music, therapy, and me

Oh dear. I have not really been in a consistent or interested writing mode lately, but I think this might change. I am starting to get more interested in writing things about music, therapy, and me again. We will see, and there will be interruptions to my writing since I have some stuff to go through in the next couple of weeks, but I am starting to get more interested in different topics. I may be doing more themed posts in the near future. Who knows? Thank you for being here - for reading the things that I post, even when they are not all that applicable to music or therapy. At the moment, I am getting ready for new adventures. It seems like a good time to do this pivot while I have a full-time salary and can build things up without making money from it all. So, be prepared for some advertisements from me in the near future - showcases of the things that I already use in my life as a music therapist that might make your music therapy life move a bit differently. It is time to get goi...

This is an old picture!! If you've been reading my blog lately, then you know that I recently took an organizing quiz over at Clutterbug. I thought I was a butterfly, but the quiz tells me that I am a bee. I've taken it twice now, so I guess I really am a bee. Now, when I read through the description of bees, according to Cas, it fits. I am a perfectionist. I do have tons of projects going all the time, and I do prefer to see my stuff rather than put it out of sight. We bees tend to have hoarder tendencies as well. I think my mom is a bee also. One of the things that Cas from Clutterbug recommends for bees is open shelving and clear boxes. Now, I don't have lots of money to purchase beautiful, clear, acrylic drawers for all of my stuff, but I do have enough money to go to the Dollar Tree to get some gray, fabric boxes for my instruments. So, that's what I did. Yesterday, I went to the local Dollar Tree and spend about 13 dollars on boxes for my instrument room. I bought...

Today is the first day in my first three-day weekend of the extended school year. I am ready. "That client" performed as expected and had a 30 minute tantrum because I dared to allow peers to play instruments. We have new students who are having absolutely NO honeymoon adjustment period. Every class has either new peers or new staff or both. It has been a difficult week. That week is over. I now have the luxury of a three-day weekend, and I am enjoying the thought of not having to go to work. There are plenty of things to do here - laundry, dishes, clearing out space, making Mom's bed up for her upcoming trip. Plenty to do. I also have the opportunity to stay in my pjs as long as possible, take long showers, go see a movie, and sleep in. All of these things are good for me, as is the time away from other people. I am an introvert - as high on the continuum of personality as it is possible to get. I enjoy time away from others. I am not likely to be heading out to events a...

It is Wednesday, a full moon day, and I am somewhat inclined to whine right now. So, let's get this over with. I have six sessions today. One of those sessions has "that client" in it, and I do not want to do that session. I am tired and am having some knee pain in addition to the worry that slides into my brain at strange times. I woke up extra early today after a couple of strange dreams that I actually remembered - one was about a former boss of mine and the other was about driving into a body of flooded water and sinking in my little car. It is strange what comes into your brain at various times. My head hurts, and I am hungry - on my way to being hangry... I think I am finished whining - at least for the moment. I reserve the right to return to my whiny self at any moment. I have six sessions today. This is one of two schedule changes that occur during our extended school year. I have some difficulty with changing my established routine, but it is something that has ...

Day one of my extended school year is over. "That client" was in attendance and screamed at me twice but waited to escalate until their next therapy session. I did not do my organization routine, but I did go through about 300 emails and finished my documentation including my notes, so there is that. The most difficult part of the day was the constancy of having someone else in my space. The vocational team has moved back into my room, and they open doors and talk almost continuously during what was my quiet time. I did not know how much I have become accustomed to my quiet time until now. It is gone. On the way home from work, I was contacted by the next specialist that I need to be involved with due to my current medical situations. I have another appointment on the books for next month. July is filling up with medical things. Today, I add another group to my routine. They will come in at noon - a new time for them and for me to do music therapy. It will take a bit of getti...

I am getting ready to head back to work after a strange break. I'm not ready to be at work - another week of sleeping would be nice, but I am better than I was two Fridays ago about being a therapist. I am stressed because I have lots to do that I have to hurry up and wait for others to initiate. Sirens stopped at my neighbor's house this morning about 10 minutes ago - not a usual thing in this neighborhood. I can't see what is happening because they are my "over the back fence" neighbors. I am watching Canadian television shows in my time before leaving for work. I can check on my plans for this week's sessions from home, but I am not going to. That is something that can wait for my return to work. Today is one of the days where I find being a therapist is a difficult thing. I am returning to a work situation where we have many new students, many familiar students will have left, and where classroom groups will have changed significantly. I am not sure who wi...