Update From the Wolf Den

Today is a big day for Wolf. As part of the social skills component, he and his cool therapist, B. are heading out for an afternoon at the local book store.

For those of you who know my son, you will know that a trip to Mecca would pale in comparison to the option of spending an hour in Barnes and Noble. Even more so for a kid whose last visit there was actually here, a year ago.

While Wolf has been making great strides in his overall behavior, the underlying issues still remain, although now they are taking center stage as opposed to second fiddle (hmm, such musical analogy today, it must be the music I am listening to).
A large part of the work CHYC does with their kids is in the area of social skill building.

Imagine loving reading so much that if you could, you would read all hours of the day or night, and holding the books you own so close to you that the thought of giving them away makes you sick. Now imagine having a few dollars and a trip to the book superstore on the horizon after a dry spell of having to borrow books from a tiny library that doesn't really have anything you like, but you go there anyway because at least it has books.

Imagine entering the book store and standing in awe at the view in front of you. Books, all for the taking (er, buying). Those five dollars would never be enough to purchase them all. So you ask to borrow some money. You are amazingly convincing, even charming. Oops.

Where previously, Wolf would be able to bribe, cajole, beg, or plead for a few bucks from family or friends, he is in for a rude awakening with B.

This careful execution of Reality in the Book Store is courtesy of Unit Director, who wants to make sure Wolf has at least a cursory understanding of how things will go when Yukon and I visit in a few weeks. This is perhaps one of the most difficult aspects of Wolf's management of Asperger Syndrome, and the one that simply drives me nuts. I am thankful they are paving the way for me...

The Sweet Deal

We're ramping up the AKontheGO quest for family fun in the 49th state with another option...Salmon Berry Tours. Customized, classy, and comfortable. Read about Candice and her pack of adventures for kids 0-99!

He Wants to Ride His Bicycle

What is it, exactly, this fascination with learning to ride a bicycle?

Bear, who is a bit timid when approached with new activities, was not too terribly thrilled with his "new" bicycle at first. Perhaps it was the size; this bike is a bit big and will last him a number of Alaskan summers and was appropriated from some friends.

Yukon, Mr. Bicycle, spent a good part of the afternoon yesterday (accompanied by well-meaning and interested neighbor children) cleaning, greasing, and attaching training wheels to the "Big Boy Bike". BBB is indeed very cool, and Bear, despite his initial reticence, found himself drawn to the process. Mostly, I think, because his buddy was watching and he doesn't have a Big Boy Bike.

Armed with my camera to document the second and last of my children to learn the mechanics of pedaling, braking, and steering what will be his mode of transportation until he moves out of my house, I watched as Yukon patiently explained to our now-impatient child the art of the two-wheeler.

Carefully, slowly, the apprentice took a few tentative pedals, concentration etched on his sunburned face. Then he left.

I hope he comes back in time for Kindergarten.

It's Beach Weather

Here in Alaska, it is anyway. Whereas most Lower 48 folks would still be wearing fleece at 65 degrees, most, if not all of Anchorage was outside from the get go today.

I will echo the sentiments of nearly everyone when I say that in the last seven days we have had more nice weather than in all of June-August 2008. And I say that with certainty.

Yukon and I persuaded the nice RN teaching our CPR class this morning to forego the video and crank through the material, thus finishing a four-hour class in a little more than an hour and a half. She forever is in our debt, as we were able to stop by REI to get Bear some Keen sandals and return home to a lovely lunch and beer in the backyard.

Bear spent his day with his best buddy and her brothers in their backyard, exploring the nuances of sprinkler running and the classic Slip 'N Slide. He is in bed now after almost falling asleep in the bathtub, red-skinned and weary.

I went to a lovely tea for a local organization that supports premature babies and their families, then came home and took Jasper for a much-needed run through the woods. But don't tell Yukon, who thinks I ran through the neighborhood.

So this is what summer is supposed to look like...

Sail Away: Cruise Lines and AKontheGO

Here is an update on the cruise lines' preparations and precautions against the spread of any influenza outbreak, not just the "flu we're not supposed to call Swine flu"...click here to read all about it.

AKontheGO is trying to set up a family cruise this summer to explore just what the cruise hoopla is all about. Grateful thanks to Holland America Lines for giving me the scoop.

Not Just Running Away

Anchorage Mayor's Marathon mission statement, "I don't have to be fast to outrun a bear, I just have to be faster than you..."

And people Outside wonder why we're such good athletes...

I'm really only kidding about the running from bears part. Mostly.

Time to sign up for the annual Summer Solstice run! Check out AKontheGOthis week for details.

Dare We Even Think It.....?

Shhh, don't mention that it might be a promising summer ahead based upon the last 24hours of almost 60 degree weather. Yes, 60+ degrees.

One would think that we were recently liberated captives the way we carried on and fussed about in our yards and parks today. Even those with no yards or children made sure they got outdoors to enjoy Non-Winter.

Little Bear, Brown Dog, and I were outside from shortly after lunchtime until nearly 4:30 p.m. I checked the progress of my seed starts in the garage (they sit on the package of rice to give them more height and thus reach the light a little better), cleared out the garden plots (things are coming up on the southside!), then cleaned out the clubhouse. All things Non-Winter are stored there; from baseball gloves to backpacking gear to the all-important stash of bug spray. Good thing, as the skeeters were out and about this evening.

Bear took advantage of some tilled soil to return trucks and cars to the road system he built last summer. There is nothing so glorious as the sounds of a little boy working hard in the dirt. He tired out around 4 p.m. and had a snack under the birch tree before collapsing in a deck chair. If you look closely you can see the moustache of dirt encircling his mouth.

I hesitate to say it, but this one day of perfect weather almost made up for three months of crap last year.

And the dog? He ran after kids, his ball, and birds for three of those four hours, then joined me on a run after dinner. I have never seen a German Shorthaired Pointer run behind somebody. He is currently unconscious under my chair.

Yukon and I celebrated this fine day with a barbeque pork pizza and an IPA. Doesn't get much better than that my friends.