carmoli blog

Autism Night Before Christmas

carmoli — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 16:20:14 +0000

by Cindy Waeltermann

Twas the Night Before Christmas
And all through the house
The creatures were stirring
Yes, even the mouse
We tried melatonin
And gave a hot bath
But the holiday jitters
They always distract

The children were finally
All nestled in bed
When nightmares of terror
Ran through my OWN head
Did I get the right gift
The right color
And style
Would there be a tantrum
Or even, maybe, a smile?

Our relatives come
But they don’t understand
The pleasure he gets
Just from flapping his hands.
“He needs discipline,” they say
“Just a well-needed smack,
You must learn to parent…”
And on goes the attack

We smile and nod
Because we know deep inside
The argument is moot
Let them all take a side
We know what it’s like
To live with the spectrum
The struggles and triumphs
Achievements, regressions…

But what they don’t know
And what they don’t see
Is the joy that we feel
Over simplicity
He said “hello”
He ate something green!
He told his first lie!
He did not cause a scene!
He peed on the potty
Who cares if he’s ten,
He stopped saying the same thing
Again and again!

Others don’t realize
Just how we can cope
How we bravely hang on
At the end of our rope

But what they don’t see
Is the joy we can’t hide
When our children with autism
Make the tiniest stride

We may look at others
Without the problems we face
With jealousy, hatred
Or even distaste,
But what they don’t know
Nor sometimes do we
Is that children with autism
Bring simplicity.

We don’t get excited
Over expensive things
We jump for joy
With the progress work brings
Children with autism
Try hard every day
That they make us proud
More than words can say.
They work even harder
Than you or I
To achieve something small
To reach a star in the sky

So to those who don’t get it
Or can’t get a clue
Take a walk in my shoes
And I’ll assure you
That even 10 minutes
Into the walk
You’ll look at me
With respect, even shock.

You will realize
What it is I go through
And the next time you judge
I can assure you
That you won’t say a thing
You’ll be quiet and learn,
Like the years that I did
When the tables were turned…….

more digital watercolor experiments

carmoli — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 18:14:44 +0000

Fort Peck as seen by the Bison

i took this photo and then worked to replicate it as a digital watercolor. mind you this is still the photo, but techniques have been applied to make it look like a watercolor. the process is almost like painting.

still experimenting and getting to a point where original images are taking form. right now i am working on a watercolor image of a seascape. stay tuned for more.

you’re not in Peter Pan anymore!

carmoli — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 17:39:26 +0000

james, the kids’ dad is stationed in japan. well, when he came to visit this time, sean’s first comment was, “Daddy! You’re not in Peter Pan anymore!” They were so excited. It was a nice visit for them to have with their Dad. they got to do a lot of things with him. going to see the space needle is probably one of the most memorable, but the funnest, was going the the children’s museum at the seattle center. it was fun for all!

Daddy! You're not in Peter Pan anymore!

first artistic post

carmoli — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 00:14:40 +0000

this image is the start of something that will hopefully be carried through into my design and photography. this is a watercolor effect…please forgive as it is my very first try. it is very cool to do something on screen that i may not have the resources for otherwise. it was taken from a photo that i took between saint marie, and glasgow, montana in march of 2008.

someone is in the pasture

going to seattle

carmoli — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 02:03:26 +0000

: on the ferry to seattle

while the kids have their dad around, we decided it would be fun to go into the city and explore a little. it was challenging that’s for sure. sean and i are here having fun on the sun deck of the ferry looking at the seattle skyline. sam took the photo and did a great job! while in the city we visited the seattle center, where the space needle is and spent hours at the children’s museum. the kids had a blast! and so did the adults.

fourth of july

carmoli — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 04:23:22 +0000

well, after researching what there is to do out here in kitsap county, we ventured out for a day of fun. first we went up to keyport, a small town…very quiet and pretty…except that today…not so quiet. they had a parade, afterwards there were free popsicles in the park and a whole lot of kids playing on the one piece of equipment, a merry-go-round. after that we ended up walking around a little bit, then went to the keyport bible church and had free burgers, cotton candy, and many other treats. the kids got to play and have a lot of fun. it was a little nerve-racking trying to keep them where i could see them, but it was fun.

after the church thing was over we did not really want to just go home, so we drove out to bainbridge island and got to go to the seashore. Eventually we came back home and just watched fireworks on the t.v., but at least we had fun with some good memories.

this photo was taken at the seashore (can’t really call it a beach…wasn’t really big enough), where we threw rocks and found seashells, well at least one, it is a pretty big one too.

at the seaside on the 4th

beating the heat

carmoli — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 05:55:17 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TLv1tm9kws

since our move, the temperatures have been in the 60s and 70s until this weekend. Here at the end of June the temps are getting into the 80s and almost 90s…but that is just supposed to be for this weekend. It warmed up in the apartment quickly, despite my attempts to keep it cool naturally. so…i got out this baby pool that was given to us as a going away gift by the cullens in saint marie filled it up, and let the kids have some fun. it was cold water, but we just kept getting in, then getting out until we got used to it.

the kids got out some ‘weapons’ and had a bit of a water fight. it was a lot of fun and laughing…and a lot of screaming too. but it was a fun way to spend a HOT sunday afternoon.

on the grand adventure

carmoli — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 16:52:31 +0000

well, i made it through three states with three young kids and a dog…and we even camped out…well…in cabins, but that was tough enough! i really don’t think that i will be doing that again any time soon. there was no rest, if it wasn’t the kids…then it was the dog…and i would have rather had more time to spend exploring as a family. i guess that will have to wait until i find another adult party that would like to join us…of course they will have to be ready for some chaos, honestly i don’t think you can take three young children anywhere without some chaos ensuing.

the photo was taken between east glacier and west glacier. since the st. mary pass was blocked by snow we had to drive around the park. it was fun, the kids thought it was crazy when we crested a hill and they only saw the deep canyon below and no road…and no guard rail…it was a crazy experience…but fun in its own way.

on the move…soon

carmoli — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 20:57:06 +0000

well, we will soon be on our way to the northwest coast. the chosen route is u.s. hwy 2 through glacier, spokane and leavenworth…over to everett, down to tacoma, then over the tacoma narrows bridge and up to silverdale. it is exciting and the kids are chomping at the bit to start…so am i. start of something new, a grand adventure!

when cousins meet

carmoli — Tue, 27 May 2008 23:08:34 +0000

i lost count of how many years it had been since i had seen these two cousins (the left two). on a trip returning from seattle to northeast montana (in the wee hours of the morning) a deer died, which actually opened the door for all four of us to be reunited. hope the deer is having a better day in heaven. it was a great reunion of my two cousins, me and my brother (me and bro on the right side). of course these are not my only two cousins…gee…i hope that a herd does not have to die in order to see the rest of my cousins…lol. i have over a dozen cousins…that would be a lot of deer.