No Internet

Sorry for the lack of posts. We had to move suddenly and have no internet here, yet. I'm on a borrowed wifi, but it's not stable.

Our old apartment complex talked me into giving them another week to fix things and make everything right. At the end of that week, our upstairs was collapsing more and hadn't been addressed, we'd had sewage in the parking lot for a week (that's what the picture is), they changed their mind about paying for the damage to my motorcycle, and they threatened to evict us because Rachel's name wasn't on the lease (it is).

We finally made the decision that we couldn't deal with the harassment any longer, so we started moving into a new complex that day. I injured myself falling on the frozen sewage on Saturday night, but otherwise we're here now.

The old complex wants to hold us liable for breaking the lease, keep our security deposit, and charge us 85% of the remaining 7 months on our lease. Legally, they have no leg to stand on. I'm working on a lawsuit against them that will address the damage to my motorcycle, and our moving expenses since we had to vacate suddenly. I don't want to deal with it, at all, but I don't want to let them "win."

Overwhelmed

Sometimes I forget I have Asperger's Syndrome, and I go out of my way with social things. I now understand that, that overwhelms me. Yet every once in a while, I slip up and don't take it easy.

The past week or so, I've been dealing with our land lord issues here, looking for a new apartment, calling for quotes on repairing some damage to my motorcycle, spending time with my other half, and working in a call center environment. It's easy to understand that I shouldn't be doing all that. That's why I'm spending an evening completely alone.

Rachel is downstairs and is minding our dog's attention, I'm off the phone, and I'm just going to shower and play my DS for a few hours before bed. This should recharge me enough to make it through the rest of my week.

A year ago, I would have gotten stressed out at work, like I did today, and probably quit my job or played sick. Back then, I didn't understand getting socially overloaded, and it happened a lot. Work was the one place I couldn't fully control interactions, so it always hurt me. Now, I understand what's going on and can work at correcting it.

Today, I toughed it out at work and made it to the end of the day with a smile on my face, as well. I came home and spent about an hour with Rachel while I ate supper and we watched some How It's Built (great show, by the way). Now, I'm alone and it's so peaceful.

I'm glad I finally understand how my brain works! :)

(Picture is of my beautiful poison dart frog, Miso)

Article on Autism

I just came across the article on upi.com:

Ads anger parents of autistic children

Published: Dec. 14, 2007 at 11:42 PM

NEW YORK, Dec. 14 (UPI) -- An ad campaign in New York aimed at drawing attention to children with mental illness has angered many who say it stigmatizes those children.

The campaign, planned by the New York University Child Study Center, features mock ransom notes. One reads: "We have your son. We will make sure he will no longer be able to care for himself or interact socially as long as he lives." It is signed "Autism."

Kristina Chew -- the mother of an autistic child and founder of a blog, Autism Vox -- told The New York Times the campaign has united people who normally do not agree about much.

"To say that autism or bulimia has kidnapped a child suggests that these conditions are part of a criminal element," she said.

Dr. Harold S. Koplewicz, director of the center, said the ads were developed after conversations with parents who said they felt that their children had been stolen by disorders like autism and depression. He has no plans to change the campaign and says the ads will run in other cities if they do well in New York.

The ads were created pro bono by the ad agency BBDO.

I must say that I'm HIGHLY offended by this ad. I have autism and lived for 26 years without knowing it, going on like I was normal. I can care for myself and interact socially just fine (although not as perfect as everyone else can).

Whomever made these ads: FUCK YOU! You really know nothing of the condition you're speaking about, and I'll stop watching any show that runs those ads.

Sorry, needed to vent.

The Simpsons Game

I love my DS way more than anyone should love an inanimate object. I've played about two-hundred of the games for the system, so it's safe to say I know what's good and what's not.

On Thursday, I picked up a game that I wasn't expecting much from, The Simpsons Game. I'd heard a lot of negative things about the console version, but a little positive about this one. I was really hesitant since it was made by EA. They've yet to release anything good for a portable system. Either way, I gave it a shot.

To my great surprise and pleasure, this game is amazing! It's a total throwback to early 1990's platform action games. It also has great puzzle elements to it, as well. One level was even a remake of Frogger. Throughout all of this, there are insane amounts of dialog from the characters. Most of the humor is very adult oriented, also. I've never laughed so hard while playing a video game (other than Rayman Ravid Rabbids on my Wii).

My only complaint about this game is how short it is. I'm 25% of the way through it with just over an hour put in to it. That said, I'll happily play it again when I'm done.

If you have a DS, I whole-heartedly recommend picking this title up. Buy it used, though, so you can return it when you finish the game in less than a week. :)

If there's enough interest in entries like this, I may do more. Leave a comment and I'll think about it.

UPDATE: I decided to make a new blog just for video game reviews. I think there's a need for one to be run by someone who's not completely jaded with the genre or being bribed by manufacturers. If you're interested, it can be found here: http://glitchgames.blogspot.com.

Trust

Throughout my life, I've always had a problem with trust. It's almost always come back to bite me in the ass. I'm extremely trusting of everyone I meet, and I can't change that no matter how hard I try. I feel really guilty if I do.

The most recent example of this is our apartment complex. It's falling apart, right now. Management won't fix it or even look at it. Property of ours has been damaged (the main one that pissed me off was my motorcycle), and they won't reimburse us when it was done directly by their actions. All this, and I still have trouble being firm with my points when I speak to anyone in the office.

Today, I have to get us out of our lease. Once I do that, I have to sign a lease on a new apartment. That one has me worried, because I'm going to be too trusting again. I've come to learn that will never change, and I guess I can accept that now with my diagnosis.

Social behavior is usually something that those of us with Asperger's Syndrome can't understand or learn very easily. I understand that sometimes people lie when it benefits them. I don't understand the concept fully, because I don't have this behavior. Because of that, I can't tell when I'm hearing a lie and when I'm hearing the truth.

This is a huge disability, when it comes to fitting in with normal society. I only have a black & white understanding on honesty. I trust any person I meet until they cross me more often then not, then I won't trust them at all.

Let's hope that things improve with this new apartment complex because I don't expect them to do so here, now.

(pictures is of my dog, Tumble)

Ice

Oklahoma is covered with ice right now. Some areas I was in today had over an inch thick. While frustrating and dangerous, I can't stop being fascinated at how pretty it all is. This is the first time I've ever experienced weather like this. :)

The picture is the throttle on my motorcycle.

Diet

My diet has always been a point of interest for family and friends. I'm beyond an acceptable level of picky.

There are very few foods I will actually eat. Of those, the texture has to be a certain way and the flavor has to be exactly what I expect. I've been known to pick through an order of french fries and throw away close to half of them because they're just not right.

My family always made fun of me for this, but I now know it was just another symptom of my Asperger's Syndrome.

This has come to be a problem since we moved to Oklahoma. The grocery stores out here just plain suck. I've always shopped at Publix (exclusive to the south eastern US) since I was a child. I can remember getting free cookies in the bakery with my mom when I was two years old. I even worked for Publix for a short while. They're a *GREAT* company and I can't recommend them enough.

I'm ranting now.

My point is, a lot of the products I bought at Publix don't exist out here. It took me about two months to learn what I can eat out here. I still don't have a comfortable diet yet. I honestly need to go shopping when the store is empty so I can figure something out.

Another problem is that I've been very sick for about six weeks. It has something to do with how I'm digesting things. I'm going to see a gastroenterologist (stomach doctor) tomorrow. I know they're going to try and get me to change my diet. I'd love to, but I can't. It's not something that I'm mentally capable of, to be honest. I've spent three years teaching myself to eat salad, and I can still only do that with baby spinich, greek dressing, and cheddar cheese cubes and nothing else. Any change in that make it inedible. I've only recently gotten to where I can enjoy that, and I can still only eat it once a month.

I hope the doctor understands that I'm not really just picky. It's part of a mental disorder. I'll post what happened later tomorrow.

UPDATE: No diet change needed. We actually found something in one of my tests that answered all the problems, and a week on an antibiotic will clear it right up. Yay!