Going Home

I don't have too much to say today or much time, but after my presentation today I am returning to Saint Louis after another week in southwest Missouri. As excited as I am to be able to sleep in my own bed I am also sad that this tour of southwest is coming to an end. Sure, I will be back down here in just two weeks, but I've spent the last two weeks here and I've found a rhythm and have enjoyed the constant "go go go."

Of course, I don't like change and today represents a change. I do know I'll be back down here in a couple weeks, but for me, today, it is like I'm never coming back despite the fact that I'm looking at my calendar right this second.

As I said, not too much time today, I must now head to Aurora for a presentation, then it's onward to home, and then I've got a 9AM presentation tomorrow making it 7 presentations in days.

A Trip to the Eye Doctor

I've been putting it off for quite some time. I've needed to go, but I always found an excuse to get out of it, but today, as I was driving by Wal-Mart, I finally caved in so I went in to get my eyes checked.

My last eye exam was in June of 2010 when I got my reflective sunglasses, but I've needed a new pair of normal glasses for about a year. "Why delay?" you ask. While I may always dislike social situations I actually have a phobia of the eye doctor.

This phobia started in 4th grade when I got my eyes checked for the first time. It was test after test and then the final test was this contraption that I put my eyes up to and then, without warning, a puff of air was dispensed towards my eye. I believe this made me spring back and I fell out of the chair. If that wasn't bad enough I was told, "now the next eye." I can remember crying at hearing that because the pain was so great and I wanted to do anything, well, I wanted to leave rather than experience that again.

Since then I have realized I have very sensitive eyes. Is it cause by being on the spectrum? I'm not sure, but I do know, about three years ago, when I tried to have contact lenses, if someone would have video taped me trying to put the contacts in it would be one of the most watched videos on YouTube. Honestly, the amount of squirming I did defies what you think is humanly possible.

So today, I did go and get my eyes checked and at all the previous doctors I've been too I have not had that puff of air machine. That is until today. The lady said, "no we'll just put a puff of air in each eye..." and I instantly backed away from the machine and stated that this would not be a good idea. She mentioned that it is needed to, "check for glaucoma" and I still said no and that if we went through with it I'd probably end up on the floor. She insisted on doing it, but I was even more firm in not doing it, which is unusual because I hate to not follow directions, but I didn't want to relive the agony I had from 4th grade.

So that was my trip to the eye doctor. I can't wait to get my new glasses because my vision is slightly different and the slight haziness of small letters has been annoying me. As for me, today, I've got to get ready for my presentation tonight so I must end this here.

A "Checkered" Past?

I often get asked in presentations if I, "have ever had issues taking things literally?" I will usually mention that typically I do not unless I have not heard a line before. Little did I know I've been hearing a line over and over and had no idea it's true meaning.

I discovered my error over Christmas while at my sister's during our annual Who Wants to Be a Millionaire games on the Wii. It was the 2nd year for this and on my turn the second question I came across was, "Usually, what does it mean if someone has had a checkered past?" The first thing that popped into my mind was this photo of me:

To me, this is checkered. The options for the question were, "A. A troubled past B. A past filled with victories C. A past filled with dental issues or D. Lots of days playing checkers." With the image of me flying the checkered flag for the winner I instantly, without a second thought, went with B. My sister blurted out in a sad tone, "Aaron..." and I was confused as I was expecting the music of a right answer to play, but my joy experienced a false start as the crashing tones of the wrong answer played. I was in shock.

My sister looked at me in a confused manner as if to say, "How did you miss that?" and I stared at the screen perplexed. I've heard that phrase used so many times and I thought it meant someone of a hero status who always was on top. As my mom took her turn to play I got on my phone to look it up and was flabbergasted when it read, "A morally dubious past."

Thankfully, my misunderstanding only hurt me on the score sheet (although I must brag I came out ahead in the end, although it was a hard fought fight on the last night) but I experienced a thing that many people on the spectrum face. Non-literal sayings like this can wreak havoc on us. If it weren't for WWTBAM I probably still would think checkered past meant something much like the photo above.

There are so many figures of speech, and I use them too, that I think we forget about them and simply take them for granted. As you go through your day today just take a step back and listen to all the conversations. Keep a mental note of how many phrases are said that aren't literal. Also, keep track of how many times you hear, "That was like a..." Each time you hear one just think how confusing it would be if you took it as literal as possible. Maybe you'll hear a lot, maybe you'll hear a few, or perhaps none, but even if you hear one, or use one without thinking, just think how difficult or confusing it would be if you took it in the literal fashion. I'm thankful that, for the most part,  I understand non-literal sayings... Although perhaps I just think I do. How many more sayings are out there that are like "A checkered past" that I have misunderstood? Hopefully there aren't many...

Not Your Typical Day

It all started with a push of an elevator button. Seems typical enough as I was about to leave the hotel and wait for Christine, TouchPoint's Southwest director, to pick me up for a presentation in Clinton, MO. Yes, it all started with a push of the ground floor button, the doors closed, and the hilarity began.

As soon as the doors closed alarms sounded. 101 times out of 100, alarms sounding are bad. The elevator car lurched downward and stopped. This wasn't good. It was only 15 seconds or so, but when the alarms are sounding, the firefighter light is lit, and the car isn't going anywhere there is only one thing to think of; this isn't good.

The car didn't go to the first floor but rather stopped on the second floor. A part of me wanted to push floor 1 again, but common sense won out and I got out of that elevator as fast as I could. I then used the stairs and told the front desk the issue. They then told me, "Oh yeah, we know. They're doing tests on it right now."

I then inquired, "Then why was I let on?"

"Oh yeah, that is a good point. We should have a 'temporarily out of order sign'" and with that she directed the other worker to make it happen.

It was 3:09 and I was told that we were leaving at 3:14. Why the time? I'm not sure but I was ready and watching the clock to make sure it was 3:14. 3:10 came, then 3:11, 12, 13, 14, and 3:15. As 3:16 showed up on my phone I then remembered the conversation we had on Thursday, "Okay, Aaron, on Monday we'll meet at the office." With that remembered I hopped in my car and made it to the TouchPoint office slightly late.

As we were getting loaded up I asked Christine, "You've got a projector, right?" She responded with a, "yes I do, in the back." I actually always have a projector with me now because there's no telling sometimes whether or not a place will have one, but with Christine's confirmation she had one I left mine behind.

Ninety minutes later we were at the library in Clinton. Once we figured out how to get into the room we started putting the chairs out. I then went to my computer bag and said, "Where's the projector?"

Christine replied, "No, we'll just use the wall."

"The wall? No, not the screen, the projector."

"You didn't bring yours?"

"Uh oh!"

We certainly had a lapse in understanding as she assumed I was bringing mine and I assumed she had one. "I think therefore you should know" was certainly in play here, but what was done was done. She checked the library to see if they had one, but they did not. Then I told her I was prepared to go PowerPoint free as I am feeling more and more comfortable doing so. I then made a joke that, "We could always go next door to the sheriff’s office/detention center and see if they have a spare projector lying around." I said this with 20 minutes to go before my presentation, but joke or not that was the only place to go, so off she went.

Five minutes later she was back, and with good news. They did, in fact, have one but it was "old" (as they put it) and unsure if it would work with my computer. She also said that the request started off rocky because she saw an officer leaving the front office with the lights off so she asked, "Are you guys closed?" and the officer responded with, "Ma'am, crime never sleeps so neither do we." She then asked him if they, "had a spare projector" and she later told me that the officer looked at her, "as if she had 10 heads". Once the officer realized it was a serious question he then proceeded to look for the old projector.

Christine came back with the news but she was unsure if the old projector would work. It was now 5:50 and time was running out as I began at 6:00. I decided to take a stab at the projector so we took the short walk to the station. This felt odd as I'm used to, well, I'm not used to walking out of the building I'm about to present it.

As we got to the office the officer was already walking our way with the projector. We then realized we needed an extension cord. We asked the officer if he had one and sure enough he knew exactly where to get it and at 5:56 we walked back into the room and at 5:58 my PowerPoint was on the wall.

The presentation went well and then I returned the projector to the station and thanked the officer. I've had some memorable presentations is Southwest Missouri, but last night will be remembered for quite some time to come. I mean, of all places, who would have thought the sheriff’s office would have a projector and then, after a license check and file, would let us use it. By the end of the night I almost forgot that through all the communication errors, and visits to police stations, that my odd day started with a simple push of an elevator button. I remember thinking; right after the alarm went off that this would be, "one of those days."

Frozen in the Soup Aisle

Today I am back in Springfield and have presentations for the next six days, but today's story goes back to Saturday when I took a trip to Target to buy food. First, I learned a lesson about going grocery shopping. Whatever you do, do not go shop for groceries first thing in the morning when you're hungry. I seemed to buy a lot more of everything.

As much as I'd like to talk about purchasing habits this blog, or rather this post, is not about that. Today's actual story occurred when I was in the soup area. Usually I spent as little time as possible in each area when shopping. I don't look at labels, prices, and I most certainly try and ignore everyone else in the store. Okay, shopping isn't my favorite thing in the world. Anyway, I was entering the soup aisle and there was one man in also shopping for soup. The way he had his cart parked made it difficult to look at the soups. On top of that he was directly in front of the soup I wanted.

No big problem, right? This man proceeded to stand in that spot for many minutes reading the labels and checking prices. I also think he had a calculator going on his phone along with looking at coupons that he had in his pocket. That was fine and saving money is always good, but he sort of had a barricade to the soups. What did I do? Did I say, "excuse me?" and grab my soups and run? Nope. I did the only thing my body would let me do; I stood.

This was a most awkward situation because all I wanted was what I couldn't reach. I'm one to never say, "excuse me" because I see that as the rudest thing possible. In my mind it is less rude to reach around a person that it is to speak to a stranger. Perhaps I am reflecting my beliefs onto everyone else, but there is nothing more intrusive than a stranger saying hello or excuse me.

So yes, the only thing I did was stand with my eyes looking at an opposite direction with just the outer extent of my peripheral vision being able to see the other soup shopper. As soon as I stood in this position I was frozen in it. I couldn't move and I felt paralyzed. I know this was such a simple task and now it was turning into a nightmare.

A minute or two went by and I was still in this pickle. With each passing second I thought I could muster the courage to get that soup, but each time I was close I realized that between the cart, and the man, the journey there was far too great for me to get through.

As another 30 seconds went by I realized just how difficult this situation was for me. I mean, 24 hours prior I was giving a presentation on a stage for over 50 people without any issues at all. And yet, the process of getting a couple cans of soup was proving to be too much.

Finally, after another 15 seconds or so, the man found the best mathematical formula to make the most economic purchase and he proceeded to buy something like 30 cans of soup. As soon as he made his last grab at the cans he left the area and he seemed, like everyone else, oblivious to my presence and the plight I was going through. With the man gone I got my soup and left, but for those about three minutes I was scared and all but paralyzed in place. I always find it amazing on just how fast a situation like that can arise and when they do I wish I could be anywhere but there.

A Funny Photo and I Made the News... Twice!

Okay, I am driving home today for the weekend, back down in Springfield on Sunday, but I wanted to share a couple things.

First, here's a photo that I wanted to have taken, but it isn't every day that I come across the border. Anyway, per the title of my book, I just want to say, "Mission accomplished!"

Also, I made the news two times while in Joplin and if you are interested in seeng those stories the first one can be found HERE, and the second one can be found HERE.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Tired of Tires

In terms of tires 2011 was not a good year for me. The flat fun began almost one year ago today with an ill-fated trip to the office and then later in the year I had another flat tire. With so much "fun" with flats in 2011 who shouldn't 2012 start the same way?

I had a presentation at a middle school and spoke to the student council, which was a much different audience than I'm used too but I think I survived, but as I left the building and saw my car the all too familiar sight was there. My right rear tire was as flat as flat could be and a slight panic set it.

Now, I said just a slight panic. This is a gigantic leap ahead of the previous year's flats because in both of last year's flats I was alone, and in one instance I wasn't even in my car. This time though, thankfully, I was not on the road yet and in a parking lot and I had two other coworkers from TouchPoint.

What made last years experience so awful was the fact that I was alone in both instances. My mind got to racing on so many "what if's" that I didn't know which way up was as I was so blinded by my own mind. Yesterday though I had just a little bit of direction with those around me.

We went to go get an air pump and then we came back, filled up the tire, and then I made my way to a garage. Thankfully the tire maintained its air to the garage and then I waited to see if I needed new tires of it is was simply an easy repair. I was told by many people that since the tornado the amount of flats in Joplin have skyrocketed and sure enough I had a bolt or nail in my tire, but it was an easy fix and while I may have been oer two hours delayed I was then on my way to Springfield.

So, this wasn't much of a story, was it? For that I am thankful and it is in the lack of drama that makes this story relevant. If you go back and read the other two blogs, and then read this one, the difference is as far away as possible. In times when things go slightly askew just having a bit of support, and an air pump, goes a long way.

I hope history doesn't repeat itself. I am tired of dealing with tires and three in one year is enough. Someone told me to "check my alignment" but it has been three tires on a total of three different vehicles. Another person told me though that if I didn't have flats, "What would you write about?" Trust me when I say I could find something to talk about, but the last thing, moving forward, that I want to talk about are flat tires. I mean, if I have to write about tires one more time it surely would... would... take the air right out of me. ( ha ha... sorry, couldn't help that one.)

The Return to Joplin

In 2010 and 2011 I had presentations in and around Joplin. I spent almost a week here in April of 2011 and really grew to like this town. Then, while driving back to Saint Louis from a race in Ohio on May 22nd of last year, my dad called me up to say that a massive tornado had hit Joplin. My thoughts instantly went to everyone effected although I didn't know just how big of a scale the damage was.

As morning came the light shined upon the carnage that the EF-5 tornado had left behind. I had covered three hurricanes, including Katrina and while in the damaged areas there was a real disconnect because I had not seen those places when they were intact, but seeing the pictures saddened me because I knew the places and had shopped at many of the places that had been leveled. Don't get me wrong, every disaster like this is a tragedy, but when one has been there and has an emotional connection with a place there is most certainly a stronger response.

How bad was the damage? I know a lot of my readers are international and I don't know if this story made world headlines, but this map that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers might give you an idea:

It's been almost 8 months since that day and a couple days ago I came back to Joplin for a string of presentations. I didn't know how bad the area would be in terms of damage or remaining debris nor did I know what the attitude of people would be.

Yesterday, I took a drive through that red area of the map. What we saw on television looked like a bomb had gone off, but television doesn't give justice to the vast emptiness that now remains. Imagine it this way, see that red area on that map? Imagine if someone had taken a scalpel and cut out that section of the city leaving nothing behind. On one small hill, looking out, there's just barren land now where there used to be life.

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Again, I'm sure that photo doesn't give justice to the sheer scope of the destruction. From where I took that photo it goes like that a considerable distance to the North and South and stretches for miles East to West. However, at the fringe of the damaged areas North and South are structures that got through it with minimal to no damage. At some points it is a fine line of simply one side of the road is gone, the other side remains.

Coming back I was worried about the atmosphere of the people, I mean I have no idea how a town can go through something like that and remain, well, remain positive. However, everyone here has a story and while there is still a hint of pain when talking about the places that are no more, or the injured, or how the once majestic park is now a barren plot of land, that pain quickly lifts once the story gets to the aftermath and the days after the storm. While down here I have heard story after story of how everyone banded together to help all those in need. From my presentations last year I always knew Joplin was a close knit town, but hearing these stories sent chills through my soul.

The rebuilding process is well underway and while some places are gone and will be lost to time, others have already been rebuilt and reopened. Some homes have already been rebuilt and someday, I'm sure, those pictures I've posted will be nothing more than a memory. As of now though, the high school remains in shambles and the hospital sits much like it did on May 23rd.

I'm just a passerby and can't say I am a regular in this town. However, everything I was expecting has been different. The size of the devastation is far beyond what any picture can show you unless you physically go into the heart of the area that is quite simply no longer there and take a moment, do a 360 degree turn, and realize that one year ago there was a city there. Despite this, yes, despite a tornado of historic significance and despite the devastation beyond imagination, life is moving forward. Construction crews are building and there is a major sense of unity that even I can pickup on. Originally I was going to call this post, "The Return of Joplin" but that would be wrong because with a community like this, Joplin never went anywhere.

The Sounds of Life, or rather The Sounds of a Washer/Dryer

Typically, when I remember to say it during presentations, I will mention all the noises that are within the room I am presenting in. I also say, and the audience usually agrees, that they had not heard all the noises until I mentioned them. A lot of us have on the spectrum have heightened senses and with sounds I am very keen on hearing things others don't. This played a major part in my day yesterday.

It all started at 2:45AM Monday morning at the hotel I was staying in. There could be multiple things in play here as I am getting a bit sick and when I don't I get even more sensitive, or the hotel had the worse sound insulation of all time. Anyway, someone was doing laundry in the guest washer/dryer and the noise of that was like a roaring car out of my front door. I tried to go back to sleep after it woke me up but then I started hearing snoring, then some more, and eventually it became a chorus of five different people snoring.

I tried to go back to sleep but each time I was on the edge of it there would be some noise that caught my attention and I would be back awake. Eventually, at 3:45, I turned on the television and at 4:45 I was eating breakfast at Waffle House.

About an hour after the started to come up I went up to Carl Junction for my presentations. I was highly tired, but being tired often adds an unique twist to my presentations so I had a fun time presenting through wanting to go to sleep.

Over the course of the day I wondered what I could do about my hotel issues. All my choices I came up with required me to say something to someone and this isn't easy for me. Also, I was truly very tired and by 7:15PM I was asleep, but I wouldn't be for long.

At 9:00PM the washer/dryer was being used again. I was tired enough before to sleep through the constant footsteps and water faucets which were louder than other hotels, but as soon as I was awake all the noises became loud and had the dissonance of hearing 10 different symphonies at once. I looked at the clock and knew that another night of no sleep would be very bad. At this same time my dad called and I didn't answer because I was trying hard to go back to sleep,   20 minutes later I did call back and we discussed my options as to what I could do. Of all the options I didn't want to do anything because every option required me making a decision that would create a change.

For several minutes I was firm that I would just have to tough it out. Then, the symphony of snores starter up and I had had enough. I quickly began packing and I didn't care where I was going so long as it wasn't at this place with the thinnest walls in the world.

Last night's sleep was great in the hotel I am at now. I now have a much greater appreciation of the importance of a stable, silent environment to sleep in. I did say the walls were thin, but maybe my hearing is just too sensitive for those walls. Perhaps others sleep just fine there, but I couldn't the same way I can't sleep in a car or a plane. For now though I am rested and ready to take on the day and the presentation I have later today.