Philly Cheese Steak!

I’m still not sleeping well. I woke up this morning kind of dizzy so that was weird. I think something must go off at 5:30 every morning because that’s when I keep waking up. Still no refrigerator and we learned that our oven is also down for the count. Otherwise everything with the apartment is good. We finally went grocery shopping. The stores around here are certainly nothing like a Publix. They have more of a Sam’s Club feel, with concrete floors and such. It’s nice to have some food around though.

Today was more touring around Philadelphia. We saw two offices involved with LCFS; one worked primarily with their foster care program and the other was attached to a group home for gay youth from the city. I was impressed with the group home. It’s hard to imagine living in one when I am so used to living in my own house, but this seemed very positive. It provided a lot of opportunities for the kids, including public schools, a wellness center, life skills training, and opportunities to serve of youth councils and other public service committees. We met one of the residents who told us about a committee she worked on that will be putting on an event this Saturday. Unfortunately she talked very quickly and I had a hard time understanding what the event was for but I did hear her say that they had some big names coming in such as Bill Cosby and Jill Scott. The home’s goal is independence for the residents and they provide as many services as they can to reach that goal. Behind the house was a beautiful community garden as well. The strawberries they were growing looked perfect and anyone who had Mr. Wagner’s 11^th grade biology with me knows that strawberries are not that easy to grow. They had a mural on the side of the building made of glass and ceramic pieces that was just beautiful. Pictures to come.

It started raining soon after that but we did have time for me to have my first Philly cheese steak at Pat’s Famous Steaks. It was great. Another thing that I thought was interesting was the number of performing and creative arts schools around. There was The Rock School of Dance and the Philadelphia Creative and Performing Arts School within two blocks of each other. While we drove by some of the historic district stuff we didn’t really get to see anything other than people running around due to the torrential rain.

I think the lack of sleep is beginning to stress me out. I’m trying to keep my patience with things and also trying to remember to take time out for myself to just be alone. I think this journal/blog is helping with that. I would really like to go for a run or work out but we haven’t gotten a key for the gym yet. I think that will probably help with the sleeping issues as well. I think I need to remember the things that I wrote in my personal covenant for the summer. There are things that I want to remember to keep with me and things that I want to try to keep out.

Keep In: Willing heart and hands

Positive, can-do attitude

Tolerance/acceptance

Standards

Watchful eye for those in any need

Even temper

Spontaneity

An open mind

Keep Out: The urge to cut myself off from people

Anxieties due to lack of confidence

The urge to take the easy road

Selfishness

Judgment

Disrespect for others

So far there are things that I’ve let in that I want to keep out and vice versa. It’s a good reminder to write it out again.