I’d just like to admit to public humiliation here because that’s what us bloggers do. Why? I have no idea. We do seem compelled to do it though.

Last night I was taking my oldest son’s friend home and got pulled over by the police. But wait! As any story on the internet, this one gets better. It was around 9:30 and he only lives about a mile or so away.

Very Nice Policeman: “License and registration.”

Me: “Ah, I don’t have my license. I’m in my pajamas. I was just bringing my son’s friend home.” I gestured to my very obvious pajama pants and pink fuzzy slippers. “Wait, the registration’s here.”

VNP: “Is the vehicle registered to you?”

Me: “Yes. I mean no. I mean it might be registered to my husband.”

VNP: “Do you know why I stopped you?”

Me: “Uh, no.”

VNP: “You didn’t come to a complete stop when you pulled out of that side street.”

Me: “Ah yeah. I live on that side street.” Not sure why I thought I should mention this.

VNP: “Have you noticed your muffler is very loud?”

Me: “Yeah, I asked my husband to have it taken care of but he hasn’t gotten to it yet.” Again, not sure why I can’t keep my damn mouth shut.

VNP: “You’re GOING to have it looked at. Right?”

Me: “Yes, of course. Right away.”

VNP: “Ok.”

And he then WALKED AWAY.

I have never gotten pulled over and not received a ticket.

N.E.V.E.R.

I was wrong about the IEP testing yesterday. It was a meeting to say, “Yes, we want there to be testing.” And “Yes, the school thinks there needs to be testing.” So now we wait for information from the school which we will sign and send back so they can put him on the schedule for testing. Phrases like, “I work in the summer,” were thrown around. I hate the snail-like speed of these things. Especially considering the heartbreaking tale that was painted of a child that just wants to do well and can’t. The absolute worst is the new thing he does of crying and saying he can’t because he is stupid. No matter how much I try to explain how smart he is and how we all learn differently and how his teachers tell us he is smart, he will not believe.

And he is smart child according to the teachers. Apparently they feel you can have a bad day and do poorly on a test even if you know the material but you can’t ace it by accident. So his high scores combined with his plunging low scores make his grades look similar to a saw blade. They tell us this means he’s smart but struggling with some unseen force that keeps him from focusing or processing or, most likely, a combination of ADD and some as yet unidentified learning disorder. Fun stuff.

I will admit that the fact this is finally getting looked at makes me happy. The fact his reading has improved so much that at nine he can read and comprehend and verbalize facts and concepts makes me thrilled. A year and a half ago I wasn’t sure when or if that would happen. Even in math he seems to understand the concepts but he doesn’t know his math facts so his grades are abysmal.

As frustrating a child as this one is, and he is frustrating and high maintenance and extremely exhausting, he breaks my heart when he is so clearly trying and he just can’t do something. I suppose this is what they call love.

6+” of heart attack snow. Known in our house as snowball fight snow.

This is one of the children who was concerned with getting snow in his sneakers. Wha? Since when? When I suggested wearing boots the children looked at me like I had 6 heads. I do not.

I find it distressing that the photos look like there is very little snow. It looks like there is much more in person. Especially while sinking up to your mid-calf trying to walk through it or brushing off a minivan. It is very heavy. Very sticky. I wish I had gotten a photo of the van with lumps of snow sticking out from the sides of it. Not all uniform like usual but giant clumps stuck here and there. Very odd looking and very difficult to get off the van. Read: time consuming – hence the dearth of photos. As to why I did not park in the garage last night? The sun that has been shining lately has caused the children to play outside. This has resulted in them to leaving toys all over the garage. Add to that the denial I was in over the impending snow and my innate laziness. Hence, the inability to fit the van into the garage without driving over several balls, bikes, scooters and other various paraphernalia.

In related news: The apocalypse has arrived. There was no snowball fight while waiting for the bus. Just standing around, talking and laughing. The end must be near.

‘Tis Love Thursday in blogland and I’m expressing my love through links to some of my favorite bloggers.

First, we have Cursingmama‘s How Green Are You?
As you can see, my green IQ is 63. I have no idea how this stacks up against anyone else except for what the site below tells me – not too bad.

The next blogger you should definitely check out, if you haven’t already, is Sharon Lyn over at s.m.ART. She got me addicted to FreeRice. I’m loving this site!

My highest vocab level is 42 and I’ve donated thousands of grains of rice since I discovered this site last night. I’m getting pissed though because I can’t get past level 42. I have learned a few new words though. I’ve also repeatedly gotten a couple wrong. So I suppose I can be taught but I can also be especially dimwitted.

My favorite word I came across was omphaloskepsis. Do you know what this means? No? I didn’t but I should. I’ve linked to the answer. Now tell me the truth… did you know what it means?

I must sign off now because the power keeps going out here at work and I must actually do some work while I still can.

I have been researching local yarn shops. They are not easy to come by in this area and they seem to be open only during regular business hours (for the most part) and Saturdays. This means I can’t get to them! But I think I shall scoot out a itty bit early today (slow day, boss away) and go to the closest one.

I’m trying really hard to find some variegated cotton yarn for a scarf project I saw but it is impossible to locate the type of yarn I want for it. The discovery that variegated cotton yarn in a worsted weight is so difficult to come by led me to think of learning to dye my own.

Who knew that was so difficult and kind of dangerous? I’ve read talk of burning holes in things and protective garments. Have I mentioned I’m a bit seriously clumsy? Well, I am so this gives me serious pause. Also, I would need someplace to do this type of work. And time to do it. So it is not looking good at the moment (or more likely, ever). Besides all that there is so much to learn before I even begin. Time people. Time I don’t have right now. And when I look to the future I see no time there either.

But! The fact I found a scarf pattern I might actually complete has me smiling. Also, I ordered a bunch of needles today. Nice wood circulars and interchangeable circulars – YAY! Can’t wait to get them. I may learn this sock knitting thing after all. Or not. We’ll see.

I have a new, totally never going to happen, dream. I’d like to open a yarn shop (I know the perfect spot.) that carries everything but wool. I’m allergic to wool so no wool in my shop! I could have some cutesy name all kinds of fiber alternatives to wool. I would have a place to hand dye yarn and some comfy furniture for people to hang and knit on. Maybe a coffee corner with some yummy dessert type foods. Yarn every where that I could use!

As I said though, never going to happen. I have no business sense and I’m far too lazy. I would have to deal with banks and loans and real estate and learning how one buys things as a retailer. GAH! And tax things. I would actually need an accountant! And I would end up going out of business because I could pretty much guarantee my area couldn’t support something like that. I’m betting the majority of knitters where I live (I know they must be out there) are buying their yarn at walmart. Not likely to spend the kind of money required at a shop like I described.

So bankruptcy and destitution would be the result of that dream. Still, the dream makes me happy.

What’s making you smile this Wednesday?