Art & Life of SwarDrawS

Today Hollace was feeling all grown up as she learned to sew (and made herself a stuffed cat toy) and cooked her own dinner (butter noodles). While she eating her noodles, the large cricket came back out. At virtually the same time, one of these little gnats that we have been infested with landed on her noodles and died. Yeah, that didn't go over too well either. ;-)

After she proclaimed that she is not eating that anymore, she then said she wasn't sleeping in this house if this cricket is still here. So what did I do? I grabbed Cloudy and put her on it. I had to throw her on the bug 4 times before she noticed it.

What did she do with it? Played with it. She would tap it, it would jump and she would mew. She had this thing all over the house. Not a mean bone in her body which gives me no hope if a mouse ever gets near her that she will catch it.

I finally grabbed a nearly empty Pringles can (I woofed down the last chip and crumbs) and put it on top of the bug. I then got some stiff paper and escorted him outside.

And an update on RAW's job thing. Today I had to sign a certified letter from the school. I called RAW and he had me read it. Yesterday I was thinking the real problem was with the perve thing but no, it was a typical RAW attitude that did him in. In the mail was the pink slip talking about what went down with RAW calling the kids dogs and that they should be treated that way and for talking rudely to a co-worker who said she was was never talked to like that in her professional life.

Yeah, my suspicion was right, RAW should of never been in that environment. His personality and bad ass attitude definitely doesn't mix with middle school kids. I guess I could of said that this would be the outcome as soon as the job came up but he would accuse me of not having faith in him. No, I just know him too well.

I just don't know what kind of job RAW would be suited for. He has no patience and his fuse is too short. I guess if he just remodels my kitchen without too many swears (yeah right) then I will be ok.

Posted by swardraws at 12:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

When was the last time I wrote here? I can't recall. I guess once I hit post here I will go find out. Easy enough.

Right now a giant cricket looking bug is menacing the living room. RAW is in Indiana this weekend so I can't get him to get this big ass bug out of here. I thought about grabbing a glass and capturing him to throw him outside but I can't do it. He keeps jumping around. I called Cloudy out to get him but she didn't come. When I found her I couldn't bring myself to show her incase it wasn't a cricket and really was some poisonous leaping crazy bug. So the creature is free to do what ever. I hate bugs.

I don't think Hollace is doing that good in school. She struggles in both reading and math and is getting extra help with both. She is starting to notice and not feel good about herself. I keep waiting for the reading to click but so far not yet. Last week something did click when it came to writing. She hated that too but she started writing stories (adventures of kiwi girl). Previously her stories were picture ones. Her spelling is atrocious but who cares, she is writing. And just like her picture stories, she is a great story teller. She has a begining, middle and end; good story structure and imagination.

She had an assignment to make a camp brochure. They had to come up with a camp and follow a general layout for info and map. Hollace made up an Aquatic camp complete with a duck shaped pond. She got a perfect score on it. Apparently one out of two who did. She won a prize. Both her and Noah got a book. She is excited. She has the creative down.

One of the reasons her last year teacher recommended her 3rd grade teacher was because of the visual. From what I gather, her teacher is a tough one but puts an emphasis on creativity and art. We finally got to meet her at open house. She has a wacky silly side which is cool and acknowledges different style of learning like visual. We will see.

One thing about Aspergers is that they are usually very smart with the school work. That isn't Hollace but I think she just puts all of her energy to art. She is definitely gifted there.

In another Aspie thing, the other day we had her wiping off the kitchen table. She hates sweeping the crumbs into her hand. So much so that I guess she threw up when faced with it. Interesting reaction.

Last weekend we went camping with Deb and Joe, JoAnn and her family at Devils Lake. Great weather with the exception of arriving and setting up. Everyone but me went on the hike. I found that as an opportunity to catch up on my reading in peace. Joann and her husband hated the hike. She was worried that Mark might have a heart attack or something. RAW then had to take Joe and Joann to get their cars which was left on the other end. Joe for some reason then took them on a wild goose chase into town (they were following him). This pissed off RAW big time and for the most part Joann too. I thought for sure that they fell off the road and was dead or something when they didn't come back soon. I heard emergency vehicles which only worsen my fears.

I think RAW just quit his lunch aid job at the school. It is sad really. The middle school students started calling him a pervert. Why else would a man be doing this. There were a couple students out to push his buttons and he doesn't take to that too well. I figured something like this might happen when dealing with middle schoolers. Horrible age for that. He decided it was time to get out before someone started with false aquisations and the police show up at our door.

I got my haircut. It is probably the shortest ever for me. It is chin length. I like it. Everyone noticed it this time.

Well I guess I wrote enough. I wonder if that bug showed himself out of my house. Ack.

Posted by swardraws at 12:41 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

tonight I am scouring the internet for just that perfect chin length hair cut. I have been snagging pictures this last week for my appointment on Monday but nothing is really getting me yet. I find a folder in my archives from the same exercise one of the last times I wanted a hair cut. In that folder I discovered there is one photo that is exactly the same in the new folder. And I don't really like it so who knows why I keep saving it.

In my searching tonight I ran into one of those put the camera in front of your face and shoot shots of some girl who had just cut her hair. That made me check out her blog. It was from an entry three years ago. I eventually check out her current entries then see some Flickr photos so I go there and read her profile and see her pictures, then click on her husband (who was just a boyfriend 3 years ago) and read his profile.

I don't know, it just kind of floors me that I can quietly checked up on total strangers lives. I almost wanted to select her as a contact even though her pictures were just of her friends, no art photography which is my usual contacts.

I wonder who is watching me?

On Monday I hope to be sporting a chin length bob of some sort. I will post it online and someone looking for a chin length hair cuts may find me. I hope I am inspirational ;-)

Posted by swardraws at 12:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

It became apparent to me that I have to have a schedule when I get home for work in order to do everything that needs to get done. Most importantly get a handle on the time for Hollace's homework.

We wait until it is too late and are crabby and then underestimate the time we need. And we are not getting any reading time in. There are no reading logs this year so we aren't accountable.

Last night Hollace kept telling me she was horrible at math, horrible at reading, horrible....

I told her we will fix that by practicing more.

When she went to bed I put down this schedule

5:00 - I get home from work
6:00 - dinner needs to be on the table
6:30 - walk for 30 minutes
7:00 - Hollace starts homework. The teacher says to only spend 10 minutes on each assignment and that I have to sign if she doesn't finish. Hollace isn't a speedy worker so 10 minutes later we aren't even close.

I have scheduled 1:30 for homework. That is 30 minutes reading, 10 minutes for, on the average, 3 assignments (= 30 minutes). 15 minutes to practice math facts (on our own). That leaves 15 minutes for her to play on the internet for a reward. Neopets is what she is into lately thought today she says EVERYONE at school talks about Webkins.
8:30 - Hollace goes to bed
8:30-10:00 is my free time to catch up on the web or watch a movie or whatever.
10:00 - news
10:30 - Read or meditate (or go back to the web but I want to try to curb keep that for the 8:30 time block)
11:30 - go to bed or in an ideal world, go to bed at 11:00 which could happen if I stick to reading or meditating and stay away from the web.

Tonight we tried the schedule for the first time.
- Dinner was on the table at 6:00.
- I didn't get on the treadmill until 6:40 cause I wasn't prepared but I got off at 7:00
- Homework got started a little late cause Hollace had to take a quick shower since she was all muddy playing outside while I was on the treadmill.
- At 8:30 the homework was done but we didn't get to the bonus math facts.
- She played with Neopets.org for 20 minutes then went to bed.
- Watched TV until 11:00 then came in to check the net
- It is now 11:40 and I am 10 minutes late for bed. Good night!

Posted by swardraws at 11:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)