March 01 W-2

Monday              March 5, 2001

I took "B" to Devereux today...We went to his dorm and I dropped him off at the cafeteria... It was raining hard and it rained hard all the way to Agua Dulce... and then quit... the rain is just hitting the coast and not making it over the mountains to Acton or the Antelope Valley...

Been a long hard day...

Tuesday              March 6, 2001

Christy came home and went to work on some forms she had to fill out, she couldn't find them anywhere, she found a business card that had been clipped to them but no forms, we lookes all over the house... nothing, about a half hour later Mike called out; Mom, I think I found your forms..." Autumn had thrown them in the toilet... cracked me up, Christy didn't think it was funny though

We got a call from "B"'s Social Worker yesterday, he told us that "B"'s (bio) father, Benjamin Villa, had a massive heart attack and died... we don't know when or where... we haven't told "B" yet... it could be traumatic... "B"'s mother went back to Mexico years ago and has disappeared... Christy and I talked and we decided one of us had to drive up there and deliver the news in person... Christy is home schooling Christian (long story) and Christian has a long awaited appointment with Kathleen, his therapist, at Kaiser...so... I drove back to Devereux to see "B" today. I met Michelle, "B"'s "Case Worker" and we went over to his classroom and pulled him out to talk, I explained why I was there and told him how sorry I was, "B" seemed unmoved by the news. He seemed more upset by the trouble he was having at Golita School... apparently one of the kids is picking on him... teasing, calling him names, he won't go out on the playground at recess because of it... so we talked about that. I talked to Michelle some more, and to his teacher, Jan, (she's a bit of a hippie, I like her a lot, she is very good with "B") I will talk to "B" and his psychiatrist tomorrow  

Silly hat day tomorrow, Cindy's hat should win something...

Wednesday         March 7, 2001

I forgot to take a picture of Cindy in her hat... it was too hectic this morning... Mokie wasn't ready and I had to get Mike to school, I took Mokie with Calie and Cindy, I got her there on time but it was pretty tight. 

Cindy made points with her hat... she got credit for it but Christy made it...

"B" and his therapist called this afternoon... "B" is refusing to wake up for school, he's refusing to get on the bus and then he is refusing to get off when he gets there, he is being uncooperative at school and just generally being a jerk. I get a sense that he is not getting much out of "The Devereux Experiance". He won't talk to Michael (his therapist) and is actually calling him names. I have no idea what to do for him... 30 years ago I would have smacked his butt for being a little snot... but today... not acceptable... I think ole "B" is playing them like a violin... at least on some level. I could be wrong... hope I am. 

Thursday            March 8, 2001

A sense of duty is useful in work but offensive in personal relations.

Christy taught a class on AIDS. She took pictures of  a little girl who was the foster child of a friend of Christy's, when she was 6 months old the Foster Mom found out that the parents had died of AIDS.  She found out by accident when she tried to contact the mother, a relative told her... the Social Workers weren't going to bother I guess. She was a cute kid and worked hard at school and at dance, she appeared normal and healthy right up until she died, at the age of 6. It was devastating for the Foster Mom and her family, the Acton School dedicated the yearbook to her... and I think I have troubles... Perspective is a sobering thing sometimes.

Mokie rode a bike today, She came in and said "Daddy, come watch, I can ride a bike now!" and by golly she can... she can't get on by herself or stop, or pedal very good or get off by herself yet... but she is good at coasting...

ROF was tonight... Monica called and asked "Daddy, could you stop and get some milk and a bicycle"

It's late... I will write more tomorrow.

Friday                 March 9, 2001

After I dropped off the Autumn I took off for Cost-Co. Spent more than I should have because I bought some shirts and a new MS Intellimouse Optical, My Intellimouse Explorer died. The new improved model is cheaper. 

Christy took Cindy & Christian to the "Talking Doctor" after school Shon went with Christy Christian and Cindy... Thomas (the kid that made a tape of Eminem and gave it to Mike) came over and played with Mike... I left Mike and Thomas to ride down to the Acton Market (that's what they wanted to do) and I took Monica Calie and Autumn out to get a bike for Da Moke. We went to Wal-Mart, the bikes ranged from $29.95 Special Back to the 50's Sale and $185.95 for a super lightweight mountain bike for little kids... I tried to talk her into an $89.00 BMX bike but she wouldn't hear of it... she wanted the Red Huffy for 29.95... I said "Are you sure?" She said "I want that red one Daddy!" Cool... what a girl. 

Saturday             March 10, 2001

I took Mike and Mokie down to Fry's to check out some hardware for my nephew Wayne... Not a very satisfying trip... nothing I wanted/expected was there... We stopped at Denny's on the way back, Denny's is a real treat for them we don't get to sit down to lunch very often... Monica was having a lot of trouble with asthma . I hope we can get a handle on that pretty soon... poor kid.

I taped Me, Myself and Irene I let the boys watch it... Mike was saying "I know what that is dad" and "I know what that means dad" and Christian was saying "What's that thing dad" and "What does that mean dad" damn that's a raunchy movie... 

I was looking to find the telephone number of the library in Ashland Maine and one thing lead to another and I started looking at Real Estate... you know how that happens... damn internet is real good at seducing endless hours of your time... anyway I was just clicking through the listings and saw one that looked familiar...

The picture on the top is from the Real Estate site and the below was taken by my grandfather in 1963

I thought the farm was sold/traded/given to a lawyer named Myron Turner... I am anxious to find out who the current owner is... Nice prices up there in the North Woods by the way... 57 acre farm in Caribou for 125k... gets a mite chilly up there though, my 'cousin' Sally says it has been in the -20's for a couple weeks... not sure I could handle that any more... living in Southern California thirty eight years has made me pretty wimpy where the weather is concerned.

Sunday               March 11, 2001