June 2011: What's happening in your world?

[goddessoflubbock]

I almost forgot DS was asked to apply for a job doing videotaping and editing with our local CBS affiliate! Also YouTube has partnered with him bc his webro video had so many hits. His YouTube channel is MrHcted

[renaeden]

I understand that feeling, having tired ears from processing people's voices.

I have started packing my stuff at GA's today, all books so far.

[Sophist]

((((((((((renaeden)))))))))

[Aspen]

I'm going on vacation for a little over a week starting tomorrow morning.

We're driving to Disneyland, along with other places.

[adhocisadirtyword]

That sounds great, Aspen! We just got back from 2 weeks in NY. It was awesome and crazy at the same time. Still trying to recover.

[Sophist]

Sounds excellent!

[goddessoflubbock]

Vacation sounds like fun! At the rate we're going we wont even make the state fair in Dallas this year...

[adhocisadirtyword]

So quiet around here lately. Okay -- I'll ramble on for a bit.

We went to NY for 2 weeks to see James' family. It was great and we really enjoyed ourselves. Elliot had a blast in Time Square, at the Central Park Zoo (for little kids this one is better than the Bronx Zoo) and the museum of natural history (the place with all the dinosaurs!) We did a lot of animal growling sounds for those two weeks.

Ava got to go to the Harry Potter exhibit, we ate at the Cake Boss Cafe and had the best creme filling I've ever had in my life. Those people know how to make a lobster tail pastry!

If there are any other Project Runway fans here, we took a chance to visit Parson's School for Design and Mood. Ava just about passed out from excitement.

We're back now and trying to get settled in again. I'm being moved around at work so there's a lot of chaos from that side. But I'm moving into an IT Manager position. I'm not as excited as I would be if it wasn't tinged with all the political crap, but at least it will look good on my resume.

Ava's now going to summer school with a program called "Academic Talent Search" that works out of Sac State. It's a an awesome program and last night we got to make a 3D model of Serpinski's Triage using Origami and envelopes. So cool.

And Elliot is just everywhere. God I love that kid, but he's exhausting.

I'm trying to excercise more, but I don't see that happening. My sciatic is getting worse though, so I need to find a way.

[Sophist]

Ava's now going to summer school with a program called "Academic Talent Search" that works out of Sac State. It's a an awesome program and last night we got to make a 3D model of Serpinski's Triage using Origami and envelopes. So cool.

damn, that sounds advanced. I'm impressed!

Not to equate your son to my cat, but talking about how he's wonderful but exhausting: that's my cat, George. Adorable, but my God he rarely slows down. Kitty version AD/HD, with an accent on the H. I call him my Special Needs Kitty, hehe. I don't think a whole lot of people could handle him.

Hopefully Elliot doesn't gnaw your hand off like George does.

[adhocisadirtyword]

Some of the classes are advanced. That one is one of them. They also have Robotics (using Lego Mindstorm) and Engineering, but those classes are very popular and Ava didn't get in.

They also have art classes, language classes, even classes on time management and study skills so they offer such a wide range nearly anyone in middle school could benefit from it.

As to Elliot gnawing my hand off - well, he is in the biting phase - lol. At times, honestly, he's just too much. Due to him, both thumbs for both my husband and myself are officially injured, my legs are numb every night (due to back issues), my husband's ankle throbs, and we have all kinds of bumps and bruises.

He is a wonderful kid, and brilliant, funny as well, sweet and cute as a button. But curious beyond belief. And the process that we go through to allow him to explore his surroundings while also keeping him from killing himself is, apparently, killing us.

But then this morning, he crawled on top of me, kissed me, and looked at me with the sweetest expression until I woke up. And it erases everything. He is so amazingly lovable.

But - just like your cat - this kid is not for everyone. I think there are very few families who could have patience with a child like him. But he's so much like me, that I can't blame him for being that way. It's so obvious at times that he is what I would have been had I been born male. Well - at least I finally get someone in the house who will appreciate football and power tools!!

[Sophist]

LOL. Glad you've born yourself another kindred spirit.

Manny's youngest, Aury, is taking a robotics class this summer. It sounds fascinating.

[adhocisadirtyword]

I just found out yesterday that they brought in hospice care for my grandfather.

The whole family was sobbing all day yesterday. He is truly the beloved patriarch of the family. But more than that somehow ... he accepted me and loved me without question in even my most awkward time (as some of us Aspie's can have some seriously awkward awkward phases).

He and I always had a quiet understanding together. I know he's lived a long and wonderful life. He has done so much for his family. But he's 95. And it's time for him. Truth be told, it's probably past time for him. But my family is "blessed" with longevity so we got him for longer than most people do. I'm going to miss him so much.

[goddessoflubbock]

{{{adhoc}}} I am so sorry about your grandfather, I was also close to mine and was still sad when he passed at 100.

The NY trip sounds so amazing! I could use a day or two in a real city LOL

My sats have been dropping at night so I am on a new cpap that varies the strength according to my needs through the night. But it doesn't have a pulse ox so I forgot to ask but how does it know? And why aren't they all like that?

[Civet]

I'm sorry about your grandfather, adhoc . It sounds like he's been living a very good life surrounded by people who care about him.

[adhocisadirtyword]

Thanks guys for the support. This one is hitting me really hard.

I grew up in an old family -- my grandfather was in his 30's when my mom was born and she was in her 30's when she had me. He was 62 when I was born. I attended more funerals by my 12th birthday than most people attend by the time they're 40. Life and death are very intertwined in my view and I've never really been terribly bothered by someone passing other than to grieve for their loss for awhile.

This is different. The fact that I got 33 years of my life with him is a gift I could never repay. But I wish I had more.