Mindful Scribbles

This is on the top of my ‘Bucket’ list. One of my dear OT friends will be taking her trip in a week to visit this amazing and mysterious citadel and experience the beautiful views!

For those of us who can’t make the trip (yet), here is one of my fav videos from Smarter Every Day. Destin and his crew lugged their professional equipment to take many, many pictures of Machu Picchu to create a 16 gigapixel, highest resolution, picture of Machu Picchu so far known to humankind. It's absolutely breathtaking.

A girl runs out into the middle of street, face frozen with terror and fright. She looked down the street, knowing what she'd see what she didn't want to see. The raging storm forging on down the street. Her street. A monsoon. It was strange though; it looked like a mix of fog and mist. Not exactly a monsoon. And it didn't look like impending doom, unless a horde of zombies came lurching out from the fog that actually looked like it's from a fog machine. (*cue the dancers from a corny music video*.) But dream-state me, I ran for my life. I turned, my sneakers pounding the pavement - thud-thud, thud-thud. Alas, a car, a car! And other people! I skidded to a stop, breathless and wheezing. Dream me is quite unfit, like real me. So this is a dream I had last night. Compelling right? Makes you want to read to the end. But anyways, it's actually one of rare times I remember *most* of the details in my dream, probably because I was rudely awakened by my alarm (gotta teach that thing manners) in the middle of my adventures. So I thought I'd write about it for fun :) There were two people standing by the car - one of them I remember their identity; the other, I believe I know you IRL but cannot remember who you are. I'm sorry. To protect and not embarrass the identified one, I will give you the name, Pete. Unknown driver pressed on the gas with Pete and me in the car. We're off! But then, I remembered what I left behind. "Smokey!!!" I cried out. It was too late. It was much too late and we all knew it. Smokey, my pet rabbit from more than 15 years ago, is probably long dead now IRL, will probably be dying soon in the fog and mist IDL (in dream life). Upon reflection, my rationale for dreaming about Smokey is I was looking at BC SPCA Instagram posts last night and there were bunnies up for adoption. I seriously considered it for a bit, but logically convinced myself that it would not be fair to the bunny as I am out of my home for 12 hours a day at least 4 days a week. We continued to drive. I may have cried tears, but let's not get into those details. Well, I didn't have much time to cry anyways because somehow, I thought occurred in all our minds. I have to pee. This has happened in dreams before where somehow, a thought materializes in the cast in the dream's minds, somehow all at the same time. The thought about needing to pee flitted through all our heads, like we all have some sort of telepathic power. "Let's stop at the McDonald's" - Unknown driver said and make a sharp turn into the parking lot. My first rationale thought came about right now (kudos to me for my rationality in this dream world). The storm is just behind us and we're stopping at McDs? But unassertive dream me and a full bladder refrained me from speaking up. We got out of the car readily, pulled a heavy metal door open and walked-in. I can't for the sake of me remember what the place looked like, but I remember a prompt and well-dressed woman came up to me and inquired to me what I wanted. "Uh - washroom" eloquent dream me said. She escorted me through a set of metal doors (why all these metal doors? Can these withstand the monsoon? Is that why we're here? Can they keep out hordes of zombies too?) The washroom was spacious and....strange. The toilets were raised onto a platform, almost like a throne and had heated seat functions. There were multiple toilets in the spacious room, apparently separated only by flowery curtains (eek). The lady asked if I would her to clean the toilet before I used it (whoa...possibly the best yet ill-suited service expectation from a McD’s employee?). "Uh - no". She smiled and left, pulling a curtain in front of another toilet (vacant toilet thankfully). My conclusion upon reflection is that we were in some kind of makeshift McDonald's hospital or hide-out shelter. Perhaps we just thought it was a McDonald's but it was actually some kind of hide-out shelter. As I was ascending the toilet-throne, I heard from the room across the hall past the curtains "I'll be right with you to bring your meds". Somehow I knew that it was a nurse speaking to her patient. The next event I remember was walking into a cafeteria-like room in this ?McDonald's/hospital/hide-out. I sat down at a table and stared over at the cafeteria line where all the hot foods were. Yes, dream me had the appropriate priorities.

Plop. A man sat down in front of me. I only remember he had curly brown hair just past his ears and he was wearing a dark trench coat. I cannot remember what we said to each other, but I remember that he was laughing at what I said. And I'm pretty sure was NOT laughing at me, but that I was telling some jokes and he found them actually funny (just for that, I'd befriend him any day IRL). I wish I could remember what I said, or what jokes I made so I can try them of IRL and see if people would laugh. But I can't *sigh*. I guess I'll have to be original and not plagiarism dream me. He suddenly stood up. Maybe he had that weird thought about need to pee flit through his head as well. "I gotta go, but hey... " He pulled out his phone, a slick square one (square phone?! Why?! Dream technology, you suck) with a slightly cracked screen. My dream self considered for a moment. What was his intention? My stubby dream fingers typed in my actual number with great difficulty and with multiple attempts (what happened to me? In this random monsoon-fog-natural-disaster, did my fingers swell up?). As I passed the phone back to him, I said "I hope we can be friends." (What?! Upon reflection, I feel that was quite passive aggressive, slightly cryptic and just plain weird). The guy sitting at the table with us - wait, when the hell did he get there? - snickered. A musical interlude began suddenly, growing louder by the minute. Was this an intermission where all the actors in my dream can take a break? Nah, it was my lovely alarm and my eyes slowly opened to reality.

July 30, 2015 Before a thunderstorm on Thunder Bay, Ontario. I believe this is a supercell formation, but am not quite sure...

April 20, 2015 A barely visible waxing crescent moon, age 2 days!!

Christmas advent calendar! I did it! made it! Look at those clothespins - AREN’T THEY ADORABLE!!

Yes, the bags are currently empty. Honestly, I am having trouble thinking of what to put in there. I really like the concept of counting down to Christmas this way and surprising my fam jams with something each day...however, we each already have so much things that I honestly don’t think we will need more. I was thinking along the lines of putting something in that can make them or having ideas in each pouch of something we can do as a family this season.

I will also be making one for peeps at work and those will be stuffed with random yummy noms and fun things. I mean, who doesn’t appreciate a sweet chocolate after a long and arduous day at work...

During my time as a student on placement at Shelter House and Kwae Kii Win Managed Alcohol Program, I was able to first hand see the effect of stable housing, psychosocial supports, social connections, cultural identity and health services on an individual. I came by this infographic while doing some light research. More research needs to be undertaken and is currently being done, but this is a great start.

This makes me reminisce about my time working at Shelter House and reminds me abut this unique opportunity I had. This placement alone has shaped my career choices in a tremendous way; I am so grateful. 

Canadian geese are scary as shyte, especially the ones who inhabit the wonderful plains of University of Waterloo campus. While I respect their parental instincts to protect their future offspring during nesting season, I do not appreciate them terrorizing poor students with their incessant hissing and demonstration of wide neck ranges outside the entrance to our buildings. We need to get to class, alright?

Anyhoot, I find the geese I have had the fortune to meet here in BC to be less of terrorizing…terrors. This one instigated a few giggles from me as he or she performs their barrel roll cleansing routine :).

This question has been constant on my mind for a while. Perhaps longer since I’ve started OT school and definitely more seriously since starting working. Beyond the everyday enjoyments I strive for with family and friends and in activities, what is my value vocationally and as a member of society?

For the past few weeks, it’s been hard for me to feel my value and to establish my role, my essence and what exactly I am doing and if I am doing it right. In a new role that is so diverse with so many things to learn, with so many moving pieces, it’s hard to feel stability and value in my role at work. Often times I’ve felt like a pawn in a sordid chess game, played by people who don’t have an action plan, goal or end point in mind. Enraptured within the craziness of constant change of rules and roles, I think each one of us at work have been feeling…undervalued.

What brings me back is working with people. Being with clients who are with us for a reason, who do need our help, who can help us to help them by working together and combining our expertise and experiences.

What brings me back is conversing with colleagues who shares a passion, even if everyday occurrences may rub them down bit by bit. They build it back up. What brings me back is connecting with people who go above and beyond everyday to do what they love, what they’re called to do and do a damn good job at it.

I think I may have a slight obsession of capturing the sun shining upon the trees in my photos.

Hello silent follower!

I’m glad to hear from you and thanks for yourmessage! Apologies for the late reply; I did not see this message until a fewdays ago. I believe I was relying too much on Tumblr to notify me regarding newmessages and have not been proactively checking my inbox. I was pleasantlysurprised to find messages awaiting me. Woo!

I am indeed done now and working :) It’s strangeto make the transition from a student to a working adult. In many ways, it’swelcomed; but I also do miss the student life and being able to see and spendtime complaining and whining with classmates about assignments :) All in all, it’s been such agreat adventure so far!

I am now working in a community mental health team locatedin East Vancouver (Strathcona Mental Health Team). It’s an amazing place. Theteam here works together to support client with mental health issues in manyaspects of their lives. The first point of contact a client has with the teamafter a referral is to meet with a case manager and a doc here. The docs andCMs work really closely to do an initial assessment and figure out a game plan withthe client, to help them with illness management, structure their lives and tohelp provide stability in their lives. Many clients have been a client here forso many years, because this centre provides them with such great support. It’sso interesting to see the relationships that have developed between client andthe team here – so very different from what I have seen in hospitals and acutecare units. Here, I can see that for many clients, it is a place where they canfind support, care and connection, long term.

It’s not to say that the place is always rainbows andlollipops – it can be a hectic place for both staff and clients. But I thinkeveryone is trying very hard to do their very best despite many changes occurringin our mental healthcare system and in our team here. And it’s also a learningenvironment for many of us here. So we forge on!

From an OT perspective (it’s not that you really asked, butI always want to talk OT :) ), wework with clients in many aspects of their lives. Haha, broad right? Butreally, an OT working in the community…what we do can span so many areas. From workingwith them regarding their hygiene, getting volunteer work, learning how tocook,  towards being able to independentlygrocery shop, to engage in more meaningful activities, structuring their daysso they have less free time on their hands to get involved in harmfulactivities….SO MUCH. We also do assessments, such as determining their current functionalabilities to do their daily activities, informal functional capacity assessmentto see if they are able to meet job demands, cognitive assessments, kitchensafety assessments and many more. I could go on and on but for both our sakes,I should probably stop. Oh, wait! We also do groups here – psychoeducational groups,leisure groups, skills groups and more! There are two OTs, including me, in therehab department and we work closely with two awesome recreational therapists,our gurus, and two vocational counsellors :)

What I can say that generally, it’s been more of the normthat we see the client when they are more or less “well”. When they are morestable. And I think the rehab team is lucky in that way as the CMs and docs aremore of the front line workers (Honestly, they do so much). It’s from them thatwe get the referrals for when they are “rehab ready” -  if client has express interest in our groups,and/or have a set goal they want to work towards, and/or activities they wantto engage with, etc. But I really think that we could be more involved in manymore of the client’s lives. It’s really hard to determine when a client is “rehab”ready because each person’s journey is so different, so idiosyncratic. Yes,perhaps there are some kind of criteria to be met for a person to join in onsome of our groups but I believe that we also be part of their team that helpthem towards stability and on their recovery journey, whether or not they canfunction well in a group environment or whether or not they can right now, havea goal in mind they want to work towards. We can work with them to find a goaltoo!

As of right now, I want to make sure I am competent andconfidence in the services I am providing. I am, and still feel, quite new. Iwant to make sure I am doing things right and well (lol) and then continue to findways to expand and further the work with clients and help out the team.

All in all, work is awesome. It’s challenging, unique, fun,hectic, strange and most of all, like mentioned before, awesome.

Anyhoot, this is a very long post. I tend to ramble a lotin writing which is perhaps why I have a blog so these thoughts have somewhereto go. I hope some part of this was interesting to you and I really hope tohear back from you! :)

Salted S’mores Truffles. Do I have your attention yet?? My awesome sister-in-law made the delectable treats when we had our belated Mother Day celebration last weekend. She followed this recipe (https://www.facebook.com/buzzfeedtasty/videos/1747881015464540/)and it turned out amazing. It looks easy enough right? I can definitely do it :)

How so wrong I was. My amateur baking skills definitely were apparent when I attempted to make this to bring to work this past week. Long story short, I couldn’t find marshmallow cream/fluff at the grocery store, so I attempted to try to make it. I don’t have an electric mixer, so the concoction did not become light and fluffy like it was supposed to. Then when I tried to make the little balls (that you would eventually freeze and dip into melted chocolate...noms)...well let’s say it looked more like a puddle. Very appetizing :P