Useless Blogging

So, we made it back, despite getting lost on the way up (again). We’ve yet to go to Emporium the same way on two different occaisions. We always get back in a time that would make the fleetest of gods wide-eyed, though. I think it’s a sign.

At some point on the way up or back down, I vocalize something that is running through my head pretty constantly for the entire trip, but really hits home on PA120… “People live here.” Man, that just blows my damn mind. 45 miles between Emporium and the next mapworthy town, and there are houses spotting the road as we go. And people live in them. Mind-boggling.

Highlight of the weekend: the 60th anniversary church-basement luncheon for Julie’s grandparents. As they sat at one table, they looked over at another long table full of grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and Grandma Lyon was overheard to say “Look at what we started.”

Sara turns three in just a little while (probably by the time I’m done writing this post). Every birthday is a milestone, of course, but this one is a pretty huge one for me.

Sara turning three made me think a lot about this time last year, and the differences between now and then. Man… SOOOOOoooooo much has changed, I don’t think I should even begin to list it. Suffice it to say, a year ago we were in the very beginning stages of discovering autism, and now, we’re a lot further along that road.

But as tremendous as our growth has been, it’s nothing compared to Sara’s. Most amazing (of all the amazing things that have happened) is that Sara’s gone from an audience member to a participant, in her life and in the lives of those around her. I nearly teared up when the family — all four of us — played Hungry Hungry Hippos this past week.

There are certainly times when I wish the autism wasn’t part of our lives. But for better or for worse, it’s made me focus in on the smallest of details in Sara’s development, and has helped me wring the maximum amount of joy out of the smallest parts of childhood. Is it simple? No. But would I trade it and the Sara I have now for anything else? Never.

So to my Sara, on the occasion of your third birthday:
Happy birthday, honey. I love you very much.

–Daddy

Autism Speaks – Walk for Autism Research

Donate. Share the link. You know the walkers (a hint, it’s not my family, but you still know them), and you know the reasons.

WSJ Law Blog

Chief Justice Ronald Moon, in what’s gotta be the most incontrovertibly true statement ever issued by a judge, said it’s “common knowledge that not every shot played by a golfer goes exactly where he intends it to go.”

Computer is up and running. Julie calls it Voltron, owing mainly to its looks. Due to the sound the extra fans create, I’ve dubbed it Mjollnir, as it thunders like an angry Norse god. (Well, it’s louder than the last one, at least.)

I had some issues booting, and I’ll likely need to reinstall a buttload of games, but for now, it’s moving.

“In Transit to Philadelphia”

Yes, soon, soon, shall the replacement/upgrade parts for my computer be here, and I shall once again have a desktop computer!

Come to me, pretties! Me wants you! Me needs you!

Yes kids, the first post of this blog is precisely one year old. Anniversaries call for celebration and reflection, right? Well then, as shaking my hindquarters is difficult to put into blog format, I offer some thoughts on this blog and its home. A meta-blog post is about to ensue.

“Steegness” was not always a noun formation expressing the intrinsic coolness that I possess. Well, maybe it ALWAYS was, I guess, but it’s not been around forever. Credit for this word goes to a college friend of mine, Liz Hawkey. I’d link you to something of hers, but all I can dig up is information from when she was teaching in Everett, PA (which, incidentally, is where I was watching a play Liz directed shortly before my first daughter was born — as in, I went to the hospital later that night). So Liz, wherever you may be at this moment, thank you for capturing my qualities in a word that had not been taken by someone else in the internet domain land-grab.

In the beginning, it took 17 days and 33 posts for someone to post a comment to my blog. And that someone was my mom.

The family went to a carnival tonight — you know the kind that pops up every week between now and fall? — for three reasons. One: we wanted to leave our weekend free. Two: we wanted to avoid the weekend RUSH at the carnival. Three: we really wanted to go.

Emma put five of her own dollars towards getting a ride-all-you-want wristband, and at the price they were asking, she was the only one to do so. That meant that she needed to ride everything by herself… something she’s not normally thrilled to do.

That in mind… first ride she chose? Expo Wheel. Toned it down a bit by moving to the Dizzy Dragons, but then cranked it right back up by moving to the Loch Ness Monster (a kiddie coaster for which I can find no good link).

Undaunted, Emma went to the Super Shot… TWICE. From there (and as Julie rejoined us from playing Skeeball), Emma got on the Round-Up. And then went back to the Super Shot so Julie could watch.

Then a slide, followed by two rides on the Sea Ray. She was unflappable.

She never ceases to amaze.