My web site is up and running.....Finally! Made in China, you say? But I want to buy from here!

You may find me at redigondapsychotherapy.com.  What a chore doing your own web site.  I have two more nights of class.  Or is it one more?  I am afraid to put anything more on it or to change it.  I was having problems uploading and everything would disappear.  My instructor said that I don't give myself credit.  I say I am aware of my capabilities of making everything disappear like a magician.  Tomorrow, I will give myself some time to work on the product part, but I don't think I will use it.  I have only one book to sell and it is not really the type of book to sell on that site.  This is where I play with ideas, etc....Maybe the site I shall keep strictly for psychotherapy. 

     Yesterday I went to Niagara Falls and watched a Christmas show.  I love Niagara Falls.  I even bought a pair of boots I badly needed and I found a pair made in Canada.  Though I found the heel a tad too high for my walks, it was Hush Puppies and the Canadian Flag sold me.  Even the salesman was surprised that they were made in Canada.  Every other store in what they say is their largest strip mall had only "Made in China" products.  Or at least it did for everything I examined.  That is why I never bought the warm slippers.   "How do you feel about made in the U.S.A?"  I was asked.  "Yes!"  I responded.  But they did not have anything not made in China.  The clerk was just interested in knowing my biases.  I like to buy American and Canadian products because first they employ our own people.  Second, the quality is far superior in my opinion.  The salesman from India who sold me the boots informed me that he believed products made in Canada are superior to China.  His eyes actually popped, when I told him that the boots I wanted were made in Canada.  He thought I had made a mistake.  My concern is also safety.    I know that in North America we have certain standards.  We don't intentionally try to use products that may harm us and when they do, we have the press to keep a tab on that.  I love watching "Market Place" always trying to uncover one scam or another.  I tried not to buy anything made outside of North America for one entire month last year.  That month I did not buy anything.  Of course, I need to wear clothes so I had to eventually break down and buy from China and other places where people are probably exploited in the process.  Oh well, I did my tiny bit.  I proudly walked with my new expensive boots (by my standards) which I needed so badly and will probably last me for longer than one month.  One salesperson told me how she shopped in the States and her husband found a lovely well made item.  On closer examination, she found the tag that indicated it was made in Canada.  We had a good laugh. 
      Oh politics!  I had a great day in Niagara Falls and the light show was nice.  The Christmas Show was also great, though much too short for me.  But then, my whole life is breezing by.  Now, time for the out door lights because this morning it snowed a bit, to just keep me in that mood.  And yes, it is not the "holiday"  mood, but CHRISTMAS!!!!  Now back to my web site.  Oh boy........... What do you think?  

A day at York University selling "Hey Guy Buy Me"

     Once a year I go to York University to sell my “Hey Guy Buy Me.”  There I socialize throughout the day as people I know approach me and we catch up.  It is always a great feeling re-uniting.  York has a strong sense of community.  I love my college at the University of Toronto as well.  But it is very different.   I find it more serious, more conservative and more in contrast with the emotional, free spirit atmosphere of York.  I suppose in a way I miss the excitement of  unreserved freedom of emotions regardless of  how it comes across.     This year I had a table beside an author who has already published 15 books and who was giving books out for free, courtesy of her publisher.  I found this to be the same at Queen’s Park this year as well.  Publishers give out books for free which makes it harder for people to pay 9.95 for a book, half the size.  What do people care if there are cute cartoons and the print is on excellent paper?  What do I know about paper?  I just want to write.  Anyhow, I did sell some books and mega author told me that I did great.  I think so too considering I had to tell people that I could not give my books away for free.  Mega author did provide me with a wealth of information throughout the day.  I noticed that she was doing the same for everyone approaching her, aspiring to be writers.  I thought that wonderful, because I found that my learning has been a work in progress.  I did not find that same enthusiasm of other writers helping me out.  I was so lame that I did not even realize there were different publishers for different type of stories.  I know now.  Hard knoxs!  Oh well.  Learning is always a work in progress.  I just have to pay a bit more attention to the business side of the house.  I love to write and I love to help people.  In my undergrad at York, psychology was mainly multiple choice.  You had to work quickly because at times there were over a hundred questions.  I think York has one of the best psychology departments.  You have to know your stuff.  During the first portion of the classes we would have a massive group and after the first exam, we would surely have less than half.  Sometimes there were even less than that.  And I learned so much there that it became integrated in all I do.  I found grad school and my other programs less intense.  But that is how it is in general I understand.

     So for you wanna bees writers out there, pick up a pen or keypad and start.  I overheard my mega writer beside me quote that only one percent of people who want to write, actually publish.  I thought how sad that was.  What stops people to pursue their dreams?

     If you want to write, please do so because it is rewarding and go ahead and send your writings to the appropriate publishers.  You can find all that on the world of the web.  Life is so short that we should never allow our feelings that we may not be good enough get in the way.  That is what I was overhearing.  Aren’t I nosy?  Follow your dreams if you have them and start to dream if you have not begun.  I have a little plaque on my wall nearby which has a scene of a person on a wooden ledge protruding from an enclosure of beautiful trees.  You can see the water below in a mist.  There are words inscribed, “Everything wonderful begins with a dream.”   What is your dream?  Are you living your dream?  Why not?  What is keeping you from reaching your dream?  Why not begin today and start with baby steps to get you where you want to go?  What do you think?    

   For my American neighbours have a nice Thanksgiving day  I saw Obama on the news saving two turkeys.  How cute!

     You may buy my book at Book City on Yonge Street at St Clair and in the Annex.  You may also get one at a cute little bakery shop on Dufferin Street adjacent to Fair Banks Park between St Clair and Eglinton.   Chapters at Yonge and St Clair should still have some.  Or, you can send me a cheque in Canadian or American funds, and I will mail it out to you.  Or, you can wait til my web site is running properly or you can check ebay or……….Am I boring you yet?      

Got together with peers privately

When I studied Educational Psychology, the concern was to revamp the educational system because the benefits of working as a team was more beneficial than working to beat the other guy to the top.  But that was what our society consisted of.  We learn to compete in our early years.  Who is the best?  Who deserves something more than the other, because he is better?  What do we get?  We get people who will do anything to climb the ladder to success and take anyone out who gets in the way (figuratively speaking).  It does not work and I didn't need that course to learn that.  I lived most of my life as part of a team and I realized from an early age the benefits of groups.  Corporations need people who can work together to be more productive. 
     Saturday I hosted a gathering for previous classmates.  We got together and shared resources, brainstormed and had a great time reuniting.  Moving ahead in great company is always a happy alternative.
What do you think?

      

The Bells Scream - Published poem

The bells scream,

As birds cry 

What does this all mean?

The earth shatters

As the people scatter

What does this all mean?

Darkness falls roughly

As elephants trample

What does this all mean?

The forest is on fire

As the sun collapses

What does this all mean?

…..end

Environment and the developing brain-Psychology notes (about fetus and baby)

When I took this course, I didn't realize that by the end of it I would know so much about babies.  It was not my interest but once I started, it fasinated me.  I hope some of you find this information useful:     

 Environment and the developing brain

Formation of the placenta:

- The trophoblast and the chorion

- villi formation (protruding, surround trophoblast

-  chronic villas sampling

-  fetoprotein – if neural tube open, movement of spinal fluid

- umbilical arteries and vein exchange across wall of villi

 Villi is covered with a membrane that is a barrier – mother-fetus exchange.  What is not exchanged is blood.

Placenta produces protein, also hormones. It acts like a point of transport, and half fetal.  The blood is in fine blood vessels.  Some material can go through vessels but blood can’t.  Example, more oxygen on mom’s side will go to the fetus side as well as other things, even when it is not so good.  The main restriction is size.  Small things cross easily – big do not.

Rules of the Placenta

1.  involves in the metabolism and protein synthesis

2.  hormone synthesis

3.  transport of materials to and from the fetus.

     Fort the first few months in life, the baby has a good immune system like mom.  After a few months, baby should be up and ready for her own immune system. Normal hormones good but if mom has hormonal disturbances it can negatively affect the fetus.  What also goes through are drugs, heroin, cocaine, nicotine similarity viruses because small- bacteria is different.

Viruses that cross the placenta:

Rubella (German measles) critical period, high abnormalities

Cytomegalovirus (CMV)

Encephalitis

Poliomyelitis

Herpes Simplex

HIV

     Rubella

Gestational Age   -  1^st month  -  Risk 50%   Outcome:  deafness; cataract.

                                 2^nd month-  risk 20%-25% -  cardiac

                      3^rd to 5^th month -  Risk  6%-10% - retardation (motor/mental)

To be continued

Old Woman - published

Old Woman

The little grey woman stood
old and strong and brave,
as her fingers moved agelessly
and effortlessly, spinning her
years away like playing
a violin in the hot sun,
parched by the grayness
of the day
embedded in her skin
a cloud of red,
clashing strongly
against the grayness
of her skin.

Time went on as
The grey woman
Spinned away,
Creating nothing
That has not been
Seen before.  Creating
Herself in a cloud
Of greyness…..
Silent no more.  

Another Seminar with CASC nee CAPPE

     This week has been a week of seminars and catching up again with people who I actually miss because we spent so much time in close proximity during our training.  I enjoy belonging to more than one organization especially when it comes to what is best for the client.  Yesterday morning's seminar was mostly about self care which I almost skipped because I feel the topic has become exhaustive but I am glad that I did not.  The speaker also teaches ethics and it was wonderful listening to her perspectives.  She also provided hand outs which I find important for clients.  

     Self care is important to any provider and sometimes the signs of missing the mark may be dismissed or not noticed.  I encourage self care to all people.  I believe that balance is the key.  You need a balance of work and play and satisfying relationships.   The afternoon after a wonderful lunch was spent on administration and talk about the college of psychotherapy again.  I heard it from a chaplain's /spiritual care perspective. 

    The whole seminar was invigorating and I decided that I had a lot on my plate and will post pone painting til the spring when I can open up the windows.  Friends and family will have to put up with my lack of artistic ability on my walls for another couple of semesters.  My pets are colour blind so all they care about is love, affection, food and a warm place to sleep away their time.  Most of us will be happy that we don't breathe in the fumes of paint.

    What have you got on your plate?  Do you have too much?  What can you decrease in your work life and increase in your relationships?  What do you really enjoy doing?  What do you do for yourself?  How do you manage stress?  How do you regain normalcy after a disaster in your life?    Have you started your journal yet?  Why not start today?  Why not write how you feel each morning or each night?  Talk out your emotions?  Do you have anyone you can trust to talk about anything to?   What do you think?