Ten years with Autism and Nanowrimo

I've made it my goal this year to work on my memoir Diana the Dreamer and Things that Begin with D by entering into Nanowrimo again and trying to write 50,000 words in the month of November. It has almost been ten years since I was diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome a form of High Functioning Autism. While it has been a long, but rewarding road from being socially awkward to being socially adequate, autism has blessed my life tremendously. My book is about:

Diana the Dreamer and Things that Begin with D chronicles my adventure of being diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome a form of High Functioning Autism, the summer before High School. Having Asperger Syndrome and being plunged into the social sea that is High School, I was drowning, but there were teachers and friends that pulled me out and made me who I am today. It also delves into my past to see if I could in fact pinpoint the moments when I first learned if there was something different about me and it also focuses on the challenges and positive aspects of autism.

Here's to many more years with autism and many more adventures.

Another Fascination: Maps

Here is another link to one of my favorite websites the Smithsonian. They have some of the best information on history, sports, and science along with fun link like this. I love the way maps look and the Smithsonian has taken that to the next level by posting maps of the literary world by Andrew DeGraff from his recent book Plotted: A Literary Atlas . Its a fascinating book in which DeGraff plots out the literary classics like Huckleberry Fin and Robin and Crusoe using ingenious maps to follow the plot. Its a fun read if you have the time. Here's just a sampling of his work from one of my favorite books as a child Around the World in 80 Days
                                                                                       

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/explore-robinson-crusoes-island-and-other-literary-worlds-180957051/?utm_source=facebook.com&no-ist

Doodling

Recently I came across an article about how coloring can be an alternative to meditation. In fact its becoming such a trend that six of the best sellers on Amazon are coloring books for adults. Not only is coloring a good stress reliever, but I believe doodling also helps relieve stress as well. Its easier for me to doodle because sometimes I like to hold the crayons, colored pencil, or whatever medium I'm using at the time, too tight. What do you think about coloring books for adults? Here is a sample of one of their coloring Mandalas with the link below. Mandalas are: is a spiritual and ritual symbol in Indian religions, representing the universe. The basic form of most mandalas are a square with four gates containing a circle with a center point.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/coloring-benefits-meditation_55b7c9c1e4b0074ba5a6724f

A Wet, Yet beautiful Fall

Its been raining for two days now, off and one. I went to Front Range Community College and continued with my painting class. I am not the best, but I sure had fun with my jousting painting because it had a lot of elements to it. I don't know about you, but I love all the small details one can cram into a painting see if you can find Waldo its pretty easy :D

While painting may not be my forte, I do love the small details and have fun doing it. Painting comes with its challenges though, I can't hold a paint brush still to save my life, but thank goodness for rulers right if I need to have a straight line. After Painting 101 I returned outside to the gloomy rain falling in light drizzles. My favorite thing to do during a light rainstorm is go to Margret's Pond. Margret's pond is a small body of water undisturbed by the surrounding golf courses and homes of Legacy Ridge, its a beautiful place to walk. There's this tall tree that hangs over the trail with beautiful gold laurels of leaves falling down in light patterns on the ground. The rain makes the bark a deep ebony hue.

The trees were a crisp yellow and the smell of fall fell lightly with the gentle rain

 

My favorite though is when the dewdrops collect on the dead flowers and hang there like beaded jewels.

After an inch of rainfall at Margret's Pond its always fun to see if the waterfall is running, usually its just a gentle trickle, but today it was gushing down the rocks.

After Margret's Pond, the best part is hunting for the red trees, which lie in a small clusters along the roadway, they are some of my favorite fall colors.