Thawing after the ice storm. Orient, Oregon. February 9, 2014.
Just a quick one I threw together yesterday… An opportunity to familiarize myself with some of the Premier Pro CC changes, to do some side by side work with some different cameras (used my lousy Android phone for some of these shots), and to play with some more complex audio mixing than I’ve done so far.
Sandy River Delta, Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, Oregon. March 8, 2013.
Recently I was watching some videos on Asperger’s on YouTube. There is some good stuff up there and, of course, some crap (that is the nature of the beast), but learning more about this condition and about how to help my son learn how to navigate in the world is something I try to spend some time doing from time to time.
Obviously, this is a full time process, not a time to time one, but I like to dedicate a few hours to watching and reading material about Asperger’s a couple times a month.
Sometimes I learn new things, or re-enforce some things that I already know, and at other times it is more just for my own sanity, to remind myself that these are real things and we are not all crazy. In that way, these sessions can fulfill the role of a support group, I suppose.
I’ve been meaning to start throwing up some posts covering some of the material I’ve been looking at and writing about my own experiences raising a child with Asperger’s. The other day, after seeing a video that I will discuss at another time, I found myself writing so much in the comments that I realized I pretty much had already written most of a post.
“Ah ha!”, I thought. I’ll throw these comments and videos together and I’ll have my first post.
This, however, is not that post. A few things happened between then and now.
First of all, one of the drawbacks of throwing that post up was that I’d be starting this conversation off writing about a very unpleasant aspect of life raising an “Aspie”, meltdowns.
In fact, the second reason I am delaying that post is that this is a huge and complicated topic. In fact, it is probably the one of the most challenging aspects of Asperger’s that parents have to deal with, and even that one post, I realized, was quickly growing into at least two different posts covering several different issues involving meltdowns.
But, beyond all that, I’d rather start off with a more positive topic, especially when thinking about some videos I posted on my Facebook profile a couple weeks back which made some people, I fear, walk away with a misleading view of Asperger’s, making it feel like Asperger’s was a crippling disorder leading to, or even guaranteeing, a life of severe disability and misery.
That is far from the case, especially if it is diagnosed early and the child is raised with the understanding and taught the unique skills he needs to survive in a world where he is just wired up a little bit differently.
In fact, today, I started off watching a very positive video made by a woman who has Asperger’s about the good parts of having this condition and I would like to share that video in this first post, starting things off on an upbeat note.
Before I wrap up for today, I also wanted to point out that, in these posts I hope to be making over the next few months, I am only sharing my own experience, strength, and hope. What my family has experienced with our child, and the solutions that have and have not worked, may vary. I have no training other than what I’ve learned through working with my child and his various providers. So, any thing I say, is pretty much just opinion and not fact. It should be taken as such.
Troutdale, Oregon. October 7, 2012. Took a quick stroll on Sunday with the big one, a friend of his, and the dog out to “Dog Beach” on the Sandy River.
Sandy River
Lewis & Clark State Recreation Area
Troutdale, Oregon
September 28, 2012
September 8, 2012. Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, Oregon.
I kind of lost touch with Rick over the last year as my life got busy, but it looks like his life has been pretty full too. Check out this awesome video! I love to see friends doing awesome things!
Last Chance Garage updates « Alex Cassun Production Blog:
We’ve had a few nice little things happen with Last Chance Garage over the last two days. Yesterday I learned that the doc has moved into the next round of competition at the G-Tech “Driving Creativity” competition, and this morning I’d received an email saying we’ve been shortlisted for the ArcLight Cinemas Documentary Festival in Hollywood! (This is particularly exciting because ArtLight is my favorite movie theater in the world — and will be even more so now…)
If you have 5 minutes to spare, please click the link…
[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieDU5EOhyHg&feature=share&list=PLxlbvpDM9TmOwiYhhTLEmBz0xbfCuHLEX]
… and give us a watch and a vote, and, if you don’t mind, spread the word so that your friends will do the same. We’re very proud of LCG and we want to get it seen by as many people as we can.
VOTE HERE: https://www.facebook.com/ArclightCinemas
Crap, just noticed my Suburban Eschatology: Life & Parenting board is now featured on Snip.it... Now I feel obligated to actually update it with interesting content more than once ever six weeks.
http://snip.it/collections/3528-Suburban-Eschatology-Part-Two-Life—Parenting
A few days ago, after a year of swearing up and down he would never ride a bike again, he ran in and demanded that I get his bike out and take off the training wheels. We did, and I said that I wouldn't be able to help him ride until this weekend. He said it didn't matter, said that he already could ride a two wheeler, and then hopped on and rode off.
Iggy the Hamster passed away last Friday. I’ve been meaning to get this post up for days, but I’ve been sidelined by sick computers, sick kids, and a sick me!
Probably, it was the cold virus knocking us down that got her.
Anyway, here’s to the most punk rock hamster I’ve ever met. She used to trash her cage at least once a week in a fit of rock-n-roll rage.
She’ll be missed.
Suburban Eschatology Part Two: Iggy the Hamster and the Cheese Puff from A. F. Litt on Vimeo.
How to get kids to think critically | Bad Astronomy | Discover Magazine:
Via io9 I saw a wonderfully-done and highly engaging series of short videos teaching kids the basics of critical thinking. Each one is great, with good pacing and solid info that teenagers can use to sort fact from fiction.
Watch below or stream the entire sequence, in order, on the SE2 Playlist: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLF0CC6A5CB5710759
Pacific Northwest Lineman Rodeo. Gresham, Oregon. July 2009.
Good views of our neck of the woods…
Obligatory snow video... Gresham, Oregon.
This is why I am shooting so many of these little videos these days, practice with the new camera... I had my finger on one of the microphones this time. Better on a little snow video than on something really dramatic and exciting.
Thought there was more from 2009, but this was it. Berry Ridge. Gresham, Oregon. July 4, 2009.
Gresham, Oregon. February 12, 2012.
My good camera was out of batteries so I had to use the old one. Unfortunately, the high pitched whine is back on the audio track, so I tried to drown it out with some Ramones.
