Welcome!
<img src="https://liathano.neocities.org/2nd%20project/Pics/waving%20kid.png" alt="Boy waving" align= "right" style="width:250px;height:300px;">
Let me tell you all about a typical day for me.
I'll answer all your questions.
You just gotta promise to not be too loud, k?
[[About me]]
<i>Did you know humans share 90% of genes with cats?</i>So where do I begin?
<img src="https://liathano.neocities.org/2nd%20project/Pics/minecraft.png" alt="Poptarts" align= "right" style="width:550px;height:400px;">
My name is Cole. I'm 10 years old.
I like Minecraft and Lego video games and watching tv.
I don't really like going outside. I can't ride a bike.
School is okay. I have some friends.
I have 2 brothers and no sisters.
I'm crazy allergic to anything with milk in it.
[[Also, I have this thing called autism.]]
<i>Humans have 60,000 miles of blood vessels.</i>According to my parents, I see the world a little different.
And hear it differently.
And touch it.
I don't like much to be touched. It feels odd.
And the world is so loud sometimes. It makes me want to hide in a really quiet place when there's too much noise.
But it doesn't seem to bother other people nearly as much as it bothers me. [[I don't get it.]]
<i>Dolphins don't get dizzy when they spin a lot.</i>6:30am
<img src="https://liathano.neocities.org/2nd%20project/Pics/alarm%20clock.jpg" alt="Boy waving" align= "right" style="width:400px;height:300px;">
Really this page should be called 6am. I don't sleep as long as other people seem to. I've never understood the idea of sleeping in.
And it takes me forever to fall asleep at night. I often wonder how long I could get away with reading before bed. But I'm afraid to get into trouble!
My alarm goes off at 6:30 but I usually wake up long before it goes off.
Since I don't want to wake up my brothers, I usually just read in bed.
[[I love to read.]]
<i>The longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere is June 21.</i>Reading is the best thing in the world. I don't have to talk to anyone or try new food. I don't have to hear any noises around me or think about if I do this thing my mom calls "stimming". I just tune it all out.
But I'm hungry, too. We always have poptarts, or oatmeal or peanut butter toast for breakfast. I don't like it when we do something else. I get upset when we run out and we don't have more. I don't really know what to do when we're out of my favorite stuff.
What should I do?
[[I want to stay in bed and read for a bit.]]
or
[[I'll go downstairs for poptarts. But definitely bring my book.]]
<i>The Earth is 27,000 light years away from the center of the Milky Way galaxy.</i>My bed is pretty comfy. Ever since we moved to this house, my room is quiet. It's awesome. I used to have to share my room with by big brother. All our toys were in the bedroom. It was so noisy. Sometimes I had no idea where to go to read!
<img src="https://liathano.neocities.org/2nd%20project/Pics/bed.jpg" alt="Poptarts" align= "right" style="width:400px;height:400px;">
ANYWAY.
I want to chill out a bit and finish this book. I think I've read it a hundred times.
This one is about dinosaurs.
I'll go downstairs [[after this chapter]] or maybe I'll wait until my mom yells [["Put down the book and go eat!"]].
<i>A bolt of lightning can be up to 5 times hotter than the surface of the sun.</i>Cool! So you know that, too?
I'd tell you more awesome stuff but I have to get dressed now.
And get ready to go to school.
Plus I usually have time to play with my little brother, Chris.
I need help, though.
Should I....?
[[Draw until it's time to leave]]
OR
[[Get out some Legos]]
<i>The hurricane in the great spot of Jupiter is large enough to span across 3 Earths.</i>I'll tell you one more cool fact before I go eat breakfast!
The biggest plant eater was the Argentinosaurus. It was up to ninety-eight feet long.
<img src="https://liathano.neocities.org/2nd%20project/Pics/dinosaur.jpg" alt="Dinosaur" align= "right" style="width:550px;height:250px;">
I'd tell you more awesome stuff but I have to get dressed now.
And get ready to go to school.
Plus I usually have time to play with my little brother, Chris.
I need help, though.
Should I....?
[[Draw until it's time to leave]]
OR
[[Get out some Legos]]
<i>The largest diamond in the world was the Cullinan Diamond, discovered in 1905. It weighed 1.37 pounds before it was cut into smaller diamonds.</i>Just like always, I hear her yell down the hall.
Same thing every time.
"Put your books away! It's breakfast time!"
"Okay, Mom!"
She's not up yet but she won't care so much if I bring the book down with me. I always do.
[[Besides, this book is just too good.]]
[[Some days she really yells at me for it, though.]]
<i>Some of the oldest cave paintings in the world are over 40,000 years old.</i>This chapter is over but it's so good.
But my belly is reminding me that we have Cinnamon Poptarts in the cabinet. And I have to help my older brother make our school lunches.
<img src="https://liathano.neocities.org/2nd%20project/Pics/cinnpoptarts.jpg" alt="Poptarts" align= "right" style="width:400px;height:400px;">
I think [[I'll go downstairs for poptarts. But definitely bring my book.]]
<i>Mirages are caused by tricks of light, just like rainbows.</i>I've been reading a lot about dinosaurs.
I've also been reading Goosebumps and Captain Underpants.
My mom took me and my brothers to go see Captain Underpants the movie when it came out. She brought headphones for me and I didn't even need them!
She kept checking on me during the movie. Felt like she was bugging me!
Did you hear Chris yell, "[[Get out some Legos]]?"
<i>Stephen Hawking conducted most of his research after he was fully paralyzed by ALS.</i>She yells at lot. But at least it's not just at me.
I can't help it that I don't like helping around the house.
I mean, who wants to clean their room?
No kid, ever.
But my mom is pretty cool. At least most of the time.
She's gotten me a lot of my favorite books. And helps me when I'm stuck on Lego Batman.
I guess [[I'll go downstairs for poptarts. But definitely bring my book.]]
<i>Paper currency didn't begin to be used until the 800s in China.</i>I want to keep reading my library book. This one is about all of the dinosaurs that existed in the dinosaur age.
<img src="https://liathano.neocities.org/2nd%20project/Pics/dinosaur%20book.jpg" alt="Dinosaur Book" align= "right" style="width:250px;height:400px;">
But it's not just a picture book. It's got skeletons in it, drawings of the dinosaurs and so much information about them.
Did you know that dinosaurs went extinct 65 million years ago? And that there's multiple theories about why they all suddenly dissapeared?
[[I did know that!]]
[[I had no idea! Tell me more?]]
<i>The Challenger Deep is a canyon at the bottom of the ocean almost 7 miles deep.</i><img src="https://liathano.neocities.org/2nd%20project/Pics/drawing.jpg" alt="Poptarts" align= "right" style="width:400px;height:400px;">
Drawing is fun. I get frustrated sometimes because I can't draw very good. My hands aren't that strong and they don't always draw what I want them to.
Chris wants to draw until [[it's time to go to school.]]
<i>Leif Eriksson landed in America long before Columbus ever did.</i>Chris and I love to play Legos.
My oldest brother, Camden, builds amazing stuff with them. We all play in his room together on weekends.
<img src="https://liathano.neocities.org/2nd%20project/Pics/legos.jpg" alt="Poptarts" align= "right" style="width:400px;height:400px;">
Me and Chris make boats
and planes and houses.
We'll play until [[it's time to go to school.]]
<i>The first selfie taken in space was by Buzz Aldrin in 1966. Take that, Instagram.</i>Time to go!
Mom gives us hugs and kisses. Some days I like hugs. Some days I don't as much. She lets me decide how much hugging I want. I show her by either wrapping my arms around her waist or just leaning against her. She gets it pretty good.
<img src="https://liathano.neocities.org/2nd%20project/Pics/bus.jpg" alt="Poptarts" align= "right" style="width:500px;height:400px;">
The [[bus is loud and jolts around]] but as long as I can sit with my brother I'm okay.
<i>No one single company, person, or government "owns" the internet entirely.</i>The kids are so loud on the bus in the morning. The bus jumps around. Chris loves it but I don't. I try to sit next to the window so I can be distracted by the passing houses and cars.
Some days we fight over who sits next to the window.
When he wins, I cover my ears and ignore him [[until we get to school.]]
<i>Just like pet dogs, wild dogs and hyenas will play tug-o-war.</i><img src="https://liathano.neocities.org/2nd%20project/Pics/classroom.jpg" alt="Poptarts" align= "right" style="width:500px;height:400px;">
When we get there, Chris usually hugs me quick before running in the direction of his kindergarten classroom.
I go the opposite way, to my 5th grade room.
My teacher, Ms. Barker, is nice. She helps me when I'm having a moment where everything is too much.
[[Our days are busy but today is library day!]]
We all get high fives as we walk in. She lets me decide if I want to high five back. I'm happy today so she gets a big one from me. I laugh as her smile widens.
<i>Nightingales can sing up to 60 different songs.</i>Library is after lunch. Our day goes by slowly but it's going good.
<img src="https://liathano.neocities.org/2nd%20project/Pics/playground.jpg" alt="Poptarts" align= "right" style="width:550px;height:400px;">
At recess, I work with my other teacher, Ms. Aldrin. She is my physical therapist. I have other other teachers but not today.
Ms. Aldrin has been helping me learn to walk like other people do. She said I walk on my toes all the time and it's bad for my legs.
She's also been helping me to not be afraid of some of the play equipment.
Until last year, I was too scared to go on the slide. This year we're working on how to swing. I still don't get it.
After recess is [[lunch]]! THEN LIBRARY!
<i>Chameleons don't change their colors to blend in with their surroundings. They change their colors to fit their moods.</i><img src="https://liathano.neocities.org/2nd%20project/Pics/lunch.jpg" alt="Lunch" align= "right" style="width:500px;height:400px;">
I get so excited at lunch about it being library day that the lunchroom gets to be too much.
It's loud in here, too.
We have a lunch helper in case I need an adult. Her name is Mrs. Keebler and she sits near our table.
She saw me start rubbing my hands on my face and getting upset so she came over to me.
"Since you're done eating, do you [[want to go to library early?]] or [[have a quiet moment in the hall with me?]]"
<i>Modern humans don't need hair to keep warm so they only really have it on top of their heads.</i><img src="https://liathano.neocities.org/2nd%20project/Pics/library.jpg" alt="Poptarts" align= "right" style="width:500px;height:400px;">
I think she knew I'd pick to go early to library.
It gives me time to look for a new book without the noise of other kids in there. And the librarian, Mr. Moss, is always nice and helps me find a new book when I need help.
I think today I want either [[the next Goosebumps book]] or a new [[Captain Underpants book]].
<i>Dogs pant because they can't sweat.</i>I don't really like it when she comes rushing over to me and agree to take a moment in the hall, so long as she's not right there with me.
Being by myself in quiet is better than having an adult in my face.
There's a quiet corner next to the bathrooms and she lets me settle down on the floor. I go from feeling like I'm going to go deaf from the noise and rubbing my face hard to feeling okay again.
After a few minutes, she comes over from her observing spot and asks me if I'm ready to go back to lunch. We still have a few minutes before we go to the library.
I've been thinking a lot about it and I think today I want either [[the next Goosebumps book]] or a new [[Captain Underpants book]].
<i>An engineer invented the first real video game back in 1966.</i><img src="https://liathano.neocities.org/2nd%20project/Pics/goosebumps.jpg" alt="Poptarts" align= "right" style="width:400px;height:500px;">
My mom once gave me a huge box of old Goosebumps books. She told me they were hers from when she was young.
I told her they were dirty.
And smelly.
But they're really good books. My favorites are the ones where you choose your own adventure. It's fun to keep my finger in the page before and go back if you don't like the outcome. Feels like I'm playing a video game because I get to undo what my character does.
Today I pick "Night in Werewolf Woods" from the Give Yourself Goosebumps section.
I read in the library and secretly in class [[until it's time to go home.]]
<i>African elephants are up to 13 feet tall at the shoulders.</i><img src="https://liathano.neocities.org/2nd%20project/Pics/captainbook.jpg" alt="Poptarts" align= "right" style="width:400px;height:500px;">
I finally found it! I got Captain Underpants and the Revolting Revenge of the Radioactive Robo-Boxers!
This one is great.
I can't wait to see if they make another movie. My mom said it doesn't look like it but I can dream.
For now, I'm going to ask if we can watch the movie after school. Or at least the tv show.
Oh! It's [[1pm]] I better tell my teacher it's time for math.
Or is it [[the day we have an assembly about bullying?]]
<i>Not all batteries are rechargable. It depends on the material used in the battery.</i><img src="https://liathano.neocities.org/2nd%20project/Pics/clock.jpg" alt="Poptarts" align= "right" style="width:400px;height:400px;">
My teacher says I'm doing okay with math but I think it's boring.
I just want to go home [[to play.]]
While we're doing math, I'm hoping we don't have any homework today.
<i>JK Rowling wrote her first book on napkins at a coffee shop.</i><img src="https://liathano.neocities.org/2nd%20project/Pics/bullying.jpg" alt="Poptarts" align= "right" style="width:500px;height:400px;">
I hate assemblies.
They're loud.
But I do like that I get to sit in the back of the gym when we're all in there.
I get to sit with Mr. Pool and his class by the door. He doesn't have as many kids as my class does but his kids are all special needs. Like Anna uses a wheelchair and Zoe is deaf. Mr. Pool gives me my headphones in case I need them.
My teacher keeps checking with me when we have assemblies to ask if I still want to sit with Mr. Pool's class. She doesn't want me to be upset because I'm not sitting with all my friends.
I prefer it so I can ask to go in the hallway if I get super bored.
At least this one goes on [[until it's time to go home.]]
<i>The Earth spins fastest at the equator.</i><img src="https://liathano.neocities.org/2nd%20project/Pics/clean.png" alt="Poptarts" align= "right" style="width:400px;height:400px;">
At 3:00, a timer buzzes in my classroom to tell us it's time to clean up.
I shove everything into my desk. I'll figure it out later. I'm not that great at keeping my desk clean but if my teacher doesn't care, neither do I.
I sit at my desk [[until it's time to go home.]]
<i>Gum doesn't get stuck in your stomach for 7 years.</i><img src="https://liathano.neocities.org/2nd%20project/Pics/bus.jpg" alt="Poptarts" align= "right" style="width:500px;height:400px;">
Oh the bus ride home.
The kids are usually louder on the bus ride home.
Chris definitely is. He's always bouncing around on the seat, yelling at me about his day.
I just let him do it. If I tell him to stop he just yells louder.
Almost home.
Do you think Mom will let me watch Captain Underpants when we get home?
[[Of course!]]
[[Did you get homework?]]
<i>Earth first appeared to develop life 3.8 billion years ago.</i><img src="https://liathano.neocities.org/2nd%20project/Pics/movie.jpg" alt="Poptarts" align= "right" style="width:500px;height:400px;">
Right? Why wouldn't she say yes? It's the best movie ever.
That and the Lego Movie.
And The Avengers End Game.
And Minecraft.
Well, Minecraft isn't a movie but it's still awesome.
[[I hope she does say yes.]]
<i>Legos are called that beause "LEG GODT" in Dutch means "play well".</i>Oh. Homework.
<img src="https://liathano.neocities.org/2nd%20project/Pics/homework.jpg" alt="Poptarts" align= "right" style="width:550px;height:400px;">
Yeah I have a little.
Maybe if I do it quick she'll let me watch the movie before dinner.
I hope we have rice with dinner.
It's my favorite.
I hope we have that and chicken. My dad makes the best [[chicken.]]
<i>Over 70% of the Earth's surface is covered by water.</i>When we get home, my mom was just setting down her stuff from work. As she begins digging in the fridge and freezer to figure out dinner, I ask her if I can watch my movie.
She's also talking to my dad about her day.
And yelling at my older brother Camden to do his homework.
And somehow she's also telling my little brother Chris to stop chasing the cat.
At least to me it sounds like all of this is happening at once.
I put my hands over my ears and leave the room.
I'm not sure if I should [[just go put the tv on anyway]] or [[start my homework.]] It's not like I have that much.
<i>Alligators only live in the US. Everywhere else is a crocodile.</i><img src="https://liathano.neocities.org/2nd%20project/Pics/tv.jpg" alt="Poptarts" align= "right" style="width:500px;height:400px;">
Maybe she won't notice.
And Chris will sit with me and watch. Maybe if he settles down it'll make Mom happy.
I can't find the Captain Underpants movie but I do find the Halloween special. This is great!
Chris leaves the room for a few minutes and comes back with his blanket tied around his neck and just underwear on.
He has a blanket for me to tie on my neck, too.
[[I wonder if I can be Captain Underpants (but with clothes on) at dinner.]]
<i>By population, the Chinese language family is the most spoken set of languages in the world.</i>I only have to do my social studies and a math worksheet but it's
SO.
BORING.
I'd rather just read.
Or watch my movie.
While I'm writing, Chris keeps bringing me Legos.
I forget about my movie and [[help him build a boat]].
<i>Salt was once used as currency.</i><img src="https://liathano.neocities.org/2nd%20project/Pics/car.jpg" alt="Poptarts" align= "right" style="width:550px;height:400px;">
It ended up being a boat and a car. But without wheels.
We ended up naming it Benny the Boat.
We try to build other boats until we're called for dinner.
Mom's got a lot of papers to grade so she made us pancakes!
Sometimes she forgets to put in the cinnamon. So I checked with her while she was cooking to make sure she put it in.
I won't eat pancakes without it.
And "snow". My dad makes powdered sugar in the blender. It's awesome.
After dinner I have to [[take a shower.]]
<i>Martin Luther King, Jr. made his famous "I Have a Dream" speech in Washington DC in 1963.</i>I'll see if she'll yell at me since I'll keep my clothes on.
If she says I can't be Captain Underpants at dinner,
I'll basically look like this the whole time.
<img src="https://liathano.neocities.org/2nd%20project/Pics/dinner.jpg" alt="Poptarts" align= "right" style="width:550px;height:400px;">
I wonder if she's making me [[take a shower.]]
<i>Most information indicates that the pyramids of Egypt weren't really built by slaves.</i>Fried chicken and rice are so delicious.
<img src="https://liathano.neocities.org/2nd%20project/Pics/chicken.jpg" alt="Poptarts" align= "right" style="width:550px;height:400px;">I usually need a spoon to help me eat rice but I don't mind. My brothers don't need a spoon but I don't care.
I read my book until mom calls us all for dinner.
After dinner, my mom tells me to [[take a shower.]]
Ugh.
<i>The Milky Way if 100,000 light-years in diameter.</i><img src="https://liathano.neocities.org/2nd%20project/Pics/shower.jpg" alt="Poptarts" align= "right" style="width:500px;height:400px;">
Showers are annoying.
I hate the cold in my room when you get undressed.
And it's so annoying to have to use all that soap.
And clean up the floor.
And put on clean clothes again.
Wish I could be like my Minecraft guy and just mine clean stuff.
I sometimes get caught reading instead of showering.
Oops.
Then it's [[time for bed!]]
<i>Carolina Reaper peppers are currently the hottest pepper in the entire world.</i><img src="https://liathano.neocities.org/2nd%20project/Pics/bednight.jpg" alt="Poptarts" align= "right" style="width:500px;height:400px;">
Just like every night, I think about reading until I fall asleep.
And just like every night, I'm a little too afraid to read because my mom always seems to know!
Maybe tonight I'll just read for 10 minutes.
Thanks for joining me today! It's been a little noisy but fun sharing it with you!
[[Author's note]]
<i>Asparagus can make your pee super smelly.</i><img src="https://i.imgur.com/EYGlUze.jpg" alt="Poptarts" align= "right" style="width:163px;height:336px;">
This story written by me, Lindsay.
But all credit really goes to my little man, Nicky. He shows me daily what life is like for an autistic person.
I am so lucky to be a part of his special world.
All fun facts taken from "Why? Over 1,111 Answers to Everything" by Crispin Boyer (c)2015 National Geographic.
Of course, borrowed from Nicky. He had 4 other fact books he offered me.
<i>Last fun fact: this was a lot of work. But it was worth it.</i>Also, I miss out on what my mom describes as "social cues". I don't know what that means but I don't always understand jokes and I sometimes have a tough time making friends. I can't tell when someone needs a hug and don't always react the way someone might expect me to in conversation.
Other people aren't always as interested in some of the awesome facts I know or find books as interesting as I do.
The world is sometimes really confusing to me.
But instead of telling you about stuff that I don't even understand, I thought I'd take you through my day but I can't remember [[what day it is!]] Maybe I don't understand your world but maybe you can understand mine.
<i>The Earth isn't perfectly round.</i>I just can't remember if it's a school day or if it's the weekend!
Can you help me out?
Don't you remember what day it is? <a href="https://liathano.neocities.org/FinalThemePark.html">It's theme park day!!</a>
It's a school day and it's [[6:30am]] so you better get up!