Pressing Puzzles

Way back in an earlier posting, I wrote about music. This posting was music in general and some of the influences I had when it came to music, but I decided that one particular artist needed my full attention on my blog because he is very special to me. I must first preface by saying that I'm not a country music fan. There are very few country artists I can actually say I 'like'. Johnny Cash is one of those very few artists that really can't be placed in a certain musical category. Think about it, Johnny Cash is the only person to be inducted into 4 different music Halls Of Fame: The Song Writers (1977), The Country Music (1980), The Rock-n-Roll (1992) and The Gospel Music (2010)! To me, Johnny is more than just being in four Halls of Fame, it's the message and the music that really reached out to me like it did for millions of other people. I have to echo my sentiments when Justin Timberlake won the MTV award for best video over the video Johnny Cash made from...

Yes, I will admit that the title of this piece was inspired from Bon Jovi. I listened to this song for a long time, but I have to be honest and say that I've had a new look on my life in regards to this music. I can look at this 'Wanted: Dead or Alive" in several parts of my life choices and disorders. If you have been reading my blogs, you know that I'm Christian and I'm not afraid to admit it, but in many parts of the world, I would be considered a 'wanted man'. My disorder of Asperger's Syndrome has seemed to put a bull’s eye on my head with people that either don't understand or don't WANT to understand. Back on February 16th of 2015 21 Christian men were slaughtered because of their belief in Jesus. Here's the small part of the news story: "The 21 men have been declared martyrs by the Coptic Church. In the yard of the Coptic Church in the village of  Yes, I will admit that the title of this piece was inspired from Bon Jovi...

Came in from a rainy Thursday on the avenue Thought I heard you talking softly I turned on the lights, the TV and the radio But still I can't escape the ghost of you What has happened to it all? Crazy, some'd say Where is the life that I recognize? Gone away But I won't cry for yesterday There's an ordinary world somehow I have to find And as I try to make my way To the ordinary world I will learn to survive Passion or coincidence once prompted you to say Pride will tear us both apart Well, now pride's gone out the window Cross the rooftops, run away Left me in the vacuum of my heart What has happened to me? Crazy, some'd say Where is my friend when I need you most? Gone away But I won't cry for yesterday There's an ordinary world somehow I have to find And as I try to make my way To the ordinary world I will learn to survive What has happened to it all? Crazy, some'd say Where is ...

"You are what you eat." Does this statement define who you are? A few might say so, but I think it goes a lot deeper than that. I've been writing these blogs for a while now and I would assume one would label me as having Autism, so I guess you could call me Autistic. However, you also know me as a father, a husband, a son, a brother, an uncle, and not too far off...granddad. So...what am I? A Christian? A teacher? A writer? A heterosexual? A lover? A fighter? It seems like we've gotten into this habit of labeling everything. Even some of these labels have turned into fads. Anyone still remember the 'Hippies'? It's frustrating when society takes a way of life for some people and blows it up into fad. Makes me wonder if they'll try to turn autism into a fad! It's a just cause, I mean, I didn't get this from a vaccination needle or from a mere choice, but I was born with it. Now that I think about it, I guess deep down me having the label of a...

I would like warn everyone right now that my wife could easily write the rest of this blog. ( It wouldn't surprise me if her comment is longer than my blog !) There are two things everyone needs to understand about listening, 1.) It's not the same as 'hearing'. Hearing is one of your 5 senses, it helps you with the listening, but they are different. 2.) Listening is work. I have told my speech and drama classes that for years and each time they look at me like I'm nuts. ( Depending on your definition !) To actually listen, it takes a lot of effort and energy. Eye contact and acknowledgment of the speaker is mandatory. As adult with Asperger's, the toughest of those has to be the eye contact. My wife is a very beautiful woman, but even with her good looks, I still have a hard time looking in the eyes for a long period of time...especially when she's mad at me! I've been married for over 20 years and the one thing that makes a differences beginning able ...

This by far, will be the most difficult one to discuss. Psychiatrists always try to advice people that have been through a horrible ordeal to clinging to their religion as a way of seeking comfort. As for myself, my religion is Christianity. Please don't think that I'm suddenly going to turn into Billy Graham and start preaching until the tent comes down. I just want you to understand where I'm coming from when I talk about all the tragedies I've had to face so far in my life with having Asperger’s. Just as an overview ONLY, because the way you believe is your own business and not for me to say right or wrong; Christianity is the belief that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that He came, was crucified and God resurrected Him from the dead. The idea is that if we believe in our heart that we are sinners and that God really did raise Jesus from the dead then we will be saved through Him (And be forgiven). [Romans 10:9] So when we die, we'll be with Jesus in heaven...