This is Pisgah Griffin's kitty and one of his best buddies that is next to Abby his service dog. Pisgah is named after Mount Pisgah in the Appalachian mountains of western North Carolina. Beautiful and serene the Pisgah National Forest is one of the places where my family would go to cool off in the hot summers when I was growing up. For some reason when I found the kitty it made me think of that wonderful place of my childhood.

Griffin has learned to be very gentle with the cat and just loves to snuggle up and love on him. I need to get a picture of them together but the snuggling doesn't last long because the cat is not terribly fond of it. Even though Pisgah is quite tolerant of Griffin's affection he doesn't stick around for long. It's so funny because Griffin loves to squeeze him when giving him a hug and lie on top of him but Pisgah just takes it and eventually escapes Griffin's grasp.

I am working on getting a really good picture of Abby, but for some reason she is afraid of my camera and won't perk her ears up for a photo. I'll be working on that and have one up soon. Nothing very exciting happened since my last post really. Griffin has started reading signs everywhere. Today he read the "closed " sign at the cash register which took me by surprise. He's been reading signs like Chuck E. Cheese's, Carrs (our grocery store), Fred Meyer (another store), and also reading some labels on food products. The guy is just doing so well that I don't even know where the heck it's coming from. Yes, I do. It's coming from his incredible intelligent mind that is being stimulated and educated by the TEACCH method for the past 2 years! Not to mention all the hard working therapists, teachers, and teacher's assistants who work their butts off to help Griffin excel. And excel he does! I'm having a hard time keeping up with him. For sure he will be smarter than his mommy in a matter of a couple of years especially when it has to do with math.

Oh and for those of you who don't know where we're located we are in Anchorage, Alaska where the TEACCH program is alive and well and has been for many years. We are planning to move to North Carolina where the TEACCH method originated at the prestigious University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. So, if there's anyone out there who is living in North Carolina and know of some great schools in and around the beautiful mountainous region of Asheville or Hendersonville please let me know. I am not eager to leave my home of 15 years because it is near and dear to my heart and so are the friends I have made along the way. Alaska has one of the best school systems in North America and the best teachers too but I must say though that I am ready to live near my family and for them to meet Griffin. It has been almost 5 years since I have visited my family and seen the place where I grew up so it will be a bittersweet transition for me and I hope that it doesn't trigger my manic depression while going through it.

Traveling can be hard on a bipolar individual triggering bouts of mania or depression or in my case what is called "mixed states" where one is both manic and depressed at the same time. I also have what is called "rapid cycling' which means that I can go from mania to depression in a short period of time, sometimes just a matter of hours. Let me tell ya that it is not any fun! Anyhow, my depression is being held at bay by my wonderful medications YIPEE! Each day is different but at least I am better than I was over the holidays.