Bart Shoaf

Boldly Going with ASD

Sometimes, my enthusiasms can be another’s irritations. Not that the thing I am enthusiastic about is irritating in and of itself; it’s me. I become irritating when I spew my enthusiasm about some things all around, “getting it” all over those around me. This year, May the Fourth was one of those sometimes. Science FictionContinue reading “Boldly Going with ASD”

Higher Octane – Good Recalls

The Mini takes 5W-30 oil. But, because I’ve owned several other cars that needed other oil weights, sometimes I forget which weight to purchase. Fortunately, Mini has printed the Paceman’s required oil weight on a sticker — right under the hood. A big black sticker with yellow print — extremely hard to miss. I feelContinue reading “Higher Octane – Good Recalls”

Revolutionary Thinking – First Year

Hi, I’m Bart, and I have autism. Sound like an AA meeting? Well, it took some humility and self-admission on my part to say anything about autism to anyone. I’ve written before about my feelings at the time of my diagnosis; one of the self-imposed scripts that began to haunt me was, “Tell no one.” Continue reading “Revolutionary Thinking – First Year”

Higher Octane – Are Coupons Happy to Be Redeemed?

My father-in-law didn’t talk to me much, unless it was one of his two favorite topics, Martin Luther, or Martin Luther King. I never heard him talk about his work unless we went to the grocery store. He was in advertising sales – pre-internet – during the heyday of mailed coupons. His company, Advo, wasContinue reading “Higher Octane – Are Coupons Happy to Be Redeemed?”

Connections Make Community – Part 2

A few posts ago, I wrote about a mall that went under several years ago. This week, coincidentally, I visited two other malls in RVA in one day! Are malls making a comeback? Or did they only serve me and my family’s purposes that day? The mall from the past that is now non-existent hadContinue reading “Connections Make Community – Part 2”

Viscosity, Efficacy and Hesitancy – Which Oil Should I Use?

Like my info pages state, this is NOT medical advice. These are just my testimonies – get with a health practitioner about any health concern you may have. Oil. The big word I often hear with motor oil performance is viscosity: “n. the state of being thick, sticky, and semifluid in consistency, due to internalContinue reading “Viscosity, Efficacy and Hesitancy – Which Oil Should I Use?”

Driving, Delivering, Deodorizing

The Mini is getting a lot more highway miles than it used to. I changed jobs about three months ago, and my commute went from about 14 miles of weaving through Richmond, to 55 miles of highway driving. My average MPG has gone up, but I’m spending more on gas. Neither the extra miles norContinue reading “Driving, Delivering, Deodorizing”

Higher Octane – My Crowns in This Life

Grandparenting is one of the most fun and most rewarding parts of my current life. Maybe I’ve always been oriented to the little ones. Or is it that I’m not that interested in adult stuff? Rather, I’d like to think that I take Jesus seriously when He said, “Let the little children come unto me.” Continue reading “Higher Octane – My Crowns in This Life”

Mall Life, Mall Danger, Mall Death

The shopping mall where I spent some of my youth is gone. Razed to the ground for newer strip-style and free-standing stores and an apartment complex, that mall had been a huge part of my young life. We always wanted to go the mall as kids. I can remember a huge bike ride a fewContinue reading “Mall Life, Mall Danger, Mall Death”

Weddings Keep Me Engaged

I look forward to retirement in about 10 years, but I don’t want to stop being active, engaged, and a contributor to my family’s needs. Working has also given me an activity to keep me connected to other people. I enjoy being involved with people, and don’t want to lose that “muscle.” One of theContinue reading “Weddings Keep Me Engaged”