::Sigh::

Today was a half a day for Lion. 8:30 to 12:30. A "get to know you" sort of a day.
When I went to pick him up his teacher told me he did well, he was "A little all over the place" but he's very sweet.
Oh and I should talk to the CST and his Advocate about getting him a one on one aide in the classroom because the second classroom assistant doesn't arrive till 1:00 each day.

WHAT?! What's this? Come on! It's day 1 of school, you've been with my kid for 4 hours! I was up all night long with a twisted gut concerned, anxious and worried about him doing well and fitting in and being understood.

For you to tell me straight out of the chute that you think he needs a 1 on 1 makes me wanna just cry.

We tried last year. We really really did try. We met with his team and the Behavioral Therapist said they didn't think it was necessary for him and wouldn't recommend one for him.

I'm afraid we are going to get blocked again this year and what if we do? What if he's denied again for a 1 on 1?
Will his teacher not be able to deal with him? Will she not WANT to deal with him? The thought of my little guy in a classroom all day long with a teacher who doesn't "get" what he needs is awful.

First Day Of School

My little Lion starts school today. PJ starts Kindergarten tomorrow. The first week is all half days (with Lion going till 12:30 and PJ going till 1:00). It's a "get to know you" kind of a week.
I'm not so worried about PJ. Hes one of those amazing kids who really and truly does bloom where he is planted. He can thrive in any situation.
The Lion however...he was the one that kept me awake last night with worry and anxiety.
If my kids were plants PJ would be a weed, able to take hold and put roots down and find his patch of sunlight wherever. He's smart and he's a mellow little guy who rolls with the punches and goes with the flow.
The Lion....well he's more like a delecate orchid. He needs just enough water, sunlight, vitamins, special soil, the air can't be too hot or too cold, he needs to be given a little more attention and a whole lot more patience than other flowers in his nursery.
Last year, I never knew what kind of day it would be till we dropped off in the classroom. He would be fine and the second we hit the door he became this hysterical creature who did not represent my son.
Sobbing, screaming, lunging for me, howling "Mommy! Mommy! Mommy!"
His teacher last year was a Godsend because she totally "got" him and developed a relationship with him and I knew that when I left weather he was eating playdough or screaming at the top of his lungs, she would care for him and not lose patience with him no matter what.
She took extra time with him and gave him exactly what he needed to thrive.
Starting a new year with a new teacher (Who seems very nice and I've been told is a seasoned vet in the school system) I worry. I worry that his teacher won't have the patience to look after him the way he needs. I worry that she won't want him to be her shadow and she won't love him the way he needs.
School starts in an hour. My stomach is in knots...

Love my big son...

The Lion was running a fever and not feeling well so he and I were lying in the bed together. PJ poked his head in to inform me that
"Mommy, Daddy needs the oil"
Confused I said
"What oil PJ?"
(knowing we had just had pizza for dinner and PT wasn't cooking)
He poked his head back out to PT and said
"Daddy, Mommy wants to know what oil"
PT said something muffled that I couldn't hear and PJ poked his head back into the bedroom and said
"Daddy needs the Tin Oil. Oh, and he says you need to clean out the cabinets" and galloped away.

My kid cracks me up....

ROCK AND ROLL or not so much

ALGONA, IOWA (June 10, 2009) – Rock Gone Wild, America’s newest and most diverse rock festival, has teamed up with one of rock radio’s biggest names to host one of rock’s biggest days. Eddie Trunk, the popular host of VH1’s That Metal Show, will be in Algona for the entire day on August 22 (the entire schedule for the day is listed below) to bring on such classic rock acts as Twisted Sister, Skid Row and Lita Ford.

Rock Gone Wild is slated for August 20-23, 2009 at Freedom Park in Algona, Iowa.
Tickets are available now by visiting www.rockgonewild.com or by calling 1-888-677-8877.
Algona residents are encouraged to purchase their General Admission tickets from the Algona Chamber of Commerce, located at 123 E. State Street.

Trunk continues his crusade to keep radio fresh and exciting and play the music he loves. He currently hosts the syndicated Eddie Trunk Rocks and a Monday evening show on XM satellite radio station The Boneyard. He is seen on VH1 Classic and MSG Networks. He has worked as a freelance music journalist, boxing ring announcer, and MC for various concerts and rock events around the USA. Rock Gone Wild welcomes Eddie to the inaugural festival, which has announced the following line-up:

Thursday: Saxon, Jackyl, Warrant, April Wine, Honeymoon Suite, Black ‘N Blue, Tigertailz, Ernie and the Automatics (featuring former Boston members Barry Goudreau and Sib Hashian), Sick of Sarah, Savior and Mountain Ash.

Friday: Puddle of Mudd, Saliva, Saigon Kick, Cherie Currie (of the Runaways), Powerman 5000, Tyketto, Marcy Playground, Rhino Bucket, Crazy Lixx, Signum A.D., Throw the Fight, Crazy Lixx, Attention, Archer and the Iowa Battle of the Bands winner.

Saturday: Twisted Sister, Skid Row, Lita Ford, Dokken, Great White, Kix, L.A. Guns (featuring Phil Lewis), Hardcore Superstar, Primal Fear, Dangerous Toys, Helix, Junkyard, Frankenstein 3000, Sex Department, Mighty Swine and Stallion 4.

Sunday: George Thorogood and the Destroyers, Candlebox, Sevendust, Saving Abel, Eve 6, Tantric, Armored Saint, Lizzy Borden, Tuff, Lillian Axe, The Texas Hippie Coalition, Downtread and Stuck on Stupid.

A very limited number of platinum tickets remain, which allow you access to the intimate Sinner’s Lounge. This lounge will place the avid fan in the midst of the rock and debauchery experience, in an all-inclusive night club setting. Glowing walls, leather couches, nightly champagne fountains, appetizers, and cocktail waitresses dressed to theme each night are just the beginning of what the Sinner’s Lounge has to offer. Want an open bar with liquor, cocktails, martinis, shooters and more booze than a tour bus in the 80’s? Check. Want to be entertained by dancers and acoustic performances by special guests? Check. Want to mingle with the bands that rocked your world just hours ago? Check. Want a view of the backstage mayhem while you do it all? Check. Go Platinum at Rock Gone Wild 2009 to enjoy this all-inclusive package along with seating in the first 10 rows, buffet style breakfast/lunch and dinner, beer, soft drinks and more.

VIP tickets remain as well, which are going very fast at the festival website. These ticket holders will sit in rows 11-30; enjoy buffet style breakfast/lunch, dinner and late night snacks, plus beer, soft drinks and water. VIP fans will also enjoy their food and drink in air-conditioned tents.

Note: Platinum and V.I.P. ticket prices will increase on June 15. Also, a special two-for-one General Admission ticket special will end on June 12, which is also available at www.rockgonewild.com .


I'm editing this because I'm now WAY WAY More amused than I was before. I went to the website:
http://www.rockgonewild.com/

I think I'm getting old. I went to the website for the Rock Gone Wild event. I am both amused and horrified and intregued...
The VIP package amuses me the most of all:http://tickets.rockgonewild.com/
$565.00 + Applicable taxes & Fees
Assigned Seating in first 10 rows for the entire 4-days
UNLIMITED ALKEEEHAWL!!! Liquor, cocktails, highballs, martinis, shooters, and more
UNLIMITED FOOD: Buffet style lunch, dinner, and late night snacks
UNLIMITED BEER: Beer, beer, beer and more beer
UNLIMITED Soft drinks and water
Champagne fountain at the end of each night
Hologram lanyard
Limited edition illustrated festival poster (24"X36")
Limited edition festival t-shirt
And yes access to our soon to be infamous sinners lounge which will have a night club atmosphere.
The Sinners Lounge, where the drinks will be flowin',
girls will be pole dancin',
rock stars will be hangin',
walls will be glowin',
jaws will be droppin',
and you'll be smilin'!

$365.00 + Applicable taxes & Fees
Assigned Seating in rows 11 through 30 for the entire 4 days!!
UNLIMITED FOOD: Buffet style brunch, lunch, dinner, and late night snacks
UNLIMITED BEER!!!!!
UNLIMITED Soft drinks and water
VIP Laminate
All in an air conditioned tent

Limited quantity remaining. Reserve yours today

I've heard of some of these bands.(I've seen a lot of them) Thursday I know Saxon, Jackyl, Warrant, Black 'N Blue Tigertailz (LOVE Tigertailz and would go just to see them!)

Friday I know Saigon Kick and Tyketto would be worth it because back in "the day" they used to play L'Amour as the house band.

Saturday I know all the bands except for Primal Fear Hardcore Superstars and Stallion Four

I could completely do without Sunday. Only three bands I know. Tuff, Lillian Axe and Dirty Looks


THURSDAY
SAXON
JACKYL
WARRANT
APRIL WINE
HONEYMOON SUITE
BLACK 'N BLUE
TIGERTAILZ
SICK OF SARAH
ERNIE & THE AUTOMATICS
SAVIOR

FRIDAY
PUDDLE OF MUDD
SALIVA
SAIGON KICK
CHERIE CURRIE
MARCY PLAYGROUND
POWERMAN 5000
TYKETTO
RHINO BUCKET
CRAZY LIXX
ATTENTION
THROW THE FIGHT
SIGNUM A.D.
ASHAMED

SATURDAY
TWISTED SISTER
SKID ROW
LITA FORD
DOKKEN
KIX
GREAT WHITE
LA GUNS (featuring Phil Lewis)
PRIMAL FEAR
HARDCORE SUPERSTAR
DANGEROUS TOYS
HELIX
JUNKYARD
STALLION FOUR

SUNDAY
GEORGE THOROGOOD & THE DESTROYERS
CANDLEBOX
SEVENDUST
SAVING ABEL
EVE 6
TANTRIC
ARMORED SAINT
LIZZY BORDEN
TUFF
DIRTY LOOKS
LILLIAN AXE
TEXAS HIPPIE COALITION
STUCK ON STUPID
DOWNTREAD

and of course the "official" resort for this event is the lovely classy Wild Rose Casino...

The girl that longs to be 2o again is absolutely GIDDY over this event. Her heart is pounding and she's squeaking. She's already planning out her outfits.

The 36 year old mother of two who has no time for nonsense anymore is disgusted by what she knows this will be.
A bunch of wanna be rock stars backstage getting pie eyed on free booze, yelling "WOOOHHOO" and "FUCKIN A" and "ALRIGHT" and "ROCK ON" a lot while high fiving and throwing devil horns all over the place.

She knows at least one but she bets more than one fight will break out she will be asked to "show me your tits" she will have beer spilled on her, she will be pushed and shoved and stepped on. Some bimbo will become her new best friend and her husband will be VERY cranky.

The hotel will be no better with the rooms all filled with idiots pretending it's 1986 and throwing things out the window, having loud sex, partying in the halls and no sleep will be had.

But that 20 year old little girl really REALLY wants to go...

Feeling nostalgic & missing my pal...

Growing up I was blessed with the most amazing girl for a best friend. We were inseparable and she truly was my better half.

Without her, I wouldn't be the person I am today. I owe her everything. I am hard pressed to find a teenage memory she is not in. We were trouble with a capital T. Rock chicks who had the world by the balls.

We were arrogant, cocky, cool as hell, sexy, smart and fun to be with. Well, maybe not me as much as her. She was a total package. When I tell you my girl stopped traffic I am not exaggerating. Not even a little bit.

She was a 6' tall leggy stunning brunette with a smile that lit up a room.
I of course, her loyal sidekick was the 4'9" blond with the huge hair and the big boobs. She was confident and fearless and I was loud and tough.

My dad loves the memory of us at ages 13-16 (when he had to drive us to Brooklyn to go to L'Amour) we would be in the backseat of his car, giddy silly girls, gossiping, all excited but the second he pulled up and stopped the car we were tough as nails mols. We would step out of the car and do what he called the "fuck you strut" (one of these days I'll get him to do it on video)

Too cool for school and WAY too good for you little boy with the leather jacket so step aside. Bouncer? How cute. Is that what they call you? I'm sorry, did you say cover charge? Uh...no.
Don't you know who we ARE?! We don't PAY. Check the list. Christiana plus one. Guests of someone cute and connected. Drop that rope now peon...people need to see this fabulousness that is Chrissy and Diana.

He said it was amazing to see the transformation and to this day it still makes me laugh to remember how cool we thought we were.

We also shared our passion for and love of horses. For a while we had our horses at the same barn and rode together every day. My horse died on the way home from a horse show in September of 1995 and I stopped riding. She continued and wound up teaching jumpers to kids and becoming an amazing accomplished rider. They were her love and her passion second only to music.

Time and time and time and I got married, had the kids we were always friends but not as close and then she got married, moved to North Carolina somehow her husband convinced her she wanted a motorcycle and in July of 2007 she veered into oncoming traffic (we think she passed out from a hypoglycemic attack) and was hit by an oncoming van. She died at the scene.

From the Gaston Gazette:
Details on weekend wreck Contributed by Lauren Ohnesorge Tuesday, July 24 2007 A motorcyclist killed in a Saturday wreck on N.C. Hwy 321 near Blowing Rock may have been having bike trouble, witnesses say. 33-year-old Christiana Parker Hendrix of Charlotte was pronounced dead at the scene after being ejected from her 2006 Harley Davidson motorcycle. At approximately 6:15 p.m. Hendrix was traveling north on 321 towards Falcon Crest when troopers say she lost control, went left of center and collided with a southbound 2001 Chevrolet van. The driver, Sandra Morgan of Lancaster, South Carolina, and the three passengers of the van were not injured. While the accident did occur in the construction area, the collision happened on a straight section of the road on a clear day. Witnesses say Hendrix appeared to be struggling with her bike. No physical evidence was found on the roadway, however, to corroborate that theory. As of yet, an official cause has not been determined.

Devastated doesn't really begin to cover how I felt when I got the news and quite frankly still feel.
I loved her in a way I'll never ever love another human being.
Not a single day goes by that I don't think of her and miss her. The world is much colder and darker without her and there is a clear hole in the universe.
Click on the photos to enlarge

Disney Trip

We had the best trip yet.
Lion could have been better with the whole flying thing but over all the whole trip was stellar. This was the first trip I felt the boys really "got". I wish I could explain it better to you but I cannot.
They just seemed to understand and anticipate and attack the parks in a different way this time.

Perhaps the biggest most anticipated change, nay, accomplishment/breakthrough of this whole trip was Lion's reaction to the characters.

PT and I have a tradition that we've upheld every single trip we've gone on together for 12 years. First full day in the park we have breakfast at 8:00am with Pooh and his friends at the Crystal Palace.

We have never missed one time. Except this trip.
I tried and tried and tried to get Priority Seating for our usual time and couldn't get anything. No tables available.

Looking back, we totally should have done what we wound up doing on the third day and that was just go at 9:00 (you are only allowed into the park at 8:00 if you have Priority Seating. All others have to wait till the park drops the rope at 9:00am)
and try to get a table anyway.

But I digress...
Tradition ALSO dictates that Lion is freaked out by the characters. He hates them. With a passion. They scare him and overwhelm him. PJ however loves them and Pooh, Piglet, Eeyore and Tigger are the only characters we "force" upon Lion the whole trip.

We have a good system. Lion hides in my lap with his head buried until the evil large plush person passes our table.

I totally expected it this trip as well but change was in the air apparently.

This time Lion was EXCITED to see Tigger who was the first to our table. He HUGGED TIGGER. I have to type that out again. My small son who just 4 months ago shreiked at the sight of the orange and black tiger HUGGED HIM. Out-standing. It was the same with all of them. He was thrilled to see them all and couldn't get enough hugs. He even followed Eeyore to another table to play with his tail and then and THEN when they had the "Happy Birthday march" (this video is not mine but they do the same thing at least once an hour)

PJ lept out of his chair to go and march and Lion was right behind him.

I'd be lying if I told you I wasn't fighting back the tears of sheer joy. Seriously. It might not seem like a big deal to you but to my family it's a massive, massive step. It's change and it's growth and even maturity and that, that makes me the happiest mommy ever.



Of course there was the heat. The coolest day it was 92 degrees. The last two days it was 97. That's not the best weather to go for a hike in and certainly not the best weather to trapise around the parks in.

Small aside here but I spent much of the trip feeling secretly smug and slightly superior to PT.
We had been going back and forth about renting a stroller for two or more weeks.
We used to drag the double stroller monster down with us but at 40 pounds and measurements of 38.6 x 19 x 13.3 inches it was no easy thing to get it on the busses to go to and from the parks. PT would have to lug it onto the bus and then balance it (and if the bus was crowded he would have to endure the dirt looks from folks being smushed by it)and I would have to carry the two kids on and off the bus.



But Lion was little and he couldn't walk and the boys took nice long comfy naps in the stroller and so we endured the agony of this massive unweildy beast. (someone in Epcot remarked in passing "Check out that Cadillac of a stroller" and so we dubbed it the Caddy)

Three trips ago we packed up the Caddy and went through the agony of the not so bright folks at Newark Security trying to force it through the X-Ray machine (with me muttering under my breath "It does not fit. It will not fit. You will not make it fit. Take it down and run the damn XRay wand over it you MORONS") and lugged it to the parks every day only to discover that this trip PJ decided he was NOT a baby and he was NOT going to ride in the stroller at ALL. He walked. Everywhere. I was pissed off and amazed all in one.

We average 6 miles a day when we are in Disney World. Kid kept up with us the whole way. I was pissed that like schumcks we were stuck pushing, pulling, lifting and dragging the Cadillic Stroller built for two around the parks with only one kid riding.

We swore NEVER EVER again. When we got home that stroller hit the curb as though it was on fire. I couldn't get rid of it fast enough. Good bye, good luck, good riddance. Peace OUT double stroller. PJ walked and Lion was chauffered around in a ghetto $10 K-Mart umbrella stroller.

Unfortunately those strollers are only good up to 30 or 35 pounds and by the time our next trip came around my sweet Lion had outgrown the umbrella stroller.
So we went to Disney World with two kids and no stroller.
I spent the whole trip either carrying Lion around in my arms or on my shoulders.
Not much fun for me at all. (that my friends is the understatement of the century)

This trip I put my foot down (something I NEVER do) we needed a stroller. We were renting one come hell or high water.
Not just a stroller. A DOUBLE stroller so both kids could relax and ride and not burn themselves out running around the parks.
PT didn't want to drop $200 on a double stroller rental and so we went back and forth about it.
I won and I'm SO glad I did.
In that heat having that double stroller made all the difference. The kids had a place to rest and relax and nap and we were able to get from place to place much quicker.
Best $200 I think we've ever spent.
Even for me a seasoned Vet who can get around the parks with her eyes closed it seems each trip I learn something new!

I can't wait to go back in December!!!

Our Home Resort

This is our "Home" resort of Saratoga Springs. (Click on the image to enlarge it)
Fingers crossed our Studio room is near the laundry...