I came back from Tina's at about 7pm tonight and I am so glad that I ended up calling that guy from my Acting course last semester. We were working on an assignment in the library and he didn't have his library card so I had told him no prob he could just take em out on mine...well...big mistake...a semester later and I was almost out $400! The University of Windsor charges a re-stocking fee of almost $100/book! Anyways, I found his number so I called and was able to go over and get the books...and I already spoke to Leddy and they said that if the books are returned then they drop that restocking fee and I would only have to pay the original late fee...that I can handle.
So tonight I took Tina to the Windsor Library and we had a lot of fun reading and playing games...having never actually been into the kids section at The Windsor Library I had never noticed before how much fun it was/is. They had air hockey, all these games...we played connect four...it was fun. And hey I definitely noticed that Tina is enjoying the chapter books way more than the picture books so I don't think I was challenging her enough.
After the library we went to Koolini's to eat supper. I've never been there before and neither has Tina but my roommate says it's her favourite and for good reason...for only $50 bucks we brought back enough left overs for her fam and mine to last an entire week! Not to mention it was Italian food (how yummy!)
The funny thing too was that when the waitress showed us to our booths eating right at the booth next to us was the facilitator from my morning's meeting haha...weird coincidence...he didn't see me and I didn't feel like saying Hi so I didn't...he's not a regular board member so I'm not sure he would have recognized me anyways as I had my hair and clothes were different...so I figured I could get away without saying hi...in case it's not apparant I am a big introvert LOL
Even with Tina I was so tired kept yawning like crazy...but now I'm pretty wired...which is good I have a lot of work to do. I was so wiped out that I crashed from 8pm til about now.
I think I am going to call Carol on Monday for sure. I really want to be able to bring Tina to my house... I want to be able to do the normal, ususual fun things sisters do together...hang out, watch movies, have a make-over whatever...I have been trying to for a year and still haven't gotten anywhere...I think I'm through playing nice guy...I want to be able to take her to my house and I will not settle until I get this...I mean if Big Brothers/Big Sisters lets their volunteers take the kids out overnight why can't I take her to my house...its not like I'm a psycho killer with bodies in the basement! We don't even have a basement in which to stuff them ;P
That will be my main thing to do next week...is to get permission...from Children's Aid. I mean they already have my roommate's police clearance, and I have already agreed to have Tina's worker come inspect my house and roommate but have been waiting over a year for this now and I just found out last week that Tina's worker is now on maternity leave so unless I act now it may be another year before anything happens! Just to note that I'm not saying that as a way to negatively shed light on social workers...believe me I know how understaffed so I totally understand and definitely appreciate that they are just looking out for the best interest of the kids (better safe than sorry mentality) I'm just frustrated.
I really hope I can convince them to do this...Tina is such a great kid and I just want her to have fun and feel comfortable.
For Christmas this year I gave her a little present...we're not allowed to really give the kid's gifts but come on it was Christmas and I had cleared it with her foster parents before hand. She gave me this cute little card (thats the picture posted above) which is now sitting on my fridge and she made me these cute little friendship bracelets...they were a little big for my wrist so I hung them on my rearview mirror :)
Well, enough for tonight I have to finish my coursework for Athabasca.
Goodnite.
