O .... M .... B .... (oh, my boy)....

Heheh...

Oh boy, you just can't make this stuff up...

Here's the email exchange from this afternoon:

Gina and Robin, I thought you'd get a huge kick out of this since you all know how Aspergers works...  I have to laugh...  just so funny!!!!

 ~~~~~

Characters involved:  Me, CJ, Mrs C (Asperger Coach), Mrs B (School Counselor), Mrs W (Principal), Mr T (teacher), Mr W (teacher)


Mrs B:  A student told me today he made $20 by selling 2 of his coins at school today.  When I asked him who bought the coins he said CJ.  I would be if you want the money back it may be best to take care of it today.  Mrs C, Mrs W, the student is "SS" (not real initials).  I'm not sure how you want to handle this.


Me:  Have CJ call me.  ASAP.  xxx-xxx-xxxx


Mrs C:  He comes into my room in a couple of minutes.


Mrs C:  Can someone call "SS" to the office to reclaim the money?  I will have the coins sent down to the office so "SS" can get those back.


Mrs B:  Done.  Mr T already had the money.  Now we just need to get the coins back from CJ.  Mrs C, can you do that?

(CJ and I then spoke on the phone)

CJ:  Hi Mom.  I was optimistic at first, but then figured they were fraudulent.
Me:  So what about these coins?
CJ:  They're medals, actually.  (something something) Hunting Club.
Me:  No.  No no no no...  You need to go ahead and return them, and get your money back.
CJ:  Okay.  I thought they could be fake.
Me:  Next time an opportunity like this happens, let's talk about it before money exchanges hands, okay?  You're not in trouble... let's just talk at home before you pay someone, okay?
CJ:  Okay.
Me:  Okay, well I'll see you this afternoon.  Love you, buddy.
CJ:  (silence)
Me:  Bye!
CJ:  Bye!  ... click ...

(end of phone call)

Me:  Thanks so much for keeping an ear out for this sort of thing!  This one will be for the giggles.  Especially since CJ said, "I was optimistic at first, but then figured they were fraudulent"  Oh Boy.


Mrs C:  I know, tee hee.  CJ will have the money shortly.  We are now talking about people who are willing to cheat you, are they your friend?  Also, CJ decided he will "never do business with "SS" again."


Mr T:  I just went for a quick walk with "SS" and talked about the same thing.  I will bring the money down to the office.  Thanks


Mrs C:  All is right with the world.


Me:  Yes, definitely one for the scrapbook.  Ahh, posterity.


Mrs C:  The "event" is over.  CJ has his money back.  Just so you know, CJ is carrying $40.00 in his wallet.  Just worried that he might be "talked" out of is if he shows it to anyone other than a teacher.


Me:  Ahhh... :)  I'll make sure to have CJ keep no more that $5.00 in his wallet at all times.  Hehehe.. :)


Mrs W (principal):  Having just read this entire exchange, I'm glad it was resolved so easily and wish that the rest of life's problems were that easy to solve.  Thank you all.


~~~~



Yes, CJ and I will have a friendly talk at home - I told him he wasn't in trouble, but before we do anything else like that, we should talk at home first...


Too too funny....

CJ's definitely famous :)

We were interviewed by the local paper last week, and here's the amazing article about Asperger's and life with it :)

So very proud!!!

Hopefully you can read it - if not, read the article online :)

CJ's sorta famous!

CJ testified before the ND Legislature about life with Asperger's.

Here's the video and text.  Listen carefully, CJ talks quite fast  :)

My name is CJ.

I am almost 13 and am a 7th grader in Fargo, North Dakota.  I have a type of Autism called Asperger’s Syndrome.

One in 88 children has an Autism Spectrum Disorder.

I am one in 54 because I am a boy.

Elementary school was terrible because it was nearly impossible for people to understand me.  I felt like people were picking on me on purpose.  Sometimes I got angry and didn’t know how to handle it.  I just wanted peace and quiet.

Middle school is okay, but there are pros and cons to middle school.

One of the pros is, you’re unique from a lot of other people.  There are cons too—like it being hard to make friends.  I want to make friends but it’s really hard because people just don’t understand me as I wish they did.  Some people are jerks and don’t care about my feelings, but there are also good people who really care about my feelings.  Sometimes I just wish I had only the pros of Aspergers but I’m still glad I have Aspergers.  I can’t explain why because it’s really hard.

What’s good about Aspergers is: one of the pros is being unique and my memory is quite good.  My favorite book genre is science.  I love science and Albert Einstein is my hero.  He was the world’s smartest man in my opinion.

Sometimes it is very hard for me to focus on one thing, especially if there are other distractions.  In fact, while mom is typing this for me, I am playing my Nintendo DS.  This is the best way to do it.  I don’t know why, it is just easier.  Strangely, it is really hard for me to focus when I’m just doing one thing.

If I’m doing something with my hands, it helps me stay focused on what I’m doing.

My brain needs to be busy in order to help me focus on what I need to do.

It’s almost like someone is poking me and won’t stop, so my brain is distracted from everything else that I’m doing – distracted enough to make me pause for a while and think.

But sometimes the noise outside my brain makes it hard to pay attention. Also, it can make me really upset. When I’m at the mall it’s like I’m in a jungle surrounded by howler monkeys and they’re all screaming at the same time. I just need to go away and stay away from the noise. Mom says that’s because my brain processes noises differently than other people.

I wish people knew this about me and Aspergers:  that we’re different than everyone else.  We’re different, but, at the same time we’re the same.  All of us have things that make us unique.  Some people are different on the outside; others are different on the inside.  My mom says that ‘normal’ is just a setting on a washing machine.  My teacher said that maybe the kids with Aspergers are the ‘normal’ ones.

I think that maybe both of them are right.

I do believe that if you haven't learnt about sadness, you cannot appreciate happiness. ~~ Nana Mouskouri

I've had a horribly depressed few weeks.  Things are still weird at home but work is much better.  Not sure what's been going on - mom thinks it's exhaustion from the play I was in - I don't think so.  Sure, it wore me out, but it was a small contributor to my recent issues.
Dad's worried about me discussing work on here - I completely understand - it hasn't been the work that's bothered me - it's been my depressive mood - and mood swings - that have been affecting me for the past few weeks.
All of a sudden I think it was yesterday that I just got a new positive vibe about things and work has been great.  I've been motivated and really wanting to get things done - working very hard to do quality work, not just getting by.  I sent a quick email to my supervisor about not being myself recently - she had noticed that I haven't been myself.  A couple weeks ago I got the notice that it's annual review time - I always feel like I'm going into the principal's office...

I am so tired....  off to sleep for a while.

Gnite :)

preoccupied

yes, the title says it all.... I've been completely preoccupied at work and can't seem to get anything done.
been this way for a while now, I just have the ultimate desire to go home, watch animal planet and do more stitching.  almost completely done with the stocking for Chris, I just have to put his name on it and make it into a stocking...

I've been working on the pattern mom and dad got me for christmas - two cats on a piano complete with music...  it's a complicated pattern but I LOVE it...

I guess I feel a bit lost.  Not sure why - I get started on stitching and that's all I want to do for a good few hours... I can hang out with CJ and stitch while we watch tv or a movie.  Maybe it's theatre withdrawals already, I guess.

Not sure - having some up/down days.... really strange... Saturday I had to get out of the house so CJ and I went to the mall for a while.  I found some awesome "dress denim" pants (so soft!!!) and some shirts for work.  thank GAWD because I really needed some new things.  Next it's time to dig out the sandals and cute heels.

actually fixed my hair today - thank you blowdryer!

It's spring break on campus so things will be sa-lowwwww....

randomness today...  it's weird - feeling happy and goofy one minute then kinda blah the next.  grr... damn weather...