Scrooged

We have still have not received the check from EdVenture Museum for the money due us for our work in September. To say the least we are very pissed at the museum and their staff. What should've been a celebration and educational experience for exceptional families and the general public has turned into a joke. Essentially the museum has treated us like we usually expect to be treated having a special needs loved one: with little respect while exhibiting a condescending attitude.

Well my fellow bloggers and exceptional family friends, I turn you loose. Here is the e-mail I received from the VP of Operations last Tuesday:

Mr. Waddell,

I hope you will accept my apologies for any misunderstandings regarding payment for your participation during our EdCeptional Kids month in September.

In order to release the check today I will need your tax identification number. If you are uncomfortable emailing that information, please call me at 803-400-1145 and leave the number on my voicemail. The invoice has been received by our accounting department and a check will be mailed today in the amount of *a huge amount of much needed bill-paying money* upon receipt of the tax i.d. number. Please contact me should you have any questions.

Thank you again for sharing your family and special talents with us.

Sincerely,

Julia

Julia Winterbottom Kennard
Vice President of Museum Operations
jkennard@edventure.org

Well my friends, I've had enough. Let your creativity run wild and your anger be uninhibited. There is the e-mail address you need to express your support for our family. We certainly won't be returning since the EdCeptional Kids Month turned out to be a joke. By the way I actually sent a return e-mail and spoke with the woman on the phone to make sure she got the information she needed. I even have a follow-up e-mail telling me that the check was already headed to the post office.

In more positive news Ben is doing fabulous! The not-so-little-guy is very happy these days despite the many days I've been away. Honest to God I think he understands that the show season is finally coming to an end. Not only have I told him but I'm certain that he senses a peace about me knowing this is the last traveling weekend.

I had hoped Joan and the kids would go with me to Savannah this weekend but other priorities got in the way (as in Jessie dancing with her company in the local Christmas parade). As you read yesterday taking Ben along is a giant chore and Joan is already preparing for her year-end crunch time. I'm fully expecting a good weekend so I'm not too down. In fact I've been painting like crazy the past few days to prepare for the trip. Not only am I finishing up some cool stuff for the weekend but my creativity finally kicked up a notch and I'm finishing some of our collaborative things with Ben. I promise to have some notecard sets of Ben's work as well as original paintings that you might like to give as presents for Christmas!

Ben's new Tuesday/Thursday nurse is excited to see us work together for the first time in months. We'll certainly have new photos and video of that experience in the next few days. Joan and the kids are planning to put up the Christmas Tree while I'm gone so both Ben and Jessie are getting in the holiday spirit.

I feel bad that I haven't been able to catch up on my blog reading. I miss taking those special hours visiting with your families and enjoying the great things going on with you. Know that comments are gonna be plenty over the next few weeks as we all approach the New Year. I don't know if I'll have time to post tomorrow so as always I hope each and everyone of you have a safe and happy start of the countdown to Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa! Peace to everyone and don't beat up someone that steals your parking spot even though they deserve it!