Love Those Calendars

If you have been around awhile, you already know about DC's calendar obsession. Every calendar must be changed first thing on the first of every month, if I can keep him from changing them the night before. It is a thing with him. So much so, that we seem to accumulate more calendars every year (No one needs 4 calendars in the kitchen - no one). He loves going from calendar to calendar and flipping each one.

(See: Calendars and #ItsWhatsNext)  and So...What's Next? )

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Last week DC had an appointment with his neurologist. It's a tiny very cramped office. When we were ready to leave, DC stood up and said "One more thing" to the doctor, which I found odd because he really does not like this guy and rarely talks to him. He got up turned around and started fiddling with what I finally realized was a calendar hanging on the wall behind him (I don't know how he even noticed it there).
The doctor, looking a little confused asked me what he was doing.
"Your calendar must be on the wrong month and we shall never leave a calendar un-flipped"

FaceBook, February 20, 2020

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In case you are new here: “I tell stories, most of the time; single individual stories about this or that. Some may be written with humor and some may come across as “Oh, look at the cute thing DC did or said” (he does crack me up at times) but my object is always to make people understand how his mind works, never to "make fun of him"

It is difficult to explain “his” autism to anyone without resorting to 1000 examples and 1000 stories. So I tell 1000 stories to make clear that there are other sides to autism than the characters seen in TV or movies."

This blog is used for shorter posts, off topic posts and also for longer Face book statuses. Please visit my official blog site at: Taking it a Step at a Time 

Valentine's Day in DC-Land

Me: You know you can be a little bit nicer to me today.
DC: No! Valentine’s Day!
Me: You can’t be nice to me today?
DC: No! Tomorrow!
#CrabbyAndEverythingIsMyFault
#HeWillBeNiceToMeTomorrow

February, 12, 2020

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DC did get his wish and we all went out to dinner, because as you know, THAT is all that holidays are about. He got some chocolate hearts and shared not one, but three with me, so there's that.

(Normally he will first try to share 1 chip, 1 jelly bean, 1 Frito, or just one of whatever he was asked to share, just to see if he can get away with not giving up any of his treat.)

And continuing on with the subject of Valentine's Day.....

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Valentine's Day update:
He's found the bells (that I was SURE I got rid of) from the Santa Train....
Apparently one needs Tinker Bell sound effects while reading Peter Pan.
That is all.

February 14, 2020

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In case you are new here: “I tell stories, most of the time; single individual stories about this or that. Some may be written with humor and some may come across as “Oh, look at the cute thing DC did or said” (he does crack me up at times) but my object is always to make people understand how his mind works, never to "make fun of him"

It is difficult to explain “his” autism to anyone without resorting to 1000 examples and 1000 stories. So I tell 1000 stories to make clear that there are other sides to autism than the characters seen in TV or movies."

This blog is used for shorter posts, off topic posts and also for longer Face book statuses. Please visit my official blog site at: Taking it a Step at a Time 

Lincoln's Birthday

February 12, 2020

Yesterday, Doug; being the hilarious guy that he THINKS he is, pointed out to DC that today is Lincoln's Birthday. DC looked at me as if I was trying to hide a holiday from him....

DC: Lincoln's Birfday!

Me: It is not a holiday. You have Monday off for President's Day which is for Lincoln and Washington's Birthday.

DC: Presents Day!!!!

Me: No. President's Day. You get the day off, that's all. No gifts, No going out to eat. We are going to Mystic for President's Day (as if I haven't heard about Mystic AND Valentine's Day - we can't forget Valentine's Day- all week)

DC:

Doug: (leaves me to deal with Lincoln's Birthday)

After hearing enough about Lincoln's Birthday last night and this morning, Doug got a phone call from DC at 7:30 reminding him and it is Lincoln's Birthday and wanting him to explain to him what we are going to do today in honor of the holiday..

Me? I had only two words for Doug which can also be summed up with only one finger.
#NotAnOutToEatHoliday #NoGiftsOnLincolnsBirthday

Doug ended up bringing DC a cake. He was happy with the cake as his Lincoln's Birthday celebration. I caved and gave him some skittles and a five dollar bill and tried to explain who the man on the bill was. 

He did not care about anything but the cake...

If you think that he will not be expecting a cake next year, you are very wrong.

Very, very wrong.

Happy Lincoln's Birthday
Happy Valentine's Day
and
Happy President's Day


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In case you are new here: “I tell stories, most of the time; single individual stories about this or that. Some may be written with humor and some may come across as “Oh, look at the cute thing DC did or said” (he does crack me up at times) but my object is always to make people understand how his mind works, never to "make fun of him"

It is difficult to explain “his” autism to anyone without resorting to 1000 examples and 1000 stories. So I tell 1000 stories to make clear that there are other sides to autism than the characters seen in TV or movies."

This blog is used for shorter posts, off topic posts and also for longer Face book statuses. Please visit my official blog site at: Taking it a Step at a Time 

The "Snow Ball"

Thursday Morning - February 6, 2020

DC and I discussing the “Snow Ball” that he will be attending on Saturday. Although he does rename most dances; this particular dance is officially called a “Ball” so you know he’ll be wearing a suit.
Me: Which suit are you going to wear?
DC: Blue. Have good taste.
#humble

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Saturday Morning - February 8, 2020

DC came home sick on Thursday. (Oh no! What if he can’t go to the “Snow Ball” on Saturday?).
I kept him home on Friday - no fever but he was coughing and very stuffy. All day while looking as if he could not keep his eyes open and with that red stripe under his nose that shows up immediately when he’s not feeling well or is having an allergy problem - he told me he was “feeling well” and “going to the ball”.

 All . Day . Long....

He looked worse as the day wore on. So I started getting him ready for the fact that he might not be able to go to the “Snow Ball”.

I didn’t want to say outright that he couldn’t because that would make the day that much worse for him (and me). But I was 99% sure that he would not be going.

By the time I got him to go to sleep for the night, he looked so awful that I was absolutely sure that there was no way he’d be well enough to go.

I mean, Doug moved AND sat in his chair in the kitchen and DC not only did not say a word but I’m not even sure he noticed! (See: "You're In My Spot")

Well, this morning he woke up looking like the picture of health! I was shocked and said “Oh my god, you look amazing!”

So fingers crossed that there is no relapse today because I told him he looks amazing and he’s reminded me of that at least 50 times (it’s only 10:30). He’s convinced he’s going so I’ll just be over here #HoldingMyBreath

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Saturday evening, February 8, 2020

Phew!

They had a fantastic time and I am still completely amazed at his turn-around!

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Sunday morning, February 9, 2020

After hearing about the "Snow Ball", "Going to the Snow Ball" and "I am feeling well" ...... Snow Ball, Snow Ball, Snow Ball for two days...
DC has moved on to screeching "Hooray, Hooray, It's 'Valentime's' Day"
Me: It's not Valentine's Day. Valentine's Day is Friday.
DC: "Hooray, Hooray, It's 'Valentime's' Day"
Me: You're just not going to give me a break, are you?
DC: No.
#Honesty #MovingOn

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In case you are new here: “I tell stories, most of the time; single individual stories about this or that. Some may be written with humor and some may come across as “Oh, look at the cute thing DC did or said” (he does crack me up at times) but my object is always to make people understand how his mind works, never to "make fun of him"

It is difficult to explain “his” autism to anyone without resorting to 1000 examples and 1000 stories. So I tell 1000 stories to make clear that there are other sides to autism than the characters seen in TV or movies."

This blog is used for shorter posts, off topic posts and also for longer Face book statuses. Please visit my official blog site at: Taking it a Step at a Time 

Goodbye January

January seemed to go on forever for most people this year. 
January was a very long month for DC as well.
I honestly can't tell you why but we are very glad for it to be over.
As you may or may not know, stick on mustaches are one of DC's ways of fighting anxiety. (see: Let DC Be DC) They are also helpful in displaying his mood to the people around him.
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So far, it's been a 'three mustache' kind of a week.
#WhateverWorks  - January 15, 2020


He wore a mustache most of the month.

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But on the flip side, he also diverted from his Disney obsession and opened himself up to a 'new' story.

DC has just discovered Henny Penny (or Chicken Little). He was/is always particular about what he reads or what is read to him so it should not be surprising to anyone that he had never heard this story before - it's not Disney or anything related to Disney.
In the never ending battle to slow him down at the Library (he races around knowing exactly where the 4 or 5 books that he wants are, without wanting to try anything different) his aide tries to read a story to him while they are there. Yesterday it was a story that is included in one of the books that DC always takes out but is skipped over due to the many other recognizable stories in the book - Henny Penny.
He listened under duress at first, but then because of all of the rhyming names, he thought is was just hilarious. He came home and read it to me again (laughing all the way through).
And yes...... He's found it on YouTube - January 22, 2020

and a few new television shows....

This IS a big deal. DC never seems interested in anything on TV. If a movie comes on that I know he loves, he normally refuses to watch it on TV, but will go to his computer and watch it there WHILE it is playing on the television.

The television shows that he does like are normally older series like Full House and The Brady Bunch. It is not very often that he asks to watch something current. (Over the years he has discovered The Big Bang Theory, New Girl and How I Met Your Mother, mostly because the actors are in movies or older television series that he likes. (See: Everything is Related)


We will not miss January but there were some "new discoveries" made by DC and that is always good.

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In case you are new here: “I tell stories, most of the time; single individual stories about this or that. Some may be written with humor and some may come across as “Oh, look at the cute thing DC did or said” (he does crack me up at times) but my object is always to make people understand how his mind works, never to "make fun of him"

It is difficult to explain “his” autism to anyone without resorting to 1000 examples and 1000 stories. So I tell 1000 stories to make clear that there are other sides to autism than the characters seen in TV or movies."

This blog is used for shorter posts, off topic posts and also for longer Face book statuses. Please visit my official blog site at: Taking it a Step at a Time 

Moving Into January in "Slowly Motion"

Me (at lunch at DC's job): DC, slow down. You don't have to eat so fast!
DC picks up the fork and swishes it in the air (sort of like "here comes the choo choo", but slower) towards his mouth.
Me: What are you doing?
DC: Eating in "slowly motion"
#AlrightyThen    - January 3, 2020

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DC stomps up the stairs shaking the house. 

He comes back down the stairs the same way (this is the same guy who tells me that he's nervous every time our neighbors run up and down the stairs - "Mom! I heard a noise! I'm nervous about the noise")

Me: (when he gets back downstairs) DC, you have to walk softly up and down the stairs, you're shaking the whole house.

DC: I'm sorry Mom (and he starts back up the stairs to do it more quietly)

Me: DC, you don't have to do it again. Just try to do it a little more quietly the next time.

DC:

Narrator: But he couldn't not do it again....
#WalkSoftly   - January 9, 2020

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In case you are new here: “I tell stories, most of the time; single individual stories about this or that. Some may be written with humor and some may come across as “Oh, look at the cute thing DC did or said” (he does crack me up at times) but my object is always to make people understand how his mind works, never to "make fun of him"

It is difficult to explain “his” autism to anyone without resorting to 1000 examples and 1000 stories. So I tell 1000 stories to make clear that there are other sides to autism than the characters seen in TV or movies."

This blog is used for shorter posts, off topic posts and also for longer Face book statuses. Please visit my official blog site at: Taking it a Step at a Time 

And the Week After

Christmas was over.....

DC had to go back to work this morning and I was dreading it. 
I do believe he is coming down with a cold or maybe it was all of the "Christmas Cleaning" I did over the last few days (you know, the cleaning where you actually move things and clean the 6 months worth of dust built up behind them?) - Dust was flying!
He was not happy last night when I mentioned that he should maybe stay home today. Not happy at all. 
After reminding me that Christmas was over - he jumped right into "Going to work tomorrow" - "Nose is much better" (over and over).
So he went. He really does seem okay and if it were spring or fall, I would say it was allergies, so I am blaming the flying dust. We shall see...
He was tired though and I was expecting a rough morning, but (knock wood) he was great.
Happy Day After Christmas! 

          #IAmGladThatIAmOffToday   - December 26, 2019

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“Mom, it’s almost ‘Valen-times’ Day.”Moving on.....  - December 27, 2019

Shocking, Right? Mr. Calendar skipped right over New Years and went straight to Valentine's Day! 

Well, that omission was corrected shortly afterwards. As soon as he realized his error, I never heard about Valentine's Day again, only New Year's Eve.

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There was also some confusion on his part (and mine) about what day it was.

DC is adding to my confusion over what day it is by insisting that he is going to work tomorrow (Sunday).He stayed home Friday because he wasn’t feeling well and now he is convinced that today is Sunday. Usually he is the one I can count on to keep me on track during the week between Christmas and New Year when I can’t figure out what day it is... 
#WeAreInBigTroubleNow - December 28, 2019

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There is a whole basket of Christmas candy in the kitchen. All kinds of candy.Mostly DC candy,so there are more jelly beans than anything else (YUK!).I REALLY wanted some chocolate.Just plain old chocolate. After digging through the basket and not having any luck, I came across a bag of Ghirardelli Squares, Holiday Assortment. 

Digging through the bag for chocolate, I found:

- Eggnog (yuk) - not chocolate-

Pumpkin spice (yuk - as someone who loves Halloween one would assume I would love pumpkin spice ....  I don’t.

I don’t like anything pumpkin flavored (including pumpkin pie) - not chocolate-

Peppermint (yuk, again) - also not chocolate

         #WhoDoesThat #BetrayedByGhiradelli #WheresTheChocolate 
         Is chocolate not a holiday flavor? Not happy.

- December 28, 2019

DC on the other hand was happy not to have to share.
Each time he took one of those squares he would Announce the flavor and then say "Yuk" as if to remind me that I did not want any of "his' candy.

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New Year's Eve came and went without much hoopla. DC, of course wanted to go "out to eat" (which is what we usually do) but I had (have) a head cold and really was not in the mood, so we opted for take-out. 

As much as DC loves to go "out to eat", he loves when he gets to have "out to eat" food at home.

Bring him wings and he is happy.

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On New Years Day, DC waited patiently to put up all of the new calendars. When I say "waited patiently", I mean after he shoved the first one in my face the moment I opened my eyes and I told him he needed to wait a few minutes....

We have far too many calendars.....

Calendars up, tree came down - we are done.

Happy New Year!

(Did you know that Valentine's Day is coming soon?)

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In case you are new here: “I tell stories, most of the time; single individual stories about this or that. Some may be written with humor and some may come across as “Oh, look at the cute thing DC did or said” (he does crack me up at times) but my object is always to make people understand how his mind works, never to "make fun of him"

It is difficult to explain “his” autism to anyone without resorting to 1000 examples and 1000 stories. So I tell 1000 stories to make clear that there are other sides to autism than the characters seen in TV or movies."

This blog is used for shorter posts, off topic posts and also for longer Face book statuses. Please visit my official blog site at: Taking it a Step at a Time