HETTY

Tag: dailyprompt

  • To Create, Assist, and Educate

    What is your mission?

    My life changed for the better once I was formally diagnosed with an autistic spectrum disorder. I am odd, shy, cope with depression and anxiety, struggle with formal education, have unusual special interests, and I have various quirks, but there was a reason that wasn’t of my doing. Because of that, I became more of an advocate for autism. There’s pros and cons to being neurodiverse, and I try to focus more on the positives, and give insight about the negatives.

    I tend to be pendatic, but maybe some people’s eyes glaze over when I am. But sometimes I do reach people if I explain things in simple language, or they are curious about a topic. I have some experience as a tutor, and sometimes give instructions or advice.

    I always wanted to be an inventor or innovator, write a book, and live a comfortable middle class lifestyle. I dabble in various hobbies (including this blog). But seeing that there’s a polycrisis in recent years, I think I have to help others survive the 21st century and beyond.

    I went to college to study journalism, technical writing, and an information technology related field, so my idea to create the HETTY blog that combines my various skills, experiences,.and interests in a series of articles. Some of the articles are food service related, since I was a cook for years, and I struggled financially much of my life. Some articles.are science and technology related, since I’m pro science.

    I’m still figuring things out, but in simple terms, I want to create, educate, and assist others as I can. This century is looking very challenging in several ways.

  • Nope, not for me

    What are your thoughts on the concept of living a very long life?

    There’s that famous quote from Woody Allen, which I will paraphrase, “You can live to be 100, if you give up all of the things that make you want to live to be 100.” That aligns with my own philosophy.

    I would argue that longevity is causing more problems than it solves, although there are some exceptions with some individuals. Like there’s some centenarian individuals still working, still in decent health, still active, and have a good mindset. They seem to be uncommon among the elderly though. There’s various ailments associated with advanced age, including dementia and cancer.

    I smoke, drink, eat the less healthy food at times, and don’t exercise as much as I should. And I’m coping with serious existential problems, along with millions of others. I’m already world weary. I’ll probably make it to my 70s or possibly 80s, and I’m fine with that. Any longer, I may become more reckless with my health, like eat Fugu Sushi or dance badly in traffic.

  • College instead of Military

    What could you do differently?

    This is the choice I had as a senior in high school back in 1991, about to graduate and make my own way in the world. My dad died when I was 11, so my mother worked a lot trying to support my 2 brothers and I. Since it was a struggle to support the family on a single income, my mother gave me the choice of either joining the military, where I could learn a job skill or several through apprenticeships, or stay with my mom and brothers, and go to college for a formal education while she paid for my tuition and books. Maybe I could work a job to help with the fees.

    I had my reasons to join the military after high school graduation, one of them being that I didn’t want to burden my mother with the extra expenses of school. Learning a job skill, seeing the world, maybe toughening up some since I was a gawky nerd while in public school. I was very green, naive, and sheltered. But I would qualify for the Montgomery GI Bill, if I joined the military. I could go to college later, if I chose so. (I did, 10 years later.)

    Was the Air Force a good experience? Yes, and no. I met some good people, did go to different parts of the US and some other countries, learned how to be a professional military cook and basic service specialist, learned some military culture and lingo, and didn’t screw up so much that I was able to get an honorable discharge after 2 terms of service. It was sometimes stressful, sometimes loud enough that I developed tinnitus from the noise of war machinery, and I had to cope with the politics (workplace and geopolitical). I also developed habits like smoking and the occasional binge drinking, and I became more jaded and vigilant. I wasn’t burned out yet, but I lost a spark I had at 18.

    I started to go college when I was 27, sometimes older than the other students. While I did study and did well enough in some courses, there was some other courses I couldn’t keep up with, or in some cases was completely lost. Astrophysics 2 showed that I’m terrible in advanced math, and intermediate algebra seems to be my limit.

    I got so burnt out from reading college textbooks that I don’t have the attention span for reading books anymore. I’ll read online summaries or specific quotes or facts about a topic instead. I ended up dropping out of getting a bachelors degree partly cuz my grades weren’t good enough (with autistic spikes), and I couldn’t afford to finish college.

    So why would I chose college over the military after highschool? Money, time, and energy. I was more energetic, healthy, and idealistic at 17-18 years old than I was at 27-28, college was cheaper (yet still costly), and I would spend more time with my family. I would probably have a better formal education than I do now, maybe working as an engineer or professional writer. I also probably wouldn’t have developed the wanderlust I have for travel if I just stayed in my hometown, instead of the 7 countries I was able to visit while in the military.

    I’m not sure if it was a better choice, but maybe I would have chosen a different fork in the road knowing what I know now.

  • My first job

    Tell us about your first day at something — school, work, as a parent, etc.

    I don’t remember the details of my first job, so the answer will be a little vague. But my first job was as a pickup delivery person at JC Penney, a department store built into a shopping mall in Milwaukee. My mother was a sales representative in the Jewelry department, and she talked to management about hiring me. It was my first part time job at 16, while I was still in high school.

    I don’t remember how much I was paid for the work, but I imagine that it was minimum wage back in 1989. I remember that there was a pickup area in the backroom warehouse, where large items that were paid for in the store departments were pulled from stock based on the product code, taken to the pickup point in the back of the mall, and put in customers vehicles. Furniture, home decor, boxed items, maybe even large boxed toys at times.

    I did remember that I had to wear slacks, a dress shirt, and tie for the backroom stock area. I would do mess cleanup, trash disposal, and some product stocking at times, but the job was mostly pulling and preparing stock at that pickup point.

    I do remember being in a decent mood after working that 5pm to 9pm shift, being excited about my first job. Not tired, and upbeat when the first shift was done and my mother picked me up from work. And I remember having a crush on a blond sales representative working in the children’s clothes department. I admired her from afar, and I was too shy to even ask her name even after several months.

    So that’s the vague story of my first job.

  • Where to start?🤣

    What is the greatest gift someone could give you?

    Oh, this is a tough one. Cuz I’m not well to do, and I live on a modest income myself. It’s getting tougher to get by. Yet I try to still buy gifts for others, although those tend to be lower cost.

    Money and gift cards are always useful. And while at least 30,000$ would be very useful right about now, I would be content with even 50$.

    I like video games, of course. If I could get the latest console or even a gaming PC, I would be happy with that.

    I like to travel, so if someone I know purchased a round trip ticket to another country, I will pack my luggage right away. I would be even happy with donated airline miles.

    There’s a list of really good gift ideas actually, but I think the most affordable option I can list is a robot kit or set. I have built robots out of kits and Technic sets, and some of those sets are affordable. So if someone wants to make me happy without spending too much, a Robot kit or set would be a good idea.

    Wait, there’s also drones! See, I can go on.😂🤣😂🤣

  • Despair and cynicism

    How have your political views changed over time?

    There’s a good reason why some voters/people become independent or apolitical over time. I found that out in recent years.

    I lost hope, and I don’t think any solutions are possible through politics. Only periods of time when the system is more stable and functional. Corruption runs deep in several countries, and can ruin any halfway decent functional government and nation.

    There is no perfect political or economic system, only less bad ones, so I’m country hopping to find a suitable country that is a better fit for me. I lean more progressive/Social Democrat in the US. I left the US last January, so I’ve been exposed to different systems and cultures over the past year. I may not return to the US, if I can help it.

    Yes, I’ve become more depressed and cynical at my age. Interesting times indeed.

  • Adorable Animals and Children.

    When are you most happy?

    I have severe depression and moments of anxiety, so it’s a struggle to be happy in middle age. Especially knowing what I know. However, there are bright spots that I live for. I really like comedy, even though I find it hard to laugh at most comedy. I tend to find sight gags and written jokes funnier than most stand up comedy. And I tend to lean more towards dark humor.

    Music is a bright spot, especially if it’s a banger. I like a lot of the R&B/Funk/Disco type of EDM, if it’s original work or samples older songs I haven’t heard before.

    But cute and friendly dogs and cats, and adorable children? When I’m around them, I can be funny and sometimes even giddy. I’m one of those people who watches funny cat, dog, and baby videos. When I’m around dogs, cats, cute animals and babies, I can sing funny ditties, tell jokes, pet and/or cuddle, and sometimes feed pets or children. My mindset changes, and I feel better, if temporarily.

    I have a daughter now, less than a year old, and she really is adorable. So it brightens my day when I see her or when I’m with her.

  • I aspire to be a creative visionary.

    Tell us one thing you hope people say about you.

    I admire creative and intelligent people, and have for a long time. I read of Leonardo, and then later in life Nikolai Tesla and Steve Jobs. I don’t know if I’m that smart, but I do have some skills.

    My main gift is cooking, since I was paid for that for several years. I can cook several good meals and bake several desserts from memory. I have some writing talent (therefore a blog and online writing), but I also have an interest in advanced technology like robotics, 3D printing, and quantum computing. I have bought robot several kits and sets over the years, and even built some of my own unique designs. I sometimes come up with some good ideas for devices or apps, but realizing them is an ongoing issue.

    I dabble in drawing, cosplay, painting and music, but I admit that work is less than impressive. But I still aspire to make something that will improve life for millions of people. Maybe I’m punching above my weight, but I still think being creative is a worthy goal.

  • Crippling Social Anxiety

    Have you ever performed on stage or given a speech?

    I have both performed on stage and given speeches before, but only in school and it was years ago. I remember performing skits in class, and I either blanked out and was fed the lines, or I had to read from a paper. And then with the speeches, I mostly read from the essay I wrote, only briefly looking at the audience. I even took a speech course in college, and got a better than average grade.

    However, I don’t find public speaking or performing pleasant. I was visibly uneasy in front of others, and sometimes I cut the speech short so I could return to the classroom desk. It was before I was diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder.

    Imagine, that I like stand up comedy, and would like to perform stand-up one of these days. I never have, so it remains a dream. Curse you, social anxiety!

  • A Couch Potato who Travels

    I never been big on exercise, although intellectually I understand the need and benefit of it. I tried the fitness center membership route twice in my lifetime, and was barely going.

    However, walking and traveling seem to be my preferred method of exercise. I go different places, and I’m more likely to walk and carry heavier objects like luggage and groceries. I have to work with the quirks of my neurodiverse brain.

  • Enchiladas, Nacho Salad Dip with Tortillas, Hot Ham and Cheese on Rolls

    What are your family’s top 3 favorite meals?

    These aren’t necessarily my favorite meals, with the exception of that Nacho Salad Dip. But my family are big Green Bay Packer fans, and if we all had the Sundays off, my 2 brothers, their combined wives and children, my mother and I would watch the football games together. My mother was able to buy sliced ham and cheddar cheese from a deli/corner store she worked at part time at a discount price. With soft butter or mustard slathered on the rolls, it’s actually pretty good, and they were easy to make meals.

    If my mother was in the mood or it was requested by my brothers, she would make a version of chicken enchiladas that used refried beans and cream of chicken soup. Baked in the oven in a Pyrex platter for roughly an hour, my brothers were bigger fans of that casserole type dish than I was, but my mother liked making it for the family.

    During special occasions, including when the Packers made it to the playoffs or Championship game, my mother would make Nacho Salad Dip. Now, that Nacho Dip was actually a favorite of mine, and I keep trying to remember the exact ingredients so I can make my own version. Avocadoes mixed with cream cheese, some chili powder, garlic powder and other seasonings, squeezes of lemon juice, the guacamole mixture spread in a plate, topped with shredded lettuce and Mexican cheeses, chopped onions tomatoes, and olives. Sour cream may also be an ingredient, but I’m not sure. Served with Doritos or another bag of tortilla chips. So fattening, yet so tasty! Sometimes I try to look up online recipes to see if there is a version of that dip. It is one of those foods I’ll remember fondly, even if I don’t know how to make it myself yet.

    Otherwise, I like to make various types of Stir Fries, variations of Spaghetti, and chicken fajitas in my own home.

  • I’m an Aloof Introvert (Autistic)

    What’s the first impression you want to give people?

    I’d like to give off the vibe that I’m an introvert, and can be standoffish. But also I’m often deep in thought. In many cases, that’s true. However, if I’m able to help someone when approached, I will. Sometimes I have conversations with strangers, but every once in awhile. I’ve opened up to a few people in my life. I can be generous, knowledgeable, and funny around certain types of people.

  • Managing Screentime

    How do you manage screen time for yourself?

    If I do manage my screentime, I’ll either cook something to eat, sleep or nap, take a shower, go for a walk, or go to a public event. I go online mainly when I have free time yet, I’m bored. I don’t worry about the screen time so much, because being online has enriched my life in different ways. And I think I do more productive activities online than I do unproductive.