Wine Stroll

I played at the Gilroy Wine Stroll this afternoon.

It was a ton of fun and it looks like I might get a couple of christmas party type gigs.

I think I have pretty much made up my mind about the vegas job opportunity... so expect an announcement regard that soon.

in the meantime, its Halloween weekend.

We are going to up my Aunt's house tonight for a halloween themed out door movie (hot dogs at 6!) and tomorrow I am up at Ty's for a Halloween party. My friend Aimee is coming down for the movie tonight. We are going to talk baseball among other things. Aimee is a die-hard A's fan and is rooting for the Rangers (of course!). I've now seen like 4 baseball games and think I am an expert on the sport. From what I've seen this afternoon (although I just got home from the Wine Stroll) the Rangers decided to show up to play baseball today. That's good. It makes the series more interesting.

Tomorrow's halloween party is a fictional will reading and wake from a fictional great Aunt. I am excited. I haven't seen ms. peaches since house sitting. We're due for some Auntie Lauren-Peaches time.

My trip to boston is next weekend! I am excited to see my best friend Julie and have some adventures. there is talk of a quick day trip up to NYC. Sounds exciting.

The weather is getting colder.... Thank goodness that November 1 is coming soon. Mom doesn't turn on the heat until November.

Sin City = Blisters

I have an owie on my toe from my shoes.

Surprisingly, this chronic over-packer brought just one pair for shoes for the 26 hours that I just spent in Vegas.

Let me just say that I loved staying on the Strip and doing my own little thing. I'd totally go back for fun, even though I don't really dig the whole gambling thing. But I really enjoyed the sensory stimulation and the Amazing food. Somehow, Dad and I manage to always eat really well when we're on "vacation."

The interview went really well! My experiential stuff was great. I can't say too much about it as I absolutely must uphold confidentiality. But I will say that it seemed like the one client that I interacted with really responded to the music. The therapist who normally works with this person seemed excited about the different experience and the way the client responded. It was a very positive experience.

Mostly I noticed how much I missed being in sessions with clients. Its a good thing to miss it- that means I am definitely in the right field. It just means that I am more motivated to get this figured out so that I can start working again.

I left with a good feeling after the interview, but it didn't really answer my questions. Instead it just kind of posed more questions. I left thinking that I just have more to think about.

Now I am calling meetings with the minds to flesh this thing out.

And off I go

Hi all,

I am off to Vegas for my interview.

A retreatant this weekend (a junior in high school) said that one of the things they learned this weekend was that, "Confidence is not a trait, its a choice."

So I choose to be confident in myself and abilities and just have some fun with it!

Quest 2010

Hey kids,

I have come down off the mountain and am still exhausted. It was a jam-packed and fast three days filled with great kids, fun events, and incredible talks. The student-senior leaders had amazing stories to share with the juniors and the group of other adult leaders (a couple of former teachers) were fantastic. The kids- the juniors- all took each thing seriously and I think really got something out it. I think that sometimes we are quick to judge high-schoolers. I do it, even though I am not much older. But all of these kids were so thoughtful and really opened up to the entire experience. It was truly an inspiring thing to see. A lot of great insights and sleepless nights. I averaged about 4.5 hours of sleep a night. The kids stayed up so late! Actually the last night we were there I spent chatting it up with the student-senior leader who led our small group. What a cool kid.

It was nice to go on this retreat- I went as a junior and led as a senior. Now I've seen it from the "adult" perspective. AND with my added experiences and training as a therapist, it was interesting to see these kids and to be able to read where they were in the process of the retreat. There were a lot of transformations. It was also fun to be the adult and talk about my experiences and have to shut kids up at like 2am. One girl was whispering in the halls about how she was going to go grab her goldfish for a snack and then proceeded to slam all of the doors. I remember doing the same thing and trying to be sneaky. The entire weekend was such a refreshing experience and I feel lucky that I was able to be there. I feel a little bit more confident in my abilities as I get ready for my interview. So I guess My Quest continues forward.

Anyhow, I spent most of yesterday afternoon taking a nap and then accompanied my mother to the Pintello Comedy Theater for a closing night show of this play called "The Love List." It was pretty funny. I enjoyed it. I also enjoyed the Giants game update before and during intermission. Everyone was really excited and cheering in the theater.

Our family doesn't normally watch sports- maybe the occasional football and hockey game- and never baseball. The last series with Philly has been something for me and my dad to talk about--- you know... with the 3.5 baseball games we've watched. :) we like to be experts on these things. Its been sort of exciting to follow the games in this philly series. I know that doesn't really make me a "real" fan. But its been fun to get into baseball for just a little bit.

Now that I'm catching up on my beauty sleep, I have to get into the right mindset for Las Vegas. Dad and I leave tomorrow morning. I have my interview in the afternoon. We'll be back Tuesday evening. I've got my writing portfolio mostly ready to go. I have my new business cards. I have some background information about the clients that I will interact with. I am very nervous. Its my first real job interview. I think my first interview, real interview, was applying for internships. Every job that I have worked started with some sort of connection. I am very nervous and I hope that it goes well. I think I am most nervous about interacting with their clients. I feel a little rusty, even though I have been playing almost every day. We'll see what happens. I know the Exec. Director of the agency very well and I know the other therapist there who is the Clinical Director. I feel better that I know them and feel comfortable in talking with them.. its just the actual experiential stuff. Sigh. I'm focusing on staying calm and being present. That will help.

I will update after my interview for sure. Dad's excited because we got 2 show tickets with our room. I don't know what time I will be done- I may have dinner with the Exec. Director after my interview. I am looking forward to that because I like the Exec. Director. That will be fun.

Thats all for now!

The start of a busy week

eck. I have been meaning to upload.

There are quite a few things happening in the next few weeks here.

Tomorrow I leave to help lead Quest, the Mitty junior retreat. I am very much looking forward to this. For a third time in my life, this retreat is coming at an excellent time. I am paired with a student senior leader from the campus ministry group. He sent me an email yesterday with a little bit about himself and a "Motroni was never clear on how I should address you... Ms. Bevilacqua? Lauren? A Nickname?"

Lauren works, but I told him he could call me anything but ma'am. :)

He sounds like a great kid and reminds me of a couple of kids that I went to school with.

I'm giving the Introduction and "what is a retreat" talk like right after the students get there and get settled. I'm excited. I've had many retreat experiences although none were like my first retreat. I'm going to talk about that and a little about my life when I was at Mitty and a little bit of my life now. At the end, I'm giving them two challenges for the weekend-- you know ways that could choose to use their time.

1. Listen. I think truly listening can be a difficult task. I'm always thinking about 27 different things and am prone to missing important details or waiting for the entire story. Listening is an important part of my work too as a therapist. But I think its important in a retreat environment too.

2. Get real. There's this show on MTV (and I'm embarrassed to admit that I've watched numerous episodes) where these people go to high schools and facilitate Challenge days. The point of challenge day is to challenge the students to see beyond the labels they give each other and the labels they take on personally. And in 30 minutes, the kids realize they have more similarities than differences despite the roles they play and the masks they wear. The challenge for the retreat is to take the risk to get a little real over the weekend.

I've been thinking a lot about what I am going to say and what points I absolutely need to make. But I think that these two sum it up.

And they are going to help me move forward next week too.

I'm taking a risk and I'm going out to Las Vegas for a job interview next week. I get to observe some sessions and interact with one of the therapists there to demonstrate my skill-set and see if this place is a good fit for me.

Dad is coming too. He's excited. He got a deal on one night at a hotel on the strip plus 2 show tickets. It was a great deal. I'm coming home the next day (after sitting in on a class that the executive director of the agency is teaching). I guess I'll know if LV is the kind of move I want to make as soon as I get there. We will see.

So I better look alive, listen and maybe take a few risks.

Now I have to get out of bed and eat something. I'm thinking Los Pericos. Its been awhile since I've had a burrito. I can actually open my mouth wide enough to take medium sized bites. Its definite progress. Oh Yeah- Wisdom teeth-- everything is fine. I'm feeling 0 pain now and can chew food even! Its been very exciting.

Gearing up for ravioli season.... Holly... that's your invitation!

Oh yeah... and Go Giants!

recovery

i've got my jamba juice and a long spoon plus my drugs and ice packs.... so I'm a relatively happy camper.

I dont have a whole lot of swelling yet, but its pretty uncomfortable.

My appointment was fine! I don't remember much, but I'm told it went well and I don't have ot go back unless there is a problem.

so that's good.

back to my jamba and nap!

Wisdom

I'm getting my tooth surgically extracted today.

I am excited to have an acceptable reason to eat pudding for breakfast, lunch, & dinner.

Hopefully my wisdom will not also be surgically extracted today.

Speaking of wisdom, I have some sad news.

I posted a link a while ago about a music therapy friend whose daughter has a rare skin condition. She was undergoing a BMT clinical trial in Minnesota. Talk about wisdom. She has taught so much to everyone who has followed her journey. Unfortunately, last night, her journey ended as her heart and body gave out. She didn't give up, she never gave up.

You can read about her incredible journey here:

http://careforanabella.blogspot.com/

Dear Starbucks barista

Dear young and attractive Starbucks Barista,

Thank you for calling me "miss" today. Since when is 23 grounds for saying "ma'am?"

Love,

Lauren

-----

I ran to the store this morning to replace some food items and grabbed a cup coffee at the neighborhood bux.

I'm settling down in the office which I don't think Peach likes too much. She's whining at me because I'm not paying attention to her.

How can you say no to this face?

progress

well. What a difference a day makes.

I have put together a preliminary powerpoint presentation and started drafting my proposal for the conference. For some reason I am really struggling with the description, even though I know what information I am including. Its not really flowing the way that I want it to and it doesn't really sound like a typical session that you might find at a one-day student conference. I'm considering applying for the other concurrent sessions- you know for the big kids. The professionals. I realize that I am a professional now too: Lauren F. Bevilacqua, MT-BC, but I'm nervous about presenting this information and still feeling like a student. I'm a young professional. Not a seasoned one. Not many therapists practice what I'm going to be presenting on but then again some heavy hitters in our field and this approach to therapy may be in attendance; I certainly don't want to look like a doof.... a young kid fresh out of internship with no other real life practical experience (Although presumably I'd have a job by then). Sigh.

I think I'm thinking about this too much.

I think I've put together a pretty good presentation. It definitely is a lot different than some of the other presentations I've seen done at the student-one day conference. I think students will find it interesting, especially for those who have never seen this type of therapy in action. I will have video clips which is certainly a plus. I don't remember the last session I went to that had actual session clips. I think I just need to get my confidence up-- you know, believe in my skills and what I learned in my internship. So maybe I will apply to both the student one-day and the concurrent sessions. We'll see what happens. The worst they can say is No. And that's no big deal.

based on some advice, I am stepping away from my proposal for at least a day and let it sit for a while. Its been 2 days of major progress. I need a break. ;)

Actually I have other things to focus on. I'm having dinner with a former teacher from high school to talk about my role in the retreat that is coming up. So maybe I'll take my break and think about the things I want to say--- you know, as an "adult" leader.

Okay- well, I'll take my break and take peaches for an evening walk.

ugghh

That's the sound I make when I have to get up off the couch.

House/dog sitting is going well. It's pretty quiet around here, especially when the pooch is napping.I might nap too.

I have reading and a conference proposal to do, but I can't seem to motivate myself to actually work on it. Any tips for self-motivation?

I have officially signed on to do the junior retreat at my high school. I'm going to be an "adult" leader. and I am getting my wisdom tooth extracted on Tuesday. I am looking forward to a diet of yoghurt and jamba juice.

well, I think I will take a nap. I still love being on vacation.