judifilksign

I was at Toys R Us, having Sparkle pick out a toy for a friend's birthday party.  She'd picked out Dr. Girlfriend, and I was hinting that perhaps a different toy might be better (as neither eight-year-old has ever seen Venture Brothers, and aren't likely to in the future, and I wasn't sure a "Dr.  Girlfriend" would go over well.)

We still had Dr. Girlfriend in the cart, though, dressed in her hot pink Jackie O outfit.  Sparkle stops at the Monster High dolls.  Another little girl says to her very coiffed mother, "Here they are, mom!"

The mother looks at the Monster High dolls skeptically.  "They're kindof creepy," she says disdainfully.  "Like creepy Barbies.  Who makes creepy Barbies?  Why would they even make creepy Barbies?"  She turns to me.  "Do you know why they even make these things like this?"

I say, "Each doll is different from Barbie.  I think the idea is that if you have a doll you love that is really different, and play with them along with your traditional Barbies, then you'll be more likely to think different is okay, and play with different kids."

"I don't want my kids to play with kids like that." the mother stated flatly.

I stood blinking at her, somewhat stunned.  I mean, that's the kind of statement someone might make inside their head, but out loud like that?  Wow.  I didn't know what to do with it and still be nice.  I found myself wondering if the mother was being that way because she could tell Sparkle was different, or because she couldn't.  (Either bad.)

The little girl pointed to the werewolf doll.  "Pleeeease, Mommy?"

"No!" barks the mother.

The little girl turns wistfully to Sparkle, as if seeking support.

"I'm sorry," says Sparkle.  "Your mommy doesn't want you to be friends with me."  And Sparkle took the Cleo (Mummy's daughter) doll for the party.  Stunned, I trailed in Sparkle's wake, thinking there was nothing else I could say, or wanted to, to top that.

So, not wanting to get wet riding my bike, I got wet swimming at the Y instead.

Sparkle was at the Y's program where on Wednesday nights, they watch the kids swim at the pool.  I signed her in, and swam laps for an hour, content with the knowledge that someone was keeping track of her while I went back and forth.  I could stop as needed, but also not have to worry.  One of the watchladies is one of my former co-workers, so this works out well.

I swam 20 laps back and forth.  36 laps to a mile, so I swam 5/9ths of a mile, or a bit over a half.  I am a bit out of shape since this summer, because I've been slacking off.  Not as fun to swim without someone with whom to gossip as I paddle.

Sparkle let me wash her hair and condition it without pitching an echo wail fit in the changing rooms, too, for which I am grateful.

( Read more... )

Actual start:
Today was a busy parenting day:  help homework, pick up the kiddo from band practice, go to Sparkle's Open House to meet her current and future teachers, medicine pickup at the store, and by Goodness!  A bike ride.

<cut goes *here*>

The curve under the trees was dark, but it lightened up just past it.  I miss the fireflies.  Clouds came on the west sky as I parked my bike in the garage, and then it was night time.  Made it under the wire!

I am *so* frustrated that LJ won't "cut" my cut tags right any more!  It puts the cuts at the top, and I cannot move my uncut words back up over them, and frustrated Judi is frustrated!

Sparkle, my echolalaic child, can be counted upon for getting the words right to any song.  Today, as she played Lego Star Wars after her bath, she began singing off-script.

To the tune of "Jingle Bells"

"Jengo Fett, Jengo Fett, Jengo all the waaaaay..."

This thrills me on several levels!

My husband gave Sparkle Duplex sandwich cookies.  Y'know, the ones that look like Oreos, but are a chocolate cookie on one side, and a vanilla on the other?

Sparkle took one look at the cookies, and her inner sense of order was offended.  She ripped the cookies apart, and re-connected them to the appropriate colors, chocolate-chocolate, vanilla-vanilla before eating them.

( For my day, and trip, remove the Joo-Janta Peril-Sensitive Cut Tag )

So, this is the birthday upon which for at least one year, I am the epitome of the Answer to the Ultimate Question to the Life, the Universe, and Everything.






All in all, a most satisfactory birthday.

Went out past the third road today, for a six mile round trip.

( Bike 54, where were you? )

The ride tuckered me out today.  An extra mile than usual really seems to make a difference.

 Last week was not a good one for me and exercise.  ( Read more... )

A fifty-wonderful ride.