follow up on some projects

1. Thesis
I've had about three thesis meetings so far, and have started putting together the real details of what's going on. I am still more excited by my thesis than most other things happening - I am truly proud of the concept, and already feel like it's my kid. I'm a little too attached, maybe. ;)

2. Backyard Bazaaar
Was an incredible success. I'd say there were about 15 vendors, and at least 100 guests - and it was SO MUCH FUN. I want to do another one ASAP, but I am going to try to slow my roll and wait to do one right before Christmas.

3. Classes at CSULB
3a. Children and Adolescents - I think the only thing I have left in this class is a treatment plan and a final exam. Overall good class.

3b. Couples Therapy - We are about done with the assignments in this class as well. Just working on a few interventions this week, role playing in the clinic and then presenting to the class about what we did.

3c. Family Systems Part 2 This is the 2nd part of a 2 part class on family systems. One paper left... a little disappointed overall with this class. I thought it would be much more in depth than it was. The best thing about it was the fact that the professor did a good job finding guest speakers and other resources for us.

3d. Dr. Paul's class - Holy Times New Roman, Batman - this is the most intense of all the classes. With two weeks to go, I still have 2 papers and 2 presentations due. Hands down the most useful class I've taken so far.

4. Practicum - The last time I wrote about this, I was in the email-and-hope-for-an-interview process. Since then, I've procured a practicum site! I will be a trainee at Mariposa Women and Family Center for about 14 months, starting in July. As soon as I interviewed there, I knew that's where I wanted to spend my time. I even cancelled my other interviews. There was something about the warmth of the people I met, the secure and comforting feeling of the location itself, and the variety of really interesting groups that they offer that grabbed me instantly!! I spent about a week holding my breath waiting for them to call...they called, and their trainings interfered with my thesis meetings! I spent another two anxious days before I met with my thesis advisor who said we could rearrange...and then another anxious day when we realized there was a little issue with the end date...and then PHEW, everything is figured out and I begin July 5th. I go back and forth about being nervous. Sometimes I am scared and wonder why I got myself involved in this. Most of the time that fear happens in class. It rarely happens when we are in the clinic practicing. I feel especially bolstered when I have moments talking to people and suddenly realize that I am implementing all of the specific active listening skills that we focus on in class. I remember that I am interested in people, and that the most important thing for client improvement will be BEING THERE and forming that relationship. I can do that.

5. Classes at Goldenwest - I have to admit...I dropped these classes. I missed a lot of them due to thesis meetings and interviews. Then I didn't want a bad grade, so... yes. They've been dropped. Sigh. But it really does open up my days. 4 mornings a week was too much for me to dedicate to something like that right now.

6. Work - I am transferring my banking clients to someone else this week!!! THANK GOODNESS!! I can't handle being that stressed about other people's finances anymore. As soon as they get transferred, I'll be helping doing audits in the office. Phhheewww.

7. Island Trip - Still on for the 1st week of June. Excited!!!

8. Food and health and stuff - I started doing the Couch to 5k program again. I did Week 3 day 1 yesterday, and I'm really happy with it. My goal is to run in the Surf City 5k on the 4th of July with some friends. In between running (since it's an every other day thing) I've still been swimming, at 24 Hour Fitness, and at the Rec Center at school. I need to work more on my eating and tracking my food, but I do feel so good that I've maintained three weeks of the C25K program.

9. Therapy - I am really grateful that our program requires personal psychotherapy, because it is 2 hours each week that help me get back on track and in touch with myself. I sing the Dar Williams song about therapy to myself all the time...because that's totally the spirit of it.

I don't go to therapy to find out if I'm a freak
I go and I find the one and only answer every week
And it's just me and all the memories to follow
Down any course that fits within a fifty minute hour
And we fathom all the mysteries, explicit and inherent
When I hit a rut, she says to try the other parent
And she's so kind, I think she wants to tell me something,
But she knows that its much better if I get it for myself...
And she says

Oooooooh,aaaaaaah, What do you hear in these sounds?
And... Oooooooh,aaaaaaah
What do you hear in these sounds?????

I say I hear a doubt, with the voice of true believing
And the promises to stay, and the footsteps that are leaving
And she says "Oh", I say "What?"...she says "Exactly",
I say"What, you think I'm angry
Does that mean you think I'm angry?"
She says "Look, you come here every week
With jigsaw pieces of your past
Its all on little soundbytes and voices out of photographs
And that's all yours, that's the guide, that's the map
So tell me, where does the arrow point to?
WHO INVENTED ROSES?"
and.......

Oooooooh,aaaaaaah
What do you hear in these sounds?
And...Oooooooh,aaaaaaah
What do you hear in these sounds?????

And when I talk about therapy, I know what people think
That it only makes you selfish and in love with your shrink
But Oh how I loved everybody else
When I finally got to talk so much about myself............

And I wake up and I ask myself what state I'm in
And I say well I'm lucky, cause I am like East Berlin
I had this wall and what I knew of the free world
Was that I could see their fireworks
And I could hear their radio
And I thought that if we met, I would only start confessing
And they'd know that I was scared
They'd would know that I was guessing
But the wall came down and there they stood before me
With their stumbling and their mumbling
And their calling out just like me...and...

Oooooooh,aaaaaaah, The stories that nobody hears...and...

Oooooooh,aaaaaaah, and I collect these sounds in my ears...and

Oooooooh,aaaaaaah, that's what I hear in these sounds...and...

Oooooooh,aaaaaaah, that's what I hear in these......
that's what I hear in these SOUU OUUUN NNNDS!