Couch 252: Kitties and Hawks

Ah hell nah! Why??????? If anything, my back is crookeder! I dont know how you guys stand that leash around your ribs! Reminding you with every breath you take: this far and no farther!

I decided to end things with the art therapist and I'm starting with a new therapist. We had our first session last week but it was just going over the paperwork and discussing how she works. We'll start talking about my stuff this Friday. I'm a little nervous. I don't want to start out by talking about trauma, but it's kind of pervasive in my life so I don't know how to get around that.

I meet with P next Monday. He gave the choice to me when our last session would be (up until June when it's over-over). I told him I wasn't ready to sever ties completely yet and I'd like to have one last session in May so I can talk to him about the new therapy relationship. I still miss him and don't logically understand how you can just say goodbye to someone forever when you have a connection like we had. But I guess you can.

Grudgingly, in a word.

I'm sorry you're going through this, NP.

I hope you can find a way in that feels as manageable as it can.

Try to be gentle with yourself in the meantime.

Take care,

Lost

I second all of this, NP.

I've never been on this couch before ,so I'm not sure what to say. (I've never been on my analysts couch either) I feel awkward as hell...dont want to just barge into your couch so maybe I could lie on the floor for a while?
NP it must be hard starting with a new T. Good luck with that.

Oh. About stepping in cat vomit.... I've got something worse. Legos!!! Pain!

Hi calla lily, i used to be hankster maybe when we last interacted?

I think i owe lemoncake an apology for getting all up in arms over brassieres recently. Hopefully i will feel better after my fellow boomers raise the roof tomorrow - those who can still raise their arms over their heads without going into cardiac arrhythmia, that is!

Contemplating how I'm going to tell this new therapist about things has led me to revisit those things. Sometimes I feel compelled to look at the audio-visual artifacts I have. It's like once I get it in my head, I can't not do it. I re-listened to the 911 call I made. It's still quite upsetting to listen to.

I'm always envious of those people who are like
"911 what's your emergency?"
"Hi, yeah, something has happened could you please send help."

To say I was not calm would be an understatement.

Hugs if wanted, NP. That sounds very difficult to listen to. I doubt many people could remain calm in that situation. Unless it was due to the effects of shock, say.

Absolutely, LT.

When under stress, we don't have the capacity to think about other people's perception.

You did the best you could under the horrendous circumstances, NP.

Please be gentle with yourself if you engage with those artefacts.

Sending hugs, if wanted.

Lost

Yes, I remember you unaluna (hankster). It was quite a while ago.

P told me Monday that he sold his car and bought a camper van, so I guess he's going to travel and teach from his van. Not sure how that came up.

In other random things from his mouth, he said he trusts me and doesn't feel like he needs to put up a bunch of boundaries about contacting him up. He said if I email him he will respond but it might take a while, but that he won't contact me otherwise. This was completely unprompted. Call me delusional but I think now that we're actually ending things (one more session in May) he doesn't want to say goodbye forever either. I might send him an update after 6 months or a year or something.

I'm still not sure how this new therapy is going to go. Second session tomorrow.

Couch mini-poll: You find a 10-ounce container of gluten-free matzo farfel in your cupboard. What will you make with it?

A) Kugel (sweet or savory)
B) something breakfasty (“granola” or “oatmeal”)
C) Chocolate “haystacks”
D) other, please explain

First I googled just "farfel" and it looked kind of like Israeli couscous. Then I googled "matzo farfel" but I still don't have a firm grasp of what it is. Please report back with whatever you decide to make.

As far as I can tell, matzo farfel is crumbled matzo.

And haven’t decided yet…

I think I would go with some kind of oatmeal as long as it’s flavorful and dairy based.

Say goodnight, ****. Isnt the Farfel family from Laugh-In, where Mr Farfel's kids all looked like the redheaded neighbor guy?

I had to look up Laugh-In. It was a little before my time but I think I vaguely remember my mother mentioning it.

Farkel Family - not farfel.

Thats why we loved Goldie Hawn so much!

Great clip, thanks, stopdog. I guess it would have been bad if their name had been Farfel. But im betting it came from it! Plus K is funny.

Hey, it could have come from farfalle, too…aren’t you Italian?

To all the healthy eaters: Is there any benefit to a gluten free diet if you don’t have a medical reason to be gluten free? I’m just wondering if If it will help with bloating and stuff? Can’t really find too much information on google about if it’s beneficial if you don’t have celiac or other form of gluten intolerance.

This question is coming from someone who loves bread. Like I don’t feel satisfied with my breakfast without some sort of bread being involved. For example-eggs are a staple for breakfast usually paired with another protein like turkey sausage crumbles. Eating that just alone-I’m hungry 2 hours later-eating it with toast it satisfies me through the whole morning into the afternoon. I just feel so darn bloated all the time so I’m wondering if replacing my gluten filled deliciousness with gluten free options would make a difference. Anybody know?

I can't give an answer regarding the gluten part, but I'm curious about something. You say how if you have toast with the breakfast, you feel satisfied for longer. I wonder if it's more a calorie thing rather than the bread itself? And is it a whole-grain bread of some kind? If so, could be the fiber that's filling you up, too.

From my brief attempt at going gluten-free years ago, there are some good gluten-free breads out there (the pasta wasn't good at the time, but maybe it's improved). Maybe you could experiment? Though I think ti takes up to a month to get gluten out of your system, if it's a possible intolerance thing.

Thanks LT. I definitely know I’m getting calories. Perhaps too many when I add the toast. The bread is just plain white bread that’s like 200 calories for 2 slices by itself. Sometimes I just spread butter on it and sometimes I spread avocado spread on it. So bread paired with the eggs and sausage crumbles is probably too many calories honestly. Granted most of the time I don’t eat at work much just have a snack or so. I don’t know. Just looking for ways to try to get my body right I guess.

Jersey - i still love bread, but i have gradually become a veggie freak. Used to be i couldnt eat just veg - it would make me feel like my stomach was floating. I guess thats bloated?

I would try adding cooked or raw tomatoes, mushrooms, green onions, peppers, spinach, and or broccoli to your breakfast. I love salad for breakfast now. Also i eat refried beans where i used to eat bread. Like with my evening salad. I guess thats a nacho grande but without the nachos.