Friday, September 23, 2011
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Ten on Tuesday
1. Ramy had a two-day seminar to attend this past weekend. Rebecca and I were planning on having a girls' weekend. Alas, we both came down with a respiratory infection and spent the weekend barking and laying in bed, watching tv and reading magazines and books. We're not quite over it yet - I still sound like a chronic smoker who's been on a two-week bender.
2. On Friday, we had our closet organizer systems installed. LOVE THEM! I really want to just stand in our closet and stare at it. It's so exciting. It allowed me to put all of my clothes in my closet, rather than having just one season out at a time. However, it also allowed me to see that I really need to get rid of a lot of clothes that I never wear.
3. In case you missed it, Rebecca's school is having their annual fundraiser and is selling awesome wrapping paper (as well as chocolates, magazines, and other kinds of things that I'm sure are cool). If you'd like to support Rebecca's school and get some nice, thick, pretty wrapping paper...
Click the link below to visit Innisbrook.com and they will recognize Rebecca and her school automatically.
http://www.innisbrook.com/credits/index/studentlink?id=R181998G
If the above link does not work:
1. Click below
2. Select Shop the Innisbrook Online Store
3. Enter School# 121926 and Select Go
4. Select Continue
5. Enter Seller ID# R181998G
www.innisbrook.com
4. Still haven't been able to schedule the CPSE. I did break down and just buy the new study materials for it, rather than trying to be cheap and get used ones. At this point, I think I'm just numb and if they asked for my right arm, I'd give it to them to be done with this process.
5. Said study material arrived in a priority mail flat rate envelope. One spiral bound notebook. I paid WHAT and got one dinky notebook? I was so aghast that I took it to work and showed my colleagues so that they could be equally flabbergasted. We are now quitting the neuropsych business and just doing psych study materials.
6. It's been a full moon lately. All kinds of craziness has been breaking loose at work. And at home too. I swore this morning I was hexed. I was going to take Rebecca to school. She was dressed and eating breakfast when Ramy left. Then she spilled her milk and we had to change clothes and I had to clean the chair cushions and wipe up milk off the floor. Then I couldn't find my keys (to car and office!) and didn't remember where we have the spare keys in new house. So I took the truck and forgot the doctors note for Rebecca to be able to get Dimetapp at school. Then we got stuck in traffic. Then her class was in another classroom. Then there was intense fog causing more traffic. Then a patient's family caught me in the parking lot. When I finally got to work, I had a nonstop barrage of weird phone calls. Twice today I answer my phone and hear, "Hi Dr. Cisneros, it's me. Remember who I am?"
7. I have seen numerous posts last week about "National Back to Church" Sunday. What? What does that mean? Was there summer break from church? I'm just not getting it.
8. Each week Rebecca has "sharing day" on Tuesday. They do this as a public speaking kind of thing to get the kids comfortable with talking to a crowd. So each week they bring in something to share related to one of their themes for the week. There's a letter of the week, a number of the week, a shape, a bible verse, a good deed, etc., so you have a lot to choose from. This is "C" week and the number of the week is 3. So Rebecca took in a picture of me, her, and Ramy, because our last name is Cisneros and there are 3 of us. Last night when we practiced, she came up with different things to talk about each time. Heaven only knows what she could say off the cuff.
9. I don't like watching the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills knowing that one of their husbands committed suicide after it was filmed. It feels voyeuristic and I find myself trying to be the woman's psychologist. I don't like it. And it makes me sad, because it ruined the show for me this season. (Also sad, of course, because the man committed suicide. Just to be clear).
10. Please pray for the family of Baby Tristan. He was born at 24 weeks and did well for 8 days. However, his little body just wasn't ready to live in the great big world and he went to heaven last night. So sad for his family whose arms and hearts feel so empty.
2. On Friday, we had our closet organizer systems installed. LOVE THEM! I really want to just stand in our closet and stare at it. It's so exciting. It allowed me to put all of my clothes in my closet, rather than having just one season out at a time. However, it also allowed me to see that I really need to get rid of a lot of clothes that I never wear.
3. In case you missed it, Rebecca's school is having their annual fundraiser and is selling awesome wrapping paper (as well as chocolates, magazines, and other kinds of things that I'm sure are cool). If you'd like to support Rebecca's school and get some nice, thick, pretty wrapping paper...
Click the link below to visit Innisbrook.com and they will recognize Rebecca and her school automatically.
http://www.innisbrook.com/credits/index/studentlink?id=R181998G
If the above link does not work:
1. Click below
2. Select Shop the Innisbrook Online Store
3. Enter School# 121926 and Select Go
4. Select Continue
5. Enter Seller ID# R181998G
www.innisbrook.com
4. Still haven't been able to schedule the CPSE. I did break down and just buy the new study materials for it, rather than trying to be cheap and get used ones. At this point, I think I'm just numb and if they asked for my right arm, I'd give it to them to be done with this process.
5. Said study material arrived in a priority mail flat rate envelope. One spiral bound notebook. I paid WHAT and got one dinky notebook? I was so aghast that I took it to work and showed my colleagues so that they could be equally flabbergasted. We are now quitting the neuropsych business and just doing psych study materials.
6. It's been a full moon lately. All kinds of craziness has been breaking loose at work. And at home too. I swore this morning I was hexed. I was going to take Rebecca to school. She was dressed and eating breakfast when Ramy left. Then she spilled her milk and we had to change clothes and I had to clean the chair cushions and wipe up milk off the floor. Then I couldn't find my keys (to car and office!) and didn't remember where we have the spare keys in new house. So I took the truck and forgot the doctors note for Rebecca to be able to get Dimetapp at school. Then we got stuck in traffic. Then her class was in another classroom. Then there was intense fog causing more traffic. Then a patient's family caught me in the parking lot. When I finally got to work, I had a nonstop barrage of weird phone calls. Twice today I answer my phone and hear, "Hi Dr. Cisneros, it's me. Remember who I am?"
7. I have seen numerous posts last week about "National Back to Church" Sunday. What? What does that mean? Was there summer break from church? I'm just not getting it.
8. Each week Rebecca has "sharing day" on Tuesday. They do this as a public speaking kind of thing to get the kids comfortable with talking to a crowd. So each week they bring in something to share related to one of their themes for the week. There's a letter of the week, a number of the week, a shape, a bible verse, a good deed, etc., so you have a lot to choose from. This is "C" week and the number of the week is 3. So Rebecca took in a picture of me, her, and Ramy, because our last name is Cisneros and there are 3 of us. Last night when we practiced, she came up with different things to talk about each time. Heaven only knows what she could say off the cuff.
9. I don't like watching the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills knowing that one of their husbands committed suicide after it was filmed. It feels voyeuristic and I find myself trying to be the woman's psychologist. I don't like it. And it makes me sad, because it ruined the show for me this season. (Also sad, of course, because the man committed suicide. Just to be clear).
10. Please pray for the family of Baby Tristan. He was born at 24 weeks and did well for 8 days. However, his little body just wasn't ready to live in the great big world and he went to heaven last night. So sad for his family whose arms and hearts feel so empty.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Wrapping paper!!!!
I'm a junkie when it comes to wrapping paper for Christmas! I love when Costco puts out their ribbon every August. AND I've always looked forward to being able to buy new wrapping paper. My favorite was the Innisbrook paper that I would buy from my niece Jessica for her school. Well, Jessica has moved on to high school and isn't doing that sale anymore. However, now Rebecca is going to Chino Hills Christian and they are still doing Innisbrook as their fundraiser, so I'm assured of having my fix. This year, I've got my eye on the pretty cream colored paper with the gold nativity figures.
They also have chocolates, magazines, and all kinds of other things you can buy, but I can't comment on the quality of those. However, I LOVE their wrapping paper! It's good quality, nice thick stuff with vibrant colors. Even their foil papers are nice and thick.
If you'd like to make a purchase to support Rebecca's school, we would be most appreciative! The deadline is next Monday, September 26.
Click the link below to visit Innisbrook.com and they will recognize her and her school automatically. (She gets points toward some kind of prize, and her class gets points toward a pizza or ice cream party).
http://www.innisbrook.com/credits/index/studentlink?id=R181998G
If the above link does not work:
1. Click below
2. Select Shop the Innisbrook Online Store
3. Enter School# 121926 and Select Go
4. Select Continue
5. Enter Seller ID# R181998G
www.innisbrook.com
Thank you for your support!
They also have chocolates, magazines, and all kinds of other things you can buy, but I can't comment on the quality of those. However, I LOVE their wrapping paper! It's good quality, nice thick stuff with vibrant colors. Even their foil papers are nice and thick.
If you'd like to make a purchase to support Rebecca's school, we would be most appreciative! The deadline is next Monday, September 26.
Click the link below to visit Innisbrook.com and they will recognize her and her school automatically. (She gets points toward some kind of prize, and her class gets points toward a pizza or ice cream party).
http://www.innisbrook.com/credits/index/studentlink?id=R181998G
If the above link does not work:
1. Click below
2. Select Shop the Innisbrook Online Store
3. Enter School# 121926 and Select Go
4. Select Continue
5. Enter Seller ID# R181998G
www.innisbrook.com
Thank you for your support!
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Politics
It's not even 2012 yet, and the politics are already in full swing.
I make no secret of the fact that I am, politically, as liberal as they come. I live on the left coast and my favorite color is blue. I live my own life in an incredibly conservative fashion; I just don't think everyone should necessarily do the same. So I'm completely biased.
That said, this clip from the Colbert Report was one of the funniest things I've seen in a long time.
I make no secret of the fact that I am, politically, as liberal as they come. I live on the left coast and my favorite color is blue. I live my own life in an incredibly conservative fashion; I just don't think everyone should necessarily do the same. So I'm completely biased.
That said, this clip from the Colbert Report was one of the funniest things I've seen in a long time.
I passed!
I did indeed pass the EPPP! Thanks be to God!
It was a huge relief to get the news, and I was able to celebrate with lunch out with my favorite date. (Ramy and I actually work just about half a mile from each other - literally, right down the street. We have had the opportunity to have lunch together only about three or four times since I started working at Casa Colina. I usually eat lunch at my desk!).
I got the word from the California Board of Psychology that all of my hours have been accepted, so now I'm just waiting to get the code to take the CPSE. What's the holdup? Well, after they received my check to take said CPSE, apparently the check has to travel around the state by carrier pigeon and receive blessings from seventeen left-handed Trappist monks before it posts to my account. Not really, but it apparently takes a couple of weeks for the state of California to put the money in the right place and link it to my name. This also explains a lot about why California is in the shape that it is. I have learned from this lesson, however, that I will not make this mistake again. After I pass the CPSE, I then have to send them some more money to get my initial license. However, I am going to go ahead and send them my check now so that while I'm in the process of waiting for the CPSE and taking it, they can process my payment. So now I need to study a bit for the CPSE. It's not nearly as "big" a test as the EPPP, but it is a little less predictable because they change it every 6 months. The stakes are also higher, because if you fail it, you can't take it again for 6 months. With any luck, I'll be able to take the exam the first week of October.
It was a huge relief to get the news, and I was able to celebrate with lunch out with my favorite date. (Ramy and I actually work just about half a mile from each other - literally, right down the street. We have had the opportunity to have lunch together only about three or four times since I started working at Casa Colina. I usually eat lunch at my desk!).
I got the word from the California Board of Psychology that all of my hours have been accepted, so now I'm just waiting to get the code to take the CPSE. What's the holdup? Well, after they received my check to take said CPSE, apparently the check has to travel around the state by carrier pigeon and receive blessings from seventeen left-handed Trappist monks before it posts to my account. Not really, but it apparently takes a couple of weeks for the state of California to put the money in the right place and link it to my name. This also explains a lot about why California is in the shape that it is. I have learned from this lesson, however, that I will not make this mistake again. After I pass the CPSE, I then have to send them some more money to get my initial license. However, I am going to go ahead and send them my check now so that while I'm in the process of waiting for the CPSE and taking it, they can process my payment. So now I need to study a bit for the CPSE. It's not nearly as "big" a test as the EPPP, but it is a little less predictable because they change it every 6 months. The stakes are also higher, because if you fail it, you can't take it again for 6 months. With any luck, I'll be able to take the exam the first week of October.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Ten on Tuesday
1. Apparently Tuesdays have been kind of rough for the last month or so. Sorry.
2. I took the EPPP last Sunday. I am cautiously optimistic, but it's a hard test and there are a lot of experimental questions on it, so I have been anxiously awaiting my results. They batch the results on the 15th and last days of the month and send to the states. California allows online retrieval of scores, so I had hoped to get my scores before the long weekend. Unfortunately, they haven't yet been posted. I thought it should surely be today but alas, no, so maybe tomorrow!
3. After I pass the EPPP, then the California Board of Psychology has to certify that I've had my requisite number of postodoctoral hours and that they were gained in a legitimate fashion. I've already sent in all that paperwork, so hopefully that part won't take too long. Then they qualify me to sit for the CPSE - California Psychology Supplemental Examination. It doesn't have much overlap with the EPPP, so it's back to studying. Luckily, it's only on the areas of California laws pertaining to psychological practice, HIPAA, ethical issues, treatment planning, and psychological interventions.
4. It sure was a nice long weekend. It sure was hard to go back to work this morning. But there were clients happy to see me, and Kelli and I had a lot to talk about so we were back in the groove within minutes. I really do love my work. I have a story to tell about a client who really affected me, but not in a ToT post.
5. We have gophers in the backyard, and they are making holes in our nice, freshly sodded yard. Any ways you know of to get rid of them that don't involve poisons which could also harm our dogs who like to make holes in our nice, freshly sodded yard?
6. Today, Rebecca came home with the Apple of the Dy award for her class, which she earned for "great behavior." She was so proud of herself! We were also very proud of her. She also came home with the class pet, which is a stuffed elephant. That's my kind of class pet!
7. Rebecca was overjoyed to announce that in school today, they learned about Johnny Appleseed. Rebecca LOVES the story of Johnny Appleseed. She sang the song for them on the playground, of course inserting her "fuji apples" phrase instead of the traditional "golden apples."
8. It was such a good long weekend. I enjoy being with my family so much! On Friday, Rebecca had an appointment and then she and I went out for breakfast and then did some crafting. When Ramy came home from work, we had a family water balloon fight. We spent Saturday doing some errands and hanging out at home after we checked out a local place for breakfast (which had amazing banana macadamia nut pancakes and apple streusel pancakes). On Saturday night, we hired Jessica to kid-sit for us while we went out to dinner in Claremont and then went to the movies to see Crazy, Stupid Love. Claremont has a great old town with all kinds of shops and restaurants. It also happens to be just down the street from Casa Colina (which is in Pomona). As it turns out, one of my clients who had been having a really rough week was there! We went to mass at 7:30 on Sunday morning and then headed into Hollywood to go to a cool new place for brunch. Then we went home with the intention of doing cleaning and organization projects for the rest of the day. As luck would have it, however, we got invited to dinner at Paul and Maddy's house so we couldn't pass that up! On Monday, we had someone come to give us an estimate for closet organization systems, and then we just did some other household projects.
9. I give Crazy, Stupid Love a thumbs up. Not a two thumbs up, run out and see this movie and it will change your life. But it was cute and there was some really good eye candy (Ryan Gosling).
10. In celebration of it being September, I made banana bread last night. So yummy! It makes me think that fall is just around the corner! However, in Southern California, we realistically have another month to two months of hot weather. I'm ready for cool weather! I can't wait to have a fire in the fireplace downstairs while we're watching tv or eating dinner!
2. I took the EPPP last Sunday. I am cautiously optimistic, but it's a hard test and there are a lot of experimental questions on it, so I have been anxiously awaiting my results. They batch the results on the 15th and last days of the month and send to the states. California allows online retrieval of scores, so I had hoped to get my scores before the long weekend. Unfortunately, they haven't yet been posted. I thought it should surely be today but alas, no, so maybe tomorrow!
3. After I pass the EPPP, then the California Board of Psychology has to certify that I've had my requisite number of postodoctoral hours and that they were gained in a legitimate fashion. I've already sent in all that paperwork, so hopefully that part won't take too long. Then they qualify me to sit for the CPSE - California Psychology Supplemental Examination. It doesn't have much overlap with the EPPP, so it's back to studying. Luckily, it's only on the areas of California laws pertaining to psychological practice, HIPAA, ethical issues, treatment planning, and psychological interventions.
4. It sure was a nice long weekend. It sure was hard to go back to work this morning. But there were clients happy to see me, and Kelli and I had a lot to talk about so we were back in the groove within minutes. I really do love my work. I have a story to tell about a client who really affected me, but not in a ToT post.
5. We have gophers in the backyard, and they are making holes in our nice, freshly sodded yard. Any ways you know of to get rid of them that don't involve poisons which could also harm our dogs who like to make holes in our nice, freshly sodded yard?
6. Today, Rebecca came home with the Apple of the Dy award for her class, which she earned for "great behavior." She was so proud of herself! We were also very proud of her. She also came home with the class pet, which is a stuffed elephant. That's my kind of class pet!
7. Rebecca was overjoyed to announce that in school today, they learned about Johnny Appleseed. Rebecca LOVES the story of Johnny Appleseed. She sang the song for them on the playground, of course inserting her "fuji apples" phrase instead of the traditional "golden apples."
8. It was such a good long weekend. I enjoy being with my family so much! On Friday, Rebecca had an appointment and then she and I went out for breakfast and then did some crafting. When Ramy came home from work, we had a family water balloon fight. We spent Saturday doing some errands and hanging out at home after we checked out a local place for breakfast (which had amazing banana macadamia nut pancakes and apple streusel pancakes). On Saturday night, we hired Jessica to kid-sit for us while we went out to dinner in Claremont and then went to the movies to see Crazy, Stupid Love. Claremont has a great old town with all kinds of shops and restaurants. It also happens to be just down the street from Casa Colina (which is in Pomona). As it turns out, one of my clients who had been having a really rough week was there! We went to mass at 7:30 on Sunday morning and then headed into Hollywood to go to a cool new place for brunch. Then we went home with the intention of doing cleaning and organization projects for the rest of the day. As luck would have it, however, we got invited to dinner at Paul and Maddy's house so we couldn't pass that up! On Monday, we had someone come to give us an estimate for closet organization systems, and then we just did some other household projects.
9. I give Crazy, Stupid Love a thumbs up. Not a two thumbs up, run out and see this movie and it will change your life. But it was cute and there was some really good eye candy (Ryan Gosling).
10. In celebration of it being September, I made banana bread last night. So yummy! It makes me think that fall is just around the corner! However, in Southern California, we realistically have another month to two months of hot weather. I'm ready for cool weather! I can't wait to have a fire in the fireplace downstairs while we're watching tv or eating dinner!
Monday, September 5, 2011
A Message for Aunt Margaret
Dear Aunt Margaret,
Thank you for the card you sent me. Someone else in the house got the mail and gave it to me to open, and my mommy didn't realize it had come. So I am very late in sending you a thank you message. I thought that you might like to see me instead of just hearing my voice, so I recorded you a video message.
I love you!
Rebecca
Thank you for the card you sent me. Someone else in the house got the mail and gave it to me to open, and my mommy didn't realize it had come. So I am very late in sending you a thank you message. I thought that you might like to see me instead of just hearing my voice, so I recorded you a video message.
I love you!
Rebecca
Sunday, September 4, 2011
A new school year
Rebecca's transition from the 4-year old class to Pre-K seems to have gone smoothly. We went to the Transition Party at her old class and to meet her teachers on the Friday before she started in her new classroom. The kids enjoyed pizza and all kinds of other snacks.
Rebecca followed her friend Nicholas around, batted her eyes at him, and said in a sweet and coy voice, "Hiiiiiiiiii, Nicholas.....!" Lord, give us strength.
Rebecca was very sad to say goodbye to her teachers, Mrs. E and Mrs. Flores. Mrs. Flores said about Rebecca, "I'm so going to miss talking to her every morning! It's like having a conversation with an adult!"
The next week, Rebecca marched into Room 9 like she owned the place. We checked out her cubby and looked at the names of the other friends in her class (alas, there is a Nicholas in her class but not the one who lets her pretend he is her puppy). She had time for Mama to snap a couple of quick pictures, but that was it. She was ready to make friends!
So far, it looks like we are off to a good start. Occasionally, Rebecca seems to worry that she isn't smart enough. She does't like to try things that are hard unless she knows she can show that she can do them. For example, she refused to draw an "S" until she had mastered it. Now, this is hard to accomplish, since practice really does make perfect!
Recently, there has been a commercial on that she has seen about teaching kids math. Rebecca points out that those kids aren't yet in kindergarten and they know math. This prompted her to be concerned that she didn't know math. Since then, we have had to point out all the things that she does with numbers that are, indeed, math!
Rebecca has also become very aware of the fact that she is much smaller than most of the children in her class. She remarks about being "small" and tends to frown if people incorrectly assume that she is three. We have to talk a lot about how God makes people in different sizes and that it doesn't have anything to do with how good they are or how smart they are.
Then there are other days when we have to put her ego in check. For example, she announced the other evening, "Well, I'm the smartest one in my class!"
It's a fine line to walk!
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