River Runs Through It

This weekend is Kim's birthday and we are taking her to the ever-obnoxious Leavenworth. I love it here. It is the place that makes no excuses or reasons for being the most random town in Washington. Seriously, who puts a Bavarian village in the middle of the mountains in WA? Whoever it was, kudos to you my friend because I am always entertained with plenty of wine, cheese, and goofy outfits/words.

Anyway, we are taking here this weekend and among out list of activities we thought it would be fun to do some spa treatments. A few years back, Brandy and I went to Leavenworth and stumbled upon this picture for treatments and about peed our pants. Imagine if this were possible. Alas, it was a winter trip and we quickly put it out of our minds. Now, with the summer ending, we approached the idea of going to Leavenworth to fulfill our Winters-past dream. Oh, and for Kim's birthday:) Brandy and I squealed with delight at the thought of our spa fantasies coming true. So, I called them to make sure it was legit.



Here is what the phone call consisted of:

Spa Woman: "Solstice Spa how may I help you?"

Me: "Um, I saw a while ago on your website that you do massages in the river, is that true?"

Spa Woman: (giggles) "Uh, what?"

Me: "Yeah you showed a picture of a woman having a massage in the river. Do you do that or not?"

Spa Woman: "No. That would be entirely too difficult and it was just a photo."

Me: "Okay thanks."

Spa Woman: "I've never had anyone ask that before."

Me: "Right. Thanks."

Picture me bright red and sweating because I now feel like a huge dumb-ass. By the way, if you have a picture of it on your website, I'm assuming that you provide that service. Ugh. I feel lame.

What's Another Few Months?

Tonight at school I was going over my educational timeline and my friend Holly asked what it looked like, so I told her what program and certifications I was doing. Much to my surprise, she gave me a heads up on how I can also get my teaching certificate! Here's how it would all go down...

2 years of current masters program= MA in Counseling Psychology

2.5 years of current masters program= MA in Counseling Psychology, MFT (Marriage and Family Therapy license)

Upper 2 I am currently doing....below is the addition!

2.75 years of current masters program= MA in Counseling Psychology, MFT, and Teaching Certificate allowing me to be a guidance counselor

Turns out the classes required to receive your teaching certificate overlap my courses as a therapist. All I have to do is take 3 more courses and 1 more internship and I'm a guidance counselor as well! Pretty neat....I think I'll do it!

So, I signed myself up for another semester and more debt tonight and I feel great!

Download of the day: Joshua Radin, Today (EP, you will love this!)

Read Me

Love this, love author, love the ideas, but hate the subject. Enjoy friends...

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/opinion/la-oe-steinem4-2008sep04,0,1290251.story

Bring on Fall

Fall is my favorite time of year. It reminds me of change and transformation. Fall brings the start of school, new blankets, cocoa, football games, leaves, and brilliant color. On the wings of change, I changed my blog to suit fall. Enjoy the brown and Monet! Welcome to Fall...

TiVo Talk

Last Thursday Da and I went to Mr. and Mrs. Smith's house for Fajita Thursday and left with a goody bag. It's contents were as follows:

1. 2 bottles of Hogue 

2. Rachel Ray fondue pot

3. TiVo

Now a week later, the Hogue is long gone, Rachel Ray was used Monday night with my ladies, and TiVo is hooked up and talking away in my living room! No joke, it took the entire day to try and figure out how to hook up and re-program TiVo because it was Mr. and Mrs. Smith's and so the instructions and half the necessary cables were long gone. I must say, Da showed up as Handy Andy and fixed her right up. If you have never heard TiVo before, she makes a fun little "Boop Boop" noise as she changes channels or records. One would think this would be annoying, but it is really quite friendly. 

Taylor+TiVo=Bliss

Wishing you TiVo and a lack of drama on this fine Saturday night....

Breaking the Cycle

I am in a treatment of abuse class this semester and we started off talking about the pathology of abuse and it's roots. As we all have known for years, the cycle of abuse can only be broken if one person consciously breaks the cycle. I don't want to say it gives those who are abusers an excuse to perpetuate abuse, but people do what the learn, and they learned what they saw. It takes incredibly strong and dedicated people to break this pattern and the breaking away comes with many assumptions and challenges that are much more difficult than the abusing. Many people try with good intentions to stop the cycle, but sadly, it is easier to continue in the fashion of those that once surrounded you. Abuse is not just physical or sexual abuse. The definition of abuse includes mental abuse and emotional abuse. Some experts say it is more accessible to treat physical and sexual abuse, but the real demon to treat, is emotion and mental abuse. They are subjective to their core. You cannot see, touch, or document mental scars. They take years upon years of therapy and treatment for the mental and emotional scars of our past to slowly dissipate. Therapy is the Neosporin for these scars. It takes time and patience and a whole hell of a lot of work.

Thus, the past few weeks of post-wedding splendor has been tainted with the selfishness and chaos of others. I am baffled and speechless with what has been said and done in response to a lack of invitation. I am confused. At the top of each invite and the bottom of each program my darling Sis and Tyson wrote a few words on how they wanted to share their day with those who have loved, supported, and been with them thru everything during the duration of their relationship. Those who cannot say this to be true, there is your reasoning. Enough said.

Similarly, Annie, the qualities I love most about you are exactly the qualities that you have spent a lifetime perfecting. I don't want you to alter one thing....not a one! You have broken the cycle of emotional chaos and I applaud you. You have risen above it and spent countless amounts of time living what you value most. This trait alone is so admirable and I am so sorry that you were alone on your first quest of "self." I wish I could have been there with you as you have been there with me. All I can say is that the hard work you have done has paid off because you are sheer brilliance to me. You emulate the person I can't wait to be. Together you and Mom have created a family culture that is well beyond what you had and I thank you. Thank you for giving me an example of what a family looks like and what siblings should be like. Morgs and I have mirrored you and Mom, and I couldn't think of better models. So, Annie, don't alter anything. Don't try and self-discover your way into leaving emotions out. Those emotions are what connects you and I. We are miles upon mile apart, and when I talk to you, I want the emotion whether it is judgmental or joyful...I want it all!

Finally, my dear Morgs. What i enjoy most about your lack of self-editing is that you encourage others to try it on and pass it around. You have the pick-eye of good traits. I know you got this from Sheri, and keep it up!  No apologies required.

PS I love this Power of 4 business....I feel like I am a Power Ranger of come sort!!!

porko

Hey all you bloggers!!!! You know when you want to post a comment on someone's blog and you have to enter in those random letters that are all psyched out that you have to squint with one eye and pretend to did a line of coke and LSD to figure it out????? Well, I am always perturbed because the letters are so random and in not particular sequence that the OCD in me wants it SO badly to make sense. Nonetheless, today it finally did

P   O    R    K   O

appeared in perfect penmanship and in blue block lettering! I was so shocked that it made an actual word, well kind of a word, but closer to a word than ever before. I think the blogosphere is finally apologizing for all of my frustration when trying to punch in the letters time and time again!!!!

Thank you blogger:)

Much love to my Denver friend who can't seem to stop herself from having any of the following: surgery, new medical discovery, and/or pink eye. I miss you hope hope you are better without your crawdad.

P.S. I kind of love Sarah Palin because her fam is a bit on the trashy side.....and because I think she might just save us all from grampy Mc-insane!