PennSilverTaco's "Perfect 5-Lug Regular Cab" Build, Aspergers, and General BS MegaThread!

I didn't read anything beyond the first post, and this has probably been answered, but in gonna ask anyway -

Who thought you might have AS, parents or Drs, and what was their clue?

 

My parents knew something was up early on. The initial diagnosis when I was a baby was PDD-NOS (Pervasive Development Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified). PDD-NOS is considered to be on the spectrum, and I forget when it was determined that I didn't have this. I was diagnosed by a doctor in November 1998. My parents thought there was no point in telling me outright, but would explain if I asked questions. I did not suspect in the slightest that I was different, but then I accidentally found out I had Asperger's in about July or August of 2000 when I was going through my mom's files (specifically the folder she'd given to the school district in Oak Harbor when my parents enrolled me in middle school).

The clues started appearing in about 1991. I did not speak in complete sentences until I was 3 years old (1992). I had a hard time following directions, I questioned damn near everything, and I regularly had meltdowns (temper tantrums). I hated being put in timeout when I did something wrong, I had trouble making friends (but I did have friends), and I would say that I didn't fully grow up until after high school...

 

@ShamwowTaco
@DustStorm4x4
@-dustin

And...
@Plain Jane Taco Is the Stormtrooper mooning us now? LOL

Also, my problem with authority was often mistaken for blatant disrespect. You could say that authority had a problem with me. I never broke the law or got in any trouble as a kid. The problem was there was no happy medium. Regular Ed teachers loved me but did not have the time or energy to focus on me when they had a whole class to teach. Special Ed teachers meant well but were used to dealing with students who were low-functioning. I may have Asperger's, but I'm also very smart and I tend not to take shit from people.

 

4 out of 5 of those are typical for any young adolescent male.

 

Wow. Interesting. Wife and I think our oldest (12yrs) might have AS (definitely on the autism spectrum) but you sound like our youngest (who has been diagnosed ADHD). Their father (in step dad) isn't down with any of it, so the schools won't test the oldest.

How was your handwriting?

Would you hyperfocus on games or anything like that as a child?

 

@PennSilverTaco

The wife's tits. Figured you fellas...and maybe even a chick or 2 might appreciate 'em.

 

@DustStorm4x4
@-dustin
@Blackout14
@ajm

Contrary to what some people might think, I do not have any problems with law enforcement. I have friends and relatives who are cops. Honestly, it's overzealous and egotistical security guards who think they are cops I have a big problem with...

Anyway, I have no problem with the police whatsoever, and I respect them because I could never do their job and keep my sanity. I've had three "involuntary" encounters with police officers in 11 years, and in all situations the officer(s) acted professionally:

May 2006: I'd just gotten my learner's permit and my dad was giving my driving lessons in his 1996 Nissan Pathfinder in the parking lot of Doylestown Hospital. With my dad in the shotgun seat, I drove around the hospital parking lot for about an hour without incident, but then when we left, I got pulled over by a marked Crown Vic. Both of us (me and my dad) were absolutely dumbfounded as to why I got pulled over. My dad was more annoyed than I was, and didn't think I was stopping quick enough so once I'd pulled over he actually reached into the center console and yanked up the handbrake so hard that I thought he was gonna break it (My Tacoma has a foot pedal parking brake so no passenger of mine will be able to pull that shit again). It was hot that day, and that Pathfinder had ICE COLD A/C. I was pissed at my dad for making me shut off the Pathfinder's engine (and thus the air-conditioner). In my opinion if I get pulled over when it's hot out, the air-conditioner is going to stay on. Anyway, being in a dark green vehicle with windows all around with the A/C OFF on a hot day is NOT fun. One of the beautiful things about having a vehicle with power windows is that you can raise or lower all windows from the driver's seat, and this is what I did, but it was still no substitute for the A/C.

My dad, knowing full well about my past problems with authority (never cops though), was telling me to keep my hands on the wheel and not make any sudden movements. One thing people don't seem to understand is that I actually do know how to assess a situation and keep myself out of trouble. The cop, a blonde middle-aged guy, gets out of his Crown Vic (still idling with the A/C on by the way ), and approaches the driver's side window. He says "Can I see your license, registration, and proof of insurance?" You know, the usual shit. Ever so politely I say "I only have a learner's permit, but my dad's giving me driving lessons and he has a license!" followed by a stupid smile. I hand the cop my learner's permit, and my dad hands over his license and all of the paperwork for the Pathfinder. The cop then explains why we were pulled over...

Turns out that hospital security called the local cops about two suspicious guys in a green SUV with Virginia plates circling the hospital parking lot for over an hour. The cop then went back to his car and ran out information (SPOILER: Both of our records came back clean), and spent a good 10-20 minutes in air-conditioned comfort while my dad and I were roasting in the Pathfinder with the engine off. Finally the cop came back and said all was good, but then made what I consider to be a rookie mistake...

My dad was active-duty Navy at the time and two of our three vehicles (the 1996 Pathfinder and my mom's 2004 Honda Odyssey) were registered in Virginia. As active-duty military, my dad was not required to register any vehicles titled in his name in the state where he was residing. However, instead of renewing the New Jersey driver's license with his parents' address on it, he transferred his NJ license to a PA one in 2005. My dad's Pathfinder had a DoD sticker on the windshield and all sorts of Navy-related stickers on the back window, plus a license plate frame that said "FLY NAVY NAVAL AVIATION." Once it became obvious that my dad was in fact just teaching his 17-year old son how to drive, all seemed good. However, the cop seemed to NOT notice all of the clues that made it painfully obvious the Pathfinder he'd just pulled over belonged to somebody in the military (poor police work on his part). My dad had a recently issued Pennsylvania driver's license and was driving a vehicle in his name that was registered in Virginia. This would be illegal if my dad was a civilian, retired, or even a reservist; But he was active duty, so it was legal! No state in this country requires active duty members of the military to register their vehicles in that state or transfer their out-of-state driver's license to that state, because they know they're more than likely not gonna be there that long. This cop out of the blue starts lecturing my dad about how he was supposed to register his vehicle in Pennsylvania within thirty days or sixty days, or whatever, of declaring residency there. The look on my dad's face at that moment was indescribable. His veins started to show, and I thought he was gonna blow a gasket, but he kept his cool. He was PISSED though. He proceeded to politely but firmly tell the nice officer that he was active-duty Navy and that it was 100% legal for his vehicle to be registered outside the state, then he took out his military ID and showed it to the cop. He also pointed out the Department of Defense sticker on the windshield. I found it rather funny that my dad was worried about me keeping my cool, only for me to exceed his expectations and witness him almost lose his cool...

The cop apologized if I remember correctly and let us go...

 

I am a boob man, without a doubt!

 

36 DDs....right from the factory. She's blessed...which means I am

 

@DustStorm4x4
@-dustin
@Blackout14
@ajm

March 2013: One of the most well-publicized police encounters on TW. I was taking pictures in a residential neighborhood in Doylestown Borough, completely unaware that there had been 4 break-ins at 4 separate houses on the very street where I was taking pictures in less than a month. The police caught the real culprit, a heroin addict, later that year...

Again, the police were very professional, but it really freaked me out that 4 cops (including the Sergeant and one plainclothes/undercover officer) showed up and interrogated me for like 20-30 minutes. 4 cops for a report of a guy with a camera, in an area that is both wealthy and touristy, in broad f*cking daylight! I did not get handcuffed, searched, or put in the back of a patrol vehicle. I say "patrol vehicle" because there was only one actual police CAR showed up, a 2006 Dodge Charger and not even one with a Hemi (3.5L V6). The other two were SUVs, one of which was a 2004-2006 Dodge Durango that also DID NOT have a Hemi (4.7L V8). The other SUV was the Sergeant's 2006 Ford Expedition. The Sergeant showed up first, in the Expedition, as I walking back to my Tacoma that was parked on the hill right at the bottom of the street. He got out, asked how I was doing, and then asked "Can see some ID." I didn't even need to ask why I was being stopped because I knew. I'd actually seen the marked Expedition drive past me in the opposite direction a few minutes earlier and make an abrupt left turn, then the next thing I knew the Expedition was back and pulling to the curb just feet away from me. At that point I knew he was stopping for me and I was mentally kicking myself for not hightailing it back to the truck as soon as I saw the Expedition coming in the opposite direction. I have no doubt that I could have made it back to the Tacoma and been on my way home before the cop reappeared.

Then, two cops showed up in the Durango, and then a third one showed up in the Charger. By the time the Charger pulled up I started shaking uncontrollably and was absolutely convinced that at a bare minimum I was about to taken to the station for questioning. My Tacoma was parked down the street and hidden from view by a yellow Nissan Xterra. I had my keys and my camera, but the sergeant had my driver's license so I would have been unable to leave anyway even I wasn't afraid to do so. I was scared, and I felt alone. My parents and my friend (now my boss) were not there, and thus unable to tell these cops that I meant no harm. I had my cell phone right there and I had literally been about to send my mom a text that said "I just got stopped by the goddamn police for taking pictures," but thought better of it as texting in front of the cops would have brought MORE unwanted attention.

One of the four cops told me that someone had called 911 and express concern about a guy they didn't recognize taking pictures of their house. At some point, the plainclothes officer started telling me about how there had been a bunch of burglaries on the very street we were standing on at that moment, and in a rather deadpan voice I said something like "Okay...?" I did not actually say "I missed the part where this was my problem," nor did I ask "What does this have to do with me?" or "Why is this is any of my concern?" However, that is exactly what I was thinking! My body language and rather emotionless response was a dead giveaway to the officer that I not only was not they guy he was looking for, but also I knew absolutely nothing about the burglary spree. I'm honestly shocked I didn't know about it though. I lived in Buckingham Township at time, not Doylestown. However, even back in 2013 I spent more time in Doylestown than I did at home, and I knew some influential people who did live there.

I was visibly distressed, one of the officers saw this and realized I was freaked out, and asked "Are you going to be okay?" I just said "yes," too afraid to move or do anything else.

The things that really pissed me off were:

Being asked if I lived on my own at the address on my driver's license, or if it was my parents' house (I told them it was my current address; who the house at that address belongs to and who I live there with is none of their business; but I told them anyway)

Being asked the same goddamn questions about what specifically over and over and over again (My feelings at that point were "I'm not a criminal, just let me get in my fucking truck and go the fuck home already!")

Having to show the cops the pictures on MY camera (I think the whole "you're not searching me or my property without a warrant" thing applies to cameras as much as it does to homes, vehicles, and bags/luggage). It was the plainclothes officer (I think he was a detective or undercover of some sort) who specifically asked to see the pictures on my camera. I complied, but I so badly wanted to say something like "You know what? No! You've already got my license, and I've given you more information than you have any right to know, but you ain't touching my shit without a warrant!" Obviously that would have been a bad idea, but I even considered telling them ever-so-politely that the battery had just died and I was unable to show them any pictures. But, I cooperated. After it became blindingly obvious that I was who I said I was, just innocent college student with not even a parking ticket on his record, the cops decided to start being a bit friendlier (they were never "unfriendly" and like I said were quite professional, but I was guilty until proven innocent until that moment). I flat out told them that I liked taking pictures of trucks for tribute videos that I posted on YouTube (I'd been taking pictures of a Ford F150 Lariat when the Sergeant pulled up), and that I was also taking pictures of various buildings around the Borough to use in a photo mashup about Doylestown on YouTube.

All of this was the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help me God!

It's also worth noting that the first few pictures on my camera were of a late 1990s Chevy S-10 pickup I'd seen in the parking lot of my college, and the plainclothes cop who'd asked to see my pictures in the first place saw them. Cop or not, anyone with a half a brain will know that those pictures were not taken anywhere near Doylestown. Without thinking, I said "that's a Chevy truck I saw in the parking lot of my school earlier today," which brought on yet another unnecessary question; "Where do you go to school." Not wanting to be an asshole, I said "Bucks County Community College," and then realized I literally had the perfect excuse for taking pictures. I added, "I'm a journalism major at Bucks, and I work for the school paper." This definitely reduced most of the officers' suspicions immediately.

I'd taken a picture of two Trane split-system heat pumps at a house in that neighborhood, from a public sidewalk, and thankfully the cop got bored looking at my pictures before I got anywhere near the HVAC photo. This would have resulted in even more questioning, and I just wasn't in the mood to explain why I was taking pictures of air-conditioners at this point.

Also, I'm an open book. If I get a good vibe from you, I'll gladly tell you all sorts of shit about myself (not just the stuff I share on Tacoma World). But in those cases I'm sharing info about myself voluntarily. When the police are interrogating you for doing something you know isn't illegal, that's different.

When I told the cops about my love of all things truck, and my hobby of photographing trucks on the street, they tried to make nice. To this day, I still carry on conversations with cops on the street about cars, trucks, and photography. The difference is that in those cases, the cop initiates the conversation by complimenting my camera or my Tacoma, or I approached them to ask a legit question about where or where not to park and the conversation turned to photography or my truck...

If I'm the one initiating the conversation, if it's not because I'm asking if I'm allowed to park my truck in a certain area, it's almost always because: His or her patrol vehicle is a Chevy truck or SUV of some sort and I'm asking permission to take pictures of it (they always say yes, and some even pose for pictures with their vehicle), their patrol vehicle is a MOPAR product of some sort and I'm asking if it has a Hemi (most sadly DO NOT have a Hemi), or I'm asking about the performance specs of their patrol vehicle (regardless of make or model).

On that day back in 2013, however, I just wanted to get my license back, get in my truck, and go home. I gave polite, but short, one-line answers to all of their "casual conversation" questions about my hobby. In any other situation I would have spilled by guts about my passion, but I wanted nothing to do with those cops at that point...

After 20+ minutes the Sergeant handed me back my license said "Okay, you can go" in an ever-so-snarky tone of voice.

I say again that the cops were courteous and professional, but it wasn't until halfway through the sudden roadside interrogation that the "guilty until proven innocent" mindset subsided. I've never felt more helpless and alone in my entire life. If I'd made it to my Tacoma and gotten pulled over because I matched the description of the guy they were looking for, that would have been a much different situation in my opinion. Here's why...

"License and registration please" while you're driving sounds a hell of a lot less intimidating than "Can I see some ID?" while you're walking. I just feel safer in my truck too, because I'm surrounded by more than 3,000 pounds of metal, glass, and various other materials. The windows roll up, the doors lock. I can still cooperate with the officer but I've got a very effective barrier between the two of us. I also would have felt more comfortable calling my mom from inside my truck than standing out in the open, so at least I would have been able to have my mom listening to my interaction with the cop. The list goes on and on as to why I'd feel more and more secure in my Tacoma than out in the open when dealing with police...

My verdict: I was not technically doing anything illegal, but I should have had more common sense and situational awareness. It was a classic case of "Wrong place, Wrong time." I had no way of knowing I was taking pictures on a street where 4 burglaries had taken place in less than a month, and the local cops really wanted to make an arrest. They were hoping I was the guy they were looking for, and while they were glad I was just an innocent civilian and never once treated me unprofessionally, they were visibly annoyed that the guy they were looking for was not only still out there, but would probably be burglarizing another house very soon...

 

Huh? I made no assumptions you had anything against law enforcement and was not aware of any interactions you may or may not have had with them.

 

You're a fortunate man good sir

 

That was the time the business ladies were mistaken for a murderer or something and they drove trucks that weren't at all similar.

 

Also, I have always been on good terms with the local police in Doylestown. However, not long after the 2013 incident I found out from my longtime barber that the very same sergeant who stopped me is one of his regular customers. He got the full story from the sergeant. Turns out some older woman saw me taking pictures from inside her house, and thought I was taking pictures through her front window. Also, probably due to her poor eyesight, she thought I was standing on her property (in the grass). This is bullshit, because I always stayed on the sidewalk. Unfortunately, this was the story she told the dispatcher when she called 911, and needless to say the cops were not expecting a totally innocent 23-year old college student...

On another note, it is my opinion that if more departments were like the CBRPD, this country would not be the way it is...

 

I love those. I would love to have been born in the 40's or 30's and lived my prime through the 50's and 60's. That Crown Coupe is so badass.

Nice pictures, Monterey is beautiful. I always think Steinbeck's East of Eden whenever I'm in that area or see pictures.

 

The suspect was driving a Nissan Titan. The LAPD not only seriously injured an innocent woman, but totaled two trucks that looked nothing like a Nissan Titan!

Hell, the other "truck" they totaled isn't even considered a real truck by some people...



The owner of the 2006 Ridgeline above was hoping to hit the beach and catch a few waves before heading to work. The police actually stopped and questioned him, and then let him go. Moments later, another cop who must not have had his radio on rammed the Ridgeline...

How you can mistake a Ridgeline for any kind of pickup truck, I do not know...

 

@ShamwowTaco
@Plain Jane Taco
@DustStorm4x4
@-dustin

March 2017: My third and most recent "involuntary" encounter with police was that DUI checkpoint on St. Patrick's Day. As a barback, I can safely say that I was probably one of the only people driving themselves home from a bar at 11:30pm on St. Pat's who had any business behind the wheel at all. When I work a late shift, the road is usually so empty by the time I head home that the drive only takes like 12 minutes. That goddamn DUI checkpoint turned what should have been at most a 15-minute drive into a 40-minute waste of my time.

My first thought was at there'd been an accident, and I was about to turn around and take another route (only a couple minutes longer), but then I realized what day it was, and I say to myself, "Goddamn it, is that a motherf*cking DUI checkpoint?" Moments later, I see a marked Dodge Charger idling in the entrance to a church parking lot, black out except for the glow of the computer screen inside the car. If I can see him, he can definitely see me, and there's no way in hell I'm getting away now. Freaked out, I called my mom. Again, I was totally 100% sober. I'd had two Monsters earlier that day to get me hyped up enough to get through the evening. Monsters are not good for you, but they certain don't impair your ability to drive. I was fine, but still nervous as hell.

Even more annoying, I got stuck behind a minivan from "All 3's Taxi," and all vehicles in that company's fleet have these annoying seizure-inducing brake lights. The annoyance factor is amplified when it gets dark. I will aggressively go out of my way to pass a luxury sedan or taxicab from All 3's if I end up behind one, but now I was stuck. I commend the half-dozen or so drunk people in that taxi van for having the common sense to get a cab, but why the hell did I have to get stuck behind that cab?

Having never been through a DUI checkpoint as a driver, and not knowing what to expect, I took the little portfolio containing my insurance and registration out of the glovebox and placed it in the center of the bench seat.

My anxiety was through the roof and my heart was racing. Again, I was totally sober. I was still a bit hopped up on Monster, but I was sober. They had it closed down to one lane in each direction, and they had it set up for two cars. There were 4 cops on each side, 2 to a car. I made sure my passenger window was rolled up and my door was locked because I knew the second cop would be peering into my truck with a flashlight, and I turned on the dome light so the cops would see that I didn't have anything to hide except what was in my opinion an embarrassingly messy truck. I stopped at the first duo of cops and the cop on my left said "next one sir." I said "Uh-huh, sorry" and pulled forward. Here's how it went:

Cop: How you doing tonight?
Me: Good.
Cop: Where you coming from?
Me (wearing my official shirt with a big red "Puck" logo on the upper left side): Puck, I...I work there.
Cop: Where you headed to?
Me: Uh...My house...
Cop: Okay. Have you consumed any alcohol tonight?
Me (shaking my head): No
Cop: You sure about that?
Me (in an rather irritated but still civil tone of voice): No
Cop (hands me a leaflet about aggressive driving): Here's a pamphlet for you. Thank you for not drinking and driving. Drive safe and have a good night.
Me: Thanks (and then I drive off).

The cop looked no older than me. Hell, he was probably younger than me (maybe 25-26), and probably fairly new to the force and just as nervous as I was. He was very nice, but the whole encounter still freaked me the hell out, even though I was sober.

I have no problem with law enforcement whatsoever, but as genuinely friendly and law-abiding citizen who follows as the rules 99% of the time and at best only bends the rules out of pure laziness or wanting to help out a loved one, I just don't want to deal with the police when I'm not doing something wrong. If I get pulled over for speeding, then I'll accept responsibility. If I get pulled over a headlight or taillight that isn't working, chances are I probably didn't know about it because I perform regular walk-around inspections of my Tacoma and make sure everything is legal, and it probably burned out sometime between me leaving my house and the officer pulling me over. Translation: I am very anal about basic maintenance and keeping my truck up to date in terms of inspection, insurance, and registration; Chances are I'm never going to get pulled over for a non-moving/equipment violation. I've never been pulled over, but the idea of getting pulled over doesn't bother me because I'll probably deserve it if I do. It's also a different situation entirely when you've been involved in a minor accident and the officer is legitimately there to help and make things easier, even if the accident was my fault.

I cherish the drive home from work at night, and it was very aggravating having that pretty much ruined by a DUI checkpoint...

 

And on another note, I think this video is an accurate portrayal of more than 90% of police officers in the United States.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lndgExqIEms

And this video as well (beginning at about 2:25-2:30):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2P3blxAOiEQ

Why can't they show this stuff on the news?

 

I remember that story

 

You're gonna get tased if you aren't careful.