There were lots and lots of people. My husband and I are not crowd people so it was a bit too many people for us. We were glad we were there before lunch however because as we left the crowd was significantly bigger.
Monday, April 30, 2018
Crossing Tulips Off the Bucket List
There were lots and lots of people. My husband and I are not crowd people so it was a bit too many people for us. We were glad we were there before lunch however because as we left the crowd was significantly bigger.
Sunday, April 29, 2018
Linky Love
The Great American Read - Premiers May 22nd. Great List
Seeking Adventure and Gold - oldie but goodie - The treasure is still out there
Saturday, April 28, 2018
Trust the Process - Autism
***April is Autism Awareness Month and I usually share about my son and his journey. My son is 19 and autistic . He currently enrolled in a transition program through his local school district and receives services through the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation. He recently just got a job coach. His number one goal is to work. HE just really wants to work desperately.
After Sam Hinkie took over in 2013, the Sixers endured three consecutive horrendous seasons with fewer than 20 wins, and that’s just how he wanted it. Hinkie’s notion was that the best way for the team to become great was to lose badly for years, while stockpiling the resulting great draft picks. His plan was called the Process, and many Sixers fans bought in.
To be clear, the players never intentionally tried to lose. But Hinkie kept the roster weak, ruthlessly trading away any players who might help the team get unwanted wins.
It seems like the Autism Process through the school district is often a trust the process journey. Frequently services are traded away for other services often of lower quality or for nothing. Depending on the level of funded services, the child loses badly for many years often with inappropriate placements, frequent staffing changes, and lack of services. The scaffolding that is frequently offered never materializes. Parents are told to trust the process often pinning their hope on therapies and placements. Now lots of supports or early interventions are offered but as students age out of the system less and less support services are offered often when support is the most needed. Autism is a life long disability while behaviors can be modified but the need for life long support is sometimes necessary.
By the way Sam Hinkie was eventually fired. He did help the Sixers eventually get some higher draft picks. One of the draft picks and star player nicknamed himself, THE PROCESS.
Other Autism Posts
The State of Autism at Our House
What is in a Label?
Lost in Transition
The Elephant in the Room
The Choices We Make
End of 8th Grade
TRUST THE PROCESS
I have heard "trust the process" in regards to autism journey so many times. Recently I was listening to a reply all podcast where they were discussing a tweet about the basketball team, "The 76ers," and their old general manager, Sam Hinke, and his trust the process attitude. I usually HATE a sport analogy but this one kinda fits. The below quote was taken from this article by Victor MatherAfter Sam Hinkie took over in 2013, the Sixers endured three consecutive horrendous seasons with fewer than 20 wins, and that’s just how he wanted it. Hinkie’s notion was that the best way for the team to become great was to lose badly for years, while stockpiling the resulting great draft picks. His plan was called the Process, and many Sixers fans bought in.
To be clear, the players never intentionally tried to lose. But Hinkie kept the roster weak, ruthlessly trading away any players who might help the team get unwanted wins.
It seems like the Autism Process through the school district is often a trust the process journey. Frequently services are traded away for other services often of lower quality or for nothing. Depending on the level of funded services, the child loses badly for many years often with inappropriate placements, frequent staffing changes, and lack of services. The scaffolding that is frequently offered never materializes. Parents are told to trust the process often pinning their hope on therapies and placements. Now lots of supports or early interventions are offered but as students age out of the system less and less support services are offered often when support is the most needed. Autism is a life long disability while behaviors can be modified but the need for life long support is sometimes necessary.
By the way Sam Hinkie was eventually fired. He did help the Sixers eventually get some higher draft picks. One of the draft picks and star player nicknamed himself, THE PROCESS.
Other Autism Posts
The State of Autism at Our House
What is in a Label?
Lost in Transition
The Elephant in the Room
The Choices We Make
End of 8th Grade
Sunday, April 22, 2018
Linky Love
The 5 Minute Car Rental Hack
Should You Quit Facebook I think this a question a lot of us are asking
The Lie Behind Standardize Testing
Beverly Cleary Turns 102
Sunday, April 15, 2018
Mega April Booking It and Book Flight Bonzana
I have been working on Modern Mrs Book Flights. Similar to Basketball March Madness Brackets but with book pairing. BECAUSE some books are better together. I have been on fire. I had been in a bit of a reading slump lately but this seemed to jolt me out of it. Check out what other people have been reading this month at Modern Mrs Darcy's Quick Lit.
TRUTH OR FICTION BOOK FLIGHT
The Romanov Sisters
After reading this I had a much clearer picture of the Romanov's and their reign. Everyone knows Anastasia but I was more interested in her sister's. The Romanov sisters were extremely sheltered and I ended up feeling bad for them. There seems like there was so much potential that was lost like they never lived. Their Mother and brother were constantly ill and worse yet their mother didn't seem to understand the politics of the time.
Who couldn't use some links to enhance this book flight. Because one thing I kept asking myself why were people so fascinated with Anastasia and why did they believe she lived? I needed more back story.
The Anastasia Story
DNA Testing Ends Mystery Surrounding Czar Nicholas II Children
*Young Jane Young and So You've Been Publicly Shamed
the only complete book flight I have in Fact and Fiction
This was a quick read for me. I love that the story was told from the different perspective of all the woman in the story - intern, daughter, adult intern, mother, and wife. I love that it reinforces the fact that the internet lives forever. This is really a commentary on social media and shamming. Why this book doesn't have anything to do with Monica Lewinsky there is a somewhat similar story line. Thought you all would enjoy this Vanity Fair Linky.
The #MeToo Movement means rethinking everything about Monica Lewinsky (It made me think of this book in the context of the #MeToo Movement and consent etc.)
So You've Been Publicly Shamed by Jon Ronson
This book is incredibly timely a non fiction book discussing public shaming in the form of tweets with very real life examples. There is so much food for thought in this book about social media. Though this book mainly deals with the social media of Twitter. I think it applies to all social platforms - facebook etc..
I love the Micheal Fertik quote" The biggest lie is, "The Internet is about you." We like to think of ourselves as people who have choice and taste and personalized content. But the Internet isn't about us. It about the companies that dominate the data flows of the Internet." I also love the quote that Jon Ronson ended his book with " The great thing about social media was how it gave a voice to voiceless people. Let's not turn it into a world where the smartest way to survive is to go back to being voiceless.
Dreamland Burning
This book is told from 2 points of view one in the present and the other in 1921. Dreamland Burning is based on the Tulsa Race Riot of 1921. This kinda had a twist I didn't see coming or I thought I knew what was what. This was a quick read.
Circling the Sun
I had never heard of Beryl Markham. This is quite a story based on the real life of Beryl Markham. Beryl sounds like a remarkable woman and pretty much a maverick of her time. The Africa she lived in seem like it had quite the soap opera of characters and affairs.
The Great Alone and Into the Wild
Are they any Hannah Kirsten books that don't make you cry. I am pretty sure her books need t come with Kleenex. I do think this is a good book to pair with Into the Wild. This book will take you through all the emotions. I did buy this book as I was about 200th on the wait list. This book has all the feels.
*** I had read a few books already in the fact and fiction flight. See my reviews below
Into the Wild - I read this in 2008. It is haunting. (my review) I more recently read his sister's book, Wild Alone by Carine McCandless, and that was enlightening why Christopher may have chosen to escape into the wild. She provides more of the back story to Christopher's life.
Just Mercy - I read this in 2015 and I have to say it had a profound effect on how I viewed justice. (my review)
Brand New + Old and True
Brand new books are hard for me to come by as I use the library for 99% of my reading needs. However even the old ones in this section were hard for me to come by. So I read no new or old books in this category. But this is a testimony to the staying power of these selections.On top of that there is only 1 Old and True selection I have read. The Glass Castle back in 2007 before I started reviewing books but I did list it as a favorite for that year.
Book Club Favorites
The Mothers
This book contains some sensitive subjects - abortion and infidelity. I really didn't care for the book and not the because of the sensitive subjects. It just wasn't my cup of tea.
Beartown
I didn't think I would like a book about hockey and small towns. I found this a book such a good read. I would desperately would like to discuss with someone. I live in a small town that is seemingly obsessed with high school sports. So, I totally understand the bear mentality and I am an outsider too even though I have lived here for 14 years.
Take Another Look
Something in Between
Oh this is a timely read. This is an immigration story. It is a good story BUT I am hung up on it mainly because it is a teen pick and there is an agenda. Agenda isn't the right word and one sideness isn' t it either. There are many ways to immigrate illegally and not all people are good people. I don't want to start a immigration debate. I think all of us can agree that the immigration and enforcement of immigration law is really messed up in the US. The characters described in this book are exactly the type of immigrants we want to become US citizens. I can honestly say I am torn about this book and I would love to discuss BUT we don't discuss these topics in our society. We loudly brow beat people about their opinion and choose sides.
*** I had read previously Code Name Verity. Review here
TRUTH OR FICTION BOOK FLIGHT
The Romanov Sisters
After reading this I had a much clearer picture of the Romanov's and their reign. Everyone knows Anastasia but I was more interested in her sister's. The Romanov sisters were extremely sheltered and I ended up feeling bad for them. There seems like there was so much potential that was lost like they never lived. Their Mother and brother were constantly ill and worse yet their mother didn't seem to understand the politics of the time.
Who couldn't use some links to enhance this book flight. Because one thing I kept asking myself why were people so fascinated with Anastasia and why did they believe she lived? I needed more back story.
The Anastasia Story
DNA Testing Ends Mystery Surrounding Czar Nicholas II Children
*Young Jane Young and So You've Been Publicly Shamed
the only complete book flight I have in Fact and Fiction
This was a quick read for me. I love that the story was told from the different perspective of all the woman in the story - intern, daughter, adult intern, mother, and wife. I love that it reinforces the fact that the internet lives forever. This is really a commentary on social media and shamming. Why this book doesn't have anything to do with Monica Lewinsky there is a somewhat similar story line. Thought you all would enjoy this Vanity Fair Linky.
The #MeToo Movement means rethinking everything about Monica Lewinsky (It made me think of this book in the context of the #MeToo Movement and consent etc.)
So You've Been Publicly Shamed by Jon Ronson
This book is incredibly timely a non fiction book discussing public shaming in the form of tweets with very real life examples. There is so much food for thought in this book about social media. Though this book mainly deals with the social media of Twitter. I think it applies to all social platforms - facebook etc..
I love the Micheal Fertik quote" The biggest lie is, "The Internet is about you." We like to think of ourselves as people who have choice and taste and personalized content. But the Internet isn't about us. It about the companies that dominate the data flows of the Internet." I also love the quote that Jon Ronson ended his book with " The great thing about social media was how it gave a voice to voiceless people. Let's not turn it into a world where the smartest way to survive is to go back to being voiceless.
Dreamland Burning
This book is told from 2 points of view one in the present and the other in 1921. Dreamland Burning is based on the Tulsa Race Riot of 1921. This kinda had a twist I didn't see coming or I thought I knew what was what. This was a quick read.
I had never heard of Beryl Markham. This is quite a story based on the real life of Beryl Markham. Beryl sounds like a remarkable woman and pretty much a maverick of her time. The Africa she lived in seem like it had quite the soap opera of characters and affairs.
The Great Alone and Into the Wild
Are they any Hannah Kirsten books that don't make you cry. I am pretty sure her books need t come with Kleenex. I do think this is a good book to pair with Into the Wild. This book will take you through all the emotions. I did buy this book as I was about 200th on the wait list. This book has all the feels.
*** I had read a few books already in the fact and fiction flight. See my reviews below
Into the Wild - I read this in 2008. It is haunting. (my review) I more recently read his sister's book, Wild Alone by Carine McCandless, and that was enlightening why Christopher may have chosen to escape into the wild. She provides more of the back story to Christopher's life.
Brand New + Old and True
Brand new books are hard for me to come by as I use the library for 99% of my reading needs. However even the old ones in this section were hard for me to come by. So I read no new or old books in this category. But this is a testimony to the staying power of these selections.On top of that there is only 1 Old and True selection I have read. The Glass Castle back in 2007 before I started reviewing books but I did list it as a favorite for that year.
Book Club Favorites
The Mothers
This book contains some sensitive subjects - abortion and infidelity. I really didn't care for the book and not the because of the sensitive subjects. It just wasn't my cup of tea.
Beartown
I didn't think I would like a book about hockey and small towns. I found this a book such a good read. I would desperately would like to discuss with someone. I live in a small town that is seemingly obsessed with high school sports. So, I totally understand the bear mentality and I am an outsider too even though I have lived here for 14 years.
Take Another Look
Something in Between
Oh this is a timely read. This is an immigration story. It is a good story BUT I am hung up on it mainly because it is a teen pick and there is an agenda. Agenda isn't the right word and one sideness isn' t it either. There are many ways to immigrate illegally and not all people are good people. I don't want to start a immigration debate. I think all of us can agree that the immigration and enforcement of immigration law is really messed up in the US. The characters described in this book are exactly the type of immigrants we want to become US citizens. I can honestly say I am torn about this book and I would love to discuss BUT we don't discuss these topics in our society. We loudly brow beat people about their opinion and choose sides.
*** I had read previously Code Name Verity. Review here
Autism Linky
April is National Autism Awareness Month
Kids with Autism Benefit From These Exercises
I'm autistic, I just turned 36- The average age people like me die - some language but interesting information about life span
How To Be A Friend To Special Needs Kids
Local Woman Opens Thrift Store for People with Autism
Entering Adulthood With Autism
Differences can be part of their skills Pilot Program at the University of Washington
Wednesday, April 4, 2018
Monday, April 2, 2018
Saving and Saving Some More
We have been saving for a while for new carpet in our living room. 12 years of a hard life of pets and kids had rendered it disgusting. We have literally been saving for 2 years. A combination of babysitting, saving, and some Christmas/and birthday money from Grandpa an Grandma has finally resulted in new carpet.
This is the most used part of our house and it is really nice to have good carpet in here. We chose a pet type of carpet. This actually has black flecks in the carpet which naturally hides the black shed from the dog. The process was pretty painless but before the carpet came I repainted the baseboards. Kids are hard or maybe life is hard on white baseboards.
My youngest son made this metal sculpture in metals and it resting on a sample of my new carpet.
Sunday, April 1, 2018
Instant Pot Linky Love
Can the Instant Pot Save You Money
Honey Sesame Chicken in Pressure Cooker - Messed this recipe up and still came out good
Instant Pot French Dips - This recipe made a lot. I was able to freeze half and have for a later date. I omitted the onion and garlic as we have people with those sensitivities. It turned out great.
In honor of Easter, Instant Pot Easter Eggs
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