"You never find yourself until you face the truth."
-Pearl Bailey
Wii are family
So, my kids got a Nintendo Wii for Christmas, as did others out there. My mom waited in line at Circuit City, and got one.
The Cs love it. They scored a couple fun games, such as Big Brain, High School Musical -- Sing It! (complete with microphone), and Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games.
However what is most surprising to me is ... I'm having fun with the system too!
The Wii comes with Wii Sports, and I've found myself getting a little competitive with bowling and baseball.
Dr. Phil: What were you thinking?
Those who know me know this: I do like watching Dr. Phil. Although this year I think he's been hanging out in the alley behind Maury's studio jonesing for guests.
That said, I still watch.
Thursday's show was on autism. I figured maybe, just MAYBE, Dr. Phil could bring a different perspective than some of the other shows.
Nope.
He featured a family who had a son with autism. The boy was very, very violent, threatening to kill his mother on an ongoing basis. The family, in my opinion, was in total denial.
Here's the deal: the show made it appear that all kids with autism are horribly violent.
Dr. Phil: what the Hell were you thinking?
Autism is a spectrum disorder, and all children present differently. However, the majority of children with autism are not violent! In fact, many can be rather loving and social. I felt Dr. Phil was making all children with autism out to be hellions, which does everyone a disservice.
I would gather that the little boy featured on the show has, in addition to autism, other conditions that are contributing to the violence. But, autism became the sacrificial lamb.
Why, oh why, couldn't the show focus on how to secure all the therapies needed without going completely broke? How to advocate for your child? How to find support in your community so you needn't feel alone? The divorce rate among familes with an autistic child has been estimated at close to 70 percent. How can parents keep their family together when a child with special needs enters the mix?
There were just so many other angles that could have actually been useful. This show did more harm than good.
All she wants for Christmas ...
... are her two front teeth!
The other top front tooth came out this morning.
My other daughter also yanked out a loose molar this morning and has another tpoth that, if it hasn't come out by the end of the day, I'll be shocked.
The Tooth Fairy needs to get out of the house and break a $20.
Heirlooms anyone?
On this website, one of the scrapbookers/bloggers was asking about what people had they considered heirlooms. I loved that blog prompt, but it's taken me a while to actually sit down and get my thoughts out.
The older I get, the more I find items with a history mean something to me. Not that I don't love the things I get myself. But knowing something had a past and was given to me as a loving gesture is extra-special.
I have several things I consider heirlooms. They probably wouldn't net me much $$ if I put them on eBay or Craig's List, but to me they are priceless.
The first item for your contemplation: my candy bowl/butter dish.
Here's the backstory. Growing, we used to frequently visit my dad's grandmother. She always, always had this candy dish filled with peppermints, butterscotch candies, root beer barrels, the list goes on.
So, we'd visit, and I'd eat a couple pounds candy while I was there.
My great-grandmother lived to the ripe-old age of 94. I got to see her the Christmas before she died, and there was still candy in that dish!
I mentioned The Dish to my parents at one point, and they asked me if I'd like to have it. I jumped at the opportunity. My mom also include the butter dish in the shipment.
Unfortunately, the candy dish's lid got broken during shipping, but I am still glad to have it for my family to enjoy!
The next item: china.
Ok, I had china from my wedding to Mr. Exq., which I said he could have as part of the divorce settlement. (Of course, he has not picked it up and it's six weeks past the deadline, but that is another story for another time.)
That said, my mom's mother died this October at the ripe-old age of 93. (Longevity must run in my family.) She called me from Virginia wondering if I would be interested in my grandmother's china.
I jumped at the opportunity.
About a month later, UPS delivered five dish packs of china to my home.
I was amazed at all the pieces. When you buy china today, a place setting consists of a cup/saucer, salad plate, and dinner plate. This setting (for 12 ... I don't think I know 12 people I'd have for dinner!) included cup/saucer, dinner plate, salad plate, bread plate, small bowl, and large bowl.
In addition, I got a bunch of serving pieces.
I went to Replacements to try to learn more about the pattern. It appears to be from a Polish china company no longer in business. Doesn't look to be horribly expensive, but that isn't the point.
My only regret was that I didn't really get to discuss with my grandmother all the times she used the china in her own entertaining. But, I'm thrilled to have it here. I served our Thanksgiving dinner with the china, and I'm sure it will be used for many, many other special occasions.
