Of Pretend Heart Attacks and Evil Birds

My parents had their meeting with my cousin's group home people yesterday to assess her progress since she's been there (it's just now the end of the 30 day introduction period). She's been doing great--in fact, they moved her to the work program. She already had a job before, but this one has more responsibilities, I think. She's also doing her own laundry and loading the dishwasher.

They got to visit with her yesterday and took her out to eat. When they asked her where she wanted to go, she said, "Wed Wobsta!" So they went to Red Lobster to celebrate. I talked to her on the phone for a little bit yesterday and asked her what she had been doing. She said she had been to a dance at the Elk's Club and she said, "And do you know who my partner was?" When I said no, she said, "Gawy!" Gary is this guy who is also in her program that she's had a huge crush on for YEARS but she usually won't admit it. Anyway, she was just beside herself. She said, "I love it!" My sister said that when they went to pick her up and were walking out with her, one of the other ladies said to my cousin, "I love you!" and Kathy said, "I love you too! I'll be back!" So she's obviously adjusted well!

I asked her about her suitemate and how they get along. She said, "I shouldn't say this, but she cries when she doesn't want to do something." Then she started talking really fast and I couldn't understand her, so my mom took the phone from her and translated. Apparently, her suitemate doesn't like doing her chores, so she cries when they tell her it's her turn to do something. The other day they told her to load the dishwasher and she layed down in the floor and yelled, "Heart attack! Heart attack!" That cracked me up. And they say these people don't have a high IQ. That's about the smartest thing I've ever heard.

In other news, there are some mean old Mockingbirds that live in the trees in front of my office building. When people walk down the sidewalk to get in the building, they divebomb them. I was pretty sure one was going to crap on me this morning. One bird hit a lady in the face the other day (not with poop, with its body). I've heard that people hang out in the conference rooms upstairs and watch people get attacked for fun. I might join them.