Cloudy with a Chance of...something...

Last night, Tony and I went to the movies and saw Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs.

Not that I should have to say this because it is a movie, and a cartoon, but if you apply any sort of reality to this, you might find yourself tossing your cookies...and I don't mean the ones that fall from the sky. Just do yourself a favor and don't think of reality at all. If you are like me, you tend to think things like "what would it be like if this really happened..." Don't do it!

I was afraid to see this movie with Tony because it's based off of his favorite children's book ever. Whenever a movie is based on someone's "favorite" anything, I'm leery of going with them to see it. Expectations are really high, and it's difficult to watch it just for fun without analyzing it. Leaving the theater, Tony just kept saying "loosely based on the book." My argument was that the book just doesn't have the exensive plot that is necessary for a decent movie, and it certainly didn't have the characters for an hour and a half of entertainment. The ideas of the book were all there, and really, the storyline in the movie is basically an extension of the storyline in the book. It wasn't like it conflicted with the book.

I thoroughly enjoyed the movie...except when the mom in me showed it's ugly head and I thought of how horribly unsanitary the whole thing was. I think the worst part for me was the man-eating baked chickens. I almost had to leave the theater. It was just gross.

The one question I had was why the rat-birds? Every other invention that the main character, Flint Lockwood, came up with had some purpose. Why rat-birds? What purpose would those ugly things have? Spread disease faster?

The movie was enjoyable, however, and I will likely be taking my kids to the drive-in to see it tonight. Well, probably just Micah and Becca. It was clean and entertaining, and I'm sure that the kids will love it.

Awesome IEP Meeting

Yesterday I had an IEP for Micah, and I'd have to describe that experience as absolutely awesome. The team met for the first time since starting at the new school for Micah's annual review. There were so many things that went right. I had never met the speech therapist before this meeting, and he was great. He recognized Micah's intelligence and ran with it. I didn't feel like I had to convince him that Micah really could accomplish more. Micah obviously had shown him what he could do very well, and the goals that he came up with for Micah were very similar to my own goals for Micah. In the past, I have always had to tell them how much more my son is really capable of, but that really wasn't the way things were this time.

Micah's teacher is new, and this was her first IEP meeting. She did very well. My favorite thing about this teacher is that she is like a sponge for information. She asked me so many questions about Micah, recognizing that I really did know Micah better than anyone else there. She also recognized Micah's intelligence and her goals were very appropriate.

The principal was awesome. She told me of different incentive programs that they do for the whole school and asked many questions about how Micah could be involved with these things. She was very open to making sure that Micah was mainstreamed as much as possible. She told me that Micah has been her buddy and they have bonded in the many times that she visited his class.

Mainstreaming for math is going really well. His regular ed teacher really enjoys having Micah in his class and Micah is keeping up with the rest of the class. The aid from Micah's classroom actually goes with him to the class, so there are no problems like last year where we had to come up with someone new to go with him to assist if necessary. He actually goes with a couple of other kids from his class, and his teacher doesn't have any problems with giving up her aid for that short time (probably because Micah's class is so much smaller than his class last year).

I'm really excited about this year in Micah's class. He is doing so well, and I have a good enough relationship with the staff involved so I think that we really can tackle any problems that come up. I had been worried because the beginning of the year was so rough. He had to change teachers from the one that we had prepared him for. He changed rooms, the school didn't have their act together when it came to the services that were on the IEP. It was really rough. Now they are really on the ball.

Waffles Part 3

Trader Joe's is back on the happy list, even without banana waffles.

First of all, my wonderful husband took the plain waffles that I had bought at TJ's (still gf/cf) and offered them to Micah this morning for breakfast calling them "new waffles." Now, if I had been the one who offered him something calling it "new," Micah would have thrown a fit. Daddy is another story. Daddy can offer him anything and it will automatically be cool. I think one of Daddy's jobs that will forever be his is breakfast.

Tony also sent an email to Trader Joe's, not a complaint, Tony just doesn't do that, but a letter telling them of our concern. This is his letter:

Comments: I was recently informed of the decision to discontinue the
banana flavored gluten/casein free waffles. This item has been a staple
in our family for the last 5 years when my son started his gluten
free/casein free diet to help control his autism. They really have been
a life saver.
When I heard they were discontinued, a point of stability in my son's
life was discontinued with it. It would not be uncommon for our outside
freezer to be filled with boxes of waffles.
I know as a corporate decision, probably based off of sales, it would be
near impossible to bring them back, so I would like to thank your
company for being there with some of the best products for my son for
the last 5 years and look forward to shopping with you in the future.
If the banana waffles return, there will be much rejoicing in my house
and if they do not, we will still be happy with the products you do sell
(like the regular gf/cf waffles.) Thank you for your time, Tony
Escarzaga

Their response was very quick. Tony sent them that message at about 4:30pm on Wednesday, and he received a response at 10:30 this morning. Very awesome. This was their response:

Hi Antonio,

We are sorry to hear that we have discontinued a favorite product of
yours.

At this time the Trader Joe's Banana Waffles have been discontinued due
to slow sales in all our stores. We will forward your comments and
request to bring this product back to our Buying Department and that
will be taken into future consideration.

Many thanks,

Nicki K.
Customer Relations
Trader Joe's


Obviously they get a number of the "bring it back!" letters, and this was probably pretty automated, but still I am happy about the quick response.

I probably wouldn't have been nearly as happy if Tony hadn't convinced Micah to eat the "new waffles" though.

I'm still not happy with the change in price that I have to pay for Micah's breakfast (the new waffles are a bit more pricey), but it's not the huge amount that I would have to pay for them elsewhere. Still, it is probably time for Micah to be a bit more open with his eating habits anyway. Once we are over this hurdle, I think we will work on his obsession with taquitos...