(pic source unknown)
In Praise of My Bed
by Meredith Holmes
At last I can be with you
The grinding hours
since I left your side!
The labor of being fully human,
working my opposable thumb,
talking, and walking upright.
Now I have unclasped
unzipped, stepped out of.
Husked, soft, a be-er only,
I do nothing, but point
my bare feet into your
clean smoothness
feel your quiet strength
the whole length of my body.
I close my eyes, hear myself
moan, so grateful to be held this way.
I admit, when I read “Just Kids” it was strangely life altering. I fell in love with Patti Smith. She’s a bad ass. No doubt. Strong and brave and fearless and smart and ferociously talented. I want to be her when I grow up.
When I see pictures of her, I take a deep breath and slowly exhale while studying every detail.
This site, fantastically named “Awesome People Hanging Out Together” has been mentioned everywhere lately. Have you seen it? It’s sublime.
This picture stopped me in my tracks, of course. Patti and William S.Burroughs? Yes, please. Look how he’s holding her arm. Good stuff.
I’ve been reading maniacally lately. Just can’t get enough. You going to laugh when I tell you what.
Uh huh.
I read all three books in 6 days.
If you’re not aware, it’s fan fiction based on Twilight but with massive amounts of dominant/submissive sex.
Yup.
It’s totally cheesy, poorly written (like Twilight, IMHO) and full of hot sex. It’s been called “mommy porn”, a moniker which makes me cringe. I had it on my iPad so obviously no one knew what I was reading. There I was at the Karate studio or working out, or waiting for a friend at a restaurant reading this tawdry tale. I found that endlessly hilarious. My dirty secret.
It reminded me of the paperback crap I would read laying out by the pool when I was in high school like Jackie Collins’ Lucky. Titillating garbage.
In other, more respectable book news, (ahem) I came across this lengthy list of memoirs today on the Hairpin and I’m not even kidding, my heart started racing with excitement. That is what a nerd I am. I love love love memoirs, biographies and the like. Don’t get me wrong, I love me some fiction too. But I enjoy knowing that something REALLY happened. (I was devastated, along with Oprah, when it came out that James Frey made up the majority of his memoir “A Million Little Pieces”) I’ve heard of a lot of these and am excited to dig in.
Pardon me while I continue my daydream of being locked in Tattered Cover for days surrounded by all of those delicious books.
I love to read to the kids at night. Especially now that they are into books that I like! We look forward to what’s happening next in the book. They get ready for bed and we all meet in “the big white bed.”
I read great reviews about Wonder by R.J. Palachio and decided to read it to them, mostly because I was so interested.
Here’s a brief synopsis:
August (Auggie) Pullman was born with a facial deformity that prevented him from going to a mainstream school—until now. He's about to start 5th grade at Beecher Prep, and if you've ever been the new kid then you know how hard that can be. The thing is Auggie's just an ordinary kid, with an extraordinary face. But can he convince his new classmates that he's just like them, despite appearances?
R. J. Palacio has written a spare, warm, uplifting story that will have readers laughing one minute and wiping away tears the next. With wonderfully realistic family interactions (flawed, but loving), lively school scenes, and short chapters, Wonder is accessible to readers of all levels.
I loved it and the kids seemed really into it too. Every night I’d say “Let’s see what Auggie’s up to.” Auggie narrates the first half of the book and the remainder of the book has different characters narrating a few chapters each. More than once the kids would say “Are you crying again, Mom?” I was moved on so many different levels. As a mother, a sister, and something I hadn’t felt in a long time, a 5th grader. Sometimes we’d talk about the book after we read, sometimes not. I liked hearing their reactions to things. How other people reacted to the way Auggie looks and what they said. More than once H&F were horrified at how cruel people can be. Even parents of other kids. Strangely, I appreciated that harsh truth and the fact that I could expose the kids to it somewhat safely through a book. People can be shitty. On the flipside, people can also be wonderful, shiny and brave.
I’m trying to decide on the next read. They’re really jonesing for the sequel to The Genius Files, and I’ll probably cave. It’s a good series. Lots of cool facts, action and likeable characters, which keeps Finny P interested.
Currently, I’m reading the novel The Paris Wife, about Ernest Hemingway and his first wife, Hadley. Even though it’s a novel, I find it fascinating. I LOVE tales of the brilliant writers in Paris during the 20s. Woody Allen’s Midnight in Paris was so magical to me.
I knew a little of Hadley Hemingway, which I discovered while researching what to name my darling Hadley, but this book makes me want to know more.
Reading has been a lovely refuge lately. Do you ever feel completely overwhelmed by the sheer amount of information being pummeled at you everyday?
Yup. That’s me.
Taking a break and blocking it all out.
Happy Tuesday, peanuts.
I’m not even halfway through the March issue but I found myself scribbling notes on college lined paper at the kitchen table.
I smiled while doing it.
I miss writing longhand. I like to write in cursive with a really great pen.
Adele is on the cover, looking gorgeous, per usual. (Although, I wish they hadn’t photo shopped her body on the cover. We know she doesn’t have a 20 inch waist, people. And it’s ok. )
She is, as you would guess, a great interview, full of vim and vigor. The interview validates why she is so astonishing. She’s brutally honest and claims she really has no idea where all of these beautiful songs come from. They just pour out of her. That type of honesty is inspiring and beautiful. She doesn’t talk about “the craft” or other such bullshit nonsense. She just is. Also, how cool is the fact that Rolling in the Deep came from a gang phrase used in UK? “Roll deep” basically means having someone have your back so you are never on your own if you get into trouble. She thought it was beautiful and changed it to “Rolling in the Deep.” Genius.
“Adele has one of the great dirty mouths of her generation. Get her going on a subject that raises her ire, and the obscenities fly like sparks off a welder.” –Jonathan Van Meter, Adele interview, VOGUE
“…Like sparks off a welder.” So good.
:::::::
The piece by Cheryl Strayed about her trek on the Pacific Crest Trail has me wanting to rush out and get her memoir: “Wild: From Lost to Found on The Pacific Crest Trail.”
I’m not a climber or really interested in it. It is her writing and her reasons for doing it that intrigued me. She had never backpacked before going on the trip. NEVER. That’s like me deciding to freaking hike the PCT (which, incidentally, took her 3 months and is 1,100 miles. WTF!) And very clearly, she finds herself needing to do it.
My mom died when I was twenty-two and she was forty-five. She died of cancer, but it wasn’t the way I thought a death by cancer would be—long and drawn out and cinematic. Instead, my mother was dead seven weeks to the day after her diagnosis. Her death was simple and ugly and it didn’t feel even remotely like a movie. It felt to me that I had died with her, and in some ways, I did. The vision I’d previously had of my life died. I don’t have a relationship with my biological father and though I had a step-father, he couldn’t continue being a step-father to me in the face of his own loss. And so I wandered forth, suddenly an orphan. – Cheryl Strayed
I understand why she did it with no experience. Why not? After a blow like that, you feel invincible. Not the invincible I felt after giving birth to H&F. That was empowering and invigorating. I felt so STRONG!
My Dad’s death left me numb. Nothing could hurt me.
When talking about her decision to make the trek, Cheryl Strayed says “Nothing bad could happen to me, I thought. The worst thing already had.”
This resonated so deeply with me, that I actually stopped reading for a second to look up, close my mouth and let that thought marinate.
I felt and feel the same way about my dad’s death. It was worse than breast cancer, depression, lupus…His death rocked me to my core. There is definitely a sense of “Nothing scares me now.”
:::::::
And a final thought on the issue: Florence Broadhurst for Kate Spade? Fan-freaking-tastic. A beautiful marriage!
Hello snowflakes.
I’m so much better.
Oh so much better.
I’m me again. Maybe better. Brighter? Definitely.
It was like a reboot of sorts. Incredibly painful and sucky but I got through it, dammit.
I am badass. Hear me roar.
I feel beyond lucky to have such supportive friends and family. Where would I be without you?
Coinciding with my climb out of the hole of depression is my extreme inspiration from, seemingly everything:
Here’s to more happy days!
xo
Hi kids.
Sigh.
It’s been a while.
I had surgery last week on a herniated disc that has been plaguing me for YEARS. It had just progressively gotten worse and the solutions (injections, PT were doing NADA) so I said “fuck it. do surgery” and proceeded to schedule it for the day before Thanksgiving.
It’s called a minimally invasive lumbar discectomy. Basically, they put me under, make a small incision, cut out the herniated disc part, move the nerve that is unhappy to a happier place and stitch me back up. It was supposed to be outpatient but they couldn’t get my pain under control (awesome!) to send me home so I was admitted for the night.
I am currently in the recovery part, which I hadn’t anticipated would suck balls. There isn’t relief, yet. It’s supposed to come eventually, but of course, Debbie Downer infiltrates my brain and convinces me that there will be no difference. The doc says it will take 6-8 weeks to notice the full difference. It’s been 1 week.
For two weeks there is to be: no bending, lifting or twisting. No lifting anything over 10 lbs. No driving. I can walk all I want, which I have been doing, when I haven’t been sleeping because I’m more tired than I’ve ever been. Add in pain pills and it ain’t pretty.
Yesterday I had a total pity party. Poor Peter. He works from home, so from time to time, I would just show up in his office, shoulders slumped with frowny, borderline cry face on.
Patience, he would say. You’re doing great.
It’s hard to be patient when Christmas buzz whirrs around me and everyone is rushing and talking about how much they have to do! So much to do!
And there’s me.
The turtle.
I know it’s all doable.
And it’s not a race.
My mantra for this month is to keep it low key. Imagine my delight when I received an email from MCA Denver yesterday with this picture attached.
Seriously?
FAB-U-LOUS. (I heart the beautiful naked guy in the grocery cart)
I love it and want it to be our Christmas card. I’m not sending those, by the way. Christmas cards. It’s not low key. Wouldn’t want to mess with the theme.
I just finished Mindy Kaling’s Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) thereby cementing the fact that she and I need to be friends. It’s a quick and super hilarious read.
Today, I will be good to myself. And no pity parties. And maybe I’ll shower. Maybe.
Good morning Glories!
Well technically, it’s 11:30, but whatever.
My sister and I are taking our Mom to Santa Fe this weekend to celebrate her 70th birthday. To say I am excited is an understatement. I am elated to be free of dependents and spend time catching up with these lovely Padden women.
Shaking things up creatively in my life has gone well, aside from an injury. (OF COURSE, you say, because this woman is full of dramatic medical garbage)
HJ and I started English riding and it RULES! I love giving up control, being in a situation where I have NO idea what I am doing, and having the instructor tell me what to do. She literally stand in the middle of the ring and says things like “HEELS DOWN, EMILY. WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH YOUR ARMS?” That may sound scary to most, but I was craving it. I’m in so much control in my life (the mama knows all!) that to not have it is liberating. I completely disregarded the fact that the other 3 people in my lesson at times are 9 year old girls. I don’t care. Their moms, who are my age, lean on the gate chatting while drinking lattes and carefully watching.
I don’t care. Let them wonder what the fuck this middle aged woman is doing learning how to ride.
Learning something new is exhilarating and empowering. And don’t even get me started on being around the horses. They are the ultimate. So beautiful and soft. Each with their own personality and likes and dislikes. There is SO much manual work involved with riding that takes the feeling of satisfaction to the next level. It’s dirty, hard work. And so worth it. I am spent after our 1 hour lesson, which is actually more like 2+hours when you factor in tacking your horse and untacking (is that a word?) after the lesson.
I adore being with Hadley as well. We chat the whole way home about our wonderful lesson and sometimes stop for dinner, just us. I’ve said more than once “If you’re embarrassed to have your mom in your lesson, just let me know.” She assures me she loves having me there. My heart swells after each lesson, when she leans in close to the horse and thanks him for letting her ride him. Oh my sweet rare bird.
Now, to the injury part.
I have had back/disc issues since 2007. I herniated a disc, then reinjured it in 2009 after a particularly dramatic roller skating fall. (Where I swear, my innards were rearranged.) And now, while learning how to post in English riding (the act of basically standing up and down on the horse – lots of leg/thigh work) and being new to it, LOTS of bouncing up and down, I have reinjured myself. Can’t get into the spine doc until November 3 or something. So, riding is on the backburner until now and the pain can be excruciating. Here’s the rub: The pain subsides with pain meds. However, the pain meds turn my mind and body to jelly. Now, at times, that is lovely and I do mean lovely. But for the majority of my day, I can’t be jacked up on Percocet. Plus, I like to be clear headed.
In short, it sucks. But whatever. Life could be so much worse. Focus on the positive, girl.
I’m still working my way through Keri Smith’s Wreck This Journal, although very slowly. I had a delightful time actually chewing on a page. Funny.
The Mindful Life Yoga For Kids training I did in September was stellar. STELLUH. I highly recommend it, even if you don’t end up teaching. Upcoming trainings are in Portland and Miami. The training itself let loose my inner child, which was immense fun and made me think about things from a completely different perspective. The director of the program, Kristen Race, is SO knowledgeable (she calls herself a “brain nerd” because she loves learning about the brain – love it) as well as being super cool. I also am seriously contemplating somehow teaching this wonderful method, although my life keeps getting in the way. To be continued...
I finally got my knipple tattoos, y’all! Yes, I did. My bubbies are complete! I put it off out of sheer laziness and because it is spendy. ($800 – covered by insurance but we all know how long it takes them to reimburse you) They look really really good, friends. I mean, they look real! I was and am blown away. The woman who did it had lots of interesting stories. She used to be a makeup artist in Hollywood and was very skilled. She looked at my skin tone and decided upon a color palette. It was all very interesting. Although, I cringed every time she pronounced “areola.” She kept saying “arEEla.” Don’t you think you should get word down as it is the majority of your work?
I digress.
It took about 3 hours to do but we chatted away the entire time and it was dare I say, fun? It didn’t hurt, as I have no sensation but later I felt twinges in my armpit or lower chest. Perhaps nerves that had reattached themselves. I would show you if you were here. I really would. I have long since gotten over the uncomfortable look on people’s faces when I say “You wanna see??” and lift my shirt before they have time to answer. That never gets old.
Let’s see. What else?
I’m reading The Space Between Us and it is beyond fantastic. Really beautiful writing and interesting characters. I find myself dreaming of when I can sneak away to read, a feeling I adore.
I’ve been listening to Beirut’s new album, The Rip Tide, almost constantly and I’m loving it.
I hope your Friday has a little bit of joy sprinkled in somewhere. I’m making pumpkin bread, packing for Santa Fe and staying in my pajamas all day.
XO
If you ask me to describe my mom, one of the first things I would tell you is that she’s a reader. A voracious reader. She always has been. We were a family of readers with books everywhere, trips to the library and trips to the bookstore being especially magical because we could keep that book forever.
She’s always been a writer too. A fact she would dispute by the way, but she is a writer, and a wonderful one at that. I’ve said FOR YEARS that she should submit something or try to get published or even just write for her own enjoyment but she never did. But recently she submitted an essay to a magazine asking “What does reading mean to you?”
This is what she had to say:
I can see the library shelf in my mind even now. Biographies were on the bottom rack of the children’s section in the library in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on North Avenue near Lisbon. It was 1951 and I was nine almost ten. My mother had finally allowed me to walk the mile to the library by myself. She didn’t drive. I will never forget the thrill of that walk and discovering the joy of my life, reading.
The books in the biography series were all in orange covers and arranged alphabetically. Jane Adams was the first. She was an aware and influential woman who started the Chicago Community Center, Hull House. I LOVED the book, and years later became a social worker partly because of that book and her beliefs. At home my mother put all the books she thought were too “adult” for me on the top of our bookshelf. I got a stepstool and stretched carefully to get GONE WITH THE WIND down to read. She found out when I was about halfway through and reluctantly allowed me to finish it. Thanks, Mom. It was great. I saw “damn” in print even though I never heard it at home.
I loved reading from the moment I first learned about Dick, Jane, Sally and Spot. I was reprimanded for not coming to the dinner table on time, and would walk slowly while holding a book to my face. I was told I couldn’t read at the table so I would carefully place a bookmark to mark my page and eat quickly. I used to read late at night and my mother would invariably discover me under the covers with a flashlight so the light wouldn’t be seen from under my door. She was a kindred spirit as she would say, “Stop at the end of this chapter, Ellen”.
Through my wonderful book club which I have enjoyed for 25 years I have read all types and varieties of the written word I might not have chosen for myself, but am so glad that I have read. We call ourselves “Ladies of the Club” like the famous book by Helen Santmyer that took her 50 years to write. When we started in the late 1980’s we all had teenagers, and through the years we have shared our joys such as our children’s marriages and grandchildren, our hardships of personal illnesses and those of our spouses, and sorrow over the deaths of a spouse and one of our own dear members.
What I really know about reading is that it has sustained me, entertained me, lifted my soul, broadened me, and it has become my best friend. I plan books to take on vacation before buying a new outfit. I don’t even have to go on vacation…I can read about it and transport myself, quite the benefit in these economic times!
I commented on Meg’s blog (because she posted mom’s essay too) that my mom’s writing is so rich and warm, filled with fantastic details and a unique voice. If this essay isn’t enough to convince you, I’ve saved the majority of the emails she has sent me over the years as well as a TON of the letters sent to me in college. You’re welcome to come over and read them.
My mom rules and I’m grateful every day that she’s mine.
Bonjour Peanuts,
In my constant quest to seek out the extraordinary and do things that challenge me, it occurred to me that I haven’t been doing much seeking or anything challenging lately. So, I decided to change that.
I struggle with exercising my creativity (I guess this blog is one way to express myself creatively, but you get my meaning) so I took a baby step and got this book by the awesome Keri Smith.
I’m actually having a harder time with it than I thought. My “perfectionistic tendencies” are surfacing for sure. The first page says to stand on the page and mark it up. With your shoes on. That could possibly be dirty!
I did it. And it felt oddly liberating. I daintily stepped on the page and left a little dust mark. (note to self: do over)
Hadley read through the copy when I first got it (I told her not to tell me any of the pages) and was absolutely delighted by it. She was laughing and saying she wants a copy too! It comes so naturally to kids, to dive right in, to delight, destroy and create. I need more of that in my life.
The second page (I’m going in order, like a nerd) says to splash coffee or tea on the page. Again, I hesitated, and then I just did it. And it felt good! I look forward to creatively destroying this book. Wish me luck. (I’m going to channel my most favorite artistic old same, ELK, during this project. She’ll be my muse.)
I also signed up to become certified to teach yoga to kids. It’s called Mindful Life Yoga for Kids. It looks really really interesting.
From the website: “The method is theoretically derived and informed by the latest research in the fields of cognitive neuroscience, positive psychology, social and emotional learning, and mindfulness.”
Mindful Life Yoga for Kids is a unique and innovative program specifically designed to help children develop:
I honestly don’t know if I’ll even use the certification beyond my own house. I do know that the techniques are tools I would like to have in my arsenal for Hadley and Finn.
The training is this weekend. All weekend. Friday from 5-7pm and then Sat and Sun from 9-4. I’m excited and nervous. Excited because I’ll be learning… YEAH! Nervous because lupus is probably going to be Debbie Downer as this is a lot for my body to take and I’m already feel kind of shitty. We’ll see how it goes.
And the other thing I’m doing to get out of my comfort zone is taking English riding lessons with Hadley! I’m so looking forward to it. She’s been begging for years to do it. I thought she would get over it. Who was I kidding though, this is Hadley we’re talking about. So, while signing her up, I thought “I’d like to do that too.” So, I am. We were supposed to have our first lesson on Sunday but Hadley was sick. I’ll have to get PGP to take some pics of me and my girl. I’m thrilled to be around horses. I loooooove them. And let’s be honest, the riding outfit is really cute too.
It’s an overcast day and I’m feeling fluish and achy, courtesy of Hadley and her cold. My bed beckons me.
Happy Wednesday to you. Get out of your comfort zone. It feels good. Weird. But good.
XO
…really wanting this shirt. Beard love!
…starting to feel a little better, although the nausea lingers. Puke.
…devouring “Boardwalk Empire” – SO GOOD!
…pouting over extra poundage. (I know, I know, no one wants to hear skinny people complain that they feel fat, but suck it. This is my blog and I can have fat days too.)
…searching etsy for valentine’s cards for the kids to give out. I hate the cartoony ones.
…wanting to buy this so I can learn Spanish
…still feeling loose and relaxed from a massage yesterday. Nothing like a masseuse with intuitive hands
…trolling cute invitation sites for HJ’s birthday party invites and a lovely friend’s baby shower invites. I heart great paper coupled with exquisite typography. It’s kind of my porn.
…excited to see The King’s Speech tomorrow
…dreaming of our next vacation
…eating Lindt dark chocolate with sea salt. OMG. (see earlier line point about extra poundage)
…looking forward to brunch with my mama and family this weekend
…reading this book and this one too and loving both.
…needing to get my hair cut. I’m starting to look like Cousin It.
Happy Weekend.
XO
Hello little squirrels.
Here are some things I’ve been loving lately:
I hope today brings you a welcome surprise or at least a few things that make you laugh out loud.
XO
While picking up presents at Tattered Cover, I stopped to peruse the holiday books.
I’m so bored with most of them and was delighted to find a creative alternative to the usual fare.
From School Library Journal:
Coyote is expecting Beaver, Bear, Otter, and Moose for a solstice dinner at his small house in the woods but a little girl in a reindeer costume shows up first. When the friends follow her tracks to discover where she came from, they discover a huge and frenzied mall just beyond the woods, where Coyote goes wild shopping until he discovers that he has to pay for the stuff. The humor is dry and affectionate, the rhyming text delights with sly turns of phrase, the watercolor cartoons are whimsical, and the small size of the book (a bit bigger than a DVD case) adds to the charm. This holiday treat will leave readers with no doubt that an evening spent at home with your buds is priceless.–
The kids love it, especially Finn, and we’ve been reading it every night.
Yesterday, I went to the hospital for a HIDA scan. I’m trying to make peace with doctor’s offices and hospitals as places that I spend a great deal of time. My thinking is “try to make the best of it.”
I brought my new book (LOVE!) and curled up with it while I waited for my turn. During the test, I lay on this table, they put in an IV, inject me with radioactive dye and then watch and take pictures for an hour and a half while the dye makes its way through my body. It’s actually pretty cool and it wasn’t too bad as far as tests go.
I slept on and off under a lovely heated blanket while they scanned and took pictures. I daydreamed about someone coming to wax my eyebrows and tint my eyelashes. That would have been nice.
After the test, I chatted with the charming European barista in the lobby who makes a killer cappuccino. We talked about how Americans can’t make coffee. So true. And then I took the long way home on a sunny day while listening to NPR.
Haven’t heard the results yet and I’m not expecting any news. They never find anything. Oh, the fun of lupus.
The good news is I’m not doubled over in pain, losing weight or eating Percocet like Tic Tacs anymore.
Life goes on.
I’m back to yoga and it feels glorious to be back on the mat. (For the past year, since cancer, I have been doing restorative yoga, which, while lovely, isn’t particularly strength building.) Going to a regular class showed me how weak I have become over the past year. Total spaghetti arms and legs. It’s a process…
Breakfast with RR on Sunday and lunch today with ELK has me feeling light and relaxed. I love you, Old Sames. (CTM too!)
Welcome to your Tuesday, people. I hope something makes you laugh out loud.
+ Trolling online for all of the goodies regarding Fashion Week. It would be so fun to be there! Of course, I would be the one in GAP jeans and a long sleeved black tee.
+ Hadley loves listening to books on CD while drawing in her room. We’ve checked out ALL of the Ramona series and guess who narrates every single one? Stockard Channing. It’s divine. I often find myself wandering into HJ’s room when it’s on and staying awhile.
+ Caprese salads with my own tomatoes
+ My excitement over getting Jonathan Franzen’s new book, Freedom. I listened to an interview on Fresh Air today and it made me giddy. It doesn’t take much to get me going. I’m kind of a goob that way.
+ Dreaming about our trip to Sayulita in January with my besties and fams. Yes, please.
picture from Under The Pyramids
+ Skeletons are always fascinating to me. They’re beautiful. H is on a mission to collect skulls. So far we have a beaver skull and a mouse skull. On our mantel. Yup. We’re those people.
+ Peter. Always. Pure and simple.
I go through these phases where I fall upon something that fascinates me and I gobble up every available morsel of information about it.
Currently, my obsession is autism.
It started when I watched HBO’s Temple Grandin, the biopic about a woman growing up autistic in the 50s and 60s. (expertly portrayed by Claire Danes)
That led me to read one of Temple Grandin’s books, The Way I See It, as well as check out from the library ALL of the other books she has written, including a memoir by her mother.
Temple Grandin is the first person to accurately describe what it feels like to have autism. I found the information fascinating, not only as an insight into autism but human behavior in general. I really do believe that MANY people exhibit symptoms on the autism spectrum.
I find her wildly inspirational and super interesting. She is a highly regarded expert on Autism, has her doctorate in Animal Sciences and was instrumental in designing humane livestock facilities in the 80s. Phenomenal.
She spoke at TED in June 2010. Check it out.
I also recently saw Autism:The Musical, which I highly recommend. (you can stream it on Netflix for free)
AUTISM: THE MUSICAL counters today's bleak statistics with one woman's optimistic pledge to lead a group of autistic children in defying diagnosed expectations by writing, rehearsing and performing their own full-length musical.
I spent a good amount of time in awe of the parents.
Autism usually doesn’t present when the child is born. When it does appear (2,3 or 4 yrs usually) I would think it is almost like a death, depending on the severity, of course. The autism spectrum is quite large. In most severe cases, you have a normal, happy, healthy child and then one day, she stops looking you in the eye and starts to behave erratically. I can’t imagine the heartbreak.These parents grieve the life they thought their child would have and the life they thought they, as parents, would have.
However, as with anything, you have to keep going. It takes energy, commitment, love and positivity. You see that in this film.
I have this habit of collecting artwork I love and then just holding on to it and never framing it. Well, sometimes I do frame it, but I have 4 or 5 that I NEED to frame because they make me happy.
Here is yet another Etsy find that I bought to frame from Pistachio Press.
Original art is so affordable and there are so many talented artists out there. This print, of course, makes me think of me and my furry boys. I also love the subtle pattern in the background. Plus, I just can’t resist letterpress. What is it? I immediately think “Oooo!” and want to touch it.
Kind of in a funk lately and feeling sorry for myself. Feeling SO so so tired and achy. And the heat doesn’t help. The stomach problem persists and really really sucks. I have constant nausea and pain. I have an ultrasound tomorrow and my gastroenterologist thinks it might be my gallbladder that is causing all of the problems. So, of course, if that’s it, they’ll have to take it out. The endoscopy was uneventful, except I think I know what it feels like to be roofied now. Bizarre experience. Not bad, just bizarre. Totally different from surgery because there really wasn’t a lot of prep time before. I mean, I was still wearing my clothes and shoes!
Did I tell you this already?
I’m always repeating myself.
Anyway, I’m over it and I’m being the meanest Mom ever. And my kids are being the suckiest kids ever in response to me being the meanest Mom ever.
Yesterday, I took them to Wendy’s for dinner and then Baskin Robbins for Ice Cream. Ok, I’ll totally get a ticket from the health police but whatever, i didn’t have to cook OR do dishes so suck it.
We do all that, which in my opinion is pretty damn cool and they’re still being jerks. It was on the tip of my tongue to say “You guys are total assholes.” But of course I didn’t. Then I actually had a mini dialogue with myself about why I couldn’t just tell them they were assholes, which had me laughing out loud.
I’m still on a reading bender. Can’t. Get. Enough! I just finished Live from New York, which was absolutely delicious. I am a comedy nerd and love to hear the ins and outs of things related to comedy. What happens BEHIND the scenes, especially with such an amazing, groundbreaking show. Plus, I’m fascinated by Lorne Michaels.
I am still trudging through Girl With The Hornet’s Nest. It’s strange, I just have no interest but I want to finish it, sort of.
I read Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld, which was a great read and I loved discussing it with the mucho analytical smarty Mrs. R. I’d like to read some other things by her.
I picked up Quantum Wellness yesterday for some help in the “my life is going to shit health wise” category and this could be helpful. We’ll see though. Sometimes these books just end up pissing me off.
Hope you’re having a lovely Tuesday, ladybugs.
The TV show, Wipeout, on ABC. It is a little boy’s dream show. It’s a crazy obstacle course. One of the courses is called “Big Balls.” For reals. If that doesn’t leave a boy in fits of laughter for 20 minutes, I don’t know what will. (full disclosure: It makes me laugh too. The hosts nickname everyone and one guy was called “Moobs” because he wanted to win the game and get breast reduction surgery. HI-larious. Every single time they called him “Moobs.”)
The book, Meanwhile: Pick Any Path. 3,856 Story Possibilities, by Jason Shiga. Finn carries it around. It’s like a cooler version of “Choose Your Own Adventure.” And I’m down with anything that gets him excited about reading. Plus, it’s insanely well done.
Slurpees. Every day he says “Mom, don’t you think today would be a good day for a Slurpee? Tastes so good on a hot hot day, don’t you think? Mom?” Indeed.
Hello world.
Life is speeding by, is it not?
Geez.
I’m enjoying it and trying not to spill my Fun Dip.
Lupus wise, all is quiet but of course, there is other drama. There always is, you know. My stomach is on strike. Something is amiss. It sucks. The doc’s doing an endoscopy on the 16th and that can’t come soon enough. Blech. He gave me some meds (Dexilant)that worked up until a few days ago when it just. stopped. BLARG. Constant pain. No appetite but I have to eat to have energy. I’ve been off dairy for a week and a half. Nothing. I’m trying to ignore it and push forward because I have shit to do, dammit. My darling Finny’s 6th birthday is tomorrow with his party on Saturday. Then, on Sunday, the rare bird, HJ, flies across the country (alone – her 2nd time – no big whoop) to stay with Grammy and Bompie in Asheville, NC. See? I don’t have time for ailments. (Funny side note: Hadley asked if a town car could come pick her up and take her to the airport. (What fear?) Sorry child, you’ll have to deal with your pedestrian parents taking your 8 year old ass to the airport.)
PLUS, you would think with stomach issues that perhaps I would lose a few pounds? Um, no. Instead, I have convinced myself that someone snuck into my house and washed all of my clothes on the hot cycle. Must.Not.Pop.Button up here in Bloat City.
Here are things that have been making me happy lately:
+The 4th of July. It was everything it is supposed to be: family, fireworks, fun, delicious picnic food, chaotic and strangely delicious even though it rained and was cold. The soundtrack the whole weekend was The Beach Boys, which helped greatly in creating a breezy, happy vibe.
+ So You Think You Can Dance – The passion and joy of these dancers is inspiring, really, as cheesy as it sounds. They’re young and eager and talented. It’s just refreshing. And who doesn’t love that Cat Deeley?
+ stolen moments alone – usually while driving, with music picked to suit my mood blaring from the speakers so loud I can feel it in my skin.
+being at the library
+swimming. Even though I could surely tell the kids that I wasn’t going to get in, because they can swim on their own, I always get in. And it never fails to feel fantastically refreshing.
+Russell Brand. The British accent coupled with rapier wit and fantastic vocabulary makes me extremely happy. I don’t find anything attractive about him physically, quite frankly. It’s all about the brain.
+being productive. I’ve had a surge of energy as of late and I’ve been using every last bit of it. It’s rare for me to feel fully productive and it feels amazing. (I’m talking about doing…gasp!…three things in one day, like mowing the lawn AND going to the grocery store AND cleaning a few rooms. Seriously, that’s unheard of in my world.)
+my tomato plant. I don’t grow things. I’m not good at it. But this little sucker is doing well and thriving! (Wait, strike that. I do geraniums but you can’t kill them.)
+Hadley’s new gecko, Sunny. Now, I was against this thing in the beginning, but she has warmed my heart. I know you shouldn’t anthropomorphize a stupid lizard but she is quickly becoming a much loved Provost. (sorry for the crap photo quality. It’s from my phone.)
Happy day to you, Chicklettes.
Posts
All Comments
