We're packing, getting ready to go.
It's going to be heaven, even if it rains
every
damn
day.
It will beat the stuffing out of snow-since-20-Dec.
Hope everyone has uneventful weeks, unless the event is children getting scholarships, gainful employment, perfect situations for school or complete lack of so much as a sniffle.
Friday, March 09, 2007
Saturday, March 03, 2007
Difficult
It's Difficult to:
1) Comfort my husband long distance
2) Imagine what my father-in-law's funeral service was like
3) Be ill and entertain 2 slightly ill children
4) Dye my hair in the dark (it made sense at the time)
5) Start packing for Hawaii - it's been pretty cold here
6) Shop for spring/summer clothing for myself with the Wild Boys in tow
1) Comfort my husband long distance
2) Imagine what my father-in-law's funeral service was like
3) Be ill and entertain 2 slightly ill children
4) Dye my hair in the dark (it made sense at the time)
5) Start packing for Hawaii - it's been pretty cold here
6) Shop for spring/summer clothing for myself with the Wild Boys in tow
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
A great man has died...
Ken's father died yesterday, February 27.
ODA was a truly great and kind man. He and Ken's mother raised 3 children with tolerance, respect and abounding faith in their ability to do well at anything they tried.
Writing this has been more difficult than I could have dreamed. He is the first of Ken and my parents to die. Even though Ken's father was ill with Parkinson's a long time, and death was a close companion, it is astonishing to experience this level of grief. I simply cannot believe that we will not be talking to him again. That our sons will never know him. And that is the saddest thing.
And when we told the boys tonight, Parker said "Oh, Daddy! That is terrible! Now you don't have a daddy anymore." And he tenderly patted Ken.
Please hug your parents next time you see them. And tell them you love them.
ODA was a truly great and kind man. He and Ken's mother raised 3 children with tolerance, respect and abounding faith in their ability to do well at anything they tried.
Writing this has been more difficult than I could have dreamed. He is the first of Ken and my parents to die. Even though Ken's father was ill with Parkinson's a long time, and death was a close companion, it is astonishing to experience this level of grief. I simply cannot believe that we will not be talking to him again. That our sons will never know him. And that is the saddest thing.
And when we told the boys tonight, Parker said "Oh, Daddy! That is terrible! Now you don't have a daddy anymore." And he tenderly patted Ken.
Please hug your parents next time you see them. And tell them you love them.
Sunday, February 25, 2007
And the Oscar goes to...
My cousin Allison Kunzman for her role as Producer for the Coke and Cadillac commercials featured during the awards.
Well Done, Allison!!
Well Done, Allison!!
Friday, February 23, 2007
Our local organic food store has gone to the Dark Side!
I have loved shopping at Wild Oats for years. It's an organic grocery chain that started in Boulder, from a market called Crystal Market. It has grown and carved out it's place. A big pull for us moving here was that Wild Oats has its flagship store here. Well, I noticed last time we went in that the front lobby, usually a beautiful big display of the specials that week (non-perishables) was empty. It looked like a dance floor!
Then I heard last night that Whole Foods and Wild Oats are joining. I like some of the stuff at Whole Foods, but Wild Oats prices were better, and they didn't have the 'tragically hip' shoppers! I know that sounds snobby, but every time I go into Whole Foods, there are Piles of People trying to look so cool - the kids with rastafarian dredlocks, bare feet etc, grazing out of the bins; the Metrosexual Dudes hoping to meet the Great Golden Vagina in the deli section - the Earth Mothers with their total undisciplined and over indulged child "Oh, we don't want to ruin Little Jasmine's Spirit so we just let her do as she prefers - have you heard of You're Not The Boss of Me?!" GAG - yeah, it's for LAZY FUCKING PARENTS, ASSHAT!
I fear for our local, perfect Wild Oat now Whole Oats Wild Food - what will it become? Do those Tragically Hip types just appear, like the folks who used to Follow The Dead around (Grateful Dead, for you young whippersnappers), selling baked spuds and Dead Keepsakes?
I am just praying this explains why I have been unable to find Kafir Lime Leaves the last couple of times I went in to Wild Oats - they just weren't restocking the exotic stuff in plan for a huge re-stocking of all things lovely and wholesome. Please, please please...
Then I heard last night that Whole Foods and Wild Oats are joining. I like some of the stuff at Whole Foods, but Wild Oats prices were better, and they didn't have the 'tragically hip' shoppers! I know that sounds snobby, but every time I go into Whole Foods, there are Piles of People trying to look so cool - the kids with rastafarian dredlocks, bare feet etc, grazing out of the bins; the Metrosexual Dudes hoping to meet the Great Golden Vagina in the deli section - the Earth Mothers with their total undisciplined and over indulged child "Oh, we don't want to ruin Little Jasmine's Spirit so we just let her do as she prefers - have you heard of You're Not The Boss of Me?!" GAG - yeah, it's for LAZY FUCKING PARENTS, ASSHAT!
I fear for our local, perfect Wild Oat now Whole Oats Wild Food - what will it become? Do those Tragically Hip types just appear, like the folks who used to Follow The Dead around (Grateful Dead, for you young whippersnappers), selling baked spuds and Dead Keepsakes?
I am just praying this explains why I have been unable to find Kafir Lime Leaves the last couple of times I went in to Wild Oats - they just weren't restocking the exotic stuff in plan for a huge re-stocking of all things lovely and wholesome. Please, please please...
Friday, February 16, 2007
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Happy Lost-My-Virginity Day! Yippee.
No.
Not today.
37 years ago today, I was asking my eventual ex-husband "Is that IT?!!"
And Lo, It Was.
And that's all I'm sayin' ...
Not today.
37 years ago today, I was asking my eventual ex-husband "Is that IT?!!"
And Lo, It Was.
And that's all I'm sayin' ...
Monday, February 12, 2007
If You could plan your dream 'Outdoor Room'...
If you were to design and construct your Dream Outdoor Room (possibly 3 season), what would be in it? Assume covered with a 'Dry Below' ceiling (deck above), and sliding door access on lower right side. We live where it gets below zero(f) occasionally, but the room will be shut down during those months (3).
What are your must-haves?
Would you do a fireplace?
A BIG MoFo barbeque, natural gas? (v. lp gas)
Another BIG MoFo barbeque - wood fired?
Is there such a thing as a sink/refrig combo?
Stove cooktop? How many burners?
What upholstery covering for furniture?
Sunbrella?
Cast Iron with removable cushions?
Water Feature?
Ceiling Fan?
Lighting?
I'm thinking this is our Next Big Project.
What are your must-haves?
Would you do a fireplace?
A BIG MoFo barbeque, natural gas? (v. lp gas)
Another BIG MoFo barbeque - wood fired?
Is there such a thing as a sink/refrig combo?
Stove cooktop? How many burners?
What upholstery covering for furniture?
Sunbrella?
Cast Iron with removable cushions?
Water Feature?
Ceiling Fan?
Lighting?
I'm thinking this is our Next Big Project.
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
Still making me laugh...
And I do need a good laugh recently.
Hollywood Squares
If you remember the Original Hollywood Squares and its comics, this may bring a tear to your eyes. These great questions and answers are from the days when "Hollywood Squares" game show responses were spontaneous, not scripted, as they are now. Peter Marshall was the host asking the questions, of course.
Q. Do female frogs croak?
A. Paul Lynde: If you hold their little heads under water long enough.
Q. If you're going to make a parachute jump, at least how high should you be?
A. Charley Weaver: Three days of steady drinking should do it.
Q. True or False, a pea can last as long as 5,000 years.
A. George Gobel: Boy, it sure seems that way sometimes.
Q. You've been having trouble going to sleep. Are you probably a man or a woman?
A. Don Knotts: That's what's been keeping me awake.
Q. According to Cosmopolitain, if you meet a stranger at a party and you think that he is attractive, is it okay to come out and ask him if he's married?
A. Rose Marie: No; wait until morning.
Q. Which of your five senses tends to diminish as you get older?
A. Charley Weaver: My sense of decency.
Q. In Hawaiian, does it take more than three words to say "I Love You"?
A. Vincent Price: No, you can say it with a pineapple and a twenty.
Q. What are "Do It," "I Can Help," and "I Can't Get Enough"?
A. George Gobel: I don't know, but it's coming from the next apartment.
Q. As you grow older, do you tend to gesture more or less with your hands while talking?
A. Rose Marie: You ask me one more growing old question Peter, and I'll give you a gesture you' ll never forget.
Q. Paul, why do Hell's Angels wear leather?
A. Paul Lynde: Because chiffon wrinkles too easily.
Q. Charley, you've just decided to grow strawberries. Are you going to get any during the first year?
A. Charley Weaver: Of course not, I'm too busy growing strawberries.
Q. In bowling, what's a perfect score?
A. Rose Marie: Ralph, the pin boy.
Q. It is considered in bad taste to discuss two subjects at nudist camps.One is politics, what is the other?
A. Paul Lynde: Tape measures.
Q. During a tornado, are you safer in the bedroom or in the closet?
A. Rose Marie: Unfortunately Peter, I'm always safe in the bedroom.
Q. Can boys join the Camp Fire Girls?
A. Marty Allen: Only after lights out.
Q. When you pat a dog on its head he will wag his tail. What will a goose do?
A. Paul Lynde: Make him bark?
Q. If you were pregnant for two years, what would you give birth to?
A. Paul Lynde: Whatever it is, it would never be afraid of the dark.
Q. According to Ann Landers, is there anything wrong with getting into the habit of kissing a lot of people?
A. Charley Weaver: It got me out of the army.
Q. It is the most abused and neglected part of your body, what is it?
A. Paul Lynde: Mine may be abused, but it certainly isn't neglected.
Q. Back in the old days, when Great Grandpa put horseradish on his head, what was he trying to do?
A. George Gobel: Get it in his mouth.
Q. Who stays pregnant for a longer period of time, your wife or your elephant?
A. Paul Lynde: Who told you about my elephant?
Q. When a couple have a baby, who is responsible for its sex?
A. Charley Weaver: I'll lend him the car, the rest is up to him.
Q. Jackie Gleason recently revealed that he firmly believes in them and has actually seen them on at least two occasions. What are they?
A. Charley Weaver: His feet.
Q. According to Ann Landers, what are two things you should never do in bed?
A. Paul Lynde: Point and laugh
Hollywood Squares
If you remember the Original Hollywood Squares and its comics, this may bring a tear to your eyes. These great questions and answers are from the days when "Hollywood Squares" game show responses were spontaneous, not scripted, as they are now. Peter Marshall was the host asking the questions, of course.
Q. Do female frogs croak?
A. Paul Lynde: If you hold their little heads under water long enough.
Q. If you're going to make a parachute jump, at least how high should you be?
A. Charley Weaver: Three days of steady drinking should do it.
Q. True or False, a pea can last as long as 5,000 years.
A. George Gobel: Boy, it sure seems that way sometimes.
Q. You've been having trouble going to sleep. Are you probably a man or a woman?
A. Don Knotts: That's what's been keeping me awake.
Q. According to Cosmopolitain, if you meet a stranger at a party and you think that he is attractive, is it okay to come out and ask him if he's married?
A. Rose Marie: No; wait until morning.
Q. Which of your five senses tends to diminish as you get older?
A. Charley Weaver: My sense of decency.
Q. In Hawaiian, does it take more than three words to say "I Love You"?
A. Vincent Price: No, you can say it with a pineapple and a twenty.
Q. What are "Do It," "I Can Help," and "I Can't Get Enough"?
A. George Gobel: I don't know, but it's coming from the next apartment.
Q. As you grow older, do you tend to gesture more or less with your hands while talking?
A. Rose Marie: You ask me one more growing old question Peter, and I'll give you a gesture you' ll never forget.
Q. Paul, why do Hell's Angels wear leather?
A. Paul Lynde: Because chiffon wrinkles too easily.
Q. Charley, you've just decided to grow strawberries. Are you going to get any during the first year?
A. Charley Weaver: Of course not, I'm too busy growing strawberries.
Q. In bowling, what's a perfect score?
A. Rose Marie: Ralph, the pin boy.
Q. It is considered in bad taste to discuss two subjects at nudist camps.One is politics, what is the other?
A. Paul Lynde: Tape measures.
Q. During a tornado, are you safer in the bedroom or in the closet?
A. Rose Marie: Unfortunately Peter, I'm always safe in the bedroom.
Q. Can boys join the Camp Fire Girls?
A. Marty Allen: Only after lights out.
Q. When you pat a dog on its head he will wag his tail. What will a goose do?
A. Paul Lynde: Make him bark?
Q. If you were pregnant for two years, what would you give birth to?
A. Paul Lynde: Whatever it is, it would never be afraid of the dark.
Q. According to Ann Landers, is there anything wrong with getting into the habit of kissing a lot of people?
A. Charley Weaver: It got me out of the army.
Q. It is the most abused and neglected part of your body, what is it?
A. Paul Lynde: Mine may be abused, but it certainly isn't neglected.
Q. Back in the old days, when Great Grandpa put horseradish on his head, what was he trying to do?
A. George Gobel: Get it in his mouth.
Q. Who stays pregnant for a longer period of time, your wife or your elephant?
A. Paul Lynde: Who told you about my elephant?
Q. When a couple have a baby, who is responsible for its sex?
A. Charley Weaver: I'll lend him the car, the rest is up to him.
Q. Jackie Gleason recently revealed that he firmly believes in them and has actually seen them on at least two occasions. What are they?
A. Charley Weaver: His feet.
Q. According to Ann Landers, what are two things you should never do in bed?
A. Paul Lynde: Point and laugh
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
Big FIERCE hugs to you, dear folk of the internet
We are home and getting back into routines. The boys were so excited to be returning to their respective schools, neither slept much the night before. And what does it say about me that I dressed nicely and put on jewelry to go get my teeth cleaned?! A bit starved for adult interaction, possibly?
It was extremely touching to read your replies to my post about Ryan. (Sorry for the dramatic heading with no follow through! I forgot to delete the post.) It was actually very emotional for me, and since I'm playing this one close to the vest In Real Life, your lovely comments were doubly appreciated. Ryan knows there's something in the air; he is really a smoochy pooch these days. I would wear that child all day - he has the most beautiful, soft skin and he smells devine. So we are spending alot of time snuggling and reading and chatting. And I am not so worried about what will be for Ryan.
But You? You gave me hope and inspiration on my darkest day. And you will never, ever know what that has meant to me.
Thank you.
It was extremely touching to read your replies to my post about Ryan. (Sorry for the dramatic heading with no follow through! I forgot to delete the post.) It was actually very emotional for me, and since I'm playing this one close to the vest In Real Life, your lovely comments were doubly appreciated. Ryan knows there's something in the air; he is really a smoochy pooch these days. I would wear that child all day - he has the most beautiful, soft skin and he smells devine. So we are spending alot of time snuggling and reading and chatting. And I am not so worried about what will be for Ryan.
But You? You gave me hope and inspiration on my darkest day. And you will never, ever know what that has meant to me.
Thank you.
Friday, January 26, 2007
New Words for 2007 - hot off the press!NEW WORDS FOR 2007:
NEW WORDS FOR 2007:
Essential vocabulary additions for the workplace!
1. BLAMESTORMING: Sitting around in a group, discussing why a deadline was missed or a project failed, and who was responsible.
2. SEAGULL MANAGER: A manager, who flies in, makes a lot of noise, craps on everything, and then leaves.
3. ASSMOSIS: The process by which some people seem to absorb success and advancement by kissing up to the boss rather than working hard.
4. SALMON DAY: The experience of spending an entire ! day swimming upstream only to get screwed and die in the end.
5. CUBE FARM: An office filled with cubicles.
6. PRAIRIE DOGGING: When someone yells or drops something loudly in a cube farm, and people's heads pop up over the walls to see what's going on.
7. MOUSE POTATO: The on-line, wired generation's answer to the couch potato.
8. SITCOMS: Single Income, Two Children, Oppressive Mortgage. What Yuppies get into when they have children and one of them stops working to stay home with the kids.
9. STRESS PUPPY: A person who seems to thrive on being stressed out and whiny.
10. SWIPEOUT: An ATM or credit card that has been rendered useless because magnetic strip is worn away from extensive use.
11. XEROX SUBSIDY: Euphemism for swiping free photocopies from one's workplace.
12! . IRRITAINMENT: Entertainment and media spectacles that are annoying, but you find yourself unable to stop watching them.
13. PERCUSSIVE MAINTENANCE: The fine art of whacking the crap out of an electronic device to get it to work again.
14. ADMINISPHERE: The rarefied organizational layers beginning just above the rank and file. Decisions that fall from the adminisphere are often profoundly inappropriate or irrelevant to the problems they were designed to solve.
15. 404: Someone who's clueless. From the World Wide Web error Message "404 Not Found," meaning that the requested site could not be located.
16. GENERICA: Features of the American landscape that are exactly the same no matter where one is, such as fast food joints, strip malls, and subdivisions.
17. ! OHNOSECOND: That minuscule fraction of time in which you realize that you've just made a BIG mistake. (Like after hitting send on an email by mistake).
18. CROP DUSTING: Surreptitiously passing gas while passing through a Cube Farm.
Essential vocabulary additions for the workplace!
1. BLAMESTORMING: Sitting around in a group, discussing why a deadline was missed or a project failed, and who was responsible.
2. SEAGULL MANAGER: A manager, who flies in, makes a lot of noise, craps on everything, and then leaves.
3. ASSMOSIS: The process by which some people seem to absorb success and advancement by kissing up to the boss rather than working hard.
4. SALMON DAY: The experience of spending an entire ! day swimming upstream only to get screwed and die in the end.
5. CUBE FARM: An office filled with cubicles.
6. PRAIRIE DOGGING: When someone yells or drops something loudly in a cube farm, and people's heads pop up over the walls to see what's going on.
7. MOUSE POTATO: The on-line, wired generation's answer to the couch potato.
8. SITCOMS: Single Income, Two Children, Oppressive Mortgage. What Yuppies get into when they have children and one of them stops working to stay home with the kids.
9. STRESS PUPPY: A person who seems to thrive on being stressed out and whiny.
10. SWIPEOUT: An ATM or credit card that has been rendered useless because magnetic strip is worn away from extensive use.
11. XEROX SUBSIDY: Euphemism for swiping free photocopies from one's workplace.
12! . IRRITAINMENT: Entertainment and media spectacles that are annoying, but you find yourself unable to stop watching them.
13. PERCUSSIVE MAINTENANCE: The fine art of whacking the crap out of an electronic device to get it to work again.
14. ADMINISPHERE: The rarefied organizational layers beginning just above the rank and file. Decisions that fall from the adminisphere are often profoundly inappropriate or irrelevant to the problems they were designed to solve.
15. 404: Someone who's clueless. From the World Wide Web error Message "404 Not Found," meaning that the requested site could not be located.
16. GENERICA: Features of the American landscape that are exactly the same no matter where one is, such as fast food joints, strip malls, and subdivisions.
17. ! OHNOSECOND: That minuscule fraction of time in which you realize that you've just made a BIG mistake. (Like after hitting send on an email by mistake).
18. CROP DUSTING: Surreptitiously passing gas while passing through a Cube Farm.
Thursday, January 25, 2007
Humbled by the kindness of strangers...
I really have to take a moment and thank you Internets. You fine, wonderful folk, who take time out of your very busy days to email and post support. It is astonishing! Really, it is!
And -- I KNOW we will get through this. We will find the right blend of reading programs (anyone have any suggestions beside Spalding Method - the home schoolers favorite?), tutors, therapists and school.
And now it's time to go off the a week long vacation. Most excellent timing.
And -- I KNOW we will get through this. We will find the right blend of reading programs (anyone have any suggestions beside Spalding Method - the home schoolers favorite?), tutors, therapists and school.
And now it's time to go off the a week long vacation. Most excellent timing.
This post will stay up One Day...
We had Ryan's IEP meeting, his Triennial. This time, he had Many, Many more tests, including an DAS (an I.Q. type test) and a battery of physical, emotional and scholastic testing.
When I sat down for the meeting, I was surprised at the number of people there. Luckily, I brought our private SLP, who is a Director of one of a hospital therapy groups; she has gone back into private practice one half day a week to sharpen her skills. Ryan is her only patient. We grabbed all of her available time, at the urging of our former SLP.
The 4 main therapists and the school director did the talking at first. They hit on Ryan's strong points, which are many. During a pause in the conversation, I quipped "WoW! You guys are saying so many great things, but I have a feeling you're leading up to some big whammy.... ?"
With that, the school psychiatrist stood up. She went over the basis for the test, stating the range of errors, the fact that Ryan was three DAYS over 66 months so they had to use the 66-71 month age group for all his testing, which meant he was being compared to children much older than he actually is. She handed me Ryan's IQ test, and handed out 2 copies for the other groups to share. One of the therapists said "OH MY GOD!" I yelled "WHAT?! WHAT?!"
My little Ryan scored 138 on the nonverbal portion of the test.
My little Ryan scored 53 on the verbal portion of the test.
The school has never seen that wide a split in the 2 areas of testing.
Having a difference of TWENTY POINTS means a child has a learning disability.
Ryan has a split of 85 points.
The therapists quickly grouped together and talked. They quickly agreed, based on the results of weeks of testing, that he is hard wired for the DAS results. ie - he's not going to suddenly start talking like his peer group, even though he can read and write circles around them now. He is ephasic in alot of output. Which means, he was either oxygen deprived in utero or at birth; suffered a stroke at some point, or he was put together a bit wrong when his brain halves joined. Would an MRI point it out? Probably. So, we'll do a neural psych test and an MRI when he's nearer to 7.
The school district has no idea how they are going to teach him. He is going to suffer huge consequences as he's putting language together incorrectly - from his extreme visual acuity, not from phonemic awareness and correct building blocks. I am now researching like mad to figure out which school can best meet his needs. Or do I just figure out what learning method is best from him and hire tutors to teach him? I don't know.
I new there was a reason he was unlabelable in his learning disabilities. I just had no idea how huge it was.
When the boys are in bed, I have cried rivers. Not that I am sorry for myself - but for my beautiful, loving, smart son! What a cross he has to bear. At times like this, I question what kind of God would strike such a gentle spirit with such a mean blow.
And I am telling NO ONE here about Ryan's difficulties. He is what he is. I don't want parents alluding to the RainMan in our midst. We will just get him all the best help we can.
The most touching thing is how the Therapist Alert system went into overdrive. Every therapist we've ever known has called and come over to smooch Ryan and pat my hand. And tell me "Oh, He's going to be FINE! You just watch our Ryan go!" Which makes me sob tears of gratefulness, but the layer of fear on my soul is huge. I am never afraid, of anything. I have faced the Devil and won.
But this? This is our most difficult journey yet.
Please think good thoughts for Ryan. And maybe keep a teeny slice of your heart positive for him. He is so good, so kind, so very dear.
When I sat down for the meeting, I was surprised at the number of people there. Luckily, I brought our private SLP, who is a Director of one of a hospital therapy groups; she has gone back into private practice one half day a week to sharpen her skills. Ryan is her only patient. We grabbed all of her available time, at the urging of our former SLP.
The 4 main therapists and the school director did the talking at first. They hit on Ryan's strong points, which are many. During a pause in the conversation, I quipped "WoW! You guys are saying so many great things, but I have a feeling you're leading up to some big whammy.... ?"
With that, the school psychiatrist stood up. She went over the basis for the test, stating the range of errors, the fact that Ryan was three DAYS over 66 months so they had to use the 66-71 month age group for all his testing, which meant he was being compared to children much older than he actually is. She handed me Ryan's IQ test, and handed out 2 copies for the other groups to share. One of the therapists said "OH MY GOD!" I yelled "WHAT?! WHAT?!"
My little Ryan scored 138 on the nonverbal portion of the test.
My little Ryan scored 53 on the verbal portion of the test.
The school has never seen that wide a split in the 2 areas of testing.
Having a difference of TWENTY POINTS means a child has a learning disability.
Ryan has a split of 85 points.
The therapists quickly grouped together and talked. They quickly agreed, based on the results of weeks of testing, that he is hard wired for the DAS results. ie - he's not going to suddenly start talking like his peer group, even though he can read and write circles around them now. He is ephasic in alot of output. Which means, he was either oxygen deprived in utero or at birth; suffered a stroke at some point, or he was put together a bit wrong when his brain halves joined. Would an MRI point it out? Probably. So, we'll do a neural psych test and an MRI when he's nearer to 7.
The school district has no idea how they are going to teach him. He is going to suffer huge consequences as he's putting language together incorrectly - from his extreme visual acuity, not from phonemic awareness and correct building blocks. I am now researching like mad to figure out which school can best meet his needs. Or do I just figure out what learning method is best from him and hire tutors to teach him? I don't know.
I new there was a reason he was unlabelable in his learning disabilities. I just had no idea how huge it was.
When the boys are in bed, I have cried rivers. Not that I am sorry for myself - but for my beautiful, loving, smart son! What a cross he has to bear. At times like this, I question what kind of God would strike such a gentle spirit with such a mean blow.
And I am telling NO ONE here about Ryan's difficulties. He is what he is. I don't want parents alluding to the RainMan in our midst. We will just get him all the best help we can.
The most touching thing is how the Therapist Alert system went into overdrive. Every therapist we've ever known has called and come over to smooch Ryan and pat my hand. And tell me "Oh, He's going to be FINE! You just watch our Ryan go!" Which makes me sob tears of gratefulness, but the layer of fear on my soul is huge. I am never afraid, of anything. I have faced the Devil and won.
But this? This is our most difficult journey yet.
Please think good thoughts for Ryan. And maybe keep a teeny slice of your heart positive for him. He is so good, so kind, so very dear.
Monday, January 22, 2007
My new Royal Title:
 | My Peculiar Aristocratic Title is: Viscountess Victoria the Cannibalistic of Buzzcock Lepshire Get your Peculiar Aristocratic Title |
Friday, January 19, 2007
GUESS WHAT?!
It's Friday!
Did It SNOW today?
NO!
It
Is
Going
To
Snow --
Wait for it...
Saturday, Sunday AND Monday.
And it's cold and miserable.
What is that; six weeks in a row of snow? I'm done counting.
It better not be miserable and cold in Florida when we got there next week... Rain I can take. But ice storm or snow?
I Will Be seriously PISSED. (which is 'mad', not 'drunk' for all you English or Aussie folk out there)
Did It SNOW today?
NO!
It
Is
Going
To
Snow --
Wait for it...
Saturday, Sunday AND Monday.
And it's cold and miserable.
What is that; six weeks in a row of snow? I'm done counting.
It better not be miserable and cold in Florida when we got there next week... Rain I can take. But ice storm or snow?
I Will Be seriously PISSED. (which is 'mad', not 'drunk' for all you English or Aussie folk out there)
Sunday, January 14, 2007
January Catalog Lust:
No, it's not gardening catalogs, although that's a good guess.
It's
DrumRoll....
Spring Break Opportunies for Parker and Ryan.
For those poor stuck-at-home youngsters who don't get to travel to Mexico or Vail for Spring Break, Boulder Valley School District offers a huge smorgasboard of choices:
Theatre, Dance, Art, Sports, you think?
NO!
Anime: Japanese Manga Illustration
Build Your Own Character
Glass Fusing Made Easy
Math Patterns and Sequences
Diorama Building
Studio Graffiti Drawing
Chinese Mandarin Introduction
Abrakadoodle's Young Masters Workshop
Cartooning for Kids
Impressionist Workshop
Writing without Rules
Intro to Rock Climbing
Multi-sensory Reading for Kids
Gees! I was hoping for maybe some fingerpainting or ball kicking. Now I'm sitting here, wishing I was 6 again -- What to suggest to the boys?!
It's
DrumRoll....
Spring Break Opportunies for Parker and Ryan.
For those poor stuck-at-home youngsters who don't get to travel to Mexico or Vail for Spring Break, Boulder Valley School District offers a huge smorgasboard of choices:
Theatre, Dance, Art, Sports, you think?
NO!
Anime: Japanese Manga Illustration
Build Your Own Character
Glass Fusing Made Easy
Math Patterns and Sequences
Diorama Building
Studio Graffiti Drawing
Chinese Mandarin Introduction
Abrakadoodle's Young Masters Workshop
Cartooning for Kids
Impressionist Workshop
Writing without Rules
Intro to Rock Climbing
Multi-sensory Reading for Kids
Gees! I was hoping for maybe some fingerpainting or ball kicking. Now I'm sitting here, wishing I was 6 again -- What to suggest to the boys?!
Friday, January 12, 2007
Another Friday-Another Frickity-Frackin' Snowstorm.
It's beyond old and tiring. It's going to bankrupt our little town. All this clearing and plowing and sanding and salting - it costs alot. We've had over 70" of snow already this winter, all of it in the last four FRIDAYS.
Our town has applied for Federal Disaster Assistance. If we don't get it, there goes our summertime charm - you know, the events that make living in a small town enviable?
In our case, at risk are:
The beginning/end of summer ice cream socials at the pools.
The 4th of July parade and pancake breakfast (never mind that the pancakes are like hockey pucks - these babies are made to be air borne as our local police and fireman flip them dozens of feet into the air and even occasionally catch them and then - yes! - serve them!)
The 3 or so evening Concerts in the Park
Free swimming pool usage
Chili Cook Off
and other fun things
But the worst?
Our town will not have the money to do the extensive annual garden plantings that make our community worth traveling to just for floral photo ops.
And, really; compared to areas in Colorado that have really suffered losses (ranchers in particular have suffered huge losses of livestock, is this small beans? And should we all just suck it up and suffer? Probably. But, it is still hard to swallow.
Our town has applied for Federal Disaster Assistance. If we don't get it, there goes our summertime charm - you know, the events that make living in a small town enviable?
In our case, at risk are:
The beginning/end of summer ice cream socials at the pools.
The 4th of July parade and pancake breakfast (never mind that the pancakes are like hockey pucks - these babies are made to be air borne as our local police and fireman flip them dozens of feet into the air and even occasionally catch them and then - yes! - serve them!)
The 3 or so evening Concerts in the Park
Free swimming pool usage
Chili Cook Off
and other fun things
But the worst?
Our town will not have the money to do the extensive annual garden plantings that make our community worth traveling to just for floral photo ops.
And, really; compared to areas in Colorado that have really suffered losses (ranchers in particular have suffered huge losses of livestock, is this small beans? And should we all just suck it up and suffer? Probably. But, it is still hard to swallow.
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
I stand corrected; the winds were 115 mph here!
I think that rates a
HOLY SHIT
and an examination of the manse all around the outside today. I'm taking binoculars so I can check the roof tiles; noting where there are separations and nail pops, checking connections to the electrical box (just visually - no screw driver involved so relax!), making sure all vent pipes are present and accounted for, etc.
I know they build these houses with hurricane clips and engineer for them for Cat 3 hurricanes. Now I see why; we just went through one yesterday.
HOLY SHIT
and an examination of the manse all around the outside today. I'm taking binoculars so I can check the roof tiles; noting where there are separations and nail pops, checking connections to the electrical box (just visually - no screw driver involved so relax!), making sure all vent pipes are present and accounted for, etc.
I know they build these houses with hurricane clips and engineer for them for Cat 3 hurricanes. Now I see why; we just went through one yesterday.
Sunday, January 07, 2007
A wind gust of 93 mph just hit - UPDATED!
and they are expecting gusts of 100 mph.
It's almost 11 p.m.
The high wind alert will go through 5 p.m. tomorrow.
The back of the house is shaking - kind of vibrating.
The boys are in bed with Ken, in the safest room in the house right now. The guest room. You can't even hear the wind in there.
I can actually feel the wind whistling through the house. If the house makes it through this without losing half the roof or gutters or something, I will be amazed.
This is spooky. The bed is actually shaking now. I've put survival type stuff - shoes, winter coats, snow pants -- by everyone. You know, in case the house blasts apart or something. And we have to make a run for it. And no way I'm sending the children to school tomorrow.
Life in the Rocky Mountain Foothills - it's everything it's cracked up to be. And so much more. I just hope this isn't a Dorothy experience for us. I'm completely out of red shoes...
It's now 10ish a.m. on Monday - and the winds have died down for a bit. I'm letting the boys sit at the kitchen table (a block of west-facing windows and an 8' high sliding door that shimmies and shakes like a go-go dancer on crack when it's windy.
And, thanks for your concern! It was very touching to log in today and read the comments. If things really go To Shit, I will set up shop in the Media Room. Which is bordered on the west by a 16 step stairwell, and on the east by concrete foundation walls. It's windowless, reinforced (with the special soundproofing) and my father called to remind me to go to an area that 'has a void' in the event of catastrophe.
It's almost 11 p.m.
The high wind alert will go through 5 p.m. tomorrow.
The back of the house is shaking - kind of vibrating.
The boys are in bed with Ken, in the safest room in the house right now. The guest room. You can't even hear the wind in there.
I can actually feel the wind whistling through the house. If the house makes it through this without losing half the roof or gutters or something, I will be amazed.
This is spooky. The bed is actually shaking now. I've put survival type stuff - shoes, winter coats, snow pants -- by everyone. You know, in case the house blasts apart or something. And we have to make a run for it. And no way I'm sending the children to school tomorrow.
Life in the Rocky Mountain Foothills - it's everything it's cracked up to be. And so much more. I just hope this isn't a Dorothy experience for us. I'm completely out of red shoes...
It's now 10ish a.m. on Monday - and the winds have died down for a bit. I'm letting the boys sit at the kitchen table (a block of west-facing windows and an 8' high sliding door that shimmies and shakes like a go-go dancer on crack when it's windy.
And, thanks for your concern! It was very touching to log in today and read the comments. If things really go To Shit, I will set up shop in the Media Room. Which is bordered on the west by a 16 step stairwell, and on the east by concrete foundation walls. It's windowless, reinforced (with the special soundproofing) and my father called to remind me to go to an area that 'has a void' in the event of catastrophe.
Friday, January 05, 2007
Another Day - Another Blizzard
Another foot of snow on the ground, the wind is howling and the snow, she continues.
Enough, already!
Enough, already!
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