My Gahmin

I decided this morning as I missed a turn and my Garmin started to yell at me how much better it would be if it spoke to me in my mother tongue, the wicked Boston accent.

Hey Kelly, you went too faah, bang a wicked shaahp left ova heah. Ya thats bettah.Stay cleah of the summah people on the rohtary

Garmin would automatically show you where the nearest Dunks was and update Red Sox scores as they happen. The words added in that only we understand,

packie

west a woostah

bang a yuey

Ptown

breakdown lane

calm ya livah you loosah

sketchy

pissa

irish rivearah

the old gahden

Hey Stupid! It's not about you.

Your children are under no obligation to be an extension or representation of you. If you are embarrassed when your Autistic child does something in public that is not considered appropriate, you need to check yourself.

A true advocate is accepting and dignified. Your reactions and responses are being watched by the public and noted. If you explain that your child is Autistic don't you dare apologize!

Do not let a stranger say something your child can hear and not respond.

Be brave, be loving, be a voice your child can be proud of.

I should say now I will jump off my soapbox but I won't.

Ever

Autism and Mood Disorder

The perception and regulation of emotions are obviously challenging for Autistic people.

Genetics and physiology are linked..as many persons with Autism are also diagnosed with mood disorders.

There is a lot of incidences of people with Autism having mood disorders and or depression and anxiety. People with autism are bombarded with sensory overloads, social confusion, bullying, and so many other daily challenges which are depressing.
So perhaps we could deduce that Autism causes the mood disorder but treating the mood swings with medication can reduce anxiety and allow for learning adaptive skills that make daily life easier and more enjoyable.

I dont even think it really matters if they are co morbid disorders. As long as treatment of some symptoms makes quality of life better.

It's my blog and I can rant if I want to....

Can you tell someone has an inner brilliance when you meet them? It crackles behind their eyes and can even feel electric if they are discussing something that excites them.

I feel drawn to these people and repelled by stagnant and negative people. This would seem sensible and most people would say they do the same. But what if the stagnant negative person happened to be stunningly attractive? Perfect body and face, looks that can stop traffic. Would you put up with the self absorbed aspects to soak in the surface beauty?

Many people do and I see them vainly try to assign some noble traits to justify it. The beautiful person makes one tiny unselfish gesture and you have to hear about it for weeks.

It's my blog and I can rant if I want to, rant if I want to........

Carnie Wilson Addict Postergirl

I loved her when she was a big girl and had her own talk show...when she would spar with Howard Stern and hold her own. When she had Gastric Bypass I bought her book and I loved it. She inspired me to have the same surgery years later.

I struggle with addiction to food and wine and so does she. So why do I now look at her on TV and feel dissapointed? She is on Dr Oz, on any reality show that will have her,country singing, celebrity fit club,even pimping her family on tv...selling cookbooks..hustling.Jesus Girl have an ounce of decorum keep your kids off the tv.

When celebrities bring a part of their real life into the public arena to help others it is touchy. Wilson has crossed over into train wreck D list territory again and again..Still I rooted for her.

I saw her this morning on my Fox New Local Station and her answers to Gene were so defensive..

I'm VERY healthy

I did not gain ALL of it back.

Then it hit me why she turns me off now. She sounds like an addict. Defensive, full of shit, excuses, self absorbed. She sounds like me!

It is helpful to me to hear her and use it for my own self improvement. You can't talk your way out of addictions. She is a beautiful girl who seems to care more about maintaining a celeb lifestyle than living a simple life with her family.

That pace and lifestyle is so unappealing to me and seems to be so dangerous for people with addictive personalities.

Underneath it all

Sephora is girl heaven. I love walking in there and feeling that tingle as I see the walls lined with discs of colors, brushes and sponges beckoning my name. The scents lining the walls in all of their bejeweled splendor.

It is the same girlish thrill I would have when my Mom would take me to a store that sold earrings and barrettes as a little girl.

These adornments date back to Cleopatra, primitive and primal, we mark and enhance our features in order to seduce and procreate. The different tribes have different markings..it can also identify what social class you are in in a mere glance.

We may not squeeze ourselves into corsets anymore, but spanx, flatirons, lip plumpers and tooth whiteners are our new methods of torture.

Men generally say they prefer women who don't wear makeup..however I think that men just dont like a lot of makeup.

I think that letting your lover see you with a bare face and rumpled hair is a very imtimate thing. I associate putting makeup on with going to work, being professional.

When I scrub the makeup off the facade is over. I feel more vulnerable, more of me is showing.

Epigenetics rock my world!

Studying the neuropathology of the brain of someone with Autism shows definite aberrations in brain growth, nero patterning and cortical connections. Changes to the structure and function of synapses have also been seen in the pathology of autism in genetic and animal studies. Also, environmental factors are likely to interact with the underlying genetic profile, and foster the clinical heterogeneity seen in autism spectrum disorders. There seems to be little real medical focus as far as I can find in the medical community about the enviornmental triggers.

What does this mean? The three major parts of the brain that show aberrations and autism symptoms brain stem, cerebellum and corpus callesum.


The autism spectrum disorders are a complex group of behaviorally related disorders that are primarily genetic in origin. Involvement of epigenetic regulatory mechanisms in the pathogenesis of ASD has been suggested by the occurrence of ASD in patients with disorders arising from epigenetic mutations (fragile X syndrome) or that involve key epigenetic regulatory factors (Rett syndrome).

Larger datasets in genetics, a focus on the early signs of autism, and increased recognition of the importance of defining subgroups of children with autism are leading to a greater understanding of the etiologies of autism. A growing interest in defining the molecular biology of social cognition, which is at the core of autism, will lead to expansion of our presently limited choices of mechanistically based interventions.

I quote above 2 paragraphs from pub med.gov
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17919129?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DiscoveryPanel.Pubmed_Discovery_RA&linkpos=3&log$=relatedreviews&logdbfrom=pubmed

This is all important along with all of the sibling studies and new focuses on the social cognition could really get to the core of understanding autism.

Soothing Rituals

I was a little blue today and decided to get my nails filled. As I sat there I thought about what it is that makes me like being there. I am much quieter when I am there, because I hear the other customers and they seem like loud brash white people talking about me, me, me..as the girls smile and work on their feet and hands.

I enjoy the methodical clattering of the porcelain pots that hold the powders, the tap and swirl of the brushes, and the strong smell of the acetone. I watch as the petite Vietnamese woman use such precision to apply the acrylic and to paint it..it comforts me just to sink into my chair and I rarely talk there unless they ask me a question.

I love listening to the women speaking Vietnamese to each other..I can tell when they are fighting, or if they are making fun of someone. It is a girl's only place for the most part, and I enjoy listening to the teenagers chatter and the brides make plans..It is a perfect people watching venue.

Today I did not have the woman I usually do, but I know her because I have been going there for years. She smiled at me at one point and said, "they all like you here". I am not sure why she said it but it was sweet and reaffirmed why I enjoy going there so much.

Sometimes normal rituals make me feel connected and that is always affirming.

A letter for my boy

Baby Boy,

I have never loved anything in the whole world the way that I love you. Here is what I want for you.

I want you to always learn from your mistakes.

I want you to have compassion and forgiveness in your heart.

I want you to feel pride and self reliance and know that you can do anything you want if you try hard enough.

I want you to always know that I am here with my arms open to comfort you and love you unconditionally. Always know how very wanted you were and how cherished you are.

I want you to help others and in turn they will help you.

I want you to love

I want you to be loved

Understand your gift, the reason that teachers and student love you so much, that special sparkle and joy you have..it makes you different and very special.

Knowing your gifts will help you make the most of them and I want you to understand karma.

Autism Speaks, Time to listen

Please join me in my fight to make a difference in the lives of the more than 1 million Americans living with autism today. We walk to show our pride and support of our son Jefferson. Jefferson makes us proud every day and touches everyone who meets him. Without the amazing strides in intensive therapies for Autism, Jefferson would still be silent and unreachable. He is living proof that services and therapies really do work.

We are participating in Walk Now for Autism to help find a cure for autism. Autism is the second most common developmental disorder in the United States affecting one in every 150 children born today. Despite some promising discoveries, the cause of autism is unknown and a cure does not exist. Research is crucial. Every 20 minutes another child is diagnosed with autism. Not only must we find ways to improve the quality of life for children and adults with autism, but we also must find a cure, and soon.

Walk Now for Autism is our chance to make a difference in the fight against autism by raising money for autism research and heightening public awareness. Please join me in my fight as I raise money to help fund essential research. You can donate to Walk Now for Autism and/or join my team online using the links at the bottom of this page. Donations can also be mailed to Autism Speaks using the donation form located on my page or send me a check made out to Autism Speaks.

Thank you for taking an important step in the fight against autism.

Donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.
Autism Speaks 501 (C)(3) Tax Id #: 20-2329938

Matching gift program: Many companies provide their employees with matching gifts. Please consult your employer on its matching gift guidelines and attach matching gift forms accordingly.

Follow This Link to visit my personal web page and help me in my efforts to support Autism Speaks or join our team and walk with us!

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Peace,

Kelly