Where mom and I disagree...

You know why I like the Presidents? No school. And snow? No school. That's right...I think it's completely appropriate to have a day off to appreciate those men who run or have run our country, and also that fluffy white stuff that makes my hands cold. But mom doesn't think so, and regularly complains that someone's getting off easy when I stay home for what she calls silly reasons. Too bad, I say.

Except today, when a snow day two weeks ago means that we have to go to school today despite it being hooray for Presidents day. I guess I know who's winning after all.

You guessed it: Mom.

Happy Love Day

Hi all,

Apparently this is a big day for some people, namely Mr. and Mrs. Hallmark and the people who make those little heart shaped candies with letters on them. Good for them, they're everywhere.
Mom says it's a day where you are supposed to express your love for people, so I just want to say I love you. All. There--can I go play now? :)

Actually, there is a funny little twist to all of this. When I came home yesterday from school mom opened my bag because it was suspiciously heavy. She knew that I had thrown my pants down the toilet (don't be alarmed, it was clean), so she expected to find just them in there. When she took out my pants, she found all my "booty", the valentines cards and candy that I got from my friends at school. Wow, talk about amazement. She could not believe all the love--in the form of little cards with Kung Fu Panda and Superman on them--that had come home with me from school. I try to tell her that I have a lot of friends there, and I think now she believes me. For some reason these kids had thought to give me a card, even though I don't really look twice at them (not because I don't love them, see above). It's enough to make you rethink how people feel about someone with disabilities.

So mom says she will cherish my cards forever, brother cherished all my candy clean up, and I cherish all my friends--candy giving and not--for loving little ol' me just as I am. Enough said.
A

Do you ear what I ear?

Hi folks,

Been a while, I know. Brother had his birthday last week, but was sick with 'ammonia' (I know, it's pneumonia, but try telling that to a new 3 year old!). Anyway, he was so sick that mom was preoccupied a bit, and we lost track of the week with all the antibiotic-taking and bed-hopping. It's usually me that ends up on antibiotics, but this time I sailed on through my little cold with only a bit of ear ooze. No problem! We tried to have pizza for his birthday dinner, but he didn't want any and I decided it was time for climbing practice in the restaurant, so mom and dad cut the dinner short.

The major irritation for me is that last week one of my hearing aids quit working, and we've all found that I still actually like them, even if "they" think I don't need them. I've not been myself, and really it's just that I like having the aids in my ears--they help me process what I hear, and without them sounds just aren't sounds like I like them. I can't explain it, but mom knows what I mean and she's trying to get them fixed. I will have to go for another hearing test, this time a proper one, and that may convince them of what we know.

At any rate, mom sang in a choir concert last Sunday along with a symphony orchestra, and it was great, even without my 'ears'. I liked the part where they played Baby Einstein--mom's telling me it was Beethoven's 5th symphony, you know the one: Bah, bah, bah, buuuuuummm--but to me it sounded like the Giraffe one, as brother calls it. It was great, and every time the music got loud I snapped to attention for a while again. I even tried to conduct with the guy in front, waving my arms in time to the music. Mom said that Beethoven must have had a kid with Autism, since he knew just how long to let the music go soft before turning up the volume again. I think she's a little silly, but I love her.

Brother is well and it's warm for a change, so we're off to the park. Bye for now!
love, Adam x

The voice emerges

Hi all,

A midday post, since it's pouring rain and 41 degrees outside and mom won't let me play in the street. Apparently she's ordered some new cold weather gear for brother and I and when it comes we can go out again. Either that or tomorrow, when it's supposed to be 63 degrees. I still can't figure this crazy state out!!

Anyway, just wanted to let you know that I said brother's name this weekend. Actually, it sounded like "Giggy Bock", but they all knew what I meant. Pronunciation is overrated anyway, right? Then, just to clarify who else was in the conversation, I pointed at myself and said my name, "Agam Bock" (again, I'm working on it!). Why mom and dad were silent, looked at each other and then erupted into cheers I'll never know. It seemed like a logical enough thing for me to point out.

I've also developed a love of playing with cars, finally. The only trouble is that they all belong to brother, which means the getting whacked on the top of my head quotient is increasing. And of course I'm still totally into music, which goes without saying. Dad ordered some new White Stripes albums and we've been rockin' in the evenings. At least I don't get whacked for that!

Love for now, Adam x

Like father like brother

I thought I would share this photo mom took the other day. I might mention it's from our new camera, a Nikon Coolpix P60 which mom and dad seem very happy with. Anyway, mom and brother have these super lazy days when I'm at school and dad's at work, like they have coffee and take naps, etc. This picture is of brother during his nap, when he insisted on having a "face shirt" like Dad, i.e. a shirt over his eyes to block out the light.

He's 2. OK, almost 3, but still 2.

The things I have to put up with. Hmph.

Love, Adam

p.s. mom and dad went to a Duke University men's basketball game today. At least they left us with some good sitters.

Snow problem!

I see it's been a while since my last post, but here I am again!

We had our first snow this week, on Monday night in fact, much to mom's chagrin. We already had Tuesday off to watch Barack Obama take the oath as President of the United States (a very good way to round off a sledding session and accompanied by some good hot chocolate, which the folks in D.C. looked like they needed too!) Unfortunately, sub-freezing temperatures on Tuesday night meant no school on Wednesday as well. Moving on into Thursday we still had a 2-hour delay, so by the time 11am came Mom fairly booted me out the door. OK, I'm exaggerating...a bit.

Anyway, short day at school over now, it's on to Friday and guess what? The weekend again. Yay! Mom's over here muttering to herself...don't mind her. I know she had enough time today to enquire about my school for next year, and it looks all set for me to return to Scotland and go to P-1 like we had planned. Now that's good news, even if it's supposed to rain tomorrow night.

Wet wishes to all...love Adam x

The night the lights went out in Durham

I've officially experienced my first power outage! Last night we were having a relatively normal evening until about 6pm, when all of a sudden the lights went out at our house. After taking a minute to process what had happened (I assume that's what adults do, of course), mom and dad went to find the flashlights and candles and we were bathed in a rosy glow. They checked the neighborhood and found that we were not the only ones. In fact, several blocks were also in darkness. Thus began the waiting, and the bath!

It didn't take long, really--only about 3 hours until the power company had it all fixed. I did find it a bit confusing why I couldn't listen to my music or watch Baby Einstein, though. But Dad helped pass the time by regaling us with some rusty tunes on the new (used) violin we bought. He's still got it, if I do say so myself. We are all excited about having some "jam sessions" soon. In fact, dad liked the whole evening so much that he said we should have a power outage every week!

I never mentioned our trip to Florida last week. It was a great time--Oma from TX came in on the evening after Christmas and then we took off, arriving in Orlando at 5am! It was a pretty long drive, but brother and I slept for much of it so we didn't mind. The weather in Orlando was warm and sunny, and we had our Seneff cousins to play with and lots to keep us occupied. We saw the Citrus Bowl parade and went to a farmer's market and played lots. It was a great week overall, even with the 12 hour drive home in traffic.

Oma left on Monday, and it's been back to "work" ever since. Mom has been trying to keep up with my cold, her cold, brother's cough, dad's cold, evenings out, back to school, and the usual household things. It's been a funny week with us all sick, but not too bad. I have another ear infection that I'm getting drops for--had to stay home from school today but I'll probably go back tomorrow.

That's all for now. Happy New Year to all! Love, Adam.

p.s. here is a picture from Christmas that you might enjoy!