Tag Archives: Twitter

Hot Cellists?

Posted in Things I'm Excited About by

I tuned into Glee tonight for the first time in a few years, just in time to see a vocal “duel” between 2 characters, with two cellists duking it out as accompaniment. Tweeted “Watching #Glee for first time in years. Gotta say ‘Smooth Criminal’ on cello is hot! #WhoKnew?” and @trishpip sent me a Youtube link for the cellists. Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjOQac1vOEc

 

My #Blog – Year in Review

Posted in Reflections by

2012 year in review

Just wanted to take a moment to review my blog for 2012.

My 5 most popular posts were:

The posts I enjoyed writing the most:

My Facebook Page and Twitter account are the most popular ways for people to find my blog in 2012.

Thanks for reading my blog!

Day 08 – Your favorite internet friend

Posted in 30 Letters in 30 Days, Autism/Special Needs by

I don’t think I really have a favourite internet friend.  I have chatted with some amazing people, and have “met” some wonderful fellow Autism parents through my “Autism Stories” series.  I also feel very connected to everyone following #YouMightBeAnAutismParentIf hashtag on Twitter.  It’s great to know that, no matter what time of day, I can connect with other parents of kids with Autism.

I have also met a couple of people from Twitter in real life, and I feel so blessed to have met them.  It continues to amaze me how social media has really changed how we connect with one another.

You Might be an Autism Parent If…

Posted in Autism/Special Needs, Son by

Gotta love Twitter! It’s giving me lots to work with in the last week…including a GREAT trending hashtag: “YouMightBeAnAutismParentIf…”. I’ve now “met” so many other Tweeps in the Autism community, I’m really looking forward to getting to know everyone more. The following are some of the tweets I especially appreciated:

You Might Be an Autism Parent If:

  • your child has taught you more about love, life and what truly matters, than the other way around. @Soundless2
  • you wouldn’t change your child for the world – but want often to change the World for your child!  @helenhamill
  • U discover chunk of skin is missing from his pinky & u find the chunk stuck in between the closet doors. He didn’t cry. @yupcom
  • “It takes a village to raise a child” takes on a whole new meaning @trydefyinggravity
  • you know the difference between a tantrum and a meltdown and can explain it @GPKRacing
  • you say “try again”, “use your words”, “first this-then this”, “nice hands”, “good waiting” 1000x a day.  @AutismPinoy
  • ifurheart hurts b/c not only does he have 2 overcome more. He also has 2 learn ppl will treat him badly for it  @ErronA
  • hearing your child say “I’m sad” makes you secretly happy they were able to express an emotion!  @Calormom
  • it is unfathomable to go on an outing in shoes you can’t run in @FroggyPrinceMom
  • swings, trampolines &/ or obstacle courses are main pieces in your home’s decor. @Kristin Macchi
  • you have heard more often than not “I don’t know how you do it” or “you must be exhausted” #notcomplimentspeople @LLA_Princess (so true! Just makes us realize how tired we are!)
  • you know that potty training is a multi-year project. @texascanadasean

My responses…You Might Be an Autism Parent If:

  • You can’t secure fulltime work because no one will look after your child afterschool.
  • You walk into a new venue and “see” what will trigger meltdowns and overstimulations for your child, whether or not they are with you.
  • You explain to anyone new coming to your home that your 6yo son will probably be walking around in his diaper.
  • You fake being interested in what “advice” someone who doesn’t have a child with Autism offers because they met ONE child with Autism, 10 years ago, and therefore they know everything about Autism.
  • You can’t remember the last time you slept an entire night.
  • You LOVE Melatonin!
  • You never think you’ll be partnered again because no man will want to take on the extra responsibilities of Autism (and yet I found one!!)
  • You put off your own surgery until your child can understand NOT to jump on mommy during recovery.

 

Writing Prompt: “I knew it was over when…”

Posted in Reflections, Uncategorized by

 

Just saw what I think is a great writing prompt on Twitter: “I Knew It Was Over When…”.  Some responses I read that I find amusing and/or truthful. I knew it was over when…

  • u began to treat me like an option instead of a priority. @iTweetFacts
  • being apart was actually a relief. @bashrafi
  • you stopped smiling everytime you saw me. @Its_Stewie
  • you replied with a “k” to my long text. @Londonanddreams
  • we argued more than we loved…and everyone could see it. @CallMeAuburn
  • you said you don’t like Harry Potter. @LovelyLestrange
  • us not talking to each other was a form of escapism from your constant nagging. @halfbrown79
  • the relationship started to cause me more pain than happiness. @iTruzie
  • I asked your goals and you said to be maintained. @Kashanova23
  • you went from in a relationship to single on Facebook. @jayfrink1988

 

Here are my contributions, based on my experience.  “I knew it was over when…”

  • You prioritized a computer screen over me
  • You texted me saying “I have something to tell you but I don’t know where to start”. My response was “Let me know when you do”. Relationship done.
  • I apologized to you for YOUR actions
  • My friends started commenting on how you treated me
  • I called 9-1-1
  • I realized I deserved to be “seen”

 

Wow!  This makes me SSOOOO thankful to have my man now!  :)

 

 How would you finish “I knew it was over when…”

 

Cancelled Remembrance Day Service in Ottawa School?!!!!

Posted in News Ramblings by

If it wasn’t for Facebook or Twitter, I wouldn’t have any idea what is going on in the world!  Having said that, I read about a Remembrance Day Service being cancelled in Catholic school in Ottawa.

 

The reason given is because replicas of war-items are brought in from the local museum.  From what I can gather, the event has been happening for 20 years and the students look forward to it every year.  Can you imagine being able to look at and touch replica items, and interact with and learn directly from veterans about their experiences and the tools they had at their disposal, while defending our Rights? 

 

I was fortunate to get both of my grandfathers back from WWII…some of my friends weren’t so lucky.  One of my grandfathers retired at the age of 75, moved across England and went to university.  One of his courses was History of War, and he happened to be taking it on the 50th anniversary of WWII.  Basically, the professor (who was about 40 years old) just sat back and let my grandfather talk about his experiences in WWII…can you imagine the learnings those university students took from that class, hearing it first-hand??!!! 

 

Thankfully the reporter included part of the School Board Weapons Policy in the article as well.  Some questions are circling around in my brain after reading this article and the Policy.

 

  • If “any knife” is not allowed on school property, are there cafeterias in any of the schools in this school board?  Are knives available in these cafeterias?

 

  • “Any device which can propel a projectile, i.e., slingshot, compound bow, crossbow, paintball gun, etc.;”  Does this include elastic bands, hair elastics, bras (you have to get creative with this but it can be used as a slingshot), etc?  I remember other kids using elastic bands to shoot paper across rooms, when I was a kid.

 

  • “Any explosive device or the materials used for making an explosive device.” Does this include fertilizer that may be stored onsite by Maintenance? If I’ve learnt anything from CSI, one can use fertilizer to create a bomb.

 

  • Is this a brand new Policy?  If not, why is this event an issue now?

 

  • I wonder if all the textbooks and library books in the school have also been checked for war-items because perhaps a picture might not be acceptable either. 

 

  • Do any schools in this school board go on field trips to the museums that have any of these war-items on display, including the museums they receive the replicas from for this event?

 

It seems to me that the School Board has covered their due diligence by stating “any unauthorized person…” in the beginning of the Policy:

“The Board shall not tolerate the use, threat of use, or possession of weapons or replicas thereof by any unauthorized person on its property or in buildings or at Board-sponsored activities. The Board shall not tolerate the presence of weapons or replicas thereof in lockers, schoolbags, handbags, vehicles,or in any other place on its property.”

 

Give these amazing Veterans written “authorization”, send home permission forms for each student, and let these kids learn about something they hopefully NEVER HAVE TO EXPERIENCE FIRST HAND.

 

Must be nice to have the freedom to discuss this type of issue, rather than have to worry about whether we’ll be killed by a landmine on our way home from school or work. 

 

Lest We Forget

30 Days of Me: Day 5 – Favourite Quotes

Posted in 30 Days of Me, Motivational Monday by

Day 5- Favourite Quotes

So many to choose from!  I’ve been seeing tons of wonderful quotes on friends’ Facebook pages too recently…so many in fact, that I’ve started Motivational Mondays posts to help capture them.  Having said that, here are ones I live by.

“I loved you the minute you were born. Then I saw your face and fell in love some more. You were only a minute old but I knew I would die for you. To this day I still would. When you choose to have a child you make a conscious decision to allow your heart to walk around outside your body.” ~ Unknown
“A mother’s love for her child is like nothing else in the world. It knows no law, no pity, it dares all things and crushes down remorselessly all that stands in its path.” –Agatha Christie

“I am who I am. Your approval is not needed.  Thanks.” ~ The Female Truth (from Twitter; I am a redhead after all…gotta have some spunk in me!)

“Tough Times Don’t Last, Tough People Do!” ~ Tracy Lynn (I’m blessed to know her IRL)

“Snort…giggles…snort” ~ Opti-mom (another fantastic woman I’m blessed to know IRL…her snorts and giggles are CLASSIC!)

What words to you live by?

 

My “Understanding” of Current Events

Posted in News Ramblings, Reflections by

 

 

 

Being a SAHM to 6 year old twins can be a bit isolating, especially when we just moved back to the family farm and one of my twins has Autism.  Having said that, one always needs to find humour or the positive in every situation so I thought I would share with the world my interpretation on current events.  Please note, pretty much the only sources of information for me is Facebook, Twitter, a music radio station we listen to in the car, and kids’ shows.  So, here are my ramblings without Googling the items first…

 

PRE-GOOGLING

Norway – with the greatest respect, I know something horrible has happened but, couldn’t tell you any details other than people have died. 

 

RIM is laying off 2,000 people – so many families affected…wait, how big is this company?  Crap, I just upgraded to a Blackberry.

 

US Debt – ummm…how is this “news”?  Haven’t they always been in debt?

 

Somalia – what’s going on? I’m guessing it’s related to famine or AIDS.  Either way, it can’t be good.

 

Ontario weather – I’ve stopped checking the daily weather report.  It’s hot.  Hotter than hell.  High temperature plus humidity makes it about ten million.  Glad I have naturally straight hair.  Sorry curly or wavy haired girls…

 

Amy Winehouse died – too bad.  So young. Unfortunately, with the amount of partying she did, I’m not all that surprised…wait, how many times has she been in rehab?  Didn’t help her apparently.

 

Fabio has become the new Old Spice guy – he’s alive? I really need to see this!!

 

JLo & Marc Anthony split up – oh no! Another fellow family with twins bites the dust. So sad.

 

POST – GOOGLING

Oh Gawd.  I suck.  I really need to start paying more attention to the world outside of our little family but…wait, excuse me while I stop my son from pulling at the blinds again, and my daughter from climbing on the back of the couch again…

 

However, I gave myself a little pat on the back this morning to discover that I was already following all but 3 of this week’s 20 Mommy Bloggers List from SweetSpot.ca.

 

I know. I need to get out more often.

My Happiness List

Posted in Reflections by

Optimom is famous for giving out “homework” to help people discover their passion in life. My homework was to ask 5 others how they define happiness. Have to admit that I haven’t asked people, other than posting it on Twitter, but have definitely been through lots of reflection in determining how I define happiness.

 

The first things that popped into my head were all related to my kids; when:

  • they were born
  • they smile
  • we have cuddle time
  • they are playing together and not trying to kill eachother ;)
  • my kids wink at me
  • DD makes her cute sleeping sounds
  • DS hugs me so hard that I think my head is going to pop off
  • I wake up to find DD has crawled into bed with me overnight
  • DS hugs me and says “home”

 

All of these are great HOWEVER, I realized that my happiness was being determined by someone else. More reflection required.

 

So, I started thinking back to when I have felt happiest and when people tell me my smile is the biggest. Here’s my “happy list” and why:

  • Dancing – whether it’s lessons or out with friends. I’m trained in classical ballet and just love any kind of dance!
  • Skating – I took lessons for years and years. There’s something very “freeing” when I’m on the ice
  • Water – I lived in Vancouver, BC for a number of years and, now my favourite place in Hamilton is down at the waterfront.
  • Public Speaking – yup, one of the top fears for almost everyone else in the world is actually one of my “happy places”
  • Go Karting – my (then) hubby took me go-karting once and I absolutely loved it!
  • Reading – the journey is endless
  • Writing – there’s something freeing about just starting to write, whether it’s my blog or journaling
  • Helping Others – I’m a true Libra…helping others is what drives me!

 

I’m sure other things will pop into my head as I further reflect on this question…but that’s why @optimom is so awesome. Very simple homework assignments that inspire true reflection.

 

So, I turn the homework over to you now…what makes you happiest?

 

PS – I was not paid for this post…I happen to be blessed to know Optimom IRL (in real life)