Me- "Hello. ... I need to make an appt. to see a counselor re: grief and relationship issues. I am a first time client."

Them #1-"I am sorry we are booked until mid-May, we are not taking any more clients." (this is for the ENTIRE MedCenter 1 mental health clinic)

Them #2-"I am sorry we are completely scheduled until late June"

Them #3-"Sorry we are not taking any new clients at this time."

HOLY CRAP! Are there that many unhappy people here?

Or it must be the fact that the stupid insurance companies of ND will not reimburse counselors unless they are MSW (which is not the kind of point of view I want) or have a PhD in Psychology. Basically, if you want a psychotherapist, they have to be real expensive or be a social worker.

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Last night I get off work at a little after 11pm (s.l.o.w night) and want a nice cold draft, or I thought maybe I'd look at trying to make my own Bloody Mary (been liking that spicy tom. thing lately). So I drive by a liq. store and see that they are closed, and than go to another one adjacent to the 24 grocery store and they too are closed, and so I than drive by another liq.store and they TOO are closed. WTF? Basically, for a nice cold draft I'd have to go to some smoke filled dive and pay more than I want, or have nothing at all. I went home. I was driving home and thinking, "I wish I lived in the state where if I wanted a nice draft, or to get the ingredients for a Bloody Mary, all I had to do was go to the local grocery store. It is only 11!"

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Sunday I got to spend some time alone. It was nice. I went towards this state park called Cross Ranch, but ended up stopping at a boat ramp along the way. I laid a sleeping bag on the beach and read a bit of a new book I was loaned. So far the book is really good. Than my restless spirit made me get up and walk upriver. I thoroughly enjoyed skimming the beach for beautiful rocks, and stepping up to the water to peer into the clean, and clear, water. I loved listening to the water as it hit against the shore after a boat went by. Sounded almost like the waves of the ocean. :) Too soon I had to head back and get home to get ready for work. I need more days like that. Maybe make the time longer and take the kids to some far off places; I heard the Turtle Mtns (large hills) are beautiful.

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I hope that everyone is well, and Aunt C...."Thank you very much for the book. It is exactly what I need, and it arrived on exactly the day I needed it. I love you too."

Adios.