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It just occurred to me, reading the happy news about Sydney123 and her growing family (which is delightful!) that I have not shared any update in a while, I don't think, about things... And for once, like I've got really good news.
My younger son went to Job Corps on Nov. 1. And unlike my older son who did not have a good experience with that program (at a different location) he is doing GREAT! This may have been the only way, something like this, to get him straightened out. So for the first time in years, he's not smoking weed or drinking or taking illicit drugs of any kind, he IS on his meds, which are regulated and dispensed to him properly, he is eating healthy food, exercising, getting regular counseling, and is part of a structured program. He's studying carpentry right now, and even though he's got his GED, they are having him do remedial high school stuff to get his diploma (and there are cash awards to kids who follow through and complete this program, and it's good because he really missed a lot of high school education that he needs)...he's also in driver's ed and that's going well. And he will have an opportunity that he's interested in to take advanced firefighting as his second trade, which would be really cool. He told me recently that sometimes he's challenging himself by joining the firefighting trainees for PT, because their workouts are more rigorous.
He is coming down to visit me over holiday break in a couple of weeks, and I can't wait to see him. I'm super happy and proud of him. I always had this feeling that if he could just be somewhere that bad choices were not in such easy reach, and if he could just give himself a proper chance to get sober and healthy, he might really be capable of so much. Because you know, if nothing else...despite having mental illness problems, he is not a stupid kid, you know? He's got so many advantages, that it has been just killing me to see him throw everything away. So we're finally seeing what can happen, and boy is it fantastic.
This kinda ties into my own politics a bit, because I think that too many people really swallowed the idea that the government can't do anything good for anybody's life. In this case, that idea could not be more wrong. A lot of the kids that go into this are former foster kids or were in juvie, or came from really troubled homes...and this is about the only shot they're gonna have to turn their lives around. And the people really do get a payoff for this use of tax dollars. They send the students out sometimes to go provide labor for various municipal projects. And you just can't have too many skilled firefighters in the West these days. So yeah, cool stuff!
We have a crew painting the exteriors of our apartment buildings this week. Right now, they are outside shouting at one another in Spanish. I think that I really need to learn to speak Spanish if I'm going to live comfortably in Arizona for however long I am here. I can't tell but it sounds like a fight is gonna break out, and my nosy azz has got a curiosity, WHAT'S GOING ON YOU GUYS?? Oh, well.
Been on my "I really oughtta do that" list for approximately forever, to learn both Spanish and ASL.
Thanks, Hawk! I hope you, and everyone else here, has a wonderful Christmas (or any other holiday that you celebrate) as well! Christmas down here in the desert with the palm trees feels really weird, but I think I'm going to decorate and try to be festive anyhow. My son and I are taking a 3 day trip to San Diego while he's here, just to chill by the ocean for a little while. That should be fun!
I just went and reheated the last of my Thanksgiving leftovers and ate them up, and I feel like I'm gonna exploooooddde.... I was out of turkey already, it was just a straight up pile of carbs. Potatoes, stuffing, bread. I also had a bit of this garlic herb cheese, and a glass of OJ just to mix it up very slightly. Oof.
We have a crew painting the exteriors of our apartment buildings this week. Right now, they are outside shouting at one another in Spanish. I think that I really need to learn to speak Spanish if I'm going to live comfortably in Arizona for however long I am here. I can't tell but it sounds like a fight is gonna break out, and my nosy azz has got a curiosity, WHAT'S GOING ON YOU GUYS?? Oh, well.
Been on my "I really oughtta do that" list for approximately forever, to learn both Spanish and ASL.
Thanks, Hawk! I hope you, and everyone else here, has a wonderful Christmas (or any other holiday that you celebrate) as well! Christmas down here in the desert with the palm trees feels really weird, but I think I'm going to decorate and try to be festive anyhow. My son and I are taking a 3 day trip to San Diego while he's here, just to chill by the ocean for a little while. That should be fun!
When i served in our U.S. Navy, we layed around & explored many of the beaches around the world.
We loved The San Diego Zoo, also.
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