The Friday Five for September 27 and Checkin
These questions were written by [personal profile] archersangel.
1. Most everyone will recommend a book or two to read, but are there any you would tell people to avoid?
There are books I couldn't finish but we all have different tastes, and I wouldn't tell anyone to avoid anything. I think the PDA plays into this too. I don't like being told what or what not to do, so I don't do that to other people either.
I have a brain that converts scenes to pictures in my brain. If the book is too technical or doesn't explain well enough and I am unable to convert it, I will not enjoy a book. I know some people don't think like that. I think books I can't "see" could very well be written by writers who can't do the converting. And obviously, readers who are the same way will be able to enjoy these books.
Further to the Drive for Autonomy, I told my teacher who is ADHD about our barbecue on Sunday, and how I was soooo grateful to my kids every event, for their help. I often feel bad about asking them to do things. Like for example take Hana for a walk, because I know it is a really difficult thing for me, and I know they have stuff they want to do. Julian will often do it for me even though he wants to sleep in on his day off on Saturdays. The other two need it scheduled quite a bit in advance for them to be willing. And every time I feel so bad asking.
2. If you take a book on vacation, are you more likely to take something you haven't read yet or an old favorite?
A new book, unless I am in the middle of a reread.
3. Do you read any genres by the season? Like horror around Halloween? Cozy Mysteries in the Winter? Romance in the Summer?
Nope UG I don't know why it makes me feel kind of sick to my stomach. I think it's the PDA... a kind of social "demand" that I resist, or maybe previous experience with it? It all seems very contrived. I do have some that I often feel like watching at Christmas though, just because I have a lot of time: like The Sound of Music, Chiki Chiki Bang Bang, Bedknobs and Broomsticks, Mary Poppins and all the musicals.
4. If you read a lot of Fiction do you prefer an author that has a series with the same character(s), or do you prefer stand-alone stories?
Series, usually, because I need more time with the characters I have formed attachments with!
5. Is there a book that you wish you could read again, but experience it like it was the first time?
The Magicians. I can't reread it because it is so traumatic. If I didn't remember it was, I could enjoy it again.
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Monday, the day after our barbecue, was relaxing and fine. I rested all day except for having to go shopping for the week.
But, Tuesday I woke up again with the blues and even ended up cuddling with hubby for a bit. He thought I was still getting over Sunday. I tend to agree. I didn't have daycare, so I tried to relax as much as possible.
Wednesday morning, I was again, exhausted. I was terribly sleepy that night, but couldn't let myself lie down because I wanted me-time. I wanted to watch Supernatural or write on my computer. But when I found I was too tired to sit up, I ended up lying down in the living room to watch the rest of Emily in Paris and start Prison Break. I started it a long time ago but it wasn't engaging enough then. It is now providing a distraction.
Thursday, I was so tired again, even though I slept like the dead. Friday, I felt the same in the morning, but I felt energized after my daycare class. It's like the energy it took to teach the class kind of ran at its own momentum. Maybe it's that initial ability to vamp up that I have a hard time with because I was okay for the rest of the day, even though my arms tingled once in a while.
I'm beginning to think Sunday's cheerfulness was an emergency coping mechanism and not due to meds at all.
I'm having trouble taking Hana for her walk because of this exhaustion problem. I wish someone could take over, but I know the walk is probably good for me, too.
I also thought of how not being able to sleep unless I "decide" could be a PDA trait. I have never been able to just "fall" asleep. Many ADHD people say they can sleep anywhere besides their own beds because, basically, they just fall asleep when they are tired enough while sleeping in a bed is a conscious thing. It's opposite for me. I've always been jealous of people who can fall asleep. My friend from uni used to do that in class. She'd be writing, then the words would become a jumble, then a straight line as she konked out. I loved watching LOL
Recently, I've been really conscious of how I fall asleep in bed. I'd be thinking of something - usually a show or book or a story I made up in my head, and the story would get jumbled and lead into other thoughts that I had no control over (basically, a dream I guess) and would remember it was different from what I was thinking but forget the details as soon as I drifted awake again. Sometimes, I'd feel little jerks of consciousness like the knee jerk you might get when your body falls asleep before your brain, like my mind was trying to pull me under and I was resisting. If I think of my day or anything I am worried about, I won't be able to sleep, so I try to think of a story where my mind can relax and wander.
I found this article on menopause of autistics helpful - especially the encouragement by autistic women at the bottom.
https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/topics/physical-health/menopause
Anyway, I'm going to get this rambling out now before it is out of date.