Stuff, a lot of it good

I got through about half of A Room of One's Own last night. It's a short book, and though not riveting, it's good. This evening Light gave me the last of the tawdry gay novels that she ordered. That's on tonight's reading agenda.

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Yesterday was a good day with Sproing. Well, it turned into a good day anyway. I was in the school social worker's office in the morning, discussing group home placement options with her when the principal brought Sproing in. He had been uncooperative with one of his teachers, the principal had been walking down the hall and the teacher passed Sproing off. So the social worker and Sproing and I had a discussion of sorts. He didn't verbalize much, but his nonverbal communication was effective.

Later in the afternoon I took him to his counselor. We've changed counselors recently (the former one is mostly useless) so everyone is still getting acquainted. It was a very good session. He opened up and actually worked on some stuff. He and I both said some stuff that needed to be said. He was uncomfortable, but he did well and it didn't kill him.

After the counseling session I took him out to eat. He had said earlier in the afternoon that if I took him out to dinner (at Zaxby's, 'cause that's where he wanted to go) he would tell me about his problems at school. And that's exactly what happened! He opened up, answered my questions, told me to the best of his ability what the f**k is going on. We both listened to each other. It was the best bonding experience we have had in a long time. It's the first time in a very long time that I have actually enjoyed his company. This afternoon he started with a huge fit as soon as he came home from school, but he got his shit together and we had more good discussion (not as deep and emotional as yesterday's, but good!). I know he likes this much better than fussing, but I'm not sure he's able to maintain it. He lacks the skills. Having this good start, though, we might be able to build on it. I hope.

Y'all, I'm flying by the seat of my pants here. I usually do, truth be told. I really don't know what I'm doing, but I'm sensitive and receptive, and I have learned a thing or two about communicating with children over the years. Dealing with Twitch when he was this age gave me a lot of experience, though Sproing is SO many levels beyond anything Twitch ever threw at us.

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Light returns to college for her junior year on Sunday. I'm going to miss her. She makes a big difference around here, and she's so much fun to be with. She helps me a lot in dealing with the kidlets; runs interference for me when I've flipped out. She's so incredibly special. I am blessed to have her as a daughter. And I say that not just because she reads my blog!

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I have been craving rice recently. Jasmine rice to be precise. I've never really liked rice that much, but I'd never had Jasmine rice until about three years ago. I really like Jasmine rice! My stomach has been a bit upset this afternoon, so for my supper tonight I made rice and put Mrs. Dash, some salt, granulated garlic, and french fried onions in it. Good stuff!

There might be a reason my stomach was upset. I didn't get breakfast this morning. I got out of bed too late to eat anything, so I only had some coffee. I was busy all morning, away from home. Saw my counselor this morning. More good stuff. She clued me in to a sale at Food Lion (grocery): Ben and Jerry's pints, 2 for $5. I have resisted the goodness of my BFFs Ben and Jerry of late, and I think they've missed me. I sure have missed them. So on the way home from my morning out I stopped at Food Lion and got three pints of B&J. Once home, I worked my magic. Have I ever given you my "recipe" for B&J ecstacy? I take a pint each of Chunky Monkey and whatever that chocolate fudge brownie flavor is. That wasn't in stock at Food Lion today, so I got New York Super Fudge Chunk. I remove the ice cream from the cartons, take a large sharp kitchen knife and slice the ice cream chunks in half from top to bottom, then mix the halves and return them to the cartons. One goes in the freezer, the other goes with me to my hideout. The only thing I had to eat all day was half a pot of coffee and a pint of Chunky Monkey/NY SuperFudge. And my stomach was upset. Then I had the Jasmine rice for supper around 7:00, and I feel better now.

I didn't get any proper lunch today because Superman came home midday for "lunch." I'm so glad we live close enough to where he works so he can come home for "lunch." Good stuff. Very very good stuff.