Photo Journalism

Hello All! Life has been filled with good tidings. Here are some photos so you can share in my goodness!

Halloween night; I went as a doll. Lindsey went as the ever suprising Britney Spears!

Fiona's first costume was "cat." She quickly realized that many others would be cats and she was embarrased at the thought of being a copy-cat so she pondered her next costume....the result, couch!

Cindy and I spent Saturday in DC being toursists. We started at the Corcoran Art Gallery where we experienced the Annie Liebowitz/ Ansel Adams photography exhibits. We then took a stroll past the White House. It's funny what you take for granted in DC. I'd forgotten we'd walk by the White House on our excursion! Then we took a detour through the EPA/ Ronald Regan Buildings' grounds. Looks a bit 19th century to me. A bit like I would imagine London looked like long ago. Lastly, we grabbed a bite at Tonic where they served TATER TOTS!!! "Go find your own tots!"

You Gotta Be

http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/10/08/special.olympics/index.html

This story, makes me very happy. For so long, as a therapist of students with special needs, I have seen what so many others fail to see. I see the compassion of student with Down's Syndrome when another student is hurt, the joy on the face of a student with Cerebral Palsy when they are tickled, and the love of a student with Autism when hugged. My students, for the past seven years, have brought me joy and brought me pain. I have cried tears of happiness and tears of frustration. Mostly, though, these students have brought me insight into a different world. A world where we are not defined by what we are NOT but by what we ARE. Children, who see and do things differently and who overcome adverse conditions, to teach me about life. That it is the simple pleasures, the minute progress, the brief, shining moments. They know life in a way we forget as adults, in a way we now take for granted. So, to my students and those participating in the Special Olympics in China, thank you.

Listen as your day unfolds

Challenge what the future holds

Try and keep your head up to the sky

Lovers, they may cause you tears

Go ahead release your fears

Stand up to be counted

Don't be ashamed to cry

You gotta be...

You gotta be bad,

you gotta be bold,

you gotta be wiser

You gotta be hard, y

ou gotta be tough,

you gotta be stronger

You gotta be cool,

you gotta be calm,

you gotta stay together

All I know,

all I know

love will save the day.

Herald what your mother said

Read the books your father read

Try to solve the puzzles in your own sweet time

Some may have more cash than you

Others take a different view

My oh my, yea, eh, eh

You gotta be bad,

you gotta be bold,

you gotta be wiser

You gotta be hard,

you gotta be tough,

you gotta be stronger

You gotta be cool,

you gotta be calm,

you gotta stay together

All I know, all I know

love will save the day.

~Des'ree

It's a nice day for a white wedding......

Hello all! Long time, no post! I've been delinquent far too long. It's interesting how quickly I can be caught up in the daily routines of work and life and miss out on the opportunities to share them with you.

It's been a busy couple of weeks and I am truly looking forward to enjoying this one; with nothing on my agenda! I spent this past weekend visiting Maggie in Delaware. It's always fun to be with her and celebrate life. Maggie is always so vivacious and energetic. It is hard not to follow suit and take that good karma in. I think her reasons of happiness now, though, are due to her engagement. Maggie and Sean are getting married next year and my main purpose for the trip was to see the venue and to pick a bridesmaid dress. Both are beautiful! The venue is located on a lake in Perkasie, PA and has a nice marriage (had to) and juxtaposition of rustic ruralness and ultra modern sleekness. I couldn't have picked better for my self! I'm thrilled for the wedding and it is still a year away! The rest of the weekend was spent catching up. We went to dinner (hibachi) and drank and talked. Much to Sean's chagrin, we stayed up until 1 am talking and being our old "undergrad" selves. I stayed Sunday and bonded with Sean over the Redskins and left late in the evening for home.

I'll be posting pictures soon of Lin and me, hiking...I know!!! And we didn't get shot!!

Also, here is the website for Maggie's venue. Be sure to click on the "more pictures" tab.
www.thelhi.com

I respect you, and I like yo' sweater! TANGO!

So, just got back from the beach! This was our last "family" vacation in Ocean City. My parents bought our time share 18 years ago, and, since then, we've had the pleasure of enjoying some fantastic trips. It's weird to think this will be the last time we'll all be together for a vacation as our parents' children. Next, hopefully, we'll be a multi generational family enjoying a trip together. NOW, don't go reading anything into that people. No one is getting married or having kids. I just mean, that we have approached that age where it is feasible to be vacationing with other loved ones. Totally besides the point.....tangential me!

Vacation was a blast though. My sisters and Lindsey and I went to the Paddock to enjoy a night out on the town. The Paddock, needless to say, was filled with all the white trash boys and girls one could hope for. We'd begun to get bored but....we had a fortunate turn of events, beginning with the "You!!!!!!!!!!!!!" guy. Toward the end of the night we hooked ourselves a good one- poor bastard. It began innocently enough with Alyson providing the fake name Amanda to the poor guy. Well, dear Megan, jumped at the opportunity to put her favorite TV character's' pseudonym into use. Thus, Anastasia Beaverhausen was born. (For those of you who know where that is from you get a gold star...and I'm not telling). Megan, nye Anastasia, then convinced the dunce that her and Lindsey were twins and Lindsey then named herself Angela. I then became Ashley. Poor thing kept getting confused and to make matters even more ridiculous, we couldn't remember what each others names were. At the end of the night, Aly gave the kid the rejection hot line number. Cruel, yes. Funny, of course. The icing on the cake is when we were leaving and another man asked Megan for her name. When she told him it was "Anastasia" he incredulously asked "What, like the movie?" Best night ever!

867-5309

I'm sorry for the delinquency in posts dear friends. It's funny how quickly time moves. I don't feel like months have passed but, alas, they have. Where do I begin and where do I end? What should be considered news worthy and what is inane ramblings?

First I should mention that I've moved. Cindy and I ended our lease on May 27th, after a year living together. I moved into a fantastic condo/apartment in Ellicott City with my dear friend Lindsey. It's been a bit of a comedic tale here at Apartment C. First, we had difficulty with the landlord, who was supposed to do some repairs and paint, but to no avail. Linsdey and I have since spent a better part of month painting and I think it looks fantastic. Now we just need a dining room table! With this place also comes the curse of the Comcast Nazis. Twice now, Lin and I have been on the phone disgruntled over mismanaged bills and erroneous charges. Today was one of those days.

COMCAST SAGA:

June 2, cable installed, June 10th a bill saying we were credited 180 dollars but still owed $59.62. Lindsey calls Comcast, they billed her twice and the other charge was to be dropped so we would have a zero balance. Today, bill arrives with an unpaid balance of $59.62 and other charges. Needless to say I called the Nazis. Uber Bitch customer representative Kelly informed me that we owed that money but were credited 44.20 and .96 so there was no balance. Last time I checked 59.63-45.16 did not equal zero. After her math she said our bill should be $136.00, however the amout due on my paper bill was $148.20. Again, math problems. She then proceeded to tell me that the representative who spoke to Lindsey was "misinformed" and shouldn't have told Lindsey that there was no balance. I informed her that "wasn't my fault but yours." She told me that it "wasn't HER fault," and that is when I told her to cancel our service and I wanted to speak to a supervisor. Lindsey got on the phone with the supervisor, called him an asshole and I threatened with an open letter to the Baltimore Sun and the Washington Post. We ended up with service for free this month and a promise our bill would be correct next month.

HAPPIER NEWS:

My cousin Pamela got married two weeks ago in Delaware. It was the first time seeing my family after my grandmother's funeral. Needless to say, happier times and fantastic memories followed.

I also spent five days in NC with my parents. Long story short but they bought a house. Yes, finally they will have a home to live in. It is gorgeous (inside and out), I am just really happy for them. It thrills me to see them happy and healthy and enjoying retirement.

PHOTO BLOG TIME!! MUCH EASIER!

Twisters!

Aly and Me!

Group shot.

Sunglasses on! Wind in the sails, sun at our backs!

CINCO DE MAYO....Jules! Amanda's house, Jack and coke, Karyoke, Twister...nuff said!

CINCO DE MAYO...Drifters, Kevin...budlight

Me and the new roomie!

To Mammam

Ten Pins in the Sky

Did you ever wonder why in thunder
thunder comes in spring?
Once upon a time it seems
all the world was wrapped in dreams.
Playful little fellas, so they tell us
said Let's have our fling!
Spring is in the air, you know!
It's time to wake 'em up below!
So, when the thunder starts to thunder don't run home and cry.
They're playing ten-pins in the sky.
Little fellas way up yonder make the raindrops fly
while rollin', bowlin' ten-pins in the sky.
The world will wear a new bonnet
daffodils on it,thanks to the skies above.
Thunder and showers
wake up the flowers,where there are flowers
there must be love.
So, laugh at raindrops, laugh at thunder,clouds will soon roll by.
They're playing ten-pins in the sky!

You Never Know

Much has happened since my last post so I will write about each, in no particular order:


Spring Break! How I had so looked forward to break! I had a fantastic time with my parents and family in NC. The weather was atrocious but what, really, can be done. I have to say each time I visit my folks I fall more in love with NC. The scenery is beautiful and the people are so kind. It is truly a treat to visit and be immersed in a different culture. Southern hospitality at it's finest! Reality hit though, when on my way back home I hit traffic near Quantico. Oh yes, overturned tractor trailor carrying kegs of beer (yes, kegs) overturned. This caused me to sit in traffic for an hour and a half to go 4 miles. Needless to say this backup meant no traffic in the mixing bowl!!

Friday, my cousin Erin came up from George Mason to have dinner. Her friends, Aly, Erin, and I enjoyed a great dinner at Mother's in Federal Hill!


Saturday......Shannon got married!!! Got to her house around 2pm. Janet and I helped Shannon get the house ready, decorate the cake, and get her dressed. Then, while Shannon and Michael had pictures taken, Janet and I went to the chapel to light all of the candles. The ceremony was held at a stone chapel with no electricity. The ceremony was fantastic. It was an intimate private ceremony. Shannon looked stunning. The whole ceremony was like out of the scenes of a movie. After the signal from Shan, Janet and I raced back to the house to light candles and set out food. Then the celebrating began!!



Shannon at the chapel



Monkeyin' around!

Janet, Shannon, and Me




Janet's wedding cake. Like Ace of Cakes, we did a lot of construction to keep these flowers on!


Sunday I went to Maggie's in Delaware. I haven't seen Maggie in ages and she and Sean just bought a house so what more occassion is needed. Had a great visit. Maggie was currently taking shots and a bit immobile. She was in the process of getting shots for donation of bone marrow for a young man with leukemia. Utterly astounding the selflessness one must have to give so freely of oneself. She's humble about it but she is saving someone's life. Pretty astounding to me.




Virginia Tech. It has been in the forefront of my mind since it occurred. Immediately it brought to mind a dear friend who was shot and killed while we were in middle school together. While, on the surface, they are not similar events--I believe the aftermaths of both are extremely similar. I believe every VT student will remember with absolute clarity the events of these days until they die. I remember. I remember coming home from church on Sunday and seeing The Washington Post lying on the table, title side down. There on the front page was a picture of Joseph. I didn't understand why and then my parents told me. I remember crying and being extremely angry. Here was a boy who was coming home from church with his family, to be shot and killed via gang violence. It didn't make sense then and it certainly doesn't make sense now.
That though isn't the point of this rambling. My point is the aftermath. I remember going to school and seeing friends crying in the hallways. I remember Luke punching a dent in a locker. I remember that Joseph was in my first period class and sat directly behind me and that his seat was eerily and shockingly empty. I remember the grief counselor and classes being canceled. I remember camera crews, the giant black wreath across the front doors, and the sad song of Amazing Grace while they my band played while planting a memorial tree.
I have an inkling of what these students are going through. The surreal feelings that followed. The almost out-of-body experience of death and the media's portrayals.
I feel sorry for the loss of innocence, the loss of friends and loved ones. My heart goes out to those families and students.

There’s not a moment to lose in the game

Don’t let the troubles in your head

Steal too much time you’ll soon be dead

So play
All fall down

It won’t be so long now

Out of the darkness comes light like a flash

You think you can you think you can

Sometimes that is the problem

Dream little darling dream

~DMB

I took a mental health day today. Probably doesn't do much to credit my work ethic but I needed it. I've been working now for six years, and this time of year I wonder if there is something out there better suited for me.

This is the time of year for Annual reviews. Ugh. It's the time to rewrite IEPS, pick new objectives for students, decide if services are still warranted. I consider this the time of year where I have to defend my profession, my decisions, and myself--both to teachers and to parents. I've learned, quickly, that language and speech services on a child's IEP are paramount for determining "normalcy." If only the child could talk, then they would be normal. Each year, I have to POLITELY tell teachers and parents that that is not the case.

Last year I told a parent that if I could stand on my head and do jumping jacks to make their daughter talk, I would, but I can't--she has Autism. Research says that only 50% of children with Autism will establish SOME kind of language. Parents don't want to hear that.

This year I had to defend myself with a teacher of all people. I stepped into a meeting for a child I don't service and for a classroom teacher I don't service as well and the regular SLP was out. When telling a lovely (I mean that, I am not being facetious) set of parents that the child doesn't qualify for services at this time she had the nerve to say "What Jennifer failed to mention is that language is the receptive piece and that speech is the expressive..." That is where I cut her off because she was wrong. Oh so very wrong. How dare she step over her bounds and act as if I was withholding information from the parents. Oooh. I was livid. I know I am young and that may give people the impression that I am not as knowledgeable in my field but I am and I don't like being belittled for the sake of 30 minutes of language (so the teacher can get a break, mind you) on the students' IEPS.

SO THAT IS WHY I AM TAKING A MENTAL HEALTH DAY! Perhaps I'll become a barista at Starbucks.

It's been a while since I have put down my thoughts....

I am in the middle of the Annual Review process and writing IEPs. Next week should be the last week for meetings and the like. I don't so much mind attending the meetings but the sheer volume of meetings is getting to me. It's been almost two months since I have been able to provide a proper speech/ language lesson to my students. I'm really looking forward to getting back into to the classroom! I miss interacting with my students.

Even though I am looking forward to therapy sessions I am most looking forward to my time off in a couple of weeks. I am so looking forward to some fun in the sun and some relaxation with my family in NC. I only pray for good weather. I am not really a beach person, but some time on the beach with a book and the sun on my face could do a girl some good. I'm also looking forward to seeing my parents and the progress done on their new home, if any!

So here is to rejuvination!

Eire go brach!

Steady As We Go

I saw my sisters Friday night to celebrate Aly's birthday and I shared this tid-bit with them.

Cindy and I were having dinner the other night and I had asked her how Illiah, a mutual friend, was doing. She mentioned that Illiah had actually seen me the other night with Alyson and Megan. Apparently, Illiah and her fiancee, Greg, were viewing the same movie we were. They were seated toward the back of the theater. Illiah, however, never came to say hi. Her reason: she had never seen me so happy and didn't wish to interrupt what appeared to be a great sister bonding experience.

I think this little antecdote speaks volumes on how my sisters and I were raised. We were raised with a sense of love and loyalty. Very few people understand the depth of caring and loyalty my sisters and I have for one another but many comment on it; they wish they could experience the same thing with their siblings.

So there ya go!

Trials and Tribulations

It's Saturday morning and I am staring out the window surrounded by trees and ice. I'm house sitting for a friend and I'm surrounded by wilderness only a few miles from Bowie. It's quite peaceful and serene. Yet, under the calm I can slowly hear cracking of ice and see icicles fall from trees. The weather hear has been quite dreadful. Much of the mid-state had shut down schools since Tuesday evening due to the amount of ice we'd gotten. In all the years I can remember, I've never seen ice like this. I'd say there were two-three inches in College Park, more in other areas. I think the biggest hurdle for clearing all this ice is that the temperatures haven't reached above freezing yet. In fact, I was watching the news yesterday morning and it was warmer in Anchorage, Alaska then here in Maryland. I'm hoping for warmer weather today!
I've noticed a disturbing trend with me and aquiring days off. It appears that I get sick! That's right. Since Monday night I've had a terrible cold-verging on flu-like. I've had it all--chills, fever, aches, pains, sore throat. Well Friday I woke up to an unfortunate case of pink eye. Oh yes, pink eye. Who gets pink eye at 27-years-old? Oh, I do. So I called Julie who took me to the doctor's office. Yep, pink eye, some swollen glands, and one miserable me. It is the first time in three or four years I've left the house wearing my glasses and now I have to wear them for another four or five days.
I know that doesn't seem like a big imposition but for me it is. My glasses are associated with a much earlier time in my life where I was made fun of for my glasses and they had the thickness of a tree trunk! I'm going to sound completely vain and a bit hypocritical, as I am the one who ususally preaches about body image and the like, but how does one feel pretty with her glasses on and red eyes? Really now. I've always been complemented on how "pretty" my eyes are now they are covered up and goopy! EWWW! And the worst is, I had to throw make-up away.....the horrors. Anyway, I am hoping that by Monday I will be healed and on the verge of contact-wearing again!

Much love to all those enjoying the warmer weather...you know who you are!

Love, I get so lost sometimes....

It's late on Wednesday; really it's creeping into Thursday morning.....I can't sleep. I know those reading this blog will have a tough time with what I write in this post but I find that writing can be cathartic.

My grandmother died this week. I wasn't prepared. No matter how often I received the calls that she was ill, that she was not getting better, I wasn't prepared. Really though, who prepares for death. We can rationalize that she is in a better place, that her suffering is over; but in reality I'm not ready to say goodbye. Perhaps it is selfish but I wanted more time. More time to send the cards I always meant to send, more time to make the calls that I always promised to make. I want more time with the woman who cared for me in college and who called me by a special nickname no one else was allowed to use. I'll never hear that again. More time with the woman who sang songs when it thundered and who would run her hand down your back in the most comforting way.
It's funny, that house felt more like a home than my own sometimes. It was filled with such love and warmth and laughter. Family filled every room and no one ever rang the doorbell. I'm afraid that this weekend was the last time I slept in "the girls' room." Will this be my last ABA parade to stand on that porch and watch the mummers go by? I'm not sure if I could stomach Ashland with someone else in that house or seeing someone on that front porch. That house holds such memories. That hiding space behind the door, the cups that every grandchild played restaurant with, the plays and padgents we all held....
My grandmother, she was so happy to have her family around her and her family included their friends and the community of Ashland. She was the glue that held us all together. I'm not ready to say goodbye but I did. It was really easy to deny that it happened all weekend while here in Maryland but it's real and I am sad. Very sad. Sad for my self and my sisters but sad for my more sad for my mother and her brothers and sisters. I'm not ready.

Sitting on top of the World

So, a new year...I'm hoping for some new adventures and some new changes!
But first, a retrospective of the holiday season.

My family spent this Christmas in Williamsburg VA. Christmas for me has always been a time for great tradition. It starts with Christmas Eve day with Kathy McGuire. What started 15 years ago as a way to get us out of the house for my parents' to wrap Christmas presents has become a cherished and time-honored tradition. It started with trips to the Kennedy Center for carolling then dinner at McDonald's. As we have gotten older our trips have lead us all over Washington DC and our dinner choices have certainly improved. This Christmas, we moved Christmas Eve day to the 23rd evening; and this time we went to Baltimore's Fell's Point. We enjoyed a fantastic meal at Kali's Court then enjoyed the Miracle on 34th street off 28th street near Druid Hill Park.
Christmas Eve then led to mass and evening drinks and snackies with the DiLustros. The morning has always begun with a my father waking us up to the sound of a bell. Even at the age of 25 we'd gather on the top of the stairs and wait while my parents made sure Santa came and my mother made coffee. Then we'd open presents and do the stockings then breakfast. Traditions I came to love.
This Christmas, new traditions were created while retaining some of the old. My parents brought our stockings, the bell, and a small tree. We were also "blessed" with our family's pathetic manger. All these things though, mean the world to me, and I am sure to my sisters as well. Before this gets too long (or too sappy) lets look at some pics!
The Williamsburg Winery. We enjoyed a lovely tour and wine tasting.

Megan exclaimed when reaching the wine cellar with 600 barrels of red wines "I'm home!"
A shot of Williamsburg at dusk!
A three-hundred year old tomb with a very cool motif.
And just because!!
MORE TO FOLLOW!!!!!