He did knock.
Nobody heard him, not even the dogs.
Kind of scary.
A reason that the life expectancy is so low for autistic people is that so many of them kill themselves at a young age.
Many autistic kids get “autism conversion therapy” (called ABA or a few other names, invented by the same guy as gay conversion therapy and just as harmful) and this is straight-up abuse and it damages them. When they’re older, they have to live with all the trauma it caused them and it’s very hard to deal with.
I was lucky that I didn’t get that, but I feel so horrible that it’s rampant in my city. the thing I hate most is to know that children are being harmed.
And nelliebly, Autism Speaks is a hate group.
What state do I live in? Uh, I live in Montreal. They do have sliding scale things for therapy here but I’m still on a waiting list for that. And the least expensive therapists on those sliding scales are ones you can’t even stay with for very long. Too bad, because the last one I had was so good and one of the kindest people I’ve known.
Also, I’ve lately been worried about friends who have been helping me so much. I don’t know what to do.
IME when you don’t know what to do, the best thing is to do nothing. By that I mean take no action. Wait until you do know what to do. Eventually you will.
Howdy Y’all! We deheathenated, had N.O.L. at Longhorn’s (we got well-fed just like MetalMouse), and achieved nappage. The cee-mint pond got considered but did not happen. Happy to be inside and in the cool. Since tomorrow is a holiday for those who still deal with irk (for us everyday is a holiday) there will be no trash pickup, so no haulin’ the biiiiiiiiiiiiig trash can all the way down to the road until tomorrow. All in all 'tis been a very pleasant day.
{{{MG}}} you hang in there. You can always come in here for support. We all support you!
{{{Butters}}} hope the irk stuff gets better. Sounds like a few things are lookin’ up for hubs, so yay for that.
MOOOOOOM daughter and SIL are learnin’ the lesson no matter how big your place is, you still have too much crap. I know I do and I’ve gotten a rid of a bunch of it, but still there’s too much.
When SIL was here earlier, I pointed to the assorted stuff around the room and reminded him that he and Daughter would have to deal with it one day… Yeah, I’m evil. 
I was determined when I moved into this house 6 years ago that I would only have what I needed and nothing more.
Now I look around and think wtf did all this shit come from?
Goo has not forgotten the secret exit at the front door. She went under the deck, and we couldn’t coax her out. She eventually came in on her own.
We may have to replace the accordion-style screen door with a traditional screen door.
Evening all. Washed towels and then took a long nap (why after 9 hours sleep is a mystery, but my body said nap so I did. Then since nothing but “TBD” was on the menu, I decided that since I had exactly $5.11 on hand that I would get a 3-scoop Butter Pecan cone for dinner…hey, maybe not the greatest health thing, but it was very good and I do feel full for now.
flyboy, apparently Goo now knows that she has you well-trained. A new screen door my be your only hope…and she may figure that one out, too.
swampy, sari, FCM, when I remodeled the kitchen/bathroom two years ago and did the living/bedrooms early this year, I got rid of a lot of stuff, so right now I fit pretty well with my house…except for the books, and I ain’t getting rid of them.
Everyone have a good night and catch you on the next MMP.
Last time I moved, I tossed 2 dumpster fulls of crap. Apparently I am a neat, organized hoarder.
{{{butters and hubby}}} I hope that things continue to get better for the hubby. With any luck, your new boss won’t be long for his position.
{{{MG}}} Listen to nellie, she has some good advice.
Went to the backyard concert. It was good to get out of the house and see some of my friends in person. 
Swung through the OK Chinese to pick up supper I ordered when I left my friends’ house and house special soup and shrimp toast has been et.
The last time that I moved, I got rid of 5 car loads of stuff and a sofa. I’m looking at moving again next August, so I’m beginning to weed stuff out now.
Getting ready to chill in the studio now.
Shake & Bake pork chops, packet Country gravy, and mashed potatoes with butter and cream for dinner. And Mrs. L.A. broke out the margaritas. (I’m on my 3rd.)
I finished painting the side of the house. Mrs. L.A. finished the back, and did what she’s going to do on the front. I took the MG down to the DIY car wash. For two bucks I got a wash and a wax. And I didn’t even have to put on the ‘hood’.
Ah, there’s that promised start of the rain. Big, fat drops & lotsa wind & that “rain hitting hot dust” smell.
There’s a specific name for it - I forget.
Scrambled eggs for dinner … after a big, weird post-work snack of leftover chicken lettuce cups, plus pistachios, and two slices of bacon.
Strangest munchies - I just indulge 'em, who knows when I’ll be hungry again?
Oh, and my bizzarro treat du jour … little bits of black caviar, spooned straight from the jar into my mouth. It was, like, three or four bucks, tops, for the jar - it’s lasted me a few days of salty bliss.
MG, I’m not in a good position to advise or comfort or say anything hopeful. I can’t even really say “stick around” because my reasons for doing so include 1. The actual process by which someone would have to discover that something has happened to me is likely to be traumatic, costly and/or difficult to someone(s) who doesn’t deserve that and I can’t figure out a good way around that. 2. … um… that’s it. I think it’s profoundly unfair that humans aren’t given the same opportunity for dignity and peace as dogs. Buuuuuut… that’s for another time and place (or maybe a “keep-that-to-yourself” thing).
I will say, here’s something I’ve done: on some nights when everything is too much, even if I’m not actually planning on doing anything (I’m a planner and it’s not going to be impulsive when I do), I try the crisis text line. And oh my god is it stupid. And I hate it the whole time I’m doing it because I’m well aware that these are all people who are kind and sweet enough to volunteer for a crisis text line, so it would be borderline evil to be critical of them. It’s always super clear that they’ve been given some kind of “active listening” instruction/class/workshop. Which, rather than making you feel heard, tends to make me feel a little like I’m talking to a robot. The first time I did it, for example, the chick just slightly rephrased everything I said and repeated it back to me. “Even my cat hates me.” “I understand, Dorothy. Are you saying you’re afraid your pets don’t love you?” Like… yeah. Literally just said that. Alexa, is that you?
And yet… it does what it’s supposed to. It’s not going to make me feel like I’ve made a connection and been really understood and comforted. It’s not going to result in feeling like I’ve solved any big problems or worked through any real issues. What it did/will do is get me from 9:00 and utter despair and irrational panic that I can’t ease or distract away in any of the solo ways I know (like Great British Bake-Off or The Sims or window shopping for expensive cat furniture on Etsy), that I don’t want to bother anyone I know with because everyone I know has already been ridiculously patient with me, and that isn’t responding to medication… through to 11:00 when I can get to (non-permanent) sleep. Or, if nothing else, my social batteries are then exhausted and being alone again becomes more a relief than a source of panic.
Shoe- the rain smell is petrichor. And I also had scrambled eggs for dinner! Twinsies! Only mine was with leftover fridge-produce-surprise. Onion, spinach, bell pepper, tomato, carrot, and… I think that’s it. Anything that needed using.
Heaven*.
*on earth.
Boo
Thank you 
I have always wanted a word for this smell and now I do. And a great word it is.
Boo
Are you OK with autism.org? There are also good resources on coping during COVID there.
I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to be so rude to you. I know you’re being helpful. Thank you.
I didn’t read your reply as rudeness, just frustration, which is understandable. No apology needed.
dot, short life produce omelets make a regular Thursday evening appearance on my supper menu. You can work in a lot of things with eggs and cheese.
Horrible news: the kitchen faucet I ordered has arrived. Now I have to install it. Pray for me.