Sunday, August 9, 2009

Rainman and Hurricanes: A Spin Cycle Production


The Spin Cycle this week is to post your WORST post. Hmm.

I’m sure I have worse than the one I am going to post, but the thought of going through my own archives more thoroughly in an effort to find my worst writing is not exactly making me want to do it.

This one caught my eye because it might be the worst in terms of being non PC.

Especially considering what I do for a living.

Anyways, here we go…

True Story, I don't even NEED to exaggerate. From September 2008

I rented the movie Mozart and the Whale while my sister was here. The movie is about a couple who both have Asperger’s Syndrome and is loosely based on a true story. I was especially interested as I have had several students with either Asperger’s or autism in my classes over the years. This year I have two.

So I watch the movie with my sister and my 19 year old daughter. We really enjoyed it, and afterwards we’re talking along the lines of topics loosely connected with the movie. I’m sharing about the two students I have this year, and how although they don’t socialize a lot with the other students, they totally connect with each other. After class, they have lunch in my room. They talk like crazy and actually look each other in the eye, something they do not do when they talk to me. They like to hang out in my room because kids can be assholes and my student was getting teased and his mom asked if he could get a pass from me to eat inside my classroom.

My daughter (who works at a coffee house by the University) has been politely listening and chimes in.

Daughter: We have a lot of half-way houses for mental health by my work.

Me: Oh. ?

Daughter: Yeah. There’s this one guy who comes in three times a day for diet coke. I think he has autism.

Sister: Oh…. Really….

Daughter: Yeah. Like after he orders his diet coke. While I’m getting it. He stands there at the register the whole time and goes, “Can I have a diet COKE please? Can I have a diet COKE please?” He says it the entire time I make his soda.

Sister: That does sound like Rainman. Remember that movie with Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise?

Daughter (not done with story): Yeah. That customer. Yesterday he was saying his “Can I have a diet COKE please. Can I have a diet COKE please?” And then when I gave him his soda, he was, like, looking down, he kinda always looks down, and says, “I like your shoes.”

Me: Well, that’s nice.

Daughter: Yeah. Then he looks up at me and says, “I have a woman’s SHOE fetish.”

A nicer than-usual-for-a-weekday-cab sprays out of mine and my sister's noses and we choke on what is left in our throats.

WHAT??? OMG!

Daughter: Yeah. I know it’s probably not his fault, but it made me really uncomfortable, so I turned bright red and walked into the kitchen and asked the baker to take his money. The whole time, he was like, “I’m SORry, I’m SORry, I’m SORry. He stays about an hour, drinking his soda. About every fifteen minutes, he’d shout, “I’m SORry.”

Me (trying to stem my un-PC laughter): The poor guy.

Daughter raises eyebrow.

For more Spins, head on over to Sprite's Keeper.

In other news, Hurricane Felicia is still heading this way. She is supposed to hit cooler waters and tradewinds that will bring her down to a tropical storm by the time she arrives. We have been busy getting all our hurricane supplies ready just in case. All that is left to do is make sure Teen Boy does not go out surfing... Meanwhile yesterday and today have been beautiful, one would never guess that a hurricane is bearing down on us.

Blog Business...
Click on the sunset in the sidebar for a treat of a post.

41 comments:

Pseudo said...

BTW One thing in this post that really makes me cringe is my use of the OMG with exclamation marks....

darsden said...

oh my now I know why you were OMG!!! wow..creepy and sad..

hope you don't have much to contend with on the Felicia level.. I feel for ya'll being on the what is left of the coast here after Katrina's visit.. I love summer time..till it gets about this time and those things are running around everywhere.
Glad to hear it might not be bad because of the cooler water and wind shears!

Rikki said...

awful. but funny.

When the Peanut was two she would only count in prime numbers (I swear this is true and we NEVER taught her) and she would empty out drawers onto the living room floor so she could sort all the items and line them up, the older daughters taught her to say "10 minutes to Whopner" and "I buy my underwear at KMart." We did have her tested - no Aspergers or Autism - just family fun at the poor baby's expense.

PS - the older daughters were chastised and lost privileges for a few weeks for THAT set of shenanigans.

Maureen@IslandRoar said...

This is funny and not bad at all.
I thought of you these past 2 days with all the talk of Hurricane Felicia. Batten down the hatches!
I am also (FINALLY) getting around to adding you to my blogroll today.

Beth said...

He sounds like a student I used to teach. Only I don't think he moved to Hawaii.

Batten down the hatches! I hope the storm does no damage to anyone.

#167 Dad said...

good post. I've taught a few kids with Aspergers over the years. Really liked working with them because, for the most part, they were always working on their social skills, therefore treating people much better than the average high school student.

Mike said...

Hmmm! I have never tried that pickup line! LOL!

Ash said...

Good for your daughter for handling the situation about as best as she could. A shoe fetish? I'd be spewing as well.

Good luck with the storm!!! The Pacific seems to be getting its unfair share of them this year (knocks on wood).

Smart Mouth Broad said...

I didn't think it was so non-pc. But then I'm not nearly as sensitive as some. I loved this post. Your poor daughter. and the poor kid. He was probably devastated that he offended her.

Keeping you in thought and prayer during the storm.

Amy said...

What a great post. Your daughter is so sweet and was trying her but. Then he said something strange and she was not sure what to think. I have done that before. I guess you just smile and hope for the better.

shaunna said...

that's still FUNny! FUNny!!!

(i'll go your omg one better to omfg! a paean to the same twisted sense of humor we all share... chicken/egg... inherited/learned?)

Duchess said...

Well, I missed it the first time around, but I thought it was interesting. These days I don't even see OMG!!! on blog posts so I barely noticed.

Kate said...

If that's your worst post, that's not too bad!

Liz Mays said...

That's not even a bad post. And I use OMG all the time and don't even feel bad about it. ;)

I'm worried about you and those storms. You take care of yourselves.

Sprite's Keeper said...

Ha! I agree with you! On your comment! The only thing I would find cringe-worthy is "omg". I thought the post was great!
And I really hope Felicia veers off. I've been through so many hurricanes in my life and cannot pick a favorite. I hate them all. My thoughts are riding the waves with you! You're linked and I'm paying closer attention to the weather.

That Janie Girl said...

That's a bad post?

Well, heck. I quit.

Stay safe!

mo.stoneskin said...

Worst post? I thoroughly enjoyed that one. My wife has often observed that I display slightly aspergic tendencies, can be very OCD, but I reckon I'm the normal one.

Mama Dawg said...

Ack, hurricanes. Just the very word strikes fear in my heart.

Thinking of you!

Unknown said...

What a wonderful story! Rainman is one of my all time favorite movies.

Coming from someone who lives in hurricane country, it's ALWAYS beautiful before they arrive. Take precautions Pseudo!

Christy said...

First, that was NOT a terrible post! Second, uh-oh, OMG!!!! user here. And third, I really don't think it was that un-pc'ish...I think it's more like regular high school talk.

ps - hope the hurricane slows down or changes course!

creative kerfuffle said...

first---i hope you and your family stay safe through the hurricane.
second---i am not paranoid that i write omg too much on my blog.
third---hooray for your daughter for handling that situation as well as she did. it would have made me uncomfortable too. poor thing.

Jan said...

Oh, your poor daughter. That sort of thing is hard enough to handle when you're an adult.

I'm so glad y'all are going to miss the worst of Hurricane Felicia - I've been thinking about you and worrying!

Melissa B. said...

I was all exclamation pointy when I first started this blogging janx. And, of course, I've been known to use an occasional OMG or BTW. But never an LOL! If this is the worst you can do, I'd say you're in EXCELLENT shape!

Brian said...

Autistic guys with shoe fetishes get bad raps.

For real.

Kathy B! said...

Hoping for cooler water. I though of you when I heard of this on the news. I like that I "know" somebody in Hawaii... except for when there is hurricane talk, of course.

And I loved the post, too...!

Lifeofkaylen said...

wow, that is funny!! It's always interesting seeing how people react to autistic folk. I saw my son interact with one once and it was a very sweet enlightenment.

JennyMac said...

This is your worst? Bravo for you then. I have a friend with an autistic son and it is both heartbreaking and enlightening not only to see his interactions with people but how people treat him.

And hopefully you are safe during the weather over there.

Anonymous said...

I would feel so uncomfortable! But poor guy. :(

Stay safe and take care of yourself!

Bill Lisleman said...

I'm glad you reposted it. Good funny story.

Hit 40 said...

I saw that the hurricane has died down a little. Kinda scary trapped on an island. You can not just jump in a car to drive inland. I tried to look up on CNN how hard it hit your island with no luck. I would guess no one got seriously hurt or you would be on the top ten for the day. Still scary!!

Patty said...

I'm also a teacher and I'm dreading the lack of time I'll have to do other things (like reading blogs).

I'm visiting from SITS. And this is a sad story. I know that when put in a situation with a special needs student or adult we often think we can be sensitive but then we feel uncomfortable. I kinda feel bad for your daughter too. I can't imagine how she felt.

Stacy Uncorked said...

Worst post? OMG You still ROCK. ;)

Worrying about you and Felicia...keeping an eagle eye on the weather.

Mango Girl said...

Worst post? RUKidding me?

Make sure you have plenty of spam and bottled water! Thinking of you...be safe!

Mango Girl said...

p.s. tagged you in my post tomorrow.

Joanna Jenkins said...

No way that's a "bad post"!
xo

Casey said...

OMG. That's not a bad post, I thought it was kinda hilarious. And I didn't use an exclamation point after saying OMG..

Mrsbear said...

Oh no. Talk about your awkward moments. I don't know if that actually qualifies as a bad post, since your story-telling is stellar, but it did make me feel bad for Coke-guy. So I guess it was bad-feeling inducing. ;)

Cristin said...

This post wasn't bad... the OMG though... funny.

When I go back and read old posts I hate everything. I edit stuff months later and delete posts that i don't like...

Mama Badger said...

Wow, is this week going to be all about people who make off color remarks about the disabled and then re-think it as the worst post? This is the 2nd one.

Not a bad post, at all. And not a bad thing to giggle at the situation. It's hard to be PC when the story is that funny. Your poor daughter, though.

Stacy Hackenberg said...

That story was funny and uncomfortable at the same time. I have to agree with the rest and say this isn't bad at all.

Hope you and yours stay safe.

Nishant said...

i'm glad you reposted it. Good funny story.


Work From Home