Its official. We live in Connecticut. We made the big move Thursday and are in the process of unpacking, emptying the moving truck and buying the essentials needed to make our apartment home. (Find New Haven on the southern side along the coast. We are 20 minutes east of New Haven).

Its still weird, I can't believe we live in Connecticut of all places. CT is a small state. There are only 7 counties, we are about 1hr inside of the state and would take us about an hour to go out the other way and land in Rhode Island. We live on the water in a beach town which is crazy. We are now east coasters, who could legitimately pop their collars and wear boat shoes. But we won't! (Well, I may buy some Sperry Top Siders, but I promise I won't pop my collar.)

In the winter when we were imagining where we might end up, Ohio and the Carolinas were on our radar. I guess we had the East Coast essentially right in thinking the Carolinas... just had our North/South mixed up.

So far, we are enjoying exploring our little state. We have conveniently found the Walmart, Target, Lowes, Ruby Tuesday, Wendys, CVS and Starbucks we'll need. As we've been surrounding ourselves in fixing up our apartment we haven't yet had time to venture into really finding the stores, restaurants and places to visit that are purely Connecticut. Also, Tropical Storm Danny decided to pull through right now so we've been doused in rain instead of sitting on the beach.

Here's a picture of us from when we came to interview in March. The beach is on the other side of the Sand Dunes... hopefully we'll be taking another picture like this soon but in swimsuits and cover-ups!

Our trip out here was uneventful in a way, but horrible at the same time. It was miserable. Steve was driving the Rental Truck and I drove our car. (Yes, we are a 1 car family now). It took way longer than it should have on account of all of the construction we ran into often. Without notice we would suddenly be in 1-lane traffic that didn't let up for a few miles. Not to mention the first few hours of our drive were very rainy, Steve was in a big truck he's unfamiliar with, and there were an unusual amount of semis on the road. All of those make for very stressful driving!

We got here late, about 9:30pm, but were so wonderfully greeted by Tiara - such an amazing, wonderful friend who decided to spend a few days with us here helping unpack and get set up. We would not have as much done right now if it weren't for her. So in a way, it doesn't feel that abnormal yet because T is here. Even when she leaves, my parents are coming next weekend which will be wonderful, and will again be comforting to have family here. After my parents leave, and school begins I think it all might finally set in.

I'll check back in then and let you know. We're in for a crazy, exciting, adventurous ride. Stay tuned!

Its that time.

Well Ohio... we'll see ya later. This isn't goodbye, you know we'll be back to visit as often as possible. With all of our family and friends here how can we not. We love you Ohio - and we love, adore, and are amazed by all of our friends and family. We are blown away by the love we've been shown the last few weeks all the way up to early this morning. We love you all - you're with us on our drive and you'll be with us when we get to Connecticut.

Love - The McLaughlins

Sometimes it takes a child....

...to make you realize how you really feel.

I tucked the best kids in the world into bed tonight for the last time in at least a really long time. I have been babysitting Katie, Henry, Joseph and Andrew since Katie and Henry were 8 months old, and Joseph and Andrew were 3 1/2 years old. Needless to say, I will miss them... a lot. These four kids continuously make me smile, laugh, and feel all warm and fuzzy inside. It is impossible to not fall in love with these kids. Its true, they have me wrapped around their little fingers.

Its true, Joseph and Andrew are now cool 7 year olds who around any other people won't show me any affection. I get it, they're going into 2nd grade! You can't act like you like girls in 2nd grade :) But tonight, they both gave me hugs, told me they'd miss me, and told me they'd love me. I don't try to cuddle with them, because I most certainly don't want to embarrass them! But its nice when I get a moment to just talk to Andrew or Joseph when they're not around anyone else because they tell me what they're excited about. They have things they want to tell me and want to brag about, they just want to make sure no one else is looking. I also think I've gained points over the years because I have a slight knowledge of Star Wars, Bakugan, Pokeman and other boy things! Watch out when these boys get to High School Mike and Elena... they will be breaking hearts and setting records for their sports teams!

Over the years I've spent a little more time with Katie and Henry because of so many "9-1" mornings when the boys were in school. I remember when I first started, they couldn't walk yet, and I'd go upstairs to get them from naps and have to carry them downstairs one in each arm. If I wasn't good at multi-tasking before watching Katie and Henry I'm amazing now! I will never forget how they loved Avacado, and watching them move from sitting, to crawling, to standing, to running.... to swinging on the swings, swimming in the pool, and chasing after their brothers during keep-away in the backyard. These two still love to cuddle with me, still give me hugs no matter whos watching, and still have their little kid laughs that make you smile no matter what mood you're in.

These kids are family to me. They were at our wedding, and make me smile when I saw them walking down the aisle. They have made me a part of their life and have become a part of mine. I've always felt comfortable, welcomed and trusted by Mike and Elena which totally allows me to relax and love their kids the best I can. I will miss them all immensely, and you can bet when we come home to visit we'll be stopping by to see my kids :)

SURPRISE!!!

Monday evening, Steve and I were planning to have dinner with Christy and Josh. 6:45, spaghetti, their place. Classic hanging out with the Mitchells meal. We were pumped to spend time with them, and a little sad that it would be our last hang out for a while. We got to their house, walked inside, and Christy told us to head outside because Josh decided to grille instead. We opened the curtain and sitting in front of us were like 30 of our close friends. My jaw dropped, my natural reaction was to smile and laugh, and Steve because incredibly calm like he normally does. We were SHOCKED!!!!!!!! We were planning to have a going away party on Thursday (last night) that we had given a guest list to Stace and Kristen for, and were asking people if they knew abot it! All the while.... everyone had pulled the wool over our eyes and switched the party day, location and everything to really shock the heck out of us. So many people we love were there, it was amazing. My parents even came up from Columbus!!! Needless to say, we felt sooo loved. There was good fun, good laughter, cornhole, convos, so many people we weren't expecting, and it was unbelievable!!!

If that wasn't enough... Tuesday evening, our friend Brian cooked an amazing meal for us. Complete with fresh tomatoes and mozzarella, cantaloupe with prosciutto ham draped over it, home-made gnocchi with mushrooms, prosciutto, and peas, and flank steak. WONDERFUL. And we sat down and had this amazing dinner with Comer, Beau, Josher, Stace and Zig-Man. Talk about a fun wonderful night.

Still more... my mom came up Wednesday evening and helped kick off packing up our apartment. Over 24 hours we packed up our ENTIRE kitchen It may not seem like we got a lot done, but my parents are awesome packers, I'm not, and having my mom help with the kitchen of all things was wonderful. It was so great to spend the time with her, and be able to get a huge chunk of packing out of the way.

There are still more dinners to come, and time to spend with friends, as well as packing to be done and final arrangements to be made. But either way, this week has been wonderful, we have enjoyed all of our time with friends and family and while it is impossibly sad to be moving away from everyone and I will eventually cry a lot, for now, we are having so much fun making all of these memories this week.

Our friends and family are the best. Hands down.

SYTYCD

In case you don't watch So You Think You Can Dance... you're seriously missing out. And you don't even have to love dance. A piece last night (see video #1) danced by Melissa and Ade, and choreographed by Tyce Diorio was the most amazing thing ever. It is about a friend of Tyce's who is currently battling Breast Cancer and it was impossible to keep from crying while watching it. Especially when thinking about my mom.

This is a show that not only teaches about dance and inspires so many to dance for the first time, keep dancing, or come back to dance. It also speaks to issues in our world today. This season, Addiction was also touched on (video #2). Choreographed by my favorite choreographer ever, Mia Michaels, and danced by Kayla and Kupono. Video #3 is one of my favorite of the season, also by Mia Michaels (go figure), danced by Randi and Evan, and is about nothing else by Randi's butt! Its just a fun, incredibly original piece. After that is a piece from this week by Laurieann Gibson, danced by Jeanine and Brandon about love and being soldiers in war. Jeanine and Brandon are amazing and I couldn't help putting it in. Lastly... is my favorite dance of all time on this show. Season 3, danced by Lacey and Neil, and - sorry - choreographed by Mia again. This one is about Mia losing her dad to cancer and meeting him in heaven. It is simply amazing.

In any case... watch one video, watch all 5, but I just had to express my love for dance, and the amazingness of this show. If there was one thing from my past that I desperately wish I still did, it is dance, easily. Anyway, enjoy!

Having fun....

I've been re-vamping the ol' blog the past couple days. See if you can spot all the changes!

Also... summer is glorious and I could spend every day I babysit in the pool with kids. WOOT!

“For weddings and a funeral.” Pt. 2

Trait '08 Wedding - Steve was in it, I was Kait's lackey for the day :)

Our wedding!! Come on, just try and tell me we're not cute!!

In contrast to my last post, I am also an expert wedding goer. My large family and friend base has provided me multiple opportunities a year to perfect my wedding etiquette.

This year is a slow year for me. Besides our wedding in January, we currently only have 2 weddings to attend. Over the last three years, I have added an extra couple weddings each year on account of photographing them. In stark contrast to attending funerals, I quite enjoy attending weddings. I love seeing THE DRESS, the color palette, the table details, the ceremony structure, the bridal party outfits, the jewelry, the food, the dancing… etc. I love it. I think if I weren’t in Art Education I would have potential to be a wedding planner. Maybe I’ll attempt it at some point in my life! Of course I was more than excited to plan our own wedding; I loved every minute of the planning and the day itself. (Okay, maybe I wasn’t a huge fan of stuffing and sending invitations, or doing the seating chart…) Either way, if you want to invite someone to your wedding who will provide pure excitement, I’m your girl!

I have been to my variety of weddings as well… catholic mass, non-denominational, inside in a church, hotel, and building, outside at a conservatory and camp, afternoon start, and evening start…etc. I’ve even watched a live streaming video of a cousin’s wedding in Las Vegas. I’m ready for just about any wedding situation you can throw at me.

I know which outfits are my wedding outfits… which mainly consist of dresses, but occasionally I’ll throw a skirt or two in. I have tricks to make sure my dresses stay comfortable all day as well. I have the heels I can stay in all day and night which work equally well for sitting in a pew and dancing the night away. I have certain gifts I usually go for on the registry, and have some gift ideas stowed away in case I need to create something on my own.

Steve and I have even started a game in which we try to predict different things throughout the night – Wedding Betting! For instance… guessing if 1 Corinthians 13, Genesis, or Ephesians will be read during the ceremony. Other categories include but are not limited to… food served at the reception, first dance song, and getaway car. It’s a fun game, I suggest you play with us or play it on your own when you attend weddings!

Whatever the case may be… We do a good job of having fun at weddings. I’ll never be the sloppy drunk friend at your wedding, but I’ll toast a few to you. I may not dance to every song, but I dance til my heart is content. I won’t object during the ceremony, but I may shed a tear or two. And I may not always be sitting in the front few pews, but wherever I sit I’ll sit with my wedding knowledge in hand next to my support for your marriage. Let me know if you need anything.

“For weddings and a funeral.” Pt. 1

This week, I have realized how bittersweet it is that I have so many people in my family and that we are so close. The great part, is that we have a bunch of weddings to go to, and babies being born. The bitter is that we also end up attending a lot of funerals.

Steve and I went to a funeral today for my Great Uncle Dick. He was a cool man, very, very sweet and kind hearted, and just a cute old guy. It was incredibly sudden. He was in great health, had survived colon cancer, didn’t have heart problems, and spent time regularly at the yacht club and with his grandkids. Last Saturday, he tripped on a dock and fell into the water. When he got out of the water, he said his stomach felt weird. After heading to the ER, they found out he had a stomach aneurysm, and immediately he underwent emergency surgery, which he came through with flying colors. Tuesday, he had a massive heart attack and never regained consciousness. Thursday morning at 4am he passed away. My Aunt Zoe – his wife – is the cutest little lady, she’s super tiny and super hilarious, and now, super shocked. Their daughter Sharon altered my wedding dress and added the red sash to it. And Sharon’s kids were the two who participated in Beau’s magic show at our wedding to give some of you a little context. The silver lining to the funeral? Steve and I got to see a lot of my family members who will be at the Lester Family reunion we can’t make it to at the end of the month.

In a way, I sometimes feel as if I am a professional at weddings and funerals. In 2005, I went to a funeral every month, March, April, and May. The first was my Uncle Bob who was my dad’s best friend of 35 years, and it was impossible to get through and still gets me teary eyed when thinking about it – including now. April was my Great Uncle Harvey – my dad’s uncle – who was the closest I ever came to knowing my Grandpa DeGroff. Grandpa passed away before Nate was born and my dad always told us that if we wanted to know our Grandpa a little, we should really pay attention to our Uncle Harv. May was my Uncle Jim’s mom. My parents knew her, and Nate and I didn’t really, but mom and I went to support them as they do for us every funeral.

There are some that are impossible to get through – my Grandpa, Uncle Bob, Cousin Jerry – and some that while I loved the relative, I almost feel jaded by all of the funerals I’ve been to and may or may not cry at the actual funeral. And then there are those that we go to in support of the friends and family that have supported us at tough funerals along the way.

I know what is appropriate to wear and what isn’t. I know that I could never walk into a funeral home wearing jeans and flip-flops (though some of my extended, extended family doesn’t…) no matter whom it’s for. I know to always grab a tissue before I sit down in a seat in case my waterworks begin without notice. I know to sign the book, grab the funeral card, and look over all the pictures. I know to stand in line and greet people when it’s a relative very close to me, I know when to go grab water for my friends and relatives who have been greeting people all day and just need a break, and I know when to move along in the greeting line so as not to hold a friend or relative up too long from greeting others.

I know all of the etiquette and protocol for funerals, but I sure wish I could let all my knowledge retire for at least one full calendar year. Nevertheless… I am grateful to have a large family who we are close to.

Eventually....

Dear Blogger-

Its not that I've abandoned you. Its just that my summer job doesn't permit me to be on the computer all the time like subbing did. I promise I'll come back to you soon, once I get time to breathe. I've got a couple ideas for you, I really do! Honestly, I'm surprised Stacy hasn't started harassing me about the fact that I haven't posted anything for a while. Oh - but I will post a few cute pictures of Zig-Face, because I was lucky enough to take a lot of pictures of him and his cute family in his first few days in our world. And he rocks - so here you go. Meet Ziggie Thomas Pietrocini!

Love you blogger... I'll write something more meaningful soon!

Cute cute cute kid!

Hey Movie Star picture...

Look how tiny he is!!

Three men and a baby.

Zig's reaction "WHOA, there's a lot going on right now"

Oh come on, we're cute together.

Hannah is super proud of her little baby brother!

Typical... glad I caught this moment :)

Simmmmmmmbaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!

Engage in Engagement...

Got to do one of my favorite things on Sunday and take Engagement photos of our cute friends Cristy and Erik. We hiked through the Ledges park in Hudson where they have spent a lot of time throughout their relationship, and got engaged there! Its so fun to take pictures of friends, and was awesome to see the places that mean so much to them and have stories attached. Also... the second place we went was Tannery Park under the bridge in Kent where, ironically, Steve and I got engaged!!! Anywho... enjoy :)

Re-enacting the proposal at the proposal spot! Thankfully this time Erik didn't slam his knee on a rock on his way down!

At Tannery Park, one of Steve and I's absolute favorite places in Kent. I loooove this bridge, and loved photographing the two of them with it.

Under the bridge - notice the bling!

Dancing and dipping in the field at the Ledges.

One of my favorites on the Overlook at the Ledges... seriously this place is really in Ohio!

First attempt at Preggers pics

Soo... my wonderful, fantastic friend Stacy has given me chances to hang out in Art Wonderland a lot lately. I've been LOVING it :) First off, I got to re-paint a rocking chair for the nursery. No biggie, just sanded, primed and painted plain white, but still relaxing and fun. After that, she we did a plaster cast of her bust and belly and it was a blast! Stacy and I got a lot closer, haha, but after having lived with Stace and Josh not much surprises me anymore! And then last week... Stacy gave me a reason to make my first attempt at Pregnancy Pictures. I had no idea what to do being that I'd never done those before. But Stace found an awesome photographer with mom shots (www.momphoto.com) that were inspiring and gave me some ideas. Stacer is officially 40.5 weeks preggers and hoping baby continues to hang out until after an important job interview Wednesday! So below are some teasers of my first attempt at belly pics... enjoy :)

If you know how much Josh and Stacer love their pups... you'll know how fitting the next 3 pictures are!

"Look Me in the Eye"

Another book down in my quest to become an avid reader again. I just finished the book "Look Me in the Eye" by John Elder Robison. I had heard many wonderful things about the book from general reviews to my mom's response after reading the book and I assumed I would end up liking it. Here's the review from Amazon...

"If one looked at only Robison's impish sense of humor (he once ordered a blow-up sex doll to be delivered to his junior-high-school teacher—at school), or his success as a classic-car restorer, it might be impossible to believe he has the high-functioning form of autism spectrum disorder called Asperger's syndrome. Clues abound, however, in his account of a youth encompassing serious inability to make and keep friends; early genius at pyrotechnics, electronics, and math; and pet names such as Poodle for his dog and Snort and Varmint for his baby brother. Much later, he calls his wife Unit Two. It is easy to recognize these telltale traits today, but Robison went undiagnosed until he was 40. In the 1960s, he was variously labeled lazy, weird, and, worse, sociopathic. Consequently, his childhood memories too often read like a kid's worst nightmares. Not only did his parents fail to understand the root of his socialization problems but they were also virtually as dysfunctional as the pair Augusten Burroughs portrays in Running with Scissors (2002). 'Nough said? Not nearly. Robison's memoir is must reading for its unblinking (as only an Aspergian can) glimpse into the life of a person who had to wait decades for the medical community to catch up with him."

By the end, I was sad that the book was coming to a close. It was truly amazing. I couldn't put it down. It is a must read for anyone in education, but also for anyone who just wants to understand people a little more. I cannot imagine living with Asperger's and not having any idea that there was a specific reason you stood out from the crowd. Its amazing when finally finds out he has Asperger's, such a revelation! Anywho... I suggest it to ANYONE.

Grade... A++++

Next up: "Pretty is What Changes: Impossible Choices, the Breast Cancer Gene, and How I Defied my Destiny" by Jessica Queller.

I accidentally found this book while looking for another book, and it caught my attention because of my family history with different types of cancer. Not sure if its going to be good for me to read or will only make me think about cancer more but we'll see. Also... found out the author has written for TV Shows such as Gilmore Girls, Gossip Girl, Felicty and One Tree Hill.

** For those who have never heard of Asperger's, here's a link to a page about it... 

http://www.udel.edu/bkirby/asperger/aswhatisit.html

End of an Era

It is bitter-sweetly the end of my time coaching lacrosse at Kent Roosevelt High School. It's amazing that we have our Connecticut jobs and we are looking forward to it. But I do not know what I will do when January rolls around next year and I'm not planning Kent Girl's open gyms into my schedule. We just ended our season on Monday and already I feel weird in the afternoons not heading off to games and practice. I'll be okay in the summer, fall, and winter when we normally don't have lacrosse. Spring, however, will be very hard!

I have not loved a team of lacrosse girls this much since it was my own team my senior year. This was our first year without drama, our first year of complete trust between a team, and our first team where every girl wanted to win. It was a true true blessing to be a part of.

Our senior girls were truly amazing girls to look up to for our underclassmen. They loved each other, and in turn loved their team, and their team loved them back. And their coaches? Well... their coaches were amazed by them.

This was the first year we had the same coaching staff two years in a row since I've been there. Christy and I have always been there the past 5 years, but every other coach always rotated. This year, Leah stuck in for another year with us and it was wonderful. She had the patience to be with JV two years in a row, and it was truly a blessing for Christy and I. Leah has become such a good friend and it has been amazing coaching next to a good friend.

And as for Christy - how can I blog about lacrosse and not say anything about Christy?! The first day I met Christy she asked me coach with her. It was like the second week of school my freshman year and I was sad and worried I'd never be in lacrosse again. I didn't know what I was doing, and then I found out she was also pregnant, due in the middle of the season, and I'd be left to coach by myself a few games! Nevertheless, five years later, Christy is my sister, Josh a brother, and the boys feel like nephews. If it weren't for coaching and lacrosse, who knows what I would have scheduled my classes around throughout college. Nevertheless, lacrosse and Christy have been a huge blessing to my life for the past five years. And even though it won't be Kent, lacrosse will still bless my life in some way, and for that, I have Christy to thank, by way of God! 

Tales of a 3rd Grade Nothing...

Its freezing in this classroom. My hands are frozen, I can barely type on here or on my phone to text, and I look like a mean teacher because I can barely stand to uncross my arms from my chest! And I'm wearing a long dress (which basically doubles as a blanket) with a cardigan over it and I'm still freezing. Its warmer outside.

Oh yeah, I'm a 3rd grade teacher today. Some of my students are really cute, some.... are ridiculous. And some are two-faced!!! Thankfully, praise the Lord (!), I have an aide in the room with me to work with a couple students. She's my saving grace right now!! Also... my teaching skills really aren't wrapped around 3rd grade math/science/social studies/spelling. Sure I know all the answers, teaching it is a different story! 3rd grade art I've got in the bag. Hmm... time to go pick the kiddos up from Music class. Math, then lunch (yesssssss) which I unfortunately have to share with some 3rd graders who didn't get their work done.

This makes me PUMPED for Grove School and my own art classroom with high school students... still can't believe its in Connecticut.

Book Review

Alright... time for a book review. Steve and I have gotten hooked on the library lately and are quite pumped about it. I've got 2 books finished ready to review, and one in process. Here goes!

First up is "Who By Fire" by Diana Spechler. I hadn't heard anything about this book when I picked it up. I wanted something to read, it was on the "New Non-Fiction" Shelf, and the cover intrigued me. Not to mention the book had rave reviews on the front and back. So I gave it a try. Here's the description on the back...

"Bits and Ash Kellerman’s family unraveled when their younger sister, Alena, was kidnapped and never found. Their father took off with a younger woman, and their mother has never recovered from the trauma. Bits, a teacher, loses herself in promiscuous sex. Ash, who blames himself for the kidnapping, runs off to Israel and joins an Orthodox yeshiva. This pushes their mother over the edge, and she insists that Bits go to Israel to convince Ash to come home. Bits refuses, but when Alena’s remains are recovered, her mother is insistent that the family be together for the funeral. Bits’ adventures as she attempts to bring her brother home and deal with the ensuing family crisis provide this above-average debut novel with plenty of dramatic tension. Add this one to recommended lists of dysfunctional families in fiction. --Barbara Bibel"

So I read it, and as I went along I noticed it was hard to put down, but not necessarily for the reason you would think. It was hard to put down because I kept waiting for something to happen. I kept reading each small chapter expecting something to happen on the next page. Did something happen finally? Yes, but it wasn't until the last 40 pages!! This book was SO frustrating, I felt like I ended up wasting time on it. Would I suggest it? Not necessarily... 

As for a grade? I'll give it a C. It had its good parts, but it had a balance of boring.

Book #2: "You'll Never Nanny in This Town Again: The True Adventures of a Hollywood Nanny" by Suzanne Hansen. This book I had heard about through a friend in ArtEd. She mentioned it in passing, and because I had really enjoyed Nanny Diaries I thought I'd end up enjoying it. Here's the book jacket summary...

"Misadventures in nannyhood" is how Hansen, an Oregon teen who'd trained at the Northwest Nannies Institute, characterizes her amusing account of several years as live-in drudge to the stars. Readers of James B. Stewart's DisneyWar are already acquainted with her first employer, Michael Ovitz, then still the superagent commander of the CAA talent agency, and parent, with his wife, of three children. Hansen isn't a flippant writer; she doesn't try to score easy shots; and she cites her own inexperience and shyness, but it becomes increasingly clear through her account (backed up by the diary she kept) that the portraits drawn by other writers—of a cold, shrewd, controlling man—are accurate. Still, there was glamour, which at first made up for the grueling 24/7 workload and a curious chintziness. However, Hansen lasted just over six months. She later found work with the charming Debra Winger and left only because it became clear that the doting Winger didn't really need a full-time nanny. Her next and last nanny job was with the wonderful and thoughtful Rhea Perlman and Danny DeVito and their three kids. Hardly backstabbing, this entertaining book possesses a sincerity other nannying tomes lack. 
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved"

As it turned out, I ZOOMED through this book. I could not put it down, I couldn't get enough, and I loved every minute of it. Hansen does such a great job of detailing her famous employers and their kids that it felt like a friend was telling me about her job. And its fun to see inside the lives of three different famous families from the nanny's perspective. Being someone who has babysat most of my life I sympathize and empathize with Hansen and her escapades in nannydom. Overall, I would suggest this as a breezy beach/pool/summer read for any girl/woman who has babysat a day in their life. Even if you haven't, read it! And a grade... is it a surprise at all I'm giving it an A+, loved it!!!

Up next? "Look Me in the Eye: My Life With Asperger's" by John Elder Robison, brother of novelist Augusten Burroughs who wrote "Running with Scissors."