Me Me Meme

Hal tagged me, so here goes:

First the rules:

• 
  Link to the person who tagged you, and post the rules on your blog.
• 
  Share 7 random and/or weird facts about yourself.
• 
  Tag 7 random people at the end of your post, and include links to their blogs.
• 
  Let people know they've been tagged by leaving comments on their blogs.

1. I probably believe in ghosts; I definitely believe in angels. I saw them when I was a kid.

2. Somewhere in someone's house there is a plaster cast of my boobs. Hey, I was young, I hung out with artists.

3. I've dated a very minor celebrity of sorts.

4. As intelligent as I am, in spite of the fact I graduated from college Magna Cum Laude, I took the same French course twice and didn't realize it until after I made a B the second time around, when I'd made an A the first time. Different professors. Don't ask. To this day I have to laugh and scratch my head.

5. My Ex-hubby threw up on me on our wedding night.

6. I was obsessed with Peter Pan when I was a kid. My favorite book/movie. I left notes to Peter on my window sill virtually every night until I was like 13.

7. I had my own radio show when I was in elementary school. I was the "Little Lady from SafetyLand".

OK, here are MY tags:

Kelly

Quid

Algernon

Raven

Donna

That's all I can think of at the moment. So, let's see what shakes out!

My how time flies! Here's the 11-year-old birthday boy!

It was a good weekend, a good birthday for Connor. My son and his step-daughter arrived Friday afternoon right after I got home from school. Sam promptly developed an intense crush on his 17-year-old cousin. He dogged her constantly, rarely leaving her orbit.

Saturday morning the boys' grandfather arrived; and, after a short visit, my son, his father, Sam and the object of Sam's affection headed off for her softball tournament. Connor, Trish and I went to see "Madagascar 2". The day had actually started VERY early, as Connor tried to get me up at 3:30, then around 6. Birthday excitement.

He did enjoy his goodies and was off playing a new video game when his grandfather arrived. We pried him away from the game for the movie. After said movie, Connor promptly went back to doing what he loves most.....playing video games.

Sam, meanwhile, was walking on air, circling his new crush. He got to go with his grandfather, uncle and Mom to all the games but the one at 8-something last night. He was crushed..

The final two games were Sunday morning. Sam went with his uncle to the first one. After bringing us Starbucks coffee plus a brief visit with Trish, the boys' grandfather joined Sam and Jim at the game. My Ex was headed back to South Texas, where he's working at the moment, after spending a bit more time with Jim. Trish got ready for work while Connor and I headed for Wal-Mart to spend his birthday cash.

My son came back between the final two games to pack and load his Jeep so they could head for San Antonio after the last game. Sam had to say goodbye to his crush and sank into a major depression that lasted until one of his neighborhood buddies rang the doorbell some 30 min. later.

The boys and I climbed up in Connor's bed this afternoon to watch a couple of the DVDs he got. We had a popcorn and movie couple of hours.

It was a good weekend. Connor had a great birthday. Both my kids and the boys got to spend some quality time with their dad and granddad. Sam got a taste of 9-year-old infatuation and the fleeting pain of loss. I got to spend time with my son, which is rare these days with our schedules.

I start the new week with a smile in my heart.

Hurtling Into The Holiday Season!

We blasted our way out of October and out of Daylight Savings Time. Now it's the mad dash to the end of the year! There will not be many pit stops along the way.

Looks like I'll be pretty much booked up subbing in Special Education depts. through December. Good for the pocketb00k, good for the mind, good for the body. The only negative is the stress factor and the pace. It's up at 5 AM and on my feet with my boys or other kids ( ALL high maintenance ) until 8 or 9 PM with little time to sit or even breathe!

I do enjoy the subbing. I enjoy the schools and staff I work with and I love the kids. Most of them in the various elementary schools I work in are familiar to me. I worked with the kids off and on for a number of years. I've worked with the CSC kids since Sept. I'll continue to work with these boys off and on the next several months. Not all day every day, but quite a bit. Enough that I won't have to miss them. :)

My two goblins are having a few issues that will be addressed at school and with their doctor this month. We got the final report on Connor's PPD testing back last week. In addition to his bipolar and anxiety disorders, he has atypical HFA (high-functioning Autism) and likely Aspergers.

Sam is struggling at school. He tests out much higher than he is performing in the classroom. His anxiety and separation disorders, his lack of confidence in his work is causing him problems. He has zero, and I mean ZERO executive functioning skills. Also, his ADHD is getting harder to manage throughout the day on his current meds. He is still really unfocused and scattered during school hours, especially the afternoon.

So, we're being pro-active and have a meeting set up at school week after next, to address these needs. Likely he will get an IEP and have support in the classroom and, possibly, can be pulled to resource when he needs extra help working to his capacity.

Sam is reading at 5th grade level and his math is grade level (3rd). This is his most difficult subject and he's been getting outside tutoring in it since 1st grade. His class work for all subjects doesn't reflect what he can do. 3rd grade is when they start the dreaded TAKS testing here. This is the grade they drop the pressure hammer on the kids. It's tough and stressful. So, it's an important year for Mr. Sam, and we don't want him to fall behind or get buried in the stress.

Connor has a birthday Saturday! He'll be 11. My son will also be up from San Antonio with his oldest step-daughter for a softball tourney.

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, then it's the Christmas Season and the slid into the new year. The rush is on!!