Pictures of my 2 dogs and cats

Latest pictures of my granddaughter (one with my son)

The Columbus Dance Theatre and my daughter

One of my daughters is a member of The Columbus Dance Theatre where she is a faculty as well as a company apprentice dancer. Last night, the dancers danced the choreography that she had created and everyone thought she did a wonderful job. When some people found out that she is only a junior in high school. They were impressed and said that she have a great future in choreophraphy. I hope so, her dance made me cried last night and it was the first time I ever cried at a ballet dance performance. In fact, after the dance was over, I looked around and saw some people also cried. Some made comments like "wow".

I am proud of my her and she deserved the recognition.

If you live in Columbus area (Ohio), there are two performances which are at 3 PM and 7 PM. I encourage you to go and watch. Young dancers did a great job last night.

Jim

My daughter is going to a prom tonight

This day will be a wonderful day for her and happy to see her looking excited and looking forward to tonight's date with her boyfriend.

I will get my camera ready.

Jim

Old Deaf culture and New Deaf culture

Last night, my wife and I were watching the movie called Hallmark’s Sweet Nothing in My Ear, I realized something and told my wife that I am seeing the "Old Deaf culture and New Deaf culture" in this movie. I believe this movie is accurate in many ways. I was watching carefully of one character who played the deaf grandfather in the movie and he has portrayed many of the "old" Deaf culture individuals' attitude while today's Deaf culture is little different. The deaf grandma who was probably the most wise character in the movie did every well explaining pros and cons of Deaf culture. The "old" Deaf culture didn't have to deal with today's technology while today's Deaf culture is dealing with it. Oh yes, there was one character in the movie who played the hard-of-hearing psychologist who both signs and speaks which is very much how I am in real life except that I am a professional accountant.

The key phrase in the whole movie comes down to is this: "to help him (Adam) have a better life". Of course, everyone was doing this for Adam from each of the characters' own perspectives. Yesterday, I posted about Nebraska's billboard promoting an Omaha school for the hearing impaired is drawing fire from the Deaf culture who lives in the area. Some deaf people saying they’re insulted by the sign’s message which means the Deaf culture is still struggling for self-recognition. The billboard was aiming at kids who are hearing-impaired (or deaf) more than parents.

I have no problem with the billboard that was sending a message to hearing-impaired/deaf kids because they all have that 'right' to do whatever they want with their own body. No one else should tell them what to do. That's the MAIN issue about parents placing kids to have cochlear plant by giving them a choice.

This movie have portrayed very well because at the end, we noticed the 'father' have confessed that like many others are 'selfish' to do what they want for the child. Both deaf and hearing. Not just hearing. I am having the same issues with deaf as well for not allowing one person who has the right to do whatever he/she want with their body. They were making decisions based on what is best for themselves but not for Adam. Its not about hearing culture or Deaf culture but rather a freedom to choose. We are free, but our freedom does not mean we can know for SURE what is right and what is wrong. Until we know we can maintain our integrity only by admitting our own ignorance, we can be truly humbled by the fact that ONE individual has the right more than anyone else whether to obtain a cochlear implant or not.

Today, I am having issues with experts like AG Bell telling parents what to do. Its very tough for parents to find the "right" path for our disabled children when they are not getting ALL of the information about deafness.

We have to remember that the "parents" have the greater burden of making decisions for the family. Not the grandparents, friends or even Deaf or hearing cultures. We also have to remember that being "parents of children with disabilities" are NOT easy and we work much harder than parents of "normal" kids. They are facing a much greater trial more than anything other than facing a child who is dying or have died.

With technologies available today, many people with disabilities will NOT reject the "cure" of medical intervention if they will help make their lives easier and live in a society so that they can have a decent life. The Deaf culture will reject the cochlear implants but accept any other technologies that will help them. We should be looking at ALL aspects of what can HELP our children regardless how we think should be the right way. They are the ones who are living their lives and we are NOT living their lives. We are helping them living their lives and we want to enjoy life without us placing our own agendas what would be "best for them". We want the BEST for them to bring them out as who they are and how they can actually enjoy life independently however they can cope with. We cannot place restrictions on them because we "think" or the "experts think" what is best for the children. Parents are likely to have a very good gage of their child's functional limitations and what the child is like as a person however, without proper education in understanding "fully" of the disability, parents of disabled children will not necessarily have the best interests of the child at heart any more than the average parent. Therefore, with that thinking, disabled children are particularly vulnerable to suffering at the hands of their parents who are willful in their own ignorance on agendas.

My deafness which I was born with, is not an illness nor a disability but rather I can't hear. Looking back. I was very healthy and was able to do anything that a "normal able" people could do but hear. I am hard of hearing (completely deaf when not wearing hearing-aids) so I was able to hear almost "normal" and I am thankful for today's technologies.

I was able to do many things ever better than "able" people until later in life that is, when I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis on April 22, 2002 (which is 6 years ago tomorrow). Living with Multiple Sclerosis, I am prone to live with chronic pain. The main thing I need to remember is that "my will" has the power to control my thoughts. I am more into in thoughts than I am into feelings but I have both which helps me make decisions based on logical analysis and reasoning rather than feelings. I am doing what is BEST for me because this is my life.

Its not about us or them. This is about "what's best for ME" so we need to put ourselves in a child's shoes to figure out what is BEST for the child regardless how I think or feel.

Baby and Family (Store found our pictures)

My Family

My cold is breaking up and hopefully I will be back to normal tomorrow. The cold have caused some of my Multiple Sclerosis symptoms to appear which I don't really call that relapse but rather symptoms that comes and go in short period of time. Some may call this relapse.

Anyway,I thought I share more about my family. I come from a large family but it was blended. There were 9 of us but only 7 of us lived together. I am the oldest of 9.

Blood related siblings:
2 full brothers
1 half sister (my father's side)

Blood related relatives:
2 cousins (girls) whose parents died in an automobile accident when they were a baby and 3 years old.

Step-siblings, My Step-father's children:
2 step-brothers
1 step-sister

Today, I slept until late this morning. I am going to rest all day today.

Have a great day everyone.

My Brothers and I

In the late 1960's:

From left to right:
Jeff (my youngest brother)
Bill
Jim

Summer 2000

From left to right:
Jeff (my youngest brother)
Bill
Jim

We are having another family reunion this summer and hopefully, I will get the latest picture of us.

Conditionally and Unconditionally

To love and accept other people unconditionally means placing no conditions on the other as to how to behave or what to be in order to receive acceptance and love from you. I feel bad for my son, his wife and my granddaughter because my ex-wife's family (mostly ex-wife's mother) have been placing conditional requirements for them to give their love. The actions are controlling and manipulative because they are setting conditions which my son must meet before they fully accept and love him, his wife and their daughter is just very controlling and manipulative. My own family don't even do that even when we have our differences. We may be disappointed in some of our relatives actions but they are always loved and welcome at all family functions. Its just tough mentally and emotionally when these issues have surfaced.

My wife and I are badysitting our granddaughter

I do not have digital camera so I will post the pictures when they get developed and loaded to DVD.

Jim :)

Tonight, I got to hold my granddaughter for the first time

and pictures were taken. I will post them once I have them ready. The baby just left. She looks so beautiful.

Will visit bloggers tomorrow since I didn't have time tonight.

Dancing, Dancing, Dancing, Dancing

My 17 year old step-daughter Shelby has been involved in with this dance theatre for a few years now. She loves dancing and she is a great dancer. She has been dancing most of her life. For Shelby, dancing is not an extra-curricular but rather it is her life because everywhere she is, she is always thinking about dancing.

She even dance around at home and I can see that dancing is an outlet for her. Whenever she is having a rough day, she just dance and let all of her emotions out. She comes home relaxed but still energetic. (I just don't know where she gets all of the energy).

When Shelby got involved in Columbus Dance Theatre, she got accepted into the ITP (Intensive Training Program) which was for dancers who were serious about making ballet a professional career. Last summer, Shelby got moved up when the director of the company at Columbus Dance Theatre selected all of the ITP students to an "apprentice level" as part of the professional dancers. She became an "apprentice" which basically means she helps out the Columbus Dance Theatre including teaching pre-ballet classes and under-study training programs. On top of her dancing, she is a full-time high-school student making good grades (which I am proud of her). She also have a very active social life with friends. She is your typical normal teenager who is very busy and very active. She is having a wonderful time and she also developed wonderful friendship with other dancers and students at school.

Since dancing her Shelby's life and her passion, I do dream of her to open her own studio years down the road and teach children how to dance. She plans to study choreography in college along with her other majors she might be considering.

Right now, Columbus Dance Theatre is her "dance home" where she lives while dancing. Columbus Dance Theatre is a contemporary ballet company, school, and local arts presenter, founded in 1998 by Artistic Director Tim Veach. Columbus Dance Theatre has two locations in Columbus:
Columbus Dance Theatre 592 E. Main St. Columbus, OH 43215 (614) 849-0227
The School of Columbus Dance Theatre 2468 E. Main St. Bexley, OH 43209 (614) 231-0227

For those who live in Central Ohio, you can come and watch. Upcoming performances will be:
Ten Cents a Dance = February 15th and 16th
New Dance Project = April 4th and 5th
Dancing Alone = April 18th, 19th & 20th
Tenth Anniversary Concert = May 16th & 17th

For more details, please go here: Upcoming Dance Performances

By the way, my wife is proud to work for Columbus Dance Theatre. She works there part-time and she enjoys being around dancers and helping new students get into the programs. She works with students' parents when working out class schedules and paperwork. Carole is a busy woman there and sometimes I get drafted to help out when needed. *grin*
Shelby on second from left, in the back. "ITP Spring Performance"
"CDT as Des Grisettes"

Pictures of my Granddaughter.....

Its official.....

My son called earlier today. I am now officially a "grandpa". A baby girl, born at 2:34 AM (EST), 6 LBS 14 oz. Her name is Olivia.

I need to make a mental note that I became a grandfather at 49 years old.

Below are pictures of my son, his wife along with me and my wife.

I was reminded by family member that....

I am going to be a grandpa within two weeks. My son who is in the Navy and his wife are expecting a girl in about 2 weeks.

Jim