01 december

/

Have you heard about December Daily? I kept reading about it and wanted to play along. I really don't do much for Christmas. Then I pulled out the advent calendars and realized that we do these every year. In fact, each boy gets his own so they no longer have to alternate days. So along with taking my regular photo of the day, I will be photographing the daily gifts. And maybe commenting about my day.

confessions of an addict

/

Years ago I read Freaks, Geeks & Asperger Syndrome: A User Guide to Adolescence. The author talked about Specialty Subjects. People with AS have their specialty subjects and can talk about them on and on to the point of obsession. But specialty subjects are not fixed. They can change and they do change. I see it in Andy. He will obsess about computers for a few weeks, then switch to Thomas stories.

I seem to suffer from this as well. Lately, I am a hooked on watching TV episodes on my iPad. It all started with Doctor Who: The Complete First Series. For years, amazon.com recommended this series. I finally downloaded the first season. That led to downloading Torchwood: The Complete First Season and renewed interest in Eureka: Season One & The Office: Season One. Then I added The Big Bang Theory: The Complete First Season and Community: The Complete First Season. I tried watching others but found they didn't interest me. Finally, I added Fringe: The Complete First Season, Warehouse 13: Season One and Alphas.

What started as something to do during the weekend has become a daily ritual. As soon as lunch is over, I begin watching one episode of each of the programs. I have caught up watching Eureka! Torchwood, Alphas & Doctor Who.

So many years I did not watch TV. There just wasn't anything good. Now I am back to watching hours of shows a day. Nothing good can come of this.

duke and seventh grade talent search

/

On the way to the dentist, Ryan pulled out of his backpack a sheet informing him of an invitation from Duke University Seventh Grade Talent Search to take the SAT or ACT in seventh grade. Huh? Had it not been for Bonnie, I would not have known about this program before hand. Two of Bonnie's nieces were invited and participated. One of them was invited to Duke University for a special ceremony. As it happens, I was on the phone with Bonnie at the time. She got excited and said "You have to make him do it!" I replied that I can allow him to do it but I cannot make him. Ryan is much better than me at being obstinate and cannot be forced into something like this. However, I asked Ryan if he wanted to do it and he said yes. Really? Had I been asked to take one of those exams in 7th grade, I would have freaked out and said no way. I hate long tests. The scores for the test(s) taken in seventh grade can count for later. How cool. There is no or little pressure now as compare to junior year of high school.

I got thinking about this. Our parents did not take those tests. Our generation all took the test and now we can compare ourselves to our kids. OK, I know this is wrong. I just can't help it. I am really proud of Ryan for getting the Duke TIP invitation. I don't recall and of my nieces or nephews getting it. It has been around since 1980. See, there I go again. Turns out that Matt & Joey got invitations. Matt did not accept the invitation but Joey did because his friends were doing it.