tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58766726390247586512024-03-13T08:46:42.965-07:00Damn the Puzzle | We can do this betterA digital archive on ordinary parenting, autism, advocacy, exhaustion and unrelenting optimism.
Sacramento · pearandpeony.comkcyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08997057641249112711noreply@blogger.comBlogger271125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5876672639024758651.post-35936735792814352322016-02-14T10:46:00.005-08:002016-07-24T14:18:01.884-07:00Taylor Guitars: A Perpetual Approach to Embracing Change <blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 21px;">I wrote this post originally as a part of one of my graduate class discussions after I was tasked to explore and examine a successful organization that has embraced change. I'm reposting here because I had originally planned to write about a nonprofit or organization providing services or self-advocacy for individuals with disabilities. However, I was reading about guitars (another passion of mine) and I simply could not write about another organization once I started reading more about Taylor-Listug, Inc. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 21px;">I found a news article from 2014, which included some beautiful discussions on the value of pursuing innovation and change even if something "isn't broken". I found the company's philosophy to really resonate with another book I love, Theory U (Schamer, 2009).</span></i></blockquote>
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<strong>Taylor Guitars: </strong><i>A perpetual approach to embracing change</i></h2>
<span style="color: black; line-height: normal;">For </span>this discussion I chose a business that stuck out because<br />
<a href="https://www.taylorguitars.com/sites/default/files/styles/e_model/public/guitars/electric/models/Media%20browser/T5-standard-tobacco-burst-front-taylor-guitars-feature.jpg?itok=zktkvhaS" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="251" src="https://www.taylorguitars.com/sites/default/files/styles/e_model/public/guitars/electric/models/Media%20browser/T5-standard-tobacco-burst-front-taylor-guitars-feature.jpg?itok=zktkvhaS" style="border: 0px; height: auto; max-width: 635px; vertical-align: middle;" title="" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">of how much it embraces change compared with the other main players within this established industry, which is manufacturing guitars. The organization I chose as an example, is Taylor Guitars. Taylor is a guitar manufacturer started in 1974 by Bob Taylor and Kurt Listug in San Diego, California </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">(Sanford, 2011). </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><strong style="font-family: inherit;">On the right</strong><span style="font-family: inherit;"> is a </span><a class="external" href="https://www.taylorguitars.com/guitars/electric" rel="noreferrer" style="color: #006ca2; margin-bottom: 0px; outline: transparent solid 1px;" target="_blank" title="">Taylor T5z, </a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span>a unique and innovative guitar. After learning about it and watching videos of this acoustic/electric hybrid, I was so curious about this guitar that I went to many stores just asking if they stocked one so I could try playing it and simply feel it in my hands. It's an amazing instrument.<br />
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<strong>An Industry Stuck in Time</strong></h2>
A leader in the guitar business, Gibson still relies on resisting change as much as possible. One of it’s biggest selling guitars, the Les Paul, was introduced in 1952 and most of the innovations and changes were introduced during the 1950’s and 1960’s.<br />
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While much of the guitar industry is moving to recreate or replicate classic versions of guitars and scrambling to find limited supplies of endangered wood. Gibson guitars was raided in 2011 by federal agents for importing poached wood from Madagascar in violation of the Lacey Act (Schelzig, 2014). After Gibson reached a settlement, they were able to get the seized wood back from the federal government and used the story to create the Government Series Gibson 335 using words from the constitution, “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” as a sales pitch for this limited edition, calling the Government Series“ An American original now an American icon of freedom” (Gibson.com, 2015).<br />
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<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/proxy/2P9-0xfmiez61syugSZASCDGLSNv-RBnfodA-ygnKoxDseh-BPNGD-ynl5INeDrzUlL2ixLPqqat2ThGKRkFq4EP40vrrEV6O6-bxAlTI_qehAAPh9_Hwug77NtPL4L1v06qf9eZEbvwmm1-" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Here Gibson brags about 20 years of doing things like it was 70 years ago." border="0" src="http://images.gibson.com/Site-Images/Page-Elements/Hero-Badge-Gibson-Custom-Historic.jpg" height="112" style="border: 0px; height: auto; max-width: 635px; vertical-align: middle;" width="395" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">Even today one of the most sought after guitar models is the 1959 Gibson Les Paul. Since the 1959 models are hard to find and incredibly expensive, Gibson currently produces modern replicas of the exact guitars from years naming them a “reissue” (Musician’s Friend, 2014). For example, the 1959 Les Paul Standard Reissue is a very popular guitar model sold by Gibson, and a new ‘59 reissue retails at a starting price of $6,499 (Gibson.com, n.d.). If you visit Gibson’s website to look at the Les Paul Reissue guitars you will notice that what they are promoting is a 20-year celebration of putting out replicas of these old guitars, and working to make them as old and realistic as possible. This represents the ingrained resistance to change within the company and the broader industry that typifies the guitar industry. Despite the preconceived notions we might have about musicians or the rock music industry being progressive, the guitar industry as a whole is generally still operating in the past.</span><br />
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<strong>What Taylor does differently</strong></h2>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Bob Taylor has been continually moving his company in the direction of exploring the possibilities of design, sustainability, better practices, and changing the way his guitars are made. Taylor Guitars is continually trying new design changes and working to improve and challenge different aspects of the guitar-making process and how they source their materials (Reverb, 2016). Taylor guitars are made from 100% sustainably harvested wood, and the company has taken an active role in either owning or managing the supply chain to ensure things are done in a sustainable way. Bob Taylor is frequently in the cooperatives in Honduras and Belize where workers are harvesting rosewood and Taylor strives to listen to the people in those areas, adapt to their needs, improve wages and to improve environmental standards at the same time. The company has been utilizing a GPS-based technology with their foresters to identify the source coordinates of every tree. The technology provides a supply chain management tracking system to ensure compliance with environmental laws (Kirlin, 2011).
Bob Taylor embraces change and is continually looking to adapt and think about the future. Despite owning a company with a vested interest in being able to use and sell all wood-based products, Bob Taylor is focused on educating consumers on these issues and changing the consumers think and act.</span><br />
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<em style="font-weight: bold;">Watch: The State of Ebony</em></h2>
<a class="youtubed" href="https://youtu.be/anCGvfsBoFY" style="clear: right; color: #006ca2; display: block; float: right; font-family: "helvetica neue", helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; outline: transparent solid 1px;"><img class="media_comment_thumbnail" src="https://claremont.instructure.com/images/play_overlay.png" style="background: url("//img.youtube.com/vi/anCGvfsBoFY/2.jpg") center center no-repeat rgb(34, 34, 34); border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); display: block; margin: 3px 5px 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 2px; vertical-align: middle;" /></a>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In his video, <em style="margin-bottom: 0px;"><a href="https://youtu.be/anCGvfsBoFY" target="_blank">The State of Ebony</a></em>, Taylor describes the global scale of what we are doing to the rainforests, and areas of the world where these woods are sourced and he talks about the modern use of palm oil, mass deforestation, and guitar industry are wreaking havoc on the people and communities in those areas. Taylor says: “Ebony has been a wood where we go into a country and we use the ebony until is is gone, literally. Then we move into another country and we take their ebony until it is all gone. Why do I say ‘we’? Because ebony isn’t cut in Africa for use by Africans, it’s being cut to be sold to people like us [speaking as an American] to make things like guitars out of. That’s the simple truth of the matter” (TaylorGuitars, 2012). Taylor Guitars was recognized in 2014 by Secretary of State John Kerry with the Award for Corporate Excellence because of the company’s positive changes in sustainable and ethical business practices in Cameroon (Middleton, 2015)</span>.</span><br />
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I really recommend watching this video because Bob Taylor tells the story of how he spent a year living in Cameroon, after buying a wood mill along with a Spanish company and this business acquisition changed his life. He also shares a compelling story about how western consumer expectations were creating horrible waste and environmental damage. On this story and the powerful change created by implementing a new practice, Taylor says: “We no longer live in a world of new frontiers and wasteful use of our natural resources. The people of Cameroon can’t afford the luxury for us to be this picky and so things are going to change. The nature of what we thought was beautiful for 100 years is simply going to change” (TaylorGuitars, 2012). Bob Taylor then asks the viewers of the video to also embrace this change.</span></span><br />
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<i>Pursuing change beyond one owner</i></strong></h2>
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In 2014, and Bob Taylor decided begin the process of finding a successor to keep pushing Taylor Guitars far into the future. Taylor listed many specific qualities he’d seek in a candidate and found Andy Powers, a luthier with his own line of custom acoustic instruments. In his brief time at Taylor, Powers has significantly improved the iconic 600 and 800 series guitars. Powers is taking on more responsibility at the company, freeing Bob Taylor to devote more of his attention to his passionate concern about wood and forest conservationism (Reverb, 2016).</span></span><br />
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<strong>Why it works</strong></h2>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">I think what makes Taylor Guitars so successful is that the willingness to experiment and desire to innovate from the beginning. In the article “Why Large Companies Struggle with Business Model Innovations” by Girotra and Netessine (2013), the authors talk about the importance of having top management invested in the process of change. Taylor Guitars has an owner who is so fully-invested that he spends a year at at time living in the places where the wood is forested and he is passionate about looking into the future as he works towards change (2013). He is also open-minded and frequently talks about experimenting with new designs, new types of wood that are typically discarded and he collaborates with other people who bring skills and innovation to the company. I believe that the passion for experimentation, the desire to do things a better way and the fact that Bob Taylor has maintained enough control of the company in order to implement the progressive approaches have all been crucial to the company’s success. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Lastly, by experimenting and working to improve the process, Taylor Guitars play differently and are differentiated from the other competitors in the saturated market of acoustic and electric guitars. Like my own journey learning about the T5z, consuming videos and articles only provides partial information on the essence of what Taylor does. In order to really know what the differences are and what they mean, you need personal experience. What makes the Taylor T5z come alive is to hold it in your own hands and try playing it.</span><br />
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<a alt="bobtaylor.png" data-api-endpoint="https://claremont.instructure.com/api/v1/files/6981" data-api-returntype="File" href="https://www.taylorguitars.com/sites/default/files/ws_summer_2011.pdf" img="" src="https://claremont.instructure.com/files/6981/download?download_frd=1&verifier=eGNjaL0p0OcsvEKcj5QNJtvpv5asH4EjCrM8JdXW" style="border: 0px; height: auto; margin-bottom: 0px; max-width: 635px; vertical-align: middle;"></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.taylorguitars.com/sites/default/files/ws_summer_2011.pdf" style="clear: right; color: #006ca2; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; outline: transparent solid 1px;"><img alt="bobtaylor.png" data-api-endpoint="https://claremont.instructure.com/api/v1/files/6981" data-api-returntype="File" src="https://claremont.instructure.com/files/6981/download?download_frd=1&verifier=eGNjaL0p0OcsvEKcj5QNJtvpv5asH4EjCrM8JdXW" style="border: 0px; height: auto; margin-bottom: 0px; max-width: 635px; vertical-align: middle;" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "times"; font-size: small; line-height: 19.5px; text-align: right;">Photo from Wood & Steel Magazine, </span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "times"; font-size: small; line-height: 19.5px; text-align: right;">Kirlin, J. (2011)</span></i></td></tr>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">References</span></strong></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;"><br />Gibson.com (2015) ES-335 Government Series. An American original now an American icon of freedom. Retrieved from: </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://www.gibson.com/Products/Electric-Guitars/2015/Memphis/ES-335-Government-Series.aspx">http://www.gibson.com/Products/Electric-Guitars/2015/Memphis/ES-335-Government-Series.aspx</a></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;">Gibson.com (n.d.) 1959 Les Paul Standard Reissue. Gibson Guitars. Retrieved from: <a href="http://www.gibson.com/Products/Electric-Guitars/Les-Paul/Gibson-Custom/1959-Les-Paul-Standard-VOS.aspx">http://www.gibson.com/Products/Electric-Guitars/Les-Paul/Gibson-Custom/1959-Les-Paul-Standard-VOS.aspx</a></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;">Girotra, K. and Netessine, S. (2013, September 27) Why Large Companies Struggle with Business Model Innovations. Harvard Business Review. Retrieved from: <a href="https://hbr.org/2013/09/why-large-companies-struggle-with-business-model-innovation/">https://hbr.org/2013/09/why-large-companies-struggle-with-business-model-innovation/</a></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;">Kirlin, J. (2011) <i>Forest Friends. A decade after a pioneering mahogany harvesting program paired Taylor with a community in Honduras, a model of sustainable social forestry is thriving and spreading. </i>Wood & Steel </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;">Magazine. Retrieved from: <a href="https://www.taylorguitars.com/sites/default/files/ws_summer_2011.pdf">https://www.taylorguitars.com/sites/default/files/ws_summer_2011.p</a><a href="https://www.taylorguitars.com/sites/default/files/ws_summer_2011.pdf">d</a><a href="https://www.taylorguitars.com/sites/default/files/ws_summer_2011.pdf">f</a> </span>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;">Middleton, A. (2015, July 1) F<i>ine-tuning sustainable buildings at Taylor Guitars headquarters</i>. Sustainability Matters. Retrieved from: <a href="http://sustainabilitymatters.us/2015/07/fine-tuning-sustainable-buildings-at-taylor-guitar-headquarters/">http://sustainabilitymatters.us/2015/07/fine-tuning-sustainable-buildings-at-taylor-guitar-headquarters/</a></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;">Musician’s Friend (2014, January 8) <i>The Les Paul Buying Guide</i>. Musician’s Friend.com. The Hub. Retrieved from: <a href="http://thehub.musiciansfriend.com/guitar-buying-guides/the-les-paul-buying-guide">http://thehub.musiciansfriend.com/guitar-buying-guides/the-les-paul-buying-guide</a></span></h6>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;">Sanford, J. (2011, May 16) <i>Taylor Guitars: The Inside Story</i>. The San Diego Reader. Retrieved from: <a href="http://www.sandiegoreader.com/weblogs/jam-session/2011/may/16/taylor-guitars-the-inside-story/#">http://www.sandiegoreader.com/weblogs/jam-session/2011/may/16/taylor-guitars-the-inside-story/#</a> </span></h6>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;">Scharmer, O. (2009). Theory U: Leading from the future as it emerges. San Francisco. Barrett-Koehler.<br /> </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;">Schelzig, E. (2014, October 2) Gibson Guitar Settles Exotic Wood Violation With Federal Government. Huffington Post. Retrieved from: <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/06/gibson-guitars-exotic-wood_n_1747507.html">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/06/gibson-guitars-exotic-wood_n_1747507.html<br /> </a></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;">Taylor Guitars (2012, May 12) Taylor Guitars "The State of Ebony"- Bob Taylor [Video]. YouTube.com Retrieved from: <a href="https://youtu.be/anCGvfsBoFY">https://youtu.be/anCGvfsBoFY</a></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;">Thompson, C. (2016, January 27) A Brief History of Taylor Guitar Innovations. Reverb.com. Retrieved from: <a href="https://reverb.com/blog/a-brief-history-of-taylor-guitar-innovations">https://reverb.com/blog/a-brief-history-of-taylor-guitar-innovations</a> </span></h6>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;">Varga, G. (2014, January 22) <i>Taylor Guitars Turns 40 with a Bang</i>. San Diego Union Tribune. Retrieved from: <a href="http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2014/jan/22/taylor-guitars-bold-move-for-fortieth-anniversary/">http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2014/jan/22/taylor-guitars-bold-move-for-fortieth-anniversary/</a></span></h6>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Exploring Social Change Through Public Policy</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">While working in the legislation and public affairs office of a state program, I regularly monitored thousands of social media accounts of public officials, government and nonprofit organizations. While managing the agency’s social media accounts, I also saw state policy develop on a daily basis. One voice emerged through Twitter that was continually surprising: A California legislator was using the platform to engage constituents, media and other leaders with personal and reciprocal dialogue.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />I wanted to know why his approach was so reasonable and why his level of was able to maintain a remarkable level of dedication. His dedication is underscored by his attendance; in fact the Contra Costa Times reported that Assemblymember Gatto was present to cast a yes or no vote in all 5,897 roll calls last year. He was the only member of the legislature to not miss a vote. (Orlov, 2014) If an innovative approach to the legislative process was possible then there might be hope for genuine transformation of public policy. I had to talk to Mike Gatto.</span><br />
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<span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Gatto's work spans LA county and the state capitol.</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">I called Gatto’s Capitol office and then sent a follow-up email to ask if there was any chance I could schedule time with the Assemblyman. I then sent Mike a short request via Twitter to ask if he would be willing to talk with me. In less than two minutes the Assemblyman replied personally through Twitter and within two hours of my phone call to the office, Gatto’s staff responded with a scheduled for a face-to-face interview. This level of responsiveness is unparalleled within a government office: I’m not a constituent, registered lobbyist, member of the media, or a public official yet I received an immediate response to my inquiry and the Assemblyman generously gave up his during the busy part of a legislative season is generous to accommodate an academic project.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />A Basic Background on California Assemblymember Mike Gatto</span></span></h3>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Mike Gatto is a native and lifelong resident of California’s 43rd assembly district, which includes Glendale and Burbank and surrounding areas. Education played an important role in Gatto’s life, his father Joseph Gatto, was a revered arts educator, who taught for many years at the school he co-founded, the Los Ang</span>eles County High School for the Arts (LACHSA). Mike Gatto describes his father as an Army veteran, beloved arts educator, craftsman, author, and grandfather (Bloom et al., 2014). After attending schools in Glendale, Los Feliz, and Silver Lake, Mike graduated with a degree in History from the University California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and Loyola Law. He left a flourishing career as a small business attorney after successfully running for a vacant assembly seat in his district in June of 2010. He has been serving in the California Assembly for nearly five years has been an integral force in fiscal policy and protecting consumer privacy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />Why Public Service?</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">When I sat down to talk with Mike Gatto, we connected right away on the commonality of raising two young daughters, the photos of his family are prominent in his office and I carry photos of my daughters in the covers of my notebooks and legislative binder. I shared how my children underlie my passion for enacting social change and how I became familiar with Gatto’s legislative work and communication through my prior work. I then asked him why he was driven to serve in the assembly, and what led him to public service. Gatto answered that he had been frustrated for a long time with the status quo and felt there was a better way for the government to operate, he eventually had a shift in his thinking and he felt it was wrong to criticize the system from the sidelines. Instead, Gatto says “if you really care about something, you care about changing the system, it’s best to get involved” (Gatto, 2015). He left a good job to run for office because he felt to focus on laws that benefit the public at large, as opposed to special interest groups.<br /><br />I asked what issues evoked passion from the Assemblymember. I was surprised by the source of Gatto’s passion; a topic he admitted that usually makes people’s eyes glaze over: financial reform. Mike Gatto is passionate about budget reform and has a “love for all things fiscal” (Gatto, 2015). Why would budgetary matter invoke this much fervor? Gatto describes the relationship this way: “I think the biggest that way a society expresses its values is what it chooses to spend money on” (Gatto, 2015) This idea is pivotal for those of us who tend view economic forces as separate from social ones. Economist Richard Steinberg echoes a similar sentiment when he defines economics as: “The study of choices under scarcity” and insists that allocating funding (a scare resource) is an exercise in choice, denoting what is valuable (Steinberg, 2006).<br /><br />Gatto further stressed the implications of managing public funds; “we must never forget it’s our money, it’s everybody’s money. It’s not the government’s money, it belongs to all the taxpayers, all the people in the state and so I think reforming the process and making sure we don’t spend it foolishly is the biggest thing I think we could do to leave a better government for the next generation” (Gatto, 2015). This process reformation is similar to the broader social aspect of economic thinking and creating “bottom-up policy” that author David Colander says is changing the current landscape of economics (Colander, 2012).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />What is Getting in the Way?</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I wanted to know how serving in the assembly for five years had changed Gatto’s outlook on the ability to affect change. The inequities of power held by special interest groups stands out as a depressing reality. Gatto says that there are positive initiatives he has taken on and that his colleagues and pursued that have been stifled by special interests: “You get and education very fast on how powerful certain special interest groups are and people. You’re always going to be affected by money and power and things like that, but when it gets too profound in one direction, then you have to say “something’s wrong” (Gatto, 2015).<br /><br />There seems to be increasing evidence something is, indeed, wrong. Ordinary citizens are being shut out of the democratic process due to the power and manipulation used by special interest groups is. As economist Lester Salamon points out, it becoming increasingly difficult for citizens and nonprofits to have a voice advocacy, in view of the 2010 Supreme Court ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, which removed all restrictions on corporate financing of election campaigns (2012, p. 38).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />Shifting Power to the People</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Engaging members of the public is to participate and be heard is a key Mike Gatto’s approach to shifting the balance of power. Gatto’s approach is not just symbolic; he has implemented changes suggested by people responding to legislation proposals. Gatto says that allowing people to truly be heard is mutually beneficial: “A lot of good ideas come to you from members of the public. A lot of people propose changes to my bills and they’re actually good changes, so I like to think that I’m better for it” (Gatto, 2015)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Gatto’s legislative work has made headlines as he drafted </span><a href="http://205.144.168.164/blogs/politics/2013/12/16/15412/assemblyman-wants-public-to-take-diy-approach-to-d/" style="font-family: inherit;">the United States' first bill drafted by the public on a wiki-style Web page</a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> (KPCC, 2014). Gatto is again utilizing this new approach of crowdsourcing to shape and increase the level of transparency in the legislative process. Gatto described the reasoning behind using this methodology to create AB 83, a bill that would increase security requirements and accountability for businesses that collect personal information from consumers:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">“Too often, legislation is drafted with little or no input from the everyday Californian. In contrast, ‘crowdsourcing’ a bill on the Wiki platform allows for a fully transparent brainstorming, drafting, and editing process that incorporates ideas, experiences, and concerns from a large group of people. The collective wisdom of the public determines the final product.” (Simmons, 2015)</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> A Case for Optimism and Action</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">The philosopher Paulo Freire differentiates how dialogue requires an equal dynamic, he says that dialogue “is and act of creation; it must not serve as a crafty instrument from the domination of one person by another. Dialogue cannot exist without humility. “ (Freire, 2000, p. 89). I am inspired by the power of dialogue (even dialogue in 140-character increments). Assemblymember Mike Gatto has been able to use the Twitter as a platform to communicate personally and truly listen to others’ ideas with intention and to engage in reciprocal dialogue, not just to further a specific political agenda.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />As someone who feels called to enact social change, I asked Mike what wisdom he had for change agents and I recognized the power of passion combined with truth: “If there’s an issue you care about, people will see that. They will see it by your passion, by the tone of your voice and the look in your eye. They will see all of those things that you care about it. People who care about issues are very powerful spokespeople for them” (Gatto, 2015).</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />My conversation with Mike Gatto left me with added optimism on the possibility to enact social change. Reflecting on his terms in the assembly, Gatto says “With a lot of things I’ve been just profoundly impressed with the ability to do good.” He mentioned the positive impact that one legislative initiative had, a bill he passed that reduced the red tape for certain kinds of small businesses in the food industry. When talking about this bill, Gatto says “I still get stopped on the street by people saying ‘You changed my life. I’m a single mother and I wanted to create a baking business and I was never able to do it and there was all this red tape and bureaucracy, but you changed my life’.” (Gatto, 2015).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> References</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">KPCC. (2014, September 14). California's first wiki bill vetoed, but Assemblyman Mike Gatto says he plans to organize more. Retrieved May 24, 2015, from KPCC: http://www.scpr.org/news/2014/09/20/46857/california-s-first-wiki-bill-vetoed-but-assemblyma/<br />Bloom, T., Wynter, K., Pamer, M., Wynter, K., & McDade, M. (2014, November 12). As Memorial Highway Is Named for Joseph Gatto, LAPD Asks for Tips in Unsolved Killing. Retrieved May 23, 2015, from KTLA: http://ktla.com/2014/11/12/joseph-gatto-lapd-to-re-offer-50k-reward-in-unsolved-killing-of-assemblymans-father/<br />Colander, D. (2012, January-February). Solving Society's Problems from the Bottom Up. Challenge , 55 (1), pp. 69-85.<br />Freire, P. (2000). Pedagogy of the Oppressed. New York , NY: Bloomsbury Academic.<br />Salamon, L. M. (2012). The Resilient Sector: The Future of Nonprofit America. Washington D.C.: Brookings Institution Press.<br /><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">Yeates, K. (Interviewer) & Gatto, M. (Interviewee). (2015, May 13). Improving the Democratic Process with Open Dialogue, 140 Characters at a Time [Interview transcript]. Retrieved from </span><a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1d0-e9X6FfSF7f5o13qq34zUQuwK3Ba9r2WjytSIVwkg/edit?usp=sharing" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">https://docs.google.com/document/d/1d0-e9X6FfSF7f5o13qq34zUQuwK3Ba9r2WjytSIVwkg/edit?usp=sharing</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #444444; font-size: large;">INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT with Assemblymember Mike Gatto</span></span></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">May 13, 2015</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "droid sans"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">K: What inspires your dedication, your approach—why civil service?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "droid sans"; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">M: Well, you know, the reason why I ran for office initially is because I found myself waking up every morning and shaking my fist at the newspaper, feeling like there was a better way to do things. And then at some point I kind of had a shift, I thought, If I am going to criticize something then I’m not really a good human being unless I get involved myself. It’s very easy to ‘Monday morning quarterback’, or whatever they call it, to sit there and criticize something from the sidelines. But if you really care about something, you care about changing the system, it’s best to get involved. So that’s what made me run for office. I left a much…..I left a very good job and I, but I did it because I really feel like we need more sensible laws and things. We need lawmakers who are going to focus on laws that benefit the public at large, as opposed to special interest groups. </span><span style="font-family: "droid sans"; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "droid sans"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">K: Is there anything in your background or different sorts of policies that</span><span style="font-family: "droid sans"; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> ( M: gets you excited? ), </span><span style="font-family: "droid sans"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">yeah your passion: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "droid sans"; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">M: Oh gosh, things that probably bore a lot of other people. I mean, I am very much into budget reform, I love all things fiscal, and you know—I know a lot of people’s eyes glaze over when you start talking about things like this. But; If you think about it, I think the biggest that way a society expresses its values is what it chooses to spend money on. And we in California, we’ve chosen a lot of things over the years that are probably not that wise to spend our money on, and we must never forget it’s our money, it’s everybody’s money. It’s not the government’s money, it belongs to all the taxpayers, all the people in the state and so I think reforming the process and making sure we don’t spend it foolishly is the biggest thing I think we could do to leave a better government for the next generation.</span><span style="font-family: "droid sans"; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="font-family: "droid sans"; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "droid sans"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">K: How has it been for you balancing the committee for consumer privacy, how has it been for you to balance the amount of transparency and engagement and you’ve put forth personally while also being so aware of protecting people’s privacy?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "droid sans"; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">M: Sure, you know it's a very fair question. You know I think the key thing with privacy, just like much else, it’s consent, right? it’s freedom. If people choose to go on Twitter or Facebook and say “I’m at this wonderful event” or gosh, I mean there’s people on Twitter and Facebook who tell us what they had for dinner that night, then they are consenting to give up their privacy. But none of us would ever say that you have to do that, right? None of us would ever say that it’s right to get into someone’s personal data that they don’t want out there, or to force people to have to disclose things that they don’t want disclosed. So that’s where I draw the line, it just comes down to consent and freedom. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "droid sans"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">K: Has it been difficult, at all, with having that much engagement or sustaining it?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "droid sans"; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">M: Sometimes, I mean— I think there’s a of people who don’t understand various media. Twitter for example, is something that because it’s 140 characters at a time, it’s very rapid. For example I could compose a tweet right now while we’re talking and it would probably be very rude, but it wouldn’t necessarily detract from our interview. If that makes sense? It’s a good, quick way to stay engaged with the people who voted for me. That’s the way that I view it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "droid sans"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">K</span><span style="font-family: "droid sans"; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: </span><span style="font-family: "droid sans"; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Yes, and I think it’s amazing the way that you’ve used it.</span><span style="font-family: "droid sans"; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> You’ve leveraged it to respond to, even, people with small criticisms on proposed legislation, to say: “oh ok, well maybe we’ll consider folding that in”. It’s almost as if you’re so reasonable, there is just this cognitive dissonance—does that make sense? [M: Yeah, sure, I understand].</span><span style="font-family: "droid sans"; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "droid sans"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">K: Is there anything else about you, from your background that has shaped how you’re able to have such a unique delivery or methodology with the way you approach things?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "droid sans"; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">M: I made a promise to myself when I got elected that I would never forget the perspective of the voter. There’s a lot of people, that the minute they go from being a voter, to being somebody who is </span><span style="font-family: "droid sans"; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">voted on</span><span style="font-family: "droid sans"; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, or </span><span style="font-family: "droid sans"; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">voted for</span><span style="font-family: "droid sans"; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, they lose that perspective. They forget what it’s like to be someone who wants your tree trimmed and you call the service and you’re on hold for 45 minutes, and then they give you some answer that it will be trimmed in 30 years. Or, you want a pothole filled. That experience stinks. That type of lack of responsiveness, when you write an elected official, when you call an elected official, when you call your government and they don’t respond to you and they’re not reasonable; it </span><span style="font-family: "droid sans"; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">drives us crazy</span><span style="font-family: "droid sans"; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Right? It’s like, I’m paying for this person’s salary, they talk about efficiency, and they’re supposed to listen to my viewpoint- and yet they’re not listening to me. So I promised myself I would never be </span><span style="font-family: "droid sans"; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">that</span><span style="font-family: "droid sans"; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> person, that I would never forget what it’s like to be that person who was calling about something that really bothered me or was really engaging somebody somehow. So I just want to be responsive, I just want to respond to people.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "droid sans"; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">By the way a lot of good ideas come to you from members of the public. A lot of people propose changes to my bills and they’re actually good changes, so I like to think that i’m better for it. and I hope that I’m also making people...I like to surprise people and make them realize that not all of us ignore people. If hope that makes sense. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "droid sans"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">K:</span><span style="font-family: "droid sans"; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: "droid sans"; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Yes, I think it really is thoroughly surprising and I probably haven’t bugged your office before because many of my issues just don’t happen to be the overlapping, on the specific committees that you work on. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "droid sans"; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">M: I did sign the letter in support of the Lanterman Act.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "droid sans"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">K:</span><span style="font-family: "droid sans"; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: "droid sans"; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Yes, and I called your office to thank you for your support, though my reps still haven't signed on to support it yet. That is a conversation I would like to have. I had brought both my girls out several weekends to volunteer for our local campaigns and place lawn signs and they grumbled about “why are we doing this?” and I tried to approach a conversation about civic duty and engagement. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "droid sans"; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">M: That sounds like a good mother.</span><span style="font-family: "droid sans"; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "droid sans"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">K: How do you define or prioritize the issues or forces that are happening within your district?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "droid sans"; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">M: Geez. Well one way to prioritize it, of course, is sheer numbers. To see how many people write in on an issue. Another other way to prioritize it is the passion of the few people who write in. You could occasionally have a problem that is very vast but only a few people care enough to write about it. And then the converse is also true. You could also have a problem where 70% or 80% of the population feels one way but then 20% is very vocal. So you really have to have a good compass. You have to be in touch with a lot of people in your district to have a sense of how the district really feels. And, you know, sometimes you also have to say the district, in effect, elected me to be their voice, and I might not have taken a poll on this, or even an informal survey, but I’m going to do what I feel is right for the people in my district. And It’s kind of easy because I grew up in my district. I was born and raised there so I feel like I’m still in touch with all the people who populate it.</span><span style="font-family: "droid sans"; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "droid sans"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">K: Was your family originally from there? </span><span style="font-family: "droid sans"; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">[your district]</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "droid sans"; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">M: My dad moved to LA when he was about 10. My mom did when she was about 20. But I was actually both born and raised in my district. And my dad had lived there, my dad lived in the district from 1968 to 2013, he passed away so… yeah, I’ve got some pretty deep roots there which is good. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "droid sans"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">K: How has your outlook on public service or the ability to make change—how has that been influenced in your terms in the Assembly? What has it been now? (five years)</span><span style="font-family: "droid sans"; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> [said simultaneously].</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "droid sans"; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">M: Yeah, five years, well it will be five years in June. With a lot of things I’ve been just profoundly impressed with the ability to do good. For example there was a bill a few years ago that I wrote to affect the red tape for a certain kind of small businesses in the food industry, it sounds so random (no, it was incredibly helpful, I have a friend who was helped immensely) Well there you go.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "droid sans"; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So we went through our bills that year and we probably had 50 ideas and we ranked this 21at out of 20 bills we were going to carry, but by some reason we ended up carrying it. And I still get stopped on the street by people saying “You changed my life. I’m a single mother and I wanted to create a baking business and I was never able to do it and there was all this red tape and bureaucracy, but you changed my life”. And then Forbes magazine, did a story about how it created 1,000 new small businesses. But there are also things where you keep fighting and fighting and fighting and you get very depressed by the power that special interest groups have here. There are other things that I’ve tried to do, that I know my colleagues have tried where you get and education very fast on how powerful certain special interest groups are and people. And there’s interest groups up here who feel totally comfortable to threaten you with your reelection. They feel very comfortably to imply very strongly that if you don’t vote a certain way they’re going to affect your future career, and that’s depressing because you like to think that we live in a society where elected officials could feel comfortable to vote their conscience and do what they think is right. You’re always going to be affected, you’re always going to be affected by blocks of vote in your district. You’re always going to be affected by money and power and things like that, but when it gets too profound in one direction, then you have to say “something’s wrong”. And so, I guess what I’m saying is there have been profound opportunities to do good but it’s also depressing sometimes by how many good ideas can get stifled by special interest groups. </span><span style="font-family: "droid sans"; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "droid sans"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">K: Do you have any wisdom about your approach on how to find your avenue, for people to make social change? Because that is what I feel compelled to do, and in my last job I felt I wasn’t able to do enough to change policy.</span><span style="font-family: "droid sans"; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "droid sans"; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">M: The best way is to, if there’s an issue you care about, people will see that. They will see it by your passion, by the tone of your voice and the look in your eye. They will see all of those things, that you care about it. People who care about issues are very powerful spokespeople for them. If you can get other people to join you, to contribute small amounts of money to fund a professional lobbying effort, to contribute small amounts of money to a PAC, to lobby legislators, to give their time. Because time has a value, just like money, to come testify, to write letters, to engage the media; all these things are very, very powerful ways to affect change. One of the most powerful ways is that there are a lot of newspapers right now that are just dying for content, [yes] and people still read newspapers, and if you can write compelling Op-Eds and submit them to newspapers. You know, I write Op-Eds that aren’t even my issues, in my privy, I write Op-Eds on Federal monetary policy and newspapers sometimes take them because sometimes {they need content}. But that’s a really powerful way to kick-off a movement.</span><span style="font-family: "droid sans"; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "droid sans"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">K: </span><span style="font-family: "droid sans"; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You talked about the good opportunities for making measurable and positive change for people through your legislative work, but you also talked about the reality of special interest groups and how they have a paralyzing effect on the legislative process and representing people in a genuine way</span><span style="font-family: "droid sans"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">—What would progress or positive change look like to you (dreaming big), in the way the state legislature functions and serves its citizens?</span><span style="font-family: "droid sans"; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "droid sans"; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">M: Progress and positive change can best be brought through a more engaged citizenry, participating actively in the legislative process. Reducing voter apathy and increasing voter turnout is an extremely important first step towards achieving this goal. Additionally, I have taken strides to allow the public to have a direct impact on the state’s legislative process in an unprecedented manner. For the second year in a row I have invited the public to draft their own legislation online. Citizens can visit the "Wiki bill's" website, and by using an interface similar to Wikipedia's, they can propose, draft, and edit a bill. Many people have ideas about what they like and don’t like about their government, so providing them this forum to create legislation and directly impact the process is one of the best ways we can serve citizens as a legislature.</span><span style="font-family: "droid sans"; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "droid sans"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">K: Do you feel that most legislative policy is created from a negative and reactionary viewpoint, only looking at the biggest failures and problems in society and fixing those? Or do we have policies that develop from looking at our community's assets, existing strengths and asking how we can utilize those assets, empower them and have them function more efficiently? Should both approaches be used?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "droid sans"; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">M: Legislative policy in California comes from a combination of proactive and reactive viewpoints. We should be using whatever makes the most sense. I am a strong proponent of common sense, practical solutions, whether proactive or reactive, that can best benefit our state. California’s legislative process can be long and drawn out which is frustrating. However, this process is necessary to ensure that bills are thoroughly vetted. This means that, whether negative and reactive or positive and proactive, we do what is in the best interest of Californians.</span><span style="font-family: "droid sans"; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "droid sans"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">K: What influenced your decision to support the Lanterman Coalition's budget position, to increase funding across-the-board for developmental services?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "droid sans"; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">M: It was simply the right thing to do. The system that was previously in place was in crisis and it was time for the legislature to act. Although the Developmental Services Task Force had been working on budget recommendations, it was unclear if it would be available in time for the budget debate. I stood with other legislators in asking the Chairs of the Subcommittees on Health and Human Services in both houses to consider a 10 percent increase in the regional center operations and purchase of services budget for developmental services.</span></div>
</span>kcyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08997057641249112711noreply@blogger.com0Latin America34.016241889667015 -116.36718757.5736508896670145 -157.6757815 60.458832889667015 -75.0585935tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5876672639024758651.post-35969739615319668792015-09-11T10:27:00.001-07:002015-09-11T11:08:43.689-07:00When My Child Asked Me About 9/11<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0TknvHQxRCM/VfMO7WS3JFI/AAAAAAAAC9w/FH-UxK4PFdM/s640/blogger-image-1586488016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0TknvHQxRCM/VfMO7WS3JFI/AAAAAAAAC9w/FH-UxK4PFdM/s640/blogger-image-1586488016.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">This was the day that I saw Manhattan as it used to be. This photo is almost 15 years old. We were super young teens driving through the city and the very next year we would have plane tickets to be in NYC on 9/11/11 - but ultimately those tickets got switched and a subsequent flight to New York on 9/12/11 never happened either. A lot has changed and it feels quick in that amount of time, and yet sometimes it seems as if our nation has lost sight of what we could do together out of the pain in this circumstance. There's loud debate on immigration so much use of slanderous terms to further divide and dehumanize people from almost any sector, culture and background. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Earlier this week my older daughter began to ask me some explicit questions about the 9/11 memorial in town. She's seen it in prior years and was satisfied by being told they were American flags. But now she has read books with me about other flags, part of a book about how we all have a heritage. She picked out several flags that were her favorites (Qatar, Brazil, and Iran). So this time she asked me why the flags were there now. I leveled with her saying it was to commemorate a very sad thing that happened and so many people died because of it, a lot of it happened in New York. But, she wanted to know....what was EACH flag was for? (There's a flag for every single person killed that day, it's quite sobering visually). I told her that each of those flags represents an American who died during that very sad event. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I didn't go into any more details, or use any other descriptors, but I told her that I believe it's important that we not hold hatred in our hearts for other people because they are different. That because of this sad day, it's important to work to understand others and learn what shapes their view rather than giving them a label. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I am not prepared to talk about these complex realities that defy logic, but I think we owe our kids a world in which we engage in thoughtful talks with other cultures, nations, and people all sides of political debates and religions before we go out and label anyone not "with us" as a "terrorist". </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">14 years ago our country lost so many things and moms, dads, sons and daughters that were irreplaceable and we found a uniting vision to help one another and see past the superficial differences and utilize the Internet as a tool for fundraising to help people we don't even know in their darkest hour. I hope we can feel the connection with others and use this day to work together, have the difficult discussions in a responsible way and keep our perspectives grounded. Our kids deserve to know a nation and world where we can view others with empathy, open hearts and open minds. There's so much at stake. Never forget.</span></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-oLXOe1hvvpo/VfMYqhKZpUI/AAAAAAAAC-I/aBPdi0idP-Y/s640/blogger-image-206560555.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-oLXOe1hvvpo/VfMYqhKZpUI/AAAAAAAAC-I/aBPdi0idP-Y/s640/blogger-image-206560555.jpg"></a></div>kcyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08997057641249112711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5876672639024758651.post-68604971125538164832015-09-08T17:29:00.004-07:002015-09-09T13:08:50.919-07:00Why Girls with Autism May Often be OverlookedA new study by Stanford Medicine supports what parents have long known. Autism manifests differently in boys and girls. It's important to note that this study found that girls were 3 times less likely to display clinically significant repetitive behaviors than boys.<br />
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Unfortunately under DSM5, this means many of these girls will not get properly diagnosed and may be labeled as having "social communication disorder"—a new diagnosis, for which there is no validating science or services. Conversely, the same gender differences suggest many boys may be over-diagnosed. I believe that fully understanding these subtitles is imperative to closing the gender gap and providing all our children with accurate information and access to appropriate services for skill development and self empowerment. <br />
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<span style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: large; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2015/09/girls-and-boys-with-autism-differ-in-behavior-brain-structure.html" target="_blank">Girls and boys with autism differ in behavior, brain structure</a></span></span></h2>
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September 3, 2015<br />
<i><br />By Erin Digitale </i><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i style="background-color: white; color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', sans-serif; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; text-align: start;">A <a href="https://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2015/09/girls-and-boys-with-autism-differ-in-behavior-brain-structure.html" target="_blank">new study from the Stanford School of Medicine</a> </span></i><i style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', sans-serif; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; text-align: start;">shows <br />that there are gender differences in the </span></i><i style="background-color: white; color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', sans-serif; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; text-align: start;">behaviors <br />displayed by children with autism.</span></i><i style="background-color: white; color: #444444;"><i><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', sans-serif; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; text-align: start;">Altanaka/Shutterstock</span></i></i></span></div>
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<a href="https://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2015/09/girls-and-boys-with-autism-differ-in-behavior-brain-structure.html" style="font-size: x-small;" target="_blank">https://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2015/09/girls-and-boys-with-autism-differ-in-behavior-brain-structure.html</a></div>
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kcyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08997057641249112711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5876672639024758651.post-84533761288804375802015-08-29T09:12:00.000-07:002015-08-30T14:07:28.581-07:00New School Opening Brings New Possibilities for West Sacramento Community<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ws70bGjiWEE/VeLHWlmzhfI/AAAAAAAAC64/p8xlcKMwcO4/s1600/IMG_0696.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ws70bGjiWEE/VeLHWlmzhfI/AAAAAAAAC64/p8xlcKMwcO4/s320/IMG_0696.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iCjtmZvOicA/VeLHWm6p20I/AAAAAAAAC7A/ka0fy_s0onE/s1600/IMG_0716.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iCjtmZvOicA/VeLHWm6p20I/AAAAAAAAC7A/ka0fy_s0onE/s320/IMG_0716.jpg" width="240" /></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21.466667175293px;">It is already amazing what <a href="http://www.lighthousecharterschool.org/" target="_blank">this school</a> has been able to do in less than two weeks since school started. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21.466667175293px;">I am so encouraged by the community that has been created in less than a week of school. My children are so excited about music, art, and sharing books in class! It is wonderful to be part of this great school. As a parent of a child with disabilities, I have become accustomed to my child coming home from school exhausted and feeling beaten-down by socializing at school, but coming home from Lighthouse Charter School has been different. The kids have been inclusive and kind </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21.466667175293px;">, and even given compliments to my daughter who hasn't experienced being accepted so well by her peers before.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21.466667175293px;">The opening of <a href="http://www.lighthousecharterschool.org/" target="_blank">Lighthouse</a> represents the culmination of years of planning and months of dedicated outreach and investment on the part of committed parents with a shared a vision for creating an educational option with a collaborative culture, and meaningful involvement from community groups and parents. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21.466667175293px;">I'm so grateful to all the parents who made this new school option a reality and for contributing all of your wonderful kids to our school. I really believe we've created something special!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21.466667175293px;">The first day of school was commemorated with </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21.466667175293px;">a ribbon cutting ceremony with West Sacramento Mayor Chris Cabaldon, and the mascots for the Sacramento Kings and River Cats. Read the <a href="http://www.sacbee.com/news/local/education/article32677518.html" target="_blank">Sacramento Bee's coverage of the opening Lighthouse Charter School and the parent-driven movement for collaborative education</a>.</span><br />
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kcyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08997057641249112711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5876672639024758651.post-62639625936898999132015-06-01T22:58:00.004-07:002015-06-01T23:05:45.749-07:00A Comparison of Religious Perspectives on Social Action<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">
<strong>A view of the perspectives of Emma Watson and Cesar Chave</strong><b>z, from these two videos:</b><br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-iFl4qhBsE" target="_blank">Emma Watson's talk at the United Nations</a> on why gender equality is necessary (normaljean2, 2014), and Cesar’s Last Fast <span style="margin-bottom: 0px;">(Perez & Parlee, 2014)</span>.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px;">Emma Watson’s speech at the UN</strong> served to introduce a new campaign for gender equality, the #HeForShe initiative. Watson described why she identified as a feminist and went on to say that the term (feminist) has become a negative term abandoned by most women and that it had also become, mistakenly, synonymous with hating men. This is where she said that she felt compelled to do something, because there was no way to work towards gender equality if we ignored the gender biases that disserve men and if we didn’t include nearly 50% of the population in the conversation. Watson extended an invitation for men to be involved in the work to provide equal opportunities, to provide equal pay, education, to promote a society in which women can be strong and men can feel free to be sensitive without defying gender stereotypes.</div>
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<strong>Cesar’s Last Fast</strong> is a documentary that tells the story of the life’s work of Cesar Chavez through the lens of a 36 day fast her undertook in 1988 to call attention to the health hazards farm workers and their children face because of their exposure to pesticides. Family members and other leaders who worked alongside Chavez in organizing the labor movement for migrant farmworkers tell the story of the fast and describe Chavez’ fast as penance for having not accomplished more to help the children suffering from cancer and dying of other maladies caused by exposure to toxics. Chavez’ son states: “Penance is a personal act. You’re not acting for someone to forgive you, you’re doing something to make up for your own personal shortcomings” (Perez & Parlee, 2014). Through the story of the fast, we see how Cesar Chavez was influenced by his roots in a migrant farm-working family during the Great Depression and how his family’s working conditions led to him attending 27 different secondary schools and dropping out to work in the fields, suffering discrimination for being Latino, and becoming a social organizer and the leader of organizing labor for farm workers and creating the UFW. The story of Cesar’s work to improve the lives and working conditions of farm workers intersects many times with other notable figures in social activism and civil rights, including Senator Robert F Kennedy, the Reverend Jesse Jackson and Martin Sheen (legally named Ramón Estevez) <span style="margin-bottom: 0px;">(Kupfer, 2003)</span>. Cesar Ended his fast after many leaders in civil rights and social justice movements convinced him that they could preserve his life and expand the movement of his fast by creating a rolling fast where people would fast for 2-3 days and then pass along the gesture to the next person in a chain.</div>
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<strong>Why I chose these two stories:</strong><br />
I found both of these stories to be personally compelling because of my familiarity with the movements but lack of depth about the backgrounds of the people behind them, let along how their religious beliefs might shape their perspective and approach to change. From this documentary, I learned how much of Cesar Chavez’ shaped by his Catholic faith and how devout he was. He was also influenced by his native ancestry and felt personal responsibility for the people he was influencing. Chavez’ son described how the Mayan traditions of bloodletting and self-sacrifice on the part of Mayan leaders was an important part of the spiritual tradition and how that influenced Cesar’s ideals. I also saw ways in which he was able to utilize his faith in his approach to problem-solving the barriers to the social movement he was undertaking. At one point when he was at a loss on how to reach workers of a large remote ranch that they couldn’t access legally, he thought of the idea to create a type of shrine and chapel in the back of a car that eventually became a gathering for thousands, which provided a way to have legitimate traffic flow in the area, unite large groups with authentic religious services and be able to talk to the workers in the area about their working conditions. Chavez also turned the 400-mile march through the central valley, to the state capitol in Sacramento into a procession for Easter and was able to draw on the shared faith of the many migrant workers to increase the depth of the movement and to sustain the long fight for workers rights.</div>
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I am also always moved to learn more about what compels a person who seems to hold a place of relative privilege to take risk to advocate for social change, when they don’t need to take the risk. This is part of what I find so fascinating about both Emma Watson and Martin Sheen. Learning more about Sheen’s background, he has several commonalities with Chavez and was born to immigrant parents and a father who is Spanish, but Sheen is also a self-described devout Catholic and his presence in Cesar’s Last Fast is quite striking. It also reminds me of how art imitates life through the role created for Sheen in <em>the West Wing</em> and particularly the themes presented in <em><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYcMk3AJKLk" target="_blank">The Two Cathedrals</a></em>, when Sheen’s character grapples with the role of God in the injustices of recent events and defies Catholic tradition because of the deeply conviction he feels that God has been unjust towards those who have been harmed. (kireon1, 2012) Sheen also has been so personally involved in social reform work that it has gotten him arrested over 60 times and when asked what drives him to be so active is social justice and peace issues, he’s said: “I do it because I can't seem to live with myself if I do not. I don't know any other way to be. It isn't something you can explain; it is just something that you do; it is something that you are” <span style="margin-bottom: 0px;">(Kupfer, 2003)</span>.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px;">Common ground between the two perspectives</strong><br />
The main commonality I find between the work of Cesar Chavez and the approach to gender equality by Emma Watson is that of extending their movement and their ideals beyond their own group.</div>
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Chavez did this by working with other religious civil rights leaders and by tackling worker’s rights issues regardless of ethnicity, culture, religion or race. Jesse Jackson is shown many times in the film with Chavez as an integral part of the movement in the 80’s and although he is Baptist and is known for being leader for other types of rights. <span style="margin-bottom: 0px;">(Purnick & Oreskes, 1987)</span> Jackson also worked with Chavez to extend the reach of the movement and to support him during the fast, even though the idea of penance has firmer roots in Catholicism than Protestantism. Chavez also showed how much he was willing to extend his ideals towards other groups by deciding to support the Pilipino workers who went on strike, even though his community felt they were no where ready to take such a measure, they felt it was only right and effective to stand in solidarity with the Pilipino workers and unite causes. His union also fought for the rights of Islamic immigrants and showed respect for their religious traditions.</div>
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Similarly, Emma Watson is working from the perspective of a female and a self-proclaimed feminist, but she acknowledges the need for male involvement and actively seeks out male representation in the process of feminine equality. Watson also extends the need for equality to be inclusive of men and addresses the areas where men are marginalized by societal expectations and how that effect can be seen in Briton’s incredibly high suicide rate <span style="margin-bottom: 0px;">(normaljean2, 2014)</span>.</div>
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<strong>Differences in the perspectives</strong><br />
Most obviously, Emma Watson addresses her approach to social reform by acknowledging her place of privilege and the benefits given to her by educators and parents who instilled as much effort and faith in her abilities as they would have if she were male. She also is only shown in the early stages of addressing the issue, whereas we can see the culmination of nearly 40 years of Cesar’s civil rights work represented in the film on his last fast. This shows us much greater diversity in the approaches and sacrifices made by Chavez in order to maintain momentum for his movement and to creatively find ways to involve new people and create genuine change. <span style="margin-bottom: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<span style="margin-bottom: 0px;">Also, notable is how Chavez’s early life of poverty and being a child laborer is far different from the social reality of Emma Watson’s childhood. It could be argued that they both were different from typical children, in that they both were working at a very early age, in a way that can critically interfere with healthy development.</span></div>
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Lastly, Emma Watson is humble in her approach to the work and her ego, similar to Chavez —but Watson doesn’t come from a specific or strong religious background, nor is she working with a group that is likely to be predominantly from one, specific religious background. Emma Watson describes herself as someone who is obviously more spiritual than religious and says that: “I had a sense that I believed in a higher power, but that I was more of a Universalist, I see that there are these unifying tenets between so many religions" <span style="margin-bottom: 0px;">(Huffington Post Religion, 2015)</span>.</div>
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<span style="font-size: 8pt; margin-bottom: 0px;"><strong><span style="margin-bottom: 0px;"><br /></span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 8pt; margin-bottom: 0px;"><strong><span style="margin-bottom: 0px;">Works Cited</span></strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 8pt; margin-bottom: 0px;">Huffington Post Religion. (2015, March 25). <em style="margin-bottom: 0px;">Emma Watson Is A Spiritual Universalist Who Believes In A Higher Power</em>. Retrieved June 1, 2015, from Huffington Post Religion: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/25/emma-watson-spiritual-universalist_n_5023862.html</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 8pt;">Jackson, J. (2015, June 1). </span><em style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 8pt; margin-bottom: 0px;">Shrinking middle class squeezes African Americans, Latinos</em><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 8pt;">. Retrieved June 1, 2015, from Chicago Sun Times: http://chicago.suntimes.com/opinion/7/71/652824/jesse-jackson</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 8pt;">kireon1. (2012, August 18). Two Cathedrals Rant With Translation. </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 8pt; margin-bottom: 0px;">[Video File} Retrieved from: </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 8pt;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYcMk3AJKLk</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 8pt;">Kupfer, D. (2003, June 31). </span><em style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 8pt; margin-bottom: 0px;">Martin Sheen Interview</em><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 8pt;">. Retrieved June 1, 2015, from The Progressive: http://www.progressive.org/mag_intvsheen</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 8pt;">normaljean2. (2014, September 21). Emma Watson UN speech. [Video File} Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-iFl4qhBsE</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 8pt;">Perez , R. R., & Parlee, L. (Directors). (2014). </span><em style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 8pt; margin-bottom: 0px;">Cesar’s Last Fast</em><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 8pt;"> [Motion Picture].</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 8pt;">Purnick, J., & Oreskes, M. (1987, November 29). </span><em style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 8pt; margin-bottom: 0px;">JESSE JACKSON AIMS FOR THE MAINSTREAM</em><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 8pt;">. Retrieved June 1, 2015, from The New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/1987/11/29/magazine/jesse-jackson-aims-for-the-mainstream.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm</span></div>
kcyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08997057641249112711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5876672639024758651.post-4464183926570209852015-05-04T03:27:00.000-07:002015-05-04T13:29:28.325-07:00Serving a Neurodiverse Community with Discordant Views on Autism<h3 style="text-align: left;">
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A Brief Background on Autism Spectrum Disorders</h3><div>by K. Yeates, May 3, 2015</div>
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Leo Kanner, a child psychiatrist a Johns Hopkins University, first used the term “autism” in 1943 to describe 11 children who displayed a set of similar symptoms: lack of social skills, unusual body movements, and rigid routines. Although some of the children were verbal, all had serous learning challenges and lacked social skills to utilize their speech to communicate well with others.</div>
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A year later, in 1944, Hans Asperger; an Austrian pediatrician first described patients with similar symptoms but with proficient language use and without serious learning impairments. Although Asperger syndrome was termed at roughly the same time as autism, it was not widely heard of in the United States in the early 1980s (Ozonoff, Dawson, & McPartland, 2002). The similarities between Asperger’s and autism were striking, but this led to divisive opinions as to whether they part of the same disorder. Asperger’s disorder was added to the <a class="external" href="http://www.dsm5.org/Documents/changes%20from%20dsm-iv-tr%20to%20dsm-5.pdf" style="color: #396eb2; margin-bottom: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">DSM-IV<span aria-hidden="true" class="ui-icon ui-icon-extlink ui-icon-inline" style="background-image: url(https://claremont.instructure.com/images/jqueryui/ui-icons_222222_256x240.png?1430244860); background-position: -32px -80px; background-repeat: no-repeat; display: inline-block; height: 16px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-indent: -99999px; vertical-align: middle; width: 16px;" title="Links to an external site."></span><span class="screenreader-only" style="-webkit-transform: translateZ(0px); border: 0px; clip: rect(0px 0px 0px 0px); height: 1px; margin: -1px -1px 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: absolute; transform: translateZ(0px); width: 1px;"> (Links to an external site.)</span></a> in 1994 under the umbrella term of pervasive developmental disorders (PDDs), characterized by impairments spanning all areas of functioning: social reciprocity, communication, and repetitive behaviors and interests (Young & Rodi, 2014). However, The DSM-5 released 2013, disposed of Aspergers and PDD-NOS and replaced those diagnoses with just one category, autism spectrum disorder (ASD) (Young & Rodi, 2014).</div>
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What makes these terms and diagnostic criteria relevant to our society is that they no longer apply to a small group of children, like Dr. Kanner first described. ASDs have quickly moved from being the subject of rare curiosity to becoming a mainstay in the areas of education, healthcare, insurance, and mental health policy. In 2000, the US Centers for Disease Control reported that 1 in 150 children had been diagnosed ASD. In just 10 years, the prevalence grew to 1 in 68 children (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2015).</div>
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Even for people who don’t have an immediate family member with ASD, developmental disabilities have a wide reaching effect. ASDs affect all racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups. And the issues faced by those with autism affect far more than 1 in 68. Recent studies show roughly 1 in 6 children in the United States has some form of a developmental disability, ranging from mild disabilities such as speech and language impairments to serious developmental disabilities, such as intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy, and autism (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2015).</div>
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For policy makers or individuals who still doubt the relevance of autism, the economic cost on families and for society is undeniable. Individuals with ASD have higher medical costs on average and intensive behavioral interventions for children with ASD average $40,000 to $60,000 per child, per year. The estimated societal costs of caring for children with ASD were surpassed $9 billion in 2011 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2015).</div>
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The Discordant Realities of Living with Autism</h3>
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The autism spectrum has widened to encompass a large range of characteristics. Those who represent this spectrum may be considered profoundly disabled or only affected to more mild degrees. Additionally, there are many adults who have an incredible range of unique talents that they claim are inextricably tied to their diagnosis of Asperger’s or autism. What used to appear as a rare, severe and one-dimensional disabling condition is now the purview of a diverse and discordant community.</div>
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This leads to many unanswered questions that face the future of funding for non-profits, educational services, progressive policy and advocacy. Where do we draw the line between viewing ASD as a gift, difference or disorder? How can we advocate for changes while respecting the diversity of the autism communities? Is it possible to advocate on behalf of specific policy changes or represent an autism group or organization without alienating another group of individuals who are affected by autism at a varying level?</div>
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In order to have a glimpse at the range of voices constitute the range of autism perspectives, I have chosen three short videos that show some common realities of life with autism:</div>
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<a class="youtubed" href="https://youtu.be/PWnd61C0SgA" style="clear: left; color: #396eb2; display: block; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img class="media_comment_thumbnail" src="https://claremont.instructure.com/images/play_overlay.png" style="background: url(https://img.youtube.com/vi/PWnd61C0SgA/2.jpg) 50% 50% no-repeat rgb(34, 34, 34); border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); display: block; height: 100px; margin: 3px 5px 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 2px; vertical-align: middle; width: 140px;"></a><a class="youtubed" href="https://youtu.be/w_23z9yJAq0" style="clear: left; color: #396eb2; display: block; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img class="media_comment_thumbnail" src="https://claremont.instructure.com/images/play_overlay.png" style="background: url(https://img.youtube.com/vi/w_23z9yJAq0/2.jpg) 50% 50% no-repeat rgb(34, 34, 34); border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); display: block; height: 100px; margin: 3px 5px 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 2px; vertical-align: middle; width: 140px;"></a>
<li>The first candid perspective from a young man with autism speaking on the problems inherent in much of the autism advocacy work that takes place without the input of autistics. The views he expresses are a growing concern among autism self-advocates and take specific issue with some prominent, national organizations.<a class="external youtubed" href="https://youtu.be/PWnd61C0SgA" style="color: #396eb2; display: block; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/PWnd61C0SgA<span aria-hidden="true" class="ui-icon ui-icon-extlink ui-icon-inline" style="background-image: url(https://claremont.instructure.com/images/jqueryui/ui-icons_222222_256x240.png?1430244860); background-position: -32px -80px; background-repeat: no-repeat; display: inline-block; height: 16px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-indent: -99999px; vertical-align: middle; width: 16px;" title="Links to an external site."></span><span class="screenreader-only" style="-webkit-transform: translateZ(0px); border: 0px; clip: rect(0px 0px 0px 0px); height: 1px; margin: -1px -1px 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: absolute; transform: translateZ(0px); width: 1px;"> (Links to an external site.)</span></a></li>
<li>This second clip shows the perspective is primarily from a mother, but also shows the whole family of a young teen with autism and how his disability affects daily life. <a class="external youtubed" href="https://youtu.be/w_23z9yJAq0" style="color: #396eb2; display: block; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"></a><a class="youtubed" href="https://youtu.be/-4drTQsSLXg" style="clear: left; color: #396eb2; display: block; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img class="media_comment_thumbnail" src="https://claremont.instructure.com/images/play_overlay.png" style="background: url(https://img.youtube.com/vi/-4drTQsSLXg/2.jpg) 50% 50% no-repeat rgb(34, 34, 34); border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); display: block; height: 100px; margin: 3px 5px 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 2px; vertical-align: middle; width: 140px;"></a><a href="https://youtu.be/w_23z9yJAq0"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px;">https://youtu.be/w_23z9yJAq0</em><span aria-hidden="true" class="ui-icon ui-icon-extlink ui-icon-inline" style="background-image: url(https://claremont.instructure.com/images/jqueryui/ui-icons_222222_256x240.png?1430244860); background-position: -32px -80px; background-repeat: no-repeat; display: inline-block; height: 16px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-indent: -99999px; vertical-align: middle; width: 16px;" title="Links to an external site."></span></a><span class="screenreader-only" style="-webkit-transform: translateZ(0px); border: 0px; clip: rect(0px 0px 0px 0px); height: 1px; margin: -1px -1px 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: absolute; transform: translateZ(0px); width: 1px;"> (Links to an external site.)</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0px;">Lastly, this short clip shows a young, female children in the throws of a severe meltdown that left her parents feeling they had no other option to seek help at a hospital emergency room. Although the child doesn’t seem to be communicating in a typical sense, this is likely her best method of communication in this situation.<a class="external youtubed" href="https://youtu.be/-4drTQsSLXg" style="color: #396eb2; display: block; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px;">https://youtu.be/-4drTQsSLXg</em><span aria-hidden="true" class="ui-icon ui-icon-extlink ui-icon-inline" style="background-image: url(https://claremont.instructure.com/images/jqueryui/ui-icons_222222_256x240.png?1430244860); background-position: -32px -80px; background-repeat: no-repeat; display: inline-block; height: 16px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-indent: -99999px; vertical-align: middle; width: 16px;" title="Links to an external site."></span><span class="screenreader-only" style="-webkit-transform: translateZ(0px); border: 0px; clip: rect(0px 0px 0px 0px); height: 1px; margin: -1px -1px 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: absolute; transform: translateZ(0px); width: 1px;"> (Links to an external site.)</span></a></li>
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Current Trends and their Divisive Forces</h3>
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Rates of autism and the demand for services show no sign of slowing down, which could lead many policy-makers to question the work of the scientific researchers who receive grants from non-profits, the same nonprofits who are already under fire for spending funds on scientific research to investigate autism. Many self-proclaimed autistics see this work as a move to eliminate" or eradicate the core of their identity and therefore undermine their humanity. Conversely, the opportunity of Increase Demand certainly exists. This challenge that faces the services and non-profits working with autism are “The legitimacy and effectiveness challenges” (Salamon, 2012).</div>
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Also facing scrutiny for its legitimacy and efficiency. Increasingly stakeholders are asking: what are these large non-profit autism organizations accomplishing and are they even employing people with autism within their organization?</div>
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Philosopher Paulo Freire speaks on the extensively on representing groups who are marginalized or oppressed, but he stresses—like the young self-advocate in the first video—the importance of including the views and voices of those with autism, not just well intentioned politicians, parents or allies. Freire states, “One cannot expect positive results from an educational or political action program which fails to respect the particular view of the world held by the people” (Freire, 2000).</div>
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Finally, I believe that there is some hope and accord offered by author and autism self-advocate John Elder Robison in his address to <a class="external" href="https://imfar.confex.com/imfar/2014/webprogram/Session3072.html" style="color: #396eb2; margin-bottom: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Autism Social, Legal, and Ethical Research Special Interest Group<span aria-hidden="true" class="ui-icon ui-icon-extlink ui-icon-inline" style="background-image: url(https://claremont.instructure.com/images/jqueryui/ui-icons_222222_256x240.png?1430244860); background-position: -32px -80px; background-repeat: no-repeat; display: inline-block; height: 16px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-indent: -99999px; vertical-align: middle; width: 16px;" title="Links to an external site."></span><span class="screenreader-only" style="-webkit-transform: translateZ(0px); border: 0px; clip: rect(0px 0px 0px 0px); height: 1px; margin: -1px -1px 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: absolute; transform: translateZ(0px); width: 1px;"> (Links to an external site.)</span></a> at the 2014 International Meeting for Autism Research (IMFAR):</div>
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<em style="margin-bottom: 0px;">“I don’t believe the question is ‘who’s going to speak for them.’ I believe the question is, ‘when are we going to develop science to let them speak themselves?’ Everyone who lives with autism experiences suffering. You look at me and I look articulate, but I suffer, in some way, every single day. I think that the duty of scientists is to develop tools in this context to relieve and remediate discomfort and suffering. It is NOT to develop something that is called “a cure,” which has the ring of getting rid of us. If we can focus on relieving suffering and maximizing capability, and when we open up a dialogue and recognize that autistic people stand with other significant recognized minorities in America, then we can begin to talk about changing society”</em> (Robinson, 2014).</div>
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I believe that both Freire and Robinson share a very crucial idea. We need to enable for <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px;">all</em></strong> within a community. This dialogue is imperative for the formation of meaningful programs and for successful policy-making. Perhaps we should start by truly listening.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px;">References</strong></div>
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. ( 2015, February 26). <em style="margin-bottom: 0px;">Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)</em>. Retrieved May 3, 2015, from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/data.html</div>
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Freire, P. (2000). <em style="margin-bottom: 0px;">Pedagogy of the Oppressed.</em> New York , NY: Bloomsbury Academic.</div>
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Ozonoff, S., Dawson, G., & McPartland, J. (2002). <em style="margin-bottom: 0px;">A parent's guide to Asperger syndrome and high-functioning autism.</em> New York, NY: The Guilford Press.</div>
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Robinson, J. E. (2014, May 23). <em style="margin-bottom: 0px;">John Robison at IMFAR: On Autism Rights, Ethics, & Priorities</em>. Retrieved May 3, 2015, from Thinking Person's Guide to Autism: http://www.thinkingautismguide.com/2014/05/john-robison-at-imfar-on-autism-rights.html?m=1</div>
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Salamon, L. M. (2012). <em style="margin-bottom: 0px;">The Resilient Sector: The Future of Nonprofit America.</em> Washington D.C.: Brookings Institution Press.</div>
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Young, R. L., & Rodi, M. L. (2014). Redefining autism spectrum disorder using DSM-5: The implications of the proposed DSM-5 criteria for autism spectrum disorders. <em>Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders</em> <em style="margin-bottom: 0px;">, 44.4</em>, 758-765.</div>
kcyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08997057641249112711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5876672639024758651.post-83518892350781705532015-03-31T14:38:00.000-07:002015-08-31T14:48:28.584-07:00Let's Rethink Truancy Rather than Compounding the Issue<div class="_5pbx userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.38; overflow: hidden;">
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I don't even own a cat so I can't just, like, take a cute cat photo and post that a blog for y'all. Instead I've got an article and a diatribe on truancy policy. <a class="_58cn" data-ft="{"tn":"*N","type":104}" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/longreads?source=feed_text&story_id=10153078925050971" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><span aria-label="hashtag" class="_58cl" style="color: #627aad;">#</span><span class="_58cm">longreads</span></a>:<br />
I'm so frustrated by educators and politicians "cracking down" on truancy. There is already so little flexibility in our public school systems and the approach by our AG's office, and many other legislators is to be tough on this issue like any other crime without addressing any of the actual issues underlying the fundamental problems.</div>
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Truancy is not an issue of simple attendance or always caused by a commitment to education on a parents' part. And it makes no sense to penalize parents in areas where there are no transportation services or accommodations. Our local elementary school sends us letters constantly about the importance of "showing up", never actually giving us concrete ideas or encouragement to engage in our children's education. My child also can only be allowed to stay home sick from school if she has a fever or is vomiting. Nothing less is sufficient so we're forced to send them to school not feeling well or get exposed to viruses unnecessarily.</div>
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While my child is 6 and therefore legally required to attend school, her education is more than the three hours in the kindergarten classrooms each day. We have other entire programs built into her schedule and she works hard year round at a huge array of goals to augment the classroom setting. Sometimes what is best for her is to have a few days break at a time that's been difficult for her and our developmental pediatrician has recommended reducing demands. We also have gotten calls from her school warning that there have been multiple cases of confirmed whopping cough on her campus, (seems like maybe kids could be kept home when having those infectious symptoms, not just the fever/vomiting criteria). Yet our school district superintendent keeps mailing the same pointless letters on showing up and not missing even ONE hour of school. It's rude, ineffective, punitive and totally misses the point.<br />
Regarding the article below: Obviously, I'm not a resident of Illinois but I find the idea of parents being fined or jailed for truancy to be disgraceful and the proposal to double the punishment for parents of children utilizing special education to be discriminatory (so obviously, the way we can just glance at Indiana's new law and know deep down that's wrong).</div>
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Why can't lawmakers and school districts work with families to make sure there is enough done to meet needs of families who struggle to make it to school? Perhaps we needs built in sick time and a longer school year or floating "family days"? Maybe some families are missing school they don't have reliable transportation, perhaps they've got unaddressed behavior or learning issues or maybe their child has a disability or diagnosis not understandable to these administrators and they can listen and work to find a new service, modification or accommodation so the child can access education better.</div>
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<a href="http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2015/03/30/lawmakers-truancy-penalties/20169/" rel="nofollow" style="-webkit-transition: color 0.1s ease-in-out; color: #141823; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none; transition: color 0.1s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">Lawmakers Call For Tougher Truancy Penalties For Special Ed</a></div>
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Stiffer penalties could soon be in store for parents in one state whose children skip school, but the harsher punishment would only apply to those with kids in special...</div>
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kcyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08997057641249112711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5876672639024758651.post-37972469962935453452014-05-16T22:08:00.001-07:002014-05-16T22:08:50.173-07:00Party with People Who are Happy and Not-Happy Faces<div><br></div>Today during social group Riley created new artwork, was one of her most elaborate drawings, and it's creepy. She told me it's a "party with people who are happy and people with not-happy faces". <div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-C2FS6DS3BYc/U3bu2EqJ-qI/AAAAAAAACdo/SHhYMLMSJjY/s640/blogger-image-1734864086.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-C2FS6DS3BYc/U3bu2EqJ-qI/AAAAAAAACdo/SHhYMLMSJjY/s640/blogger-image-1734864086.jpg"></a></div>On the bottom right is "Abby" who is having a party. In the middle is a "statue, and it's hanging on a rope, but it's real, it's not just a statue". And to the left is a girl who "almost fall over". And then there are people in the back. Sad faces. Happy faves. The figures were much creepier at first until she started reworking it and coloring more and more. In the end she added what looks like blood splatters across the scene. </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-tVPGanc3MRY/U3bu3IZKXwI/AAAAAAAACdw/xIfpyhinOAw/s640/blogger-image-849890326.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-tVPGanc3MRY/U3bu3IZKXwI/AAAAAAAACdw/xIfpyhinOAw/s640/blogger-image-849890326.jpg"></a></div>A close up of the statue that's real. (Looks like a clown piñata). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-7JJqjHqCUxM/U3bu4L6TjBI/AAAAAAAACd4/z4BMc7qwqiI/s640/blogger-image-1953201853.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-7JJqjHqCUxM/U3bu4L6TjBI/AAAAAAAACd4/z4BMc7qwqiI/s640/blogger-image-1953201853.jpg"></a></div>Here's "Abby" enjoying her party!</div><br></div>kcyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08997057641249112711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5876672639024758651.post-79614054127258415802014-03-26T23:46:00.001-07:002015-07-01T15:52:51.689-07:00Why I'm supporting the Lanterman Coalition, My open letter to the Senate Budget Committee<div class="p1">
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">Attn: Senator Ellen Corbett (Chair), Senator Bill Monning and Senator Mimi Walters,</span></h3>
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<span class="s5">I’m writing as a parent of a child with a developmental disability to urge you to adopt the budget recommendations of the <a href="http://www.thearcca.org/53.html">Lanterman Coalition</a>. The consensus of these 17 diverse organizations is clear in demonstrating that California’s budget decisions have undermined the state’s responsibility to provide sufficient support and services to people with developmental disabilities. Not only have these budget changes eroded the Lanterman Act, they’ve compromised the safety, health and future opportunities for vulnerable Californians and diminished the quality of living for the families represented by these each of these individuals and budget allocations.</span></div>
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As a parent of a child with autism, and as a Regional Center consumer, I can personally attest to the importance of these budget issues. I implore you to please restore funding to the Early Start Program and to encourage families to keep private health insurance coverage by funding insurance co-pays and deductibles for therapies like Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA).<br />
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<span class="s5" style="font-family: inherit;">- Restore Early Start Program funding that was cut in 2009 -</span></h3>
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<span class="s5">When my daughter was 14 months old, I told her pediatrician I was concerned she couldn’t hear me when I called her name. By 18 months, I reported that I was no longer hearing the few words she had previously uttered. While my daughter’s skills were regressing she was also facing new health challenges. As parents we spent all of our time working to feed her, help her sleep, and keep liquids down, while simultaneously appealing our insurance company for services like speech therapy. With all of the providers we had reached out to for help, no one had ever mentioned available services through Alta Regional or the Early Start Program. We didn’t receive information or a referral until my daughter had already turned three and had nearly stopped talking and eating altogether.</span><br />
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<span class="s5">I believe my daughter could have made more progress and received more support if there was more education and outreach on Early Start services. Because children like mine can have regression and show symptoms of serious disabilities at different times, it makes sense to provide early intervention without the new requirements for to have more significant delays across a large number of domains in order to be eligible for services. Many parents I’ve talked to are being told to wait until their child falls behind even further because they have deficits that are just under the current threshold. By cutting these services, and the statewide outreach to make these services accessible, children like my daughter are missing out on a critical window for early intervention. It doesn’t make sense fiscally to compromise services that will have long-term benefit for a child’s outcome and level of functioning and independence.</span><br />
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<span class="s5"><b>- Support Regional Center Funding for Insurance Co-Pays and Deductibles -</b></span></h3>
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<span class="s5">The budget trailer bill language that has prohibited regional center funding for insurance co-pays and deductibles has been devastating for families like mine. Instead of prioritizing treatment, families like mine are forced to weigh the long-term benefits and risks of keeping our kids covered by our private insurance or by dropping insurance covered in order to afford ABA therapy. California has saved an <a href="http://www.californiahealthline.org/capitol-desk/2014/3/we-aint-done-yet-steinberg-says-at-legislative-hearing-on-autism-coverage">estimated $200 million per year</a> with the mandated coverage from SB 946, however, the costs of paying for co-pays and deductibles are very small when compared to the entire cost of an ABA program, <a href="https://autismsocietyca.org/uploads/2014_ASC_Survey_Executive_Summary.pdf">nearly 20% of regional center families have reported dropping their children from their private insurance plans because of the hardship posed by deductible and co-pays</a>. The state should be encouraging families to retain and utilize private health insurance as a source of support for a child with disabilities. Penalizing Regional Center consumers who carry insurance is not a fiscally responsible policy. </span></div>
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<span class="s5">It’s difficult to express just how important ABA therapy has been for my child and our family. It has been an enormous investment in our time and we’ve changed employment, relocated, and altered nearly every aspect of our lives in order to provide her with the services and support needed. ABA therapy has tapped my daughter’s potential and brought joy back into our household. Our child is now able to communicate with us, play safely with her younger sister, and she’s developing self-help skills. I believe that the upfront costs required to promote and provide effective therapy will pay dividends in the long run. </span></div>
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<span class="s5">I am counting on your support to make these budget recommendations a reality for the individuals and families, like mine. </span><br />
<span class="s5">Thank you,</span></div>
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<span class="s5">Kirsten Yeates</span><br />
<span class="s5">Parent of a child with autism</span><br />
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<b>Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee, </b><b><a href="http://sbud.senate.ca.gov/subcommittee3" target="_blank">Subcommittee No. 3 on Health and Human Service</a></b></h4>
<h3>
<a href="http://sbud.senate.ca.gov/sites/sbud.senate.ca.gov/files/SUB3/03272014Sub3PartADDS.pdf?utm_source=LantermanCoalitionLetter_website&utm_campaign=LantermanLetter2&utm_medium=email" style="font-weight: normal;" target="_blank">Part A Hearing Agenda on Health including Developmental Services</a></h3>
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kcyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08997057641249112711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5876672639024758651.post-53720177347398168742013-02-23T22:43:00.000-08:002013-02-23T22:43:25.514-08:00For My Grandpa<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y8j9fcoONE4/USm1lGTFCqI/AAAAAAAACMU/e_eWeBSFnQY/s1600/LomaLinda_10_2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="132" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y8j9fcoONE4/USm1lGTFCqI/AAAAAAAACMU/e_eWeBSFnQY/s200/LomaLinda_10_2011.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_pnAq_VF6tA/USm1nbIrriI/AAAAAAAACMc/cPnSmtFO8kk/s1600/yosemite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="128" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_pnAq_VF6tA/USm1nbIrriI/AAAAAAAACMc/cPnSmtFO8kk/s200/yosemite.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">As grandpa's 4th grandchild, I've only been alive for a smaller, and perhaps, more insignificant part of his life. I never got to experience grandpa's life in Costa Rica, Mountain View or even hear the lectures of his brother Walter that were so inspiring and formative for my parents' generation. I only shared a limited part of my grandpa's life. My 31 years are less than half of the 65 years my grandparents have been happily married. My memories of grandpa revolve around the silly things of grandkids; running rampant with cousins, bathing in their giant round bathtub, swinging our little cousins in blankets, going to zoos, water parks, and most notably, just enjoying the attention of our adoring grandma and grandpa.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Being just 1 of 8 grandkids, I never felt far removed from the center of my grandparents' universe. A soft place to land and proud of any of our accomplishments, my grandpa and grandma are our loyal fans. Traveling up cumbersome roads to visit us in eureka (a 14 hr car trip back then) didn't keep my grandma and grandpa from participating in any minor milestones in my life: our 8th grade graduations, high school, college, holidays, weddings and special family celebrations - my grandpa was there, "with bells on"! Always proud to bask in the atmosphere of our tight-knit family and his high-energy and often awkward grandkids.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Not just a loving grandpa, MY grandpa is a unique person and shares many of the quirks I adore in my father. Always the scholar - with the largest vocabulary of any person I've encountered- Grandpa effortlessly uses words like "confiscatory" when a simple "unfair" may have sufficed.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">One of my very favourite memories with grandpa was playing the board game Balderdash. Instead of just up silly, fake meanings to these obscure vocabulary words, Grandpa would ruin the game by almost always knowing the words and could regale us with the Latin or Greek roots for the words. My Grandpa's wide array of interests, knowledge and curiosity have inspired me to learn more in my life, expand my horizons and to network and learn from a wide array of people I encounter.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">What really personified my grandpa was his graciousness. He was full of gratitude for any simple and heartfelt gestures. For instance, this last Father's Day, I sent grandpa a simple photo postcard. It may have even arrived a few days late and featured a photo of me with my girls and simply said "We love you Great-Grandpa". The next day I talked to Grandpa on the phone and he exuded about the gesture, the photo, the sentiment and the joy it brought him. He told me "I wasn't able to sleep early this morning, but I was thrilled to remember your card again, sitting by my bed, when I woke up. I got up and went to the other room just to admire the photo of my gorgeous girls".</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">The admiration and joy my grandpa has for children is self-evident in the photos I've seen of him with all of his grandkids. In the photos I've combed through of Grandpa, he can be found looking adoringly at his great-granddaughters, fully immersed in their activity, their emotions and amazed at the gift of their existence and joy. I don't think I will ever be able to edit photos of my daughters without thinking about which photos I HAVE to share with great-grandpa. The girls have been blessed to have his love, affection and pride, that they've earned simply by being a part of great-grandpa's life.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The three great-granddaughters are intent on the strawberry-rhubarb pie and candles as we sang to Grandpa on his 89th birthday last April. </td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Even though I'm broken-hearted, I am proud of my close-knit family, of my loving and accomplished aunts, uncles and cousins. I feel that my Grandpa's love and lifetime commitment to Grandma and to our families has been a foundation for our successes and life's happiness. I hope to honor Grandpa's legacy of valuing education, hard work and to continue his ever-present gratitude and enjoyment of all the small and large blessings I life.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I love and miss you Grandpa and hope we meet again soon. Love, Kirsti</span>kcyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08997057641249112711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5876672639024758651.post-34625571018712702072012-08-03T22:21:00.000-07:002012-09-06T22:21:22.493-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The girls goofing off on a Friday morning. Ali's teething and Riley is still in her phase of wanting to wear "princess" dresses exclusively!kcyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08997057641249112711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5876672639024758651.post-29846681002745604842012-08-01T22:15:00.000-07:002012-09-06T22:19:22.639-07:00What a difference a year makes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="userContent">So last year, on this day, we rushed Riley to
her GI specialist in the bay area because she had stopped eating and
drinking and was becoming seriously dehydrated. She wasn't able to eat
much solid food and wasn't talking (at all) yet...A ye</span>ar
later, I'm thrilled to report that she's doing so well! She no longer
chokes on food, she can talk up a storm and she's thriving at school.
I'm so grateful for the her speech and feeding therapists, inspiring
teachers and to our friends and family for helping her blossom. She's
such a bright and delightful child and I feel so blessed by both the
struggles and successes!<br />
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<br />kcyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08997057641249112711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5876672639024758651.post-23939410344577057002012-07-16T17:41:00.001-07:002012-07-16T17:48:06.611-07:00"Hey, We Match!"Both Ri and I have had a rough week. I'm not sure which of us is more pathetic, I think it's a tie. I think we are both on the mend, in the meantime we can at least spend quality time by napping together, we've taken tandem naps the last three days and today she crawled on top of me while I was half asleep and napped on my back. She is just the snuggliest!<div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-1SW5kKyrbzw/UAS00EkLQYI/AAAAAAAACJE/KlECVKSm8Vw/s640/blogger-image--800220988.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-1SW5kKyrbzw/UAS00EkLQYI/AAAAAAAACJE/KlECVKSm8Vw/s640/blogger-image--800220988.jpg" /></a></div>kcyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08997057641249112711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5876672639024758651.post-39700713954972178452012-07-09T22:45:00.001-07:002012-07-09T22:48:32.233-07:00Our girl's gone girlyA whole day of Disneyland and we kind of let Riley determine the agenda. She did splash mtn, space mtn, Alice in Wonderland, tea cups, thunder mtn, small world, etc. But she also got to meet Alice and the mad hatters and three different princesses. I'm not sure exactly how she got started on a princess kick, she adores some of these characters from movies she's never seen or had us talk about. But meeting the characters is always fun because for a minute or so they will make Riley feel like the most important person in the world. It's so fun. <div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ppfs6-8IvF4/T_vB4GCQ4cI/AAAAAAAACIg/LqMuvcAGNgM/s640/blogger-image-1321453249.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ppfs6-8IvF4/T_vB4GCQ4cI/AAAAAAAACIg/LqMuvcAGNgM/s640/blogger-image-1321453249.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-WPf3XFzM5yw/T_vB4sXr8sI/AAAAAAAACIo/FK_bGfAdsZI/s640/blogger-image--159491873.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-WPf3XFzM5yw/T_vB4sXr8sI/AAAAAAAACIo/FK_bGfAdsZI/s640/blogger-image--159491873.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-nWUIQk7WTsY/T_vB5dUl1YI/AAAAAAAACIw/Ge60C2Fs6aI/s640/blogger-image-1572995924.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-nWUIQk7WTsY/T_vB5dUl1YI/AAAAAAAACIw/Ge60C2Fs6aI/s640/blogger-image-1572995924.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-qNRsXLEvYsE/T_vB5yYbKwI/AAAAAAAACI4/853HPnQoWXY/s640/blogger-image--414257312.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-qNRsXLEvYsE/T_vB5yYbKwI/AAAAAAAACI4/853HPnQoWXY/s640/blogger-image--414257312.jpg" /></a></div>kcyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08997057641249112711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5876672639024758651.post-51122599814434642322012-07-04T22:47:00.000-07:002012-07-17T14:48:57.672-07:00Caught Chocolate-Handed<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So Happy 4th of July! I think this photo must capture some of the disdain that my British ancestors had for the uncultured American colonists. Sure, we can win the revolutionary war, but we drink canned energy drinks instead of having afternoon tea, we work too damn much and we forgot how to use utensils when eating ice cream.<br />
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We also honored our patriotism by setting off fireworks (Ali was in bed by then, but Ri enjoyed them), and letting the kids skinny dip. A truly sophisticated American family affair. <br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qE_61iPFav8/UAXTgf8QYxI/AAAAAAAACK4/k00-I73HO-I/s1600/DSC_0222.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qE_61iPFav8/UAXTgf8QYxI/AAAAAAAACK4/k00-I73HO-I/s320/DSC_0222.JPG" width="212" /></a>kcyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08997057641249112711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5876672639024758651.post-7413551926588740832012-07-03T12:56:00.000-07:002012-07-17T13:35:19.455-07:00Celebrating a 65th!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Riley had been looking forward to a boat ride. We'd been telling her for days that we were all going on a boat ride and that she would see Grandma and Grandpa and Hannah and that she'd also get to see Great-Grandma and Great-Grandpa, who invited all of us to join them for the day to celebrate a huge milestone in the family - their 65th wedding anniversary! <br />
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We drove down to Anaheim the evening before and moved into our hotel room (it is a serious move when you've got two playpens, luggage, bags of snacks and drinks and a nebulizer, packs of diapers). Sunday morning we got up bright and early (amazing for our slow-little family) and we drove up to Lake Arrowhead to meet the rest of the family.<br />
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Riley was a little unnerved when we arrived and out of her comfort zone, but as soon as she saw her grandma and Hannah, she was in a wonderful mood. She remembered her great-grandparents and was so delighted to get a very charming and adorable gift from Great-Grandma; a hand made pink stuffed elephant!<br />
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We ate lunch with family and got to talk to all my cousins (who are all doing really neat stuff) and then we hung out by the lake front for awhile. Riley played "ring around the rosies" with her sister and cousin and a kind stranger took a liking to Ri and gave her a bag of bird feed to give to the ducks. Riley (the ever-thoughtful-animal-nurturer) fed the ducks very carefully and taught Hannah how to give the food to the birds. A great teacher and a selfless share-er. Hannah looks up to her cousin "RiRi" so much and their relationship is just adorable. They have all the wonderful perks of having a sibling without any of the fighting or sibling bickering - it's truly precious.<br />
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The only downside to the fun was that with all my dad's family (nearly-almost) in one place, we were only able to start haphazard conversations with all our relatives and before we knew it, it was 4 p.m. and the girls were TOAST. We had to get them into the car and get moving so they could nap. I can't wait to have the girls see their extended families again, maybe soon they'll be contained a little more and we can actually catch up with my cousins, grandparents, aunts & uncles.<br />
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<br />kcyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08997057641249112711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5876672639024758651.post-18313368540714618782012-06-29T14:30:00.000-07:002012-07-17T14:49:30.076-07:00Cake and Tea for Breakfast, Of Course!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ri, Ali and Grandma celebrate by eating the bottom <br />
tier of the tiny birthday cake for breakfast!</td></tr>
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Riley was so excited to have her grandma come over for a tiny, surprise birthday celebration. She wasn't the best at the "surprise" part. Telling Grandma what was in her birthday package, and opening the card and telling her "and we have cake!". Ri also sang her rendition of "Happy Birthday" to Grandma at least three times and blew out the candle.<br />
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We had so much fun eating cake for breakfast and it's so adorable that Riley now loves the tradition of signing to family on birthdays. I can't wait to celebrate more special occasions with the girls! <br />
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<br />kcyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08997057641249112711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5876672639024758651.post-89342374395725950542012-05-05T01:05:00.004-07:002012-05-05T01:06:29.199-07:00Sunday Bounce Fun<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ali enjoys trying out a new bouncy toy.</td></tr>
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We had so much fun going to a bounce house place last Sunday. Rather than devoting our day to the usual errands and house work, we got out at Dad's urging and we went and had a blast at an indoor bounce house place. Riley was brave enough to go down the tallest slides and she even learned to climb up the "climbing wall" so she could get to the top of these slides. It was a great work out for all of us and a really good deal as Riley was the only person we had to pay for.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FXHxC6ZtYLk/T6TZT1oXpbI/AAAAAAAACII/llOuUM7vNGs/s1600/SnootFreeFalling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FXHxC6ZtYLk/T6TZT1oXpbI/AAAAAAAACII/llOuUM7vNGs/s320/SnootFreeFalling.jpg" width="201" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Riley enjoyed free falling <br />
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After we were bounced-out, we devoured a lot of food at Chipotle and headed home to rest for the evening. Riley took a pretty solid nap after burning ALL her energy. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She looks pretty pleased now <br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PW-KjT7jz5k/T6TZI3g6DBI/AAAAAAAACHw/nuTfMaw8le8/s1600/HootsHurrican.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PW-KjT7jz5k/T6TZI3g6DBI/AAAAAAAACHw/nuTfMaw8le8/s320/HootsHurrican.jpg" width="259" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ali prepares for hurricane-force winds, <br />
she's not pleased</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kzajxIiho74/T6TZFGY-A3I/AAAAAAAACHo/--oR2axInSw/s1600/DadSlide.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kzajxIiho74/T6TZFGY-A3I/AAAAAAAACHo/--oR2axInSw/s320/DadSlide.jpg" width="214" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Matt is totally enjoying playing with Riley too!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />kcyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08997057641249112711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5876672639024758651.post-87037657346245239682012-04-22T00:15:00.003-07:002012-05-05T01:06:14.275-07:00Controlled Chaos<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-teJ64Q0w8q0/T4pvOqqT4TI/AAAAAAAACHU/nJJJrf5Cw58/s1600/AliBugWreath.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-teJ64Q0w8q0/T4pvOqqT4TI/AAAAAAAACHU/nJJJrf5Cw58/s320/AliBugWreath.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What a beautiful bug wreath! She loves her wagon!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I'm so behind at keeping up with the kids and I only really have photos and videos on my phone from the last month. I need to take some real photos. I've determined that I WILL do this tomorrow!<br />
It's been months since I've written anything about the kids and I looked
at my calendar (jam-packed with nonsense), I counted 51 appointments
(for the girls' health) since I last blogged. So, combining that with
working and extra curricular activities and caring for the kids (and
trying to enjoy life), I've had little time to document their progress.
I'm admittedly quite tired. <br />
<br />
Ali is getting so grown up, she's walking everywhere now and she talks quite a bit. She is so silly and SO affectionate and gives me hugs and says "hi" and "bye" to anyone she encounters. She's sleeping through the night for the most part and I'm so proud of her. She's such a perfect little munchkin-package. All snuggles and curls.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JtEsibjVHZI/T4pvRObQTwI/AAAAAAAACHc/zyZsOy-rqds/s1600/Ali_33012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JtEsibjVHZI/T4pvRObQTwI/AAAAAAAACHc/zyZsOy-rqds/s320/Ali_33012.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking both gorgeous and impish here.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />kcyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08997057641249112711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5876672639024758651.post-18865472666726141272012-01-21T23:16:00.000-08:002012-01-21T23:16:42.021-08:00Leaving Las Vegas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_G05ZUa4J5U/Txu2T5nqK0I/AAAAAAAACGo/EiUjfMwQEbA/s1600/desert_ali.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_G05ZUa4J5U/Txu2T5nqK0I/AAAAAAAACGo/EiUjfMwQEbA/s320/desert_ali.jpg" width="227" /></a></div>
It took over 13 hours to travel home from our annual girls' weekend. This time I foolishly took along both of my girls and although it was really wonderful, it was also fraught with challenges. Mainly, poor Ali felt pretty miserable the entire trip. At one point she vomited all over me when we were north of Bakersfield and it was such a mess to clean up (with four more hours on the road after that point, over four hours until we could both get home and clean up).<br />
<br />
Anyways, the girls really enjoyed stopping in Barstow and running around like mad in the cold, sunny desert. As always, I had control of only one girl at a time. At any given point I will expend energy on one of the girls and look the other way and see that the other girly is running or crawling far away. luckily I corralled everyone into the car after each of these stops, thanks to Auntie Michele's invaluable help!<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zDEHKls1tXU/Txu2Ui0jpbI/AAAAAAAACGw/owMnayGk0s4/s1600/desert_ali1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zDEHKls1tXU/Txu2Ui0jpbI/AAAAAAAACGw/owMnayGk0s4/s320/desert_ali1.jpg" width="264" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-joTy5Pg_pSk/Txu2Va8qW4I/AAAAAAAACG4/glygI33Zw_c/s1600/desert_RiRun.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="274" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-joTy5Pg_pSk/Txu2Va8qW4I/AAAAAAAACG4/glygI33Zw_c/s320/desert_RiRun.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tm5JAcWTgPo/Txu2WZlO4gI/AAAAAAAACHA/XcfzbPbLt18/s1600/desertcrawler.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tm5JAcWTgPo/Txu2WZlO4gI/AAAAAAAACHA/XcfzbPbLt18/s400/desertcrawler.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />kcyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08997057641249112711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5876672639024758651.post-68167400773032245302012-01-01T00:41:00.000-08:002012-01-21T22:23:38.093-08:00The Third Year's a Charm!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0UNHCm0Uv3Q/Tw6ZEIinMcI/AAAAAAAACFk/LnEf4SuskiM/s1600/Balloons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0UNHCm0Uv3Q/Tw6ZEIinMcI/AAAAAAAACFk/LnEf4SuskiM/s400/Balloons.jpg" width="227" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Riley loves the multitude of balloons<br />
her grandpa picked out for her!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We had the best time at Riley's 3rd birthday party! It was a gorgeous and relaxing event thrown by her grandparents, my parents made her cake so we literally did nothing. We showed up and had a good time!<br />
<br />
Ri loves cars and is especially in awe of firetrucks or "byah-buh!" She loves the bright red color and I surmise that she loves the loud sounds and lights that often accompany the firetrucks in our area, which are always on the go near the hospital.<br />
<br />
Although she hasn't accepted her age (She still insists on being "two"), we know that being three will turn out to be a wonderful thing for her. If the party is any sign, then it's going to be a great year!<br />
<br />
Happy birthday to our spirited girly!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jSrq2DwAlLE/Tw6ZFDfbi0I/AAAAAAAACFs/zcgRuUXMJko/s1600/BalloonsUp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jSrq2DwAlLE/Tw6ZFDfbi0I/AAAAAAAACFs/zcgRuUXMJko/s640/BalloonsUp.jpg" width="299" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Up, up and away. The balloons were almost strong enough!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dL-uHs2KjKs/Tw6ZGBL2anI/AAAAAAAACF0/028ZVWLFYIY/s1600/CakeGirl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dL-uHs2KjKs/Tw6ZGBL2anI/AAAAAAAACF0/028ZVWLFYIY/s320/CakeGirl.jpg" width="261" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Riley's grandparents made this adorable custom cake!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eHEW4mxNNYU/Tw6ZKbdgf0I/AAAAAAAACGU/IHjAEeyqPH4/s1600/SMoke.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eHEW4mxNNYU/Tw6ZKbdgf0I/AAAAAAAACGU/IHjAEeyqPH4/s320/SMoke.jpg" width="307" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First candle extinguished!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0tw0TRPEVQQ/Tw6ZIK_F1HI/AAAAAAAACGE/WjlcfK7NV1Q/s1600/candles_Done.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="289" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0tw0TRPEVQQ/Tw6ZIK_F1HI/AAAAAAAACGE/WjlcfK7NV1Q/s320/candles_Done.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Doing what firefighters do best, getting rid of flames!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YFLmtMQ1T6s/Tw6ZHOTTc0I/AAAAAAAACF8/rGzOwsingg0/s1600/CakeMakers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YFLmtMQ1T6s/Tw6ZHOTTc0I/AAAAAAAACF8/rGzOwsingg0/s320/CakeMakers.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ri shows off just how delicious the cake is that "Gamma Gamma" made!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dnwvcEfKlFM/Tw6a7jJRe_I/AAAAAAAACGc/P2jODhR8Bzc/s1600/firegift.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="303" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dnwvcEfKlFM/Tw6a7jJRe_I/AAAAAAAACGc/P2jODhR8Bzc/s320/firegift.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ri gets a tutorial on the capabilities of her new truck! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-F3Xu6PhedIM/Tw6ZJX868aI/AAAAAAAACGM/kJguKllJRp0/s1600/GiftsDressUp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-F3Xu6PhedIM/Tw6ZJX868aI/AAAAAAAACGM/kJguKllJRp0/s640/GiftsDressUp.jpg" width="436" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We still cannot believe how gorgeous Riley's dress up set is. Beautifully handmade items <br />
from Aimee that allow Riley to don a colorful owl costume or a custom tutu with<br />
ample style and a slightly edge grunge. Ri shows us here that an outfit made from the <br />
whole combo is a showstopper!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />kcyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08997057641249112711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5876672639024758651.post-88943776512236795722011-12-27T19:35:00.000-08:002011-12-30T19:36:12.976-08:00It's the Day Before Christmas...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SYEGuluzQuU/Tv6BKiDjPgI/AAAAAAAACEA/8lLCiAgN71E/s1600/AliGrandpa_Book.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SYEGuluzQuU/Tv6BKiDjPgI/AAAAAAAACEA/8lLCiAgN71E/s400/AliGrandpa_Book.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
It's Christmas Eve and Ms. Riley can be found frantically unwrapping presents. Unphased by the names written on the presents, she tore into any package with her greedy paws. We put up with her uncontrolled mayhem for a little while before putting her down for a nap. She napped for almost 4 hours!<br />
<br />
Meanwhile little Ali spent her second Christmas enjoying a good book and the attention of her grandpa. She will do almost anything to get attention from her grandpa when he's around. She preferred to watch us open her gifts, rather then tear into them directly. Maybe by her third Christmas she will finally want to do the opening herself!<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--rkvQ4_EMCI/Tv6BR8tuF1I/AAAAAAAACEY/j4gVfi2TLYU/s1600/RileyPresentsxmaseve.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--rkvQ4_EMCI/Tv6BR8tuF1I/AAAAAAAACEY/j4gVfi2TLYU/s320/RileyPresentsxmaseve.jpg" width="256" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7ZwV-eGF2Rw/Tv6BO6yw9YI/AAAAAAAACEQ/4s39xx_AL2U/s1600/presentsunwrapper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7ZwV-eGF2Rw/Tv6BO6yw9YI/AAAAAAAACEQ/4s39xx_AL2U/s400/presentsunwrapper.jpg" width="258" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CZ--fN0sDSM/Tv6BLw8kELI/AAAAAAAACEI/zcOCk6dglYo/s1600/AliGrandpa_Book1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CZ--fN0sDSM/Tv6BLw8kELI/AAAAAAAACEI/zcOCk6dglYo/s320/AliGrandpa_Book1.jpg" width="283" /></a></div>
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<br />kcyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08997057641249112711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5876672639024758651.post-55683426706363653852011-12-12T20:06:00.000-08:002011-12-30T20:06:58.360-08:00Photo Circus<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eKiwtLm7uTs/Tv6IhyEwtQI/AAAAAAAACEk/LM9kESPXu3E/s1600/aliBeguiling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eKiwtLm7uTs/Tv6IhyEwtQI/AAAAAAAACEk/LM9kESPXu3E/s320/aliBeguiling.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
How on earth did we expect to get a quick photo for my parents' Christmas card?! Take a last-minute, evening photo session and add three tired girls, all of whom are wearing fancy silk dresses. Mayhem ensued!<br />
<br />
And, I didn't even include any of the photos where Riley is sucking her thumb (who knows why she did that) or where all three girls are screaming and crying. I have a lot of those photos too.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tseo9V8lKMI/Tv6IqwhPCfI/AAAAAAAACE0/ZoVtq5fo3ys/s1600/couchali.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tseo9V8lKMI/Tv6IqwhPCfI/AAAAAAAACE0/ZoVtq5fo3ys/s320/couchali.jpg" width="301" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HpVJ0bm8m74/Tv6Iu1V9fEI/AAAAAAAACE8/CjifAt4qDec/s1600/dancingbabe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HpVJ0bm8m74/Tv6Iu1V9fEI/AAAAAAAACE8/CjifAt4qDec/s320/dancingbabe.jpg" width="235" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LkecridnIu4/Tv6IzgWTDII/AAAAAAAACFE/yVH4TNOgooA/s1600/RiSmileSofa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LkecridnIu4/Tv6IzgWTDII/AAAAAAAACFE/yVH4TNOgooA/s320/RiSmileSofa.jpg" width="274" /></a></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fbBzcTxQ8Xk/Tv6I4kZoTHI/AAAAAAAACFM/TrCx3XZuGEI/s1600/RiTouchdown.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fbBzcTxQ8Xk/Tv6I4kZoTHI/AAAAAAAACFM/TrCx3XZuGEI/s320/RiTouchdown.jpg" width="250" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ri shows me a "touchdown"</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ljGSLQSp550/Tv6I9II7GYI/AAAAAAAACFU/UlgujV2_hCs/s1600/SillyOuttake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="254" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ljGSLQSp550/Tv6I9II7GYI/AAAAAAAACFU/UlgujV2_hCs/s320/SillyOuttake.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CrBDuUdXeVg/Tv6JCOMzO1I/AAAAAAAACFc/hkBGSEgNjac/s1600/xmastwins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CrBDuUdXeVg/Tv6JCOMzO1I/AAAAAAAACFc/hkBGSEgNjac/s320/xmastwins.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="253" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Sj45Vuhgz_o/Tv6IngeQv_I/AAAAAAAACEs/x4GWhj7gKrA/s320/christmasutts.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's the final Christmas Card photo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />kcyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08997057641249112711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5876672639024758651.post-178660344198544602011-12-10T19:04:00.000-08:002011-12-30T19:25:44.118-08:00Peek a Boo<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JWHr0kXocfs/Tv6AgLwaaUI/AAAAAAAACD0/GxqoRyj0fIc/s1600/stairs2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="380" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JWHr0kXocfs/Tv6AgLwaaUI/AAAAAAAACD0/GxqoRyj0fIc/s400/stairs2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Some unexpected mischief from our little Ali. She's not walking yet but she had no trouble scaling the whole flight of stairs at her grandparents' house!kcyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08997057641249112711noreply@blogger.com0