Friday, December 30, 2005

What's Mine is Yours (Autism Story #1)

Once me, myself and I all decided to open the memory vault of our autism stories, we realized just how many there are…12 years and 137 kids have provided us with so many wonderful, disheartening, lovely, frightening, funny and endearing memories that we just didn’t know where to begin. (Okay, enough with the third person). I have been so touched, moved, changed and blessed by all my little friends that it is important to do them justice by conveying just how amazing they all are. I finally decided that my first autismblog would be about my little friend Adam (FYI, of course all my little friends names will be changed to protect their identities), who is truly a superstar and provided me with so much joy and laughter:

One thing I have learned working with children on the spectrum is that you can never take for granted what a child does or does not know (they always know more that you might think). Another thing that I have learned is that so much of our language is non-intuitive and dependent on theory of mind (“you” say “my nose”, but “I’m” supposed to call it “your nose” and “my nose” is actually right “here”, which “you” call “there”). See what I mean? Well maybe you don’t.

Anyways, my little friend Adam learned his pronouns like the superstar that he is (“I am wearing your hat”, “you are eating my apple”) and we were on to much bigger and better things teaching observational learning, theory of mind etc. I would ask him questions (such as “what is Michael’s favorite color?”, “What did Brandon eat for breakfast?”, etc.) and if he didn’t know he was taught to say “I don’t know” and ask me back, at which point I would either tell him the answer or send him to ask one of the other teachers or look it up in a book,etc. As tedious as this may sound, I kept it silly and we made it a lot of fun. I always tried to mix up the questions, but doing this everyday, I occasionally had creative blocks and asked non-meaningful questions (something I always try to avoid doing). So one day when I said “Hey Adam, where’s Miami?” I of course received the most logical of all responses from my bright little Adam who quite possibly had been overdrilled by me and his other teachers in the past, “I don’t know. Where’s your ami?”

Thursday, December 29, 2005

Autism Blogs...

In my dissapointing search to discover interesting and well written blogs since reading my first blog (or as I have come to refer them as, blah, blah blahgs) nearly a month ago, I have discovered that proportionally the best, most poignant, humorous, well-written, charming blogs were written by parents of children diagnosed with autism...I realize this is merely a babyblogger squaregirls opinion, but I have developed some theories as to why I feel parents of children diagnosed with ASD are proportionally the best bloggers...

1. Bias. Having worked with children on the spectrum for the last 12 years (and loving it!) and having received a diagnosis at the age of three (more on that later), I am always disarmed and charmed by stories of our wonderful children with a diagnosis...so maybe it's just me...

2. It's Genetics

3. It's the Mercury

When I started blogging (the day after reading my first blog) I was determined to avoid the contreversial-in-every-area subject of autism yet...

1. I have been so charmed and inspired by the autism bloggers out there including (and I apologize for my ignorance on how to link) Mom-NOS (charming), Octoberbabies (lovely and touching) and Injectingsense (sensible and well written)

2. I have worked with children on the spectrum for the last 12 years (and loving it!) and having received a diagnosis at the age of three (more on that later), I am always charmed by stories of our wonderful children with a diagnosis. (Echolalia, perseveration whatever, it just fits in here and after my previous statement)

So needless to say, I think I just might throw my proverbial hat in the ring and share some very charming stories about my amazing, superstar kids...afterall...

1. I have some amazingly charming stories to share ( although I feel that I will not do them justice)

plus...

2.No one really reads this blog anyway

Wednesday, December 28, 2005

"Lalalalalalalalalalala...."

....that is the sound of me not listening to all of you out there trashing my beloved Clippers. Oh, and dear Clips, If you are reading this (which of course you are, why would you NOT be?), I suggest you do the same. Hang in there...after all, even if you are sharing it with those Suns, you are still number one.

Tuesday, December 27, 2005

SquareGirl and the Jett...

The Jett and I have a dysfunctional relationship. There...I said it (or wrote it rather). I'm sure my close friends and family have suspected as much for sometime...what with the Jett always throwing tantrums and breaking things like windows and doors and alarms and such and me not washing or taking very good care of him...I've never really wanted to talk about it, but I've finally had enough...and I really mean it this time! Sure, the Jett and I have had some good times, farfanuugen in the mountains and the beach and all that, but those days are over. It's time for us both to move on. As fun as it's been, I am sooooo over those high maintenance Germans and I think at 32, it's finally time for me to accept that it's best to be with something more practical, predictible and lower maintenance...perhaps I'll get a good ole reliable Accord...I guess we all have to settle down sometime.

Tuesday, December 20, 2005

Blogging on...

Things I have learned how to do thus far:

1. Read a blog (not as simple as one might think what with all the links and archives and banners and trackers and such).
2. Name a blog
3. Create a blog on Blogger
4. Choose a blogger template
5. Post a blog
6. Change the template of a blog
7. Edit a blog
8. Add a photo (well sometimes)
9. Delete a blog
10. Start a whole new blog

Things I have yet to learn:

1. EVERYTHING ELSE

Friday, December 16, 2005

Free Speech at only $12.95 per month!

Silly Americans. Always wanting what we can't have or what our neighbors pay $12.95/month for, even though we didn't necessarily care all that much about it last month when we could've had it for free.
I like Howard Stern, I really do, but something about this $12.95/month price tag for free speech and his big ol' salary and very public publicity wreaks of conspiracy to further brainwash America into believing we really HAVE to have...HAVE to pay for even, something that's shock factor has waned in our quickly jaded society.
...then again, this could simply be just some sort of private inside joke...

Thursday, December 15, 2005

No means No...

"Why no, ma'am, I will not be using my Macy's chargecard for this purchase"
"...no, no I don't currently have a Macy's charge card..."
"No, actually I didn't realize that I would get a 15% discount for both today's AND tomorrow's purchases" (you mean people really do this sort of thing two days in a row?).
"No thanks, REALLY, I mean it, NO."

Now I know how it must look, me being in a place like this and all, but REALLY, I am just not that kind of girl.

Tuesday, December 13, 2005

A little more blind

Today, California just seems a little more blind...

Monday, December 12, 2005

about that Tookie thing...

So Arnold, or Govenor, or God or whomever it is you are playing these days...I know, as you mentioned, this is the hard part of your job (although it seems relatively simple to me) and I know that you are getting all kinds of advice on this subject from all kinds of people. Being that I'm no Snoop and all, I'll refrain from adding my two cents...But I thought I might share some advice from some pretty wise people:

"An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind."
Mahatma Gandhi

"The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong."
Mahatma Gandhi, (attributed)

"We cannot change the past, but we can change our attitude toward it. Uproot guilt and plant forgiveness. Tear out arrogance and seed humility. Exchange love for hate --- thereby, making the present comfortable and the future promising."
Maya Angelou

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. "
Martin Luther King, Jr.

"Nonviolence is a powerful and just weapon. which cuts without wounding and ennobles the man who wields it. It is a sword that heals."
Martin Luther King, Jr.

"If we really want to love we must learn how to forgive."
Mother Teresa

Oh yeah, and

You may say Im a dreamer,
but I'm not the only one,
I hope some day you'll join us,
And the world will live as one.

Saturday, December 10, 2005

The Clipper Bandwagon



First they ignored us, then they laughed at us, then they fought us, then we won...

My 2 brothers-in-law, my dad and most of my friends and co-workers have always been huge Laker fans. I, on the other hand, have been a huge Clipper fan for the last five years. Despite my insistence on the potential and talent of the Clipper bench, I have often been either laughed at, or even worse, dismissed when I expressed my Clipper love and insisted that they were a team to watch. So now that it is “Hip to be Clip” (an expression that I am almost embarrassed to repeat), rather than saying “I told you so” (well, I guess I just said it), I move over to make room on this expansive bandwagon. There is plenty of room here, after all this is L.A., the city of sprawl (apparently even Anaheim is L.A. now). You just have to be prepared for the traffic...something the Cavalier’s learned about last Saturday night. You will find, especially if you are hopping over here from that other L.A. love-train, that the egos here are refreshingly small. There is less drama, and with the additions of Sam Cassell (I love you Sam!) and Cuttino Mobley, a lot of heart. The Clipper Spirit finally actually has Spirit. So for those of you new to this bandwagon, Welcome. Just leave your purple and gold at the door.

Friday, December 09, 2005

The Death of The Cool


Nowhere lies The Cool. Slowly suffocated by imitation and misrepresentation, The Cool suffured from major traumas in September, 1991 and Spetember of 2003. While there is disagreement on the actual time and date of death of The Cool, many are convinced that The Cool is still in fact, alive. Many claim that they often see apparations of The Cool and some believe that The Cool has actually gone into hiding. Some, who have accepted the death of The Cool are awaiting It's ressurection, while others believe that The Cool will never be ressurected as long as it's name is so constantly being used in vain. And then there is a very small group of people that believe that The Cool not in fact be ressurected, but rather reincarnated.

Wednesday, December 07, 2005

Imagination food...


...my nearly year-old nephew has been eating a lot of it lately. He enjoys it so much that despite his mamas protests, he will even pick it up off of the floor to eat it. He loves it! He makes yummy noises whenever he eats it and often shares some with his mama. What is it? It's special food that helps increase the imagination. What does it look like? I'll let you know when I see it.

Tuesday, December 06, 2005

A Coversation with God...well sorta


SquareGirl: Hey God!

Voice: Hello SquareGirl

SG: God? You don't sound like yourselll...uh Arnold? Is that you?

Arnold: Well, yes...it is me. What gave me away?

SG: What are you doing on God's line?

Arnold: Well you see, you live in Caleeefornia, a place that let's me play God whenever there is to be an exec...

SG: Oh yeah...I had forgotten about that part of your job description. So what does GOD have to say about this?

Arnold: We haven't really talked about this, I'm not sure that God knows.

SG: Uh, well I'm pretty sure She does...you know, being omniscient and all. And maybe you should.

Arnold: Should what?

SG: Talk to Her about it.

Arnold: Maybe...

(Silence)

Arnold: so anyway SquareGirl why did you call God anyway?

SG: er, well I'm not quite sure exactly...seems I've forgotten.

Arnold: Sounds like it must not have been very important.

SG: yeah...well now that I think about it it must not have been very important at all...

Monday, December 05, 2005

I HEART Sam Cassell!


My love for him started when I first saw him play live for the Clippers as he passionately rallied his new teamates, it grew as I watched him and former teamate Kevin Garnett in a fight for a loose ball that ended with a big bear hug when the whistle blew and was solidified when I saw him jump into Chris Kaman's arms after Kaman made a pretty spectacular backwards layup against Cleaveland.
Despite how my reasons are beginning to sound, there is no homoerotic element to my love for Sam Cassell. I HEART Sam Cassell, simply because Cassell has a lot of heart! Over the past few years, the Clippers have had the talent they needed to win games, but what they haven't had is the knowledge of HOW to win. Sam Cassell not only knows how to win, but to fight passionately for that win.
Now I know very little about the rumored squabble Cassell had with his former team management, but what I do know is that his old teamate Kevin Garnett was upset to have Cassell go, and in L.A. it is very refreshing to hear about a superstar player angry about a teamate actually LEAVING. And now as I get to watch Cassell in action from my third level seats, I can defintiely see why KG hated to lose him as a teamate. Not only does Cassell know how to win, but he knows how to win playing next to superstars. It seems that Magette, Kaman and especially Elton Brand are coming into their own this year and the Clippers are definitely fighting for their wins. I can't help but wonder how much of this all new Clipper Spirit is being influenced by Cassell. And while Cassell isn't the most obvious star on a team that has one of the deepest benches in the NBA, on the court he definitely shines!