The Dino-Aspie Ex-Café (for Those 40+... or feeling creaky)

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I thought you had gone to bed?

Someone may want to smack me for this, but it made me laugh. I accept all smacks with a smile!! [youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=0nDClh9NpZw[/youtube]

Last edited by blessedmom on 06 Sep 2007, 11:12 am, edited 2 times in total.

My friend Elaine and I were having lunch together not long after my mom died. I told Elaine how my mom cleaned the house and dusted it top to bottom almost every single day. Had anyone ever seen it in any shape other than spotless she would have been afraid that they would have taken it as a reflection of her slovenliness. That thought haunted her, so she worked hard to see that it would never happen. [My dad's mother was hypercritical, and mom had been divorced prior to marrying her son! For shame! Worse still, it was an uneducated hillbilly southern woman who had married her yankee son! ]. My mom was a brilliant woman in spite of having been pulled from school in the eighth grade to work on her family's farm - she had low self esteem as a result of her lack of education. She did not want to give my grandmother any opportunity to unleash critical remarks.

On my mom's deathbed I asked her what she would have done differently in her lifetime had she been given the opportunity to do so. She didn't hesitate, telling me:

"I would have cleaned less. I would hardly have cleaned at all! And I wouldn't have cared less about what other people thought! What a waste of time!! !"

I found it extremely ironic that in the end my mom was cremated and she herself was returned to dust. So when I see a little dust lying around, I find it comforting.

Elaine sat quiet for a while then said, "My mother was a fastidious cleaner as well. And in the end they dumped 6 feet of dirt on her".

We both laughed!! !

Soooo much we do in this lifetime that we wouldn't if we weren't trying to score high on some imaginary scorecard in our heads!! !

So much we would do if we weren't afraid of making fools of ourselves!! !

So I'm a fool at every opportunity. And scores? Who cares!! !

lau
Does the number 4 mean anything special to you? It was in the first dream as well. Normally I don't pay much attention to that kind of thing when looking at dreams, but it just sort of struck me in yours. It felt to me like you were projecting or looking at something perhaps a bit confusing but very set in it's place and it has something to do with 4. Probably nothing but me projecting, I don't recall having dreams with numbers in them.

I haven't had this type in a long time, I like them though. You are dreaming and you get into a semi awake state and the imagery is still all there, still in that dream, but now you actualy have some say in what you do in the dream.

krex wrote:

No, I haven't seen that, but intend to now that you bring it to my attention. I've written several short stories about Bob. Had an interesting dream about him once. I was in danger. Calling out for help. He wouldn't put down his guitar to help me, but my husband, who was working on his motorcycle, through down his tools and ran to rescue me. I guess that's easy to figure out. It made my husband happy when I told him that one. He's always been a wee bit jealous of my obsession with Bobby, and likes to remind me that my lover boy is not aging well. I forget the name of the film I saw him in, it was a farce (intentionally) and had many famous people in it. He looked like a skinny old rooster in that movie.

Chuck: Thanks... nice video... the last two lines fit rather well:

PP/Merle: indeed, which of the Wikipedia meaning of QFT do we mean?

blessedmom: The video made me frown a few times (because I hate seeing animals dressed up, generally, and mistreated, even if mildly), but on balance, there were so many images that made me laugh out loud. E.g. the big dog squeezing vertically into the cat's tiny basket, because the cat was curled up, dead centre of the dog's basket - and the dog's expression? "I'm not sure I like this, but I'll wait, and hope that you move out of my basket, soon, or later, but I don't much fancy my chances of making you move, this side of next week."

Last edited by lau on 06 Sep 2007, 11:04 am, edited 1 time in total.

Quantum field theory, got to be the one.

I need a translator to understand the internet slang stuff I'm hopeless.

I considered the animals being dressed up and very nearly didn't post it. I will remove it I think. I especially didn't like the pig surrounded by food. The dogs are funny, though.

Lauri's definition "quite ******* true"

Yeah, well it isn't easy for me to say I'm not king in here, it's hard for a god to be humble. And no Merle I don't want lessons.

Excellent selection and connection, Chuck. These are delicious and chilling lyrics, and of course the music is magical and hypnotic.

I sometimes do my medicine dance to this music.


'We are all just prisoners here, of our own device'

Last thing I remember, I was
Running for the door
I had to find the passage back
To the place I was before
'Relax,' said the night man,
'We are programmed to receive.
You can check-out any time you like,
But you can never leave!'

No, no, no. Please don't. You posted a reasonable disclaimer. Like I said (or meant to say), the good bits far outweigh the dubious bits. None were that bad. I forgot those straight away. Other images that I can still call to mind:
The cats sitting round the hamster cage.
The cat inside the bird cage with the bird on top.
The puppy looking as if she's just about to ruin the laptop.
The giraffes meeting their inflated friend. (I've no idea what that's about, but the scenery looked remarkably like Longleat Safari Park, just down the road from me here.)
The woman, with the pig, in the mud bath.

Quoting Lau:

It was ...... THE SUCCUBUS



Do we ever really know for sure?

Anyway... it seems like only last week, we partied the 300th page party.

Hold on... it was only last week!

We've had Robyn's b'day party since then.

This weekend will see the completion of 400 pages (we're going at the rate of 10 pages a day. which means somewhen Sunday is the time to watch).

So, what's the theme for this one? Apparently, the Mahabharata was finalised in 401. Can I wear my flippers? I'd quite like a barbecue, if anyone can get some bricks. Also, I vote for special commemorative paper hats, like those Chuck found for Nannarob's offspring. And a band. And a fire engine. And two or three first-aiders, standing by, just in case. And a chocolate cake. No, scratch that, a cheesecake. What the hell... let's splash out and have both.

Lau wrote:

Of course you can wear your flippers. What are flippers?

Blessedmom...I loved the music and video.Within my exterior of cynical,jaded,you cant hurt me crust...lies the little child who loves ...Where The Wild Things Are,Dr Suisse,plushies and anything with cute animals.To get completely sappy on you..."I cant think of a better gift from a potential higher power then the ability to laugh and a desire to hug the little critters of his design."I cant think of a "thing" I could own that would give me more pleasure then watching these magic beasties be their silly selfs.


And now for something completely different....

the long anticipated,woke from a dream idea...

once mentioned and long forgotten by the denisions(sp) of the cafe....

*while anticipation devleopes,krex readjusts the cat in her lap doing it's best to supercede the keyboard....

Presented exclussively for the cafe before posting elsewhere,for your appraisal,approval and input...

(You ADDers still with me?)...



Another experiment in teaching myself "machine",lets hope this works...


A few weeks ago(*please see article on "AS and the relitivity of time",which hasnt yet been writen but will be when I get the time for it),I woke with an idea.I believe it was the "end result" of a year of research and obsession about AS and the AS community.The idea is to create a magazine,for,by and about people on the spectrum.My on-line research has uncovered one well kept secret,aspies to have a voice and do want to be heard.I call it a "secret" because the currrent structure of "autism awareness",appears to be structured around the belief that....."If you have autism,you can not speak and we will speak for you.If you can speak,your autism is not the kind we're interested in."

We do have some books written from the perspective of a handful of autistics that are them generilized to be appropriate to understand ALL AS.We have many bloggers and a few on-line communities where AS people can share their experiences and support.But the only magazines I could find about AS,were written FOR "professionals,parents,teachers,care workers" and are "curbbie dominated" and NT biased.Now,the most logical reason for this lack of a magizine of our own,is that nobody wants or needs one.Well,I do.I have learned to embrace the computer,(but it does some very unorthidox things when I do so.)
But I do think that one form of communication does not have to negate the importance of another form.I think there is room for both.Perhaps it is because I wasnt weened on code,but I still enjoy the tactile sensation of holding written words in my hands and looking at pictures and writing that isnt glowing.As a writer and "artist",I think my creation becomes more "real" if I can touch it and it doesnt get lost in the million bits of info stored as the "internet".

What I invision/mission statement/end goal:


A magizine designed by,written for and about people on the autism perspective.
The focus would not be only about having AS,but about who we are as individuals.

There would be some articles about traits of AS and co-morbids(dyslexia,mood disorders,executive dysfunction,auditory processing issues,ADD,etc),but this would only be a part of the magizine,as it is only a "part" of who we are as people with atypical neurology.The majority of the magizine would be to feature "arts/crafts/writing/analytical thought/obsessions/interests",of people on the spectrum.I'm thinking...lots of pictures,comics,humour rambelings,short bios.,serial stories,highlights of craft projects,feature "obsession" of the month,reviews of scientific articles,movies,books,music and "computer/science/maths/geek of the week."(with full illustration of a chicken biting carney..or not)


Two "sticky points".Who would be allowed to submit?Do you have to send your DX papers with you submission?This is a "hot button" issue that has come up several times on WP.The consensus seems to be that not having a DX does not "prove" that you are NT.There are people on the spectrum who were DX with AS as children(when traits are more easily DXed)and,over time,appear more NT in traits then some "self DXed".Are their brains now rewired?There are people who never received a DX because they havent access to it,cant afford it,or fear the very real stigma of the DX by insurence companies or employers.Does the lack of a "Diploma in AS",really mean they havent spent their whole lives being schooled in "what it feels like to have AS in an NT society?".Should we consider them the "home schooled/self taught" and offer them their GED's?Before I went for a DX and received my "diploma",I researched and DXed myself as AS,(with reservations/possibility of self-delusion).So,one guy,who claims to be schooled in DX of adult AS,decided that I was,someone else might decide I'm not.When they come up with a test that isnt based on subjective data,then we can start excluding the "self DXed".The only rule would be to state clearly by your submission what your DX is and if it is a "self DX".Does that seem reasonable?

Sticky point two...Everything else that goes into creating and funding a magizine.In the begining,everything from the creation to the submissions,would be "volunteer".A handful of people who have already agreed to publishing,editing,and reviewing submissions may or may not receive a salary.The process will be "labor intensive" and most of us have to work "real jobs",find it difficult to balance both a full time job and fulltime magazine production.The price of subscription will barely cover the cost of printing,assuming their is enough interest for people to subscribe.If the magizine is successful,it will only be as any other "supply and demand" product.Not enough interest in the community,the idea is aborted.The real money in magazines is the advertising.A percentage of that will be advertising aspie created products and services....a place to advertise you skills and creations.The larger advertising market would be????Well,we do seem to share some interests...(books,music,sciences/maths,minerology,fossils,comic books,video games,Wow,just like "real people",imagine that).But the real money is in the curbies hands....do we let them buy space to "heal us" of our transgressions(oh,yeah,neurological sinners)?I havent reached a dicission about this and it would be something to discuss in the community.I think most subscribers,reading that anti-curbie slant of the magizine would be strong enough to resist the ads for "fixen" what isnt broke?It maybe the only option for making the magizine financial viable....to begin?Still open for debate.

End goal:

I learned something about AS,from living on WP,that I didnt realize from just reading about AS in "expert" books and articles about AS.Something I would like to see represented in this magizine.We can be fun and funny.We have a need to create and a desire to be heard and share who we are with others.Sometimes we retreat into our bubbles because we like it in there,sometimes it is because we are overloaded by a "loud" world,sometimes it is because we are exiled there by the rejection and misunderstandings of a world that is "wired" differently.For those who wish to be heard,we will offer a place in the spotlight.I think it's long over due.


How to begin...(ooh,how my "executive dysfuntion laughed at this one).

We need a web page to offer guildlines on submissions(NT,AS,Self DXed,mutants) and an email account to receive them(something with good security to avoid viruses sent by those who would like to see us crash and burn...uhm,did I mention "paraoia" in co-morbids?).Actualy,we have seen much of "their work", on their attacks of WP,so,just because your paranoid doesnt mean they arent out to get you.

We need,volunteers to work in their areas of special interest(Is there such a thing as an accountant/business amd marketing Aspie?)ALl we can offer,right now is something to put on their resume,show their skills,get real world experience."IF" the magizine grows...we will be abe to offer paying jobs and those who volunteered and showed ability will be the first hired.(In other words,dont quit your day job but the harder you work to make the project a success the quicker we will have a payroll.)We will except assistance from NTs (who have exectutive skills)...so parents/friends of Aspies,feel free to volunteer you expertese.


I have many ideas of what kind of content the magizine could have but I need a lot of input from potential subscribers on what they would like to see in the magizine.I would also like to include a detachable "mail in" with each issue where readers can submit their opinions about featured writers/artist that they would like to see more of it.I hope the AS community will find this a valuable resource,both as a reader and "submiter".It will only be as good as we make it.Lets make it something to prove we have humor,creativity,analytical ability not "inspite" of AS but because of it.

Krex