What I Read August

 I am linking up with Modern Mrs Darcy's Quick Lit. Check out what everyone else is reading. I took July off not from reading but from posting any book reviews.  

Educated by Tara Westover

I read this again for a book club selection. I am looking forward to the author talk. This is Tara's memoir about growing up in Idaho in a very dysfunctional Mormon fundie household where she wasn't educated and essentially abused and neglected by her parents. She goes on to become incredibly educated. This memoir exposes or shares very difficult topics about her family which is now quite famous now.  I loved discussing this with book club. When I read it for book club, I read it quite differently. I think I got more out of it.  Since I read Educated the first time, Tara's mother has written a book that basically disputes what Tara wrote. I haven't read it. 

Recent news article about Westover family

Previous Blog Post

What I Read November

I read Lab Girl by Hope Jahern

I believe this was recommended by someone on Modern Mrs Darcy's Quick Lit Link Up. I found this a fascinating read. I don't know any female scientists nor have I ever think of the challenges that gender might cause in he scientific exploration. I loved how frank Hope was about her challenges both professional and personal.

An illuminating debut memoir of a woman in science; a moving portrait of a longtime friendship; and a stunningly fresh look at plants that will forever change how you see the natural world

Lab Girl is a book about work, love, and the mountains that can be moved when those two things come together. It is told through Jahren’s remarkable stories: about her childhood in rural Minnesota with an uncompromising mother and a father who encouraged hours of play in his classroom’s labs; about how she found a sanctuary in science, and learned to perform lab work done “with both the heart and the hands”; and about the inevitable disappointments, but also the triumphs and exhilarating discoveries, of scientific work.

Yet at the core of this book is the story of a relationship Jahren forged with a brilliant, wounded man named Bill, who becomes her lab partner and best friend. Their sometimes rogue adventures in science take them from the Midwest across the United States and back again, over the Atlantic to the ever-light skies of the North Pole and to tropical Hawaii, where she and her lab currently make their home.  (AMAZON)


WHAT IS UP WITH AUTOBIOGRAPHIES WRITTEN LATELY?  Tell me my YOUR story.  I don't want to be educated about the tools you used if it doesn't enhance the story.  I don't want to be educated about plants unless it increases my understanding of YOUR story.   I will say as it was used in Lab Girl it wasn't quite as clunky as it was used in Dirt Work and  Hammer Head. I do not like this used as a literary device.  I found myself wanting to skip those chapters and get back to the real story.  I want to tell editors that I picked this book BECAUSE I was interested in the author's personal story.

7 by Jen Hatmaker

Our bible study finally finished this. Jen Hatmaker has a lot of controversy.  Some of her personal views were a bit much for a number of our members of her bible study. Jen Hatmaker has been dropped from the Lifeway brand due to her views. We lengthen this study by doing the study homework together during our meetings.  I thought it was an interesting thoughtful study about excess in our lives and how to manage things that might become idols to us - social media etc.. We as a group thought her last two lessons were perhaps the strongest in the whole study.

Anyone else watching The Crown on Netflix.  Prince Philip - The Turbulent Early Life of the Man Who Married Queen Elizabeth II would be a good companion read to The Crown.I had previously done on a post on books and movies that I felt complimented The Crown.  I admit I didn't know anything about Prince Philip.  What an interesting life he had before marrying Queen Elizabeth or Princess Elizabeth at the time.

I am linking up with Modern Mrs Darcy's Quick Lit

Dead People Files - Killers of the Flower Moon Connection

 Sometimes when I read nonfiction my genealogy definitely relates to the topic. I have been reading Killers of the Flower Moon with the Sharon Says So Book Club.  I was wondering if any genealogy connections existed.  Some of my ancestors did have a connection to Oklahoma.

I did have a Great Great Grand Aunt that settled in Oklahoma in the early 1900s Abigail Martin. 

My Great Great Grandmother Candance Liston might have made a claim in Oklahoma/Texas in the early 1900. She never resided there.  Her son, John P Liston, also made a homesteading claim too in the same general area.

The closest and not very close connection to Osage/ Oklahoma is Joseph Colburn Pringey. He is a 1st cousin 4 times removed to me. 

Joseph Colburn Pringey or as people called him "Uncle Joe" was a mover and shaker in Oklahoma in the early 1900s. He as a pioneer homesteader, loan and insurance salesman, Postmaster, 4-minute man, Congressman, County Clerk, farmer.

Joseph Pringey homestead near Chandler, Oklahoma when the Sac and Fox lands opened for settlement in 1891. Joseph made the run with his brother, George. Joseph was also a Loan and Insurance Salesman during this time. Joseph was the first Postmaster of Kendrick, Oklahoma. As a Republican he was a member of the Oklahoma Territorial Senate in 1893. Jospeh attended the Republican Nation convention in 1900. Joseph was the County Clerk of Lincoln County, Oklahoma from 1912 to 1920. He was active politically at both the state and national levels. During World War I, he served as a 4 Minute Man Speaker.  He gave 4-minute speeches at theatres, churches, lodges etc. in Oklahoma. These were basically public service announcements about the war. Joseph was elected as a Republican for the 4th District to the 67th Congress. He defeated Tom McKeown a Democrat.  He served on 3 committees, Expenditures in the Department of Labor, Pensions, and Public Buildings and Grounds. Joseph was a strong advocate for compensation for soldiers who had served in World War 1 and called for a tariff to protect the farmer and laborer. Joseph was unsuccessful in his run for the 68th Congress. Tom McKeown won that race. Joseph returned to agricultural pursuits. 

Despite much research, I know very little about Joseph's personal life. Joseph Colburn Pringey was born to George and Effie Pringey in Pennsylvania in 1858.  Colburn is his mother's maiden name and Joseph's middle name. Joseph was one of nine born to this union. Effie was George's second wife. His parents came to Iowa in the late 1860's. The family is shown living in Iowa in the 1870's. Jospeh was educated in rural schools. He attended business college in Sedalia, Missouri in 1870s. Joseph was fairly educated for his time. However, he is quoted as saying he graduated "with distinction from the university of hard knocks" in the Washington Post (June 26, 1921) in an article titled," Present Congress Has Many Distinctive Members". 

Joseph was married three times. He first married Anna Phillips who died in 1884 in Iowa. Then he married Zona Maxson.  Lastly, he married Amanda "Joesphine" Young Harp who was at least 20 years younger than himself. It is known that Josephine and Joseph continued to be involved in local affairs after he lost bid to be reelected to Congress. Jospeh was a Mason, Odd Fellow, and Knight of the Pythias. He died February 11, 1935, of a heart attack. He was interred in Oak Park Cemetery in Chandler, Oklahoma. 

***Connection to Osage Indians and the Reign of Terror

While he probably did not engage directly with the Osage Indians. It is most likely he knew what was happening to the Osage and their headrights. Congress very much thought the Osage were becoming too wealthy because of oil profits.  He was in the House of Representatives during the Osage Reign of Terror where at the very least 24 wealthy Indians were murdered for their headrights. There seemed to be a widespread conspiracy to deprive the Osage of these lucrative headrights. While Osage Indians had headrights to the oil all their wealth was controlled by white guardians. The 4th District of Oklahoma does not include Osage lands.  It is more in the southern part of Oklahoma. Joseph represented the 4th District of Oklahoma in the House of Representatives.

What don't I know about Joseph Pringey?

One of his obituaries mentioned a son and a daughter.  I can find no known record of either. I am curious to see his local obituary and feel like that may shed some light on whether not he was a parent. I also didn't find his last wife Josephine obituary either. There is no mention of children in the census. I would love to know some more personal information about him.

How I am related to Joseph Pringey?

This is where I draw this really great chart. Sometimes charting it out makes me see it clearer. Basically, Joseph Colburn Pringey is a cousin to my 2nd Great Grandmother Candance Pringey Liston.

Resources

David Grann and Killer of the Flower Moon

Killers of the Flower Moon

 Osage Indian Murders - Wikipedia

Osage Indian Murders - Oklahoma Historical Society

Oklahoma 4th Congressional District - Wikipedia

Joseph Pringey - Oklahoma Historical Society

Booking It May

 Modern Mrs Darcy's Quick Lit is not happening this month but she will be sharing her Summer Reading Guide. This was a slower reading month for me.

Educated by Tara Westover -The wait list for the physical book was so long at the library I opted for the ebook.  This book has been getting a lot of hype and I have to say Tara's life story is mind blowing.  Where she is today is a testament to her resilience. This book was also picked as part of the March Madness - Books That Are Better Read Together at Modern Mrs Darcy

I also enjoyed NewYork Times Book Review Podcast that featured Tara.

Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows by Balli Kaur Jaswal - I should of included this in my book review last month.  This was a Reese Witherspoon book club pick.  It was interesting but not a book I would of probably chosen on my own. Yep, this book is a little bit on the racy side so if not your cup of tea you might want to pass on this one.

Happiness a Memoir by Heather Harpham is another Reese Witherspoon  book club pick.  This was a quick read for me.  This book is mainly about Heather's child Gracie and her experience of getting a bone marrow transplant.  I won't lie I did read part of the ending in the middle of the book.  I just had to know.  I also love the love story between her husband and Heather.  It is so imperfect but real. I love the quote below.

If You are lucky, you meet four or five people in a lifetime who you're totally comfortable with . Comfortable in a way that causes you best self to surge forward. With them, rowing through life's quotidian mess is an adventure.

What I Read July

I am linking up to Modern Mrs Darcy's Quick Lit.  If you haven't taken her reading personality quiz YOU SHOULD. My reading personality is escapist.  I thought the book test was spot on. 

The Wild Truth by Carine McCandless

If you read Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer about Chris McCandless his escape into the wilds of Alaska and ultimate death this book explores more of the McCandless family dynamics.  Carine, his sister, gives us the back story of their turbulent home life and just how that might of contributed to her brother's escape into the wild.

Voyager by Diane Gabaldon

I have continued on in the Outlander Series.  I think I am ready to take a break from Jamie and Claire.

The Other Einstein

This book is about Einstein's first wife Mileva who was a physicists and mathematician in her own right. There is much speculation that she was more than a supporter and rather a contributor to Einstein's theories. I honestly don't think Einstein would of come up with many of his theories without Mileva. This book also addresses the fact that in that day and age to be an educated woman was tough and even harder to be a scientist. I found the book interesting. This book is part of the Big Library Read

I don't know if anybody else has been watching the National Geographical Channel program, "Genius", on Albert Einstein.  I think this would be a great companion to watch while reading this book.

The House by the Lake by Thomas Harding

This book is about a house in Germany first owned by the Alexander's by the lake in Grob Glienicke. Thomas Harding sets off to find the house with his Grandmother in 1993 who remembers it as a safe haven during the rise of Hilter.  20 years later when Thomas returns to visit the house, the house is about to be demolish.  The story is of 5 families and the history of Germany and how they lived in the house.  This is also a story about how Thomas set off to save the lake house. I found the book fascinating.

What I READ in 2023

 I am linking up with Modern Mrs Darcy's Quick Lit. Check out what everyone else is reading. 

Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner

This is a reread for me. (Previous Review) Sharon Says So book club is reading this. Can't wait for the author meet. I actually liked it better when I discussed it.  I reminded that food is love and memory.

What I Read 2023 - book total = 17 books

Unbroken by Lauren Hillenbrand

The Revolutionary Samuel Adams by Stacy Schiff

Know My Name by Chanel Miller

The Guardians by John Grisham

The Last Russian Doll

Living the Quaker Way

The Righteous Mind by Jonathan Haidt 

Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi

Educated by Tara Westover

Shanghai Girls by Lisa See

Lady Tan's Circle of Women by Lisa See

Life in a Jar

Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann

Things I Wish I Told My Mother by Susan Patterson

Hidden Potential by Adam Grant

Dough by Mort Zachter

The Books I had the Most Ongoing Discussions About

The Revolutionary Samuel Adams

Hidden Potential - I had both my Husband and Mother-in-Law read this.  This is really thought provoking.

The Righteous Mind

The Hardest Book I Read

The Revolutionary Samuel Adams - I am glad I had book club for this book. It was challenging but worth it. It opened my eyes to politics back in the day and how they weren't all that different today.  Samuel Adams was amazing and somewhat erased from history. 

Best Fiction Book I Read

Lady Tan's Circle of Women by Lisa See - it was a wonderful story, and I loved the historical context.

What I Learned in May

WHAT I LEARNED IN MAY

1. You Can Play Music on Floppy Drives



I think I might of just nerded out.

2. There is a difference between BIG Foot and a  Yeti.

According to my 16 year old Big Foot cannot be hunted in our county.  AND I learned from my sister, the Polyester Princess, Big Foot and a Yeti are not the same thing.  I obviously needed to be educated on Big Foot.

3. Song Stuck in My Head

Oh ya know, I have a song stuck in my head.  Here is my latest.



4. Bison Slobber is difficult to remove from your car windows.

Bison will slobber your car if you have bread.  We enjoyed our trip to the Olympic Game Park where we were held up by bison and elk not at gun point but by hoof point.  It was seriously hilarious fun feeding them.

*****I am linking up with Chatting At the Sky - What I learned in May

What I Read December and Yearly Book Round up

 I am linking up with Modern Mrs Darcy's Quick Lit. Check out what everyone else is reading. My reading has been a little bit more on the sparse side this month. 

Greed in the Gilded Age - The Brillant Con of Cassie Chadwick by William Elliott Hazelgrove

I picked this nonfiction book on a whim. This slim book details the con woman Cassie Chadwick. Cassie Chadwich conned about $2 million dollars out of several banks by simply claiming to be the illegitimate daughter of Andrew Carnegie.  That was simply her biggest and most successful con until she was caught. She realized early on that she could con others by simply pretending to be a wealthy woman or soon to inherit wealth. The men of the time especially highly educated bankers were beguiled by her looks and simply took her at her word and believing every word of her story. It is a fascinating piece of history. 

Favorite Books of  2022

The Unanswered Letter by Faris Cassell (my review)

How to Host a Viking Funeral by Kyle Scheele (my review)

The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley (my review)

Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson (re-read) (my review)

The Maid by Nita Prose (my review)

Empire of Pain by Patrick Radden Keefe (my review)

Reading by the Numbers

Total Books Read -19

Re Reads - 1

Fiction - 11

Non Fiction - 8

What I Read July

 I am linking up with Modern Mrs Darcy's Quick Lit. Check out what everyone else is reading.

I continued with the Crazy Rich Asian Series by Kevin Kwan with Book 2 and Book 3. Watching Crazy Rich Asians on Netflix reignited my interest in the series. I thought they were good reads. My only complaint is there are a few too many characters. I am overall a fan of this series. 

China Rich Girlfriend by Kevin Kwan

Rachel Chu is going to finally marry Nicholas Young despite meddling relatives including an overbearing mother. Rachel still doesn't know her real father. 

Rich People Problems by Kevin Kwan

Nicholas Young's grandmother, Su Yi, is on her deathbed. Various relatives try to jockey for positions to receive their inheritance. Who will inherit Tyersall Park?

Distance Between Us by Reyna Grande

This is what the book club I belong to is reading. This was a quick compelling read. Reyna is an amazing writer. It reminded me somewhat of the memoir "Educated".  The story follows Reyna's family as some of her family immigrates to the United States, the other side.  Reyna is torn between two parents and two countries. It explains how it breaks her family apart.

Weekly Roll

 

Peter Hurd Mural - Artesia Library

Artesia, NM

Linky Love

10 Years of the Peter Hurd Mural at Artesia Library - This is a stunning mural. The picture above is one I took.  The article from New Mexico Magazine - Putting the Art in Artesia This is a worthwhile read. 

New Mexico Man holds the record for largest Hibiscus flower - This is not too far from where I live, and I applaud him because it can't be easy to grow that kind of flower here.

 

Deep Thoughts

Last Sunday, I got to be part of a book club author zoom with Tara Westover the author of "Educated."  I was surprised how funny but also thoughtful she was.  Something she said was how she wrote this whole book trying to answer the question " Am I allowed to leave?" It sounds like she has done tremendous amount of therapy.  Here is my book review.  This was the 2nd time I read through the book. It is amazing that any of the Westover's survived their growing up. I did read the book differently as I knew I would be discussing it.

My Top Reading Picks of 2018

These are the books that stuck with me for 2018.  They all are amazing reads

The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah
I am a big fan of Kristin but I always ended up needing tissues for her reads.

Beartown
This is a book I wouldn't have picked up but Modern Mrs Darcy's Book Flight had me reading it. So glad I did.

Educated by Tara Westover
This true story is incredible.

The Big Burn by Timothy Egan

This is part of of county's Whatcom Reads.  This is a book I wouldn't of picked up on my own. It is extremely topical in light of all the really really big fires that have happened in the last year. It is really worth the read. I have to say parts of this book have haunted me.

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan
I also enjoyed the book and movie. I am still waiting to read the sequels.

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
I heard this is going to be turned into a movie.  I can't wait. This was a pick by Reese Witherspoon

What I Read June

Oh I have been reading and reading. I have been on a serious reading roll. I am linking up with Modern Mrs Darcy.  Check out what everyone is reading.

The Yellow Envelope by Kim Dinan - Oh, you know I love a real life travel adventure book especially about a couple from Seattle. They sell all their possessions. They are given a envelope of money by their friends to give away as they see fit with basically only 3 rules. It was interesting to see how that went and what motivated them to pass the money along.  I found the rickshaw race that Kim participated in India fascinating.

Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate This book is fiction but about real life adoption scandals.  This book was a quick read and I noticed this book is also available to purchase at Costco.

North of Normal by Cea Sunrise Person -This book in some ways reminded me of Educated by Tara Westover.  I was disheartened by how no one in society was really looking out for Cea .  I also marvel at her resilience. This can be read on Amazon Prime for free.

Inheritance by Dani Shapiro - Getting your DNA taken to assist in finding your ancestors is something that is trending. Dani Shapiro did this and got the surprise of her life.  Her father wasn't her father. I thought this was very thought provoking and some of the unintended consequences of DNA testing.  

To the Bright Edge of the World by Eowyn Ivey is the 2020 read for Whatcom Reads- One Book our all county read book sponsored through the local library system. I thought this was one of their better choices.

In the winter of 1885, decorated war hero Colonel Allen Forrester leads a small band of men on an expedition that has been deemed impossible: to venture up the Wolverine River and pierce the vast, untamed Alaska Territory. Leaving behind Sophie, his newly pregnant wife, Colonel Forrester records his extraordinary experiences in hopes that his journal will reach her if he doesn’t return–once he passes beyond the edge of the known world, there’s no telling what awaits him. (Whatcom Reads)

My favorite quote

It doesn't matter what draws explorers - wealth or fame of military power, or even genuine curiosity - they just alter a place by traveling through it.

Interesting enough this book has a book trailer.

IEP thoughts

After doing my ADHD post I received such a positive response. I thought I would go ahead and post this. Today was my son's IEP (individual education program) meeting. My oldest has had one of these IEP's since preschool. He is now in 6th grade and 11 years old. He will be transitioning to middle school next year. When a school system (district) decides that a child needs services a evaluation is conducted and IEP is drafted up. The IEP has specific goals that are written in it as well as who will provide the services to reach that goal. It is a contract of sorts. Today I will go again and advocate for my son. When I stared the evaluation process for my son, he was 4 years old. Many times I felt in the dark about the process. At that 1st IEP meeting there were no less than 10 people present and the first meeting resulted in denial of services. I had no idea on what I was walking into nor how to advocate for my son. I felt completely defeated, mislead, and alone in my concern about my son. I have learned a few things after 9 or so IEP meetings, I always cry. I can't help myself. It is really hard to hear negative things about my son. These things always make me feel like I have failed. I know that isn't true but deep down I feel that. Secondly, talk is cheap. We can all talk about my son but show me by your actions what you are doing for my son. Lets talk about what we can do not what isn't possible. Thirdly, I am there for my son not the school district, therapist, or teacher. I am not there to make things easier by not making you do the job that you are tasked to do. I really don't care where the funding comes from or how many kids you have to service. I am there to ensure that my son receives services or a free and appropriate education (FAE) Fourth, the ideal school setting for me is not the ideal school setting for my son. How I was educated is vastly different from how they do it now a days and what worked for me is probably not going to work for my son. I have to leave my feelings about my education outside that meeting. Fifth, the parent is part of the team. Parents are allowed to make suggestions and request that certain things be removed from the record. The parent is the only person in that meeting that is an expert on that child. I did in fact have something not included in my son's very first evaluation because I believed the evaluator inserted her personal prejudice into her report. I frequently ask them to reword or include certain things. I won't sign an IEP that I don't agree with or is not factually accurate. Lastly, keeping a binder will all the important evaluations/old IEP's is extremely helpful when questions arise at the meeting. This binder has my child's picture on the front because when I started going to these meetings he wasn't present. I want everyone to know and see who we are talking about. Many times some of the people present will not have met the child. I have yet to meet a school psychologist in my son's current district that has actually met him (a whole different post)I want them to remember who they are deciding for. I believe my experience with IEP process is average. I have had been at IEP's that have been adversarial and IEP's where my son was granted services that I didn't expect him to receive. Today was a good day and a good IEP meeting.

52 ancestors - Surprising Shorthand Love Story

 So far, I haven't been very successful about following the writing prompt this week was surprise. I have been researching the Bond part of my family tree. I stumbled upon this surprising love story that was all due to a shorthand contest. 

Annie Dupre Galliard was the youngest of 4 daughters of James and Susan Gaillard. They wanted their girls to have the best education possible. Annie attended the secondary boarding school, Chickasaw Female College located in Pontotoc, Mississippi under the southern Presbyterian Church.

By Credit: Courtesy of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History - Source: http://mdah.state.ms.us/arrec/digital_archives/cooper/index.php?itemno=3956, PD-US, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=36567400

Chickasaw Female College was founded as Pontotoc Female College in 1851 in Pontotoc, MS, for the purpose of educating young ladies to be accomplished wives, mothers and teachers. Courses offered included Latin, Greek, History, Art History, and Bible Study. In 1853 it was taken over by the Presbyterian Church and the name was changed to Chickasaw Female College. Despite assistance from wealthy benefactors, the college closed in 1936 after many years of financial struggles. MS State Archives

Annie was not only educated in academic subjects but also given piano training. This would serve her well throughout her life as she taught piano and played regularly in the churches she attended.

After finishing college, Annie took up the study of Shorthand on her own using a self-help shorthand textbook and a monthly shorthand magazine. Annie was fascinated by shorthand. 

Shorthand is an abbreviated symbolic writing method that increases speed and brevity of writing as compared to longhand, a more common method of writing a language. -link

Early in 1892 the magazine had a contest and offered a gold pen as a prize to the reader who could best transcribe a certain printed story into shorthand. Annie did it for fun, but her sister convinced her to send it in. In August of 1892 she received a letter from the Magazine notifying her she had won. The shorthand transcription was printed in the September 1892 issue giving her name and address as the winner. She received several congratulatory letters from other readers, all of which were young men. There were very few women who had studied shorthand and secretaries were all men. She replied with thanks to all who wrote. One of these letters was from Z.H Lewis of Covington, Virginia. They began a correspondence in shorthand. 

Zimri Henri Lewis

Z.H Lewis was Zimri Henri Lewis. You pronounce Zimri - ZIM-rye. Zimri is my 1st cousin 4 times removed.  Zim is what his friends called him was born in 1864 in Illinois to Quaker parents, Eber and Mary Lewis . In his early childhood the family moved in a covered wagon to the Kansas Territory from Illinois. During that trip Zimri managed to fall of the wagon and break his leg. Zimri grew up on a farm in the Kansas territory being the youngest of 8. Zim left the farm to attend Baker University in Baldwin, Kansas. College is where he studied business including the newly created shorthand. Upon graduation, Zimri became a professional stenographer /court reporter for Judge Robert L Parrish in Covington, Virginia.

Zimri and Annie's relationship grew through the writing letters in shorthand. Zimri's co-workers teased him over his correspondence. They begged to read the letters. Much to their surprise Zimri let them read them but none of them could because they were in shorthand. 

During this time Annie was working as a governess in a plantation home in Woodstock near Memphis, Tennessee for two girls. It was during Christmas 1894 Zimri visited Annie in Memphis. They were impressed with each other and happily married Aug 14, 1995, at Annie's parents' home in Baldwyn, Mississippi where Annie's dad officiated the wedding.  After the wedding, they moved to Covington, Virginia so Zimri could continue his work as a court reporter. They lived a long and happy life together and they were brought together by a little bit of shorthand.

Interesting Fact

President Woodrow Wilson had mastered Graham system of Shorthand and even corresponded with Graham. Throughout his life Woodrow Wilson used the Graham method. By the 1950 the Graham method of shorthand had disappeared. Wilson scholars had trouble interpreting his shorthand. In 1960, they found an 84 old shorthand expert, Clifford Gehman who managed to crack Wilson's shorthand and translated Wilson's acceptance speech for the 1912 presidential nomination - link

Details are from a History of Annie Dupre Gaillard by A. M. Stromberg and an ancestry.com  family history on Zimri Henri Lewis

Summer To Do's

 I haven't done a Summer Bucket List in a while, but I thought this might be fun. 

Do Some Adult Art - Preschool/Elementary Art for Adults - LOL That is exactly my speed. I think they call that process art. 

Read Some Books - Sharon Says So Book Club (Homegoing and Educated) and I would like to read a book from Modern Mrs Darcy's Minimalist Summer Book List

Take a Field Trip- ideas - Fort Stanton, Cloudcroft, THE LARGEST PISTISCHO

Have a Fun Friday

Go to Aquatic Center

Grow Some Flowers

Go to a Library Program 

Celebrate an 80th Birthday and a 25th Birthday

Bake Some Delicious Treats

Drop Some Notes- I am going to make an effort to send good mail especially if I am thinking about someone.  So, if you get a random note from me. It is indeed random, but I was literally thinking about you, so I am going to let you know.

Transition - HS to the REAL world - part 1

I decided to keep a journal of what is happening in the process of transition for my son from High School to the Real World.  I feel lost and I think other parents are probably lost in this process too.  I kept telling I just need to run into 1 person who had their child successfully transition.  I don't want to reinvent the wheel Someone recently said on a blog said, "You need to tell people what you are interested in."  I am interested in my son having the best life he can have. I want him to be productive contributing citizen.

My son a high functioning autistic (HFA) is a junior and attends a special school that our local school district pays for in Washington State. The school is for kids with behavior problems and none of the students are intellectually disabled. Many students are there because the their behaviors have gotten them in trouble with the law.  He is in a self contained classroom with 2 teachers and 2-3 aides and about 10-15 kids. Obviously, my son's behavior is not always in the socially acceptable range. His social skills and ability to handle frustration are low.  However, my son is on track doing regular high school work.  He is set to graduate in 2016. At graduation, he will be 17. He is no way ready to tackle the real world.

November 2014
At my son's annual IEP (individual education Plan) meet, I was made painful aware that our home district had no idea how to transition my son.  There was no plan and no way to develop a plan. Despite the teacher raising concerns and adding goals to the IEP and us parents raising concerns. The meeting left an overwhelming bad taste in my mouth from the district representative.  I realized my son wasn't going to fit into the cookie cutter transition plan. I quickly became frustrated at how little information on how to plan a transition that fit my son's situation. I thank the stars from bloggers like Karen at Confessions Of An Asperger's Mom and the facebook community Asperger's Confessions.

February 2015
Attended a meeting on DDA put on by Parent to Parent.  My son would not qualify for any services through them because his IQ is too high even though his adaptability scores are quite low. I have provided below the basic qualification for spectrum diagnosis for DDA

The main language besides a autistic disorder of autism spectrum disorder is evidence of delay or abnormal functioning prior to age 3 in social, language, communication skills, or symbolic or imaginative play. AND adaptive functioning assessment with a score of 69 and below.  Additionally a FSIQ of 84 and below (or statement of too severe to assess) for DSM-5 diagnosis

 I can check this off my list. I learned that if you do qualify that you may not receive services because lack of funding.  This is one resource that a child/adult can receive that is not based on their income. The speaker from the DDA was awesome.  There are a number of changes upcoming for the DDA so if this is a resource you want to pursue check out their website and apply.

March 25,2015
I went to the transition fair.  There is are some options out there if you receive SSI.  My son currently does not receive SSI. I got a great brochure from DVR with a good checklist. My son might be a candidate for running start if he wasn't a behavior risk.  I did spend time talking with the community college and technical college representatives and there definitely some supports that they can make available to students.

April 13, 2015
I watched a Dateline episode(4/12/15) " On the Brink" on what happens to kids when they age out of the educational system.  It was frequently called falling off the cliff.  Seriously made me cry and I made me realize that my son while still higher functioning is going to face these same obstacles. I am on the cliff with my kid looking down. There is absolutely no net.  Once school ends there are only resources that a parent goes out and gets for their child. Dateline had a resource list.. Notice the list is very short. 

April 22,2015
Adults with Autism often have Little Opportunity - This article is from USA today.  I love the first sentence of the article - "Roughly one in 10 young adults on the autism spectrum apparently has nothing to do all day, and many more have very limited opportunities, according to a new study."

Young Adults with Autism More Likely to Be Unemployed, Isolated - this is from NPR and based on the same study quoted in the USA today article above.

None of these help me navigate to what my son needs.  In fact, reading these will depress you.

May 2015

As More with Autism Near Adulthood, Clues to Success Emerge-
"Significantly, those with the highest self-care skills — whether as adults or in childhood — were most likely to maintain employment, work more hours and need fewer supports on the job, researchers said."

I think we are doing an ok job on teaching my son self help skills. I hope to work more diligently during the summer on some of these - cooking and some hygiene stuff as well.  Shaving and nail clipping are challenges with people who have poor fine motor skills

Why "High Functioning" Autism  is so Challenging

What Will Happen When the School Bus stops Coming

June 2015

I feel like mostly we are in the same spot as last year but my son is still on track to graduate. Treading water here. My son seems to be determined to end the year in a Blaze of Glory.

I sat at friend's graduation ceremony and realized my kid is not going to have that experience.  The finish line for him is going to be different not less but different.  The Poem below is one I found cleaning out my son's backpack

May the road lead you to adventure,

May all the challenges you face lead
to victory,

May no matter what, you come back
prosperous

And may you never forget me no matter
what.  - CMR

I have come to the realization that solutions and opportunities most likely are going to occur outside the normal routes. The system is not going to help my son because there is simply not a place there for him. I think there is paradigm out there that needs to be broken on how we educated and prepare High Functioning Austics to live in the real world.



***My main goal is not only to document the steps I am taking but maybe someone out there has transitioned their child and has some additional insights.  I feel like I am flying blind here.  Feel free to leave a comment.