1. City Center – new, modern, and huge
2. Wynn Las Vegas – where both my mother and son work
3. Colosseum at Caesars Palace – always great entertainment like Celine Dion or Rod Stewart
4. The Pool at the Mirage Hotel – never swam there but it is beautiful
5. The Canyon Ranch SpaClub at the Venetian – never experienced the spa since my son works at the Wynn Spa but the Venetian is simply fab
6. The Strip – one of a kind on the planet
7. Gaming Classes at the Las Vegas Hilton – I don’t know about the classes but I just heard that their lunch buffet is only $5.00 every Wednesday
8. Dinner at Emeril’s – been there, done that and expect to drop some $
9. Flip it – a big oversized slot machine in several casinos
10. Stratosphere Tower – great view of the whole Vegas Valley from a-top and wild rides t-boot

Kathie’s personal picks:

1. Fountains at the Bellagio – they dance to music
2. UNLV – stroll around the university and the Thomas and Mac Center
3. Downtown – overhead canopy that displays a spectacular show every night
4. Neon Boneyard – a new place for Old Vegas signs
5. Hoover Dam – in a league all its own

You see, there is sooooooo much to see in my city. It’s more than lights and dust. It’s more than showgirls and shows. My family has lived here for 25 years now and its our home. Come visit and find out what Las Vegas is really about.

Oops, I about forgot to mention one of the most popular tourist places in Las Vegas right now, As Seen on TV, The Gold and Silver Pawn Shop – home of Pawn Stars. It’s a hoot not to be missed.

but why take a chance?”

Thank you United Spinal Association 2012 Calendar

 I love it!

Star Wars is an American epic space opera franchise conceived by George Lucas. The first film in the franchise was originally released on May 25, 1977, under the title Star Wars, by 20th Century Fox, and became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon.

Yes, I copied this directly from Wikipedia, Star Wars.

Thank you, Wikipedia.

            I never told George Lucas this, nor did he ask, but it was because of Star Wars that I discovered my son, Doug, and many other people with ASD have inner ear and equilibrium issues when it comes to watching movies on a big screen.

            The date was probably May 26 or 27^th, 1977. The first Star Wars was in theatres everywhere and the media hype had been enormous. The merchant’s shelves were bare of the millions of Star Wars toys that had been snatched up by willing parents. I was one of them. My two children and I couldn’t wait to see this most publicized movie. It was an epic of good against evil, what more could a parent want? With Doug’s Wintergreen LifeSavers in one hand and carrying his favorite, rubber monkey, we entered and snuggled in for a two-hour pop cultural event. Or so, I thought.

          Twenty minutes into the long awaited event and two twirly-whirly Jedi maneuvers, Doug, abruptly stood up and announced to all of those around us that he felt like throwing-up. We rushed out. Not to worry, we saw the very first Star Wars on our own television – enhanced version, of course, some thirty-three years later.

• YODA, Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menac 

“Fear is the path to the Dark Side. Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering.”

            One of my Ten Laws of Success for Children with Autism is “Fear is Not an Option.”

Fear will suffocate success. That’s advice to the speech language pathologist, the parent and to anything one wants to achieve in life. Try novel strategies with children with ASD. Don’t be afraid. Don’t follow a program or a recipe. Many recipes fail, be it in the kitchen or in a therapy setting. Many parents I have met over the years are angry that their child has ASD and if they don’t see progress, that anger leads to hate and misunderstanding. Yes, hate can lead to suffering for everyone on the team.

Remember that Fear is Not an option. Dare to try new strategies, seek new people, and use common sense.

Star Wars gave so much advise for life

and for autism/ASD.

Feel it ~  Live it

“May the force be with you”

Editorial Without Words

That’s the title of this picture, statue, monument, symbol

of Shriners everywhere.

Today, the famous photo is an integral part of the Shriners Hospitals logo, and has been reproduced on stained-glass windows, mosaics, tie tacs, pins, and in statues. A larger-than-life replica of the “Editorial Without Words” stands outside the International Shrine Headquarters building in Tampa. Photographer Randy Dieter presently serves as graphics editor for the Kentucky Post.

Noble Albert Lanier Hortman, the man in the photo carrying Bobbi Jo, passed away on December 6, 2009, two months shy of his 81st birthday. He lived a full life and was one of the fortunate ones to make a place in history that will live in time immemorial.

 Click to see more images of Editorial Without Words

A voice, a Golden Voice, is all about speech. So, I thought it only appropriate to post that voice on my site. Ted Williams, perhaps you had a disability with drugs that lead you down a destructive path in life. That is nothing compared to the ABILITY you have and to the opportunities that lie ahead. Carpe Diem!

To all of us with Golden thoughts, Golden dreams, or Golden chances ~ Carpe Diem ~

At the Las Vegas Santa Run

Don’t miss a series of blogs at On the Road with Humpty Dumpty as HE reviews his 2010 adventures. I started this family friendly blog in May, 2010. The whole idea is to “get off your wall and live.”

Everyone of us, even Tiny Tim, has something that can hold us back in life ~ that is ~ if you let it.

Enjoy life ~ smile with it ~ cry when you must ~ but then, pick yourself up and live!

(This is my Humpty Dumpty – the one in the little plaid suit. He’s a joy in my life. Follow his adventures on HIS blog.)

My daughter, Katie Harrington Stricklin, has been promoted to a Senior Associate at her law firm, Walsworth Franklin Bevins & McCall, LLP and I’m one proud mother! (As is her father, Tim, brother, Doug, and husband, Chad)

Hard work never deterred Katie from achieving goals as a child or as an adult. Her fair and ethical judgement along with superb writing skills have accelerated her to this level of recognition in her law firm.

Memories of Katie’s childhood flood my mind and soak my heart with joy. She was instrumental in molding her brother’s path (Doug, who has autism), I wrote about it in “My First Lesson in Autism,” what a three-year-old Katie taught me about turn taking. Katie wrote about it in “On the Way to the Sky,” a chapter in For Parents and Professionals: Autism. My short story, “Portrait of God,” is a tribute to her father that would melt any father’s heart and bring him to his knees – from the mouth of a four-year-old.

Katie was at the top of her game as a retail manager at Disneyland, where she met her husband, Chad. She called me one day and said, “I think I’ll go to law school.” Lawyers run deep in the Harrington family and so the tradition continues with our Katie as she makes her mark.

As all mother’s know, it is not the acronyms behind your child’s name, or the amount of the paycheck, or the kind of car, or style of home they have; it is the graciousness of a life well lived. Yes, I am proud of Katie’s recent accolade, she deserves it, but I am more proud just calling her my daughter.

After culling through Top Ten lists of favorite Christmas Songs on the internet, I decided to post the Top Ten Christmas song list in Kathie’s World. I enjoy listening to a variety of artists who instill their own version of tried and true popular Christmas songs. Take for instance, Neil Diamond and how he ”Neilizes” everything he sings. I simply call it “Neilization, ” and I love it. Or, Bing Crosby, with his unmistakable, mellow, voice from the past ~ it just wouldn’t be Christmas without Bing.

So here is my list ~ here are my songs ~ here is what I’ll be listening to plus so much more ~ enjoy the season of music and dance ~ find the CHRIST in Christmas in whatever you listen to.

Kathie’s World Top Ten Christmas Songs

1. The Eyes of a Child   by Air Supply

2. Let There be Peace on Earth    by Vince Gill and daughter, Jenny Gill

3. White Christmas  by Bing Crosby

4. The Prayer   by Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli

5. Merry Christmas Darling   by The Carpenters

6. I’ll be Home for Christmas   by Bing Crosby and/or Neil Diamond

7. Oh Holy Night   by Andy Williams and/or Celine Dion

8. Go Tell it on the Mountain   by Aretha Franklin and/or Gospel Choir

9. Silent Night   by Josh Groban

10.  The Christmas Song   by Barry Manilow

Need I say more ~ sign up today!