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.

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.

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 Brother Would Have Been 57 Today

Happy Birthday in Heaven, Alfred! (July 13, 1961 – June 19, 1980) I always think about him more so in the summer time.  He never made to 19 years old …

13 Years Ago…

Happy 13th Birthday, Outside In!

This blog started 13 years ago.  What a long trip it’s been! Still at it after all this time!

True that I don’t post as often of late, but that’s because I sometimes get busy offline with my art and other personal stuff that I don’t have time to get to this blog.

Last week, I had to deal with a heatwave, the 4th of July celebration, work, going to the movies (Head and Ant-Man and The Wasp), and attending to a comic book convention out in Boxborough, Massachusetts.  It was a tough drive because I am not familiar with that part of the state.

I am busy on what changes I want to make in my life and for this blog and the other blog called Uncommon Bostonian.  I also wonder about where I want to go with my art.

Also, last month, my cousin Chloe rom Texas visited me here in Boston and we went to see U2 at the Boston Garden.  I am a big fan of them as well as my cousin.  I am planning to see more concerts this month and next month.  I am heading off to Old Orchard Beach up in Maine next month for my summer vacation.

This is my new piece of art.  Haven’t come up with a name for it yet.

Now, let’s move into year 13 for this blog.

Sucks That I Have A Cold!

What happened to Spring?  It’s been too cold and snowy around Boston.  It hasn’t gotten really warm in such a long time.  Worse of all, I got a cold.

I don’t enjoy getting a cold because it makes things for me harder to do.  It’s hard to enjoy going through the day when my nose is stuffed up and I’m coughing.  At least, I don’t feel feverish.  My throat feels a bit sore.

Earlier this afternoon, I was driving my car when I sneezed and coughed like crazy.  Luckily, I didn’t get into any accidents while doing that.

I was able to do a few things today like going to a reception earlier this evening at the John O. and Olivia Parker Gallery at Lesley University where my friend, Anastasia, has her artwork on display this month.

Details here: https://lesley.edu/events/3-artists-celebrating-autism

The art display started on March 21 and will end on April 20.

I had a good time at the reception.  I had some red wine and cheese.  Also, the band there played a lot of Beatles music.

Event on March 8: International Women’s Day Rally and March in Boston

Just giving a heads up for people in the Boston area.  Thursday (after the snowstorm is over), an ad-hoc group that I am part of are hosting a rally and march for International Women’s Day at Copley Square in Boston in the evening around 5:30 pm.  We will be having guest speakers and an open mic for others who want to voice their beliefs and truths.  I will be one of the hosts and guest speakers.  I will mention that disabled women (including autistic/asperger’s women) have rights too.

Stand up and fight for women’s rights!

For more details, check out our Facebook event page:

https://www.facebook.com/events/342347916173362/

Spending My Birthday In Maine, Instead Of Florida

Happy Birthday to me!

It’s my day!  Although I couldn’t make it down to Key West, Florida, I did travel to York, Maine, to spend my birthday vacation.  As you are aware, Hurricane Irma wrecked Key West back in September.  I did consider going somewhere more tropical than Maine, but I had unexpected expenses like paying veterinarian bills for one of my cats who was having a health issue.  She is doing fine, but the bills put a dent in my savings.

So, I settled in driving up to York, Maine, instead of going to Old Orchard Beach, Maine, which is like a ghost town around this time of year.  I was able to drive around York, Kittery, and Ogunquit.  Even drove around Portsmouth, New Hampshire, as well.

The downside was that I came down with a cold. It’s been a freezing time here in Maine and the rest of New England.  It was freezing cold in Boston when I drove up to Maine.

A Slightly Belated Birthday to My Late Brother Alfred!

Happy Birthday, Alfred! (July 13, 1961 – June 19, 1980)

I had such a busy day on what would have been Alfred’s 56th birthday.  I went to the Boston/Joan Jett and the Blackhearts concert at the TD Garden in Boston and just got back after midnight.

It’s sad that my older brother died at a young age because of a car accident he was in.  He lost control of his Camero and crashed into a tree on Father’s Day (June 15, 1980) and died a few days later from his head injury.  Very devastating for me and my family.  At the time, I did not know (and well as others) that I was an autistic teenager of 15.  The emotional turmoil tore me apart.

Tragedies happen, and all we have to do is figure out how to cope with the sorrow.