Born On A Blue Day..Daniel Tammet review 2

I have really been enriched by reading Daniels book. My latest discovery is on page 190....
"I like to prepare myself mentally for an upcoming event, to rehearse the different possibilities or permutations in my mind because of the way I become uncomfortable when something happens suddenly or unexpectedly..."
I used to feel that I was being deceptive in some strange way by prethinking given situations. Almost as if I felt apologetic or that I was doing something wrong by playing through various scenarios that may occur. It also causes endles anxiety and many a sleepless night. That could be one of the reasons that the night before a new event keeps me awake...preplanning. Hmmm..thanks Daniel!!!!

Born On A Blue Day...Daniel Tammet book review

I am on page 175 of Daniel Tammets book, "Born On a Blue Day". It is the personal story regarding Daniel and his life as an autistic Savant. Daniel was born with Aspergers and he presents his life story, his thinking and views.
At first I had a hard time getting into the book. I can rarely sit still long enough to read a chapter or two. And the recounts of his early life and incredible math skills, and memory, really didn't thrill me.
But then, about half way through the book, when he started writing about his teenage years, I began to gain some insight and knowledge regarding my own Aspie son teenager and was able to find some hope and life strategies.
I was thoroughly amazed that he was able to travel to a completely foreign country on his own and teach English to Lithuanians. The fact that he could travel and live on his own was astounding to me, who gets anxiety driving thirty miles away alone.
The book gave me hope and also opened the door of possibilities for my Eldest. Daniel did feats that I could only dream of. And his sharing of his emotions, feelings and thoughts is helping me to better understand myself and my son.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone with Aspergers or to anyone interested in learning more about it....A Fascinating Read

Larry the King and I...a dream

I had a most vivid, lucid dream today...involving none other than the famous, Mr. Larry King.
Here's the setup...we are in a kitchen with a crowd of people. He is standing by the sink drinking from a shot glass. He is dressed in a bright blue shirt, trademark suspenders and tie.
I mention something about how I wish the divorce wasn't being too rough on him. He throws back the rest of the drink and gently takes my arm. He mumbles something about how it is just something he has to deal with. He doesn't seem real concerned and before I know it we are dancing.
The crowd of people quiets down to watch. I don't hear any music but we are do a smooth slow dance. I can feel his cheek against mine and I can feel his ribcage gently up against me. (Nothing at all sexual here guys)
I don't know how tall he is in real life but in the dream he was about 5' 8". And what a smooth dancer. I remember he let me lead for awhile and then he started doing a few fancier steps. He really seemed like an old pro.
As we are grooving through the kitchen, I feel his leg gently move behind mine, touching my thigh...I knew it was time for a dip. As we slowly dipped, almost touching the floor, the photographer woman had camera ready to take a pic. But Larry thought she should wait.
I thought it was quite fun and hilarious. It was a very pleasant dream. I'm not sure exactly what it all means...it was just a dream....

The Terrible Awful Day at Sodor...or what moms do when kids go back to school that first day

A photo essay..expressing my deepest, darkest feelings....








it had been..a very long summer

Eldest thought I had surely lost my mind...but I could see him laughing on the inside...

Younglink was quite dismayed and doth protested much...


The first day the boys were back in school...I was in a giddy, silly mood...

Parenthood...the tv drama

So someone told me about this new show on TV called, "Parenthood" which has a child with Aspergers Syndrome as one of the characters. Its on Tuesday nights, nbc at 10 pm.
The first 5-7 minutes revolves around the family dinner table and everyone is talking at once...this Drama then moves into the kitchen for more of the same. I had a difficult time figuring out anything about anyone those first few minutes and it was all I could do not to change the channel to the Science or History channel. I abhor drama and the confusion and fast talking certainly did not help....So show me this kid with Aspergers Syndrome.
Finally, we get to "Max". He must be about 10 or so. And the tell-tale signs of Aspergers are kinda clear; lack of eye contact, in his own little world, resistance to change, clumsy with physical activities, etc.
His parents responses were typical and well-portrayed. They became quite frustrated at times but really tried to understand and cope as best they could.
In a nutshell, thats really all I can find to say about the show. Maybe I'll feel more loquacious if I catch another episode...Will I make an effort to remember what night its on? I'm not sure....Drama is not my forte.

The Benefits...on a lighter, more positive note

Time to focus on the Positive Aspects:
I have had enough of the "heavy" stuff for the moment so I scanned the internet and found some insightful information and quotes.
As author Diane Kennedy states, "They (people with Aspergers) are our visionaries, scientists, diplomats, inventors, chefs, artists, writers and musicians. They are our original thinkers and a driving force in our culture."
Hans Asperger, the German doctor who discovered the syndrome,believed that "for success in science or art, a dash of autism is essential. The essential ingredient may be an ability to turn away from the everyday world, from the simply practical and to rethink a subject with originality so as to create in new untrodden ways with all abilities canalized into the one speciality."
Dr. Temple Grandin, an adult with autism who became a successful engineer, academic and speaker, believes that her disorder is an asset. She once famously called NASA a sheltered workshop for people with autism and Aspergers. She believes that people with autistic spectrum disorders are the great innovators, and "if the world was left to you socialites, nothing would get done and we would still be in caves talking to each other."
Aspies often have advanced vocabularies, recognize patterns that others do not, and pursue ideas despite evidence to the contrary because they are not easily swayed by others opinions.
They also see the world differently than most people and are able to comprehend multiple levels of the meaning of words and can make fabulous punsters. When told they had to "eat and run,' one Aspie said,"Oh, that makes us carnivorous panty hose."
Many experts relate that Aspies make amazingly loyal friends. They are usually free from sexism or racism. They do not manipulate people but speak frankly and honestly. They are sincere truth-tellers, whose naivety and trusting nature makes them incapable of backstabbing. As employees, they are completely dependable and follow the rules of the job.
Psychologist Teresa Bolick writes,"Their deficits are actually assets as they are unfettered by convention or manners. Aspies help us stay grounded by questioning why we do what we do, why we need to get married and other basic societal assumptions."
Life is what you make of it and how you perceive it. Life is good.

A Sense of Humor...Surely You Jest

There were a couple of references, in my todays reading literature, that mentioned humor and I thought I'd share.
Aspies have emotional responses as strong as, or perhaps stronger than,most people, though what generates an emotional response might not always be the same.
And, in the same vein, Aspies are notorious for an extreme or different sense of humor.
Here is a ready example of my current obsessive fixation with, what I consider to be, most hilarious profile pictures on my facebook page.
It all started with someone saying, "Post a picture of you and your significant other"...Well I wasn't about to blandly follow such criteria so i proceeded to upload photos of...Batman and Robin kissing (cartoons), Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd, Oprah Winfrey and her "friend" Gail, Dr. Evil and Minime from Austin Powers, (can there really be an Aspie out there who does Not love Autisn Powers and Ace Ventura?) 2 Fembots (beautiful, negligee-clad, blonde bombshells that are actually killer robots), Tom and Jerry and Superman holding Lois Lane. OMG LMAO even thinking about it.
So, now that VD day is over I found a Mona Lisa in a StarTrek outfit that is my current picture.
All this from the woman who cried with sadness when she saw "Charlie Brown" at the theater ten years ago. So sad, picked on, depressed Charlie Brown.
If something tickles me...it Really Tickles me and I can break out into a laugh or grin days later when I think about it. Sometimes when I am driving alone in my car or just walking down the street or an aisle at the grocery store. :)
What is really fun...is finding the hot button of what makes an Aspie Really Happy. Its a lot like a cork in a bottle, day after day, after day until...POP and all that suppressed emotion comes rolling and bubbling forth at amazing velocity often infecting, affecting everyone around.
I can't count how many times a friend had to put her hands over her ears, literally, because I was squealing with great delight. Ok, I have seriously learned to tone down my responses but it is still fun to see it in my eldest. Just the other day he received a brand new XBox for absolutely no reason and as a total surprize. He jumped up and down, clapping his hands in sheer delight. It is definitely a moving experience.
Passion...for all their lack of everyday emotional display, if you hit an Aspies emotional hot button ..watch out.
I remember not that long ago, when I went to one of my monthly school meetings. And, all along I thought I had been presenting my thoughts and feelings on things when a teacher mentioned something about the students need to do portfolios and I felt as if I practically jumped at the opportunity to express my great dismay at this school-issued requirement. And it felt like every eye in the room was suddenly upon me, the crowd fell silent, and finally one of the teachers said something to the effect like, "Wow, Amy actually has an opinion on something!" Had I been amongst strangers, i would have been heartily embarrassed but I wasn't. Whew. And it was interesting because I really thought I had been sharing opinions all along but in truth, it really was my first definitive, very strong opinion. I had bottled up all my deep, passionate dislike for these portfolios and it just kinda burst forth, at the right time.
I don't know...I guess its a lot like looking over a calm, clear sea and only guessing at the depth and churning of the water below.