Quick update!!

[spritechan]

I've been working hard this week to renew my dedication to my job. I've been putting notes in on time (it's annoying because my computer only works when plugged in and most of my clients don't have the patience for all that technology boo-hocky so I can't do concurrent documentation most of the time) and reminding myself that my clients call me because they trust me (well, most of them) and that they think I can actually help them. So I'm trying to help them.

I transferred two more clients off my caseload (that's three total), but I'm getting a new intake that is apparently an assertive outreach at this point. The two I transferred off are not all that difficult, but one of them has been very time-consuming and the person she's going to doesn't yet have a full caseload, and the other I just never really established any rapport with so I know he won't be upset about being switched.

I have already picked out the next person I'm moving, though. I can never do anything right for her. Part of it is me, and part of it is her. She has exceptional borderline traits, and I feel like I've self-fulfilled her prophecy. It's for real like a conspiracy - I will swear I scheduled an appointment but it won't be in my calendar. When I call her she is angry and "waited and waited and waited" for me to come when I didn't. I know she was not waiting for me. She just doesn't have anywhere to go. And she REFUSES to pick up a phone and call. She doesn't want confirmation beforehand, and has NO responsibility in reminding me if something appears amiss. That would be beneath her. I never call her back fast enough. I never find her the things she needs. And she hates me. We have never had ANY semblance of a rapport, and she has never trusted me even a little bit. So she's getting the hell off my caseload ASAP.

Cassie says that if no one else quits, I should be able to have 30-32 people on my caseload. I have 33 right now. It would be freakin' amazing if I had 30. I could be so much better a worker!

I finished FFX - not sure if I mentioned that. I became very, very frustrated with the second form of Jecht. I get even more escalated in big fights if I have to do crap over and over again before getting back to the boss. So, to have to do 2 cut scenes and the gem-collecting 50 times did not improve my mood. I ended up letting Steve beat him and I finished the rest. I liked the ending, but I was not as attached to the game as I was FFIX. Overall I really enjoyed it, but that last set-up really left a sour taste in my mouth.

I also completed 999: 9 Hours, 9 Persons, 9 Doors. It's SO good. It's like a gentler version of Saw. It's a mystery with puzzles and death and OMGYESCHARACTERDEVELOPMENTTTT. It was funny because there are 6 endings. After I got the true ending (you need to get two other specific endings to unlock the true ending), Steve helped me get the last ones by looking up which doors I could go through to get each ending (there are several ways to get the same ending). Steve's first ending was my last ending, and I would have been so heartbroken had I gotten that ending first! It's the worst ending!! XD Anyway, the game is amazing and not long, so I suggest you buy and play it right now.

As a result, I have started two new games. Legend of Zelda: Minish Cap, and Ar Tonelico II: Melody of Metafalica. So far I can barely stand myself, Ar Tonelico is so good. I loved the first one, and this one is already overshadowing it. SO FREAKIN GOOD. I haven't gotten very far in Minish Cap, but... it's a LoZ game. I'm sure I'll love it.   

Comments

[silver-tiamat.livejournal.com]

Yeesh. It sounds like that client is the nightmare of clients, mostly because the relationship you two have sounds hellish, but not exagerratedly so. It's like the believable, this-is-what-happens type of situation, which I find is rather difficult to complain about properly. XD Still, I think I agree that you really should transfer her ASAP, to avoid more energy drain on you, and bitterness on her end.

I also still think that 30 sounds like a lot, but I understand that one of largest factors in social work is the constant battle of underfunding and overpopulation. It's one of the things that piss me off about the way our government handles its budget, spending all manner of money on things like interferring in other country's business, when our own people lack the resources they need. I really hope that you get a good grip on your work, and that the effort for a more positive outlook holds! It's sad to hear things being so stressful with you.

(Also, side note: How's Steve doing?)

I don't remember having any trouble with Jecht in FFX. The one I found annoying was the 70 million forms of Seymour. I mean, seriously? I was reminded of the line from Aladdin: "HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO KILL YOU, BOY?!"

Though, to be honest, I found the ending too terribly sad, and was happy when they put out X-2, if only for the chance at a different ending. However, this was in my misguided youth. Now, I fully embrace the ultimate death of the hero, and scorn the sequel that makes everything all better again. XD Oh, how things change...

Tell me more about Ar Tonelico (especially sequel--is necessary to have played first one, yes or no?). I've considerd it probably half a dozen times at least, and each time shied away from it, because I don't know if I want to buy something I haven't played even for a few hours, based off of online reviews. Can you tell me what other games it's like?

[miss-ljv.livejournal.com]

Yeah. I mean, I'm not exactly failing her as a worker - I'm doing my JOB, such as making referrals and seeing her and such. It's just that we have to reschedule a lot and the things she wants for free (like a "nice" couch to support her back pain, ahem) are not really available. I am ALWAYS vague when I say I'm going to call people back, because if I'm looking into a resource I have NO IDEA when I'll find an answer, if any. So sometimes it will take a week to find something. When that happens, she will remind me it has been a week and she "thought I'd never call I said I'd call back soon" or some annoying BS. God forbid she check to make sure I haven't forgotten, or to ensure that I'm working on it and haven't yet found out what we need! Nooooo. If I don't call her back by the next day with the answer she wants, I'm fucked.

30 is still way too much, but I remember when I had risen to 30 and that it was so doable, but with each addition after that my poor back cracked and broke :P The lowest number I can get would be YAY. I agree, I want to be happier with my job again. I think it will work out, at least for awhile longer.

Steve's still the same. He's funny because he'll lie to people, or gloss over it with something like, "It's... a job" etc. but won't come out and say just how much he HATES it to anyone but me. I guess he doesn't want to sound like a complainer. He's too adorable. His stress has appeared a little lower this week, which is good. I think he's excited because we took Monday off. :)

I might have been somewhat underleveled, but I was DONE grinding. I was kind of over the game by the time I got to that point. I didn't have some of the abilities that the guides assumed I'd have, but Steve found a really good system using Slowga I think, which I almost never used and therefore didn't think of it. I was perfectly fine with the ending, but am curious about X-2. Pat was all "It's the worst one don't play it!" but Steve said, "I didn't think it was that bad, but you should definitely give it some space before playing it after X". Again, I may have simply been too jaded and ornery to appreciate it to the fullest. :/

Ar Tonelico is BEAUTIFUL. It's a very pretty game, and has an interesting battle system. It's definitely got some cheesecake with the girls, but I don't think it gets over the top until Ar Tonelico Qoga (and even then I'm sure I'll love it). The actual maps and such are amusing because it looks like the characters are paper dolls placed on a painting, but I don't mind it. I don't know the right terminology, but the biggest fault is perspective and how the character moves about the levels - it's not always clear how far you can move, and always feels like you're really far away from any given wall - like there's a forcefield. Other than that, it's great. The stories I imagine are loosely linked, but you wouldn't need to have played I to play II, from what I've played of II so far. But! I also very much loved the first game. It's linear - I can't think of any time where I got stuck on where to go, since everything is kind of on one plane, and you choose your location based off a world map. No running aimlessly around areas for you!

But my favorite part is Diving and the girls' Cosmospheres and the story (and magic!) you can unlock by diving into their minds. It's a really cool concept.