Church Shooting Update

The most recent update is that it is now being reported that one victim of the shooting has died. Five of the others are in critical condition. Reportedly, the seventh person had not a gunshot but another (minor) injury related to the attack.

It seems you can get frequent updates here, so I will discontinue posting:
WBIR Knoxville, TN

Prayers and love to this church.

Church Shooting

No, I am not back from my hiatus. But I just left worship only to receive an email with news that there was a shooting this morning at the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Church in Knoxville during a children's production of a play. Six or seven people have been taken to the hospital. At this point it sounds like they are all people who were sitting in a pew, though details have not been released. The extent of the injuries haven't been reported, but fortunately no deaths have occurred.

May our prayers and thoughts be with this faith community at this time.

P.S. Nevermind what we may think about "Annie" being the morning's worship service. I am sure we all have opinions on that one (I know I do), but let's focus loving thoughts on this congregation.

Intermission Videos

I am taking a break from a brain-intensive project I am doing for work. Thought during my break I'd post some intermission videos (videos you can come back and enjoy as you have the time while I am taking a web and phone communication hiatus).

The video clips here (all of varying lengths) are all related to the following theme: TV and Movie Characters Who Could Just Be on the Autism Spectrum ;-)...

Dwight Schrute





Sheldon





Remy





Spike





Snape or Luna??







Gregory House






http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCPkoqGyVpI


Monk





Max





Napoleon Dynamite





Joon



Arnie

(I've never seen this movie...but this video made me cry)




Forrest Gump



Juno



Gilligan



Jerry Espenson

Taking a Little Break

I think I am going to take a little break from online (and phone) communication, including blogging for a week or two.

For one thing, I am not getting enough done this summer and need to minimize distractions. Also, I have a disturbing communication pattern recently in which I seem to be unintentionally offending others, and I'd hate to see this impacting my relationships unecessarily.

I am not sure what is causing this pattern (When I read over the things I am writing, I am often confused by how it is being "heard." That wouldn't be unusual for someone on the neurologically divergent side like myself, as social relationships are a challenge and a source of anxiety and misunderstanding due to differing perspectives and approaches and actual purposes for communication.). But it seems to be another one of those blips in my usual patterns and relationships, so I am going to assume for now that it is temporary and that it may be diminished by the time I begin posting again.

I hope you will stay tuned and rejoin me in early or mid-August for more adventures.

And a Little Something From Children Around the Nation ;)

Study: Most Children Strongly Opposed To Children�s Healthcare

Is this the kind of thing only those of us whose children have had more than their fair share of medical care will find funny?!

Dear Chard, I Forgive You

Dear Rainbow Chard,

I forgive you for being bitter. I am sorry I took you to the smoothie party. Those berries are not your kind. You don't belong with them. They are nothing like you! I've learned my lesson. I can't love you unless I am willing to love you as you are. I can't find out more about you unless I am willing to enter into your own world.

I promise from now on I won't continue to force you to be so out of place just so we can be where I love to be. I promise I will meet you half way. Tonight when I blanched you, so much of your bitterness left, and I am glad I gave you the time of day. I saw how many sides you have today, chard, and I am interested.

You have to understand: I let you nourish me. That is so hard for me to do. You have no idea the history I have with leafy greens. So much time I have wasted by allowing my previous relationships to interfere with ours. So much time I have wasted trying to make you into something you aren't.

I can't change you. I know that now. But I hope you can forgive me for trying and we can move on from here. I want to know who you are.

Love,
Masasa of becausethatisthewaymylifeisrightnow.blogspot.com

Neighborhood Walkability

Thanks to my lovely mother for introducing me to http://www.walkscore.com/. On first glance, there seem to be a number of useful applications for such a website, including:

• Gain some perspective on your neighborhood in the grand scheme of walkability
• Find out the truth about places you want to live
• Find great places to live if your options are open
• Look for a good score to help your market your home when selling
• Get assistance in evaluating a potential neighborhood when considering a new purchase or rental
• Find out about treasures you can walk to in your neighborhood that you may not know about or may have overlooked
• Enjoy some photos and/or reviews of familiar locations
• Write your own reviews of locations in your neighborhood (just remember you have to confirm your email after registering before you can write a review)
• Get tips to help you advocate for greater walkability where you live
• Read "how it doesn't work" for an honest assessment of the website's own limitations, and ideas for other walkability considerations you might want to make
• Read a blog of interest