Tonight was a meet the teacher’s night at Alec’s school. I had the opportunity to talk to the extra mural Occupational therapist and Speech and Language therapist. They seemed really motivated to develop a plan for Alec. They aren’t at the school the whole year, but they will create a plan with items we can implement at home as well as at school. His teacher did a presentation for the parents and it went very well. I have a good feeling about her. I also joined the Parent and School Committee (PSSC) and I’m hoping that I’ll have some input on some items at the school.

On other fronts. I have a miserable cold. I played basketball with it last night and today I’m feeling even worse. I hope it’s better before I take off to TX on Monday. I won’t be able to take my dristan nasal spray on the plane, lol. Actually I need to find out more details about that. I can’t take liquids or gels, but what exactly does that constitute? Is mascara or lipstick ok? I suppose a gel cap tylenol would be banned. Ok, I just googled and found the official list. Mascara is not ok, but lipstick is, as long as it’s not gel. Concealer is ok, but not liquid makeup. Ok, guys I know, roll your eyes;) But hey a single woman has to keep things in perspective;) You know what is interesting, is that you CAN take on personal lubricant. So you can’t take on sunscreen, lotions or toothpaste, but you can have personal lubricant. Because you never know when you’re going to need personal lubricant on an airplane, lol.

Fredericton:
Got up wayyyy too early this morning at 4 am. Kissed the kids goodbye, left them at their Nana’s and took off to the airport. I’m waiting at the Fredericton Airport at the moment (thank you Freddy Zone) for my first part of my flight, with a stop over in Boston. While boarding the plane, I was the only one they pulled aside to do a thorough search of my carry on and a physical search of my body. I’m sure I look like a terrorist;) On the plane, I saw that there was a band from the Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival.

Logan Airport (Boston):
Not here long, just long enough to go through customs and walk a REALLY long walk. On the walk, I have the opportunity to talk with the band. It was Sista Monica and her group. They were a really diverse and interesting group of musicians. I discovered that my interac card did not work in stores, only in the ATM and they don’t take Canadian money. I had asked my bank before I left if it would be a problem and they said, no…. ummm wrong.

Hartsfield-Jackson (Atlanta):
I get off the plane, ask a guy driving a cart that works there where the laptop charging station is located. He offers to drive me there. On the way, he asks me where I am from. We chat, I tell him there is an election today and he tells me that he used to actively follow politics in Canada in the 70’s, back when Rene Levesque was premier of Quebec. He was a gentlemen, checked my ticket and I saw a bit of southern hospitality. Charged up the laptop. Listened to a security message that repeated the dangerous/banned goods items about a gazillion times during my layover. This airport is big, but not overwhelming like I was worried it might be.

Next Stop: Austin.

Austin - Day 1

Everywhere I turned I saw cowboy boots.

Back home, lots to talk about but beat. Will post more tomorrow and more pics:)

The landscape is very different there, than here. They don’t really have trees. They’re more like big shrubs. And I confess I was quite excited about seeing fields of cactuses. I suppose that would be like someone visiting here getting excited about seeing thistles everywhere in our fields, lol.

Austin has the world’s largest Urban Bat Colony. It was really neat to see thousands and thousands of bats flying out at once. The most noticeable thing was the noise. The whole area was awash in the sounds of bats and birds.

I brought home cowboy hats for the kids:)