Disappearing stairs and the washing machine

By Peggy | March 21, 2012 |

When I was a little girl, I had a recurring nightmare that always began in the basement of our townhouse (We lived in Milwaukee. Townhouses had basements.)

My mother would be sorting laundry and putting on another load, and I would be playing nearby. Then, I would become preoccupied and not notice that my mother was done and heading back up the stairs.
Now, in the rules in my dreams, I’m supposed to go up the stairs first, with my mother behind me. Because if I didn’t, then the stairs would disappear underneath my feet and I wouldn’t be able to get safely back up.
Stuck in the basement, I would have to deal with the washing machine, which would stop being an inanimate object and become a monster. That’s usually when I would wake my 8-year-old self up and try to dream about something else when I fell back asleep. Usually, it worked.
As I grew up, I learned to fly above disappearing stairs in my dreams. That felt kind of cool. Then no matter when stairs showed up in my dreams, I was always flying over them, grounding myself at the last minute, before I “fell.”
Sometimes, when you’re little, I think you have a better handle on the world than you do as you age.
Posted in rants

Waiting for the cable guy

By Peggy | March 15, 2012 |

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of calling Tom “Smitty” Smith for a story I was working on. He’s with the Texas office of Public Citizen and I always learn something when I talk to him.

He wasn’t in the office. He was at home, waiting for the cable guy. It had been a long wait, and we laughed about how it’s always that way. I shared the little known fact that the actor (Daniel Whitney) created his Larry The Cable Guy by calling into radio shows.
Sam is a huge fan of Larry the Cable Guy, though not from his stand-up or his movies, but as Mater in Cars and Cars 2. During his sophomore year, he wanted to do his final paper for a film history class on Larry the Cable Guy. His humanities professor was reluctant, I could tell. He said his subject had to have made at least three movies. Lucky for Sam, Witless Protection was coming out. I showed him the IMDB web site, and he found some older movies, one of which was at the library, so he was in business.
Sam really went after that paper. He researched the actor’s biography and the nature of comedy. His critical thinking grew in the course of researching and writing that paper.
I’d learned long ago that when Sam is motivated about a topic, he will learn as well or better than any other student doing the same work in a more traditional way.
His analysis of the actor and his work almost had me respecting the guy for his talents. And then I remembered all the fart jokes.
Posted in language, social life

Overheard in the Wolfe House #167

By Peggy | March 10, 2012 |

Sam: (after describing overhearing a co-worker tell a manager he wouldn’t be able to work the next day) … and I wanted to tell you that I might be working tonight, because I’m getting better at seeing context around me.

Peggy: That is awesome.
Posted in What Sam says

Overheard in the Wolfe House #166

By Peggy | March 7, 2012 |

Sam: Do you know about the website, ready.gov?

Peggy: Yes, I do.
Sam: You do?
Peggy: That’s FEMA’s site to help you prepare for emergencies. They learned from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita that people aren’t prepared. They have some really basic ways you can always be prepared for an emergency.
Sam: Do you know that there are no less than 80 different messages in the emergency notification system?
Peggy: (face palm)
Posted in What Sam says

Resource Fair tomorrow

By Peggy | March 2, 2012 |

I went to this fair last year. It’s huge. If it exists, you will find it here.

SEPTSA’s 5th Annual Special Needs Resource Fair
Saturday March 3rd, 2012 – 10 am to 2 pm
Where: Bolin Administrative Center, 1565 West Main Street, Lewisville, 75067
Map here

NEW THIS YEAR !!
WE WILL BE DRAWING FOR RAFFLE PRIZES EVERY HOUR
INCLUDING AN IPAD !!!!

Thank you to our Media Sponsor,
…for helping us spread the word and reach more families!

Exhibitor Reservation Information and Registration here
Download a flyer to print or share here!

If you have questions, contact Jeannette Robichaux at (972) 310-2922

Families from LISD as well as surrounding communities are invited to attend. There will be exhibitors relating to all ages and abilities, and everyone is welcome. We are inviting various recreation providers, therapists, summer camps, lawyers, financial planners, and professionals that serve the Special Needs community to come share their information with students and families, as well as educators.

Posted in decision-making, problem-solving

Parmesan-Rosemary Popcorn

By Peggy | February 28, 2012 |

I visited St. Louis for a conference last week and had some great popcorn for a healthy snack. I did my best to replicate it at home. Parmesan is one of Sam’s favorite things. When I told him I would be making this, he said, “That sounds good. But I didn’t think you liked Parmesan that much.”

Parmesan-Rosemary Popcorn
2-3 T. corn oil
3/4 c. unpopped popcorn
2 T. extra-virgin olive oil
2 tsp. rosemary, ground fine in a mortar and pestle
1/3 c. grated parmesan
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. fresh ground pepper
In a prep bowl, combine the rosemary, parmesan, salt and pepper, cover the bowl and shake well for even distribution.
Heat corn oil over high heat in a large, light weight fry pan — covered — with three kernels of popcorn. When the three kernels have popped, add all the rest of the popcorn at once and shake until all kernels have popped. Usually, that’s after two to three seconds go by between pops.
If you can release some of the steam by slightly lifting the lid while the popping is going on, without sending kernels all over the kitchen, do it, because this makes the most tender kernels possible.
Pour out into a wide bowl and drizzle the olive oil over all, tossing well to coat. Then sprinkle the cheese mixture over all and toss well to coat.
Eat immediately, but once cooled can be stored in a tightly covered container for a day or two before its too stale and you just have to feed it to the chickens.
Posted in recipes, What Sam says

Random thoughts from the Cowtown Half

By Peggy | February 26, 2012 |

Don’t try to mix honey and chia seeds in the truck, but if you do, bring a wet rag. Running with thousands of people in the stockyards makes you feel at one with the cattle. Some men wear chaps and they are not cowboys. At the 8-mile mark, you can hear people unload their psychological burdens whether you want to or not. No matter how many hills you train it is impossible to prepare for the Main Street bridge incline, although, in a pinch, singing loud and off-key can help. After crossing the finish line, even though you are milling among thousands, you can still run into the man who is remodeling your bathroom. The wedge-shaped finisher’s medal does not appear to be something you should wear on the way home, in case your airbag goes off.

Posted in social life