If I'm going to tell it, then I've got to tell it all

I confess:

Going back to a 9-5 (as opposed to my old "make your own schedule") job has been GREAT. I've discovered that I work best in a pre established framework!

Glee semi-disappointed me this week

People feel strangely compelled to 'come out' to me.

I bought capris again...*sigh*...I guess I needed to learn AGAIN that capris are not for people with short legs..they just look like extreme high waters!

I love love love love love love gossiping. Can someone explain to me why I find it so thrilling?

There are a few blogs I read which have recently gotten boring for me. (although nothing could be more boring than my own blog, trust me, I know)

I felt a wave of sadness about Heath Ledger tonight. How strange.

Lori Ann

What I Meant to say Wednesday!

Ok, I have seen a lot of other people do these "what I meant to say Wednesdays", but this is my first- wish me luck!

This is hosted by Chief..click on the picture to check out her awesome blog and link up and play if you want!

Ok...It's "What I meant to say Wednesday - The Group Therapy Edition"

Client # 1- You don't know me. Don't act like you know me.

Me: Ok, that is a fair assessment.

WIMTS: Did you steal that line from a movie? Because I swear I've heard it on every 'dangerous minds' '8 mile' type movie since about 93.

 

Client # 2- I don't like you and I don't have to talk to you!

Me: I am sorry that you feel that way and I hope we can get to a place where you feel that you can trust me enough to share

WIMTS: Sweet, so we feel the same way about each other.

 

Client # 3- This is SO boring

Me: Well, this group is really directed by you all. What can we do as a group to make this more interesting and worth your time?

WIMTS: I know, so boring right? Maybe they'll let us watch some movies here! Let's ask, if they say yes, I swear I will buy the pizza!!

*I love my clients and my job and don't mean to mock them in any way. Just expressing my frustration and some of the first thoughts that pop into my head when interacting with the kids!*

Lori Ann

I didn't mean to hurt you..

I was raised by a father who really should be a professor teaching "the history of Rock and Roll". He played all the classics. They are the soundtrack to my childhood.

Why did it take me until Lennon/McCartney night to first hear this Lennon song?

AMAZING.

Lori Ann

Everything

I do love nothing in the world so well as you.

William Shakespeare
Lori Ann

In your eyes..

Life is never what you expect it to be, is it?

I have this new job. There are so many things I love about it.

Family, Group, and Individual Therapist.

I never in my life thought I would be a 'therapist'. It's a title I have always held in some reverence and never imagined that it would a title that applied to me.

But here I am.

Today, I decided to let the kids decide on some of the rules for our group, and they said they thought music should be a part of it.

We spent the next hour listening to our favorite songs on the ipod I borrowed from my sister.

It opened doorways of communication that I had been trying to pry open for the last week and a half.

Imagine a group of 6 or 7 "bad kids" all singing along to "Love Story" by Taylor Swift...and then spending 15 minutes talking about it. Or about how the song they chose reminds them of when they lived with their mom, before they went into a foster home. Or how the song they chose was all that kept them from committing suicide a few months ago.

It was both powerful and sad.

Powerful because I know that it was healing for some of the kids, and sad because I want so much to help these kids. I would love to take them all home with me and shower them with praise and encouragement. I would love to go to their concerts and parent teacher conferences. I would love to ground them for bad grades and set a curfew and lecture them about keeping their room clean.

They haven't had any of that.

I guess what I am saying is that it's kind of cool to have a job where you learn more than you teach, and where you get more than you give.
Lori Ann
 

p.s.- I played "in your eyes" as my song. Apparently Peter Gabriel isn't that popular with teens:)

You know what I hate??

I hate, more than anything else on Earth, smugness.

I CANNOT STAND IT.

It's what really propels my political views. I don't think I'm being biased when I say that there are FAR more smug liberals than smug conservatives. (though I am sure that both exist). Liberals just have that smug "I am smarter than you and I really care about people, unlike you" attitude that irritates me.

ANYWAY,

I was reading someone's blog and she was commenting on how she was excited about health care reform, and I was like "oh well, whatever makes you happy". I am not a fan of it, but I don't begrudge anyone their opinion...until...

the comments section.

I kid you not there were AT LEAST 100 comments from Canadians, stating things like "welcome to the modern world...finally you've learned that you need to be like us"

OH MY GOSH.

Which brings me to the other thing I hate most in this world..

Canadians!

Lori Ann

Strong words in the staff room...

My new job is crazy. Which I love. Keeps life interesting.

I think my boss (who is famous for sending people inappropriate text messages) may be self medicating. I am scheduling all of my meeting with him when he is on an upswing.

My coworkers all have cliques. I love clique warfare. (thanks, Pam!)

I have already started my own alliance with the clinical director and her assistant.

I have approached a few others about an alliance, but I think they are afraid...or they think I'm crazy. Which is a win-win for me.

I am giving myself 3 more weeks to accomplish the following:

Form and break numerous alliances

Stab, minimum, three people in the back

Be the object of both pity and scorn

Steal someones lunchable from the staff fridge

Make someone fall in love with me (piece of cake)

Convert at least 2/3rd's of the day treatment clients to "team Jacob"

I know what you are thinking...how am I going to convert teenage girls to "team Jacob"? With their love of emotional thinking and lack of insight into what makes a healthy relationship, they are all strongly team Edward.

Don't worry.

My middle name is Persuasion.

(Well, it's actually Ann...I going to add that to my list of stuff to get done, though..."change my middle name to Persuasion")

Lori Ann