July 31, 2015

More crushing back pain in the night – flopping this way, that way, all to little or no avail.  Fortunately I was seeing Jake today and would  let him know.  I sat, enjoyed seeing a thousand, plus musicians play “Learn to Fly” to coax the Foo Fighters to play for them in Italy.  What a thrill  that would be – learning to play that with others, knowing he will see it and promise to come play for them – that’s the kind of guy he is – full of integrity.  

I headed off to the gym for my appointment and was put.through.the.wringer.  The moves were not hard, per se – but my body never truly “learned” how to work after the accident and now, it was being taught.  He showed me things to do to relieve my back pain and began working my body so it strengthens. I decided there and then that Jake will be my Bela Karoli, my Olympic coach (minus the emotional abuse).  By the time I sat in the car, I was 92% dead.  Mags texted me and asked if I wanted a protein shake – oh, yes, delicious!

I planned with the kids about the adventure we would be taking the next day – the boy was already showing signs of 13-anine (adolescent-ness).  I assigned a few things for once I left and then we headed into the backyard to do some yardwork…the first of the summer, really.  Not watering has meant the grass stays mostly deadish. I got the fish pond filter running again, and the fish danced around happily underwater.  I had sweat pouring off of me (still), so hopped in the shower and …off to work!

First task at hand was group – we had three kids, which is the most it has been in some time.  After we had completed the objectives, we spoke of kids…one of the kids had a friend who was expecting a son soon and he talked about how one day (nice insight), he wanted to have kids of his own, but how he’d keep the girl under lock and key to keep her safe (better insight).  He said:  “yeah!  With a boy you only have to worry about one dick, but with a girl, you have to worry about every guy’s dick!”  I had to laugh.  Ohhhh, the seeds we sew.  I had a family session after and I was thrilled with how well it went, how receptive everyone was…and that there I was,  sitting…educating these people.  There is such strong rapport…funny how things work so much easier when you are where you are supposed to be.  <happy smile>

 

Raced home after prog notes were done to prepare for our adventure.  Initially I was thinking of leaving around 4 a.m. – that’s always very adventure-y and fun, but… after both kids blew up at different times <oh, yes>, shopping, packing, cooking, loading and, and, and…it is past 11 and here I am writing.  Still, it should be a fun trip to Bodie.  There’s a natural (free) hot spring nearby.   We may camp overnight, maybe not.  Not talking Lizzie because apparently it’s high in elevation (Lizzie doesn’t like high elevations) and is already a 4 hour trip.  I’m excited – the Tribe rides again.

Pictures: No melted chairs or inflatable sofa, this time!! <camping packed right>; Prepping pancake mix; Maggie's scratch peach pie for dessert (it won't last til breakfast <grin>

July 30, 2015

Awoke in such pain – actually “the awaking” (new word!!) happened several times because of my back, but hopefully getting-into-this shape thing will help.  I had no idea what day it was when I got up – even after coffees (multiple), the day escaped me.  I finally realized it was Friday and felt all the better for it.  I had to pick Mags up at 10:30 and then head to the podiatrist to look at my foot.  When I was 17 at boarding school, I had something happen.  Initially I thought it was a shard of glass,  I was later told (much later, like 10 years later) that it was a plantar wart, yet today, my initial thoughts were verified when I was told it was caused by an injury – likely a shard of glass or something.  The doctor was amazing and the office reminded me of Dr. Allen’s office in Midland when I was a kid( my pediatrician).  He handed me the cup of liquid nitrogen, told me to dump it on the ground – where it completely disappeared.  So rad.

It wasn’t until I was almost at the gym that I realized it was actually Thursday.  Dammit.  Still – it was ok – my days are pretty damn awesome.  I did a quick cardio, the ab extensions and more cardio (with sweat pouring off of my head, of course) and then headed home, where Mags greeted me with a delicious post workout protein shake.  This kid.  I made arrangements this morning to have Carolene watch the dogs in a couple of weekends as I’m gonna surprise her with a weekend trip in Lizzie Mae up to Calpine to go see The Brothers Comatose play at Comatopia! – a two day mini-music fest with a lot of cool bands.  It was such a terrific venue during the Mother Hips shows, I think she’ll love it.

I had group at 2 and hurried in – Marcia wasn’t feeling well so I led the group.  Me being me, I had to incorporate some therapy into it.  Despite being in recovery, I’m not a certified addiction specialist, so I can’t do what Marcia does, but I hope I connected a little bit with some of those kids.  Group ended and it would appear I am a suspect of some office pranks.  While I will admit I am being taught by the master, and that my wheels are spinning…this is as much as I am able to do at this point, due to the 5^th Amendment and all.

Got home and the boy and girl were ready – my plan was dinner and a movie, which is rare for me.  Ok, clarification – dinner is common, movie, not so much.  A yummy schnitzel for me (I am missing Europe) and then we headed to see “Inside Out.”  I was puzzled during the beginning, because I recognized that man!!  It wasn’t until near the end when I realized who the actor playing dad was (the 5 o'clock shadow got me): JOHN STOSSEL!!!  I had no  idea he’d branched out into Pixar...good for him...

My sweet mags gave me a pedi at home and we re-watched The Office episodes.  Mags has a lot of them  memorized and knows where specific shows are– but that’s ok, I know that January 6 of this blog is when my nephew was first seen by my sweet niece, and that’s pretty damn cool.

 Pics 'n flicks: Ein koetsliches Schnitzel; The monsoon clouds, teasing us; John Stossel, playing the dad in "Inside Out"; Mags captured it on film - Dr. Wolff is AWESOME.

July 29, 2015

Such a beautiful dream last night about my dad… the Austrian air force (which exists, yet my dad frequently joked about them) were  in their Black-hawk helicopter, which they didn’t know how to fly, so they kept spinning in circles.  A closet filled with my dad’s clothes had been opened and someone had taken out all his clothes and spread them all over the picnic table, which angered me because all the “smell” would be lost from his clothes.  I wanted to feel his strong hugs and smell that scent of my father..that cologne you could only find in Europe.   God, I miss him so much.  

My back and body were hurting so damn bad that when the alarm went off at 7, I reset it for 8, thinking I’d just go to the gym in the afternoon.  It would seem I make my best decisions when I’m “asleep.”  At 8, I decided that another 23 minutes was best, but I somehow never made it back to sleep, so up and at ‘em.  Got dressed,  and headed off to the gym.  Spoke to Jake in the parking lot, then Gabriella at the front desk  inside.  It wasn’t until I stepped in front of a mirror that I saw I had protein powder all over my nose.  A quick workout, covering everything I learned the Monday except extension abs on the ball (I forgot), them home to shower and off to work.

The terrific thing about this place is that…I have found my work tribe.  Group supervision was great – a bunch of like-minded people.  I feel I am no longer an outsider, which has always been the case the case in the class room.  It is terrific to be where I belong.  As Jen and I were picking up dinner, she told me such awesome things..about me as a therapist!!  This is coming from one of the coolest therapists I’ve ever known (ultimate compliment)! 

Picked up the kids after group to bring them in for an adjustment on their braces.  Mags assaulted me with multiple questions on if it hurt, what did I do, how long were mine on, how was it when I had them taken off (mind you, this is adjustment #1).  This little ball of sunshine was so excited to have them put on and she’s already counting down.  Then back to work to write notes and go to group.  I may or may not have been convinced to escort a certain colleague who may have been mentioned previously,  to a specific eatery which may or may not serve heated corn with redundantly cooked vegetables and dairy toppings, but I am not sure.  I do know that I read an article about losing weight through working out even your diet isn’t changed and I have to say, my breakfasts are stellar.  Girl texted in group about being invited to go spend the night at my long-lost pseudo-daughter’s house, so during break, I dropped her off.

Boy and I went to Home Depot after group and purchased security cameras, which we installed.  This place is getting to be too much.  I had better luck when I lived in a really bad part of Ft. Worth.  Guess all the search copters with lights kept me safe.

Pictures:  Smoke in the evening sky from nearby wildfire; Some of Ethan's creations today.

July 28, 2015

I was in so much pain last night my boobs hurt and they didn’t even do anything – they just kinda sat there.  I made a point of rolling muscles to rid the lactic acid and when I awoke, I was grateful that the pain was at a bare minimum, given the circumstances.  I was able to walk freely, without needing to contort my face due to indescribable muscular suffering (plus, “Eye of the Tiger” was my earworm this morning, which helped me work through it all like a champion)

Tuesday are somewhat busy, but I had a fairly easy day ahead of me and looked forward to getting in there and re-living the thrill of Knowing-What-The-Hell-I’m-Doing.  Until I got there…because suddenly – I didn’t.  All that knowledge was gone, had disappeared like Dust in the Wind (thank you, Kansas).  Fortunately, today was individual supervision day , which meant I got to ask questions.  I am also aware of the steep learning curve and the difference between class and real-life, so unless everyone is lying to me, I know I’m doing ok.  

My first appointment missed and needed to reschedule for later that day, which meant the rest of my day  was slam-packed.  Any free time to write prog notes or other disappeared.  Client to group to client.  Not necessarily tough when you’re seasoned, yet I was still looking for missing parts of the group I needed to facilitate.  During that group, however, I heard the sweetest words to a therapist’s ears – a client insisted on seeing me while her primary therapists took vacation time.  <Heart beaming>

I also learned today that my sweet boy is moving – next week will be our last session.  I was able to work with him, and hopefully help dad out a bit with some suggestions.  After some more paperwork (though I have notes to catch up on), I left, almost 9 hours after I showed up.  Much to my chagrin, a last minute change in the schedule had meant no prepared dinner and a necessary trip to the store (I got salad items) (which I did not eat – yet) (there is always tomorrow).  No gym today – I get two days off a week, so it seems today was one of them.   My plan is get up earlier tomorrow – head in – work out and home, shower, work.  

My tribe was amazing – all chores done, excellent moods, and lovely, smiley faces.  Not going to class and living in homework is great (except for my 1.7 <one is begun> case studies and my Capstone – which will be on my soon-to-move client.  My body is in pain again now as it remembers yesterday.  I haven’t told it yet that we are doing the same thing tomorrow morning.

Pictures:   Bruise from running into workout equipment; Maggie's "best" foot on a self-pedi; Ethan made Mountain Dew jello

July 27, 2015

The sleep was beautiful:  long and filled with many beautiful dreams…but as must happen, I woke up .  Even the morning was a peaceful one though..until one of the dogs threw up on my beautiful duvet cover.  Dammit.  Nothing gets a morning hopping faster than that.  

There were things to be done, I knew – plans to complete, so I got busy going through books.  Baldacci, it was time, Ludlum, fare thee well, King, let’s do this.  Over 100 books and barely a dent in my collection, but I needed to do this.  I headed to The Bookery and got credits for books, then the books which hadn’t made the cut were brought to hospice along with boxes of items I had intended to sell at a yard sale.  Clearing out all the stuff (except my Montessori materials) was so nice.  

I picked up Maggie, my sweet little sassafras and we headed home, where I gave her a list of chores to do while I went  to visit Jake for my first training session.  I’m just gonna jump ahead and say – this girl has a gift – she can clean this kitchen like no one’s business and I don’t know how she does it (I know this sounds silly, but it’s true).  I tried three times to clean in here yesterday with no success and in half an hour, it looks spotless after her work.  She giggled when I told her this, but I’m dead serious.  

Jake was…killer.   After my assessment he was able to see how I really need to work on stabilization and so, that’s what we did.  2 different types of squats (at different times), shoulders, core…I forget what else (it’s written down, though so it’s ok).  Then I finished off with 22 minutes of cardio instead his suggested 15 (I like to push myself).  By the end, every muscle in body was freaking out.  I had to sit in the car for a few minutes before heading home (DWME – Driving with Muscle Engagement ).  Mags and I went to grab Ethan then, his movie plans had fallen through.

Off to Target –over $200 in school supplies.  I’m not sure if this is normal for charter schools or what, but I am SO grateful this is almost over.  The money spent on this school easily tops $500 a year.  So much for “free.”  The plans were to go to Trader Joe’s, yet I was exhausted.. the kids were hungry…and the our was too late.  Dammit.  I wish I could lie, but we went to Chicago Pizza.  Home and (plans were) immediate sleep for me.  Ethan “helped” me put my duvet cover on, which had somehow torn in the washing cycle, laughing about my years in the senior citizens home (he is really concerned about this).  I giggle, because I’ll end up living with him when he’s grown.  I just haven’t told him this yet.

Pictures:  Oh, deer... the visitor we noticed when we got home last night (Mags' picture); a pear in an old pear tree which was probably part of an old orchard by the park; On our way to Target, the sun setting over El Dorado Hills (Mags' picture).