Poor Critter

Critter is in the process of getting orthodontia.  Not braces, yet, but spacers and other stuff to make his jaw bigger.  Today was a three hour appointment to get his face bow and mouth appliance.  Yes, it’s as bad as it sounds.  It’s annoying him, which isn’t so bad, but when he eats it’s awful.  He sobs and sobs.  I’m trying to get him to eat applesauce and such but he won’t have any of it.   There are two wires sticking out and I’m not sure they are supposed be sticking out, but Critter won’t let me look.  I don’t know what to do for the poor guy.

My surreal life

My boyfriend recently bought a 1987 Mercedes 300sdl diesel.  Though it’s a fun car it has come with its fair share of used car issues.  Last Wednesday, while Critter was with his dad, the boyfriend and I went to run errands.  We got to our first stop and when he went to turn off the car it wouldn’t.  He turned the ignition off, took out the key and the engine was still going as if it were possessed.  He called his friend who used to work on diesel trucks.  No answer.  I went into the store while he looked under the hood.  When I returned the car was still running.  I did what any good girlfriend would do – call her ex-husband, who was something of a car repair guru.  He and my boyfriend talked for a while but after exhausting all of their combined knowledge the car was still running.  One would think a running car wouldn’t be an issue.   Well, it is an issue and annoying at that.  In the end my boyfriend was able to come up with a stop gap and it doing research to fix it for good.

Fast forward to last night…  The ex drops Critter off after dinner.  The boyfriend is over.  The ex is curious as hell about the car and it’s problem, told the boyfriend he’s been thinking about it all week.  The two of them go trapsing off to the Mercedes and take a look, leaving Critter and I to fend for ourselves.

It’s a wierd relationship that my ex and I have.  We get along better now that we’re divorced.  He seems to actually like my boyfriend and I like his new wife.  But it all feels surreal.  Aren’t we supposed to hate our ex-spouses and their new significant others and just tolerate their company because of the kids?  I must say, I prefer things this way.  Life is so much easier for all involved.

Looking for my blog mojo

Well, I fell off the blog bandwagon but good.  I’m thought the beginning of the school year and new routines will help me get my mojo back.  I’m shooting for 1-2 times per week.  Wish me luck!

Critter started 4th grade last week and he’s very excited.  He did very well in school last year and is now completely in general education.  My request to keep him at the school he’d been in for the last 2 years was approved.  All is going well.  I think I’ll have to be educating his new teachers, which I should be used to having to do but I’m not.  I just don’t understand why they can’t give him a chance before they panic.  No one’s really panicked yet but I am getting “I’m not sure how to deal with him” vibes.  There’s really no dealing.  Just expect stuff from him and he’ll either deliver or not.  Most likely he’ll deliver.

Friday his cub scout pack took an overnight trip to the U.S.S. Silversides and we had a wonderful time.  It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.  I’m getting old though because I spent the rest of the weekend recovering and felt as though every bit of energy had been drained from my body.  I’m only now beginning to have some energy.  Critter, of course, was fine.  Things still feel a bit disorganized with the pack but he loves being in cub scouts and the experience has been very good for him.

16 Words

So judges to have a sense of justice

From Bitch PhD comes a link to the most awesome dressing down that I’ve ever seen.  Isn’t it fun to see law professors p0wn’d? (click on the third link in this brief note)

And so it goes…

Today is Critter’s last day of school, and possibly his last day at his current school.  This fills me with great sadness and joy at the same time.  Let me explain…

Critter started attending his current school after being placed in the CI program, which his home school did not have.  He has spent the last two years there, growing and blossoming.  His CI teacher called for an early re-evaluation for his IEP and the result was that he has outgrown the CI program and will be placed completely in general ed next year.  This is the joy I feel.  I am so proud of him.

The sadness is that now he goes back to his homeschool unless they approve my request for in-district transfer.  While his home school is fine, Critter has build relationships at his current school and I would be sad to see him lose them.  It’s become home for him, and for me too if truth be told.  I know I complained about the school but he really excelled in the environment they provided and I’m not convinced he would get that sort of environment at his home school.  He is an adaptable guy though and will do well no matter what.

In honor of my container garden…

I am a Nigella What Flower Are You?

Why I am the luckiest mother in the world

Last week my son was on the phone with my mom.  She was telling him she had gotten a Mother’s Day gift for him to give to me.  He promptly cut her off and told her that he knew exactly what he wanted to get me and proceeded to ask where you get the “very best watches”.  He then told  me to leave the room.

My mother took him shopping the next day and he spent the rest of the week occillating with excitement waiting for Mother’s Day to arrive so I could open the gift.  Yesterday I did and he got me a beautiful Timex watch, simple yet elegant.  He couldn’t have been happier to give me the gift.  And I could not have felt more lucky to have a son who loves his mother so much (and to have a mother who would make sure her grandson got his mother the exact gift he wanted to get her).  Thank you God for giving me an amazing family.

What Serenity character am I?

Your results:

You are Derrial Book (Shepherd)

Derrial Book (Shepherd) 100% Kaylee Frye (Ship Mechanic) 80% Wash (Ship Pilot) 60% Alliance 60% Dr. Simon Tam (Ship Medic) 55% Malcolm Reynolds (Captain) 50% Zoe Washburne (Second-in-command) 50% Inara Serra (Companion) 50% River (Stowaway) 30% Jayne Cobb (Mercenary) 10% A Reaver (Cannibal) 10%

Even though you are holy you have a mysterious past.

Click here to take the Serenity Firefly Personality Test

Just how old is that textbook?

Last night I was helping Critter study for his social studies BA (benchmark assessment – I guess test is a word that causes too much stress).  One of the questions on the study sheet was “What does the First Lady do?” (Yup, you guessed it, the test is on government).  The answer, supplied by the teacher, was appalling:

The First Lady plans social events at the White House like picnics and parties.

OMG! Talk about diminishing the role of a First Lady.  Let’s ignore the fact that Elenor Roosevelt most likely ran the country while her husband was ill and let’s ignore the fact that Hillary Clinton used her tenure as First Lady to start her presidential campaign.  A better answer would have been “The First Lady traditionally chooses a cause to champion during her husband’s term in office”.  Sounds much less dismissive to me.

I’m really disturbed by that answer and plan to talk to the teacher about it.