My Son has Autism

My son was diagnosed last month with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (or ASD) and ADHD. Basically, Autistic. It took a lot for me to write these words on this blog. An obviously private family matter that I have basically outed for the cyberworld to see. I would rather just tell everyone than not...then it is found out and it looks like I am hiding something...ashamed...embarrased. But, you see, that is not the case.
My son is smart, beautiful, funny, clever and one of the two greatest loves of my life. To me he is perfect in every way.
He has done everything at his own pace - crawled, walked, talked, etc. And he never wanted much help. Now, he doesn't have much of a choice. We're helping him.
I should have been more alert to things but I wasn't. I can't go back. Only go forward.
We are starting to get him help and when he starts kindergarten in the fall we hope is where he should be. Intellectually he is ahead of the game...we just have some other stuff to work on.
If you don't know what it is, really, join the club. I have learned a lot and learned I am definitely not alone.
I could use all the support I can get at this point.
My son has Autism and he is perfect.

TV Sucks

And so another mid-season TV restructuring (before February sweeps) brings the axe to another show. Most shows that are axed are crap. But not one, not Pushing Daisies.
Pushing Daisies was, shall we say, and acquired taste. It wasn't conventional in any way. The bright colors, quirky characters, the script, the quips and brilliant acting made me want to stick with this show from the beginning.
For those that came in last: Ned learned at an early age that if he touched something dead it would come back to life. Unfortunately, this meant something or someone else had to die in it's place. He discovered he had a two minute window of bringing someone back before someone else had to die. Then he could touch the same person again and they would die. Following, so far? Ned's childhood sweetheart, Chuck, is murdered on a cruise ship. Ned finds out, goes to the funeral and brings her back to life. The catch is that he can't touch her again, ever, or she will die again. Meanwhile, a private eye is using Ned's talent to find out from murder victims who killed them and then collecting the rewards from the grieving families. There are spinster aunts of Chuck, a crazy waitress in love with Ned and all this activity is centered around Ned's restaurant, "The Pie Hole." What's not to love? I would giggle every time I saw the marque of the restaurant.
The story lines were crazy and right out of the mind of someone like Tim Burton.
This magical show had some of the best actors in the biz and for my money were the only ones that could pull off such a wild concept show.
I am sure some stellar piece of television artistry is what did the show in like some mindless reality show. I feel the main suspect was the writers' strike and afterwards, lack of support from the network. When Pushing Daisies premiered in the fall of 2007, it was preceded by a huge advertising campaign including full length trailers in the movie theaters. When it returned in the fall of 2008 it arrived without a peep. I think the network did a disservice by not having a "re-launch" (as The Beauty Alchemist would say). Another big media blitz would have helped.
I now mourn my show. There was absolutely nothing like it on TV. The only thing that comes close would be Ugly Betty and I am sure that show is not long for TV either.
Bring on the reality shows by all means! We need more celebrity cat fight! Are you smarter than a Senator! Survivor Toledo! Real World: Richmond! Amazing Strolls!
I am sorry that Pushing Daisies was smarter than 99% of the viewing audience. Well, not really sorry because it was a bright light in TV blight - for a moment.
Mediocrity reigns on TV...as it always has.

Gran Torino is a Smart, Funny Ride

The following review is by the Super Mommy,

a regular contributor to the movie mommy blog!

Clint Eastwood still has it. If you have any doubt that the man who originated the concept of the action hero with his “Dirty Harry” movies can still cut the mustard, go see “Gran Torino.” Eastwood is writing the book on what it means to be an elder statesman of action films – by gracefully aging his way into roles that showcase his heroic skills without being ridiculous, that are intelligent but not preachy, thought-provoking but still a thrill-ride of excitement and humor.
In “Gran Torino,” a VERY old-looking Eastwood plays Walt Kowalski, an unrepentant bigot who is incensed at the degeneration he sees taking place around him as poverty, immigrants and drug-dealers move into his once-bucolic, middle-class suburban Michigan neighborhood. A former Ford factory worker and Korean War vet, Walt lives alone after the death of his wife, with a dog, lots of beer and his classic Gran Torino as his only comforts. His family – two sons, two trophy wives and three spoiled grandchildren – are distant, disinterested and just waiting for the old man to kick the bucket so they can get their hands on what few possessions he has left.
Haunted by memories of the war, isolated from anyone who really cares about him, Walt is understandably abrasive and verbally abusive to almost anyone who tries to reach out to him, including the young Catholic priest who ministered to Walt’s wife in her final days. But at heart, Kowalski is a man who believes in right and wrong, and he reluctantly finds himself drawn into the lives of his Hmong neighbors when he sees them trying to valiantly face down evil within their community.
With Eastwood as director and star, I expected great drama, some excitement and enough action to keep me in my seat. I was surprised by the amount of humor laced throughout “Gran Torino.” Yes, it’s a great thrill ride and some intense drama, but it’s also funny as hell. Most of the humor is racially motivated, but it works because it reveals the absurdity of racism without making Walt look like a fool. I actually laughed more during this movie than when I watched “Pineapple Express.”
While the supporting cast does a credible job, Eastwood is really the star of the show and it’s his performance that makes it work. He proves he can still be a hard-ass with heart, an anti-hero who is noble and heroic to the core, in spite of himself. You may think you know were “Gran Torino” is going, but the twist at the end (although somewhat predictable) will still feel gratifying and right.
After all these years, Eastwood is still awesome. Gran Torino is a ride well worth taking!
MMMMM (and I wish I could give it more!) out of 5 M's

The movie mommy thanks the Super Mommy for,

once again, writing a super review!

Defiance

Defiance: I went to see Defiance on opening day at the first show of the day. This was not on purpose it just worked out that we had a free afternoon at our disposal. The interesting thing about seeing the movie at this time was the audience. There were a few couples and a small group but there was also a very elderly man with a cane (by himself), some other very elderly couples and young men and women who were obviously Jewish (I recognized this by their apparel). Not a big crowd at the movies but one I took note of considering the subject of the movie.
Defiance follows a group of Jewish resistance fighters, lead by two brothers Tuvia (Daniel Craig) and Zus (Liev Schreiber), and the community they built in the forests of Russia during WW II. The Nazis invaded Russia with a vengeance and held nothing back when it came to it's attack on the common people. The Jewish fighters were made by neccesity as these were not men of violence and made up of mostly Jewish farmers but the majority of the community was made up of educators, intellectuals, students, aristocrats and tradesmen. As Zus put it - they are protecting people that would not let them touch their daughters with their "dirty hands." But a time of war against an entire people - the Jewish people seemed to negate any propriety and instead the need for survival was paramount.
The movie is remarkable in the sense that you get to see Jews fighting. Normally, Jews are portrayed as passive, as they line up to be slaughtered. Apparently, this was not the case and there was a need for this story to be told. The movie is based on a true story that was not known by all the descendants of those that hid in the woods (for over three years). But they didn't just hide they literally built a new community and kept their traditions.
Being a Theological Studies major, I have studied the Old Testament and I feel that gave me some insight into the struggle and decisions these people had to make. They were bound by their religious beliefs and the need to survive. And, as it is pointed out in the movie, to maintain their humanity and not become like their enemy.
I am not telling you much about the movie because you need to go see it. The cast is excellent and is the best performances of Craig and Schreiber to date.
MMMMM (out of 5 M's)

Valkyrie

Valkyrie: Often times I have a seen a movie with an all star cast that falls flat (Silverado to name just one) and that is a true waste of talent and resources. You will be happy to know that Valkyrie is not one of them! Tom Cruise leads a true all star (I should say all acting cast) including Tom Wilkinson, Bill Nighy, Kenneth Branaugh, Terrance Stamp and Eddie Izzard through this fascinating true story.
Valkyrie is the name given to a set of orders that would go into effect if the Chancellor (Hitler) were killed. The order mobilizes the reserve army and the SS to secure Berlin and end any impending civil unrest. After several failed attempts to assassinate Hitler, the anti-Hitler movement enlists Colonel Claus von Stauffenburg. Stauffenburg is introduced as an outspoken officer in a war that he knows Germany will lose. He comes up with the idea of re-writing Valkyrie to exclude the SS. This frees up Stauffenburg and his cohorts to blame the SS for Hitler's death and therefore gain control of the reserve army and the central government.
Even though it is a true story and we know that Stauffenburg and his crew were not successful (Hitler killed himself 9 months after the Valkyrie story takes place), you will still be glued to the screen waiting to see how they plan on pulling it off and how close they came to succeeding.
It is hard to root for somewhere wearing a Nazi uniform but I suppose that one of the points is that not all Germans were Nazi's. That much is certain. The group that Stauffenburg is enlisted into is not only high ranking military officers but elder statesmen that just couldn't stomach what Hitler was doing and violence was the only option they were left with. Eliminate Hitler and make peace with the allies.
One actor that has a small part but seems to really stand out in a movie is the German actor Thomas Kretschmann(he is the field commander of the reserve army) who has appeared in Next, King Kong, The Pianist, U-571 and Blade II. His resume is made, for the most part, of German and foreign films. His is not well known to American audiences and that is a shame. He brings a screen presence to the screen similar to that of Paul Henried (Casablanca) - suave and intense.
Even if you are not a Tom Cruise fan (I have trouble finding any these days), you cannot deny he often makes great movie choices and churns out some quality work. Like him or not, he can carry this kind of movie easily. Don't let him keep you from seeing this movie.
MMMM (out of 5 M's)

Face to Face

I have arrived in the 21st century...again. I am on facebook!
I had heard of facebook but thought it was just another meeting place like myspace. I find myspace hard to maneuver through and I still haven't figured out how to ad my profile picture. Facebook is easy to use and I have found many people I know on it - friends, relatives, classmates, etc. Now I am encouraging all my friends to join up!
Even my husband is on facebook! I know, several of you just fainted. My husband doesn't even know how to use a computer, mouse, email, any of it. I have to say that I will maintain that one...like I do his email. That's cool. He has found possible relatives in France and that has peaked his interest.
So, to those of you that are not on facebook yet - what are you waiting for?
Many thanks to Don Miguel for telling me to get on it!

To be Grateful at Christmas

Today was a good Christmas Eve day. I got to spend the day with my husband, we went to lunch (turned out to be free as a customer appreciation day) and some fun last minute purchases. Unfortunately, this day brought a sad purchase. Sympathy cards. Four.
It does seem surreal to be filling out Sympathy cards on Christmas Eve. A night the star appeared in the east and led wisemen and shepherds to meet the Savior. But that is what I have been doing.
In between my filling out the cards is the joyful sound of my children waiting for Santa, helping their father put up lights (yes, still putting them up) and the singing of carols.
And I fill out another card.
The news of these deaths of family and friends of family seemed to be just to much. It was to much with just one this time of year. But not as bad a blow as to the family that had to deliver such news.
Today, in a Christmas card, came the news of the death of the son of friends in NJ. He was 18 and killed in a car accident on November 29th. I sobbed when I read the card and found the memorial card inside. I didn't know him. He was the son of my husband's friends from high school but he still kept in touch. They came to our wedding. But it just hit me in the heart. Maybe because I am a mother.
A couple weeks ago, while unpacking boxes of decorations, their card from last year fell out of a box (I save cards with the decorations for years). It was a funny card and inside was a lovely picture of their son and daughter. Every year we get a card with a picture and have watched them grow.
I am not writing this to make you sad. But to pass on what was said in their card this year after saying how beautiful our children are:
"Please give them each and extra hug & 'I love you' at night."
I will.
I am grateful.