Z is for Zooming

Who remembers when there was one phone in the house and it was attached to the wall? Does the word “Party line” mean anything to you?? If you answered “yes” to either of these questions, roll your walker on over and come sit near me. Whoooaa…back it up there. You’re closer than 6 feet. 

Todays technology can be mind-boggling. Or maybe the older I get, it just seems that way. I stopped trying to keep up when J2 was having to explain the TV remote to me.

Skype, one of the first affordable video-conferencing services, was introduced in 2003. The initial release of FaceTime was in 2010. I used Skype a handful of times and only started using FaceTime last year. And that was by accident.

Zoom was founded in 2011; launched its software in 2013; and first became profitable in 2019. “Zoom’s software increased due to the quarantine measures adopted in response to the 2019-2020 coronavirus pandemic.”

Had it not been for this pandemic, I probably would have stayed away from FaceTime and Zoom. It’s bad enough seeing myself in the mirror let alone on a phone/screen with bad lighting and through a fisheye lens.

But…Zooming we are. Even Riley World is zooming. He wasn’t exactly happy about it the first time...

but now gets quite excited to see and chat with his group. They have even been working on some social interaction skills like making telephone calls. 

My first Zoom experience was with my book club. We have another meeting tonight and even have a guest author joining us. 

We’ve even had a couple of social zoom parties playing games. 

It seems being out of touch with people has affected me more than I thought because I get quite excited when we are zooming. I may have even been put on “mute” a couple of times by the host. That’s ok. I got my own zoom account now.

Y is for Yardwork

Prologue:

I realize it’s not #TBT (Throwback Thursday) or #FBF (Flashback Friday) but I found this old post and it is perfect for my “Y” subject.

I originally wrote this back in March of 2014. Can you believe that was 6 years ago! I figure most of you reading now never followed me before sooooo...it's like new material, right??  

Some times, it is good for me to look back and see how far Riley has come. 

Some times, I can’t believe we are STILL working on the exact. same. things…Operation IFO comes to mind. We started that back in September of 2013. *sobs softly to myself*

You’ll also get a glimpse of our old backyard. No wonder I never spent much time out there. I’ll post pics of our new and improved backyard at the end.


Before:

Now I am sure you have heard the old saying “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure”?  Well my friend Lori had one of those branch clippers on a stick that she bought on a whim and used only a couple of times. She gave it to G when she was moving. During the last snow G was in heaven. The branches on the trees around our yard were weighed down with snow so he was able to clip away to his heart’s content without the use of a ladder.  

It was a sunny day today so G decided to go out and clean up the tree carnage. “I” decided R should help him. Not sure who was least impressed…G or R?!?  So at 10:45 I shoved R out the door  R headed outside. 

G started R off with a corn broom then switched him over to a push broom. Did you know a corn broom does not push well?? Conversely a push broom does not sweep well. Just an observation.

Betcha didn’t know that the operation of a push broom required a demonstration. Welcome to Riley World! 

Now even though I was still in my PJ’s, I decided audio was required so you could enjoy the full experience. My pleasure. Two more observations before this last clip:

• Did you know the words raking and sweeping are interchangeable???
• When sweeping does not work…kicking will do.

Riley held the bag helped G bag the branches and was outside for 1 hour!!!


After:

This only happened because the District needed to replace a bridge below our house. Even though it took 18 months, we are thrilled with how it turned out. I actually spend time out there now.

Tomorrow is the last day of this challenge. I promise it will be an original.

X is for Xylophone

I’m losing steam. 

And it's "X".

Here…look at how cute J2 was.  He was 15 months old. 

Only 2 more to go.

W is for Wallpaper

Have you ever wallpapered?  Growing up my parents never did.

I think there is/was a time and place for wallpaper. 
I think there are good reasons to wallpaper. 

I went through a phase where I liked to wallpaper. It started with the boys’ rooms. Before J2 was born, I painted the top half, wallpapered the bottom and put a border right through the middle.

When Riley was born and we moved J2 into the other room, I painted the bottom half, wallpapered the top and put a border right through the middle.

When I was updating our powder room, I wallpapered two different patterns and put a piece of wood moulding right through the middle.

I had a theme going on.

And let’s not forget ceiling borders. Popular back in the 90’s. And still around today in homes where the owners are too lazy to take it down because they never painted to the top of the moulding because it was easier not to and now they can’t take it down because that would mean having to paint the entire room which they probably should but are now too old and hoping ceiling borders will make a comeback.

Another good reason to wallpaper is when the DIY “handyman” of the house decides it can’t be all that hard to drywall, tape and mud a downstairs bedroom. Textured wallpaper comes in particularly handy in this case as it can hide any “flaws”. Sort of. Maybe. Not really. But it was a downstairs bedroom and any walls were better than 2x4’s.

This downstairs bedroom was used as a guest room and as a bedroom by both J1 and J2 before they moved out for good.

It has since become Riley’s space. We set up his laptop in there so we can see him run by, between his bedroom and downstairs, every so often throughout the day.

Apparently, Riley is more in tune with home decorating than we are and decided a change was needed. As you know he is more an “actions speak louder than words” kinda guy. 

I wish I could blame this on self-isolation but this was taken just before Christmas.

There was obviously a "loose" seam.

These were taken around the time that we started social distancing. 

Same wall as above only obviously there were more "loose" seams. 

Oh...and the other wall. 

Harder to pick at the seams when you have to balance on top of the hide-a-bed. 

He tried to "hide" some of the evidence in his computer desk. 

Just to be clear, Riley is more than happy to be home. As much as I’d like to blame this on COVID-19…that would be a lie. Am I upset??  15 years ago…I would have been. Today, can’t say I blame him, I’m sick of that wallpaper too.

V is for Vodka

I hope I did not traumatize you too much with my last two posts. I promise this one will be fun!

I always try and do a little research to make sure what I am writing about is accurate. That is what led me to my “T is for Toilet Paper” post. I'm sorry about that. 

I was also thinking ahead to the highly anticipated and upcoming letters…X, Y and Z! 

And let’s not forget “V”.

V…so many options. Or are there?!?!? 

Well, apparently there are. You can click here to see the endless possibilities.

Some of the ones that came up…

·        Viscoelasticity – ummmmm….whaaaaaat?!?!?

·        Ventriloquism – I can barely speak coherently MOVING my lips soooooo…

·        Vaccinations – two words…Riley World, don’t get me started.

So…that leaves me with one, YES ONE, fun possible category.  Vodka. 

Who knew Vodka was as sophisticated as wine these days?!?!?  So many countries produce vodka, so many options/price ranges of vodka and so many flavours of vodka. I could go on and on and ON! But I won’t.

For me, it is all about marketing. Well…to a degree.  If you are adding say coke or another “mix”…it really doesn’t matter what kind of vodka you choose. In my humble opinion that is. While I do appreciate a good spirit, I also go with the look of the bottle. Like a book and its cover. I am shallow.

Case in point, this bottle…isn't it pretty? 

Nutrl Vodka

U is for "UVB"

I had eczema as a child and have had it on and off throughout adulthood. Usually I have been able to control it with medicated ointments.

Recently my fingers have been the target although I have dry patches all over my body. 

I have been to my doctor and tried different ointments. I wear cotton gloves at night and even during the day when at home. I use rubber gloves to wash dishes and disposable rubber gloves over top the cotton gloves when doing food prep. Still it persists.

I finally got in to see a dermatologist. We decided on new ointments and to start light therapy. Not just targeted at my hands but for my entire body.

This is the machine. Looks like a time machine of sorts doesn’t it?

Did you know you start off slowly…ten (10) seconds was the length of time for my first session.

Did you know you have to wear special goggles to protect your eyes?

Did you know you have to take off ALL YOUR CLOTHES!!  I'll spare you the visual because some things you just can NOT unsee. 

Believe me, I started to wonder if this therapy was worth the trouble. I mean, it takes me longer to undress and dress again. The time increased in 5 sec increments for the first minute. I go 3 times a week. I am now up to 1 minute and 45 seconds. I noticed a definite difference on my body after about 2 weeks so I have persevered. My fingers are still not 100% but they no longer throb and ache all the time.  

When the heck did my hands get SO old!?!?!  

Oh, and now I wear a mask in their office so I have to cover my entire face. I now look like this when I go into the booth only I have no clothes on. 

T is for Toilet Paper

I remembered my “T” subject late last night. You are probably thinking this will be a rant on the shortages of toilet paper since COVID-19. And for that matter…WHY?!?!?!?! 

Well, it was going to be but then as I was doing a little research, I came across way more information than I needed to know about toilet paper. 

The amount of information on Wikipedia is astounding. Let me give you a few snippets and you can be the judge.

“Toilet paper is a tissue paper product primarily used to clean the anus and surrounding area of feces after defecation.”   - Just in case you had no idea what toilet paper is used for.

“It also acts as a layer of protection for the hands during these processes.”  - Layer of protection?? Not sure I ever thought of TP that way. Maybe we can make face masks out of TP?? Perhaps that’s the reason for the shortage?!?!? 

“Toilet paper comes in various numbers of plies (layers of thickness), from one to six-ply…”   - SIX PLY???  Vegas hotels, the city of extravagance, use one ply. ONE PLY!!!  Unless your feces is the size of an elephant’s, I’m pretty sure you don’t need six layers.

And who remembers coloured toilet paper??  While most manufacturers today only produce white toilet paper, if you are looking for some bold colours, you can purchase this six roll pack for approximately $25.00 CDN. Now THESE colours would make a nice face mask. 

Check out the World of Renova here.

S is for Sewing

I think it is pretty clear from my last two blog posts that I do NOT sew. In case you missed reading them, this is my sewing kit. 

When I was looking for a face mask to make, I specifically searched for one that did NOT require sewing. This is the YouTube video I found and used.

Click here if you can't see the video.

I was thrilled. I believe the words I used were “pleased as punch” and “giddy”.

As I was demonstrating my handiwork to the husband, I realized it was not quite as easy to put on as seen on the video. Which got me thinking (yea…nothing good ever comes from me thinking) there must be a way to tweak this to make it a little more wearer-friendly.

I thought with all my vast sewing experience mending Riley’s t-shirts, surely I could handle a few straight seams.

I decided I would run a seam along the top and bottom to keep them from rolling up when washing. Don't ask what I was thinking. I would also attach the two side strings just to the top seam. Brilliant right???

So, I pulled out my sister’s sewing machine and got to work right after my morning coffee while I was well rested and motivated.

My first attempt, the material got caught up under the needle thingy on the first press of the pedal. I tried to back and forth the hand wheel thing and pulled and pulled with all my might. That machine was not going to give up my material easily. I finally thought to go underneath and pulled out the bobbin and took my scissors to the threads. FINALLY!

Next, I needed to rethread the machine. Good gawd could they make that little hole in the needle any smaller!?!?!  Good thing I was well rested although my motivation was quickly disappearing.

I managed to get 2 masks done before the stupid machine ate the top thread. I needed to rethread the machine AGAIN!  Good thing I am more stubborn than smart. I decided to give the effin’ machine one last chance. It was at this point I decided the top seam was more than enough and the bottom seam was overkill. 

I was down to my final mask when the thread in the bobbin ran out. Good thing it was before noon because I seriously considered making a cocktail. Enough is enough. 

The finished "product". Good enough.  

R is for Recycle

I bet you thought this was going to be about Riley World. That makes it twice that you would be wrong. I mean, it was going to be but then…THIS happened today!

Disclaimer:  All photos were taken in the midst of a world wide pandemic. Hair and clothing should be considered exempt from normal personal standards.

I think we can all agree that I am NOT a seamstress. I present Exhibit A: My Sewing Kit.

I think we can also agree that the number of t-shirts that Riley has disassembled over the years has been astronomical. I will leave you with this one example, Exhibit B, because we all know I could run through the entire alphabet and more with visual evidence. 

After seeing so many DIY videos on making face masks, I had an epiphany last week. R's discards would make the perfect material for masks. I am sure it will only be a matter of time before it is mandatory to wear a face mask out in public so I want to be prepared. Luckily, I still had a few of Riley’s discarded t-shirts. I washed them and they were ready to assume another life. 

I will admit that, so far, I have not been wearing a mask out in public. *Hangs head in shame.*  In my defense, two words…HOT FLASHES!  Do you have any idea how hot these face masks are!!! Also, I only go out to my Light Therapy and to get groceries on the same day. This past week, my LT has required you wear a mask in their office so I have been wearing a makeshift balaclava-neck-warmer-type-thing. 

Since “New Puppy” made it through the night unscathed…I decided today would be the day to attempt a DIY face mask. I decided something that did not require sewing of any kind would be the best chance for success so I searched YouTube and found this video:

Click here if you can't see the video.

And voila….

I am pleased as punch with myself. I am GIDDY!!  This is what almost 60 looks like. 

Oh...quick question for you sewing people.  Do your scissors cut like this too???

Q is for Quizzical

I’m sure you thought the title of this post would be “Q is for Quarantine”. It was. Until this happened last night.

While quizzical is not exactly the right word, what I am going to try to write about is a piece of our autism "Puzzle”. But, since we are past “P” and onto “Q”…two words, artistic license.

Let me warn you, this is going to be a long post so go to the bathroom, grab a coffee...please bear with me while I try, in my convoluted way, to explain a part of Riley World.

There is a poem “Welcome to Holland” by Emily Perl Kingsley (click here if you’d like to read it) which compares the experience of someone finding out their child has a disability to having a trip to Italy rerouted to Holland. Some parents love this poem and some do not. When I first read this poem shortly after Riley was diagnosed, I bawled like a baby. I could relate to this poem.

In life, it is hard to understand the “how and whys” unless we can relate to a certain/specific situation. It can be even harder to live every day in an environment and still not understand all the “how and whys”. This is what living with autism can be like.

What I consider to be Riley World’s greatest challenge is communication. If you do not know how to say/explain something or can not understand what is being asked of you…think how hard life would be.

Just in case you decided not to read the poem, not to worry, you’re in luck because I am going to provide you with a scenario of my own. Here goes…

You are being taught a foreign language (for example French) but, only for 1 year. You will get to know some key words/phrases. Just the basics though, like how to say water (or wine) and ask where the bathroom is. But you will probably not pick up on the nuances of body language or facial expressions...that’s covered in year two.

Now, imagine you are a guest at someone’s home in Saint-Tropez. They only speak/understand French. No English. You try and answer as best you can with a simple “oui or non” (that’s yes or no for those who don’t know any French). They ask a question. You answer. There is a pause and you are afraid you may have misunderstood the question so quickly change your answer to the opposite. They ask the same question again, you want to be polite so you go back to your first answer…or repeat your last response. Have you ever been in a situation like this???

Even though Riley is almost 26 years old, his language comprehension level is, at most, at about a 9-year-old level. Often times he appears to understand what you are saying. R has an excellent memory and learns most things by rote. He can say and even do all the right things so you assume he knows what he is doing. Unfortunately, that can be the downside because he may not understand why or what he is learning.  

Now that you have no idea what I am talking about, here’s what brought all this on. 

Yesterday I had to do some minor repairs to Riley’s "New" Puppy. Puppy is starting to show some major signs of hard loving.  

So, in my infinite wisdom, I decided perhaps a patch might help the faux fur loss. Riley was most excited when I explained and even showed him what I was going to do. After I finished my handiwork, his enthusiasm was…well, not exactly…enthusiastic.

Not being new to Riley World, I realized something was amiss. Although many FB friends commented how lovely the heart was, I had a slight inkling (after the fact of course) that the patch might be interfering with where he snuggles his face into puppy. But, I decided to hold steady and avoided his eye contact for the rest of the evening. 

Apparently…my feeling was correct because this is what we woke up to this morning.

Riley had my "sewing kit" (I did not exaggerate when I said I do NOT sew) out on the Island along with the dismantled heart.

See that hole?? That hole was NOT there before. A direct result of scissor damage trying to remove the heart.  

Attempt number 2.  Perhaps a patch under the faux fur with a more even/flat stitch might work???? 

Nope. I learned my lesson and asked Riley if he wanted me to "take it out". He did. Want it out.   

Attempt number 3.  I looked up how to do an “invisible seam” on YouTube because that blanket stitch was a major fail! 

It may be a little "bunched up" but...Riley was happy.

Oh, and an additional clue that Riley was stressed out about the patch…he also unwrapped the entire bowl of leftover Easter candy in the night. In previous days we might find one, maybe two unwrapped ones in the morning.

Long, looooong story short...communication is really hard in Riley World. And even though Riley may have challenges with his verbal communication…he makes his displeasure crystal clear. If you made it this far, thanks for hanging in!  Back to my regular shorter posts tomorrow. 

PS...I'll let you know if New Puppy makes it through the night unscathed.  

P is for Pretzel Bark

It’s officially called Toffee Pretzel Bark but I needed a “P” topic so Pretzel Bark it is.

I got this recipe from one of my most favourite people in the whole wide world. We were visiting relatives and she pulled out this tasty treat after dinner. 

I only make it around Christmas time because there are usually people around who will help me eat it otherwise, I would probably eat the entire tray myself. It’s THAT good! And bonus…easy to make. 

(Toffee) PRETZEL BARK

8 oz mini pretzels
1 c butter
1 c brown sugar
2 c semi-sweet chocolate chips (I use those chocolate wafers people use for chocolate making)

·        Preheat oven to 375F. Line a large cookie sheet with non-stick foil. 

·        Spread pretzels out in a single layer on cookie sheet.

·        Melt the butter and brown sugar in a pot. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Keep at medium heat, stop stirring and let bubble for 3 minutes. Not 2, 4, or 5. Exactly 3 minutes.

·        Pour over the pretzels. No need to worry that it doesn’t cover all of pretzels. It will spread.

·        Bake for 5 minutes.

·        Remove from oven and sprinkle with chocolate chips.

·        Let sit for 5 minutes to melt the chocolate and then spread.

·        Allow to set before breaking into pieces.    

I figured this could be a good quarantine recipe...you're welcome!

O is for #OperationIFO

It is not uncommon for individuals with ASD to have narrow food choices. This can be due to a number of reasons such as sensory sensitivities/aversions or an insistence on “sameness” and not just being “picky”.

If you are new to Riley World, you may not have heard of #Operation IFO (Increase Food Options). I started it the year Riley finished high school (2013) and we were taking a gap year.  You can read about it here.

It was one of many poor choices I would make.

Don’t get me wrong…we have made progress over the years but it takes time. And energy. A LOT of time and SO much energy. SO. MUCH. ENERGY!

Here’s a clip taken within the last year as we tried Mini Carrot Muffins. He has gotten so much better in trying new foods yet…still he is limited in his food choices. 

If you can't see the video, click here.

I guess why I tend to drop the ball over and over is that he is basically healthy and rarely gets sick. He has been keeping to his growth curve over the years. Sure, it’s a little inconvenient when we travel but I have gotten used to it and we have learned to adapt.

There are now food therapies and other interventions that were not as available when Riley was little. To be perfectly honest…I am tired. We both are tired and getting set in our ways. Is this a valid excuse for not trying?  Probably not. But in the big scheme of life…is it the worst thing that could happen. And if you think it is…I will have his bags packed and you can pick him up at any time.

N is for No

It seems that one of the first words after mama and dada that a child learns is “no”. Followed closely by the first question…”why?”

Autism can affect speech, language development, and social communication in many ways. If you are interested in a brief explanation, I found this article, “In autism, speech and communication are not the same thing” to be helpful.

Speech/communication was and still is extremely difficult in Riley World. When he was little, not being able to find the words would often lead to ummmm…challenging behaviours. Screeching, yelling, and meltdowns.

Yes, this was at HIS birthday party before he was supposed to open HIS presents. 

When Riley was first learning to talk, we were big on him using “Yes please" and "No thank you”. Especially when he was protesting. We had hoped it might take the sting out of being screamed at just a little bit.

Riley would learn “chunks” of language/phrases from videos he watched or his environment. So, his repeating “Yes please” or “No thank you” was just a group of words he learned as one chunk.

As he’s gotten older, his verbal communication has improved. We have noticed some significant changes over the past couple of years since his group started having speech therapy sessions focussing on social interactions.

As adults, we tend to elaborate/are more subtle with our answers to questions as opposed to a straight “Yes please” or “No thank you” in order to have a social interaction.

In Riley World, less is more. He realizes “No thank you” is actually three words and has dropped the last two words from that “chunk” almost completely these days.

For example, answers to the question “Want to go for a walk?” might look like this: 

Me:  Hmmmm...it is beautiful out but I think I will take a pass thanks.
R:  No.

OR

Me:  The pollen count is extremely high so I’d better stay indoors.
R:  NO!!!

OR

Me:  I’ve got a hang nail but maybe next time.
R:  Nonononononono...NOOOO!!!

Personally, I think I liked it better when he thought/spoke in “chunks”.

M is for Martinis

Are you surprised it’s taken me 12 posts before writing about one of my most favourite things in the whole, wide world??? 

Well…no need to wait any longer. 

I was about 8 when my mom introduced us to the game of Monopoly. She even had her game with the original “metal” game pieces.

Are you confused?!?!? 
Are you groaning??? 
Are you wondering if I’m gone off the deep end????? 

Here’s a visual for you just to confirm I have no idea WTH is going on these days… 

L is for Life

I found this draft from when I used to blog. I decided to use some of it because it still rang true. Some of it was no longer relevant so I decided to delete and update that part. I was looking for a fancy term to make the last part of that sentence sound more ummmm...intellectual but, I'm pressed for time. So instead…

“L” is for Life (Revised Edition)

Did your life turn out the way you thought it would?? 

Mine sure as hell hasn’t.

I mean when I was in my 20’s I thought I would eventually marry George Clooney and forever live “The life of Riley” (no, the irony is not lost on me). Ahhhhhh to be so young and naïve. YES I KNOW THAT WAS FANTASY! 

Anyways…

Every so often I go into self-pity mode. Yup. I do. 

Let me just start by saying I know I am lucky to have a good life. I am grateful.

But….

And there’s always a but…

Yea, yea…I knew I would never marry George. My choice, of course.

In reality I had always hoped I would get married, have kids, watch our kids grow…eventually they would move out and begin their own lives, and eventually, I would care for my aging parents. Sounds pretty simple, realistic and not too far-fetched.

And then…something happens that will change every thing and every direction you thought your life would take.

Here’s where the “Revised Edition” starts.

First….George lost out BIG TIME!!

Second…raising kids is stressful, makes you doubt yourself in ways you never thought possible and yet is the most rewarding "job" I have ever had.

Third…caring for aging parents is anything but simple! Nothing prepares you for this stage in your life. NOTHING!!! 

Do I sound slightly unhinged???  THAT’S BECAUSE I AM!!!

Did I ever think I would be a caregiver for the rest of my life?  No. I did not. But that’s ok because he is my son and I love him more than me.

Did I ever think I would have to care for an aging parent who has dementia and is more childlike than my own grown children?  No. I did not. But that’s ok because she is my mother.

Did I ever think my alcohol bill would be so high??  No. No I did not. Let’s just leave it at that.

Life is unpredictable.
Life is precious.
Life is not to be taken for granted. 

K is for Kathy

She was my sister’s childhood friend.

They met in 1966. They were 8 years old. I was 6. 

My sister is third from the left in the bottom row.

Kathy is 3rd from the left in the second row.

She was diagnosed with Stage 4 metastatic cancer just over a year ago. On March 27, 2020, she passed away. 

She was the picture of health. Never smoked, exercised every day and, unlike me, hadn't drank for over 10 years. How does this happen?!?!

I have lost a parent and other close family. Yet this time…it is so very different.

I have so much I want to say but struggle to find the words. All of us are struggling. A lifetime of memories growing up together. So many good times, some tears but so much laughter. 

So, I am just going to copy what I posted on Facebook... 

     She was just 61 years old.
     She was so easy to know.
     She was the kind of friend everybody wants to have. 
     I am grateful I was one of them for over 50 years. 

She will be missed by so many but never, ever forgotten.  💔

L-R:  My sister Sharon, Virgina, Kathy, Me, Dayle

August 2019

J is for a Jumbled Mess

So when I asked FB land for suggestions for the letter “J”…I really did not expect anybody to respond. But you did!

You sent your ideas. 25 of them. How would I choose just one?!?!?

Well…I couldn’t. 

So, I’m going to use ALL OF THEM! Here goes…

Once upon a time, there were 2 brothers who longed to go on a journey together.

They were jubilant when they finally decided where they would go. They booked their tickets before their parents could jettison their plan and even bought matching jumpsuits.

Both adventure addicts, they chose the Amazon because they had heard wild stories of jugglers juggling jugs in the jungle. Many of their friends mocked them but both J1 and J2 knew their friends were just jealous.

They would need to get into shape before leaving. So, they started a training regimen of jumping jacks and jump rope. After their workout, they would consume a jigger of “jungle juice” packed with the most essential vitamins and minerals.

Before they left, their parents threw them a send off party. There were so many people it felt like a Boy Scout jamboree. There was dancing, in particular the jive, and all sorts of sweet treats. Jelly beans, jujubes and even jello shots. Everybody joined in the fun. So much joy!

The end.

Oh, and why such a silly story??  Just because…