If you missed the start of this series, you can find it here. A lot of things will be the same or very similar.
We tried to make it an early night for Ben, but it wound up being the regular time frame. He continued asking for chalk, and pacing. He was overtired and a bit SpazmaTaz’d from the high pressure and the Big Day.
Sunset was pretty much the same as it’s been for several nights.
I really like how the first two turned out. I just made them darker before clicking, and the Moon looked like a mask… very cool!
The Boys went to Ben’s room, Daughter went to her room, I did the usual… yadda yadda yadda. I lost track of time somehow and didn’t manage to get to sleep until 11:30 or so. I woke fewer times in the night which was nice, and got up at 6am with the alarm.
Daughter got up at 6:30, let Zeus out and gave Ben his meds. I was back and forth looking at sunrise, and looking for my avian friends. Today wasn’t quite as easy as yesterday cuz Ben wanted to wear the exact same clothes. I’d put the shirt in the washer last night cuz he’d had a bit of an issue about taking them off.
We got him on the bus okay and were very happy to see his regular bus driver. There was a different gal yesterday. She was nice enough, but we’d never seen her before, and his regular driver is someone we “know”… she was Ben’s driver five years ago. When he got on the bus he gave her a hug! Ben isn’t a hugger. Random, spontaneous hugs are very rare, so all the more special. Probably not Kootie recommended, but a spontaneous Ben Hug is worth a little risk. They were both masked too. Anyway, Happy Dancing, then inside to fix the newest freakin leak. Yes, seriously.
At 8:20am the alarm went off on my phone to remind me to go walk. I changed and headed out. I decided to go a bit further today, and went down another block. The walk was a total of thirty minutes, but I stopped to take pictures several times. It was a beautiful morning and I thought about walking more, but I reminded myself to increase slowly.
Today for Paula’s Lurve offering, I’m loving flowers. The ones that are picked by Younger for me, and the ones growing in my neighborhood.
After I got back, I started trying to go through my WP stuff, but Younger texted me to remind me that her car still needed to be added to our insurance policy. I’d been having trouble accessing the on line stuff, and avoiding calling. She got a notice that her registration was suspended. Seriously?! She personally is on the policy… California has super strict insurance rules. UGH!
It took three calls before I was able to wait on eternal hold for “the next available service representative”. I waited in that Hell for over twenty minutes. We got the car added, they were gonna transfer me to someone who could help me sort the online thing, but the call dropped. I was NOT gonna call back. I was already SOOO far behind on what I wanted to do.
Ben was scanned onto the bus home at 1:26pm (early again), just as I was finally getting to WP. I hadn’t gotten much done when he was scanned off the bus at 1:46pm. Dang! Couldn’t the driver go a little slower?! Ben was home, chaos returned.
Today wasn’t a great day for him. He was probably still upset over not getting to wear the same clothes. He came home with a gallon size baggie of dominoes. That’s the second set he has brought home from school. It’s not like he doesn’t have literally hundreds of dominoes of his own. His teachers, his aide, even the bus driver tried to take them back, and Ben wasn’t having it. Everyone chose retreat. Today was not the Day, dominoes weren’t the Hill.
After the initial chaos, things settled down. He brought up the dominoes several times, and Daughter and I both reminded him that they belong to school, they’re for everyone to share, his friends might be sad if there are no dominoes, he would be sad if someone else took them and he couldn’t play with them. He’ll keep thinking about it, we’ll remind him when he brings it up, and hopefully he’ll be willing to take them back on Monday. He settled down and played with the chalk he’d dumped out before going to wait for the bus, and we’d left, as I said we would.
At 3:45pm Daughter asked me to go get In-N-Out. I wasn’t feeling the burger urge, but I went anyway cuz I’m nice like that. Everything was chill when I got back. Hopefully the evening will continue to be chill.
Random good song from my playlist. Enjoy!
A weird day. Not a super great start like yesterday, but not horrible either. Time got away from me today. It happens, doesn’t it?! Daughter is off tomorrow night, so other than Zoom school and my 8:30am walk, it’s completely unplanned. Hopefully the high pressure will ease off a bit. The weather is beautiful, but the dryness, wind and SpazmaTaz Ben aren’t so swell. Tomorrow is also my Fifty-third birthday. I don’t have any plans. It will probably be just another Casa Cuckoo day. I’ll be happy if it’s a mellow day! ¡Hasta mañana!
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HUGS!
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King Ben's Grandma 
Oh, I like that song too!
That is a bummer that Ben had a tough day. That is wise that everyone chose to just let him take the dominoes. I swear I was just talking with someone on WP about this issue. We were talking about our families and how each of us has a family member that still feels that we need to teach our kids “what’s right is right” even when WE know – just back off and let it go. It’s tough because they just don’t listen to us, force THEIR issue, and present us with an avoidable meltdown. Uggh! But I am glad it worked out for Ben.
I cannot believe you have another leak. Geez! That thing is haunting you!
That is awesome you got a walk in today. I told you I have been trying to start a morning routine. I am trying to make it a healthy habit because it does make me feel good too!
Here’s hoping for a chill night tonight for you guys and a smooth day ahead!
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Yeah, Daughter still goes back and forth between “Right is Right” and “whatever, I just want to keep the peace”. Forcing the issue doesn’t help them learn. When Ben gets super fixated on something, like those dominoes, his world can NOT move forward until the thing is acquired or done or whatever. It’s like an earworm. It wont go away. It’s frustrating to deal with, but a meltdown isnt going to fix it.
I’m hoping I stay motivated with the walking. We’ll see how I do after a night of little sleep, or how Daughter does after working all night. Keeping to the same time will help I think. Schedule it in. We’re pretty scheduled anyway. It’s a loose schedule, but we stick to it.😉😂
Enjoy your morning and your bus time! You’ve definitely earned the relaxing time!🎉💃🏼💕
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I think you should make your landlord deal with the leak! That’s the price of home ownership for him, and one of the FEW perks of renting. Anyway, pretty pics and yes to flower power lurve! 🌺🌸🌼
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I’ve got a bigger Project for him. Our bathroom roof has a leak. It’s just tough with Ben home having people in the house. The last time a plumber was out, Ben kept trying to take dude’s tools, and he wanted to be in the middle of it all.
I really, really hope school can STAY open this time. I read tonight that San Diego Unified and L.A. Unified are opening their schools in April. Ben’s school is actually part of S.D. Unified, but it’s a grey area since it’s a “special needs” school. Teachers of the 2 districts will be able to get vaccinated starting 3/1 so maybe, maybe he can go back full time, and I can get my life and all the STUFF sorted.🤞
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Aww, 53 year young tomorrow! A very happy birthday 🎂🎁🎉🎈🎊 to you in advance.
I’m glad you got to go for a walk despite things being a bit hectic. Two days of school and 3 days on zoom? Over here from today it’s 4 days in person and Friday online!
I hope the mood settles down and Ben is more mellow tomorrow. And hopefully the chalk arrives too.
Take care. Lots of birthday hugs and love ❤️
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Thank you!🤗🥰 I read an article today that teachers in the district his school belongs to will be able to get the vaccine starting March 1. They’re planning on fully reopening their campuses in April, so maybe…
I don’t want to get my hopes up, but full time sure would be nice!🤞💃🏼🎉💃🏼🎉🦋
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I hope it happens. It’s time for all the frontline workers to be vaccinated.
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The flowers are beautiful 💐. Happy birthday!! 🎂🎊🎁🎈🎉 Hugs! 🤗💕
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Thank you! 🎉I love how Younger still picks little bouquets for me. It’s sweet🤗🥰🦋💕🌻
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Happy birthday Angie! 🎁 🌺
I hope your daughters do something special for your day.
Been listening to you tube videos about autism/Aspergers/aDHD at night when I can’t sleep.
So interesting. Let me know if you would like to learn more. I can share the link.
Sooo happy to hear you are walking! Yaaayy for you.
We just got back.
We had a complaint from city of wc about having too many chickens 🐓. Omg. One of our neighbors turned us in. I’m crushed about it.
Legally our city allows 3 per household. But they would allow one or two more.
Ken spoke to the guy.
We will see what happens.
Teri
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Sheesh! You’d think people would have something better to do with their time! I hope you can get it worked out🤞
We’re not doing anything for my birthday. We usually don’t. My ex ruined so many birthdays that I became leery of the day. It’s only recently that I’ve even started acknowledging them again.
I’ll be happy if the day is calm.😉 That’s good enough for me.💕😍🌻
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Here is one of the links
Teri
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Thanks Teri! Any info helps.💕💌💝
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Happy Birthday, my kookaburra friend! 🌸🌹🌺🌼💐🌻🌷
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Thank you!🤗🥰 It’s your Mum’s birthday too, right? ✨🌠🐦🌻💕
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Yes!😁😘🥰🎂
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Happy Birthday Grandma – 53 – is that a fact, you sure you are not messing with the numbers and that should read 35??
53, dang they were the days eh … oh right, of course, these are your days – you don’t know about them being the they were the days as you are still yet to enjoy them as your days!! 🙂
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I’m kinda scared right now, cuz I totally understood that🤣🤣🤣
I actually wouldn’t want to be 35 again. No thanks!! Those were some bad days. Very bad indeed! 53 is groovy. Looking forward to 60, if my body cooperates. I’ll be close enough to FREEDOM to start the planning and preparing 💃🏼✨🦋
Thank you for bday wishes. I’m WR again🙄🤦🏼♀️ how does that keep happening???
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…………. how does that keep happening???
Seriously WR, you need to ask that on the day you hit 53??
There’s a clue in that sentence … it started affecting you when you hit 50 .. but it takes a good three years to warm up hahahaha!!
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Ahhh… I thought it started about 12 years ago actually😂 or maybe it was 32 years ago.🤣🤣
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Starting early then eh? Getting into practise for the 50’s 🙂
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So pleased you got a walk in. ❤️❤️❤️
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Yep! Gotta get myself back into a healthy state if I’m gonna run away from home.😉💌💌💌
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The walking is a great idea – some time alone must feel blissful. It will help your physical and mental health no end. I really appreciate my daily walks with the dogs. ☺️
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I’ve been telling myself to get back into the routine, but I never stuck with it. All the weight I’ve lost, and the overall state of my muscles and health in general has given me the kick in the butt to motivate me… make me stick to it. I want to feel as good as I did when I was walking 5-10 miles daily.
I don’t know if I’m going to do that much again, but I’d like to do a mile or two every day. (1.6-3.2 km)
💌💕🦋🌺
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My friend and I did a challenge for a cancer charity a few years back – walking 40 miles in a day (a mile for each of the years my friend’s brother was when he died from cancer.) We met twice a week for three months to train, gradually building up the miles. I loved it – walking, talking, laughing – I’ve never been so fit! I’m not sure I could do it now. ☺️
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