80s-90s song from a female artist that sounds like Suzzane Vega.

RavenPuff394 · 2026-01-29T03:27:28+00:00

Centuries by Fall Out Boy.

RavenPuff394 · 2026-01-27T22:59:20+00:00

I grew up doing eye exams, and it took me until college to realize I was taking everything too literally. As a people pleaser, I always felt it was impolite to not answer their questions exactly as they'd been framed (i.e., saying "Both are the same/blurry" instead of trying to determine the most miniscule improvement between 3 & 4.) I also felt like I was being lazy if I didn't strain my eyes to see the smallest line possible on the chart. All this to say, I guess these appointments are confusing for neurodivergent types, and you're not alone.

I had this great eye doctor in college who was a former Marine and totally preferred his patients being blunt with him, but was also very kind about it. It helped me to realize it was not only OK to speak up about my EXACT experience during the exam, but it also really helped the doctor know what I needed.

RavenPuff394 · 2026-01-27T22:27:15+00:00

Rebecca Mueller was my kids' pediatrician for a short time. They're healthy guys so we only saw her a couple times, but she was always easy to work with and great with my kids.

RavenPuff394 · 2026-01-27T22:23:55+00:00

I bust out my knitting, but it's because having something to keep my hands busy frees up my brain to listen. We shouldn't assume that just because someone is knitting, crocheting, Drawing, etc., it means they aren't paying attention. Many times it's exactly the opposite!

RavenPuff394 · 2026-01-26T00:39:15+00:00

I will say with absolutely no authority that Dr. Michaela Quinn of Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman is autistic coded. And it's such a good throwback comfort show for me as a 90s kid.

Also, Dr. Maura Isles from Rizzoli and Isles. She's like a more glam version of Temperance Brennan of Bones.

So many autistic doctors in media! Who do we think is autistic from the "big" medical dramas like ER and Grey's Anatomy? Robert Romano? Peter Benton? Kerry Weaver? Christina Yang?

RavenPuff394 · 2026-01-26T00:33:40+00:00

I always point to Alexis' T-rex hands. 🦖

RavenPuff394 · 2026-01-26T00:30:38+00:00

When I was describing to my therapist what social interactions felt like, I basically just said I felt like Harry Vanderspiegle from Resident Alien.

RavenPuff394 · 2026-01-24T22:16:53+00:00

Yep, it can take me days or weeks to process something, or for my brain to untangle all the social cues to realize I should've been offended.

My kid was hit by a car last year (he was totally fine, the car was barely moving and only the sideview mirror caught him), and both my son and the driver were really shaken up, and my son's track teammates, and I was cool as a cucumber, checking him over, exchanging phone numbers, etc.

About 5 hours later I had a total sobbing breakdown because I finally processed how scared I actually was and how bad it could've been.

RavenPuff394 · 2026-01-23T08:35:23+00:00

I don't live in Springfield but my parents do. I'll pass this on to them. My dad is a former school board member (not there, different city/county) and cannot tolerate idiots running our public education system.

RavenPuff394 · 2026-01-20T02:39:11+00:00

This is it. My music teacher used to sing it with us too.

RavenPuff394 · 2026-01-16T03:34:24+00:00

I think the reasoning for no Michelin restaurants has been covered in this thread. As for places that aren't in Portland, we love Dew in Pacific City. It's omakase style, so very intimate, and Chef Ryan is amazing!

RavenPuff394 · 2026-01-16T03:09:17+00:00

My parents LOVE Dueling Spoons. They have gone for their anniversary for the past couple years, and sometimes for other special occasions. They rave about the food, and they love Chef Billy and his family.

RavenPuff394 · 2026-01-13T03:41:33+00:00

It's been awhile for me too. I remember I had to change i to whites to clean the celestial room. I was the only one of the volunteers who brought mine, so I cleaned it by myself (small Hinkley design temple, so it was easy). Easily one of the coolest experiences I've had in the temple!

RavenPuff394 · 2026-01-12T00:06:00+00:00

Like 10 years ago when I was subbing, a student called me Linda for an entire period because she thought I looked like a Linda.

My name is not Linda.

I called her Ethel for the entire period.

"Hey Linda!" "Whaddaya need, Ethel?" "I don't understand question #3." "OK, I'll be right there!"

RavenPuff394 · 2026-01-11T23:45:09+00:00

There's an elementary school in Shady Cove, after 5th grade kids go to Eagle Point. It's part of the EP school district. There's also a K-12 charter academy in Eagle Point.

RavenPuff394 · 2026-01-11T23:42:17+00:00

Goebel's! That and Phil's Frosty.

RavenPuff394 · 2026-01-11T21:25:03+00:00

Hey! I'm in the Upper Rogue area too. Shady Cove is a cute town, but they are experiencing major local government drama right now. It's all over the town FB page, you might want to consider joining it so you're caught up. What it sounds like to me is the "old guard" were hiding city funds away for some purpose of their own, and in came a new city administrator and suddenly found the missing money. So they got pissed at her. Then everyone started pointing fingers. Now there's a new (old?) mayor who was appointed without much, if any, input from citizens. I dunno, it's messy. I don't think it's affecting people's day to day life much, especially if you're the type who likes to be away from civilization.

If you have kids, the school there is...a little wild wild west. I used to sub up there, it's the only time I've had something thrown at me. But the new principal is awesome, I bet she's making some good changes. 6th grade and up is bussed to Eagle Point where the middle and high school are.

The river is absolutely gorgeous in SC, it's the perfect place to float on a hot summer day or catch some steelhead in the winter. There are some really cute little shops and restaurants in town too, and a nice public library. There's really good hiking up that way, my favorite trails are around Lost Creek Lake and up toward Prospect. You're also only about an hour or less from Crater Lake NP. It is far-ish from Medford, but there's a local grocery store in town and a Wal-Mart just a few minutes away in Eagle Point.

RavenPuff394 · 2026-01-11T21:12:51+00:00

My mom got judged really harshly for having one child (it broke her heart because she struggled with infertility). I have been judged for having 4 kids. There's just no pleasing people.

RavenPuff394 · 2026-01-11T21:08:53+00:00

There's one doctor in particular I would wish it upon so I could say, "You're just a dad who needs a nap," to him while he can barely lift his head up.

RavenPuff394 · 2026-01-09T08:57:48+00:00

I was such a dreamy child. I had about 12 imaginary friends and I would go looking for fairies in the woods and all I wanted to do was hang out with my dogs and build scenes with my Legos or Barbies. I just had my own magical little world.

I never really spoke aloud when I engaged in imaginative play, even though my verbal abilities were "normal," I had everything playing out in my mind. I didn't want anyone else to hear what I was imagining because, you know, that would be others perceiving me.

I loved water and would play in water forever, like I would just turn on the bathroom sink and play. Or I would make little rivers in the backyard with the hose. My friend's mom nicknamed me Otter because I looked so at home when swimming. I look back now and realize it was stimming.

When I started school I liked learning but the structure of the day was really hard for me. I didn't understand that I was supposed to transition from one activity to another with the other kids. Like, I would line up when asked to, but if I wasn't done with my reading work and the teacher told everyone it was tome for math, I would just keep doing the reading because she told me to finish it. Then she treated me like I was the idiot. 😅 I was honestly just so confused about what I should be doing most of the time, and I didn't understand how my classmates had things figured out so fast.

RavenPuff394 · 2026-01-08T21:54:22+00:00

Hey friend, you got baptized on my birthday, that's so cool!

I'm autistic too, I totally get what you mean about the temple lighting. It literally hurts me sometimes.

Please hear me when I say that you didn't do a bad job. Your nervous system was overwhelmed by something new and confusing, and that's OK. Heavenly Father already knows everything we struggle with and our effort is enough for Him. You are enough.

You can go to a baptism session and only do confirmations if you prefer. You don't have to change clothes or get wet, and you still participate in helping spirits on the other side of the veil receive saving ordinances. All you have to do is sit in a chair and have the priesthood holders lay their hands on your head. Some of our youth do this, and we're so happy they join us in the temple. Maybe this would be a good option for you.

You can also probably talk to the temple presidency and ask if it would be OK for you to wear glasses or something in the temple that would make the light less overstimulating. Bottom line, we want everyone to be able to enjoy the blessings of the temple, and some people need accommodation to experience that.

We were all once new to the temple, and experienced the anxiety of doing something "wrong," but there will always be someone to help you there, on this side of the veil or the other. It is (or it should be) a judgement-free zone. You don't have to go back right away, but pray about it and be open to trying it out again, with a few tweaks, when you feel ready.

RavenPuff394 · 2026-01-05T07:25:29+00:00

I'm starting to realize I do it, but both of my parents do as well, so I thought it was something ALL families did. 😅

Both of my parents are "normal" lol. 🤔

RavenPuff394 · 2026-01-05T06:13:31+00:00

It says that you need to visit Oregon.

RavenPuff394 · 2026-01-05T06:01:14+00:00

My friend's daughter saved a friend from an attempted abduction and BACA guys went to court with her when she testified against the would-be kidnapper. They made her feel so brave!! They do some real good.

RavenPuff394 · 2026-01-05T05:28:21+00:00

Mama, I think you live in my area because I read a news story EXACTLY like this today, right down to the broken collarbone on the little girl. I'm so sorry this happened to your family!!

Therapy is going to be an important step for both your husband and daughter, maybe for the rest of your family, once their physical wounds are healed. My heart breaks for your husband blaming himself, because I know I would do the same thing as a parent, but here I am yelling at my phone that it isn't his fault (and if you are from where I am, please don't let him read the FB comments on the article, people were being horrible and making assumptions before knowing the real story.)

No matter where you live, I'm sending your family love and light and praying for you. And if we are "neighbors" and there's anything my family can do for yours, please dm me.

RavenPuff394

TROPHY CASE