Indecision 2012!

My favorite philosophers of all time are a 6-year-old kid and his tiger. Yes, I mean Calvin and Hobbes. During election years, Calvin would always behave as though his father’s position as Dad was an elected post and pester him about his polling and the like, suggesting platform planks such as later bedtimes. In my house, Calvin and Hobbes are held in the highest regard. So much so that...

The other day, Daniel told me that I was up for re-election and he wasn’t sure how it was going to go, or something like that. I asked if my running mate was up for re-election as well and he answered in the affirmative. Then I asked him if I could choose a new running mate if I wanted to and, if so, whether the new running mate could “already be part of another administration”. He agreed that I could do that if I wanted to. Yeah, that’s right, my kid gave me permission to dump his mother and take some other (possibly married) woman on as his new Mom. Go figure teenagers.

So now, with my current veep’s approval, I am officially opening up the floor to nominations for running mate for my “Dad 2012” electoral campaign.  As you might expect, there are some expectations here. I’m not talking about age or physical requirements for my new running mate, as you might expect from a shallow male. No, these requirements are much more demanding than that. The successful applicant for the position will be able to deal with:

•          A “Dad” who is frightfully asocial and likely dealing with at least Asperger’s Syndrome and all that goes along with that.
•          A teenage boy and all that goes along with that.
•          A 9-year-old on the Autism spectrum  and all that goes along with that.
•          A labradoodle named Albert and all that goes along with that. Actually, that’s probably a plus; he’s a good dog.

In case you didn’t notice, there wouldn’t be any other females in the household, so that means  you also get to deal with:

•          Toilet seats left in the ‘fully upright and locked position’  when they shouldn’t be AND/OR
•          Toilet seats NOT lifted to the fully upright position when they should be (ick)
•          Socks left absolutely EVERYWHERE every single day
•          A general (but not malicious) disregard for standards of cleanliness and order
•          Dinnertime discussions of Minecraft, Skyrim, Call of Duty, griefers, airsoft, R/C airplanes, viral videos, meme pictures, Dr. Who, Star Trek, Star Wars… you get the idea.
•          Responses like “Whatever” or “I don’t care” if you ask what we should do for breakfast.
•          The lawn being long and scruffy. Honestly, mowing sucks.
•          So do haircuts. Seriously, we don’t like getting haircuts.
•          General avoidance of parties, sporting events, movies, concerts, pretty much anything where there will be a lot of people in a relatively small area. “Dad” has a brain that quite literally cannot deal with that kind of sensory stimulus. Say goodbye to the kind of social life you probably want to have.
•          General disdain for those for whom logic is a foreign concept.
•          This is a big one, folks, you have to deal with a politically liberal “Dad” in the house. Big time. Like, legalize marijuana across the board liberal. Socialized medicine liberal. Tax the rich until it hurts liberal.

I could go on, but I’ve probably scared you off already. So, ladies, if you think you have the stuff to deal with this household please file your application by email. I was thinking of holding “auditions”, but I don’t think the current office holder will be quite that understanding. Not that I can blame her; look what she already has to put up with.

Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without

I was raised to save, reuse and be frugal.  Maybe my parents being children of the depression had something to do with it, or being a part of a religion that emphasizes being thrifty.  A common statement I heard when younger was "Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without."  This is a good concept in theory but can get you into trouble. 

Tonight I learned that those cheap plastic table coverings from the dollar store do have a shelf life!  I have had 6 or more of these folded nicely on the top wire shelf of my hall closet for a few years.  But tonight they came a crumbling down. Sam had reported a flood in the bathroom (created by trying to fill water balloons).  Crisis diverted when I see blue crumbled confetti all over the hallway.  I walked straight into a sloshy wet carpet mess in my quest to check where the blue came from.  Those plastic coverings appeared to have exploded into millions of tiny particles all over.  It was impossible to pick up the larger pieces as they'd instantly transform into crumbles.  I guess this closet gets an overhaul soon and if I haven't used some things up they might just be worn out, making it mandatory that I do without!

Just 2 pictures of what could have been many more showing the mess in the closet!

Things That Fly

When I think about it I realize that my life has always been surrounded by things that fly.  Before I was born my parents owned a plane and then shared one with friends.  Dad had his pilot license and my mom was close but missed out on her solo flight due to a leak in the fuel tank.  Then they got rid of the plane and the other one was not great for learning in.    

When I was little we went to the airport often as my dad traveled for work on a regular basis.  I used to know flight schedules and have the airport pay phone #s memorized (I loved memorizing phone numbers as they had patterns, but that is a story for another day as we did have fun with pranks).   

Nick began flight instruction well before we married but it turned out to be too expensive for his budget. Since being married Nick has become a born again rocketeer (BAR) as he had some rockets when he was younger but came back to it when he was older.  He spent time working on rockets during grad school and it became a good mental diversion from the pressures.  He got Dan started and they both enjoyed.  Sam was still fairly young.   

When we moved here rockets were put aside due to lack of finding a large enough area to fly without trees in the way.  RC planes and then helicopters have become the latest in sending things through the air.  Dan has been on board with both helicopters and planes.  At science camp last month Sam took the Rockets and Lego Mindstorm class.  He found his new love - rockets.  Makes sense, one of his favorite online games is the Kerbal Space Program where you build rockets and fly them into space.  So part of our summer has included Things That Fly!  I guess it's no surprise.  Below I have included links to 6 short videos.  Two for each boy.  

NICK

Nick's Telemaster maiden flight just after takeoff: Click here to Start 

Nick's Telemaster maiden flight, several passes & landing: Click here to Start 

DAN

Dan's first solo with his own plane Alpha 450, take off: Click here to Start 

Dan's first solo with his own plane Alpha 450, flying in front of the moon and landing: Click here to Start 

SAM

Sam's first rocket flight from his own rocket he built (sorry but recording started just at launch so all we get is smoke:Click here to Start

Little Sam flown at his SMTC launch, Little Sam was named for Sam as he was 5 days old when it had its first flight and he was there to watch 9 years ago, although likely sleeping: Click here to Start

Father's Day: Where's the Capn' Crunch?

There is a tradition that for any significant occasion that we get Nick a box of his favorite cereal, PB Captain Crunch.  That is really the only time that this cereal is purchased.  Father's day was no exception.  However, I failed to remember to pull it out of the not so great hiding place in the pantry and wrap it up as usual.  Sunday night Nick asks, "so when are you going to get around to giving me the cereal that is up there", not really hiding...?  "Well now I guess", I said.  He said I'll have some tomorrow.  But he didn't.  I think Dan knew that Nick would look for it soon after he got home from work.  I picked him up Monday evening and about 10 min later I hear this conversation between them about Father's Day cereal and Dan saying, look up high.  Well it was up high in the pantry so he wasn't getting the prank.  He eventually noticed where Dan managed to hide it.  I especially like the extra touch of using a blank sheet of paper.  Not sure if that was to protect the box from tape or to blend in with the ceiling.  Not sure I would have given permission for this had he asked beforehand.

End of School 2012

School has been out for over 2 weeks and I'm just getting around to saying a few words.

I attended the awards assembly for both Dan & Sam (different schools different days).  The camera was not set right for indoor pictures and I didn't realize it fast enough.  I missed a picture of Dan receiving a certificate recognizing him with the following:  Pre-Algebra Award, Academics Award, Music Award, Student Council Member, Talent Show Member and Positive Performer Award.  Great job on 7th grade for Dan.

The day of Sam's award assembly I stopped by his class first.  The kids were busy signing thank you cards to those parents who had helped in the class on a regular basis.  It was so sweet for Sam to present me with a lovely pot of some of my favorite flowers and a fun card.  The flowers still look nice and there are new buds waiting to working their way up to the sunlight.

 The last day of classes were somewhat uneventful for Dan.  He hung out with some friends all afternoon on CMU campus one of the days.  It was a lesson in letting go and allowing independence that day.   For Sam his final day ends with a traditional parade through the school.  Dan experienced this same tradition.  The 4th graders march through the school and each grade joins behind them in order.  Then they exit outside and gather around the flagpole.  There the music teacher will stand on the big rock and lead everyone in the National Anthem as the flag is lowered.  It is quite a scene to see the crowd all gathered around.  Parents will often come early and be a part.  Then after there are pictures and hugs and tears.  This year I was successful at capturing more pictures than any other year.  We missed pictures with two of his teachers.  I won't post all of the pictures but have one with his new teacher for next year, which will mostly remain a secret to most until the teacher selections are posted in August.  Because the school works with the teacher ahead of time and brings them on board to help the transition we know before the end of the year.  Lets just say I'm quite excited as is Sam! 

Retiring Music Teacher alongside of the new incoming music teacher

Midland Dog Park

Memorial Day weekend is here.  The much anticipated long weekend for many.  I'm going to risk sounding like I'm oblivious to its importance, like many these days,  but that isn't my intention.  But I have to admit that I don't usually get too excited about this weekend.  I do love my children but sometimes I find summers to be very long (partly because it is my least favorite time of year).  So this weekend becomes just another reminder that soon ALL weekends will be LONG. :)  

I was pretty happy that we found something fun for everyone (not easy these days) to do yesterday since original plans had fallen through.  We found a dog park in Midland.  It's a short 30+ min drive from here.  The dog park is actually in plain view as you come into the city.  But the road to get to it is not on the regular path, but a path we like to take.  It is in the Chippewassee park which is part of the Tridge area.  Tridge is the area where a three-way walking bridge is built right over where the Chippewa and Tittabawassee rivers come together.  The rail trail that the boys enjoy riding their bikes on also ends at this location.  I guess for some it begins.  We just usually come from Clare as our starting point.  The spray park that they have enjoyed after a long ride is also here.  Just last fall I accidentally found an entrance into a back side of the park.  Even then I didn't realize that if I ventured further to the west at that location that I would find the dog park.  But now I know and it will become a fun place to visit more often.  Everyone had a great time including Al.  We wore him out.  He met other dogs and could run and run until he was tired.  

Here are a few fun video clips pictures.  More pictures are on our family picture site HERE.  If you forgot the password info to get in just send me an email.

VIDEO LINKS:
Albert Discovers Maisy

"This is my Dowhg"

Dog Park

A fantastic day with Temple Grandin!

Temple Grandin

I wish I could impart what I came away with from hearing Temple Grandin speak yesterday.  Because her thoughts add to things I have already learned and feel deeply it is hard to put the full measure of that into my own words.  Much of what she said wasn't new to me but hearing it from her meant something different.  Her first hand knowledge of autism and her desire to delve into details and understand things from their very root is one thing that makes her so interesting to listen to.  She emphasized some great things that I really loved:

The idea that kids are really missing out on the values and manners once taught in her childhood (and mine) and how that creates a disservice to them as an adult.  Among some of those listed were the very basics such as turn taking, being on time and saying please and thank you.

Sometimes you have to do things you don't like to do and it's important to learn this is a reality in life.

Learning to think bottom up rather than top down all the time.

She responded to a question asking her what helped make her a successful adult.  She said no one thing or event miraculously made her successful but a combination of many things.  She did list many things but part of that equation was good teachers because they can make a significant difference!

Seeing the actual pictures from various brain scans that have been done on her was quite fascinating.  She showed the makeup of her brain compared to a typical developed brain.  There were significant differences!

I loved hearing her say she loves the way she thinks and would never want to give that up.  It's such a gift really.

She would start to talk about something and then say something like "see I'm starting to put things into categories again because that is what helps me to break the information down".

I was interested by her personal Rule System where she has 4 specific categories she can place and compartmentalize all of life's rules.  That helps her understand their importance or place easier.

Kids need the same kind of behavior expectations at home as at school and how that is becoming less and less common and can really create problems.

She would throw in some slides of her inventions and say she simply just likes to share and talk about them.  She seemed to enjoy clarifying what was very accurate in the movie about her.

I love that she is who she is and loves to be a problem solver.  Although she has poor working memory recall, she can compensate by turning on a visual walk through of something.

It was fun to learn that she earned her PhD from University of Illinois in Champaign Urbana just 9 years before Nick started his graduate work there.  I don't know why I never picked up on that one before.  She related a story about a guy who worked at a paint store there and how she knew he had Asperger's  and the things he did to make the store successful.

She did quite a long question and answer period.  I was a little sad that people kept asking questions about specific children scenarios looking for solutions or ideas to help them.  She would give opinions but obviously ask lots of questions.  Although she has plenty of personal experience and does plenty of reading and research about this, I felt like people were thinking she must have the answer to everything.  She is a Dr of animal science.  Sure she has personal experience but every child/adult is different and I think people were losing sight of this.  But I found the process of listening to this very fun.  My favorite was when she would say  "you need to stop asking me questions that aren't specific enough".  She'd have to start doing some troubleshooting by asking more questions  to delve in and get to the root. 

Even though this is quite a list, it is in no way a comprehensive list of what she spoke of but just some of the things that I found of interest.  I was really interested to know what Nick thought of the conference.  About half way through the said something like "can we just take her home with us for a day...I'd love to just have a lengthy conversation with her".  He could relate to so much of what she said.  It was good for all of us to hear.  The entire experience was great. She made us laugh and she even got a little silly herself trying to tell us something that was so funny to her.  I love who she is!   I even met a parent of a child on the spectrum who is also a school speech therapist and gained some new insights into some resources within the state that I didn't know existed.  

OH and one last thing.  Of course they had a huge area, bigger than the conference room full of vendors of various types.  Many were support groups, organizations, education and therapy groups and some were those selling their own goods.  One in particular that I loved was the young adult who is working to make a living with is artwork.  He has cards, framed artwork, mugs etc.  So just giving a little recognition to Anthony Stornant Collar who runs Art of Autism.  His artwork is fun and very much of it is VERY Michigan!