The Scrambled States of America

Monday, 6 February 2012

When I was searching for gifts this past Christmas I came across this book called The Scrambled States of America by Laurie Keller.

I noticed it has a 5-star rating, read a bunch of reviews about fun this book is and bought it for the kids. They both have been learning about Geography and I figured would be really interested in this book.

The gist of the book is that one morning Kansas wakes up grumpy. He's tired of being in the middle of nowhere and nothing happening. The states decide to throw a party. At the party they decide to all switch places so they can see somewhere new. 

This book does not disappoint. I loved this book. I was laughing out loud at this book. I admit that I have a hard time reading children's books in a 'fun' way - with a voice over, or getting in to 'character'. I don't sound that interesting when I read. But with this book I found myself automatically changing my voice and really getting in to it based on the characters in the book and the characters given to the states. I especially loved all the side-captions. Laurie Keller brings a personality to each state and they are both humorous and realistic!

Kayla and Lucas really like this book as well. It kept their attention and they were really interested in it. Especially Lucas; he kept asking a lot of questions about the states and why this state said that and what was so funny about it.

This is the perfect description for the book, "Packed with madcap humor and whimsical illustrations, this quirky story-starring all fifty states-is chock-full of introductory facts and silly antics that will make learning geography as much fun as taking a vacation."

I also bought the Scrambled States board game. They needed quite a bit of help on this one (it is for ages 8 and up), but still thought it was fun trying to get all the states 'home.' (Although it's a little misleading as you are not actually placing the states back on a map where they belong.) But like anything - the more we play it the easier it'll get for them.

I definitely give this book 2-thumbs up; or 5-stars.

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"Platonic Preservation: Emotional Deprivation"

"Platonic Preservation: Emotional Deprivation"

She asked me how it looks.
Of course, I said it's gorgeous.
Thing is, I really meant it.
I didn't plan or scheme it.
I doubt she even noticed.
No need for her to know this.
I'm not trying to grow this;
But I can't help but show this.

Blushes and light gasps
concealed within slight laughs,
struggling to withhold my frown
when I have to turn her down,
such enthusiastic smiles
when I sit and stay awhile.
Quaint conversing while traversing.
I could ride with her for miles.

Ah well.
A man can wish.

Skirts lay about her legs
like wrappers around chocolate.
If I stared any longer,
one would swear that I lost it.
Eyes locked on her dress.
I should digress;
but carefully selected words die
when truth lingers within the eyes.

Am I a jerk
for glancing at a short skirt?
Is that so crude?
Am I that rude?
Maybe I'm the dude
that she perceives as prude.
I may be too modest;
but I'm worse when honest.

I just can't be;
But a man will lust.

How does one speak their mind
with no risk of regret?
This solution may seem simple;
but I haven't found it yet.
Spending so much of my time
trying hard to resist.
I've no lease to expression;
so I struggle to desist.

She's confused.
I'm maligned.
Awkward silence protrudes.
We're lost in time.
There isn't much sublime
about a mind filled with tension.
When infatuation leaves you floored,
it gets harder to invoke ascension.

Maybe she isn't paying attention.
Why do I want her to?

Why do I take delight
in sitting around late at night
only to say that I can't stay
and have to reluctantly walk away?
What manner of friend am I
if I can't maintain my disguise?
History has consistently proven why
cloaks are worn by the wise.

I can't compromise our friendship;
but it's not fair to my feelings.
Comfort and choices rarely share kinship;
so it might not be worth revealing.
Besides, I know why I'm concealing.
It does stem from noble stances.
Things are great; so why take chances?
There will be no awkward advances.

Still in all, some part of me
really hopes that she can see.
I'm not concerned with what will be.
I just wonder what would be.
If this were a different time
and things weren't strewn and misplaced,
maybe then I'd share with her
that which I cannot give chase.

That would be nice.
Maybe she thinks so.

So much for that.
A man can wonder, though.

Written By: Devin Joseph Metz

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"Bodies"

"Bodies"


Left to think about
All the times that it went south
And the words we blurted out. 
All we did was scream and shout. 
All that would elude my mouth
Short of rum and lifeless kisses
Are feelings I can't shut out. 
We can no longer dismiss this. 
You say that you understand;
But you only want to rush me. 
You don't have to hold my hands;
But I do want you to touch me. 
Consider what it means
To venture far beyond your means
In search of what remains unseen:
Lands where true desire leans
Against these battered, fragile walls
Of a heart that surely lobbies
For much more than nightly calls;
But all that remains are bodies… 


Like a bee to its hive 
I've only seen divine eyes
That trapped my soul from within
to never win 
with you
What could you possibly see
when you are looking past me
You hug to catch mugs from the free
and bow down to me in discreet
to only call me your Queen
show me more that meets the eye
than just a few words to make me shy
blush in rush for you to just be
You
Deceitful grins to contrary to belief
are simple griefs to you being bound
confined and enslaved within this love
Trickling with despair i dont know what this is
To you, sweet words remain hobbies
but according to my knowledge
all that is left are bodies..........


I never wanted to be a bigot. 
I don't need five wives. 
I'm familiar with this divot. 
Thank God for nine lives. 
Feline facets have proven essential
When placed alongside my masculinity. 
I must be agile, quick and nimble. 
It seems like a futile trinity. 
You take your time in public;
But move ever so swift in secrecy. 
The closest I've come to your subject
Is when light dims on our indecency;
But I'm a man, right?
We don't complain about frequency
Or how much affection is lost
When you don't visit frequently. 
I just sit in the shade. 
I just lay here alone
Until you need somewhere to fade
And you want to jump my bones. 
No tears escape these eyes;
At least not in God's grace. 
His sunlight won't acknowledge the smile
That I've etched across my face. 
This has become our commonplace:
I have employed pretentious means
To shy away from feeling dirty
So you'll always think you're clean;
But our love is a disease
That was administered by me. 
I doubt that it will ever recede.
It will likely claim our bodies…………… 


Written By: Evelyn Storm and Devin Joseph Metz

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That Word Special

Thursday, 2 February 2012

I have a love/hate relationship with the word special.

- kids with special needs
- special-needs family
- Special Education
- Special Education teacher/classroom
- special ed bus
- Special Olympics
- special, special, special ... most of the time I want to say, but we're just an ordinary family! There is nothing special about us!

Kayla has a harder time with academics. She doesn't pick up on concepts as quickly or easily as most typical kids do. But when a typical child is falling behind in a subject what do they get? Extra help. They get extra help in reading, or math. So why does Kayla get special education? Why isn't what she getting just the same - extra help? She has needs, but why are they special needs? They are just needs. Extra needs sometimes. Additional needs/help.

She's not special or extraordinary because she has an extra (not special) chromosome. She's just a kid with +1 more chromosome. Does that make her special-special? Naw. It's just who she is.

And I don't fully buy into the concept that God only gives special children to special people/parents. Not at all.

God did not give Kayla to me because I was special. Because I wasn't. And I'm not. Seriously. I'm no more special a person than you or you or you. There was nothing I did in my pre-motherhood life that set me apart from anyone else. I'm average. Typical. I did nothing that would have showed God I was 'meant' to be a parent of a kid with special needs. I did nothing to show I was any more ready, deserving, capable, or equipped of having a child with Down syndrome than anyone else.

If God only gives these special kids to special parents, then what about the 90% of women who terminate their pregnancies upon finding out their baby has Down syndrome? If they were given this special child because they are a special person then why did they not carry their baby to term? Why in Eastern Europe are babies with Down syndrome who are born to those special parents immediately left at the hospital or orphanages? Aren't they special parents because they were given a special child?

I'm not special. I wasn't before I had Kayla and I most certainly am not after I gave birth to Kayla. On any (most) given day my parenting skills are certainly lacking in being a special parent.

I'm just a mom. A mom raising two kids.
For the most part we're a pretty typical family - mom, dad, daughter, son. That's it. Not a special family.


It's not even that it's a negative word. Just look at a few of the descriptions from Dictionary.com

1. of a distinct or particular kind or character: a special kind of key.

2.being a particular one; particular, individual, or certain: You'd better call the special number.

3.pertaining or peculiar to a particular person, thing, instance, etc.; distinctive; unique: the special features of a plan.

4.having a specific or particular function, purpose, etc.: a special messenger.

5. distinguished or different from what is ordinary or usual: a special occasion; to fix something special.

  

I'm not advocating against using the term special needs. It's clearly not anything like using the R-word. I know it's an easy umbrella term to cover all people with disabilities or who have some kind of differing-need.

I'm just saying ... that I have this love/hate relationship with that word special. That's all. 

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Special Exposure Wednesday

Wednesday, 1 February 2012

I love how this picture turned out - and it looks much better if you click on it to enlarge it.

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