An interesting view on autism statistics and misdiagnosis as the only path to treatment.
From the Atlantic: http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200910u/autism-diagnoses
Watch the trailer for Autistic-Like: Graham’s Story
Today, we freecycled. For those who haven’t tried it, Google Freecycle and learn more. It’s like craigslist only everything is free and people are organized into local groups (makes it easier to exchange stuff that way). Today we found a home for 5 used, but very clean, litter boxes and a metal mailbox. The recipients needed what we had and we wanted to keep these things out of the landfill. It’s a win-win. 
Something very strange happened. It walked outside and it felt sunny and warm. The Christmas snow was meting, the sun was shining. I felt WARM. It was 48 DEGREES. That is not warm where I come from.
I guess my blood is thickening. 
December is not really the best time to clean the garage (unless you live in Phoenix, then it’s not bad). However, sometimes in the course of human events it becomes necessary to dig out from under the pile of stuff that’s been flung out in the garage to deal with at the magical time known as “later.”
Well, later is today.
So we broke down cardboard boxes that have obviously been multiplying when we weren’t looking so we can make a recycling run. And we rediscovered a few items that need a new home if possible so those were listed on Freecycle, there are a few bags for charity and a few items for friends. Mostly, I wondered if we would ever be able to buy a smaller house in the future. Maybe we can as long as it has a giant garage.
When we were house hunting the first time around, I looked at a house that had a 5-car garage (as long as the cars were Hondas, not Tahoes). Sometimes I daydream about that garage. Ok, really it’s more of a fantasy. Anyway…today that garage would be awesome.
I stretched it out to Cinco de Mayo–who knows? Maybe I will keep it going.
Ran around town with a friend this weekend–a great birthday present. Visited Truckee and Tahoe–there are a couple pics out on my flickr site. Did some gardening but just barely–next weekend I will need to work in earnest.
Spent time thinking about Twitter and other online tools. Read this essay on fostering innovation in the workplace http://gigaom.com/2008/04/17/pixars-brad-bird-on-fostering-innovation/ and that led me to this blog post with Getting Things Done guru David Alen, http://webworkerdaily.com/2008/02/25/david-allen-part-2-getting-things-web-done/. I am a fan of GTD but always struggle with the right mix of paper and technology in my mostly online life. I like this quote from the Q&A:
David: “If you’re trying to make complex things simple, you need an equally complex system in order to make it simple.
Most people are using too simple a system to manage a lot of complexity, that’s why it feels so overwhelming. So you have to have, it’s one of those “get it as simple as possible but no simpler” kind of things. And you say people only do work on the web. I say yeah, well do they ever go out for errands? Maybe there are people who never do, I mean, I don’t know.”
In the 21st century, vegans and vegetarians have it pretty good food-wise. (Not as true when I was a kid in the 70s.)
Well, now I have discovered the vegan Holy Grail: a vegan marshmallow by Sweet and Sara. I ordered a package from Vegan Essentials and now I am completely smitten by this delicious confection. Yummy, yummy, yummy.
Friends and family have started to refer to events as “blog worthy.” So, as if on cue:
On April 24, I attended the Banff Mountain Film Festival: 10 films in all in a sold out crow of 1400. Whew! Not my typical outing so it will stand out for a long time to come. The Reno stop was sponsored by The Nevada Land Conservancy. The Nevada Land Conservancy is a non-profit land trust working to preserve open space. Â
It’s raining. In the desert, that’s always a good thing. In a new climate, this master gardener from a low desert has been worrying about her new plants, dormant or not and the lack of moisture.
Dog update: she’s all puppy, all the time. Actually she has 80% good behavior—the other 20% keeps us on our toes. She’s very good with the sit command especially around meal times. She has a new Kong toy (heavy duty—she’s a serious chewer) that she loves and throws around with wild abandon. We had our first teeth brushing and that went ok. Still no barking although she can do a serious yowl.
We’ve been on a mission to change over to compact fluorescent light bulbs wherever we can. Trying to become carbon neutral. I have a ways to go but everyone needs to start somewhere. Just put in two new chandeliers with fluorescents and I am happy with the look.
I am genetically programmed to be a Washington Redskins fan. My mom is a D.C. native and my dad grew up in Arlington. I adopted the Ravens as a favorite several years ago. (Who doesn’t like a team that evokes a Poe-t?) But this year, I am pulling for another team.
No beating R. Bush,
It will be a Brees when the
Saints go marchin’ in.