I LOVE the Very Nice Policeman

I’d just like to admit to public humiliation here because that’s what us bloggers do. Why? I have no idea. We do seem compelled to do it though.

Last night I was taking my oldest son’s friend home and got pulled over by the police. But wait! As any story on the internet, this one gets better. It was around 9:30 and he only lives about a mile or so away.


Very Nice Policeman: “License and registration.”

Me: “Ah, I don’t have my license. I’m in my pajamas. I was just bringing my son’s friend home.” I gestured to my very obvious pajama pants and pink fuzzy slippers. “Wait, the registration’s here.”

VNP: “Is the vehicle registered to you?”

Me: “Yes. I mean no. I mean it might be registered to my husband.”

VNP: “Do you know why I stopped you?”

Me: “Uh, no.”

VNP: “You didn’t come to a complete stop when you pulled out of that side street.”

Me: “Ah yeah. I live on that side street.” Not sure why I thought I should mention this.

VNP: “Have you noticed your muffler is very loud?”

Me: “Yeah, I asked my husband to have it taken care of but he hasn’t gotten to it yet.” Again, not sure why I can’t keep my damn mouth shut.

VNP: “You’re GOING to have it looked at. Right?”

Me: “Yes, of course. Right away.”

VNP: “Ok.”


And he then WALKED AWAY.

I have never gotten pulled over and not received a ticket.

N.E.V.E.R.

Love Breaks Your Heart

I was wrong about the IEP testing yesterday. It was a meeting to say, “Yes, we want there to be testing.” And “Yes, the school thinks there needs to be testing.” So now we wait for information from the school which we will sign and send back so they can put him on the schedule for testing. Phrases like, “I work in the summer,” were thrown around. I hate the snail-like speed of these things. Especially considering the heartbreaking tale that was painted of a child that just wants to do well and can’t. The absolute worst is the new thing he does of crying and saying he can’t because he is stupid. No matter how much I try to explain how smart he is and how we all learn differently and how his teachers tell us he is smart, he will not believe.

And he is smart child according to the teachers. Apparently they feel you can have a bad day and do poorly on a test even if you know the material but you can’t ace it by accident. So his high scores combined with his plunging low scores make his grades look similar to a saw blade. They tell us this means he’s smart but struggling with some unseen force that keeps him from focusing or processing or, most likely, a combination of ADD and some as yet unidentified learning disorder. Fun stuff.

I will admit that the fact this is finally getting looked at makes me happy. The fact his reading has improved so much that at nine he can read and comprehend and verbalize facts and concepts makes me thrilled. A year and a half ago I wasn’t sure when or if that would happen. Even in math he seems to understand the concepts but he doesn’t know his math facts so his grades are abysmal.

As frustrating a child as this one is, and he is frustrating and high maintenance and extremely exhausting, he breaks my heart when he is so clearly trying and he just can’t do something. I suppose this is what they call love.

Linky Love

'Tis Love Thursday in blogland and I'm expressing my love through links to some of my favorite bloggers.

First, we have Cursingmama's How Green Are You?
As you can see, my green IQ is 63. I have no idea how this stacks up against anyone else except for what the site below tells me - not too bad.


The next blogger you should definitely check out, if you haven't already, is Sharon Lyn over at s.m.ART. She got me addicted to FreeRice. I'm loving this site!

My highest vocab level is 42 and I've donated thousands of grains of rice since I discovered this site last night. I'm getting pissed though because I can't get past level 42. I have learned a few new words though. I've also repeatedly gotten a couple wrong. So I suppose I can be taught but I can also be especially dimwitted.

My favorite word I came across was omphaloskepsis. Do you know what this means? No? I didn't but I should. I've linked to the answer. Now tell me the truth... did you know what it means?

I must sign off now because the power keeps going out here at work and I must actually do some work while I still can.

Me Loves A Date Night

Especially one I don't have to plan.

My husband has planned a date night and to say I am excited would be like saying I am mildly glad my children are past the "Mommy, I need you to wipe my butt" phase.

• First dinner. Where? Who knows and who cares. I believe he's chosen an actual restaurant. Not the type of place we attend with the children. (I think it might be here though. Which if it is? Yeessss!)
  
• He has also secured care of the children.
• He has won. Yes, won as in not paid for *whoot!* tickets to see Mike Doughty at the German House.
• All I must do is show up.

The only downside?

I am old. And I forgot my earplugs at home.

Love of Words, Love of Writers & Illustrators

I really love some words. Words that fit a situation so perfectly that no other will do. Today's word is not one I've ever used before and I'm not sure I ever will, but I like it.

Today's Merriam-Webster's word of the day:

Pleiad: a group of usually seven illustrious or brilliant persons or things

In honor of this word I'm going to link to a pleiad of children's writers and illustrators that I love and know personally.

1. Cynthia Lord - author of Newbery Honor book Rules
2. Tamra Wight - author of The Three Grumpies
3. Jennifer Ward - author of many, many books
4. Val Giogas - author of In My Backyard
5. Mona Pease - author of articles in Babybug, Ladybug & Appleseeds Magazines
   
6. Denise Ortakaes - author AND illustrator of a bunch of books
   
7. Donna Farrell - Illustrator of Here's to Our Childfirst Day
   

The only problem is I have one more children's author I love. But that makes eight. And pleiad means a group of seven. What's a girl to do? Okay, pleiad plus one:

1. Candice Ransom - author of about a billion books. Instead of linking to some of them, I will link to her amazon page.
   

Love is Figuring out Technology

I love that I just figured out how to get photos off my phone.

Exhibit A:

This is from this past summer when I was on Fire Island.

I love the beach. I love technology. And I love that I finally figured this out after almost a year.