Gaming Groups

Gaming groups are odd. This shouldn't really come as any type of surprise. I mean look at the type of activity they get together to do - slaying princesses, rescuing dragons - you know the stereotype. So how do these groups stay together. Inertia is a big part of it. It's hard to find a group that you "fit" into that play the types of games you like - so once you do, you stick with it. Like interests are another reason. I have found that, in general, there is a common interest in science, science fiction/fantasy, movies, and TV shows. If someone at the game table quotes something "I've got a bad feeling about this" or "Have fun storming the castle", you can be sure someone else will get the reference. Lastly and hopefully the most important, friendship. People who play roleplaying games often have a hard time making friends. There are exceptions of course - I am describing a stereotype here. So once you make friends with the other people around the table, it becomes more about the people around the table, and less about what is on the table.

I'm lucky. I chanced upon a good group after moving to a new city and trying to start over. We are mostly (I said mostly) normal. I've been "playing" with them for about ten years - and that's a long time for a gaming group.

Now we are having some scheduling issues - kids and after school activities. I know we'll get over it, but it is kind of a bummer because I know I'll miss a few weeks.

I'll miss playing with my friends

Weekend with the Boys

Jenny escaped to a scrapbooking event Saturday, so it was just me and the boys. We watched a few movies, played with some Legos (I got out my "stash" and shared it with Rowan), and played some hide-n-seek before going to McDonalds playland for lunch. After lunch it was another movie (new Backyardigans) and some computer time.

All in all they were pretty good. Not too much complaining or fighting, and so we went to Culvers for ice-cream. A good day for Dad too.

Because of choir at church, I pretty much had the boys Sunday. I think Jenny was getting nervous about school work. We went to Lifetime Fitness and they played while I worked out. Then, we all went swimming which beaks down into them jumping on me from the side of the pool. Oh well - still fun. The boys just can't seem to listen after a session in the pool, so some angry words from me required to get their attention.

When one biy can't listen, it seems to be contagious. And when Dominic decides not to listen, but rather narrate his thoughts it is very difficult to get back on track.

Anyway next weekend will be at least a swap. Saturday is Free Comic Book Day, and hopefully a trip on my own to see Iron Man in the Theatres. Sunday is a choir trip for Jenny, so at least a half-day with the boys for me.

Travel

Haven't had to travel much for the past few months, but now I have two trips in May, and probably more coming in June. I feel bad about these, because it leaves Jenny with both boys. With a little luck, I can hold off now until after school ends the first week of June.

Ginger, Dominic's "helper", has made some great recommendations for therapy and a pre-school program for the fall. I keep thinking that he should start some kind of music program - piano or violin. Jenny is worried about failure - that he will be frustrated and give up. I guess I am more hopeful. Maybe I'll take the boys to a music store on Saturday. I'd like to look at pianos also.

A Break in Service

My first interruption - and me with blogging guilt for not posting for over a week. Does it matter if no one is reading? I guess it matters to me.

Had a lot of fun that past few days at church playing in the Blues Brothers band for the youth dinner theatre program. A lot of work for only a few minutes on stage but fun nonetheless.

This last Sunday was the first day of registration for GenCon. My geek buds Dave, Barb, and Scott all gathered at Scott's house with our laptops and decided on events and times, and even got into most of what we wanted. Much fun and beer. Now the waiting.

Jenny and I took Dominic to his first appointment at the Alexander Institute. The social worker Amy was very nice and asked a lot of the same questions as the folks at the ECC, and I think they are coming to the same conclusion - Dominic is a High Functioning Aspergers child. They may have some Occupational Therapy that they can offer for social interactions and that would be great. We go back for more interviews late in May, depending on schedules.

So life moves on. Dominic has had some tough days at pre-school, but they seem to be working OK with him. And, I think they appreciate Ginger coming in every week to help.

Sundays at Church with the Boys

I have noticed that there is a marked difference for how people treat or "look" at Dominic depending if they know he is autistic or not. I noticed it today at church waiting in line for a treat. Jenny has told a few people in church that Dominic is autistic/has aspergers, and it is interesting to see how they react to him. It is like they are diagnosing him for themselves.

(aside: my browsers dictionary didn't recognize aspergers - I had to add it)

Or worse yet, waiting for him to do some sort of trick. Those who don't know just treat him like a normal child. After a few minutes they realize that he may not be responding directly to them, or not following their conversation, b ut they chalk that up to normal 4 year old behavior.

The boys were very good in church, even with the extra long service because of communion and the installation of the new pastor. The only bit of trouble was showboating by Rowan during Sunday School.

I promised them Happy meals for lunch - I think they made it even if Rowan made me angry by running around during the singing before sunday school.

Busy week this week, training at work, evening program at church, and a doctor appointment for Dominic on Friday AM. Week should go by fast.

Family

Told my brother about Dominic having Autism/Aspergers. He was sympathetic, and was concerned about him getting a label. I don't think that right now that is too much of a concern - we need the label to get the extra services. He kept repeating that he's only four, and I just kept thinking that I'm glad we figured this out now.

I also ventured into the very murky waters of organizing family reunions - at my Mothers behest. Don't know how this will turn out, the best time for Kirk conflicts with a reunion for my Dad's high school.

Mariners have won 2 in a row - series with Anaheim this weekend.

Money and Drains

Came home to a leaky water heater last night. Sigh....

Probably $900 to fix/replace. Able to get a replacement within one day and the plumber seems nice - flat fee to replace, plus permit for the city.

Going to have to cut back on costs for awhile to pay. This together with the tax bill is going to put us in the red this month.

Is it Monday Yet

I love the weekends. Not having to wakeup to an alarm is the best thing ever. However, I seem to spend the rest of the weekend doing the things I couldn't do during the week - clean, laundry, taxes, other paperwork. I know that this is not entirely true, I got to work-out, and played baseball outside with the boys. But, it is perhaps the time I have to sit still and notice how dirty the house is that gets me feeling this way. In point of fact, I need to do laundry, and clean the bathroom this afternoon while I would rather be just sitting and watching the ballgame.

Sometimes it is a lot easier to get up on Monday and know that you have to just get to work. Thank goodness I like my job.

Aspergers in IT

A great article from Computerworld about people with Asergers (Aspies) in IT departments. People with aspergers have the correct personal skill set to make good at tasks, but don't - can't - make good workers or worse yet if they get promoted - good managers.

People with aspergers are normally smart enough to figure out the social cues that they normally miss, but it is an effort.

I think most interesting were the comments from Microsoft that they have a buddy system that helps people with aspergers "learn" the system.

Link to the article in case anyone is looking:
Article

Take Me Out

The whole family went out to the Twins home opener last night - in the snow. Paid too much for parking, but it was nice to be close (OK, at least not far away). Even with the snow, the dome was packed. Our seats were pretty far away, but we could see the field pretty well, and we were angled in towards home, so no sitting and craning your neck for 3 hours.

The boys behaved pretty well, but needed too many trips to the bathroom. I think they were fascinated with the trough. Dominic behaved especially well, but needed to do everything his brother did - including going to the potty 4 times.

We only stayed through the 5th inning, but that was almost 8 o'clock so long enough, and Rowan fell asleep on the way home in the car.

Don't know when we will go t a game again, but hopefully one not so crowded.