Nu tar Expressen upp någon helt obetydlig person igen. Finns säkert folk här som säger, läs inte skiten då. Kan så tyckas, men kan man göra annat än att se eländet då?  Nina Jingebrant heter någon, omsvärmad av några som vill vara med i TV. Hon har problem i livet. Helt svårt att förstå hur hon kunde ha problem med sina förhållande, tills för två år sedan. Då de kom på att hon har ADHD. Jaha! Vad intressant då. Hur många är det inte som har det, hur många är det som inte har problem med sina förhållande, hur många är det om inte har det jobbigt. Men då! Hon har enorma problem.

Fortfarande har Exprssen inte tagit upp Kronogården, inte heller de här 20 som sparkade en värnlös tjej.

Det är nog mer en nöjse tidning nu. Ful media hörde jag för en tid sedan.

Temperaturen ligger stadigt på 38 eller strax där över vilket för en lågtempare som mig blir kämpigt (kanske det blir för ickelågtempare också det vet jag faktiskt inte) jag hade nog tagit en alvedon till om det inte varit för de där levervärdena min läkare pratade om på telefonen som jag inte begrep riktigt vad det innebar det var någonting om lätt förhöjd bilirubin halt och något med de vita blodkropparna det är säkert ingen fara men eftersom jag inte har en aning om vad det innebär är jag orolig, blir alltid orolig när jag inte förstår saker. Har en telefontid någon gång nästa vecka eller om det var veckan efter det med en vilt främmande läkare! Jag som inte tycker om att telefonera med främlingar och har läkarskräck skall alltså prata med en vilt främmande läkare om min lever! *ryser*

Jag blev förvirrad när läkaren började prata om min lever dessutom är hon inte helt lättförståelig p g a språksvårigheter men jag trodde att det enda syftet med telefontiden var att hon skulle okeja att jag gick ner ytterligare ½ tablett av Risperdalen, det gjorde hon också till slut och jag är nu nere på ½ tablett om dagen.

Jag är inte kompatibel med mig själv jag vill springa rundor, starta tusen projekt, prata med någon om allt och inget och sova... samtidigt! Det är svårt att genomföra och inte så många som vill prata så här dags, sova hade varit en bra ide.. men det är inte alltid det lättaste.

Anyway, I got this word from an article of Maggie Jackson who has a column at the Boston Globe, "Balancing Acts." In her column, Jackson talks about the need to narrow down our scattershot world into a more focused and insightful existence; the value of balancing our work and private lives; the social impact of technology on our lives; and the importance of family life, focus and paying attention.

Working with children (as well as adults) with ADHD for a number of years gave me a lot of insights as to how attention (or the lack of it) can make a huge impact in our lives--emotionally, physically, spiritually, and mentally. It has become a topic of great interest to me that I figure that this so-called science of attention should really be given, well...more attention.

According to Jackson:

The ability to pay careful attention isn't important just for students and air traffic controllers. Researchers are finding that attention is crucial to a host of other, sometimes surprising, life skills: the ability to sort through conflicting evidence, to connect more deeply with other people, and even to develop a conscience.

Before I read her article, I just gave a talk about this with a group of my co-teachers, emphasizing the need for attention-management training and that it should be a part of every school's curriculum, even starting them young as in preschool-young. I also voiced out the need for more uni-tasking and lessening of multi-tasking but in this fast-paced, profit-driven, get-your-fix-at-the-click-of-a-button world (of which I am also guilty of), who will listen to me?

Jackson is calling out for a "renaissance of attention." Attention training can make children grow up to be reflective thinkers, and better life-decision makers. I agree when she also said that we as adults should serve as role models as well--and not offer our kids a land of distraction but a land of less TV and more reading and quiet contemplation. She cited experts who say that attention-training is "critical" as well as an "exciting" thing; and with good attentional control, one can "do more than just pay attention to someone speaking at a lecture...(one) can control (one's) cognitive processes, emotions," and have better articulation of one's own actions.

Imagine a "renaissance of attention..." I'm excited about being a part of it (actually, I'm excited about being a part of a renaissance of anything)! And as an educator, I can even actually DO something to help make this happen. Do you feel the excitement, too...um...hello...you're still there? Sigh...

You don’t dance anymore! You heard me - YOU DON’T DANCE ANYMORE!

After getting some work done that needed quiet, I headed to the kitchen for lunch with one quick detour to get some music started. I played side one of KD Lange and, nothing against KD Lange, her music is great. It’s just that Shadowlands wasn’t the upbeat tone I wanted to hear. So, instead of checking out side two, I put on Glen Frey. He knows how to rock! The first song was upbeat and fun reminding me of this thing
about movement I’ve been wanting to share.

Almost any kind of dancing I’ve done, and happy to admit that includes disco, does a great job on the joints. What does that have to do with anything? It has to do with the ease that energy flows through your body. Chi or Qi, however you spell it, is the life force that flows through all of us. It’s a force that you can let stagnate or allow to flow smoothly, effortlessly. Which ever you choose, is completely related to the amount of energy and liveliness you feel. And, one of the prime places that Chi stagnates are joints.

I stayed away from formal settings that taught Chi related activity. The instructors I’ve experienced seemed anything but warm and fuzzy. Oddly what I’d expected to flow seemed rigid. Until recently. First, I tried not to personalize the leaders behavior. Then, I just relaxed. That’s always good! When this militaristic instructor said (after about 6 sessions) once we get the idea of moving Chi, we don’t have to stick with any particular
movements. I was in shock, and thrilled to death. Yes, I am affected by what people say.

So I came home that day and put on some good old rock and roll. And, just started to move. Yes, I took my moves from what I learned in class. And, I’ll tell you the only thing you need to know. Move your joints without straining the muscles. And, you’re good to go. In the 80’s there were some dances that were more or less bouncing up and down. One, I remember, and did at my wedding reception was the pogo! If you remember that, use that as a guide. With one difference - loosen your grip on your knees and ankles. Okay, so it’s no longer the POGO, big deal.

One of these days, with some encouragement, hint hint, I’ll make a video of just goofing and moving chi. And, you get the idea.

By the way, if you haven’t already, you can request my guide to a quick (60 second) wake up, based on chi stuff too. Sign up here and I’ll get it to you right away. It’s a great boost for the afternoon slumps too!

To your energetic health! Dance, Dance, Dance…..

I gotta tell you something that was really cute.  In each issue, they include an audio CD and on this one was an interview with Hawk.  I had to stop at the house in between errands to drop off something and had the magazine out in the van still.  I mentioned to Caleb that Tony Hawk was in this issue of Success.

I finished what I needed to do and headed back to the van and there the door was open and Caleb's little tootsies were hanging out.  He was fishing for the magazine.  It reminded me of how I would try to filch the current issue of National Geographic from my dad when it would come in the mail.

Anyway, that delighted me.

But back to Hawk.  He was another hyper kid.  And listening to his interview I learned that his Dad gave Tony the freedom to explore his skateboarding passion.  (Often at the cost of driving his boy all over Kingdom Come to find skateparks.)

His dad GOT IT.  He released his kid to be who he was created to be.

And now Tony Hawk passes that legacy onto his kids.  Of his three children, one is pursuing skateboarding.  The other two have passions that lay elsewhere.  Hawk says something like, I just need to get out of the way and see where their interests take them.

Rock on, Tony!

Frukost:

• 1 tablett Mitt Val Vegetarian (vitaminer & mineraler)
• 1 kapsel Efexor (mot depression)
• 1 kapsel Concerta (mot ADD-problematiken)
• 2 mackor med smör och ost

Efter frukosten har jag flängt runt i tvättstugan, åkt och handlat och städat hemma.

Imorgon till söndag får jag besök, och tänkte därför under dagen mer på att få rent och snyggt hemma än att få i mig näring.... dumt som tusan, jag vet.

På kvällen nu har jag fått i mig en japp och en tablett Atarax för att dämpa ångesten över att agera "värdinna" över helgen - det gör mig alltid nervös att ha besök.

Denna gång är det dock ett besök jag längtar efter.. men det hindrar ju inte ångesten.

Det är en god vän som kommer ner till mig (han skriver under "synonymen" Matte Zombie i kommentarer på min blogg) och vi ska dricka öl, äta tacos och se på skräckfilm!

Trots att jag längtar så har jag en krypande ångest och stress i kroppen... tröttsamt... :(

Emotional disabilities core characteristic is poor social skills. Either by nature or nurture, the students that are diagnosed with emotional disabilities have a very hard time getting along with other students, teachers, and parents. The student will have a very difficult time maintaining or developing relationships with peers and adults. A teacher or a parent of a child with and emotional disability needs to find the cause of the lack of social skills and take baby steps to teach and reteach the student the skills that are mandatory for them to be successful in both the academic and public environment. Many emotionally disabled students do not graduate and a large percentage of them are incarcerated or placed in treatment centers before they are twenty one.

The way to best help these students is to get to know them. Some will not react to your initial tries, but through persistence and the building of trust, most will come around. Listen to what the student likes and dislikes. Ask questions and let them talk and talk about something they want to talk about. Starting the dialogue is up to the adult, but continuing the dialogue should always be in the hands of the student. Model proper social skills for them. In some cases, the family environment may have not taught or is aware of a certain social skill or another. Explain to the student that his or her behavior may be acceptable at home, but the same behavior is not acceptable at school. Show them the proper behavior and give them praise when you see that behavior copied.

I was challenged this week as a Christian family I know told me that they would be taking their 6 year-old son to be tested for ADHD. The parents claim that he has a hard time focusing and doesn’t obey his parents. Now, physically, this young man is not any different than any other 6 year-old I see running around church.

(To prevent my intention from being misunderstood, I am not saying that there is not a place for medical intervention to treat psychological or emotional difficulties. However, I do contend that there appears to be far too many unnecessary diagnoses.)

I don’t think that the problem is that the young man suffers from an abnormal disability. Rather the problem is a war of worldviews. The problem always has been a war of worldviews. This Christian family has been consumed by the influences of a pluralistic society. The family lives in a nice home, they have two nice cars, they take nice vacations, they have nice entertainment equipment in their home, and they enjoy meals at nice restaurants. None of these things are necessarily intrinsically wrong. The problem is the means that it takes to achieve this lifestyle and the side-effects of such a lifestyle. First, to maintain this lifestyle, both mom and dad need to have full time jobs. The children often need to be spending time with babysitters. The parents are being consumed by the demands to maintain such a lifestyle. Second, such a lifestyle invites you to live in it. That is when you have 5 T.V.’s you feel obligated to use them. When you have two cars, you use them. When you have a big house, you use all the rooms. These luxuries are not conducive to spending time with your children.

God commands parents to, “…teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise” Deuteronomy 6:7  

Again God says, “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it” Proverbs 22:6.

And again God commands fathers to, “bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” Ephesians 6:4.

How can a parent do any of these things if they aren’t around? What is taking precedence in this family, stuff or souls?

What does it profit a parent if they gain the whole world but lose their child’s soul?

Again, the problem is worldviews. Christians are being influenced by the secular humanist culture around them.

·         Why do we have a television for every member of our household?

·         Why do we listen to the advice of Oprah?

·         Why do diagnose our hundreds of thousands of children being diagnosed with ADHD every year?

·         Why are we medicating our kids rather than disciplining them and spending time with them?

·         Why do we need two incomes?

David Wells puts in this way in his book God in the Wasteland:

“What is the difference between John and Time, Paul and Newsweek, when the “world” is in view?

The difference is that the biblical authors see everything from a theocentric viewpoint, and secular writers see everything from an anthropocentric viewpoint. That means that the biblical perspective must be seen as theological knowledge in its strictest sense: it is knowledge in relation to God, knowledge as defined by his character, acts, and will, knowledge that derives from him, knowledge that is no less authentic than the One who guarantees it. The biblical writers compel us to read the world from this perspective, to see it in relation to the moral character of God and the ways in which he has disclosed his saving intentions in human history. Secular writers, by contrast, force us to read the world from within a framework in which God’s moral will and saving intentions, his truth and his Christ, are never the criteria of meaning or importance.”

There are many lines in this quote that demand attention and considerable thought. First, Wells says that the Bible is the only place where we can see God’s perspective most clearly. That is, the biblical authors see the world with the keenest biblical-theological perspective.

We must have a theology for everything we do. Meaning, everything that we do already has a reason behind it. We do what we do with a motive behind the action. It is either a love for God or a love for self, the world, and the enemies of God.

Jesus leaves no room for serving two masters.  He says in John 8:44, “You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him…” Jesus says we are either serving the will of God or the will of the enemy of God.

How many of the problems of this family could be solved by adhering to a more biblical-worldview approach to life?

 “Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.” Proverbs 13:24  

“…train the young women to love their husbands and children, ⁵ to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.” Titus 2:4-5  

“Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward.  ⁴ Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth.  ⁵ Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.” Psalm 127:3-5  

Our only hope is to have a theology for everything. We must have a God-centered view on all that we do. We need to bring God’s perspective to our jobs, relationships, and interactions.

Students that have emotional disabilities can exhibit behaviors that can many teachers pulling out their hair in frustration. When a teacher feels they can not reach the child, they feel frustrated and ready to give up. Most teacher colleges do not equip new teachers with the skills they need to help these tortured souls and they themselves burn out because of their lack of knowledge. There is one simple practice a teacher of the emotionally disabled has to master to even start to develop a working relationship with the child. That is to get to know your students.

Don't expect the emotionally disabled student to make the first move to develop a relationship. Most of the time, these students have poor social skills that are sometimes the root of their behavior. They do not know how to intermingle, ask for help, or any other small social skill that most students have. You as the teacher have to take out and get to know them. Ask them questions about their family, their likes, and dislikes. The more you learn about the child, the more of a relationship you will build. You will soon learn their 'triggers' or the things that set them off, and you as the teacher can be proactive and remove the child from the situation before things get heated. The child will learn to trust you and with trust, respect and attention will follow. The student will fight this at first, but most will respond to the attempt to get to know them.

ADHD means attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. You know what paying attention is because your parents and teachers tell you to listen to them every day. Paying attention is concentrating on a subject so much that you exclude other topics from your thoughts. Deficit means that that something is less than it needs to be. If you need sixteen dollars to buy a shirt and you only have fourteen that is a deficit. Part of what you need is missing, but you have some of it. Hyperactivity is too much muscle activity. It is being restless. A disorder means that something isn't functioning normally.

When someone has ADHD, he has problems paying attention so it is hard for him to concentrate and learn in school. His mind wanders to other things he wants to do more than usual. It is not the same thing as daydreaming. He is overactive, having a hard time being still when it is necessary. He may also be impulsive. For example, getting up and walking around the classroom when he should stay seated. He may also fidget, that is, move his hands and feet a lot.

It is easy to see that these behaviors would make it hard to do well in school. If the student can't sit still when he needs to and can't easily concentrate on what the teacher is saying or the work he is suppose to be doing, it will be very difficult for him to learn. ADHD is a serious problem that needs to be taken care of medically or therapeutically.

When you idealize someone you put them on a psychological pedestal. That means you raise them above normal standards. This fantasy becomes the rules you gauge others by. Many times people idealize someone's beauty, which is a big part of drawing people (figure art). When you idealize the bad boy or bad girl image, values are turned upside down.

The bad boy or bad girl is now the hero in your mind. Kids tend to dress and act like those they think are ideal. You may turn your hat around backwards and wear your pants below your beltline or if you're a girl, you'll wear skimpier clothing. In past times, leather jackets, caps, and boots were symbols of the bad kid. Today there are cloths specifically geared to the bad boy or girl. It is out of hand.

There is also a lot of music written that is about the bad boy and girl. The bad boy or girl has tattoos, body piercing, and a bad attitude. Perhaps, not all boys or girls that has one of these traits is idealizing the bad image. But a combination of these things can mean he or she does idealize this bad concept.

Though gangs have been around a long time, the increase in gangs is partially an outgrowth of this idealization of the bad boy and bad girl. Many times the bad boy or bad girl types are seen as more attractive, which is a mistake. You may have seen a poster of James Dean in the mall. He played bad boy roles in the movies. The actress, Marylyn Monroe was idealized as a bad girl, but yet innocent. These types of students are disruptive in school and elsewhere if not by there actions then by their idealization. These types of students have the right to express themselves, but need monitoring so the stereotype is not played out in real life. They are also many times dangerous to students and teachers and to themselves.

ADD means attention deficit disorder. This is a disorder that causes someone to have trouble concentrating, they are easily distracted, but more than someone who is creative and tends to think about creative ideas. If a student has ADD he will have trouble pay attention to his studies. Of course, this causes him to have learning. Some people also are hyperactive, along with having trouble concentrating. This is called ADHD. Some people just say ADD for both.

When a student is easily distracted he will have a hard time finishing tasks. Someone with ADD will also seem forgetful, lose things a lot, find it difficult to follow directions, and seem disorganized. When you think about it, you can see why Add would cause a student to have problems in school. Besides having trouble concentrating, he's forgetful, so he may forget what he was suppose to be doing. He may loose his homework more easily or lose his supplies more often than others.

Following directions is a big part of working on class assignments and taking tests. So having a hard time following directions would harm his ability to do tasks in class. If he is having trouble with organization, then can make it hard to do a science project, write a paper or make a speech Id he was in the band being disorganized would make it hard to learn to play his instrument. Even in sports, organization, following directions, and paying attention are important. Add is a serious condition that has to be medically or therapeutically treated.

Anger issues or anger reactions are distinct from other psychological problems some children have. The child's anger is intense and quick to explode in these cases. Anger reaction and ADHD can occur at the same time, but also apart from each other. It can also occur with learning disabilities or separately. The term anger overload describes this problem.

Parents say that this reaction starts early. These children give very strong reactions to what they think are insults or rejections, things that other children wouldn't take as seriously. They become totally engaged in their angry emotions and thoughts and become an island within themselves.

If a parent says the child can't go somewhere, but he has been expecting to go the child may bite, yell, kick, and hit or throw something at his parent. He will also become intensely angry when playing a game with a friend because he doesn't like the way the game ended or he may disagree about the rules. In both instances, his reactions are out of proportion to the situation.

His or her reaction is in overload-it can last an hour and nothing the parent or teacher tells the child will sooth his anger. His friend won't be able to calm him either. It isn't a temporary anger fit.

You can see why this response can cause trouble in the classroom or on the playground. These anger fits are disruptive to classroom activities and can upset his classmates. The teacher has to spend an hour trying to calm this angry child.

When looking at creating a classroom for the emotionally disabled or the oppositional defiant child, one must look at the classroom as a symbol of both safety and danger. The classroom for the behavior challenged child is wrought with dangers, but also is a safe haven for them in the mist of their emotionality during the classroom day. The classroom should be fitted with a timeout room so the child may use the room to escape the pressures of the educational bombardment they are receiving or that the room should be used as a place for quiet contemplation after being redirected and not following directions.

The room should also be furnished with furniture that has few sharp corners so in a fit of rage the child cannot hurt themselves. All sharps, including scissors, letter openers, and even though stapler should be removed from the teachers desk so the child in a fit of anger cannot pick them up and harm themselves or others. Any hard or heavy objects such as a coat rack, tables, or chairs that could be thrown should be bolted to the floor or at lease restrained to the table by a constricting cable.

The classrooms should have only one exit and entrance. This will help the teacher prevent the child if they are apt to run from the room and it will also discourage entry or exit from other students coming into the classroom during an explosive situation or in a case where distraction could cause a classroom meltdown. The classroom should be fitted with shades so that during appropriate times the shades can be drawn and the room can be darker for the student of feel more at ease

When dealing with a child with an emotional disability a parent must be aware of the manipulations and the lying that goes on with the disability in some of these children. Some children with emotional disabilities will tend to be sick or not feel well so they don't have to go to school. Of course this is an occasional legitimate occurrence when it is a real sickness, but if the absenteeism becomes habitual, the parents need to intercede with the children and make sure they get to school for their education.

The same applies goes for teachers to have students with emotional disabilities in the classroom. The constant wanting to use the restroom, to get a drink of water, or to do anything but the work that is presented before them, is a common characteristic of student with emotional disabilities. Start logging down how many times the student has asked to leave the room during the class period. If the parent has questions about why you are limiting bathroom use or the ability to get a drink of water, you can show them the number of times the child uses an excuse to leave the classroom.

As with all encounters was emotionally disabled child, the teacher and the parent must become a united team to divert the behavior or to modify the behavior at home and at school. If one side of the team does not play ball, the child will find the easiest person to manipulate and get their way which is adversely hurting their education in the long run.

Since there was no keeling over and dying as a result of the post on ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), I am taking it as a sign to soldier on with the topic. Thanks so much to everyone who made encouraging comments. It means the world to me. I’ve climbed out from under the bed and I’m ready to share some more thoughts on this.

Over the summer, Neil and I decided that we really had to have it together for 5th grade. School got tougher for Mari last year at the 4th-grade level, and we did some soul searching and brainstorming to come up with what we needed to address.

In the past we had dealt with individual teachers regarding Mari’s challenges, but this year we decided to start at square one and find out the school’s overall policy regarding ADHD students. We found out that the school actually had someone on staff who oversees the ADHD students and helps families to work with teachers on this issue. We didn’t know this. The lesson learned here: Ask!

We were able to have a meeting within the first two weeks of school with the ADHD liaison and Mari’s two teachers. This was amazing. We were able to layout the specific challenges we were having and everyone helped to come up with suggestions and solutions. I know many schools are not equipped to be this helpful, but I highly recommend that parents at least ask the school administrator what options are available.

As a result of this meeting, combined with our experience over the past three years, we have put together some strategies to deal with schoolwork.  I thought I’d share a few of them with you. They might be helpful for any child who is less than excited about sitting down to a large pile of assignments.

Choose a regular location to work. Some kids can plop down anywhere and get to work. Mari is easily distracted, so a routine that involves sitting in the same location each night helps get her brain going in the right direction. Last year she sat in the kitchen because it has an enclosed little alcove. This year she chose to try the dining room. I want her to take responsibility for what she is doing, so we let her try working out there instead. We are pleased that she seems to be OK there and not getting too sidetracked, except when the cat jumps on the table and scatters the papers!

Get duplicate copies of textbooks to keep at home. Mari often would forget what she needed to bring home, so she would be unable to do the homework. It has been a lifesaver to have extra copies of her books.

Teach organization. Mari is easily overwhelmed by a project, or a list of work to be done. I sit down with her each week and help her break everything down. We break down projects and set short-term goals. We decide what order the work will be done. Sometimes she looks at the list of assignments and cries simply because she can’t just choose something and get started. My goal is that she will be able to look at something and see the smaller elements. Right now she can’t do that.

Provide motivation. Mari earns tickets each day for doing her homework. But she not only has to complete the work, she has to do it with a good attitude. If she whines and cries the whole time, she does not get a ticket. Conversely, if she is especially resistant to a specific assignment and then buckles down and gets it done she might get a second ticket. It’s all about pointing out to her that she is able to do things that she thinks she can’t do. If she earns all her tickets each week then she chooses something fun to do.

You never know what will be a motivation to her, week to week. Here’s one that is usually a winner: Mari loves to go to the pet supply store. For me, that is torture. Don’t get me wrong. I love looking at the kitties up for adoption. But walking up and down every aisle, looking at every dog dish, every accessory for gerbils, every outfit for dogs… torture! But I do it for the sake of the homework.

None of this guarantees success of course, but we are in a much better place than we were three years ago. There are still days with 30 minutes of crying because she doesn’t understand a math problem and can’t calm down enough for Neil to explain it to her. But there are good days too. And the good are starting to outnumber the bad.

Rather than checking potential eBay items for flaws; laundering and ironing or sterilizing them; photographing them, measuring them, weighing them, preparing them for shipping, and then listing them; it would probably be more efficient, from a financial standpoint, if I just drove past the post office and threw money at it.

This has been a particularly unfortunate week, profitwise, for my eBay store, even though I sold five items.

It began when a woman named Shelley purchased a particularly nice little throw, in pastel plaids, which I couldn't price very high because it had a few loose threads. Still, it was too nice to give to the thrift store on the other side of the church where I live.

Shelley very kindly paid immediately, and the $$ went instantly into my PayPal account, and I printed the shipping label, only to discover that the parcel weighed more than I thought it did, so I applied for a postage refund, but these things take time. (It requires much more time to give you back your $$ than it does to snatch it up. They must use third-party fiscal intermediaries, as Medicare does - those nonmedical personnel who sit and scratch their heads and decide whether Mr. Arthur Proboscis really needs that triple bypass.)

Before I could print a new label, eBay swooped down on its broomstick and grabbed what was left in my PayPal account plus about $30 - "final-value fees" - and suddenly I was, like, $25 overdrawn. The next day, three more buyers purchased inexpensive little doodads - clothing, actually - so my PayPal balance crept back up toward zero.

It soared to a buck-fifty when someone bought a thank-you card from my website, and I had enough $$ in Stamps.com postage, fortunately, to ship the card right away, along with two sample Christmas cards, which brought the price of shipping to roughly even with the revenue from the card. But I still couldn't ship the four eBay items (via parcel post, as specified in the listing).

So I did what any attention-deficit-disordered individual would do when confronted with such a dilemma. I read a book and waited for the money fairy to fly past, sprinkling gold dust on my bed.

Happy birthday, Uncle Sam

I use Lulu.com's print-on-demand service for my books. Lulu.com recently informed me that it was raising its prices and that if I wanted to continue to not earn any $$ by not selling any books, but at a higher selling price, I was welcome to raise my own prices accordingly.

Inspiration struck, kind of like the rock some kid threw at my head last year when I was out working in my yardlet. (He had good aim, too; or else he was trying to hit the fence and had bad aim. In any case, I saw stars.)

I could have a one-day pre-price-raising sale on my most popular book(!), which is to say, the one I give away the most: Unfamiliar Territory. I sent out an e-mail, mostly to people to whom I have given copies of the book, thinking that they might like to buy a couple for Christmas presents or something. I offered the books at my cost, with free shipping, and three very discerning and thrifty persons responded affirmatively, which meant that I now had money to ship my eBay items.

But of course I had to send them via Priority Mail, as the eBay buyers had waited long enough, and of course I had to throw in an extra item or two. So this morning I repacked the four items and the extras in Flat-Rate Priority Mail boxes, at $12.95 (or something) per parcel, and I delivered the boxes to the post office, and as I was walking back toward my borrowed car, the postal clerk came to the door and shouted to me that the flat-rate boxes I had used required only $8.95 (or something) in postage, not $12.95. "Oh, well — happy birthday, Uncle Sam," I shouted back, and it didn't occur to me until I got home that maybe they would have compensated me with $16 worth of stamps.

Bottom line: I sold four items on eBay for a net revenue of, oh, minus $26 and change, and I gave away some pretty decent merchandise to boot, and in a few weeks I'll have to pay "final value fees" on those items. To make my day even bleaker, I discovered that one of my other buyers had given me a "neutral" rating. I have no idea why, because I shipped his item the day after he paid for it, and he was all complimentary about it in the narrative part of the rating, plus I sent him a T-shirt to go with his grunge Levi's, which he bought for 99 cents. Were they damaged in shipping? How can you damage ripped Levi's?

Now I have to figure out how to pay Lulu.com for the three books I sold, and I'm very much afraid that the money fairy is currently working somewhere in the Western Ghats and won't be back this way for a while.

But it's a beautiful autumn day, and the sun is slanting in benignly from the western sky, making clever flickering fan shapes on my wall, and I intend to sit outside a bit and enjoy my chrysanthemums.

May Whoever Is On Duty bless you and your endeavors. -Mary

What utterly amazed me were the amount of women who shared their personal stories with me afterward.  ADHD and labels is ONE HOT TOPIC!  More than one was in tears thanking me for sharing.  (Either that or they were so relieved I was done.)

I can't believe how much fun this was.  And when I think I was actually PAID for this I'm amazed.  This is what they mean by "If you love what you do you'll never have to work a day in your life."

Here's a quote that I shared that drew a lot of head nodding so I'll post it here...and then I'm going to go take a nap!

Do not train children by force and harshness but direct them to it by what amuses their minds so that you may be better able to discover with accuracy the particular bent of the genius of each. - Plato

Click here to see video. (link will open in a new window.)

Yes, it's another dreaded post about writer's block. I thought I had it licked, but no, not happening. I gave myself a deadline of Nov. 1st to get this story done, which should have given me an entire month to write 4000 words. NO prob, right? I think it's that first 100 words that's killing me.

Part of me wonders if I should just give up on this one and move on, but I really want something to submit to this anthology. And I really like me idea.

Getting started? Maybe once I do, it will just flow and be done. That's what happens sometimes. That's what happened with the last story and that seemed to work out all right.

Ok. Enough whining. Any advice, my writer friends? Or even non-writer friends?

Maybe I just need an all-nighter with a notebook, a pot of coffee, and the kitchen table. Sometimes that works, even if it does freak out the dogs.

So imagine my surprise when at noon I get an email from my oldest son's teacher saying that he forgot to take his pill that morning and has been having "a little difficulty."    I emailed her back "I feel your pain."  I sent my husband over to the school with my darling child's medication. 

By the end of the day I needed a break.  While my family watched an old John Wayne movie, I ran a warm bubble bath and grabbed a book.  I sank it to the tub opened the book, and looked up an hour and 45 minutes later.  What a beautiful mini-vacation.  How do you escape?

Så här på morgonkvisten kan jag delvis hålla med. Hjärnan känns en aningen krympt. Men det går inte att bekräfta om det är höger eller vänster hjärnhalva det rör sig om. Jag kan nämligen inte skilja på höger och/eller vänster utan att behöva tänka efter ordentligt. Vänster är vanligtvis den sidan där hunden går, dvs om man inte själv går baklänges och hunden fortsätter framåt. De flesta skriver med höger hand, eller uppfattar sig göra det. Men från min vinkel, om jag sitter mittemot, så vill jag hävda att människan skriver med vänster. Står jag bakom personen skriver han med höger. Utifrån mitt synsätt är det omöjligt att precisera vad som är höger och vänster. Det är nämligen lite otydliga regler om vems perspektiv man ska utgå från.

Jag föredrar en centrerad syn på saker och ting. En mycket självcentrerad syn, ska tilläggas. Fast det har ni nog förstått.

Hade den vänstra hjärnhalvan varit kraftig förminskad, hade förmodligen alla med adhd lutat huvudet mot höger. AHA.....ännu ett kriterie för att uppfylla en adhd-diagnos. (obs: ironi)

Det var inget katastrofområde innan, bara en massa tvålrester och elände. Vi har baby schampoo men ingen baby, men det är det smidigaste sättet att hitta parfymfritt schampo på.

Jag förstår mig inte på den vitmålade plankan, det finns även en under badrumsskåpen , men den kan jag förstå för den har krokar man hänga handdukar och annat på. Den under spegeln verkar mest samla damm...

Vi har även varit på gymmet idag, det var jobbigt, men det var inte träningen som var mest tröttande, utan den höga musiken/radiopratet tillsammans med en allmänt hög ljudnivå.

Nu till lite personlig historia, jag förstår inte varför min mellanstadielärare inte reagerade på mitt beteende. Jag menar jag vet inte hur mycket hjälp man kunde ha fått då på 80-talet men ändå.

Jag minns inte riktigt hur jag resonerade, men jag minns att det enda jag ville göra var att läsa böcker, vilket jag också gjorde under lektionstid! När min lärare hade den oerhörda fräckheten att kräva att jag skulle lägga undan boken och följa med på lektionen kanske till och med göra övningar av något slag, blev jag rosenrasande. Jag slängde ner boken i bänken, drämde igen bänklocket och sprang illvrålande ut ur klassrummet. Det gjorde jag så pass ofta att listen framme på bänken som gör att man kan fälla upp locket och det fortfarande hänger ihop med bänken lossnade...på två bänkar! Detta kommenterades aldrig men efter bänk två fick jag en bänk av lite äldre modell. Men min lärare verkade inte ha något problem med det hela.

Jag läste nästan aldrig läxor, hemma log jag ljuvt och hävdade att vi inga läxor hade, dels var det tråkigt med läxor och dels fick jag ingen struktur på det hela, läxläsning var för mig att stirra i en bok och önska att man kunde göra något utan att direkt lära mig något. Jag blev avslöjad när mamma var på ett föräldramöte och de andra föräldrarna klagade på att "barnen får så mycket läxor" Oops!

Det var dock inget roligt när de andra i klassen en efter en började bli klara med en övningsbok i engelska som jag inte ens öppnat. Men min planering var så bristfällig och terminen så evighetslång att jag inte kunde se slutet på den förrän det redan var försent.

Min lärare sa glatt till mina föräldrar "ja hon gör ju inga läxor men hon är ju SÅ allmänbildad"

Matematiken var faktiskt det ämne jag presterade bäst i eftersom en grupp på 4-5 andra elever och jag hade på något sätt bedömts vara "svaga i matte" redan på lågstadiet så vi fick gå ifrån en del matematik lektioner och räkna med en special lärare antar jag att det var i ett liten grupp.

Under dessa lektioner i en liten grupp på en begränsad yta, gjorde jag vad jag skulle och försökte inte smygläsa och fick heller inga raseriutbrott.

A quote in the article from Ignite Health President Fabio Gratton said. “The fact that FDA is looking at this channel as seriously as they’re looking at television is a validation for a lot of companies that don't look at e-media as a fringe media.”

Here is the full article:

http://pharmexec.findpharma.com/pharmexec/News/Shire-Receives-Warning-For-YouTube-Video/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/556971

disclosure: through my PR firm, I work with a competitive drug for ADHD.

Trying to restore normal function?

This is not recommended for under age 25, pregnant woman, or those who know they have large gallstones.

You'll need:

• 6 quarts apple cider (organic) or fresh extracted juices
• 6 teas Epsom salts
• 1/2 cup cold-pressed olive oil
• 1/2 cup lemon juice (organic)
• Liver DTX
• close to vegitarian diet (fat free)
• all your regular supplements

STEPS

1. Day 1-6 Drink 1 quart of apple cider (or fresh extracted juices) daily & eat as much vegitarian diet (fat free) as you need.
2. Day 6 @ noon: eat your lunch
3. Day 6 @ 3 pm: 2 teas epsom salts dissolved in one ounce hot water followed by a little citrus juice for taste
4. Day 6 @ 5: repeat #3
5. Day 6 @ evening meal: only citrus juices or fruits
6. Day 6 @ bedtime: whip in a blender 1/2 cup warm olive oil & 1/2 cup lemon juice.  Drink quickly (not slowly)  (Some people occasionally reported slight nausea which disappears soon.  On rare occasions vomiting occurs.  It's not necessary to drink the mixture again.)
7. Day 6 after olive oil / lemon juice: go to bed. Lie on your right side with your right knee pulled up close to your chest for at least 30 minutes.
8. Day 7, 1 hr prior to breakfast: take 2 teas epsom salt dissolved in 2 ounces hot water.
9. Resume normal diet and continue normal supps.
10. People who have chronically suffered from gallstones, biliousness, backaches, nausea, etc. occasionally find small gallstone-type objects in the stool on Day 7.  They are light green, irregular shape, gelatinous texture and vary in size from grape seeds to cherry pits.  If several are passed, repeat the cleanse in 2 weeks.

Want to begin? - Get your supplies here. 

• Consult with Deb.
• Determine your Health Quotient.
• more info about detoxing / cleansing
• cleanse overview