Who should get the applause?

The sheep, the dogs or the dudes who programmed all this?

I don't entertain

Not very often. Something about my messy, cluttered, dust bunny house?

But today I had some good friends over and at one point I thought, "this is pretty much perfect"; 2 excellent gal pals, some toothsome tidbits and cool beverages. Later some other neighbors stumbled over. We laughed, we kvetched and repeatedly marveled at Shea.

He talks all of the time. You can't always understand what he is saying but he sure is talking a lot these days. My GGF said, "You should get some audio of Shea. His speech has exploded. It will be hard to remember." She is right. I should.

I just don't see the huge strides over weeks and months, I am way too close. But, it seems everyone this summer is commenting on Shea and his willingness to pipe right up.

We are starting something new. There is a speech therapist who lives on Vashon but she works off island at the Port Orchard School District. She has the summer free and can come to my home on Mondays.

Also, she happens to be getting her Behavioral Therapy certification and would like to help Shea with the potting training this summer - for free. She is planning a long day where we sort of just hover over him the whole day and keep reinforcing the message. She says we may need the next day also.

Now, this I gotta see!

I will faithfully report back!

Quid pro quo

I sure wish, as we are having this Health Care reform discussion, that it wasn't so damn obvious that Big medicine, Big Pharma and the Health Insurance companies have long since bought and paid for our elected officials.

Good luck to any reform! Kicking and screaming comes to mind.

Splash!

This is our pool week. Shea has 2 - back to back 1/2 hour lessons from 10 - 11 all week. I finally realized that only 1 lesson is never enough.

The swim teachers are great and work to coax him to blow bubbles in the water with little success. Shea doesn't want his mouth or face in the water. We tried goggles today, we'll see if he gets used to them.

But, gosh, he is getting around pretty well out there. He wears a floaty jacket and uses a kick board and motors cruises around real good.

The challenge now is to just keep him in the shallow end.

Supreme Court ruled in favor of special ed student to get reimbursed for private school tuition

Hm...I wonder if this will change anything?

Any bets?

From the New York Times:

In a decision that could help disabled students obtain needed services and cost school districts millions of dollars, the Supreme Court ruled on Monday that parents of special-education students may seek government reimbursement for private school tuition, even if they have never received special-education services in public school.

The case before the court involved a struggling Oregon high school student, identified in court documents only as T. A., whose parents removed him from public school in the Forest Grove district in his junior year and enrolled him in a $5,200-a-month residential school.

Although Forest Grove officials had noticed T. A.’s difficulties and evaluated him for learning disabilities, he was found ineligible for special-education services. Only after he enrolled in the private school did doctors say T. A. had attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and other disabilities.

While most of the nation’s six million special-education students attend public school, as T. A. did for many years, thousands of families with disabled children, convinced that the public schools lack appropriate placements, avoid the public schools altogether. Instead, they enroll their children in expensive private schools for students with emotional or learning disabilities, and then seek reimbursement.

Happy Father's Day

Today, for Father's Day, Jake is hanging with excellent neighbor and pal, Casey, who has invited him to participate in the 2009 Vashon Tidler run.

Sponsored my VME - Vintage Motorbike Enthusiasts - for over 20 years, they do a summer cruise around Vashon. Something about the ferry ride and all those beautiful country roads gets thousands of bikes on the island this week. Gotta love a little alternative economic development! Bikers no less.

Now, apparently, coming from Casey who is well connected in this circle there are 2 separate events on different weekends; one for the small bikes and scooters - today. And, the one for bigger bikes and that is later on in the summer.

Casey is a heavy. He knows all the people who run this thing so Jake gets the automatic entre into the "scene". Jake and Casey get to have a little male bonding day or a "bromance" as the they say. Two dads; feeling like hot shit. Cruising around on scooters. Priceless.

This little beauty is Jake's ride, a 1983 Honda Passport, lovingly restored and fully customized for zipping to and from the tennis court! Note the streamlined racket holder! What a life!

So, when you say Happy Father's Day over here today; it definitely is one.

Hope it is where you are too.

Update: Rare thunderclouds and rain showed up mid-day just as the Tidler cruise was ending and the bbq beginning.

Delicious snark

If the world were crazy

From the District Dispatch:

"You may know Chautauqua’s Lance Morgan as the guy who makes sure your kid gets on the right bus at the end of the day. Many of us also see him as Master of Ceremonies during Vashon’s opening day of baseball. However, there’s a whole other side to this meticulously well-organized baseball fan. He’s an awesome songwriter and videographer, and he’s applying his talents to everyday life at Chautauqua. From recording a day on the playground to bringing a Shel Silverstein poem to life with 5th-grade artwork, Lance finds the words and music to spice up our humdrum days. Take a moment to watch some of his videos; you’re sure to see some familiar faces doing some really wacky things."

Breakfast for dinner: Groucho Marx edition

I am pretty militant about dinner. I like for the whole family to sit down and chat about our days. During most of the year it works but then summer hits.

I am out watering plants and I notice, "Holy Cripes! It's almost 7:00!" This happened AGAIN last night and demonstrated just how it is around here during the summer.

When in doubt? Breakfast for dinner. Not cereal and toast. I haven't gotten that bad...yet. But, how about Gluten Free Waffles, sausages and fruit. Usually everyone is up for it and acts like it is some big treat.

We have really cut down on it due to Shea being allergic to eggs but a little breakfast for dinner never hurt anyone.

Last night, Molly created (and allowed me to photograph for use on my blog) her Groucho Marx edition of Breakfast for Dinner.

Why? Good question.

All the 5th graders had to pick a person and research them for "Night of the Notables" an in depth biographic report with props, time line, costumes, display board, representative foods.

The big presentation was Tuesday night and she, of course, had picked Grouch Marx because he had made so many people laugh.

I would think that Groucho has worked his way into her consciousness for good if he is ending up on her dinner plate.

Good bye, at last.

Today we said good bye to Shea's AM preschool option. It is a lovely little private preschool nestled in a forest surrounded with lots of walking trails. We started back in the fall with the best of hopes.

I guess it has always been somewhat of a stretch but we hung in there for the whole year. A stretch because I just don't think the teacher has much of a clue about kids with special needs although she is certainly has plenty of experience.

I think she was pressuring Shea a little too hard at potty training where he became very reluctant to even try during the winter. She had her hands full and couldn't watch all the kids at one time and playground time got a little crazy with Shea sort of falling apart on an almost daily basis. Or him getting blamed for stuff because he couldn't verbalize what happened. She also seems surprisingly rigid about certain things; kids can't bring anything from home, always wear inside shoes inside, always play with this toy like this, etc.

I don't know. Maybe that is the Montessori way.

It seemed like she did a lot of apologizing for stuff over the year, now that I look back. Misunderstandings. Shea having problems at playground time. One other kid saying he is "afraid" of Shea. Shea saying he didn't like it. I never could quite get a handle on what was going wrong over there.

But, today just takes the cake. Talk me off the ledge readers.

Today being the last day of school, she had scheduled a party for the last hour and all parents were supposed to show up and bring food. Ok. I am pretty darn busy during the day but I can do that.

But, I get there and she is inside with all the kids while all the parents are sitting outside waiting. Well, they all finally come out holding hands and snaking around the yard. Two kids pipe up saying, "Welcome to our graduation ceremony."

Uh oh. I thought this was just a party. Seems a little kooky by now but whatever. Sort of reminds me about the diatribe in the movie The Incredibles where he is talking about how everyone is always coming up with more ways to celebrate mediocrity. I mean, it is just the end of a pre-school year. Graduation ceremony? Give me a break!

They each climb up the play structure and are supposed to slide down while saying their name. Weee! Nothing like a little on the spot, high stakes verbalization with the added pressure of 20 parents staring at you for a speech delayed kid! Weee!

All the kids do it, Shea is last and he doesn't want to or can't do it. Gets more and more embarrassed, frustrated and shy. Doesn't want to come down the slide. Clueless teacher doesn't even get it at first and tries to coax him but only ends up making him cry.

I go and rescue him. Thanks. Thanks a hell of a lot!

Then, she says all the kids are going to go over there and get in a circle and sing a song. Bleh. No thank you very much. I just took a crying Shea and we walked through the trails a little bit and then went home.

So, for the last day of school, Shea gets to be humiliated in front of all these gaping parents for a stupid "ceremony" that seemed to be nothing more than a "dog and pony show" for the parents to justify $360 a month for morning preschool.

Result? My kid gets to stick out. My kid gets to be the odd ball. My kid, obviously, doesn't want to do it but is pushed through this teacher's whim so she can show the parents what good little preforming seals they are.

I guess I am livid that she is so lacking in empathy and intuitiveness that she wouldn't foresee difficulty or problem or discomfort for Shea. Maybe she did. Maybe she asked him. Maybe not.

Livid? I am pissed off! I wished I hadn't even taken him there today.

Good riddance, AM Preschool. I sure am glad we have a better option for next year.

Doesn't matter how you do it...just do it!

I met with a new client today who I had been saying good morning to for months, we just hadn't been formally introduced yet. But, I have been smiling and saying hello to this friendly, happy face just because she was a friendly, happy face.

Today, when I visited her house for our meeting and she opened her door, we recognized each other immediately and felt like we already sort of knew each other and proceeded to have an excellent meeting.

Great ice breaker by the way and one of the good sides of living in a small town.

She has a little girl, maybe 31/2, who chattered and flitted around as we talked business. At one point, we were outside and the girl whipped down her panties and had a perfectly acceptable potty right there in the driveway.

I, naturally pro-potty, cheered and congratulated her while her mother was mortified at her kid. I just had to laugh.

I explained that my kid hasn't gotten the hang of pulling down his underwear yet so that is our summer project.

She admitted that her husband and son get to pee outside all the time and the little girl must be feeling jealous. Who can blame her?

What is the good of living in the country if you can't pee outside when you want to?

Twitter, twitter, tweet

Female plumbing maintenance: necessary evils

Sorry male readers, you may want to just move on along for now.

I will admit this to the rest of you brave folks with chagrin and more than a little bit of shame. I haven't had an annual exam since Shea was born! And, by Annual Exam you know exactly what I mean. The old Pap. Stirrup trip. The female equivalent of "turn your head and cough".

I am only admitting this to you because I went and got it over with today. And, it was as pleasant as I remember. No results back yet, of course, so let's just say, if I don't mention anything then everything is just fine.

But, this is a perfect example of one of the down sides of small town living. How well do you want to know the person who has to come face to face with your yester-regions? In a town of 10,000, chances are you may know them pretty well.

Oh sure. I have a doctor. And, she is just fine but I didn't get my tookus over and see her for 5 years did I? Why? Frankly, I don't know. All I can say in my defense is I crave a little anonymity sometimes. Especially during a Pap.

So, a week or so ago, this interesting little article popped up in our local rag, The Beachcomber. A new Women's Health Clinic is opening up! A gal with 24 years experience as an RN who volunteers with Planned Parenthood is opening up a solo practice right here on Vashon. And, I don't know her!!! Hurray!

Well, I felt like it was devine intervention. The Almighty in all her wisdom really wants me to get my pap so I gave her a call. And, surprise, surprise she is wonderful and answers her own phone and got me right in.

Today was the day. And, it was very annoying but not all that bad and whew! am I glad it's over. I would recommend it to anyone.

But, it sort of got me thinking. Molly is kind of getting to that age. She had "health" class this year which is what they call Sex Ed these days. She is probably too young now but I thought I would take her to the Women's Health Clinic in a year or two. Let her establish a good healthy relationship with a nurse so she can become familiar with the long term care and maintenance of her female parts.

And, while they are at it? Blow wide the doors for appropriate birth control access. Let her have a safe and hopefully not too embarrassing access to information and birth control. I guess the theory being; make it available and not taboo before she needs it, so it will just become a natural part of it.

I remember it well. My mom grabbed me and drove me to Planned Parenthood when I was 14 years old. Sigh. I was always in such a rush to grow up. But, it was a very, very smart thing for her to do. I wish we had a Planned Parenthood on the island but somehow I think our new Women's Health Clinic will work.

Sometimes, a smart mother, will just let her kid have free access to talk with their own doctor. You know, a little anonymity. What a novel idea!

Discount store employs people with special needs

Nice to see this is happening even with the downturn in the economy.

From Newsnet5.com:

PARMA, Ohio -- Cost-conscious shopping caused by the recession has allowed a new discount store to provide jobs for people with disabilities. Many of Just-A-Buck's 16 special-needs employees had recently been laid off from mainstream workplaces.

The only nonprofit Just-A-Buck franchise nationwide, the store in the Cleveland suburb Parma supports the training and placement of the disabled in workshops or workplaces. Some shoppers said they like bargains and also like supporting store workers with special needs.

The store opened in April is operated by Solutions at Work Inc., an arm of the Cuyahoga County Board of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities. Many of the store's workers had lost jobs from previous SAW placements.

Potty training euphoria

Shea has gotten the potty down for both #1 & #2!

Although, he is still confused by the underpants variable.

Doesn't get the peep hole. Doesn't get how easy they can come down. Just doesn't get it.

So he is the pantless wonder, running around with bare tush, etc. and I really don't care. I haven't changed a diaper in a week.

Give him some time and those underpants may not be so darn confusing.

Euphoria indeed!

Free speech! Get your free speech, right here!

Imagine traveling all around the country just to wave a "God hates fags" sign around.

Sad, lonely, hate-filled wing nutz. Glad the kids and others came out in force to show them how out numbered they are.

From the Seattle Times:

A boisterous counterprotest by hundreds of Garfield High School students and other community members voiced messages of tolerance in drowning out a small extremist group's provocative demonstration in Seattle's Central Area early today that declared President Obama is the Antichrist and that God hates homosexuals.

Waving signs reading "God hates Fags" and "God hates Obama," the group of seven people from the Topeka, Kansas-based Westboro Baptist Church stood in a gravel lot behind metal barriers across the street from Garfield High for about 30 minutes this morning, chanting and singing about a vengeful God and the end of the world.

As they did, dozens of passers-by in cars and on foot filed by to honk, wave fists, wag middle fingers and shout obscenities at the small group, whose message was overwhelmed by the singing, cheers and protest chants from of the crowd of teens and others gathered across the street at the school's main entrance.

Students, teachers, parents, local church leaders, members of gay and lesbian groups and others held hands and sang songs, with many donning purple — Garfield's school color — as a sign of solidarity. Some handed out buttons reading "I am loved," others waved signs with felt-penned messages, such as "God hates Figs" and "You're not in Kansas Anymore," to counteract the church group's infamous rhetoric.

"This is an affirmation of our community's strength," said Hanna King, 15, a Garfield sophomore who organized the opposition rally, which ended about the time school started. "It has nothing to do with them; they're crazy. This is about what we believe."

Is this what democracy looks like?

My thoughts are with our world neighbors in Iran who are showing us what they think of election shenanigans. Me thinks they don't like it much.

Let's send hope for a peaceful conclusion.

Code Pink builds playground in Gaza

"Code Pink is a women-initiated grassroots peace and social justice movement working to end the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, stop new wars, and redirect our resources into healthcare, education, green jobs and other life-affirming activities."

Life affirming activities? Like building a bright pink playground structure for kids in Gaza? Yes, like that!

Blessed are the peace makers. You girls rock!

Apple doesn't fall far from the tree

I have been a blabber-mouth my whole life. Talking even more when nervous, I was always getting into hot water for talking too much or saying the wrong thing or blabbing a secret.

Molly=apple

Me=tree

I remember when I was in about 3rd or 4th grade, wishing with all my heart that I could be quiet and shy like that little blond girl on my bus. She didn't say embarrassing things. She didn't get in trouble for giggling too much in class.

Looking back, she didn't have much of a personality either but I didn't see the big picture back then.

There were some real tough years back then, trying to be something I just wasn't and wishing the impossible. Tough years.

I also remember in 8th grade, I accidentally blabbed my best friend's secret. I don't even remember what it was but she was livid at me and told me she didn't want to be my friend anymore. She felt betrayed and I felt lower than a snake's belly.

When Molly started her own round of getting in trouble for blabbing or giggling or disrupting class or clowning, it brought me right back. Although, her teacher called it working on "self control" which I thought was an excellent way to put it.

All of us, no matter what age, work on our self control. But I remember saying to her teacher that what Molly has is Joie de Vivre and it will serve her well in life. That Joy became the other side of the scale as we focused on her "self control" and in no way did I want to squash that in her.

I am not as much of a blabber mouth as I used to be although I can still get pretty cranked up when the time is right. Although, I still say stupid things that I wish I could take back.

But, I wish I hadn't thought of my extrovertedness as a negative thing when I was a kid. After all, I was goofy and fun and exuberant and entertaining and to be around. Just like Molly.

I wish I had just been told I had Joie de Vivre.

Congrats! Class of 2009!

Vashon High School students were accepted to the following colleges this year:

American University, DC
Bellevue College
Brigham Young University, Idaho
California College of the Arts
California Polytechnic State University
Central Washington University
Chapman University
Colgate University
Colorado College
Cornish College of the Arts
Cuesta College
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University
Evergreen State College
George Washington University
Georgetown University
Goucher College
Green River Community College
Lewis and Clark College
Loyola Marymount University
Macalester College
Montana State University
North Idaho College
Occidental College
Olympic College
Rhode Island School of Design
Santa Barbara City College
Seattle Central Community College
Seattle University
Shoreline Community College
South Seattle Community College
Tacoma Community College
University of Puget Sound
University of Arizona
University of LaVerne
University of Washington
University of Washington, Honors
Vassar College
Washington State University
Wellesley College
Wesleyan University
Western Washington University
Western Washington University, Honors
Whatcom Community College
Whitman College
Wyotech