music, therapy, and me

Today's post is focused on my biggest purchase point right now - Thriftbooks.com. If you are a bibliophile and haven't started shopping at that site, then you are really missing out! I love books, and I have no difficulty reading books that are used. I also like the idea that these books are not being thrown away or [shudder] used for crafting. (That is the one papercrafting situation that makes me sad - cutting up vintage books to use for other things. I know that it is fine, but I can't. I just can't! The only books that I will cut up are the ones that are damaged to the point of not being readable - AND, that only after I get a replacement copy!) So, I buy used books. This has been a great place to find books for music therapy sessions. Anyway, this is a site that I highly recommend if you want to find books that are affordable. (I am not sponsored by them at all, by the way - I just like their service!) I get my books quickly, and they are always as promised when it...

Sorry for the absence - I have not been in the mood to write lately. All I have been wanting to do is recline on my bed. Today is going to be a late start day. This is not because of anything other than my own laziness. It was tough to open my eyes this morning, it was tough to get into the shower, and now it is tough to come up with anything interesting to say about what is going on in the world. I miss Pope Francis. I am not and never have been Catholic. I am a Protestant, but I miss Pope Francis. I think that man did so much for bringing the Catholic church into the modern mindset, and I am sad that he has passed away. I am hoping that the next Pope will be more like Francis than Benedict. I am sending my prayers towards Rome today. I did not get a chance to speak to the person I need to speak with about the incident on Thursday afternoon because she was absent. So, that's still something swirling around in my brain. I need a project. I am currently working on getting my home co...

My feelings got hurt yesterday, and I am tired of feeling this way. So, from now on, I am going to be a bit more assertive about what I need. Let me explain. I attend the clinical team meeting on Thursdays. I am usually the only school-based therapist who attends, and the clinical supervisor (not my supervisor) always refers to me as "school." Never my name. Never my modality. Just "school." Now, when there are others present, we are grouped together into the title of "school" - at least, usually.  Yesterday, our two certified occupational therapy assistants attended the meeting. When it was our turn to speak, the invitation was presented in this manner - "School and the occupational therapists." That made me feel less than, and I am not less than. Why am I singled out for something that is inaccurate? I am not "school." I am a music therapist. I have been doing music therapy at this facility for longer than anyone else on the team. I a...

I'm sorry that I've been silent for the last two days - my allergies have been very challenging so far, and I decided that resting was more important than writing. At the moment, I am finally moving into the gurgly cough stage of things, so it will either be getting better or getting worse from here on out. It is no longer a dry, wheezy cough, now it is full out gurgling! This happens every spring, and it complicates my life so much! Enough of that talk, though. This morning, I had a bit of a panic when I came downstairs and my computer didn't boot up. We had a power failure two night ago, and I guess the computer didn't like that much. It took over 15 minutes before the computer booted up. I was mildly panicked about having to break my recently achieved financial goal to buy a new computer, but that's what savings accounts are for, so I would do it if I had to. Fortunately, it did FINALLY arrive at the boot sequence, so I won't have to go shopping for computers...

It is Monday morning at 4:57aam, and I am sitting down to write a bit here on the blog. I am watching a video from Bentley House Minis (I love watching others create miniatures, but that is not something I do for myself - that's what my Mom is currently doing, though) and thinking about the upcoming week. It is Musicians of the Month and Leisure Skills week, so my preparation is limited. When I get to work, I will put together a playlist of musicians who were born in April. After that, I have to add up the amounts in my students' accounts and set prices for various things. My groups that earn money to use in selecting things will be spending that money today. My groups that do not earn money will have an opportunity to select what to do as well.  I do not have anything to think about except for my basic job responsibilities. There are no special events for this week (as far as I know) that I have to participate in. I have a Zoom meeting on Thursday afternoon, but no other oblig...

How can it already be Sunday again? And the 20th? Already?? This year seems to be flowing past me in a rush. Since it is Sunday, it is time for a Sunday Song post, and I actually have one this time! On Monday, I hosted a reward session for one of my clients who shared the song, "Brighter Days," with me. Sung by Blessing Offor, and written by him and a co-writer, Sam Mackenzie Ellis, the song speaks about remembering that bad days are not the only things that we experience - or, at least, that's how I am interpreting the lyrics right now. That even in the pain, there is love. So, right now, I am wallowing in the music of Mr. Offor. While he is a Christian artist, I find that many of his songs work for those who are not Christian but who are humanistic in outlook. There is something about hearing that someone else feels like there are positive things happening in the world, even in the midst of all the horrible things going on, that helps me move forward.  There are so many...

First of all, I LOVE thesaurus.com. I now have an "S" word for "thought" when I was unable to find one using my own brain. Second, yesterday's park event was not as bad as I thought, and my wish for rain almost manifested! We all huddled around the shelter, wrapped in blankets, while the principal grilled hamburgers and hot dogs for us. After that, we had an egg hunt and were released for self-care. I took a long nap for my version of self-care. It was wonderful! This is the first year since 1998 that I do not have Easter duties. I am up and down about that, but I am feeling much better about not being part of the church right now. I think I dodged a bullet in that situation, and I do feel much happier without Sunday School duties! I miss the ceremony and tradition, but not the people determined to stab my in the back. Okay, for my own health, I am going to stop this train of thought and go with other things. Today is reserved for going to the pharmacy to pick u...