Hair’s all gone!
Morgan likes to look at pictures of me from the past when I had a buzz cut. He specifically asks for "Picture. Hair's all gone?" I know he's asking to see my driver's license picture when he asks for this. I don't have it any more, because I got a new driver's license and my hair was longer at that time. For quite a while, though, it was one of his favorite pictures. If I'm lucky, I'll have short hair again and can take a picture of it.
I got this haircut in 2001, before I even came to Texas. For the longest time, Ash has cut my hair at home. We have a little box with Wahl haircutters and the plastic colored guides that let you cut a certain length. We did this when we were broke to save on the cost of haircuts, and just kept doing it. Anyway, one day Ash decided to cut my hair while she was intoxicated. Bad idea. It was going along fairly well, until she cut too far with the shorter guide. She tried to fix it, but eventually gave up and cut it all down to a quarter or half inch all over.
I liked it, but I love short short hair. Ash doesn't like it because she says I look like an axe murderer. The fun part was that I was going to a job interview in Seattle. I also got my driver's license renewed right afterwards as well. I got the job, btw, and it was the best one I've ever had. My boss was in Seattle, but I was in Dallas (this is why I moved from Maine to Dallas).
Morgan still remembers the picture and asks for it from time to time. His hair is now cut the same length as mine was, so if you see one of his pictures, you can get an idea of how short my hair was. All I have to do now is get Ash intoxicated again and get her to cut my hair.
New Phrases
Now that school has started, I'm on the lookout for new phrases by Morgan. I can usually get a little insight into what's going on at school by listening to what he's saying. A little before he started school his new phrases were "What's going on?" and "What's your problem?" He says them all the time now.
Some of his old school phrases from Kindergarden:
"Stay out of the teacher's room."
"No hitting teacher."
"Good job! Nice asking!"
"I need help please!"
"Don't touch the window!"
What will it be this year? I shudder to think about it.
The voice of Morgan
Here's one of Morgan saying daddy's current favorite phrase.
Update
Just FYI, I recorded this on my iBook's internal mike in Garage Band, exported to iTunes, then converted it to mp3 in iTunes, attached in ecto and published. Sweet! I love my Mac!!!
More Inflatable Insanity
Well, Morgan's Inflatable Insanity visit was Saturday instead of Sunday this week. He's missed a few because he was very naughty and naughty boys don't get to go to Inflatable Insanity. This week he was extra good.
We got there a little late, and this time Ash came with us. We were going to do the weekly grocery shopping this week, so that's why she came along. Usually, its just Morgan and me. I watched Morgan while Ash got to speak to other adults. It's a rare treat for her, so I didn't mind keeping an eye on Morgan. I think she had a good time. She got some email addresses and new correspondents. She told me later that someone mentioned that she should be a political activist. She has some strong opinions about circumcision and the causes of autism.
Morgan, of course, went straight for the matchbox cars. I just shake my head at this. He has almost a hundred of them at home, and he loves going on the slide, jump room and obstacle course, so I wonder what makes him go for the cars. Probably because they are familiar and he knows how to play with them. I'm not a psychologist, so I don't know for sure.
Eventually, Morgan started going around playing on the inflatable slide and such. This was a good session, because there were no bad influences around. Some of the other kids can get Morgan into trouble. He loves to play with other kids, and likes to follow them around copying them. Unfortunately, these other kids are sometimes not very well behaved. Nothing drastic, but still borderline bad.
He was really tired out by the time we were all done. We went to Wal-Mart for our grocery shopping and he was in a pissy mood because he was pretty tired. He sat in the shopping cart and basically fell asleep. He lays his head down on my arm and just zones out. Of course, we had to visit the fan section of the store first. That is a given. Once that was done, we got the groceries and he zoned out for the most part.
I bet Ash $10 that he would get his second wind by the time we got home and wouldn't feel like sleeping at all. It was around 9:30 p.m. when we arrived at home, and of course he was full of energy. I guess he rested up in the store.
When he finally went to bed he crashed hard, going to sleep very quickly. We usually simulate a marching band going through the house when we know he's asleep, with the base drums and cymbols and all. We're bad that way. It's just a cause for celebration when he finally goes to sleep. If you have a child you know what I mean, if you have a child with autism, you understand.
Something creepy from outer space
And if you want to hear something creepy from outer space, c...:
And if you want to hear something creepy from outer space, check out this eerie recording of Saturn's radio emissions. Couldn't be any better if it was in a scene from 2001 or Twilight Zone. (Seriously, click through to listen, I promise it will be worth it
(Via Critical Section.)
Is Saturn really hell, home to damned souls? You be the judge! When I played it, Morgan ran to the back door to see what cool thing was making that noise. When he realized it was coming from my computer, he asked me to play it again.
Piggybank robber
Last week I learned something new about Ash. She's would make a good piggybank robber.
The other day, I saw a commercial from Wells Fargo about a woman to who put IOUs in her daughter's piggy bank. I've seen it before, but this time, I thought of something.
I said "How does she get the money out without smashing the pig?"
Ash immediately replied, "A butter knife stuck down the slot."
No hesitation whatsoever.
Hmmmm.
Moleskine Notebooks
Ash got me a pair of Moleskine notebooks for my birthday. She got them after my birthday, but still they were my present. For those of you who know me well, you will know that I love stationery. I love paper in most of its forms. I collect business and calling cards, for example. I love little notebooks of all types, and I've been searching for the perfect notebook most of my life. I like using computers to write with these days, but there is still something about paper and pen that I keep coming back to. I recently found my favorite pen, so I'm on my way to a Zen state of perfection.
These are pretty nice books with a long history. The Moleskine notebooks are very nice, but they could be about 50% bigger and about 50% cheaper. They are incredibly expensive, but now I know what I'm looking for in a notebook. I like the really small ones for writing notes when I'm listening to podcasts or for recording my thoughts on a blog post (like this one!)
I haven't used the big one yet. I'm saving it for something, but I don't know what, yet.
Things I like:
- Hardbound. Easy to write on.
- Built in ribbon bookmark, like you find in good books.
- Acid free paper, so I can show them to my grandchildren.
- Threadbound binding so they stay flat when you open them.
Things I don't like:
- They are hideously expensive.
It looks like the softcover ones aren't that expensive, but I can find those anywhere. I'm going to look for replacements in local stationery stores or office supply stores. I think I'll have some luck at a good bookstore where they keep the journals, too. Decisions, decisions. Of course, if you buy them in bulk, they are cheaper.
Let me just say that I really really like these notebooks. They are very good, and are probably worth every penny. I just can't justify buying them for myself until I hit the lottery or Ash's web design business takes off and I can start sponging off her.
[composed and posted with ecto]
UPDATE
Hank thoughtfully provided a link to less expensive Moleskine notebooks.
UPDATE
Aunty Spam graciously points out that I forgot to mention the secret pocket in the back of the Moleskine. I can't believe I forgot that!
Sometimes I like mornings
I like the mornings sometimes. Not always, but sometimes. I don't particularly like getting up early, but I have a job so that's what I do. What I like most about getting up in the morning is the summertime. It's quiet and I have time to just sit and think.
Morgan is out of school, so I don't have to drag his ass out of bed and get him ready for school. He is so much like his mother. He may look like me, but his personality is all Ash. It takes me a half an hour to get him up and out of bed, and he's a major crank-ass.
But it's during the summer when he gets up in the morning and he doesn't have to get ready. It's seven in the morning, and he just gets up, comes out an sits on my lap, hugging me. This early, he's usually very quiet, still half asleep. I usually remember to give him his medicine, too. We just sit there for a little while, then I tell him I have to go to work. He gets up and goes back to bed.
"Goodbye, I'll see you later." I say as I tuck him in.
"Bye bye daddy."
Like I said, sometimes I like the morning.
Just in case you think you know how to speak husband. I'd rather give him his pill, because it means I got to be with him for a little while before I go to work.
Tooth Doctor
Monday was Morgan's dentist appointment. We found out when they called to confirm our appointment on Friday afternoon. Now, this was a big surprise, since I usually try to suppress these memories as far down in my subconscious as possible. This is just to prevent me from starting to rock back and forth like Morgan does sometimes.
Visits to the dentist are like being dragged through a tunnel filled with razor blades (for me at least). I'm trying to convey that it is unpleasant for everyone. Morgan doesn't like it. He hates people messing around in his mouth. He doesn't like lying down on the dentist chair (it's a little unsteady and he feels like he's going to fall down).
The dentist doesn't like the loud air raid siren screams he lets out when we're holding him down and cleaning his teeth or examining him.
I don't like doing something to him that he hates so much and doesn't even understand. He doesn't understand why we're doing this, but he's always a sweet boy afterwards. He says goodbye to everyone and doesn't have any hard feelings.
Plus, when I have to drop off the paperwork and get another appointment, Morgan just wants to leave or play with their computers. All around, it's a horrible experience for everyone. Ash won't even go because she can't stand to see him so upset.
But, the nurse is great. She's patient and says she doesn't mind the screaming. I thought this was a great place to bring him, because when I told them he has autism, they said that's no problem. I said he would scream and they said they'd close the door to his exam room.
I think it's wearing thin, though. When the dental hygienist left to get the doctor, she came back and said the doctor asked if she really needed to examine him. It was just said jokingly and I understand completely, but it still hurts some. He is who he is, I can't change it. I don't like him screaming when he does. I wish I could make him understand what's happening. I'm probably oversensitive.
The exam was great. His mouth is healthy and they said his teeth were just fine. As always, it shocks me that he's doing so well now.
He has another appointment next January, and if I remember, he'll have a social story ready this time.