Midnight, November 1st. The official start of National Novel Writing Month. The goal is to write a novel of 50,000 words in 30 days. This is my first year at doing this, so wish me luck. 50,000 words in 30 days, or 1,666.6 words per day, or 70 words per hour.
My novel is going to a diary style account of one woman's journey through diagnosis and raising a child with Autism. She will discover her strengths and weaknesses as she learns to reach through to her child who is in a world of his own. Follow her tragedies and triumphs as told by her.
I will post bits & pieces on my blog as I go. Stay tuned.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Happy Hall-BOO-ween!!
A perfect night for trick-or-treating! This year we made the rounds in our neighborhood. We came home, emptied the loot, then we drove over to our daycare lady's neighborhood. All her neighbors were sitting in their driveway having a camp fire. So you walked around the circle and they all gave out candy. What a great way to hit 5 houses at once. After we were done in that neighborhood, we drove to Summit Ave in St. Paul. Summit Ave is home to the Governor's mansion and many very old, wonderful architectural mansions. They went all out. It was really amazing. They really spent a lot of time putting up so many cool decorations. Some of the houses also had people jumping out at you in costume. One house was even dropping a net on you as you walked up their stairway. So they made it really fun. We hit the mother load on candy though. Pretty much all the houses were giving away full size candy bars. By the time we had made our way to the Governor's mansion, they had run out of candy. And that was at about 8:30 pm. Oh well, we did pretty good in that neighborhood anyway. It was really quite the trick-or-treating experience.
After trick-or-treating for 3 hours, we made our way home. Ah, it felt so good to be home. Our feet were tired. I swear we must have walked at least 3 miles. Or least it felt like it! But it was such a beautiful night to be out, we really had to take advantage of it. We don't get too many Halloween nights where we don't have to try to fit our costumes over our coats and hats.
And now we have lots of candy too eat. Hmmmmm....such a dilemma. I mean, which ones do we eat first?!!
After trick-or-treating for 3 hours, we made our way home. Ah, it felt so good to be home. Our feet were tired. I swear we must have walked at least 3 miles. Or least it felt like it! But it was such a beautiful night to be out, we really had to take advantage of it. We don't get too many Halloween nights where we don't have to try to fit our costumes over our coats and hats.
And now we have lots of candy too eat. Hmmmmm....such a dilemma. I mean, which ones do we eat first?!!
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Science Test Update
Well...Sam got a 4.5 out of 17 on the science test. Far from passing. I went through the test and he studied more info than he needed to. Seems like the questions he studied weren't on the test. Oh well.....maybe the next test he'll do better.
You win some and you lose some.
You win some and you lose some.
Kick Ball League through the city
A couple months or so ago I contacted the city youth sports league about adding Kick Ball to their offered sports. I also offered to head up such a program.
Well, I didn't hear back for a long time and then the president of the city league emailed me back & asked me what Kick Ball even was. So I responded and figured it was a dead deal.
Then a few weeks later I got an email from another head of the city youth sports league just basically saying, I'll ask the board but it probably won't happen, but I'll bring it up. Again, I figured it was a dead deal.
Today I get an email saying this.....(it includes a response to another person inquiring about tennis)
Good evening. Recently both of you emailed me to inquire about EAA adding "kickball" and "tennis" to our sport roster respectively. I am combining my emails to make it efficient for my reply. The answer is the same for both questions.
First, thanks again for asking me about these sports. I checked into our procedure and talked with my colleagues on the Board. In summary, what each sport needs is a sponsor and/or an individual or group of individuals who can come together to develop the sport, its season, and the myriad of details that might go into starting and continually offering a sport within the EAA umbrella. In other words, when we have added sports throughout the years it is done by individuals interested in the sport in comparison to EAA developing and initiating a new sport or athletic activity on its own. This makes a lot of sense given that EAA is largely made up of individual sport directors and a handful of administration related volunteers.
I don't assume anything with your inquiry, so let me offer if you are interested in pursuing this, please let me know. It is entirely up to you. I was not sure if you were simply checking into whether we can offer a sport of your choice, or possibly inquiring about taking a leadership role in moving one forward.
_____________________________________________________________________________
One of my neighbor ladies offered to help me with it, so I emailed her asking if she was serious. I'd totally be willing to head this up. I know plenty of people in my adult kick ball league that I'm sure would want to help out too.
Well, I didn't hear back for a long time and then the president of the city league emailed me back & asked me what Kick Ball even was. So I responded and figured it was a dead deal.
Then a few weeks later I got an email from another head of the city youth sports league just basically saying, I'll ask the board but it probably won't happen, but I'll bring it up. Again, I figured it was a dead deal.
Today I get an email saying this.....(it includes a response to another person inquiring about tennis)
Good evening. Recently both of you emailed me to inquire about EAA adding "kickball" and "tennis" to our sport roster respectively. I am combining my emails to make it efficient for my reply. The answer is the same for both questions.
First, thanks again for asking me about these sports. I checked into our procedure and talked with my colleagues on the Board. In summary, what each sport needs is a sponsor and/or an individual or group of individuals who can come together to develop the sport, its season, and the myriad of details that might go into starting and continually offering a sport within the EAA umbrella. In other words, when we have added sports throughout the years it is done by individuals interested in the sport in comparison to EAA developing and initiating a new sport or athletic activity on its own. This makes a lot of sense given that EAA is largely made up of individual sport directors and a handful of administration related volunteers.
I don't assume anything with your inquiry, so let me offer if you are interested in pursuing this, please let me know. It is entirely up to you. I was not sure if you were simply checking into whether we can offer a sport of your choice, or possibly inquiring about taking a leadership role in moving one forward.
_____________________________________________________________________________
One of my neighbor ladies offered to help me with it, so I emailed her asking if she was serious. I'd totally be willing to head this up. I know plenty of people in my adult kick ball league that I'm sure would want to help out too.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Crazy Week
It's been a busy week.
Our week started out with a trip to the MN Zoo. It was a beautiful day and the animals were having lots of fun. I got great zoo pictures. And as always, we always have fun at the zoo. Kevin's favorite things are the Komodo Dragon and then petting the sting rays and the sharks.
The oldest cavechild has been sick with a nasty head and chest cold. Poor guy was just feeling miserable. He ended up missing a whole entire week of school. I ended up taking him to Urgent Care twice last week. The first time he checked out fine, doctors orders were to just go home and ride out the virus. Nothing we can really do, except to keep on with the cold an cough medicine. Take a spoonful of honey to coat the throat, and get plenty of rest. Later in the week we went back. We ended up seeing the same Urgent Care doctor. Turns out he ended up with an ear infection and a bit of wheezing in his lungs. She prescribed him an antibiotic and instructions to feel better. The antibiotic has kicked in and he is feeling back to normal. So off to school tomorrow he will go.
The littlest cavechild had a big science test at school this week. So we were busy helping him study. He had to know all about bones in the human body. He said when he took the test he knew the answers and didn't just have to guess at them. Yay!
We shopped for Halloween costumes. Hit the jack pot. Kevin is going to be a ghastly ghoul. He'll be wearing rusty chains, a scary mask, and a sythe. He will be oh so scary. Sam is going to be a Clone trooper. He's pretty excited about that, since his latest fascination is Star Wars. This year for Halloween we are going to make our usual neighborhood candy run. Then we are going to drive to Summit Ave, in St. Paul. They have really big fancy mansions on Summit Ave. They are known for giving out the best candy and having the best Halloween decorations. So we are excited about going there.
I had a dental tooth cleaning appointment and you all know how I feel about sitting in that torture chair. I survived.
The week ended with the cave hubby's birthday. I was busy shopping for a great gift for him and planning his birthday date. I hired a new babysitter to watch the kids (the kids loved her). I bought the hubby a book all about the history of hockey. I also bought him a MN Wild hockey puck, a MN Wild Hockey t-shirt, and a MN Wild hockey jersey. Then I took him out for dinner and to a Wild hockey game. We had so much fun. This was my first Wild Hockey game that I have been too. Our seats were great. We had a great view of the ice and we were on the corner where the Wild shot twice at the goal. The Wild won 2-1. So the hubby had a great birthday.
Our week started out with a trip to the MN Zoo. It was a beautiful day and the animals were having lots of fun. I got great zoo pictures. And as always, we always have fun at the zoo. Kevin's favorite things are the Komodo Dragon and then petting the sting rays and the sharks.
The oldest cavechild has been sick with a nasty head and chest cold. Poor guy was just feeling miserable. He ended up missing a whole entire week of school. I ended up taking him to Urgent Care twice last week. The first time he checked out fine, doctors orders were to just go home and ride out the virus. Nothing we can really do, except to keep on with the cold an cough medicine. Take a spoonful of honey to coat the throat, and get plenty of rest. Later in the week we went back. We ended up seeing the same Urgent Care doctor. Turns out he ended up with an ear infection and a bit of wheezing in his lungs. She prescribed him an antibiotic and instructions to feel better. The antibiotic has kicked in and he is feeling back to normal. So off to school tomorrow he will go.
The littlest cavechild had a big science test at school this week. So we were busy helping him study. He had to know all about bones in the human body. He said when he took the test he knew the answers and didn't just have to guess at them. Yay!
We shopped for Halloween costumes. Hit the jack pot. Kevin is going to be a ghastly ghoul. He'll be wearing rusty chains, a scary mask, and a sythe. He will be oh so scary. Sam is going to be a Clone trooper. He's pretty excited about that, since his latest fascination is Star Wars. This year for Halloween we are going to make our usual neighborhood candy run. Then we are going to drive to Summit Ave, in St. Paul. They have really big fancy mansions on Summit Ave. They are known for giving out the best candy and having the best Halloween decorations. So we are excited about going there.
I had a dental tooth cleaning appointment and you all know how I feel about sitting in that torture chair. I survived.
The week ended with the cave hubby's birthday. I was busy shopping for a great gift for him and planning his birthday date. I hired a new babysitter to watch the kids (the kids loved her). I bought the hubby a book all about the history of hockey. I also bought him a MN Wild hockey puck, a MN Wild Hockey t-shirt, and a MN Wild hockey jersey. Then I took him out for dinner and to a Wild hockey game. We had so much fun. This was my first Wild Hockey game that I have been too. Our seats were great. We had a great view of the ice and we were on the corner where the Wild shot twice at the goal. The Wild won 2-1. So the hubby had a great birthday.
Friday, October 17, 2008
MEA week
The kids had all this last week off from school. It was Parent/Teacher conferences and teacher workshops this week.
I had scheduled conferences for Monday night. Monday night came and went. I laid down at 10:30 for bed and then remembered I had conferences that night. Ooops!
Tuesday morning I called their teachers to reschedule. Luckily I was able to get in to see both their teachers Tuesday night.
First was Sam's conference. He is doing well. I could tell this is his teachers first year of teaching and round of conferences. She went over everything! She was just a little chatter box. I finally looked at the clock and told her I had another school and conference to be at. But Sam is excelling in math. He has a hard time with story problems. He is doing really good at reading and starting to comprehend so much better with the "W" questions when re-capping. He's having fun in social studies and science. Every one loves him. And he is doing wonderful with his "try new food" program. Although, I did have to give her a list of foods that aren't new, because he's already trying to pull the wool over her eyes, by telling her some of his favorites are new. Lil stinker.
Next was Kevin's. He is doing well too. This is his second year at his new school, and he is adjusting wonderfully. He is catching up from having a crappy 3rd grade year and was starting to fall behind due to the lack of teaching and direction of his 3rd grade teacher. He thinks his 5th grade teacher is so awesome. She has an albino corn snake in the class room. She definitely earned big points in his eyes. She was amazed at how much he knows about snakes. I told her he does a lot of research on Google on snakes, plus he has found Viper Keeper on youtube. He wants to be a snake wrangler or herpetologist when he grows up. Along with the many other things he wants to do when he grows up. I'm glad he's got a plethora of careers to choose from. Air Force Pilot, Navy captain, truck driver, construction worker, snake wrangler...just to name a few....
What ever it is they decide to be...and luckily they have a few years to decide...they are off to a good start. They are being well rounded kids and getting a great education. They have great teachers and lots of opportunities.
Back to regular routine on Monday.
I had scheduled conferences for Monday night. Monday night came and went. I laid down at 10:30 for bed and then remembered I had conferences that night. Ooops!
Tuesday morning I called their teachers to reschedule. Luckily I was able to get in to see both their teachers Tuesday night.
First was Sam's conference. He is doing well. I could tell this is his teachers first year of teaching and round of conferences. She went over everything! She was just a little chatter box. I finally looked at the clock and told her I had another school and conference to be at. But Sam is excelling in math. He has a hard time with story problems. He is doing really good at reading and starting to comprehend so much better with the "W" questions when re-capping. He's having fun in social studies and science. Every one loves him. And he is doing wonderful with his "try new food" program. Although, I did have to give her a list of foods that aren't new, because he's already trying to pull the wool over her eyes, by telling her some of his favorites are new. Lil stinker.
Next was Kevin's. He is doing well too. This is his second year at his new school, and he is adjusting wonderfully. He is catching up from having a crappy 3rd grade year and was starting to fall behind due to the lack of teaching and direction of his 3rd grade teacher. He thinks his 5th grade teacher is so awesome. She has an albino corn snake in the class room. She definitely earned big points in his eyes. She was amazed at how much he knows about snakes. I told her he does a lot of research on Google on snakes, plus he has found Viper Keeper on youtube. He wants to be a snake wrangler or herpetologist when he grows up. Along with the many other things he wants to do when he grows up. I'm glad he's got a plethora of careers to choose from. Air Force Pilot, Navy captain, truck driver, construction worker, snake wrangler...just to name a few....
What ever it is they decide to be...and luckily they have a few years to decide...they are off to a good start. They are being well rounded kids and getting a great education. They have great teachers and lots of opportunities.
Back to regular routine on Monday.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
New Fall Shows
Decisions, decisions, decisions! There are just too many good shows on TV this season. And no time to watch them all. Comcast On Demand has some shows you can watch after they have aired, but not all the shows. It is so hard to pick and choose what to watch.
This is the last season of ER. I have been watching that show since the first episode aired. It's hard to believe it's coming to an end. Right now that is the only show that I currently watch on NBC. But now NBC has put together some good shows that I'd like to watch. But they are up against some CBS shows that I just can't miss. And of course they are shows not featured on On Demand.
It used to be there were a couple of nights of good television, but now...Sunday through Friday I have my must see TV.
You know it's bad when you start to make plans around your favorite TV shows that aren't on On Demand.
I really need to get TIVO.
This is the last season of ER. I have been watching that show since the first episode aired. It's hard to believe it's coming to an end. Right now that is the only show that I currently watch on NBC. But now NBC has put together some good shows that I'd like to watch. But they are up against some CBS shows that I just can't miss. And of course they are shows not featured on On Demand.
It used to be there were a couple of nights of good television, but now...Sunday through Friday I have my must see TV.
You know it's bad when you start to make plans around your favorite TV shows that aren't on On Demand.
I really need to get TIVO.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
New Glasses
Thursday morning I put my glasses in my purse & left for work. I got to work & they weren't in my purse. So I searched & searched for them. Couldn't find them all day. So Thursday evening I called my eye doctor and asked if I could get in that night. They had one appointment left, so I went. Yay! Ended up I needed my prescription changed. So I got new frames & new lenses. The best they can correct my vision to is 20/25 & I only need them for reading. But each eye is a bit different. My eye doctor dilated my eyes & while I waited for my glasses (in the one hour) to be done, I went to eat at Famous Dave's. Reading the menu was not easy!
So I came home with brand new glasses on Thursday night.
Friday morning I dropped Sam off at daycare & walked back to my van. I looked on the ground & said "WTF!" there were my glasses. Totally squished! Yep, ran over. Fell out of my purse at daycare drop off, in the road, and squished flat. Glad I went to get new ones. It was hard going one day with out glasses. No way could I have gone two.
I switched from wire frames to plastic. They are a deep purple with pink on the inside. They have a bit of pink on the side & look pretty cool. I totally love them!
So I came home with brand new glasses on Thursday night.
Friday morning I dropped Sam off at daycare & walked back to my van. I looked on the ground & said "WTF!" there were my glasses. Totally squished! Yep, ran over. Fell out of my purse at daycare drop off, in the road, and squished flat. Glad I went to get new ones. It was hard going one day with out glasses. No way could I have gone two.
I switched from wire frames to plastic. They are a deep purple with pink on the inside. They have a bit of pink on the side & look pretty cool. I totally love them!
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Happy Birthday to Me
Well, I did it. (I hope my sisters don't faint or pass out for too long when they read this. After all their years of trying to convince my children.)
Today I came clean and told my children my REAL age. My oldest child looked at me and said "really"? I said "really". Then he shrugged and acted like he had known all along I wasn't turning 29 today.
I then told my youngest child. He actually didn't believe me. He said "Ha, ha, good one mom. You are 29 today. You told me you were born in 1979." I told him that I was just kidding about all that. He still didn't believe. So then I told him that I was just pretending to be turning 29 just like he pretends that sometimes he is 2 years old.
They both gave me the O.K. to keep pretending. They are such good kids!
No matter how old I am....my two sisters will ALWAYS be older than me. Thanks for not being too mean to me on this birthday. The cards were hilarious. My oldest sister tried to get me with a big huge card filled with lots of teeny tiny confetti. Her plan failed though. The card was so big and thick that I was actually expecting two very big numbers to pop out to tell me how old I was turning. Instead the confetti did a good job of that. My mom and grandmother also chimed in the birthday banter. They got me pretty funny cards too. One thing our family has, is a good sense of humor.
Today I came clean and told my children my REAL age. My oldest child looked at me and said "really"? I said "really". Then he shrugged and acted like he had known all along I wasn't turning 29 today.
I then told my youngest child. He actually didn't believe me. He said "Ha, ha, good one mom. You are 29 today. You told me you were born in 1979." I told him that I was just kidding about all that. He still didn't believe. So then I told him that I was just pretending to be turning 29 just like he pretends that sometimes he is 2 years old.
They both gave me the O.K. to keep pretending. They are such good kids!
No matter how old I am....my two sisters will ALWAYS be older than me. Thanks for not being too mean to me on this birthday. The cards were hilarious. My oldest sister tried to get me with a big huge card filled with lots of teeny tiny confetti. Her plan failed though. The card was so big and thick that I was actually expecting two very big numbers to pop out to tell me how old I was turning. Instead the confetti did a good job of that. My mom and grandmother also chimed in the birthday banter. They got me pretty funny cards too. One thing our family has, is a good sense of humor.
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