It’s been an intense work-week. It’s funny how, after one simple (though scary) event, you’re so much more conscious about the difference the little details make when it comes to caring for people. Even down to wearing accurate medical jewelry. When it comes to another human being’s life, and the possibility of something putting it at risk or something making a difference in its being preserved, there’s nothing more valuable, so nothing should be so trivial that it’s overlooked!

I think people in my field - human services - should be paid twice what they are. This work is so vital, so worthwhile - and yet people doing things like personal shopping and TV presenters earn infinitely more. We seriously need to redress this balance, as a society. :P Our perception of what’s worthy of being paid the big bucks, as it were, is just a bit distorted.

Of course, there are lots of ways to supplement your income. Starting an on-the-side online business, selling things with ecommerce software, is easier than ever now. People have their whole careers online now, selling anything with online shopping cart software. It’s a bit of a foreign concept to me, because I thrive on the person-to-person contact and the raw interactions I have every day, but in terms of simply earning money by any means, if definitely makes sense.

And let’s face it - any simple and effortless way to help make ends meet is a plus!

Okay, so I have to say, this is awesome: a teen boarding school properly dedicated to underachievers. Having been a boarder myself, I know what a difference living in that environment can make. You’re forced to take responsibility for yourself, the structure helps keep you focussed. And you can see yourself doing well, so you feel good about yourself, too. Which in turn encourages you to keep working!

Woring in the field of educational/social psychology, I can see the benefits yet more clearly. Schools like these that are specifically geared towards furthering people that may instead have been overlooked or deemed a waste of time or effort by mainstream schools are so completely imperative. Everybody has something of value to contribute to society. Why should’t so-called underachievers be given a chance like this, to fulfil their potential?!

Love it!

On the way home from work yesterday, I stopped off in the retail park to go to Borders to get a magazine and a coffee. I’d had to stay a little late, so it was almost 6:55 when I got there. Starbucks closes at 7:00, and Borders at 8:00. I checked the time and went upstairs - there were still people sitting in the couches drinking and eating. I went up to the counter:

“Hiya, are you still serving?!”
“Oh, I’m sorry, no, we just closed…”
“Aww, no way! Okay, thanks anyway.” Cursing my bac luck, I turn away to leave.
[Announcement: Good evening Borders customers. The time now is five to seven. Starbucks will be closing in five minutes. Thank you.]
I half turn back around, really wanting to say something but knowing I probably wouldn’t. The barista sees me and catches my eye.
“Okay, what drink did you want?”
“Oh, seriously, are you sure?! Just a caramel macchiato, thank you so much!” I reach into my bag for my debit card.
“Nah, don’t worry about it, it’s on the house. I was only kind-of in the middle of something…” she gestures vaguely to the half-put-away food.

We just grinned when she passed me the cup. “Thank you so, so much!” “Haha, not a problem.”

What a great end to the day… free coffeel, and good coffee at that, and a wander through a bookshop browsing the new books and magazines, and checking out DVDs and stuff. I didn’t buy anything, but it was a great de-stresser nonetheless. I treasure those rare half-hours wandering the stalls of new-smelling books sipping anything hot and caffeine-infused. Bliss.

I called my broadband people this morning. Apparently, my problem is with head office and I should call at the beginning of next week. ARGH. I’m tired of this problem; not having proper internet access means I don’t feel like my new flat is a ‘home’ yet, and it’s been almost 2 months - 1/3 of the time I’ll be living there!

I’m… somwhat unhappy. Heh. :P