Showing posts with label Grease. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Grease. Show all posts

Sunday, September 21, 2014

If You Read This Post, The Words Might Get Stuck in Your Head! But it'll be Worth It

Saturday was the big day, Beth played Frenchie in a production of Grease Lightening. (I guess, due to copyright laws, they couldn't officially call it Grease, but that's what it was.) :)

Beth did great! All the kids were wonderful! Kids. They're all adults but they'll always be our kids.
Sometimes it was hard to hear them because there was no microphone but we all know Grease by heart anyway.

The musical numbers were the best! Everyone sang, including the audience! The kids all had a great time, they laughed and danced, such a great way to spend the afternoon!

I have SO many pictures, but I'll just share a few.


Sonny getting stopped in the hallway by Principal McGee
"Yes ma'am, I mean no ma'am, I mean yes ma'am."
 
 
 
"Go Greased Lightening, you're burnin' up the heat lamp trials!"
 
 
 
The sleep over at Frenchies:
"Have you ever had a drink, Sandy?"
 
 
 
 
Everyone in the malt shop
"My parents want to invite you over for tea."
"I don't drink tea."
 
 
 
Frenchie's guardian angel
"Beauty school drop out, go back to high school."
(Yes that's Beth.)

 
 
"Doin' the hand jive!!"
 
 
 
The final school announcements
"Oh Blanche, stop blubbering!"
 
 
 
The big finale
"We go together like rama lama lama ka dinga dinga dong.
Remembered forever as
shoobop shoo wadda wadda yippity boom de boom..."

 

 
 
And if you now have the words to that song stuck in your head,
you're welcome. :)
 
Grease is the Word!
 

Saturday, September 13, 2014

Trying to Navigate Change with Someone Who Thrives on Consistancy

I've been looking at this blank page for a few minutes, knowing I need to write something but honestly, I got nothin'. Let me go back to the beginning of the week and see if anything develops. :)

Beth and I did our usual grocery shopping. I don't know if I've ever told you what she buys. It's usually the same thing each week. Two frozen dinners, (she has certain days of the week that she eats these for lunch) fat free fig newtons, raisins, syrup, one lunchable and a Sprite (for Wednesdays when she's gone all day) the chips... that's new. I really didn't notice them when I took the picture. Hmm. I wonder why she bought those?

 
 
 
 
There is a rhyme and reason for everything in Beth's life. When she was born, they told us that we'd need to be consistent with our teaching and discipline but they never said anything about the rituals and patterns she would create over time. Course, 30 years ago they didn't know nearly the amount they know now about people with Down Syndrome. It amazes me the advances they've made.
 
(Beth just came upstairs so I asked her why she bought the chips. "My sister. They're her favorite." Now, Beth hasn't had these before that I'm aware of and she said she hasn't tried them yet, but that would explain it. Diana must have told her as they walked past them in the store one day. Beth rarely changes her routine. There really is reason for everything.)
 
Her weekly schedule is what it is and should remain that way forever. If Beth has her way, that is. But we all know life doesn't stay the same. Changes come, we adapt, okay sometimes we rebel, but we try to adapt because change is a part of life. Trying to navigate that change with someone who doesn't adapt is very tricky. It takes planning and patience. Have you ever tried to plan for change before it happens? Usually all we can do is reassure her and list the steps of events about to happen.
 
I don't know how many of you watch Dora the Explorer but that program presents a challenge "We must get the baby bird back to it's mother!" then lists the steps to achieve that goal: "We have to go over the bridge, through the forest and across the river! Bridge, forest, river! Bridge, forest, river!" Can I just say, this works brilliantly for my adult daughter who has Down Syndrome! The simple steps, the rhythm of repetition and the glorious goal at the end!  
 
A problem arises when you come out of the other end of the forest and there is a huge mountain between you and the river. A mountain that clearly wasn't on the map! When was this map made anyway? There's no mountain here! And good luck trying to get that thing folded back up again... stupid map.
 
Okay, where was I? Oh yea, the mountain. The rhythm has been thrown off and panic begins to set in. That's when, as a parent of a child with Down Syndrome, you have to gently add a new step, create a new rhythm and make THAT the new normal. Over and over and over.
 
Thankfully the only change that has occurred for her lately is the play she'll be in next week, Grease Lightening. She decided she didn't want to add Special Olympics bowling on top of that so we didn't go to the first practice. Her coach called though and said she they can use her average from last year for the couple of weeks she'll miss, so she decided to be in Grease next week, and then to go Special Olympics bowling after that.
 
So... Grease, bowling, gold medal! Grease, bowling, gold medal!

Friday, April 11, 2014

A Few Pictures!

Yes, I'm learning more each day about how to upload, download and move pictures around on this computer. I took some of Beth the other day in our backyard wearing her new glasses. She really likes them and can see so much better.


She was flipping her hair back. :)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Here is a before photo. These were wire frames.
 
 
 
An update on the production of Grease. She has been rehearsing as... Frenchy, played by Didi Conn in the movie. I'll let you know if she gets the part!!

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

What Month is This??

It's been such a long time since I've posted anything. I remember I need to post when I'm in the shower, or riding in the car. Not very convenient places to pull out the laptop...

We're all doing fine. Beth continues to work, and go to karaoke and art and bowling. She is coming up on her 1 year anniversary at work! The longest she's ever held a job! We're so proud of her and are planning a surprise for her.

Her karaoke group is planning a production of Grease, one of Beth's favorite movies! She first wanted to try out for the part of Sandy but is now talking about Patti Simcox, the bouncy cheerleader. Not sure what roll Beth will get but the tryouts begin tomorrow.

I've been working a second job (part time) doing data entry for a friend's business. That's something I could do for hours without even blinking an eye. I LOVE data entry.

I'm still not comfortable with photos on this computer, or on my phone! I've taken pictures of Beth with her new glasses, but just the thought of getting them onto this blog terrifies me. I just don't want to take the time to figure out all the steps. I'm making a photo book for Chuck's sister and I must have spent 2 hours trying to get the photos from my thumb drive to Shutterfly. For the life of me I couldn't figure it out! Finally saved them to my desktop but even THAT didn't work. I was on the verge of tears when I just had to walk away. Chuck looked at it when he got home and figured out I had saved them as Shortcuts. Sigh. I deleted all of them and had to start again. Ugh!

Our basement is flooding, did I tell you? We have a daylight basement and I went down to the craft room to work on a scrapbook and the carpet is soaked. Had a friend come take a look and he couldn't find anything that might be causing it. He went under the house to check pipes but everything is bone dry under there. He suggested moving a downspout from next to the house and divert it so the water drains away from the house, but that was the only thing he saw. We're hoping and praying it's not a cracked foundation.

BUT, it's Spring in the great Northwest! The last couple of days have been sunny and in the high 50's. Flowers are starting to bloom, the air is drying out, it's really been glorious!

I think about you all more than you know! I hope you're doing well! Til next time...