I VOTED

Just two hours in line. The boys don't have school on Tuesday, so I figured even a two hour wait today was easier than a 15 minute wait on Tuesday. And one never knows, here in battleground OHIO, the wait could be even longer on Tuesday--it was in 04.

The crowd was orderly, friendly, upbeat.

Trick or Treat or Tantrum

Something as simple as Trick or Treat night is never easy in our house. Are these not two really really cute boys?? I sure think so. Do you notice the grumpy one on the left... He tantrumed for a good hour before time to go out. He tantrumed while we took pictures. He sassed. He mouthed off. He was told about ten times that if he didn't clean up his act he was not going trick or treating. Well... He was so naughty we finally had to make good on the threat. While I'm writing Dave and Joseph are out gathering treats. Alex is at home sniffling and getting ready for bed. Do you think he is trying to get my goat while I ignore him? "Next time you choose some one else..." I have a pretty good idea where this is going. "Next time I hope someone else picks me to be adopted." Yep... That is where I figured he was heading. I've known all along the day was coming when I was told that I wasn't his "real" mother. I've known that he would try to hurt me--because he can. And because that is all he thinks he has--power to hurt. Any power is power. Ah... the dear, sweet, oh so heartbreaking child. He misses Halloween Trick or Treat because he wants to hurt me. I hope and pray that someday he will learn that when he hurts us, he hurts himself even more... I think it is time to go try to give him a hug and a cuddle and settle him down a bit.

P.S.

After sniffling, and being mad at Daddy, and sniffling some more, and saying "I don't care about trick or treat." He said "Other kids at school can read big books and I can't." Ah... Maybe this isn't all about Trick or Treat. Maybe it isn't all about Daddy.

P.P.S.

Daddy calls. Does Alex want to go out now? Daddy will come back for him and let him go out for the second part of Trick or Treat. What a great Dad.

P.P.P.S.

Through all of this, our doorbell does not ring. We live in such an isolated place, no trick or treaters venture down our road.
I'm going to go take a shower in an empty house.

AutismCares.org

Whenever I watch the news coverage of natural disaster the following is always in my mind: Somewhere in that mess there is a Joseph, and a Mom trying to cope with the disaster and a Joseph... I'm usually so close to the edge that small things push me over or at least push me off balance. I'm afraid I'd crack if my only option were a Red Cross shelter with Joseph-- So, when this arrived in my inbox just now I thought--What a great, great program. Perhaps this will be the organization that gets all of my Christmas donations this year!

Mission
AutismCares is a consortium of leading autism organizations who have come together to support individuals with autism and their families during natural disasters and other catastrophic life events.

Purpose
AutismCares understand that families living with autism often need additional and specialized support in recovering from critical life-challenging events. Leading autism organizations, along with committed individuals in the community have come together to support families in their time of need.

How Does AutismCares Help Families?
AutismCares assists families who meet the eligibility criteria to cover costs associated with housing, automobile repair, insurance premiums, medical care, prescriptions, daycare, funeral expenses, and other items on a case-by-case basis. In most instances, payments are made directly to the vendor providing the services and not directly to the family. Assistance provided can not exceed $1,500 per family.

AutismCares supports families who meet the following criteria:
Have one or more children diagnosed with an autism spectrum diagnosis

Have a combined family income of less than $65,000

Have, within the previous 90 days:

Been the victim of a natural disaster-fire, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, severe tropical storms or windstorms, and earthquakes

Suffered a death or critical illness or injury in the immediate nuclear family

Been the victim of a violent crime

Lost their home through foreclosure, or eviction

Primary income earner experienced termination of employment Lost their home through foreclosure, or eviction.

How Do I Apply?
Complete an online application

Applications are reviewed on a monthly basis. Deadline for an application is the 15th of the month. Applications received after the 15th of the month will be reviewed the following month

Families are notified of the results of their application by phone or e-mail.


Contact Info:autismcares@autismspeaks.org

Code for Race and Knowledge

Is it my imagination or is do we use "experience" as code for knowledge the same way we use "terrorist" or "Musilim" as code for black? As in "Palin doesn't have the experience to be VP," instead of "Palin doesn't know enough to be VP"... She has been a Governor, she has appropriate experience. She just doesn't demonstrate knowledge of the issues, or basic, thoughtful curiosity about the world... But to say that in the media or in a campaign would be too much in the same way that one doesn't say "Obama can't be President because he is black." So we lie and say he is a terrorist or a Muslim and she is inexperienced.

A beautiful day

for a walk in the woods, a hay ride on a wagon pulled by a tractor, and a hot dog cooked over an open fire. I love autumn!

Sarah Palin Speech on Special Needs

I'm home this morning, nursing a sinus headache. I caught the live coverage of what the news channels call "Sarah Palin's first policy speech." She talked about the McCain Palin administration's plans for special needs children, teens and young adults. I was impressed. She said all the right things. She delivered a serious speech with a serious tone. She dropped all the snarky jabs at Obama. She was humble about how she is a rookie as a special needs parent. She stopped herself from calling autism a disease. She acknowledged that special needs are not just an issue of cute little kids. Adults are involved. She talked about providing full federal funding for IDEA. If Obama wins, she has done us a great service by delivering this speech, putting these issues out there as important enough to merit attention 12 days before an election. I don't think the speech will change votes... but this is the first time I've seen Sarah Palin do anything I found noteworthy.

A bit too serious, perhaps, but still worth a watch

This was worth sharing, I thought--and he does shave his beard for the cause--  

See more Ron Howard videos at Funny or Die