Autism awareness, music, Life Well Blogged and I don’t have a blue porch light

It’s Autism Awareness day.  We’re supposed to “go blue.”  And use the puzzle piece.  I’ve been planning to participate for a few days because I think it’s important to raise awareness for both autism and for everybody else who remains undiagnosed in general. While Tucker is undiagnosed, he is in a preschool autism classroom, so today seemed like a good day to join a great cause.

Anyway, I’ve been thinking about what to do for Autism Awareness day.  I was prepared to draw you a cute little blue puzzle piece with cartoon-Tucker.  Something to raise awareness.  Something like this:

But then I started wondering why there is a puzzle piece in the first place.  Is the implication that if I can figure out what piece is missing in my son that I can find it and he’ll be “whole?”  I’m not sure I like that.  Here, I read “…the Puzzle Piece symbol reflects the mystery and complexity of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Also, since every puzzle piece is different in some way, a puzzle piece accurately represents the diversity of the individuals affected.”

Huh?  Couldn’t the same be said for ALL of us?  Aren’t we all different?  I guess that drawing cartoon Tucker hanging out with a puzzle piece might not raise awareness.  Plus, why blue?  I looked around and while there are some cool buildings and projects, like Light It Up Blue by Autism Speaks, they don’t say why blue.  I grew bored with my research and pretty much decided that we’re not participating.

I did visit Jillsmo’s blog as I consider her to be one of the coolest autism advocates and bloggers in general.  And guess what?  She’s not doing blue, either.  Best of all, she has some really smart well-thought out reasons for not participating.  I’m off the hook, friends.  I have a more justified reason than laziness.  Plus, the sweatpants I’m wearing commando-style have a hole in the crotch.  Going to Home Depot tonight for a blue lightbulb would entail choosing between changing my pants again and risking accidentally becoming an exhibitionist in a hardware store.  I’m staying in.  Might be best for everybody.

Music
And speaking of blue!  Music!  Music at my pal Jen’s place Breaking The Parenting Mold.  She’s launched Twisted Mix-Tape Tuesday, where each Tuesday, she’ll create a mixed tape and give you links to the songs she recommends. And guess what?  Next week, I’ll join in on her fun and give you a mixed tape of my own.  I even made her a cool crazy-eye picture.

Life Well Blogged – Parenting Gag Reel – Hilarious Write and Wrongs:  Take 26
And finally (jeez this is getting to be a long post so if you’re still here, I thank you very much and probably need to send you a bottle of wine or something), guess what else today is?  The best-selling Life Well Blogged series has released its fourth book “Parenting Gag Reel – Hilarious Write and Wrongs:  Take 26.”  Why am I telling you this?  Because, there are a bunch of amazingly funny bloggers featured.  And, although I am nowhere nearly as cool as, they are, I am in it!  Twice!  Plus, they’re going to donate some of the proceeds to autism, which is plain old awesome.  Look, you can buy your very own copy right here.  The Kindle version (which you can also read on your iPhone via the Kindle app) is only $2.99.  You’re welcome.   Note: a paper-back version will be out in about one week.  I promise to keep you posted.

Give a not-famous dipshit a click? Pretty please?