Today, was my long day at work. I have a daytime client and second shift client. I have been with the second shift client the longest and honestly she is my favorite. Don't get me wrong the other lady is nice and we have good moments and it's a lot better now that I only see her three times a week instead of four.

On the way, to the second client, I stopped and got Subway. Basically, I shared my dinner but I couldn't eat a foot long sub anyways. It was a turkey one with tons of veggies. I am not sure how my job would feel about me bring food to her but I have never been told no. I have bought pizza from the grocery store a few times. The fun part about her and not sure if it's an elderly thing or just her. I think more of an elderly thing cause once with the other lady when her family member brought us fast food she got all weird and thought no way the family member could afford that. It was too funny. If I could afford it then so could she. But how do you say I am under paid and I can afford it.  Well, anyways, it just doesn't take much to make the elderly happy.  I call it interactive caregiving.  I need to remember to bring Titanic cause she keeps saying she wants to see it again.

Well, it's late and I better get to bed.

Is bigger and fancier always better?

I got to go with my client to see the Nicholas Conservatory this week.  If I remember right a family donated one million dollars to build it. I think that was awesome but honestly I think the money could have been spent better.  Since, I was with my client, who can't get around very well, I wasn't really able to check it out compared to if I had gone on my own.

From what I saw of it. It was pretty and very relaxing. It wasn't as big as I imagined because when you first walk in there is a lobby and a gift shop. They even have a cafe for people to get snacks.

I remember a few different times walking through the old conservatory and pretty sure it was free. It wasn't anything that a person might want to spend more than 15 minutes or so looking at. Honestly, I still don't think the average bear would want to spend that much time there. You can only walk around looking at the plants for so long and eventually your going to see it all. Again, I wasn't on my dime so I know I missed out on some stuff.

I wanted to write about the cost. It's six dollars to get in. I know that's not a lot but if a family of four wants to go then that's 24 just to walk through looking at plants. I know in the grand sceme of things that 24 isn't much but with so many people struggling I wonder how many families from the Rockford area can come see it.

I have to wonder what was wrong with what we had? Do we as a society always have to get bigger and better? I know Faith Center wanted to get bigger and better and fell on their ass trying to do it. Now, they are running the risk of having the whole chuch and grounds taken from them. This could also affect the building down town that helps the homeless and other programs like the tutoring programs. Let's settle for what we have people.

Back to the plants. Now, I know people drop 6 per person for lots of things so it's not totally unheard of that families could spend money on something like this. However, if people are having trouble we want the best bang for our buck. Do I want to spend 6 to see plants or would I rather sit in on a movie for two hours? I could probably come up with a better example of how I could think of better ways to spend my time and money but it's late.

I should add that they have a free day once a month. But to me stopping in to walk thru the Conservatory wasn't planned. I would be walking on the bike path and just decide to walk through it. I would admire the fish the turtles and the plants. I didn't have to plan to have cash on me or plan to go on the free day. I wouldn't have to feel like I have to stay as long as possible to get my money worth cause I didn't pay.

By the way, I pay taxes to the Rockford Park district so even though I never paid to walk in to see the plants I did pay because I own my home. Even renters are paying cause the landlords are paying taxes. I noticed that they have been offering some "classes" there and saying a fee does apply.

Last spring, we went to a gardening event that was held by the Rockford Park District and I won a earth box and everyone was given free starter flowers and veggies. A fee didn't apply and everyone poor, middle class or rich had a right to go and could go.

Now these classes that say fee applies just makes it seem like they want to attract a certain type of people. It's like they are saying your kind of people stay away from here. Not that we are poor. We are probably more lower middle class. We have money and bills paid but not a lot of cushion.

Good night. It's been a long day.

I love Saturday nights because I know I get two days free of taking care of the elderly. I am happy that I really like my job and hours are going strong but nothing is better than having a couple days home with my family. Of course there is babysitting at the church and babysitting for MELD. Then, there is my trip to the Y two or three times a week. I stay way too busy and sometimes I just want to sit home and do nothing. What is odd is that I am not comfortable doing nothing. I feel nervous if I don't get a walk in or take sometime to go life weights in the basement. I don't like to walk when it's dark. It scares me. I always bring Ann but not sure how she would react to bad guys. I like to think she is on the aggressive side if she needed to protect her Mommy.

We got our new bed with part of our tax return and I feel bad that Ann won't sleep in our room anymore. I miss her. Well, I should probably get to bed. I love my sleep. I am a blanket hog though. I wonder if they have a support group for people married to blanket hogs?? haha Step away from my blanket and you can live.