Evil Sheila

Maggie and I had a relaxed and fun day yesterday. She kept saying "Mom I go to mall" which is a pretty clear indication that this teenager needed to SHOP! We went to Stonestown Mall because parking is easy and there are a ton of handicapped spaces. We just cruised around enjoying the ambiance, not spending any money.

I was getting Maggie situated to take a picture when I heard a friendly voice behind me say , "I thought I smelled something rotten." Maggie and I both grinned. That could only mean one person: Sheila! She was Maggie's teacher for Kindergarten to 2d grade - which was actually 4 years because Maggie did her kindergarten year twice. Sheila was the first to call Maggie out on her behavior. I sent Maggie off to school as a completely spoiled 5 year old, sheila would say "Something smells ROTTEN in here, It must be SPOILED!" Maggie would laugh her head off. Still does.

Maggie responded very well to Sheila and all the classroom staff. When she was flailing her arms all around they would instruct her to get "classroom ready" and Maggie would still herself. It was amazing. I still use that term once in a while, but I think you have to have a teacher voice to really make it work. Mom voices are scary, but teacher voices mean business! All of Sheilas students are non verbal, or have very limited language skills. She swore if they learned to talk their first words would be "Evil Sheila".  Of course the kids adored her. in fact, as we were chatting another mom approached with her son in an adapted stroller. He is a current student of Sheila's. Nice to know things continue.

I wish I thought to get a picture of Maggie and Sheila, but the conversation was too animated to stop and click a photo. Here's an old one from elementary schol graduation with the whole staff from both the K-2 and 3-5 classes. Sheila is right behind Maggie head and Emily, the 3-5 teacher is sitting at Maggie's left.

 I did remember to get one of Maggie the mall rat a bit later. (If you are on my facebook you already saw this)

Later on she listened to Dad read Harry Potter. She does enjoy the various voices he used. Especially Hagrid and Dumbledore. Not sure which one is happening here, but Maggie seems pretty happy

Have a great Tuesday!

Daddy's Little Girl

Every evening after the nurse goes home, Maggie and Steve hang out together. Generally the three of us are hanging out, but I'm doing dishes or across the room and it becomes more of a Maggie and Steve show. Maggie loves this time with her dad.

Either she is using her talker to ask him to read or she is just "talking" to him. Eventually she gets restless and he asks if she wants to get out of her chair and sit with him. that is always met with an enthusiastic YES. Within 5 minutes of being in the big chair with him she is sound asleep. She generally stays there until the night nurse comes in for her shift.  Maggie would not sleep if we put her in bed, but sitting with dad is quite relaxing. Steve doesn't seem to mind, so the two of them are pleased as punch.

Last night Steve was reading Harry Potte to Maggie. I was watching the news. I directed Steve's attention to the TV because there was a story I knew would interest him. He stood up to see the tv better. Maggie was dumbfounded. This was interfering with her "dad"time. She started working on her dynavox and came up with this sentence. ---->---->--->
If you can't read it it says " Dad I want to read dad dad sit in chair dad"

In other words, "Hey Buddy get back over here and read to me!

Steve cracked up and did her bidding. Maggie was quite proud of herself.

 After a while she started to fidget and he asked if she wanted to get in the big chair. Yes! She was just waiting for an offer. She was out cold  in about 2 minutes and stayed that way until the night nurse showed up. It is not only a relaxed position for Maggie, but it can be very relaxing to hold Maggie when she's asleep. When she's awake it's very difficult because she moves so much, but all that settles down when she's really out. You can feel your own body settle down with her as you no longer have to shift to keep from dropping her. And it's not unusual to see this:

This picture is not from last night, I believe I took if last week. Its the two of them sound asleep both holding the tv remote. They didn't even move when the camera flash went off. 

And just so you know, Maggie's shirt says "Don't mess with Texas", which is one of her favorite sayings. We're not sure why.

All the News that's fit to print

Today is a new day. A substitute nurse was found for the one who is sick and Maggie went to school on the bus. I am finally enjoying a little bit of time to myself. I have a thousand and one things to do today before she gets home, but I am sitting around catching up on news a bit before we get started.  My husband laughed at me when he came in and saw this.

I told him I'm a little bit country and a little bit of rock 'n roll.

Staying Informed

There is an election here on November 3. With all due apologies to the city attorney , treasurer and those who do or do not want lighted billboards on Market Street, there is nothing too exciting on the ballot.

Though this city preaches about how “green” it is, we received four lengthy election guides. Both sons registered in Nevada before last year’s Presidential election, but it will take five years before these things stop coming here. The election guides are about the size of a magazine and contain information on each item on the ballot and “for and against” arguments for all the propositions.

Like most good informed Americans, I get all the election information I need from scary ads on television. Generally, the night before the election I skim the guide to make sure my preconceived notions are correct and go into my booth as an “informed” voter.

Not my husband; he reads every word. If I am undecided (or perhaps uninformed) about something I can ask him and hear everything I never wanted to know about the issue.

Yesterday he came home early to find the election books on the table. He sat down and read one, which is no great surprise. But this time he read it out loud to Maggie and asked her opinion on each measure and each arguement for and against. Maggie was having the time of her life.

Local politics in San Francisco are….colorful to say the least. There are personalities that evoke very strong reactions. If you see some of these names in the arguments for or against a certain measure, it may sway your voting. Steve was adding color commentary on each of the individuals who offered an argument.
Steve notices an argument submitted by a friend of ours and said, Hey Maggie, our friend Mr. Blankety blank wrote one, we like him should we vote for this one? [Maggie gives her sign] YES! All right, yes it is.” On another measure it was “Maggie, Mr. so and so says this will help San Francisco, but we think Mr. So and SO is a horse’s a__, so we probably won’t vote for this. Do you think he’s a horse’ a__? [waits for maggie’s answer] Yes? of, then do you think we should vote for it. No?[waits as she slams her hand down for “No”] Allright! no it is.”

I was cracking up listening to the two of them. I chided him about his language and Steve said, “Maggie, do you think Mom should keep her big trap shut? Yes? ok, yes it is.! Mom, keep your big trap shut.” She went into fits of laughter. The two of them were having the greatest time. I couldn’t help but laugh

Imagine how entertaining it will be next year when there’s the mayor and governor’s races to add to the mix.

Note: Maggie really is laughing in that picture.