Cry for New Orleans

I've been watching the news reports about the devastation done by Hurricane Katrina.  It's tough to watch without crying a lot for what's happened to New Oreleans.  Most of it (80%) is underwater.  The Superdome has two big holes in it.

I once visited New Orleans back in 1976 when I was little.  My family was driving through there on the way to Florida.  It was August.  We first drover from DC to Houston (my mother's hometown) to visit my sick great-grandmother (who died a month later).  We stopped off in New Orleans for a day or so.  I really can't remember much because this was almost 30 years ago.  I remember touring the Superdome.  That place was huge!

Haven't had the chance to go back there to visit but want to.  Still do.  I even thought about living there once, but I didn't have the income to move down there myself.

I can't help but cry.   Some articles say that people with Asperger's Syndrome don't have empathy, but they are wrong.  We do.

Forget Letterman! This is the Ultimate Top Ten List!

Ten Things Every Child With Autism Wishes You Knew by Ellen Notbohm

A great article.   This really opens the doors of understanding for both Autism and Asperger's Syndrome.  We're just different by nature, not choice.

Poor Charles - Part 2

It seems that news of Charles' motorcycle accident has reach the attention of the Boston Herald's Inside Track this Sunday.  They also mention that Charles was doing an internet radio show just before he had his accident.  Nice of them to remember Charles and write about him in their column.

Charles is recovering at home in Maui where he lives since retiring from WZLX five years ago. 

Looking for Roots

From the St. Louis Dispatch:

Scientists Begin To Trace Autism's Genetic Roots

Happy 20th Anniversary WZLX-FM!

Last night WZLX had their own 20th anniversary bash at the Steve Miller concert.  Unfortunately I wasn't able to attend because I was under the weather.  Besides the cost of gasoline is so high now and the event was in Mansfield, Massachusetts, which is a long distance away from Boston.  It takes an hour to get out there.

I remember back in 1985 that I was starting my senior year at Emerson College in Boston.  Many times I have tried to get a job there, but I was unsuccessful everytime (thanks to Asperger's Syndrome).  At least I was able to do job interviews there, but that was always my downfall because I wasn't able to do eye contact correctly (Yes, AS got in the way again).

I listened to WZLX over the years off and on.   I knew almost every Program Director there during its 20-year existance except for two: John Shombly (sp?) and the current PD Beau Raines.  They have some great morning DJs (Charles Laquidara, Annalisa, Ken Shelton, George Taylor Morris and Jeff Gonzer) and a few bad morning DJs (Bill Smith, Tai and Steve Sweeney).

Here's to the next 20 years of Classic Rock!

Marnie

My latest NetFlix DVD rental is "Marnie" - a classic Alfred Hitchcock film that came out in 1964.  It starred Tippi Hedron (Melonie Griffith's Mom) as Marnie, the lead character, and Sean Connery as Mark, her husband.  When it came out, it was advertised as a sex mystery.

I'll admit that I've seen these movie before, but I just hadn't seen it in such a long time.  It's still one of my favorite Hitchcock movies.  This movie was made after Hitchcock and Hedron did "The Birds."  Sean Connery had just finished making "Dr. No," his first James Bond movie.

In my memoir, I have a serious conversation with a dear friend where I bring up the movie "Marnie" because I was explaining to him what a suppressed memory can do to a person's life.  During the 1990s I have recovered a couple of my own repressed memories from childhood and it helped a great deal to me.  Of course, that will all be explained in my memoir.

Btw, my all time favorite Hitchcock film is "Psycho" starring Anthony Perkins.

Been Working on My Book Proposal

I spent most of last night re-writing Chapter 3 of my memoir, Uncommon Bostonian.  A lengthy task to say the least.  It's an important chapter for me because it was a very serious time in my life.  It's important to have my sample chapters look good in my book proposal so I can get a great book deal.

I have so many reasons to write this memoir because it explains how I discovered that I have Asperger's Syndrome and Non-Verbal Learning Disorder.  The clues that I have these conditions were obvious to everyone around me, but everyone including me were not familiar with AS and NLD during the 1990s.  I recall on several occasions in the past telling others that I wasn't good at socializing and had trouble reading facial expressions, but they dismissed my statements and said that I did have these skills and knew how to use them.

They were very wrong.

A Cup of Comfort Seeks Submissions!

A Cup of Comfort is seeking parents of children on the autism spectrum to submit their stories for a new book.  

http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art34805.asp

The link to the submission guidelines is in the article also.  This is an opportunity to increase awareness about autism spectrum disorders.  Spread the word!

Other Sites Where You Can Find Me

When I'm not here at my blog, I am at either one of my two favorite forums:

The John Byrne Forum
IMWAN

Other sites that have mentioned my name and sites:

A Directory for Asperger's Syndrome
Neurodiversity
Aspires-Relationships
Autistic Picture Project

Thanks for including me on your sites, people! :-)

Everyone's Here in Massachusetts This Weekend

For starters, the Rolling Stones are here to kick off their new tour tonight with the Black Eye Peas as their opening act.  Last night I saw KC and The Sunshine Band with The Tavares as their opening act.  Journey was at the Pavilion on the Waterfront last night.  Huey Lewis was in town a few days ago as was Meatloaf, Neil Diamond, Tori Amos, and Frankie Avalon.

A friend of mine told me that my favorite Monkee, Peter Tork, was somewhere in Massachusetts doing a few shows with his own band.

Should I mention that birthday boy, Bill Clinton (the former President), is vacationing on Martha's Vineyard this weekend?

It's very crowded here today.

An Article About Misdiagnosing

This article is interesting, but does it explain how easy it is for me (a person with Asperger's) to talk to Charles Laquidara, who seems to have NPD?

Misdiagnosing Narcissim - Asperger's Disorder

Special Happy Birthday To...

Happy Birthday
Bill Clinton!
Many Happy Returns!

Poor Charles!

I just checked out Charles Laquidara's blog, the Big Mattress, and learned that he was in a serious motorcycle accident on Sunday.  He is resting at the Maui Medical Center and will be there for a few days.

Please go to his blog and enter some get well wishes in the comments section.  The address is http://www.bigmattress.com/weblog/

Get Well Soon, Ragoon!

Remembering Elvis Presley 1935-1977

While watching a rerun of the Monkees' TV show one afternoon just before 5:30 pm in Washington, DC, I was looking at Mickey Dolenz sing and abruptly saw the TV station's anchor man interupt the show while the shocking news that Elvis Presley had died in Memphis, Tennessee.  Next thing I saw was the closing credits of the Monkees' show.

I went downstairs and found my mother in the garage.  "Elvis Presley died, Mommie!" I told her in shock.  She was surprised when I said that.  She asked me how did I know and I told her what happened.

Every channel had their news shows talking about Elvis' death.  Over the days all the details came in about him being overweight and taking pills.  The newspapers,  magazines and radio stations were filled with talk about Elvis.  Everyone, including me, was upset that he had died.  He was only 42.

Today he's still remembered. 

From England With Love

This story I can relate to a lot.  I had the same struggles growing up.

Saved From A Life Of Lonely Misery

Move Over, Raymond Babbit (Rain Man)! Here's Another One Who's Great With Numbers!

I wish I was this good at Math.

"A Calculating Mind" from the Richmond Times-Dispatch

Temple Grandin Was Right On The Money With This One!

Temple Grandin wrote an excellent article for choosing jobs for people with Autism and Asperger's Syndrome.  I once had a horrible job as a cashier at Filene's Basement in Boston's Downtown Crossing for eight months in 1987.  Cashier is listed on the bad jobs list.

Why I Got Interested in Broadcasting

When I was 15 years old, I had my first job: answering the telephone in an office.  It was difficult because I was very nervous every time I answered.  In fact, I still feel anxious whenever I get a telephone call today. 

At this particular job, I had a supervisor who stood over me everytime I was on the telephone.  On one particular day, I was reaching for the ringing telephone when she screamed at me, "Give me that phone, Girl!"  I said back not shouting at her, "But I'm the receptionist."

Next thing I felt was her hand against my face.  I got up and cried while she answered the telephone.  That's why I hate telephone jobs.

The following summer, I started to think about broadcasting as a career while still in high school.  However, I ended up in jobs that involved answering the telephone and having an abusive supervisor.  Ironic, isn't it?

It's odd that I ended up doing a volunteer job at WBCN answering the telephone.  The only reason I did that for almost six years was to help me get my foot in the door of the broadcasting industry.  It didn't.  At least no one abused me at WBCN.

Even stranger is that I remember while I was still in high school, a friend of my parents who worked at Channel 9 in Washington, DC, escorted me to the newsroom where she worked.  I spoke to her co-workers about their careers and how they got started.  No one there mentioned anything about doing a job that involved answering the telephone in order to get into the industry.

That's why I'm writing a memoir about my career problems and how Asperger's Syndrome and my other disorders interfered with my finding the right career path.

Another One Lost To Lung Cancer: Dallas Star Barbara Bel Geddes

I was sad to learn tonight about the passing of actress Barbara Bel Geddes who played Miss Ellie Ewing on the TV Show, "Dallas."  She played JR's mom.  She also had a long career in film and stage.  Most memorable movie: "Vertigo" and "I Remember Mama.

RIP Miss Bel Geddes

AOL News - 'Dallas' Star Barbara Bel Geddes Dies

Another Sleep Study on the Horizon

Yesterday afternoon, I made an appointment to do another sleep study in September.  It's the doctor's idea.  I'm not too crazy about getting my hair messed up again with all that glue.  It's tough enough to get all that glue off my body the last two times.

The first time was in February on President's Day.  I was very nervious all day and had a sinus headache.  I stupidly took ibuprofen on an empty stomach for the headache and got really sick that afternoon.  I threw up continously for an hour.

Fortunately I felt a little better around 7:30 pm.  My arrival time at the sleep clinic was 8:30 pm so I went over there on time, despite the new snowstorm that started just before I drove away from my condo.  I actually had to shovel away some snow in order to get the car out of my condo's parking lot.

Once I got there I asked the technician if I got over to the drug store next door to Beth Israel and get some sinus medicine, crackers and ginger ale.  She said it was okay and I slowly walked through the snow wearing my sneakers.  At least I didn't slip.  The technician hooked me up in all that electrodes and stuff about an hour after I came back.

It took me awhile that first time for me to fall asleep because it's hard for me to go to bed early.  So I got to watch David Letterman.

It wasn't so bad the first time.  The electrodes on my left leg kept coming off during the night and I had to awakened everytime it happened.  I was very groggy in the morning when the study was done.

The second time I did the sleep study back in May wasn't so bad.  It was a lot easier that time because they hooked me up to a CPAP, and I was more relaxed.

Peter Jennings RIP

I was sad to hear about Peter Jennings yesterday morning while I was getting ready for work.  I used to watch him back in the early 1980s when I was a teenager.  In fact I remember Frank Reynolds and Max Robinson, his co-workers.  They both died tragically too.

With Jennings death due to lung cancer, this does mean that a new era of news anchors is upon us.

He'll be missed.

A Great Fan of Jim Henson's

Another positive story about Asperger's Syndrome.  I see a new trend here.

Young Puppet Master

Follow-Up With The Sleep Doctor

Yesterday afternoon before the thunderstorms hit Boston, I met with my sleep doctor and his new assitant regarding the use of my CPAP.  The assistant asked me a ton of questions how my sleep has changed.  I did mention the problem of the first mask I used when I started using the CPAP on June 12.  The mark on my forehead is still visible and has hardly faded away.  The nostril pillow that replaced the mask is better and more comfortable at night though.  I am using the small nostrils size instead of the meduim and large sizes.

It's always been hard for me to tell how good or bad my sleep is or at least remember how my sleep went in general.  I have so many other concerns right now: Work, blog, memoir, my two cats, etc.  Living alone with two cats leaves me with cleaning up after them and feeding them.  They always have to remind me of giving them fresh water.  Otherwise they wake me up in the middle of the night.

Now the sleep doctor wants me to turn off most of the lights at my condo after 8:00 pm and get to bed at 11:00 pm.  This leaves me little time to put entries in the blog during the week and work on my memoir.  I hope this improves my sleep.

I had a headache and my sinuses were bothering all day yesterday.  It might have been stress related.  When I finally got home (I went to the store after seeing the doctor), I was very tired the whole evening.  I actually got to bed around 11:30 PM.

Coincedences

Regarding that awful car accident I had, it was on December 6, 2004, the 16th anniversary of Roy Orbison's death.  Two cars hit my Mustang from behind causing it to skid on the icy bridge.  The car radio was on when it hit the wire fence and I just sat there feeling relieved that I was still alive despite my injuries to my neck, back and right knee.  I recognized the song "Pretty Paper" by Roy Orbison!

After smelling the burnt rubber of the tires, I scrambled out of the car and look across at the two other cars.  After talking to the other drivers, I looked down the street opposite of where my Mustang had crashed and saw the radio station my car radio was tuned to: WODS, Oldies 103.

Then I couldn't help but remember WHTT, the radio station I interned at in early part of 1986 in the Prudential Tower.  WHTT later became WMRQ in July 1986 before moving to Downtown Crossing later that year and then became WODS in October 1987.  I can't remember when they moved to Leo Birmingham Parkway in Brighton, their current location.

Freddie Mercury, Somebody Still Loves You!

Last night, I got my latest NetFlix DVD, Queen - Live at Wembley Stadium.  I enjoyed it immensely!  In the past I have only seen the videos from this movie, but not the whole thing.  I didn't have the opportunity to buy the VHS when it came out back in 1990, a year before Freddie's untimely death because of AIDS.  That's because I bought my first VCR in September 1992.  I didn't feel like buying the VHS because videotape, just like audio tape, breaks.  In fact, I don't have a lot of VHS tapes in my possession.  I don't play the ones I have very often these days.  I am definately going to put this Queen DVD on my birthday/X-Mas wishlist.

In the memoir I'm working on, I mention Freddie's name a lot.  In fact, I title one of my chapters, "Radio Ga-Ga."  I show flashbacks to where I was when I heard my very first Queen song, how I found out about his death in 1991and what was happening to me on the 10th anniversary of his death (November 24, 2001).

One of my biggest regrets in life is that I never had the chance to see Queen in person.  It devastated me tremendously when I heard the sad news that Freddie had died.  When I was a disc jockey, I played a lot of Queen's songs.

Favorite Queen song: Tie between "We Will Rock You" and "We Are The Champions"

Articles That Helped Me Realize That I Have AS and NLD

While I was being diagnosed, I discovered the OASIS website (the link to its home page is in My Favorite Websites Section).  I read these articles and the experience was the discovery of my authentic self - a person with neurological disorders.

Asperger's Syndrome

Non-Verbal Learning Disorder

Wow! That Was Fast!

Starting this week, WZLX has a new morning team called Karlson & McKenzie.  In the late 1990's they were doing a morning show at Boston's Eagle, which later became Star 93.7 in 1999 and now just became Mike FM in 2005.  They are the replacements for Steve Sweeney who was let go last month.  They have been in Upstate New York during the last six years in Rochester and Poughkeepsie doing morning radio.

I didn't expect to see WZLX to find a new morning team in less than a month's time.  My guess is they must have them in mind when they dumped Steve.  I've listened to the first two shows and liked them.  At least they're funny.  I didn't have the chance to listen to them when they were at Eagle before it crash landed.  Hope they are longer than the last time they were here.

Climb Every Mountain!

Here's a great story about a 7-year old boy with Aspeger's Syndrome who climbed Mt. Rainer. 

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2002397548_climbers23e.html