Author Archives: Jen

About Jen

Jen isn't quite sure when she lost her mind, but it is probably documented here on Meditatio. She blogs because the world needs her snark at all hours of the night... and she probably can't sleep anyway.

A Conversation Regarding Gun Control

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One of our deacons (who is seriously awesome and whose wife is one of the people I’m close to at Metanoia) was over fixing curtain rods yesterday and the following exchange happened.

D: Deacon
J: Jen!

D: Hopefully, you don’t mind that I’m collecting dust in a shell box (used for shotgun shells). Then again, you’ve lived in Montana so this is probably normal.
J: Yeah… I’m pretty aware that people own and shoot guns.
D: You’re from northern California though, right?
J: Yeah… total granola hippie but I’m not against guns and all that within reason. You don’t need a semi-automatic weapon to shoot Bambi.
D: *proceeds to explain to me the difference between semi-automatic and fully-automatic*

I amended my opinion to now opposing military grade weaponry for hunting purposes. You can take out Bambi (who is an 8-point buck) with one shot. You don’t need to zipper him.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: January 9, 2012

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY January 9, 2012

Outside my window… dark. It’s 10:40 p.m. It started out cold this morning and ended up fairly warm — the 60’s maybe.

I am thinking… about the ADOS testing today and Daniel’s diagnosis of autism.

I am thankful… for getting through today even if I was completely drained of energy when I got home. I’m also thankful for the guy on the motorcycle who waited until Daniel was in the car and the door was closed so that him starting the motorcycle wouldn’t scare Daniel.

In the kitchen… next question.

I am wearing… black Arabic shirt and black capri sweats.

I am creating… this entry.

I am going… to enjoy having tomorrow as a quiet day.

I am wondering… what the future holds with Daniel’s diagnosis.

I am reading… Inheritance by Christopher Paolini. I think I’m going to download the other three books onto my NOOK so I can read them in order when I’m done with this one.

I am hoping… I sleep well tonight.

I am looking forward to… lobster feed this weekend with one of my amazing church ladies.

I am learning a lot about autism.

Around the house… curtain rods being replaced.

I am pondering… many things that I can’t vocalize.

A favorite quote for today… “A person’s a person no matter how small.” — Dr. Suess

One of my favorite things… Crystal Light Peach Tea

A few plans for the rest of the week: therapies, meeting with the school district regarding Daniel, lobster feed on Saturday night.

A peek into my day… My boy and I at Miwok Park in Elk Grove.

Daniel and I

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7 Quick Takes — The A Word

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7 Quick Takes

We’re almost 6 days into January and already I want a restart on the year. This can’t be good.

— 1 —

It’s looking like Daniel has a diagnosis someplace on the autism spectrum. The appointment on Tuesday morning did not go well as he did not cooperate for the pediatric developmental fellow who was administering a developmental assessment. Everyone came in and talked to me afterwards and explained the reasoning for their suspicions. It makes sense and would explain the language delay, the problems engaging with people, and the obsession with doors and drawers. Their pediatric resident came in afterwards and gave me hugs. She had been the one who coordinated all of Daniel’s care in the PICU in March so I was really happy to see her again and I hope she had gotten to play with Daniel a little bit when he was out of the room and I was giving the pediatric developmental fellow his health history. Jon is happy with the fact that we likely have a diagnosis and some answers. I was truthfully pretty devastated though I managed to make it out to the car before crying.

— 2 —

Please, for the love of [insert deity], do not tell me about your mother’s cousin’s neighbor’s college roommate’s husband who has a child with autism. Seriously, I get that you’re trying to make me feel better but unless you have the kid with the condition, I honestly just wish you would stop talking. The spectrum is pretty big and unless you have the kid, you don’t know really where on the spectrum they are. It’s also a whole lot more helpful for me to hear from someone who is raising a kid or two with said conditions.

— 3 —

It’s actually quite rude and incredibly tactless to butt into a conversation and ask nastily, “Why are you so surprised?” (Yes, this actually happened to me last night and it took every ounce of self-control not to toss the contents of the pot of tea between us across the table at her.) This person had already gotten herself on my spit list in the first five minutes of dinner last night and that comment was really inappropriate. I responded politely because I was flanked by the person’s step-sister and our council president (as this was at our monthly Ladies’ Night Out where all the church women go out to dinner). Otherwise, she would have had hot tea flung at her and I probably would have slapped the living daylights out of her. (I’m seriously trying to avoid foul language on this take because this is a family-friendly blog.)

— 4 —

The diagnosis isn’t the worst thing on the planet but it doesn’t make it any easier. I’m fully aware that Daniel isn’t going to die from being on the autism spectrum and thankfully California has laws in place requiring insurance companies to cover autism therapies. (I love my socialist paradise at times as well as Governor Moonbeam.) It was devastating because I thought we were done with obstacles being thrown in our path and it’s ONE. MORE. OBSTACLE. that we have to tackle. Thankfully, he qualifies for a lot of programs and we’re hooked up with a group at UCD Medical Center who actually does autism specifically. He hasn’t had the ADOS administered yet (that will be Monday) but it’s almost a forgone conclusion that he’s on the spectrum… though you could put anyone on the spectrum on any given day given how broad it is. And yes, I do know about the website Autism Speaks.

— 5 —

In addition to all this, I’m having fibro pain. Last week, I lost a battle with my parents’ ice maker and had a gouge taken out of my hand. Well… said injury is causing hand and finger pain — not a good thing when you’re a blogger and have to use your hands as much as I do. Add in tendonitis in my thumb from a Cipro or Levaquin prescription, and you have a grumpy Jen. Whine whine whine WHINE!!!!

— 6 —

I apparently witnessed part of a high-speed chase last night without knowing it. I was in the parking lot finding a parking space when I saw a low-flying chopper with its searchlight on. I hadn’t seen one of those since I lived in Pomona and we’d get them lighting up the apartment and rattling the walls. I wondered what was going on and saw this story on several news stations when I got home. Duuuuude…

— 7 —

Yesterday, Daniel and I headed to Miwok Park in Elk Grove after doing a Target run. He did really well on the big kids’ playground and conquered the 2-5 year old area as well. The only downside was a really rude little boy who went on the suspension bridge and started jumping up and down to try and knock Daniel off. I told him to cut it out and play nicely. He replied that he didn’t have to listen because I wasn’t his mother. So… I went and found his mom and told her what had happened. Daniel and I headed out and when I looked over my shoulder, his mom was putting him in a time-out. I do appreciate it when parents actually discipline their kids.

For more Quick Takes, visit Jen at ConversionDiary.Com.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: January 2, 2012

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY January 2, 2012

Outside my window… foggy this morning and sunny in the afternoon. It was supposed to be near 60 today but I don’t think I noticed while I was outside.

I am thinking… about what to suggest to use next for Bible Studies.

I am thankful… for Jon being home today. It’s why I’m able to do this now instead of after 9:00 tonight when Daniel is in bed.

In the kitchen… veggie chips and pub cheese from Trader Joe’s.

I am wearing… grey shirt and my penguin pajama bottoms.

I am going… to hopefully have a quiet night tonight with Daniel not in a bearish mood.

I am wondering… where the people on CA-99 learned to drive.

I am reading… just finished In Stitches by Anthony Youn M.D. He had an article on CNN a few weeks ago and it mentioned that he had written this book. It’s pretty light in terms of tone though he does talk about his lack of sex in college and medical school. Despite that, I enjoyed it.

I am hoping… Daniel either goes down for his nap now or goes to sleep early tonight.

I am looking forward to… having nothing on Wednesday because Tuesday is going to be packed.

I am hearing… Daniel pushing his shopping cart around and Catholic Weekend on iTunes.

Around the house… dishes and stuff to do.

I am pondering… things in my heart.

One of my favorite things… veggie chips and pub cheese.

A few plans for the rest of the week… doctor’s appointment and PT for Daniel tomorrow, nothing on Wednesday, and OT on Thursday.

Hosted by The Simple Woman’s Daybook

New Year’s Intention

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Wow… I actually kept my resolution last year which was to participate in at least one 5K though I didn’t end up walking the 10K by the end of the year.

So… my intention this year (yes, the wording is a complete cop-out) is to walk/run at least two 5K’s for charity or otherwise. I’m 99% sure that I’ll be doing the Promise Walk again this year so I just need to find one more.

7 Quick Takes — Brought to You by Fibromyalgia Grumping

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7 Quick Takes

I haven’t gotten half decent sleep since… yeah, it’s been that long but it’s been especially bad this week which means that my fibromyalgia is flaring up. This means that I’m in a boatload of pain and in an extra cranky mood. Jon had to be in the office and doing visits today but his day off is tomorrow and that means I get to sleep in guilt-free. (OK… so I also slept in on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, but that had to do with having problems sleeping and having to be more than semi-comatose to take care of Daniel.)

— 1 —

I still have remnants of the mutant death cold from Thanksgiving. I still have random coughing spasms that wake me up and keep me up at night. I was almost coughing to the point of vomiting on Tuesday night and my dad ended up bringing a couple packages of Ricola to the guestroom — I guess I was waking him up and keeping him up. I don’t know what specifically is irritated and causing it — it’s not asthma-related so my inhaler and nebulizer are useless against it.

— 2 —

I see that the Rose Parade is being held on Monday. The joke is that it (almost) never rains on the Rose Parade because the organizers have a deal with God: they don’t hold it on Sunday and God gives them good weather. It illustrates the fallacy of prayer making God into the Cosmic Vending Machine but it is curious that they usually have amazing weather even though it falls during the rainy season.

— 3 —

There’s a new season of The Biggest Loser starting. The only problem is that it’s on at the same time as NCIS:Los Angeles. I missed pretty much all of last season — I only caught the Thanksgiving show where they showed who kept the weight off. I think I’m going to have to pick a night to watch it online or something.

— 4 —

My resolution for 2012: be more active. Fibro can be a catch-22. It helps to be active and get moderate exercise but… the pain makes doing so difficult, especially with me because I’m also under a huge amount of stress and that exacerbates things. I think I’m going to have to be super intentional about taking the time out to go for a walk, do playground stuff with Daniel, or just… DO SOMETHING.

— 5 —

I’m getting a ton of political fundraising emails. Apparently, there’s a huge FEC deadline on December 31, 2011 and all the political stuff I support are hitting me up for money. Can I honestly say that I’m really not looking forward to all the politics and media crud that will be coming soon?

— 6 —

I had to put down The Magicians by Lev Grossman. It was interesting in the beginning but it seems like Grossman took the whole Harry Potter thing and twisted into this dark and fatalist thing. It did sort of keep my attention but it was also depressing how hopeless the characters attitudes were. I still haven’t used up my whole gift certificate from my birthday and I have an additional one from my sister-in-law that she gave me for Christmas so I think it’s time that I invested in some stuff that I do want to read. I also finally figured out how to “close” books on my Nook. Go me!

— 7 —

I did the Saint’s Name Generator again this year. For 2011, I had St. Gianna Beretta Molla which was good because I did need to get to know her better, especially as she also had a killer pregnancy (which unlike me, did eventually kill her). My saint for 2012 is St. Luke which should be interesting. I think this will be a year of reading his Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles. As a Lutheran, we don’t revere saints in the same way as Catholics or Orthodox do — for us, it’s more of “this is a person we should emulate”. I think I’ll be pondering some of these things internally for awhile.

For more Quick Takes, visit Jen at ConversionDiary.Com.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: December 26, 2011

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY December 26, 2011

Outside my window… dark. I’m in San Jose with my parents and it stayed cold today.

I am thankful… that Daniel was angel for church yesterday and that last week’s crankiness did not repeat. It was the longest time I’ve gotten to be in the actual church service since February.

In the kitchen… leftover roast beast and mushroom risotto from Christmas dinner. Jon gets leftover pizza. 🙂

I am wearing… my blue Jameson fleece (from the distillery in Dublin), sea green shirt, jeans, and mismatched cat socks.

I am creating… this entry.

I am going… for walks and playground time tomorrow.

I am wondering… if the most recent Golden Bough CD is indeed blank or if it will play in the car. If it’s blank, I’ll just email them and see if I can get a download card.

I am reading… The Magicians by Lev Grossman. Still haven’t finished it. I did finish Three Day Town by Margaret Maron and it was quite good.

I am hoping… Daniel is in good form tonight.

I am looking forward to… more playground time with Daniel tomorrow.

I am hearing… “Christmas in Celtic Land” by Golden Bough. I’m a bit perturbed that “When Winter Comes” seems to be reading as blank on my laptop.

Around the house… not home though we did clean before we left.

One of my favorite things… mushroom risotto that we have for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

A few plans for the rest of the week… hang-out time with Daniel, maybe a Target run, possibly OT on Thursday, and maybe a trip to the Train Museum in Sacramento.

Here is picture for thought I am sharing… Daniel at Miwok Park in Elk Grove. His physical therapist was playing paparazzi and got a number of good pictures. This is one of them.

Daniel looking around a corner at Miwok Park.

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