Happy New Year, Happy Writing

Did I mention that I'm writing a book? Well, I am writing a book. I asked a colleague to write a book with me about a childhood anxiety disorder. We meet weekly and we write together. But something mysterious happened to me this New Year's Eve. I began to write more outside of our weekly sessions...suddenly, my writing began to flow. As my best friend, Ed, says, "I found my voice." I love writing. Finally, I don't agonize over every word. Finally, I write without abandon. Finally, I don't write, delete, rewrite, delete, rewrite, delete. I just let it flow and I'm loving it. I found my voice and I found my passion. 2010 will be my year! Marian

Merry Christmas

What a wonderful Christmas we had! Like a marathon knitter I knit gifts for all of my daughter's teachers -- a Sea cell yarn scarf, a DNA scarf, a Piano Keyboard scarf, a pair of socks, and three Fifth Avenue Infinity Scarves. I am announcing that this is the last year that teachers will get knitted gifts. Next year, family and friends will get knitted gifts only.

Tomorrow begins the "SPRING FORWARD" Kal with the infamous Long Island Friday night knitters. We're using the Rhinebeck yarn. I can't wait.

I'm so out of blog writing that I just better end now and let the blog begin again in 2010.....

New Hip, New Girl

I really, really hate when people don't write in their blogs and yet, I did the evil deed myself. I've been rather remiss the first six months of this year in terms of writing in this blog and for that, I am sorry. In other parts of my life, I've been so very productive.

I moved into a bigger office in Plainview, NY. Actually, I have two offices...one is in Miller Place and the other is in Plainview.

I taught the first graduate course on Selective Mutism this summer for SCOPE. This is an organization that gives credits to school personnel who takes courses related to their skills in the academic area. They are given at a reduced rate. The students were teachers, social workers, psychologists, and speech pathologists and one was a committee on special education chairperson. I loved teaching the course and I loved the quality of work produced by the students. It was a great class!

I've been working very hard in my private practice. I see more patients. My Plainview office is filled to capacity. Some days I only get one break. Miller Place might require that I work later into the evening on some days.

I'm writing more. I have one professional article in the works. I've had this article in mind since I presented at the St. Louis Conference on Selective Mutism a few years ago. I've also been asked to write a children's book. I'm mulling over that idea.

On a personal level, I had a total hip replacement on April 9th. It was quite the experience in more ways than one. Just on the physical side, it was excellent...I got my life back. The day after surgery I was walking up and down stairs. The week after surgery I was driving my stick shift car again. Now, four months later, I feel like I'm in my twenties. I've lost weight. I go to the gym. I feel like a new woman. All the little aches and pains that I thought were part of the fifties are gone. Life is good.....

10 Questions From Inside the Actor's Studio

While reading the Lime and Violet blog, I came across the interview with Ms. Violet whereby she was asked the 10 famous questions made famous by James Lipton from "Inside the Actor's Studio". Here's my version:

What is your favorite word?
Certainly.

What is your least favorite word?
No.

What turns you on creatively, spiritually,emotionally?
People.

What turns you OFF?
Meanness.

What sound or noise do you love?
Music.

What sound or noise do you hate?
Screaming or yelling.

What is your favorite curse word?
Fuck...people don't expect to hear it come out of my mouth. A patient's father once said, "I'm so shocked to hear you curse, I never expected it." Yet, it provides the emotional release and discharge so necessary at certain points in one's life!

What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
Cake decorator. My mother was a self-taught baker and magnificent cake decorator and my brother was an acclaimed chef in the Navy. He still bakes to perfection! I can't do it well...only a few things that I picked up from them. But my baby, she has the talent and will one day carry on their skills.

What profession would you not like to do?
Undertaker...I would be too scared to alone with the dead, and besides, I'd miss hearing all of the negative feelings! ;)

If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?
"What took you so long?"

Marian

My Second Favorite Topic -- Sock Knitting!

Nothing beats starting a new sock project and here I go! I'm knitting CookieA's "Baudelaire" in Socks that Rock -- Mustang Sally! What a beautiful red color! I'm gifting it to a very strong, sophistocated well known interviewer. She wears a lot of red and I'm hoping she'll like it. I'm a bit intimated by the project, but it's a challenge. I'll try to post some pictures in the future! Marian

Paperwork - The Devil's Work

I really hate paperwork...no, I REALLY hate it! But this year, by golly, I have vowed to do at least 3 hours a day of the darned stuff. To me it is like homework before tv when I was a kid. To me it is like liver and onions before dessert when I was a kid. To me it is like the shot before the lollipop when I was a kid. Why can't work just be seeing patients and knitting? Now that's what I call a fun time. Sigh...perhaps, just perhaps, if I do the 3 hours a day, by February I'll have more time for seeing patients and knitting. Marian

Commitments and Diets

I was reading an article about the successful tips of weight-loss survivors. One of them was to commit fully to the diet. Why is that so difficult? I am fully committed to my marriage, to being a mother, to being a therapist and professional...but I am a complete whore when it comes to dieting. If truth be told, I would be excommunicated from the Church of Weight Watchers for cheating if one could be divorced for unfaithfulness to a healthy eating program. I have good intentions...great intentions, even. I start out faithful enough. I try to do everything right. I read up on how to be a good dieting spouse and yet, in a moment of temptation when I am caught flirting with a much more provocative calorically handsome dish, I fall head over heels into its wonderfully delicious arms! I have to learn to control myself around richly sensual dishes. Oy the deprivation! How to committ? That is the goal for this year....Marian