In honor ....

Never forget .....
Freedom is not free.

Another one lost ....

This has been a very bad/sad year for the music world.
Yesterday we lost another icon ..... Robin Gibb.

As part of the Bee Gees, their influence on music and pop culture in undeniable.
And immense.

Godspeed to you Robin!

On the Radio ....

 The music world has lost another beautiful, talented singer ....
The legendary and incomparable, Donna Summer:

You were such a HUGE part of my childhood and teen years.
Thank you for all the incredible music you shared with the world.
You shall be missed.

May your precious soul rest in peace .....


Godspeed Donna!

Sensory overload .....

Today is April 2nd .... the official Light It Up Blue for Autism Awareness.
This is a cause that is very near and dear to my heart ....

Little Man was diagnosed with PDD-NOS, which puts him on the Autism Spectrum Disorders list.
When I wrote this post last year, my baby was in a VERY bad place.

So was I.
We have come so far in the last year!
I wondered some days how or if we ever would.

He continues to amaze, astound, delight, frustrate and some days, scare the bejesus out of me.
Thankfully, we have more good days than bad days.

For kids with Autism or who have ASD, the senses are a huge part of the disorder.
Both good and bad.
Most have sensory integration issues.
Like Little Man ....

Both of my Haiku this week are not only for my son, but for others with ASD.

Jello? Too squishy

Clothing tags? OUCH! Deep, sharp knife.

Too much! Make it stop!

Sight, sound, taste, smell, touch

Emotions swirling, twirling

His sensory storm

Rafa is the host for this week ... and as you may have guessed, he choose SENSE for the subject/theme.
Please go visit .... you won't be disappointed!


 LIGHT IT UP BLUE FOR AUTISM AWARENESS!!!!!

Bald4Bucks **UPDATE**

I just wanted to write a short update to this post.


About a month or so ago, my gorgeous niece informed me that she was raising money for Bald for Bucks,
A fundraiser for cancer research.
She had a goal of $1000.00 and I'm pleased to say that not only has she met the goal, she has surpassed it!
She's currently at $1200.00 with 26 more days to go!

My niece ... in front of her self-portrait

WAY TO GO Q!!!!


I wanted to take this opportunity to thank those of you who have donated to the cause and helped her reach her goal.
I am constantly amazed and inspired by our little community and how we all come together ....
I thank you.

All for a great cause ....

Happy Friday everyone!

My amazing niece informed me yesterday that she plans on participating in

Goin' Bald for Bucks this year.

I can't begin to tell you how proud I am of her!
Not only is she trying to raise money for research, she will also be donating her lovely locks
 as well.
Anyway, here's her words:

Hey guys! I'm doing bald for bucks this year!

I'm trying to raise a lot of money, all the donations go to cancer research.

Any donation helps!

My goal at the moment is $1000. I will update the amount of money raised everyday!

So far today, i've technically (with people telling me the amount to put them down for) made $65 dollars. Please donate or tell others so that they may be able to donate!

The day of shave is March 30th during school!

Thanks for the support!

My niece .... she's smart, talented, gorgeous and just all kinds of awesome!

Goin' Bald for Bucks 2012

If any of my dear blogger family would like to help her achieve her goal, please click the linky link above ...... it'll take you right to her fundraising page.
Thank you for your love and support!

Have a great weekend y'all!

(Today's song selection is for you Q! You rock!)

Unexpected BLISS .....

On an unseasonably warm November day, I returned home from work and found a package in my mailbox.
I wasn't sure what it was ..... but when I saw who sent me the package, I was VERY excited!

I sat down in my favorite chair with a pair of scissors in my hand and opened up my parcel.
I opened up the box, sifted through the layers of paper, and this is what I found:

My very own DAY OF THE DEAD SKULL!
Handmade by THE totally Fabulous BOXER!

I was so overcome by her thoughtfulness I sat and cried.
Not just a few tears.
I had one of those soul cleansing, body wracking cries.

It felt good.
Better than good.

I have since placed him on the altar for which he was intended ....

He's right between my Mother and my Brother ....
Right where he belongs.

(The entire Altar)


Thank you Boxer ..... your thoughtfulness, generosity and friendship mean more to me than I can adequately express!
YOU are a big part of my bliss!

11-11-11

"At the 11th hour, on the 11th day of the 11th month ...."

To all who served ..... Thank you.

Never forget ....

Regardless of how you feel about what happened that day, 2,997 people gave their lives .....

"All gave some and some gave all
And some stood through for the red, white and blue
And some had to fall
And if you ever think of me
Think of all your liberties and recall
Some gave all"

Piece of the puzzle ....

I'm not sure if y'all are aware, but April is Autism Awareness month.

At least 50 kids today will be diagnosed as being on the Autism Spectrum.

Like mine was not too long ago.

My sweet, beautiful boy was diagnosed with PDD-NOS, Pervasive developmental disorder-Non Specific.

What does it mean?

Well, he displays some tendencies of Asperger Syndrome, and some tendencies of Autism.

Developmentally? He IS behind.

Intellectually? He's a genius.

Diagnostically? he's on the Autism spectrum. 
It's a very broad spectrum with a massive amount of grey area.

We knew he had some development issues 2 years ago and he started getting help.
He had been progressing amazingly well.

But in the last couple of months, his behaviors have changed enormously.

Many meetings ....
Tons of phone calls ....

I'm still in the process of working things out and getting him all the help he needs.

But ......

It's a battle.

It's a process.

And with all the budget cuts?
Yeah ..... it's even harder.

Personally, i'm still trying to wrap my head around it all.

I work with severely autistic kids, so I know how very challenging it can and will be.

But this is MY child.
My sweet surprise that just turned 6.
My blond haired, blue-eyed, gap-toothed, butt chin baby boy.

I watch him struggle with basic things like dressing himself and riding a bike.

But then out of the blue, he does complicated math problems (multiplication and division) and reads books that would normally be above him.
He's more computer literate than his teachers!
He is obsessed with Mario Brothers, Star Wars and Pokemon .... he can tell you everything about any of these subjects.

He's a wonder and joy.
Except when he's not.

It's difficult to take him places sometimes.

He looks 'normal'.

He acts 'normal' .... mostly.

But when he has a meltdown?
*sigh*

My son becomes "that kid".

You've seen him ....

The kid screaming and kicking in the middle of wherever we happen to be.

The kid who clenches his fists and whose eyes get dark and distant.

The kid who talks to himself, rocks, sucks his thumb, twirls his hair and when REALLY upset,

gouges his face with his fingernails till he bleeds, or bites his arm till he bleeds.
The kid that throws things, like shoes, chairs, dishes.
The kid that says such hateful, vile things in the heat of anger.

People don't understand.

And that includes people in my family.

They just don't get it.

Somedays, I don't get it.

But i'm trying ...

So, if you see "that kid" out somewhere .... don't just automatically assume that his parents should "do something" about his/her behavior.
Maybe they're doing all they can.

Sometimes the hardest disabilities are the ones you can't see.

LIGHT IT UP BLUE FOR AUTISM AWARENESS!

Flashback BOOM BOOM

Happy Friday y'all!
I hope your week w
as a good one.
If not, I hope my musical selection will help you start to smooth out the edges.

I needed some John Lee Hooker.
So, if your week was a bit 'rough' (like mine),
pour 2 fingers, sit back and let John Lee set your mind right.




Have a good weekend everybody!

Rememberance Day ....

Because of You, Unknown Soldier
By Courtney Tanabe

Because of you, I am here
Because of you, I am able to live freely
Yet I do not know you
And I have not done anything for you

But there you stand, ready to fight
And there you are prepared to die
For me

You've fought before
And you'll fight again
For someone you don't know

So thank you Unknown Soldier
Fighting for me

I'm here because of you ....
And I owe my future to you

There is a price we pay for freedom,

For it is not truly free

But rather paid for by the blood, sweat and tears of veterans

To buy our liberty.

Today, and every day, I honor you.

The unimaginable debt that is owed by a free nation can never be repaid.

Thank you.