ORDINARY DAYS ARE GOOD

      There was virtually no scuttlebutt today, and that left the morning wide open for more uplifting endeavors. But, just so you know, Miss Lillian is seeing her doctor again next week and she'll get back to the boss about whether or not she'll be returning. I see a disability claim in her future… and Mr. Huggy did not go to the pantry this week, so the goody bin is empty. It's so empty that Doug washed it!

       A young woman came to work off some service hours, and Doug put her to the task of making sack lunches, then PBJs. She was sentenced to 40 hours of community service and is to serve all of them this week. Sobriety can be an illusive thing.

       Doug didn't have a plan for lunch, but he did have chicken salad and egg salad and plenty of canned fruit, so I raided the mystery box and made "the soup." Unless that box gets a visit from the canned-goods fairy, I won't be making soup next week… unless someone has a recipe for salmon/evaporated milk/beets & sauerkraut soup.

       The pre-release numbered 8 or 10, and the big man with the cane called to me after he'd begun eating, "Ma'am, the soup's real good!" That was sweet.

       We have a flaming queen in that group, and he came to lunch today wearing what appeared to be camouflage pajama bottoms, a skuzzy t-shirt, and cheap flip-flops. Doug was in a bit of a snit early on because someone in the hierarchy had ordered him to monitor what people are wearing—they'd seen a child come to the dining room wearing bedroom slippers. That is not in his job description, and he's not shy about saying so.

       Our homeless numbered about 25. The Chinese fellow took the sardines I offered him… I do wonder what the game plan is for him. We still have the two teen girls, but the little ones from previous weeks are all gone. In their stead is a very pretty 8-year-old girl. I gave her a Beanie bear and she was quick with her thank-you! Later, she came to the counter and said, "Thank you, again!" Someone is doing something right with her.

       The Christians came with an enormous donation, and we shot some hoops with the bags of hard rolls, but Doug will serve the sweets for snacks and give the other breads to a friend for their chickens.

       The new head honcho took over this week, but there isn't any news about him. I'm sure that in time, he'll make an impression, one way or another.