All Systems A Go!
I don't like that I am starting each blog post with "I AM SO BUSY!" because it is a little obnoxious. Pretty much everybody I know is "busy" in different ways so my "Busy" doesn't trump anybody else's busy and yet, I still say "I AM SO BUSY!" A lot of people ask me "How do you do all the things you do?" and I often respond with "Gin". But the truth is... wine. Heh. No, I am just very good at multi-tasking and I guess because I am so passionate about setting up this center, it doesn't feel like work. Every day I am writing e-mails and setting up meetings because I know eventually this will lead to something amazing. I have to be careful because usually I push myself too hard and I end up sick and then there all sorts of obnoxious status updates kvetching about Nyquil and yoga pants.
I also know that this is kind of the home stretch and in just a few weeks, I hope to have a clear idea of funding and possibilities. There are a lot of "behind the scenes" things happening and it is very E! True Hollywood Story but not exciting and definitely with 0 scandal and actually, it is nothing like E! True Hollywood Story. Sometimes when I am rushing around the city, I have the Lola Runs soundtrack playing in the my head so that's kind of movie-like. In my mind I look like her. But with a better sports bra. One with 16 hooks and steel reinforcements.
The last few days have involved quite a few meetings and every time I have one regarding autism and the future center, I definitely feel recharged. On Saturday I went to Hot Yoga, lost a dress side and possibly a rib (eaten by my internal organs) and then took a shower, got dressed and headed into the 1st district. A lovely woman wrote me last week who is from the States and has a child on the spectrum. We met at a cafe and talked for about an hour and shared stories about a shady therapist and of course, the lack of support here. She mentioned different opportunities in the town she lived in previously and I literally wanted to weep; it sounded like a different planet... a planet of opportunity, support and TRAMPOLINES! Amazing! Completely unrelated: I should probably look into a better sports bra. After our great meeting, I ran deeper into the 1st district to meet a therapist who contacted me a couple of months ago through the Autism in Vienna page. And yes we met at Hawelka because I might have a problem with stalking. No, he wasn't there.
I met a great therapist who has incredible qualifications and experience. It kills me that the degrees are not easily transferable here and I need to look deeper into this. She doesn't live in Vienna but we will continue to stay in touch. I found her fantastic and full of energy and I have a feeling we will be seeing a lot of each other. I have also decided to create a "therapy" night this month. No, it won't be about me... that will take more than a night. Rather, I want to have as many therapists who are in involved in autism or were in involved in autism to have a chance to meet and network. It is important to have a strong network of specialists as I go forward... and I also want to be able to provide parents with a list of incredibly competent therapists. If you live in Vienna, and are interested in intending, check out the Autism in Vienna Facebook page for details in the next couple of days. If you are not on Facebook, e-mail me at tmspatz@gmail.com and I can pass on the information.
After my meetings, I headed home for a fun afternoon with the Kid where I gave him a bath and did my nails. Multi-tasking. On Sunday, we lazed around for most of the day because my so-called day off the next day was booked to the brim and I needed a little down time. In the late afternoon I met a friend for a couple of drinks and told her about my concerns about the VERY IMPORTANT MEETING on Monday morning. The Kid is five and next year he is supposed to attend school. This of course has been a deep concern for us especially since he is not speaking yet. I have heard some horror stories and I was bracing myself for the worst. We dropped the Kid off in the morning and then headed to the 5th district to meet the head of "special needs" for schools in our district. I might have been a little unnecessarily hostile when one of the first things I said was "IT IS AGAINST THE UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS CHARTER TO HAVE SCHOOLS SOLELY FOR SPECIAL NEEDS." He was a very nice man and immediately assured me that this is not what happens in his hood. He listed different options and we felt much better and now I am so going to be besties with this guy.
After the meeting, I headed into the center to meet another therapist at Cafe Hawelka. YES I HAVE A PROBLEM! And no, he wasn't there. I met a lovely woman who worked for many years at a center for autism in Israel. It was originally started as a verein by parents a couple of decades ago and has now grown into an amazing center. This is heartening to hear! We talked for over an hour and I told her about all of our struggles and she kept saying "What?!?! Are you serious!?!?" and she was in total shock. She is also on board with the idea of the Beacon Beach House so yaay! After our great meeting, I decided to walk to Mariahilferstrasse for my next appointment. A friend and I met for lunch at Freiraum and then I made my way to Schwedenplatz to meet another friend who I only met a few months ago and who was instrumental in setting up the talk with the Member of Parliament Mike Lake. We chatted and I told her all about what I am currently doing and we made plans to see each other in the summer when I head to Canada by myself for a quick visit.
After that meeting, I stopped by a friend's place in the 7th and drank some rose and we talked and talked and I wish I had had more time. At 6:30, I jumped on the Ubahn and headed to our psychology student's apartment which happens to be the Office Twin's apartment too. I realized too late that he is a diabolical genius. By hiring the lovely student, I am now helping to pay his rent. When the student becomes the master. Well done Little Grasshopper, well done. I'm going to get you back. He made me a gin and tonic and then I sat down with our psychology student and we talked about the Kid's development and future plans. She is such an asset and I love that the Kid loves her. At around 8, I could barely keep my eyes open and realized I had been running around for 12 hours. I said good night and headed home where within half an hour, I was asleep. WHAT A DAY! This morning I had an early start at work and then in the afternoon, I needed to make a quick stop at... Cafe Hawelka. STOP JUDGING ME! And no, we wasn't there. The reason I was there was because I needed to have my picture taken for an upcoming interview. So stay tuned for that! Tomorrow I have a finance meeting which will happen during my lunch break. I am curious to see how it will be and I hope that this is the meeting that ends with "Now go forth little unicorn and get some funding!!!" Fingers crossed! The Kid is in bed and babbling about something and I hope he falls asleep soon because I think I need another early night. Also, because the earlier I go to bed, the less opportunity there is for me to eat my feelings... yes, I am a little stressed about the meeting tomorrow. Why do you ask? Where's the ice cream?
Have a fabulous night!!
I also know that this is kind of the home stretch and in just a few weeks, I hope to have a clear idea of funding and possibilities. There are a lot of "behind the scenes" things happening and it is very E! True Hollywood Story but not exciting and definitely with 0 scandal and actually, it is nothing like E! True Hollywood Story. Sometimes when I am rushing around the city, I have the Lola Runs soundtrack playing in the my head so that's kind of movie-like. In my mind I look like her. But with a better sports bra. One with 16 hooks and steel reinforcements.
The last few days have involved quite a few meetings and every time I have one regarding autism and the future center, I definitely feel recharged. On Saturday I went to Hot Yoga, lost a dress side and possibly a rib (eaten by my internal organs) and then took a shower, got dressed and headed into the 1st district. A lovely woman wrote me last week who is from the States and has a child on the spectrum. We met at a cafe and talked for about an hour and shared stories about a shady therapist and of course, the lack of support here. She mentioned different opportunities in the town she lived in previously and I literally wanted to weep; it sounded like a different planet... a planet of opportunity, support and TRAMPOLINES! Amazing! Completely unrelated: I should probably look into a better sports bra. After our great meeting, I ran deeper into the 1st district to meet a therapist who contacted me a couple of months ago through the Autism in Vienna page. And yes we met at Hawelka because I might have a problem with stalking. No, he wasn't there.
I met a great therapist who has incredible qualifications and experience. It kills me that the degrees are not easily transferable here and I need to look deeper into this. She doesn't live in Vienna but we will continue to stay in touch. I found her fantastic and full of energy and I have a feeling we will be seeing a lot of each other. I have also decided to create a "therapy" night this month. No, it won't be about me... that will take more than a night. Rather, I want to have as many therapists who are in involved in autism or were in involved in autism to have a chance to meet and network. It is important to have a strong network of specialists as I go forward... and I also want to be able to provide parents with a list of incredibly competent therapists. If you live in Vienna, and are interested in intending, check out the Autism in Vienna Facebook page for details in the next couple of days. If you are not on Facebook, e-mail me at tmspatz@gmail.com and I can pass on the information.
After my meetings, I headed home for a fun afternoon with the Kid where I gave him a bath and did my nails. Multi-tasking. On Sunday, we lazed around for most of the day because my so-called day off the next day was booked to the brim and I needed a little down time. In the late afternoon I met a friend for a couple of drinks and told her about my concerns about the VERY IMPORTANT MEETING on Monday morning. The Kid is five and next year he is supposed to attend school. This of course has been a deep concern for us especially since he is not speaking yet. I have heard some horror stories and I was bracing myself for the worst. We dropped the Kid off in the morning and then headed to the 5th district to meet the head of "special needs" for schools in our district. I might have been a little unnecessarily hostile when one of the first things I said was "IT IS AGAINST THE UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS CHARTER TO HAVE SCHOOLS SOLELY FOR SPECIAL NEEDS." He was a very nice man and immediately assured me that this is not what happens in his hood. He listed different options and we felt much better and now I am so going to be besties with this guy.
After the meeting, I headed into the center to meet another therapist at Cafe Hawelka. YES I HAVE A PROBLEM! And no, he wasn't there. I met a lovely woman who worked for many years at a center for autism in Israel. It was originally started as a verein by parents a couple of decades ago and has now grown into an amazing center. This is heartening to hear! We talked for over an hour and I told her about all of our struggles and she kept saying "What?!?! Are you serious!?!?" and she was in total shock. She is also on board with the idea of the Beacon Beach House so yaay! After our great meeting, I decided to walk to Mariahilferstrasse for my next appointment. A friend and I met for lunch at Freiraum and then I made my way to Schwedenplatz to meet another friend who I only met a few months ago and who was instrumental in setting up the talk with the Member of Parliament Mike Lake. We chatted and I told her all about what I am currently doing and we made plans to see each other in the summer when I head to Canada by myself for a quick visit.
After that meeting, I stopped by a friend's place in the 7th and drank some rose and we talked and talked and I wish I had had more time. At 6:30, I jumped on the Ubahn and headed to our psychology student's apartment which happens to be the Office Twin's apartment too. I realized too late that he is a diabolical genius. By hiring the lovely student, I am now helping to pay his rent. When the student becomes the master. Well done Little Grasshopper, well done. I'm going to get you back. He made me a gin and tonic and then I sat down with our psychology student and we talked about the Kid's development and future plans. She is such an asset and I love that the Kid loves her. At around 8, I could barely keep my eyes open and realized I had been running around for 12 hours. I said good night and headed home where within half an hour, I was asleep. WHAT A DAY! This morning I had an early start at work and then in the afternoon, I needed to make a quick stop at... Cafe Hawelka. STOP JUDGING ME! And no, we wasn't there. The reason I was there was because I needed to have my picture taken for an upcoming interview. So stay tuned for that! Tomorrow I have a finance meeting which will happen during my lunch break. I am curious to see how it will be and I hope that this is the meeting that ends with "Now go forth little unicorn and get some funding!!!" Fingers crossed! The Kid is in bed and babbling about something and I hope he falls asleep soon because I think I need another early night. Also, because the earlier I go to bed, the less opportunity there is for me to eat my feelings... yes, I am a little stressed about the meeting tomorrow. Why do you ask? Where's the ice cream?
Have a fabulous night!!
Comments
Post a Comment