Brandon

Eustress

Ugh Oh

Ugh OhOk another post about – well – err – nothing much as that is what goes on around here much of the time.

The title of this blog was chosen as a joke back at a friend that started when I was reading  one (yes he has more than one) doctorate thesis paper (or whatever you call em) any way I could not remember what bifurcate meant and he and his wife my friend Shelley (she died of lung cancer in 2011)  teased me about it.  I really do not have a solid written in stone purpose for this blog. 

I mentioned in a comment on a blog that I have not been able to just hit the delete button on this blog – I mean it really is a record of what the “what the heck was I thinking stuff” and my journey through time.  Unless something really nasty awful or a data disaster hits I probably will never hit the delete key.  Through the years post have disappeared when data became garbled or hackers made it to the database.  Things were not as easily secured a few years back – the platform is much improved now.

Many times through the years it has crossed my mind hee hee . …

Now to the what has kmilyun been doing?

Same thing different day is most likely the correct answer.  The side path of the month seems to be playing the xbox games. There is one game that I really enjoy playing for lots of reasons.

It challenges my brain to hold onto info. It is one of those games that builds upon what actions/reactions your character has made along the time frame.  This means to have any chance of winning I must remember things that other characters have said or done. I have already played two of the trilogy of Mass Effect. The internet chatter is alive with the news that my character no matter what they do is gonna die in this final chapter in the story line. Now that truly really sucks.

If my character walks through a hallway and over hears a statement like “we need to get the plans for . …”  I can bet that later one (maybe a few hours of play time) somewhere I will come across the plans for . … and then I need to remember where I over heard the original statement – and if I do – yeah I get a reward if I deliver the goods.

It also is very detailed and the depth of the coding the programming amazes me.  Universes, Galaxies, and planets.  To win I need to learn and remember a bunch of things about different alien (to earth) races. Their cultures, history, locations of major cities. Are they in galaxy X or? Friend or foe? Can I work it so they will be on my side? Each and every conversion  has possibilities – which response gains the most points or good will.  It all comes together in order to well win the game LOL.

There really is evidence out there that game playing helps with critical thinking and creative problem solving.  Here is a word for yah: A positive stress over a negative – in one word eustress.

My pathetic scores

My Pathetic Scores

The adaptive swim class started up so on Tuesdays and Thursdays I have a long morning.  Adaptive PE  starts at 11am and then followed by the swim class. The weather has made it rather a pain in the arse really. Since the pool is kept covered and the “normal” swim class before ours seems not to swim when it is rainy looking out there – the cover is on until our teach and her aids uncover it. You end up with too warm of water for me and freaking cold air with a breeze or wind.

I end up doing the too hot now too cold thing the whole class period.  Amazing how a few degrees warmer water temps effect my body. Then when I get out it is so freaking cold well . …

Billy’s son my fishing pal Brandon is coming late tonight with his gal Marissa.  I am excited about seeing them! Very cool I think that the chose to spend their spring break here with us. I just hope they get here and over the pass safely. Not to be an old worry wart but it might be snowing and the sierra’s can be no joke at times.

That is all I have for now.   Mikey just showed up for dinner and then we shall await the arrival of the kiddo’s.

Our Graduate – Never Give Up

He never quit

He never quit Thursday was one of those days. Full of excitement and reflective thought, happiness with a tinge of sadness thrown in best describing our mood as Chuck, KRP, and I loaded up and headed off for Nevada. Three people that physically might make one and half if melded together!

You Never Know

Our friend Chuck and Brandon hit it off when Brandon was visiting us one summer.  The two of them formed a friendship:  mentor and student, comrades, and fishing buddies they became. I must admit they are an odd compo. Brandon with his youthful angst and Chuck a retired justice dept. special agent. Who would have thought?

Brandon has worked hard to achieve his goals. You see Brandon has learning disabilities and I hope he does not mind that I share this here. He never said never, never quit, he never gave up. Blessed with some special educators, real teachers that never quit, never said never, and never gave up on him he learned. Parents and extended family that never quit him, never gave up, and fought the battles to raise a child to become a good heart-ed, honest and ethical, confident young man.

When testing time rolled around he could have accepted extra help but he decided to take the tests without it and he scored! No adjusted or special diploma for him. That took courage IMHO. Not only did he achieve a High School Diploma but also he bettered that, received an advanced one, 9th in his class, and became a scholarship recipient to boot.

So off we go excited to attend his graduation and yet well, feeling old. He has so much potential but we worry about the state of the world. Please God that you watch over him and never quit him.

A few bits of the trip and ceremony.

I am gonna miss my little fishing buddy. Sometime when I was not looking he grew up!

Kiddo has Left the Farm

Well all the computers are up and running again. Thankfully not running to a place where peeps remember to use them and blog. Kiddo made it here, scrapped wall paper off, painted, and fixed a few things. He left to go back to Nevada this morning.  Sorry I did not post that he had made it without any troubles but the computer was on and off while all the work was going on and well duh I forgot.

I am generally totally pooped out so this is short but wanted to check in.

Mr Catfish is doing ok but he is shaking more. He loves to play with the kid so he is pouting now that he left – not as bad as Annie because kiddo will throw the ball for her forever and I get tired of it after about 20 tosses.

More Laters

Ok I am Nervous

Billy and Trish’s eldest (17 ) – geez this is scary – is driving here tomorrow! Yikes! His first long solo driving trip. His mom is a nervous wreck, his aunties here are stressing, the only ones not stressing or nervous about this seems to be he and his father.  Well, I suspect his father is nervous but silently so. Ok silly I know we all have taken the first long drive plunge but that was different  LOL .

I have finally moved my computers gear into the other room. I took some video of the room progress during the week if it came out I will put it together. Catfish was thinking that the room was his, all his, until I moved the battery backup in and it beeped  and beeped while I was hooking up things. LOL I am getting the evil eye down the hall as he lays on the edge of the bed in the other room.

Well just checking in and now I gotta get some sleep so that I can do the nervous dance tomorrow as we wait for travel update calls – from set stops along the trip.  Gotta let the little birdie spread his wings and fly but this does force the driving rest breaks and keeps the adults apprised of his progress.

KRP and I are going to meet him in Rockin the last small town stop before hitting the traffic. His request as he has never driven in city traffic like we have here.