tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91038028910344201582024-03-12T20:37:47.216-07:00Michelle SuttonAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043353816585656019noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9103802891034420158.post-652972289874943722015-10-29T19:58:00.000-07:002015-11-13T03:33:21.433-08:00New Book! The Real Experts: Readings for parents of Autistic children<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">image: cover of the book "The Real Experts"<br />
The cover art is a bright colored geometric pattern<br />
Text on the cover reads<br />
"Full of practical advice...a landmark book"<br />
-Steve Silberman<br />
THE REAL EXPERTS<br />
READNGS FOR PARENTS OF AUTISTIC CHILDREN<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">For information about </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">THE REAL EXPERTS</span><br />
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<a href="http://michellesuttonwrites.com/book-resources/the-real-experts/">http://michellesuttonwrites.com/book-resources/the-real-experts/</a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043353816585656019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9103802891034420158.post-19095499987061721232015-09-19T16:54:00.000-07:002015-11-13T03:28:45.778-08:00Submission to the Senate Inquiry into .....<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">This article was moved on 12 November 2015 to </span><br />
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<a href="http://michellesuttonwrites.com/2015/11/13/submission-to-the-senate-inquiry-into/"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">http://michellesuttonwrites.com/2015/11/13/submission-to-the-senate-inquiry-into/</span></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043353816585656019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9103802891034420158.post-68732306943338971662015-04-30T20:23:00.000-07:002015-05-10T20:41:29.196-07:00What I write about during April <span style="font-size: large;">April is "Autism Awareness Month" or as many Autistic people like to call it "Autism Acceptance Month". </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Unfortunately April is a month in which it is easy to find a lot of negativity about Autism published under the guise of "awareness", and this is very upsetting and discouraging for Autistic people. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">In April I choose to write to counter the dominant conversation of despair and negativity. I'm not Autistic, but I do this as a way to stand with, support and advocate for my kids, my friends and the wider Autistic community. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Below is a summary of what I wrote during April 2015</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">A letter to my Autistic son</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #444444;">"Dear Son,</span><br style="color: #444444; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 18px;"></span><span style="color: #444444;">"It is almost April again.</span><br style="color: #444444; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 18px;"></span><span style="color: #444444;">"Almost that time of year when it is cool and trendy to be *aware* of Autism and to support that awful Autism Speaks driven money grabbing "light it up blue" campaign. </span><br style="color: #444444; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 18px;"></span><span style="color: #444444;">"Almost time to brace ourselves for the inspiration porn filled social media feeds telling us how amazing "people with Autism" are despite all their suffering, and the equally icky opposite message about how Autism is a puzzle that causes so much desperation in the lives of the entire families it damages.</span><br style="color: #444444; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 18px;"></span><span style="color: #444444;">"And I am cringing because those are not messages I want you to hear......"</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">to continue reading <a href="http://amazingadventuresautism.blogspot.com.au/2015/03/a-letter-to-my-autistic-son.html" target="_blank">click here</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">"......We live in a society that does not value diversity. <br /><br />"We live in a society that disables people with its intolerance of difference.<br /><br />"We live in a society that honestly believes the best thing to do for an Autistic child is to make them look not Autistic so that they do not get teased or bullied.<br /><br />"Conform. Fit in. Submit. Perform. <br /><br />"These are the messages my children receive day after day. One month of awareness talk is not going to change that. In fact, it reinforces it. <br /><br />"We are aware you are here and you are different, and we see you as a burden to be endured, problem to be dealt with and a puzzle to be solved." "<br /><br />to read the whole article <a href="http://amazingadventuresautism.blogspot.com.au/2015/03/autism-acceptance-2015.html">click here</a></span> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">
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<a href="http://amazingadventuresautism.blogspot.com.au/2015/04/things-about-my-autistic-kids-you.html" style="color: #674ea7; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Things about my Autistic kids you should be aware of this April</span></a></h3>
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image is a long haired fair skinned child sitting on grass at the edge of a lake </div>
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words over the image read "Not sick. Not broken. Not tragic. Not contagious. Not burdensome. No wrong. Not a stereotype. Just an Autistic kid doing their best."</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">to read the article <a href="http://amazingadventuresautism.blogspot.com.au/2015/04/things-about-my-autistic-kids-you.html" target="_blank">click here</a></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043353816585656019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9103802891034420158.post-54838878193998132522015-03-01T18:29:00.001-08:002015-11-13T03:20:46.001-08:00Why I write<span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">This article was moved on 13 November 2015 to </span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">MichelleSuttonWrite<dot>com</dot></span><br />
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<a href="http://michellesuttonwrites.com/2015/11/13/why-i-write/"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">http://michellesuttonwrites.com/2015/11/13/why-i-write/</span></a><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043353816585656019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9103802891034420158.post-66329808017580656662015-02-24T17:53:00.004-08:002015-02-26T02:06:51.707-08:00Blogging at Respectfully Connected<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This year an exciting new blog called Respectfully Connected was started. It is a collective blogging project with 15 authors, all of whom have Autistic children and some of whom are Autistic themselves. The blog focusses on parenting Autistic children respectfully, valuing Autistic children as they are. I am honoured to be able to say that I am one of the authors, and along with the other wonderful people involved, am really enjoying seeing how this project is unfolding. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Today I am going to share with you the articles I have posted on Respectfully Connected so far. Please do have look around the blog at the other articles there. All of full of wisdom and compassion- well worth your time. </span></div>
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<b>Sunday, 18 January 2015</b></div>
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Found. Accepted. Valued. </div>
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It’s easy to feel scared for your kids when you realise they are Autistic. Pretty much everywhere you look in the mainstream media, on parent written blogs and in books by professionals calling themselves “Autism Experts” someone is referring to your child as disordered, a tragedy, a burden, difficult, part of an epidemic, or a problem that needs fixing. Yes, it is easy to feel scared. ...... <a href="http://respectfullyconnected.blogspot.com.au/2015/01/found-accepted-valued.html"><span style="color: #551a8b;">continue reading</span></a> </div>
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<b>Monday, 2 February 2015</b></div>
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I am not a hero</div>
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Surely it is not only me who, upon revealing that I have neurodivergent family members,</div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">is told by well meaning listeners how heroic I am? </span></div>
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<i>Wow. I don't know how you do it.</i></div>
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<i>Good for you for supporting them so much.</i></div>
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<i>You are amazing to put up with all of that.</i></div>
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<i>I couldn't do what you do.</i></div>
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Well, I'm not sure exactly what it is people think I do, but I'm pretty sure they don't understand my life at all. …..</div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Times;"> <a href="http://respectfullyconnected.blogspot.com.au/2015/02/i-am-not-hero.html"><span style="color: #551a8b; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">continue </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 46, 238); color: #551a8b; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">reading</span></a></span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666;"> </span><br />
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<b>Tuesday, 24 February 2015</b></div>
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More than one way to eat salad</div>
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I made salad for dinner. When I say this, I use the phrase loosely, and fully expect that many of you will conjure up a mental image that is completely different than what I actually prepared. ..... <a href="http://respectfullyconnected.blogspot.com.au/2015/02/more-than-one-way-to-eat-salad.html"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 46, 238); color: #551a8b;">continue reading</span></a> </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043353816585656019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9103802891034420158.post-59973942376511343982015-01-25T00:05:00.000-08:002015-02-21T20:11:32.647-08:00"Autism is not an illness" series on Different kinds of normalOver the past couple of months I've been working on a series of articles, and publishing them on my blog <a href="http://differentkindsofnormal.blogspot.com.au/" target="_blank">Different kinds of normal</a>.<br />
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Since I began blogging 3 years ago I have learned a lot about Autism, accepting Autism as a natural variation of human genetics, and the Neurodiversity Movement in general. I have come to the belief that the way the majority of society thinks and talks about Autism is actually harmful to Autistic people in many ways. This negative dialogue is veiled by a stated intent to help, but focusses so heavily on portraying Autism as a burdensome tragedy, and on pitying parents of Autistic people, that it is increasingly difficult to believe it is not intentionally perpetuated by some people who stand to make money from parents fear of Autism and desire to eradicate it.<br />
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The series I have written is called "Autism is not an illness" and each part of it addresses a different way that looking at Autism as inherently bad serves to harm Autistic people.<br />
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You can read the series by clicking on the links below.<br />
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<a href="http://differentkindsofnormal.blogspot.com.au/2014/12/autism-is-not-illness-discourse-and.html" target="_blank">Autism is not an illness: discourse and semantics</a></h3>
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<a href="http://differentkindsofnormal.blogspot.com.au/2014/12/autism-is-not-illness-problem-with-how.html" target="_blank">Autism is not an illness: The problem with how we diagnose Autism</a></h3>
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<a href="http://differentkindsofnormal.blogspot.com.au/2014/12/autism-is-not-illness-problem-with-how_18.html" target="_blank">Autism is not an illness: The problem with how we treat Autism</a></h3>
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<a href="http://differentkindsofnormal.blogspot.com.au/2015/01/autism-is-not-illness-problem-with-way.html" target="_blank">Autism is not an illness: The problem with the way we speak about Autism</a></h3>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043353816585656019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9103802891034420158.post-24531670997550274422015-01-10T18:15:00.001-08:002015-01-10T19:04:49.429-08:002015: word for this year <span style="font-size: large;">Last year, on my Different kinds of normal blog, I started the year with a word to keep in mind. That word was <b>intentional</b>. I wrote a post about it <a href="http://differentkindsofnormal.blogspot.com.au/2013/12/intentional-living.html" target="_blank">here</a> if you'd like to see it. I had felt like I was kind of floating about each day making things up as I went and so I determined to be more intentional about a few things. Here are the things I aimed to do as a way to keep myself focusses on positivity and productivity rather than just making it through each day. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I had resolved to </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">smile laugh enjoy</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">walk more</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">remember to rest when I need to</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">learn</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">wear flowers in my hair</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">think positive thoughts</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">refuse to dwell on the negative</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">let what others think of me be their business, not mine</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">stand up for myself and my kids</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">be kind to others</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">be kind to myself </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I can honestly say I did all of these, and reasonably consistently. I guess I should admit the walking more was largely due to our car dying toward the end of the year.... but hey, what ever works, right? </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I've been thinking about a word for this year for a few weeks now, and I nearly gave up on the idea, because I just couldn't settle on one. Until this morning. </span></div>
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<span class="hg" style="background-color: white; font-family: Baskerville;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-size: large;"><span class="hw" d:dhw="1" linebreaks="eclec|tic" role="text"><span apple_mouseover_highlight="1">eclectic</span><span class="gp tg_hw"></span></span><span class="pr" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> |<span class="ph" d:pr="UK_IPA solitary" gbsoundfile="eclectic#_gb_1" lexid="m_en_gb0254970.008" style="margin-left: 0.3em; margin-right: 0.3em;">ɪˈklɛktɪk</span>| </span><span class="gp tg_hg"></span></span></span><span class="sg" style="display: block; font-family: Baskerville; margin-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;"><span class="se1" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 0.2em;"><span class="posg" role="text" style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-size: large;"><span class="pos" d:ps="1" style="margin-right: 0.3em;"><span class="gp tg_pos" style="margin-right: 0.3em;"><span apple_mouseover_highlight="1">adjective</span></span></span><span class="gp tg_posg"></span></span></span><span class="se2" d:abs="1" style="display: block; margin-top: 0.4em;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #b45f06; font-size: large;"><span class="gp ty_label tg_se2" style="font-weight: 600;">1 </span><span class="msDict t_first" id="m_en_gb0254970.001" style="display: inline; text-indent: -1em;"><span class="df" role="text">deriving ideas, <span apple_mouseover_highlight="1">style</span>, or <span apple_mouseover_highlight="1">taste</span> from a broad <span apple_mouseover_highlight="1">and</span> <span apple_mouseover_highlight="1">diverse</span> <span apple_mouseover_highlight="1">range</span> <span apple_mouseover_highlight="1">of</span> <span apple_mouseover_highlight="1">sources</span><span class="gp tg_df">:</span><span class="gp tg_df"></span></span><span class="eg" role="text"><span class="ex" style="font-style: italic;">universities offering an eclectic <span apple_mouseover_highlight="1">mix</span> <span apple_mouseover_highlight="1">of</span> courses</span><span class="gp tg_eg">.</span></span></span><span class="gp tg_se2"></span></span></span><span class="se2" d:abs="1" style="display: block;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #b45f06; font-size: large;"><span class="gp ty_label tg_se2" style="font-weight: 600;">2 </span><span class="msDict t_first" id="m_en_gb0254970.002" style="display: inline; text-indent: -1em;"><span class="vg" role="text"><span class="gp tg_vg">(</span><span class="v" style="font-weight: 600;">Eclectic</span><span class="gp tg_vg">)</span><span class="gp tg_vg"></span></span><span class="lg" role="text"><span class="sj" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue-Light;">Philosophy </span></span><span class="df" role="text">denoting <span apple_mouseover_highlight="1">or</span> belonging to a class of <span apple_mouseover_highlight="1">ancient</span> <span apple_mouseover_highlight="1">philosophers</span>who did not belong to or <span apple_mouseover_highlight="1">found</span> any recognized school of thought but selected doctrines from <span apple_mouseover_highlight="1">various</span> <span apple_mouseover_highlight="1">schools of thought</span><span class="gp tg_df">.</span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="se1" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 0.2em;"><span class="posg" role="text" style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-size: large;"><span class="pos" d:ps="1" style="margin-right: 0.3em;"><span class="gp tg_pos" style="margin-right: 0.3em;">noun</span></span><span class="gp tg_posg"></span></span></span><span class="msDict t_core" id="m_en_gb0254970.003" style="display: block; text-indent: -1em;"><span class="df" role="text" style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-size: large;">a <span apple_mouseover_highlight="1">person</span> who derives ideas, style, or taste from a broad and <span apple_mouseover_highlight="1">diverse</span> <span apple_mouseover_highlight="1">range</span> of sources<span class="gp tg_df">.</span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="gp tg_sg"></span></span></span><span class="subEntryBlock t_derivatives" style="display: block; font-family: Baskerville; margin-bottom: 2em; margin-top: 2em;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I've been living this way for many years, but this year I am choosing to be mindful of the fact that this is happening, and to consciously value it. For me this means being open to new ideas and strategies, being willing to stand against the mainstream and commonly accepted "norm", and doing what I know to be right for myself and my family rather than thoughtlessly doing what is expected.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">As you read my blogs this year you will see evidence of this eclectic approach to life. On <a href="http://amazingadventuresautism.blogspot.com.au/" target="_blank">Amazing Adventures</a> you will see stories about homeschooling and other strategies to make life easier for our Autistic children. On <a href="http://differentkindsofnormal.blogspot.com.au/" target="_blank">Different kinds of normal</a> you will see my thoughts and advocacy for </span><span style="font-size: large;">acceptance of </span><span style="font-size: large;">neurodiversity, alongside stories about how I manage life and the things that fire me up and excite me. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">As you look at the other projects I am involved in this year you will see more evidence of pushing against the expected in favour of an eclectic approach that meets real needs in real life. <b>Autistic Rights Australia,</b> <b>Parenting Autistic Children with Love and Acceptance</b> (or PACLA) and <b>Respectfully Connected: Journeys in Parenting and Neurodivergence</b> (a brand new collaborative project I am very excited about) will feature heavily in my advocacy work this year..... but more about them later. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Will you walk with me a while this year? I'd love to share conversations with you about how we do life. I'd love to listen to you and learn, and I hope i have something to offer to you as well. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Here's to 2015! I hope it will be a year of celebration eclecticism, looking for and enjoying diversity, and valuing all our unique qualities. </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043353816585656019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9103802891034420158.post-65124511575600070952014-12-13T03:33:00.001-08:002014-12-13T04:55:41.850-08:00The first post<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Ah, the first post. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">An empty page, waiting to be filled with insight and intrigue designed to have you on the edge of your seat and desperate to read more. And, of course, now that I have called myself a "writer" the pressure to impress is really on. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Trouble is, I've got nothing to say at the moment! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">I may have forever jinxed myself into being unable to publish anything meaningful ever again. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Well, those of you who know me, or have followed my writing in the past, know that I am not really a regular writer. I tend to go quiet for periods of time, and then reappear when something has caught my attention (code for 'got me all riled up'). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">I suspect this endeavour will be much the same. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Although, unlike my other blogs and projects this one is not set up to do anything specific other than be a place that promotes all the other places I write and the other projects I am involved in (the links are all at the top of the page). I will occasionally write a blog post here, but mostly this site is to link people who meet me and wonder who I am and what I do, to places they can find out. It's a bit like a portfolio, I guess, a place people can use to "get a feel for" who I am and what is important to me. With any luck someone with influence will come across it and get me a deal that makes me famous.... you know, in a good way. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">So, welcome. Thanks for joining me. Especially if you are reading and have "liked" the Facebook page that goes with this blog as one of those faithful friends and readers who "like" everything I present you with. Thanks for humouring me and not openly accusing me of being a self absorbed like whore. I appreciate it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">So, here's to new beginnings. Here's to the joy of watching new things unfurl. Here's to that awkward first post. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0