A Cause for Celebration!

Hello everyone, I know it's been a long time since I've posted anything, let alone another comic, but I want to report some GOOD NEWS as starting October 1st of this year, Autism will now be covered by Insurance in my home state of Michigan, thanks to the Autism Insurance Reform Bills that passed the House Vote earlier today!

I could not be happier to report that my very first comic, now no longer applies in Michigan:

I want to say THANK YOU, so very much to everyone who made phone calls, sent e-mails, wrote letters, signed petitions, participated in the Autism walks, or in any other way lent their support to this issue and this legislation.

And if you happen to live in Alabama, Alaska, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi,  Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Washington, Washington D.C. or Wyoming all I can say is KEEP PUSHING! Keep the pressure on the politicians and it CAN HAPPEN!  It's a marathon for sure, not a sprint, but progress will be made when people work together and never give up.  30 States down - 20 (+ D.C.) to go!

So... Where have I been?

Well, it's been about five months since I last updated, and given that so many people are still reading this, and commenting, and sending me messages, I think it's long overdue that I filled everyone in on what's going on and give some kind of explanation for the extended hiatus.

Short version? I was really busy for a while, and it's gotten very difficult to find the time to get back into the habit.

Long version...

From January through March of this year, I was actually taking an art class.  The idea being that I would learn some new techniques and improve my drawing here. Unfortunately, the class was on Monday nights. That was unfortunate because, being that I'm the way I am, I always put off doing the homework until Sunday night.  Which was usually when I would otherwise be drawing the comic.  So... for three months there was like... What? Two updates? Anyway, that's how it started.

So class ended in at the end of March, but we took a cruise the first week in April. GREAT Vacation. Western Caribbean. We really needed it too.  BUT... that was two more weekends with no comic.

A couple of weeks later I went to Germany on business. (One more weekend away.) And a couple weeks after that (in June) I was in Boston for my Grandmother's 90th Birthday.  (Another weekend down.)

Now, I'm not trying to make any excuses here, there were still a lot of free weekends left (and I'm sorry, but I just can not do these during the week. This is definitely a week-end thing.) But for the first six months of the year, we're really only talking about 7 or 8 that we really free. And I'll be honest: I just fell out of the habit. And I truly apologize for that, especially in light of all the comments you've all been leaving during that time.

Moving forward, I do NOT plan to stop the comic permanently.  There are still a few strips I'd like to do, although the list of ideas is not as long as it once was and as the kids get older the stories that I have resemble our current lives less and less. Which is a good thing, even thought it a bit of an inspiration-killer for the comic.  Add to that that the new material does seem to come as quickly (which is both a good thing and a bad one, at times) and it's been very difficult for me to get back in the groove.

The real tell-tale for me that I had gotten so far removed from this came a few weeks back when I pencilled and inked the next comic... and then never scanned, colored and posted it.  And that was over a month ago! And it was part one of two, so the next one was pretty much already written!

So... I DO intend to put those up, and I would like to get the rest of the strips drawn and posted.  I can't say when that will be, and I don't want to make any promises that I can't keep, but I'm not ready to call it's quits, for good, just yet. 

In anycase, we're all doing fine. And I appreciate everyone's comments and notes and words of support. I hope that everything is OK with all of you, and that we'll be able to share a few more stories in the near future.

Thanks so much for all of your support,
Scott

On the Spectrum #101: Go ask Daddy

(click to enlarge)

Wiseguy.

On the Spectrum #100!: Sharing

(click to enalrge)

Oh, my god! I've made it to 100! I never thought I'd make it this far! (Yay!)

OK, back to the strip...

Believe it or not, Jacob really is every bit as cute as I draw him here; much more so actually.  That being said, he can still be a real brat sometimes! LOL.

The above story actually came from his teacher, during a Paerent-Teacher conference, late last year.  She told me what happened, and I immediately thought, "I've got to use that!

On the Spectrum #99: He gets that from you!

(click to enlarge)

Welcome back!  I hope everyone had a safe and happy holiday.  This is a bit of a "breaking the fourth wall" strip.  There were rather a few people who left comments, sent me messages or upon reading #98, looked at me and said, "Huh?"  So this was just a (paraphrased) converstaion that DW and I had about it. 

One thing about Michael and Jacob (Jacob to a much greater extent): If they're not paying attention, or don't feel like talking to you, they'll answer, "Yes," or "Yeah," to pretty much any question.  So before we make that snack he said he wanted, or whatever, I usually ask a really absurd question like, "Do you want me to put eels in your underpants?" of "Do you want to be fed to a wild honey badger?" And if they say, "Yes," then I know they probably haven't been listening for at least a few questions now.

Also while we do occasionally play the "He gets that from you" game (always playfully, mind you) usually it's a lot more specific than this.  In all honesty, I'll admit that this comes off as a wee bit mean-spirited. But hey, what can I say? She was frustrating me! (And I LIKE #98! LOL)  But there are plenty of traits, both typical and autistic, in both of our boys, where we know which one of us they got them from!  (I'm a collector myself, and earlier today Michael was showing me a set of toys from a catalog and said, "I want to get the whole set!" And I was like... *sniff* You ARE my son!) LOL

Thanks, Papa!

Well... Looks as though I can't sign off for the year (or even the evening) just yet...

Papa Bear has nominated OTS for a "Stylish Blogger Award." (Now proudly added on the Right.)  I would like to extend my sincere thanks, as well as execute my duties as a recipient.

In accordance with the rules, one must state seven things about themselves, and then nominate three other blogs for the award. So here goes:

1) I write a comic strip about my two sons, who have autsim. XP
2) I have a love of baseball that borders on mental illness. (Go Red Sox!)
3) My favorite filmmaker is Akira Kurosawa, though admittedly this is a very recent development. (And I'm close to being torn between him and Masaki Kobayashi.)
4) I have a Border Collie-Cattle Dog mix named Haley who didn't make it into the strip for almost two years.
5) I'm an engineer. (Which some people seem to think might explain a thing or two...)
6) I don't watch televison, but couldn't live without movies and anime. (And, of course, the occasional baseball game!)
7) I'm much older, balder and fatter than the "Dad" character who's drawn here!

And for the blogs I would like to nominate:

1) Kicking Kittens

Autismherd, has already been picked, in the exact same post as OTS was as a matter of fact, but I want to strongly "second" that well deserved nomination by nominating Kathleen's other Blog. (The one with the deliciously evil name!)  It's probably worth mentioning that Autsimherd was the first blog that started syndicating this one, AND that she put me in touch with the good folks over at Autisable, so I owe her for a lot publicity. But personal gratitude aside, Kathleen is a really cool blogger and both her personal blog ('herd) and her compilation blog ('kittens) are totally worth checking out.  (And I agree 110% with PapaBear: I can't imagine having four kids, let alone three on the Spectrum.  So, yeah: She deserves an award...  So here's a second one!)

2) Squidilicious

Was is it with these awesome names?  I can't believe I actually thought "On the Spectrum" was somehow clever at one point!  And what adorable kids!  If it weren't for my Michael and Jacob, I could SO see those two in a comic strip!  The love and affection in that family really comes through in their blog in a way that I can only hope ours does in mine.

3) A Life Less Ordinary

I hate to admit it, but I'm usually not a huge fan of reading people's personal blogs.  And that's rather a bit hypcritical, seeing as how I want people to read mine! LOL. But sometimes I read people's anecdotes and take on things and think, "They just... get it." (And surprisingly, NO, that doesn't happen just because someone else happns to have autism in their life!)  This is one of those blogs.

So congratulations!  Make sure to keep the chain going, or I'm sure something terrible will happen! LOL

Merry Early Christmas Everyone!

Unfortunately, due to our travel schedule, and preperations, yesterday was the only day I had to do an update.  And I had really planned on doing one! (Really!)  What I didn't plan on was getting sick as a dog, falling asleep at 6:00 PM Friday evening and waking up at 6:00 AM this morning, with only one break in between to see the Doctor... who charged me a $20 co-pay for the timeless advice of "rest and stay hydrated." (Um... You don't really need to tell a guy who just slept for 16 hours strait to "get some rest." *roll eyes*)  In any case, the 36 hours I lost kind of shot up my weekend schedule a bit.

And, since we will be out of town for the hollidays, OTS will not be updated until we get back. I might be able to sneak one in mid-week, before the new year, (and I'd really like to,) otherwise, the next update will be on the Second of Januray, 2011.

And since it's more than likely this this post will close out the year here at OTS, I just want to make sure I give a sincere and heartfelt thank-you to everyone who has left coments, not only here, but over on Autisable and at the Autspot as well, and I wish that you all take care, and have a safe and happy holiday!

So give your kids a hug from me, and I'll make sure to pass on all of the kind words, good feelings and warm wishes that you've sent our way over the past year to Michael and Jacob.