Welcome To Atlanta Part Two

You know the the story - Atlanta traffic is appalling. Every day your commute is attrocious and that's just how it is and what we live with - right? The old joke - that even on your way to hell, you have to go through Atlanta - well that's par for the course.

It's the only place that I've ever lived that the traffic report is 100% a must when driving to and from work. You HAVE to listen because the information is VITAL to get yourself from point A to point B in less than a billion hours time.

If I listen to CDs to or from work, I always end up rolling up into a 8 lane parking lot with no exit in sight.

But you get a bit numb to it, every day rolling in to work. So imagine my surprise when the DJ this morning doesn't pass it to the traffic guy but instead decides to do traffic himself.

"Our traffic advise this morning - IS GET OFF THE INTERSTATES!

575? 675? 75? GET OFF OF THEM! Now ! You know alternate routes! There are other ways to get to work! Are you on 78? WHY? Why are you on 78? And OH MY GOD YOU PEOPLE ON 20!!! WHY WHY WHY? Why are you STILL on the interstate?!?! GET OFF THE INTERSTATE NOW! Folks heading down 85 southbound or coming up 85 northbound - TAKE AN EXIT NOW!

Come on, you know some side streets! Let's take them! do it! Get off the interstate or I swear to GOD you are going to regret it!"

I dunno. I didn't think it was all that bad.

This may be a sign that I've gone native...........

Welcome To Atlanta Part Two

You know the the story - Atlanta traffic is appalling. Every day your commute is attrocious and that's just how it is and what we live with - right? The old joke - that even on your way to hell, you have to go through Atlanta - well that's par for the course.

It's the only place that I've ever lived that the traffic report is 100% a must when driving to and from work. You HAVE to listen because the information is VITAL to get yourself from point A to point B in less than a billion hours time.

If I listen to CDs to or from work, I always end up rolling up into a 8 lane parking lot with no exit in sight.

But you get a bit numb to it, every day rolling in to work. So imagine my surprise when the DJ this morning doesn't pass it to the traffic guy but instead decides to do traffic himself.

"Our traffic advise this morning - IS GET OFF THE INTERSTATES!

575? 675? 75? GET OFF OF THEM! Now ! You know alternate routes! There are other ways to get to work! Are you on 78? WHY? Why are you on 78? And OH MY GOD YOU PEOPLE ON 20!!! WHY WHY WHY? Why are you STILL on the interstate?!?! GET OFF THE INTERSTATE NOW! Folks heading down 85 southbound or coming up 85 northbound - TAKE AN EXIT NOW!

Come on, you know some side streets! Let's take them! do it! Get off the interstate or I swear to GOD you are going to regret it!"

I dunno. I didn't think it was all that bad.

This may be a sign that I've gone native...........

He Is My Baby Still

My littlest boy is the rounder of the three. I say littlest yet he's the tallest of the twins. Born last, born skinny (to me) at under 7 pounds he always looked so scrawny, so small to me as an infant. I've always had trouble thinking of him as anything but my littlest boy.

He's also rough. He has sensory troubles - he doesn't know what is too much, too much pressure etc so he's likely to hurt you playing.

He doesn't always mean to, he just doesn't experience touch the way you and I do.

He also expresses his frustrations with pinches and grabs sometimes, which can hurt quite a bit if you don't get control of the situation quickly.

However, he's also sweet, and snuggly - and has a gentle nature that showed itself a few weeks ago at the botanical gardens.

While we were taking a break from our nature walk, where we had been enjoying all the flowers and trees - we ran into another family with a small one - about one year old he seemed.
He came bobbling up toward Little Birdman, and Little Birdman ran over to him - causing his father and I to START - that boy could roughhouse a one year old pretty quick.

Instead he ran over and wrapped his arm around the baby, gently hugging him close - recognizing a smaller, defenseless creature and being amazingly gentle. He let the baby go and it toddled on it's way with it's family, but we were surprised and I know I was happy - because it showed me an intuition in him that's so important.

And it reinfoced to me that I'm right, despite his challenges - Little Birdman is such a sweet gentle boy. He just needs help learning how to show everyone.

He Is My Baby Still

My littlest boy is the rounder of the three. I say littlest yet he's the tallest of the twins. Born last, born skinny (to me) at under 7 pounds he always looked so scrawny, so small to me as an infant. I've always had trouble thinking of him as anything but my littlest boy.

He's also rough. He has sensory troubles - he doesn't know what is too much, too much pressure etc so he's likely to hurt you playing.

He doesn't always mean to, he just doesn't experience touch the way you and I do.

He also expresses his frustrations with pinches and grabs sometimes, which can hurt quite a bit if you don't get control of the situation quickly.

However, he's also sweet, and snuggly - and has a gentle nature that showed itself a few weeks ago at the botanical gardens.

While we were taking a break from our nature walk, where we had been enjoying all the flowers and trees - we ran into another family with a small one - about one year old he seemed.
He came bobbling up toward Little Birdman, and Little Birdman ran over to him - causing his father and I to START - that boy could roughhouse a one year old pretty quick.

Instead he ran over and wrapped his arm around the baby, gently hugging him close - recognizing a smaller, defenseless creature and being amazingly gentle. He let the baby go and it toddled on it's way with it's family, but we were surprised and I know I was happy - because it showed me an intuition in him that's so important.

And it reinfoced to me that I'm right, despite his challenges - Little Birdman is such a sweet gentle boy. He just needs help learning how to show everyone.

Cross Bearing

A few weeks ago, as I slipped northward on the Atlanta interstate I passed a truck which was pulled over to the side of the road. There was a family walking along the grass toward the woods. For a moment they were a snapshot in my mind.........there was

• Dad - carrying a large white cross
• Son - carrying a tool box
• Mom - walking many paces behind.

Mom didn't want to be there. I could tell. Nor would I, realizing what they were doing.

They were planting a roadside cross.

I drive by it every day, and there is another in the small clearing to let us know that two families were devastated by an event. But it's the family I saw, as I slipped around the bend and headed further north, that stays with me.

It's impossible to imagine them, in their grief, going through this ritual of remembrance yet I can understand their need to remember, and to make sure others don't forget. THIS PLACE IS DANGEROUS. YOU CAN DIE HERE. LOOK WHAT HAS HAPPENED HERE - TAKE CARE the roadside crosses tell us. They also say WE LOVED THIS PERSON - PLEASE ACKNOWLEDGE OUR LOSS.

Which I do, daily, as I drive home. He was a young man, about the age of my brother Matt. He looked like a handsome young man. They've put his picture and name on the cross since that first day but I don't know when.

I think about Bobby a lot, when I see this cross - especially yesterday on the anniversary of the plane crash. I hope his family found their way to remembrance that eased their pain, and that they know that we all loved him too - and sadly acknowledge and grieve for their loss still.

And yes, bacon and cheese still make everything better.

We all still miss you Bobby.

Cross Bearing

A few weeks ago, as I slipped northward on the Atlanta interstate I passed a truck which was pulled over to the side of the road. There was a family walking along the grass toward the woods. For a moment they were a snapshot in my mind.........there was

• Dad - carrying a large white cross
• Son - carrying a tool box
• Mom - walking many paces behind.

Mom didn't want to be there. I could tell. Nor would I, realizing what they were doing.

They were planting a roadside cross.

I drive by it every day, and there is another in the small clearing to let us know that two families were devastated by an event. But it's the family I saw, as I slipped around the bend and headed further north, that stays with me.

It's impossible to imagine them, in their grief, going through this ritual of remembrance yet I can understand their need to remember, and to make sure others don't forget. THIS PLACE IS DANGEROUS. YOU CAN DIE HERE. LOOK WHAT HAS HAPPENED HERE - TAKE CARE the roadside crosses tell us. They also say WE LOVED THIS PERSON - PLEASE ACKNOWLEDGE OUR LOSS.

Which I do, daily, as I drive home. He was a young man, about the age of my brother Matt. He looked like a handsome young man. They've put his picture and name on the cross since that first day but I don't know when.

I think about Bobby a lot, when I see this cross - especially yesterday on the anniversary of the plane crash. I hope his family found their way to remembrance that eased their pain, and that they know that we all loved him too - and sadly acknowledge and grieve for their loss still.

And yes, bacon and cheese still make everything better.

We all still miss you Bobby.

And this is Why I Think Anderson Cooper is Brilliant

I'm serious. I agree.

Anderson Cooper is officially my hero.

And this is Why I Think Anderson Cooper is Brilliant

I'm serious. I agree.

Anderson Cooper is officially my hero.

And Wouldn't You Know It....

Despite having no freaking idea what I am doing or how any of this is supposed to work.....

the 500 Pound Pumpkin Seeds have sprouted.

So Martha, is it time to plant them?

Bettah say yes, cuz I am planting them tonight.

And Wouldn't You Know It....

Despite having no freaking idea what I am doing or how any of this is supposed to work.....

the 500 Pound Pumpkin Seeds have sprouted.

So Martha, is it time to plant them?

Bettah say yes, cuz I am planting them tonight.

So The Boy Brings Home These Orange Seeds....

No lie. He had an orange for lunch and pulled the seeds out and wrapped them in a napkin and put them in his pocket. Since we have so much room, so much YARD here - he wants to plant them.

There is a part of me (the big lazy part) that goes SIGH OH GOD WHAT? But there is the Mom part that is proud of this sweet little boy with big orange tree dreams. I wonder if it reminds him of Florida?

So his dad takes him to the store to get some soil and planting cups.
I google the how to - cuz you know, I don't know HOW TO.




And they brought home big pumpkin seeds. I dunno if it's the right time of year to germinate seeds - but by golly we're doing it!

This is the part of parenting that falls under "I don't know what I'm doing." I just realized we need to water them again. I need to go right now and do so.

****TIME PASSES****

Ok I'm back. So here we are, two trays one full of pumpkin seeds that allege to grow up to 500 pounds and one tray full of orange tree seeds.

He's so enamored of the process, he wants it to work so bad. I'd wave a magic wand to make it happen if I could. But the best I could do was run downstairs mid blogpost and water them. Surprisingly they still seemed a bit moist so yay us.

I am uncertain what we are going to do with 500 pound pumpkins - however.

You DO Realize that they will grow - just to thwart me, don't you?

So The Boy Brings Home These Orange Seeds....

No lie. He had an orange for lunch and pulled the seeds out and wrapped them in a napkin and put them in his pocket. Since we have so much room, so much YARD here - he wants to plant them.

There is a part of me (the big lazy part) that goes SIGH OH GOD WHAT? But there is the Mom part that is proud of this sweet little boy with big orange tree dreams. I wonder if it reminds him of Florida?

So his dad takes him to the store to get some soil and planting cups.
I google the how to - cuz you know, I don't know HOW TO.




And they brought home big pumpkin seeds. I dunno if it's the right time of year to germinate seeds - but by golly we're doing it!

This is the part of parenting that falls under "I don't know what I'm doing." I just realized we need to water them again. I need to go right now and do so.

****TIME PASSES****

Ok I'm back. So here we are, two trays one full of pumpkin seeds that allege to grow up to 500 pounds and one tray full of orange tree seeds.

He's so enamored of the process, he wants it to work so bad. I'd wave a magic wand to make it happen if I could. But the best I could do was run downstairs mid blogpost and water them. Surprisingly they still seemed a bit moist so yay us.

I am uncertain what we are going to do with 500 pound pumpkins - however.

You DO Realize that they will grow - just to thwart me, don't you?

So What Exactly Is Going On At My Kids School?

I mean in that top picture..........what're we doing THERE?

So What Exactly Is Going On At My Kids School?

I mean in that top picture..........what're we doing THERE?

The Green Concert!

The big Paul McCartney concert this past weekend was a GREEN Concert - no parking provided and we all had to load up on the Marta to get downtown. This might've been greener had Atlanta actually built trains all the way out to the suburbs - driving TO the train station 20 minutes or more is somewhat counter-intuitive.

Regardless we made it to the Doraville station and jumped on the next southbound Marta along with all the other blanket carrying 40 somethings.

And we were off!

After we walked the million miles from Midtown station to Piedmont park we found a comfy post in the field and took in the sights. And we obtained some delicious festival food. I went with an Atlanta Tradition - The Varsity - WHAT'LL YA HAVE?? My hunny had a burrito. I think. My mind is fuzzy and he's not here to ask. Let's call it a burrito.

We should've known from the great breeze and cooling weather that rain couldn't be far off and about halfway through the show we got completely soaked. It was unpleasant - but given it was the 40th anniversary of Woodstock - somewhat apropos.

It was also, significantly enough - the 45th anniversary of the Beatles SHEA STADIUM concert. Which was sort of exhilarating - and Paul reminisced and played tunes from that show which he doesn't normally play. He also played Give Peace a Chance and spoke very lovingly of John and George, referring to John as "My Best Friend" which was pretty tearjerking.

That being said, now that I have seen Paul McCartney - I never need to see another concert. I probably WILL see other concerts but I have never in my life been so completely thrilled and just energized by a show. In the midst of the singing and the frenzied dancing going on all around you sort of just GET IT. This is why the girls when crazy when the Beatles Arrived. It's this MAGNETISM, with talent and humility and the fact that he was simply having such a good time - and inviting us all to come along. Paul McCartney was literally the best concert I've ever seen in my life. Absolutely brilliant.

As an aside - I think it's negative that the religious freaks always park outside of concerts peddling negativity and judgment. Did anyone ever stop and find innerpeace from this sort of judgmental bullshit? You know what was beautiful and sending out love to our fellow man? It was 50 THOUSAND people singing GIVE PEACE A CHANCE at the top of their lungs. It was 50 THOUSAND people walking down 10th Streeting singing HEY JUDE at the top of their lungs, smiling and laughing and singing together - in happiness and joy. There was no sex, no violence - it was pure joy and love radiating from a mass of strangers. And that, ladies and gentlemen - was what love and acceptance really feels like. Thank you Paul McCartney for giving us those moments.

The Green Concert!

The big Paul McCartney concert this past weekend was a GREEN Concert - no parking provided and we all had to load up on the Marta to get downtown. This might've been greener had Atlanta actually built trains all the way out to the suburbs - driving TO the train station 20 minutes or more is somewhat counter-intuitive.

Regardless we made it to the Doraville station and jumped on the next southbound Marta along with all the other blanket carrying 40 somethings.

And we were off!

After we walked the million miles from Midtown station to Piedmont park we found a comfy post in the field and took in the sights. And we obtained some delicious festival food. I went with an Atlanta Tradition - The Varsity - WHAT'LL YA HAVE?? My hunny had a burrito. I think. My mind is fuzzy and he's not here to ask. Let's call it a burrito.

We should've known from the great breeze and cooling weather that rain couldn't be far off and about halfway through the show we got completely soaked. It was unpleasant - but given it was the 40th anniversary of Woodstock - somewhat apropos.

It was also, significantly enough - the 45th anniversary of the Beatles SHEA STADIUM concert. Which was sort of exhilarating - and Paul reminisced and played tunes from that show which he doesn't normally play. He also played Give Peace a Chance and spoke very lovingly of John and George, referring to John as "My Best Friend" which was pretty tearjerking.

That being said, now that I have seen Paul McCartney - I never need to see another concert. I probably WILL see other concerts but I have never in my life been so completely thrilled and just energized by a show. In the midst of the singing and the frenzied dancing going on all around you sort of just GET IT. This is why the girls when crazy when the Beatles Arrived. It's this MAGNETISM, with talent and humility and the fact that he was simply having such a good time - and inviting us all to come along. Paul McCartney was literally the best concert I've ever seen in my life. Absolutely brilliant.

As an aside - I think it's negative that the religious freaks always park outside of concerts peddling negativity and judgment. Did anyone ever stop and find innerpeace from this sort of judgmental bullshit? You know what was beautiful and sending out love to our fellow man? It was 50 THOUSAND people singing GIVE PEACE A CHANCE at the top of their lungs. It was 50 THOUSAND people walking down 10th Streeting singing HEY JUDE at the top of their lungs, smiling and laughing and singing together - in happiness and joy. There was no sex, no violence - it was pure joy and love radiating from a mass of strangers. And that, ladies and gentlemen - was what love and acceptance really feels like. Thank you Paul McCartney for giving us those moments.

Mondays are bizzy!

Gidge -sent from my non-iphone

Mondays are bizzy!

Gidge -sent from my non-iphone

I Would Love To Write You a Blog Post....

BUT I AM ON THE WAY TO SEE PAUL MCCARTNEY!


WWWWWWWWWWWWWWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHOOOOOOOO!

That is all.

Gotta catch a train people! PEACE!

I Would Love To Write You a Blog Post....

BUT I AM ON THE WAY TO SEE PAUL MCCARTNEY!


WWWWWWWWWWWWWWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHOOOOOOOO!

That is all.

Gotta catch a train people! PEACE!

A Tale of Two Boys

One who should have gone to bed.

And one who took his nap without question - crawling into his play tent to rest with his friends.

You might imagine, that one would've been impossible - the NON NAPPER - and one would awake full of joy and giggles and ready for family time.

You'd be wrong.

See when you're autistic.......down is up and right is wrong. My non-napper was a sleepy boy all night and fell asleep during dinner, but was in good spirits and happy. My NAPPER.......

woke up confused - thinking it was time for school and became hysterical that we didn't go out the door.

I couldn't explain to him that he was wrong, that it was a nap - even though I did keep repeating those words, my baby just sobbed and sobbed and expressed his frustrations through tight hugs and grimacing angrily. His heart was broken and I couldn't fix it.

One of my best friends in the world, the kind who is better family than some of my real family, said to me the other day "I don't know how you handle it - I don't know how you deal with the stuff you have to deal with."

I told him "I don't know either. You just do it. Things happen, and you get out of bed and you deal with it. There is no practice -no parenting class for the IF YOUR CHILD IS AUTISTIC workshop to prepare you. You go with it every day and figure it out."

You cry a lot. But you also play a lot. And you try things that don't work. And you try things that do work. (yes I meant play - not pray.I don't pray.period.)

But some days, you cannot explain to a five year old that he didn't just wake up from a night of sleep - that it was only a nap and it is not school time.

And that ladies and gentlemen of the jury - is about the end of the feckin' world from where I sat.

What is it like having autistic kids? Ask me tomorrow. It'll be completely different.

A Tale of Two Boys

One who should have gone to bed.

And one who took his nap without question - crawling into his play tent to rest with his friends.

You might imagine, that one would've been impossible - the NON NAPPER - and one would awake full of joy and giggles and ready for family time.

You'd be wrong.

See when you're autistic.......down is up and right is wrong. My non-napper was a sleepy boy all night and fell asleep during dinner, but was in good spirits and happy. My NAPPER.......

woke up confused - thinking it was time for school and became hysterical that we didn't go out the door.

I couldn't explain to him that he was wrong, that it was a nap - even though I did keep repeating those words, my baby just sobbed and sobbed and expressed his frustrations through tight hugs and grimacing angrily. His heart was broken and I couldn't fix it.

One of my best friends in the world, the kind who is better family than some of my real family, said to me the other day "I don't know how you handle it - I don't know how you deal with the stuff you have to deal with."

I told him "I don't know either. You just do it. Things happen, and you get out of bed and you deal with it. There is no practice -no parenting class for the IF YOUR CHILD IS AUTISTIC workshop to prepare you. You go with it every day and figure it out."

You cry a lot. But you also play a lot. And you try things that don't work. And you try things that do work. (yes I meant play - not pray.I don't pray.period.)

But some days, you cannot explain to a five year old that he didn't just wake up from a night of sleep - that it was only a nap and it is not school time.

And that ladies and gentlemen of the jury - is about the end of the feckin' world from where I sat.

What is it like having autistic kids? Ask me tomorrow. It'll be completely different.

Our Third Christian Rock Album Cover

Based on Eric Cartman's Rules

Our Third Christian Rock Album Cover

Based on Eric Cartman's Rules