To the three I missed and the two yet to come this month - Happy Birthday to coffeemissy, haywire, darling Mags, Little Bear and Lady Catherina. This definitely applies to you all:

Ok, so the Nutrisystem stuff got here today, and my diet began. Breakfast was ok...bran flakes, apple slices, milk. For lunch, I accidentally picked up the dinner entree instead - an allegedly grilled chicken breast. It slithered out of the packet in a way that almost made me drop a pound just thinking of putting it in my mouth, and it tasted like raw tuna. Chicken, no matter how you cook it, should NEVER taste like tuna. I'm crossing that one off the menu for next month, definitely. I worked out by taking the dog around the block a few times, then doing some gardening out front, and got all my water drinking done, then rewarded myself with having my evening NS dessert for an afternoon snack - the chocolate cake tasted like...chocolate cake! Win!! If the pasta tastes normal tonight, I'll call today a general win on the diet front.

Other goodness today is that our newly-refurbished computer is coming back, along with a copy of Sims 3 (I wanted to get it for so long, but none of our PC's could handle it til now). Good thing I got my exercise done already, because as soon as that game is uploaded, I won't be leaving the desk for the remainder of the evening, I think. ( :

Less-than goodness is that I'm pretty damn hungry right now, and more than a little moody...and I've been home all day with not one, but TWO sick kids (the son was diagnosed with strep throat last night, and from the sound of my daughters voice, I think it's a fair bet that she has the same). I love them both, but they're driving me ever-so-slightly insane right now with their cranky-in-stereo routine. At least they'll both be going to bed early.

That's about all that's going on today - I'll write more tomorrow!

This Chronicle Herald article caught my attention:

Mental health court takes first cases
'It’s not about the crime, it’s about the person'
By DAVENE JEFFREY Staff Reporter
Fri. Nov 6 - 4:46 AM

The first sitting of the province’s mental health court wrapped up quickly Thursday afternoon in Halifax.

With just five cases on the docket, the session was over in just 15 minutes. And unlike in other courts, most of the participants seemed happy to be there.

"The docket will grow," said legal aid defence lawyer Kelly Rowlett. "There are a lot of mentally ill people who have filtered through the criminal court and forensic system."

Ms. Rowlett is one of two lawyers who will defend people who appear in the mental health court.

In the inaugural session Thursday, three men and two women facing charges ranging from assault with a weapon to mischief appeared in the court. Four of the five were eager to have the mental health court handle their cases.

One woman said she wanted time to review information on the program before deciding.

A team including a nurse and social worker will now interview the four and determine whether they are eligible for the program.

The atmosphere in the mental health court is meant to be collaborative rather than adversarial, said Crown attorney Sandi MacKinnon. The clients must acknowledge their guilt and sign a form stating they are entering the program voluntarily.

"It’s not about the crime, it’s about the person," Ms. Rowlett said.

And while the court is designed to be a better fit for people with mental health issues, it is also a good situation for Ms. Rowlett and Ms. MacKinnon, they said.

"In a previous life, I worked with individuals with disabilities and I was a community advocate," Ms. MacKinnon said.

That’s what led her to become a lawyer.

"It’s almost like coming full circle for me," she said.

Ms. Rowlett used to work in insurance litigation before she began to represent mentally ill clients.

"It’s kind of nice to make a difference every once in a while," she said.

Ms. Rowlett said her clients "are really wonderful, caring people who appreciate the assistance."

The mental health court has been in the works for two years.

Ms. MacKinnon said a lot of mental health services are available, but the job of the court and its team of workers will be to co-ordinate those services in developing programs for the people who come through the courtroom doors.

After a program has been set up for a client, he or she will be required to return to court so the judge can assess whether progress is being made.

In many cases, the criminal charges will eventually be stayed, Ms. MacKinnon said.

She said cases involving people who are found to be not criminally responsible for their actions will remain in the regular court system.

Ms. MacKinnon said the purpose of the mental health court is not to avoid criminal convictions for clients but to provide the supports they need to avoid coming into conflict with the law repeatedly. In that way, the public is protected, she said.

The Crown does anticipate some glitches as the new court gets underway.

For instance, Ms. MacKinnon said, few resources are available to help people who have experienced brain injuries.

"This segment of the population is going to be somewhat challenging," she said.

The court’s second session will be next Thursday.

I think it's nice to see something like this in Canada as well. I actually did a course several years ago, and spent an entire day with a Judge who did these kind of cases . In my country it's custom Judges make rounds the way doctors do when people are too sick to come to the practice; we drove to the hospitals and homes where the people were. I wish I was there to see how it's done in Nova Scotia. I'm sure it makes for great conversation.

One of the things high on my list of things to get once this house went through was some new clothes...and specifically right now, a velvet blazer for the winter. But WHICH velvet blazer? Here's three I'm considering - which one do you think is best?

(cut for pics and for those of you who really couldn't give a damn about what jacket I wear):

( Read more... )

It’s done. The house sale is finally, COMPLETELY done.

Have you ever been so completely stressed out for so long that you don’t even seem to realize that this chronically miserable state you’re in IS stress? Well, when that money hit the account today I felt it. I felt like some huge thing was piggybacking on my shoulders, and chose that exact moment to go sliding off my back, retreating from my personal space and fading back into obscurity, just a shade of the monster it had been a few moments ago. I could breathe again.

The debts can be paid, the car repaired, our medical needs handled, and a full pantry of groceries bought. No more scrounging for basic needs, or dodging collection agents. No more avoiding a dentist/doctor/cardiologist on the sole fear that I can’t even cover the co-pay for it. I can give the kids allowance again, and pay for their after-school care on time. The more it sinks in, the more deliriously happy I become.

WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tonight, it’s off to celebrate at a nice restaurant, followed by a gargantuan grocery shopping trip, followed by…breathing in the sweet, sweet smell of non-poverty.