasty--1 hour by car, 1 1/2 by subway--but only till my training period is over (oh and for about a month I'll be training even further away, ack!!). But after that I'll be working at a site closer to home.
And in the meantime, there's my iPod and books...

Note: Writing this was complicated by someone nudging and moving around the mouse. Someone wants to be scritched and petted...

The Last week at My Library Job

First off, my coworkers put up a poster announcing the party, and they got the perfect picture from Xxxholic to put on the party poster.

Then there was a power outage the morning of the party (we open late on Wednesday, so the party was 11-12:30) so they were late getting together and wouldn't let me in till everything was done. Our youngest page, who is a fellow nerd and anime fan, came to the Information Staff office to amuse me with anime stuff on YouTube. We watched two eps of YuGiOh! Abridged.

My coworkers had set up many of my favorite foods--homemade chicken lo mein from one of my awesome Taiwanese-American coworkers, strawberry-rhubarb pie, brownies, pumpkin pie (I don't know *how* Margarete found it at this time of year but she did!). Then we had presentations--flowers from one of my coworkers and from our Friends of the Library, a framed picture of a little girl reading that I love especially because of the quotation that goes with it ("Disgusted with life, she retired to the society of books"), a card with a manga page on it with sad girls and a penguin (the city's mascot--and the library's--is a penguin) and lots of good wishes from coworkers written inside.

Then came the musical numbers. Our head page Mark sang a song for Margarete who is being transferred in two weeks, then for me, and then the two of us did a duet of the Les Miserables song I rewrote (with assistance from Margarete) for the staff. It's rather incendiary about budget cuts to the library and the staff in particular. Everyone loved it--staff and Friends of the Library alike are extremely unhappy about the cuts.

Then we ate some more. I got lovely separate cards from Michelle, a children's librarian from another branch who was my mentor when I started, and from one of my favorite volunteers, Susan, a retired art teacher who helps with our infant & toddler storytimes. (She drew pictures of the bells and scarves we use at infant/toddler storytime on her card). There was much sadness on all sides seeing me go. One of my favorite teen volunteers was there with his mom--they've been regular patrons since he was a baby, and mom regularly brings us homemade goodies. So sweet of them to come--I'm glad it was the day after school ended so they could come as well as Josh!

It's awful leaving, but somehow a bit easier because I know people care about me and will miss me. And they keep insisting I have to keep in touch and visit.

I felt so loved.

Home last weekend

We went up to NY State for a wonderful family weekend, taking the train as usual (so restful and a great time to catch up on reading and napping!)

My Uncle Tony (Mom's big brother) and Aunt Sheila celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. They had a beautiful Mass of Thanksgiving at our hometown church, and then a luncheon reception. So many relatives, especially my "relatives-in-law" on Aunt Sheila's side, were there! I was especially happy to see Rachel and her husband Joe for the first time since their own wedding and to get some time to talk with them. Also seeing older relatives--my Great-Aunt Edith is in her 90s and still looking wonderful!

Looking through Uncle Tony and Aunt Sheila's wedding album was another highlight--I recognized my "Uncle" Ray right away as best man, and enjoyed picking out other people including Mom in her very poufy bridesmaid's dress--so much like the ones Aunt Sheila and Mom's other bridesmaids wore the next year when Mom & Dad got married.

The food was good too (can't have an Italian-American event without good food!) The cake (chocolate with a lightricotta-cheese filling!) was my favorite, I think.

I hope my cousins send or post pictures: Matthew was busy with his camera as always, and Chelsea was snapping couples pictures at the tables.

***but wait! There's more!***

After the reception we went up to Saratoga for dinner and to hear Dave's band, October Circle. Dinner was good, the Saratoga architecture is lovely, and I want to try the mineral springs! They have various herbal baths at one of the spas. Also a Museum of Dance that Mom and Dad said is great.

The band was better than ever--these guys have developed a lot of talent and just keep growing musically and with their repertoire of covers plus originals. Brad did amazing things with the theremin--unfortunately it cut out at one point and he hurt his hand getting the mechanism to work again. And I love Yetta the puppet!

Dave sang lead on a couple of songs--great pipes, baby brother! And your bass playing is excellent. Plus you were right--you guys play great dance music (which is why big sister was the first one up to dance)

Pictures: of Ivan, alone and with some humans

Ken took several pictures over the last few days.

The first couple are of Ivan with our friend James. James and Mary came over for lunch and to pick mulberries from our tree--and, as it turned out, from many other mulberry trees in the "community area" that adjoins our backyard.

We had plenty to eat--I made my two Japanese specialties, soba with sweet walnut paste and cucumber maki rolls. Then we picked loooots of mulberries: James and Mary picked a gallon between them and I, with some help from James, Mary and Ken, got nearly half a gallon for us.

We also had a wonderful time talking and, of course, adoring Ivan. Ken picked him up to hold him so Mary could pet him--and Ivan reached out to her, so she took him in her arms. And he clearly liked James also, as you can tell from the pictures...

(if you want to see a photo full-size, just click on it!)


Other pictures are of me (with my new, slightly different haircut) petting Ivan, and of The Most Gorgeous Cat in the World on his own.