Coffee Break

I'm taking a few minutes to have a cup of coffee and blog today. It has been a rainy, overcast week and the temperatures are in the 40s and 50s. I notice people wearing shorts and swim suits in store windows and catalogues and I think the models must not be living here!

I have been digesting the Milan systemic approach to interviewing families this morning and getting ready to write another paper. In my free time, I have started doing more genealogy research. It's been kind of cool, but I have run into a few road blocks along the way. I fear I waited too long to ask about this stuff and a lot of the relatives on my dad's side are now dead. I have noticed there seem to be a lot of cut offs in my family. I'm trying not to follow that pattern and at least check in with the folks now and then.

I dropped in on my favorite dance class last night and then Hubby and I went out for Chinese. Afterwards, we went to a late night book store to write and study. I like it when we have a little weekly ritual like that. Granted I had required reading to do, but it was nice to get away from the house for awhile. Next week, everything is out of sync because I have to take care of a few dogs and will be driving around and staying different places. I love the animals, but I'll have to miss dancing and our little night out together.

I am thinking about summer school. I want to take Creative Writing in Therapy.

April Fun

It's a quasi-rainy April day and I'm home studying. I had to draw up another genogram and write about my family AGAIN. I think this program is designed to make me face every dysfunctional issue possible before I can start working as a counselor. I know it's good to process all this crap, but sometimes it gets to be a bit much. I'm sure I'll find myself in therapy before it is over. I probably should locate someone good in case the dreaded negative countertransference appears during the course of my work with patients .

Anyway, I haven't written in awhile. It's been tough balancing work and school. I may have to give up dog walking because it's putting too many miles on my car and isn't cost effective anymore. It sucks because I want a dog and we can't have one where we live. I wonder if we can afford to rent someplace with a yard for a bit while I finish this program. It feels like it will be forever before I finish this damned program, by the way. I have been going part-time because of time and money restraints. I also still have a one year internship and two years of supervision ahead. Oh well. Truth is, I actually love what I am doing. I think I just need a school loan and to get better with budgeting and time management.

I'm considering going to Tai Chi class tonight. It's usually kinda cool. Good for stress, if not actual combat.