I'm not really a big fan of stress.

Well, today's posting is not really very uplifting, so if you're not in the mood to read a bit of ranting, you'd might as well move along. Otherwise, be prepared to listen to a bit of complaining.

So, as some of you know, I've been quite sick, off and on since Thanksgiving. This stupid flu just won't seem to bugger off, and quite frankly, I'm sick and tired of it. Sick and tired of being sick and tired. Maybe it's mono...which I probably got from all those hot boys I've been kissing lately...uhh...ok, so I haven't been kissing anyone...so maybe I got it from something else. We can be sure that it's not a bun in the oven...because obviously, I'm a virgin. *cough cough*

Anyways, yesterday I felt like ass on a stick, so I decided I would work from home instead of go to our Wednesday group. I was puking, and I didn't think it would be good for the clients to be exposed to my repulsiveness. Anyways, I did some paperwork and looked up some new ideas for groups and I did actually do some work. I figured it was almost the same thing. Boy, was I wrong.

This morning, I went and had breakfast with my old guys (which was fantabulous, thanks) and when I left, I had a voice message from one of the Therapists. She said I had to call her immediately, but since my work phone is a giant piece of crap with no reception, I decided I'd just go up to the office to talk with her. So, I go up there, and of course she's the first person I see and she's angry that I didn't call her back. I explained the phone situation for the umpteenth time, but still, she was mad. We went into her office, and she starts lecturing me on the importance of being "responsible". I'm almost in tears...because I'm a baby. I try to explain my reasoning behind not calling in sick, but it's no use. I fucked up. Then she starts talking about how one of my clients (who is a royal pain in the ass at the best of times) has been told she needs to pay money for something that was apparently already paid for (before I even started working with her, of course) and now it's up to me to deal with her this afternoon. Joy.

I left her office feeling like a little kid who had upset their teacher and I honestly wanted to vomit. Instead of crying about it, I went and found my boss and explained the situation to him and he said it wasn't that big of a deal, but he'd hold me to the promise that it wouldn't happen again. Still, I felt like I was going to cry and be sick. Damn my Catholic upbringing and the intense guilt feelings it has left me with!!!

After all of my apologizing and nausea, the therapist who originally gave me shit called me back into her office. I thought to myself "OH BLOODY HELL...what have I done now?". As it turned out, she actually just wanted to tell me that one of my clients had come in for a session with her on Tuesday and said that he was extremely happy to be working with me. Then she said how good it was for him that I was always on time and very "responsible". I felt like asking how I could be responsible and not responsible all in the same morning, but I figured I'd better not start any crap.

So, I'm back in the office, checking the messages and there's one on there from one of my other clients asking me to call her as soon as humanly possible. I called her right then, and she went into a 30 minute rant about how her rent was going up and she was so upset that I had to hold back my tears and promise to help her in any way I could. Sadly, there really isn't much I can do for her as there is no housing in Grande Prairie, but I said I would meet with her for coffee tomorrow so that she can vent a little bit. After we hung up, I did start crying a little, and I went to talk with her therapist. She said that I had to get the client to find her own housing...won't that be a lovely thing to explain over coffee!!!?!?!

Anyways, I've come home to bitch to all of you (well, maybe 2 or 3 of you who read this) and play with the furballs for a bit to try and get myself back to a normal state before I go pick up the most annoying client in history. Good news is, after I drop her off, I get to play pool with a bunch of our most messed up guys...but they are good natured and fun to be around. I wish I could be good natured and fun to be around.