I've Spent All My Confidence.

I think I'm in confidence-debt, but I can't really afford to stop spending it now.

For those of you who don't know, my two-year-old son is autistic.  He was diagnosed in February when he was 20 months old.  He's been receiving ABA since then.  I have to say, my whole family really snapped into action when I told them.  My husband's parents came out of retirement from Hawaii, flew back here, and set up their house with a bunch of toys. It looks like a daycare.  This benefits not only us, but my in-laws. I have a neuro-typical (non-autistic) nephew who is eight months younger than my son, and my parents-in-law are just as happy to spend time with him too.  They've taken some of the burden of my son's therapy schedule, so I don't have to miss work all the time and subsequently, make up those hours on the weekends. 

But we haven't been supported in every arena.  The Regional Agency we've been using fights us on every request.  I understand why.  They're overloaded with cases, and the less they do for my son, the older he gets, and the closer he is to aging out of the Early Start Program.  In addition to ABA, I'm sure that my son needs Occupation Therapy and Speech Therapy.  I was denied the OT by my caseworker.  So I've had to fight. I started by sending adamant emails. I then stepped up my game by attending the agency's board meetings, meeting the board members, and my caseworker's boss.  That seemed to work. I have a meeting scheduled to talk about the OT again, and am preparing for it by gathering the notes from my pediatrician, and from the head therapist who has been working with my son. 

I have a big binder with tabs.  I am organized AF. 

But I'm also SO exhausted.  I realized how lonely I am when I listened to my daycare provider complain (in a rather racist way) about people on welfare and how they exploit the system.  Sadly, she's a person who complains about a system she doesn't understand, and lumps all people into one category.  This made me sad. And lonely. I miss my friends.  My friends are critical thinkers who can hold rational dialogues without resorting to logical fallacies. 

So. very. lonely.

Night-time commentary

Between putting the toddler to bed, and then myself to bed, I curl up in the corner of the couch, in the dark, with my nightcap, and watch Star Trek.  In an effort to make this activity a little less lonely, I include the internet.

StarTrek episode "Journey to Babel:" May I introduce to you Ambassador Sarek, his wife Amanda, and her hair." #OMGTHEHAIR #StarTrek

— Beccajoojoo (@beccajoojoo) June 6, 2016

Star Trek episode"The Deadly Years:" Taking away Kirk's keys to the Enterprise. Chekhov is saved because he's scared of corpses. #StarTrek

— Beccajoojoo (@beccajoojoo) June 6, 2016

Star Trek episode "Friday's Child:" How many muppets had to die to make costumes for the Capellans? #StarTrek #Somuchfakefur

— Beccajoojoo (@beccajoojoo) June 5, 2016

The Capellan in charge has the shiniest hat and the most tassels. The Klingon looks Amish in comparison. #StarTrek #Moretassels

— Beccajoojoo (@beccajoojoo) June 5, 2016

Star Trek episode "Metamorphosis:" When dying diplomat turns love-sick space cloud and Kirk can totally "find another woman to end the war."

— Beccajoojoo (@beccajoojoo) June 5, 2016

My Accomplishments May Not Impress You

Wow, I'm terrible at updating this thing. 

My last post was a picture Odyssey of my friendship with Ken.  He's doing quite well, by the way. He's got a spanking new pacemaker and an extended lease on his life. I'm thrilled about that, and I'm sure his family is too, seeing as how his son just turned nine. 

Anyway, I thought I'd take a moment to list some of my latest accomplishments. These may not seem extraordinary. I haven't tromped up Kilimanjaro.  But I do work 40 hours a week, and I manage to get my son his 15 hours of behavioral therapy a week for his autism.

I've been working quite closely with my budget in order to afford a couple of Crossfit classes a week.  It appears to be working because it's been nearly two years since I had my kid, and I'm only five pounds away from my pre-baby weight. This is exciting to me. Also, I did a hand-stand for the first time in years.  I forgot how much fun they are.  I want to do them more, now, but there is really a lack of wall-space where I live right now.

Also, after I put the boy to bed, I have about an hour of time to myself. I should be paying bills or doing something responsible, I'm sure, but instead, I've been watching episodes of Star Trek (The Original Series), from the beginning, in order.  I'm having a LOT of fun with that.  Something about old science-fiction plots mixed with sixty year old socio-cultural norms cracks me up. I've also been posting my impressions to twitter. 

Here are some examples:

Star Trek "TheApple:" The cast of Jersey Shore beta-tests an early Hunger Games environment. #StarTrek

— Beccajoojoo(@beccajoojoo) May 31, 2016

Star Trek episode "I, Mudd:" We learn that the best way to destroy an android is with Theatre of the Absurd. #StarTrek #Theatremajors

— Beccajoojoo(@beccajoojoo) June 3, 2016

Star Trek episode "Catspaw:" *spoiler* THEY WERE MANTIS SHRIMP THE WHOLE TIME. Also, did a 5-yo do costume-design? Also, cute cat. #StarTrek

— Beccajoojoo(@beccajoojoo) June 2, 2016

Star Trek "TheDoomsday Machine:" Avoiding Sauron's butthole, and Decker, you so crazy! #StarTrek

— Beccajoojoo(@beccajoojoo) May 31, 2016


And now, I'm learning that embedding Tweets into my blog isn't working, and I don't know as much about HTML as I thought I did.

Never mind. It isn't as though more than 3 people read this anyway. 

Throwback Thursday April 28th 2016 - Because Ken

This is my friend Kenichi Hillis.  We went to college together. 

He had open-heart surgery today, so I'm thinking a lot about our friendship and the time we spent together. 

 



We majored in theatre and both suffered for it. However, we had a lot of amazing times and some hilarious memories to show for it.

 

He's got more charm, charisma, and creative energy than most people I know. And that's saying a lot.

 

I regret many decisions I made in my youth and during my college years, but being friends with Ken was never one of them.

 

Hang in there, Ken.  I love you, and I love your family.  You are forever the brother I never had.

 

 

 Update: Ken made it through and is recovering with his family!

Walking on the Elkhorn Slough

I used to go to Cross-fit twice a week, but circumstances surrounding my son's therapy schedule has made it difficult to attend.  To compensate for my lack of exercise, I've been using my breaks to walk a loop around the Elkhorn Slough. 

It's pretty picturesque.

Don't You Wish You Worked With My Sister?

So, I know some of you read my earlier post about my sister. 

http://creepycompound.blogspot.com/2016/03/trader-joes-anecdote-or-buffalo-wings.html

Awesome, right?  Well, my Dad texted me further proof of her awesomeness.  My sister, a faithful employee of Trader Joe's in Costa Mesa, leaves her artwork around for her coworkers to enjoy:

This inspires me to think of tax-related haikus to entertain my coworkers. On second thought, that might not go over very well.  While I'm thinking about that, look at this:

 

It's a little hard to read, so I'll translate: "We're ever so grateful for all that you do, and for coffee that helps us all do it!  So let's clean up behind any coffee we grind, every splash when we drink, or we brew it!" I do enjoy a clever limerick, but by the evidence of the coffee puddle, it might not be as effective as one might hope.

Sad Anniversary

On April 1st 1999 my mom died.  Her kidneys hadn't been working for a few years, but she was getting along okay on dialysis. However, something went septic in the catheter, and the resulting infection took her down within a week. 

The day I found out she died was probably one of the worst days of my life. I could say it was "the worst," but I've had some zingers, so I'm going to put it firmly in the top three.  It also happened on April 1st, thereby making April Fool's Day the most awkward day of the year for me.  Every freaking year.

Even though she's been gone for seventeen years (that's the age of a surly teenager on the verge of adulthood), I miss her constantly. Especially these days, now that my own son is a special needs toddler, and my Mother In Law is unstable, should be on medication, and is causing me all kinds of problems.  Yeah, I've got challenges and I need my mom to talk to.  I need her yesterday. 

Anyway, I miss you mom.