more of this & that

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• ryan is still sick, I think it is the flu. mostly fever, some vomiting

• andy was very upset that he had to go to school without ryan

• I tried to upgrade my iPod Touch and it failed. tried again and again. finally got it to work by using another computer (I found that suggestion in the apple forums) but I lost all setting (annoying) and some data (grrrr)

• setting up pre-orders is time consuming. I am trying to do it right and organized and I am no spreadsheet guru.

• i paid off my van today.

• i made some excellent (healthy) chicken corn chowder on friday. i had the leftovers today.

• i missed photo of the day today. i will probably cheap and post it tomorrow, backdated.

love this scosche passPORT

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I love my iPod Touch. As with my previous iPod, I like to listen in the car. I have a Monster iCarPlay to connect to my car's audio system. (it's not perfect and I have had to remove the car's attenna to reduce the intervention.) The firt time I plugged my iPod Touch in, I got a prompt that said I could not charge the iPod. Hmmm... I checked it out and found that my iCarPlay won't charge the iPhones & iPod Touch. OK, what about a new iCarPlay? Yes, there is one bit the reviews are not favorable. And other connectors either won't work because of design, too expensive or rated poorly.

I decide I can live with what I have as I don't drive around much. But I find that I have to recharge during the day if I am listening to podcasts, which I do. Then one day, I see something called passPORT. Hmmm... will this work for me? And the price is not too bad. So I add it to my wish list.

Last week, I went down to Brandon to the newer Apple Store and look for the passPORT. Of course, I went unprepared and could not temember the name of the passPORT. Luckily, the store is rather small and I soon found it and bought it (finding the checkout was almost as difficult). I got back to my car and pulled out my wicked Swiss Army knife to open the friggin clamshell packaging and connected the passPORT. It works and I'm happy.

big decision

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Two years ago, I went to school for Andy's IEP. They wanted me to switch Andy from Sunshine State Standards to Special Standards. That meant that Andy wouldn't have to take the FCAT but could take an easier to administer alternative assesment test. They would also focus on life skills like how to use money and how to read a map. I was shocked! I had no idea that Andy was dreading the FCAT. I was angry that they had assumed that I would agree to this without knowing anything ahead of time. I declined saying I needed time to think about it. I thought a lot about this and it felt like I would be agreeing to giving up on my child's education. "He can go to school until he's 22!" Then what? They had no answers and I don't think they even cared since he would no longer be their problem. Nice.

I expected it to come up again at his next IEP but it didn't. I had no intention of giving up on Andy. He just seemed too young to make such a huge decision. But I knew the day was comimg when I would have to decide.

Last fall, I was picking up one of the boys to go to the dentist, I saw Andy's teacher. She mentioned that she wanted to meet after the holidays and talk about Andy. Crud. I knew what this was meant and it made me sad. It makes me feel bad, like I didn't do enough for him. But this is selfish. I should do what is best for him not what will make me feel better. Even this logic didn't make me feel any less naseous.

A few weeks ago, the invitation came and I mentioned it to dad and asked if he wanted to come along. Yes, he would join me. Whew! Someone to support me and ask those questions I forget to ask.

The day came and dad could not join me but I had time to come to terms with the decision that had to be made. And the decision turned out not to be as awful as I had been told 2 years ago. Andy would still be learning the same cirriculum as the regular students but would be learning at his pace and with the help he needed. He would also be able to earn a regular diploma but could take his time doing it. I am feeling much more positive about his future.

this & that

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• I went to Panda Express for the first time today. I had an urge for egg rolls. Now I have an urge for a good egg roll.


• I am in love with Starbuck's Black Tea Lattes


• I am really tired of this cold weather. I have only 4 pairs of pants and I am really sick of wearing them.


• I thought about trying to walk a marathon on a month, then it rained yesterday and it was too blustery today.


• I am good at coming up with excuses.


• I had this idea to do some details of my home for POTD's Home Sweet Home week but I could only come up with one.


• I used to like Orville Redenbacher's Smart Pop. It takes like salted packing peanuts these days.


• I think I baked too much in December. I haven't baked at all this year.


• Orville's All Natural Butter Popcorn is very good. Tastes like the stuff I used to make on the stove.


• I had too much caffeine this afternoon.

glory, glory

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Glory, Glory (Bestselling Author Collection) Glory, Glory by Linda Lael Miller

My review


rating: 2 of 5 stars
Glory got pregnant at 18 and was forced to leave home and stay away. She comes back 10 years later to see her mother get married. She sees Jesse, her old boyfriend who is know the sheriff. And she meets Liza, the daughter she had given up for adoption.

You can see where this is all going and it does. Glory tries to get to know her daughter while Jesse hates her for running away without a word. But the attraction is there and they have no trouble having sex even while they argue before and after.

But eventually, the truth comes out and everything gets resolved way too quickly.

View all my reviews.