Pencil Smoothies

So I have been planning a post (I have a small notebook I try to keep in my pocket for jotting down inspiration) about how no one has a problem with our kids using lead pencils in school. About how everyone is all concerned about lead paint in older houses, but no one seems to be thinking of all the kids who eat paste in school, taking a nibble on their pencils.

But then I did some research and learned that pencils are made out of a mixture of graphite and clay. What a let-down. As everyone knows graphite used to be called black lead (in the early 1700's) but some guys who are long dead by now discovered that it is actually a form of carbon.

And I was all ready to speculate about a lead pencil cover-up. Writing conspiracies.

A short clip of Holly and Ryan showing off their kitten action.

Wearing out some boots.

Today we took a short ride down the road (perhaps a quarter of a mile) to a place that I am embarrassed to say that we never have been before. Barely a car ride down the hill from us is a DEC environmental area. I'll try not to get into all the facts that are listed on their website, but it was a great little walk, several different trails, a 20 acre pond. The information area is open during business hours but the rest of the grounds are "always open". You are even allowed to bring "non-motorized boats" any time that you want.

We are looking forward to spending more time hiking this summer. The kids are finally getting old enough to make it through some trails. And the variety of trees and ecosystems is still pretty new to them. They are interested still.

But there are a few other really special parks around here too, within about 15 to 25 minute drives. So we are going to be busy. I need to buy a hiking vest or backpack. The boy scout in me won't let me head out with my posse without a certain number of supplies.

Now he never has to get dressed before lunch!

I wanted to dedicate this post to my Dad. Check out his blog for an accurate gauge, but he is retiring at the and of April. Congratulations Dad!

I Hulu, do you?

I wanted to throw a quick post up here about a website that I found written up in Entertainment Weekly as well as TV Guide. It is called Hulu. In my opinion it is the largest paradigm shift in streaming video that I could have imagined. The direct quote from their website is that they offer free videos from "50 content providers including FOX, NBC, MGM, Sony Pictures Television, Warner Bros., Lionsgate". I don't want to sound like a commercial but the fact that they are offering episodes of current primetime shows as well as recently released movies is what has really made me a fan.

One night I can watch an the most recent episodes of The Simpsons and The Office that I missed, and then the next night I can watch the best episode of Buffy: The Vampire Slayer, and then the night after that I can check out something that I shudder to share with anyone else.

I can compare this to a service that I also tried a few months ago called Joost. The quality that struck me immediately about Joost was the fact that almost their entire stock of media is older shows (Good shows, don't get me wrong. I watched the episodes of GI Joe, and Volton, Star Trek and others, without remorse or guilt.) If there can be a synthesis or competitive spirit to see who can generate the most buzz and hits, there will be some pretty massive upheavals in the world of TV. I don't think that it will be more then a few more years before it will be commonplace for TV show of professional quality to be filmed and distributed directly to these outlets.


Thats my opinion and I'm sticking to it. Remember my prediction in a few years.

Do-It-Yourself Psychiatric Diagnosis

Ok, I know that I have posted about this in the past, perhaps two or three times before my pause in blogging.

I think that I have finally researched something I have been complaining about. And it makes sense too. I have trouble talking to family and friends. I have difficulty with certain other things: Michelle saying "Spit it out" when I can't complete a sentence without grasping for a word that I know, can spell and usually give a good approximation of word origin.

I was browsing an idea that I had about Locked-In Syndrome.

I knew that that was an extreme disorder, so looking a little deeper into the DSM-IV I stumbled on expressive-language disorder. But near as I can tell, children are the main ones effected by this disorder. But I didn't stop there. I came across this article that sounded so much like me that I had to write a post about it right away.

I was particularly captivated with the section of the article which stated the description and causes. I have read and I believe that I have posted about how there are articles stating that people who suffer chronic back pain or long-term pain have changes in their cognitive abilities, and I have wondered how that could translate to migraine sufferers. The section that states about how stroke, seizures, or even "other medical conditions" might was almost like it was highlighted for me.

I'm still looking at different aspects and trying to find more information, but it feels like I finally found the piece of a puzzle that I have been working on for years. Just because I have been quiet all my life, and then much more extremely in groups and over the last few years My brain clicks along fast and it has made me pissed for years, as documented several times by me here.

I feel some relief, some tangible idea that I can feel positive about.

Brief Note of Ryan:

Lately Ryan has been saying some funny things, I think he has it in his head that he is either from space, or artificial. Two things that he said:

In bed - "I'm going to sleep now, the springs in my body are tired."

At the dinner table, after a yawn - "My ear speakers are working really good now."

And several times in bed he has told Michelle and I about how he is watching a movie behind his eyes, and the when the movie finishes, that's when he can roll over and relax. Not sure to be worried or intrigued. Perhaps a bit of both.