Ohio so far...

 

 

 

 

1. Me with nieces Hope and Calla
2. Nephew JT
3. Ella in the pool
4. Emma

Facials

 

Lisa (not the one pictured) recently won a raffle at Origins that was for a free facial and make-up application. It was for her and three friends. Her responce on learning that she had won was that she would rather go to the dentist than have a facial. SO, she gave it to me. I brought along my best Lesley friends to enjoy it with me. L-R: Sarah, me, Lisa, and Monica. Monica's is the wedding that I am going to in Texas. After that we enjoyed some shopping in the Natick Mall.

Massachusetts Girl

 

 

Due to some issues with paper work, my car is now registered in Mass. And here are the pictures to prove it. For all of you Ohio people, the 1st picture means that it has been inspected. It was new to me.

Entering the no school zone

Today I went with Lisa, Lars, and Joa to Garden in the Woods. It was pretty warm here today and very sunny. This is a picture from the website. We took pictures with Lisa's camera and I will put those up when she sends them to me.
My classes are over, but I still have one paper to write. My teacher was amazingly understanding that my life is in major shambles right now and that I needed an extension. I have written almost 2 pages and have about 15 more to go. sigh. I do know that I got an A in psychopathology. It was the only class that I liked this semester.
I have decided that I am not going to stay in my current apt. and have started the hunt. It sucks and could easily be a full time job.
Pictures will be up soon of the music therapy end of the year party.
If anyone is looking for a diet program I have found one that works. I would not recommend it, but it does shed the pounds. In the last 2 months I stopped taking my anti-depressant and fell back into a major depression. Still there, but back on a different drug and hoping things will improve soon. In the mean time I have lost between 10 and 15 lbs. Eating has been something that I have lost all interest in. Why am I spilling all of this really personal information? Because there are so many people that suffer from this and most people don't talk about it. Maybe it is too uncomfortable. Maybe they don't understand it.
My biggest pet peeve are the people that say, "i hope you get out of this mood soon." Well, let me tell you something. This is not a mood or bad day. This isn't something that I have chosen to be in or can choose to be out of. It's like having the flu or some other kind of medical condition. This is about me, not about how uncomfortable you are with me in this state. My friends here have been amazing and I thank them for everything. I would not still be here (or out of the hospital) without them. Thank you dearly.

almost.....

this is the last week of my semester....whew. i thought it would never come.

workin' out

This morning I went to the fitness center here at Lesley. It would better be described as the fitness closet. I was used to the one at BGSU that was a gigantic 3 or 4 floors with everything you could imagine and 2 pools. This, not so much. But I did go and do almost 45 mins on the eliptical. So, i guess that counts for something.
I'm headed to pick up Lars from school and take him for a hair cut. I am getting one as well and am pretty excited to get rid of this mess of mane. Pictures will follow, when i get a chance.

Conference

Well, as it turned out I think that I got into this conference based on the fact that I was the ONLY MUSIC THERAPIST to apply. Even so, the last five days were totally worth it. I will even say they were worth the Boston parking fees and one ticket I got-thanks to the Red Sox day game. I met a lot of people....most noted a music therapist that is REALLY well known to the field. She has been around in music therapy for 30 years and it was such an honor to meet her and spend lots of individual time with her. She has extended the invitation for me to come to her center in NYC to do some observing and maybe even research help. She is also known by everyone else that is big in the field and having her as a contact might open some pretty major opportunities. It was also cool to see people's reactions to music therapy that hadn't ever heard of it. They were all completely impressed-as they should be-of what it can do.
So, if anyone has any questions on Parkinson's I am now the person to ask! (while I have no direct patient experience, I did sit through about 40 hours worth of training!)

Too True...

"The greatest enemy of knowledge in not ignorance; it is the illusion of knowledge."
-Stephen Hawking

MAYA

 

 

 

In addition to caring for Lars I watch Maya. We hang out together Tuesdays and Thrusdays. Our days have been filled with outings to local parks now that the weather in finally cooperating.

2008 Conference Pictures Cont.

 

 

 

 

1. Monica,Sarah, and Julez
2. Sarah and Lisa enjoying some French Cat
3. Sarah singing an awesome origional tune
4. Shanna!

2008 Conference

 

 

 

 

Here are pictures from our 2008 New England Region Music Therapy Conference. Like always, we had a blast.
1. The building we stayed in
2. View from the grounds of the Berkshire Mts.
3. Monica and Julez
4. Dancin'

This Weekend in Boston

This Monday is the Boston Marathon. Never something that I would EVER consider doing, but it is fun to watch and there are a lot of things going on because of it.

Parkinson's Conference

I recently found out that I was accepted to attend a conference on Parkinson's disease. It is being held in Boston and open to physicians, nurses, music therapists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, etc. They only take 12 people from each profession, so it's kind of an honor.

No news isn't always good news........

I wish I had something good to say here. This is the update with me. My horrible withdrawl symptoms have passed, I think. However, that has been replaced with a very deep, massive depression. Hmm...kind of back to where I started about 5 years ago. You can basically go down the depression symptom list and check them all off. That is where I am. I am working with my therapist and am waiting for a return call from a psychiatrist. Hopefully this person will not fail me in the ways that the last one did. As much as I HATE medication, I think that is where I am headed. Updates to come.

New Blog

Not that I have any time for this, but I am starting another blog. Some of you know that I have recently decided to ditch taking Paxil. I have been on it for a few years now and just want to see how it goes without. I went to a psychiatrist to come up with a plan on how to do it safely. He completely failed me and unfortunately I followed his advice. I have been struggling with withdrawl symptoms for close to a month and am reading more and more about how many people deal with this and how few drugs companies (or even docs) will recognize it as real. I don't want other people to make this mistake and want to give support to those dealing with the same thing. Even if this has nothing to do with you, please check it out and pass it on to people who you thin might benefit from it.

www.paxilnomore.blogspot.com

Regional Conference

I spent a very nice few days at the New England Region music therapy conference. It was at an amazing resort, http://cranwell.com/. You have to see the pictures. It is nestled in the Berkshire mountains in western Mass. They also have a spa that we enjoyed....the free aspects of it; hot tub, sauna, pool. It is rated as one of the top 100 spas in the world. Needless to say this conference was the only reason I ended up here and I am sure the only time that I ever will!
It seemed to be quite the lucky few days for me too. I won THREE raffles! I won a $25 reimbursement of my registration cost, two music therapy books, and a few instruments. Pictures will be coming.
I am unfortunately going to be in the market for a new lap top. I have a PC now and was thinking about a mac. Now I am thinking about sticking wiih PC. I would love to hear what people think of the things they have and any suggestions. Too bad they weren't raffling a computer!!!!

Emergen-c! Get your Free Emergen-c here!

If you don't know about this stuff, you should! I was introduced to it a long time ago by a singer friend and have used it ever since. When I am around others that are sick or feel like I am getting something I start downing these things. They are packed full of vitamins. Sound like I am a commercial? I just like to pass things on to people that work for me! There's lots of flavors and they actually taste good! You can drink it both hot or cold. Give it a shot!
So, to get your free trial go to their page.
Click the bubble on the left that says "share the good."

Enjoy!

p.s. No, they are not paying me to say that.....but if anyone there would like to, I would be more than happy to discuss!

My new car!!!

Earth Hour

Earth Hour is TODAY, Saturday, March 29 from 8 - 9 p.m. EST, and it looks like it's going to be really big this year. So far 25 cities around the world are taking part, including Atlanta, Chicago, Phoenix and San Francisco in the U.S. Landmarks like the Golden Gate Bridge, Sears Tower, and the Sydney Opera House (Australia) will dim during Earth Hour. Millions of people around the world are joining together to make a statement about climate change by turning their lights off for an hour.

Music therapy, it's a great thing...

.....and I'm not the only one that thinks so! Click here!

My New Car!!!!

This Saturday I am saying good-bye to the car that has caused me so many problems in the last 2 years. I am moving on to something else, that will hopefully last for quite awhile. Very excited. This isn't mine, but it's identical. Lots more space for me and all of my stuff, especially if there is EVER a day that I graduate and get a job and need to haul instruments!

"...there are two ways to meet life: you may refuse to care until
indifference becomes a habit, a defensive armor, and you are safe--but
bored. Or you can care greatly, and live greatly--till life breaks you
on its wheel."

--Dorothy Canfield Fisher

yuck!

sick lars + michelle = sick michelle

Lars turns FOUR!

 

 

 

 

1. Lars and his friend Eleanor from school
2. Big boy who is 4!
3. Lars and me during cake lighting
4. yummy aebleskiver (Danish birthday breakfast treat)

What is wrong with our society?

Take a look at the boy in the picture. He's just another sad example of disgusting hatred that infects our society. He was recently killed in his school in California. While sitting at a computer a classmate shot him in the head. What could he possible do that was so terrible to deserve death? He came out that he was gay. This was obviously too much for someone to handle. But why? Was this child, 15 when he was killed, hurting anyone? I doubt it. What business is it of anyone's. A person's own sexual orientation is their business. If they want to share it, fine. However, it still does not justify any mistreatment because of that. Everyone has opinions, fine. Keep them to yourself. People that are strait, gay, red, blue, and pokadotted are ALL PEOPLE. It blows my mind that anyone could hate someone based on such a superficial level. So sad. Here is the link to the article about this tragedy.

It was awhile ago, but still....

 

 

 

 

Here are some pictures of us at the ICA (Institute for Contemporary Art) in Boston. The last Saturday of every month is free and family-centered. Well, free except for the $11 it costs to park but that's what you get in Boston. It was fun. Joa and Lisa made family trees to add to the wall. Others made their family trees too and then they made roots to connect them. The first picture is from a room that is floor to ceiling glass. Very cool way to see Boston.

ick, sick

While I am not sick-yet- it seems that everyone else is. My poor Taylor has the flu, Ella is recovering from double ear infections, Averie has some kind of bug, and I am sitting on the couch typing this with one hand as a sick Lars sleeps on my lap. He hasn't been himself and this morning while lying in bed with me he had a major vomiting streak. It's amazing how many things used to totally gross me out and how pretty much nothing does anymore. This afternoon he had a few seizures which led to him getting his med. for that. That would be what led him to his current drugged state. Say a prayer for all of these beautiful children that they won't have to be sick much longer and that the adults that are around them won't get it next!

Burrrrr.....

 

It sure is cold here in Massachusetts!

Wayside Chappel

 

 

 

Here is the chappel that is on the ground of the Wayside Inn. Hard to go past it and not see weddings in summer months, or at least wedding pictures being taken. So beautiful!

Wayside Inn

 

 

 

These are some pictures that I took awhile back. This is the mill at the Wayside Inn. It is the next town over from Lars' and is so beautiful. This is the mill on the Inn's grounds. Check it out!

Sledding!

 

 

 

Here's some pictures of Lars sledding. I am not in them, as I was the camera girl. Today has been an interesting New England day. It rained, snowed, and was sunny in between. Kind of reminded me of Ohio.

Change of Plans

As it turns out the interview didn't happen. It had to be rescheduled for next Monday. Oh well, more time to get ready!