The Second Great Hamster Escape

This was supposed to be a post to inform you that the mystery had been solved and through my incredible sleuthing skills happenstance and luck I had discovered the way our ham(mon)ster had escaped.  But, instead, this is a story about not learning your lesson the first time and putting too much trust in a miniature rodent (albeit an adorable one).

A few days ago Sonic's wheel began to squeak! It was awful.  And so, in the middle of the night, I removed his wheel from his cage to get some sleep.  When I woke up the next morning to return his wheel to him, I found the little man climbing the cage walls with the help of a running start!! He just ran right up them and it appears he's been able to do this the whole time. That wheel-loving nugget was trying to show me who was boss after I took his wheel away!

After snapping a few pictures of his amazing feat and that belly(!!!!) I took out his water bottle (which forces the lid to remain open a crack) and closed his lid completely to keep him in while I thought of a better solution.

I can't even be upset... I'm too impressed.

However, school/finals!/work/general busy-ness got in the way and I didn't have time to think of a different set-up and I couldn't leave the little guy without water.  So, I chalked it up to an act of teenage (he's like 50 in hamster-years) angst, and figured with his wheel back in place and the lid down in its usual position (the first time he got out it had been fully open) he would stay put in his happy home.

Fast forward to this morning.  Chuck and I got out of bed and sleepily headed to the bathroom where Sonic lives separated from his sister-cat.  Per the usual morning routine, I reached in his cage and said "Good morning, Little Nugget!" I didn't see him right away, so I assumed he was sleeping in his hut and lifted it.  Not there.  Now, I'm legally blind without corrective lenses and was glassesless at this particular moment, so I asked Chuck for confirmation- "Am I just not seeing him, or is he really not in there?!"  His lid had been and was still down, the bathroom door closed all night, and there was no tiny Sonic scampering along the bathroom floor.  Chuck got a puzzled look, then used his perfect, blessed, 20/20 vision to look across the adjacent living room.  "That might explain the situation in the corner," he said.  Cleo, our cat, was laying on the floor staring intently at the couch.

We ran over, grabbed the cat, and locked her in the bedroom, then carefully pulled the couch away from the wall.  A tiny ball of fat and fur waddled full speed across the floor and the chase was on... again! I have to admit that furry little butt running across the room as I imagined him squealing "freeeeedommmm," had me cracking up.  

After a short chase (his quarter-inch long legs can only run so fast) he was once again caught and safely returned to his cage and I was forced to come up with a new watering solution right then and there... no more putting it off.  He now has a small bowl of water in his cage instead of the usual hamster bottle and his lid firmly closed and locked!

If we can't even keep a hamster in a cage, three and a half feet off the ground, and locked in a room from sneaking out in the middle of the night, we're in trouble when we have teenagers some day! Although, if their sneak-outs are half as impressive as his have been, I don't even think I'll be mad.  

(Note to reader: don't show that last sentence to my future children someday, please and thank you.) 

The Mystery of the Escaping Hamster

Alright detectives, we have a mystery that needs solved!

About a week ago, I woke up in the middle of the night to use the restroom.  This is not out of the ordinary. What was out of the ordinary, however, was that when I turned on the light I found our itty bitty dwarf hamster, Sonic, standing in the middle of the floor staring up at me!  I screamed, which woke Chuck, and the two of us were forced into a dreary-eyed, cat-led hamster-hunt around the apartment in the middle of the night.

We caught him! Put him in his cage and explored the area.  The bathroom door had been shut to keep the cat out and his cage was on its table, unmoved.  The only thing that was even remotely strange was that the lid to his cage was flipped completely open.  The lid is usually only open about an inch to allow room for our makeshift water bottle setup.  But even open, he should not have been able to climb the smooth plastic walls above and below the row of bars to get out and he certainly should not have been able to get from the top of his cage to the floor!  Sonic has been a part of our family for more than a year and a half now and he has never shown any inclination that he has the ability to leave his cage at his own will. 

Sonic's cage setup for reference.  It's really high up for such a little guy.

So how the heck did he get out and fall the equivalent of at least 3 hamster-stories to the ground without getting hurt?!?!

We each have our theories as to how it happened and each of our theories are equally ridiculous and likely impossible.  So, what do you all think? Does anyone have any ideas as to how our little man made his great escape?

The Job Saga Continues

In my last post, (which has been way too long ago) I mentioned Chuck's exciting new job opportunity and my situation with having to change jobs.  So much has happened in the few weeks since then.  Soon after Chuck began at PRP Wine (delicious wine, by the way), another, BETTER opportunity came along! Persistence and patience pay off.

For anyone who doesn't know, Chuck's ultimate career goal is to work in some capacity in the media industry. He is very skilled in video production and does some graphic design (he created our save the dates based on a design we liked online, if you've seen them.)  Three weeks ago, he was offered a position on the audio/visual team at the JW Marriott in downtown Grand Rapids!!  The opportunity was too good to pass up and he ended his time as a wine salesman after just one week.  Now, he is building his skills with the equipment needed to work in media in a very well respected company and is another step closer to his dream job! I am so proud and he is LOVING his new job!

My new job has been filled with new challenges for me.  The physical challenge is one that I didn't expect.  The child I care for ("J") has about the same capabilities as a 6-8 month old baby... but he's a 70lb 13-year-old! There is a lot of lifting and carrying and I'm certain I'm gaining some serious muscle mass in my arms.  The other major challenge was one I had anticipated.  J is nonverbal.  As a future therapist, I am skilled at helping others through talking with them.  With J, this is not an option.  I've had to learn to figure out what his needs are based on his behaviors.  I'm coming along and this kid and his family are impossible not to love, but it is certainly a change for me.

Along with the direct challenges of my new job, I am still readjusting to what feels like a step back career-wise.  I lost a job where I had my own office, made my own hours (which meant all my evenings and weekends off from work!), with benefits and a high level of responsibility over a team of employees.  I was involved in a leadership role for a well known organization... and now, I'm not.  But, as Chuck must frequently remind me, my primary focus right now needs to be on grad school, and my new job allows me the opportunity to do my homework at work (I'm writing this post from work now) and helps pay the bills.  For now, that's exactly what I need and I am grateful for the opportunity.  Plus, doing homework at work, means when I'm at home I have more time to spend with my tiny half-human-half-animal family, and that's my favorite thing in the world.  Can't beat that.

In non-work related news, Chuck and I picked out our wedding bands last night!!!!  We're almost to wedding time, people of the internet, just under 4 months to go!

Patience and Trust Through New Opportunities

The other day I saw a sign in front of a church that said "Patience is trusting in God's timing," and these last few weeks have been a lesson in just that.  Trusting in God's timing has always been challenging for me.  I want things to happen on my time instead.  But, that's not how things work, and I'm so glad it's not, because who knows how many hasty decisions I would have made in the name of impatience!

Anyway, so much has happened since my last post that I'm not even sure where to start.  I suppose I should start with the bad news and transition to the good news so I can leave you all on a happy note.

Due to some major budget cuts at the company I've been working for, the decision was made to eliminate a variety of positions.  This unfortunately included mine.  Yesterday was my last day in the group home I have been working in for more than 2 years.  My last two weeks there were hard on me, because, while I knew that they were my last days, the announcement had not yet been made to the rest of the company and I was required to keep the news confidential from my coworkers and residents until my next-to-last day.  But, yesterday was lovely as the team gave myself and the other assistant managers a laughter-filled farewell lunch.  I am already missing the residents there and will undoubtedly continue to miss the ever-changing excitement of working in the mental health field.

With that, it is time to explore new opportunities.  I will be pursuing a new position providing care for a family whose child has cerebral palsy.  This will be a whole new type of care work than what I am used to and I know it will create plenty of new joys and challenges.  On top of that, I will be starting an internship in a few short months as a requirement to complete my MSW degree and I am looking forward to continuing to learn through experience.

About a month ago I mentioned that Chuck was exploring his own job options.  After many twists and turns, he has accepted a position as a wine consultant for PRP Wine!! (Shameless plug time!)  If you love wine, this stuff is good! Chuck will be hosting in-home wine tastings, so if you're interested in a fun night in with your friends, contact me and I'll set you up!  I am so excited for him to begin this journey and eternally grateful for his emotional support through my emotional weeks.

So, friends, family, and people of the internet- that's why I've been MIA from the blog world lately.  It's been a crazy two weeks of weighing options, job searching, and full on supporting each other! I am reminded daily, especially through these trials and tribulations, that I have found my life's perfect partner.  With each new challenge I have more and more confidence that we will be able to handle anything that comes our way.

Please keep us both in your thoughts and prayers as we both begin new jobs in the coming week!

A Celebration of Love

When I first decided to start keeping a blog (again!) I thought it would be easy to come up with topics to write about on a semi-regular basis.  But, the truth is my life is really pretty boring.  Grad school doesn't leave me with much time to do anything too exciting.  I go to work, go to school, spend time with my man, and do procrastinate and stress about my homework. When I get a little time, we work on wedding plans but that's really about it.  (Consider this my apology for such long breaks between posts.)

Sooooo....
When something awesome happens, I'm going to tell you all about it.

This weekend my college roommate and one of my dearest friends GOT MARRIED and I was honored to stand by her side on her special day.  It was a beautiful ceremony and such a fun reception!

Anne and I met during our freshman year in college when we joined the same sorority.  We lived together in college and for the first year after we graduated (the first year of both of our relationships with our partners.)  The same week that Chuck and I began dating, Anne met Travis.  We shared the joys and challenges of developing new relationships together.  Our engagements even overlapped by 6 months and we were able to share our wedding planning tips.  And, in less than 5 months, Anne will return the favor and stand by me at my own wedding.  I consider myself so blessed to have been able to watch Anne and Travis' relationship develop from strangers to spouses!!!

A million congratulations to the new Mr. and Mrs.  I can't wait to share newlywed stories.

While I'm on the topic of celebrating love love love- I have to take some time to give a MAJOR shout out to my husband-to-be for keeping me sane this week.  He has cleaned, cooked, and literally served me all my meals while I stressed my booty off because of school this week.  What a man!

Keedy-Ranspach Weight Loss Challenge

Our first two weeks of living together have started with a bang! We are currently 13 days into our own family fitness challenge!!

Two years of seeing each other most frequently only on the weekends, led to treating each weekend night together as a date night, which translated to a lot of dinners out and takeout.  As wonderful as it has been to make each day together special, it also means a little extra around the waistline.  This is on top of me no longer having a built in schedule of dance classes/practices/rehearsals to keep me in shape without much additional effort. With a wedding on the horizon, it's time to get back into shape.

I have to say, I have been impressed by both of us and our dedication to our new lifestyle changes.  Living together has greatly eased the transition into our new healthier life.  For one, I have a live-in accountability partner, workout buddy, and teammate! (And a really good one at that.)  Second, we have more opportunities to cook healthy meals together.  (Ok, Chuck cooks while I watch help.) And as much as I'm not a fan of cooking, I am a BIG fan of spending time together in the kitchen every evening, because it usually leads to dancing.  That time bonding together is one of my favorite parts of each day.  Did I mention that Chuck's a damn good cook? Win win.

So far we are both feeling good and seeing results.  I have found myself looking forward to my daily workouts and especially looking forward to our evening walks together.  I'm excited to see where this new plan takes us and to look smoking hot on our wedding day. ;)

Life is good, friends. Life is good.

A Week of Celebrations

The past week or so has been so eventful and full of blessings. Here are a few of the exciting events that have occurred since my last post...

•  I finished my second (and most stressful yet) semester of my MSW program.  I have had one full week of "summer vacation" and will be back in the classroom tomorrow.  By this time next year, I will have completed my master's degree! 

• Chuck completed his bachelor's degree!!!! He officially graduated yesterday in a beautiful, sunny outdoor ceremony and is exploring the job opportunities available to him. Be thinking about/praying for us as we make some decisions in that department this week. (More on that in the future.) 

• Chuck has moved in with me!!  We are now both roommates and lifemates. =) After 2 years of traveling between our respective homes in different cities, often only seeing each other on weekends, I do not intend to take this blessing for granted.  Having a partner to share my home and days with, someone to come home to in the evenings, fills me with joy and makes our upcoming marriage feel that much more real.  I am so glad to have my partner under the same roof as myself.  We are more able than ever to support each other, hold each other accountable, and love each other... and we will surely be saving boatloads on gas expenses now that we've eliminated our weekly +30 minute commute to see each other. 

• Most importantly, in celebration of these life events, both of our families (6 parents, 3 siblings, and 2 siblings-in-law/spirit) visited this weekend to help move and to attend Chuck's graduation ceremony.  In the 2 years that we have been together, this was the first time that our families were able to meet. Yet, what is often a stressful experience in the lives of couples, was not so for us, because we knew our families would love each other as much as we love them all.  And we were right! Everyone got along perfectly and it was incredible to start our life living together surrounded by SO MUCH LOVE and support. 

I truly cannot express how blessed we feel to have such incredible people to cheer us on as we start this journey together and become our own tiny 2-person-2-pet family. 

Confronting Stigma

Welcome! Today I want to confront a stereotype that I often face when discussing my job with others.

For anyone who doesn't know, for the last two years I have worked with people who have severe and persistent mental illnesses in a residential treatment facility (aka a group home).  And, yes, that does mean I know a lot of people with the ever-feared schizophrenia. Working in this environment has taught me so much, mostly about the lack of information the "mentally healthy" have about mental illness.  Stigma is everywhere, it permeates our media, and I am often asked ignorant, offensive, or generally uninformed questions about the nature of my job.  Most commonly, I am asked if I ever feel unsafe at work or even if there are guards to protect me. (!!!!) One person, upon hearing about where I work, even had the gall to say, "Wow! You must get threatened a lot."  People actually say these things to me!

No. I do not get threatened a lot. Actually, never.  But, I do get told I'm pretty everyday and laugh often.

No. There are not guards. This is their home.  Do you have guards at your home? No, because you haven't committed a crime and are not in prison (unless you're reading this from a prison, in which case, nevermind.) Being mentally ill is not a crime, regardless of what the unbelievably high rates of incarcerated mentally ill would lead you to believe.

The idea that people with mental illnesses are dangerous, is offensive and wrong.  Despite what hyped up news media may tell you about those with mental illnesses being deranged killers; people with mental illnesses are no more violent than those who are not mentally ill.  They just make for a better news story. In fact, those with mental illnesses are far more likely to be the victims of violence than the perpetrators.  There is no denying this when I hear the personal stories of the individuals I work with.  They are a vulnerable population, not a threatening one.

Psychotic is not the same thing as psychopathic.

Psychosis is a state of losing touch with reality.  This is something I see often.
Psychopathy is a personality disorder characterized by a lack of empathy or regard for other beings. This is not something I see.  It is also extremely uncommon.

This distinction is huge! One can lose touch with reality without being a danger to others or themselves.  The untrue, non-reality based belief that an individual was once married to Hugh Hefner and was a supermodel/actress/director, has never (to my knowledge) caused someone to go on a violent, murderous, rampage.  And, when managed with appropriate medications and interventions, recovery is possible, and symptoms significantly reduced.

There are certainly challenges, but they probably aren't the challenges you'd expect. If you're ever curious about what it's really like, ask, don't assume.  I think everyone should spend a little time with people who have schizophrenia or other severe mental illnesses.  I believe they'd find that they are more intelligent, funny, and kind than they could have imagined.  Not to mention, much less scary.

Please, don't ever make a statement in my presence that questions the humanness of the population I work with.  Think before you speak. Educate yourself.

I'll address other stereotypes and challenges in future blog posts.

For more information, read this: http://promoteacceptance.samhsa.gov/publications/facts.aspx

Or, if you don't want to read that, at least read this quote from it:

"Most people who suffer from a mental disorder are not violent- there is no need to fear them.  Embrace them for who they are- normal human beings experiencing a difficult time, who need your open mind, caring attitude, and helpful support. (Grohol, 1998)."

I'm starting to think I should have named this blog "Ranspach Rants!"

Back to Blogging

Hello and welcome.

Here I am again... back in the blogging world. Journaling is nothing new to me, I've kept multiple journals and notebooks of ramblings throughout my life.  I've even found myself blogging a few other times in the past.  In high school, I kept a livejournal- only the coolest, hippest, most indirect way to share my every thought with my peers without ever using anyone's names so they wouldn't know I was talking about them.  rigggghhht. And a few years ago I challenged myself to keep a blog called 365 Thank Yous (gratefulforthisday.blogspot.com) where I challenged myself to write about a new thing I was thankful for everyday for a year.

The goal of this blog will be to keep family and friends up-to-date on the many changes occurring in Chuck and my life as we plan our wedding, get married, finish up school, change jobs, and start a family. As well as any other adventures that find us along the way.

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to check back soon for some real updates on all of the exciting things happening for us!