So, I just got back in town from a training at Michelle Garcia Winner’s clinic in California (MGW developed a comprehensive curriculum for individuals with autism with an emphasis on social cognition –www.socialthinking.com). More on the things I learned in a future blog.

Ok, getting back on track. So, April did not start on a great note for me – not bad, just a lot of weird events happening one after another (you can refer to Kent’s blog "A super, crazy, dizzy, sick, can't believe it is over kind of day” if you don’t know what I mean). So I was really hoping that going out of town would change the pattern. Well, not so much! Let me share with you my experiences starting with day 1. This has been such an adventure from beginning to end. First of all it is worth mentioning that I hate traveling!! I don’t like new places and I don’t like exploring new environments (I am not taking any smart comments on this as I heard plenty in the past from lots of people just like you all. ?)

So, Sunday afternoon, around 3 pm (Dallas time) I checked into my hotel room. I got settled and after I tried really hard, and failed, to find some sort of food service inside the hotel I decided to go out and get something to eat- BAD idea!

As I quickly found out, my hotel was right on the border between a relatively good part of the town (on the left) and not so good part of the town (on the right). Ok, so for no reason whatsoever, I decided to turn right in my quest for some food items. As I am walking I notice a LOT of motorcycles parked in front of this “store” – did not give it a lot of attention as I really thought it was a bar and assumed that all the people would be inside.

Ok, WRONG again! As I walked towards it I learned that it was a motorcycle show/fitting for new leather jackets all in one kind of deal :). As I had no choice I had to go through the crowd. I made it through grateful that no tight pants, leather jacket, no shower in a while kind of guy tried to pick me up. Oh, wait a minute! Few steps down the road I hear: PSST! I ignore it as I don't even want to think about reinforcing that behavior. Maybe he will go away. Don't worry he did not! 50 meters down the road (Your turn to be confused and figure out what that is :) - I have no idea what that is in feet) he catches up with me.
"Hey, I was trying to talk to you"
In my mind: “And I was trying to ignore you”. But, the “good voice” in my head kept saying: you are in a new place, don't know anybody, BE POLITE!! I decided to follow the advice as it proved to be beneficial in the past.
"I'm sorry, I did not realize that"
"Do you want to come in and get fitted for a leather jacket. I'll give it to you for free."
"No thank you (thinking - not my style, not interested and if I wanted a leather jacked I would not get fit for it in the middle of the street – are you kidding me?). I really appreciate it but no thank you."
"Do you want a leather vest?"
Trying not to laugh and thinking of a better way to let this guy know that he was really not reading my cues:
"Hm, no thank you!"

As I thought I was off the hook he proves me WRONG again:
"Well here is my card. If you ever need to have your car towed I am your man! Please call me if you want to go out for coffee - I am single and over 21" (trust me! There was no question in my mind that he was wayyy over 21!)
At this point I am a little surprised at how fast that conversation moved, actually jumped, to the going out part so reflexes kick in: I get the card say thank you and move away really fast not wanting to give him another chance to get anything else in – God knows what was coming next! I was not interested in finding out. – Escape behavior at work!!

Ok, so I keep going hoping to find a restaurant really fast, as I was getting really anxious noticing the environment more. On my way I walked by a Strip club (not opened at the time – there is a God!) and an adult sex toys store. Across the street- a Mexican restaurant – I get in, get my food and head back really hoping the motorcycle show was over. Not really but this time I had a plan: called my friend and kept her on the phone till I got back to the hotel. My prince charming was still there, made an attempt to talk to me again but saw that I was taking on the phone and gave up – at least he was able to read and interpret the more obvious nonverbal cues.

As I stepped into the hotel one thought was rushing through my mind:
Welcome back to the twilight zone! (again see Kent’s blog if you don’t know what I mean ?)

This concludes my first day in California. More to come in the future