Traumatic Event #2

            This is another event that took me several months before I could talk about it. This happened many months ago, perhaps last November? Anyway we were living in our first place in Lincoln, a town home with two stories (from the main floor you walk up 6 steps to a landing where there was a back door, then turn around and climb 6 more to be on the top floor).

             So, one night at about 3:00 AM I woke up to go to the bathroom when I felt a draft of cold air. I walked to the top of the stairs to investigate and found the back door slightly open. I started asking "Hello? Hello?" with as firm a voice as possible. After taking two steps down the stairs I noticed a silhouette of a large person wearing a baseball cap swaying slightly back and forth. I instructed Melissa to call 911 and started telling this person "Sir, you're trespassing, we're calling 911 and you will be prosecuted! Leave immediately!"

         At the same time I grabbed for the nearest protection I could find, which happened to be a camping blanket. At this same time, Melissa was whispering to me "the phones are downstairs, we don't have them up here." I continued to repeat my instructions while my anxiety was rising by the second. "Sir, you're trespassing and you need to leave immediately!"

           I mustered up enough courage to take a few more steps downstairs, bracing myself for a confrontation. Whatever happened, I was determined above all else to protect my wife and daughter even if it meant bodily harm to myself.

            As my foot set on about the third step from the landing, the profile became clear and I could see exactly who I was talking to. A helium balloon. It was a helium balloon, suspended about 6 feet off the ground right at the base of the stairs; it was swaying slightly in response to the heater vent blowing hot air in its direction. 

State License Plates

We've seen many license plates in the recent past. I will list all the ones I can remember for no apparent reason:
Maryland
North Carolina
Pennsylvania
Kentucky
Texas
Illinois
Nebraska
Iowa
Missouri
Kansas
Florida
Indiana
New Mexico
Idaho
Utah
Wyoming
Oregon
Washington
Nevada
California

That's 20 states! I wonder if over half the United States population lives all of these states combined. I think there is a good chance of that.

sincerly,
-Ryan Armstrong CTRS

Vidalia's Doings

     1) Vidalia helped me take apart our futon couch. I was using the screwdriver behind one of the bars, a little bit out of her reach. Well, it wasn't easy for her to reach so she came around the back put her hand out and said "da? da?" I told her no, that I was using it. So little Miss V walks around to the other side, picks up a set of Allen Wrenches and comes back. Then she extends her hand with the Allen Wrenches and starts reaching for my screwdriver. Then it hit me! She was trading me toys!
          We realized that she learned that because that's what we tell her friend James to do when he wants something she is playing with. Little miss clever :)

      2) We have been packing up a lot of boxes (because of course we will move to Utah in 4 days). So Vidalia saw us stacking them and caught on. We placed a box on the floor and she grabs it on both sides and starts grunting! Cute!
   So I picked up the box, and she and I carried it over the pile. Adorable. She is a good helper. Well she tries really hard to be and its very charming. 

Tramautic Event #1

   There is an event that until recently I have not been willing to discuss publicly; it started on June 9 and resolved (mostly) on July 19, give or take a few days, I can't remember the exact day the restriction was removed. So, without compromising the agreement I signed or compromising any agreement to confidentiality I will lay out some basic details. I do this primarily for the sake of keeping a personal family record.
    On June 9, one patient turned around, cursed and punched another patient. There was no warning, no odd behavior preceding this event, no exchange of any kind between the two patients. It was senseless, unprovoked violence.
    I insured the patients' safety and reported to the best of my understanding. I later came to understand that wasn't sufficient. I was suspended for 5 days without pay. When I came back I found out that the allegation were more severe than I imagined. I was placed on a restriction.
    The restriction wasn't lifted for several weeks. I am glad the incident happened that I might learn patience, humility and charity. Also so that others were given the opportunity to help me.
The End