Angela Lansbury is wonderful to be in Toronto suffering a cold welcome!

Got you! It is freezing out. Who would want to come here is sub zero temperatures? Angela Lansbury did and I am so grateful. As soon as I heard she was coming I called and rather than ask how much the tickets were, I said I wanted the best seat in the house. For some reason the best seat was in the sixth row, seat 24. What? That is the best seat? "I can pick another day if I can get a better seat." I was assured that the seat was excellent and that I would be able to see all of the facial expressions. I mentioned the poor seating from the other theatre down the road and was assured that in this theatre, I would be much more comfortable. I braved the cold and even took the bus/streetcar since the snow plow had moved snow in front of my drive and it was frozen in place. I am glad that those tax dollars are working for me. As I waited for the bus to come and my body was going into survival mode, I asked a woman who had been there before I came, how long she had waited. “ A long time” she responded. Another with her iPad ready who had just arrived, said it would be there in 45 seconds. I felt relieved. “This must be the longest 45 seconds I have ever waited for” I responded. As soon as the bus arrived, I took the transfer ticket after depositing one my TTC tokens I had bought in bulk last summer for emergencies. This was an emergency. Why else would I take the TTC? I rapidly took off all my layers of clothing knowing I would have to go out again soon and did not want to freeze more so when doing so. I took the adjoining street car at King Street and viola I felt more relaxed. I was promised that the street car would stop right in front of the theatre. That beat trying to find parking any day. As promised the theatre was close enough to the front. I got off and went directly into the theatre. I thought I would have more time to go to Tim’s next door but the Usher told me I could get coffee within and so I did that. I got my coffee and cookie for 5.00. I had managed one piece of toast on the way out of the house since I have been reviewing my second draft of my book and didn’t bother eating. I pace myself at a hundred pages a day. I do hope you buy my book. It is really good, if I say so myself. I will finish off reviewing it after I write this, and if not I will complete it tomorrow. I am on vacation. I have decided to do that more often for self care. Yes, sireeee. So, back to the theatre! I am there being served and I am asked if I would like a lid for my coffee. I respond with a no thank you since I am a polite Canadian. I am than informed that it would be preferred that I take the lid as she would be responsible for me not having a lid. Everyone laughs because I believed I had the option. I take the lid, responding that I am a very obedient person. Everyone nearby chuckles again. It must be that everyone is on vacation this day. I find a corner with a cart tray near the entrance of my “best seat” and place my coat, gloves, scarf etc…on it, and now I am prepared to eat my cookie and drink my sought after coffee, lid and all. Then it begins a grumpy old man is giving the young female usher a hard time because she cannot open the doors for him, it is not the right time. He is mean towards her and it is obvious that she is hurt. I ponder and wonder why people who are retired can still be so focused on time. Maybe he just wants to sit down and give his crankiness a break. Most people are polite and are just excited to be there. Some people are casually dressed like me. I love my blue jeans and it is my staple dress. Others mostly men are dressed in suits. The doors open and I go inside. You can bring your food and coffee. However, you cannot take pictures. I brought my camera all ready for a sibling who wanted me to take a photo. There was no way I was taking a photo with this crowd because they were all good and I did not want to get kicked out. So cell phone off and camera in purse - no pictures. I am obedient. Rather, there was no way I could do it. Eyes were everywhere. I found and sat in my seat and wondered why this was considered the best. I looked up at the bare balcony which had nice woven Captain's chair. As soon as my neighbours sat, the woman made her first comment. These are horrible seats. There is no room. Why would they do this? It is only 20 years old? I did not respond as it was her beau she was speaking to or her brother. Her brother responds that they are going to tear it down anyway. In my mind I was telling her, she should try down the street. That would really get her going! A nice old lady sits on the other side of me and begins coversing with me. She has seasons tickets and states that she does not think she will renew them because she is not so impressed with the shows. I have told her that the last time, I was down the street and the play was horrid. There was so much swearing. She wanted to know the name of it but it had not been worth remembering. Then it happened. A nice looking man right in front of me sat down. I was now staring into a dart board with a big bulls eye in his bald patch. That had happened to me once before in Niagara but this was the best seat in the house. I told the little old lady beside me that I was told I had the best seat. “You do my dear. I do not know how you got it. It is in the centre.” She pointed to the tiny woman beside her. "You are taller dear, see her, she cannot see at all." Then it happened. The show began and I was mesmerized as soon as I saw Angela Lansbury. All the other actors sort of faded when she was on stage. She is a star. I now understand the difference between an actor and a star. A star shines brightly over every thing else and though I recognized the male actor and though they were all quite good, very good in fact when she was on stage, she was the show! The little old lady remarked that she always looks the same. “Timeless” I replied. Intermission came and it gave me enough opportunity to visit the ladies room and buy a 5.00 ice cream bar outside the hallway. I had warmed up by now. I returned to my seat and the little old lady continued to talk about Angela Lansbury. “She will be 90 this year”. Wow, I thought, what is my problem. Where does she get her energy? I want whatever she is eating. The play began once again and every time she was not in a scene I could appreciate the other actors. The maid automatically made me laugh each time, she opened her mouth. Her gestures and deportment was entertaining. They were all good, but as soon as Angela Lansbury came out, they all faded and it was just her on stage. The show ended and out they all came but when Angela Lansbury came out, we all stood up. She looked out at the audience and her face had such a warm glow to it. She seemed so humble to me and kind. That is what I thought as I looked at her. My eyes teared and I was surprised by my emotions. Is this what it means to be a fan? Am I a fan? I have only stood in line for an autograph for Micky Mouse when I was at Disney World. I would have stayed in line for a long time to meet her. I guess I am a fan. I have watched her in her black and white movies with my mom, since she decided what to watch and she would always speak of her when she saw her. We would sit as a family and watch, “Murder she Wrote” I still tape all her old series and every once in a while there is one I have not seen or do not remember seeing and so I watch it again. I realize now that I am typing this that she has always been on the screen since I was a child and she was one of my mother’s favourites. Perhaps that is why my eyes were tearing. In some way she was a bit of home. As I clapped with the others, I did so this time out of respect and not under obligation. It had been a long time since that happened. I hope you get to go see the show. She is worth sitting anywhere and even worth having to rub shoulders because of design and moving bobbing your head about because of a bulls eye in front of your face. As soon as I left the theatre I had a desire to have high tea. It must have been all the Agatha Christie books I have read which reminds me of “Murder She Wrote.” I went to the Hyatt next door, at least I thought it was and asked if High Tea was being served. I was told I had to go to the King Edward. My reply was I had been there. I had and even though it is ok, it was too far to go to in the cold and I prefer the Yorkvilles Hyatt, which a sister hotel I thought I was at. Guess not. There were about three huge travelling buses out front and so I made the mistake of skipping a street car which was not coming and getting to the next one. The cold was blistering. One woman motioned to me to seek shelter behind some tin box. I did that because I am so obedient but it did not help. I saw two men huddled at an insert in the wall and I saw Starbucks but I did not want to miss the street car and so I walked towards the men and asked them to move so I could get warm. Poor guys, they let me in and they moved outward into the cold. I had not meant for them to give up their shelter but I was too cold to care about my manners. It only made me appreciate our men so much more. I was the damsel in distress and I played my part if it meant warming up at all. The street car finally came and I got in barely. Frozen, I took my time to put another token in the whatever you call it. I had not been on the TTC since they have made changes. The previous driver was telling me when I asked about the changes that certain street cars and he named them all have an honour system (I call it that) but you may be asked to provide proof of purchase by the transit police (I call it that). I saw a sign that said 2000.00 fine and I certainly would not want that. However, I always pay anyway so it would have only happened this day when I was freezing and too cold to find the token. But, find it I did. I hate those transfer things but I guess I am going to have to take them from now on. Eventually, they will hit the bus routes. The driver may not remember my pretty face and viola a fine. They were doing that in Austria ages ago. There has to be a better way to keep up with the times. Of course, I miss the bus as soon as I get off the street car and am the only one in the bus shelter trying to stay warm. I could not warm up my core. It soon comes and I am on the bus seated which is a nice change. With the new accordion buses, there is more room. I am swinging my legs in the air because I feel frozen in place. I get off and find my bakery shop and decide I have to cancel my pizza night because there is no way I can get home in this freezing cold. I walk into the shop and am pleased that they have soup. I order my soup, coffee and grilled cheese which is a Portuguese version but I know I am getting a toasted baguette with melted cheese. I speak the language, hey! It happens. The large bowl of delicious soup begins to warm my core. I tell the server it is freezing out and she tells me it will be worse tomorrow. I tell her that nothing will get me to go out in this again, forgetting that I am designated photographer this day and have to go out again. Why do I always get volunteered for these things? I do not volunteer ever, and it still happens. My typing is interrupted by my phone. "Where were you yesterday?" "I went to see Angela Lansbury." My friend responds. We were wondering where you went when we didn't see you. I am going tomorrow. Is it good?" "Wonderful!" I reply. "See you in a couple of hours. They are serving ......" I salivate. What time is it? Again time has sped by. I go back to my computer. Aw, Angela Lansbury. What do you have to do get the opportunity to meet a star? What do people do nowadays? Oh well, it won't happen. Disney World was easy. You just stood in line and waited until you got to see Mickey. I would suffer the cold all over again to see Angela Lansbury. I hope she can keep warm and forgive us the cold embrace!!!!! Long live the Queen! Please Spring come.....................

The Ontario College of Psychotherapy is now supposed to happen in the Spring and I cannot wait. However, people who are not qualified and others are in a panic. The College is to protect you.

I received another email about the fear of the College. I was even asked for financial support. That is not going to happen. Even though I have deleted, blocked etc......I still get emails of concern about the college. When I was studying Psychology in my undergrad, I was shocked as were many other students, when we were informed that anyone can put up a shingle and say we were therapists. A had a colleague of mine tell me that she went to check out a new business down the street from her recently where the owner was claiming to be a psychotherapist. She was also charging quite a sum of money. She was not surprised to find that though the establishment was very posh and sophisticated, the person had no qualifications. Those days are ending and they cannot come soon enough for me. As far as I am concerned everything nowadays should be regulated because there are so many scams nowadays. The public and myself included need to feel safe that when we do spend good money it is going to the person who is qualified whether that is a roofer, medical doctor, electrician etc........The days when one could have a trusting nature is over. So, please, do check out if your therapist is qualified and once the College is in place, everyone will be regulated and it will be much easier to determine if the person helping you should be doing so. What do you think?

Manic Episode

Manic Episode A distinct period of abnormality and persistently elevated, expansive or irritable mood, lasting one week (or any duration in hospital, if necessary). B. During mood of disturbance, 3 or more of the following symptoms have persisted (4- if the mood is only irritable) and present to significance degree. inflated self esteem or grandiosity. * decreased need to sleep (eg. feels rested after only three hours of sleep). more talkative than usual or pressure to keep talking. flights of ideas or subjective experience that thoughts are racing. distractibility increase in goal- directed activity or psychomotor agitation (either socially, at work, at school. excessive involvement in pleasurable activities that have a high potential for painful consequences (engaging in unrestrained, buying sprees, sexual indiscretions or foolish business investments). There should be protection provided by a public trustee. A person may give things away or as an example sell a house for 100.00 because he likes the person. That is why one needs to be protected.

My 2nd book

I have completed reviewing my second book. I have returned it and will review it once again prior to publishing. This book will probably be my thickest one. I was advised by my old Professor that I should never write more than 200 pages because people will get bored. So I will keep that in mind for the third. The third is a mystery you may say - pure fiction. Perhaps, not so pure. Now I have to produce a photo of myself. That is a chore. The resolution of my submission was poor. Those cell phones ........So, it is my Canon that shall inspire me. Do people really need to look at me??????? Why not submit a photo of one of my pets? They are so cute. Perhaps I can train them to write while I dictate, or perhaps they can write out their own thoughts. Now, I am being silly. However, one is sleeping right beside me so why not give her some credit. I will be continuing now to type out my notes from Abnormal Psychology as promised. You should get weekly tidbits. Remember that they have upgraded the DSM so to speak. There were more psychiatrists than psychologists on the decision process. I shall leave that up to your imagination. Typing out my notes is doing me a favour as well. In class and in seminars, I always write out my notes. Sometimes I cannot read my notes and so I can hardly be offended when others cannot read mine. I still continue to write because I digest it better. There is some research on that. You retain more when you write rather than type your notes. You need to look that up for yourselves. I will eventually provide you with all that I have promised.

The two types of Insomnia continued from Abnormal Psychology

Two types of insomnia Related to anxiety - People have trouble falling asleep. There is a book by Horne regarding sleep deprivation used on military personnel. -early morning awakening -wake up about two hours before scheduled waking hours and found that they could not get back to sleep. This is associated with depression. If motivated, people overcame fatigue. Sleep supplies neurotransmitters. When people sleep a normal sleep pattern they are coming out of depression. Hypothyroid - one that regulates metabolic - (insufficient amount) People will feel lack of energy, sleep patterns are poor, they are down about themselves. should be treated; return hormones back to normal. Can have physical problems that resemble psychiatric disorders. Book you may find interesting is Dose Of Sanity - It’s Not All In Your Head.

Busy with second book

The new year promises to be an interesting one. I have been focused reviewing my second book following comments from the editor. I have just returned it. It will be nice when that is published as promised to my now two fans. I will probably generate another web site then as a writer. In the meantime, I will be busy reviewing a colleague's paper for him and after that I will continue with my blogs. I want to write what I learned in Abnormal Psychology prior to the changes in the DSM. Most is still intact with more conditions considered disorders. I heard that one blogger received a thousand lashes in a country where freedom maybe debated. Thank God I live in Canada where we can blog away without fear of being whipped. I really like Donato's cartoons with the Toronto Sun. I am going to start reading all the cartoons again every chance I get in support of Cartoonists. My heart felt sorrow to what is happening in France. Anyhow, thank you again for reading my blogs and not hurting me. I wish you all a wonderful New Year, one of Peace and Hope and lots of love.

A Date with Prejudice

I deal with a lot of pain and suffering that people have. Recently, I was asked about the age demographics and etc I have dealt with…by my old Professor and now friend while we were having dinner. I am fortunate that I live in a multi cultural city, have travelled and have experienced being in company with almost every religion, culture and nationality. Are they differences in the problems? I was asked. My answer was simple, I have dealt with people from children, teens, twenties to 90’s in one capacity or another. People are generally the same. Some may have problems that are more relevant to them due for an example living in another country with different values which causes friction when there is a preference for another style, by the parent or spouse etc… People coming from another country where women are subservient, discover a voice and become empowered. Of course that will cause friction in a family where an imbalance of power was the norm. Lack of communication is another big problem, and a major one. Everyone thinks they are right and the other is wrong and often they each look at the therapist to find validation regarding this. However, when it is a couple, it is they who have to learn how to communicate with each other to determine what it is each wants and how they can achieve that. Some couples can do that on their own; others cannot. I provide only the tools. Each person needs to decide what he or she wants, is willing to change or naught. My professor, I think of him as my professor even though I am a post grad, is still teaching me about the goodness in others. Being in his company is like drinking goodness. Being with him is like having a conversation about hope and making this earth a better place. It is a discussion of the complexity of humanity. It is positive. Last night however, I had a date with prejudice. I forced myself to not fall asleep while I heard repetitious stories of the importance of each grandchild, uncle, of their status in life, travel etc….That just bored me to tears because I do not know these people even though I understood the psychology of the person needing to say all that was being said. Then came the prejudice, the hatred of different skin colour (which is only pigmentation. How do people not get that?). Hatred increased to a specific religion and then I felt that I was no longer being bored to death, I was being poisoned. I could not wait until the torture was over and this time I did not even bother trying to rationalize the hatred. It was too deep, too engrained, too much kept in check, while in the company of others. As I left and felt the cold air hit me, I returned gratefully to the warm comfort of my nineteen year old car who cannot understand why I do not allow him to vote. As I drove along the side streets, the poison I had been fed, slowly dissipated as the beauty of the Christmas lights cleared a path for me. It was a struggle to go home without looking at all the lights. I feared I would hit someone, even if the streets were bare, except for the glow of beautiful lights - the lights of hope. This night, our last night of the year, I shall dance away all the negativity, all the poisons I will shed the old and tomorrow I shall begin again with new experiences, new associates and new hope. I see a future where countries unite so that no child will ever have to go to sleep hungry or alone. I see a world where there will be peace. I see a world where poison will be replaced by something positive to improve rather than destroy. We are all responsible to make our world just a little bit better and more fun. So tomorrows New Year Resolution for me is to have more fun, dance more and be able to deal more appropriately with poison in whatever dose. What do you think? Happy New Year!