Are y'all sick of hearing about my baby birds yet?  Well, you won't be hearing about them for much longer.  They have left me--one by one.  I am officially and literally suffering from empty nest syndrome.  Hope y'all are feeling sad for me.

This morning I got up and checked on my little babies.  One was already gone.  The other three were perched carefully on the edge of the nest.  The next thing I know, a second one hopped over the side of the nest and onto the vine below.  He was proudly hopping around the vine and looking back toward his siblings urging them to join him.  Mama and Daddy weren't too far away.  In the distance, I could see and hear them calling out encouragement to their babies...C'mon kids! You can do it!  Mama and Daddy were flying back and forth to the vine checking on their fledglings.  Before I knew it, baby two had flown the coop!  He was pretty wobbly looking, but he made it safely away to the vine on the front of the house.  And then he was gone. 

And then there were two.  Two little birdies, perched on the edge of the nest, looking down.  They seemed a little more hesitant than their siblings.   They took turns hopping out of the nest and exploring the vine and then quickly going back to the safety of their nest.  Finally, they were out for good.  I noticed one of them seemed to have a little bedhead.  I've nicknamed him "Spike".  Mama and Daddy came back to check on the kids.  Daddy was hiding from my prying eyes deep in the vine.  But I saw him there.  He flew away and then here came Mama.  Back and forth.  For a long time, the remaining two birds were hopping around in the vine, pecking at the leaves, flapping their downy wings and getting their footing.  And then, suddenly, the third baby was off, leaving one poor lonely birdie--my little Spike.  Spike sat there for the longest time.  I would walk away and come back to see if he had gone.  I could hear his lonely "cheep cheep".  But there he stayed.  In the same spot on the vine.  I imagined him having some sort of inner dialogue like..."I'm gonna go...NOW.  No wait...NOW.  Okay, I'm really gonna do it this time.  GO."

The rest of his family was nowhere to be found.  He was on his own.  And now finally, I see that he is gone too.

It's kind of quiet sitting here at the computer now.  For the last week or so I've been enjoying the happy chirping of my babies whenever their mama would bring them something delicious to eat.  Now it's just silent.  Kinda sad, really.  No, I guess bittersweet is a better word to describe it.  It all happened so fast.  And all they have left me is their poop to clean up off the porch.  Well, that and the joy of having experienced their presence.  God's creation is really something. 

"Strangers are just friends waiting to happen." ~Rod McKuen

Well, yesterday was an interesting day.  And I mean "interesting" in the most angsty sorta way.

Yesterday was the day that Big Red decided to take a nose dive to hasten her eventual trip to the scrap yard.  SIGH.  Dang her.  Why does she have to be in such an all-fire hurry to get there??  I mean, she's ONLY got like 126,000 or so miles on her--give or take.  SHEESH.  Why can't cars improve with age, like a good wine?  I don't think it's too much to ask.

Yesterday, I found myself stranded at the CVS pharmacy, which is no more than 2 miles from my house.  I was perhaps looking my most dumpy--sporting my work out gear, sports bra (nothing like a sports bra to really enhance 'the girls', you know), hair swooped up in a messy ponytail, yesterday's make up and my fabulous black expando gym pants.  Yes, looking my best at a moment when you really need to interact with people, yet you weren't quite planning on it and then seriously wishing you didn't have to.  Trust me, people, I was a walking billboard for someone needing assistance.  SIGH.  I mean, when your mama told you to make sure you had on clean underwear when you leave the house, she wasn't just saying that for her health...maybe I should apply that to my outerwear as well.  Hmm.  Definitely something to consider.  But I digress.

Here's the part in the blog where I tell you how much I love my local CVS pharmacy employees.  Not ONLY did they send some nice girl out to attempt to jump start my car, but when said jumping did not get the desired result, that fabulous CVS employee, Alicia, drove me home HERSELF!  Now, if that ain't loving your neighbor, well then I don't know what is...cause I was a mighty scary lookin' neighbor!!   Yes, there are still kind people out there! 

Keep in mind, I just got a new car battery back in December, so I'm knowing it's not the battery.  And yet, I felt compelled to rule it out.  You know, just to be thorough.  Mechanic genius that I am, I'm thinking it's the starter.  But who am I?

You know, there is always a silver lining to every situation.  You can't always see it immediately, but I think I've got a pretty good idea of the silver linings here.  I am thankful that I live within walking distance of both kids' schools.  So, after the wonderful Alicia drove me home, I walked up to collect Emma from school.  Then, a mere hour later, I walked up to retrieve Jacob.  I am pleased to say, that my breakdown afforded me some extra activity today.  It's a good thing.    And to make it that much better, my kids weren't whiney about having to walk home at all.  And if you think about it, it's a good thing I wasn't looking all cute because then I would have had to get all sweaty after exerting myself on my walks up to collect the kids.  And, well, that just wouldn't do! 

It is in moments like this, that I am really blown away by how dependent we are on our modern conveniences...our cars, our electricity, our hot running water, our cell phones, our internet connection...for every aspect of our lives.  Sad really.  And yet, I do so enjoy my modern conveniences.   

So, today, I am going to give a shout out to some mechanic that I don't know to see if he can work some magic on Big Red.  To see if he can bring her back from the brink of death, just one more time.  It's been done before. 

C'mon Red!  Don't fail me now! 

Our baby birds are growing up!  It's amazing how much they've changed in just a matter of a few days!  As Emma said, they are starting to look like real birds! Ha.

I caught a glimpse of mama bird this morning on film...just her backside on the far left there.   She was in the act of escaping the evil paparazzi!! ----------->

And speaking of babies...My younger brother and his wife went to the hospital yesterday afternoon expecting to then leave said hospital with their sweet new baby girl in tow!  But nooooo.  Hospital decided to send them home last night because even though she was having regular contractions, she wasn't really progressing like they wanted her to.  To me that says "we have no beds right now so we're sending you home to labor on your own.  Come back when you're crowning."  I could be wrong.  But I'm sure they were disappointed.  I know I was!!    Maybe today guys!  I know my sister-in-law is beyond ready!

Emma and I had a mom/daughter day yesterday.  We went to see Nim's Island.  The movie was cute, yet predictable, with that adorable Abigail Breslin ( Loved her in Little Miss Sunshine --great flick!), Jodie Foster AND <dreamy sigh> that delicious Scottish hunka burnin' love, Gerard Butler (P.S. I Love You --also great flick!--300, The Phantom of the Opera).  He's a verra bonny lad indeed...Oh, that Scottish burr, just gets me every time.  <shiver> He's my  pick to play Jamie Fraser, should they ever turn my beloved Outlander series of books into films...he'd have to dye his hair red though, but I'd be okay with that.  After my Gerard Butler love-fest, er, I mean, after the movie was over, Em and I did a little window shopping at my friend "TJs" aka T J Maxx, and just basically hung out, until I got the "when are you coming home call" from hubby.  WHO, I would like to say, was fixing us dinner!  Oh yeah!  He grilled some chicken and set the table and everything!  Quite impressive.  He's my sweetie, what can I say?  It was a fun day.

So we're off and running into another week.  The kids are counting down now...26 days of school left!  It's a sprint to the finish.  They still have their end of the year standardized torture, er, testing to come in a couple of weeks.  (Don't get me started on how much I HATE hate hate standardized testing in the public school system...hate it.  It's a rant for a different blog altogether.) 

If you think of it, say a prayer for my brother and sis-in-law as they await their sweet Olivia--my blogland friends, Toni and Skrumshz are sure to understand, as they both are nearing the end of their pregnancies!  Hope to have some news to report soon! 

We've had babies!!  It's just so exciting!

Ever since we moved into our house last August, there has been a bird's nest up in the corner of our front stoop ...can't really call it a porch.  This spring, two little birdies moved in.  We've enjoyed watching them make themselves at home and have wondered if they would have babies. 

Well, as the laws of nature would have it...

They did! As far as I can tell, there are at LEAST three babies--I think maybe there are more, but it's hard to tell! And here they are! 

How cute are they??!

I've been taking pictures from inside our foyer looking out the side windows of our front door.  I have been hoping to get a picture of the mama bird feeding them, but she takes off whenever I move close to the window...a mama knows when it's time to get the heck out of Dodge!!

I've been trying to figure out what kind of bird they are.  I'm pretty sure they are house finches...

Here's what the mama and daddy look like:

Doesn't it just make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside? 

Don't ya just love Spring?  

Word of the Day, according to my perpetual calendar:

schlemiel: n. an unlucky bungler: chump.

Jerry's cousin was the kind of schlemiel who, upon finding happiness in a relationship, would always find a way to mess it up.

Now, you've gotta KNOW,  that immediately, my LCD mind starts singing...

"1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.  Schlemiel, schlamazel, hassenfeffer incorporated...We're gonna do it.  Give us any chance, we'll take it.  Read us any rule, we'll break it.  We're gonna make our dreams come true.  Doin' it our way..."

I'm guessing that a schlamazel is something along the same lines as a schlemiel?  Just a couple of unlucky, buffoonish type people?  Such as, oh, let me see...Laverne and Shirley?  Just a wild crazy guess.  It's all Yiddish to me anyway, but it begs the question...who was the schlemiel and who was the schlamazel? 

Discuss. 

That just leaves hassenfeffer, and I'll let you talk amongst yourselves about that one.

SIGH.  I used to love me some Laverne & Shirley. 

You remember them...those two crazy kids that aired right after Happy Days.  Laverne De Fazio, with her Milk and Pepsi fetish.  Shirley Feeny, with her "Boo Boo Kitty".  Not to mention the kooky pair, Lenny and Squiggy, from upstairs.  Squiggy and his Cosmo Kramer-esque..."Hellooooooooo" whenever he threw open the girls' apartment door. 

Good clean fun, it was.  Back in the days of The Love Boat and "It's de plane, boss" Fantasy Island.  Sonny and Cher and Donny and Marie.  Yes, those were the days...Before the insanity that is, Reality TV.

That's all I have to say about that.

Enjoy:

"I love to think of nature as an unlimited broadcasting station, through which God speaks to us every hour, if we will only tune in."  ~George Washington Carver

I knew I smelled honeysuckle when I was out walking the other morning.  I stopped in my tracks and looked around to find it.  That yummy deliciousness filled my head and immediately carried me back to my childhood.  It immediately relaxed me and made me smile.   

It's a smell, all floral and sweet, that reminds me of summer and fun and no responsibilities.  Of long days spent playing and then seeing the lightening bugs start to light up at dusk.  I remember pulling the blooms off the vine and pinching the bottoms to pull out the center of the flower to get a taste of the nectar.  I always thought that the yellow ones tasted sweeter than the white ones. 

Yes, I realize it's a wild growing vine that people probably consider a weed, and it's also probably considered a nuisance to many folks.  Just one more thing in your life that you are going to have to deal with.  It got me thinking. 

What if we overlook the things, or people, in our lives that, on first glance, seem to be a nuisance or a weed we need to be rid of?  We might just be discounting some of the most beautiful things in our lives.

Look closer. 

Stop and smell the honeysuckle.

Feeling a little redneck today...and I mean that in the most complimentary kinda way.

Enjoy this parody of Carrie Underwood's "Jesus Take the Wheel."

For your viewing pleasure, here is:

Tim Hawkins' "Cletus Take the Reel"

For more funny stuff by Tim Hawkins, you can visit his website.

Did you know that our cyber friends are actually real live people?? 

I had the pleasure of meeting one of my Spaces friends a couple of weeks ago.  It came as quite a surprise.  Emma and I were walking around at a local festival, perusing various vendors' booths.  I looked across the way, and lo and behold!  There was a face I recognized...from her photos on her Spaces  page.  She was sitting in a booth displaying her lovely handmade purses (one of which I now proudly own and wear!).  She is truly a lovely person.  You can find her designs at her Etsy shop, Flight of Fancy Designs.  Go check her out!  It was strange meeting her in person after having only known her through Spaces before...knowing we live in very close proximity to one another.  Strange, but fun.  I hope we get to see each other again soon. 

In other news...not that you wanted to know, but...

...in the spirit of accountability, I am officially announcing, here, for all of cyberspace to see, that I am back on the Weight Watchers wagon.  Yes, well, it needed to happen.  When we lived in Iowa, I worked for WW and was very dedicated to the program.  I am a lifetime member (having originally lost 45 pounds and maintained it for almost 2 years) who has backslidden to her farm-animal-grazing-recreational-eating ways.  I don't have any excuses.  I just simply fell off the wagon...and fell HARD!  It is too bad, because I look in my closet at all my cute skinny clothes and it just makes me sick!  But NO MORE!  

Here's what I think...Before we moved, I had already started, slowly, to put a few pounds back on.  I had started to panic and feel out of control.  Then, we moved.  You don't get much more "out of control" than during the moving experience!  In all the chaos, I abandoned my working out ways, avoided the scale like the plague, and my old friend, Food, (you know him, right?) well, he became my newest and bestest friend--again.  Now, let me say, one thing you learn early on in WW is that Food is NOT your friend.  Food is to nourish, not to nurture. Food is only fuel.  Food loves you and leaves you every time...but when it leaves, it leaves you empty, with a big ole mess to clean up in the wake of its destruction.  If you ask me, it's a cotton-pickin' state of emergency, worthy of Federal funds!! 

Well, I am on my way to cleaning up the mess, sans Federal funds, of course.  I am reacquainting myself with my old friends Treadmill, Pineapple, Asics and Exercise, among others.  I have created a support network to keep me honest and accountable.  I will not lie to myself anymore. I got on the scale a week and a half ago for the first time in many months.  I had a momentary reality check (YIKES!), but I am moving on--moving toward my skinny clothes.  I hear them calling me!--"Come back to us!" 

Oh, I'm coming back, alright!  I'm gonna be there soon.  You heard it here first.

"Change will only come when the pain of staying the same is greater than the pain of change." –Dora Lee Scott, WW leader

"We are not puzzles. We are people." ~lastcrazyhorn

--------------

I have been off the blog wagon lately.  Seems like things have been very busy and I haven't just had time to sit and blog it out.  So,  I am having lots of blog fodder swirling around in my brain and I may just have to break it down into some separate blogs.  SO much going on! 

*Hmm.  What to choose, what to choose*

Something cool happened to me last week. 

Just as Jacob is working his way through the beginnings of puberty and we are readdressing some challenges that he has experienced in the past, autism awareness month comes along and I am searching cyberspace for some good quotes regarding autism.  *POOF*  I was led here.  This is the blog of lastcrazyhorn. Her blog is titled "Odd One Out: Reality with a refreshing slice of aspie".  She is a woman who has Asperger's.  She, and many folks similarly diagnosed, refer to themselves as "Aspies".  I kinda like it myself.  ;-) She is a graduate student studying music therapy.  She is not only a musician, but an artist as well.  Be sure and check out her drawing for Autism Awareness Month--very cool.  Check out her blog--she has some great things to share.  And lots of Asperger's/autism resources! (Thanks for allowing me to give you a SHOUT OUT, lastcrazyhorn!)

I don't believe in accidents or coincidence.  It is not a coinkydink that I came across her blog.  When I commented on her blog and asked for some suggestions with Jacob, she was so gracious to reply.  Her insight into some of the things Jacob is dealing with is invaluable--since she has personal experience!  She is the real deal.

Here are some of the things she shared with me, after I expressed my concerns about Jacob coming to a place of self-acceptance :

"Acceptance of one's Aspie qualities truly starts with true acceptance of one's self. I developed that before I ever discovered the aspie part of the deal.

I worked intensively on this for one summer, and have made it a continued part of my existence ever since (that makes it a time period of about 4 years).

First I established what I things in life I knew to be true–what aspects of the world that I believed in (I went really simple at first, starting with gravity). From there I worked up into who I trusted, what I believed about the world, what I knew to be true of myself.

Next, I followed up by telling myself I loved myself every day, but I didn't leave it at that; no, I told myself that I loved myself, but I also said why. I gave myself examples to look at, and in turn, I started to see those examples in real time in real life.

I think this might be an aspie thing, because I've talked with a few others here and there about it. It's not enough to say something like "I love you," without explaining why, because so often in life, it is proven to us that people will say one thing, but then do a completely different thing. Not saying that this applies to you personally, but I think that's just how the thought pattern gets established."

I really, I mean, REALLY, loved this:

"Humans are like pieces of art.  Some of us are dull, predictable, standard . . . and then there are aspies.  We challenge the standard.  We invent new colors.  We change the perspectives of our viewers.  We highlight the details that you thought were unimportant.  Our ideas last from century to century, while the standard pieces get shoved away in the basement.  To call an aspie "defective" is like calling Picasso's cubism style "defective."  Sure, it's different, and not everyone understands it, but it is known far and wide as his style, and while it is often imitated, it is only infrequently mastered." 

WOW. WOW.

She also suggested some helpful links, and in the spirit of autism awareness month, I thought I'd pass them along as well.

-The Gray Center for learning and understanding.  This is a great article called "The Discovery of Aspie Criteria".

-Top Ten Traits of Autistic People

-Wrong Planet. This is a website, as lastcrazyhorn put it, with a whole bunch of aspies, all experiencing the same sorts of things.

-Lastcrazyhorn is studying music therapy.  Here's what she had to say about it:

"Music therapy is a type of therapy that helps treat the entire person, in a non-invasive way.  I think for aspies, music therapy's main two benefits are the release of otherwise unspeakable/nameable emotions and then also some extra social skills training (they often do this through drum circles; an experience that requires some give and take on the parts of those involved). 
Of course, I'm in grad school for music therapy.  On one hand, you could say I'm biased towards it; but on the other hand, you could say that I just know what I'm talking about.  Also, music therapy has been shown to especially have a good effect (usually--there's always the exceptions) for people on the autistic spectrum.  Besides, music therapy is just fun." 

These are just a few things she shared with me.  But she has shared even more...more than I think she knows.  For me, she has become an unexpected friend, an ally in our journey into the spectrum.  Someone who has truly given me "a refreshing slice of aspie"...and I think it is really yummy.  Thanks.  Here's to YOU, lastcrazyhorn.

First, in recognition of Autism Awareness Month, here are the autism facts of the day:

• Statements including the words "always" and "never" cannot be applied to persons with autism.  No two are alike.  Autism is a spectrum disorder, which means that people with autism can be a little autistic or very autistic. So, it is possible to be bright, verbal, and autistic as well as mentally retarded, non-verbal and autistic. A disorder that includes such a broad range of symptoms is often called a spectrum disorder; hence the term "autism spectrum disorder." The most significant shared symptom is difficulty with social communication (eye contact, conversation, taking another's perspective, etc.).  They are not all like "Rainman".
• The word "normal" should only be used when referring to a setting on a large household appliance.  Not when referring to people.

Okay, moving on.... 

Seems like so many of my important conversations with my children take place in the car.  Maybe because they are my most captive audience while they are strapped in those seats.  I don't know.  But we have talked about Jesus, friend issues, puberty...some serious "opportunities to grow", as I like to call them.

But this wasn't one of those times.

This particular not-so-serious moment was born out of a conversation where my kids were asking me what I liked to do as a kid.  I told them how much I LOVED me some Barbies.  I played with Barbies right on up to probably 6th grade...and I say that without shame--keeping in mind that back in the "olden" days (as my kids like to say!) there were no gameboys, ipods, or home computers of any kind.  We DID have an Atari but I'm pretty sure my older brother monopolized that...I don't recall getting much playing time on that at ALL.  I'm sure he'll correct me if I'm wrong.  But I'm not bitter about it.  Love you, bro.

While I loved my Barbies, I also loved to sing.  Still do.  Ask my kids.  They get SICK of my incessant singing.  Anyway, as I rode along with my very modern kids, I was trying to explain what a "record" was.  You know, those things we had before CDs, cassettes, um, 8-Tracks.  I had to explain the whole concept, round things made of vinyl, with holes in the middle. Played on a special machine.  The nuances of the 78, 33 and 45 speed. They responded with a hesitant, "Ohhh yeahhhhh, I've heard of those before."  Anyway, I recalled for them one of my favorite pastimes when I was a 3rd grader...and I recall if for you now.

When I was in 3rd grade, we lived in Roxboro, North Carolina where my dad pastored a Methodist church in town.  We lived in the parsonage (a home that is owned by the church specifically for their pastor to live in) and it was a great big 'ole brick two-story house.  I have many memories of this house--which may be blog fodder for another day.  My brothers and I should compare notes, probably.  I had a dresser in my room that had a big mirror.  Among other things, I also had a record player, a 45 that I adored, a hairbrush, and a silky robe.  I know what you're thinking:  Where is she going with this?

The 45?  My only one at the time.  Debby Boone's "You Light Up My Life", circa 1978.  Probably my older brother's most hated song of all time, thanks to me.  Because, when I was 9, it was my most favorite song of all time. 

The hairbrush?  My microphone, silly. 

The silky robe? Well, that was my long flowy Cher hair, of course.  Oh, how I dreamed of having long flowy Cher hair.  Surely I'm not the only one who used my robe to create the hair??  It was a fine art of tying the long sleeves around the underside of my (very not cute short pixie) hair,"do rag" style, with the rest of the robe positioned over the the back of my head, just so, that it flowed down my back.  It was gawrgeoussss, y'all!  With my long silky robe hair, I would stand in front of my dresser mirror, brush in hand, Debby Boone blaring, flipping my long flowy Cher hair, singing my lungs out.  Over.  And over.  And over.  And over.  I'm so sorry I tormented you, bro. 

Man, I loved that song. 

Good times.  Good times.

First I would like say thanks for all the allergy well wishes!  Thanks to my new over-the-counter friend, Zyr*tec, I am feeling MUCHO better.  It took about 4 days after starting the medicine, but it really did the trick.  My eye finally stopped crying and now I am just dealing with the aftermath of that...skin that is dry and patchy and trying to regenerate!  Ha!

On a more serious note...

Today, April 2nd, is the very first World Autism Awareness Day.  April is Autism Awareness Month. 

"Autism is a complex brain disorder that inhibits a person's ability to communicate and develop social relationships, and is often accompanied by extreme behavioral challenges. Autism spectrum disorders are diagnosed in one in 150 children in the United States, affecting four times as many boys as girls. The diagnosis of autism has increased tenfold in the last decade. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have called autism a national public health crisis whose cause and cure remain unknown."  ~Autism Speaks

Eight years ago, almost to the day, my son, Jacob was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome, a high functioning form of autism.  Though it was a shock at the time, we know we are incredibly blessed to have this gifted child as our son.  I see his giftedness.  But many don't.  This is why I feel spreading awareness about autism is so important. 

Autism is a hidden disability.  Because children with autism look like everyone else, they are often mistaken by "well-meaning onlookers", who have perfect children, as a disciplinary issue that could easily be solved by a good solid butt-whoopin'.  Oh, that it could be that simple.

Chances are, you have encountered someone with autism. 

Next time you see a kid having a meltdown at your local Super Wal*Mart, think twice before you pass judgment on that kid and his mom.  Think twice before you offer free advice to her about her parenting skills.  Perhaps instead you can be understanding.  Be aware of the possibility that there is something more going on.  Maybe the crying baby on the next aisle has assaulted his sensitive ears to the point where he is screaming and falling down boneless on the floor.  What is just background noise to you may very well be causing physical pain to an autistic child and without the ability to verbally express what is upsetting him, he reacts the only way he can.  It's probably not because his mom won't let him get the Cap'n Crunch he likes for breakfast.

The social cues that you and I naturally pick up on are foreign concepts that have to be taught to those with autism.  Something so natural as responding when someone speaks to you, for example.  Or turn taking in a conversation.  He may have no friends.  He may react wildly when he loses a game of checkers.  He may never be invited to birthday parties.  He may scream and tear up a test he made a mistake on.  Or he may not speak at all. 

He may learn to tie his shoes and ride a bike.  He may one day say, "I love you, Mom."  Maybe one day he'll let you see into his world.

Or he may be the first chair trumpet.  He may be the math whiz.  He may have 500 Pokemon cards or be able to name every brand of vacuum cleaner ever produced.  He may be a black belt in Tae Kwon Do.  He may have composed famous symphonies.  He may have been a famous physicist or a famous author.  You just never know. 

Don't underestimate persons with autism, try to understand. 

"Autism is about having a pure heart and being very sensitive… It is about finding a way to survive in an overwhelming, confusing world… It is about developing differently, in a different pace and with different leaps.

Autistic beings develop and bloom if their spirits, talents and self-esteem are not destroyed by bullies, prejudice, ‘doggie-training’, and being forced to be ‘normal’.”  ~Trisha Van Berkel

 For more information about autism:  Autism Speaks, OASIS: Online Asperger Syndrome Information and Support, Autism Society of America