Kevin's Watch

Posted: **Fri Jul 20, 2007 9:40 pm**

*tears of joy streaming down face*

Oh my g-ds. The Rosh Eidah followed through. Beorn has been going to this camp for seven years, and all our communications from him before have been like the postcard I shared above. I just received the following via email:

Beorn wrote: Dear Mommy and Daddy,

I miss you so much! I'm having fun and making new friends, and I got both of your emails, Mommy. I'd like you to write as well, Dad. My three counselors are Alex Peskin, Graeme Ossey, and Samuel Rotenburg. I also got a letter from Poppy with eight dollars in it. I spent all of them at the three day camping trip I just got back from at 9:30 last night.

Our camping trip this year was called an etgar, which is ivrit for challenge. (note: ivrit is ivrit for Hebrew. J) I shared a tent with Ben Mince, & Aaron and Harrison Shapiro. Everyone in my tent (except Harrison) was going white water rafting. On the last day the white water people had to get up an hour earlier than everyone else, but since we had to pack up our tents immediately Harrison had to get up with us at 4:35. The first day we went of a river without rapids, but each boat was given two water guns and a bucket. The water was so cold I screamed VERY LOUDLY every time we got splashed. Alex is watching me write this and just said at least I didn't cry like some of the female counselors. When we got back I found the camp store and spent $3 on 12oz. bottles of Coke at 60 cents apiece. Oh, yes. I almost forgot to tell you, we watched an R rated movie on the way up to the campsite in North Carolina. Yesterday we went on a river with LOTS of rapids, and my boat got stuck so much we got to the pick-up point an hour after everyone else. When we switched buses for the ride back we were at the campsite, so I spent another two dollars on chips and candy. Then I used the last three dollars on a large bag of dark chocolate M&M's and a two liter Coke bottle at the gas station we stopped at on the way back. I have half the bottle left.

There isn't much more to report. My Chug is radio and my sport is karate. I blobbed a lifeguard because no-one else heavy enough for me to be allowed to blob was willing to let me do it. I'm part of the set crew on Nacho live. I'm going to write Poppy after Shabbat, I have no time to right now. My Rosh's name is Josh, not Matt. That's all. Say high to Marty for me.

Love,

Beorn

I have no idea if any of you have any idea what this means to me. But right now I'm on cloud nine!!!

Posted: **Fri Jul 20, 2007 9:43 pm**

Innit great being a parent?

That's awesome Menolly, thank you for sharing that with us.

Posted: **Fri Jul 20, 2007 11:53 pm**

That's cool, Menolly!

Posted: **Sat Jul 21, 2007 1:04 am**

*blushing with eyes downcast*

Thanks guys.

It's basically why Hyperception and I made the decision for me to stay home, despite our lack of annual income. Advocating for Beorn's IEP rights easily takes anywhere from 20 to 30 hours a week whenever he starts a new school, as he will this fall. And the kicker is I never know when I need to go out and do so.

But even though I don't have high speed internet, or even basic cable television, we feel it's worth it to go without for Beorn to be able to show what he is capable of, with just a little accomodation on the parts of others.

Posted: **Sat Jul 21, 2007 1:28 am**

Yes! Go Beorn, Go Beorn! (you guys are fantastic parents! Keep it up!

)

Posted: **Sat Jul 21, 2007 6:31 am**

menoly!

Glad to hear it.

Posted: **Sat Jul 21, 2007 6:43 am**

Woot! Menolly, he sounds as though he is having a fabulous time! And what an impressive sacrifice you are making to give your son his best possible education. I have a hunch that much of his education comes from Mom (and Dad) at home.

Posted: **Sat Jul 21, 2007 9:37 am**

Great to hear Beorn is having a wonderful time, Menolly!

I've just got back from farewelling some friends of mine who are moving while I'm away next week. <sigh> Rachael, her hubby Andrew, and their kiddies Rory and Hugh are off to Bendigo (a four hour trip from here). I'm a bit down as they're the only family who I connect with on an intellectual level here (Andrew has even read The Chronicles!!!). But, well...that's life.

Of course, I've drunk enough to sink a ship and now I've got to try and remember what I've already packed and what I still need to pack before leaving tomorrow.

...and I still have only read the first page of the new Harry Potter book. argh!

Posted: **Sat Jul 21, 2007 10:38 pm**

MAN. I miss summer camp now. That is WAY cool Men. I know how big this is, as you already know.

A for me? I just got my internet back up after two days of it going off the fritz. I had just enough time to check my email, submit Pantheon, and give a once-over on the Watch.

Now! Off to work! Later guys and gals!

Posted: **Sat Jul 21, 2007 10:57 pm**

Been wondering where you have been, Balon. Hope to see you on Yahoo sometime soon.

Thanks all about Beorn's email. I hope to hear more from him this next week. I am still stunned at how effective letting him use the computer is, although I know his school work is top quality because of it.

Posted: **Sun Jul 22, 2007 7:21 am**

Yeah, work has been kicking my ass and it didnt help that the internet was down. It ended up being a splitter outsie the house that was on the fritz, something I NEVER would have found, so may the gods bless cable repairmen.

I feel good. Even though hours are being cut at the theatre, my namager has been finding ways to keep me late so I can keep my hours up. I'm gald, because I'd be pissed if some of the other less-working employees got the same hours as me.

Posted: **Sun Jul 22, 2007 11:41 am**

Balon, I'll restate here for all to read what I've told you privately. Your work ethic simply amazes me. I truly hope your pursuit of getting that Library Sciences degree goes easy, once you get it financed through your efforts now.

...even if we do disagree regarding having to take the "required classes" of a Liberal Arts school...

Posted: **Mon Jul 23, 2007 4:03 pm**

I feel ok. I was pathetic over the weekend and smoked but today is a fresh start and I feel pretty good about it.

Posted: **Wed Jul 25, 2007 5:47 pm**

I've got a new job! I just started today! Wow... only 2 weeks and 2 days unemployed. Am I good or what?!

Posted: **Wed Jul 25, 2007 6:01 pm**

i got a cold.

i feel like poo.

Posted: **Wed Jul 25, 2007 6:15 pm**

You had best be over your cold by Friday Lil Missy. You got's a big weekend ahead of you.

Posted: **Wed Jul 25, 2007 6:50 pm**

Yes you'd better!

(I'm insanely stoked that I'll be in SF soon!

)

Great news SQ!

Posted: **Wed Jul 25, 2007 6:59 pm**

danlo, I am so excited for you!!

Remember to keep that log and post it! Please!!!

Posted: **Thu Jul 26, 2007 6:12 am**

Gonna be a rough one today...lots of work, then a two-hour session at the bouldering gym, then straight to a late dinner with my uncle & brother who are up for the weekend from the coast. Gonna be useless tomorrow. *sigh* (Oh damn...then there's a launch for some artist at the GF's work that I promised I'd go to tomorrow night.)

--A

Posted: **Thu Jul 26, 2007 3:50 pm**

SQ, congrats on the new job - that's great!

All you people meeting up and having fun - Bah! *shakes fist* Bah, I say!

Lucimay, hope you feel better.

Av - dude, you gotta slow down!

Which coast are your relatives from? KZN?

Kevin's Watch

How do you feel today?