The next day, I stop in to see a new client. She stated that she doesn’t drink milk, like over 60% of my kids, and wants water. The cafeteria wouldn’t give her water and then when they did it was warm.
The water battle has been going on for 4 months. The chef and kitchen staff caught kids and staff washing their hands under the water container. Kitchen yanked the container. I thought we made a truce that a tray of water would be out at every meal so that the kids could ask staff and get a glass. Resolution vaporized.
So I have dehydrated kids that don’t get enough food. Riots, clients butt naked running through halls screaming, maintenance crew who should have stock in dry wall and joint compound, staff with fat lips. No further explanation needed.
Pick your battles, line up your ducks and be clear of purpose.
I make haste to the cafeteria. Neither the chef or the second in command is there. I ask where is the tray of water. Old Kitchen guy has no idea what I am talking about and begins to tell me why the water is not there.
“I know why the water isn’t here, but we talked about the need for water. It’s water. The kids need water.”
“They washed their hands in it and we took the water–”
“I know why the water was taken away, but you are supposed to provide water in cups.
Look I supported the kitchen in your decision, but you cannot deny people water. I back you up whenever I can, but people who need water get very angry. Is the chef going to be here?”
“You need to talk to the chef.”
“Thank you, I will.”
I went to my office and tried to think of how else to get water.
I called Chef and left a message saying how much they have solved smaller problems, but we have to solve this water thing. I say how much I appreciate his help [which is true] and that we should be able to resolve this easily. I refrain from screaming, yelling or attacking anyone’s lack of follow through or knowledge. I never called Chef before, but I am really tired of not getting little, stupid stuff like this done.
I sat and thought about anyone else who could get water. The powers that be don’t really care. They are trying to keep the place open. Nursing is useless because they are trying to keep people from choking other people. Besides the kids won’t even let them take photos when they get hurt, refuse meds and refuse to get vitals done for who knows what reasons. Unit staff has been complaining to me about water for months, so they have no power. The only other place the kids go is to school. I go down to school.
“School secretary? Can the kids have water bottles in class?”
“I have no policy on that. Let’s talk to the principal.”
I like the secretary and the principal. In fact, all but one of the teachers is very nice.
The principal in incredulous that the kids can’t get water.
“Who do you report to, Marty?”
“Nobody.”
“Who hired you?”
“They left the second week I was here.”
“What department are you in?”
“My own. I am my own department.”
“What about the head of nursing?”
“Yes, maybe her. I am on their email list.” I do not say that I have asked for a job description, mission statement or reason d’etre for months with no response.
The principal doesn’t scoff, but is slightly bemused that I use email almost solely to communicate. I don’t have a phone. My office has no windows so carrier pigeon is out. Goofy me. I use email and personal appearances.
The principal says he will talk with her in a morning meeting and see if she has any clout. We discuss some short comings of staff, but leave out any derrogatory terms. We all know what we are talking about.
He says to me, “So you came down here to vent. That’s okay. Come down anytime.”
Yes, I came to find out a piece of information. I was going to leave, except he wanted to know more about my inquiry. This gave me a door for venting. And I left with at least knowing a little more about the power structure.
I had an update for the diet order list which is held in the kitchen. I went to the kitchen even though I knew the staff there was ready to knock me into the middle of next week. They do not know how to handle me at all. They constantly think I am trying to get them fired or chastise them. But, I bend over backward to be nice, listen to their ridiculous nutrition notions and be the “Happy, Middle-aged White Lady.” I was checking out part of our tray line which is not used as a possible salad bar.
Old kitchen guy said, do you need something. I felt like he thought I was going to steal something.
“No. I’m good. Thanks.”
“What do you need over here?”
“I’m checking out plumbing.”
“What?”
“I’m checking out plumbing.”
He had no idea what to do with that.
” . . .Okay . . .”
I was seeing if the pipes led to a drain for ice needed for a salad bar. But line up ducks first.
The staff said, “the chef’s in his office”, before I could say anything. Chef was putting papers together and obviously in a big hurry.
“Water is back on the line.”
Neither one of us made eye contact.
“Great. Perfect. The unit staff said they would hand out the glasses so no one gets funky with the water. I ordered a book of volume recipes for Meatless Mondays. I’ll email you ones I think would work.”
“Great. Here are today’s menu. I’ll send up tomorrow’s with the evening snack.”
“I’ll take them up to the units.”
“Great.”
“Is there anything else I can do for you?”
“Nope. We fine here.”
“Okay.” And I am out of the kitchen.
Now, I have to go to each of Unit Supervisors and explain the water thing and hope they will do what I told Chef they would.
The first floor gal was happy and actually smiled at me. The first time since I was hired.
The second floor, Mr. D.
“Well, it’s about time.”
“So, if you could hand out the water.”
“You know how this happened?–”
He goes on to tell me an inaccurate Readers’ digest version. I nod.
” –And besides where else could the kids get water?”
“How about the water fountains?”
He looks amazed.
“I wouldn’t let my kids drink out of those. Do know what is in that water? They probably have never cleaned those pipes. There’s gotta be lead and everything else in those water fountains. [blah, blah, blah]
He fails to realize that the water in the cafeteria is fed by the same pipes. Whatever.
I leave and find the other Unit staff. I give them the menus. They are all impressed that we have water again. I ask again about the fruit sent up with the evening snack and explain that even if the kids don’t eat it, we need to have it available.
Mr. D says, “My kids don’t eat it. I end up throwing it away. It’s a waste.”
Mr. D is at least 60 pounds overweight. I write this not to get on his case, but to illustrate that he has little knowledge of weight management. One of the things our kids come in with is food insecurity. Just having the fruit available means there is food around when you want it. It can begin to eliminate one of the fears some clients come in with. They may able to deal with another issue other than fear of hunger. But, I digress.
I find out there is a huge snow storm hitting my town. School and after school activities are cancelled. My husband who drives through monsoons says to get home before it gets dark. Everything is wet and will turn to ice. I want to leave ASAP, but I promised the girls that I would do yoga.
I find the motivated one, who said, definitely, in the morning.
“No, I don’t want to do it now.”
“You know, I stayed late to conduct this yoga class because you told me you were going to be there. I should have left already because there is a winter storm alert where I live. But when I say I’ll do something, you can take it to the bank. So, I now see that I have possibly put my life in danger with the weather so that you can say no.
“You need to realize that your words hold consequences. If you agree in the morning, you need to follow through on your commitment.”
I went to the little bodega to check out healthy snacks for the kids. Alan asked me to check them out. I pick up 3 bags of multi-grain pretzels. One for Alan, one for me and one for Little Annie since we had discussed snacks. I appreciated her attention. She actually thanks me.
I left and found the 3 that begged me to hold class. They wanted to go. Great! Abby, Little Annie and Bambi get ready for class. Others join, but leave when they realize that I am serious about them needing to take off their shoes. Two more show up. One is Stacy. She drags along Brownie. Brownie complains, but does some of the work.
It is raining. The girls are trying, but unfocused. Little Annie is doing really well. Abby is qvetching. They need to run. I suggest running up and down the steps. Extremely popular. We go to walk up the steps, run them 3 times and walk them once.
After running up 4 flights once, the pissing and moaning begins to crescendo. I find Little Annie in the hallway/landing in front of the door to go back to her unit. The door is locked, so she comes back out. It is possible to get out the first floor door, but you have to pass people. We are now walking/running/pissing/moaning and still managing to have fun.
Then, we all realize that Little Annie is missing. The girls look in the hall/landings for each floor. No Annie. Now, I am worried. She wasn’t on a list for AWOL, but it could happen at any time.
The girls wonder what happened and make some comment about her getting out. I say, “She better not have. This is my job, and I don’t take kindly to people messing with putting food on my table.”
We get on the Unit. The Unit Supervisor, who smiled the first time at me after the return of water, says that Little Annie is on the floor. She knocked on the door until someone let her in. There is no re-assuring smile. All that good will snuffs out like a flame before me.
I’m not sure, but I may have to get my wrists slapped. So be it. Little Annie and I will have a talk when I return next week.
I am checking out the sun for a good garden spot. I am checking possible grants. I received the book with vegan recipes for food service directors. I will print out the weight charts this weekend. I have a list of appointments with kids to discuss their weight.
The next step is figuring out what is on the commodities list that we can use. Creating meals from legumes and whole grain products. Price animal products versus plant based.
I found a nice fat porpoise.
A friend found this floating around the web. It’s an amazing painting of Johnny Depp and Michael Jackson. If you are the artist, or know who is, I’d like to put your name and links here! One of Johnny Depp’s dreams as an actor is to play Michael Jackson. I look forward to the film- he is such a talented actor, who gets into so many roles.
Está imagen ha sido redimensionada. Haz click en está barra para ver la original. La original mide 853×480.
i still can’t think of a solution. maybe i should get white out and mark them. this way i’ll know how many there are. but they can’t fly if i white-out-glue their wings together, right? gosh, this seems to be tricky… i don’t want to hurt them but i want to get to the root of the problem and that includes a census. census 2010 if anyone understands that joke 
Dr. Conrad Murray was charged with involuntary manslaughter in the death of Michael Jackson
In the news . . .
Which is the real reason why i watched it….
