Beethoven's Ninth Symphony

The end of last month was a lot of fun.  Not only did I attend my third Child Life conference in a row, but was also able to cross something off my Bucket List; #8.  Some may view the fact I have such a list as morbid, but I look at it as motivation.  I do have Mitochondrial Disease, but no to worry, I'm not going anywhere soon.  I also could be hit by a bus on the way to the Allergist today so I want to make sure I do or at least aim for many of the things on this list.  While it currently has 38 items on it, there is no rule anywhere that says I cannot add to it as I see fit.  In fact, the last one just came to me a few seconds ago.

1. Touch an elephant
2. Sing Handel's Messiah in a chorus
3. Attend a taping of Saturday Night Live (New York City)
4. Go to the Kentucky Derby 
5. Give life (donate blood, bone marrow, have a baby)
6. Go to Ireland
7. Visit Beethoven's grave (Vienna)
8. Attend a live performance of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, preferably in Symphony Hall (5/24/11 in Philadelphia with the Philadelphia Orchestra.)
9. Go to the hairdresser and give them free reign 
10. Go to a fancy occasion without my feet hurting
11. Get a job as a Child Life Specialist
12. Go to the World Series, preferably, in Boston ;).
13. Attend a performance of The Holiday Pops in Boston (12/20/10)
14. Go on a cruise
15. Serve as an extra in a movie
16. Read two books a month for a year
17. Complete a 5k Walk
18. Go horseback riding, again
19. Take ballroom dance lessons
20. Perform Moonlight Sonata, again
21. Swim in the world's largest swimming pool (Chile)
22. Visit a rain forest 
23. Go to Australia
24. Go rock climbing, again
25. Go skiing, again
26. Ride on the Orient Express (train)
27. Sleep in an overnight train
28. Ride The London Eye, again
29. Name a star
30. Visit The Four Corners (UT, CO, AZ & NM)
31. Take a shower, or at least wash my hair in the rain
32. Reach 20 followers on my blog
33. Be recognized for my blog
34. Distribute Halloween candy (yes, I have never done this)
35. Watch the pony swim from Assateague Island to Chincoteague Island
36. Visit Hollywood Walk of Fame
37. Attend a live performance of Mahler's 8th, Symphony of a Thousand
38. Be involved in a clinical trial

On Tuesday, May 24th, I had an appointment at CHOP and after that we met my dad at The Ritz where we would be staying that night. (The Ritz isn't our normal.  However, because my dad has so many travel points from work it was better to use those than traditional money.)  We rarely stay in hotels in cities that are only an hour and a half from home, but that night we had to since my dad was driving from Pittsburgh which is six hours west and I would be leaving for my conference the next morning, or so we thought (different story).  

After we got changed in the hotel for our night out, we ate dinner at an interesting restaurant that had Thai, American and Japanese cuisine.  There is a specific term, but I forget what that is.  We then walked to The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts which houses The Verizon Center, home to The Philadelphia Orchestra.  

(Kimmel Center from Broad St., aka Avenue of the Arts)

(Outside Verizon Hall within The Kimmel Center)

The performance itself was two symphonies separated by an intermission.  The first symphony was Symphony of the Psalms by Igor Stravinsky.  This symphony was commissioned (written for) the Boston Symphony Orchestra in 1930 to celebrate their 50th anniversary.  Unlike most symphonies, this was composed in three movements.  I studied this composition in more detail as a Music minor at Simmons College.  During one of my Music classes I attended two BSO performances at Symphony Hall in Boston; same place I attended the Boston Pops in December.     

After a brief intermission, the true magic of the night began.  I don't remember when I first heard Beethoven, never mind fell in love with his work.  I can tell you that nearly everyone has heard the very basic elements of his most famous work; The Ode to Joy.  I have even heard it used with television commercials.  I cannot describe every note of this glorious, adrenaline pumping piece of music, you'll have to do that yourself ;).  I highly recommend this recording, performed by The Philadelphia Orchestra, led by the great Riccardo Muti who is not only my favorite ;), but transformed the orchestra as a whole.  Muti is my favorite because he was with the orchestra when I was young and therefore had a strong role in my love of symphonic music.  (Don't worry, you can listen to Beethoven's Ninth on iTunes with their small snapshots, but that's nothing compared to having the whole thing and turning up the speakers).  

I would describe Beethoven's Ninth to an extent, but that could easily turn into a major undertaking, not only because this is easily my favorite piece of music ever written, yes ever...but also because my perfectionistic self would take over and my attempt at a "brief" description could easily turn into something comparable to a dissertation, complete with references.    

    

  

The interior is shaped like a cello allowing for optimal acoustics and for all of you who have ever sung in a chorus/choir, see those red seats below the organ, yes, you guessed it.  Unlike most situations, in Philadelphia, the choir gets cushioned seats; not risers.  So singers get to sit, yes, sit when appropriate, not stand for what seems like eternity.      

 I do have my own pictures, but those are on my parent's camera.  I will add those when I get them.

Slow, Yet Steady

I am still working on Cohen Children's (NY) application packet.  I thought I would have sent this by now, but alas, I haven't.  I could have sworn I had at least two copies of my official transcript because I had to send one to Connecticut Children's.  After thoroughly clearing off my desk going through everything, including my filing cabinets, my transcript could not be found.  I typed up a letter to the Office of the Registrar complete with all the important information and put it in the mail.  Yes, I could go and pick it up in person, but I might forget, so the best thing to do was just mail out the request.  Should be here soon.  Once I get my transcript from Simmons and my sealed recommendation letter, it should be ready to go once I finish the cover letter and read over my essay, making sure it fits their needs and word limit of approximately 300.

I tried calling the acting director of Child Life at Boston Medical Center once again, but it seems there are issues with that number.  After a few minutes of poking around online, I found a number for pediatrics and left a message.  Hopefully someone will be able to tell me if they are offering a summer Child Life internship or practicum.  

I am still working on the practicum application for Children's Hospital at Dartmouth, in NH.  Like Connecticut Children's, CHaD requires paragraph length answers to ten questions.  I have a draft of three questions I haven't encountered before and some are basically the same as Connecticut Children's questions.  CHaD also requires a CPR Certification which I will obtain on February 19th through an Adult, Child and Infant CPR class given through the Red Cross.

I left a voicemail for the administrative assistant to the Psychology department at Simmons College since the professor I'm seeking a recommendation letter from doesn't have a voicemail.  Hopefully, I will hear from someone soon so I can make some real progress with these applications.  

Yale only has a practicum during the Fall and Spring.  Montefiore only opens their internship program to independent students during the summer so if I apply and am accepted, that will mean a move to NYC since internships are full-time.  I may not apply to this program.
 

I think the time has come for me to start working on the applications for CHOP (my hospital), St. Christopher's (both in Philly), and A I duPont in Delaware.  

Now That's What I Call Progress!!

Today I finally spoke with the CL Director at Connecticut Children's and after clarifying that I would be starting a practicum in June, she told me she would contact me in March regarding interviews!!  I feel a bit dumb for getting so worked up about a simple call, but I'm sort of glad I got myself worked up because I tend to do better when I am a bit on edge.

I am almost finished with Cohen Children's (NY) application packet.  I just need to find my transcript and xerox it.  Finish the cover letter.  Read over my essay, make sure it fits their needs and word limit of approximately 300.  I also need a copy of the recommendation letter my supervisor at CHB wrote for me with her signature across the flap.  (Cohen doesn't require a resume, cover letter or my course work evaluation from the Child Life Council, but including these things can't hurt.)

I will call or perhaps get an email address for the acting director of Child Life at Boston Medical Center since my many voicemails have gone unanswered.  I just need to know if they are offering a summer practicum or internship.   

I am working on the practicum application for Children's Hospital at Dartmouth, in NH.  Like Connecticut Children's, CHaD requires paragraph length answers to ten questions.  I have a draft of three questions I haven't encountered before and some are basically the same as Connecticut Children's questions.  I will leave a voicemail for my former Psychology professor at Simmons College tonight since my emails likely went to spam and I need a third letter of recommendation.  CHaD requires three recommendation letters for practicum students (really uncommon).  CHaD also requires a CPR Certification which I will obtain on February 19th through an Adult, Child and Infant CPR class given through the Red Cross.

Yesterday I booked my flight for the Child Life Council's 29th Annual Conference on Professional Issues in Chicago, May 25th-29th.

Since I am waiting on an interview for one (CT), basically finished another (Cohen), working steadily on another (CHaD) and waiting to see if another (BMC) is offering program, I need to start another application (Yale) and email another (Montefiore).   

Progress is Progress

Alas, I still haven't called the woman at Connecticut Children's Medical Center yet.  I really need to do that, yet I am nervous because I don't know how to prepare.  I want a practicum or internship, but I feel I need to be as prepared as possible when I call, rather page this woman because I don't want to "over tell" in response to a simple question because I am nervous.  Make sense?

Cohen Children's in NY is offering a summer practicum.  I just need to read over my essay, make sure it fits their needs and their word limit of approximately 300.  I also need a copy of the recommendation letter my supervisor at CHB wrote for me with her signature across the flap.

I just left another voicemail for Boston Medical Center asking if they are offering a summer practicum or internship.  Hopefully they will call me back soon since they are the only hospital in Boston that will accept independent students.  

I am working on the practicum application for Children's Hospital at Dartmouth, in NH.  CHaD requires three recommendation letters for practicum students (really uncommon).  I have my two from CHB, and I decided my third should come from one of my Psychology professors at Simmons College.  I sent him two emails and it appears Simmons is having an issue with their email system since the second came back telling me my message might take days to go through.  If I don't hear a response from him via email soon, I may have to leave a voicemail.  Hopefully my email didn't end up in spam since my address no longer ends in @simmons.edu.  CHaD also requires a CPR Certification which I will obtain on February 19th through an Adult, Child and Infant CPR class given through the Red Cross.

Finally, yesterday I registered for the Child Life Council's 29th Annual Conference on Professional Issues in Chicago, May 25th-29th.  I booked my room last week and now all I need is my flight.

Pittsburgh

Last weekend I visited family in Pittsburgh.  Mom and I left from our house (I was still at home for the Baclofen trial) and picked up my aunt, her sister from her house about 45 minutes from ours.  It has become tradition for our family to listen to a book on tape whenever we go on a long car ride.  Since Pittsburgh is 6 hours from our house near Philly, a book on tape was in order.  A few days before we left, mom went to the library and must have picked up 6 books, just in case we started one and didn't like it.  We also needed a variety to choose from since we have different tastes, interests, etc.  We chose a murder mystery.

Part of the trip included a trip to Children's Hospital Pittsburgh so I could meet with their director and talk about their internship and practicum programs.  I also wanted a tour of the hospital since it is brand new.  Unfortunately, I would have to be a student in order to be accepted into their programs.  They said the reason for this is for insurance reasons, which anyone can get independently.  While their programs sounded very strong, I cannot apply to them because I am not currently in school.

While the trip to CHP was disappointing, I did have a lot of fun with my family.  The first night there we ate dinner on the porch and both aunts, cousin Andrew and I went out for ice cream.  They had every flavor imaginable, but I decided to play it easy and get a strawberry milkshake.  It was great, but the strawberries kept getting stuck in the darn straw.  The next day, I slept in while the others went for a walk or run.  After everyone was showered and fed we went to a museum where we had lunch.  We also went sight seeing on Mt. Washington which was nice since the weather was great and there was a great view.  We also walked around the University of Pittsburgh where Andrew goes to school to look at some of the nationality classrooms.  They have everything from an American room to a Spanish room to a Japanese room to an Italian room.  After playing tourist, we went back to my aunt and uncle's house because everyone was exhausted.  I went upstairs, plopped on the bed, rolled over and fell asleep almost instantaneously without bothering to take off my sneakers.

After our siesta, we all went out to dinner.  Mom brought some gluten-free pasta for me since many restaurants have accommodated my needs in the past and so if I didn't see something on the menu I liked, I could always have pasta.  Not so fast...  Apparently, it is "a violation of PA health code to serve food that doesn't belong to the restaurant."  I was completely stunned.  "It would be a liability if you got sick..."  It would be an issue for YOU if I got sick from the food I brought?!  Yeah...that makes sense...scoff.  Long story short, I ended up ordering a combination of things: mashed potatoes, scallops, scrimp and crab.  It was very good and I was very full afterwards.

Mom and I were sitting on a bench outside the restaurant after dinner when a lady approached us saying something like, "Mother and daughter sitting together..."  She was wearing a black sequined baseball cap which I told her I liked and she responded, "and I like your glasses" (in a very drama queen tone).  We continued with the small talk and I have never met this person in my life, so it was rather odd to be conversing with someone responding so dramatically to every word out of my mouth.  She recently moved to Cambridge, MA (across the Charles from Boston) and asked me something about school.  I told her I had graduated from Simmons the year prior and she replied, "Oh SIMMONS" with such enthusiasm you would think she not only founded, but served as president her entire adult life.  She did not attend Simmons, but another school in Boston I think.

Career Fair, Books and Upcoming Events

One of my first stops at the career fair was Children's Hospital Boston's table.  (I thought this would be a good start since it's hard to feel intimidated when one of my "employers" on my resume matches one out of the many institutions represented at the fair.)  After approaching the table, I greeted one of the representatives and explained that I had been a volunteer at CHB for close to 5 years, and my goal was to become a Child Life Specialist.  He learned through my responses to various questions that I had applied twice to the Master's Child Life program at Wheelock, but was denied.  I also told him how I was advised by the career education center at Simmons to gain some administrative skills because that would help me a great deal in the job market.  (I forget the sequence of events exactly because I was rather nervous since this was my first career fair.)  He asked me more questions and inquired about my roles and responsibilities as a seasoned volunteer on the inpatient unit.  When he asked if I had applied to jobs at CHB before, I told him I had, but never got further as far as an interview was concerned.  He offered to look over my resume even though they were not accepting them to see if he could offer me any suggestions.   After a careful look over, he handed it back and told me it looked very strong, strong enough in fact for an Administrative Associate I position, a step or two above an Administrative Assistant I.

I was pleasantly surprised.  After submitting so many resumes and applications to CHB without response, I thought I was worthless as far as employment goes.  It took a lot for me to contain myself and not cheer, but only smile and and say thank you.  I felt like I had been hired on the spot.  After learning the physical location of CHB HR, I made a mental note to visit tomorrow.  (I have always called, assuming they were in the main hospital.  I have also never had a real reason to visit the department in person until now.)  

I called my supervisor at CHB yesterday and left a message on her cell hoping to meet with her sometime this week, but it looks like it will have to be next week because she will not be in on Friday when I volunteer.  I really need to talk to her and pick her brain about Child Life practicums/internships and if I could do something independently at CHB.  


Also, another section was created for the online Medical Terminology course at BCCC so I am now registered.  Initially I though it began on the 1st (today), but thankfully it begins on the 6th so I have some more time.  I have the book from the last time I attempted to take it so I don't need to worry about rush delivery of a textbook.  


Speaking of books, I just received Child Life in Hospitals: Theory and Practice and Create Your Own Blog: 6 Easy Projects to Start Blogging Like a Pro.  I ordered Child Life because I have heard it is the "bible" for Child Life Specialists.  I also ordered Blog because I really want to make the most out of this.  I could have ordered the Kindle format, but when it comes to textbooks and manuals, I prefer to have the actual book so I can highlight and tab to my heart's content.  I also recently started Eat, Pray, Love although I have yet to finish The Female Brain.  I guess I really need to step up the reading if I hope to hit my goal of 10 books before summer's end. 

On Sunday, the UMDF (United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation is having a float at the 4th of July parade in Chelmsford.  I have a voice lesson on Monday and hope to meet a mito friend friend from Ohio who is seeing a doctor at Tufts.  I will be going home on Wednesday because Allie will be in NC July 8th-15th.  I also need to stay infection and Advil/Motrin free from Wednesday on in preparation for the Baclofen trial on the 12th.  Technically, the trial is the 13th, but I will be admitted on the 12th for baseline observation, and then I should be discharged on the 14th after the trial works its way through.  I will receive 50mcg of liquid Baclofen and the idea is it will relax my muscles better than oral Baclofen ever could without making me sleepy.  However, Baclofen delivered through the spinal fluid can cause other problems since it does not exclusively target my muscles.  It can affect other organs like my bladder and intestines, but obviously there is no way to know what the effects will be until we do it.  If there is no response whatsoever, my doctor and I will try 100mcg at a later date.    

Job Searching

On Thursday I meet with one of the career counselors at my alma matter, Simmons College.  The appointment was spent brainstorming and not actively job hunting online which caught me by surprise because I thought you could only be successful when you actively did something.  My career counselor advised me to talk to my supervisor Children's Hospital Boston, check Simmons College's job bank (jobs posted by employers who want Simmons Alums) daily, go onto Indeed.com and try Craigslist.  I also joined the Simmons College Alumni Group on LinkedIn.com and there is a career fair at The Seaport Hotel, Boston.  I pre-registered while writing this and plan on attending!  I am not moving back to PA with a stone unturned.

I applied to three jobs today: an entry-level temp receptionist position at a hotel in Cambridge, an entry-level temp Admin Assistant I position at a Boston non-profit, and a greeter at one of our Boston hospitals (all found on Indeed).  The temp positions are for 1 and 3 months, I just forget which position went to which time frame.  I emailed my supervisor at Children's Hospital Boston to see if we can get together for lunch this week so we can talk about my options in Child Life.  Simmons College's job bank, CareerLink is down for maintenance.  I found two Admin. Assist I jobs at Tufts, but it appears their website is having issues when I click on "yes" when asked if I want to apply as an external applicant.

The other issue at hand is housing.  My lease ends on 8/31 and I cannot renew because my rent is too expensive.  I applied to temp positions because it's better than nothing and like my career advisor said apply to anything, and so I did, but I'm not entirely sure how the timing will work should I get one of the temp jobs, especially the 3 month position.  It could start next month, or August, or even September.  What then?  Look for apartments with 2 or 3 month leases, if there are any?

I tried to register for the Medical Terminology at BCCC (my local community college in PA) and I am 8th out of 9 people on the waitlist.  If I can't get in by the July 1st start date, I may decide to postpone Child Life practicums until the next semester since the major reason for taking Medical Terminology is to strengthen my application.  I also want to take Child/Human Development again because the course I took while at Simmons wasn't as in-depth as I feel I need.  (Child/Human Development isn't offered through BCCC during Summer Session II and I couldn't find it online here in Massachusetts this late in the summer.

Back in Boston

I returned to Boston last night after about two weeks at home in PA. While it was nice to be home, it was a reminder that I am not a suburbia type of girl. That said, I need to find a way for me to stay in Boston, which means a job. Finding a job is rather daunting, especially in these times and my lack of paid job experience. I have been volunteering and in school for the past five years.

Perhaps the first thing I should do is update my resume to include my new membership into the Child Life Council. I also need to pick up my degree from Simmons College. I feel rather lame for still not having my hard earned diploma after graduating over a year ago. I also need a copy of my unofficial transcript so I can look up my GPA and start looking at Child Life practicums/internships.

I also need to find an apartment because alas, my current made-for-me-studio was only a one time deal since it is too expensive for me to keep for another 12 months. My lease ends 8/31 and I will truly miss my first apartment because it is in the same area I lived in when I was at Simmons.

Yesterday I finished Handle with Care by Jodi Picoult. The ending was not as depressing as I thought it would be. I could have finished the book last week, but I thought I knew the ending based on her previous books and I did not want to finish it for fear the ending would depress and enrage me. I was pleasantly surprised and proud of the author for not ending it in the way she had My Sister's Keeper or in the way I thought. This book does not count toward the 10 I aim to read this summer since I started it long before summer began. This book was however the first of many I will read on my Kindle.

This afternoon I looked through The CLC Directory of Child Life Programs and found 8 Child Life practicums from Boston to DC.  The hospitals offering practicums are Yale-New Haven Children's Hospital (CT), Children's National Medical Center (DC), Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children (DE), Shriners Burn Hospital Boston (MA), Joslin Clinic (MA), Floating Hospital for Children (MA), Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (PA) and St. Christopher's Hospital for Children (PA).  


Internships are more common than practicums because the hours count towards certification, but my plan is to    complete a practicum, then I will have a stronger resume and be more well rounded when I apply to internships the following "semester".  Unfortunately, I have to email most of the institutions because they don't provide enough if any information on their website.  


I also need to look at jobs at the same time, because I need to have a purpose if I am going to stay in Boston.    The deadline for the winter "semester" is September 5th so I need a job so I have something to do if I don't get into a practicum.