Nothing like failing a challenge when you’re not even 1/3 of the way through it. I’m going to chalk my NaBloPoMo failure to the most disruptive week around here for a long time and then get back on my horse. I’ve taken the last couple of days to contact and visit with family, which are things I don’t do often enough, so I figured the blogging could wait. My cousin’s funeral is this afternoon. Thank you all for your kind thoughts.

I had the pleasure of attending a tour of the Ronald McDonald House of Central Ohio the other night. Through all of my son’s hospitalizations and surgeries, my husband and I have always been close enough to home that one of us could sleep in our own bed. For those who can’t, RMH Charities provides comfort and necessities. It is a truly amazing place and with a new expansion, the Central Ohio facility will be the biggest Ronald McDonald House in the world!

One of the things I found out is that the house depends heavily upon volunteers; cleaning, cooking, maintenance, stocking the supply shelves…you name it. There are rooms for 80 families each night and it costs RMH $100 per night, per family, to provide services. Though they ask for a $20 donation per night, the average amount received, per family, is $4.80.

They can use your money, your time or your talents, and I can assure you, it is a worthy cause. It’s hard to have a sick kid and the kindness and special touches from Ronald McDonald House goes a long way to making a difficult situation bearable.

While we were there, they asked us to decorate handprints for their annual “Give a Hand” fundraiser to benefit RMCH and other charities for children. From now until November 20th, at participating McDonald’s restaurants, you can purchase a paper hand for $1, $3, or $5 and the proceeds will go toward helping families in need.

This was the awesome design of the guy sitting next to me. It was this tie-dye looking, swirly, artsy thing. My phone didn’t do it justice, but it was really cool.

After I got black marker around the edge of my palm and my fingers when I traced my hand, I went with a more simple design. I am not so crafty.

Either way, it was a great experience. To know that this massive endeavor is run with such heart and love, made me really happy.

See? My hand was right!

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Here’s what I could tell you; that it’s sometimes exhausting to raise a special needs child. It’s also the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done and if you mess with my son, I will go all Mama Bear Advocate on you until you stop. I will also say bad things about you on Facebook.

I could tell you that my cousin is very sick. That she was pretty much fine and then was suddenly diagnosed with THREE DIFFERENT types of cancer and is in critical care. Get your papsmears, ladies. Make a note and schedule it as soon as you possibly can.

I could mention that I can never, ever get the laundry done all in one day like my husband can and that he constantly rubs it in my face. Or, I could talk about how I don’t understand why The Voice is on EVERY night.

Maybe I’ll mention how hard it is to be vegan with Twix bars in the house, that I could buy a new pair of shoes just about every day or that I wish I were a piano virtuoso.

I could say that I think guilt is an incomparable emotional experience and if you don’t have any, then you’re not someone I want as a friend. If you don’t feel guilty about something, then you don’t care enough. Or, I could say that my dog is the best snuggler in the world. For real.

Or I could just show you a picture of my 78 year old mother beating my daughter at arm wrestling.

I’m 41 years old and my mom still scares me.

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For the third time in three months, a woman I know has sliced her hand and/or fingers while working in the kitchen. I think this is a sign. You’re welcome, ladies.

First it was my sister with an avocado and a dull knife, then it was a friend with another avocado and another dull knife. She got her tendons involved and ended up with surgery and nice little hospital stay. She’s actually an over-achiever, so this wasn’t a big surprise. Hi, Karen!

Today, my friend Melisa was cutting an apple with a very sharp, very big knife, when she cut off the tip of her finger. After talking to her I decided to revisit this post about when my son did the very same thing. Ironically, Melisa left the first comment on that post, so the finger chopping has come full-circle. Mustafa is pleased.

Even though it was five years ago, my son still remembers his finger-splint, named Tapper, quite well. But I think Melisa may have him beat in the memorable-finger-splint department. Just a hunch.

Bird courtesy of Melisa at Suburban Scrawl

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I’ve mentioned before how much I hate winter. Autumn gets second place in the hate column, mostly because I know what follows, but also because of the yard work at our house. In case you get tired of counting, that’s 25 bags and/or cans of leaves. For this week.

Two days after bagging all of those? The back yard looks like this.

Even the bushes are shedding in preparation for winter.

But, as much as I hate winter, I’m pretty sure the yard waste people hate me more.

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