music, therapy, and me

It is raining in my office. The snow melt is coming from the roof into my workplace, and I am defeated because I will be expected to work as if nothing is wrong with my space. I am so tired of water emergencies happening that affect me and only me - both at home and at work. Especially the ones at work. Everyone else is laughing about the situation, but I cannot. I am trying to figure out how I am going to move things from my office into my storage space without them getting ruined in the process. I am trying to figure out how I can be therapeutic for others when my stress has escalated to the point where I am sitting in my house, hyperventilating and dreading having to arrive to a place that is not fit for working. I am trying to decide if I can even face the situation.  This has happened every couple of years since I moved into this room 8 years ago. Administration doesn't care. They don't even show up to examine the damage. It becomes my problem and my responsibility even th...

It is Tuesday, and I thought I would share my thriftiest way to get visual aids for my therapy sessions. If you are someone who reads this blog on a regular basis, then you know that I love the resource TPT - formerly known as Teachers Pay Teachers . The link shared here goes to my shop, because why not? The thing that you have to know about TPT is that there are so many different resources on that site that are absolutely free. Also, you have to set up an account, but again, signing up is free. Every creator on TPT has to offer at least one file for free. That means that there are so many things on the site that are available without a cost to others. I have found many different files for free. Now, it is time to plug my own site. I try to create visual aids specifically for music therapists. I have forms, pictures, full therapeutic music experiences, and books for sale on my site. I try to keep the prices low so that these visual aids and books are affordable for music therapists. If...

I am finally heading back to work today with the promise of low precipitation for the next five days. As long as I can get out of my driveway, I should be able to traverse the highway system with little to no difficulty. At least, that's what the highway website says. I am ready to get back into a work/life routine. Having this past week away from work has made me get ready to be doing something other than wandering my house, and that is a feeling that has been missing from my life for about seven years now - ever since we changed our work schedules significantly to have a week off in the middle of the summer session. We have the same amount of time off but it is arranged in smaller durations which means that I never really get bored with being at home anymore. We used to have enough time that I would finish up chores at home and then get antsy to be back in my music therapy environment, and that no longer happens. This past week has been a gift. When I get to work today, armed wit...

Welcome back to routine, everyone! I am hoping and hoping that we will actually be able to get places in my part of the world tomorrow. We had a snow week last week (one school day, but I had to take personal time because there was too much snow on my driveway for my low-slung car), but I am now ready to get back into a work routine. That hasn't happened for a long time - I have not felt ready to get back to work for years and years. So, let's hope that the roads are cleared and ready for us to head back to school tomorrow morning! ANYWAY... It is Sunday, so it is time for me to think about songwriting. Today's topic is chant. I am not a rapper. I can make up rhymes for a bit of time before my brain freezes and gets overstimulated, but I can chant with the best of them! What's the difference? There really isn't much different on a structural view, but there is lots of difference in my brain! Chants are wonderful for music therapists - they are ways to incorporate rh...

We had three snow days in a row this week, and I still cannot get my little, short, stubby-wheeled car out of my driveway, so I get another day off. We are supposed to have more snow tonight, but if I can get my driveway cleared the rest of the way today, I should be able to get out of my house tomorrow to get to work. My biggest problem is that I am not well-equipped to shovel lots of snow. I have been straining my back trying to move the snow across the driveway, so I can only do things in short spurts with lots of resting in between. I have been doing small bits at a time. I will be finished by the end of business today. I have to be. Since we do not have an official inclement weather day today, I have had to take yet another personal day. That leaves me with five days off for the rest of the year. I am going to need at least two more days for additional testing and procedures, but I will face that when I come to the situation. I have been able to arrange a bunch of medical appointm...

It is official. Today is a second snow day. I am stuck at home because the snow is still very high at my house, and my street does not get plowed. I am not sure if I will get out by tomorrow, if we have a regular day. My car has a low profile, so it is difficult to get out of the garage and street if the snow is this high. I do not want to end up blocking the street with my little car. I've done that before, but in a bigger street area. If I block things on the street that I am on now, I will block off at least three neighbors and keep them from getting where they need to go. I can't do that, so I might have to take personal time this week until the snow is melted down enough. Today is a dually challenging day for my family. My father died on this date four years ago, and my mother has a birthday today. We have grief and celebration on our minds today. I tend to focus more on Dad on January 6th so I can focus on Mom on the 7th, but it can be difficult at times. It is easier whe...