A Close Call

So today I was driving down 78 in the left lane and there was a truck in the right lane beside me. Out of no where, a small red car pulls out in front of both of us to get to the paved part of the median(on the other side of my lane), I'm assuming to turn around. I came so close to hitting the car that I braced my self for the crash- probably within a couple inches of hitting it. If I had not been paying attention, I would have hit the driver's door of this car, most likely killing the driver on impact, and I would have been, at the least, seriously injured. So this driver risked the lives of at least two people all to save himself a minute or two. How can you be so selfish?! Not to mention stupid.

Another one bites the dust!

I finished and turned in my final assignment for Family Therapy with Children. So am officially on break. Until October 1st when I start my next class- Couple and sex therapy. Six classes down. Seven classes, two practicums, and an internship to go!! Why, I can see a very faint light at the end of the tunnel.

Happy Birthday Steph

You're probably going to think this is cheesy but I'm doin' it anyway!
Dear Steph,
Thank you for posting about all the funny, frustrating, and cute things your kids do with such love. After spending at least a portion of my day with parents who act as if their child(ren) is a bother, your blog is therapeutic for me.

Thank you for listening to my rants about work, mom and/or Dad, Claire, singlehood, welfare, and so many other topics.

Thank you for being weird- you make me feel normal!

Thank you making sure I am up to date regarding the latest celebrity scandals and have ample opportunity to discuss them.

Thank you for not teaching your kids to call me something evil.

Thank you for being so frickin' concerned about my "girls". Seriously, even mom wasn't that concerned.

Thank you for being my continual shopping companion. Despite what you think, I really enjoy those trips.


"She is your mirror, shining back at you with a world of possibilities. She is your witness, who sees you at your worst and best, and loves you anyway. She is your partner in crime, your midnight companion, someone who knows when you are smiling, even in the dark. She is your teacher, your defense attorney, your personal press agent, even your shrink. Some days, she's the reason you wish you were an only child. " ~Barbara Alpert

Oy Vey

I started a new client tonight, M. I cannot honestly say that it was a good start, but it was a start. M lives in Allentown, so I figured I did not need directions, but I mapquested the address as a back up. So naturally, I got lost and wound up being a half hour late. Thankfully, her mother wasn't upset about this. She seemed friendly and m is adorable. However, I realized about half way through that in my mad dash to get to the client, I had forgotten to take a drink and was now desperately in need of one- I smelled the dry mouth smell at one point. M didn't seem to be bothered by this, but her mother asked if I needed a drink. How embarassing!! It wouldn't have been so bad if this wasn't the first time we were meeting. I'm just going to have to make sure that my breath smells minty fresh the next time.

Wanted: man with tools

My elliptical machine arived today- not in one piece like it was pictured- in many, many pieces. So as soon as I was done eating dinner, I began to put it together. This required about 2 hours, a (new) rubber mallet, and lots of elbow grease- but I got it done. I now have a decent tool collection. I don't want a decent tool collection. I want a man with a decent tool collection!(and before anyone says it: one that I'm not related to) Don't get me wrong, I am proud of the fact that I can put things together and hang a picture- I am not a helpless little lady, but I find myself getting increasingly jealous of my peers who have a husband, fiance, or boyfriend to do the dirty work for them. I'm not asking for much, I just want to stop buying tools.

Boys will be boys

So today one of my clients and I were playing with Flarp(noise putty). He had minimal interest in playing with it and repeated "all done" urgently. So I put it away and on a whim, pressed down on it with one of my fingers, which produced a realistic fart noise. My client's head whipped around- what could have made this wonderous sound he thought (I'm guessing) So I did it again. And suddenly the Flarp was THE most facinating thing in the room.

Just Why?!

An email I recieved through Myspace:

Date:
Sep 5, 2007 5:01 AM Date Sent: 9/5/2007 5:01:00
AMBody:Hi, dear Laura Nice to meet you. Your photos are lovely. How do you do ? I am Hongwu in Beijing, China. I am software engineer. I study in Beijing University in spare time. In Beijing University, there are some foreign students & scholars came from USA. I feel Myspace.com is a very good place. What do you do on Myspace.com ? Do you know something about China ? If you are interested, I will send you some pictures about China & myself at once. So you can understand something about China at first. Please give me your email address. About me, I seek girlfriend & a marriage here. Please view my profile & my photos there, if you are interested. My email address: xuhowu@hotmail.com xuhowu@yahoo.com.cn On hotmail.com, I have instant messanger. It's also called MSN. On MSN, my user name is xuhowu@hotmail.com Hope to hear from you Hongwu in Beijing University, China "

Somebody please tell WHY I only attract weirdos like this!

Great Shape me?

I have decided to purchase an elliptical machine- they provide an excellent cardio workout. Yes I still belong to the gym and I intend to keep the membership so that I can strenght train. However, my trainer tells me that cardio is essential to physical fitness and to weight loss. I decided to buy my own elliptical because I always feel self conscious when I go on the treadmill, bike, or elliptical at the gym-there are people there to stare at me sweating on the elliptical and judge me based on my speed. Plus I am pretty busy, so if it's right there I will be more likely to do it while I am watching tv or reading. I found one that has all the features that the ones at the gym have, but at a really good price. To the left is a picture of the one I bought.

Frustrations

It seems like I have been job searching for an eternity now. I finally got a call for an interview, which I scheduled, but I'm not sure I'm going to keep it. The job would involve a lot of driving and I would be taking a sizable pay cut, but I would have benefits and a 401K. I could always supplement my income by staying at VCG part time, but that wouldn't leave me much time for an internship (if that ever gets set up!!!), which is an important consideration.
In other news, I am still struggling to set up my internship. I have to be supervised be an AAMFT approved supervisor, of which there are only seven in the valley, and I have to find a place that will let me do master's level work with a BS- not an easy task. Between this and my job search I want to pull my hair out!!! But at least my class is going well.

For the record

With the exception of the gel booties (thanks mom!), once again, my list was ignored!!! and you wonder why I drag my feet about making them up!

Cleanin' Out My Closet

I was looking through my closet today, mostly because JcPenney always sends me a coupon in August, to see if I was in need of any clothes. While I don't absolutely need anything, I decided to use the coupon on a long sleeved shirt or two- most of mine fit but are big and make me look either dumpy or ten pounds heavier. So off I went to JcPenney where I was reminded of why my body sucks. Apparently, I am at that akward stage of body transformation ( some call it weight lose, I prefer the more positive and dramatic "body transformation") where nothing fits exactly right. (sigh) You see, empire waists are all the rage right now. This good because I happen to like this style and they (usually) look good on me. So I picked one out in a medium (because that is my size now!!!) and it fit everywhere but the chest. So, because I really liked the shirt, I lowered myself and picked up a large- which was too big. Bastards! After trying on both sizes several times, I decided to get the medium and wear it so that the "waist" is under the girls but with a camisole so that I can still be modest.

At Last...!

I FINALLY have high speed internet!!!!!

A Post for Mama

Today my mom turns 29 with 25 years of experience. I honor of her birthday and just because I think she needs to see her self through someone else's eyes.........
My mom taught me:
* The value of hard work: my mom has the best work ethic of anyone I know and thankfully she taught it to all of her children. This work ethic has helped me in everything I do. Most of my supervisors loved me because I worked so hard. It has also helped me stick to my goals.
*Responsibility: My mom, really both my parents, expected me to be responsible and didn't tolerate anything less. At the time, I really hated this, but now I'm glad that they did because, again, it has helped me in everything I do.
*How Not to be a victim: My mom had a rough childhood, however she has never used this as an excuse. She taught me that sometimes bad things happen but that doesn't mean you lay down and die.
*How to forgive: My mom's parents were quite mean to her when she was a child and I think that most people would understand if she left their house at 18 and never spoke to them again. However, she forgave them for how they treated her and now takes care of her mother. I have never quite understood how she was able to do this- she must be an awefully good person!
*The value of silliness: My mom is the silliest person I know- it's like she held on to her five year old self. Sometimes it can be such a release to be incredibly silly.
* The importance of snuggling: Up until I moved out of the house, my mom would periodically invite us all to hang out on her bed and snuggle. I loved these pow wows.
*It's ok to make mistakes: I have made my fair share of mistakes, but each and everytime, my mom has been there to reassure me that everything would be ok.
*Unconditional love: .....not that I was a bad kid.....but I'm sure there were days....
*Always pursue dreams: my mom went back to school to get her associates degree about 20 years and three kids after she graduated high school. If that doesn't take guts, then I don't know what does! I had a hard time get back in to the swing of things after a two year break from school, I can't imagine how hard it is after 20 years!
*The value of Family: My mom always said family comes first and she has always stuck to this despite her upbringing. It facinates me that even though she had a rough childhood and the dysfunctional family, she continues to be loyal to all of them.
*How to be a decent human being(kindness, consideration, and respect): I am proud to say I am nice person because any more, we are a rare bread. In all fairness, I have both of my parents to thank for this, not just my mom.
* The correct way to read a children's storybook: I cannot explain this, she just does it better then anyone else I know.
* Strenght: My mom has commented on how strong I am but I believe that I learned this from her. There are a lot of things that have happened to her that would make anyone want to run for the hills, but she didn't.

This list is not, of course, comprehensive. These are the things that stick out the most for me. Thanks mom!

Birthday Ideas

Since you all complain that I never give you gift ideas, here are a few:
* the 5th season of Scrubs
*Earth Therapeutics Soft-Soles Gel Booties which can be found at Bed, Bath & Beyond
*Susan Branch books

Belly Watch 2007

I think I have been subconsciously waiting for my phone to ring ever since I read Steph's post about feeling normal again. My guess is that, much like his siblings, he will not be bothered to wait for something as trival as a due date or his parents to be ready for his arrival. I am particularly excited for this one, not because it's a new baby(although that is exciting), but because I am curious to see what he winds up being named. It seems like a suitable name doesn't exist!

PS. This is the way my computer saved this picture and I can't figure out how to rotate it on Blogger- if anyone knows how please tell me!!

Note to Steph

Ok, you're right...it is cathartic.

ARRRG!!!!

I mentioned before that I will hopefully be starting the clinical requirements for my degree in August. In order to do that, I have to find a place to see clients and a supervisor. So, I went the the AAMFT website and looked at their directory of approved supervisors. Then I emailed one and she, by some miracle said that she would gladly supervise me and she would check if I could intern at the agency she works at and oh, by the way where do you go to school? So I wrote her back thanking her for her kindness and explaining that I go to an online school and explaining how my degree program works. And then she wrote back and said that she would only supervise me if her agency would let me intern there- she thought that I went to one of the local schools and that is why she agreed to supervise me no matter where I did my internship. And suprise, suprise..her agency doesn't have space. Bastards!!! I am so sick of people thinking that just because I don't spend three hours a week in a lecture hall I getting an inferior education! My degree program requires just as much work, if not more, as the programs at the local colleges and I am held to the exact same standards as those students are!!!!

FYI

I have been told that we will have high speed internet by the end of July. I would imagine that I will be able to post more frequently then since I will not have to compete with my roomate,oops I mean roommates, for the phone line!

Opinions Please!

Jen recently mentioned to me that she heard that our graduating class is having a ten year reunion. She wants to go-but only with a group of friends. I say of course she wants to go: she's engaged, has a master's degree, is casually house shopping, and has a great job that she loves. I am on the fence. I am already in touch with pretty much everyone from high school that I really want to associate with, but it would be interesting to hear what other people are up to. However, unlike Jen, I have a crappy job that I am trying to get rid of, not even a mister right for now, and I am currently wondering what I'm going to do when our lease expires in May. Although, the Master's is in progress. What do all of you think?

The State of Me

Ok, I know that it has been quite a while since I have last posted. SOOO...just so that EVERYONE is aware:
* The job search continues- it's hard to find a good job at the Bachelor's level that pays decently because most of the jobs require either a Master's Degree or just a high school diploma(so they don't pay well). So I continue to check careerbuilder everyday in the hopes that something, anything, good will be waiting for me.
* The Man search continues, but what else is new? Whoever said a good man is hard to find wasn't kidding!!
*I will NOT be moving in to Jen's house- she and her fiance decided they couldn't swing a house, so I will be hoping and praying that I find a good job with better pay comes along so that I can swing my own appartment when our lease expires next may.
* School is going well- I have gotten A's in all but one of the classes I took to date! (I got a B- an 89%- in the other class) I will be starting my next class, Family Therapy with Children, on July 1st and hopefully starting my practicum ( which involves me actually conducting therapy under the supervision of a licensed MFT!! Exciting and scary!) on August 1st.