Checkpoint: Day 1

Main Entry:	overwhelm
Part of Speech:	verb
Definition:	flood, beat physically
Synonyms:	bury, conquer, crush, defeat, deluge, destroy,drown, drub, engulf, inundate, massacre,overcome, overflow, overpower, overrun,overthrow, rout, smother, submerge, swamp,thrash, total*, whip*, win*
Antonyms:	underwhelm

* = informal/non-formal usage

Main Entry:	overwhelm
Part of Speech:	verb
Definition:	astonish, devastate
Synonyms:	bewilder, blow out of the water, bowl over,confound, confuse, demoralize, destroy,disturb, do in, downgrade, drown, dumbfound,floor*, kill*, overcome, overpower, prostrate,puzzle, render speechless, run circles around,shatter, shock, stagger, steamroller, stun,subordinate, surprise, swamp, upset, wreck

Morning mission completed! Not one curse word on the drive. Of course it helped that God Photoshopped out a third of the commuters on my route this a.m.

I don't plan to blog like a crazed lunatic all day. But in my mind, I'm constantly blogging or flogging myself, whichever fits the moment. So on the commute I had many thoughts that could constitute several blogs.  This is my list for future reference.  Or perhaps I'll go on a wild typing spree and address these topics in the not so distant future. (<- read that as tonight when I can't sleep)  Religion, Church & the music / What they don't tell you about having kids / Autism / Marriage and how I'm not fit to give advice on it/ the list of very odd things that make me Me/ Why I hate phones/ Odd Things about the Southwest/ Masculinity, an Identity Crisis/ What My Biggest Problem Is (yes I've identified it and am looking for ways to deal/cope)

I don't think I can write on these topics presently. I'm at Glorified Coffee Chain, being a contrarian and drinking warm spiced cider, and there's a few groups of women who are starting their Mahjong club hen party. I can barely focus. 

So I should carry on with the wave of Whelm and how I just might eek out an existence today without it taking me over.  Oops-failure #1: I'm trying to Live rather than simply exist. Perhaps, at some point, when I feel extra mojo I'll shift from the lofty goal of Living to Thriving but let's not get ahead of ourselves.   Ok perhaps this all sounds quite dramatic. I mean defense against becoming overwhelmed? Is this what is has come to? Well, in a word, yes.  See the top of this post for the terms associated with  "overwhelm".  So there you have it. I would say that at some point or another in the last several years, I've  become intimately familiar with the emotions most of those words carry.

But onward we go. Adding to the List to keep things going today....  After this time at Coffee Shop inside the Book Chain, I am meeting a friend for lunch. Tough life I'm leading huh?! (<- sarcasm) (By the way I'm used to pointing these things out because I correspond with many adults with autism online and they appreciate the Reader's Notes)  So at lunch, I will be met with warmth. There will be the usual obsessing over our kids with special needs and whether or not they are getting all they should be from the school situation. We will discuss what we've been up to since our last chat. I've got a trip and a wedding to report on.  I've also got a few secrets which I will need to choose carefully whether or not to tell. See how I didn't tell you either? (<- trust issues) Ok not that I don't trust some of you---just maybe not all of you imaginary friends. (<- dissociative identity disorder in the making...you saw it here first)  I must also carefully guard this tongue of mine. It is most irresponsible spewing it's filth and negativity all over the place. I must remember not to feel my friend's feelings...for I have more than enough of my own. (clearly) These are the finer points to leaving a social moment feeling energized rather than drained.  After lunch, I will scoot down to my gym and do a little walking/cardio while reading a book. Which book do I choose? The Other Queen (I started it on the plane Monday) or the one I just bought Craig Ferguson's American On Purpose (which I've been waiting for 3 months to read)? Ah decisions decisions...

Then it will time to pick up The Boy. Try to repeat the a.m. steps. Yesterday's post school trip to the grocery store was a bit of a disaster. Note to self: Avoid post school errands at all costs.

Then I must ponder the dinner selection for the Family. Get the Boy's 30 seconds of homework out of the way. WAit--reserve 5 minutes for the possible whining that takes place to the 30 seconds of the actual task. And maybe I'll watch House on the DVR so I'm caught up on the tv.

It doesn't sound too bad today. In fact, maybe it won't be so bad ever again...since I'm approaching it with such determination.