X'mas 2008

Cheese Platter, Prawns, Potato salad, Veggie Salad, Pasta Salad, Turkey, Ham, Stuffing Balls, Jayden in X'mas hat, My First Real X'mas Tree, Thomas & Jayden...Duh

Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Asperger's by John Elder Robison

I like reading about people who are "different" if there is a politically correct way of saying it. I think it opens our minds to the world out there and encourages respect and tolerance. Have been fascinated ever since I watched a clip of Daniel Tammet on youtube. It's just incredible what they can do. This book is insightful and sometimes funny. You feel wronged for Robinson about how people treat him in his early years but at the same time feel so proud of what he has been able to achieved.

From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. Robison's thoughtful and thoroughly memorable account of living with Asperger's syndrome is assured of media attention (and sales) due in part to his brother Augusten Burroughs's brief but fascinating description of Robison in Running with Scissors. But Robison's story is much more fully detailed in this moving memoir, beginning with his painful childhood, his abusive alcoholic father and his mentally disturbed mother. Robison describes how from nursery school on he could not communicate effectively with others, something his brain is not wired to do, since kids with Asperger's don't recognize common social cues and body language or facial expressions. Failing in junior high, Robison was encouraged by some audiovisual teachers to fix their broken equipment, and he discovered a more comfortable world of machines and circuits, of muted colors, soft light, and mechanical perfection. This led to jobs (and many hilarious events) in worlds where strange behavior is seen as normal: developing intricate rocket-shooting guitars for the rock band Kiss and computerized toys for the Milton Bradley company. Finally, at age 40, while Robison was running a successful business repairing high-end cars, a therapist correctly diagnosed him as having Asperger's. In the end, Robison succeeds in his goal of helping those who are struggling to grow up or live with Asperger's to see how it is not a disease but a way of being that needs no cure except understanding and encouragement from others. (Sept.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Jayden pulling himself up

Video of Jayden pulling himself up (with the help of our sofa bed)....

Jayden playing with water

Beware!! Slightly longer vid....then again...it's more cuteness..heee

Jayden's first painting

This is the first painting, which Jayden did in daycare...it's amazing what kids can do...just so surprising..though I am pretty sure the bulk of it is done by his carer...nonetheless....I reckon he is a genius...mwhahahaaha...it's all about being modest isn't it...

Jayden Sitting Up on his own

Jayden started sitting up from his crawling position about a week or so ago...

Jayden after having is first taste of ice-cream

This picture was taken at The Age Spring Harvest Picnic on the 30th November. Great day for a picnic and loads of yummy stuff to eat...Yabbie and Scallop pie....Brown Brothers wine....Paella...they even have BABBA (you know...ABBA impersonators) performing...this is Jayden after having his first taste of chocolate ice-cream... http://www.harvestpicnic.com.au/

Jayden Crawling (faster)

Video of Jayden crawling faster...I think the leopard crawl is it...don't think he will go on the normal crawl..if you know what I mean heeee

What a horrible day....

I must first start off this blog with a loud *WHINEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE*...and if you can take that whine...read on because this is what this blog is going to sound like....one big whine

The day started horrid with the weather forecast being 31 degrees...yes..I hate the scorching heat....told u this blog is going to be whiney...then J decides to have a fever(slight) and turned on the drippy nose tap(dropped him off at childcare anyway).....about 11ish...decided to go out for lunch with MIL and an aunt and uncle....was waiting for the car to be backed out of the garage...so I went to have a closer look at the new trees we had planted out front of the house...misstepped and twisted my ankle with a loud embarrassing HOWL...being the greedy person that I was...I insisted on forging ahead to the shopping mall..lest I be stuck at home with bread for lunch...halfway there...THE CAR BROKE DOWN...and the best part about it was ...we just sent it for servicing the day before(at the garage later...the mechanic told us that it was one of those weird things that doesn't happen at all..some spring thing broke or something..anyway..service was free)...soooo..called RACV for a tow truck...took 1 hour for the truck to come....and to add to the drama..a police petrol car stopped to help move the car to the side....one hour later.....tow truck came...along with a dodgy truck driver...because the tow truck can only ferry another 2 people...MIL and relatives decided to walk to the mall..while I sat in the tow truck to the garage...truck driver asked me if I was single..and if I was...whether I wanted to go somewhere with him...PLEASE...the size and the age(him of course)..some people just weird...anyway...got to the mechanics and lo and behold ...it's at some industrial area where there is nothing to do.....had to wait for Thomas for 2 freaking hours to come pick me up...it's now 5.30pm in Melbourne...hopefully it's the end of all the drama...I have had enough for the day and thanks to the sun(didn't want to use my brolly for shade while waiting for the tow truck...too ugly)....I am now a dozen shade darker..and a thousand freckles spottier...

Christmas Tree Headache

It's the time of the year to put up a Christmas Tree...and now that I have the option...the big question is REAL vs FAKE....have been thinking about it for awhile and am having a headache....I really really want to have a real tree...but Thomas reckons that a fake one is more economical.....sigh...but Christmas isn't really about the money is it....I mean why wouldn't we want a real tree....the smell of pine(read about it) in the house ...etc......I think I shall insist on a real tree...at least for my very first year in a house, which I can afford the space....even found a website, which delivers.....and collects it for dumping..hmmm...too easy...

http://www.christmastreesdeliveryplease.com.au/index.html