It is Halloween here in Somerville (and around the country) but hopefully, kids will venture out into the fall chill to collect candy and other goodies from all the neighbors here on Summer Street! Angela was great and stocked up on candy so I am making dinner this evening - attempting a recipe for steamed fish that Soetji let me borrow before I left Jordan last March. We'll see how it turns out!
On Friday afternoon, the town of Melrose, MA (where Roman Music Therapy Services has their office) - they shut down Main Street from 3-5 pm and all the local businesses owners came out to give candy to the local trick-or-treaters and let me tell you, there were about 1500 of them! I saw a few Marios, tigers, baby dinosaurs, princesses......you name it and they were there! It was a really great way to get the community together and a nice way for me to meet some local folks.
I spent the afternoon with Angela yesterday, wearing a Michigan State sweatshirt to support, only to watch them lose terribly to Iowa. It was a sad game to watch but luckily, Penn State won later in the evening!
Going to spend a bit of today session planning for my first Early Intervention groups tomorrow and hopefully enjoy some relaxation in front of the TV :o)
Talk soon!
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Fall Fall Fall
I definitely feel in the fall spirit after this weekend! I spent Friday evening out on the town with Katie, my lovely friend from Michigan (aka - Pearse and Mary's cousin), then went apple-picking in country on Saturday with some work folks, followed by an apple cider donut with hot chocolate on the side! Then of course, because Halloween is coming up, Angela and I went to one of her co-workers houses for a Halloween "Dress as a Beverage" party so I went as Shirley Temple and Angela went as Blue Moon. Don't worry - pictures will be posted eventually.
The weekend continued today with a brisk walk down to the Charles River to check out the Head of the Charles Regatta. Tons of rowing teams come from all over to compete! I finished the day by cooking my favorite Arabic dish, Kousa Mashi and using the leftover zucchini for zucchini bread. We'll see how the bread tastes tomorrow but the Kousa Mashi (stuffed zucchini) was delicious!
The cats explored all items being made in the kitchen and Sammie discovered her love for zucchini. Nermal just napped through the entire event which was much easier.
Things with the job are going well - still learning how to approach music therapy with this new population. My dad was wonderful and sent me a few new music therapy books to help me gather research and materials so hopefully that will help as well!
Alright - off to bed, will update more soon!
The weekend continued today with a brisk walk down to the Charles River to check out the Head of the Charles Regatta. Tons of rowing teams come from all over to compete! I finished the day by cooking my favorite Arabic dish, Kousa Mashi and using the leftover zucchini for zucchini bread. We'll see how the bread tastes tomorrow but the Kousa Mashi (stuffed zucchini) was delicious!
The cats explored all items being made in the kitchen and Sammie discovered her love for zucchini. Nermal just napped through the entire event which was much easier.
Things with the job are going well - still learning how to approach music therapy with this new population. My dad was wonderful and sent me a few new music therapy books to help me gather research and materials so hopefully that will help as well!
Alright - off to bed, will update more soon!
Sunday, October 17, 2010
As Time Goes By
I always end up discussing time and my fascination with how we perceive time, etc. Well, I won't bore you with that but I am excited with how things are moving here in Boston - slowly getting used to routine, new people, life on my own, so all in all, pretty good things!
My schedule at work is slowly getting busier, adding new contracts/clients but I am hoping to find another part-time job, just something little to bring in some extra cash. We'll see what happens!
Since I have been here a few weeks, I thought it was finally time to post some pictures of my apartment and of course, pictures of the cats! They have been little trouble makers as of late - getting into the toilet paper roll, behind the washer and dryer, and getting up on the counters in the kitchen. Luckily, we have a spray bottle of water which they seem to highly dislike so the training continues. :o)
My Bedroom!
My schedule at work is slowly getting busier, adding new contracts/clients but I am hoping to find another part-time job, just something little to bring in some extra cash. We'll see what happens!
Since I have been here a few weeks, I thought it was finally time to post some pictures of my apartment and of course, pictures of the cats! They have been little trouble makers as of late - getting into the toilet paper roll, behind the washer and dryer, and getting up on the counters in the kitchen. Luckily, we have a spray bottle of water which they seem to highly dislike so the training continues. :o)
My Bedroom!
The Bathroom :o)
The Kitchen area
The living area connected to the kitchen
And of course, the kitties!
Hope you have a great week and I will update more soon!!
And p.s, I had the best butterscotch pudding I have ever had at Finale in Boston, a lovely dessert place!!
xoxoxo
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Learning Curve
I guess there is always a learning curve with a new job and I am slowly feeling out this new position. I am working in a lot of schools with classes, kids with special needs which is a very different setting for me than my previous training and experience. Luckily, I usually meet my challenges and work hard to provide the best services that I can - I am hoping that I can get my creative mind in gear and get with the picture for this position!
In other news, I have applied for a few on the side positions to give some extra cash flow and give my brain a break from the therapy end of things. One possibility is a paper store, the other a coffee shop - either would be fine for me, we'll have to see what the hourly rate is like. I am hoping that I made the right choice in moving to Boston. I had applied for a few other jobs but this is the one that came through! I am just hoping I am following the right path, direction for my life - I think I am but it just takes time to readjust to a new situation and culture. I should have plenty of practice with this from Jordan - but surprisingly, Boston is proving to be just as difficult if not more difficult for the transitions because of all the small nuances and differences instead of the stark differences the Middle East had to the States.
Enough of my blabbing...haha. The kitties had their second round of vaccines today and should be doing well from now on, got a healthy report card and let me tell you, they just keep getting cuter! For some reason, they love laying on top of my clean laundry in the basket; however, they never sleep on the dirty laundry when it's sitting there, hmmmm?
Please send prayers for transition and decreased anxiety over new job, new people, new life.
Sending love xoxoxo
In other news, I have applied for a few on the side positions to give some extra cash flow and give my brain a break from the therapy end of things. One possibility is a paper store, the other a coffee shop - either would be fine for me, we'll have to see what the hourly rate is like. I am hoping that I made the right choice in moving to Boston. I had applied for a few other jobs but this is the one that came through! I am just hoping I am following the right path, direction for my life - I think I am but it just takes time to readjust to a new situation and culture. I should have plenty of practice with this from Jordan - but surprisingly, Boston is proving to be just as difficult if not more difficult for the transitions because of all the small nuances and differences instead of the stark differences the Middle East had to the States.
Enough of my blabbing...haha. The kitties had their second round of vaccines today and should be doing well from now on, got a healthy report card and let me tell you, they just keep getting cuter! For some reason, they love laying on top of my clean laundry in the basket; however, they never sleep on the dirty laundry when it's sitting there, hmmmm?
Please send prayers for transition and decreased anxiety over new job, new people, new life.
Sending love xoxoxo
Monday, October 4, 2010
Losing My Mind :o)
Sometimes I feel as though I am already losing my mind. Case in point: This afternoon, I went to my car, opened the door, set down my purse on the seat (with keys, wallet, cell phone) inside of it, and promptly shut the car door with it locked. Luckily, the gas station next door has wonderful people working there that let me use the phone and call my insurance company for roadside assistance. The story then gets better! As I was waiting for the locksmith to get here, nothing happened and then nothing happened. I called the insurance company again and they said that the locksmith showed up and I wasn't there - not true! I was with my car the whole time, so yet again I am waiting for another locksmith. They finally showed up and the guy was very nice, apologized and unlocked the car quickly.
Long story short, don't lock your keys in the car! It's such an annoying problem but in all honesty, it gave me a few hours of time just to be quiet and sit. I literally couldn't do anything, go anywhere, call anyone so I had time to just be.
My first official sessions on my own will take place tomorrow so I'm a bit nervous! Excited to be out there providing music therapy but nervous that I will be rusty. I have my sessions planned out so I hope that helps.
Anyway, signing off for the night - will talk to you soon! xoxo
Long story short, don't lock your keys in the car! It's such an annoying problem but in all honesty, it gave me a few hours of time just to be quiet and sit. I literally couldn't do anything, go anywhere, call anyone so I had time to just be.
My first official sessions on my own will take place tomorrow so I'm a bit nervous! Excited to be out there providing music therapy but nervous that I will be rusty. I have my sessions planned out so I hope that helps.
Anyway, signing off for the night - will talk to you soon! xoxo
Friday, October 1, 2010
Weekend in the City
Although technically my second weekend in Boston, it is my first weekend with an unpacked room and as you can tell, I am writing a blog entry on a Friday night, living the life. I enjoy relaxing after a week of work though and there is so much to do, I'm sure I will find something for tomorrow! I am getting up and going to the gym in the morning and then am going to a flea market fundraiser at one of the local schools where Roman Music Therapy Services provides sessions. The flea market proceeds go to the music therapy program, how cool!
Today at work, I observed my boss providing an early intervention program for parents and children ages1.5 to 3 - sooooo cute! And the best part is that music therapists can really provide an age-appropriate, developmentally appropriate approach to the classes which will benefit the children so much more.
On a side note, I am attaching a picture of the cats doing their typical afternoon nap. They are about 12 weeks old now and acting crazy! They love playing with each other, destroying my dress pants with their claws, and also wrecking my brand new sheets :o)
Will update more tomorrow! night night!
Today at work, I observed my boss providing an early intervention program for parents and children ages1.5 to 3 - sooooo cute! And the best part is that music therapists can really provide an age-appropriate, developmentally appropriate approach to the classes which will benefit the children so much more.
On a side note, I am attaching a picture of the cats doing their typical afternoon nap. They are about 12 weeks old now and acting crazy! They love playing with each other, destroying my dress pants with their claws, and also wrecking my brand new sheets :o)
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