I Write Because I Wanted Acceptance! I Want More!

I decided to become a writer when I was a teenager back when I was still in high school in Maryland. People were always taking issue over the fact I was (and still am) different. Of course, it would take another 20 years before I learned that I was autistic. I wanted to be a journalist because I could report to the public about the big strange world that we live in.

It seemed perfect to go to college at Emerson in the city of Boston. They were (and still are) a college of communications and theater. I got to do a lot of things including journalism. I imagined that I would be working somewhere in the huge world of journalism. However, that field was really small and had to follow certain rules (the ones that I could not understand or realize because I am autistic). It became impossible to earn money as a writer or a journalist despite all the efforts I put into it.

Was the goal to high? I didn’t think so. I created 2 blogs that are both have a lot of posts, but in recent years I don’t post as much. I haven’t lost the passion for writing (I write in my personal journals, but I’m not going to post them here or at the other blog). I had to deal with things in the real world outside of the internet. Also, I rather get paid for blogging than blog for free.

I certainly have the experience to write a blog. Hell, I have this one and other one (Uncommon Bostonian). I just have to figure out a way to get paid for writing and that keeps me from blogging for free here.

But don’t get me wrong I am not giving up blogging.

So I Have Been Busy!

It’s been tough for me as an Autistic Black woman living in Boston calling herself Uncommon Bostonian. I have been trying all summer to find a new place in the state of Massachusetts, but to quote U2 I still haven’t found what I’m looking for. It sucks to start the Fall still staying at a place that I wish I hadn’t moved into (It’s an okay place, but this is not the apartment of my dreams).

It’s tough to work at a place that don’t appreciate my greater talents. They criticize me about my lesser talents (I don’t give a shit about what I am not good about).

Being organized is a challenge for any autistic person whether they are a child or a grown up. I hate it that some parents of autistics refer to their offspring as “adult child,” even though he/she is older than 21 years old. It’s time for society to change the definition of what “grown up” is.

I plan to type more in this blog soon as I come up with a schedule of when it’s a good time to write in this blog and my other one (Uncommon Bostonian).

Expect changes to the blogs.

Enjoy the art I made recently.

My Deceased Brother Alfred Would Have Been 60 Today

Happy 60th Birthday in Heaven, Alfred! July 13, 1961 – June 19, 1980

He’s been there for more than 41 years. It’s still hard to comprehend his death, and it devastated my family, especially my own mother. I do wonder how he would have reacted if he were still alive at the time when I was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome (an autism spectrum disorder) back in 2002. During my childhood, no one around his age (he was only 3 three years older than me) had no idea that I was an undiagnosed autistic child. Some of his friends had younger siblings around my age ,and they bullied me.

For some weird reason, no one hated Alfred at school. It seems that they gave him a free pass while a lot of students in school gave me a hard time.

It was unfair, but the biggest unfair was Alfred’s death due to a head injury he suffered from a car accident.

Today (December 17) Is My Birthday!

I spent my day indoors, thanks to the winter snow storm in Boston. I went outside only once to dig out my car. I was totally unable to travel to Key West or anywhere warmer because of the pandemic. Much safer to stay home for my birthday vacation.

Hope this doesn’t happen again in 2021!

A Black Ink Drawing I Made

I did this awhile back during the lockdown.

New Look for My Blog!

Last night, I spent over an hour putting up a new look for this blog! It’s gorgeous!

I am going to be putting in new posts besides the usual birthdays/obituaries! Here’s a taste of what’s to come!

New Blog Title (Sort Of)!

I changed the title of this blog from OUTSIDE IN to OUTSIDE IN VIEW OF UNCOMMON BOSTONIAN. Yes, I altered the title of this blog to reflect the title of my book, The Outside In View of Uncommon Bostonian.  (More info about my book is in that blog post I got pinned at the top of this site.)

Why?

It’s because I want to make a few changes to my blog which I’ve been doing for 15 years. Of course, 12 of those years have been on WordPress.  It was originally on AOL Journals which no longer exists.  It went away in the fall of 2008, and I had to switch the blog over to this place where it’s been since then.

It’s usually a good idea to change up your blog,  So this is the first change. i am thinking about other changes too.  I will still blog about pop culture, but I will add a little more content in the next few weeks.

Stay tuned!

My Older Brother Would Have Been 59 Today!

Happy 59th Birthday, Alfred Preston Christian! (July 13, 1961 to June 19, 1980)

It’s very sad that Alfred died 40 years ago in 1980 from the head and brain injury he got when his blue Camaro crashed into a tree back on June 15, 1980. He was hooked up to machines that could help him breathe and monitor his vital signs, but when his brain died his body died soon afterwards. It was very devastating to my family.

I was 15 at the time. No one, not even Alfred, realized that I was autistic. My Asperger’s Syndrome diagnosis came in 2002. I still find it amazing that no one thought about autism.  They all assumed I was just a problem child trying to get attention. They were so wrong.

It was always peculiar to everyone that Alfred was so popular with a lot of people during his brief life.  He usually did everything he wanted to do, and it didn’t bother anyone.

He would talk about  favorite TV shows and movies that he liked (All In The Family, The Godfather, Sanford & Son, The Omen, etc.) and everyone was okay with that. However, when I spoke about my favorite TV shows and movies (Happy Days, Jaws, Six Million Dollar Man, The Sting, etc.) there was hostility towards me. Also, I would talk about how much I love the music of the Beatles and ended facing a lot of pissed off comments from the other kids at school.  The ones who would harass me constantly were never satisfied with anything I said or did.  From their point of view, I wasn’t supposed to like those TV shows, movies, and music.

By the time I graduated from high school, I completely disregarded them. I don’t even bother to do the reunion parties for my old high school.

NOT WORTH IT!

What a Bizarre Month! And It’s Not Over Yet!

I am staying in self-isolation like everyone else. I don’t have Corvid – 19, but the pollen that’s been floating around this month in Boston is horrible.  I have post-nasal drip that has been hell on my throat.  I have been doing all the home remedies.  I even bought Muscinex DM the first time ever.  It’s dry up most of the mucus in me, but I still have a runny nose and the occasional cough.

I could never imagine that I would be staying at home a lot this month with no other place to go because movie theaters, libraries, retail stores, and other non-essential businesses are closed up.  I can do take out at the local restaurants or have it delivered.  I have been doing things to keep my mind off all the depressing stuff I see on the news. I have gone to the store since that is still open. I have washed my hands several times and used hand sanitizer.  At least, my cats are happy that I am home with them more than usual.

I hope things get better in April.  March 2020 really sucks for the whole world now.

July Went By So Fast and Hot!

I hate the fact that most of this month I had to deal with a summer cold.  I have been coughing and sneezing.  At least, I don’t feel so feverish like I did at the beginning of the month.  I still have coughing fits and sneezing loudly.  I was able to go to the 4 of July party at the Esplanade in Boston and also go see the Rolling Stones at Gillette Stadium a few weeks back, despite the cold.

I also was able to see Blondie, Elvis Costello, Steve Miller, and Shaun Cassidy in the past week.  Great time!  Just wish I didn’t feel so exhausted afterwards.

Also, I managed to get through 2 heatwaves this month, thanks to my air conditioner.