I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship. - Louisa May Alcott

One thing that the professionals look for is an unusual attachment to unusual objects when the pro is investigating the possibility of autism.

Many four year olds are very big into trucks and trains and cars. Planes.  Playground equipment.  Action figures. Computer games. 

Cartoon Ranger's big obsessions are elevators and air conditioners.  The latter, especially, classifies as "unusual" in terms of interest-objects.

The AC is giving him grief today.  See, it's not as warm as it used to be (though it was 80 in the house this morning, causing the AC to go on) and he is not able to chase the path of the cold air every minute of every day that he is home, so CR is agitated.

He just told me he wants to fire the air conditioner.  Not quite like that, but that's exactly what he meant.

We'll see if I can distract him with the dishwasher. He likes that, too.  My kid the appliance freak. Go figure.