I didn't sleep too well last night; it's 70 in Athens and humid. I think we're expecting rain today and I can't wait for cool rainy weather. Cook up a storm, bring in some firewood.

Apparently two of the Moms at the Shelter nearly got in a fight this weekend, indirectly started because one older child didn't treat a younger child well and the Mom corrected the other Mom's child. Anyway, the two Moms were very upset, the night staff was upset, the case manager only slept a couple hours and came to me for help. I tried to suggest to her that, although we certainly don't want violence, people lose their temper in lots of situations, including families and friends, and it's not the end of the world, even though we need to take action. The four of us met and I think the Moms will both have counseling. They know they could be put out of the Shelter for fighting. One of the things we need to do, at the Shelter as well as in other situations, is minimize the drama. The residents (and staff) tend to analyze and revisit who said what all the time. What we need to do now is go forward. I felt wise and effective, but we will see how it goes today and in the future.

I was invited to a luncheon sponsored by the Junior League about collaboration. I met the new superintendent of schools and enjoyed talking to him. He seems very down to earth and approachable. He wants to improve the dropout rate and seems to feel that some of the blame lies with CCSD policies, a refreshing change. I am not sure he and I would agree on every topic, but I admire his willingness to be honest with me. Vicky Clark was the speaker; toward the end we were talking about how to end collaborations that are not working. If you are putting more into a partnership than you are getting out of it, it may be appropriate to politely wihdraw. She used as an example somewhere she worked years ago. They had a volunteer training program for young people sponsored by Nestle. They decided to stop it because of Nestle's selling formula in third-world countries where the water wasn't safe. I raised my hand to say that we buy a lot from Walmart, but Walmart contributes to poverty and homelessness. Tina, from the Food Bank, said that wasn't true, she had worked there. We talked a little afterwards. She said she had started there at almost $10 and got benefits even though she was part-time. Joan (from Project Safe) told me afterwards they have struggled with this for years. Being good stewards of the donations given to you means buying the cheapest, right? I'm even having trouble of thinking of a local retailer who sells khaki pants and polo shirts. Is Goody's or Target better than Walmart?

Ray was really tired after his weekend and short night Sunday, so I left work at 2:30 and brought him home to bed. I made supper, watched TV, and went to bed.

Well, Ray got back in the middle of the night. I haven't talked to him, but I opened my eyes when he walked in the room and went right back to sleep. All's right with the world. I am also very glad to have a job to go to this morning. The news is still all about people out of work. I didn't have to look at the want ads yesterday And when I talk to people at church, I don't have to say I'm still looking for work.

I went to the forum yesterday morning as well as the service. Neither was especially inspiring, but I like singing hymns and talked to several of my favorite people, like Deb B. Then we ate leftovers for lunch and Captain and Vanessa went to play bridge. I had the afternoon to myself, caught up on some of my filing. Kenney Ridge had a community meeting at 4--there were 20 families represented, so that was good. We approved some relatively simple changes to how business is done, and added some money from the general fund to the community center budget so we can have a wooden floor in the meeting room and a standing seam roof on the south side for possible future solar panels.

Then I met Captain and Vanessa at UGA, where we left a car for Ray to drive home when he got back late at night. Since there was a home football game this weekend, he couldn't park in his office parking lot Friday night or Saturday. Those spots are for fans who pay a lot of money to the athletic association. Then we went out to dinner. And that was pretty much the end of the weekend.

A lot of my free time was spent reading about traveling in Spain, the northeast part, to be exact (Galicia). I will fly to Madrid, meet Amelia, and we will travel to Santiago de Compostela or Vigo, probably by plane, where we will rent a car and stay somewhere rural. I am excited and nervous about it. I'll only have a week.

Yesterday I was quite cheerful. After breakfast, we went to the Farmers' Market to get our last batch of organic meat. It was almost all beef this time, and one small chicken. We are getting better at cooking it. Friday night I stir fried it and it was tough, but last night I made stroganoff and cooked it for more than 2 hours and it was nice and tender. It was nice to see Lisa Lewis and her Mom. The Captain talked to her about planting onions--they planted 4000 last February, I think she said. We are only wanting about 100.

In the afternoon, I got caught up on my Quicken--paying bills and entering expenses. It is strange here without Ray..I fell asleep before 9:30 watching TV with Vanessa. I am glad my parents are here to keep me company. We all worked together--the Captain even mowed the lawn some. He also cut up the meat and the mushrooms for me. Vanessa is trying to keep up with the dishes while Ray is gone. I alternate between feeling guilty and being glad she feels like she can do it.

It is pleasantly cool this morning.

I woke up early this morning, worrying about travel to Spain. I got on line (where I was before I went to sleep last night) and checked the prices. One of the sites said that there was only one seat left at this price, so I panicked and took it! Flying ATL to MAD Friday night October 2 and back again Sunday the 11th. I'm not sure how I will get back to MAD on Sunday morning before my 11:30 am flight.

Yesterday I worked 8 hours with no break. It was a hard day, but we got things done. Payroll, for one. I'm not getting a lot of help from the Board and I worry about what it will be like when I am away for a week.

pleasant again this morning

Ray getting ready to be away all weekend, driving a van full of students to the coast. I always worry and will miss him.

Spoke to police trainees yesterday about homelessness. Some were a little bored. Someone asked: where do we take a young woman who has nowhere to go at 3 in the morning? Answer: there is no place you can take someone in the middle of the night. Most places do not do intakes then and are usually full anyway. Follow up: where is the nearest big city that has more shelter space? Atlanta?

Lunch with Becky.

Worked 8 hours again.

Nice and cool for sleeping last night--and it rained! yay!

The shelter had a board meeting last night. I was invited, but I said I could only stay for a little bit, since I had choir rehearsal on Wednesday nights. I was able to mention a couple things that I think need to be dealt with, but many of the people on the board do not seem to be very knowledgeable about the field. When I was telling them about the family being evicted, one man wanted to know the ages of the children. I said it was not really relevant, but told them approximately. Many of the board members seemed to be concerned about where they would go, a mistake many people make. If the family is not right for the shelter and will not benefit from their time there, the fact that they do not have somewhere else to go is not our problem. I know that sounds harsh, and I probably need to think of a better way to phrase it, but I said that to Kerri too. If there were a shelter for families where the parents have mental health issues, that would be great. But it doesn't do them any good to be in a place where they are not getting the kind of help they need, and it doesn't do the rest of the residents any good either. I wonder how much they got done after I left.

Ray went home and made mac and cheese and then picked me up from the meeting, which was in an office in the Bottleworks--really neat. Potluck and choir were enjoyable.

I slept well last night; it was cool enough, I guess, and I didn't wake up until 6. Yesterday I had a board meeting for UUFA. I was glad I don't have to go much longer, although it was not really unpleasant. Not much on the agenda and a lot of people missing. I was so tired from the trip and working all day that I would have liked to miss too. I enjoyed making and eating dinner. We were home by 5. The Captain said the garden is very dry and the deer nibbled any vines of cucumber and pumpkin that stuck out of the fence.

I wished I had remembered to take my camera on our trip and show you some pictures of the beautiful Blue Ridge mountains. Those pictures never come out as well as the real thing, anyway, but I miss them.

I spoke to a church senior group at lunch yesterday (about the homeless shelter). They gave me free lunch. It was barbecue (yuck) and lots of desserts. I didn't really have time to prepare any notes. Of course, I can tell them about the shelter and poverty in Athens, but it wasn't very organized. I was hoping to have an informal discussion and answer questions, but there were too many--maybe 50. I had thought I would know more of them from IHN, but there was only one couple I knew. They seemed hostile, but perhaps it was my imagination. I had one question about whether we take all nationalities and I said yes, but then I said I wasn't sure and would have to check whether we take undocumented workers. Another woman volunteered, "they should be citizens...and they should speak English." Well, who asked for your opinion? I just nodded. I said I don't think Jesus would ask, "where do you come from?" Perhaps they won't ask me back again! They gave me a check for $25. The woman who asked me, Sally, is the owner of Stanfield Air, which donated a new air conditioning unit last month (worth about $4000), so I was very happy to do anything she asked.