halt stop forget relax

Turning Frustration into Power by Jennifer Digmann I still can hear Jim saying, “If it has wheels, it’s going to give you problems.” That phrase repeats over and over in mind, and I smile. I smile because Jim always will be very special to me (he was my first male caregiver who was not my husband or my brother). I smile because thinking of Jim  brings back good memories of cheesy jokes and great baseball games. I smile at the irony of having wheels equalling having problems. In my case, wheels are necessary for my independence. Since 2002, my MS has progressed so that I’ve become reliant on using a power wheelchair. And thus, the wheels I’m referring to are on Grape Ape . Yes that Grape Ape, the name I gave my power wheelchair that is not even 3 years old! Got wheels? Yes, big problems indeed. I started using that chair specifically for pressure relief. Grape Ape “tilts in space,” which is just a fancy way of saying, “reclines.”  This chair is supposed...

Have a listen to  this TEDx talk by Dr. Brene Brown. After you do, you will want to sit back in your seat and think about it for awhile; because therein is much to digest, both as women and as people. I love to learn new things, and I like it that Oprah, of all people, is one who leads me to do so. This was brought to me from the interview in the June 2013 issue of O magazine which I was reading, yes, in the bathroom,  last night. You're welcome. Good Night, TTYL and Be Well

...that I get back to blogging. We have had a magnificent Summer this year. NO RAIN in JULY; the last time that has happened here (at Sea-Tac airport where our official records are taken) was in 1960. I was five years old. I probably thought all Summers would be like that! How naive of me. In August we had a few days with light showers, but many days in the 70's and 80's. Today it hit 80* with the slightest of breezes. Just perfect weather for any outdoor activity. My  activity was to  sit on the patio and try not to get too much sun while reading my book. I think I will try to get to Starbucks tomorrow to get a double star day beverage (if you go after 2 PM). It's supposed  to cloud up with a chance of a shower, so I may or may not take the scooter. The only kind of shower I need is the kind better taken indoors. Not that I stink or anything, but really, who want to be caught outside in the rain without an umbrella or a coat?  And if it is like the last shower we...

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I was singing in the shower today   when I realised  that my shampoo is lime scented and my cream rinse is coconut. Now let me  get this straight, I thought. You put the lime on the coconut and you mix them all together. [or the coconut on the lime...] Oohweee. At least I didn't have to call the doctor and wake him up.

Google+ is what fucked me over. It has connected my blog to Facebook, and therefore "outed" my anonymity. It recognises only my real name, not Webster. But I write as Webster; I know it's a small thing, and doesn't really affect me that much as so few people who know the real me read my blog. But now I guess they can - if they were so inclined. I guess it was just a matter of time before Google would merge Facebook and Blogger. We all should have seen that coming. But I am myopic. No, really, I am.  My glasses are thick around the edges. Seriously thick. As, it would seem, is my brain. I have started a Wordpress blog, but since I am still in the learning stage, if you visit it there's not much there. Just one post so far. Heck, I'm not even sure of its' address! So, don't even bother trying to find it. I'll let you know when it's up and running; if it ever is. I would need to take a fair amount of time with it, and I'm not sure I want t...

BE FOREWARNED --  Blogger has already started making its changes. And so have I. I am in the process of creating a new blog, either over at Wordpress or Tumblr. If you have any suggestions for me, please send me an E-mail. at least I still get those. My biggest issue right now is that Blogger is saying that I have no LIST OF followers. This means there is nothing for me to read.  Err, Argh! Right, Kmilyun? Since I can still post over here I will post my conundrum; I tangled this lovely hedron, and now I have NO IDEA how to fold and glue it together. And the places I've gone to to show me are so vague as to leave me in a haze of Huh, What the H... was  that??? I leave you a something-or-other:  And here s=is one I recently finished, but I misplaced its name. Pretty cool, huh? So when I set up shop somewhere else, I will try to let you know about it here; assuming that you will still be able to read it. Otherwise, try to find me un...

The lousy news for my week month is that my experience with SoluMedrol seems to have been temporary. I am as bad (if not worse) than I was  before I took it. Every day seems to be a struggle. Oddly enough, I don't seem to be surprised by this; I just didn't expect this to be happening so soon -- know what I mean? But, if not now, then when? Come June 28, I will have had my MS diagnosis for 32 years. The actual diagnosis was transverse myelitis/probable MS. It wasn't until October of that year,  when I had my first  bout with optic neuritis that I was given the official proclamation, "You realize that this means you have MS, don't you?" by the opthamologist. Well, no, and yes; I was acting as if it was MS (as was suggested to me) since June, but I hadn't really taken in the intricacies of what comprised a "proper" diagnosis. Possible, Probable, and Definite weren't yet part of my lexicon. That was then. This is now. So what do I do now? L...

I made an  icosahedron!  And tangled it! And there it sits on my keyboard. Lousy photo taken by moi (with my phone camera) [our regular camera has too many pixels for blogger and I don't know how to resize.] My art project that is in progress is a white box, about the size of a shoebox, tangled on all sides and then filled with several various shaped hedrons and/or prisms made of water color paper, then decorated with Zentangles. The box has a little way to go yet before it gets varnished for it's protection, then filled with odd shapes. I had made a truncated icosahedron (which was easier btw), but I gave that to the nurse who administered my last dose of SoluMedrol. She took an interest and I knew I was going to make it over in heavier paper anyway, so WTH. I can find ways to entertain myself. And I love to get in touch with my artsy side. Good Night, TTYL, and Be Well,

Don't you wish for simpler times?  One buys too much stuff for children these days. This is special. Takes just several minutes to enjoy. Then remember that all good things must come to an end. Even MS relapses from hell. I finished my treatments today.  I am tired, not wired. So far I would say that I am back to baseline; perhaps a bit better, though I did want more. I wanted magic to take me back about ten years. Alas. At   least, so far, I have been transported back about two weeks. But I am going to be okay. I hope that you enjoy this short video. Good Night, TTYL, and Be Well,

For the last week, since last Friday, I have been going from my usual pretty lousy to very much worse. I called my neurologist, Dr.H., and he had me come right in. Usually when I call his office he just calls in a three day treatment of SoluMedrol. When I saw him Friday he set me up with five days.  Today was Day Two; this morning I felt a at I little better, getting up and dressed from my regular lowish bed height, and without the flat bed pillow under me to give me some extra height to help with the rising that I have been using for the last several days. So far, so good. May this progression continue. I stayed up late last night, as usual, and got up after  four hours to turn over, and then got another two hour just for good measure. I usually am a tough stick; I have pediatric veins and they usually end up getting it in on the top of my hand, which is not comfortable when you want to keep it in for three or four days. They remembered me from my last visit last...

I am hoping to win a lovely little notebook by posting this here. That is all for today.

I forget who to blame, but I have watched  Season One of The Walking Dead and I am hooked. E-effing-gadzooks! It's about fucking zombies.   I know! It's embarrassing. Well, let's get back to it, then, shall we? And who ever is to blame for this . . . well, you'll get yours.  

Can you smell it? I surely can. Last year I planted two hyacinths in the big pot near the back door, and this year they have popped up through the feather grass that has taken over the rest of the pot. Since the cat (who shall remain nameless, due to the mysteries of all things feline)  decided to lie on top of the feather grass, it looks a little worse for wear. It will need to be thinned and propped once things warm up out there.  I digress. The smell of Spring greets us as we open the back door from those beautiful blue blooms shooting up through the grass; they are holding strong in the rain as they are mostly under the eave, and protected. This is the pot they are in, but this was taken about four years ago in the Summer, so you'll have to imagine the mess it is now. Even though it smells good. Birds seem to be a little confused this year. I heard sounds of mating as early as February, so now they are laying their first clutch of eggs. DH has seen, I think, four ...

Every day, first I read my blogs, living vicariously through them, then I watch TV on my computer on Tubeplus or on 1channel . Often, this way I see programs that have not yet been aired on American TV;  therefore, I have already seen all of Downton Abbey and Mr. Selfridge. And I anxiously await the return of both. Mr. Selfridge is about an American entrepreneur living in London in 1908 who starts up the very first department store, Selfridge. Main character is played by Jeremy Piven, who I love, and the cast and music are indulgent. [Note to Muff, you will love it - every bit as much as Downton Abbey! Same time period, I believe; Edwardian England.] So, I am coming clean, I have to admit it: I am a TV junkie. Don't judge me. The rest of TV that takes up my time is a mix between BBC, Australian, and American TV shows. I must admit that many American TV series pale in comparison to the English, but not all. For instance, I LOVE Grey's Anatomy(ABC); still ...

Oh yes, it is that time again. Time for . . . . . . . . Peeps Research ! Oh, please entertain your funny bone and read through the site. You won't forget regret it! Happy Easter  every one!!

You were right, sort of. The followers gadget is still there, but they moved it aaaaaallllll the way to the bottom. I guess they DO want us to all use the google+ thingy. I had to put it on the side, so not as many pictures show up, but Oh, Well. I'm not too concerned about that. Someday when I'm 'in a mood', I'll change my layout and perhaps I'll be able to put the gadget in a wider area. Until then, it will remain where it is: almost top, left side. I've been reading blogs (slowly) all night, and now I am ready to watch some TeeVee on my laptop. Good Day, TTYL, and Be Well

I've been afflicted with writer's block lately.  I will get a post in every now and then so you won't forget about me. Today I took it upon myself to change the looks of things around here and I managed to lose all of the pictures of my followers. All 73 of you - GONE in a flash! And I have NO idea where you went and therefore I have no idea how to find you and put you back. If that wasn't an "Oh Shit!" moment, I don't know what is... other than pouring myself a triple instead of just a drink.  Also, the cute bunnies are cut off. That is not right, and isn't how they looked on the preview. Does anyone know how to add height at the top of the page? It's probably some obscure number in the HTML which is scary territory for me to venture into. But I accept any and all suggestions.  Otherwise, this is how things will be through the Easter season and beginning of Spring. We sprang ahead last night!  I can't tell you how pleased I am about t...

I went to a meeting tonight; first time I've been out in a couple of weeks, I think... and all went well. We got there on time, DH assisted me up the step and the ramp which both seemed steeper than the last time I was there (meaning, ahem, that I really needed a little assistance).  I remembered to give my report on Easter Seals and on MS, two of our philanthropic projects. I remembered to deliver the ornaments that were donated by Attila the Mom to be auctioned off at the Spring State Meeting. I forgot to ask for some statistics from last year, but Babs seemed to have a lot to do tonight, so I'll wait for those. So, everything went just hunky-dory. I came home and we eventually had dinner. After dinner, DH decided to have a beer so I decided to have a drink, too. I got up and pulled the Kahlua and Vodka from the cupboard and grabbed  a shot glass from the espresso machine. Not paying much attention, and too late, I realized it was the double shot glass. I poured myself a ...

Being forgetful is one of my more frustrating symptoms of MS. My B&B issues are bad, as is my limited walking distance, and my spasticity; but as troublesome as each of those is, the forgetfulness leeches the most from my quality of life. It eases its way into most every conversation I try to have with my husband. However, oddly enough, it never seems as problematic when I am talking with other people. That could be an issue with the Y chromosome, with the marriage certificate, with our astrological signs (I am a Leo, he is a Taurus), or even with our personality types (we are both INFP on the Myers Briggs, which is, oddly enough, the least common of the 16 types at 1 to 4%). Whichever it is, it is frustrating to be unable to have a decent discussion about, well, anything, with him. It gets in the way with friends, too, but those discussions are, by their nature, more discursive, which is why it usually causes fewer problems. One area where it gets bad is when discussing books ...