PULEEZE TAKE HEED!!

This week the news carried the story of a young man, a high school senior, who was a football star as well as an honor student, who was not only expelled from school, but who also lost his scholarships to top universities such as Brown, Harvard, and several others who were all courting him. Why?? Because he foolishly 'tweeted' some vile statements and racist sentiment. I was amazed to learn that colleges, and employers check all the social media (Facebook, etc.) to find any incriminating statements which may have been made by their applicants.

This is just one more example of how the internet can 'do us in'. Internet has become so much a part of our daily communication that it has become 'second nature' to us. An inordinate amount of our time is now spent texting. Young people and even older people are being texted that their 'relationship is over'. As one of my friends call texting...'cold communication'. For me it is great to let someone know "I'm running late" or "meet me at...in five minutes". But I'm sorry, a text does not cover everything..."so sorry to hear about your mother's death" simply doesn't 'cut it'.

Nothing can replace a voice!! Thank God we still have the phone (which doesn't even replace a visit when there is a heavy duty situation). Speaking of phones, while they can be our GPS, our restaurant finder, and our means of bank depositing, they most importantly can be our 'warmest means of communication'. Just the intonation voiced in a reply to something or an attempt at consoling someone, can make all the difference if 'heard' on the phone. How many kids have lost friends because they sent an email or text about something they thought about someone. It can be misinterpreted and even passed around so that everyone finds out what may be our innermost thoughts written in a way that they become negative rather than positive.

And the pictures that are sent on facebook!!! Puleeze be careful...a simple picture can rise to haunt you. Your body and your thoughts are "yours". Sometimes it's nice to share with others, and good wishes from people from Facebook can be very wonderful (as they were on my birthday when I heard from people I hadn't heard from in 40 years!), but please, be discriminating as you write. And for heaven's sake, take the time to 'go' into the kitchen from your living room to tell your wife
something important. Next thing you know we'll be texting each other while lying in bed together!! And eventually we'll be texting the sex!!

Just wanted to take some time to kind of 'warn you' or 'remind you' of how much your evey word says about you. And if God forbid you wind up in court one day arguing that you never said that which you are accused of, be sure you only 'said it' and didn't 'text it'!!

Hope you enjoyed this session. Sorry it's taken me so long to get back to you all...will be in more touch in the following weeks.

Respectfully yours,

Mimi Scott, Ph.d
212 721-2979
917 846-2449
mscott13@aol.com
www.drmimiscott.com

BONNIE & CLYDE

Strange title for one of my sessions, but it had a strong impact on me. Two weeks ago, while in previews, my dear friend Jeffrey Richards, (my first 'boss' here in New York, who is this show's producer, and the guy who has produced most of what has been on Broadway over the past 10 years), gave me a pair of tickets for his latest 'hit' BONNIE & CLYDE.

What affected me immediately was the quality and strength of voice that the two leads,Laura Osnes and Jeremy Jordan possess. The standaard has truly been raised here on Broadway regarding vocal prowess. The training

BONNIE & CLYDE...

Strange title for one of my sessions, but it had a strong impact on me.
Two weeks ago, while in previews, my dear friend Jeffrey Richards,(my first'boss' here in New York, who is this show's producer,and the guy who has produced most of what has been on Broadway over the last ten years), gave me a pair of tickets for his latest 'hit' BONNIE & CLYDE.

What affected me immediately, was the quality and strength of voice that the two leads,Laura Osnes and Jeremy Jordan possess. The standard has truly been raised here on Broadway regarding vocal prowess. The training and preparation that today's young stars receive has gotten greater and greater over the years. As a result it takes an awful lot more to compete today. But it is the love story that really penetrated with me.

The night before seeing this show I had watched a Mitch Bloom tv movie. Mitch was recruited to write a eulogy for a still vital rabbi. In investigating his life, Mitch came to know a black preacher who rose from the depths of the drug world to make a real difference. The part that got to me was showing the preacher as a child of poverty being told that "if you want something...take it!". This same doctrine was the determining factor in Clyde Barrow's life path. We take, get caught and eventually kill in the process. It makes me wonder with the economic crisis we now find ourselves in...what will be the result when the only way to get what you want is to 'take it!'

I am fearful of that, but I'm also thinking about what we can expect when our troops actually do make it home. I read somewhere that among those who have returned there is a suicide every 18 days. It has been traumatic for them. Hopefully we will respond to their heroism with the gratitude they so richly deserve. And if that isn't the message they receive, what will they turn to in order to survive today? Hopefully it won't be a repitiion of the criminal aspects of a war in which they have had to 'fight' and 'kill' for survival.

And as the mates of those returning soldiers, as well as those who have already chosen a life of crime, what do we do? This is where Bonnie & Clyde impacted me the most. Their raw passion for one another was so vividly portrayed that one is made to understand the loyalty of a mate who clearly sees the dangers ahead. As crazy as it seems one totally agrees with the choices made.

A musical that makes you think about the criminal mind and how it relates to where we are today is worthy in itself, but the fabulous music of Frank Wildhorn along with the performances of the entire cast as the love story is played out, result in keeping an audience spellbbound.

If I don't get back to you before the New Year...have a wonderful holiday season. Maybe take in a Broadway show...I would suggest Bonnie & Clyde.

Respectfully submitted,

Mimi Scott, Ph.d
212 721-2979
917 846-2449
mscott13@aol.com
www.drmimiscott.com

MAKING YOUR GIFT WORK FOR YOU...

I've been back to working with groups again here in New York City and it still never ceases to amaze me at the commonality amongst people from all walks of life. Now, of course, whether rich or poor, it is everyone's time to wonder where their next dime is coming from or whether it will be coming at all. Everyone is trying to figure out how to survive one way or another.

In trying to help, one idea always kind of 'pops up' for me. In question form it becomes "What is your own particular gift?". Obviously I'm not talking about something material. I'm talking about what it is that the good Lord awarded you in this life. If all that comes to your mind is "the gift of gab" then stop and consider that. Are you currently making that 'work' for you? Are you a preacher, a teacher, a talk show host or even a paid MC? Maybe you are someone who has become a 'speaker' for your company or for whatever is your passion. The point is are you using that 'gift' which you were given. And, if that gift is, as we said a moment ago "the gift of gab" are you by any chance using it to bring in some additional income, or perhaps helping someone else without that gift, to increase their income. This is why those creative people who come up with a product need a sales staff to sell it!

Which brings me to...is your gift a creative one? Maybe it is writing, or music or even cooking. Remember 'Charlie' in "Two and A Half Men" wrote jingles for a living which provided him with a beach house in Malibu. If everyone tells you you are a great cook, find people out there who will pay for someone to cook for them.

And perhaps your gift is being able to help other people. If you don't have the training to become a professional, volunteer someplace. It may bring you to the attention of someone who can help you find a paying job, but more than likely you will find some of that 'good old fashioned' sense of well being that can help you feel better so that you can get through your tough financial time. Your gift can 'work' for you as a distraction.

One may not be a great painter, but just the enjoyment of standing there with a brush in hand can 'while away the tears' and make you forget your troubles, no matter what they are.

So, take some time and do something you may never before have done. Ask yourself what is your own particular gift that the Lord has given you. Maybe it's mechanics, electronics, or that computer savvy that some of us wish we had. Either way,find out what it is and start making it 'work' for you.

Hope you've all been well in my absence, have enjoyed this session, and are pleased to find me back at this 'blog' which actually contributes to making 'me' feel well.

Respectfully yours,


Mimi Scott, Ph.D
mscott13@aol.com
212 721-2979
917 846-2449
www.drmimiscott.com

THANK THE LORD...

While it may have seemed the media coverage was 'over the top' to say the least, nevertheless, for the most part, all of New York and its 5 boroughs came out 'on top'! Something like only five deaths, while all the evacuees made it out safely. Pictures of streets with only boats for transportation were mind boggling, and walking the dogs in the heart of the upper west side for several blocks and seeing only 2 other people outside was also jaw dropping.

Of course the excitement during the prelude was kinda fun. Seeing Gracious Home, a very elite kind of home goods store, hawking D batteries with employees shouting "Get your disaster relief right here" was comically disconcerting. And the hunt for jugs of water and chinese food for takeout after most stores and restaurants were closed, was also a unique experience for New Yorkers. Of course, somehow a good number of Bars did manage to stay open.

I had a good friend from Florida, Melody, arriving here last Tuesday landing at 2pm. I guess hers was the first phone to ring when I called to tell her she would be stepping off the plane into an earthquake!! Most of Manhattan and its environs had been rumbling for about an hour, with most people totally unaware of what was causing their desks to shake and their pictures to fall off the wall. The news stand fella right up the block said everything in his kiosk had simply started dropping and making a mess. Who would have thunk???

So now that things are quiet (at least for the moment...there is some mention of tornadoes yet to come), I am really left wondering "WHAT IS IT ALL ABOUT?"
Certainly the Good Lord is trying to tell us SOMETHING...but what is it we can decipher from it all because you know the answer can not just be something obvious such as global warming. I think we need to look deeper than that.

Maybe Mother Nature is telling us that we are 'moving too fast' in every possible way--thus creating absolute chaos? Are we simply out of control? Is this a response to our crazed way of governing along with the volitility that surrounds us beginning with the family, as well as the new morality (or lack thereof) that now prevails? Has technology filtered into and confused the atmosphere with sooo much that nature is responding with an extremely loud and passionate "STOP!!!!"

Being amongst the seniors dwelling within, I don't think I'm alone in feeling that so many of my counterparts would like to yell the same kind of thing not infrequently. Maybe instead, we should 'Thank the Good Lord' for literally 'shaking us up' (at least here in the biggest apple of them all), and splashing our faces with the word "STOP"!! Then maybe we can take some time to think about where we are at, and how we can best find some new and quieter, while nevertheless creative, means for navigating our lives. Think about it...

Hope you enjoyed this session and are safe and sound with your power on to have been able to read this.

Respectfully,

Mimi Scott, Ph.D
212 721-2979
917 846-2449
mscott13@aol.com
www.drmimiscott.

UNREASONABLE DOUBT!

I actually wouldn't feel ok with myself if I didn't try to do my part over the horrendous injustice that was done to two year old Caley Anthony. A while back I wrote a play called "Mind Tricks" which set out to prove that the protagonist was a psychopath. At the time I learned that there were proven characteristics of a psychopath set down by a gentleman named Robert Hare. Not recalling all of them, I can tell you that the lack of a conscience, the lack of remorse, and being a pathological liar stood out in Mr. Hare's list as much as they did in the profile that Casey Anthony projected during her recent trial for the murder of her daughter.

My jaw hung at the 'not guilty verdict' as I'm certain did most people's who had followed this trial on a daily basis. "Shocked" and "stunned" do not do justice to the reaction to this verdict. Personally I felt that the Prosecuting attorneys were excellent. For me Mr. Ashton tied Casey's every move during those 31 days to exactly what took place. But the jury obviously found legal loopholes to justify their decision. At first I thought the Defense was the worst ever as it was so obvious for people to see through what they were doing. However as the days went by I realized that the extremely far fetched 'red herrings' they kept providing were indeed doing the job to 'confuse' the jurors. It was, in the end, a briliant defense as 'incredible' as it was. I therefore learned that without an extremely intelligent and educated jury panel who are well versed in human behavior, this injustice can become possible. Sadly none of the jurors who did indeed decide to publicly defend their position came across as having these qualities.

However, for most of us watching, according to current statistics,there was no way on earth there was any 'doubt' at all as to who had committed this heinous crime. As a result I believe we must review and make changes to our current 'Trial by Jury' system.

First I think the 'voir dire' process should be reviewed, and there should be certain intelligence standards that those who 'will stand in judgement' must meet. My next suggestion is that a new choice should be added to the instructions to the jurors called "Un-reasonable Doubt". This would fall between 'certainty' or 'guilty' according to the evidence provided, and 'reasonable doubt' which says there is simply not enough evidence to 'prove' that the guilt is there. 'Un-reasonable doubt' would say that: "while I understand there is no absolute proof shown me during this trial, my reasoning still tells me that it must have been this defendant who committed this crime. Reason overules my doubt."

The additions of truly qualified jurors and "Un-reasonable Doubt" would not seem impossible to incorporate. Let me know how you feel and what steps one would take next in order to succeed in making these additions to the current system.

Thanks for reading...look forward to your responses.

Mimi Scott, Ph.D
212 721-2979
917 846-2449
mscott13@aol.com
www.drmimiscott.com

Vendor Wars..My Life on the Street

Of course I learned many things from my experience on the streets of New York selling my Art and its by products. First of all Vendors are very territorial...don't try to take up their space even if they are nowhere in sight...it is reason for them to kill! I was very careful not to offend anyone, espcially my friend who had shown me how to get started and who was virtually at war with another lady who sold the same hats and jewelry. Secondly, do not consider selling in front of your building, even if your display is so much classier than the typical hats and jewelry. (Especially if your building is one of the classiest in New York). They do not want you to spoil the peace and quiet of the street. And you might not want to heed, as an older person, the warning to stay out of the heat. The one day I did, I found a kid selling lemonade in my spot.

After three moves I had wound up right in front of the phenomenal all glass Apple Store. I reduced from two to one table and got rid of the clothestree and aas a result I got many compliments on how beautiful my display was. I also wound up friendly with all the many security guards and cops in the neighborhood. They constantly check to see your Certificate of Authority which of course I had gotten and which was plainly displayed. But I got to know them through other means as well. I found out that you do not lean any of your paintings or products against government property. I had a tendency to dress up the yellow pole behind my table with a painted hat, shirt and sometimes even an apron. But if you place anything against the booth used for parking payments, believe it or not it triggers something that calls the police to come. (I met the handsomest cop in khakis and a blue shirt with a gorgeous metal badge that way),

Of course I was never given anything but smiles, but several of my vending friends were cuffed and brought into police wagons with me arguing with them that this "was a wonderful person who should not be arrested!". They did not listen to me, but the vendors who were on the street again the next morning, or in one case that same night, gave me some nice gifts--I got a beautiful card case for $5.00.

And as always---my dogs upstaged me and my art. People would head for them in their cart immediately, and about 1000 pictures of them were taken. One time there were a circle of about 10 people around the dogs for a good ten minutes when I mentioned to them that I had "some art here if they were interested". They laughed and just marched on. And there was the time Lucie, who hates skaters and scooters and anything that rides by like that, climbed out of the cart and tore up Broadway dragging Lorilu in the cart with her after one such skater. All of those outside the Apple store (and there are always those inside and outside that store no matter what the hour) were on their knees laughing so hard they couldn't straighten up. And as always,I attracted all the nuts in New York.

One was a very handsome, obviously cultured black man with a wonderful radio voice,who had great things to say about the clarity and fantasy qualities of my work. He explained that he had simply 'chosen' to live outside.

Then there was the Jewish ticket 'scalper' from the Bronx and Queens who could talk faster than anyone I'd ever known, who told me about all the warrants he had gotten from cops who invaded his home all the time. He claimed he never got arrested, and that he could give me tickets "cheap' for any Broadway show anytime.

And there were so many terrific people I talked to every day. Somehow they detected the therapist in me and told me their life stories immediately. The biggest topic of discussion however always was the dogs. Everyone always wants to know their age, and breed right away and somehow we both wind up talking about our dogs and how much they mean to us. That's how I made friends with several women my age who are also living alone with their precious pooches. I also found a few people who had also had knee replacements and we shared our scars with each other

But, believe it or not, it was the art that reallly made me feel good out there. People did take to the coasters, the trivets, the cutting board, the mousepads, the clock, the trays and the calendars right away. They also bought the painted shirts I was wearing, the hats, and the little pocketbooks for the kids. A painted apron or two sold as well. I had not wanted to part with the original canvasses I had hanging in my apartment so I had made prints, but it was all the items that turned out to be the 'stars'. Now I have jewelry and key chains with charms of my canvasses and I wear them everyday. People claim to love them.

The outcome is that the place where I had all my pieces made up is far more expensive then anyone on the street is willing to pay. It is a losing proposition. However...it has all pointed me in the direction of making up a great brochure, etc and trying to market these products to stores, companies, wherever. If you have any ideas I'm appreciative. My friend Paula was a marvelous help to me with all this and I call her my 'Project Manager'. In case you were not one of the many friends on this list who found me on the street and made a purchase for which I am eternally grateful, we will be posting these items online one way or another very soon.

This week I move from my one bedroom to a two bedroom in the same building. It took forever for me to find out that my building had approved me. If they hadn't I told them I was going to set up my table directly across from the entrance, with all my stuff including blankets, newspapers and the doggie beds and proceed to
call the NY Post!!

It's been a great experience and of course I'll be writing a show about it all.
Can't you just see a great tap number with all the different vendors??

Hope you enjoyed this session on attempting business outside.

Respectfull,
Mimi Scott, Ph.D
212 721-2979
917 846-2449
mscott13@aol.com
www.drmimiscott.com