Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Holiday Boogie!

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Sharing a silly, fun holiday greeting...


Blue Tunes

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http://www.art.com/products/p14764912-sa-i3569114/steven-johnson-strummin-blues.htm
A friend brought up the Blues Brothers movie today, which got me humming my favorite blues performers.  I couldn't wait to get the kids tucked in to listen to some deep rhythms, tap my toes, sway my hips.  It's called the blues; which defined is feeling low, depressed, cold... Funny, I experience it soulful, energizing and hot!  A few of my favorites...













Otis Redding, imagine the soulful songs that went down with him in his early death.


Love this scene from Pretty in Pink, a great date movie from my youth






































Hope you enjoyed it.  Now I can call it up and watch, listen and dance any time I'm feeling "blue"...

Monday, November 29, 2010

Ever so Clever

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Had to share this 2009 UK ad campaign for autism early intervention that I just discovered by chance.  Simple, quick, engaging.  Dramatic message, riveting images, hard-hitting without being depressing.  Check it out here:

http://theinspirationroom.com/daily/2009/treehouse-talk-about-autism/

Brilliant!

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Touched by the Spectrum's Light

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I was elected to give the Thanksgiving meal prayer last night at a family celebration.  I spoke of gratitude for our blessings of health, happiness, friends, family, our security, comfort, and the meal.  Pretty typical stuff.  I asked if anyone had anything to add.  The only one who piped up was G, the youngest by far at a table of 10.  In his painfully slow, searching for the right word, broken with uh's and ah's speech,  
"I'm thankful for my desk that we gave to Uncle S today. 
And...I'm thankful for my life." 
So autistically abstruse: a mundane, irrelevant thought followed by the profound.  I'm forever astounded by G and his enlightened words.  We are all blessed by his life.

Thank you Lord for my gifts of family, friends, love, laughter, creativity and the pursuit of knowledge.

Monday, November 22, 2010

Google Gurgles



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Eyes on Google: fun new ad campaign
This clever ad reminds me of Thanksgiving...

...can we get a plumber?

I LOVE these gurgles!


Holiday greetings - feeling the stress yet?


We've all fast-forwarded through someone's run-on messages...


Fab campaign - sure to delight!  Well done, Google Translate.

http://translate.google.com/

Thursday, November 18, 2010

The Bus Stops Here

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Check out Cheryl Piperberg's
Gallery of colorful, playful images
www.art.com/products/p12186521-sa-i1561550
G had school this morning instead of his usual afternoon time because Parent/Teacher conferences are this week.  Strange, but that's school for you.  So G's big sister M came outside with us while G watched the garbage truck in its full glory (bonus!).  She waited for a few minutes with us for his bus before heading off to her own.  She asked, "G, is your small bus going to pick you up this morning?"  He emphatically replied, "No!  Not the small bus, the big one!"  She wondered, "Oh, I thought you loved your bus!"  With a sweeping hand motion G explained, "I do, but it's growing bigger and bigger.  It's gonna be like yours someday."
Perfect metaphor for my G:
enjoy the scenery while we wait for progress
www.art.com/products/p964197353-sa-i4086731
 
We can only hope, little man. 

This is how Perky gets her Perk!
http://www.art.com/products/p10397693-sa-i1058164
I forgot how wonderful it is to wave goodbye and settle in with a cup of java cuddled close in the morning. I can't remember the last time I was alone this early!  Take time to smell the coffee...ahhh.  I may not get a thing done...but I won't feel too guilty because I have a full day from noon on.  I dream that, but I hear the laundry calling as I type.  "Hey Lady!  Clean me, sort me, fold me!  I'm yours!"  

www.art.com/products/p10398611-sa-i1265647
Reality calls, but it was nice to post before midnight!  Espresso myself!

Enjoy your day's journeys.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Snapshot

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Life
is like
photography;
we use
the negatives
to
  develop.


...I saw this quote and it clicked for me. 
Perception is everything.
When the going gets tough, the tough get creative.
My wish for you:
Crop out the ugliness.
Focus your lens to create beauty and wonder.

Who says Sensory Diets have to be boring and sterile? 
G the spinnin' machine on a gorgeous fall day




My 3 incredible kids....the positives that color my world.


Saturday, November 13, 2010

Adult Onset...Whatchamacallit


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M.C. Escher, Mind-Bending Visualist Extraordinaire

Recently I was chatting with a friend, I can't remember who or when, which will make more sense in a moment.  She was briefly interrupted by her ADHD ASD child, and she puzzled for a few moments to get back to her subject matter.  She said that she feels like she has ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) sometimes.  I told her I love her.  OK, now I remember who it was, which is good, since I professed my love and all. 

Mommy ADD: I''ve been claiming that for a few years.  Oops...irritated comments, smirks or puzzled looks remind me that I've forgotten something once again.   
Oh darn, it's flying again!
Darn, I'm flying my freak flag again.  Sigh.  I believe that having a child with special needs makes parents prone to ADD (maybe just kids in general).   In fact, I think we're prone to many disorders, short-term, temporary, call it what you want.   I'd like to see a study on that...hold on, let me google that...OCD.  In my case, I'm constantly on alert with my son, who is always on the move and an accomplished escape artist.  I must keep 2-3 steps ahead of him mentally to foresee where he'll go and predict what he'll do.  So staying on subject in a conversation - merely completing a sentence - is not a priority.  His sensory-induced fight-or-flight response becomes mine as well....SPD.  My eyes are always on the prize, I'm in panic mode....ADHD.  I feel horribly rude when trying to listen to a friend while my eyes dart rapidly, punctuated by sharp intakes of breath, accelerating to calls, warnings, and many times a running panic and battle.  It's a wonder I catch any conversation at all, because when I do indulge, I feel like I'm endangering my son by not keeping total focus on him.  I endure mini nervous breakdowns several times a day...Panic Disorder...Anxiety Disorder....Social Phobia....  

At the end of each day when the kids are asleep, which is not always an easy feat for ASD kids; I crumble into Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), reliving the frightening moments of the day, vivid flashbacks playing out, letting my fears of what may have happened bubble over.  Woulda coulda shoulda...OCD rearing its ugly tentacles again.  Sometimes my husband is unfortunate enough to still be awake.  I may be worked up and ready to vent instead of exhausted and ready to escape.  Pity the poor patient man.   While he's relaxing and trying to chill/unwind before bed after a stressful 12-15 hour day, I unload.  How does he keep from getting worked up too?  He works hard to counterbalance my emotional purging: anger, guilt, fright, pride, delight, wonder.  I struggle to differentiate his calm from detachment. 


Gotta google "Google Addiction"
Is Google listed
in the dictionary as a noun AND a verb?

Or, I may jump on the computer to email or Facebook Escape-book.  I try to read at least 3 hours per day from my many sources of ASD materials.  I usually have at least 3 books from the library, a couple from friends, dozens of articles bookmarked on my desktop, or yahoo groups on several areas that I'm researching.  If I don't keep myself organized and on task, this research spirals out of control in a quick minute.  Authors, theories, programs, tests, sources, opinions, referrals, suggestions, warnings - keeping all of these topics straight can be a full load on a clear mind, let alone an exhausted one.  I often feel like I'm jumping all over the place in my research.  I've heard other special needs parents say that they can't seem to finish a book either.  I get curious about something that I'm reading and then search it out in another arena, "Hmmmm..let's see if there's current info or studies on that....Google".   If Google had frequent clicker points, I'd have some amazing trips in my bank.  The internet - with our immediate gratification society - promotes jumping around in subject matter.  Click here, sidebar suggestions, google ads, pop-ups litter our intellectual environment.  It's a wonder anyone ever has a complete thought.

 So I stay awake too late - researching, stressing, decompressing, reading or writing.  My attention flows between worries about my children, money, marriage, my miles-long list of must-dos, and friends/family who are going through rough times....Paranoia?  I pray, I worry, I cry, I laugh.  Sometimes all at once....Mania?  Depression?  Bi-Polar?  I need to cry, I love to laugh.  I try to find one thing funny or positive per day.  Usually it's several times an hour, some days I'm grasping to come up with just one.  That's life at DSM 4 Acronym Ave..

M. C. Escher
OK, so what was I talking about again?  Oh yeah, Mommy ADD.  Ha!  I figure I'm doing OK if I can keep my family's names straight, remember what day it is and keep schedules flowing, remember to defrost the chicken for dinner to keep stomachs full and gain/get my message across in necessary conversations, correspondence and business matters. 

Who am I and What have I done with myself?

So, if I forget what I was talking about, forget how I know someone, forget names, forget events, forget times, dates, places, or any other factoid that you may be expecting me to have at my immediate command; I apologize now.   For always, forever.  Let's call it my get-out-of excuses apology card.  No expiration date.  Please don't judge me or get irritated.  Or worse, think that I don't care.  I so want to be there for everyone, in the moment.  Instead I'm relegated to quick email/Facebook comments in between kids activities and projects...thank goodness for that or I'd be soooooo lonely.  I'm not senile (though closing in on 50), but I may be losing it.   I'm doing the best that I can to keep my family together, running smoothly; and ideally laughing, loving and ready for the world.  My priorities are right there and nowhere else.  I never, ever-ever-ever-ever forget to hug my kids and let them know how much they are cherished.  My commitment changed with an "I do", 2 beautiful babies with adoption certificates and a bio-baby miracle.  Nothing prepared me for the challenges I'm facing, and I've not lived a sheltered nor simple life - au contraire!  When I have time and trust, I have stories!   I'm not crazy, but I've seen it aplenty.  Ann Arbor, Art School, Advertising - those were the stable moments.  I hope someday to be able to socialize often and freely again, relaxed.  If that is not to be in my future of caretaker, I was blessed with that luxury for many years.  If I completely lose sight or forget about those fun carefree times, I have friends and photos to remind me.  You'll remember me, right?  We can wear name tags...


Friday, October 29, 2010

Haunting Melodies


I'll get you my pretty, and your little dog too - cackle cackle!
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A few tunes
to get you
howling
and screeching
for Halloween...


No gore,
just music
and a bit of fun.




































Punk Halloween Songs
http://punkmusic.about.com/od/punk101/tp/horrorpunk.htm

Metal Halloween Songs
http://hardrockhideout.com/2007/10/29/top-ten-metal-songs-for-halloween/

http://the-trukstop.com/articles/2008/heavy_metal_halloween.html

Oldies Halloween Songs
http://www.popculturemadness.com/Music/Halloween-Music.html

Country Halloween Songs
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/5897850/halloween_party_songs_country_style.html

What's your favorite Halloween song ?  Please share.

Friday, October 22, 2010

Happy Swinging Halloween!

Homage to Halloween...
Caution: 
May cause excess swaying and bopping. 

Love this band!  Love the candy too!  :}

Squirrel Nut Zippers: Hell

Hell
Uploaded by RavenTV. - See the latest featured music videos.

The Band:
http://snzippers.com/

The Candy:
http://www.necco.com/OurProducts/Products.asp?ProductSubCategoryID=3
All gone!
The End


3491

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Up, down, round and round

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I saw this wise quote today:
If you don't look up to them, don't let them look down on you. 

I'd add:
If they look down on you, don't look up to them!


G would add:
Just look sideways like I do!
In nearly all recent photos G's looking sideways. 
He's regressing back to that - gotta work on it again.
Still cute though!

Friday, October 15, 2010

Political Pundit

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Being an avid "Garage Sale-r", I taught my kids at a young age to watch for signs along the road.  They love the thrill of the hunt as much as I do - let's face it, most of what I'm looking for is for them!  G's no exception.  Between pointing out garbage trucks, mail trucks, fire trucks, holiday decorations, etc...G announces EVERY sign, every day, "Garage Sale!"  Car rides get deafeningly loud between my bad singing, laughing, lecturing or yelling, 3 kids being kids, traffic and G's loud broadcasts. 

G's learning that not every sign = Garage Sale.  We try to read signs to him to help him understand that each sign has different words and messages; to help him travel down that road to reading (apologies for the obvious pun).

This morning as we were driving through our sub, G recognized that the signs on front lawns were not "Garage Sale" signs, but something different.  G came up with his own new message - declaring,
"Poop Sale!"every few houses.  It took me a minute to notice that the signs he was labelling were political signs.

A really inconvenient name for a candidate
Yes, my silly G, you are more intuitive than we imagined.  Many agree that politicians are selling a load of poop!  Gotta love the innocent comments from children taken in a different context.   
<><><><>
<><><><>

I'll bet she wishes she had a crystal ball a few years back...










Remember...
Be positively CONFUSED!
Really?   ...who talked him into this?

Funny Road Signs (aka: funny stuff I found online at 2:00 am)









 Real Poop Signs (aka: funny stuff I found online at 2:10 am.)
I'm sure glad they included the disclaimer!
Yes, you too can own this... http://www.poopsign.com/
Wear it loud, wear it proud!
http://www.thebrowncow.com/manure-movers.cfm?category=248

 
3384

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Checked Out or Tuned In?

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Where are you, whatcha thinking about, Little Guy?
If you have an autistic child, you probably notice that they often seem to drift off, absorbed in their own world, staring blankly.  We all do this, but frequent lapses can be a symptom of autism, a necessary shutting down from sensory overload.  I'm always taken aback because G is so high energy, fidgety, singing, chatting, pointing, yelling, whining.  When he's quiet and still, I panic a bit.  I always wonder where he goes on his little breaks, try to imagine what he's thinking.  Is he engaged in the "autistic savant thing": counting - stimming,  mulling over a complex mathematical equation, composing a symphony?  Likely not.  Or the more typical singing a catchy tune in his head, remembering a fun activity, taking in the scenery, simply daydreaming.  Or just...nothing??? 

Today I discovered I need to be mindful of what I do and say because he may be taking it all in - even when he appears "checked out".  In the car this morning G was not his usual lively chatty self, staring out the window instead.  I usually try to engage him in conversation, but today I took advantage of this quiet moment to call my husband and leave him a voicemail.  I explained a recent charge on a credit card, saying that we'd have to discuss some ideas I had for Christmas gifts this year.  I went on with a few other mundane necessities about shuttling kids tonight, asked if he needed anything from the store, etc. and hung up. 

A full minute later, G said, "Who were you talking to, Santa?" 
Hello Santa,
I'd like a full-size real garbage truck
and WM uniform please.

Does he always pay attention when I think he's in another world or did he just perk up when he heard "Christmas gift"?  His face held the blank stare the entire time. I habitually look back at him repeatedly while driving...it's a mom thing. 

I wonder if he'll expect Santa to pick him up later too?  :)