NOTE: This parody, like others I've written about crushes, is a JOKE! Don't get all up in arms claiming that I'm insane because I think I'm going to marry a celebrity! If you liked writing parodies, and you were a celebrity addict, you'd write stuff like this, too. Anyway, enjoy!
THE SIOBHAN MAGNUS SONG
Parody of "In Love With a Girl" by Gavin DeGraw
So many singers today really don't sound that good.
It seems like their fans just don't really care.
But, from time to time, you will find one
Who is worth your time, and you will be so there.
Some people have fame, others have lost it.
Lots of celebs don't deserve what they get.
Some are pains, but I've found a new name
That deserves so much fame, and I'm no liar.
CHORUS:
I'm in love with a girl on American Idol!
Fell for the woman just when I saw her!
Hope one day I end up with her.
I'm her biggest fan!
Her voice you just could not dislike!
Watch her on TV every Tuesday night!
Who is it that I do like?
Siobhan Magnus is the name!
I'm in love with this girl (I'm in love with) (2x)
Downloading her great performances on iTunes.
I don't care at all how much they cost.
I will call to make sure she's not voted out.
Use my phones, both cell and landline.
She may only be on screen for a moment,
But my eyes are fixed the whole time!
I'll keep on, she's number one, I'll be a fan all my life!
REPEAT CHORUS
So, you say you don't think this goal is something I can reach.
All I have to say is: Oh, please!
Just get out of my face!
Her and I will date, and it will be quite fun.
You don't understand it!
I'm in love with a girl on American Idol!
Fell for the woman just when I saw her!
Hope one day I end up with her.
I'm her biggest fan!
Her voice you just could not dislike!
Watch her on TV every Tuesday night!
Who is it that I do like?
Siobhan Magnus is the name!
I'm in love with this girl (I'm in love with) (3x)
I really love her!
Who is it that I do like?
Siobhan Magnus is the name!
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Monday, March 22, 2010
On My Obsession Or Lack Thereof
If you've known me for a while, you know that I've been obsessed with various things in the past. What I was obsessed with depends on when you and I were in contact. I'm not going to list every obsession that I've ever had, because not only have I already done that more than once, but I don't think anyone really wants to read that. What I'm going to talk about is how, at least to me, it seems like I'm doing better about the whole obsession thing.
In years past, when I was obsessed with something, almost everyone knew. (There was one person who didn't; more on that later.) However, it's been months since I've had someone tell me I was obsessed with anything. Last year, some friends said I was obsessed with my obsessions, which made sense when I thought about it. Others said I was obsessed with Facebook or finding a girlfriend. All of those statements were based on some of the posts I'd made on Facebook. However, I have written two Facebook notes in the past two months, and one was about the name Siobhan, while the other was new lyrics to "Beverly Hills" about someone I used to know. Even on here, I haven't made any big, long, ranting posts about my lack of a girlfriend or what I've been obsessed with in the past in quite a while.
Honestly, right now, I have no idea what I'm obsessed with. Granted, I may spend a lot of time on Facebook, but no one can honestly say that I don't do anything else. I read books; I watch movies and television; I go to church functions; I volunteer at my local library; I listen to my iPod; and, there are probably plenty of other things I do that have nothing to do with Facebook. I'll admit that I don't like being single, and I do lament it from time to time, but, the truth is, I know romantic love will come someday. It may be that I'm not currently ready for it right now. Also, when I talk to people, I'll talk about anything and everything. Look at the various topics I've recently posted about on this blog: 3-D movies, birthdays, chick flicks, books, music, talking to myself...does any of that have to do with my previous obsessions, Facebook, or finding a girlfriend? No.
Then again, I may not be a reliable gauge of whether of I'm obsessed with anything or not. There was a friend of mine (he knows who he is) who was actually courageous enough to stand up to me and tell me I was obsessed with something I won't name, and I even denied it, saying he was obsessed with that same thing as well as other things. I did essentially the same thing when my mom told me I was obsessed with something else I won't name. So, maybe I am obsessed with something and I just don't know it.
Obsession may be my nature, but I think I can overcome it. I mean, hey: not to be a braggart or anything, but when I see other autistics, even ones with Asperger's Syndrome, I realize that my case is quite mild. It may have been worse when I was younger, but I've learned a lot in my 22 years of life, like what bothers my peers, and that humans aren't logical. I get that no one wants to hear me ramble about anything for 30 minutes. I get that I can't use overly technical language to someone who doesn't know very much about the subject I'm speaking of. I get that no one wants to hear me talk to myself. I get that things aren't necessarily going to be in perfect order, even when they're organized. I get that there are things in life that I will never understand, and arguing or debating them isn't going to change anything. Those, however, are lessons I've learned over the years. The autistic nature would make me want to do those annoying things, but I have trained myself to not do them. Maybe I'm overcoming the obsessive part of the autistic nature; what do you think?
In years past, when I was obsessed with something, almost everyone knew. (There was one person who didn't; more on that later.) However, it's been months since I've had someone tell me I was obsessed with anything. Last year, some friends said I was obsessed with my obsessions, which made sense when I thought about it. Others said I was obsessed with Facebook or finding a girlfriend. All of those statements were based on some of the posts I'd made on Facebook. However, I have written two Facebook notes in the past two months, and one was about the name Siobhan, while the other was new lyrics to "Beverly Hills" about someone I used to know. Even on here, I haven't made any big, long, ranting posts about my lack of a girlfriend or what I've been obsessed with in the past in quite a while.
Honestly, right now, I have no idea what I'm obsessed with. Granted, I may spend a lot of time on Facebook, but no one can honestly say that I don't do anything else. I read books; I watch movies and television; I go to church functions; I volunteer at my local library; I listen to my iPod; and, there are probably plenty of other things I do that have nothing to do with Facebook. I'll admit that I don't like being single, and I do lament it from time to time, but, the truth is, I know romantic love will come someday. It may be that I'm not currently ready for it right now. Also, when I talk to people, I'll talk about anything and everything. Look at the various topics I've recently posted about on this blog: 3-D movies, birthdays, chick flicks, books, music, talking to myself...does any of that have to do with my previous obsessions, Facebook, or finding a girlfriend? No.
Then again, I may not be a reliable gauge of whether of I'm obsessed with anything or not. There was a friend of mine (he knows who he is) who was actually courageous enough to stand up to me and tell me I was obsessed with something I won't name, and I even denied it, saying he was obsessed with that same thing as well as other things. I did essentially the same thing when my mom told me I was obsessed with something else I won't name. So, maybe I am obsessed with something and I just don't know it.
Obsession may be my nature, but I think I can overcome it. I mean, hey: not to be a braggart or anything, but when I see other autistics, even ones with Asperger's Syndrome, I realize that my case is quite mild. It may have been worse when I was younger, but I've learned a lot in my 22 years of life, like what bothers my peers, and that humans aren't logical. I get that no one wants to hear me ramble about anything for 30 minutes. I get that I can't use overly technical language to someone who doesn't know very much about the subject I'm speaking of. I get that no one wants to hear me talk to myself. I get that things aren't necessarily going to be in perfect order, even when they're organized. I get that there are things in life that I will never understand, and arguing or debating them isn't going to change anything. Those, however, are lessons I've learned over the years. The autistic nature would make me want to do those annoying things, but I have trained myself to not do them. Maybe I'm overcoming the obsessive part of the autistic nature; what do you think?
Friday, March 12, 2010
On The "New" 3-D Movie Craze
If you've been following movies recently, you know that there have been a lot of 3-D films lately. I'm not talking about computer-animated films, although some of those are included in that category; I'm talking about ones that actually require you to wear special glasses to properly watch the movie. I've actually seen four 3-D flicks in the past two years, so I know what they're all about. I could delve into the history of me and 3-D media, but that would involve me going all the way back to the mid-'90s, and it has little to do with the topic I really want to get into. So, instead, I'm going to start with the first 3-D movie I saw, which was only two years ago.
In 2008, my parents and I saw an IMAX movie about the Grand Canyon. Based on previous experiences, I didn't think it would look 3-D to me. (Long story short, an eye doctor said back in 1999 that I had some vision problem that caused me to only see with one eye at a time. To this day, I don't really understand it.) My parents explained to me that the IMAX movie would have things coming out of the screen at you that would look like you could touch them. I was still doubtful...until the movie started. When I saw those bubbles coming out of the screen, it was so different than anything I'd ever seen. I'd been to IMAX movies plenty of times, but not 3-D ones. Naturally, I expected other 3-D movies to be the same way as the one I saw that day.
The next 3-D movie I saw was Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs. I actually got to see a sneak preview of it on Father's Day weekend. Although the movie was funny, and the animation was great, it really seemed to me that the 3-D part was unnecessary. I honestly thought it could have been just as good if it had not required the special glasses. When I got to see the Jim Carrey Christmas Carol film, as well as the box-office smash Avatar, I felt the same way: they were great movies with amazing special effects/animation/etc., but the 3-D seemed unneeded. The only thing I remember coming out of the screen during any movie besides that Grand Canyon one was a cable in space, but that was during a preview for a NASA documentary before Avatar! Some other people who saw those movies agreed with me.
So, here's what I think: I think that this 3-D craze has gone way too far, because now it seems like they're making them 3-D just to get people in the theater. Movie studios need to face the facts: one day, movie theaters as we know them will die out. So many people these days have big screen TVs and surround sound systems at their houses that they don't need to pay 8+ bucks to see a movie at a theater. Now, I will admit that sometimes the audience can make a movie great; for example, I loved The Incredibles the first time I saw it, partly because of the way the audience around me was having such a great time. However, when the DVD came out, and I watched it with my mom, I just found it completely boring. It was like I was watching an entirely different flick. Still, some people don't like audiences, because at times they can be bothersome, like when kids cry or people sit there and talk through the movie. So, the movie studios need some gimmick to get people into theaters. It works for most people, but I'm not buying into it.
Truth be told, there have been 3-D films well before this recent crop. An article in one of my Bathroom Readers said that 3-D movies existed not only in the 80's, but even during the black-and-white days! Why did they stop making them? In at least one case, it was because the movies started to become dreck. That's part of why I believe this latest 3-D movie thing is just a fad. It won't be too long before the whole thing will lose its charm, and 3-D movies will fail. At least, that's what I think; what do you think?
In 2008, my parents and I saw an IMAX movie about the Grand Canyon. Based on previous experiences, I didn't think it would look 3-D to me. (Long story short, an eye doctor said back in 1999 that I had some vision problem that caused me to only see with one eye at a time. To this day, I don't really understand it.) My parents explained to me that the IMAX movie would have things coming out of the screen at you that would look like you could touch them. I was still doubtful...until the movie started. When I saw those bubbles coming out of the screen, it was so different than anything I'd ever seen. I'd been to IMAX movies plenty of times, but not 3-D ones. Naturally, I expected other 3-D movies to be the same way as the one I saw that day.
The next 3-D movie I saw was Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs. I actually got to see a sneak preview of it on Father's Day weekend. Although the movie was funny, and the animation was great, it really seemed to me that the 3-D part was unnecessary. I honestly thought it could have been just as good if it had not required the special glasses. When I got to see the Jim Carrey Christmas Carol film, as well as the box-office smash Avatar, I felt the same way: they were great movies with amazing special effects/animation/etc., but the 3-D seemed unneeded. The only thing I remember coming out of the screen during any movie besides that Grand Canyon one was a cable in space, but that was during a preview for a NASA documentary before Avatar! Some other people who saw those movies agreed with me.
So, here's what I think: I think that this 3-D craze has gone way too far, because now it seems like they're making them 3-D just to get people in the theater. Movie studios need to face the facts: one day, movie theaters as we know them will die out. So many people these days have big screen TVs and surround sound systems at their houses that they don't need to pay 8+ bucks to see a movie at a theater. Now, I will admit that sometimes the audience can make a movie great; for example, I loved The Incredibles the first time I saw it, partly because of the way the audience around me was having such a great time. However, when the DVD came out, and I watched it with my mom, I just found it completely boring. It was like I was watching an entirely different flick. Still, some people don't like audiences, because at times they can be bothersome, like when kids cry or people sit there and talk through the movie. So, the movie studios need some gimmick to get people into theaters. It works for most people, but I'm not buying into it.
Truth be told, there have been 3-D films well before this recent crop. An article in one of my Bathroom Readers said that 3-D movies existed not only in the 80's, but even during the black-and-white days! Why did they stop making them? In at least one case, it was because the movies started to become dreck. That's part of why I believe this latest 3-D movie thing is just a fad. It won't be too long before the whole thing will lose its charm, and 3-D movies will fail. At least, that's what I think; what do you think?
Monday, March 8, 2010
On Library Sales, Yard Sales, and Similar Places
Those of you who know me probably know that I'm very big on yard sales, aka garage sales. I have walked over a mile in one day just to get good deals on used stuff. It's something that my family has always done; I have many memories of my family and I riding around the neighborhood looking for bargains. Some people don't really like them, because they'd rather buy stuff new. I say, sometimes you find stuff at garage sales that is new, i.e., still in the plastic. Even used stuff isn't that bad; as someone who comes from a family that hasn't always been affluent, I can say that sometimes getting stuff used is the only way you're going to get it.
A new way I've found to get stuff cheap is library sales. Though I've only been to three large ones in my lifetime, both the library I volunteer at as well as two others somewhat close to me have rooms and/or carts that have stuff for sale all the time. Some items used to belong to the library, but haven't been checked out in a while, so they're getting rid of them; others are just things that people donated, and the library had no need for them. Most of what's for sale there is books, but they also have music CDs, audiobooks, and videos, too. Since I mostly buy printed or electronic media at yard sales, it only makes sense that I would like library sales, too.
I will admit that I have had problems getting rid of stuff that I've gotten at yard sales and library sales after I was done with it. For example, just last week, the used bookstore near me wouldn't accept some books I tried to trade in because they had the name of a library stamped on the side. It didn't matter that I had pulled all the stickers off the cover, including the bar code, nor did it matter that I actually paid money for them; all that mattered was they had that stamp on them. I just ended up donating them to a thrift store. Also, there was a series of books (that will remain nameless) I bought several hardcover volumes of at a library sale last year, because they looked good. However, after starting the first one, I couldn't believe such dreck would go on for even half the volumes that were in the series. I tried to sell them at my family's yard sale, but no one bought them, so I ended up donating them back to the library, who put them up for sale again. (I didn't mind them doing that at all; at least the library made some extra money, right?) Even beyond books, I had several Christian CDs, a good part of which were bought used, that the used music store near me wouldn't accept for trade-in. Based on that, I would imagine that's not a big seller for them.
Still, all that notwithstanding, I still love garage sales and library sales. Without them, I wouldn't have been able to have a good part of the stuff my family and I have owned in the past. Even the desk I'm sitting at to write this post came from a yard sale, as well as the entertainment center sitting next to me and the DVD recorder sitting inside it. I'm really looking forward to this yard sale season; since I just moved to a new location last October, I have a whole new neighborhood of garage sales to walk to. There are also two library sales I know of that I'm planning on going to; one in my city, the other in a neighboring city. The former already has a date set; I'm going to keep checking the website for the latter to see when they're having one. I would like to go to one in my city that I went to last year, but my mom doesn't want to take me to that one again because of how hard it was to get to, as well as the distance (not because of anything I did wrong, as someone with a hidden agenda against me might think.) I'm hoping by that point I will have a job; if not, my dad has said that he might give me some spending money for yard work. He did something similar before where I got a $10 weekly allowance. That might not sound like much, but that little amount can go pretty far at yard sales and library sales. Who knows what deals are waiting for me this year? Only time will tell.
Any comments?
A new way I've found to get stuff cheap is library sales. Though I've only been to three large ones in my lifetime, both the library I volunteer at as well as two others somewhat close to me have rooms and/or carts that have stuff for sale all the time. Some items used to belong to the library, but haven't been checked out in a while, so they're getting rid of them; others are just things that people donated, and the library had no need for them. Most of what's for sale there is books, but they also have music CDs, audiobooks, and videos, too. Since I mostly buy printed or electronic media at yard sales, it only makes sense that I would like library sales, too.
I will admit that I have had problems getting rid of stuff that I've gotten at yard sales and library sales after I was done with it. For example, just last week, the used bookstore near me wouldn't accept some books I tried to trade in because they had the name of a library stamped on the side. It didn't matter that I had pulled all the stickers off the cover, including the bar code, nor did it matter that I actually paid money for them; all that mattered was they had that stamp on them. I just ended up donating them to a thrift store. Also, there was a series of books (that will remain nameless) I bought several hardcover volumes of at a library sale last year, because they looked good. However, after starting the first one, I couldn't believe such dreck would go on for even half the volumes that were in the series. I tried to sell them at my family's yard sale, but no one bought them, so I ended up donating them back to the library, who put them up for sale again. (I didn't mind them doing that at all; at least the library made some extra money, right?) Even beyond books, I had several Christian CDs, a good part of which were bought used, that the used music store near me wouldn't accept for trade-in. Based on that, I would imagine that's not a big seller for them.
Still, all that notwithstanding, I still love garage sales and library sales. Without them, I wouldn't have been able to have a good part of the stuff my family and I have owned in the past. Even the desk I'm sitting at to write this post came from a yard sale, as well as the entertainment center sitting next to me and the DVD recorder sitting inside it. I'm really looking forward to this yard sale season; since I just moved to a new location last October, I have a whole new neighborhood of garage sales to walk to. There are also two library sales I know of that I'm planning on going to; one in my city, the other in a neighboring city. The former already has a date set; I'm going to keep checking the website for the latter to see when they're having one. I would like to go to one in my city that I went to last year, but my mom doesn't want to take me to that one again because of how hard it was to get to, as well as the distance (not because of anything I did wrong, as someone with a hidden agenda against me might think.) I'm hoping by that point I will have a job; if not, my dad has said that he might give me some spending money for yard work. He did something similar before where I got a $10 weekly allowance. That might not sound like much, but that little amount can go pretty far at yard sales and library sales. Who knows what deals are waiting for me this year? Only time will tell.
Any comments?
Friday, March 5, 2010
On Guys and Chick Flicks
If you follow the movie biz even somewhat, you've probably noticed that there are some movies that seem to be made with girls and women in mind. It seems like every year there are some of those kinds of films in theaters. Most guys stay away from that genre, and I can understand why. Still, I'll readily admit--and you can call me whatever you want, I'm not going to stop doing it--that I have watched quite a few "girly" movies. Over the years, I have willingly seen flicks such as Bride Wars, The Lizzie McGuire Movie, Nancy Drew, and Ella Enchanted. To be fair, the main reason I was watching those films was for the attractive female leads. Still, even most guys won't do that.
You may wonder why any 22-year-old guy would watch movies like I just mentioned, unless his girlfriend/wife forced him to do so. Well, the main reason why is because of the way I was brought up. Some of you may already know this, but, for those who don't, here it is: For almost the first nine years of my life, I did not have another male in my immediate family. That changed when my sister got married. I never really knew my biological father, because my mom divorced him when I was only six weeks old. My mom didn't even date again until I was in college, and she married the first guy she had a serious relationship with. I'm not bashing my family at all, because I firmly believe with all of my heart that if my biological father had been around, I would have had a terrible life. I may have had some bad days in the past, but, if he and my mom had still been married, every day would have been bad. Still, the fact is, all those things you think guys don't do, I do. I read books for fun; I hate sports; and, as I was saying earlier, I watch chick flicks.
Now, let me explain something here: While I have willingly watched a number of "girly" films, I also have willingly watched at least twice as many guy movies. If you were to take a look at the DVDs I own, you would know that the collection was probably a guy's. I mean, seriously: Both Star Wars trilogies. Four Star Treks. Six Batmans. Three Spider-Mans. The entire X-Men trilogy. The first five Harry Potter movies. Superman Returns. Both Narnias. See what I mean? The only chick flicks I even have in my collection are Princess Diaries (you know why I have that one, LOL) and the 2003 remake of Freaky Friday. I will admit to having some family comedies, like Yours, Mine and Ours or Elf, and one or two computer-animated films, i.e. Ice Age, but I consider those movies to be made for everyone, no matter what your gender is.
Some of you might be laughing at this, saying, "This guy is gay!" or, "This dude's a girl!" or "This man is an idiot!" Go ahead. Laugh at me all you want. Truth be told, making fun of a guy who does something that might be considered "girly" (like wearing a pink or purple shirt, having sewing as a hobby, or watching chick flicks) is stuff that kids in middle and high school do, and it's quite immature. I don't make fun of anyone because of what they watch; I let my friends watch what they want, when they want, and I'll talk to them about it if they want. I think pretty much all of my friends watch things that I would never watch; however, I'm not going to tell them what they should and shouldn't watch. I realize I may have done that in the past, but that was when I was a lot younger and a whole lot dumber. The same thing applies to hobbies and clothes; whatever hobby you have or clothes you wear are fine with me.
Any comments?
You may wonder why any 22-year-old guy would watch movies like I just mentioned, unless his girlfriend/wife forced him to do so. Well, the main reason why is because of the way I was brought up. Some of you may already know this, but, for those who don't, here it is: For almost the first nine years of my life, I did not have another male in my immediate family. That changed when my sister got married. I never really knew my biological father, because my mom divorced him when I was only six weeks old. My mom didn't even date again until I was in college, and she married the first guy she had a serious relationship with. I'm not bashing my family at all, because I firmly believe with all of my heart that if my biological father had been around, I would have had a terrible life. I may have had some bad days in the past, but, if he and my mom had still been married, every day would have been bad. Still, the fact is, all those things you think guys don't do, I do. I read books for fun; I hate sports; and, as I was saying earlier, I watch chick flicks.
Now, let me explain something here: While I have willingly watched a number of "girly" films, I also have willingly watched at least twice as many guy movies. If you were to take a look at the DVDs I own, you would know that the collection was probably a guy's. I mean, seriously: Both Star Wars trilogies. Four Star Treks. Six Batmans. Three Spider-Mans. The entire X-Men trilogy. The first five Harry Potter movies. Superman Returns. Both Narnias. See what I mean? The only chick flicks I even have in my collection are Princess Diaries (you know why I have that one, LOL) and the 2003 remake of Freaky Friday. I will admit to having some family comedies, like Yours, Mine and Ours or Elf, and one or two computer-animated films, i.e. Ice Age, but I consider those movies to be made for everyone, no matter what your gender is.
Some of you might be laughing at this, saying, "This guy is gay!" or, "This dude's a girl!" or "This man is an idiot!" Go ahead. Laugh at me all you want. Truth be told, making fun of a guy who does something that might be considered "girly" (like wearing a pink or purple shirt, having sewing as a hobby, or watching chick flicks) is stuff that kids in middle and high school do, and it's quite immature. I don't make fun of anyone because of what they watch; I let my friends watch what they want, when they want, and I'll talk to them about it if they want. I think pretty much all of my friends watch things that I would never watch; however, I'm not going to tell them what they should and shouldn't watch. I realize I may have done that in the past, but that was when I was a lot younger and a whole lot dumber. The same thing applies to hobbies and clothes; whatever hobby you have or clothes you wear are fine with me.
Any comments?
Thursday, March 4, 2010
This has got to stop; problem is, no one can stop it but me.
I know that subject line sounds like something a comic book superhero would say, or, at least, think. However, I'm not talking about any outside force. I am having a problem, but that problem is not with anyone else, friend, enemy, or otherwise. It's with myself. The literature says that it is a symptom of Asperger's Syndrome, yet, I think I can overcome it, or, at least, limit it to the point where it won't bother others, which it has done almost my whole life. What is that problem? Talking out loud to myself.
Before you say something like, "I'm not autistic, and I do that, too!" let me explain what I mean. You might say a few words to yourself from time to time, but this is beyond that. This is to the point where, if you were in the other room and heard me, you'd think I was either on the phone or had someone else in the room with me. It gets to where most thoughts I have come out of my mouth somehow, whether by talking loudly, whispering, or some other way.
Now, I will explain the history of how this started. When I was a little kid, I watched quite a bit of television. I didn't understand about how TV cameras and all that stuff worked; I thought that everything I saw on TV was taken directly from someone's eyes. So, naturally, I thought everything I saw was on some channel, somewhere, which led me to talk out loud to an audience that wasn't there.
Eventually, I realized that there were TV cameras and all that. However, when I got to be middle school age, I was left alone a lot. I'm not blaming anyone; no parent should have to hire a sitter for his/her 11+-year-old son who is capable of taking care of himself and the house just fine, autism or not. Still, when I got left alone, since I had no one to talk to and nothing to do, I would start having long conversations with myself. I did it when my mom went to the store; I did it when she would sleep after working a 12-hour night shift; then, later on, I would do it at public places like my church, MovieStop and even at my first job, which I very well may have lost because of that bad habit. It's no one's fault but my own. While doing it at home is okay, because it's usually not really bothering anyone, when you're out in public, people get scared/repulsed/etc. because of that sort of thing.
Now, here's the thing: I still do get left alone a lot, plus I volunteer at my local library, which is very much a public place, and, I'm planning on getting a job as soon as possible, and I don't want to annoy/put off/etc. any of my co-workers by doing what I've talked about in this post. So, there's never been a better time to cure this habit. The question is: How? I've been talking to myself every day for as far back as I can remember! So, this is going to be a doozy of a habit to break. I'm sure I can curb it; all it takes it a lot of willpower. I may not be able to completely stop doing it, but I think I can reduce it enough to where it won't bother anyone.
Here is my question to you: Do you have any suggestions for how to stop doing this? Let me know.
Before you say something like, "I'm not autistic, and I do that, too!" let me explain what I mean. You might say a few words to yourself from time to time, but this is beyond that. This is to the point where, if you were in the other room and heard me, you'd think I was either on the phone or had someone else in the room with me. It gets to where most thoughts I have come out of my mouth somehow, whether by talking loudly, whispering, or some other way.
Now, I will explain the history of how this started. When I was a little kid, I watched quite a bit of television. I didn't understand about how TV cameras and all that stuff worked; I thought that everything I saw on TV was taken directly from someone's eyes. So, naturally, I thought everything I saw was on some channel, somewhere, which led me to talk out loud to an audience that wasn't there.
Eventually, I realized that there were TV cameras and all that. However, when I got to be middle school age, I was left alone a lot. I'm not blaming anyone; no parent should have to hire a sitter for his/her 11+-year-old son who is capable of taking care of himself and the house just fine, autism or not. Still, when I got left alone, since I had no one to talk to and nothing to do, I would start having long conversations with myself. I did it when my mom went to the store; I did it when she would sleep after working a 12-hour night shift; then, later on, I would do it at public places like my church, MovieStop and even at my first job, which I very well may have lost because of that bad habit. It's no one's fault but my own. While doing it at home is okay, because it's usually not really bothering anyone, when you're out in public, people get scared/repulsed/etc. because of that sort of thing.
Now, here's the thing: I still do get left alone a lot, plus I volunteer at my local library, which is very much a public place, and, I'm planning on getting a job as soon as possible, and I don't want to annoy/put off/etc. any of my co-workers by doing what I've talked about in this post. So, there's never been a better time to cure this habit. The question is: How? I've been talking to myself every day for as far back as I can remember! So, this is going to be a doozy of a habit to break. I'm sure I can curb it; all it takes it a lot of willpower. I may not be able to completely stop doing it, but I think I can reduce it enough to where it won't bother anyone.
Here is my question to you: Do you have any suggestions for how to stop doing this? Let me know.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Too Diverse In Interests?
Someone I know, though I can't say who, not only because this is a public blog, but also because I have no idea, once said that I was "too diverse in interests". Those of you who know me might agree; after all, do you know anyone else who likes reading science fiction, watching shows on Nickelodeon, and listening to classic rock? However, I would say that my diversity in interests is much better, and much more tolerable, than my interests were when I was much younger. If my interests were the same way they were when I was, say, seven years old, then I think I'd have a lot less friends.
What were my interests like when I was younger? Well, as some might say, I pretty much had a one-track mind. From as far back as I can remember until I was about nine, my obsession either was or had something to do with computers. You could have named any place in the universe, even something as fun as Disney World, and I would have still said that I'd rather be in front of my computer playing games than going to whatever place you named. It didn't matter that I'd played the games a thousand times; it didn't matter how fun the other place might have been; all that mattered was that there was nowhere else I would rather be than glued to that monitor. Pretty much all I could talk about was something computer-related. Even when I stopped obsessing over computers in general, my obsession was a computer game series. I didn't think I was obsessed at the time, but, when I think back to when my third grade teacher told me to stop writing about that computer game series in my journal, I'd have to say I most definitely was.
How did the change come about? Well, it actually started when I entered middle school. As you sixth grade classmates of mine might remember, I was obsessed with two things: Scooby-Doo and Pokémon. Those two things had very little to do with each other, but I still plastered pictures of them all over my binder like they were one and the same. Even when I would get obsessed with other things later on, there were still other unrelated interests, like being obsessed with 80's sitcoms but still playing Super Smash Bros. Melee almost every day and listening to contemporary Christian music from the 90's and 00's. You could say that I grew up, and that might be true; or, it could be that I realized that, if you just focus on one thing, you're missing out on a lot.
So, yes, there's really no common thread between the things that I like. However, I don't see that as a bad thing. Why? Simply because it means that I could strike up a conversation with almost anyone in America about something he/she likes. You don't like Anne Hathaway? Well, then we can talk about Star Trek. You're not a fan of sci-fi? Then, we can talk about iCarly. Don't care for Nickelodeon sitcoms? Let's talk about classic rock, then. Maybe that explains why I've been able to strike up so many friendships with various people; for most people, I like something that they like, too. Honestly, I don't see how someone can be too diverse in interests; is there anyone out there who likes absolutely everything in the universe? Of course not. I may be different from everyone else, but that's part of being autistic. You friends of mine understand that, right?
What were my interests like when I was younger? Well, as some might say, I pretty much had a one-track mind. From as far back as I can remember until I was about nine, my obsession either was or had something to do with computers. You could have named any place in the universe, even something as fun as Disney World, and I would have still said that I'd rather be in front of my computer playing games than going to whatever place you named. It didn't matter that I'd played the games a thousand times; it didn't matter how fun the other place might have been; all that mattered was that there was nowhere else I would rather be than glued to that monitor. Pretty much all I could talk about was something computer-related. Even when I stopped obsessing over computers in general, my obsession was a computer game series. I didn't think I was obsessed at the time, but, when I think back to when my third grade teacher told me to stop writing about that computer game series in my journal, I'd have to say I most definitely was.
How did the change come about? Well, it actually started when I entered middle school. As you sixth grade classmates of mine might remember, I was obsessed with two things: Scooby-Doo and Pokémon. Those two things had very little to do with each other, but I still plastered pictures of them all over my binder like they were one and the same. Even when I would get obsessed with other things later on, there were still other unrelated interests, like being obsessed with 80's sitcoms but still playing Super Smash Bros. Melee almost every day and listening to contemporary Christian music from the 90's and 00's. You could say that I grew up, and that might be true; or, it could be that I realized that, if you just focus on one thing, you're missing out on a lot.
So, yes, there's really no common thread between the things that I like. However, I don't see that as a bad thing. Why? Simply because it means that I could strike up a conversation with almost anyone in America about something he/she likes. You don't like Anne Hathaway? Well, then we can talk about Star Trek. You're not a fan of sci-fi? Then, we can talk about iCarly. Don't care for Nickelodeon sitcoms? Let's talk about classic rock, then. Maybe that explains why I've been able to strike up so many friendships with various people; for most people, I like something that they like, too. Honestly, I don't see how someone can be too diverse in interests; is there anyone out there who likes absolutely everything in the universe? Of course not. I may be different from everyone else, but that's part of being autistic. You friends of mine understand that, right?
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