Tuesday, May 23, 2006
Friday, May 05, 2006
Cinco de Mayo
I wrote my official thoughts on celebrating the holiday here, but thought I'd share a personal story of thos holiday with you other moms...
Several years ago -- oh my gosh, about 11 years now! -- when my daughter was 5, she came down with a low grade fever. While the fever wasn't high, her face was beet-red, and she was acting rather sick, so I took her into the doctor's office. It turns out, she had Fifths Disease, most easily noted/identified by the "slapped face" appearance. While not uncommon or particularly dangerous, it was a strange little disease I'd never heard of. Stranger still that all of this happened on May 5th, to my five year old daugher (whose birthday is in May). Even the doctor thought that was amusing.
Seeing as she's autistic, tends to take things litterally, the whole thing left me a bit red-faced myself!
Several years ago -- oh my gosh, about 11 years now! -- when my daughter was 5, she came down with a low grade fever. While the fever wasn't high, her face was beet-red, and she was acting rather sick, so I took her into the doctor's office. It turns out, she had Fifths Disease, most easily noted/identified by the "slapped face" appearance. While not uncommon or particularly dangerous, it was a strange little disease I'd never heard of. Stranger still that all of this happened on May 5th, to my five year old daugher (whose birthday is in May). Even the doctor thought that was amusing.
Seeing as she's autistic, tends to take things litterally, the whole thing left me a bit red-faced myself!
Art
I once made a partial living as an artist. It wasn't the 'partial' part that drove me to stop, it was the way folks reacted to 'my art.' You can read all about it here.
And go see these amazing horses made out of driftwood!
And go see these amazing horses made out of driftwood!
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
The Episode In Which Hubby Meets Curly The Ghost Dog
It's so exciting, I can hardly stand it! Hubby, who tries to refrain from rolling his eyes when I speak of my psychic encounters, has finally met a ghost. You can read all about his encounter at his blog.
Thursday, March 09, 2006
A Slice of Family Life
I am folding laundry in the living room & I hear the following from the kitchen:
"Where are you going?" (accusatory tone)
"To clean the litter box." (defensive tone)
"You didn't clean in here yet" (whine/bossy combination)
"I did. I cleaned this area" (moving towards anger, with a hint of tears forming)
"That's hardly anything. Look at all this -- all you did was that little area." (full force bickering)
"Well, I did it. And now I'm going to do the litter box." (also full scale bickering)
This is where I jump in -- "Girls, is there a problem?"
In unison they reply "No."
Followed by silence.
I want a dollar, just one dollar, every time this happens. I'd be rich.
"Where are you going?" (accusatory tone)
"To clean the litter box." (defensive tone)
"You didn't clean in here yet" (whine/bossy combination)
"I did. I cleaned this area" (moving towards anger, with a hint of tears forming)
"That's hardly anything. Look at all this -- all you did was that little area." (full force bickering)
"Well, I did it. And now I'm going to do the litter box." (also full scale bickering)
This is where I jump in -- "Girls, is there a problem?"
In unison they reply "No."
Followed by silence.
I want a dollar, just one dollar, every time this happens. I'd be rich.
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
Dose Darn Norvegians!!
As a new trasnplant in Fargo, don-cha-know, my mom knew I'd enjoy this!
Two Minnesotans walk into a pet shop near Brainerd. They head to the bird section and Sven says to Ole,"Dat's dem."
The owner comes over and asks if he can help them.
"Yah sure, ve'll take four of dem dere little budgies in dat cage up dere," says Sven.
The owner puts the budgies in a paper bag.
Ole and Sven pay for the birds, leave the shop, get into Sven's pick-up and drive to the top of some big cliffs near Brainerd Lake.
At the cliffs, Sven looks down at the 1000 foot drop and says, "Dis looks like a grand place."
He takes two birds out of the bag, puts them on his shoulders and jumps off the cliff.
Ole watches as Sven falls all the way to the bottom, killing himself dead.
Looking down at the remains of his best pal, Ole shakes his head and says:
"By yumpin' yiminy, dis budgie jumping is too dangerous for me."
VAIT!!! Dere's MORE!
Moments later Knute arrives up at the cliffs.
He's been to the pet shop, too, and walks up to the edge of the cliff carrying another paper bag in one hand and a shotgun in the other.
"Hey, Ole, Vatch dis." Knute says. He takes a parrot from the bag and throws himself over the edge of the cliff.
Ole watches as half way down, Knute takes the gun and shoots the parrot.
Knute continues to plummet down and down until he hits the bottom and breaks every bone in his body.
Ole shakes his head and says, "And I'm never trying dat parrotshooting either."
BUT VAIT!!! Dere's MORE , you betcha!!
Ole is just getting over the shock of losing two fri! ends when Lars appears.
He's also been to the pet shop and is carrying a paper bag, out of which he pulls a chicken.
Lars grasps the chicken by the legs, holds it over his head, hurls himself off the cliff and disappears down and down until he hits a rock and breaks his spine.
Once more Ole shakes his head. "First der was Sven with his budgie-jumping, den Knute parrot-shooting ... and now Lars, hen-gliding .."
Dats all. Dere ain't no more!
Two Minnesotans walk into a pet shop near Brainerd. They head to the bird section and Sven says to Ole,"Dat's dem."
The owner comes over and asks if he can help them.
"Yah sure, ve'll take four of dem dere little budgies in dat cage up dere," says Sven.
The owner puts the budgies in a paper bag.
Ole and Sven pay for the birds, leave the shop, get into Sven's pick-up and drive to the top of some big cliffs near Brainerd Lake.
At the cliffs, Sven looks down at the 1000 foot drop and says, "Dis looks like a grand place."
He takes two birds out of the bag, puts them on his shoulders and jumps off the cliff.
Ole watches as Sven falls all the way to the bottom, killing himself dead.
Looking down at the remains of his best pal, Ole shakes his head and says:
"By yumpin' yiminy, dis budgie jumping is too dangerous for me."
VAIT!!! Dere's MORE!
Moments later Knute arrives up at the cliffs.
He's been to the pet shop, too, and walks up to the edge of the cliff carrying another paper bag in one hand and a shotgun in the other.
"Hey, Ole, Vatch dis." Knute says. He takes a parrot from the bag and throws himself over the edge of the cliff.
Ole watches as half way down, Knute takes the gun and shoots the parrot.
Knute continues to plummet down and down until he hits the bottom and breaks every bone in his body.
Ole shakes his head and says, "And I'm never trying dat parrotshooting either."
BUT VAIT!!! Dere's MORE , you betcha!!
Ole is just getting over the shock of losing two fri! ends when Lars appears.
He's also been to the pet shop and is carrying a paper bag, out of which he pulls a chicken.
Lars grasps the chicken by the legs, holds it over his head, hurls himself off the cliff and disappears down and down until he hits a rock and breaks his spine.
Once more Ole shakes his head. "First der was Sven with his budgie-jumping, den Knute parrot-shooting ... and now Lars, hen-gliding .."
Dats all. Dere ain't no more!
Monday, February 20, 2006
Autism Info
As the mother of a child with Aspergers, on the Autism spectrum, I present this, from newswire:
As theories about autism spread like wildfire in the media and the general public, a panel of autism experts will reflect on the validity of four widely held - and potentially inaccurate - assumptions about the developmental disability.
Drawing on the latest in autism research, a psychologist, an epidemiologist, a psychiatrist and a physician will critically assess widespread stereotypes about autism during a symposium entitled "Science of Autism," at the 2006 Annual Meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).
"With the surge in both scientists and society turning their attention toward autism, there comes responsibility," says Morton Gernsbacher, a Vilas Research Professor of psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the symposium's chair and organizer. "It behooves us as scientists to distinguish uninformed stereotypes from scientific reality and to move beyond myths and misconceptions."
During her talk, Gernsbacher will cast doubt on the prevalent notion among autism researchers that autistic individuals lack a "theory of mind." The belief that autistic children lack a sense of both their own minds and those of others emerged about 20 years ago, becoming a seemingly undisputed tenet in the literature since then, says Gernsbacher.
When the psychologist began delving into the question, however, she found that scientists usually ascertain how well individuals perceive the mind with tasks that require a relatively sophisticated level of linguistic ability. Since a common diagnostic criteria for autism is the impairment of communication skills, Gernsbacher says it's not surprising that most autistic children don't fare well on such theory-of-mind tests.
"I think we as a society fall prey to a slippery slope when we begin talking about members of our society as not appreciating that they or others have a mind," says Gernsbacher. "An uncritical acceptance of the hypothesis that autistic individuals lack a theory of mind can seriously compromise how autistic individuals are treated in the workplace, the community and society in general."
The other panelists will similarly address other stereotypes about autism. Judith Grether, an environmental epidemiologist who works for the state of California, will contest the popular notion that North America is reeling from an autism epidemic. Grether will make the point that a higher number of reported autism cases - due to looser diagnostic criteria - doesn't necessarily translate into an actual rise in the overall number of cases.
Panelist Irving Gottesman, a psychiatrist at the University of Minnesota, will similarly dispute the idea circulating among some researchers that childhood vaccines potentially cause autism. Recent large-scale literature reviews, he says, fail to support that link.
Finally, Laurent Mottron, an autism researcher and physician at Montreal's Hopital Riviere des prairies, will discuss the common idea that most autistic people are cognitively impaired. Mottron will assert that the numbers of cognitively impaired autistic individuals have been over-estimated - a fact that has important implications for the kind of therapies that autistic individuals receive.
Ultimately, Gernsbacher hopes that events such as today's AAAS symposium will help to set the record straight. "I would like scientists to become more skeptical of the stereotypes that flourish about autism and members of society to become more skeptical of the myths that are circulated."
Related links:
Listed to an NPR show
Autism Diva
As theories about autism spread like wildfire in the media and the general public, a panel of autism experts will reflect on the validity of four widely held - and potentially inaccurate - assumptions about the developmental disability.
Drawing on the latest in autism research, a psychologist, an epidemiologist, a psychiatrist and a physician will critically assess widespread stereotypes about autism during a symposium entitled "Science of Autism," at the 2006 Annual Meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).
"With the surge in both scientists and society turning their attention toward autism, there comes responsibility," says Morton Gernsbacher, a Vilas Research Professor of psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the symposium's chair and organizer. "It behooves us as scientists to distinguish uninformed stereotypes from scientific reality and to move beyond myths and misconceptions."
During her talk, Gernsbacher will cast doubt on the prevalent notion among autism researchers that autistic individuals lack a "theory of mind." The belief that autistic children lack a sense of both their own minds and those of others emerged about 20 years ago, becoming a seemingly undisputed tenet in the literature since then, says Gernsbacher.
When the psychologist began delving into the question, however, she found that scientists usually ascertain how well individuals perceive the mind with tasks that require a relatively sophisticated level of linguistic ability. Since a common diagnostic criteria for autism is the impairment of communication skills, Gernsbacher says it's not surprising that most autistic children don't fare well on such theory-of-mind tests.
"I think we as a society fall prey to a slippery slope when we begin talking about members of our society as not appreciating that they or others have a mind," says Gernsbacher. "An uncritical acceptance of the hypothesis that autistic individuals lack a theory of mind can seriously compromise how autistic individuals are treated in the workplace, the community and society in general."
The other panelists will similarly address other stereotypes about autism. Judith Grether, an environmental epidemiologist who works for the state of California, will contest the popular notion that North America is reeling from an autism epidemic. Grether will make the point that a higher number of reported autism cases - due to looser diagnostic criteria - doesn't necessarily translate into an actual rise in the overall number of cases.
Panelist Irving Gottesman, a psychiatrist at the University of Minnesota, will similarly dispute the idea circulating among some researchers that childhood vaccines potentially cause autism. Recent large-scale literature reviews, he says, fail to support that link.
Finally, Laurent Mottron, an autism researcher and physician at Montreal's Hopital Riviere des prairies, will discuss the common idea that most autistic people are cognitively impaired. Mottron will assert that the numbers of cognitively impaired autistic individuals have been over-estimated - a fact that has important implications for the kind of therapies that autistic individuals receive.
Ultimately, Gernsbacher hopes that events such as today's AAAS symposium will help to set the record straight. "I would like scientists to become more skeptical of the stereotypes that flourish about autism and members of society to become more skeptical of the myths that are circulated."
Related links:
Listed to an NPR show
Autism Diva
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
And You Thought Scalding Coffee Was Bad
Most of us remember the McDonalds' scalding coffee case, and you'd think McDonalds would learn...
However, this past weekend, I spotted this sign:
"Try Hot Soup Drive Thru Open 24 Hours" Ummm, no, thank you.
Images of a man with a hose spraying me with Cheddar Broccoli (a Wisconsin favorite) --- It's so hot, the soup is bubbling and adheres to my flesh --- Now, that will leave a mark.
However, this past weekend, I spotted this sign:
"Try Hot Soup Drive Thru Open 24 Hours" Ummm, no, thank you.
Images of a man with a hose spraying me with Cheddar Broccoli (a Wisconsin favorite) --- It's so hot, the soup is bubbling and adheres to my flesh --- Now, that will leave a mark.
Monday, February 13, 2006
Umm, Might Want To Rethink That...
I know pregnancy does strange things to us all... but while pregnant, it might be wise to think temporary tattoo. Esp if you are thinking of a Baby On Board tattoo...
Saturday, February 04, 2006
The Most Exciting News!
The book, From the Real Side of the Picket Fence by Suburban Diva (aka Tracey Henry), that we (Ephemera Bound) published, is in today's top 100 at Barnes & Noble (currently at number 37!)
(To cruise the Best Sellers -- and we may move up! -- Click here)
Thanks to Marsha Rogers, the editor, and Bee Lavender for saying "Funny, punny observations about suburban family life from a modern Erma Bombeck" too!
I can hardly stand it! Our Book in Top 100 at Barnes & Noble! It's only been out a few days -- not even at Amazon yet!
(To cruise the Best Sellers -- and we may move up! -- Click here)
Thanks to Marsha Rogers, the editor, and Bee Lavender for saying "Funny, punny observations about suburban family life from a modern Erma Bombeck" too!
I can hardly stand it! Our Book in Top 100 at Barnes & Noble! It's only been out a few days -- not even at Amazon yet!
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
Coloring For Grownups
Spending time with all three children can be difficult. We've got the age differences (5, 9 & 16), the abilitiy differences to pay attention (with the oldest), and then of course, the boy wants cars while the girls have limited interest in them (and he has a low tolerance for Bratz dolls and 'girl things'), so what do we do? Lots of crafts, and coloring.
To make it more interesting for myself, I like to title my 'art'.
The first captures my thoughts on medical care in this country, and is titled "My HMO"
The second, named for the way I colored it & hubby's reactions to it, is called "Flamboyant Aliens Take Our Hot Pants:
With this new trick, I know I'll enjoy coloring more *wink*
To make it more interesting for myself, I like to title my 'art'.
The first captures my thoughts on medical care in this country, and is titled "My HMO"
The second, named for the way I colored it & hubby's reactions to it, is called "Flamboyant Aliens Take Our Hot Pants:
With this new trick, I know I'll enjoy coloring more *wink*
Sunday, January 08, 2006
Laundry: A Holiday Gift
The holidays include laundry. Not just the pretty velvet dresses and fancy holly berry hot pads, but the gifts of laundry. You might call them gifts of clothing, but as The Momma, I know what they are: more laundry.
Since they are gifts, they are often less than practical items, requiring special washing instructions. For the teenage girl there are lycra tops and jackets with velvet trim. For the 9 year old girl, sweaters and pjs with feather trim, and countless tops and even jeans with sequins. Hubby receives dressier shirts, some with silk content, and a few sweaters with textures which warn me of special care needs.
I used to peek at the labels for care instructions as the gifts were opened. But no longer. I remember the Christmas of 2001, when I was caught looking at the labels for washing instructions. Not wanting to appear like the slave to fabric content that I am, I blurted "I'm just checking the sizes." My mom, convinced was implying the clothes wouldn't fit, waved her hands about - complete with shrill squeaking in self defense: "I shopped off my your list! I only bought the sizes you had written!"
The shockwaves were still felt in Christmas 2002 & 2003.
So now, I no longer read tags at gift openings. I wait until item appear in the laundry.
This greatly slows laundry time. Normally, as The Momma, I know instantly the bulk of her black cotton/ramie hand-wash-flat-dry sweater, the slip of his hand-wash-reshape casual-dress shirt, the pattern of her hand-wash turquoise sequined blouse (even when inside out) and know that if it is here, the matching sequin jeans likely are as well...
But with new items, it's read every darn tag for instructions, until eventually, I equally match their weight, texture & color with their care instructions. I study them well, so that eventually, I'll recognize them all by sight & touch, and know their special quirks of care. I'll even know the very blue of her jacket with velvet - and as it turns out, silk - applique, so that I may rescue it from the laundry & move it to the dry clean only pile. I'll of course wash like colors as I can. And if the lavender feathered pajamas, by virtue of color & content, require the first few washings on their own, I'll do that too. All in the name of laundry safety.
Every now & then, a grandma will give the girls a 'just because' gift. Often without my knowledge, it will appear in the laundry pile, and a new bulky sweater, by absence of large silver snaps, an over-sized zipper, a special belt or hood, will be mistaken for 'the usual' sweaters - ones which do not require special care. This too has happened with other special care items hiding in the family laundry... Now too small for our children yet too large for Bratz dolls, or wrinkled beyond recognition, these dark secrets languish in the laundry room between items which need buttons & mending and items which need ironing.
Perhaps not coincidentally, to the left are the stacked boxes of holiday decorations & linens.
Since they are gifts, they are often less than practical items, requiring special washing instructions. For the teenage girl there are lycra tops and jackets with velvet trim. For the 9 year old girl, sweaters and pjs with feather trim, and countless tops and even jeans with sequins. Hubby receives dressier shirts, some with silk content, and a few sweaters with textures which warn me of special care needs.
I used to peek at the labels for care instructions as the gifts were opened. But no longer. I remember the Christmas of 2001, when I was caught looking at the labels for washing instructions. Not wanting to appear like the slave to fabric content that I am, I blurted "I'm just checking the sizes." My mom, convinced was implying the clothes wouldn't fit, waved her hands about - complete with shrill squeaking in self defense: "I shopped off my your list! I only bought the sizes you had written!"
The shockwaves were still felt in Christmas 2002 & 2003.
So now, I no longer read tags at gift openings. I wait until item appear in the laundry.
This greatly slows laundry time. Normally, as The Momma, I know instantly the bulk of her black cotton/ramie hand-wash-flat-dry sweater, the slip of his hand-wash-reshape casual-dress shirt, the pattern of her hand-wash turquoise sequined blouse (even when inside out) and know that if it is here, the matching sequin jeans likely are as well...
But with new items, it's read every darn tag for instructions, until eventually, I equally match their weight, texture & color with their care instructions. I study them well, so that eventually, I'll recognize them all by sight & touch, and know their special quirks of care. I'll even know the very blue of her jacket with velvet - and as it turns out, silk - applique, so that I may rescue it from the laundry & move it to the dry clean only pile. I'll of course wash like colors as I can. And if the lavender feathered pajamas, by virtue of color & content, require the first few washings on their own, I'll do that too. All in the name of laundry safety.
Every now & then, a grandma will give the girls a 'just because' gift. Often without my knowledge, it will appear in the laundry pile, and a new bulky sweater, by absence of large silver snaps, an over-sized zipper, a special belt or hood, will be mistaken for 'the usual' sweaters - ones which do not require special care. This too has happened with other special care items hiding in the family laundry... Now too small for our children yet too large for Bratz dolls, or wrinkled beyond recognition, these dark secrets languish in the laundry room between items which need buttons & mending and items which need ironing.
Perhaps not coincidentally, to the left are the stacked boxes of holiday decorations & linens.
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