AWESOME article about Autism

The Truth About Autism: Scientists Reconsider What They Think They Know

I get so excited every time I read (and view) things like this. The world our George is growing up in is so very different than it used to be. Just think what may come next with just a little more research, a little more understanding, a little more compassion. I can't wait!

The Joys of Digital Photography

Subtitle: In which I take 47 pictures of grubby hands and a lady-bug.

Spring is on it's way. This was the first time I had been able to convince George to let a bug walk on him without feeling the need to pick it up repeatedly, thereby squishing it to death.

He was fascinated! I should have tried to get a video of him, because he kept saying, "Come on, lady-bug! Come over here!" Simply adorable. And what a difference from merely a year ago.


Unfortunately, a mere 1/2 hour later, he was stung, or bit, by something right up by his eye. It's all puffy now, but a bit of cuddling seemed to cure the pain. Yup, spring is on it's way.

The Two Stories of Armory

Story that we told Emma (Because, yes, we are horrible parents that, on occasion, lie to our children):

The people that Daddy works with in the National Guard have a cat that they adopted as a group. Each month, someone new takes care of him. Late October, it was our turn. A couple of weeks later, Daddy asked around and Yes! We can keep him! The guys are tired of passing him around and it's time for Armory to have a permanent home! Yay! We have a cat!

The REAL story:

There once was a stray cat that hung around the National Guard Armory and nearby restaurants. He often came inside the Armory to be played with, pet, and fed by the soldiers there on the weekends. No one there or in any of the surrounding businesses knew of any owners.

It was a crisp, sunny fall afternoon. Emma was busy with a play date and Jason had taken George for a drive to keep him occupied. They went to the Armory. The cat was there. Jason opened the side van door. The cat jumped in. The van's tires squealed as they raced away from the scene of abduction.

I got a phone call that the boys were taking a large, grey cat to the vet to have it checked out. The vet declared him healthy, (declared him an already neutered him), and said that if it didn't work out, one of the assistants there would adopt him. The cat was brought home. Quickly named Armory in dedication to the abduction site. And presented to a skeptical Emma. (Remember, she had recently lost two adorable kittens and had NO desire for an adult cat, thus the above story).

By the end of the afternoon, Armory had chosen Emma's bed as his favorite napping spot. By the end of the next day, he was greeting her at the door when she returned home from school. By the end of the next, she was calling him "her" cat and asking if maybe we could keep him. Whew!

He fits in frighteningly well with our family. Both kids carry him around the house in all manner of strange positions. He and Emma stalk each other, then cuddle for hours. He and Gracie tolerate each other. He roams the neighborhood, but always comes home and scratches at the door to be let in. And he likes to sleep in a sink that has a leaky faucet. Strange? Yes. Perfect? Oh heck, yes!

A late evening Valentine

Happy Valentine's Day to those who celebrate. We really don't but the kids had a great day and we're enjoying a bottle of wine as the day winds down.

(Yeah we look tired, but I promise we took the picture before the bottle was opened!)

Two weeks later...

And I'm still catching up!

The CD goes to the printer this week. I've already told the band that I'm frankly sick of looking at them. Adam says he'll send the MP3's of the songs, so I don't have to actually handle or look at the CD for a while. They sound great, though, I'll be sure to link the CD when it hits Amazon and iTunes.

Vegas was, quite simply, awesome. I worked my feet off, but had an amazing time. The PMA show was incredible, I saw lots and lots and lots of techno-gadgets that I would love to play with.
And seeing my friends from DSP was the best part. We laughed and talked and worked and walked and ate and drank and had SOOO much fun.

I'm hoping to join them again in San Jose, CA this summer. We'll be meeting at Adobe headquarters for an all day laptop crop. We'll be like nerdy kids in a educational toy store!! I'm hoping to turn it into a family road trip, it will depend on George's summer school schedule. I just can't imagine knowing all these incredible people being so close, and not being there myself.

On the home front, Jason was able to get a paid weekend off, so he and the kids had lots of, um, bonding time. Grandma and Papa helped a lot and Jason reaffirmed the idea that he would never be able to be a stay-at-home dad. I've never seen such a happy face as the one that greeted me in baggage claim!! But they all had a good weekend and I came home to happy kids and a clean house. LOVE that!

The snow from the other week is long gone now. We had a gorgeous day yesterday and spent the whole day outside doing yard work. Why does that feel so very good even though it's such hard work? Jason trimmed most of the bamboo that takes over our yard, along with various trees and vines. George helped make a hut and playground out of the bamboo, and Emma spent all day running around outside. Kicking rocks, running up and down our hilly field, and just enjoying the air. The best kind of day. Especially when we're due for more rain this week.

All in all, a very full couple of weeks, but we're all happy and healthy. Can't ask for more than that.