Is there an app for that?

If I could add any skill to my social work toolkit it would be application development.  There are so many concepts that I feel would change my work life if only they existed.  I get there are hundreds of thousands of apps out in the world, but I need ones that work like magic!

First off, Where to pee!?  I am a community based social worker, which means there is no office bathroom, the store bathrooms are coded, and clients’ houses are just not an option.  After a year and a half ‘in the field’ I can now map out where the free cleanest bathrooms are in all corners of Multnomah County, and those that are worth risking a bladder infection. There are currently several phone apps available regarding public restrooms but I have not found one that meets my needs. Bathroom finder is not a skill I thought I would gain with my MSW.

The GPS can help me locate food and coffee stops when my blood sugar (aka, my patience) is dropping, and meditation apps and cd’s can keep the road rage down if they don’t  skip or stall mid breath.  What if we had a little virtual hug or pep talk, ranging from small to large depending on how the day is going? Could my car seats massage like a pedicure chair? Or allow for stretching and exercise in route, at least at red lights or stop signs? I desperately need a bug scanning app, one that detects bed bugs, fleas and lice before entering homes would be nice.

I am amazed by the adaptability of my social work peers adjusting to their work environments and conditions.  I am hoping to use this blog as an outlet for thoughts, reflection, support, validation and conversation among those who may relate.  I will share my experiences, frustrations, passions, joys and everything in between in the hopes to keep from burning out.