The Official Manual is Here!

The Official Autism 101 Manual is out now.  This is the must-see handbook about autism/Asperger's to help parents, teachers and everyone else involved with a person who has an autism spectrum disorder.  At least 45 experts in the field of autism participated in the creation of this book.  One expert was Stephen Shore, Emeritus Director of the Asperger Association of New England and author of Beyond the Wall.

This book will become a Best Seller on the Non-Fiction Book list.  That's my prediction.

Please, check out the website for The Official Autism 101 Manual for more information.  This book will be updated annually.

Mother of Miracle to Speak at USAAA Conference

Shannon Kenitz, mother of Grace who has a very rare mitochondrial disorder and was recently diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder, will be the keynote speaker for the US Autism & Asperger Association's upcoming Autism Spectrum Premier International Conference in August in Utah.

Shannon will be on Montel Williams tomorrow (May 1).

Three Dog Night Will Be Back on July 15

WODS-FM finally announced their free summer concert series.  I am excited to hear that Three Dog Night are scheduled to perform on July 15.  All concerts for this series is at the Hatch Shell on the Esplanade.

Btw, Ringo Starr will be in Boston with his All-Starrs on July 19 at the Pavilion.  What an exciting week!

For more details about the concert schedule:

http://www.oldies1033.com/more/oldies_04.shtml

A New Book of Remedies

The York Daily Record's recent article called "Authors Offer Tips for Raising Kids with Autistic Disorders" gives information about Dion and Stacey Betts, the co-authors of the new book called Homespun Remedies: Stratagies in the Home and Community  for Children with Autism and Other Disorders.  The couple have a son called Joshua who has Asperger's Syndrome.

At Last! The Unwritten Rules of Social Skills at Your Fingertips!

This recent Sunday Boston Globe article called "For Autistic Students, Social Skills From A Handheld Device" by Peter Schworm talks about autistic students using personal digital assistants (PDAs) to look up the rules of conversation and emotional issues.  It also helps them how to be organized.

I wish I could go to a school like that when I was a teenager.

What Happened with the Doctor Last Night

I went over to Beth Israel Hospital's 6th floor where they have evening hours and had a doctor check me out regarding the sinus problems I've been having lately.  I showed him what I have been taking orally (Sudafed, Tylenol, and the anitbiotic called Keflex) and my two different nasal sprays.

He told me to take Claritin once a day from now on and keep using the nasal sprays and the Tylenol.  No more Sudafed for the time being.

I hope this works.  I bought a big box of Claritin last night.  It's the bonus value size.  40 pills, instead of 30.

Is Autism A Puzzle?

According the recent article in the Connecticut Post, it looks like there is an autism puzzle.

Those Mean CBS Radio People Took Away Diamond Dave!

I was sad to hear (but not shocked) that CBS Radio has cancelled David Lee Roth's radio show after 3 1/2 months.  I guess they forgot that it takes time and patience to grow a new audience.  They were obviously more concerned about making money than trying something new and different.

With David Lee Roth gone, I have no other reason to listen to WBCN for the moment.  The Rock of Boston has been so dull in recent years.  David Lee Roth put some energy back into its airwaves.  Sure WBCN lost listeners, but they were Howard Stern's fans.

I listened to David when he filled in last year on WZLX in Boston for the regular morning team, and he was spectacular.  Do you know what happened to the WZLX morning team after David was done?  They got fired!  The new team that was hired in July 2005 hasn't been interesting at all.   It was great to jump over to listen to David when he debuted in January.

Now, who am I going to listen to now in the morning while I'm getting ready for work next week?

For more info about David Lee Roth, check with CBS News.

Still Having Sinus Problems

Yesterday evening was spent in bed, thanks to a new sinus headache.  I am still taking the antibiotics that were given to me last Tuesday night.  I called the doctor's office and was told the earlier time to see a doctor would be late Thursday evening which is tomorrow night.

I don't know what's going on with my head, but I am tired of getting these painful headaches.  They just slow me down a lot, and I have so many things to do.  I couldn't even do my laundry last night.  So I'll have to do it tonight while I'm watching the 2-Hour "Alias" on ABC (Channel 5 in Boston).  I don't get the chance to do any writing this month, thanks to the many headaches I've had in recent weeks.

Today was good, despite my head feeling sore off and on during the day.  I bought some Tylenol on the way home from work just in case I get another painful headache tonight.  I still feel tired and a bit feverish though, but it's not getting in my way.

Happy Easter!

HAPPY
EASTER!

I wonder what the Easter Bunny got me today.

Remembering Smokey

It was back on this day in 1993 when my first cat, Smokey, was put to sleep.  He was about 22 years old and suffering from cancer.  He was also paralyzed when he collapsed a couple of days before.  Daddy was with him when they put him asleep.  Mommie stayed home.  This happened in Washington, DC, while I was up in Boston with Cap.

I grew up with Smokey when I was little.  After I graduated from Emerson College in Bostonin 1986, I found a place to live in the Back Bay section of the city.  The apartment building didn't allow cats so Smokey remained at my parents' house in Washington, DC.   It was until I found a cat-friendly apartment in 1992.  However, Smokey was showing signs of old age by that time, and friends advised me that a move from DC to Boston would be too stressful for an old cat.

I still wanted to have some feline companionship.  Therefore, in January 1993 I adopted a black cat named Cap (named after my favorite superhero, Captain America) from the Animal Rescue League in Boston.  Cap comforted me after Smokey had to be put to sleep.  I cried a lot for weeks.

I still miss you, Smokey.

I've Found My Theme Song, and It's Not a Beatles Song!

Your Theme Song is Back in Black by AC/DC"Back in black, I hit the sack,
I've been too long, I'm glad to be back"

Things sometimes get really crazy for you, and sometimes you have to get away from all the chaos.
But each time you stage your comeback, it's even better than the last!

What's Your Theme Song?

Ellen Notbohm's Website

Ellen Notbohm, author of Ten Things Every Child With Autism Wishes You Knew, has her own website up and running.  She is a writer who has a child with autism. 

Please, check it out.  Learn more about autism.

http://www.ellennotbohm.com/

It's an Anniversary for Me Today

It was four years ago today when Dr. Ross, my neurotherapist who gives me biofeedback treatments, told me that I really have Asperger's Syndrome, not Intermittent Explosive Disorder.  It was the missing piece of the puzzle moment for me.

It's also the 36th anniversary of the breakup of the Beatles.  Not a happy event, but it is a big moment in history.

New CPAP, The S8

Last Friday, I got my new S8 CPAP machine to use while I sleep.  It's smaller than the S7 CPAP I've been using since last June.  Finally, I have space on my nighttable again.  The S7 was very heavy to carry around whenever I traveled from home to visit my family in DC.

I was so shocked when I opened the box and took S8 out.   It's light as a feather.

Antibiotics Again!

After experiencing bad sinus headaches for more than a week, I went to the doctor this afternoon at Beth Israel Deaconess for help.  The doctor looked at my throat and checked other things like my heart.  He gave me a prescription for Keflex, an antibiotic.  I have to take that for the next ten days.  The pills are big red capsules.

Also, he told me to buy some nasal saline spray and use that in addition to the Flonese nasal spray I've been using for the last few months.

Hopefully, this will stop the annoying sinus headaches.

Spreading The Word in Georgia

An article called What's In a Word? by Susan Larson in The Gwinnett Daily Post talks about raising public awareness about Asperger's Syndrome and Autism during April Autism Awareness Month in Georgia.

Thanks for spreading the word, Susan!

Those Surveys I Took Tuesday Night

I've been thinking about those surveys I took Tuesday night via the Blogthings website.  It's a bunch of mini-surveys for blogs.

The Quirk Factor survey questions made me feel as though I chose to be quirky.  I didn't; Asperger's Syndrome made the choice for me.

The What Kind of Writer I Should Be was interesting.  I see images in my mind like a movie before I write something down.

The Career Survey was no surprise.  I have taken similar surveys and they all said I was artistic.

The Blogging Personality Test yielded no surprises either. 

I'm just a naturally curious person when it comes to online surveys.

By the way, I learned about Blogthings at one of the forums I visit regularly.  It's called IMWAN.

Dizzy

Earlier this evening, I had a painful sinus headache that made me feel nausea.  I had to lie down with ice on my forehead in my bed.  I had left the radio on in my living room tuned to WODS's Thursday Night Top 20 Countdown.  Guess what the number 1 song was this week in 1969.

Dizzy
by Tommy Roe

Talk about coincidence.

My Blogging Personality

Your Blogging Type is Logical and PrincipledYou like to voice your well thought out opinions on your blog.
And if someone doesn't what you write, you really don't care!
Serious and blunt, sometimes people take your blog the wrong way.
But you're a true and loyal friend to those who truly get you.

What's Your Blogging Personality?

My Quirk Factor

Your Quirk Factor: 54%You're a pretty quirky person, but you're just normal enough to hide it.
Congratulations - you've fooled other people into thinking you're just like them!

How Quirky Are You?

The Type of Writer I Am

You Should Be a Film WriterYou don't just create compelling stories, you see them as clearly as a movie in your mind.
You have a knack for details and dialogue. You can really make a character come to life.
Chances are, you enjoy creating all types of stories. The joy is in the storytelling.
And nothing would please you more than millions of people seeing your story on the big screen!

What Type of Writer Should You Be?

My Brilliant Career

Your Career Type: ArtisticYou are expressive, original, and independent.
Your talents lie in your artistic abilities: creative writing, drama, crafts,  music, or art.

You would make an excellent:

Actor - Art Teacher - Book Editor
Clothes Designer - Comedian - Composer
Dancer     - DJ - Graphic Designer
Illustrator - Musician - Sculptor   

The worst career options for your are conventional careers, like bank teller or secretary.

What's Your Ideal Career?

Craven's Newest Grad

Congrats to Chris Marr, who will be getting his Associates' Degree from Craven Community College in North Carolina next month.  Chris was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome when he was 14 years old.  Despite that, he has made major accomplishments in his education.

Gary Numan, Family Man

Here's the latest update of New Wave Rocker, Gary Numan, who happens to have Asperger's Syndrome.  He is planning his 18th album and a new tour.  He also talks about being a father to two young daughters.

Happy April Fool's Day!

Today, George W. Bush  and Dick Cheney resigned from office and named Hillary Cllinton and Donald Trump as their successors.  When reporters asked why, the former President and Vice-President both said, "Because the Donald said 'You're fired" to us."

Meanwhile, Hillary divorced her husband, former President Bill Clinton, because Bill wanted to marry the elderly George Bush, father of W, and move to Provincetown, Massachusetts, to live happily ever after.

Howard Stern, after earning billions of dollars since joining Sirrius Satellite Radio in January 2006, decided to buy all the stock of CBS Radio, Inc., making him to new CEO.  His first business decision was to hire Yvonne Christian as co-host of David Lee Roth's morning radio show.  Also, Howard gave Diamond Dave the okay to resume doing his radio show with background music from Dave's record collection.  Also, Howard re-hired Dave's two sidekicks, Animal and Brian Young, who were recently fired.

"I'm the King of Media.  What I say, you jump," Howard Stern said at a press conference.

In music news, Paul McCartney came to his senses and decided to divorce Heather Mills in order to marry Yvonne Christian, David Lee Roth's new co-host.

Whitey Bulger and Osana bin Laden were found today at former WBCN/WZLX disc jockey Charles Laquidara's home in Maui, Hawaii.  After the FBI and US military invaded his home, Laquidara said that he thought Bulger and bin Laden were just a couple of beach bums he met recently while out motorcycling around the island.  "Duane thought they would make great houseguests," Charles explained before being arrested.  Charles had recently returned to the Boston airwaves on WBOS-FM hosting an hour long show called "Back Spin."  A spokesman at WBOS  said that they are considering hiring former Boston disc jockey Dude Walker as Laquidara's replacement.

And finally, former Boston disc jockey Joe Martelle successfully contacted his late radio partner, Andy Moes, in a seance during a pay-per-view event earlier today.  The $1.99 TV event hosted by psychics managed to contact Andy and learned that he has been playing poker  with Chuck Connors (the Rifleman), Clayton Moore (the Lone Ranger), Dick Simmons (Sgt. Preston of the Yukon), and Robert Urich (Spenser: For Hire).  Andy also said that he has been winning every hand and drinking all the beer that he wants.

That's all, folks!

Have a Happy April Fool's Day!