I haven’t been blogging lately.  Not only not writing here but also not reading any blogs.

It isn’t that I have been any busier than any other time.   I just haven’t  been creative.   Or interested.

I do have some ideas.  And I will be writing some stuff soon.  I also have half a mind to change the looks of the place.

As many of you know, I am an autism dad.   You have probably also noticed that I am politically and philosophically conservative.  This situation is the stuff that makes a really good post.

See, I am from the school of thought folks call, “the neurodiversity movement.”  Most folks in that movement lean left in their politics.  Some see my conservatism as a conflict of mind.  So I would like to explain.   Throughout the history of this blog, you have seen me come to grips with my own convictions.  I have some convictions that are very general and some that are specific to autism.  These convictions join together very well.  I hope this post makes that very clear.

Neurodiversity is a movement to protect the rights and dignity of people who think very differently.  It centers around Austism acceptance.  It resounds with Austistic people achieving personal excellence.  It reminds us of Autistics that have blessed our lives by bringing attention to the fact that great figures of history were autistic.
My son Tiger is autistic.  I no longer say, “He has Autism.”  He isn’t diseased, he is merely different.  He is “fearfully and wonderfully made.” Tiger is no victim.  And, he should not grow up thinking that he is victim.  Autistic or not, I expect him to grow up to be a moral and accomplished man.  I see no reason to expect any less from Tiger than the rest of my children.  Appreciating him has also changed my personal definitions of success and greatness.  Enjoying his differences has blessed me richly.  I thank God for Tiger.  What a wonderful child!

I attempt to teach my children to be self sufficient, exceptional and outstanding.  This is the very core of the conservative philosophy.  Mankind is endowed life, liberty and property.  All of those come at some expense.   Life must be defended.  Liberty must be won.  Property must be earned.  These things are the divinely appointed rewards that should be available to ALL people.  Autistic people should not be excluded.   They have the right to live, exact their own destiny and claim all that they have earned.  This is the impetus behind my support of neurodiversity.

I made a simple choice not to pity my son or myself.  The natural progression of that choice was a greater appreciation for human beings both autistic and neurotypical.

I can certainly see how someone can be liberal and support nureodiversity.  What I can’t understand is how someone can be conservative, consider neurological differences in people and not support nuerodiversity.

Odessa is a boom town again.  With an oil boom come droves of folks from somewhere else.  They come to Texas and do their best to fit in.  It works for some but others don’t do so well.

This begs some questions.  What does it mean to be a Texan?  Is Blind Lemon Jefferson any more Texan than Louis L’Amour?

I was born in Lubbock and raised in Odessa.  But, does that mean that I look down on folks that were born somewhere else?   Is there such a thing as a Naturalized Texan?

Nobody really defines what it means to be a Texan.  There have been some good attempts but being a Texan can’t really be defined.

Blind Lemon Jefferson was a native Texan but L’Amour is just as much a treasure and is by all rights a Texan.  I think Ray Benson was a Texan before he ever stepped on hallowed ground.

My buddy Big Dad Gib is claiming to be a Texan now.  That is fine with me because he is a Texan.   Observe how he already buys his pants long enough.  He even wears the hat right.

This brings us to the charm school section of the post.   Those seeking to become Naturalized Texans need to learn about a few pints and quarts so they can mind them.

Boots require more length in the inseam.   About two inches more.  This allows for some “break in the leg.”

Cowboy hats should be tilted to suit one’s face.  How much is a completely individual thing.  Just do it ’till it looks right.

Accents are always understated.  Many folks from Tennessee and Florida already come with a sufficient drawl and will fit in quickly. Never over pronounce Spanish words.  There is a huge difference between Tex-Mex and other Spanish derivatives.  Heavily Texified versions of Spanish words are part of the lingo here even when speaking English.  These words do not need four Rs in a row as they have been naturalized and have ceased to be exclusively Spanish.

Bring some of  good stuff with you.  Individuality is a virtue here.   Don’t spend so much time fitting in that you forget who you are.  There are also things from your neck of the woods that you should bring to Texas.  God bless the yankee that brought us Philly cheese steaks.   There ought to be a hall of fame for folks that make that kind of contribution.

Don’t whine about the weather.

Try it.  No matter how weird the food may seem, its probably good.

Explore the culture.  Western Swing, Blues and Tejano are all “our” music.  Any person is welcome at Czech Fest or any other ethnic celebration no matter what thier ancestry.  The two step, three step and cotton eyed joe are fun.  Go dance.
Learn about Texas history.  It is a source of pride for all who learn it.  It reveals how many of our heroes were themselves Naturalized Texans.  This may require some reading.  The movies are all messed up.

Most of all folks, welcome home.

I have been getting a few emails asking if I’m okay, or if I’m all done with blogging, or if I have been too busy to write.  Yes, I’m okay.  No, I’m not done with blogging.  Yes, I have been too busy to write for several years but, that never stopped me.

The truth is: I haven’t had much to say.

I’m just not excited about all that much right now.  My son’s football team has been losing and that hasn’t made for any good posts.  Work has been about the same and that hasn’t made for any good posts.   I have been out of church for too long so there is little inspiration there.  My friends probably don’t like me writing about them all that much and when I do, I write about them on my highschool class blog.  I don’t blog about politics even though Sarah Palin does excite me.

I actually planned a couple of chapters for my book the other day but I haven’t written them yet.  I guess I could run some drafts by yall and see what you think.  As I plan out the plot I sort of feel sorry for my main character.  I put him through too much.  No fifth grader should have to be abandoned by his mother.  But since that is the core of the story, the poor little guy has to suffer.  I also changed his Dad’s job to one that is closer to my own.  I figure I should stick to what I know.

I used to tackle times like these by finding things to blog about no matter what.  That actually got me to write some of my best stuff.  Maybe I should do that again.  I was motivated by wanting to stay current.  That motivation sort of died.

So suffice it to say, I’m just not very inspired lately.

You know, you may be able to help me with that inspiration.  I’m game for just about anything that does not involve politics.

Since we have moved back to Odessa, I have become a really bad blogger. I’ve been so inactive that folks are asking if I’m giving it up.

I don’t plan to give up anything. Working on the house and working are only the start of how busy I have been. None the less, I have taken the camera along. I decided to use those pictures to make a few posts about our recent activities.

We have done a little of this.

Seen a little of this.

We have also enjoyed a little of this.

I’ll do a post on each with a few other pictures. Maybe I’ll come up with something deep to say, or maybe I won’t.

A bunch of you have also asked me for some oil field photos. That gets kind of tricky. I have to stay in compliance with my company’s security and photography policies. Since we are in the pipeline business, those policies are a bit more stringent than with most jobs. Also, my camera is not allowed on company property. So I have to use a company camera. I have one issued to me. But my personal use of it also complicates the legal and policy challenges. So far, I have received permission to publish things that do not involve our equipment or personnel, provided I do not disclose any specific geographical information. I want the folks in charge of that stuff to get hooked on my blog before I start asking them about other things. I think after they become familiar with the nature of what I publish, they will be quicker to make judgment calls.

I hope to be publishing more frequently soon. Many of my old friends have quit or slowed down. Even the political ones have slowed the pace. That surprises me as the current cast of characters is so easy to tease.

So, don’t give up on me.

I started blogging when my wife talked me into it. Through blogging I have made some very serious friendships. I never thought that would happen. Many of these friends continue to blog and some have quit. When they quit it disappoints me.

What really blows my mind is how some explain why they quit. The truth is: folks quit blogging when they have nothing much to say.

Some folks have a tough time quitting permanently because they have so much to say that they must blog. Like me, they have slowed down tremendously but they still post with some frequency.

Lately, I have been busy.I  have also had a terrible case of writer’s block. This has slowed slowed me down.

I’m very happy that so many of you are still with me. I miss those that are gone.

My favorite blogger recently closed up. He hadn’t been posting regularly since he married. I guess having someone to talk to at home is enough for him and he frankly doesn’t need us anymore. I miss him. But I can’t blame him.

How about you?  Why do you do it?  Why do you keep doing it?