I Gathered With Fellow Gatherers Tonight

I met with a few of my fellow members of Gather.com tonight.  We all happen to live in the Boston area.  We met at John Harvard's in Framingham at Shoppers' World and had dinner.

It was a great get-together in which we got to know each other better.  Hopefully, there will be more gatherings.  :)

High Anxiety! (not the Mel Brooks movie)

I just located a great article about Asperger's Syndrome and High Anxiety.  As a child, I  suffered from a lot of anxiety, but I was unable to explain why because I simply didn't know what was happening inside of me.  It was something beyond my control and understanding.  I wasn't able to cope with things.  The word "Overwhelmed" was in my vocabulary though.



Btw, Happy 80th Birthday, Mel Brooks!

AANE Helps Out in Spanish

Recently, the Aperger Association of New England taught special classes in the Boston neighborhoods: Jamaica Plain, Dorchester and Roxbury.  Its goal is to raise awarness and educate in Spanish.  The Boston Globe wrote an article that gives details about the classes that were conducted.

Check out: Getting the Word Out about Asperger's (in Spanish).

It's in the Placenta!

Yale researchers believe that Autism Spectrum Disorder (autism/Asperger's) can be detected in the placenta.  They have found an unusually high amount of a certain matter called trophoblast inclusions in the placenta tissues of babies who were later diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.

Computer To Help With Mind Reading!

Professor Peter Robinson of the Computer Library at the University of Cambridge in England and Rana el Kaliouby of the Media Lab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Massachusetts, have teamed up to create a computer that will help people with autism and Asperger's Syndrome read minds.  The computer that they are working on will assist in analyzing facial expressions and nonverbal cues in order for an autistic person to mind read and be aware of the other person's emotions.

Would it be easier if we had telepathic powers like Jean Grey and Professor Charles Xavier of the X-Men?

A Star for The Doors!

The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce has announced their list of people who will be receiving a star of the Hollywood Walk of Fame.  The Doors will be getting a star next year along with other celebrities like Michael Caine and John Goodman.

When I was sixteen years old, I read the Jim Morrison biography, No One Here Gets Out Alive! by Jerry Hopkins and Danny Sugarman.  It's the best book I ever read.  It motivated me to go to college and be someone.  I feel very thrilled that they are getting a major honor like this.  The Doors were the first rock band to have their own billboard on Sunset Strip.

Somewhere in the universe, the Lizard King is happy.

Farewell, Eddie!

I just learn that Moose, the Jack Russell Terrier, who co-starred on the hit sitcom, "Fraiser" as Eddie has died.  He was sixteen years old. 

RIP

The Emerson Alumni Directory Has Arrived!

Thursday night, I pulled out the Emerson College Alumni Directory.  I spent most of the evening going through.  This is one huge book!

It gives me the opportunity to invite fellow Emersonians to my blog!

Antibiotics For 4!

I met with the doctor, and we reviewed the CAT scans.  There was a big mass of inflamation in my right sinus and very little in the left one.

Instead of surgery, the doctor prescribed antibiotics for 4 weeks to rid of the inflamation.  That's the third time in one year's time that I've been on antibiotics.  The first time was back in October 2005 and the second time was back in April 2006.

Hopefully, this will improve things.  The doctor did say that the sinuses were not the primary cause of my really bad headaches, but I told her that my sinuses were usually clogged just before the big headaches happen.

It's Off to Mass Eye & Ear This Morning

Today, I am meeting with the ear, nose and throat doctor again to discuss the results of my CAT scan that I did back on June 10.  Hopefully, I will know what is causing these bad headaches I've been having for most of my life.

Stay tuned.

In Kansas, They Publish Books about Autism/Asperger's

Seven years ago, researcher Brenda Smith Myles and business professor Keith Myles started the Autism Asperger Publishing Company in order to educate the public about autism/Asperger's.  Now, the company earns between $2 million to $3 million and has nearly published 100 books.

Visit AAPC's website at http://www.asperger.net

If Only They had More Courses about Autism

Out in Oregon this summer, one college is offering an Autism In Literature Course.  They'll be reading both fiction and non-fiction books on autism.  It'll be the only one in this country.

There should be more college courses like this one.

Another Single Dad with His Son With Asperger's Living in Florida

The Miami Herald has an article called "Always There," which has the story of Keith Ivory whose son named Jabriel has Asperger's Syndrome.  It talks about the challenges they face together as Jabriel attends public school in southern Florida.  Great article for Father's Day.

Single Dad Writes About Having A Son with Asperger's

Clay Jones is the editorial cartoonist for the Free Lance-Star in Virginia.  He writes this editorial about being a single dad with a 15-year-old who has Asperger's Syndrome whose name is also Clayton.  Very uplifting.  It put a smile on my face.

Paul's Now 64!

So, do we still need him?  YES!!!!!!!


Happy Birthday,

James Paul McCartney!





Also, Happy Father's Day, Paul!

Btw, Joe Martelle is a year older than Paul.

Check out what the AOL news article about Paul's 64th B-day.

Happy Birthday, My Former Mentor!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY,

JOE MARTELLE!

A Play About A Teen With Asperger's

"Jayson With a Y" is about a orphaned teen with Asperger's and his two aunts who are trying to figure out who should take responsibility of taking care of him.  Sounds interesting.  The New York Times article has a review of the play that runs until June 24.

3010 - A Internet Odessey

I just looked at the hit counter on my blog, and it's over 3,010 hits.  What a milestone! It hasn't been a year yet for this blog's existance.  I wonder how many more hits before Outside In celebrates its first birthday.

#@%$*& Flat Tire!

My Sunday afternoon of shopping was interrupted when my car experienced a flat tire.  It was very annoying, but I calmly called AAA.  They sent someone to me in half an hour.  That was quick for a change.

It hasn't been a week since the last time I had car trouble.  Should I get a new car?  Financially speaking, I can't afford another monthly bill right now.

At least, I had a good time at the Kool & the Gang concert, despite the cold and the neverending rain.

Earlier yesterday was the CAT scan.  That was no problem.  It only took a few minutes.  Good thing I came in on a Saturday to get that done.  I should know soon from the doctor about my sinus headaches.

It's Been A Hard Week's Week!

It's finally Saturday once again.  What a week I had!  First, I had car trouble on Monday night.  The next morning I heard on WODS radio that Austin of Boston had passed away.  Then later that afternoon while I was listening at WBOS at work, I heard that Billy Preston had passed away after being in a coma since last November.

Then, on Wednesday night, I got an e-mail from my fellow Boston Beanstalks, Jan and Susan Huffman, that their tenant and best friend, Dr. Florence Wilson, had died all of sudden over the weekend.  I felt sad, but I had to focus on studying for my test on Property and Liability Insurance.

The following morning, I took my exam in the test room at work and passed!  I felt relieved.  My manager was so excited that I passed that she gave me a "high-five." I later learned that my three co-workers who also took the test failed.  I didn't have the time celebrate that evening because I went to the wake for Florence and learned from Jan what the cause of death was: brain anuyerism (not certain that's the correct spelling).  The last time I saw Florence was at Jan and Susan's Memorial Day picnic, just a week before her sudden death.

At work Friday morning, we all threw a bridal shower for my manager who is getting married on July 1.  I felt exhausted by the time I got home last night.  I just sat in front of my TV set and watched the episodes of "One Life to Live" and "General Hospital" that my vcr taped during the week.

Later this morning, I go over to Mass Eye & Ear for my CAT scan so that the doctor can find out what's causing my bad sinus headaches.

Tonight, Kool & the Gang are in town to perform at the Hatch Shell to kick off the WODS Free Concert Summer Series.  It's raining out there right now.  I hope it doesn't get rained out.

Happy Birthday, Dean!

Because I loved him a lot as a kid:


Happy Birthday

Dean Martin

My Car is Fixed Once Again!

I got my car back.  The cost wasn't so expensive.  Jim explained to me what had to be fixed in detail.  Very lengthy, but it made me understand what happened Monday night.  He told me that he could repair the air conditioner system which has been giving me trouble for a long time, but he and his mechanics would have to find out what's causing the problem of the missing cold air.  It might be a leak.

The only reason I put off the repair of the air conditioner until next month is because it's now cold and rainy outside once again.  Besides, summer doesn't officially start until June 21.

So, I'll have to worry about car maintenance until next month.

RIP Austin of Boston

I heard the sad news this morning on WODS that their former morning man, Austin of Boston, had passed away over the weekend.  Austin had worked as the morning DJ there during most of the 1990s at that station.  He had been recently working at WROR in Boston since January 2006.

I once met Austin at one of the WODS free summer concerts back in 1994, and he was very kind to me.  I once asked him if he were working at a radio station in Poughkeepsie, what would he call himself?  He simply giggled back.

RIP Austin.

My Car is Back in the Shop Again!

Last night was a frightening and near-hysterical experience for me after I left the Asperger Association Of New England's office where my Monday night Adult Asperger Support group meets.  I had just pulled out of the parking lot, drove down a side street and turned onto the main street when I heard a noise from beneath the car.  Suddenly, I could hear a loud dragging noise under the car as it moved down the street.  I pressed the accellerator down, and the noise got louder.  The car was hardly moving.

Feeling panic, I stopped the car and moved it over to an empty parking space.  It was difficult to move the steering wheel.  I turned on the car's emergency blinking lights and got out of the car to run back to the AANE office.

Jamie, the social worker, was there and kept me company as I called AAA.  We waited almost an hour for the tow truck to show up.  When the tow truck arrived, the AAA man looked at the car and saw that the car needed a flatbed tow truck to move to the garage I wanted it taken to.  So we waited several more minutes for the flatbed tow truck to show up.  It took the two men almost half an hour to get the car onto the flatbed because the left front wheel was damaged because a strat or stut (whatever it is) was damaged making the car off balanced and difficult to move.  They had to use tow jacks to lift the left front side up off the ground and pull it onto the flatbed.

Afterwards, I rode with the man who drove the flatbed tow truck to the gargage where I last had it fixed back in December 2005.  It was an exhausting experience for me.  I didn't get to sleep until a quarter to 2 am.

I talked with the mechanic this afternoon, and he said it was the ball bearings that broke.  He also mentioned realignment and some other technical words.  My car should be okay by Wednesday night.

Car care is such a torturous experience.

Billy Preston, a 5th Beatle, Has Died

Sad news was heard over the radio today when I heard that Billy Preston had passed away at 59 after a long illness.  He had been in a coma since last November after having surgery in Arizona.

Billy is mostly known for working with the Beatles in 1969, but he had a successful career before and after his collaboration with the Fab Four.  He will be missed greatly.

RIP Billy Preston.

Hurray for Liz!

Autism Services Association in Wellesley, Massachusetts, has named Elizabeth "Liz" Andress as their 2006 Worker of the Year.  Liz's struggles are similar to mine.  I had behavior problems at work and sometimes fought with superivisors (that's all in the past now).

Congrats, Liz!

School's In!

The Bridges Learning Center for autistic children is now open for business.  The school was built to help children with autism and Asperger's Syndrome.  It addresses their needs in a more comfortable environment.

Meet The Challenger Division (not a rock band)

I'm not a sports fan, but this story about the Little League's Challenger Division is great.  The Challenger Division is a place for children with disabilities to participate in playing baseball.

Excellent Homerun!

Is Asperger's Syndrome an Invisible Disablity?

Personally, I don't think Asperger's is an invisible disability.  You just have to look a little bit harder at a person to really understand what's going on inside him/her.  I never liked being accused of being an obnoxious person and not being invited to parties.  This recent article in the Free Lance Star (a Fredericksburg, Virginia, newspaper) called "Understanding Autism Asperger's: Invisible Disability" by Donya Arias tells of the story of 11 year old Cory Fore whose mother Billie Bailey took very important steps to discover that her son has Asperger's Syndrome. 

With Billie's excellent detective work, she learned about what was really going on inside Cory.   Now, her goal is helping Cory grow up to be an independent adult who gets invited to birthday parties.

Please also check out the companion article by Donya Arias called "Diagnosis is Autism Challenge."

I Met The Fonz!

This weekend is Alumni Weekend about Emerson College in Boston where they are celebrating their 125th anniversary.  It's also the 20th anniversary of the Class of 1986 (my class).  Yesterday, after the morning breakfast, I went over to the event at the Semel Theatre in the Tufte Center Building about the American Comedy Collections at Emerson College, an archive project started by Class of 1950 comedian Bill Dana. 

When I got there, I saw Henry Winkler (The Fonz from "Happy Days"and Class of 1967 Emerson alumni) standing on a staircase next to seats.  My fellow alumni, Malcolm Alter (Class of 1970), introduced me to Henry who shook my hand and chatted with me.  I even told Henry about my blog, Outside In, and that I have Asperger's Syndrome.  I even showed him that my blog was quoted on the back of Ellen Notbohm's Book, Ten Things Every Child With Autism Wishes You Knew because I showed him my copy of Ellen's book to him.

After Bill Dana and Emerson Archivist  Bob Fleming finished their lecture and presentation, I met up with Henry again and even spoke to him about my meeting his friend John Ritter back in 2001 at Emerson.  At the time he and John were doing a play in New York.  Henry talked John into visiting Emerson while on his day off.  I met John Ritter at that event.  Most memorable thing at that occasion was that John kissed me when I told him that I remembered his first TV movie with Carrie Fisher, "Leave Yesterday Behind."

I also spoke to Bill Dana, who worked with Steve Allen on his show back in the 1950s.  Bill had his own TV show in the early 1960s which featured Don Adams.  This was before Don got his own sitcom called "Get Smart."  Bill Dana's most famous TV script was the "All In The Family" episode where Sammy Davis Jr kisses Archie Bunker (Carroll O'Connor).  I told Bill that episode was my later brother Alfred's favorite episode.

Later that night, at the Purple and Gold Ball that was at the Hyatt Regency, we were all there to celebrate the college's 125th anniversary.  Even Boston mayor Tom Mennino was in attendance.  At the end of the dance, I shook hands with Henry and thanked him for attending alumni weekend.

And then, he kissed me.  I was so thrilled.