Mark316.com

I love my new job. It is great to look forward to work and enjoy the challenges that are ahead. For those of you who don’t know I started a job as a team leader in a home support team for SAI (Saskatchewan Alternative Initiatives). It is a great organization and I am really enjoying the philosophy of Gentle Teaching that they follow. It is a much different pattern than most of what I have seen in my experience with group homes and social services but it seems to be the trend, even when working with teens, to offer more freedom and guidance rather than rules and control. I can honestly say that there is no subtle distinction between the two approaches. I can also say that much of the difference in the success of either approach has to do with the heart of the individual who is supporting someone who is disadvantaged.

My experience so far with SAI is that they hire for heart and that “makes my heart super happy” (quoting from almost every episode of Ni Hao Kai lan).

In the last few nights I have had a tonne of dreams. I dreamt that someone wanted to sell our house so I showed it off. It turned out that our house was about twice the size that it really is. I didn’t even recognize some of the rooms. When I went down stairs the place was bigger than a barn. It was packed with all of the building supplies that I ever wanted. It was cool.

I’m about a week away from being 33 years old. I’m getting old although I started telling people that I was 33 last year so I’m way ahead of the game.

Happy birthday Chris, tomorrow but still.

This actually isn’t such a bad age. When I was a kid I grew up in a small church so I wasn’t sure that 20 year old people actually existed. I now know that they do but they weren’t common in my church. Now I’m in an age bracket that I’ve always believed in.

I also think that having a kid helps with feeling better about aging. I always thought that people who were married with kids were older than me even if they were years younger. Now I’m married with a kid who is presently in his little play cottage and I’m glad that I’m going to be 33.

I used to know who was out there but I really doubt if anyone is out there any more. It is the nature of no press. That is the problem of having a family and only one lappy.

We’ll see.

At least I know my password again.

I’ve had a new beginning in the last month with starting a new job. It has been a hectic experience and I hope that it all slows down soon.

I’ve also been transferred over to Wordpress which is a new blog beginning. I’m giving it a go and it seems to work well.

Javier is talking now “mama” and “papa”. I’m mama most of the time so that gets interest. Food is also mama and other things are mama as well. Papa is reserved for when I’m especially good.